Back on track...I think

One of the reasons I started this blog was to keep track of my diet and recipes.  My nutritionist had put me on a "no grain/no sugar" diet due to my hypoglycemia.  I did well for about 3-4 months and was feeling well.  Then vacation hit.  For the past 2 months I have been eating poorly.  My body was telling me "you need to stop," but it was very hard to break the cycle.  What could I do?   Go back on my diet.  That is what to do.  Really, diet is how we eat.  It shouldn't be something I switch back and forth on.  I need to ultimately change me eating habits and stick with that forever.  Forever???  Never have any kind of grains forever????  I don't think I can do that realistically. 

I have decided to add some whole grains to my diet.  Not at every meal.  Maybe only one per day or less.  I have had brown rice and whole wheat pizza crust (which was surprisingly very yummy).  My mother-in-law also bought me some crackers that are gluten free/wheat free.  They are not grain free, but the only grain in them is rice.  I am going to use those as a treat.  We will see how it goes.  The best gauge for me is how I feel. 

I do not have a sensitivity (that I am aware of) to grains.  The whole point of my diet is to maintain an even sugar level.  I believe I can do this and still introduce some whole grains into my diet.  I will do my best to post the recipes I try and my progress. I am anxious to try buckwheat/steel cut oat granola and 100% buck wheat pancakes. 

The conclusion:  Eat right.  This is the only body I have.  I can't be useful to the Lord or my family if I don't take care of it.  It is the Lord's temple.  He doesn't want it full of junk, sluggish and unhealthy.  He can give me the strength to stay on track. 

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him."--Ps 28:7

"My son, give me thine heart..."

"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways."--Pr 23:26

I want my children's hearts.  I want them to confide in me.  I want them to know that I will always be there for their every need.  I want them to know that I will always give them a "listening ear."  I want a relationship where, as one seasoned mom put it, I "mesh" in their lives.  I want our home to be a place where they want to be.   I want to say, "My son, my daughter, give me your heart" and have them say, "Mom, you already have it."

That sounds so simple, but requires unselfishness on my part.  It requires my stopping to listen to...and try to follow...the huge explanation about some crazy invention that will never work in a million years.  Maybe it means that I have to skip my daily nap to have a birthday party for "baby" who is 100 years old because she has a birthday everyday.  If I want their heart, I have to show them that I want it. 

This is not to say my life needs to revolve around them or that I can only do what they want.  There must be a balance.  I definitely can improve on the giving of myself more.

The second part of the verse is hard.  Can I say, "Look what I am doing. Do it like this."  Do I want my children to have a devotional/prayer time like mine?  How about my testimony and witness?  What about my care, concern, compassion for others?  Should they be as "thoughtful" as I am?  That is scary!!!  Do I want them to speak to their siblings the way I speak to them or their dad?  Would I be happy if they obeyed me the way I obey the Lord or submit the way I do?  What if they had my work ethic or organizational skills?  My christian service? 

I am purposing in my heart to meditate daily on this verse for a while.   As a mom would you consider doing the same?

School's In

Monday began our 2011-2012 school year.  This is a year of firsts for us.  LE's first year of school, my first time teaching 2 at the same time, first time using My Father's World curriculum (http://www.mfwbooks.com/) and Apologia Science (http://www.apologia.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1).  Well, we really haven't started Apologia.  My Father's World (MFW) is a combination of History/Geography, Science, and Bible.  The plan use MFW and Apologia.  MFW is quite a bit more involved than I expected so for now I am going put Apologia on hold. 

Our first day was a little shaky.  At the end of the day I was thinking, "How am I going to teach two kids who need one on one attention?"  Day two went much better.  I am trying not to stress about how long things are taking.  I am hopeful as we move further into the year and become more familiar with the new curriculum our time will  be used more efficiently.   I will keep you "posted."

W.E.W-Part...Finished!!!!

Well, for the most part we are finished.  We built all the storage furniture. Today my little sister and I assembled some cubbies and brought up all my craft stuff from our family room.  Tonight my hubby hung the wall shelf.  I cleaned out/off my desk.  It is great!!!  It is so nice to have "a place for everything and everything in its place."  Unfortunately, rooms like this are always changing, but at least we are starting off right.

The following picture is the finished half of the room.  All of the shelving houses toys, games, craft/sewing supplies, books, and school stuff.  It is tucked away in the area where the closet used to be.  I like it because it is not the first thing you see when you enter the room.

Our wall shelf will be where we keep most of our "toy library" (see W.E.W-Part 7).  The shelf has decorative braces.  It came out really nice.  The plastic boxes look kind of junky.  I hope to replace them with basket and canvas bins.  You can see some of our old book cases in the photo below.  These will be removed and I will be putting my grandfather's rocker in their place.

I am still working on my office/workspace.  My plan is to replace the folding table with a small desk with a file drawer.  It is a little tricky because I need to put my printer/copier on it and my sewing machine.  I am thinking it would be great to somehow attach a drop leaf to the end to give me more room for sewing.  We will see what happens with that.  For now, I will keep this how it is.  I don't want to rush and do something and then hate it.

I am so excited about this room.  It is inspiring me to tackle other rooms in the house.  We have been in our home for 10 years.  It really is time to do some updating.  Nothing major, just painting and cleaning out. 

With special thanks...My husband is a very special man.  Growing up, my dad did everything.  There wasn't anything he couldn't fix or build or do. When I was a teenager I worried that I would marry someone who couldn't do anything.  Who didn't know how to fix things or didn't want too.  God has blessed me with a husband who like my dad can do anything.  There isn't anything he can't build or fix.  I love him so much and appreciate all the long hours he put into our playroom.  I love you, baby!!!!

W.E.W-Part 7

I guess my weekend project is turning into a week-plus project.  That is okay.  Last night some of the shelving went up.  I was a little disappointed in Ikea's "white" bookshelves.  They are not white, but cream.   Due to the long trip back to return them and the lack of other options, we decided to keep them and deal with the mis-matched color.  It is very overwhelming to start the process of organization.  I will have to take it little by little.  Right now most of the "stuff" is in plastic containers.  I would like to replace most of those with baskets, decorative boxes or containers.  One by one I will do that. 

Today, I will do my best to assemble the second book shelf.  Then I will beging putting things away.  I found a great article (the link follwos) about organizing your kid's things. ( http://organizedhome.com/get-organized/tips-organize-kids-rooms )   I love the "Toy Library."  That has been one of my plans with this whole "Play Room Makeover."  Our kids have too many things to take care of.  That leads to them making a mess and not appreciating what they have.  My goal is to put most of their things in storage and let them have a few things out.  They can swap things out, but they can only have a set number of things out at one time. 

On that note, I was thinking this morning.  This whole week they have had duplo blocks to play with and not much else.  WD is 9, so he doesn't play with duplo blocks much.  You know what?  They have had the best time with those blocks.  They did play outside and we did go out some.  They played other things, but mostly their toys have been limited to the blocks and what they have in their rooms.  What does this prove?  Less is more. 

This is the beginning of our new shelving.  More to come.

WE.W-Part 6

The kids and I started painting yesterday.  I finished up today.  It is finished!!!!!! Yay!!!!!   Tonight, Lord willing the shelving will go up and some furninture will be assembled.  Tomorrow will be the big organizing day.  I probably won't be able to get it all the way I want in one day, but I should be able to make it useable for LE's birthday party on Saturday.  We will see. 

A few more pictures...

It is hard to see in the picture, but we painted a very pale blue.  The finished product:

W.E.W part 5--Primed and Sprayed

Last night while the kids and I were at VBS, hubby sprayed the ceiling in the playroom and primed the walls.  When I got home I moved all the junk either to the center of the room or out in the hall.  Very overwhelming!!!!  We have way too much stuff.  I am hoping in the next few weeks to "weed out" what we don't need. Today, I finished taping the trim, sanded a few spots and wiped down the walls.  It is now ready to paint.  We are heading out soon for a doctor's appointment for LE.  Then we will come home and paint.  Lord willing, we will have the painting finished today.  I can't wait. 

A couple of pics.  It is hard to tell what they are of because everything is white.