Confession Time

Yep, I’m going to go ahead and confess that I have NOT been successful at sticking to the schedule I had going for that first week back (see previous post).  I’m one of those almost honest-to-a-fault type people so I’m going to also confess that much of the reason for not sticking to it was laziness.  But, in my defense, some of it was planning for Jonah’s birthday party and the beginning of both boys’ baseball season.  Does that redeem me any?  I didn’t think so.  Oh well.  I tried ;). 

Please pray for us as God leads us to lead these children.  We really do want to raise them to love and honor Him more than anything else and that’s quite a big job to take on and we don’t take it lightly.  If Jake and I fail in leading our children to the Lord Jesus, then we fail completely.

 

Now on to the sports...

Jonah’s baseball season is already ¾ over.  He’s playing for the Braves (machine pitch baseball) and is enjoying himself quite a bit.  He does seem to have a bit of a distorted sense of what type of player he is, but we’re just glad that he’s happy.  He’s made statements such as, “I’m probably the best player on the team.” And “I’ve probably got the best arm on the team.” And “I’m probably the strongest kid on my team.” It’s just hard to be humble when you’re so great (shhhh… don’t tell him he’s not the best on the team—in truth, I already have informed him of that, but I’m not sure he believes me even though he’s already played 5 games and only gotten one hit and has barely touched the ball on the field).  In all fairness, he really is improving and may truly turn out to be a good ball player.  Seriously!

Levi is somewhere around ½ way through with his season.  He’s playing for the Indians in the Cal Ripken league and is immensely enjoying himself.  He’s doing very well with pitching and infield playing.  I’m not positive how well he’s doing on batting (I’m not too good at keeping up with that type thing), but I think he’s doing okay there, too.  He's not been in the outfield so far, but I think he'd do well there, too.  He's a gifted athlete and we pray hard that he'll use it for God's glory and not his own.  He has a wonderful coach who praises Jesus unashamedly.  You can recognize his team by the one shouting JESUS at the top of their lungs after every game.  Thank you, Lord for such a great coach!

A couple of weeks ago, we celebrated Jonah’s 7^th birthday with an Armor of God theme.  We spent the weeks leading up to the party studying the Armor of God to be sure the boys understood what it all is and is for.  If you want to get your own copy of free VBS curriculum for the week-long study, visit this site.

http://ministry-to-children.com/free-vacation-bible-school/

We all had a great time and are looking forward to Levi’s baseball theme party that will be coming up soon (which will be a “triple play” shared with two of his teammates who also have birthdays near his).  God has been good to us and we are always thankful for all His blessings. We don't deserve all the wonderful things in our lives (especially our kids), but we sure are thankful that God has allowed us to borrow them for a while.

 

 

 

 

 

A New Start (brought to you by Busy Bee Academy)

After about 2 months off for the oh-so-important hunting season (no sarcasm intended—this time of year is very important to ME since I get such a long break as well as to the boys and Jake!!!), we have completed our first week of the second semester.  And it went quite well if I do say so myself.

I had gotten in quite a funk of being lazy and neglecting my personal time with God as well as pretty much any “fun” time with my kids it seems.  Now, those of you who know me, know that “fun” and “Brenda” don’t really go in the same sentence, so you’ll have to weigh out what you know about me to figure out what “fun” means in this house.

Let me give you a quick run-down of our first week back with all the new activities incorporated and beg you to pray for me that I can keep this up for everyone’s sake!

First let me start by saying that the boys have slept a little later than normal ALL week long, thus giving me some time in the morning to read my Bible and pray before they get up.  Thank you, Lord for that time!  I know I had a friend praying for me and I am quite sure it was a direct answer to her prayers that the boys slept later all week (thanks Jilma).

Monday we usually have p.e. and speech at Medart Elementary, but the speech teacher couldn’t be there, so we moved that to Tuesday.  We met friends at a local park, played and socialized for a while and then headed to gymnastics.  After gymnastics we joined another friend for an impromptu birthday dinner at El Jalisco’s for her son that is in gymnastics with Jonah.  For us “home-bodies” Monday was quite an outing and the boys and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Tuesday I managed to drag myself onto the treadmill and get in a little exercise while the boys watched an Adventures in Odyssey video (that’s a Christian video for those who are not familiar with it).  Then after our school-work was done we headed to Medart for p.e. and speech.

Wednesday, I again managed to get on the treadmill while the boys watched Adventures in Odyssey.  We also played our first “15-minute-game”.  An idea I got from afore mentioned friend.  You set a timer for 15 minutes and everyone pitches in to accomplish a certain task.  Our task was mopping the kitchen & dining room.  And we did complete that in the time allotted with Jonah moving out the chairs and shaking the rugs, Levi sweeping and me mopping.  But, like most everything I do, one thing led to another and we moved on to the bathroom (mopping, scrubbing tub and cleaning fixtures) so it turned into the “30-minute-game” really.  But, the boys enjoyed it (refer to the earlier mentioned fact that you have to take “fun” into context with our house) so it was a success!  Wednesday was also our first day of “kid-choose-the-meal” day and it was Levi’s turn.  He chose grilled/smoked ribs (which worked wonderfully for me because JAKE cooks those!).  We even had Grandma, Uncle Mike & Aaron over for lunch, so MORE FUN!  Then we wound up the day with the boys heading to the bees with Jake.  What a perfect day! 

Thursday was our normal p.e. & speech day at Medart, but due to the weather we decided to skip both.  We opted for art instead (something we never do here, but I had ordered this HomeArt Studio art program on DVD over the hunting break so that the boys would have that as a new and fun thing for the second semester).  I’m loving it so far.  I just get the supplies ready, pop in the DVD and let the boys follow the directions on the video!  I think that art curriculum will be money well spent J   Here's a look at their first art project from the DVD (paper roller-coasters).

 I know you're jealous of this gorgeous table cloth (it's elasticized and I bought it just for these art projects and it's perfect for the job).

 

 Listening and watching carefully to the directions on the video.

 

 

Friday, I’m proud to say that I was able to get myself back on the treadmill even after taking Thursday off.  That might not mean much to you, but it’s an accomplishment for me.  The boys watched a video online that I think I’m going to really like called “My Place With Jesus” while I exercised.

http://www.myplacewithjesus.com/

Then after the boys completed their school-work and their lunch, they went out to play outside.  And while they were happily running and laughing and yelling out there, I was quietly getting papers graded and lesson plans together for another week of school and fun in here!

Oh, and did I fail to mention the sit-up and push-up contest we had on Monday?  Yep, Levi won!  No surprise there, huh?

We will wrap up the week tomorrow (Saturday) with our first Family Fun Day (another new “fun-item” I’ve implemented weekly here).  Okay, you’re bearing in mind the definition of "fun" at this house, right?  We’re heading to the church for a work day.  Yep, that’s our family fun activity for the day, and yes, the boys are totally okay with that being our family fun time.  Now you’re really getting the idea of what fun means around here, huh?  Gotta love this simple lifeJ.

 

I also got a shipment  of produce from an organic food club this week for the first time.  I'm undecided if I will continue to get in on these buys, but we did enjoy our Chard & Spaghetti lunch yesterday

And I threw together some tuna salad with the spinach and carrots today.

Trying to decide what I'm going to do with the 1/2 of a butternut squash.

 

BirthDAY?

Happy birthday to me.~~  Happy birthday to me.~~  Happy birthday, dear me-e.~~  Happy birthday to me.  J

I know, I know… we’ve said it over and over that we don’t make a big deal of adult birthdays (or anniversaries or any other special occasions) at our house.  And normally, that is true.  So, why am I singing to myself now?  Because this has been a very special birthday for me (or more like birthWEEK).  I don’t know why it worked out that way, but it did and I’m having a great time.

Those of you who know me, know I’m very low maintenance.  You don’t have to buy me things, constantly reassure me that you care about me and… well, just make over me in general.  I don’t require a lot.  And I’m proud that I don’t cause a lot of people stress over “keeping me happy”, but I’m not gonna lie; it does feel good to be made over once in a while. 

Okay, well I wasn’t really MADE OVER today (or this week), but more-so than usual and I feel really special.  Let me back up…

First, I arranged to have a Thirty-One party on Friday for some of my stay-at-home mom friends.  What?  You’ve never heard of Thirty-One products?  Check this out for more information…  https://www.mythirtyone.com/60878/

Okay, back to my story.   I planned this party and while not a lot showed up and not much was bought, you know I love to socialize so I had a GREAT time.  THEN, I arranged a “play-date” at a local park on Monday.  Quite a few showed up and so, again, social-me, had a wonderful time.  But, the fun doesn’t stop there. 

Another wonderful friend of mine came to my rescue with her JuJuBelle business.  Check out this website for more info on that…  http://www.jujubelle.com/index.asp

Seriously, I’m not just trying to promote my friends’ businesses (well, maybe I am, but I am not reaping anything from it, so it’s for honest reasons), but this was really a life-saver for me.  I’m sure now you’re thinking, “What are you talking about, Brenda?” Oh, I’m so glad you asked, let me explain.

A few days ago when talking about my upcoming birthday, Jonah started telling me that he was going to make me something.  Well, that’s no surprise because he is my little creator.  Because they’re not allowed to get tape or use a stapler or anything like that without permission, he went ahead and told me days ahead that he would need at least 4 pieces of tape for my birthday gift.  Then, he started telling me that he was trying to think about how to cut a “v” out of a piece of paper (and the word necklace was used several times).  Are you getting the picture?  You were really wanting to see me at church with a paper and tape necklace on, weren’t you?  Yea, go ahead and admit it, you were laughing!

Well, when I was telling Grandma this story and saying I aught to find someone to send him home with that can help him make jewelry or a scarf or something, she said she had a scarf that he could have and told me to send him in (we were about to leave her house to head to AWANAs at church).  I sent him back in saying that Grandma needed him and he came back out to the van within a couple of minutes carrying a brown sandwich bag and a huge smile.  Whew!  Problem solved, I don’t have to wear a paper necklace.  Thank you, Grandma!  But, wait, Grandma motioned for me to come over to her where she proceeded to inform me that he STILL plans to make the necklace!!  Now what?

So, now on to Levi.  He had been trying to figure out how to get to a store to buy me something for my birthday and here it was Sunday night (my birthday being on Tuesday and him knowing Jake was at work and would not be home until Monday night) and there was basically no way he could get to a store (without me) before my birthday.

Of course I had stated over and over that they did not need to get me anything, but Levi was almost in tears about not being able to do anything for me.  He really wanted to buy me something (and Jonah obviously was GOING to make me something).  So, I put them to bed (Levi upset and distraught) and then remembered my friend, Amber who is a JuJuBelle consultant.

So short-story-long (LOL), I explained the problem and she graciously offered to have them at her house for them to CREATE me some jewelry that they could BUY with their own money.  Win-win-win!  And, yes, it worked.  Jonah was satisfied with the necklace he had made me at Ms. Amber’s and has not mentioned the paper necklace again J.  Yay!  Thanks so much, Amber. 

This is the bracelet Levi made for me (the L and J for Levi and Jonah, the purple stone to represent Jonah’s birth month (February-amethyst) and the blue stone to represent Levi’s birth month (March-aquamarine) and the heart because he loves me!

This is the necklace Jonah made.  He said the cross was because he was saved (I added that the black represented before salvation and the white after—just to explain why a 43 year old woman is wearing a zebra print cross), the flip-flop and star fish are because I like to go to the beach, the flower is because he loves me and the stones are just because he thought they were pretty.

 

So, you’re now probably thinking, “Okay, so that’s why Brenda’s birthday was more special for her than usual.” And you would be right, but there’s more! 

I took the boys to Amber’s house after the play-date in the park and now I had an hour to waste and nothing I needed to do.  So, I decided to peruse a local antique store that I’d never been in (that was right down the road from gymnastics where Amber would take my boys when they were done with their jewelry making).  It’s a little funny that I even went in there because I’m not an antique shopper, but there was nothing else to do, so, why not?  While in there, I found a pair of Gap jeans for $5 and a Vera Bradley purse for $15.  I’ll pause a moment for those of you who know me to finish laughing (I barely recognize name brands, much less sport them).  Okay, are you done laughing?  Then we’ll move on. 

 

NOPE!  I’m still not done!!!  Are you believing this keeps going (from a family who barely recognizes adult birthdays at all)? 

Totally out of the blue, with her not even knowing it was my birthday, a friend calls me Monday night to find out what my plans are for Tuesday.  She is just looking for some company and social time and called me (hmmm… isn’t that strange?).  No, seriously, we do enjoy each other’s company, but we seldom get together (you can count on one hand how many times in a year we get together).  So, for her to call the night before my birthday (with her not knowing it was my birthday) and invite me over ON my birthday—well, I was just in “spoil-me-rotten-and-make-a-big-deal-over-me” heaven!

 

So, while Levi & Jake went hunting today, Jonah and I went and spent the day with my friend Kanani and her three sons.  I’m so glad she called!  I had a great time fellowshipping with her as usual (and, of course, Jonah had a wonderful time playing on her “river beach” with her two younger sons). 

And now as I sit here (after an hour or so long conversation with another friend who I seldom talk to—she called to tell me happy birthday), I’m sipping my coffee and feel quite content to be another year older.  So, join with me as I end my special day—Happy birthday to me~~~ Happy birthday to me~~~…

Jonah took this picture of me wearing my new birthday jewelry.  He cut off my head, but he got the necklace and bracelet in there ;)

 

January?

2013?  Seriously?  I can’t believe that 2012 is over!  Where did it go?  And can you believe the unseasonably warm weather we’ve had over the last week or so here?  Is it really January?  But I’m not complaining.  I hate summer heat, but this warm spring-like weather is just gorgeous!  So, I figured we’d better make the best of it while we can J.

You know you live in Florida when you can spend a few January afternoons like this.

The boys and I really enjoyed the THREE days that we went to Carrabelle Beach.  Nothing like a little solar Cymbalta (or homeopathic Prozac) in the middle of January.  Ahhhhh....

 

It's back to cold again today, though (but I'm still not complaining---remember I hate the summer heat!). 

Christmas has come and gone and, as far as I know, the gifts I made went over well (see previous post to view them).  Whew!  Jonah thoroughly enjoys his tent (or Bat-Cave as he calls it).  And while Levi does not have his own room to put his bookends and shadowbox in yet, I hope he will enjoy them even more once they’re displayed in his own personal space.  I’m praying that the nieces and nephews have found use for their things as well.  I enjoyed making them all!

 

I was reading this morning about how a new-found friend of mine re-uses things.  It made me a little sad that I don’t come up with more uses for normally discarded items myself.  We are very good about not wasting food around here, but I seldom find uses for things such as bottles, cans and boxes that just get tossed.  Thankfully, we now have recycling in this county, so I don’t feel quite as bad about how quickly we fill up a trash can (or recycle box as the case may be), but maybe I’ll put a little more thought into finding ways to make use of those items more often. 

 

Here are a few things I’ve re-used or re-purposed recently, but feel free to share ideas with me as I endeavor to continue to try to reduce, reuse, and repurpose.

Jonah’s new “art tray” made from a large cookie sheet and some washed out and spary painted vegetable cans.  That boy loves to draw and create.  There are magnets glued to the cookie sheet to hold the cans in place somewhat while still allowing them to be easily removed for use in other places.  I have not found a magnetic container for the glues thus far, but this plastic container fits perfectly and is something I already had here at the house.

 

 

These are the calming jars I originally made for my boys back in the summer (from jelly jar and baby food jar).

 

 

And this is a scarf rack I made from a cheap curtain rod (café rod it may be called) and some shower curtain hooks.

 

It’s a start!