Super Nanny

I had never heard of Super Nanny until a couple of days ago.  I immediately looked her up on YouTube and endured a few episodes.  Wow.

Let me preface this post by saying that I have been on both sides of the parenting field.  I was 33 when I had my first child.  And I knew everything about parenting!  I was very apt in noticing others' parenting mistakes.  Like a super-power! Then I had a child.  And I had that child!  Suddenly all of my "parental sagacity" proved to be inept and ignorant.  First, he was born about 3 weeks early and without the suckle reflex...I had missed that chapter in the What To Expect The First Year  Book. And COLIC! Colic is real. I continued to survive...day by day--and many days hour by hour.  I was nearing the completion of my first year of motherhood when I found that I was going to get to go through year one again!  {Actually I found out on that first birth day that I was nine short months away from another new baby!}

Yes, I have a great husband--and great grand-parental support group...but even though he was not the first grandchild on one side--we were all in this learning experience together.

**back to SuperNanny...***
So far what I have noticed about Super Nanny Jo is that she will try to instruct the parents on how to get their child to listen to them, how to show love to their child, and how to speak authoritatively to their child. Really?? The same day that I found Super Nanny was the Florida High School Massacre.

Maybe Super Nanny is doing society a service.  No matter my opinion of Super Nanny at least she is bringing to light the need for discipline and love.  Even now as my children are at manageable ages...I am concerned with their training and nurturing.  And now that I have gotten through those years--and you know which ones I mean!--I believe I am more sensitive to parents to children of all ages.  Even those scary teen years.  I am just now arriving in those years...but already I am more emphatic of parents treading waters that I haven't crossed yet.

Thankfully God gives grace.
Also thankful that my young men are in a strong church, active youth group and have a very in-touch youth pastor.

Hillary Clinton made the proverb "It takes a village to raise a child" famous---
but she is not the first to pen that.  Actually it is an old African proverb.  Where communities work together and hold the same values.  

~~choose your village wisely

Just Do The Next Thing

Many days I am overwhelmed.  I always have a list of things I need to do.  Some I really need to do...others are things I want to do or accomplish...some are things that I "self-obligate" myself into.  Often I create mountains that appear impossible to conquer.  But every mountain is climbed one step at a time. 

For years I struggled with the simple task of laundry.  Throwing it into the washer was fast and easy.  Throwing it into the dryer was fast and easy.  Carrying it upstairs...accomplish-able.  But folding it and putting it away? required super hero power I would be telling my friend Niki how I was so behind in housework...and she'd say "oh you have Mt. Foldmore in the living room again?"  As the boys grew older I was needing to teach them to help...and my fairy godmother Pinterest came to my rescue! I found there was fix!  I bought some plastic utility shelving,new laundry baskets....and I started folding the laundry straight from the dryer and putting it into its owners basket!  Now everyone carries up their own laundry and puts it away. And I  can now dry the next load!  I had to learn to "do the next thing"!

I was sharing with another mom the other day that recently I had been keeping myself sane by focusing on what I did get done instead of what I did not...and sometimes I even made a To Done list instead of a To Do list.  She so sweetly reminded me that that is okay.  She said remember Elizabeth Elliot would say "Just do the next thing". I had forgotten that!! Later I "googled"...I needed that advice again!  And so I am sharing with you that poem that Elizabeth Elliot shared with us years ago.

From an old English parsonage down by the sea
There came in the twilight a message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the doors the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration: “DO THE NEXT THING.”

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all results, do the next thing.

Looking for Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering, be thy demeanor;
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.
Then, as He beckons thee, do the next thing.

Dear friend, find some rest today.  And just worry about doing the next thing.  And maybe it is a cup of coffee. Breathe!

Homemade Spray Starch

I am drawn to simplicity and purity.  July 4th will be 4 year anniversary of my personal commitment to changing my diet and lifestyle to improve my health.  I do give the credit to God for the improvement of my condition. I wholeheartedly believe that He lead me to the knowledge of what changes I needed to make and the grace to carry through. I continue to study ways to improve my heath and for the last several months I have tried to avoid toxins even not food related. 

 My latest venture is starch for ironing. I had already begun to use non aresol starch.  And wondered if I could make my own... so this is what I finally got to suit me:

1 1/2 cup hot water

(Not boiling)

1 1/4  T corn starch

Stir in the starch while water simmers. When corn starch is dissolved pour into glass spray bottle. Add 1/4 cup of water. Then add +/- 5 drops of lavender essential oil.

EX LIBRIS

I love books.
I love to read.
Yeah, usually I have more than one book going at a time.
I love to talk about books.

Today I want to share my must reads. I could suggest so many books. But these are the ones that I am so sure of that often I gift these! {I am a believer in gifting what I love!}

Christian Experience

MISSIONS

MARRIAGE

HOMEMAKING

{these books are my reference!}

ETIQUETTE

There are many, many more books that I love... but these are the top ten that I always have to ask others who are passionate about similar interests to mine if they have read.

I do read by Kindle--but all these are worthy of owning and worthy prominent display in my home.

Book Review: The Life Giving Home

I was wanting a read that would inspire me as a mom. This summer has already been so busy. And I know that May will soon fade into August. I have been de-cluttering, cleaning, organizing, trying to work down my "fix-it" list. But about a week ago I had an urge to be refreshed and inspired.  I asked a few mom friends for a book suggestion. Thinking that someone would know of a great devotional. But that suggestion never came.  One evening I was shopping on Amazon and looking at a book-- for a whole other purpose and this book came up in the "others also bought" list! SO I CLICKED BUY

The book arrived--and I was consumed! My heart was alive! I am constantly remembering small things that my family has enjoyed in the past. I have stopped to take time to do the small things that the boys want to do.

This time of refreshing can only be summed up in a quote I read once:  

"Try to create the HOME you would want to live in."

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window--today was slightly bleak here in Kentucky...this morning it spit snow and was just a cold breezy day.

I am thinking--that I didn't get everything accomplished that I had on my mind this morning...but I visited an old friend, text a couple distant friends, spent some time with my family just hanging out...so laundry will get caught up... but today's important moments were captured.

I am thinking--that I need more days like today :-)

One of my favorite things--today is TIME.

I am creating--a trial warp on my Ashford Knitters

 Loom---many of the yarns are bits left from past projects.

I am reading--this is the current read-a-loud that I am reading to the boys

I am wearing--a dark green olive turtle neck and plaid skirt that I got for my birthday

I am hoping--that I can come up with a great dish to take to a potluck on Sunday~~I never know what to take to those...sigh...

I am learning--to control the laundry monster!

In my kitchen--I made a breakfast casserole!

Postscript--Anchors Bows and Lace

My niece Hannah's Etsy shop--she is 16!!what a young lady!!

Quote of the day--try to create a home you would want to live in 

[not sure where I heard it--but it is my goal]

Moment of my day--Today I visited a dear friend at her new weaving studio!!  Instantly I felt right at home.  It brought back lots of warm memories of days I sat in her yarn shop learning to knit and weave!  while making a friend that I kept even after the shop closed!

Closing notes--always take a picture...I found this picture today from February 2006-  my husbands grandmother holding Nate's hand.  Granny Eula is gone...but I have this lovely picture to share with Nate!

I am linking this post to The Simple Woman's Daybook

Raising Readers

Raising readers is important to me.  I guess because I am a reader. And maybe it is because that is how I was raised.  My brother and I have both been readers as long as I can remember.  How did that happen? How did my parents raise readers? 

     **They always had LOTS of reading materials around.

     **They got rid of our TV when I was in the 5th grade.

     **When my brother and I got into a series...they helped us get the next book .

     **They talked to us about what we were reading.

     **They talked to us about what they were reading.

     **Often they would also read what we were reading.

     **My parents read to us.  Today if you are at my parents home my dad will at some point read to you.!!

Today Eli started reading a biography of Neil Armstrong.  Yes it is assigned reading, but he must be enjoying it because he is telling facts and stories of that hero.

Ben started reading The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P.Figg.  This is an assigned reading from his language arts class at the co-op.  I am happy that he enjoys reading the assigned selections.

Nate hasn't always been my zealous reader.  Nowadays as he matures and is finding that reading is not a struggle....he seems to be acquiring a love for reading.  He along with his brothers is in love with audio books.

Today we started a new "read-a-long".  At lunch I began reading They Called Me Mama to the boys.  I hope to share a chapter each day at lunch with them.  If you are looking for a great family read check out this lovely story!

If you have a family reading suggestion leave me a comment!

Readers are leaders!

Week 2 of Summer School

I am so excited to share our morning basket for our second week of "summer schooling".
My two oldest guys are doing a couple of pages a day in Handwriting for teens.


Just for fun and to keep sharp we are doing about 10 minutes a day of flash card drills followed by a group activity from Family Math.

Our artist study is Norman Rockwell.  So far we have watched a short biography about him on YouTube.  We have a calendar of his pictures we are studying.  We are finding common features in each (like how his name is always signed in stencil).  Recently we found three puzzles of his work and have put these together as a family.

While the boys work on the puzzle is a great time to get in another chapter of our current read-a-loud: Islands of the Blue Dolphins.

What fun things have you found to keep your homeschoolers fresh and sharp?

Easiest Yeast Bread!

So a friend is gifting me 2 dozen fresh eggs!  How to graciously accept them?  The only way I know to---

Easy Yeast Bread

First lightly wipe vegetable oil in the bowl that you are going to use for mixing.

6 cups of flour (all purpose)
2t. active yeast
2t. salt
4T. sugar

(to correctly measure flour spoon it into the measuring cup)

Mix all of these dry ingrediants together in a large bowl.

Then stir in 4T. of oil.
Next add 2 1/4c. of hot water--not boiling.
Continue to mix until the dough forms a ball.

Take the dough and knead it in flour sprinkled on counter or waxed paper.

Place the dough back into the bowl and let it rise for 20 minutes.

Next punch the dough working out any air pockets. Divide the dough into two equal balls. Place them into lightly greased loaf pans and allow them to rise for 4 hours.

After four hours place the pans into a preheated over set to 325. Bake for 25 minutes.

Allow the pans to cool for 2 minutes...
--run the loaves with butter then turn them out of the pans
--Leave the loaves lying on their sides to allw the bread to cool evenly (you dont want the bottom of the loave to sweat)

Theresa enjoy!!

Giveaway: Plum Paper Planner

Ever found something that you found so wonderful that you wondered what took you so long to hear about it or to try it?  That was me a few months ago when I found the Plum Planner.  Since March I have ordered 4!  One that is my personal life, one for homeschooling, one as a gift for my sister-in-law and one for you---well at least one of you!!!  I have fallen so in love with these that I just want to share the news.

**I guess that this is where I need to add the disclaimer that this giveaway is solely sponsored by me!

No strings to this giveaway.  I just want to reach out and spread some goodwill :-)  I ordered this planner to run October 2015- September 2016.  Open to USA and Canada residents :-)

Join the party!

Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party #79

Want to win this beauty?

Leave me a comment!

Raffle Copter will pick a winner 10/11

a Rafflecopter giveaway

House vs. HOME

I live in a typical house. With 4 males. But that is no excuse. I have decided to show my house some love. Our house is a good size--4 bedrooms, 3 baths. It is fully functional.  And I have neglected continually keeping it "homey" thinking that  guys don't care...but they do!

Last week I ventured a summer mantel. And each of them have loved it!  And not destroyed it...In fact each has even had to reattach the banner a couple of times :-)

Thanks Jennifer!

If I ever meet Jennifer I know I am going to hug her.  I have just read At Home With Madame Chic by Jennifer L. Scott. 

A refreshing read!  Full of affirmations and permission to enjoy and love making a home.

I doubt that I will ever meet Jennifer...but since reading her book I have done exactly what she encouraged this reader to do:
**considered trouble spots in my home and began to work through them (ex: kitchen island)
**set my dining table--even decorated it with the season(tiny pumpkins and an autumn tablecloth)
**invited a girlfriend over and cooked the lunch

My home/chateau is returning to order. Or maybe I just allowed myself to slow down and come home.
I want to make a home for my children where I would want to be a child!