Gratituesday

I've been reading at Heavenly Homemaker for a while and she has been hosting a meme called Gratituesday. It's been nice to see people writing about the things that they are grateful for. You don't see that very often.
I was struck today while rocking 2yo dd as she woke up from her nap...I am so grateful to be able to parent my children...for the time that I have them...for the ones that are still at home and for the ones who have moved out.
You can be going through some really difficult times and you can easily get wrapped up in the challenges and forget the good times. The time we have with our children is short. Enjoy them while you can.

Fall into Reading-One Month In

It's already been a month since I began Callapidder Day’s Fall Into Reading 2009 Challenge. Kind of hard to believe the time has gone so fast...but, my life seems to have gone into overdrive lately. I'm really glad I decided to participate in this challenge. So far I've finished the first book and second books in the Left Behind series http://www.amazon.com/Left-Behind-Novel-Earths-Last/dp/0842329129 and am working on the third one. I only had the first one on my list but had forgotten how much the series can grab you...it's just too hard to read one and have to wait around to see what will happen to the characters next. I have the whole series so I guess I need to add them to the list. I'm also about a third of the way through Made From Scratch and enjoying it tremendously. I was also able to get Hunger Games http://www.amazon.com/Hunger-Games-Suzanne-Collins/dp/0439023483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253677674&sr=1-1 from the library. I'm going to have to start that right away because someone else has a hold on it and I only get it for 3 weeks.

M's books: We've read her books many times over and have since read a slew of new ones...too many to list.

Excited about exercise

Susanna over at My Family Forever has started a new linky about exercising. This is perfect timing since one of my goals is to exercise more and improve my diet. I've been walking and using weights but I still need to do it on a regular basis. The weather has started to change up so it's time to pull out my step and some exercise videos. I have the Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds series and some others that I haven't pulled out of the moving boxes yet.

Thanks for the extra motivation Susanna!

Pumpkin Pie Playdough

I pulled out my control journal..got things done that needed to be done and had time to make this....






It makes a soft playdough easy enough for a 2yo use. It stores well in an airtight container in the fridge and makes your hands smell wonderful! I got this recipe over at Ramblings of a Crazy Woman.

Pumpkin Pie Play Dough
Ingredients:
5 1/2 cups flour
2 cup salt
8 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 oz pumpkin pie spice (or your own combination of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and mace)
4 cups water
Food coloring (2 parts yellow, 1 part red)
Mix in a saucepan and heat over medium heat until all lumps disappear. As soon as it cools enough to handle, knead on a flour surface until smooth.
Store in air tight container.

Routines

It's so easy to get out of the habit of doing the routine things when the business of life keeps getting in the way. I have a control journal ala Flylady that has worked well for me...but...it's still in a box in the garage. It should've been pulled out as soon as we moved in. I've been trying to follow along with emails Flylady sends out but that really isn't working because I've been tryin not to spend so much time on the computer. Sooo...what to do? Get up and go dig out my contol journal.

Talk softly

and carry a big stick.... just kidding. I always liked that phrase but only the title has something to do with what I'm taking about.

I have a little boy in my classroom who talks in a loud voice ALL THE TIME. He only started a few weeks back and comes from a very challenging homelife. The first thing we do when we have a child like that is see if there might be a hearing problem. That's not the case with this child. I'm pretty sure it's environmental because I've known the stepmom since she was a child and I know her mom...she is loud as well.

When he comes rolling in the door on Monday mornings the noise level doubles as the other children have gotten into the habit of talking loud so they can be heard over him. We know that he can talk in a softer voice...we always get close and down to his level...speak in a softer than normal voice...and he drops his voice lower as well. By the end of the week he isn't shouting at us as much. But, of course, the weekend rolls around and we have to start all over again. Sigh.

Our little one (age 2) also speaks in a loud voice (and she is a non-stop talker). I'm pretty sure it comes from being in a household of big people and just wanting to make sure she gets heard. We are having to work on her toning it down as well. I've also noticed that if the tv or radio is on we all get louder to be heard over it...it's a little harder to get a room full of adults to tone it down than it is a classroom full of children....

Small Thing:Inner Sanctum

This Small Thing was done over the weekend. It was all about cleaning up your inner sanctum (your bedroom). I had several hot spots that were trying to turn into raging infernos. It looks very nice now. I took before and after pictures but will have to wait to post because my batteries are dead.

Cooler Weather Cooking

It's been very cool in the early mornings here lately. Cool enough to need to keep windows closed. It put me in the mood to cook (and warm up the house). I baked some turkey breasts and wings I found on sale the other day. Some of the wings will go to my mom and the meat from the breasts will be sliced and chopped up for meals during the week.



I also made a big pot of rice (the pot behind the turkey) that will be used throughout the week.

I made a big batch of pancakes for breakfast...thinking that there would be a lot of extras to freeze...ummm, not in this house...



Everyone must have gotten the memo that it is colder...and the cold makes you hungrier...because out of a batch of 35 pancakes this was all that was left...

The Mind of Christ Experiment

This discussion is going on over at SUM.

Transformation of your heart and mind begins with this:

Placing Jesus Christ on the throne of your life.

Are you placing Jesus on the throne of your life?

Small Thing

Today's Small Thing was a thought provoking one. It's about leaving behind baggage that keeps you from going where God wants you to go in your life. One suggestion was about refusing to listen to God's direction.
How many times have I found myself in a bad situation because I didn't follow God's direction? I've been trying harder to allow myself to listen to what God wants me to do...then I find myself "tweaking it" so I end up doing what I want to do. So...what am I going to leave behind? My stubbornness...that keeps me doing what God truly wants me to do.