The Ultimate Blog Party, 2008!

Welcome to the Party!



Come inside, kick of your shoes, drink coffee in your jammies, play with your kids, do whatever you do to party. The Ultimate Blog Party is going on right now at 5minutesformom.com. Visit blogging moms, meet people from all over the Blogsphere, even possibly win some prizes. Don't forget to sign the Mr. Linky for entrance fro prizes.

I though about writing a short description of me and my blog. When your life is a hectic as mine, short descriptions turn into autobiographies. If you want the super-short version, I do have an “about me” to your right. Feel free to read up. That's about as short as I can get for a description of myself.

But, since we're having a party, and I love getting to know people, I'll spend some time, and some web space telling a little about myself.

First, I'm a child of God. I wasn't always Christian. Most of my life, I've been turned off from Christianity by the church. Everything seemed to be extremely judgmental against people who weren't Christian. But, what can I say when I was attending a Southern Baptist school in South Carolina. Some of the treatment I received because I wasn't Christian was pretty corporal. Most of the stuff I went through would bring dropped jaws by loving people, approved of only by psychotic abusers. To top it off, growing up in a house with a man (whom I once called dad) who felt non-Christians were of lesser value to the world than Christians, didn't help. I didn't become a Christian until I re-met my current husband. Now, I'm a Sunday School teacher, Alter Guild member, and support for Lutheran World Relief. I'm trying to read my Bible everyday. I don't always get to it, but I try. Before I met First Lutheran Community Church, I didn't know God's grace was actually that- grace.

Secondly, I'm a wife to my wonderful Bigboy. I support everything he does. That makes me the wife of a master mason, who happens to be Senior Deacon in his lodge. I also have ended up being the wife of a Shriner, clown for that matter. Being his supporter, I decorate event for his lodge on a regular basis. I make sure he has plenty of balloons and make-up for clowning. I can't say out loud what my current lodge project is; at least not yet. Do come back at the end of the month. You'll get to see some of the results.

I'm a mother to two homeschooling kids. We have Bigfoot, who happens to wear a size 12 shoe. He loves his legos. Then again, what boy wouldn't? He's involved with Boy Scouts and Demolay. Needless to say,I drive him around a lot.

We also have Beadgirl, who is exactly that. She loves beading everything she can make. She will bead her gifts for birthdays and Christmas before she'll buy gifts. She's doing some pretty advanced stuff for her age. Pony beads are no longer an interest. Glass beads, wire and pliers are more up her alley now. At this point, what excites her most is her soon-to-be entrance into Job's Daughters.

Not only am I all of the above, I'm Webelos leader for a group of at-risk Cub Scouts. These are kids I've taken heart to in a special way. They live in a low-income housing development built toward the end of the Great Depression. Most of these kids live in houses older and smaller than mine (our 850 square-foot house was built in 1942). Parents aren't always involved with their own kids. We give them, through scouting, something they can hopefully attach to and grow from.

With all said, I'm a teacher, personal secretary, accountant, seamstress, human resource manager, janitor, chef, decorator, and errand runner. I love every minute of it, with the exception of the rotten times. In my spare left over time, I do anything and everything I can with yarn and fabric. I think I may blog in that time too.

So, I am a long-listed mom-of-all trades. I love doing everything I do, and wouldn't trade them for the world. I had a job outside of home at one time. Giving consideration for what I did, the pay was good, but the hours were rotten. I don't miss getting up at two every morning. I do miss the people I served every day. Since I've been home, I've had the opportunity to explore the many thing I do.

Well, that wraps up my life in more than just a few words. Do come back to visit. I'm planning some personal responses to some Bible passages, maybe posting some recipes, I'll be back to Wordless Wednesday this week. I'll see you soon. Please feel free to visit my new blog at Flat Feet Anyone? I'll be blogging about my experiences in living with Bigfoot and his severe flat foot condition, our progress at the Shriners' Hospital for Children- Portland,OR. I'll also cover the growing issue of health insurance in America, and its effect on kids.


March 14, 2008 Edit:

I have finally decided on my prizes. Don't get me wrong,I never do anything at last minute I am always prepared for everything several days in advance.

There are so many good prizes, I spent 7 sticky notes writing everything down. My top 10 turned out to be:

#136 Knitty Goody Bag by Craftymom
Yarn, give me yarn. And there shall remain life.
#128 Yoga for Christians Book and DVD set from Kathleen Marie
I've always believed in yoga, even if my dad Dick Fife doesn't. I need to learn about this art from a Christian perspective.
#24 Blog Design by Sweet n' Simple Designs
#45 Custom Blog Design by Summer
#67 Blog Makeover by Shauna
#123 Blog Makeover by Lady in Waiting Blog Design
I could always use a face-lift on my page. Don't worry, I only need one of these, not all of them.
#100 Set of 3 books covering cooking and entertaining given by Jill Norwood.
Ah food. did you know, my kids eat food?
#104 Book Package given by Melissa Mashburn including Confessions of a Prayer Wimp and the lovely pink journal with "This is the Day the Lord Has Made."
I'm such a prayer whimp. I need this book.
#124 Rachael Ray's 2,4,6,8 Cookbook Given by Kristen at Loving Life
Did I mention my kids eat food? So do Masons, I posted about that before.
#8 Fifty Nights of Family Fun by Essential Family Living
What good is a family that doesn't have any fun?

As for the rest of these excellent prizes, I'm going for numbers: 7, 18, 29, 39, 58, 59, 61, 70, 80, 92 94, 119, 129, 140 and 143.

Have a Great time at the Party! If you are participating, don't forget to sign the Mr. Linky at 5minutesformom.com. Leave a comment, say "Hi." Serve up some punch and Toby mac and we'll all have a Great time!

One of My Many Joys of Homeschooling

Bringing homeschooling into my life has been quite the emotional experience. Its had it ups and downs. I shed, probably more than my share of, tears. I've also had plenty of moments when I thank God, He allowed homeschooling into my life.

Today, I've had the privilege of enjoying one of the more joyful moments. Beadgirl, out of her own initiative, made breakfast for us. Without being told, she asked permission to cook. In just a few minutes, she had whipped up and cooked cheese omelets for everyone. Yum, was breakfast good.



I'll get another morning off breakfast tomorrow as well. Beadgirl wants to cook, and Bigboy is taking the day off. Together, they've planned out breakfast for tomorrow. All I have to do is shop tonight for tomorrow. I'll have the perfect opportunity while Bigboy is in the Scottish Rite. Bigboy has already planned on waking the kids up early and letting me sleep. I will definitely be spoiled for the day.

This is one of those moments treasured by homeschoolers. We are blessed by God for the right and privilege to educate our children in the way we choose. Homeschooling gives us the opportunity to teach our children self-initiative. They may not always choose to complete their schoolwork, but the desire to do something for family at personal will is fantastic. Each day my children undertake a project on their own, with their own desire at the root, I remind myself that this is why we homeschool.

Tackle It Tuesday

I tackled it! I finished it! My three day filing project is complete. Filing is for me another one of those procrastination begging chores. I love the thought of stating organized. I just can't stand doing those necessary chores that would allow me to stay organized.

"Why?" You ask. Because there are just too many other things to do. After all, I'm a hectic homeschooler. I have kids to educate. I have mouths to feed, all four five of them. (You can tell just how often I forget to feed myself.) I have a husband too keep track of, masons to feed or desert, Boy scout meetings to attend, Webelos to lead, Sunday School to teach, kids to laugh with, a toddler to babysit, a blog to write, clothes to sew, yarn to knit, more yarn to crochet, and phone calls to make. I can always find chores to do instead of filing. there is laundry to put away, dishes to wash, floors to mop, and a bathroom to clean. when do I have the time to file important documents?

When I decide to crack down on myself and make the time. That's when. So, this last Thursday, I decided I would start this project three years in the making. I'm not kidding, three years. I haven't done this since we moved out of this house for remodel work.

Here's how it started:

This is what I ended with Saturday afternoon:

and

Enjoy this and other Tackle It Tuesday blogs at 5minutesformom

Welcome to My Clown Show Sunday School Class

In all the years I've volunteered with Sunday School, never have I laughed as much as I did yesterday. this year, I teach a section usually involving games and related messy projects. Our church uses a rotation system, leaving me with a group of first graders this week. Creative energy hit a new high this week in our discussion of baptism.

Please, enter into my clown show Sunday School room. Our topic of discussion is the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. We have completed a somewhat messy, very cool disappearing message project. I have read the story of John the Baptist from the book of Matthew. We are now in a friendly discussion. During this time, I will ask some questions, children will answer.

"How would you feel if you were John when people came to be baptized?"

"Not good." This is now the fourth week kids have given me this answer.

"Not good? Why do you say that?"

"Because he ate bugs."

"I would have bad breath if I ate bugs. Some people have bad breath because they don't brush their teeth. I don't like being around people who have stinky breath."

"If I were John, I'd tell people I'd baptize them after I brushed my teeth."

"I don't think people had toothbrushes then. Maybe he ate honey to give himself good breath, and then the people wouldn't mind being around him."

Okay, time to move on.

"What was the special animal in the story?"

"I don't know."

"Oh, I know. It was a dove."

"Why was it a dove?"

Shrug the shoulders.

"Okay, why do you think God chose a dove, instead of a giraffe?" Yes, I know I walked into this one.

"Because a giraffe is really big, and it has a long neck, and long legs."

"A giraffe can't fly down and land on Jesus' shoulder. It's just way too big."

"Because a giraffes sit on toilets."

How many donuts has this kid had already? Too many, I'd guess.

"Do you know what my mom thinks doves are?"

"What?"

"She thinks they're romantic."

"So why do you think God chose a dove to appear?" Let's try this question again.

"Um, because doves are white."

"And have feathers."

"Doves are small enough they can land on Jesus' shoulder."

In comes an older sister, picking up her younger brother.

"Hi, would you like to join the clown show?"

"Um," as she is looking around the room in a strange manner, "I don't think so."

That's cool. You probably don't comprehend what is going on anyway.

"What does the dove represent?"

"My dad says its love."

"How about God's peace?"

"Yeah, yeah, that's it."

All right, now we have a focused answer. This group of kids is probably the most creative I've had all month. Everybody else acts as if they'd rather sleep than come to Sunday School. Yesterday reminded me of the email sent around the world about what kids say in Sunday School. I'm not sure how much sugar these kids had before church. Whatever they did, I'd like them to keep it up. The clown show was fun.

Sugar in my Dreams? Yikes!

Weird dreams are uncommon for me. For some reason, strange dreams don't come to me like they do for other people. During my few hours of slumber each night, I don't envision clowns dancing in the clouds. Tea kettles don't speak to me. Fabric doesn't get up off the table and run from the machine. Silk flowers don't grab me by the legs, and either apply scalding hot glue, ribbon and tape, or jab me into foam.

I used to have dreams of being at my job. Most of those dreams were in an unbalanced time of my work and family. They wouldn't be weird, just dreams of being at work flipping eggs, or frying bacon.

For the most part, I don't remember dreams at all. I might, on rare occasion, remember dreams for a few minutes after I wake up. Most dreams I do remember, end up portraying the worst nightmares of my life. I don't usually remember the good dreams for very long. Sometimes, I wish I could be normal for a moment and have a subconscious clown show in the wee hours of the morning.

Early this morning, I learned, I am perfectly capable of dreaming of the desire to apply sugar to my digestive tract. Yum, sugar in my coffee. There I was, in my kitchen, pouring a cup of coffee. The sugar bowl sat on the counter with a spoon in it. Coating the spoon was sugar, as if someone was moronic enough to stir sugar into something, then place the spoon back in the bowl. Something had to be done about this particular spoon. Simply placing the spoon, and all of the wonderfully yummy sugary coating, into my coffee cup made perfect sense to me. But, when I stirred my coffee, the sugar formed chunks instead of dissolving. I didn't want the family catching me, so I broke one of the chunks on the side of my mug. Instantly, the sugar fizzled and dissolved. Oh, that tasted so good; and felt so wrong at the same time.

In some way, I understand why I'm still having craving after 29 days of living sugar free. Sugar was a highly incorporated ingredient in my diet until Ash Wednesday. Adding sugar to my coffee was bringing almost 1/8 cup each day. Pop was adding more. Now, add candy to all that. My sugar intake was considerably more than necessary.

I've still lived sugar-free since my last post on the topic. I only have 20 days to go. I'm praying that over these next 20 days, I'll loose most of the desire for sugar. Then, come Easter, I won't want an overdose of sweets.