Well we couple of days yet to keep embracing 2010! But I keep pondering what is 2011 going to be like. It will be so much better and so much more will get done and be explored! The over view of 2010 has been so trying but mostly rewarding! Here are some ideas we have touched on now mind you not all;

1. January: New Years Day, we started Charlotte Mason Method with big Thank you to (Holistic Homeschooler)
2. February: Started going to Wednesday Library reading (Rapides Parish library)
3. March: Daddy's birthday and Saint Patrick's Day,  started Girl Scout Troop
4. April: My birthday and EASTER and Earth Day
5. May: Lileigh Boop Boop's birthday Mother day, Memorial day
6. June: Fathers day, Flag Day
7. July: Makenzee birthday, Independence day 
8. August: National Aviation Day, Abbigale birthday
9. September: Labor Day, Patriot day, Grandparents day, Constitution Day and Week, Native American Day, My wedding Anniversary
10. October: POP corn month, Halloween, Columbus Day
11. November: Jon-Jon birthday, Thanksgiving
12. December: CJ birthday and Christmas!

In 2011 we will do some of same and of coarse add some things! I am hoping we get more done this year and kids are excelled and excited. It is up to us to keep our children  curious and wanting to gain KNOWLEDGE even when not schooling. Keeping there minds busy and happy they will always be learning and looking to find new ways.

My New Years resolution is not to worry about the small stuff and to work on what we have for today and make sure what we do as a home schooling family we are always exploring new things! As a mom it would be to just relax and to get more organized as well as be the momma I need to be for each child I have been blessed with. Remember make it fun always! See you Next year!
                                      Thank you for stopping and pondering,

                                                                   

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” Bill Vaughn

Invisible Mom

I received this email from my mother in law. It was the most touching and it made the most since it brought a tear to my eye. I at times have to admit I feel like what the heck am I doing as a home schooling, stay at home mom. I feel as though nothing I do matters at time and why do I keep doing it. But I do and after reading this I understand now. I hope you enjoy and realize that the tear it brings makes it all worth while! Thank you Granny Sue for thinking of me and loving me enough to share this! =)

                                                         Thank you Pondering,

A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing" Proverbs 17:22
"Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws."
- Barbara Kingsolver

Invisible Mom

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response,the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'
 
Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie
this? Can you open this??
 
Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
 
Some days I'm a crystal ball; 'Where's my other sock?, Where's my phone?, What's for dinner?'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history, music and literature -but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!?
 
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe .
 
I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
 
In the days ahead I would read - no, devoured - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: 1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. 2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. 3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. 4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
 
A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
 
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.
 
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
 
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a monument to myself.  I just want him to want to come home.  And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, he'd say, 'You're gonna love it there...'
 
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.



What the season is about!

We are down to the last week before Christmas. Well for first time ever in my adult life I have everything wrapped and ready. Those of you who know me know I am so bad at keeping secrets this is so hard not letting kids open the gifts or giving hints. WOW I know where my 5 year old gets it. I never thought I would say or even think that. 

As easy as it is to get consumed buy material things! We need to focus on what the true meaning of CHRISTMAS is and it is not just receiving but the giving! Jesus was ultimately given to us he is our true gift and we need to make sure we focus on him. My family and I have started a tradition a couple of years back! We make Jesus a birthday cake. We decorate it and sing Happy birthday to our Savior. 

Teaching children traditions is such an awesome time of being together. It is something we take as a child up in our adult lives. I pray my children will keep doing the things we do now and when they are grown and have families of their own they include the same ones as well as make there own. Isn't that what makes family?!

Here is something I try to get my children to always remember. Try to give something back even if it is a smile or how are you? or I am praying for you, have a great day and so one. You never know when you may make someones day worth while. This is one of the most depressing times of the year for some people. The statistics say there is more suicides then any other time of year. So it is up to us to always make sure to give back. You never know you maybe saving someones life! Merry Christmas and God Bless you all! =)

                                Thank you for stopping by,

Luke 2:9-12
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. (10) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. (11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (12) And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

 I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. ~Charles Dickens

We Are Always Blessed

Well as we get into making our gifts for family and friends. I am finding myself pondering why do I do this every year LAST minute. The kids so enjoy making things and handing them out. They say being Santa is very rewarding. I am so proud.  

I can not say it isn't fun even with the kids craziness and fingers licking and touching everything. Boy keeping things clean and nice is what is exhausting. But when the final projects are finish it is all worth the while.  SO we have the kids make batches that stay in home you know the fingers have to be licked every time you have something accidentally touch you. 

Then I have the ones we give done by me. My kids, I hope one day appropriate all I do! It would probably be way cheaper to buy something throw paper on it and give it. But see we feel making it comes from the heart and time was put into it which makes it full of love! 

This year we are making:

Popcorn cakes with pine cone ornaments for our Girl Scout Troop to give at our Christmas party on 21 there are as of now 15 families and we are getting ready to have more,

The rest is getting a gift bag and we there is a total as of today 

30 who are getting them. They will have 

Red Bean and rice in bag meal from Jon-Jon,

Coffee filter angel from Makenzee,

Candy Cane mouse from Lileigh, 

Pine cone ornament from Abbi,

I also made home made reusable dryer scented pads, 

Holiday Pretzel Treats

Buckeye's

Peppermint Bark

and last but not least  

My Grandma's Molasses cookies sorry recipe is families not allowed to share but oh my BUT trust me they are sooooo yummy!!!

My kids are very blessed this year like every year but this is going to be one of the best ones they have ever had! Praise be to God!

We as a family have applied for the RED KETTLE to get donations to help the Salvation Army for all those less fortunate. We always scrape up what change we have to give to the Red Kettle when we see it. The Salvation Army has helped our family in the past. We are so grateful to be able to give back even if it is on line. Our goal is $200.00 so please if you can a dollar even helps. 

My Makenzee gave her change the other day and told the 2 women thank you for taking time to make someones family have a great Christmas by ringing the bells. The ladies got tears in their eyes and gave her a hug then they came up to me and said Your daughter just touched me and she gave me a hug and said whatever you are doing you are doing an awesome JOB! That woman touched me as much as my daughter touched her. 

As for schooling we are reading and doing our sight words as well as math. This month is so full of activities it is hard to keep up with full lessons. 

By doing it this way they still are getting Literature, math, History, Science and grammar so they are missing out on full schooling. I love home schooling the sky is the limit!

                                Blessings,

Christmas Greatest News, The Shepherds and the Angels, Luke 2:9-12; 13-14
"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.""

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day.  Don't clean it up too quickly.  ~Andy Rooney

New Milestone

I have been pondering on how my oldest son that is out of our house trying to be an adult on his own. Well he is living with a friends family so he isn't quit on his own. But he is doing without his Mom which is awesome. It shows I have done something right in my life to help him to be able to be successful. Now to get him in College but yes there is a but. He has not lived with me for 2 years. So you ready for this he is still considered my dependent according to Valencia Community College until he is 24 years old. Isn't that just crazy?!  My son CJ turned 20 December 1st. To me even when a kid or young adult who is or has been on there own should be able to go to College with out their parents. Now if I lived in his state he could go because he would be a resident. Well there's the dilemma I live in Louisiana he lives in Florida. So he can not go at this time. He says he figure something out so hopefully it works out.

I reflect back at all the things CJ and I as a mother and son have gone through. He was always the good kid that didn't require much. He was a loving child. He is growing up to be a loving man. He has had a few short stupefied moments. He felt he knew more then I. Well maybe there is some things he did but I have been there done that. I was 16 years old when he was born. But one thing is for sure he never went without.

If I had to redo anything with him it would have been to be faithful to God and active in church. I also would have home schooled him when he asked or should I say begged! I was scared uneducated on how to home school and could I home school a middle schooler no less high schooler. Well I have come a long way guess what I am schooling a middle schooler almost high schooler. Here is the famous saying " If I only knew then what I know now!"

AS I close on this matter I truly am a blessed Momma. I have the advantage of being apart of all these children lives to see them grow and blossom into the beings they are. I am going to take advantage of everything I can while I can. This is the first day of our lives is everyday! Thank you Heavenly Father for another day on earth with my children!                                           
                                                            Thank you for taking few minutes!

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

I just want my kids to love who they are, have happy lives and find something they want to do and make peace with that. Your job as a parent is to give your kids not only the instincts and talents to survive,
but help them enjoy their lives.
-Susan Sarandon