Friday, November 30, 2012

Taking a Big Trip? How I Plan and Pack


This past week we took a trip to the ocean.  We have a family home there and so there is no rent.  It is a rental property though so we don't keep "normal" supplies down there.  We have to bring everything from our food to towels and sheets.  Since we are trying to take this trip "on the cheap" I needed to make sure I planned everything that I could and take everything with me that we would need.  I didn't want to have to run out to the store and replace things we left. (However that did still happen and I will get to that).


So here was what I did.  I made lists.

1.  Menu plan for the days we would be down there including planned eating out.  We planned to eat out one meal on the way down and one on the way back and one while we were there.  For the meal we picked while we were there we chose a pizza place, a favorite of ours for lunch one day.  While the menu wasn't strict it did include everything we would eat, all meals (maybe not in the order I listed them) and all snacks.  I also included all spices and regular pantry items such as flour, salt and pepper, and sugar.  I have nothing down there so I have to take it all with me.

2.  Clothing.  This was a bit more relaxed.  I didn't stress if we didn't have enough clothing to get us through the week as we have a washer and dryer there in the house.  We can do laundry.  I did list out weather related items such as winter coats and socks. Shoes and sweatshirts.  An umbrella.

3.  Household linens.  We had to take take bath towels, wash cloths, sheets, blankets, kitchen towels, and pot holders. (I forgot kitchen towels and pot holders so we had to go to the Dollar Store and buy these items.  They are now down there in the owner's closet waiting for us to return.)

4.  Cleaning supplies.  Clorox wipes, laundry detergent and dryer sheets, dishwasher detergent and dish soap, hand soap, paper towels and toilet paper.

5.  Toiletries. Shampoos and conditioners, toothbrush and toothpaste, soaps, deodorant, etc.

6.  Activities and supplies.  We had some science activities we wanted to do while there and we made sure we had all the supplies we needed.  I also made sure each child brought two books with them to read and other activities they wanted to do or toys they wanted to pack (within reason).

7.  Kitchen pots and pans.  I like to cook on cast iron so I tend to bring my pans with me.  So I packed them also.

I began packing and planning a week in advance of our departure.  Most of the planning was done in list form and the scheduling was done in my head.  I made one last trip to the grocery store two days prior to our departure.

I began to pack our food stuffs the day before and the kids packed their clothes the day before.  The linens and towels were packed a few days before our departure.  On the day of our departure our daughter was sick and we delayed leaving for a day.  So instead of leaving on Tuesday evening we left Wednesday about mid-day.

The day of our departure I packed the rest of our food stuff and our cold food in the cooler.  Everything else was packed and in the car the night before.

Once we arrived and unpacked I knew there were a few things I did need from the store.  I did not pack eggs because they tend to not travel well.  I did not pack milk and I wanted to get some ice cream and knew that wouldn't travel well in the cooler.  We ended up spending about $50 with other fresh items like fruits we purchased.  We also spent $14 at the Dollar Store where I purchased a disposable turkey pan, a Reynolds Roasting bag and kitchen towels and pot holders.

We stayed at the ocean for 6 days and 6 nights and brought all our food from home and enjoyed the time we spent down there tremendously.

We think the off season is the best time to be at the beach.  We enjoy having the beach almost to ourselves and the weather usually isn't too bad in the fall and spring times.  Winters can be a bit windy and chilly but the views are still awesome.

If you plan, make lists, and follow your lists then you won't have any emergency trips to the store with added expense.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 30

Wow, we have gotten to the end of November.  I have to say the time is just flying by.

Today I am thankful for the quiet.  The ability to sit and listen to the quiet.  To be with God.  It calms me, it centers me and it heals me.

In this day and age with all our electronics and the internet I find that we are wanting things immediately, now.  We don't wait for things.  I am thankful for this time that we have between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year and for the time to wait and be quiet.  This year will be extra special for our family because with me at home and us not planning any big trips like in the past we will have time to enjoy the Christmas season.  The whole season.  For that I am thankful.

What have you been thankful for?

Thursday, November 29, 2012

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 29

Rounding the end of this month and I am now on a roll.

Today I am thankful for the great minds our family has.  We are a bunch of entrepreneurs really.  Today my son wanted to learn how to create an app for the ipod.  He had an idea and mapped it out on paper.  He and I did a bit of research on the internet on how to write an app, well he did most of the research, and he found a site that you can point and click your way through a creation of an app.  We then decided his idea may not be a good one to start with, an easier one or should I say simpler would be better to get our feet wet.  So his sister offered a great suggestion and he loved the idea.  Then his even younger sister suggested a way he could market his app.  It was a great idea!  Tomorrow we will be working on creating an app.  But mostly I love how they came up with the idea and how they helped each other.

Today I also have been working on a bit of a "side job" for me.  I reopened my Etsy Store.  It is http://www.etsy.com/shop/wcsears .  I am selling the items that I usually sell in local craft shows.  I thought I would set it up and offer it to others too.  I am hoping that this will make a bit of play money for our field trips and entrance fees.  I am selling handmade jewelry, cards, wine bags, etc.  All are handmade by me in my home.  If you feel compelled to buy, know that you are purchasing something that not only will make you happy but will make us happy as well.

Have a great evening!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

30 Days of Gratitude - Catch up days

I have missed quite a few days and I am sorry for my loyal readers.  Okay, here we go...

Day 22 - This was my anniversary.  I am so thankful that my husband is still loving and loyal.  I love him more today than ever before and my love for him grows deeper each year we are together.  He is my best friend and most trustworthy companion.

Day 23 - I was thankful that I didn't have to go out in the Black Friday shopping.  Spending time with my family is better than any deal or fighting any crowd.

Day 24 - Leftovers.  Yes I am thankful for leftovers.  I think they are much better the second time around.  The flavors have time to meld together and it is so yummy.

Day 25 - I am thankful that we don't have to travel in all the traffic that is returning home today.  This is truly a blessing to be able to relax and not have to worry about being at work on Monday morning.  Ahhh.....

Day 26 - I am thankful for GPS.  Yes today was a travel day for us and I was so glad that we had GPS.  We decided to travel a less popular route and one I hadn't traveled in some time.  It was a pleasant enough drive but there have been changes and I was glad we had GPS to help us out.

Day 27 - I am thankful for routine.  Coming home from a long trip a routine is nice to have.  The kids settled back into our school day routine and I was thankful that there were no complaints.  While I love traveling and being at the beach, I do love setting back into our routine at home.  (and sleeping in my own bed is nice too)

Day 28 - This is a big one!!!  Today I am thankful for the awesome way my kids get along.  They finished up their lessons this morning and the big one and the small one (just shy of 3 years difference in age though) decided to clean up the little one's room.  They worked on it all afternoon and made huge gains.  The room is really clean and they even did a bit of rearranging of furniture.  It looks fantastic and the little one is so happy with the results.  There was no arguing or fighting and this was a project they took on themselves without me having to ask.  Truly a blessing, and I am so thankful. (Plus I don't have to get in there and do it {wink wink})

Okay, now that I am all caught up.  I will continue for the next two days on schedule.  Our trip was very nice and I will post a few pictures and some "mom tips" on how we made it all happen.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Healthy Lunches Recipes

Check out this awesome book for free for Kindle today.  You can get the Kindle app on ipad, tablets, phones, and more.  You can get the app for free and this book for free.  Oh you can also get this app for your PC too.




Go here to get the app.  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=kindle+app


Have a great day!

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 21 The simple things

I am truly grateful for the simple things.  The modern conveniences.  Electricity, refrigeration, dish washers, washing machines and driers.  These simple appliances make my day every day.  They allow me to do the things I want to do and not spend so much time doing the things I NEED to do.

What are you grateful for today?

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 20

Today I am thankful that I am able to travel.  We are headed to the beach for the next couple days and we all can't wait.  I can't wait to feel and smell the salt air.  I can't wait to walk along the beach.  I can't wait to have a mini vacation with my family.  Such special moments.  I am also thankful that we have a place to stay for free.  It helps with the budget.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 19 Speak Kind Words

Today (okay yesterday) I am thankful for nice people.  In this time of gratitude I have found that often I am the one who has to extend the gratitude.  I say "thank you" all the time.  Many people don't say that anymore.  I say thank you to the check out lady in the grocery.  I say thank you to the sales people who call me on the phone, even though I don't buy or want their product and they interrupt my dinner.  I say thank you whenever anyone hands me something or gives me something.  I say thank you when people call to schedule an appointment with my husband.  I have found that if I do say "thank you" or "have a nice day" or in this case recently "Happy Thanksgiving" or "have a happy holiday" they will say it back and it usually puts a smile on their face.  I have also noticed that it usually catches them off guard a bit. So I thank all those who are nice to me first.  You put a smile on my face.

So my challenge to you today (my 7 readers, whom I love with all my heart) say kind words to someone today.  Let's see if we can't start a snowball effect of kindness to each other.

We have a sign in our kitchen that says "Speak kind words, receive kind echos".  I think it is pretty good words by which to live.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Just finished this book and it was great!

I love love love Debbie Macomber!  Her newest book did not disappoint!

I loved the new book.  This book takes place in the same fictional town, Cedar Cove.  This town was home to the characters in her Cedar Cove series which lasted 11 novels.  I loved her characters in this town and this new book picks up in the same town with the same characters filtering in and out.  It is based around a bed and breakfast, an inn.  She develops some wonderful characters!  Anyway, check it out if you have some time.



PS:  Notice that I have been putting these links from Amazon in some of my posts?  They are there to help you see the items I am talking about in my posts.  These are all items that I have purchased or want to purchase.  If you click on the link you are helping me just a little bit, to earn money.  I get a bit (very small bit) of a percentage of what you spend if you click through one of my links.  Right now I earn 4% of what you spend.  Your prices are no different than regular Amazon prices if you went to the website directly.  But by clicking through my links, it helps me buy school books for the kids and other emergency preparedness items that I buy off Amazon.  My earnings are given in the form of a gift card to Amazon.  Thank you for helping me out.

Getting Organized for the Holidays

Is it just me or you too?  I am surprised that the radio stations are playing Christmas music 24/7 already.  I love turning on the radio the day after Thanksgiving and hearing the Christmas music for the first time.  It is such a special time and a nice treat!  But NOW???  It just doesn't make sense.  We already have almost an extra week between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.  To play Christmas music already seems like a bit of an overkill to me.

However, I do like to start planning my Thanksgiving and Christmas around this time of year anyway.  Actually I usually begin thinking about the holidays just after Halloween.  I try to brainstorm and list all the things I want to do for the holidays first.  Then sort through that list and cross off anything that seems out of the question or seems unreasonable.  Then I like to get things scheduled on the calendar - go see Santa, our Christmas party, any other parties or dinners we are invited to goes on the calendar.  Then I like to categorize things in to weeks.  These would be like getting Christmas cards signed and addressed, mailing Christmas cards, baking cookies, shopping, getting the Christmas tree, outside decorations going up, shopping for Christmas dinner and baking.  Then I like to get the gift list ready.  I list out everyone I would like to give gifts too and begin to brainstorm ideas for each person on my list.  I set a budget and then adjust the list as necessary.  I try to make as many gifts as I can if possible.  I love homemade gifts.  Not all my recipients do but I love to give them so they get them.

Visualizing the calendar works so well for me.  I can see the things I need to get done.

Because we are homeschooling this year, I am hoping that I will have just a bit more time to do the things we really want to do each holiday season but don't seem to have the time.  These would include driving around and looking at Christmas lights, baking more than usual, creating some nice gifts for my family and friends.

What do you do to get organized for the holidays?  What tips do you have for busy families?  What is your favorite tradition leading up to Christmas?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 18

Today I am thankful for my car.  Yes, it might sound a bit trite but I love that I can get in my car and run errands here and there.  I love my little car because I can zip in and out of parking lots easily.  It is easy to drive and gets great gas mileage.  In fact I haven't filled it up in two weeks and I still have 1/4 tank.   I love our big car, our Suburban.  It may be 13 years old but it is solid and holds all of us and our stuff.  I can go to the grocery store or Costco and fill the back up with groceries.  I love taking it on trips and I love that we can pack so much in it.

I do reminisce about what life would be like if we were still using horse and buggy.  I so enjoyed a few years ago when we were in Pennsylvania in "Amish Country" watching the Amish and Mennonite families travel up and down the road in their buggies.  It was a slower pace of life.  It was less cluttered.  I wonder what life would be like if we were to all live like them.

But today, I am in love with my car and I am so thankful that Henry Ford invented a way to build a car that would make it affordable for most all of us to own. (BTW, I don't own a Ford.)

Saturday, November 17, 2012

A few Books for Reluctant Readers

I have a very reluctant reader in my household.  He has Dyslexia which makes it difficult for him to read.  Over the years he has become more and more reluctant to read.  He wants to read but it is so difficult for him that he shies away from it.  A few years ago these awesome "graphic novels" came out and he has loved them.  They have pictures and the words are large-type making it easier for him to read and comprehend the story.  While he is in the 7th grade he loves to read these because for him they are "easy readers".




There is also the Big Nate Series:  My son loves these books too.




For girls, we have found these books quite enjoyable!




We also enjoyed the Bad Kitty series.




All these books come in a Kindle edition too.  We have a Toshiba tablet and the kids enjoy reading them on the tablet too, through the Kindle app.  I think they enjoy reading on the tablet or ipod because they are using a fun tool to read through.  It makes it more motivating for them to read.  Anything to get them reading.  These would make excellent Christmas/Hanukkah presents this year.



30 Days of Gratitude - Day 17

Today I am thankful for yard sales.  Ha ha.  But seriously.  I am thankful that we have an outlet that we are able to sell our unused or barely used items to the general public at very little effort.  We, of course, need money and I thought I would throw together a yard sale pretty quick.  I decided this on Wednesday and I was up and running a yard sale this morning (Saturday) at 8 AM.  Pretty easy.  Put some things out on a table and tag it with a price and voila - a yard sale.  I made $38 in just a few hours and got rid of some items that I don't need.  So nice.  So today I am thankful for yard sales and all those who came to mine in this cold weather and bought some of my things.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 15

I have an hour and a half left before the day is over.  Ha ha ha...

Today I have been thankful for local businesses.  We live in a small community in a larger city.  This area has some wonderful local businesses and I love to shop there instead of the big box stores.  The customer service is wonderful and they support local residents too.  Not only do I enjoy shopping in the stores but I also enjoy eating in the local restaurants.  I love local restaurants much better than the larger franchises.

So get out and shop at the local businesses in your area.  You might find some great buys for the holidays!

Have a great evening!

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 16

Today I am thankful for customers.  They are truly our lifeline in my husband's business.  Without them there would be no business and thus we would be really out on our luck as a family.  They appreciate the service he provides and in the end he appreciates them.  We try to be as fair and honest as we can with them and we won't do any unnecessary work or bid a job higher than is appropriate.  They seem to appreciate his honesty and his business practices.  To our customers/clients:  thank you from the bottom of our heart.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Nerdy Ned's Totally Awesome, Super-Cool Bible Stories

I can't believe I haven't shared this book with you yet.


We have been including Bible study in our lessons each day. About a month ago I bought this book from Sam's Club. I thought it might help us get to know the stories in the Bible quickly and in a fun way.








We have really enjoyed this book. It is quick and easy and leaves out a lot of the details of the stories but gets to the jist of the stories. We have had great discussions with this book and at times gone to the Bible for more of the story.  There are cartoon-like drawings in the book too, to keep the kids interested and space for the kids to "doodle" also. If you are looking for a book like this for your kids/grandkids, I highly recommend!

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 14 Music

Today I am thankful for music.  All kinds.  Music can be so relaxing, take your mind off worries, make you happy, and make you sad.  Today we are listening to some classical music while we work on our lessons.  It is happy and pretty.  I love how it ebbs and flows.  Builds and falls.

I love that I can pop in a CD and play what I want now.  Back "in the day" when I was a kid, I remember getting my first stereo system.  It was a surprise at Christmas and I was so excited to get it.  It had a record player, a cassette player and an 8-track player on it, two big speakers and an AM and FM radio.  I thought I had hit the big time!  With it I got Olivia Newton-John's "Get Physical" 8-track and I played the mess out of it.  I used to request songs on the radio and wait to hear them and rush to tape them on my cassette player so I could play them over and over again.  How funny thinking about it now as we just look up whatever song we want on You Tube or on iTunes and download it immediately.

I like all kinds of music except the really heavy metal stuff, screaming stuff and the hard core gangster rap music.  I love classical music, pop, rock, country, and of course most everything that came out of the 1980's.

I hope that you are able to enjoy a bit of music today.  Have a great day!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 13 Explore your City!

Today I am thankful for all the opportunities that my city provides us for free.  Today we are off to explore our art museum which is absolutely free.  We take advantage of our parks for walks and exploration, our museums, seasonal activities, and the many other places that offer free admission.  Our area is so rich in history that it is a shame that many of the residents never take the opportunity to explore their own city.  I have made it a goal to explore our city as if we were tourists so we get the most of it.

Do you live in a big, medium, small city?  Do you have a town museum?  Have you been there?  Just last week we went to our county museum.  We have lived here for over 30 years and neither my husband or I had been to our county museum.  There were some great things in there.  We also learned that the very neighborhood that we live in used to be a train stop up until probably right before these houses were built. We also saw many items that we have been talking about recently with the kids.

So much can be just in your own backyard for learning and homeschooling.  Try to take advantage of the free and inexpensive things to do in your own town/city.

Monday, November 12, 2012

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 12

Today I am thankful for those "surprise" warm days in late fall.  I have so enjoyed being outside yesterday and today.  The weather is perfect with hardly any humidity and lots of warm sunshine.  I do wish I had done something with my garden this fall. It sits empty right now and walking around it makes me a bit sad.

While we are wishing, I wish I had a laundry genie.  I would love to wiggle my nose and have all those piles of laundry done in a flash.  I have tons of load waiting for me.  UGH.

Have a great evening.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 11

Today I am thankful for all our men and women who served and still serve in our armed forces.  Without them we would have been attacked so many years ago.  They keep us safe and secure our freedoms so we can live as we choose in this great nation.

I thank you for your service to our country and to my family.  I think about you all and pray for you all.

Have a great day!

Saturday, November 10, 2012

30 Days of Gratitude, Day 10

The internet!  I am thankful for the internet.  It is my "go to" place for all things I need answers to.  Just yesterday I learned how to make beef stew and grow celery from a cut off stalk.  It is pretty amazing the stuff you can find.  This morning my youngest daughter taught me all about Magic Elf Seeds (look it up).  They are pretty cool and something that we would like our Elf on the Shelf to bring us. ;)

The internet helps me keep in touch with my long lost friends as well as my neighbors just next door. Ha ha ha. But seriously, it does!  The internet teaches me about all my ailments prior to a doctor's visit.  The internet teaches me all about food storage, emergency prep and homeschooling.  I can "meet" new friends and find I have a lot in common with them even though I have never physically met them, we become fast friends.

I {heart} the internet.


Have a great day!

Friday, November 9, 2012

30 Days of Gratitude, Day 9

Today I am grateful that I have a nice home to live in.  I love my home and we have made many great memories here.  I am thankful to be blessed enough to live in a wonderful neighborhood where the kids are safe to play outside and neighbors look out for one another.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Stock up for the holidays-Food Storage

Do you notice the sales in the grocery store around this time of year?  I do.  I notice the cake mixes, bread mixes (sweet breads and regular breads), the spices, butter, baking ingredients, etc. are all on sale this time of year.  It is a great time to stock up for the year on sugar, cake mixes, brownie mixes, flour and other baking items.  I try to stock up for the year.

Having sugar in our stock pile is important to us.  We also stock cookie and cake mixes.  I like to have cake mixes on hand for those "emergency cake" times.  Ha ha ha. But seriously.  Grab a few along with a container of icing.  Grab some sugar, flour and baking powder.  Grab some cakes of yeast too.  I love to grab some bags of chocolate chips (semi sweet and milk chocolate) too. 

Don't overlook sweets in your food storage.  Also this is a great time to get ready for the new year.  Organization is the key to any great project being completed and if your goal for 2013 is to increase your food storage then now is a great time to start to get ready to stock up. Start making lists of the items you already have and begin to make a list of items you need in your food storage.  Then divide it up (or go out on the net and find someone who has already done this) and get ready to start January 1.

As for me, I collect items all year long when they go on sale.  I try to keep a list of items we need and try to look for those when I am out.  This time of year I am also looking for meat sales and veggie sales to stock up for our "lean months" of January, February, and March.  So now in our times where we have a bit more money to spend I stock up on freezer foods, meats, veggies and of course, baking items I spoke of above.

Have a great evening.

Pumpkin

photo from http://mixtomatch.blogspot.com
Did you know you can use a real pumpkin to make pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies?  Yes, I did too but I never knew exactly how you use it.  I have always used the canned stuff to make my baked pumpkin goods.  I never knew how to get it from fresh form to what I get from a can.

It actually couldn't be simpler.  I asked a friend and she told me.  I am posting this for others who never knew too.

Take the pumpkin (I have small ones, I don't know if the large jack-o-lantern size would work or not) wash the dirt off the outside and cut it in half, top to bottom.  Scoop out all the seeds and stringy stuff.  Then place them cut side down on a cookie sheet.  Pour some water on the cookie sheet so the pumpkins don't dry out while cooking.  Place in the oven at 350 degrees for about an hour until you can stick your knife easily in and out of the pumpkin flesh.  Let cool and scoop out the insides.  Then just use that as you would regular canned pumpkin.  See.  Easy Peasy!

I have done four pumpkins and have a TON of pumpkin flesh for breads and pies later.  I put mine in Ziploc bags and stuck it in the freezer for later.

I did make some yummy pumpkin bread using this recipe here.

http://blog.streaminggourmet.com/2009/10/23/ultimate-pumpkin-bread/


30 Days of Gratitude, Day 8

Today I am thankful for my friends.  They are the ones who support me, tease me, help me, listen to me, and help make me that best that I can be.  My closest friends are always there for me and I so appreciate them.  I know that I can call on them for anything and they will come quickly to my aid.  I so appreciate their candor when they think I am off on a tangent or when I am not being quite the best person that I can be.  I appreciate their thoughtfulness when I need a touching word or hug.  I appreciate their laughter and their ability to make me laugh, sometimes even when I don't want to laugh. I learn from them and love them to death!  You know me the best and you know how to best make me, well me!

(oh, I am going to cry  now.  Didn't see that coming.  I think I need to make some phone calls and let them know how much I love them.)

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

30 Days of Gratitude, Day 7

Today I am thankful that I was born in a country where I have my freedoms.  Freedom of religion, speech, assembly, petition, and press.  I don't always exercise my freedoms as some but through this blog I exercise quite a bit of those freedoms.  I am grateful that I was able to vote in our national, state and local elections and that my vote is counted.

My convictions are mine and only mine.  I can't impose my convictions on another as I know that others can not impose their's on me.

I teach my kids respect for others' opinions and convictions.  I teach them through my words and my actions.  We discuss (sometimes with passion) how their opinions are different but we never attack them as a person. This past election cycle has brought out so much hate.  It is difficult to see those who we will elect to lead us act so poorly sometimes.

I am thankful that I have my freedoms and that they are protected in our Constitution.

By the way, did you know that the first official nationally declared Thanksgiving Day was declared by George Washington to give thanks to our Constitution?  Yup!  So it is only fitting that in this month of recollection of gratitude I include our Constitution and our freedoms it protects for us.

Have a great day!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Are these elections making you nervous?



Are they exciting to you?  Nerve-wracking? Not interested in them?

I vote at every opportunity.  It is my right to vote and it is a privilege that I don't take lightly.  I vote in the rain, cold, snow, and heat.  I vote EVERY. SINGLE. TIME!  It is important to me not only as a woman but as a citizen.  It is our civic duty to vote.

So tonight I sit and watch the results come in and this election like the other presidential elections is exciting and also nerve-wracking.  I sit with excitement and watch the national broadcasts of the results and watch them fill in the map with the red and blue states.  I discuss with others about the electoral college and if we should get rid of that system or keep it. I want my candidate to win.  And it is fun for me to watch and wait.

So do you watch the results all evening?  Is it fun for you?  Do you care?

30 Days of Gratitude. Day 6.

Today I am thankful for the ability to stay home with my kids.  This has been a wonderful experience and one I will cherish for the rest of my life.  Each day is filled with routine things and new experiences.  I see them blossom right in front of my eyes.  Homeschooling was the best decision we could have ever made.

Monday, November 5, 2012

30 Days of Gratitude. Day 5

Today I am thankful for my Mom and Dad.  My mom continues to support me and my family in our endeavors even though she may not agree.  She is my trusted confident and she is my best friend.

I miss my dad so much.  He passed away 6 years ago but I still miss him every day.  He helped to teach me how to cook, build things, explore new ideas, and play Backgammon.  From him I get my sense of adventure.

I am so grateful to both of them for all they did for me and raising me right.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

November. 30 Days of Gratitude.

Today is November 4th, so I am a bit behind on this, but I thought I would start my 30 days of Gratitude.

Sometimes in our everyday life we tend to forget the things that make us happy; things for which we are grateful.  This month so many are posting what they are grateful for each day.  I thought I would post mine here.  Each day I will post one thing I am grateful for.

Here are my first four, and they are BIGGIES!

1.  I am grateful for our Lord.  He watches over me and my family and guides us to a life better than we imagined.  Of all the things, I am MOST grateful for God.

2. I am so grateful that I have such a wonderful, loving husband.  He serves our family in more ways than I can list.  He loves us so much and is willing to move mountains to make us happy.  He works hard every single day and never complains so that we can have the things we need.

3.  I am so grateful for my children, I learn from them every day.  They are so helpful, curious, generous, and fun to be around.

4.  I am so grateful that we have found a way to homeschool our children.  This has been the most amazing experience.  Better than I could have ever imagined.

Okay, there are my first four.  What are you grateful for?