random learning

Two at Home this Year!

2010-09-07T18:56:00.000-07:00

Some days are better than others in this homeschooling adventure. We are on the third week of Evan's freshman year, and today marked the beginning of Ethan's seventh grade year. I am looking forward to a great year but we fumbled through the first day. We prepared well but it just seemed to not go as smooth as I had hoped. Oh well, there are plenty of days ahead to work it out.

Color

2008-09-23T09:31:00.000-07:00

As I was scrolling through the comments on my Favorite Devotional Blog I ran across a Blogger who had posted this free fun color profile test. It only takes a minute and and it is free. Have fun! Here are my results!

You're a Resource Director You're all about setting priorities and maximizing the benefits you can receive from the things in your life. You may appear direct and focused on the issues at hand, but you're also deeply interested in the underlying dynamics of different relationships. You motivate people to take a closer look at their lives.

Go take your test!

Track and Yeild

2008-09-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

Shanda and I went for a smallish 2.5 mile walk today ( now last week) and I am so completely out of shape that it wiped me out. It was that or the 6 hours of school work with the boys. It has been almost one year since I consistently worked out. I have really struggled with getting back into the routine of being in a routine. Please seriously support the Save the Kim from Her Fat Pants Campaign.

I will accept any praise and admiration you can muster. I need help to get my train on the track.

I have good intentions to yield to temptation but the blue bag of Oreo's rendered me powerless about 20 minutes ago and I ate some where between 4 and 8 of them. I really don't know. I should have eaten before I worked out. 3-5 in the afternoon I feel like I am starving. My tummy growls and I get cranky. If you have an idea on how you get through your time o'day please share.

I'm still (for the most part ) proud of my choices today. I do not feel guilt or shame so I will face tomorrow with determination. I will hit the track and dare I say attempt to run. Pray for me.

Ode to Shanda - Build-a-Blogger

2008-09-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you , Shanda for my awesome blog background! It is only a true friend who really knows you could do that for me! I want the whole blog-world to know that I LOVE IT!

Dinner and no movie

2008-09-06T17:01:00.001-07:00

1 6-ounce can chicken (all white meat)
1 can Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup
1 1/4 cups Uncle Ben's Minute Rice
Preparation:In a one-quart pot add the can of soup, one can of water, and the can of chicken. Stir while heating to a boil. Remove from heat, add the Minute rice and stir. Cover and let it sit for 5 minutes; uncover, stir and serve. Salt and pepper to taste. If you don't want to carry a can into the wilderness, substitute your favorite dry chicken soup mix and use 2 1/2 cups of water and 1 1/4 cups of minute rice.
Servings: 6Preparation time: 10 minutes

This was not planned...

2008-09-05T08:08:00.000-07:00

For my 33rd birthday we celebrated by going out for dinner. Lindsey and Lauren just happened to show up looking fabulous and color coordinating with my outfit! I love it when we are on the same wave length. BTW- It was a great evening filled with family, friends, food and laughter. My favorite things!

Big Girls DO Cry

2008-09-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

I am not talking tears of joy! I am so aggravated that I have gained and lost the same twenty, yes twenty, pounds twice in the last year (August to August). I am sick of this excess weight! I know how to eat right and exercise. I actually enjoy exercise.

That's it I am back on the top of my own priority list. I'm making a come back. Watch out Firm step you are about to have the dust blown off and Billy you are going to kick box me back into shape! Not to mention the sparkpeople SHANDA told me about.

Besides The Biggest-Looser is coming back and I always regret not being in shape the moment it comes on. Let's get physical!

Tag I'm... IT?!

2008-09-03T21:41:00.000-07:00

Okay Shanda!

You tagged me to have to make a list

of my six personality quirks.

Hummmm...I really can't think of any.

Just kidding!!

Let's define quirk

Quirk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quirk
Jump to: navigation, search

Look up quirk inWiktionary, the free dictionary.
Quirk may refer to

[edit] Odd habit
A quirk is an odd habit. Most dictionaries list this word's origin as “unknown”. However, as the surname arises from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea, and because the island is somewhat notorious for idiosyncratic behaviors, we may find the word's origins there. Many surnames have fluctuated in their pronunciations and, hence, their spellings. Prior to the twentieth century, the most common variant for this “phylum” was Quark

Now on to the good stuff!

1. I love the smell of a print shop!

I was practically born in one and the smell of ink and paper just brings me home.

2. I prefer all the towels in the cabinet to be folded the same way and have the hemmed side facing the back of the cabinet. I also prefer them all to be white.

I don't know why but I do.

3. I always buy green beans when I go shopping for groceries.

If you need some I can almost guarantee I will have them.

4. I love to get a hot bath.

I celebrate with baths. I get a bath to relax. I get a bath when I want to have time with the Lord. I get bath when I feel bad. I get a bath when I am stressed. I will get a bath for just about any reason or emotion.

5. I love the Message Bible.

It is easy to read and I can absorb not only quantity but content.

6. I hate to loose or do things badly.

I will instead choose not to play or start a project.

There you go now I am supposed to tag people but I just don't have that many bloggin friends so you will just have to step up if you are reading this and take the challenge. Yes, this does mean you.

2008-09-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

Pennies from Heaven

This summer has definately been a trying time financially, emotionally, and physically. I am recovering from the last two (one day at a time) but that financial thing just hasn't worked out as I have planned. I am, however, thankful for pennies from heaven. They have been my encouragement.

When I lived in Irving I had a good friend who was going through a really long and trying fiscal season. They had one child (two years old) and she had a low paying part time job when her husband was laid off. He took a low paying hourly job while he was job hunting. All that to say, it was extremely difficult to make ends meet. Have you noticed that bills still come in even when checks don't?

She shared a story her mom told her about a rich man. The rich man always stopped to pick up pennies off the floor, in parking lots and stores. He was asked why, if he had so much money, would he stoop to pick up a penny. He replied " Pennies remind me that every cent I have comes from God." After her mom relayed that encouraging story she hung up the phone and turned around to find a penny laying on her kitchen table. She found pennies every where she went until their trial was over.

Throughout this difficult season I have found a penny (sometimes several ) each day. It has been a comforting reminder that all I have comes from God and I can trust him to meet my needs. I found two already today and also a dime. Oh yeah. I am also only $100 from making rent. Since I started out the day the Lord has provided $200.12. I am trusting Him to meet our needs this month. Roger's commission won't kick in till next month. We can use your payers and encouragement.

Lord, I ask you to provide food, shelter, and electricity for my family this month. I am thankful for your provision for this summer. I know you have blessed and stretched what we have. Please do not let me get ahead of your plan. I know I struggle with that and I am sorry. I want to wait on you because I know you have a plan for me and that it is to bring me hope and not harm. Guard my mouth and give me wisdom to know when and who to ask for help and when not to move. I love you.

Hope

2008-06-03T21:06:00.000-07:00

Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Hope implies a certain amount of despair, wanting, wishing, suffering or perseverance — i.e., believing that a better or positive outcome is possible even when there is some evidence to the contrary.

I have hope. Hope that I am more than what I was yesterday. Hope that I am growing and changing more tomorrow. Hope that God will deliver me from the seemingly difficult situation I am in, and do it in perfect timing. Hope that this is not my home but that I have a permanent one that nothing can separate me from. I have hope that I can trust, like a child, my Father who gets me. I have hope beyond all hope because I know the truth. I know I can run this race. I know that I have been given gifts. I know that there is a plan for me. I know I have a future. I know I can do all things with Christ. I know that I am Loved. I know that I am fully accepted. I know that you are my neighbor and I know I love you. I know He loves you more.

Is There Dust on My Feet?

2008-05-26T00:34:00.000-07:00

After you here something for the third time you start to get that you need to know it. The sames statement keeps coming to me in everything I read, the disciple's of a rabbi followed their teacher so closely that the dust that flew as they walked covered their feet.

I hope I have dirty feet, because I am trying to stay on His heels. I hope that it seems that their are almost one set of footprints because that's how close I want to follow. I hope to leave the same carbon imprint on this world that He did.

Teach me your ways oh Lord because I love you. Please show me how to love your Word. Create in me a clean heart. Use me as a servant. Bless me so that I may proclaim your name among my friends and enemies. Have mercy on me. Grant me a place in this world so I can show love. Help my eyes to see the needs around me. No matter which way I turn please be there. Do not let me stay from the ways of your teaching. Renew my heart, renew my mind. Line me up. I need you, You are bigger than I am. You see things for how they really are, bind up those who fight against me, because they are against you. Show your light, revel truth. I am not afraid because you guide me. You are my deliverer. You provide all I need. I love you. I choose you. I love you. Thank you for singing and dancing over me. Thank you for the victory over this world. I want to rest in you.

Excess

2008-05-25T05:25:00.000-07:00

Excess
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Excess is a state of something being present beyond a requisite amount. In certain contexts, it has a more specialized meaning:
In insurance, similar to deductible.
In chemistry, describing any reagent that is not the limiting reagent.
Excess is also the title of a track by Tricky featured in the film Thir13en Ghosts (see also Blowback (album)).

I am currently in the state of cleaning out my house and making so beautiful that buyers cannot resist it when it hits the market. I am making it a "magazine" house. One that simultaneously looks like you want to live in but no one really lives in.
In order to do this I am having to sell, give away, and store a good half of the clutter I (we) have acquired.I really hate stuff right now. I hate the excess. My son Ethan (11) does not like to share is stuff, my son Evan (12) holds on to his for dear life, and my husband spent the last two years bringing so much stuff home I ran out of places to put it. I have to say he is on board now because he can see how great our house can look sans stuff.
I do not want to accumulate more stuff. I feel like it standing in the way of something way more important..people. We (Americans) rush out to purchase, pile it up in our homes, garages and trash cans, and we rush home from work to watch our stuff, guard our stuff and play with our stuff. Not to mention watch TV on how to make our stuff look good (I'm talking to myself here).
"So what does this all mean?" you ask. I'm taking a break form stuff. I am committing to myself not to buy anything new for a month (outside of food). I know it may not seem long to you but I'm trying something very difficult for my family. If we buy stuff I want it to be used, goodwill, garage sales, e-bay. Laugh if you want, but this will be difficult for my family.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

2008-05-22T22:41:00.000-07:00

I have a friend who makes her own laundry detergent. She has been doing it for a year and it only cost 3 cents a load. I am so trying this. Here is a link to the directions. Save money, save the earth, and one less trip to walmart. What's not to love?

http://www.homemaking911.com/2008/02/02/make-your-own-laundry-soap/

Making Mud Pies

2008-05-21T20:35:00.001-07:00

As a child on of my favorite things to do was spend hours and I do mean hours making mud pies. Now let me tell you why, I was imitating my mom's wonderful ( no really really wonderful) chocolate pies. You know the fight over the last piece,knock your four brothers down to get to it kind of pie. I wanted to make a pie like that when I grew up...so I practiced in the mud. The funny thing about mud pie is it's not so satisfying. It does look like chocolate pie but it taste like dirt and water.

So that's the point here. I'm a grown up and I no longer have to settle for mud pies. I am no longer satisfied to settle for something less than what God has for me. I don't want imitation anything: safety, comfort, reality, etc. I desire truth and longevity.

John Piper tackles this subject in Desiring God. ( Did I mention I love to read?) "In fact the great problem of human beings is that they are too pleases.They don't seek pleasure with nearly the resolve and passion that they should. And they settle for mud pies of appetite instead of infinite delight." He sights C.S. Lewis sermon The Weight of Glory "...We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what it its meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." I cannot tell you how many of my days I have wasted by not seeing the promises that God has for me.

I serve a God who is able to do more than I dare to dream ask or even imagine I often put worldly limits on him in my own mind. We all are guilty of not wanting to bother Him with the details that He already knows and cares for!

My desire is set to His desires for me. I do not want to short change myself by limiting God and not being all I can be for Him! I do not want to believe lies from the enemy that attempts to define me with less than who He says I am. I am the woman at the well and I will no longer be defined by my culture, my geographic location, or my religion. I choose to be defined by the one who knows all about me and calls me to Him. I am approved.I want to be patient and wait when He is calling me to wait. I am no longer a child. I am holding out for the real chocolate pie.

Psalm 23

2008-05-19T17:27:00.000-07:00

I bet you know this one by heart. I do. I did. I always will, but do you get it? That's what happened last night. This "road trip" that I'm on is causing me to slow down and look at what I know in a new and fresh way. I do know that I make a great sheep, I'm not the smartest creature but I have learned my shepherd's voice. So take your time and read it through slowly one verse at a time and just meditate. He is all I need. He leads me through the good and bad. He doesn't promise that I won't experience discomfort or pain but that he will provide for my needs through it all. I desire to honor His name and I desperately want Him to pursue me!
Abiding in Christ does not mean a pain free life, but it is still better than anything else I could choose! I choose Him. He is enough.
1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.

giving in to peer pressure

2008-05-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

OK this one is completely dedicated to my Friend and blogger Shanda. I have surrendered to the pressure to blog. I always have so many words to say you would assume that I would have a million to write, but since I have always reject journaling ( I see blogging as journaling) yet completely accept scrap booking I decided- why not. So here it is at almost midnight and instead of going to sleep I am posting my very first blog. Random funny life story's including my 10 things I did not want to do before I die... but have done list, my alien encounter, and my second coming story all to come!!
Thanks Shanda... I think. Visit her http://www.embracingandbeingembraced.blogspot.com/