Reading a new book....and putting it into practice!

I have always been a reader.  This past year I found that I read many more books than usual.  Today I wondered ...why? Staring at the titles on that stack of books...I realized I was looking for something in each of those books....looking for the answer to a question.  I wanted to know why...why had my heart hurt so deeply...why had I shed so many tears...why had I allowed myself to invest deeply...only to have been betrayed.  God knows....God knew....the reason.  I wanted  a neat and tidy answer to support my decision to never invest in another friendship again.  There!  I was focused on the negative....I was focused on the hurt...I was focused on the lies of three women.

I was wrong.  I forgot, no I dared not to trust God with my anger towards these women. I should have left this in his hands right from the beginning.  But I did not.  I was hurt...

I began reading, delving into great books...surrounding myself with great Christian authors.  Digging into the scripture.  While each of the books I read, brought me comfort and a closer walk with the Lord, my children and my husband....it still did not answer my question.


I found a book, aside from God's amazing word, that reminds me to focus on the goodness of God.  This book is life-changing and thought-changing.

One Thousand Gifts by Ann VosKamp.....is taking me on a journey.  A journey to forgive, to live every moment to the fullest, focusing on God's goodness!   This journey takes one to find one thousand gifts....

Planning for the New School Year: Box Day!

Everything arrived to start our new school year!
This is what we call BOX DAY!  The day the box with all new books and supplies for the new school year arrives.

So what are we using this year?

Sonlight Core 200

Apologia Chemistry

Apologia Marine Biology

Teaching Textbooks Geometry

Just to name a few....stay tuned as we begin the planning process....

My favorite planner...Homeschool Tracker!

Creative Day....

Today was creative day......thankful to have this day to create!

You see, I needed extra protection for my iPad.  The nifty iPad cover just is not enough.  Yes, I am just well a little hard on my gadgets.  :-)

Being creative, making something, and feeling productive refuels me.  It gives me a feeling of accomplishment.  If there is one piece of advice I often give to homeschooling moms, I explain the value of being creative.  Creating a wonderful meal, a scrapbook album, or even an iPad case can recharge my confidence to tackle another week of curriculum planning and teaching.

These are the pictures of the iPad case I made today.  I like the zipper pocket in the back for my little journal or notebook and my charger. 

It was not hard to make...I used a pattern I found on a blog....the link?  I won't share the link here as the author has some inherent sewing mistakes in her pattern which led me to ripping out stitches, making a call to my expert seamstress (Mom) and reworking the pattern a bit.  So just a warning to following patterns online...always read through it before completing the project!  (Thank Mom for the help!! :-)

It has been a while....

I can't believe how long it has been since my last blog post!

Life has been busy....I am learning to live in the now, versus trying to plan for the future.....yet I am the eternal planner.

What have we accomplished since September....

We finished another school year...the girls finished well!

Nick completed his first year of college...he finished well!


What is God teaching me?

That HE is in control.

That is it okay to trust another person.



What is filling my thoughts?

When we as women are hurt, brokenhearted and  mistreated....we have two choices: to openly share our heart again no matter the cost.....or to simply hide our hearts away.

Having been hurt deeply by a former friend, I find in incredibly hard to share my heart again.....God is working on that.  Seeking Joy is hard when you have been wounded by a friend you cherished.  Betrayal is a terrible thing.  Forgiveness brings freedom and joy.  :-)


What is on the horizon?  Seeking God daily to order not only my steps but my thoughts and actions!