Home Improvement (lol)

Do you remember this?



Now it is this! Yea! It only took 3 months, but the hole is fixed.

Several months ago I posted about how I needed to see tangible change, and I listed things I wanted to accomplish over the summer. One of the things was new wall paper in my bathroom.
Now I have this...

We are down to the studs. The vanity comes out next weekend and hopefully we can get a new floor in then.

This was the order of the destruction.
Rip out old wall paper.
Identify mold under wallpaper and the need for a new window.
Identify need for new counter top.
Try to remove counter top...ruin cabinet.
Identify need for new vanity and counter top.
Take out old paneling and discover bad electrical wiring.
Rewire bathroom.
I don't know what happened today...all I know is we are down to studs. Oh, my. Will it ever end?

Praise Jesus that my dad works at Lowe's Home Improvement and keeps an eye out for great deals.

My 12 step program to simplify

OK, maybe at this point I only have 2 steps...

Ron and I have been having great conversation about where we want our family headed. We are trying to be very purposeful in raising our children, although there have been seasons (some lasting longer than others) that we seem to just be running through life doing what needs to be done and not being purposeful about God's best for our family. So we have decided to do some things different this year. For starters we have decided to pull the kids from the home school enrichment program that we have been involved with for the past 5 years. This gives us one extra day at home. Hopefully the result will be a less hurried school time at home with extra time to do lots of hands on fun stuff. It was so convicting to me to go Tuesday night to the open house and hear the teachers talk about all the fun things they were going to do like the art projects, making applesauce, and visiting community places like the police station. I thought to myself shouldn't I be doing those things with my kids. The program has been a good experience, but I don't know it is God's best for this time, thus the change. We are also opting to give up Awana. (I will not bore you with my Awana speech.) This will give me Sunday afternoon to get ready for the week ahead. I think these are both good changes to start with. Ron and I are also reading Family Driven Faith together at night as well as going through this series of videos.

On a little side note...
I went to dinner with a friend last night and bought this totally cute jacket. Originally $60 on sale for $9.99. Insert happy dance ;o) Won't this be so cute with a little thermal under it this fall?

This and that

I was so surprised last night when my family noticed my little sanctuary things. All six family members commented on how yummy the chicken soup smelled and three people noticed the quiet music. That was a huge encouragement to keep working on creating sanctuary here at home.

Here is the menu for the rest of the week:
Tuesday: Pizza from Costco - I have a late meeting
Wednesday: Church dinner; I have no idea what they are making
Thursday: Tacos
Friday: Fajitas

I would like to start planning Sunday lunch too. We usually go out with either set of grandparents, but this has started to change so I need to be prepared.

This has been an unusually quiet day. The kids are enjoying the last day of Summer vacation with their friends in the neighborhood. They all start back to school tomorrow. We will do some school housekeeping Wed and Thurs but not really start back until next week after Labor Day.

I have spent the day cleaning up, doing laundry and working on lesson plans. Tomorrow will seem so strange with all the kids in the neighborhood gone all day. I am sure to hear 'I'm bored' at least once tomorrow. Emma (14) has some testing in the morning and I have a meeting with a high school counselor to go over some credit questions in the afternoon.

Back to basics

With the start of the school year I, like so many of you, are taking a look at what is working in my life and what is not. It is so funny to me that in the Spring I am ready for the 'laid back days of Summer' with relaxed schedules and fun filled adventure days and yet when Fall comes I am so needing to get back into a routine. I have been over to The Lyla Blog and she got me thinking about how to intentionally create sanctuary in my home. There are some things that I intentionally do, but with Summer I have let go.

*Create weekly menus - This Summer I have really let this go. Instead I have opted for the easy instead of what is best. I am committed to doing this every week. My family is so much better off when I do.

*Keep on schedule with cleaning routine. I have certain days that I clean or do housekeeping, for example; changing sheets on Monday. I have also let this go this Summer.

*Play peaceful music in the evenings. I try to play something soothing while I am fixing dinner. Although it may not be everyone's music of choice, including mine, it creates a peaceful atmosphere and calms. My favorite is an acoustic worship CD.

*Bake more. I think the smells of home cooking do wonders for everyone. It makes my hubby smile and the kids love it when there is something yummy to look forward to.

*Spend a few minutes everyday straightening things. This helps get rid of piles around the house. Don't wait until things pile up, tackle them right away. Especially junk mail.

*Light more candles. This goes right along with the music and baking in creating a mood.

*Limit blogging time and telephone time. During the school year I try to limit blog time to before the kids go to bed and after they are asleep as well as keep phone time to a minimum. This Summer it has been all over the place.

What do you do to create sanctuary for your family in your home.

It has officially begun

I think #2 is mighty handsome ;o)

TWEENS

It is that time of year when I am pouring through books and teachers manuals trying to get a handle on educating the four older kids. Trying to understand how to use the books, the assignments, and the lesson schedules. It is a lot of work. Good, but work. In this process the Bible/Spiritual discipline that I have chosen to use this year for Emma (13) led us to look at something for Eli(11). It is called J12. Ron has been looking at it and is very excited about it. Its main mission is to expect more out of kids at a younger age. It uses the verses about Jesus who at 12 said 'I must be about my Father's business'. All this to say that through this site I read an article about the state of 'Tweens' today.

Disheartening.
Concerning.
Depressing.

Here are some facts:

*Kids are spending more time on TV and computers, and less time in active play. (no surprise here)
*Tweens are being diagnosed with risk factors for heart disease and other adult diseases like Type 2 Diabetes.
*Tweens are the fattest and most unhealthy in history.
*Kids are now having their first concert experience at 5 or 6 when a generation ago it was at 11 or 12.
*Girls on the average are entering puberty a full two years earlier than 10 years ago.

I think all these go together to some extent.

The article I read goes on to say:

1. They are getting older younger.
Scorning any symbols of their immaturity tweens now cultivate a self image that emphasizes sophistication...by the time they are 12, children describe themselves as flirtatious, se*y, trendy, athletic, and cool" (www.city-journal.org) So long toys, now they want cell phones.


2. They are getting faster quicker.
Kids start playing organized sports now at 4 or 5 with parents wanting them to specialize at 7 or 8. USA Today

3. They are getting sadder sooner.
Our kids live in an uptight world. Eating disorders are being reported among the 12 and under gang with increasing frequency. Depression driven diets are producing an epidemic of tween obesity.


4. They are staying younger longer.
Although this may sound like a contradiction, although they are getting older faster, they are staying immature longer. The Duke of Windsor was asked a question about what impressed him about America. His answer "The way parents obey their children"


This is such a battle for believing parents. It makes me so sad for not only my children, but the kids I know that fall into this category. I know this does not have to be the rule, but it is a hard battle to fight. To fight against the world. The article went on to say that as Christian parents we have settled for the 'prodigal model' as the norm, instead of the 'Jesus model'. Sometimes I feel like an alien living on this planet. Oh wait, I am ;o)

Tuesday evening Eden (10) asked if she could pop some microwave popcorn. I was blog hopping and said 'sure'. I am not sure what exactly happened, but 3 minutes later she had a big mess. Smoke billowing out of the microwave, lovely. Our house still smells like an ashtray even with baking soda and vinegar working overtime.

On another note, my hubby recently signed up on facebook. I am a little jealous when I check my email and see another 'friend' has added him, or he has yet another message. I don't have a facebook, but I am thinking I want one. He doesn't even update his page or check his email. I totally don't get it.