In some ways, I feel good about the progress.  DH finished the pantry yesterday, and I will start unpacking kitchen items on Monday.  The floor looks really nice.  He did a great job.  A contractor came out Thursday and will fax my bro-in-law an estimate for the repairs tomorrow.  My sister-in-law will come next week to finish sponging one wall and put the border up in the dining room.  The reamining items that are "left over" from the "previous occupants" will be removed next week (some in the kitchen and some in one bedroom).  DH is working on decluttering the basement to make room to set up our 14yods's bedroom and space for those items needing to be stored (Christmas decor, catering equipement).  I definitely see potential and am eager to get our belongings in their proper places.

Our homeschool group has cancelled their annual back-to-school picnic and replaced it with a "moving party."  Two of the moms -- pregnant and unable to lift boxes -- and my own mom have offered to prepare lunch for the workers.  DH will recruit men from church to help also.  So, the big day is the 30th.  That doesn't leave a lot of time before school startes (yikes), but I'm keeping track of the boxes/bins with school books in them and those will be unpacked right away.

My biggest frustration was going through piles of unopened mail from as far back as 2006 and as current is this last week, and finding matters not taken care of since the deaths of both of my parents-in-law and my sister-in-law.  Enough said. 

Another frustration is the further delay of DH's employer to get the remodelling done and get him back to work.  Things are starting to get really sticky.

Please pray for us.

Blessings,

Barb

Yeah, finally back online after a storm knocked out the network.

I added a few more books to my Half.com book sale today.  Books will only be available until August 29, so hurry and check it out.  I'm not lugging them all to the new house!

We've done lots of work at the new place.  The living room is all painted & bordered.  The dining room just needs to be sponge-painted and bordered.  I hung curtains in the living room the other day, which made a HUGE difference in how the room looked -- sort of had a "finished" look.  Our bedroom closet is painted.  Most of the things that were stored in what will be the younger kids' room have been moved out.  The pantry was primed and painted and the flooring ripped up.  That will be just peel-and-stick on Friday and we should be ready to start unloading some of our things in there.  A contractor is coming to look at the bathrooms on Friday.  DH will start cleaning out 30+ years of family belongings from the basement on Friday also.  I'll need to ask my bro-in-law about a new washing machine.  All in all, it's starting to feel liveable.  Long days spent working up there are hard on the kids, and I'm very eager for it all to be over and to get into the school routine.  We did take some of their toys there the other day so they'd have something to do besides sit in front of their uncle's TV/DVD player.  Yikes.

Blessings,

Barb

Saturday, our pastor and his wife and my bro-in-law & sis-in-law came to help us move some furniture out of our "new home" and paint.  Pastor then decided that before we painted one wall, we needed to pull down the plaster and put up new drywall.  So we didn't get as much painting finished as I'd hoped, but the walls that are done look really, really nice, and I am finally starting to see the potential.  We will paint more tomrorow.

The kids and I went there yesterday and emptied out the kitchen cabinets.  Bro-in-law helped and decided what he wanted to take to his place, what was getting thrown out, and what was being donated to "good will."  I mopped the kitchen floor (again - don't know how it can get so messy with no one living there!), 14yods helped take loads of things from the kitchen and back porch to the trash and he also painted the molding in the dining room.  7yodd and I painted the dining room ceiling, swept and mopped the dining room, and she took all the crystals off the chandelier and washed them.

Sorry to say, DH is not willing to part with as many of his cookbooks as I had hoped, but there are boxes upon boxes of books in the garage that we will go through once we get settled, and hopefully I'll have some fun books to list for sale on my Half.com site.  For now, I have added a few more, so feel free to browse around.  (Any purchases you make would be greatly appreciated as we're still trying to recover from his time off work.  Praise God he is finally back full time and I know God will provide.  Perhaps He can use you.  I think employers who close down the place for remodelling for a month or two ought to at least pay their employees half salary while they've been forced to take time off.  Of course, full pay would be nice!  What do you think?!!)

Blessings,

Barb

I got this link today from my Amanda Bennett Unit Study Yahoo group.  This is very interesting -- "What the World Eats."  Notice the extreme differences in budgets.  The family in Egypt struck me as interesting, feeding all those people for such a small amount of money.  Then there was the family in Chad, that surely has barely enough to survive.  Quite an interesting "photo essay."

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1626519,00.html

Blessings,

Barb

OK, so the van repair today was over $400.  Yikes.  Didn't have that money.  But, at Homeschool Freebie of the Day I downloaded "Savvy Money Management for Families."   I'm looking forward to reading that, and even today, after signing up for the free newsletter from "Living of a Dime", I already found some tips that will work for me.  When you sign up for the newsletter, you get a free mini e-course entitled "Five Simple Steps To Save $500 A Month On Your Grocery Budget". I read the first installment of the e-course before going to Aldi today, and instead of getting juice or other drinks (besides milk), I bought two stackable containers to put in the fridge with spouts, and I'm going to fill them with water.  Now, I'm not a water drinker.  I LOVE my Diet Coke, and even more, my Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper. But lately I've been hearing this nagging voice that I need to drink more water.  You know it's bad when you feel you HAVE TO HAVE IT or you can't get through the day.  I know I've once again become addicted to caffeine.  I don't do coffee, or hot tea in the mornings, so often, especially this summer as I'm out early taking ds to his volunteer job, I'm stopping at McD's for that large diet coke to keep me going.

I also know we need to get a handle on the occasional eating out.  We don't do it that often -- though it has been more often this summer as we've been on the go so much.  It takes more work, and more planning, to pack a lunch.  But I just need to be disciplined and do that.

So, check out the above resources.  Perhaps we'll be able to save enough for that trip to California early next year for a family wedding after all! :-)

Blessings,

Barb

Found this article today, which included some tips I already know about, but it just encouraged me to plan a little better.

I'm off in a bit to pick up my mom from work, so on the way, I've listed some stops I need to make and mapped out the best order in which to make those stops, hoping to save a bit of gas.  It's tempting, with all the current "back to school" sales, to run all over tarnation getting the best deal.  I'm trying to resist that temptation.  I did some running around while 14yods was at his volunteer job today, but I realize, since I hadn't planned it ahead of time (DH called and said he didn't need me to come right home, but that I should stay out there), I didn't know where the stores were and hadn't planned the best route.  I just wandered around aimlessly looking for the stores I wanted to go to.  Planning is a big key!  Since Office Max is on the way to pick up my mom, I'll leave a bit early and stop to get the couple of $0.01 items that seem too good to pass up.  It won't be an extra trip.  (Of course, that will be depend on whether the stock was all snatched up yesterday!)

Blessings,

Barb

Do you have a hard time boxing books up at the end of the school year?  I was putting this past year's history curriculum, among other things, in a box today and typing a label for the outside so I could easily determine the contents of the box once it was in "storage."  My 14yods was concerned that he wouldn't be able to look at the books again, that the box wouldn't be unpacked.

He still keeps on the shelf in his room some of his early Sonlight books, like Usborne's World Geography and Time Traveler.  Now he's having trouble letting me box up Pyramid and City (both by Maccaulay).

Oh, how I long for a big house with lots of built in bookshelves.  I think back to the scene in "Beauty and the Beast" where Beast has Belle close her eyes, then takes her into the library, flings open the drapes, and tells her, "Now."  Oh what a thrill runs through my body at that scene!  Oh to have so many shelves that nothing would ever have to be boxed up!

Blessings,

Barb

I just finished boxing eight boxes of books.  Whew.  Sometimes I wish we didn't love books so much.  Books are heavy!  Aren't there other things one can love -- like pillows and blankets -- that are lighter to carry!?!  The walls in the living room are bare as I boxed up all the framed stuff the other day.

Tomorrow we plan to work on the pantry and bedroom closets some more, and finish de-cluttering the living and dining rooms.  We've had a couple of volunteers to help us paint, so we've scheduled a painting day for next Saturday.  I think it will look so nice once it's freshly painted.

We went to Six Flags yesterday, and that was fun, but oh, I'm getting old.  The kids really enjoyed it and our 4yods wanted to go on everything.  What his height allowed him to ride, he loved, calling it "awesome" or "sweet" or "cool."  Only one ride did he not enjoy.  I dragged our 14yods on the old wooden roller coaster.  Wow!  That was fun.  I haven't been on a big coaster since, I think, before he was born.  It was a lot of fun. 

We are exhausted today, but plodding along, trying to make baby steps.  I sprayed the weeds in the church parking lot.  DH tried to finish the mowing, but one of the belts broke, so the corner segment is only half done.  Looks like a funky hair cut.

Well, I'm off to run a few errands.  Hopefully DH will go through some cookbooks tonight.  I've listed a few other books for sale today, so check out my Half.com shop.

Blessings,

Barb

Ahhhh!  A whole week with no accidents -- during VBS.  Now, constant "accidents."  I've read that this is a power struggle between parent and child because it is the only area of a child's life that he/she has complete control over.  OK, so he's winning the power struggle!!!  Ahhhh!!!

Blessings,

Barb

Well, my resolve didn't last long.  Actually, DH was a contributing factor because he put mounds of unfolded stuff there, so I guess I shouldn't feel bad.  Life has been hectic.  VBS last week, which involved DH preparing dinner for around 70 staff people each night, monopolized our days even though it started at 6:30.  Grocery shopping and food prep were the order of each day, in addition to 14yods's M/W/F volunteer schedule and just-turned-7yodd's violin lesson on Tuesday.  We did manage to squeeze a day of swimming in though.

Yesterday 7yodd and I dropped 14yods off at volunteer then went to WalMart to shop with her birthday money and to get her annual (which doesn't always happen annually - I'm behind on a couple of the kids!) portrait taken.  We picked up 14yods and went for lunch, then they both had doctor appointments.  DH had stayed home with the other two kids.  (There are advantages to him being home, but I'm so glad he's working today and tomorrow.  It's day-by-day right now, but still God provides.  That's another post.)  Our 14yods has had a bump under the skin on the palm of his right hand near the thumb for several months.  I asked a nurse friend about it and she said to watch it and if it gets bigger to definitely take him in.  Since it hasn't gone away, and since I was taking 7yodd for her annual exam, I scheduled him also.  After the appointment, I brought her home and went over to the radiology department at the hospital with him so they could take some "pictures."  We'll see.  It's probably just a cyst, but he is quite phobic about needles, etc., so he's stressing it already.

We had a quick dinner and went to see Wall-E with some movie passes our daughter had received for her birthday.  That was fun.  It was really cute.  Some lessons to learn there.  See Plugged In Online's review HERE -- it's very positive.

Cleaned up a bit this morning, and the friends the kids wanted to have over to "swim" were busy, so our 14yods mowed a section of the lawn and inflated the pool, the kids rode bikes and "dunked" for a bit, and I took down and boxed up most of the wall decor and pictures/plaques on the walls and shelves.  It looks so bare.  But it will get progressively so, won't it?

Having lunch now, violin this afternoon, and perhaps the lawn will get finished before dinner.  Nice day.  Much less humid and comfortable that it was all week.

Hope you're having a blessed day.

Barb

For most of us, the biggest hindrance to hospitality is the, shall we call it, untidy state of our home.  Personally, I like to plan to have people over a couple times a month as it forces me to clean!  But, it would be a lot less stressful if we could just learn to manage the "stuff."  I found this great article on de-cluttering, so my next baby step is this -- start to de-clutter.  Pick a room.  Make it a public room.  You can always close your bedroom door if someone stops by!  So I liked this "5 box" idea.  Give it a try.

5 Boxes, a Bag, and a List

Sorry I haven't posted on this topic in a while.  I have more ideas, but we are moving at the end of August, and just finished up a week of VBS, so life is crazy.  Needless to say, I need to do some decluttering myself!

Blessings,

Barb

I just started reading "Out of the Depths," the autobiography of John Newton.  Wow!  I was hooked on the first page!

I was encouraged by the reference to Deuteronomy 8:2: "Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led three through the wilderness."  I was reminded that God did not lead the Israelites -- nor does he always lead me -- around the wilderness, but through it.  His desire, His good will, is that we go into the wilderness, that we experience the difficulties that are found there, and that we come out the other end changed, strengthened, challenged, equipped.  He has a purpose for that which he leads us through.

I have a friend whose son was just in a serious car accident.  He experienced a broken pelvis and femur and some damage to the lower spinal cord.  She writes the following update:

[S]urgery went well on Wednesday.  They repaired the pelvis with plates and pins.  The physical therapist got him out of bed on Thursday.  This morning (Friday) he was up and out of bed (it was slow going and painful but he did it) and had breakfast in a chair.  Per the physical therapist, he's supposed to be out of the bed more than in it.  Recovery in these modern times is nothing like it used to be!!   As soon as they wean him from the IV pain meds to an oral medication that works, he will be discharged.  He wants to recover at home ([our hometown versus where the accident occured, where he was residing across the country]) and we are trying to get him there.  He is a trooper and has a very positive attitude.  He keeps us laughing and is taking charge of his recovery process.  Though he is feeling the pain, at this moment behind me I hear him doing his leg exercises.  His fortitude touches my heart and brings tears to my eyes.  I know God is at work in this hospital room.

This young man has not walked with the Lord.  But "God is at work."

How often we complain and mumble about what is going on in our lives.  I know I do.  I've been mumbling about DH not working the last three weeks.  Yet God works as we walk through this wilderness.  He is teaching us to trust him.  And just this morning, after my prayer last night that God would allow him to return to work more regularly on Monday, God provided a gift of $500 through some friends.  I don't yet know whether DH will return to work on Monday.  We're waiting for a call from his boss.  But I can rest more easily knowing that there is money to get us through.

John Newton writes (in language updated by Dennis R. Hillman):

"They were ... surrounded with difficulties that were made worse by their distrust and disobedience."

Wow!  Is that me?!  When things aren't going as smoothly as I'd like them to, do I make it worse by my distrust and disobedience.  I am reminded of recently reading something by Terri Maxwell that reminded me that I should rejoice in the privilege and opportunity that my children's disobedience brings me to instruct them.  Instead, all too often I answer their disobedience with disobedience of my own -- either neglecting to discipline or disciplining in a manner and with an attitude that is sin on my behalf.  When finances are difficult, do I turn to the Lord, or do I turn to the credit card.  I fear all too often, the answer is not what is should be.  Yet still, God has been faithful and has provided.

And again, John Newton writes: "Because of our own ignorance and unblief, we often fail to understand the Lord's dealings with us, and we are all too ready to complain.  If we knew everything from God's perspective, we would rejoice.  For us, however, there is a time coming when our spiritual warfare will be finished, our perspective enlarged, and our understanding increased.  Then we will look back upon the experiences through which the Lord led us and be overwhelmed by adoration and love for Him!  We will then see and acknowledge that mercy and goodness directed every step.  We shall see that what we once mistakenly called afflications and misfortune were in reality blessings without which we would not have grown in faith.  Nothing hapened to us without a reason.  No problem came upon us sooner, pressed on us more heavily, or continued longer than our situation required.  God, in divine grace and wisdom, used our many afflictions, each as needed, that we might ultimately possess an exceeding and eternal weight of glory, prepared by the Lord for His people."

Wow!!!

I am so looking forward to finishing this book.  If you are interested in reading it, please consider using my affiliate link below. 

Out of the Depths By John Newton / Kregel Publications The original and unvarnished account of one of Christianity's most dramatic conversions-the autobiography of John Newton, the author of "Amazing Grace." This is the ultimate full-length "hymn story". The enduring story of a slave-trader turned preacher is a powerful message, as spectacular and compelling today as when it was first written.

Blessings,

Barb

This commentary by Chuck Colson on oil was also interesting.

Break Point 7/16

Blessings,

Barb

Heard this "BreakPoint" commentary the other day and thought it was very interesting.  Perhaps we should take a lesson from China as we explore "genetic engineering."

Break Point 7/14

Blessings,

Barb

Our plans to go blueberry picking were likely divinely intercepted.  All along, I wasn't really sure we should spend the money for berries and for gas to get there.  Turns out it was steadily raining when we woke.  We were dressed, packed up and ready to head out the door when one of the other families going called and said they weren't going.  Maybe if the weather broke, they'd go in the afternoon.  We were still determined to go as I had checked the weather online and worse storms, high winds and hail were predicted for the afternoon.  We figured we'd better get it done sooner rather than later.  DH grabbed the rain jackets and we were ready.  However, on an "impulse," I called the orchard and they said the weather was bad already, thunder and lightening, and they wouldn't let us pick.  So we got in the car, stopped at Home Depot, and went to our soon-to-be home.  DH continued to tear out the pantry shelves.  I pulled a few weeds and primed the bedroom closet.  DH went shopping with his brother to get some bakers racks, and I later went out with him to look at paint.  We brought back samples and DH approved the color scheme and wallpaper border for the living room and dining room.

We missed our discipleship class Sunday because DH had a headache and the church had a pretty serious congregational meeting about hiring an associate minister.

And VBS started yesterday, so we are very busy.  I shop on a daily basis (sometimes multiple trips) for DH's supplies/groceries.  Last night he served turkey tettrazini and baked mostaccioli, salad, garlic bread and jello cake.  Tonight he's making beef ribs, BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, cole slaw, and chocolate cake or brownies for dessert.  We just got back from my mom's -- she asked me to be there when the cable guy came (thought he couldn't hook it up and will have to reschedule).  I took a few school assignments for the kids, but we weren't there long and didn't get as much done as I'd hoped.  We shopped (DH didn't work today, so he was with us) and got McD's for lunch, and now he is starting to fix dinner for the VBS crew.  I'm so grateful that the church found someone to help with the janitorial duties this week, as it was just too much last year for him to work all day and then cook dinner for the staff and still have to make the building presentable for the next night's program. 

I'm going to fold a load of laundry and do a few dishes in a moment, and then 6yodd and I go to violin at 3:45.  Perhaps I can sneak in a short "zzzz" before we go, but I want to be a good helpmeet and be available to DH if he needs anything.

Life is crazy right now, but I'm really striving to focus more on his needs than my own needs, and especially my wants.  I'm struggling to keep quiet instead of making suggestions about things that I think he should consider, and letting him rely on God's leading and letting him lead.  My guy does value my input, but I think I can have too much influence on him.  This is hard for me.  I'm reading that it's wrong and disrepectful and proud of me to think I know better, that I have the answers, that God is speaking to me.  By doing this, I am not letting him lead, and I'm not honoring and respecting and revering his role.  Oooo this is hard.  But I'm trying.  Please pray for me.

Blessings,

Barb

I'm ashamed to admit that I can't remember when the last time was DH and I slept in our bed.  It had been occupied by "the laundry monster" for far too long.  Not having a laundry room (or anything resembling it -- our apartment style [washer on bottom, dryer on top] machine sits in our kitchen),  the monster does not have a lot of choices where he is going to reside.  It's either the dining room table, one of the couches, or our bed.  I relegated him to the bed.  Perhaps it was an "out of sight, out of mind" decision, as I could more easily close the door and ignore him.

DH is wonderful.  He never complains.  Since our kids prefer to camp out on the living room floor than in their own rooms (I know - don't gasp! - they love the togetherness), and since our bed is not the "sleep number" I need and often gives me back aches whereas the couch seems to be my perfect "sleep number", we often all end up in the living room together.  (Don't worry, there are other places husband and wife can be alone! :-)  Oh, sorry, too much information!)

However, I've been pouring over "Created to Be His Helpmeet."  The chapter I just finished had me list, among other things, three things I could do to make home a haven for my husband.  I decided one of them was to banish the laundry monster and commit to never letting him take up occupancy in our room again.  This means, of course, he may take up occupancy elsewhere.  I can set out to always have the laundry folded and put away, and believe me, I'm going to try -- again.  But there will come times when it's all I can do to manage to get it washed and dryed.  With God as my help, I will do a better job at this.  Debi Perl reminded me that my husband was not created to be my helper, but I was created to be his, and he shouldn't have to worry about the laundry.  (Though this wonderful man often does help and never complains about my inability to keep up with it all.  Another thing in my list was to brag on him, so I'm doing that now!)

He was so surprised when he cames in from grilling (having just returned from the vet with the dog) to see the bed freshly made!

I'll say more about DH and being his helpmeet later, but for now, let me whole-heartedly encourage you, if you haven't read this wonderful took, to do so.

Created to Be His Help Meet: Discover How God Can Make Your Marriage Glorious (affiliate link)

 Blessings,

Barb

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone.

-- Lin Yutang

"O Lord, may I be directed what to do and what to leave undone."

-- Elizabeth Fry

I'm told the weatherman said that today would be a "perfect day."  And it was.  Sunshine.  82.  Barely a cloud.  A bit of sunburn to show for it.  We hung out at my uncle's while 14yods volunteered, then I went to pick him up, he treated us all to McD's, and we swam all afternoon.  The water temp was wonderful.  I didn't even get that cringe as I stepped in to waist level, like I usually do.  The kids had a great day, and enjoyed having their cousin around.  She came home with us from a family b-day party Monday evening and will go home tomorrow.  It's been good.  Thought it was a fairly relaxing day -- after swim, picked up dh, then fixed dinner and had couple's small group -- my arthritis is acting up, so I "popped some pills" and I'll be off to bed momentarily.

I think we're going blueberry picking on Saturday instead of working on the new place.  I think we all need a Saturday off.  Though I had a list of tasks I wanted accomplished, the kids have been looking forward to picking since last year, so we should have a good time.

I'd appreciate your prayers for our financial situation, as DH's work has been sort of closed for over a week now.  He was off all last week, all but two days this week, and is only "on call" for next week.  This is a big hit financially, and I'd covet your lifting us up in prayer for God's provision.  He never fails.  I need to be faithful and trust.

Tomorrow morning I'll try to get these piles of clothing out of my living room and then the kids have dentist appointments in the afternoon.  DH will work late tomorrow.

For those of you checking out my used book sale, sorry that I haven't added more.  DH still has to go through his cookbooks, but rest assured that some great books will be posted, hopefully soon.  (Next week is VBS, and he's cooking dinner for staff every night, but hopefully he can make some progress on that front.)

Blessings,

Barb

FOR TODAY - July 8, 2008

Outside my Window...dusk with clouds ready to unload

I am thinking...I'm so glad to have another pre-move task checked off my list.

I am thankful for...my Mr. Steady.

From the kitchen...dishes still in the sink after hubby made dinner.

I am creating...a color scheme for the living and dining rooms.

I am going...swimming with the kids tomorrow.

I am wearing...capri jeans and a short-sleeve blue top.

I am reading..."Created to Be His Help-Meet" - WOW!

I am hoping...to find some dresses for my daugther at the resale shop sale on Saturday.

I am hearing...the useless whir of the air conditioner which seems to only blow warm air.

Around the house...piles of hand-me down clothes, some to keep, some to pass on to others.

One of my favorite things...is not being hot and sweaty, which unfortunately, I am right now.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...priming the yellow walls in my new bedroom closet and pantry.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...don't have one.  Need to take one.

Whew!  DH brought down from our storage room all the bags and boxes of clothing we had packed away for the next child who would fit in them.  We decided that we didn't want to cart around so many clothes.  There is a 10 year difference between our oldest boy and our next boy, so saving and lugging around clothes that long . . . enough is enough.  So I sorted through it all today.  The 12/14/16 items are going to a friend.  Everything 7 or 8 and up went to Amvets.  Items size 6 and a few 7s are sprawled on my living room floor right now.  We also have bags of 2T/3T and will save the 4s as son #2 outgrows them for son #3 who is right behind him by a year or so.  Once the little guy outgrows them, they're going to Amvets.  If God provides another child, He'll provide the clothing, as well as the clothing for sons 2 & 3 as they get bigger.  Our 7yodd's clothes are being handed down to a friend's daughters.  I did manage to find some 7s/8s from our niece, I think, so those will serve well for the coming year as well as what she gets for her birthday next week.  There is also a sale at a local resale shop Saturday, so I think I'm going to stop by there and see what I can get.

A friend brought by some of hew nephews hand-me-downs for our little guys a week or so ago, and I'm amazed at the quality and lack of wear on the items.  Some even still had the tags on them.  Wow!  What a blessing!

Our daughter's violin teacher today suggested that dd apply next Spring for the local youth orchestra.  This is no small thing in our big city.  I'm kinda blown away.  I mean, I think she has talent, but I'm just the mom, right?!  She said practice would be Saturdays.  OK, so a busy homeschool family -- every Saturday during the school year?!  Not so sure.  But we have a year to decide.  I guess we'll just wait and see.  In the meantime, she is eager to learn some sacred pieces, so I think I'll get her a sacred songbook for her b-day.

Blessings,

Barb