Okay, so I'm thankful we are finally getting some rain, thanks to Gustav. The tippy top of it is finally reaching Michigan today.I don't know how many days it has been with no rain here, but it's been weeks I think. Our yard was crispy!

Also, is Michigan the only place where you can have the air on one day and need the heat the next? Yesterday it was 75 degrees in my house when I turned off my air (I keep it set at 74) and this morning it is 69 and I closed all the windows and it is chilly!!!

That's Michigan for ya...we can go from winter to summer overnight and vice versa. Our spring & fall are not necessarily a season we always get to go through :)

   A special thanks to The Simple Woman for hosting this meme.

FOR TODAY Monday, September 1st, Tuesday, September 02, 2008 at 8:30 a.m....

 Outside My Window... Cool 58 degrees, Sunny, Breezy

 I am thinking... I am sad my girls are sick with stinky colds.

 I am thankful for... Fall! I love the crisp air and beautiful colors!

 From the kitchen... Again, you will see meals from last week I never made.

Tuesday ~ Fresh Caught Fried Trout, Rice Pilaf, Steamed Broccoli

Wednesday ~ Leftover Pot Roast, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans

Thursday ~ Chicken & Dumplings, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Friday ~ Grilled Steak, Rice Pilaf, Peas

 I am wearing... Fuchsia pajama pants and my husband’s white t-shirt.

I am creating... A new nook in my hall closet for our hats, gloves, etc for this winter. Last winter it was all in a big tub in the closet and I got tired of the girls having to dig through it to find what they needed. This year we will have a 5-drawer system where everyone has their own drawer!!!

 I am going... To begin week 3 of home schooling today.

I am reading... "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God" and my Bible

I am hoping... My girls get well quickly.  

 I am hearing... Music on my yahoo musicbox!

Around the house... Not too shabby this morning! Little girls busily playing!

One of my favorite things... Organization! I’ve lost touch with that part of myself and am just finding her again J 

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… Home school co-op orientation Thursday evening and a work picnic Saturday with my husband’s work.

Here is picture thought I am sharing... Some of the bounty we'll be having for dinner tonight! The one my sweetie's holding and the next three are his and the bottom three are his buddy's (who gave them to us)

I am happy to report that though I didn’t even come close to waking up at 5:30 today J I did get up enough before the girls that I ate my breakfast, switched the laundry, and got in the shower. Praise the Lord! One other thing that helped my morning tremendously was having the kitchen cleaned last night after supper. I don’t always get that done because since we don’t usually get to eat dinner until almost 7, we spend time after dinner with the girls and putting them to bed then I feel obligated to sit and visit with Eric until bedtime.

But, it was such a huge blessing to me to wake up to a clean kitchen! I didn’t have those dirty, ugly dishes looming over my head and all in all, it was a great morning!

Now on to something else very meaningful to me. I am finally finishing up the book “Passionate Housewives Desperate for God” and I ran up against a quote I just have to pass along.

“ We feed the flesh until it has uncontrollable appetite with a mind of its own—pulling us in the direction of whatever feels good for the moment—led by our own carnal desires. Ironically, it’s an illusion, because the closer we get to what is supposed to “feel good” the worse we actually feel, the more we want, and the more our character suffers.”

This really hit me between the eyes. It has taken some time to build up with me, but I will ashamedly admit that I have let the media’s message of “you deserve it”, “give it to yourself”, “you work hard all day with your kids” get to me. I have allowed myself to give in to those carnal desires of small things that I get extra from the grocery store, or fast food, or whatever it may be. You know what, quite realistically, I don’t deserve a thing! Remember, I am a sinner. What I do deserve is hell. But, Praise the Lord I have been redeemed! Jesus has saved me from disaster and set my feet upon a solid rock. I do not deserve anything but by HIS grace and mercy I get to live forever. He promises me He will meet my needs according to His will.

What I need to give in return is my life’s service and obedience. Is it wrong to pick up an extra pop, snack, meal, of course it’s not. But, is it wrong when I’m borrowing the money from another envelope, when the money isn’t even there sometimes, when I’m not truthful with Eric about it? Yes…even if it was just $1.

I once heard Suze Orman tell a lady that every time she charged something on her credit card that she knew she couldn’t pay for right then, she was lying to herself! I am not sure I will ever forget that! Jesus let it sink in to me that any time I spend money I know isn’t there, I am lying! Surely the Lord doesn’t want me to lie and it is the opposite of living in His will!

I know I got off on a little tangent there but I wanted to explain what that quote from the book meant to me. Because all I got from feeding my carnal nature those little tidbits of I deserve this purse or this or that was GUILT! I never got lasting satisfaction.

My friends and family, I have been struggling for so long with the desire to wake up early and be ready for my day before the children get up. I know that not every mother needs or wants to do that, but it has been a source of great frustration for me. I have probably even talked about it before.

My ultimate goal would be to wake up before 5:30 and get my husband's breakfast ready, including tea or coffee and send him off to work with prayer and kisses. Then I could exercise a little, shower, read my Bible & pray, and then get started on any housework needed tending to before my girls wake up. Then when the girls woke up I'd want them to come to the table for breakfast together and afterwards we could read the Bible and pray. While I'm cleaning up the kitchen I'd like them to make their beds, dress, and brush their teeth. Then I'd love to do circle time and what we have for school that day. I am sure that if I could do all that on most days, my life would flow a lot easier, my days would be a lot less cluttered and chaotic, and I would feel less stressed.

However, my life for almost the past two years has been completely the opposite. My girls wake me up most days and they are sure I get up and if I don't they go back to their room and play and usually end up arguing and that is no way to start our days! Then I crawl out to the kitchen where there is usually a pile of dishes in the sink and just little things here and there that are never put away that drive me nuts and make me irritable. I spend time on the computer while the girls watch Caillou and eat their breakfast (which is another whole thing in itself). Then they eventually get dressed and some days they make their beds. I eventually shower and wake up and I hate spending the time doing all that while they're awake. I feel it is selfish of me to not have that all done before they get up. Anyway, the whole point here is I have no real routine, no schedule, no order to my life.

Prior to marriage, I was a neat-freak, order-guru, and loved organizing! But over the years, and especially after children, that all fell to the wayside. Now I have neat little piles of papers that I keep in a few different locations, which also drive me crazy. But I can't seem to get on top it all. I've read a few books, prayed about it a lot, but something just isn't working for me.

I've see Flylady and it seems a bit overwhelming to me. I ordered a book a couple weeks ago called The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized: *Manage Your Time *Eliminate Clutter and Experience Order *Keep Your Family First  and I hope it arrives soon. I am sure it will be here any day. I don't know if it will provide any more revelations to me I haven't already seen but I am desperate for change.

I have tried setting my alarm cold turkey for 5:30. I've tried backing it up every week by a half hour until I get there. It is not a matter of the time for me, it is just getting up period. I have been like that as long as I can remember. I just love laying in my nice, warm, comfy bed and hate getting out of it. But once I get my shower I'm good!

Please pray for me as I learn to wholly lean on God in this area of my life and attempt to do what's been impossible for me! Thanks for letting me get all that out

   A special thanks to The Simple Woman for hosting this meme.

FOR TODAY Monday, August 25^th, 2008at 8:30 a.m....

 Outside My Window... Fall is once again on its way here. What a beautiful sunny, cool morning! There is a slight breeze allowing the leaves to dance in the wind. All week we haven't a chance of rain and highs in the low 70's. PERFECT!

 I am thinking... School was fun last week! The girls enjoyed it so much and Emma (3) picked up on things much quicker than I expected. She's doing it alongside Bailey for now. I'm expecting it'll come to a point where it's too hard for her, but we'll see.

 I am thankful for... Grace & Mercy! I feel so unworthy and when God gives me those gifts I can't help but be thankful.

 From the kitchen... Again, you will see meals from last week I never made.

Monday ~ Ham & 15 Bean Soup, Cornbread

Tuesday ~ Jewish Chicken Soup & Homemade Italian Bread

Wednesday ~ Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Thursday ~ Chicken & Dumplings, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Friday ~ Grilled Chicken, Rice Pilaf, Vegetables

 I am wearing... Flowery pajama pants & shirt and my trusty old robe.

I am creating... Creation notebooks to show what the girls have learned and made in these first two weeks. A new budget worksheet. I re-studied Dave Ramsey’s book and fixed our budget up a little. I expect we will be consumer-debt free by the end of next year. It has been a long road. I have to remind myself it took us a good 6 years to get into that pit and it will take us a couple to get out. We got serious about paying debt off the beginning of this year and so far have cut it in half! Praise the Lord!

 I am going... To do loads of laundry, put away dishes, load more into the dishwasher, put away things from the weekend, play with my children, go outside, and exchange two of our new fish casualties for living ones.

I am reading... "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God", my Bible, and "To Live is Christ"

I am hoping... To accomplish what I set out to do today.  

 I am hearing... My front lawn sprinklers and my girls playing with barbies in the living room. Abigail’s behind me trying to put pegs into a peg board. She loves stacking them.

Around the house... What's new? Laundry, dishes, dust. I have been decluttering and trying to purge our closets to simplify a little.

One of my favorite things... When our Pastor's (also a cousin) 2 year-old son says purple. He says it like this "pooper". I ask him to say it over and over for me since it gives me such a chuckle. I think he's so smart to know all of his colors too! 

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… I want to say that yes, we went to the beach last week. My mom & dad went with me and I actually got to sit in my lawn chair a little and rest while my mom played with the girls.

But this week, I have a dr's appt tomorrow morning and then will grocery shop Friday. Saturday we are going to my in-laws for a cookout. Other than that, just homeschooling & taking care of the house this week.

Here is picture thought I am sharing... This is when we got home from the beach last week. Emma had missed her nap and was wiped out. I couldn't even wake her up for dinner. When I tried she just slid to the floor and slept on her back another half hour.

I have decided to try something new to get my blog out there a little more in a circle of fellow homeschooling moms and to learn from them as well. I am joining Blogger Friend School 2008-2009. I am unsure of what to expect but I hear I will be challeneged spiritually and have the opportunity to build friendships and journal memories together.

To learn how you can participate in school and the Back to School Giveaway go HERE.

Won't you come join me and others in the fun!

• V-Tech VMotion
  
• Kraft Bagel-fuls
• Gift check for Starbucks new beverage, Vivanno
• Burger King Crown Cards and Kids Meal Crayola back-to-school toys
• Brothers-All-Natural Fruit Crisps and Potato Crisps

Where once there was a beautiful, weed-free, nicely laid out garden now there is chaos. The pumpkins overtook EVERYTHING! They took over the lettuce, carrots, watermelon, tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, and have even crawled out of my garden fence and the fence between our yard and our neighbors. They climbed up the whole fence and are hanging out on the neighbor's side. Now we do have some very big pumpkins out there already, about the size of a volleyball, so at least they are bearing fruit.

I am thankful we have been able to pick a lot of nice and scrumptious green beans! I cannot wait until next year when I can actually do better planning and plant a garden that has everything in its place and is double the size of this year!

Here are some pics from our weekend in Mackinaw. We had a great time but of course wish it could have lasted longer!

   A special thanks to The Simple Woman for hosting this meme.

FOR TODAY Monday, August 4th, 2008...

 Outside My Window... It is a warm but muggy 76 degrees and almost dark as night as a boisterous, thundering storm approaches.

 I am thinking... About getting off my toucas and making supper.

 I am thankful for... My fun weekend in Mackinaw City with my in-laws and children and husband!

 From the kitchen... Pancakes, Sausage, Eggs, & Fruit 

 I am wearing... Black cotton shorts, orange t-shirt with my church's name on it and on the back is a picture of Jesus Christ in the cross and it says "3 Strikes and You're Saved". 

 I am creating... An action plan for better training or disciplining my children. A weekend away sure allows areas which need improvement to show! 

 I am going... To put some things from our trip away, do the dishes & laundry. 

I am reading... "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God" and my Bible.

I am hoping... This storm passes quickly! I know I am a 29 year-old adult, but storms still make me uneasy and I have 3 little girls who get scared of them too.

 I am hearing... Music and my children in the living room playing.

Around the house... Stuff we brought in from our vacation and best of all…my wonderful mother painted Abigail’s room pink for me this weekend. We had been waiting to decorate that room since we moved in here until she was born…we didn’t know what her gender was and “knew” she was a boy. So we were going to go all out and paint it blue and boyish. Well, she was a girl and poor thing never got her room prettied up. So, now it’s pink. I need to get matching curtains now though!

One of my favorite things... The smell after a good rain. I imagine it is because of childhood memories of either playing in the rain or sitting in the garage watching a storm or when we were camping and being able to go back outside of the camper after a rain. But I love that smell.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:  I will be finalizing my plans for Bailey and starting her school next Monday.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

My 5 year-old brought this to me this morning and I thought it was about the cutest thing I'd ever seen. It says... BAILEY EMMA MOM DAD ABIGAIL MY FAMILY. I love the way she attempted to spell it all by herself. The last picture is the other side of the marker board, where she drew our pictures :) 

You let your children run free with the camera. I laughed so hard when I loaded our memory card on the computer and saw these.

I ended up getting my hair cut Saturday. I was 50/50 with the decision and just went with it. I knew either way I'd want it the other way. So, now I have something new and can grow it out again...which is always fun!

The beautiful brunette in one of those pictures is my best friend and former college roomie. Her name is Angeline and you can see her blog here.

   A special thanks to The Simple Woman for hosting this meme.

FOR TODAY Monday, July 28, 2008...

 Outside My Window... It is a hot & sticky 80 degrees and sunny, sunny, sunny. There is a slight breeze blowing through the leaves on the trees, but it isn’t providing much relief from the midday sun.

 I am thinking... My mind is very full today of many thoughts. I need to sit down and sort them out.

 I am thankful for... A forgiving Saviour!

 From the kitchen... Tonight is turkey meatballs, pasta, & sauce

 I am wearing... New Denim shorts, green shirt, and my brown flip-flops. These $2 pair of flip- flops have almost lasted me this whole summer and I wear them every day!

 I am creating... A neater and clutter-free home. I am to the point of being sick and tired of too much stuff around and have been going through everything lately.

 I am going... To put some things away and clean up the house a bit.

I am reading... "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God", my Bible, and "Get Out of That Pit"

I am hoping... I can develop a routine or schedule for the school year and stick with it!

 I am hearing... Music. Oh yeah! And my 6 month-old Daschund crunching her puppy food.

Around the house... Things are pretty well picked up. There are little napping girls spread out in three different bedrooms J

One of my favorite things... Resting in Jesus’ arms when I am tired and weary from the ways the world beats me up. Today is one of those days where I need to rely on Him for some encouragement. My heart is burdened today for a few different situations I know of and all I can do is rest on Jesus to help!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Celebrate my 8^th anniversary tomorrow! Hubby and I haven’t got any plans yet but his mom is watching the girls so we can do something! Then I will be preparing for our mini vacation.

Here is picture thought I am sharing... I am 29 TODAY!!!!

Susan at A Happy Heart at Home tagged me last week. I'm sorry I'm just getting around to posting mine. Actually, I lost the first one I started about this when my computer froze up. ARG.

1. Specialty Coffees ~ Specifically, a Carmel Macchiato from a good coffeeshop!!!!

2. Camping ~ We haven't gone camping since our first anniversary together but oh do I hope we can go sometime soon. Most of my favorite memories are from our camping trips when I was young. I really don't remember a time without camping and boating. I want to give my girls those same fun adventures! This is me in our first boat. I must have been 3 or 4. Please don't mind the toilet paper and bucket. We were "roughin' it".

3. Music. I love love love love love music! I love to listen to Contemporary Christian, Praise & Worship, Hymns, Instrumental (specifically acoustic, violin, or piano), but my favorite Christian Bluegrass! One of my favorite bands is Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.

4. My Husband's artistic abilities! He truly amazes me! I cannot draw anything or even think of something to draw. His dream would be to do graphic design or be in animation! I pray it comes true for him someday! This is one of many many caricatures he did for people he used to work for.

5. Funny Things....We took this picture at a local boat dock. Notice what the sign says and the fact that it's right beside a port a potty.

I tag...

Angeline at Teaching My Olive Plants

Alyssa at Crazy BUsy

Corey at Sixfolks

Holly Hills Academy

Chasity at Homeschool Rocks

   A special thanks to The Simple Woman for hosting this meme.

FOR TODAY Monday, July 14, 2008...

 Outside My Window... It is partly sunny, humid, and about 70 degrees. My sprinklers are watering the front lawn and trying to bring my flower planter back to life. 

 I am thinking... I love this weather! I love summer! I love having my windows open!