How Do We Homeschool When Life Gets Complicated?

Our Homeschool has been seriously crazy with all the sick crud we’ve had to deal with over the past few weeks. I can honestly say that our days haven’t been all that typical and some days not much has gotten done at all. I was just too sick. But, this is one of the reasons why we homeschool. I love the flexibility and teachable opportunities that homeschooling provides. I’ve had to defend my decision to homeschool to a lot of people. Even to strangers in Panera. A few weeks ago (before the dreaded bronchitis came upon me) Josiah and I were having lunch and someone asked why he wasn’t in school. Well. We had already done loads of school and we’re about to go on a field trip with friends. Not every day is so jam packed with activity. Some weeks, like the last few weeks, are a little more random. We do have curriculum that we use, but the beauty of the curriculum is that it can be adapted and changed to fit everyone’s situation. I do school through the summer months, too. I know. I was never going to be that parent. Summers are meant for fun and relaxation. But seriously, It’s not like we are too structured to begin with. Learning about place value in your jammies is pretty great. Plus, I feel better in the summer. The winter months are just too unpredictable for my health (hence our crazy couple of weeks). Here are a few picks of some our favorite flexible moments of the past few weeks.

I know. He looks absolutely thrilled. We are studying Zoology right now and did an experiment about how birds fly. Specifically about aerodynamics. He made two gliders with different wing lengths and widths and did a few experiments to see which glider was more ayerodynamic.

Here you can see the one of the gliders and where it landed. You can also see a few random things on my floor. Ignore that stuff. Just pretend that my house is pristine. I'm doing my best to do the same!

Here is the other glider. We had a bit of trouble explaining the measuring the distance part. Or at least focusing on measuring the distance. Josiah wanted to measure everything.

The Studly Muffin gets in on the action and helps Josiah measure one of the flights. Hey. While your down there can you pick up my keys and stick them in my purse?

We got to go hear Temple Grandin speak. If you haven't heard about her you really need to look her up. Google her. She is so inspirational! I really enjoyed it. She has the best outfits!

Josiah wasn't as inspired. He spent the hour playing with my friend Sheryl's itouch. He did get to be on the TV. A local news station reported on the event and showed a clip of Josiah and Sheryl. You can see the side of my face and hair on the tv clip. I think Josiah was watching Despicable Me during the talk.

This is  Homeschool PE at one of the local universities (Evangel). He has PE 3 times a week (he also goes to the Y once a week). Troy took him most days(that is, when Troy or Josiah weren't sick). But this was my first time out in a few weeks. The PYT (pretty young thing) is one of the students. Here they are stretching.  The little guy in the gray shorts (who is also a Josiah) reminds me of Josiah when he was that age. He kind of does his own thing a lot. He obviously has other things to do besides stretching! I wonder what he was looking at?

Here they are learning the 2 step. This cracked me up! I laughed so hard I went into a coughing fit. The little guy in orange was actually pretty good. Josiah really didn't understand the idea behind the 2 Step. He just stepped. BTW. This was "dance week" at PE. Josiah wasn't a fan. Next week is Archery Week. He's all about shooting stuff...so it will be a good time.

We found this at a local thrift store. A Cobra in a Basket! It really doesn't have anything to do with what we are studying right now...but who can resist A Cobra in a Basket.  We did quite a bit of investigating about Mr. Cobra. The Internet is a wonderful tool for research.

A closer view of A Cobra in a Basket. He's looking right at me. EWW.

Okay. Book Nerd. Right here. And a proud Book Nerd, at that! I got this little treasure at our local used Christian Bookstore (which happens to be one of my favorite places ever!)  I love reading poetry. I love the cadence. I love the use of language. It's just beautiful. I love words. Even when they don't make sense (which mine frequently don't)

I had a whole week planned of fun Dr. Seuss stuff in honor of his birthday, but it just didn't happen. We did read this little gem by Dr. Seuss. I love Dr. Seuss. I don't like Green Eggs (or any color of Eggs for that matter)..Sam...I Am.

This is our current read aloud. Which means I am reading this to Josiah every night before bed. It's our ritual to read a book every night. This is James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fame). We are going to watch the movie on Netflix after we read the book to contrast and compare. We've done that with several books. This is a ritual that even Daddy can do. He read to Josiah when I was at my sickest. Daddy is the bomb!(or a peach :<))

We had to get a little History in! Right now we are studying New World Explorers. He learned about why Explorers did their exploring. This week we talked about what life was like for sailors. I had checked out books at the library in advance and we poured over them...reading..talking...looking at the illustrations. We are getting ready to talk about specific Explorers. I'm all about History. I hope my love for History rubs off on Josiah. If not, it's going to be a long Homeschool Experience. Cause Buddy we're going to be doing lots of History! I do use a specific History Curriculum. It is really hands on...which is what we need and love to do.

Some more reading. I love Apologia Science. I love that I can read it and we can talk about it and it's interesting. We didn't get to do many of the activities this week. Josiah  loves Science Experiments. We also read out of a Devotional Bible everyday. This one basically is going chronologically through the Bible. Josiah loves doing our Devotional. Many times we do it as a family.

Okay. This picture really can't be labeled under one subject or another. Maybe Drama? As you can see, two action heros are attempting to climb the vaccum cleaner chord. There is some sort of set-up beneath them. I see my space heater and a pile of toliet paper...along with other odds and ends. I can't tell you how creative this little guy is. He can make something out of nothing. And I do my best to encourage it. You can also see a crumbled up poptart in the picture. I'm trying not to think about it.  It was a long week. I wonder if it is still there!

I just had to take a picture. This is the top part of the last picture. He made a pulley! The circle is a craft ribbon holder. It's being held by a length of mardi gras beads from the Dollar Tree. And yes, that is the vaccum cleaner cord around the pulley.

I thought this was hilarious. I walked out of the bedroom and this was the first thing I saw in the hall. Power Rangers are defending the turf. ,I am writing this post The Blue Power Ranger has completely knocked off Mr. Whoever That Is and is standing triumphantly on top of the thermostat.

 

108 Things About Me

I can't sleep. So what's a girl to do? Blog! And here is a complete nonsense blog. I read another blog that had posted 100 Things About Me. I had to go further with the nonsense and write 108 things. When I got to 100 I found I wasn't done talking. Typical.

108 Things About Me

1. I was born in Managua, Nicaragua

2. I don’t remember it. I was just a baby when we left.

3. It was the coolest thing about me when I was little.

4. It was hard getting much of any kind of driver’s license/permit. The only documentation I had that I was even born was in Spanish.

5. I don’t know how to speak Spanish.

6. I took two years of Spanish in High School.

7. I know how to ask for the bathroom and ask you “what’s happening.” In Spanish. That’s about it. Oh. And I can count to 10. But that might be because of Sesame Street.

8. I am the oldest of 3.

9. I am not quite the bossiest of my 3 siblings.

10. When I was younger we lived way out in the woods.

11. Almost like Laura Ingalls Wilder.

12. Except we had TV.

13. Barely. We got PBS and NBC, exclusively.

14. I knew more about the mating habits of certain water mammals than most girls my age.

15. That is what comes from watching PBS.

16. I know how to gut a chicken.

17. And can my own vegetables and preservatives.

18. I also know how to sew.

19. See. Laura Ingalls Wilder.

20. My Dad is a pastor.

21. He is also a genius.

22. I didn’t inherit those genes.

23. My mom is an artist.

24. I didn’t inherit those genes, either.

25. When I was little I won several writing contests.

26. I didn’t want to be a writer when I grew up.

27. I wanted to be an archaeologist. Like Indiana Jones.

28. I was practically have a minor in history. I suppose that doesn’t count.

29. I got married when I was 19.

30. This year, my Studly Muffin and I, will have be been married 20 years.

31. That’s a long time.

32. I only knew The Studly Muffin a few months before I married him.

33. I like buttermilk.

34. The Studly Muffin loves buttermilk.

35. Which is why he thought I was trying to get his attention before we started dating.

36. No other girl he knew liked buttermilk.

37. Laura Ingalls Wilder. That’s all I’m saying.

38. I went to beauty school after I graduated from High School.

39. No. I am not a beauty school drop out.

40. You can say I am a beauty salon drop out.

41. I went to two different High Schools.

42. I went to 3 years at one High School and then graduated from a different High School.

43. I was a theatre and choir geek.

44. I never had a leading role in the theatre.

45. But, I absolutely loved it.

46. I did do really well in choir.

47. I love to sing.

48. I’m an Alto.

49. I come from a long line of musical people on both sides of my family.

50. Most play a few instruments.

51. My parents play at least 3 apiece.

52. I barely play the piano.

53. My major when I started college was Music Education.

54. I was teaching Music at an elementary school when I first went to college.

55. Then I had a massive car wreck.

56. I almost died.

57. I had to learn to walk again.

58. A few years later I went into Congestive Heart Failure.

59. I was 27.

60. I almost died.

61. My ovaries don’t work very well.

62. I have one baby in heaven.

63. We bought our little boy.

64. He was almost $10,000.

65. You can say that he was our ‘major splurge.’

66. Adopting him was the best thing we ever did.

67. If I could I would buy another one this minute.

68. My husband is a pastor.

69. We’ve had a rough couple of years.

70. I had a second episode of heart failure a couple of years ago.

71. We had to take a break.

72. Break is about over.

73. We homeschool.

74. Yep. We’re those kind of people.

75. My little boy needed some constancy. Not everybody’s mommy is so sick so often.

76. He would have been in 4 school districts already.

77. I love to read. It used to get me in trouble when I was younger. I did things like reading instead of homework, chores and eating. I don’t have a trouble with much of that anymore. At least the eating part :<)

78. I love libraries.

79. I would love to be a librarian.

80. I’m a nerd. Not a smart nerd. Just a nerd.

81. I daydream.

82. I love classic poetry. It makes me feel happy.

83. I love classical music.

84. It makes me feel smarter. And much more adjusted than I really am.

85. One of my favorites is Léo Delibes'. Flower Duet.

86. My other favorite is Bach. Specifically the Cello Suites.

87. Speaking of adjusted. I have 23 pins and screws in my hip and legs.

88. I seldom take narcotics. I would be a good druggie.

89. I can predict an approaching storm system or cold front.

90. I don’t make metal detectors go off.

91. At least, none I’ve never encountered.

92. But you can see all of my pins in any kind of scan or x-ray.

93. I love Sushi.

94. In fact, I love most Asian inspired food.

95. But, my heritage is French, English & Irish.

96. I do like a good cup of tea. With cream.

97. I like my jewelry to dangle. Dangly earrings, dangly bracelets. I feel more alive if it all moves.

98. I also enjoy a good pair of flip flops.

99. They are my choice of footwear in the summer.

100. When I was little I also wanted to be a ballerina. Like a lot of little girls. I still love to watch people dance.

101. I never had a dance class.

102. Closest thing I came to a dance class was square dancing in High school P.E.

103. And learning choreography for the school musicals.

104. My favorite forms of pampering include pedicures, dangly jewelry, a new book, an afternoon at the movies & sushi.

105. My favorite color is red. It makes me feel sassy.

106. My favorite chapter in the Bible is Psalm 91. Look it up.

107. I sometimes suffer from insomnia (if you had 23 pins and screws you might,too).

108. When I have trouble sleeping, I do silly things like post 108 things about myself.

Whining.

Wow. I'm suffering what could be called a 'pity party'. It's not the first time I have thrown such a party for myself. I have a few good reasons. I've been sick for almost a month now. And every time I seem to be heading up that glorious trail towards health...I run into a (metaphorically speaking) rattlesnake. Not to worry. Spring is almost upon us and there is only so long I will allow myself to wallow in the cavernous, dark pit that is my life. You can see that I am making the most of my sad, sad situation.

1. I am on enough medication to start my own pharmaceutical consulting business. Though undoubtedly illegal. My melancholy could be explained by the steroids and estrogen being pumped simultaneously through my system. I don’t know whether to cry hysterically or lift weights. The upside is that very soon I will be able to wear my favorite hair flower in the hair that is growing on my face. Just kidding! At the very most a cute little clippy will be adequate ;<)
2. My son called a little girl ‘poop’ at the gym today. Sadly, by the time it got to me it was really blown way out proportion and everyone had him calling her the ‘b’ word. I’m not quite sure what ‘b’ word that was…but, anyhoo. I wandered out of the gym crying a little because of the steroids and estrogen being pumped simultaneously through my system. Obviously, the estrogen is winning out.

3. I have watched some good TV while being under the weather. I watched a documentary called “Circus” on Netflix. There were a few words that we aren’t allowed to say (I watched on my laptop with my headphones), but I was so inspired I spent the next few days planning my escape to the circus. I had it all figured out. All except my act. I couldn’t figure out what I would do at the circus. Now I have it figured out…I can be the bearded lady!

4. I really have the best husband in the whole entire world. Yes, ladies. You heard it here. He isn’t called The Studly Muffin for nothing. He not only kept me supplied with my meds, Diet Sprite, my favorite herbal cough drops & Puffs Plus, but I had cashew chicken not once, but twice during my convalescence. I couldn’t really taste it, but it was the thought that counts. Chinese food is not his favorite. He loves me…facial hair and all.

5. I read something about a Clap Bra today. Yeah. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Clap twice and your bra comes off. Folks. That could be really bad. Especially because I am Pentecostal. We clap. About most everything. First time we get a really good Camp Meeting song going and there it would go. I don’t think these Clap Bra people thought this thing through…they for sure don’t go to a Pentecostal Church.

NOTE: Any donations of Nair or any other equally effective hair removal product will be gladly accepted.  

Sicky

So I’ve had a pretty rough week. A foul beast has plagued our fair city and I was among its conquests. Meaning I got a nasty bug. Now The Studly Muffin has been laid low. I’m getting ready to start my second round of antibiotics and Josiah (the 9-year-old) is in charge of the household. He’s pretty self-sufficient. Just this evening he prepared a pan-fried trout with almandine sauce, roasted brussel sprouts, a delicate butternut squash soufflé and a blackberry tart. He’s single handedly dusted every surface, washed at least 5 loads of laundry and has taken to scrubbing the tub with his tooth brush. Next he plans on finishing his school work for the week which includes a multi-sensory project on animal habitats and a plaster relief map of the world.


As if! At this point we will be lucky to find a path clear to the kitchen. He most likely has every action figure guy he owns standing in preparation to wage some ferocious war…they are spread out across the living room floor…along with pillows, a large collection of bubble wrap and a thousand little tiny Legos. Last I looked Spiderman was about to put a hurtin’ on Mr. The Incredible (Josiah has always called him that). Undoubtedly, Indiana Jones will swoop in on the vacuum cleaner cord (which has been tied up and subdued) and save the day..and my little ceramic birds that are being held hostage by Lex Luthor (who happens to be moonlighting as a plastic police officer from the Dollar Tree).

He also has been watching a lot of The Cosby Show. He thinks Mr. Bill Cosby (as he refers to BC) is hysterical. I just heard him howl in delight. Not to worry about Josiah. He knows his way around a peanut butter sandwich.

I have found myself laid low many times throughout my life. Whenever I hear of people go on and on about their own lives and how impossibly busy they are and how they never would have time to do things like read a book, write in a journal or catch up on the last 2 seasons of Doctor Who…I roll my eyes just a little. Not in disrespect. I can’t imagine having a life so normal that these interludes of enforced quiet time never happen. I also understand that we take all the “stuff” we do a little too seriously. What happens when life goes on? Without us? Trust me. I’ve been there. And this time a little bronchitis/pneumonia whatever you are thingy wasn’t any different. The only difference being that this time I wasn’t facing imminent death or the recovery from imminent death….cause I have been there more than once…more than twice…and yes, even more than three times. I am so thankful that this wasn’t one of those times. It is frustrating, I know….to be quiet when you want to be heard and “involved” in the world. When you feel that if your family doesn’t have a 3 course meal every night the Healthy Moms Unite Coalition will come to your door and take away your life-time membership.

Anyhoo, Today has been the first day I’ve been able to think a little more clearly. I’m not saying I’m thinking anything coherent…it’s just clear that I’m fruity!

P.S. It’s also clear that Josiah is in big trouble. The Studly Muffin just sat in syrup. Apparently, syrup has been added to Josiah’s list of “go-to” meals.

Random Thought X's 10.

I will be honest. I have not been very motivated to blog as of late. I have half a dozen unfinished posts just sitting in my blog dashboard. I have a theory that my creativity comes upon me like the flu or PMS (sorry guys). It's not an every day occurance, but when it happens it is intense and all incompasing. I have long held to the idea that I better get all my planning done whenever I am in one of the "creative hurricanes"...'cause when it is not there...it's just not there. Which can be a big problem for someone who calls herself a Freelance Writer. And has relied on more than one check from a writing job.  Though they might be few and far between right now.

Can I be any more pitiful? Probably. But I'm doing a pretty good job of it right now. I feel like everytime I talk to somebody I have some sort of sad story to tell. I have never had much patience with whiners.

Anyhoo, I do have a few random thoughts today.

1. I went the Y today. Yeah. They know me there. We do have a family membership, though The Studly Muffin has been a handful of times. He used to keep his weights on our porch. He would come home from work (at around 2:30am) and do his workout with only the stars as his audience. I didn't let him bring it to the apartment when we moved. Along with the stars most of downtown Springfield (including our Apartment neighbors) would be slightly disturbed by a grown man lifting weights on an Apartment balacony at all hours of the night. But this is not about The Studly Muffin. It's about the crowd at the Y. What are you all doing there! I know this is still January and all. It is still a little early to neglect that New Year's resolution, but phleease. You're totally cramping my style..and taking my parking spot.

2. Josiah and I also made a trip to the library today. This week our library is having a Food for Fines drive. Meaning you take in your canned goods and they remove any fines from your account. Okay. We go to the library every week. When a family goes as often as we do there is bound to be an occasional over due book.  Or three. So I went through my canned goods and bagged up a few (or 10). I won't give you a run down of strange and unusual things I found in my "pantry." I will admit to the package of mini-marshmallows I found under my bed...which I  know were left over from my 2009 Holiday baking. Not to worry. Ozarks Food Harvest did not receive my moldy marshmallow. I fully intend on using them in some jello this week.

3. The Tax Man is almost here. Which means because we are poor, not employed in a church and still can claim a child we will be getting a refund. Minister's taxes can be a nightmare. We always had to hire an accountant who knew about those dreaded Minister's Taxes. Now we can use one of those free online services. You just point and click. That alone almost makes up for not being in fulltime ministry. Almost...but not quite. Anyhoo...I have plans. I first plan on taking a trip to see my favorite hair dresser and going for Sushi. A girl has to have her priorities in order. Troy has some other priorities...like paying of bills and buying groceries. I don't get it. The man knows how to suck the joy right out of everything.

4. I am so over Winter. My flip flops are calling me. beke. Beke. BE-ke. BEKE! (my flip flops are kind of crazy and all).

5. I've already been hit up to order  Girl Scout cookies. At the Y. Just a glance at that multi-stripped order form sent me back in time. Of course, I was the worst Girl Scout cookie seller of all time. I still really stink at selling things. Here is my Avon spiel (circa 2005). "I am putting in an Avon order this week. Here is a book you can look at. If you want. Don't feel like you have to buy anything. Oh. You need shampoo? And conditioner? The shampoo starts on page 22. They might be kind of high. I don't want you to feel like you have to buy anything. If you want I can give you 40% off. And I'll throw in the conditioner for free."

6. I bought 5 boxes of cookies. I know. I'm supposed to be taking care of myself. My rationale is that I can take them to our Small Group at church to share. Those people love cookies. Right?

7. And I'm contributing to a wonderful organization like the Girl Scouts.

8. And Josiah needs to experience the delictable world of the Thin Mint and the Peanut Butter Patty. Such memories we are cultivating here!

9. Anyhoo.

10. I'll walk an extra lap at the Y. Promise.

Trash or Treasures?

So it's Day 6 of the New Year. And I am knee deep in organizing the Dreaded HomeSchool Cabinet. Help! I need an intervention! Already I have found several resource books I forgot I had and have spent a good portion of the morning thumbing through them. Then I found an old notebook I made in 8th grade for an English project titled "My Autobiography"...I was pretty dramatic and fruity even back in those days...and spent  a few minutes blubbering at the pictures I had included in that 8th grade notebook of my Grandma Polly and my Uncle Michael, who have both gone on to be with Jesus. After that I found an old Smithsonian magazine featuring the artist James Audubon and I started sketching out a lesson plan to include an artist study in some of Josiah's school work. So just a few hours into it I have managed to create a few piles on the floor, put 3 or 4 books in the box for storage and have thrown away some faded construction paper (which was really hard to do).

Meanwhile, as I was deep in the organizational haze, Josiah kept "rescuing" treasures from the trash. At one point he had a few old index cards, a mangled Guidepost and a plastic knife sitting on his lap. When I asked him what he was going to do with it all he said, "Who knows? Maybe create something? Read something?" Yep. He's my boy.

Organizing 101

Well, we're 5 days into a New Year. I don't quite feel like crawling back into the old year, but so far 2011 has proven to hold some new challenges...or maybe the same challenges...just packaged differently. For one, I received a bit of news from the doc today I didn't expect. Not to worry, nothing life threatening...I've had enough of those. But something I wasn't expecting. It's to soon to see how it will all play out.

One of the resolutions I have for the New Year is to make most of our small apartment and organize myself. This is akin to training a box turtle to quote Shakespeare. I have started on the most challenging projects first, The Dreaded HomeSchool Cabinet. So far I've thrown away a few crumbled up Post-Its, a dried up Sharpie and Church Bulletin from September. My particular issue is distraction. Here is a senario.  I decided to gow through a closet. It's not too bad, really. I have far fewer clothes than The Studly Muffin (given that he has held onto everything since his college days...almost 23 years ago!) and it's mostly a matter of stuffing back...in an orderly manner...everything that has spilled out. I come across an old paperback Agatha Christie novel and suddenly I'm propped up against the closet door lost in some sort of murder mystery involving afternoon tea and arson.  I really need Baby Sister to come and boss me around. She is really good at organization and the Bossy thing suits her.

Anyhoo, another issue is the matter of the pick-up truck. And the issue is that we don't have one. Our little storage building is in another town and it's kind of hard to strap too much to the top of my Buick.  I've thought about duct taping Josiah to the top a few times and then decided against it. 

As you can see, this is one Resolution I am quickly talking myself out of. I wonder how much one of those professional organizer people would charge? Then I would feel like I would have to organize myself before she or he came over to organize!

Sigh. It's always something.

Resolutions

A Mourning Dove. Taken by my mom, Sherry Lou Wilson, at my parent's farm in Stella, MO

So some folks call them Resolutions. When I think of being “resolute” I think of determination and commitment. Those particular qualities I have displayed in my life…at times. I am also guilty of giving in to my sanguine personality and “just going along for the ride.” I am usually one to make a list of goals at the beginning of every year. It is a good time to reflect and to gain focus on one’s life. I am also guilty of neglecting those goals and falling back into chaos and despair (well, not quite…but sometimes it seems like it). It’s easy to get sidetracked. The cares of this life can seem so overwhelming. And frankly, when one deals in life and death it’s easy to brush off the smallness of everyday life as trivial. More than any other year in my memory I am heading into 2011 with real burdens…not just for myself, but for friends and family around me.

Members of our family ending a almost 30 year marriage, the long journey of healing for a family friend, a road of hardships for a beloved nephew, friends facing a heart breaking battle for the privilege just to be parents, friends and family in devastating financial crisis, a young man who needs divine intervention in his life for direction and clarity, friends are faced with losing their home. And there are more.

In my own life I have seen God’s hand time and time again…moving, direction, shaping. But where does my own Faith enter the picture? What am I responsible for? My family and I have some serious needs this year…actually, this moment. I believe that God is in control. Some answers to particular prayers have been a long time in coming. What do I do while I wait? This is where Resolutions come in. There are things I can’t change…But there are some things I can explore, renew and revive. The others I am just going to have to leave up to him.

There is a list right now I am working on. And it’s called…you guessed it…Resolutions. The list resembles other lists I have made in the past. The only difference is that I have come to understand is that in everything I undertake I need divine intervention. I also need to understand that these changes in come in time…baby steps. I have spent so much of my life just trying to survive or trying to live a normal life, when the truth is I am not really all that normal. The truth is I just can start my New Year off by learning (again) to embrace life and what God has given me to the fullest. And rejoice in what He has started already.

So what have you resolved to do in this New Year?

The Christmas Edition (Random Thoughts)

Here are a few random thoughts. The Christmas Edition. Consider it my Christmas card to you…and possibly the only Christmas card most of you will receive from me this year.



1. Speaking of Christmas cards. I purchased a beautiful box of Christmas cards at T.J. Maxx last month for 5.99. They had a glittery Victorian Angel on the front and something about Christmas blessings and a scripture verse. They are really pretty. And still sitting in the box on my dining room table.


2. Josiah and I watched the Ballet together last night. Actually it was a documentary about the Kirov Ballet in Russia. Obviously there was a lot of Russian spoken and dancing going on. He finally told me, “Mom! All of this dancing and Spanish speaking is driving me crazy!” He thinks every foreign language he hears spoken is Spanish. We did do a introductory Spanish course this past year. I let him pick out what we watched after the Ballet. He picked Scooby Doo. Sigh.


3. So. Show of hands. How many of you have been out doing your last minute Christmas shopping. ‘Cause you’re all crazy! I went to Aldi’s the other day. Along with half of the Senior Citizen population of the Ozarks… and the Amish. You don’t mess with the Seniors when they are doing serious shopping. I thought I was going to lose a limb. The Amish, however, were exemplary shoppers. They seemed pretty delighted by the whole chaotic scene. I couldn't even drive my buggy down the aisle...it was like the 76 Strip at Branson during the tourist season. Crazy crowds make me nervous. I break out in hives. The Seniors eat so much better than we do. They had all sorts of fruit in their carts. I covered up the box of Frosted Flakes with my coat in shame. In my defense, the Frosted Flakes were for The Studly Muffin.


4. I have another confession. I have not wrapped a single gift. Except for the empty boxes we used for a memory verse game in Children’s Church on Sunday. Normally, I am all about the present wrapping. I get all of my paper and bags ready (matching, of course). Bows, gift tags, tape. I make myself a cup of something hot (this year I have a box of Holiday Chai Tea I am enjoying) and put on White Christmas. I am a little obsessive about the whole thing. I blame it on my mother. She is the quintessential last-minute present wrapper. One year, she waited so long that our little town in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas ran out of scotch tape. Our presents were brought down Christmas morning in laundry baskets. Not that we complained. But it did kind of take the whole “Santa came down the chimney and left these for you” magic out of the morning. There have been years I have gone to her house and wrapped her presents for her. Last night she called me from road (she and Dad are spending Christmas with Baby Sister in OHH-Klahoma) and she had yet to wrap any presents.


5. It happens. Every once in a while. I find myself in what appears to be a episode of "Hoarders." You know it's bad when you call your son and if he doesn't answer right away, your first instinct is that he has been buried underneath the avalanche of coats, wal-mart bags and scrapbook paper spilling out of the hall closet. It's time for an intervention. It doesn't help that we live in a 600+ square foot apartment. Maybe people in urban cities can do it, but I was raised in the country, ya'll! I have to spread out a little. Plus, there are things (like books, dishes and my son) that I can't live without. But not to fear! The Studly Muffin leant a hand over the weekend and the clutter has been conquered (at least this week)!


6. We are doing a bit of Holiday traveling tonight. The Studly Muffin gets off work at 1:30am. We are piling in the little Ford Contour (Sadly, Bertha the Buick…my car has no heat and bad tires) and heading up to St. Louis. The Studly Muffin likes to travel at night. Except that he likes me to stay awake to keep him awake. What’s up with that! One of the great things about traveling at night is the sleeping!


7. Have you ever been so discouraged that you couldn't even prayer for yourself? I've been there. And there have been times in my life when I am convinced that the prayers of those around me made the difference. I love this quote by Abraham Lincoln "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go.”Of course, the flip side to this is that we need to be on our knees in the good times, too. Right now I know of some pretty serious needs. Crisis doesn’t take a Christmas Holiday. My heart has been so burdened for many friends and family. As we celebrate with our loved ones, let’s all remember those around us who need a miracle. No matter how big the problem, God is still in control. And what better time for a miracle!

Merry Christmas!

Rebekah

Hot Chocolatey

It's C-C-C-Cold here in Missouri. At least it's cold for us Hillbillies. We like our winters cold enough we know that ole Jack Frost has paid us a visit. Give us a few snowman building days and we're good.  If it gets too cold our stills and possum traps start acting out of us! Kidding! Most of us don't have stills and I haven't eaten possum in ages! :<) For me it's all about the boots. A few months of cute boot wearing weather is worth all the chilly days and nights.
There are a few benefits to a frigid night at home. For one, the whole "night at home" thing is pretty good. It doesn't get any better than enjoying some snuggle time with the family. And being Christmas and all, we get to watch our fill of Christmas movies.  And what's better than watching White Christmas, Frosty the Snowman & It's Wonderful Life than with something chocolatey and warm. Is "chocolately" even a word?  Probably not.

As I write this, my family and I are currently snuggling together around a good "end of the world disaster flick"....2012. Not my idea. I am hoping to take control of the remote. Maybe if I distract the holder of the remote. I am not a disaster flick fan. They don't give me any thing warm or fuzzy. Anyhoo.

Here are some recipes and links for some fun Hot Chocolatey Recipes. Yum!

My Mama's Hot Cocoa Recipe

This is the recipe I grew up with. We didn't have little packets of cocoa in the country.

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cup white sugar
1 pinch salt
1/3 cup boiling water
3 1/2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Just heat on your stovetop. Serve with whipped cream and candy canes.

If you are really ambitious, Martha Stewart has a recipe for Homemade Marshmallows. I have made these before. Granted they didn't look as pretty as Martha's, but I'm no Martha.

Our Best Bites has a wonderful collection of recipes to change up your Hot Chocolate. These look really yummy simple. There are great recipes like Raspberry Truffle or Peppermint Stick.


Maybe you would like something a little more substantial with your cup of cocoa.  I have a friend who has a recipe for a chocolate microwave cake in a mug. You can find it here.

But how about making these Hot Cocoa Muffins In A Cup for the whole gang. Or better yet. Invite your friends over for a movie and a muffin in a cup! (hint. hint).

 Blessings!

Rebekah

My Favorite Christmas Present - EVER!

So have you made your Christmas list yet? I have an unofficial one (new tires, a new printer, a house with a yard, maybe a job, boots, a Circut, to return to my wedding dress size)…but there’s not much on it ;<). Josiah has his list. I will tell you that most of it involves Indiana Jones. There are many families this year that have had to simplify their Christmases. We aren’t alone on that island. We have been blessed to be blessed in this country and there have been many Christmases that my “stocking” was filled to the brim. But I would have to say that my favorite Christmas present ever wasn’t a new purse (though the Studly Muffin has done a good job in that department in years past). It wasn’t a bottle of fancy perfume or a new teapot. 9 years ago on December 10, Troy and I officially received parental custody of one Josiah Bevan. 6 months or so later we become his forever parents. Somewhere in all my boxes I have pictures of a tiny Josiah wearing a little Christmas outfit and a peppermint stripped hat. I think I spent that whole Christmas in some sort of surreal existence. Troy and I had been married 10 years. There had been things that had happened in our 10 years of marriage that no young couple should have to experience. Yet, here we were. Looking at our Christmas miracle. Wrapped up in all the things we thought we might never get to experience. Midnight feedings, dirty diapers, colic. They were glorious!


So here I am 9 years later. I am gazing at a handsome young man. He is wearing a pair of well worn Iron Man jammy pants. Picking his nose. He has dragged out all his action figures to the middle of the living room floor where it appears he attempting to save the world from certain doom. I think his Indiana Jones action figure is hanging from my floor lamp. He didn’t eat a bite of supper tonight (full from the Krispy Kreme we took to our friend Kim’s today) and has discovered that Mom gets really annoyed when he tries to burp “Jingle Bells.” I won’t tell him this, but all of it (even the nose picking part) is glorious! How blessed I am. So even if Santa doesn’t make a stop at my house this year I already feel that my Christmas present has arrived. I am at this moment telling him to keep his hands out of his pants…and probably will send him back to his own bed at least a dozen times tonight. But what a Present!

Josiah - Age 9 - At Ama and Papa's Farm in Stella