Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up August 10

On Monday, as Kiddos 1 and 2 were volunteering at church (I posted about how thankful I am for their service here), Kiddos 3 and 4 had their piano lessons and did really well!  I am so proud of them.  Kiddo #4 taught herself the overture to Beethoven's 9th Symphony by ear and surprised her teacher with it.  I need to post a video of it so you all could see her playing it.  It is really something else.  :-)

The week continued with more volunteerism, some crafts, reading, power points, baking and swimming.  Of course, that is all around watching the Olympics and celebrating our team's success.  It has been wonderful to watch these young Americans representing our nation and doing it with such grace and dignity.  We should all be very proud, not only of their amazing athletic abilities, but at the very way they have carried and presented themselves.  :-) 

I am also finalizing purchases of books and planning for our upcoming school year.

My weekly recipe linkup was on Tuesday and I shared a garlic herb cheese bread for the breadmaker recipe.  It is really tasty!  :-)  You can see that recipe and all of the others that were shared here. 

Wednesday's post was photos of the absolutely beautiful birds that have visited our backyard.  We actually photographed the most recent one from inside as we saw him helping himself to some of the material from one of our planters. 

On Thursday, Kiddo #4 finished her homemade doll and outfit in sewing class.  Isn't it just the sweetest?  Thursday night also found us watching some preseason football and cheering our hometown team as well as Kiddo #1 attending his Civil Air Patrol meeting.

What I'm praying for: There have been so many who are suffering, due to illness or circumstance who have asked for prayer.  Also remembering those in the military and their families...

What I'm reading: "I Surrender: Thoughts on making Christ the center of your life" in addition to various books in the Bible for an online study, canning recipes.....

A quote or photo to share:

Kiddo #2's sunflower, that he started from a seed many months ago, bloomed today.  :-)

Linking up with Create with Joy, Homeschool Mother's Journal and Weekly Wrap-Up







Thankful Thursday- August 9

I am always thankful for my children, but this week, I am especially thankful for Kiddos 1 and 2.  They have been volunteering and helping out at church every single day.  They are helping to get the religious education program ready for the fall.  The program serves hundreds of children, so it isn't an easy task.

They have done everything from sorting crayons and sharpening pencils, to getting children's folders labeled and sorted and correlating attendance data and records.  They will be there Thursday and Friday, as well.

The fact that they are doing this of their own volition and with a cheerful disposition is what makes me most thankful.  It is quite a challenge in today's day and age to try to raise children with a servant's heart, willing to be of service, volunteer and help others.

Does that mean that I won't have to remind them to pick up after themselves anymore?  Doubtful.  But, as blessed as I am, I'll take it.  (I'll just have to remember to read this post from time to time to remind myself of that fact, lol!)  :-)

Linking up with: Red Oak Lane, Raising Mighty Arrows, NOBH and A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

Wordless Wednesday- August 8

I am sharing some of the many bird photos we have taken in our yard over the past couple of months.  The first one we just took the other day as we caught the little fella "red-beaked," lol, helping himself to some material from the planter in which we are growing our parsley.  :-)



Linking up with: Judy H-J's Thoughts, Mama to 4 Blessings, Create with Joy , Living Well Wednesdays, NOBH and Favorite Things



Try a New Recipe Tuesday- August 7

It's that time again!  I look forward to seeing/trying all of your delicious recipes!

I'm sharing another breadmaker recipe today.  On a daily basis, I make my regular Italian bread which I posted here a couple of months back.  But, for a nice change, there is the Garlic Herb Cheese bread, which is quite good.  :-)

1 1/2 cups water
2 tbs. margarine or butter
3 cloves garlic crushed
4 3/4 cups bread flour
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tbs. sugar
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp each of dried rosemary, thyme and basil
2 tsp yeast

Set to rapid cycle, large loaf
Enjoy!

Sorry I don't have any photos of the bread.  We have been busy around here getting ready for our homeschool year to start back up as well as starting to pack for our family vacation.  Hope you have a wonderful week!  God bless!  :-)

Linking up with: Kids in the Kitchen, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows, Addicted to Recipes, Homemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday, NOBH, Judy H-J's Thoughts, Wisdom Wednesday , Favorite Things and Modest Mom

Make Life Meaningful Monday- August 6

This weekend started as we celebrated our 16th anniversary with a nice dinner together and a movie.  Before we went out, we were treated to a chorus of "Happy Anniversary" with a 16 on the pie and a "1" for good luck, lol.  :-)  The kiddos got to have an evening of ice cream and the Olympics with their grandparents.

On Saturday, Kiddo #1 went away for an overnight with his Civil Air Patrol group.  They made and launched model rockets and kiddo brought and flew two of his model airplanes, as well.

We went to church in the evening on Sunday after Kiddo came home, as we always like to go together as a family.  I had never been to this church before and found it to be a sweet, little church with an enthusiastic congregration and a wonderful sermon to boot.  It really struck me when he gave a story about a man, who had made some pretty poor choices in his life, now faced with his son possibly doing the same thing, realized that he needed to turn to God for the answers and advice. He needed God in his life. That when we turn to the world, the media and our peers instead, we will not get the correct answers and advice and will not be lead on the right path.  These are the wrong influences and can jeopardize our souls.  When young people have a better relationship with the world and their peers than their own parents and the Lord, the child will be lost.  The Lord patiently waits for us to turn to Him.  He will welcome us home with open arms and with unlimited forgiveness.  We just need to ask.   He is always there to give us answers, advice, love and forgiveness.  What an amazing, incredible and awesome thought to begin the new week, don't you think?  :-)

Linking up with Modest Monday, On, in and around Mondays and Inspire Me Monday in addition to Wisdom Wednesday and Living Well Wednesday

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-up August 3

It's August!  And, today, August 3rd is our 16th wedding anniversary. Wow.  And, with 4 kids in 5 1/2 years, a deployment to Iraq and lots else in between, it has certainly been eventful, but I wouldn't trade these years for anything in the world.  :-)

It was a quiet and relatively uneventful week for a change!  And what a nice change it was!  On Sunday, Kiddo #1 flew with his RC club.

I posted more photos of him flying here.

The kids enjoyed swimming

and we picked cucumbers every day from our garden and were even able to get some peas.

I hosted my weekly recipe linkup and shared my grandmother's homemade gravy (sauce) recipe.  You can find it, and all of the other recipes here.

We supported Chick-Fil-A (I posted about it here), and while we were at the mall, Kiddos 3 and 4 enjoyed a merry-go-round ride.

We are also enjoying the Olympics everyday and are learning about Great Britian, the many different nations that are represented, what their flags look like (boy, there are so many more than when we were kids, lol!) and keeping a medal count.  We are so proud of our Olympians!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!  :-)

Linking up with Create with Joy, Homeschool Mother's Journal and Weekly Wrap-Up

Thankful Thursday- August 2

Yesterday (Wednesday), being a part of something so amazing as supporting Chick-Fil-A, has made me very thankful.  Thankful that the people of this nation have come together to support our religious freedom and freedom of speech and in such record numbers.  It has given me hope and encouragement for the future.

The first few photos are those from around the nation and the bottom one is of my family enjoying their Chick-Fil-A lunch at our mall food court.  God bless America!

Linking up with: Red Oak Lane, Raising Mighty Arrows, NOBH and A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings