"One Word" for 2015

Happy New Year!  I wish you and your families all the best in 2015!

Wow, 2015.  We were just ushering in 2014.  Where did this year go?  I used to laugh as a child when all of the adults around me (some of whom are no longer here with us) would wipe a tear on New Years Eve.  My cousins, friends and I would be jumping and celebrating and so excited that we just couldn't understand why they were melancholy.  I certainly understand it now.  The years have gone by quickly.  I am no longer that kid jumping up and down, but a middle aged woman (geez, when did that happen?!) who is thinking that there are probably more years behind me than there are in front. Sobering, for sure.

Last year, I chose "Indomitable."  You can read the post here.  What a challenge that word was!  It means "that cannot be subdued, or overcome, as persons, will or courage, living and trusting without fear." A lot is packed into that word, isn't it?  And this past year was certainly one in which we needed to trust, have courage and not live in fear.  We are called to "be not afraid," but were never told it would be easy.

So, what to choose for this year?  After some prayer and thought, I have chosen Intentionality.  It means the fact of being deliberate or purposive; the ability to act with purpose.  Intentionality is behaving with a goal in mind and taking deliberate actions to achieve those goals.  It is being thoughtful in action or decision.  As I grow older, I want to not take for granted the special, little moments and gifts that are in the everyday.  I will live with purpose to enjoy and cherish and make the most of each moment.

Living intentionally and with purpose-- Making.everything.count.

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."-Philippians 4:8

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."- John 15:12

"...pray without ceasing."- Thessalonians 5:17


"Joy is a great remedy.  I recommend it to you and I do so very enthusiastically....!  Be joyful!  I say it again.  I say it again: be joyful!  When we are joyful, we are less aware of evil and are cured more quickly.  Cast all your cares on God.  He is the best of Fathers and will look after you as well as possible."  - Bl. Guiseppina Nicoli


"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above."-- James 1:17



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Top 10 Posts of 2013

As we welcome in 2014, I am sharing the Top 10 most viewed posts on Home to 4 Kiddos in 2013.  Some of these will look familiar from the Recipe Top 10, but there are definitely some different posts on this list.

10) Peanut Butter Bear Cookies

9) Homemade Laundry Detergent

8) St. Patrick's Day Craft

7) Italian Pizzelles

6) Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

5) Pressure Canning 101

4) Chocolate Green Smoothie

3) Shipwreck Casserole

2) Free Printable- Punctuation

and the most viewed post on Home to 4 Kiddos in 2013 was.....

1) Landmarks Matching Game

Happy New Year!  :-)

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Top 10 Recipe Posts of 2013

As 2013 draws to a close, I am sharing the recipes from this year that got the most page views.  If you haven't seen some of them before, feel free to click on them and enjoy.  We love to cook and bake here and are happy to share our recipes with you.  :-)

Without further adieu, here they are:

Honorable Mentions (just missed the top 10):

Deluxe Oatmeal Raisinets Cookies

Zebra Brownies

Chocolate Biscotti

There was an exact tie for 10th:

10) Chocolate Cake

10) Peanut Butter Oaties

9) Snickerdoodles

8) Buried Treasure

7) Homemade Donuts

6) Pressure Canning 101

5) Chocolate Chip Muffins

4) Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

3) Chocolate Green Smoothie

2) Peanut Butter Bear Cookies

and drumroll please.....the most viewed recipe of 2013 was:

1) Shipwreck Casserole

Linking up with the Gathering Spot, Kids in the Kitchen, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows,Addicted to Recipes, Homemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday,NOBH, Judy H-J's Thoughts, Wisdom Wednesday , Favorite Things, Modest Mom, Full Plate Thursday and Melt in your Mouth Monday and Show Off Friday and Tuesday's Table and Look What We Did and Titus 2sday,  Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Crafty Spices, Better Mom,Create with Joy, Thursday's Treasures, Tasty Thursdays and Wonderful Food Wednesday and Mondays with Countrified Hicks and Tuesday How to Party and the Tried and True Recipe Party and Kids and Mom in the Kitchen and Family Fun Friday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop andAll My Bloggy Friends and Hearts for Home Blog Hop and Foodie Friends Friday and Family Fun Friday and TGIF Linky Party and Food on Friday andHip Homeschool Moms, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home andGood Tastes Tuesday and Thriving Thursday and Friday Flash Blog Hop 

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My "word" for 2013

I had never heard of selecting a "word" for the New Year before seeing it on many friends' blogs this week.  The idea started growing on me.  I am not a fan of resolutions, per se, as they are rarely kept and are so general like "be happy," "be healthy" or "lose 50 pounds."  We've heard them all before.  No how, no why, no little steps, just broad statements.  In my dad's sermon this past Sunday, he talked about having goals instead of resolutions and how with God's help, we can achieve those goals one step at a time.

So, with that in mind, I started thinking about a word that encompasses the goals that I have set for myself in 2013.

2012 was filled with many good memories.  I blogged my "2012: A Look Back" post and you can see it here.  It was a good year and as I said in the post itself, "Much has happened; memories have been made, lessons have been learned, love has been shared."

Looking to 2013, what would I want to focus on within myself and permeate more to those around me?  After much thought, I came up with

(thank you SO much to Melanie from at Only A Breath for the beautiful button!)

OPTIMISM

In the dictionary, it is defined as:

1) a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome

2) the belief that good ultimately predominates over evil in the world. 

Synonyms: confidence, hopefulness, cheerfulness.

What a word!  It really sums it all up, doesn't it?  To exude confidence, hopefulness and cheerfulness while knowing that good will predominate over evil and to always see the best in any situation.

The optimism of children in their innocence doesn't seem to last very long.  What happens to adults that they become so negative, so down, so much in a "rush" that the beauty of each situation, no matter how small, is somehow missed or overlooked?

The simple joy of my children, like in these photos from midnight on New Year's is what I want to focus on, cherish even more and encourage.  Life truly is too short to worry, rush and not have a cheerful disposition.  Children will, looking back, I truly believe, remember a mom who smiled and sat down to play before one who shooed them away so she could clean up; they will remember a mom who stopped to smell the roses with them rather than the one who shooed them along so they wouldn't be late.  And so on.

"Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."--Joshua 1:9

"So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have enough worries of its own.  There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings."--Matthew 6:34

"Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you.  I do not give it as the world does.  Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid."--John 14:27

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.  He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."  And He who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."  Also He said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."-- Rev. 1:1-27

A quick thank you to all of my readers, friends and family who voted for my blog in the recent Homeschool blog awards.  I was so humbled to be named in the Top Ten for Homeschool Mom blogs and was recently notified that I also was awarded this honor in the photo category.  I just LOVE taking photos.  My kids laugh that my camera is permanently attached to me!  :-)  Maybe it is my little way of trying to capture and preserve their childhoods, because I know that the time is fleeting and they are growing up too fast.  :-)

Linking up with  Word 2013 at Ben and Me and these lovely ladies: Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Modest Mom, Crazy Mama, Homemaking Wednesdays and Raising Mighty Arrows and Titus 2sday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop, NOBH, Weekly Wrap-up, Homeschool Mother's Journal, Show-Off Friday, Learn and Link and It's a Wrap, Friendship Friday and Friday Connection and Fun Friday, and Only a Breath.

Happy New Year! (and top 10 posts from 2012)

Happy New Year!  May God bless each of us and our families in 2013!

Here are some photos from our New Year's Eve celebration at the bowling alley.  It is always a fun time with family and friends.

can't bowl without the pigies!  :-)

the kids and my dad playing hangman

It was a great evening with old and new friends (On the left is hubby and I.  In the center is a dear friend who was Kiddo #3 and #4's preschool teacher and on the right are two new friends who joined us with their son for a fun night!  Their son is on the homeschool bowling league with our children.)

all of the kids after their evening of bowling, eating and friendship.  :-)

Also, here are the Top-10 most read posts  on "Home to 4 Kiddos" for 2012:

10) Our Curriculum 2012-2013

9) Make Life Meaningful Monday- June 18

8) Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up January 6

7) Celebrating Mothers

6)Try a New Recipe Tuesday- October 9

5) Make Life Meaningful Monday- July 2

4) Try a New Recipe- July 31

3) Review and Giveaway for Advent

2) Try a New Recipe Tuesday- September 25

and the most viewed post on my blog in all of 2012 was......

1) Print-a-Palooza- Monday October 1

Linking up with On, in and around Mondays in addition to Wisdom Wednesday, Living Well Wednesday, Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Modest Mom, Crazy Mama, Homemaking Wednesdays and Raising Mighty Arrows and Titus 2sday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop, Mama to 4 Blessings, Create with Joy, NOBH, Musings from a Stay at Home Mom, Tina's Wordless Wednesday,Judy @ CoffeeJitters and Wordless Wednesday at Wordless and  Living Well Wednesday, Favorite Things, and Crafty Spices, Better Mom

2012- A Look Back

Did any of us think when we were younger that the saying uttered by our parents and grandparents- "the years go by so quickly" would ever apply to us?  Perhaps it happens upon parenthood and it inevitably speeds up with each subsequent year.  It seems as if 2012 just started and now it has come to an end.

Much has happened; memories have been made, lessons have been learned, love has been shared.

Below is a pictorial of some of my favorite moments from 2012.  When looking through the literally hundreds of photos that I took, I was in a quandary.  How would I select just a few to represent an entire year?  There are so many!  That is why I started the blog-- not only to let family and friends who don't live around the corner know how the kids are doing, but also for the children themselves, so they can have a pictorial scrapbook of sorts of our homeschooling journey so they can always remember.
:-)

When I asked the kiddos what they liked most about 2012, I got a myriad of responses that ranged from our trip to Bethany Beach, our visits to the zoo and Valley Forge National Park.  I heard about flying airplanes, playing with "piggies," memorable sports moments and Ocean City.  I was reminded about favorite crafts, fun baking together and lessons that we did in school.  All wonderful memories.  It makes me want to read back over the blog and see them all again.  Maybe someday. :-)

I heard on the radio the other day the DJ say "If you woke up tomorrow with only what you thanked God for today, what would you have?"  As 2013 arrives, I will be sure to thank God for all of the gifts He has given me-- including a loving and hard-working husband, a wonderful and supportive family, being able to homeschool, a prayerful church community full of fellowship and love, online friends who have meant so much, my beautiful children who brighten my every day and of course, during this Christmas season, the precious gift of His Son.

Click here on or after the 1st to see what others on the Review Crew have shared about their 2012.

Also Linking up with On, in and around Mondays in addition to Wisdom Wednesday, Living Well Wednesday, Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Modest Mom, Crazy Mama, Homemaking Wednesdays and Raising Mighty Arrows and Titus 2sday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop, Mama to 4 Blessings, Create with Joy, NOBH, Musings from a Stay at Home Mom, Tina's Wordless Wednesday,Judy @ CoffeeJitters and Wordless Wednesday at Wordless and  Living Well Wednesday, Favorite Things, and Crafty Spices, Better Mom and Lisa at The Army Chap's Wife and Harvest of Friends Blog Hop, Friendship Friday, Friday Connection and It's a Wrap and Fun Friday.