Family Night: K10C Part 1

This part wasn't originally in the plan for our family night last week, but it was such a gorgeous day we decided to eat our family night supper at the park.  By the time we got there the sun had set, so we froze our frannys.  But David and I talked through chattering teeth while the kids played a little.

Why doesn't that girl's mamma teach her not to talk with her mouth full of pizza?

We made a stop at the Dollar Tree for a few supplies (discovered that the ever-brilliant David didn't know that we had a Dollar Tree, Family Dollar and Dollar General in our little town, nor what the difference was between the 3....)

Then back home for our fun evening. 

I had wanted some fresh material for family night,  and I recently ran across Focus on the Family's K10C curriculum (Kid's 10 Commandments).   I originally wanted to buy the Family Fun Pack, but found a wildly cheap deal on the church curriculum, so I went with that.  It includes the full-size board game, the video lesson set, CD soundtrack, reproducible workbook, craft & snack ideas, discussion questions, the works. (Whoever sold this entire brand new curriculum for $25.00 must not have known what they had!)

After it came in the mail, the kids were so excited to dig in.  We weren't disappointed.  My weakness is trying to plan too much, but it was so fun.  The first lesson covered the first 2 commandments (with Christmas coming up, we decided to do the 5-lesson VBS option instead of the 13-lesson Sunday school option.)


Here is David demonstrating what life would be like without guidelines.  Starting with the mess he made of a frozen pizza by not following instructions.  At first the kids thought the sprinkles-chocolate-ketchup pizza mess was cool, but they got the point after tasting the frozen concoction. (Kinda like real life...seems fun 'til you get a taste of the results....)

I cheated on the craft and bought their treasure boxes pre-made at the dollar store.  They decorated them with markers.  Inside they say, "This box is empty becuase my treasure is in heaven."

We made playdoh "idols" to demonstrate the silliness of worshipping anything other than the true God.  David got a little carried away with his idol making.  (Notice Moses poised for tablet-crashing....a dramatic scene on the video.) What a sculpting expert....Is there anything my man can't do?

The animated commandment videos are quality, in my humble opinion.  The kids aren't allowed to watch past commandment 2, so they've watched the first episode over and over.  They're begging for another family night.

We really don't do a big deal like this very often, but the kids love it when we do. Could family devotions be more fun?

From the Shelf: Thanksgiving Stuff!

The season of Thanks is here!  I'm looking forward to some time with my little family & some hot chocolate with cream......focused on God's bounty in our lives with purposeful thanks-giving.

"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action."  ~W.J. Cameron

I admit it...I'm a resource junkie.  Now I realize that having lots of resources is certainly not necessary in order to practice the habit of gratitude and to fully celebrate Thanksgiving.  But they help me to have a plan for helping to focus our minds, hearts and hands in creative ways.  They save me brain waves.  And most of all.....resources get me excited.  I can't help it.  It's my kid heart, I guess.  And  excitement is contageous.  So books & resources are a shameless priority in our budget over lots of other things.

I think http://www.familylife.com/ resources are the absolute best we've found for making Thanksgiving meaningful.  The first three are new this year and I can't wait to get them in the mail!! You can listen here to programs about some of these resources.  It is easy to rush through the holiday on the way to Christmas and get to the other side wondering if you ever really settled into the meaning. These resources can help get everyone tuned-in weeks in advance .

Growing Together in Gratitude - a family devotional including stories of people who have been grateful even in difficult circumstances. New!

Let's Talk Turkey - printable discussion cards for the table

A Family Prayer of Thankfulness - laminated card for $.99

Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember - Barbara Rainey's classic Thanksgiving resources....available in Audio version, coffee table book & CD of Thanksgiving hymns.

The Legend of Squanto - the story dramatized on CD by Radio Theatre

ThanksLiving Treasures - This is an awesome Thanksgiving kit from Family Life, but they don't make it anymore.  We got it in the used homeschooling section of our Christian Book Store.  There happens to be one for sale NOW on Amazon.com! (Click the orange link.)  I think this may be the first time I've ever found another one for sale - and it says it's new!  Ours includes: a 6-day devotional with stories, scriptures, discussion, application, and activities.  Plus a special section with ideas for Thanksgiving Day celebration.  There are printed art cards illustrating points in the Thanksgiving story, as well as visual pieces to use with the lessons (a replica of the Mayflower, corn, cross, small Bible).  Also: recipes, resources, websites.....It's $20.00, but it's cool! 

We also have a thick red journal that we pass around at Thanksgiving each year and let everyone write their thoughts of gratitude looking back over the year.  It is a treasure.

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving." ~W.T. Purkiser

photos :: autumn sunsets from our front yard

Wednesday with the Word

* * *

Praise the Lord.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

Who greatly delights in his commandments. 

His offspring will be mighty in the land. 

The generation of the upright will be blessed. 

~ Psalm 112:1-2

* * *

Now if THOSE Living Words don't get your motor going about being a parent, I don't know what will! 

This morning, Kayla called me from the bathroom.  She was holding her "throne" reading material, which was a book from our new family devotions kit.  She asked, "Mommy, what does it mean for God to be the center of your life?"  I said, "Oh honey, don't worry with all that stuff.  You'll learn about all that when you get bigger. Just put that old book away and brush your teeth."
 

Kidding.

I was SO excited to get to answer her!  What question could thrill a mama more? 

The other night during family prayer, Caiden's request was that "we will be powyerful!" He's a very dramatic boy, and pretty much everything he says is said with passion and intensity. Who knows where he came up with the request...he probably meant "powerful in fighting alligators and lions."  But it certainly got our attention.  Because we know of a real-life lion they must fight.  We pray power for our kids. (And I often think of the goal - raising powerful worshippers -  when the training gets tough and I feel I'm the one getting the brunt of the discipline.)....

We even named our boys accordingly.  Caiden means "warrior."  Corin means "spear-bearer."  Our highest dream for them is that they will be men of God's might - driven by worship - full of the strength of His Spirit. 

Now if I can just get this warrior to keep his clothes on and eat his vegetables.....

"Lord, I can deal with puked-on shoulders and crunchy floors and chopped-up nights if only You will give me children who are "mighty in the land".....mighty in character and love and worship and kindness and principle. Teach me to fear and worship you more freely and delight in your commandments more fully.  And guide my children with your powerful hand of love.  Amen!"

photos:  Girltime at Chicago's American Girl.....Baby Big Boy with those eyes, that spirit.

Let's Talk Tuesday: Basic Weekly Menu Plan

I am loving my oh-so-simple current menu system.  It saves me so much brain energy to have a basic weekly menu.  I've tried different menu-planning ideas: (Once-A-Month-Cooking, menu mailers from Saving Dinner, Calender Planning).  This one is not the most elaborate and detailed or even the most efficient, but this is my current and I'm liking it for this stage in my life and energy level.  Some of this is definitely kid food, especially on the  busiest days.  But I can make these as quick and junkie or as gourmet and healthy as I want and add fruits & veggies.  I helps me so much when I go to the cabinet or freezer to plan dinner.  Most of the decision-making is already done. 

MONDAY

lunch: Buffet (use up the good stuff  in the fridge.  My mom-in-law sends us great Sunday leftovers.)  

supper: Poultry/Fish  (from frozen fish sandwiches to steamed Alaskan King Crab....from barbequed chicken to leftover turkey)

TUESDAY:

lunch: Breakfast food   (We usually eat oatmeal for breakfast, so this gives us a chance to enjoy quiche, omelets, pancakes, biscuits, egg wraps....)

supper: Beef/pork (tacos, pizza subs w/ ham, steak, barbeque, pork chops....)

WEDNESDAY:
lunch: Mac & Cheese or McDollar menu (quick and easy - that's my run-errands day)  
supper: Pizza (David's out of town and I get 4 kids ready for prayer meeting alone. 'nuf said.)


THURSDAY:
lunch: Teaching Day - (David out of town.  Kids eat at grandma's.)
supper: Frozen meals (It's late and I'm pooped by the time I pick kids up after teaching)


FRIDAY:
lunch: Sandwiches  (subs, wraps, grilled cheese, turkey, egg....)
dinner: Open for Date night/Family night


SATURDAY:
lunch: Soup    (chili, chicken & noodles, potato, broccoli, vegetable stew...)
supper: Pasta (lasagna, fettuccini, spaghetti, ravioli, manicotti...)

SUNDAY: 

lunch: Dinner with Frys (Eggs, rolls, salad & dessert)

supper: Cereal and milk or after church randomness

So LET'S TALK....

What about you?  What meal-planning ideas have worked for you?  Recipes?  Ideas? Cookbooks?  We'd like to hear if you care to share.

Here's how:

1. Write a post about your blog on your favorite meal planning ideas.

2.  Copy the direct link to that post into the last number below.

3.  Sit back and wait for blog-company.

Corin - 14 weeks

Hope it doesn't mess him up, to hear so many people call him "pretty."  He'll probably need therapy someday. 

He has graduated to the exersaucer.  I love this stage, but it's bittersweet to see him grow so fast.  Mostly sweet.

Would you look at those lil' squeezable rolls? I work hard day and night to feed him those rolls, thank you very much.

You know in trouble when you buy a used exersaucer for your 3-month-old and the 7-year-old and 3-year-old have a viscious battle over playing with it!  Thankfully the 5-year-old careth not for the exersaucer.

Mommy Monday: "Managers of Their Homes"

I got inspired about the book after my friend Rachel bought it.  It comes from the http://www.titus2.com/ website, which has lots of great resources that SAY they're for homeschoolers but are really just great tools for alll parents.

The book is all about scheduling your day and working the schedule until it becomes second nature.

I have used a checklist-sort-of-schedule for years. This book helped me to do some refining and gave me a kick in the skirtus. It also made me face the reality of how much time things actually take.  I am trying to adjust my world accordingly.

My schedule is not perfect.  I do not keep the schedule perfectly by far....  Even when I do keep it, I still marvel at what doesn't get done.  Some days seem to turn upside down with or without the schedule.  But it's in the back of my mind, giving me direction for the day.  And I am fitting in more things more often.  That's enough.

This whole idea should not be a guilt issue for those who don't use home scheduling.  You shouldn't try it unless there's something in you that wants to.  Millions of mothers have survived without a schedule.  It's not required for good motherhood or wiferhood or anyhood.  It's just something that has really, really helped me with my days.  I think my patheticness requires it.  It seems that the behinder I get, the behinder I get.  Until I can literally find myself wandering around the house in circles, wondering what to do next.  Sometimes I'll tell David...Okay.  These are the things bugging my brain.  Tell me what is most important to do RIGHT NOW. 

Well..my schedule does that for me.  It just gives me the next thing to do to help me keep moving through the day productively.  I love to use it as a checklist.  I highlight each thing as I get it done and love to watch the page turn pink or yellow or orange.  I even add other things I accomplish just so that I can mark them off and see that I actually DID accomplish something today!    It also is a sort-of defense for me when I feel the "you don't do enough" hammer getting ready to beat me to a pulp.  My schedule proves that life takes time and I'm not a total loser.

In my opinion, this book is expensive and can make scheduling seem complicated.  But it's worth it if you're seriously looking for some good ideas for getting things done.  And I think it is even more awesome for those of you who balance homeschooling and homekeeping.  You have my admiration a thousand times over.

I first started using a written schedule/checklist as I internalized some of flylady's ideas.  I use a simple table in microsoft word and set it up in half-hour increments down the side with days of the week across the top.  Whether you buy this book and make a wall chart or use flylady's planner or a spreadsheet like me, I think it's absolutely essential to remember that this is a tool to help you, not a hammer to beat you.  The schedule serves you - not you the schedule.  It's not only OKAY to change other's ideas to fit you.  It is necessary.

Here are some basic ideas for getting started, for those of you that are curious.

1.  Put in the things that cannot be changed: 

• Get kids to school
• Weekly appointments
• Choir practice
• Prayer meeting, etc.

 2.  Have a basic weekly plan.  One of the things David reminds me of when I get overwhlemed is, "You have to decide what NOT to get done today.  We women keep a list running in our heads.  This weekly plan helps me decide what's for today, and what's for tomorrow:

• Monday -desk day (budget, bills, calls, business)
• Tuesday - laundry day & projects (I do laundry other days, but this is the biggie)
• Wednesday - errands day & church
• Thursday - teaching day - all day
• Friday - home blesssing (cleaning) & family night or date night
• Saturday - Kid chores & church prep
• Sunday - worship, rest & blog

 3.  Have a simple morning & evening routine.  For instance:

• am....
• Breakfast cleanup/sweep floor
• One load of laundry
• Feed dogs
• pm....

• lay out everyone's clothes for tomorrow
• pack lunches
• quick house straighten
  
  (I realized as I started typing how much my routines have grown and become a part of me.  cool)
  
  
  
  

  4. Schedule 15 minutes of decluttering or deep cleaning in your  Flylady zone.  (www.flylady.net).  Over the years, I have adapted mine from flylady's suggestions to fit our home better.
  
  • Week 1 - Dining room/office
  • Week 2 - Kitchen
  • Week 3 - Kids Rooms
  • Week 4 - Master Bedroom & Bath
  • Week 5 - Living Room
  There are lots of other things to add, some of them necessary, some of them extra: 
  
  Practice with all the kids, read-aloud time with kids,  walk & pray, kid bath time, cleaning car, meal prep & cleanup, family devotions....if you're lucky - time to brush your teeth and wash your hair. 
  
  
  
  

  But if you put in the first 4 things above, you will create a framework for the week. 
  
  
  
  

  I am trying to do my schedule a little more "scheduled" now.  But that in itself can create some frustration when the day turns on its head.  I have also been amazed that that even on days when I follow the schedule almost perfectly, I can get to the end of the day and look around and wonder why things don't look better.  So these ideas are not perfect or magical, by any means.  But they have sure helped. And goodness knows this mamma needs all the help she can get. 
  
  
  

Sabbath Worship - O Praise!

From the Shelf: The Rest of God

Loved this book!  I finished it a couple of months ago or so, but haven't blogged about it, ironically.  Because of schedule.  Back-to-back, never done, always behind schedule. 

Last night I stayed up, got out schedules, considered options, and regretfully said no to another wedding shoot and speaking engagement.  Two things I love to do.  But I've been saying no lately.  A lot. 

I've been saying no because I have to.  I'm embarrassed sometimes that I can't handle more.  Feel I should be able to do it all.  Spent my Monday Desk Day yesterday...at my desk!  Working like a madwoman to get budget, bills, transfers, orders, papers, Christmas list in order.  And at the end of the day, wondering why life takes so long.  Am I not efficient with my time?  How could I move through the daily more quickly?

Or should the question be:  How could I move through my day more slowly?

I'm intensely interested in efficient home scheduling.  Too much time wasted, I repeatedly return to the rhythm of my schedule to come up for air and breathe again.  But the concept of Margin is a life-long quest for me now. Has been for some years.  I am a master of fitting it all on one page.  I can use a .5 margin and change a font and adjust text to Fit.It.All.In 

But sometimes all isn't better.  I long for space in my day, my closets, my brain.    Freedom from the always overflow of life.  I am longing to linger. 

Lately, I've found myself agonizing and grieving over multiple emails and responses that sit unanswered while I scurry to change diapers, do laundry, pay bills, do dishes.  Then in embarrassed tardiness, I answer the poor waiting souls with a frenzy of apology, explanation, excuse..... All true.

But I've been longing for the fragrance of me to be more quiet.  More gentle, relaxed.  Unrushed.  Unapologetic.

But it seems that requires either:

Being more together than I could possibly ever muster. 

OR

Saying no. 

And so no it is.  But I'm realizing that "no" alone will not solve my problem of rush.  It is a matter of the spirit, the mind.  It is a philosophy of living.  Frankly, I haven't figured it all out, the unrushed life.  It is still a mystery to me.

I do enjoy the everyday.  Savor the small.  But I am oh-so-quick to let life choke me again.

The world will go on without me.  But I alone set the tone for this home.

This book is at once beautiful and powerful.  The title is doubled with meaning.  If you dare take the time to curl up with a book (I used spots of time during newborn feedings), this is one I recommend.

"Lord, quiet me with your eternal time.  Help me to choose wisely my daily tasks.  Choose me to protect strongly my time with you.  Help my fragrance to be calm and sweet, not rushed and frantic.  Help me, somehow, to manage this overflowing life you have given me with grace and rest.  Teach me, Lord, to find The Rest of God.  Amen."

Pictures from our date

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.

 ~George Eliot

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

 ~Albert Camus

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn. 

~Elizabeth Lawrence

falling leaves

hide the path

so quietly

~John Bailey, "Autumn," a haiku year, 2001

as posted on oldgreypoet.com

No place is boring, if you've had a good night's sleep and have a pocket full of unexposed film.

 ~Robert Adams, Darkroom & Creative Camera Techniques, May 1995

Ah, how good it feels! The hand of an old friend. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Hip Hip Horray

Yay for two 4-hour stretches of sleep!
Yay for getting to sleep in on Saturday morning!
Yay for getting a huge project done that has been bugging my brain!
Yay for going on a cool date with David!
Yay for 5-year olds who love to hold babies!
Yay for Daddy overseeing kid chores!
Yay for a whole free Saturday to get caught up!

I feel like a person this morning.  And David and I are planning a fun date this afternoon:  a fall photography date and 18-list review.

I've found that lately I haven't  been using my lens so much to just capture the beautiful things around me.  And I've got a hankerin' to photograph some pumpkins and leaves.  We have matching cameras (ain't that cute?) so we don't have to sit around and wait for each other to finish our shots.  AND we don't have to tell each other how to do it.  I'm free to be me.   We also plan to have lunch and review our parenting 18-list, if I can find it in the computer archives (no time to explain the list....I'd like to do a post about it later). 

Hope you have a happy Saturday.  Hope I do, too.  I'm afraid there are some flu bugs lurking in the corners of our home.  So I'm hoping to have the most wonderful day possible before they crawl out and get us.
(picture by David)

The REAL Bio

I have no business being on the computer at all this morning, but it's David's fault.  He got an email this morning from someone needing my bio for Youth Challenge and brought it to my foggy attention.  They need it tomorrow - and they'll get it, I'm sure.  They'll get the "received her degrees in....and married so and so....and currently resides in...." bio.   But as my twisted brain got to turning, I couldn't help but share with you,  dear friends and lurkers....

                                  the REAL bio of Sarah Fry!

Sarah spent her early years pretty much confused about what she wanted to study, be and do. God had mercy and gave her a brilliant man who has it together. These days, Sarah is suffering from a constipated brain as a result of a severe sleep deficit (because she’s too dense to figure out how to get her new baby to sleep through the night.) Her house is suffering from a depressing case of behindness. She and her husband had a squabble in the middle of the night over babies and bright lights and who knows what so she spent one of the night feedings fantasizing about sneaking away to her mother’s and leaving him alone with the children. She vacillates between feeling semi-confident about her place in life and feeling totally inadequate and mediocre at best about herself and everything she does. Sarah is overweight, overwhelmed and over-sensitive. But she loves her kids beyond description. She’s crazy about her handsome husband. She savors the small things. She values her true friends. She has finally realized there is incredible rest in God’s grace. And she dreams of someday jogging peacefully alone in the early morning hours, then going back to her company-clean house, putting her skinny self to bed and sleeping until she wants to wake up .

Now that I got that ridiculous nonsense out of my system, I'm going to shut down the computer, fix a bottle for the incessantly hungry baby, let Karissa feed him, and choose a project to throw my exhausted self into with the force and energy of a limp string been.  Happy day to you all.

Corin - 10 weeks, 4 days

"It is not a slight thing

when those so fresh from God love us." 

~ Dickens

Let's Talk....

Autumn

I love the coziness of Autumn.  It makes me want to snuggle up and read a book (Who am I kidding?  Every season makes me want to do that!).  Or bake something savory and linger at the table with my husband.  I love to walk outside and catch that first breath of the crisp, fresh air.  I love arranging straw bales and pumpkins and corn stalks in my yard.  I love to drive down the road as the fall colors whiz by and look at the glowing lights of homes in the evening.  I LOVE to smell woodsmoke!  And  I admit - I love the promise of Christmas and snowflakes in the air.  Just this morning, Caiden (3) asked "When does it snow?"  I am crazy about every season.  But right now..this one's my favorite.

I like to hear my friends talk about things.... to hear you share about your life, your world, your happy day, your goofy kids.  Or even to laugh with you about your poopy diaper day or your frustrating job or your opinion on the troubles of the world.  I learn from you. 

So on that note....I'd like to hear you talk about something today.  It's something general, but maybe it will get you to share with us this morning.  And I'd really love to hear your thoughts.

"What do you love about autumn?"

Here's how it works: 

1. Post your thoughts (or a quote or a picture) on your blog.

2. Click below ("you're next") to add your blog link to the list. 

3. Your blog link will be added to the list and we'll come visit you!

Have a happy fall day, friends!

 

Unseen Friend

Photo:  One of David's Chicago trip shots & a favorite love note.

I laid on my bed in the dark with happy child wildness muffled outside the door. 

Turned on the fan; Put my good ear down and my part-deaf ear up to muffle more.

And I cried.  Let the stress run out in tears.  Let my soul unclog.

I have friends....and I thought of them with gratefulness....but I prayed for a friend anyway.

In His own way, He sent this one to minister to me tonight.  She doesn't know me, but she understands.  Maybe her words will come alongside you, too, and keep you company.

Chicago Night

For those of you who don't know, David is gone to Chicago two days and one night each week. I love to grab the camera and see the shots he brings home. We love Chicago. We love riding Metra into the city and standing by the tracks as an Amtrak train zooms by and takes the wind with it. This set of pictures from last week just captures a piece of Chicago in such a great way.
 Love it, hon.

"Mr. Frog" by Kayla Fry

Found this little guy in the scanner today. He makes me smile......

Corin - 9 weeks, 6 days old

He's discovered the world.  We love this stage - when they come out of their "creatureness" and start exploring and interacting and becoming curious about all around them.  We love every stage.  But right now, we love this one.

"I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift,

that gift should be curiosity"

~Eleanor Roosevelt

Things to come

For some reason, this picture just cracks me up....I'm afraid it's a picture of years to come.
I'm thinking roller coasters, schemes & plans galore. It seems to me that Caiden will be dragging poor Corin along.  Or perhaps it will be the other way around.  Heaven forbid they're both as full of it as Caiden is.

Caiden saw this and said. "Look....Corin's laughin'."

Uh. No, Dear. He's terrified. Of.  You!
Heaven help this mommy. 

Here they're both trying to give their "thoughtful and pensive" looks.  I guess.

Quoted

God is not a belief to which you give your assent. God becomes a reality whom you know intimately, meet everyday, one whose strength becomes your strength, whose love, your love. Live this life of the presence of God long enough and when someone asks you, “Do you believe there is a God?” you may find yourself answering, “No, I do not believe there is a God. I know there is a God.

                                                                 ~Ernest Boyer, Jr.

Picture:: Sunset along David's drive home from Chicago.

Picture updates and new sneak peek....

Updates to......
Johnson Family
Davis Family
VanStrien Family (and baby Naomi)

Pardon our dust.....changes in progress and parts may look a little disorganized. 

(And could someone fluent in HTML please, please be my friend?)