Latte's Musings

I miss you blog!

2010-02-25T06:44:00.000-08:00

I do miss blogging. I miss sharing this way with my friends and family oh so much. It just seems so much easier on facebook. However it's not the same as a blog. I might come back here one day and share more but for now...I live in the land of facebook.

Faith

Isaiah 45:7 and I create evil

2009-10-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Well Hello everyone!

Sorry haven't blogged in sometime...I just prefer facebook at this moment as a way to share. Well anyways I have a question I would love to ask those that follow the Lord. You see in my enthusiasm to share on Facebook something I found in scripture , I found many friends who did not agree with me on the subject. While I was not shocked, what was and is shocking is that after much research I still can't see their side. So I want to ask you two questions. This is not to provoke, or start trouble or to bring anger. I really want to know your answers or even if you don't anwer me, I pray you seek the answers out yourself.

First Question (two parts) Do you think the Lord created everything? And if so, do you think he created evil?

Second Question: (three parts) Do you think the Devil is a fallen angel? Most give scriptures for Lucifer (a king), fallen Angels (who are all in everlasting chains) and Satan as all being the same person. Do you know the history of these three scriptures? Have you looked into what others belive that don't think he's a fallen angel, the history they give and the scriptures they also give?

You may write me on here, in private, or not at all. I only post to (I pray) get everyone to look beyond what is taught, and look and seek the Lord in his truth. These questions may not be salvation type questions but they sure will make your love for the Lord grow when you have a better understanding of Him.

Faith

First Week of School cuz it's cool!

2009-09-08T03:20:00.000-07:00

Well last week was our official first week of school. I have to say, I always love the first week. New books, I am organized-for a change, the kids *actually* want to learn, and I love the feeling a being all Teacherie. But usually after that, it's all down hill (like a workout video you think you will do until your butt is in shape...it never happens right?)

But this year, I have a drive in me, that I have never had before. It's not a drive to "finish all of our books" or a drive to do school on time everyday. It's a drive to TRY. that simple. I usually let "research" get the best of me. I try to perfect everything, and in the end, do NOTHING!

I will have to admit my biggest reason for this change is:

1. my diet. I gave up sugar and caffeine (and soon phosphoric acid-it hurts my bones! and bread and pasta-cuz I just eat too much of it) I feel alive now...like my soul is on fire! I wish I would have known this 4 years ago...but maybe this is God's way of me being able to share with the world...that stuff steals your life.

2. GREAT examples of other homeschool moms. I have had some women in my life lately (blog and real life) that share my passion's and to see them in action...it's, intoxicating! I figure, why keep researching it ya duffice, get out there and live it. It would be great to be the example to others that they have been to me. Hey its my dream, stop laughing!

3. my husband, he is my rock, and I feel like when I don't put the effort in, what kind of wife am I? Oh and he works like 10 times more than I do...so I feel kind of like I should be atleast trying a little more.

4. my kids. They love school, and they love spending time with me. Why not give them what they want? It's not like they want candy and PlayStation. Well they do...but that's not my point.

Can you have 4 better reasons? Yes...the Lord. For those that don't have Him in their lives, I just don't know how they make it through the day. Especially if ya don't have the drugs, caffeine and sugar anymore.

My life is not perfect...but I love it just the way it is (minus the disorganized parts of course)
Faith

homeschool book deals & organization mess

2009-08-13T02:57:00.000-07:00

First HOMESCHOOL DEALS: (below that if you chose to skip is my organization mess)

Okay a week or so ago I went to a used homeschool book fair to get me some good deals on some homeschool books. For the FIRST time in the 6 or so years that I have been going there I went there with a cut and dry list of what I wanted. I did not walk out with all that I wanted, but I walked out very happy, and $90.00 dollars poorer!

Right up front let me start by saying that I am on a mission. You see I have found certain curriculum's, that to me, works for every type of child. They can be relaxed, or rigid, depending on what learning style they have. And so I have started buying every grade, to own the whole collection 3rd-12th grade. I have about 13 more subjects left and I am done! Oh and I love LOVE books made by the homeschooler for the homeschooler...my list shows it.

The books I use are:
Apologia science (need 2 more for high school, 4 for elementary)
Math-U-See (need 5 more)
The Mystery Of History (1-4) (need 2 more)
All American History (done)
Spelling Power (done)

At the used sale I was able to get 3 apologia science years for a little over $20 each and a Math-U-See for $10 (still needs student workbook) and a Latin curriculum for $10. I also got a KONOS high school Medieval World set for FREE! Its a massive set with all kinds of stuff, she just gave it to me because someone gave it to her! New it would cost $60.00! It covers one History, Writing, and Art credit for high school each! is that not cool or what! And because my kids seem to love hands on projects, this will be up their alley!

organization mess: (homeschool that is)

Before you read below, what I am writing may sound like lots of extra work, it is not in my eyes. I love working on my kids school and so I enjoy the 'extra work'. Also please do not think that the extra work I am providing for my children below is something they must do during *that* subject time. My children get 1 hour a day of book reading or a school DVD to do each day (weekends included-don't worry my kids love it) and this *extra* fun work can be done then.

I have been working on organizing my life little by little. You would not know it by my house as of yet, but I am. The other day at a friends home I was thumbing through her new version of the Mystery Of History book and was baffled that she had large post-it notes in each chapter with stuff I could not make out on it. When I questioned her she told me she finds books that she owns to correlate with that time frame and has her children read them. (insert open mouth shock) Of course this curriculum already lists a large number of read along books to do during private time, but she had her own collection and used hers instead. That is not the shocking part, the shocking part is by just taking a couple of hours to leave notes for her children, she now knows they will be reading those books at that time. LOVE IT! So instead of them just reading any old book during reading time, they read a books that go along with what they are studying at that time! Might sound boring to you, but it's actually really fun, I have seen my own children after reading or hearing about one subject, go to the library and get more on it.

I tried to do roughly the same concept as my friend last year with my Mystery of History book but failed at it because I was trying to do it as we went along and was frustrated that the library either did not have the book we wanted or by the time I was able to pick it up we were about done with the chapter. So early on I gave up. But now I realize that if I just start a few weeks before school begins and write in each chapter what I need, then 2 chapters before time I can easily look it up and get the books or DVD's. A little planning ahead makes light work later on.

I am also doing this for science, language arts and maybe Latin too if need be. It has been fun to get onto the libraries website and look up cool books and DVD's to go along with what Devin will be learning in science. I practically want to do school with him!

It will probably take me from now until September 1 (when we normally start school) to finish doing this, but I am so excited to start! Let the homeschool games begin!

So what do you think?
Faith

READ INSTRUCTIONS FIRST!!!! I Warned you!

2009-08-10T03:44:00.000-07:00

Okay before I give you what this post is about, I am giving you fair warning, what is below is a guide line for my family, not a hard fast rule! Do not under any circumstance think that what is below is a daily *have* to. We probably won't do 75% of it each day. I just need guidance, and after much prayer and hard work this is my answer:

My Daily Schedule
Chore Chart and details

P.S. It probably has a few things that will need to be adjusted as we find issues. OH AND YOU HAVE TO USE THE ARROW (that faces down) at the top of the chart to make the document larger.

So what do you think???????

Daily Schedule and Chore Chart

Our 2009/2010 School Year

2009-08-03T06:53:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to post our homeschool meanderings for everyone. We will be starting school September 1st, like we have for about 5 or 6 years now. We do school roughly 4 hours a day 4 days a week for roughly 45 weeks a year. Taking off Christmas and Vacation/life. Giving us a total of 720 hours of 'class room' school. The other 280+ hours (MO requires 1000 hours of school) will easily be made up in many other ways, mostly in reading, writing, and school video's.

Tyrus our 4 year old will be doing miscellaneous school because I don't usually buy curriculum for a child before 3rd grade. However my friend Karen gave me plenty to keep him busy throughout the morning hours and he loves doing school with his brother.

I will be rotating our school so it will look like this:

Everyday: English, Math, Reading, Spelling
Mon-Wed: Science, Music, Writing
Tue-Thurs: History, Art, Biblical Latin

For P.E. Devin will be volunteering at HOH every week on Tue or Wed from 2-4pm. He is also involved in Baseball, Basketball, and Bowling throughout the year.

Our Homeschool Schedule for 2009/2010:

7-9am All are done as a family except dress and rooms
-Dress
-Pick up rooms
-Cook/Eat/clean up Breakfast
-Garden chores in summer House chores in winter or a mix if needed
-Bible Time
-Get school books out and ready

9am Reading-we read lots of classical books out loud for this class
9:30am Math-U-See Pre-Algebra
10am snack
10:15am Spelling with Spelling Power
10:30am English Intermediate Language Lessons
11am Science Apologia Physical or History MOH II Early Church and Middle ages
11:30am Music guitar lessons or Art
12pm Writing Faith Writers or Biblical Latin for beginners
12:30pm lunch
2-4pm volunteer at HOH once a week

I also plan on having the children doing independent reading for at least 30min-to an hour a day or watch a school-ish video from time to time.

So what do ya think?

Faith

Mother Warriors my voluminous book review

2009-06-19T06:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I started a book called Mother Warriors by Jenny McCarthy, and around 11pm that same day I finished it. I just could not put it down it was so full of powerful information. After reading it I just wanted to share with everyone the importance of looking a what the mothers, doctor's, a few fathers, and herself were saying in her book. So I thought what better way then a book review:

Just for those that Don't know Mother Warriors is a sequel, if you will, to Louder Than Words by Jenny McCarthy. Her first book (on this issue) was about finding out her son was autistic and her road to recover him from autism. Note I said recover, not cure. Jenny McCarthy said it best when she quoted this:

"I agree there is no cure, but kids can recover. A great example I use is that autism is like getting hit by a bus. You cannot become cured from getting hit by a bus, but you can recover!"

-Stan Kurtz

Now my review; READ THIS BOOK~ I tried writing a long review about it, but nothing can put into words the importance of knowing what is in that book. The book itself says it all.

The only negative I will say about the book is it has fowl language in it, but that can easily be overlooked because of all the valuable information it contains.

So to make this a complete judicious book review I triple double dog dare you to read it!

End Note: You do not need a child with autism to be involved. I think everyone should be deeply concerned and aware of what our government and medical community is always doing. We are all liable to make sure they are doing their job, and doing it right. If we see wrongs (even if it's not done to us) we should all be trying to do our best to fight those wrongs-even if it's just spreading the word.

This is not a hate crime, it's a belief

2009-06-19T05:56:00.000-07:00

I had not planned on making this blog all politics but as of late, there is a lot going on that just needs to be addressed.

The Bill below may sound great, it's against hate crimes, doesn't that sound good? However it's against verbal hate crimes, which of course also sounds good until you realize that this means that our preachers can no longer preach about how it's wrong to be homosexual. The preacher does not have to say, go beat up those homosexuals, all he has to do is say it's wrong to be homosexual and give scripture, and he has committed a hate crime.

Please be in prayer and fasting for our Country.

Faith

From Point of View:
Our Washington contacts tell us that a vote on the hate crimes bill is imminent in the Senate. This is one of the most dangerous attacks on our freedom of religion we have ever fought against. I urge you to contact both of your Senators right away.

This bill adds protections based on "gender identity" and "sexual orientation. " Liberals in the House have specifically blocked attempts to define these terms. According to the American Psychiatric Association, "sexual orientation" includes 547 sexual deviances in their manual of clinical psychoses. This includes pedophilia and several other psychoses that you have never heard of and I would be embarrassed to explain to you!

One brave Republican Representative tried to amend the bill as it went through the House to simply say that the legislation could not be used to protect pedophiles and the Democrat majority voted to block the amendment!
Protect Religious Freedom: Oppose Hate Crimes Legislation

This bill also violates equal protection under the law, one of the foundational premises of our legal system. It would mandate significantly harsher penalties for a crime committed against someone with one of these deviant "sexual orientations" than for the same crime committed against a child or senior citizen (House Democrats specifically blocked an amendment to add senior citizens as a protected class).

In previous emails we have given specific examples of state hate crime laws being used to arrest individuals for simply sharing their faith with an individual in a protected class. This bill has a provision that says if a state fails to convict an individual for a crime against one of the protected classes, the federal government can try the same person for the same crime again in federal court with hate crime penalty enhancements. Double jeopardy protections would not apply!

It is critical that your Senators hear from you today. It appears that the leadership of the Senate will bypass normal committee hearings for this bill and attach it to another "must pass" bill like the Defense Authorization bill. Please let your Senator know that you will not tolerate their voting for this legislation no matter what bill it is attached to.

Gay and Lesbian Month??????????????????????

2009-06-15T12:54:00.000-07:00

This letter below can be found on the white house website:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Presidential-Proclamation-LGBT-Pride-Month/

I am truly at a loss as to what to say about this, except we all need to be in such deep prayer about the changes that will be/are taking place in our country.

Faith

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

___________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release June 1, 2009

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

Forty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America was born. During LGBT Pride Month, we commemorate the events of June 1969 and commit to achieving equal justice under law for LGBT Americans.

LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders in all professional fields, including the arts and business communities. LGBT Americans also mobilized the Nation to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic and have played a vital role in broadening this country's response to the HIV pandemic.

Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration -- in both the White House and the Federal agencies -- openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism.

The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is more work to be done. LGBT youth should feel safe to learn without the fear of harassment, and LGBT families and seniors should be allowed to live their lives with dignity and respect.

My Administration has partnered with the LGBT community to advance a wide range of initiatives. At the international level, I have joined efforts at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world. Here at home, I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions and Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending the existing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security. We must also commit ourselves to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic by both reducing the number of HIV infections and providing care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS across the United States.

These issues affect not only the LGBT community, but also our entire Nation. As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If we can work together to advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every American will benefit. During LGBT Pride Month, I call upon the LGBT community, the Congress, and the American people to work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA

THIS CHILD IS ON LOAN FROM THE LORD!

2009-05-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

Editor's note: Normally I would never post something that is inappropriate for a child, however this e-letter was meant to inform parents and I felt the need to pass it on so others will understand...no children please.

Hello Everyone, I got this e-Letter yesterday and just finished reading it (yes it takes me days to go through one e-mail) and when I was done...I was so heartbroken! I was heartbroken for that child, and sad for the many other children that will endure such a life. This e-letter (below) is reason #2 why I don't send my children to public school...reason #1 includes reason #2...but I separate them for your understanding that reason #1 covers all the other reasons that follow it.

I post this with a heavy heart because in our family most of the children that were abused (and there were many), were abused by family and not in the school, however some were abused in the school later in life. Protect your children from EVERYONE!

Homeschool News 'n Views
Issue 117, May 17, 2009
By Dan L. White

Subscribe to this free e-newsletter.

Last week we held our Monday Night Thing, as usual. The normal number of homeschool teens and grads were there, playing basketball and volleyball. However, on that Monday night, the church also held a service in the sanctuary. Generally, when they are going to hold a service on Monday, which happens perhaps a couple of times a year, we get word ahead of time and cancel our homeschool activities. Of course, we're all too busy, and sometimes we don't get done all that we would like to, so we didn't know that they were having a service in the other part of the building until well into the evening.

I don't think that we were a problem for them. The sanctuary is in the same complex but about fifty feet away from the gym, so I doubt that we disturbed them. We hope not.

My wife Margie played a game of full court basketball with us, then went into the nursery to watch the grandkids so that one of our daughters could play basketball. The nursery is beside the sanctuary, so on her way to the church service, a lady saw Margie in the nursery with little kids and assumed she was running the nursery for the church service. She talked about how glad she was that the nursery was open, and then left her little girl with her. A little boy also popped in for a short while.

A little later our daughter took her kids and went home, so Margie was left with just the one little girl. The girl did not know Margie, but since Margie was apparently in charge of the nursery, the little girl trusted her and talked a lot with her. She attends public school.

This is what Margie said about her conversation with the little girl in the nursery.

“The little girl told me she was 6 yrs. old and would be 7 in Aug. She was like any other little girl of her age - full of life, giggly, her bright eyes full of expectation as she played in the church nursery while her mother attended the revival. What I didn't know until later was that those same bright eyes had been exposed to events that compromised her little girl innocence.

Later, after all the other children were gone, she began to tell me about the "bad boys" who rode her bus to school every day. I asked her how did she know they were bad. She responded by making squishy movements with both her hands, imitating what these bad boys had done. "And they even do this," she said, pointing between her legs.

"How old are these boys", I asked masking my shocked soul, thinking this must be high school or junior high boys, at least.

"Five", she said.

Her story telling began to gain momentum as she excitedly showed me numerous lewd hand gestures she had learned. Some I was familiar with; others were new to me. One in particular was like the "hook 'em horns" University of Texas Longhorns football fans hand signal but with the lapping of a dog included.

She went on to tell me about her two older sisters, 12 and 14, the older one thinking that she was "so hot". "Some of their friends," she said as she leaned over to whisper into my ear, "have sex with boys".

I wondered if she even knew what she was talking about. She was so young and seemingly tender. Yet the thoughts and ideas coming out of her mouth were just filth.

This little girl was so thankful that her mother knew and had taught her right from wrong, as some of the kids she was talking about had not been taught that. She hadn't been physically abused by these bad boys. She said they had left her alone, so far. But she had been forever changed. Her innocence was gone.

When the mother came back to get her daughter, I mentioned that I was with the homeschool group and not with the church. She said that she had been thinking about homeschooling her children. I wondered if she would if she knew what her little girl had just told me.”

We have said over and over again that the biggest education of the public schools comes from the culture and not the classroom. This is that education. This is what permeates the public school culture, and this is what kids learn there. As I have often said, we live in one of the best places in America to live, because it is one of the most Christian areas of the country. Yet when a little girl, who is regularly taken to church, goes to public school, this is what she is exposed to.

Consider that. From the age of five or six, almost all young people in America, for five days a week, about forty weeks a year, for twelve to fourteen years, are inundated by sex. Even the best of these young people are damaged by this. Many have their lives ruined.

God help us all to rescue as many young people as possible from this education.

- - - - - -

Homeschool Helpers
In association with Pass It On Ministries
5017 McDaris Drive
Hartville, MO. 65667
417-741-7641
www.homeschool-helpers.info

'places to see' -Always YOU!

2009-05-06T07:47:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago my BFF sent me a questioner and one of the questions was 5 places you would like to visit. My dear girlfriend put on there some great vacation spots, but when I erased them to add mine (cuz you have to fill it out and send it back and then to others) I could not think of ONE place I would rather be other than with friends and family.

It's not that I don't want to see this amazing world God made, it's just that to me, I need vacation to 'be' friends and family. Because after those vacations are long gone all I can remember are the great times I had with family. I don't remember a sunset, I don't remember a bright blue ocean;

I remember my mom and I laughing and having a good time with me, making brownies.

I remember my dad and our family laughing at the dinner table while eating my mom's yummy dinner!

I remember meeting my sister for the first time at age 31.

I remember standing in line at an amusement park talking to my BFF, or I remember laying on the beach watching our boys play and my friend and I just talking about good old times.

I remember the wonderful times with my grandparents Doris...who sat with me one day and told me so many wonderful stories about our families history.

I remember my Grandmother Ray, my cousin Kitzi, my mom, and my new to me sister Karrie all sitting at the table looking at old photos, some of us even crying. Oh and my grandma was a hottie! And my dad looked great in a dress!

For me, God put my vacation spot, right in the heart of another human. I just find it hard to see any 'physical place' as a vacation. Though it would surly be a bonus if I have a friend or family member at that vacation spot~

Faith

The milestones of a 3 year old

2009-04-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

I don't rightly remember much about my oldest (now 12 ) when he was three...there are few things, but most is lost to me. I am sort of sad by this because I can't pass those memoir's on, so I thought I would use this blog to keep those milestones (because I plan to print all this...some day).

These are my 3 year old's milestones...not your 3 year old milestones, please do not expect them to be what your son's or daughters should be. And if my child is behind your child...I am okay with that. I just wanted a memoir of these times.

Ty turned 4 this weekend and here are some things he did while 3.

He learned to say his abc's (he actually knew them at 2 just sometimes had them out of order)

He knows the sounds to most of the abc's-again at age 2

Most colors-at age 2

Most shapes-at age 2

He can:
count to 14 (and sort of does to 20...on good days, lol)
add up to 10 (just so long as he can use his hands like 6 + 1)
subtract up to 10

He can spell:
Stop
Go
Tyrus
Mom
Dad
Buffalo
God
box (when prompted)

If you give him the sounds of the letters of a word he can usually spell them.

He can sign (American sign language) :
yes
no
yellow
train (railroad)
read
book
doll
The letter 'y'

He knows what a blank is:
nocturnal
decompose
Tornado (and it's siren)
swine flu (I will never make that mistake again)
cops
bad guys

He knows that we:
Love and listen to God
Homeschool
Don't do the Easter bunny and egg part of Easter
Don't do Santa

Is starting to grasp time and is starting to read a hand clock

Loves to tell stories to his dad

He wants to be a pilot when he grows up and fly around telling everyone about God.

He only likes to pray in his head

He can usually dress himself

He can make his own bed, pick out his own clothes, and clean his room before I get up!

He loves to sing 'you love me' and

He loves bubble gum and does not swallow it

He loves chicken nuggets fries and ketchup when we eat out...no matter where we eat out, lol

He takes a nap everyday around 2pm!-this is mandatory or he goes ADHD on me!

Ty never ever would need Super Nanny to visit him, I remember joking one time that she was coming here and he gave me this scared look of what did I do, I am not a bad kid.

Devin and Ty fight way too much that is my fault for not training their hearts more.

Ty play's on the furniture all the time...something as dumb new parents we would never let Devin do.

Ty loves his Grandma "cuz she gives me food...and not God's food, the good kind of food"

He so could be in theater cuz he is very theatrical!

He is shy for about one minute and if you ask him 1 THING that is it he won't stop talking, your his new friend!

I am not done...will finish later!

Four day weekends should be mandatory!

2009-04-28T06:01:00.000-07:00

My husband thought it would be nice to take a day off this weekend to give us a four day weekend of fun family time. I am ever so thankful for it! We had a blast.

On Thursday we all went fishing at Pomme De Tarre Lake. It was too windy to catch anything really but we so enjoyed the relaxed family time.

-did I mention I have a 12 year old that eats like MORE than his dad does. It was like they we in an eating contest at lunch! I think they had 5 hot dogs each, plus chips, plus fruit!

-A nice moment came up to teach my youngest about patients while fishing it was a great time to speak to him about how the Lord desires patients. Ty is a good kid, he kept looking at me, "has that been long enough?"...lol it was funny he had no patients to be patient.

Then Friday I went to the SHEM homeschool conference in Springfield MO. I absolutely LOVE going to the conferences! I hung out with a close girlfriend of mine and we had a blast being our goofy selves...and spent loads too much on yummy homeschool books and stuff!

-I got Devin (and all 10 future children) These Great CD's on American History...I so wish I had these CD's growing up, I would have easily been a history buff!

-I also got him Math-U-See. I am just bored with Saxon and because of it's public school tendencies I just wanted it out of my house.

Saturday was a day to go to some 'tag sales' (that is Martha Stewart for 'yard sales') and get us some booty to help prepare for 'change' (That is obama for 'change'). If things get bad enough and people get homeless we want enough provisions for them to stay with us, if God so desires.

-I got a fabulous Cuisinart ice cream machine that I have been wanting for like EVER!

Then on Sunday it was Ty's Birthday. It was such a wonderful day! Ty got all he asked for (thanks to great yard sale deals!) He was so happy to get these items. Now I will help him pick out just as many items (if not many more) to donate to those in need, he loves giving to the kids 'who don't have any toys' as he likes to say.

Then on Monday I sat my fat butt in my office chair and did nothing like ALL DAY-except facebook!!~ A four day weekend is fun but tiring!

Love,
Faith

"Screaming at the top of my lungs"

2009-04-17T07:57:00.000-07:00

"I feel like I'm standing in the middle of a crowded room, screaming at the top of my lungs and no one even looks up!"

Ya'll know what movie that is quoted from?-sad to say before I was married I could quote that whole movie (probably still could ;-)

So do you ever feel like that? Especially when you are speaking to someone concerning your faith, or scripture, or anything to do with the Lord? I know I have felt that way more times than I care to count. But through my frustration (at those unwilling to listen) I learned so much. I learned that my frustration was not seen as frustration for truth it was seen as anger, resentment, and even arrogance! I have never ever wanted anyone to see it that way and yet...that is what they saw. So where did I go wrong, where in my search for truth and my desire to share with others what the Lord has shown our family did I go from sharing/questioning to what they saw in me?

My answer is; I personally don't think we did one simple thing before we began each conversation, and that is pray. For our family to pray before we started talking, for to the Lord to lead us in our talks with others. Maybe they would still see what we said as wrong, but I would rather be wrong (to them or whatever) and have them still feel like I respected them than to be wrong and have see this family as arrogant.

Don't get me wrong I know we can't make everyone happy, but I just think we (especially me) need to come at it with a better heart. Less bitter about the fact that no matter how loud I yell, few will hear what our family has to say. I am okay with that (well not really I want everyone to feel the Lords love the way I do or better!)

So while few will ever hear what Thor and I have to say, we pray we always have the mind of Christ (and the meekness of Paul) when speaking...This is my apology to you.

Love,
Faith

Hey, have you seen my brain? What God wants is...

2009-04-09T03:49:00.000-07:00

I want to thank everyone for there questions and concerns regarding my health. I know many of you are concerned and have many questions still unanswered. I pray I can bring better understanding to you today.

But before we being I wanted to share a song with you that I pray will help you understand how I see my new found sickness. This is an important part of what I am blogging about so please download it and listen/watch it first...then read on.

"Jesus Bring the Rain"

This is sort of my way of doing a Q and A with you.

Well I am on a diet. Not a diet to lose weight (though I pray that is something that will happen:-) I am on a diet to rid my body of toxins.

What toxins?

Well first Candida.

Candida?

Candida is a yeast that everyone has. But for some reason- more than likely all the junk I ate my whole life-my body has allowed the candida to get out of hand. And what would be a normal amount of yeast in my body...is now wreaking havoc on me.

How do you know you have candida?

Well this is gross but I have thrush in my mouth, I have pleurisy (for almost a year now), I get yeast infections with EVERY period, serious brain fog, just to name a few.

How do I get rid of this?

Well unfortunately once candida has left your gut and is everywhere the only real way to get rid of it is to starve it to death.

What does Candida eat?

Sugar, gluten, and anything like sugar...such as fruit, starchy veggies, etc.

I am also doing this diet because my body is possibly killing itself! I have not been truly diagnosed yet (doctor's visit is not until July) but it looks like I have some sort of auto immune disorder where my body is attacking itself and causing my muscles to twitch, vibrate, and stiffen. That and the endless brain fog, and exhaustion.

What disorder is that?

Well I am totally speculating here but it looks like Multiple Sclerosis. Just for the record M.S. is where the body attacks two things, #1 it attacks the coating (this is like black electrical tape wrapping an electrical system) of your central nervous system (this is like the wires of your electrical system). When the black tape is gone the electrical system starts to short circuit. and #2 it also allows cells (the cells that normally fight infection) into the brain where they attack the brain. This can be pretty bad especially later in the disorder. From all I have read, it looks like this disorder could also be linked to my poor food choices, i.e. huge amounts cola, sugared coffee, fast food, preservatives, etc.

Lots of people eat those things why doesn't everyone have this disorder?

Well that is a good question, it seems that some people have gene pools that make them more susceptible to disorders than others. There are more factors than I like to speculate on but genetics is probably a big answer to that. Also many people probably have issues that are caused by poor diet...they just don't know it.

But M.S. is not curable right?

Well that is what the medical community says, but I think it's at least naturally treatable...I won't say curable...but from all I have read if caught early enough it can be treated enough so that you don't ever see symptoms again.

What treatment would that be?

Well for one the diet I am on(for the record I am not on the full diet yet I get to that later) This diet mostly consists of eating all natural foods. NO sugar, NO gluten, NO milk, NO preservatives, etc. Eating organic as well will help. To read more on the diet go here.

I also had a hair analysis. You see my blood work, urine, and x-rays were all coming back normal even though my body was saying...YOUR NOT NORMAL! But I found with a hair analysis it sees what those test can't see. Those results helped me to see what herbs and supplements I should take to help regulate myself. It also helped me see that certain foods that I thought were on my 'can have' part of my diet are now 'can't have' due to my metabolism type and what my body is not ridding itself of (calcium and magnesium) or is ridding too much of(phosphorus). It's a long story so lets just say it helped me see how to best use my diet/supplements for the best benefits.

Soon I will see a doctor and he will help me determine if it is indeed what I think it is, M.S. He will also help get me on some supplements, and see me on my way to living a normal life again.

Why are you sharing this with us?

Because I think God wants me to share with others that what you put into your mouth, does matter. Don't get me wrong a diet soda here, and a piece of cake there...is not so much my concern. What I think God wants me to show others is that when we eat we should always be thoughtful to what it is, how much, and how often. He also want's me to share that food can make you sick and eating foods he made are so much better.

If you look at history (a great book to get on what cultures have eaten is Nourishing Traditions) their diets tell us a lot about health and nutrition. It is amazing that cultures with no understanding of the science behind it eat so much better than our culture where we know the science.

I want to emphasize I am not saying nor advocating a strict diet of any particular food. I am only wanting to stress that you pray and weigh in your prayers to the Lord your desire to take care of the temple He gave you. He will guide you.

Love,
Faith

P.S. if you want to continue on I will tell you how this all got started...in short form;-)

*Seriously odd behavior at the end of my last pregnancy(now 4 years ago) mild depression
*mild postpartum depression for 8 months after birth of baby-lack of desire for anything
*brain fog-way more than usual
*lack of caring about anything-not depressed
*came home from binging trip 2 years after birth of baby from GA with lump in throat...thought cancer...found out just reflux
*muscle cramps in legs a few weeks later-thought calcium/magnesium issues took supplements got worse plus now I had weird vibrations in chest
*went to doctor took x-rays tested my cal/mag...said nada and sent me on my way
*did this again a few days later...said nada and sent me on my way
* few weeks later sharp pain in my chest when I would breath, urgent care visit later (plus another e-ray diagnosis: pleurisy
* Got sick had to take antibiotics (because of my husbands chemo treatments) started to get yeast infections and thrush in mouth
*vibrations getting stronger plus other issues got online and realized my symptoms were from candida
* Did not due much to find out what the vibrations were because of my husband health issues...put it on the back burner for a long time
*finally had enough went to doctor with a list of my issues he put me on a heart monitor
*lady did not put monitor on right and before I was able to go back and do it again the vibrations moved to my right arm and leg also
* doctor did lupus test-normal
*doctor sent me to neurologist...but I wanted to see someone who worked naturally to fix this issue so I asked a friend to give me the name of her doctor
*He said must wait until July but a hair analysis and supplements recommended from that analysis would be a great start
*muscles went from vibrating to also twitching all muscles even large ones
* Started my diet
* Got hair analysis test back and realized a lot of the foods I was eating while healthy were not good for some of my problems.
*currently waiting for doctors visit.

I'm a terrorist?..are you nuts!!!!!!!!-This is just not funny!

2009-03-24T07:41:00.000-07:00

A story if you will...

A little old lady, we will say in her late 50's is driving home from church and because of her age and her bad night time vision she crosses the center lane. A Highway patrol man pulls her over for the violation but notices she has a Christian fish, a Ron Paul sticker, and a 'life starts at conception sticker' She is instantly considered a threat of domestic terrorist. The officer while approaching the vehicle makes a mental not to watch for other signs, and questions her (sure she looks Innocent enough...but the list says she's a threat!) While questioning her she is frazzled at the questions and confused at what questions about Ron Paul have to do with her crossing the center lane and does not answer correctly...she is taken in as a threat!

CAN YOU IMAGINE!-well you no longer have to:

I told myself to stop listening to conservative radio but...I don't listen to myself very well! While listening to my favorite host speak I realized he was talking about a list that was given to our local highway patrol (and maybe yours too) that tells them what to look for in a 'domestic terrorist'. Those items include but are not limited to car stickers with christian symbols-like the fish, constitutionalist party stickers, and anti-abortion stickers. This report was made by our grand old (change is coming) government (terrorist branch) and printed to be handed out to Highway patrol men on February 20th 2009!

To read the report go here...

While they say they are trying to only target extreme right crazy nut jobs (like the KKK, and abortion clinic bombers) they are really just attacking conservatives. Do you want to know why? Because if you read that document it makes NO MENTION of extreme left crazy nut jobs! NONE and we all know the global warming, don't kill the trees nut jobs (that put polls in the trees so loggers lose their arms when their chains break off their saws) or who bomb factories, and oil refineries, or even anti war extremist who defile our soldiers.

We all understand that there are nut jobs on both sides of the fence, but to target conservative Christians in such a way is unconstitutional!

A Change Is Coming

2009-03-19T02:48:00.000-07:00

I have been 'sick' for a long time now. For some reason my body is just revolting against me. I know that more than likely it is the toxic crap I shove in my face day in and day out. I realize this is not what God wants me to do or to feed my family with. I have ordered new food for my family (¹⁴She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.Proverbs 31:14) and plan on doing away with many of our glutinous behaviors when it comes to food. Some items (listed below) we will not be eating for at least 6 months (a detox if you will) the list below sounds horrific to not have...but if you keep reading you will see we will not suffer. In our culture we think a delectable dish must contain the list below...but we are missing so much of God's yummy foods.

sugar-we however will be substituting with xylitol (a natural sweetener) here and there
gluten-instead we will be using nut flours, tapioca flours, rice flours, etc.
dairy-this is just apart of the detox-the human body is not meant for milk after about 3 years old

These foods in moderation are not bad, however I have eaten so much of them that my body is full of toxic waste and candida. It just won't absorb good stuff anymore. So until I am totally better these items will not touch my mouth.

Okay now for some of the yummy items I will be eating(your not going to believe what we will be eating...lets just say your going to wish you were on this diet too;-). I wish I could say I was a culinary person who could make sugar free (sf) gluten free (gf) and dairy free-also called casein free (cf) foods like no ones business...but I can't. So instead I will be providing links to another blog that has yummy dishes that follow our families new diet.

almost all recipes provided by The Spunky Coconut

Breakfast:

Flourless brownies -these look beyond yummy! I can not have honey for the first 6 months so we will be substituting with xylitol.

Fruit and Nut Cereal w/ Almond milk -Just looking at the picture makes me hungry! I promise you I will probably eat this every day for a while!

Pancakes w/xylitol syrup-for the syrup go here

Coconut Chocolate Chip Cake-enough said!

Snacks/Smoothies/Lattes: yep your reading that right I said latte!

Nutcracker Latte This just looks beyond yummy!

Frozen vanilla tea Latte

Blueberry Cream Smoothie

Blueberry Almond Banana Muffins - these just make my mouth water!

Lunches:

as always leftovers from dinner

Dinners:

Salads/Appetizers:
Caesar Salad
Japanese Salad dressing for:
Raw corn salad
Spinach salad

Main Dishes:
Stew
Broccoli Quiche

I can come up with many normal dishes that are gf/sf/cf free. My biggest problem is finding gf products because so many condiments contain gluten. Also learning how to thicken items without milk and flour! and learning how to make tortilla wraps!

Deserts:
Chocolate Pie
spiced almond brittle
vanilla cookies
pecan pie-you have no idea how cool it is to have this on my diet
Ice cream-scroll down to see the huge lists of ice creams!

This is just a small list of some of the items I will be serving our family on the new diet.

what do you think? I would love to answer any questions you have.
Latte

Home School 6 month update

2009-03-02T07:56:00.000-08:00

Well we are 6 months into our 12 month school year (we homeschool year round). This year is by far our most consistent year yet...but it's not what you think. Usually by December I have pretty much washed our homeschool books because we bore of them/I am lazy. But this year we love the homeschool books we have and I have forced my self to be a little less lazy. Both have paid off! So here is our updated schedule that seems to work pretty nice for us, it's an average schedule that we try to do Monday-Thursday...notice I said try, we probably only consistently do this schedule 3 times a week on average but I usually make up what school is missed on Friday and the Weekend:

3:20 I get up or see my husband off-This is usually when I blog
6:30 I get up if I don't stay up after husband goes to work-blog
8am get boys up
8-9:15am chores-has chore chart

start laundry
make bed
shower
clean room
eat
brush teeth
put laundry in dryer
start school

9:15-9:45am guitar lessons using book and CD (electric guitar primer)
9:45am-10am bible study and memorization (my oldest boy's choice to memorize)
10-10:15am snack
10:15-10:45 reading (Chronicles of Narnia)
10:45-11am spelling (spelling power)
11am-12pm

Monday and Wednesday: History (The Mystery of History)
Tuesday and Thursday: Science (Apologia)

12pm-1pm lunch
1pm-3pm Saxon Math KONOS or other school activity of his choosing
3-5 Free time

My summer schedule (starts first real hot days or first day of summer)will look like this:

8am get boys up
8-9:15 chores (listed above)
9:15am-10am garden/yard work
10-10:30am guitar
10:30-10:45am bible
10:45-11am spelling
11-12pm History or Science
12-12:30pm reading
12:30-1pm lunch
1-3pm Saxon Math KONOS or other project
3-5pm Free time

With this schedule he loses 30 minutes of lunch but gains really nice morning time outside relaxing and weeding the garden.

getting the funk out of funky

2009-02-26T07:24:00.000-08:00

Do you ever get to the point when your own funky home grosses you out? Okay I am one of those strange people who wants a super organized home but I don't mind dirt-it's just too unavoidable. But there is a point you get to that you can just no longer touch many parts of your home cuz it's just so gross you think...

"should I just go ahead and clean today?-or would it be best to just condemn this house burn it to the ground and start over with a new one?"

You want to know what is really sad? I clean for a living! Well actually I am a house/homeschool/nurse/butt wiper wife and mom for a living, I just earn a few extra bucks cleaning homes and offices. Which pays well mind you.

And it's not that I mind cleaning my home compared to theirs it's just that mine takes longer!

-days longer...

Want to know why?

I have to organize, homeschool, yell at the kids, and wipe butts, as I go. When I clean other homes...I just clean. I have tried pawning the kids off on to other family members so I can clean but instead I do other things like blog, or read, or nap.

I would love to say I deep clean my home well twice a month but lately some rooms have not been cleaned 'well' in months!

So all this funky funk cleaning got me to wondering how often do you deep clean your home? Ya know where you get the funk out of the funky spots like behind your toilet...or even maybe the toilet it's self? Do tell, this cleaning lady is dieing to know!

Now I am off to try and get the funky-ness outa here.

Faith

My frugal addiction...I need help!

2009-02-18T11:01:00.001-08:00

Well I have been neglecting this blog for my frugal blog...I am just so addicted to saving money now! I mean when you save more than 70% or more every time you shop, it gets in your blood! Take yesterday for instance, I purchased $305 dollars worth of stuff from Sears, Walgreen's, and CVS and only paid around 88 bucks! And almost all of it IS stuff we need. Anything we don't need (the stuff we don't need I got for free) I donate to a local charity or give to friends in need.

To see my deals from yesterday go here!

Love,
Faith

Get off that ladder and get back in the Cabinet NOW!

2009-01-30T10:37:00.000-08:00

Okay awhile back my husband mentioned he was going to throw an old rickety wooden ladder away after purchasing a swank new metal one. -I said the heck you are! I am going to decorate with it. At which point laughter and "what are you talking about" remarks from my dear Husband ensued .

All I pretty much had to do was tell him "it's free decor" and I got my ladder!-evil grin!

But over the course of remodeling, the place I had in mind (to hang it on the wall flush against the ceiling with herbs dangling from it) was replaced...will be replaced with a wood stove.

And I don't know about you but a wooden ladder with dry herbs above a wood stove sounds like a fire hazard to me?

So my next idea, well why don't you see for yourself:

On the bottom rung I put magazines (because the ladder is right next to the toilet and everyone knows a toilet and reading go hand and hand)

Next rung toilet paper-again, toilet=need for toilet paper

Then I put towels and wash cloths on the upper rungs and in the bottom picture you can see I put some candles on the back rungs so if someone wanted to they could light them...

but I pray not on the ladder!

Sorry I did my pictures in sepia because the paint on my walls is just plain ugly and I did not want you to see it. -I will be painting over it the next few months.

So what do you think?
Latte

You want to put concrete where?....

2009-01-28T11:23:00.000-08:00

I love rustic...absolutely love it! If you have read older posts you know I am a big square and I like things that are beautiful and well basic. So when my husband told me he was thinking of going into the concrete counter top business I jumped at the chance for a rustic counter top!

This is my main (main meaning the main one we use day in and day out) bathroom counter before:
Um...that is a hair tie in the sink, and do you see those black marks on the sink that is were I dropped something and it chipped the sink. I did that when we first got the house almost 10 years ago and not one time since!

Go figure!

Here is another:
you can see the chips better in this one and a the outlet without a cover...we are getting to that.

So drum roll on my new counter top!..............ththththththththtthththtthhttththththt

Don'tcha just love it! I asked for black, but it seems that charcoal was as close to back as they could get...dreamy huh! Did I mention it only cost him about $20 (counter top only) to make?

Here it is at other angles:
If you notice the crease in the counter in the picture above it's because my husband made this one upside down...and the tape (while flat when he laid it) wrinkled from the weight of the concrete. That is also why you see such color variations, that would not happen if you do it right side up-but I love it this way! I actually love it both ways!

So what do you think? You won't hurt my feelings none! My husband earned real brownie points in my eye! Now he HAS to do the whole house (all counter tops!)

My new frugal blog!!!!

2009-01-23T04:53:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! I just wanted to take a moment to let you know that because I write so much about being frugal that I wanted to have a blog dedicated to just that. So now you can check out all my frugal adventures at The Organic Frugal Freak! Catchy title aye? Well on my TOFF blog you will find stuff like:

Organic recipes
Weekly Recipe swap
Weekly shopping adventures
Frugal tips
Nutritional tips
Other Frugal blogs (lots too)
Links to Giveaways, Contests, and Coupons-all organic related

I pray you find great things on my other blog that you can use!
Latte

My plan to be frugal and natural!

2009-01-21T11:32:00.000-08:00

Okay if you read last weeks grocery budget you might think this post is a joke...but bear with me. I want to tell you some tips on what I do/will do/intend to do to feed our family using the Nourishing Traditions way of thinking.

I have found most of the Nourishing Traditions methods to take NO MORE TIME than convenience cooking it only requires forethought.

And by forethought I mean with making oatmeal I have to soak it over night in order for us to eat it for breakfast. It takes no time at all to put it in the pot of water each night, and only takes about 5 minutes in the morning to cook it, but if you don't remember the night before...you won't have oats for breakfast. Well actually you can, but it's not as easily digestible and it takes longer to cook.

Eating all natural also means knowing the difference between real all natural and the packages version of all natural! Most items that are all natural don't tell you they add many "flavors" into it that are not all natural, but because they are so minimal they don't have to list them. You have to know the product and they company you buy from because they are all out to make you think they have a healthy product at a cheap price.

I don't know how they sleep at night!

Also stuff like sugar, flour, and cheddar cheese when they are done with it (bleaching it, refining it, adding color to it, etc) it's no longer all natural.

Let me explain a little bit as to why we want to eat this way. Our main goal is not just eating healthy (which is great) but getting back to eating God's food. I think we need to learn that the food God made is great tasting and great for us. I see no need to tamper with it too much.

Don't kick yourself in the butt! I don't plan on worrying too much about days that we eat out or have cake at a party. It's no big deal...really! Most of the time we will eat great food, so sometimes eating a little junk is not so bad.-not great on my grocery budget but that is another story.

So now you know the why let me tell you a little bit about how I plan on saving money and have my family eat as all natural and organic as possible.

My first thing is to find as many grocery outlet's("dent and ding" "overstock" "liquidators" they go by many names) as I can. I know of 2 and will try to find more. They are the places I usually find organic "easy" foods. I usually never buy cans from these stores because I personally have gotten food poisoning from a dented can. Mind you it was way too dented to be on the shelf, and way to dented for me to buy it...let alone eat it. So it was my fault, but I won't go that route again!

Just wont!

My favorite things to purchase from liquidators are:

Organic Cereal
All Natural Peanut Butter
Organic Condiments
All Natural/Organic Snacks!
Starbucks esspresso-shh don't tell anyone! K? Oh and I get it for like 2 or 3 dollars!

My second thing is to buy mostly non-box or can items. A lot of items such as:

Rolled Oats
Hot cereals
Raw Nuts
Beans
Rice
popcorn
etc.

Can be purchased in bulk bags for only a few dollars each (even at all natual food stores in the bins) and they last forever!!!!! These are the best purchases for all natural eating.

Also instead of buying bread I am now making my own.

It's dirt cheap I tell ya!

Bread making is one of the few things that does take a long time to make, but considering most of the making just requires you to be home (dough rising takes several hours) that is not too bad. It's not like your in the kitchen cooking for several hours.

So now I plan on soaking my own wheat!?!

I personally have always wanted to 'grind my own wheat' but just don't want to purchase a wheat grinder. Then when reading Nourishing Traditions I realized before the day of the wheat grinder they use to soak the wheat berries over night (sometimes two nights) to get them soft enough to make into flour. This is really good for you because it breaks down the parts of the wheat berry and makes them digestible. Don't ask me how I don't rightly remember but I remember reading that part.

So there you go, this is just SOME of the ways I plan on eating better and being more frugal. I don't plan on being perfect at it, but it has been nice to see the changes we have made over the last year.

Tell me what are you doing? Below I have a Mister Linky. If you want to tell others that read my sight things you are going to live frugally then please write your name below and please remember to link directly with your post (not your homepage) and provide a link in the body of your post back to the Latte's Musings. Otherwise your link may be deleted.

Latte

Shopping Trip Total! Not Good!

2009-01-19T19:53:00.000-08:00

I really don't even want to put my total's in here!~ Does it sound good that I only spent $52.00 last week? That's $18 under my bottom dollar budget (my top dollar is $100). We ate out, and I think I am still not done shopping...I don't know how Gayle at The Grocery Cart Challenge does it only once a week! I ended up making like a gazillion trips for everything because I would run out of stuff like salt! Err! If you want to see what recipes I am using for this weeks challenge go here

Okay fine on with the show.

Wal-Mart
Toilet Paper 6.43

Wal-Mart again
Salt .53

Wal-Mart yet again (had to travel 40 miles to one that sell's goat cheese, yes it was on my way to where I was going, silly)

2 6oz Goat cheese 7.96
Natural Juice 3.38

Total: 11.34

Bruam's for ice cream (because like an idiot I forgot the library would be closed yesterday, and the kids were bummed)

2 Jr cones 1.58
1 Sunday 1.79

My Total (the boy who wanted the big Sunday had to pay over the $1 limit I gave) $3.00

Save A Lot -husband needed charcoal, and did not tell me until after my shopping trip
Charcoal 6.49
Crackers 1.99
Lighter Fluid 2.49

Total: 11.75

Woods (my husband has receipt so I can't put what I purchased) here is a pic though

Total: $40.00-ish

Village Inn Restaurant

Total: 33.78

McDonald's (for fries because I did not plan well for side dishes to go with my husband's grilled meat

3 Fries 3.87
1 Small fry 1.00

Total: 5.25

Prairie Farm:

Raw Milk 3.50

Grand Total 115.58!!!!!!!!!

Man I am going to have to seriously reevaluate how I shop! Oh and eating out because if it were not for that we would have only spent 70.00-ish which is in my low budget range! ERR that eating out will kill you!

Okay don't forget to check out the grocery cart challenge for other great tips and recipes as well as seeing how others did in the challenge. Don't forget my recipes for this week can be found here

Latte

Recipe Iced Latte

2009-01-17T15:57:00.000-08:00

My favorite Iced Latte:

two shots of espresso (need espresso or cappuccino maker! or REALLY strong coffee )
2oz-3oz hazelnut creamer (I use Nestle cafe-mate liquid creamer)
1/4 to 1/2 cup milk
ice

YUM! To find more great recipes check out The Grocery Cart Challenge

Menu Plan Day

2009-01-17T15:32:00.000-08:00

Organic Gal!

My version of the grocery cart challenge!
Trying to live organically and naturally on $70.00 a week!

Well I was suppose to do this on Thursday...but I got lazy! NOT GOOD! We ended up eating out, which I don't know how to avoid on days we go to Springfield because it's 40 miles from the house and we already made breakfast and lunch to take, dinner would not last 10 hours! Oh well ya's do what ya's can do huh?

Please keep in mind I get all my recipes from America's Test Kitchen cookbooks so the ones below with links while they are close to my recipes that are not ATK!

Okay my meals for the week:

Breakfasts:
Smoothies
Strawberry muffins
Organic Cereal
Organic Poptarts
Eggs and bacon
Oatmeal

Dinners:
*Tuscan Bread Soup x's 2 but makes one meal
-Salad
*Potato & Onion Pizza x's 2 but makes one meal
-Salad
*Grilled Chicken x's 2 makes 2 meals
-creamy mashed potatoes x's 2
-green bean parmesan x's 2
*Pulled Pork x's 2 makes 2 meals
-honey glazed carrots
-mac-n-cheese
*Nachoes

Snacks:
lattes
organic popcorn
homemade pita chips
yogurt
cottage cheese
smoothies
strawberry muffins

Homemade ingredients needed for:
BBQ Sauce
Bread sliced sandwich bread
Caesar dressing

Come back tomorrow to see what I purchased and how much it cost me! Don't forget I will be adding my eating out from Friday!

Don't forget to check out the Grocery Cart Challenge for other great tips and recipes

12yrs old going on....His walk with God?

2009-01-14T06:37:00.000-08:00

Man this is the hardest part of raising a child if you ask me! He is at that age where the truth's about his parents not being perfect start to come out (I know I remember when I saw my mom doing things she had always done but now they were...somehow wrong) While I realize I will never be perfect, I now know it has come to a point that I need to make many changes in my life for the sake of my children's walk with the Lord. Don't get me wrong I am a much different person than I was before I had children but I don't feel I am totally where I want to be to have my children see Christ in me.

But what do I do?...that's a question I know the answer to and yet find it a huge undertaking everyday! I have just spent SO much of my life doing things my way that it's hard to shove it all aside and say now it's time to do it God's way. It's hard to shed old habits.

It's the little things that take away my day...it's me! I know the things I do in a day that take away from my son fully seeing my walk with God are me and not so much the things...but sometimes I wonder if I need to just get rid of those things...but I know that just wont work if I don't change me...

there's just no easy way to do this is there?

I am happy to make the changes, to be a joyful loving wife and mother. I just pray the children never see my short comings as a stumbling block to the Lord.

Joyfully seeking Him so that my children will seek Him also.
Amen

Monday Shopping Trip

2009-01-13T04:16:00.000-08:00

The Organic Gal!

Alright, I had to give in and buy white bread! I pray this is the last week I do this! I actually got online just now to find good sandwich bread recipes because it's getting too hard to find whole wheat organic bread for less than $4 a loaf! Yikes as much as we love bread I just can not see doing that! So I will be making my own bread at around .50 cents a loaf!

Okay I felt pretty crappy that my total was so little so I went ahead and counted all the stuff that I got last Saturday that I will be using this week. That makes it more realistic. So.....

Dutch Discount Store:

Organic Cereal 1.10
Organic Pop Tarts .90
free range eggs 1.89

total: 3.89

Amish Store:

1 lb elbow macaroni 2.32 and 2.40
5 lb rolled oats 3.44

total: 4.72

Wood's Grocery Store:

Crunch bar (kids won contest) .75
sweet tarts (again) .75
white bread .99
hot dog buns .89
hamburger buns .89
1.6 lb tomatoes 2.06
3.04 lb bananas 2.10
2.31 lb bananas 1.59
3 lb onions 1.28
15 lb potatoes 3.98
8 oz Monterrey jack 2.50
plain yogurt 3.29
4pk butter 2.29
6oz provolone cheese slices 2.49
8 oz Muenster cheese 2.49

total: 29.68

Prairie Grove Farm:

2 Gallons Raw Milk 3.50

total: $7.00

Grand Total: 45.29 + 7 = 52.29

I still have to buy toilet paper and white beans but that should not cost me more than $7.00! Just keep in mind that total will go up as I run out of stuff and have to buy meat, boohoo! I really liked that total!

To see what I will be making with all of this go here: Menu Plan Monday

Also don't forget to check out The Grocery Cart Challenge for other great ideas!

Menu Plan Monday...sort of!

2009-01-12T05:14:00.000-08:00

The Organic Gal!

Hello all! Welcome to my version of the grocery cart challenge!I am going to try to make all of my recipes using organic or all natural ingredients. Any recipe I give I will substitute with the best ingredients I can. If it calls for mayo, I will make my own mayo (that I should have kept easily on hand) if it calls for vegetable oil I will use canola or olive oil, butter for margarine ,if it calls for sugar I will use xylitol or honey. If it calls for noodles I will use whole wheat , etc.

Because organic and all natural can be a tad bit more costly (not always but in some cases-especially if I want to be lazy!) my grocery budget I pray will be around $70.00 but I will not cry if it reaches $100.00 from time to time. Meaning my budget is $100 but I am aiming for $70.00.

Another thing I can not shop on Mondays. However this week I am wanting to get started on this so I will just this once...well it also helps that I also went on Saturday. I will be posting My shopping day on Monday from the previous Thursday and Friday's shopping adventures and then put it on The Grocery Cart Challenge's Blog...So you will be getting my shopping day 3-4 day's after I have done it...oh well can't be perfect aye? This week will only cover Monday-Thursday. Friday-Thursday will be on Next Monday's meal plan. Does that make sense?

Oh one other thing, most of my recipes are from America's Test Kitchen or from Nourishing Traditions cook books but I will put GOOD substitutes on here. They will be as close to my recipe as I can find...and I am finding some that are the same so your in luck cuz ATK and NT rocks!!!!!

Remember this menu reflects Monday-Thursday

Breakfasts:

Oatmeal
Cream of Wheat
Organic Pop tarts
Organic Cereal

With my oatmeal I soak 1 cup rolled oats overnight in 1 cup water and 2T yogurt (plain) then when I wake up I add another cup water and cook 5 minutes on med?ish I then add xylitol (sugar substitute, you could also use honey, sorghum, or black strap molasses) or sorghum, cinnamon (a lot), a pinch of nutmeg and cloves. YUM! The same goes for the cream of wheat-I soak whole wheat cream of wheat the same way.

Dinners:

Ribs, Mac-n-cheese, potato salad, macaroni salad,
Pulled Pork Sandwiches, emeril's baked beans, natural chips
leftovers
leftovers

Snacks:

Banana Bread
Banana's and peanut butter
Smoothies (1C strawberries, 1/2C grapefruit juice, 1/2C yogurt, 1/4t stevia, 1T milled flax seed)
Latte's

Don't forget to visit the grocery cart challenge for many tips, recipes, and many more ways to live frugal at your local grocery store!!

Latte

New Years and Homeschoolingish News

2009-01-06T10:04:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love a NEW YEAR. It's hope of a new start, to reflect on the wonderful and crazy past and to move away from bad habits. My New Years Resolutions are my favorite time of the year. Three years ago I always loved to sit down and make my list and I ALWAYS stuck to it-I miss the old me(sigh). But then I had my second child...and all was lost. I have spent the past 3 years trying to gain my life back by get closer to the Lord and in doing so I am starting to see the light of day. It's amazing what hormones and lack of Faith can do to you! I don't mean lack of Faith in the Lord I mean lack of Faith in myself. Bad thoughts bring bad habits that bring bad thoughts...on and on! NO MORE! I love when I tell myself to be happy...I generally am! This past year has brought me to such a closer walk with the Lord, and a new joy with my family. So here are my New Years Resolutions:

#1-To always try and walk joyfully closer to the Lord, Jesus Christ! and in doing that I must:
#2-Love and OBEY my husband in all things-no more back talk...it's just so hard!
#3-Cherish my children-no more "in a minute" while I do something so worthless
#4-Serve others-I like the appeal of saying we are doing missionaryish work...why not in my own back yard?
#5-Prepare my home for easy maintenance!
#6-To be frugal in my meal planning and Have dinner ready EVERY NIGHT!
#7-Eat much smaller servings (don't fret over NOT having an occasional latte-instead have a small coffee cup size instead of a QUART size...I know sad huh?)
#8-Work out everyday by playing with my children and 20min on tread mill. My prayer is that by doing #7 and #8 I will lose the 30 pounds I put on 3 years ago my goal is to be 30lbs lighter by April 26th 2009!
#9-Get school done 4 hours a day 4 days a week-God must be in all the lessons-even Math
#10-Not spend so much time on this computer (no more than 1 hour a day of personal time)

In really interestingly other news I wanted to share with you a video going around in homeschool circles. It's just a bit of information that I think everyone should look at, even if you don't plan on Homeschooling. This is a big reason why we homeschool.

Love Always,
Latte

How I plan to save on Christmas this year....Seriously

2008-12-18T20:19:00.000-08:00

Parental Right WILL Be Taken Away!!!!!!!!

2008-12-17T13:07:00.000-08:00

I pray...that we can handle this new future...please pray with me won't you?

Bring the Rain; MercyMe:

Please forward this letter on:

A Letter from Michael Farris,
President of ParentalRights.org.

Dear Friend of Parental Rights,

I was in the United States Senate this past week meeting with lawyers for a Senate office. They told me directly what I have been hearing indirectly on a regular basis ever since the election.

Those who want to change family policy in America to comply with international law are preparing a full-scale effort to seek ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child during this next Congress. Barbara Boxer recently told a planning group that they intend to use children’s health care as leverage to seek ratification of this UN children’s rights treaty.

Please link to our website to see a succinct summary of the problems with this UN treaty.

The strength of their forces has been greatly increased with the addition of Hillary Clinton as the nominee for Secretary of State. She will have direct control over the submission of this treaty to the Senate and will acquire the authority under international law to sign any other treaty on any subject.

Hillary Clinton was the person who made the announcement for the Convention on the Rights of the Child when her husband’s administration signed the treaty. Seeking its ratification is a lifelong dream for her.

Our situation is grim if we were to look only at the position of the elected officials.

However, recent post-election polling demonstrates that almost 70% of Americans do not believe that the use of international law in American courts on such matters is appropriate. Less than 20% favor the use of international law. (The rest are undecided). Virtually every sub-group in America opposes this kind of use of international law.

America is on our side. However, we have to be able to get the word out to help people hear the truth about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Our proposed Parental Rights Amendment will permanently stop this treaty. So we have a one-two punch planned for the internationalists.

First, we must build a huge grassroots movement of patriotic Americans who believe that good families should be able to raise their children without worrying about compliance with international law.

Second, these same grassroots forces need to convince our elected officials that we are not content with defeating this treaty for today alone. We insist on a permanent solution. We need the Parental Rights Amendment.

I need you to do two things to help this become a reality. First, please send a copy of this letter to everyone you know who believes in parental rights and American patriotism.

Second, we need to raise a war chest to get prepared to launch a massive grassroots campaign. The other side has millions of dollars left in their campaign coffers, and they have the President of the United States, the Secretary of State and all the media waiting to carry their message.

We can win the debate because we have the truth on our side. And we have public opinion. But we won’t win if we can’t reach people.

Will you please make as big a gift as you can to support Parentalrights.org?

Here is what they are saying about us. At the hearing which featured Barbara Boxer, one of the speakers said that the people who will oppose this treaty are the “narcissistic sovereignty crowd.” In other words, those who love America first are so guilty of excessive self-love that he describes us as having the mental illness of narcissism.

This is their real heart. Not only do they want international law to control our families. They think that we are mentally ill for loving America.

It is time for those of us who believe in loving our families and loving America to rise up! We will not surrender this country or our children to such people.

Get involved today! The battle is about to begin.

For God, family, and America,

Michael Farris

A Godly wife fights with Santa about Global Warming and Evolution

2008-12-15T11:04:00.000-08:00

Well I never thought I would be blogging about this but...it's that time I guess. Okay let me start by saying I had the most hilarious Friday! I almost peed on myself with laughter at my cute husband. While laughing to tears I told him I wish I could have recorded this whole day. So I thought man I just as well here...this is not for the faint of heart, or men, or kids....proceed with caution or just throw caution to the wind, that is what I did when I posted this.

Okay now to the funny crap!~

This Friday I had a doctor's appointment to get a monitor put on my chest due to palpitations-that I have had for oh A YEAR AND 1/2 and not one doctor would due much about-to which I told them this last visit 'do something or lock me in a padded room'-I actually said that, to a doctor-probably not smart huh, but I just don't care anymore.

Sooo anyho I get into the room and the nurse is so into herself, which is fine if they must talk about their wretched lives to every Tom, Dick and Faith that comes in then by all means lay it on me...I should be a good Christian and listen right? So then in the middle of her ranting about her horse or cows or something she says "pull off your top..."

long pause

Then I try and evaluate where the robe thingy is she is suppose to give me, and then look at her like she should leave the room so I can dress into my retard suit that I can't find.

Long stares at one another..."oh you mean now...?"

Yep just pull it all off! Stupid fear starts to hit me when I remember...Oh dear God I am wearing my jeans...that are TOO SMALL!-and taking off my long top will reveal that!

"okay but here is the thing, I have gained about 10 pounds since buying these jeans I have on and I have a serious muffin top! SERIOUS!"

She rolls her eyes and says "oh girl I've seen it all"...BUT I DON"T CARE!!!!!!!!!!!

So in frustration I just fling my top off and say to heck with it.

So there I sat with my jeans that are probably 3 sizes too small, my muffin top that is 10 sizes too big, and what does she do,

stops to TALK

About what you say...I don't know because I was too busy trying to suck in my muffin top in and trying not slam her head into the bench I was sitting on. Man do some people not get how uncomfortable it is to suck in, sit up straight, and this, of course makes your boobs stick way out so then you look like your trying to show them off- ugh! Not to mention just the sheer fact that I was in my bra, talking to this lady about BS! Happy thought Happy thoughts

Okay so then I head off to the health food market to get a few things and then it hits me, the need to go potty! Man why now! They probably don't have a bathroom and I have so much to get! So I tried to hold it but, after much walking around I realized I just could not focus on shopping with this need to go, so I ask and sure enough they do have a potty room-yeah me. SO I race off to the potty and when I turn on the light guess who is staring back at me?

A mental patient!!!!!!!!!! With cords and patches on her upper chest, she looked quite scary!

Oh no wait it's me!

Yep the monitor things are sticking out of the top of my shirt making me look like I ran away from my Psycho ward!!!!

I realized maybe I could use this to my advantage. Like I should just twitch my head and act goofy just to really freak people out. You should have seen the looks I got the rest of the day...I think people did not know what to think of all that junk near my neck...I wonder what I would have thought?

Okay so then I head to my friends house to visit her and her new baby, where I was reminded a little bit of what it's like to have a new born...you know the part where you boarder on being mentally retarded from lack of sleep and human interaction-where the only thing on your mind is poop, breast milk, and a strong desire for a bath. It was nice to visit. We talked about our past, drinking and drugs...what is so funny is that we are like the most straight, deep down Christians you will meet! We don't get drunk, we don't do drugs and yet...this is what we talked about. It was actually nice because it reminded me so much about how far God has taken me from that kind of life, and how much I really enjoy my new life with God, and Godly friends! We also talked about Santa, something that I realize some people need to understand about our family. For me I just can't lie to my children (or anyone) about anything.

Do you want to know why?

Because for years I was lied to by my spouse (old boyfriend), and that pain still affects how I act today! Finding out about Santa is one of my few memories of childhood-and I am one of those retards that remembers very little from my childhood-just ask my mom. Lying has hurt me in so many ways, that to this day I have a hard time trusting if people are being real with me.

I am not saying oh poor me, I am saying my kids will not hear a lie from me.

I just can't, even when it seems so 'innocent', it's really not. I know most people say oh I am sure you lie...and maybe to some I do but I try not to at ALL. About anything. Yes this means I tell people when I don't like their soup (only if they ask though...there is a difference between telling the truth and being rude) I always feel closer to those that are willing to tell me the truth, than say nothing or especially lie! It's just not right. How much closer will your children be to you if they know you were not willing to go with the popular census and lie to your child? Just a thought...

Well then after my visit with my friend my husband and I went out to do some shopping. That is our idea of a fun date, dinner and shopping...if it sounds pathetic it's really not, we love these dates!-We love being perfectly boring...seriously after cancer, life can not be more sweet than the little moments!

So we get to the end of our shopping trip and we decide on an item we want to get but we are unsure if it will fit into our car, so my husband and I are opening doors to the car and measuring the openings. I of course measure using my arm from my fist to my elbow.

Isn't that how you would measure?

"yep two arm lengths this way, and 3 that way." So we close the doors and head for the store.

To which my husband tells me: Don't forget this " two brown stripes past my nipples, and just above my knees"

Is that how most men measure stuff?

I burst into obnoxious laughter, oh the laughs and the stares! My husband unlike me who used her arm to measure the size of the opening...he used his nipples and knees...oh dear God is that not funny?

So, we get into the store and find the item, I put my arm up to it, looks like it will fit that way, so my husband turns it on it's side and sure enough he shoves his whole body into the box...it looked like he was humping it! Bahahahaahahahahhaahahah, you can't make this kind of stuff up! this is where I just about peed on myself! I was laughing to hard I was crying. I know people were staring because I laugh loud! And he just kept putting his body up to the box...oh dear God! You should have been there! After a bit he started doing it just to see my laugh more...ahhh

what a fun date

So that was my hilariously fun Friday night! It still makes me giggle!

Okay now my Global Warming and Evolution issue, if you already agree that evolution and G.W. are a farce you don't have to read on. Otherwise I am bringing up some topics that I have been discussing with others on another blog. They asked me to give facts to support my theory.

I don't really give facts to support my theory...that is why it's a theory. However I am going to give facts to disprove their theory.

Bare with me I do not have a science degree, but my info comes from some super smarty pants scientist that do give facts.

Okay these are the websites where I got my info...if you want to know what they said you will have to look through all their research like I did (some are even on video's that you either can buy or rent from the library), it's extensive but worth the effort. They give facts to disprove evolution and global warming.

Does this mean I think it's okay to not be environmentally friendly? Absolutely not! I still think we impact our environment in negative ways, just not the climate/weather...or at least no one has proved it to me yet.

Evolution:
http://www.drdino.com/

Global Warming:
http://www.oism.org/

Latte

Notuh! I'm Right, YES I AM!!! Yes! Yes! I AM!

2008-12-13T07:50:00.002-08:00

Okay most of you might have read my last post, well I want to add/take away from it. Yes I personally have a problem with Christmas, however...it's my personal problem and not in any way should I reflect that onto anyone. To see what I mean I am Seriously asking everyone who is my friend (in real life or not) to please go read this profound example of what it means to be right as a Christian.

I still so struggle in the area of logistics when it comes to the bible. When it says 'don't do this' I just think everyone should fall into place. I need to realize...God leads me to one place and others to another place. And I need to try and stop putting everyone in their place...

With Love,
Faith

An American Tradition

2008-12-10T10:26:00.000-08:00

I want to share a little...eye opener with you. I am one of those freaky people who loves to study people, what they say, why they say it how they react when I ask questions about something they do. This got me to thinking...why do most people not question things? When I say "things" I mean things in general! I have asked people so when your doctor told you such and such, what does that mean or what is or why do you have to take that...they come back with "I don't know??" You should see me at the doctor, they don't like me because I don't leave unless I know the ins and outs of what they are saying. You should especially see me when I am talking to a preacher! I had one preacher come to my Grandmothers house and when I was done with him, he looked at me and said "I wish my congregation was like you...you are looking for truth not just listening to what I say and nodding in agreement!"

Do you realize how much you do...that is just because it's tradition? I will give you a real good example: When my oldest boy Stuntman was about 1 or 2 years old a teacher handed me a book called "Good Night moon" She told me this book was a highly acclaimed book and has been since the 40's. Sounds great right? Makes you want to buy it for your baby and read it to him or her every night? I did! But then with my second baby (take into consideration I now I am a little older and not ANY wiser) I looked through that book and thought why? Why is this book so highly acclaimed? It's just a mouse saying good night to everything in it's room and window...why does that make it such a good book? Then it hit me, because someone told me it did!?!?!?!!? Huh? Don't you agree? I have seen highly acclaimed books that move people because of religion, or relationships, this book is none of that. It's just a book. So then I started thinking 'man how many things do I do in a day, just because I was told!!!!!'

Let me start by asking you these questions. Answer it in your head before you read on okay? My questions are to Christians, if someone of a another denomination (such as Catholic) came up to you and said you should celebrate such and such holiday because I say so, would you? Would you question it, it's origins, how it lines up with scripture ect.?

Well then take Christmas for instance...did you know that the Catholic Church started Christmas just to try and replace a pagan holiday? Did you know that the Tree is from that Pagan holiday? Most of you probably have a serious problem with the Catholic Church but see no reason to give up one of it's biggest lies! Why, because your momma celebrated it and her momma and so on. No one question's these things. No one seems to want to! Why? Why do we do what everyone else is doing? Most Christians I know won't celebrate Halloween because it's pagan(unfortunately they replace it with a Christian Trunk or Treat day which the scripture is very clear about this-I think it's in Jeremiah...maybe), but why then do you celebrate Christmas? Look it up, you'll see. What does Scripture say about celebrating Christ's birth? And with his death and resurrection what part of that do you need a bunny, who lays eggs (both have pagan roots I might add) We celebrate his death and resurrection daily! Not once a year...personally

I will give you another big example: Take global warming. Did you know that global warming is a theory-not a fact? The media just pulled the wool right over our eyes with their statements that sound very convincing I might add but when you study it, there statements don't hold water to truth. Did you know that many scientist have proven this global warming theory wrong? Also same goes for the THEORY OF EVOLUTION. It's just a theory(also proven wrong by several scientists! ...yet our schools (and the media) teach it as fact. Did you know that the first person to put evolution into the schools was HITLER???????? Hitler people!

Well I really could go on and on, like about over population (the world could fit into Jacksonville FL) and many religious doctrines churches teach as truth that I will save for a date when I am ready to take a beating!

So tell me what do you think? Is there anything else you could add that is an american tradition that no one questions? Please leave a comment about it-anonymously if you must. If your wanting to live in truth...you are not alone!

Love,

Faith

Su-prise Suuu-prise Su-PRISE

2008-12-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

Well this Saturday is one I will never forget! I love my husband dearly! He is a kind, good man with so many sweet loving qualities about him. For the past few months I have been over joyed that he is still with me and cancer free! And with all these thoughts of him, a memory of when he was sick hit me about a month ago. It was one of him telling me when he got better he was going to have a big party invite everyone who was there for him while he was sick and grill steaks. Not too long after he got better (about 6 months ago) he was still so weak that he put it off, then our son had baseball (Thor was coach) and we traveled a lot, then in August he had to have his gallbladder removed and again he was weak for a month or more. Summer turned into fall and here we are 6 months later and no party. I just knew I had to step into action. What better way than a surprise party? And the devilish girl that I am I was able to get him to grill out for his own party!!!! imagine that!

I coordinated with one of his work buddies (Bill), my Mother In Law (MIL-Goldie) and Brother In Law Rick. We told Thor that we were having a birthday party for his brother at our house and we were going to grill out for him. I called and e-mailed everyone I could think of that played a major roll in my husband during his sickness (a phone call or card WAS MAJOR TO US) We were so overwhelmed with love during his surgery and chemo I wanted Thor to see he is still so loved and we are so thankful he is better...after his recovery. I know I missed calling and inviting many people but some had to go and have a baby, and others had to go and leave town! Shame on them, lol!

The theme was of course my husbands favorite past time- grilling, so I had everyone bring a side and a grilling cookbook from my amazon wish list (if they could because during these hard times no one could blame those that did not bring anything, we were just thankful they came!) We ended up with loads of family (some live nearly 3 hours away), several work buddies (even our favorite retired friend came for a few minutes with a congrats cake!) and one friend from high school who was the only person (other than parents of my husbands high school friends) that called when Thor got sick. My husband had not seen him in 10-11 years? It was the icing on the cake for my surprise party!~

My husband also ended up with 10 cook books from his favorite cooking shows, America's Test Kitchen, Steven Raichlen, Lidia's Italian-America, and Bobby Flay-needless to say that boy does not need a cook book for some time!~

My husband felt very blessed to see everyone and get to spend time with them he thanked me all weekend!-though I am pretty sure he's not fond of surprises, I think it he was more blessed by the people than the surprise of it all. That is what I wanted!

So without further ado I give you pictures of the surprise remission party for my husband.

Love,
Faith

Not pictured:-Sorry I was having too much fun to pick up my camera, go figure?
Dawn Thor's sister and her husband
Goldie Thor's mom
Bonnie-Thor's aunt
Donna's Husband and two cute boys!
Melody's Husband- you can sort of see him in the 6th picture down
Tim's 3 very cute boys-who had so much fun with my boys they called us to tell us!
Steve's sweet and cute boy
Abe's very loving adorable boy
Denny
Thor and I and our two boys

Ain't we American's smart!!!!!!!!!!

2008-12-03T10:10:00.000-08:00

I found this on Angel's blog and loved it so much I thought I would share it over here too. Ain't we a super ingenious, totally studious, autonomous thinking, country or what?

Praying our country will wake up soon,
Faith

Kids, Dogs, Thanks, Black Friday, Football-ly

2008-12-01T05:18:00.000-08:00

For our kids Tot school go here, and for Tween school go here other wise it's going to be a wild ride!

Okay first about my dogs...it's so sad but we had to get rid of them. We thought about it for about 6 months but felt so guilty SO guilty. But now I can see where sometimes it's better for the dogs and your family to give them to a family that can take much better care of them. Now there are less fights, less stress and the dogs have a family that can give them the space they need to run around. They will be missed but we are glad they have a fun place to live and we have a peaceful and clean-er-ish home again. From now on it's animals that live outdoors or in a small cage! Good Bye Neeo and Morpheus, we will miss you!

Thanksgiving was great, I love hanging out with my family. There are so many things to be thankful for...but having my husband is at the top this year. When he got sick, I went into some sort of 'getter done' mode and emotion did not grip me that much. And if you know me I cry over EVERYTHING. I get all torn up about stupid commercials! I actually had to stop watching Extreme Home Makeover because I cry ALL the way through it! So I was shocked at my lack of loads of tears when my husband was going through so much. But now that life is back to it nice simple self I am always all choked up to have my man with me. I cry everytime I think about how close we came to losing him...and how I can't do this without him. So to sum it up I am thankful for my life with healthy kids and a wonderfully healthy husband! Life could not get any better. Well it probably could but I don't mind if it stays this way either!

Here are some other blogs that helped me remember that while I am so thankful all year long, that thanksgiving has it's purpose far beyond the amazing reason it was started. To see them go YadaYada or JenIG.

Black Friday...when some people think of this day they get all like "I ain't standing in no line for 2-4 hours for anything" and the there are some that can't wait to go and will buy anything just for the chance to shop. Me I am neither of those. My husband and I we are just dealaholics. We can't go into a store without hitting all the clearance else's. We have gotten good about hitting 4-5 stores and eating out in 2-ish hours. Most everything we own we paid less than half it's retail price and I bet most of it is 70% off or better. Being good at shopping around has afforded us the ability to get name brand stuff at Wally World's clearance prices. Which is great when it comes to yard sales because that stuff flies out of my yard so fast! Even if it's yucky, people want that name brand.

So when Black Friday comes around we can't wait to get the ads and see what good deals they will have on stuff we need. Some years the ads have nothing we want-so we don't shop just to shop. This year though it was a knife set at Kohls that hooked us! They had a $169.00 knife set for $39.00. We so needed a knife set! So we looked over the ad for other good deals that would make the trip and our time worth it. Here we are at 2:30am being such dorks, We even slept in our clothes to save time:

And this is us around 3am after we had time to wake up...sort of:

In the car by:

Okay I wish I could have brought my camera further but I don't even think pictures could have described that line! It was about 4-5 people thick and went ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WHOLE PARKING LOT!!!!!!! It's a big parking lot!!!!! We got there right at 4am and I jumped out of the car and ran to the end of the line that started moving as soon as I got in it. As I went to go get my knifes I was like 'yeah right I will never get them with this many people.' And sure enough my first choice was gone but the second choice (which is a better choice but I wanted th other ones because they would go with all my other Kitchenaid stuff) was still there so I grabbed them and then spent the next hour 1/2 trying to find everything else and then another hour and 1/2 standing in 2 lines. One for fragrances where they told me I could not pay for my other items because it was Black Friday!!!! Lets just say if I knew that I probably would not have purchased my favorite perfume!

We got all of this stuff:

These smell so good, they are soy and huge (they look small in the pictures but the burn time is 180 hours if that give you any indication to their size-they are big!) and they were only 3 dollars! And they smell just like Yankee!

I have been looking for a chocolate down comforter that was cheap for about 3 years, this one was $25!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my favorite perfume! and for $5 more than the cost of the perfume I got all this other junk!

This came with my purchase of perfume, lucky me!-NOT-Like I don't already have 30 different versions of this game!:

These socks are so cool! And they are usually around $6-12 dollars a pair and I got 4 of them for $2 each!

And the best for last our Cusinart 14-pc cutlery set plus bonus knifes!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They come with a knife sharpener and the bonus knife is some asian design knife! That is so cool! I know I am one of those weird women who actually like kitchen gifts! Strange huh!

Okay lastly Football, This sport is WAY more than it's cracked up to be, I mean the men that play it, especially the quarterback and coach and all, they are actually really smart, and talented. I had no idea what looked like a dumb brute sport actually took skill and brains to do! So most of you may have already read my BRETT I'M WITH YOU blog and of course I still am (Jets 8-4 baby!) and I have to admit I really am liking this football stuff. I hate each time they hit each other because I don't want anyone to get hurt, I REALLY DON'T! But I have to admit the skill of it, and the joy each player shows on his face is amazing. I did not realize how happy and excited men can get when they take a ball from another guy, kick the crap out of him and then run it to their side of the field. I mean they are genuinely happy! It's something I can't get over! And that is the main reason I watch football...that and Brett...as my shirt says above 4 ever Favre Fan!

Faith

A taggie about my man

2008-11-25T08:50:00.000-08:00

I was sort of tagged by Emily and Jessica so I wanted to share too. 21 things about my main man!

1. He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen? Football, Golf (aka Tiger), or cooking shows, but I bet if boxing came on regular TV and not just cable he would be watching that, cuz I always catch him on ESPN.com looking at boxing

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Ranch...but I have seen him be adventuress and pick others from time to time like Cesar or Catalina

3. What's one food he doesn't like? rice which stinks because it eliminates MANY meals

4. You go out to the bar. What does he order? He has never had a drink...so my guess would be water?

5. Where did he go to high school? In the same town we live in

6. What size shoe does he wear? 11 but he will not just go buy any pair of 11's, they have to fit, and fit well or he won't buy them. Me it just has to be pretty and it's mine!

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? TOOLS, and because his real name is Thor he collects toys with Thor on them

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? grilled meat and bbq

9. What would he eat every day if he could? grilled meat with country fixins

10. What is his favorite cereal? He is not a cereal man

11. What would he never wear? real pajamas or turtle necks

12. What is his favorite sports team? Cowboys

13. Who did he vote for? McCain

14. Who is his best friend? ME. He has lots of great friends though

15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do? waste time and forget stuff

16. How many states has he lived in? 1 MO

17. What is his heritage? I don't remember...Irish-ish?

18. You bake him a cake for his birthday; Chocolate no icing

19. Did he play sports in high school? Baseball Baseball Baseball

20. What could he spend hours doing? Watching grilling cooking shows then grilling out or watching sports mostly, golf (only if Tiger's playing) and football-college or pro's

21. What's something cool about him? He never does or says anything unless he plans on doing it right and he knows what he is talking about. He is TOO good at being perfect, but I love it because it makes me try harder...not much harder but harder.

Well that was fun, won't you share about your man too? Don't forget to tell us if you do so we can go read it.

Latte

Quote: "Homeschooler's are DEMENTED"

2008-11-21T13:03:00.000-08:00

Well everyone while reading a KONOS e-group letter I found this statement on the show 'The View' made by Joy Behar very repulsive. After viewing the video (below) I sent ABC this letter letting them know how I feel, please keep everyone informed about homeschooling and our active roll in America by writing ABC and showing them we are not "Demented"! My Letter:

To Whom it May Concern,

While talking to a homeschool mom I was informed that Joy Behar on The View made a remark about homeschooler's being demented. While I am sure through Joy's extensive research of homeschooler's via the public school showed her we are demented, she may want to do some extensive research with homeschooler's themselves. Maybe you could get Tim Tebow of the FL Gators on the show and ask him how demented homeschooling made him

FC

So what did you think of my letter? Please do tell...

2008-11-20T09:33:00.000-08:00

While visiting one of my blog girls Jenig I found her blog to be kind of neat, though I hope my version is seen in as nice a light as I saw her's. We pretty much feel the way Jenig does about Christmas, that there is nothing biblical mandating we must celebrate it. Our family does usually go to the Christmas dinner and gift exchange because while we find nothing Pagan about it (we don't decorate with Pagan decor, such as the tree) we realize that by not celebrating it we might hurt family in ways that are just not needed. So we keep the peace, pass the gifts, and don't say too much about our beliefs on it.

I did think this Survey might shed a little light about the fact that even though we take our love of the Lord very seriously...we are good loving and fun about it too. If you do this survey too, let me know k?

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Every year I hit major retailers (like Hobby Lobby) the day or so after Christmas and buy Christmas paper on clearance for pennies on the dollar, I get the nice stuff cheaper than the Wallie World crap. Then the next year I am all set. This is the only time of year I wrap gifts as I usually just throw it in those bags and I'm done.

2. Real tree or Artificial? No tree, it's pagan

3. When do you put up the tree? The pagan tree is our conviction

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, and I only drink it on Thanksgiving and Christmas

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My adopted dad gave me a diamond chip ring, and my mom got me a dresser

7. Hardest person to buy for? MY HUSBAND, ERRRR

8. Easiest person to buy for? No one is easy to buy for!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Nope, I don't decorate to show American's that while Clark Griswold is amazingly funny, it's totally a real life hassle and not worth it.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Both, I love to do both!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't know, I am one of those kinds of people, that love just about anything I get...weird huh!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Christmas Vacation, like I said it's funny just not practical!

13. When do you start shopping? December like 15th-ish? Way too late in the year!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't know, but I bet I have.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Pumpkin pie and eggnog

16. Lights on the tree? I am sure by now you know the answer to this one.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Don't like Christmas music, just not my

thing...though if MercyMe or Casting Crowns did or have done some I might listen...but probably only once.

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? Usually home or in town with family, but this year we are going to GA to see my family! Yea!!!!!!!!!

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s? Nope

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Again...no tree no angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One on Christmas Eve and then the rest on Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year knowing this country is spending too much money on this one day

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? eww I would love to get a New York Jets one, and I would make it into a holiday hair piece or something.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? With my family!-My husband usually smokes somthing and that is always yummy!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? To lose 30 pounds! And a shirt that says 'Forever Favre Fan' Oh and to have fun with my family in Georgia!

Do you hear that...

2008-11-15T08:19:00.000-08:00

The People Have Decided...Moving On...

2008-11-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

Well I knew this was coming, and yet...it's still hard to believe.

Word Of God Speak....

Amen

A Black Man's Vote

2008-11-04T06:56:00.000-08:00

I was going to do some big post on getting out and voting...but now after I saw this video I just had to post it instead. You won't be disappointed.

Love,
Latte

I'mm Baaack! Movies, Voting, and friends

2008-11-03T07:48:00.000-08:00

Hello All,

I am so glad to be back, but I have very little time to write-over look my 'extra' typo's. Oh first did you read my last post about the best movie ever for married Christian's...well go read it silly!

Well on another vote-e-ish note I just don't know what we are going to talk about in this house if it ain't about the next president...is that all ya'll talk about too? I have to admit I love talking about it, I am not jaded at all. Maybe in part because I feel we are doing all of this behind the Lord and not 'jus cuz'.

Here is a neat video on who to vote for:

The next two days we have a lot of fasting and prayer going on, I am very happy to be devoting so much time (and my stomach) to the Lord. I can't wait until we are doing this kind of stuff all the time!-maybe as a perk I will also fit into my skinny girl jeans again!

I have to go, my bestest girlfriend in the whole wide world is coming from Florida to visit and I have so much to do to get ready for her! Yikes!

Somebody say a prayer, k? This video is pretty neat about prayer.

Love,
Faith

Still Fasting but...I have to say this now

2008-10-29T10:25:00.000-07:00

Well as much as I want to stay away from this blog and focus on the Lord right now I must tell EVERYONE about this new movie out before it leaves theaters. It's called Fireproof (from the people who made Facing the Giants and Flywheel) it is a GREAT GREAT GREAT movie. I suggest even if you have a great marriage you go see it RIGHT NOW...please=) Oh and take tissue...and some for your husband.

I loved this movie so much I dun went out and bought me the book! I am so glad in "Hollywood"ish world these men are standing up and making these movies!

I pray this movie blesses your marriage like it did my already GREAT marriage!
Latte

Fasting...many things to pray and focus on

2008-10-17T18:20:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Have you ever met a person(s) that all they do is speak of the Lord...I mean all of the time? Not in a bad way but when you are with them you know there whole life revolves around Him. Or have you ever had someone walk into the room and you know the Holy Spirit is within them and you are totally drawn to them? Is that not amazing? I know a few people like this and I want so much to be like them. They are not a preach it and condemn kind of people...on the contraire they are just like you and I, funny whitey, and full of life, it's just that it's fully God's life. To obtain this I realize I want to not change me so much as much as I want to focus on Him. I think with my eyes always looking towards Him, He will change me!

When I started blogging it was to show Him in my life to my family and friends. But unfortunately I let me get in the way. Well as the MercyMe song goes "so long self" so I am taking a break-or a blog fast. I will be back November 4th-ish...If you need a better understanding go here and here. This is where the Lord is leading me.

Sorry no comments on this post, Prayers are welcome.

Love,
Latte

Beyond Politics and My Friends Factual Views

2008-10-16T04:34:00.000-07:00

Editor's note: it seems a lot of people don't know what a lagoon is so I wanted to clarify. A lagoon is a country person's version of a sewer plant. You know when you live in or near the city when you flush, it goes to the sewer plant, well in the country it goes to the lagoon. So if you read my story then now you know what I mean. If you did not read it, go back and do so. It's funny!~

I have to admit O'bama makes his plan sound so good, free health care, free college, take from the rich and give to the poor. He is a true Robin Hood huh? But have you ever taken a look at other countries that have this? Have you looked at what it has done for O'bama's famous 'middle class' in those countries? Do you realize that it's socialism? Do you realize that it gives the government complete control over your life? -not good...

I really think our country needs to be in prayer about this issue. I am talking real prayer...as a family, as a church, and as a country. If this plays out the way I feel the Lord is telling our family it will, I prayerfully want to tell you to search the Lord out about what to do as far as preparing your family for serious hard times. I don't want to put fear into your heart, just the Lord and preparedness. I have talked to several families with the thought of telling them we are preparing might make them think we were nuts, but they had already started...all of them! I was shocked.

Okay this blog (and real) friend of mine has posted several articles on this subject with loads of details and facts on the severity of O'bama's plan. Please go here and read this first article that she wrote telling her children why she does not and never will vote liberal. Then read on in related articles as she elaborates on each reason #ten, #nine, #eight, #seven. She is very good at explaining this.

Latte

Schooling,Preparing,Camping and Lagooning?

2008-10-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

Okay well I have had an interesting weekend! First though if you want to see how we did with tot school please go here and see.

I will never forget this week! Thursday night my husband informed me of some info we believe the Lord is guiding him to prepare for-Before he told me of this we had some friends who were preparing as well but I was not aware that it was for the same reasons, and I have since talked to other friends who are feeling the same way. We are talking serious stuff people. While part of me is excited to be going on this trip the Lord is calling us to, part of me is -uhh- shakin in my boots. I won't say too much about it, except for us this journey of our lives is now in prepare mode. After hearing the news I was without a doubt completely taken back with nothing going on in my noggin! But because my husband is NEVER wrong....were talking freaky never wrong, I prepare no questions asked! This preparing, it's probably needed for America...so pray and you might want to get prepared.

Well then this weekend we went camping with our 4-H group! It was a blast...and so comical...and a chore! I had no idea going into this what it took to go camping for 1 DAY!!! I am glad we made a list though because many people that came did not have everything they needed. It was a lesson well learned.

When we got there we set up camp, then we chatted and played games for a bit

then it was time for beef camp. The instructor took us around on his 250 acres and showed us the cows and how he took care of them using an electric fence, his swankie water hole...it was this cool plastic tub with a ball in it(to prevent freezing) the cows had to push down to get water out of. Then he showed the boys (and girls) how to build a dead man's corner.

It was so nice to be in the country!

After we got back it was time to build a fire and eat. We had good food...our family brought corn

and smores!~

After that we did some Contra dances with the 4-H girls and boys...I loved the dances but I was such a dork! I could not get those moves for nothin!

But you want to know the best part...the absolute most brilliantly funny part is? Well the kids went to play hide and seek after dark. Okay I did have that thought of "I wonder if this is a good idea" but I shook it off because they were all tweens and teens and they probably would be fine...looking back I probably should have thought it out a little more. So getting back to my story, while attempting to clean our hosts kitchen another 4-H mother came in and said this to me...wait first let me set up the scene for you as it makes it oh so much more funny! Okay imaging another mother your camping with walking in and standing in front of you looking down pretending to be picking at the counter but she is actually trying not to laugh "umm Faith your son Stuntman needs you...uhh right now" small pause "He's not hurt or anything but he needs your help" I say "okay whatz up" to that she says "wwweelll he........fell into the lagoon and I mean all the way" then she showed me an imaginary line of...poo all the way up to her chest. And at this point she is holding back a chuckle...I wish you could have been there! We both say a few things about how it went down, we have a good laugh and then we go look for my son as I know he is probably going to be very upset. As I walk out to find him the smell of lagoon engulfs the air and I start thinking man I am just glad he is okay-all the while chuckling at the fact that this is going to be one fun memory to reflect on! It seems my boy saw some friends on the other side of the lagoon and not knowing it was there proceeded to run after them. Then get this after he gets out and realizes he needs to get cleaned up he goes over and tells his dad. "Hey dad I fell into a puddle with cow stuff in it"-a puddle people, and cow stuff...oh my lands "can you get my clothes out of the tent so I can change?" My husband said it only took a few seconds to realize (or smell) what had actually taken place and ran to find me...poor kid! Bahaahahah oh dear it's still so funny! Stuntman was at first really traumatized by it but then he remember another friend's story of falling in and upon remembering that he lightened up and took the jokes with a grain of salt-which everyone there was really nice and did not pick on him too much (but the adults did have a good laugh in private while reflecting over how it all took place). The only down side to this story is that I don't know if we can salvage anything he was wearing=/ and his shoes were pretty new, ugh.

Well isn't that funny! Have a great week all, I have to go prepare...does anyone have any tips for living solely off the land?

Latte

The History of Halloween

2008-10-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

The History of Halloween

We know Halloween as a time when children dress up in scary masks and costumes, prowling the streets at night in search of candy and excitement. It is the only day of the year when we give food to strangers and display carved vegetables on our front porches. We await knocks at the door from batmen and ballerinas, goblins, and ghosts. But how did Halloween get started? Where did all of the dressing up come from, and whose idea was it to reward each masquerader with a treat?

Halloween’s origins date back to the Celts when at that time used to celebrate darkness and death. They called it Samhain. It marked the end of harvest season and the beginning of the cold winter.

It was also believed that on this night the Lord of Death released the souls of the dead back to earth and the witches and ghosts ruled. They built fires to frighten witches away and wore dead animal skins so the ghosts would not that they were mortal. Food and lanterns were sat out to appease ghosts and dead souls.

In the year 46 the Romans conquered the Celts but adopted the fall celebration. When they adopted it they called it “All Hallows Eve” hence the name Halloween. Despite the churches attempt to sway the people to the contrary, tradition and myth prevailed; people kept to their beliefs in the wandering of the dead on this evening. Groups of villagers on this evening wore masks and costumes going from house to house begging for food for a community feast: those who gave generously were promised a prosperous year, those who gave little were threatened and cursed. Although it has changed over the centuries, Halloween continues to have roots in the traditions of the Celtic celebration of the dead.

Most people and children, who participate with modern Halloween festivities, usually do so innocently, without any intention of associating themselves with the occult and the powers of darkness. It creates a “tongue-in-cheek” attitude that forces of evil are not to be taken seriously. That devils, witches, and goblins are considered merely make-believe, plastic masks, with child-like impotence. It also tends to promote an acceptance and friendliness toward dark traditions and occult beliefs; that Satan is not really so bad, witches are really not evil, demons are not really dangerous.

God said in the bible that He forbids every kind of spiritualistic magic (Deut. 18:9-14). God has declared quite specifically that all those who indulge in sorcery are cut off from God (Mic.5:12) and we are given numerous examples of those who forsook God and turn to witchcraft such as Saul, Jezebel and Manassah (1 Sam. 28:7; 2 Ki.9:22; 2 Chron.33:1-2,6). Paul calls sorcery and those who practice it, to be “of the devil” (Acts 13:6-11), and that such will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21) but remain outside it (Rev.18:23)

The Scriptures allow for no compromise. Certainly no good can come of observing Halloween for even in its most innocuous form it still teaches trickery and to children who are impressionable. Paul said to Elymas: “O full of all subtilty and mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10) Elymas tried to convert a believing Consul away from the true Christ. Believers in Druidism, witchcrafts and all occultic arts would all do the same given the chance?

Very early on in the Bible God said: “When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations” (Deut. 18:9). That commandment was not given to us to be compromised by saying that this or that heathen practice is harmless. Sin always begins with this form of rationalization: first you sympathize with sin and then you end up fully embracing it.

The bible reminds those who want to compromise with the world: “For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? (Luke 9:25) Halloween in all its forms—whether children playing tricks on people or teenagers and adults delving into witchcraft, which is the heart of Halloween—is completely and utterly WRONG. It stands opposed to a fundamental tenet of the Christian faith, which should be an important yardstick in determining the way we should live, which says:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things: (Phil. 4:8)

When measured against these inspired words, Halloween fails on every count.

Latte

Typos and Laziness!

2008-10-06T14:47:00.000-07:00

Is it really lazy of me to not want to fix my typos on my blog? I type it out, spend what seems like hours mulling it over for typos, and then publish it only to see 10 or so typos after I have published it. I usually go back and correct a few from to time but for the most part I just think ahhhhh. I just don't care, I know that too needs two oo's I notice the mistakes I just don't wanna fix them! Such laziness huh?

Latte

Are you sure you want to vote O'bama? Really?

2008-10-05T10:56:00.000-07:00

First let me start with saying I think that everyone will want to take this test even if your republican, if anything for the pure understanding of what O'bama thinks our country needs. I also think this test will be good to show the un-decider's what he really feels. You might vote McCain-Palin after you take this test. I urge others to add the link above to there blog to! Let's help America see what O'bama's really about!

I was on a KONOS e-group and was given this test to see how I felt about O'Bama's plan shall he become president. I was SOOOO curious how I really felt across the board on his plan, because the few bigs ones I know of I knew I disagreed on...but what about the others? There are 48 questions and I disagreed with O'Bama on 45 of them!! Actually I disagreed with him on 47 of the 48 but I one question had too many variables for me to understand it either way, and I hit the wrong button on another question. My husband took the test and disagreed with his plan 100%! The one question I agreed with O'Bama on I am going to have to research more because the question was too vague for me to know fully what O'Bama's plan will really result in. I won't tell you which one I agree with him on, on here except to say if you take the test it was #1 on defense. So there ya go. I can't wait to see how others do, so don't forget to come back and tell me!

Latte

Missionary work in your backyard

2008-10-02T06:06:00.000-07:00

^{After reading this post, I got to really really thinking. I have always had the mindset that Church's should step up and serve the poor}, ^{and barked and balked when they did not-and I don't even go to a formal church. I have always thought my husband should be the first to step up he is the man of the house so he needs to be the one to reach out. Yet the bible shows that the women should be the servant (proverbs 31:20) and many many times over we expect only the leaders to serve? How did our country get this way? How did I , because I have a servants heart yet I don't serve unless I am being served. My husband has made the statement more than once "I wish you were as nice to me as you are to your best friend." I serve that friend like she's gold cuz she serves me! So I only serve when I am given service! Stupid because that circle of service with my friend, would probably be obtained with everyone I met if I would just step up and serve-without expectations!

So many times in the last few weeks God has really been showing me little things that I do that are super selfish. I don't mean the big in your face stuff, I mean the little bitty things. For example when I read the post above I realized I expected church's and my government to feed the poor, yet what do I do? I could not sleep over it. When I think of serving the poor I usually get pretty upset at them because I know in many cases their being poor is a product of their own cause. But just think if I happily served anyways instead of judging, how many people might turn their lives over to the Lord from my service. The Lord will take care of the poor that take advantage of my good deeds and I should not try so hard to protect myself from that happening. I am sure the Lord would tell me if I am should not be doing certain things for certain people.

I know so many mom's say-myself included "but I have to raise my children and the best thing for me to do is to not get to involved outside the home so that I can train my children the way they should go." Yet time and time again I see missionaries who have about 10 or so kids, serving the Lord, their family and the community every day and the kids are far more in love with the Lord than my children are. They don't just preach it to their kids they live it with them. And the mom (because she is not selfish with her time) still has plenty of time to train up her children...more than anything, by her actions of service!

I really think the Lord is pressing on me have more of a servants heart. I am the kind of person who wants to be everything to everyone (not going against my convictions, but it's always been who I am) however I have a hard time doing what I love, serving.

I have started this journey and I wanted to share it with all of you. I will not share what I have been doing because I do not want to sound like I am bragging I just want to show others that it can be done and actually it's not near as hard work to serve others as you would think. The reward is worth the suffering. Like with child birth you do it to gain the joy of a child, the same is with serving, you do the service not to gain a thank you but to gain the knowledge that you did a good deed for the Lord.

What things do you do to serve your husband, or your children, or the needy, or the elderly widow's? I don't mean for you to tell me on here, I mean just take a moment and think about it.

Some service that I have seen from other mom's in the past few weeks that have touched me:

A mother does not 'workout' because she gains enough of a workout chasing her babies...when I told her my kids are calm and play well on their own she said mine do to but I play with them instead of letting them play on their own. Boy oh boy that was a wake up call. Here I was thinking I was a good mom to let my child join me when they asked ,but if they don't ask I take it as a good oportunity to do something for me!

A mother took her kids to the park and picked up walnuts while they played so she could earn a few extra dollars. How many of us find the closest bench?

A mother told me the other day, she does most everything around the house without much complaining cuz it's her job. She even does her children's jobs from time to time so they can play with their dad. I never do this. I always expect my family to do their job's ALL of the time. I always say "I do my job you have to do yours." or "I am not your slave" Not serving very well is it! I do expect them to do their jobs but if they have had a long day a few minutes playing with dad is not a bad thing. And how much more will they grow up and call you blessed by giving them that time with their dad, and how much more will your husband do so also!

I would love to know what you think about this.

Latte}

That's IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-10-01T14:26:00.000-07:00

Editors note: This is a post on my rantings so please understand I am normally a nice sweet meek person (my husband says I am too nice) however I had to get this out of my system and this seemed like the most sane place to be insane!-lol Wana join me?-consider yourself warned!

Okay I have had it, I am blowing my top!!!!! I am so so tired of people (no offense to the people I am about to mention...but hold on tight=) who don't say how they feel when they have been asked!!!!! What they believe, and why they believe it. I am one of those people that if you meet me you would know I am really nice, but BUT I am super passionate. I never push my convictions on others but if they ask, I tell them (reading my blog is asking=) So why is it over and over people won't stand for how they feel-especially in politics? Why why why do you beat around the bush? I am not saying go and preach it, I am saying it's okay to say it.-Learn to take some heat, not be liked...it's not as bad as you think because your standing for what you know is right.

Well I am going to list a few things on here how I feel, sort of a tag, sort of not! I am saying this is how I feel, how do you feel on these issues...or other issues that bother you? You can reply here or you can post your own-just link it back here if ya do your own post=)

I am not doing this to start trouble I am doing this to show everyone that I stand up for how I feel. Just think about the most noble men and women who stood up for how they feel-my favorite is Jesus, Paul and if you want to go non-ish biblical I love William Wilberforce! So will you stand up when it's needed? It is probably not needed here, but when it is....what will you do?

1. I am against gay marriage (why can't Palin say that!!!)
2. I am against abortion
3. I do not watch Oprah-that women thinks every religion is correct-um no there not
4. I do not eat at McDonald's-can't they support gay rights with cash!
5. I don't celebrate Halloween-it's pagan
6. I will not give my children the shots-I have proof they cause Autism
7. I don't think dating is biblical-I don't have proof yet but I know I am right-I will get proof
8. what this lady said in this post is how I feel about politics!

I think that is enough for now, please be nice when replying.

Latte-am I in trouble or what?

My Son in Cyber Space!

2008-10-01T09:51:00.001-07:00

Hey real quick I just wanted to let you guys know my son has started his own blog. So if you have boys that blog send them here!

Bloggin's catchy, huh...and...um super addicting! Not for me, but for others...I bet it is,bahahahahaha !

Latte

Golf, beds, and tot heads, but not in that order=)

2008-09-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

Okay I know it seems crazy to have two posts in one day but I have a lot I want to get out today so the rest of my week can be dedicatied to otherly important things=)

First for our awesome adventures in tot school click on this link and see all the cool things I did with our 3 year old last week.

Second my very cute, very neat hubby made this nifty neat bed from scratch. No kit, no online bed making plans. He just looked at my son's bed and tried to duplicate it, isn't it brilliant!

And drum roll please, here are us Cannon's playing golf: all most all pictures are courtesy of our 3 year old as we all suck so bad that we did not have time to stop and take them ourselves or we would have been there all day instead of the absurd 5 hours it normally takes us;-) Speed golf, gotta love it! okay well here are pictures of us on our 3rd trip to play golf at the local golf course. Oh did I mention we suck, well more like I do! My big boy does pretty well for 11 and not played much golf, and my husband, while he is not nor will he ever be Tiger he's fairly good. If I were him I would not bring me...but he seems to like to bring us. He even got us all clubs! Well I don't keep score for me because it's hard to keep track after 9 strokes! But in 18 holes Stuntman got a 63 and the big cheese got a 47. Not bad for just having cancer-and the surgery and chemo that went with it less than 6 months ago plus gallbladder surgery a few weeks ago aye?

picture altered to protect the innocent fat

Stuntman taking a practice swing

my hubby always looking for someones lost balls, roflol!

me trying to show little thunder how to use the camera

Me actually hitting the ground with the club in anger!

Hubby taking a practice swing

Me really not liking how crappy I played, don't worry I got in a better mood after this! Hubby was good with tips=)

trying to swing at a little ball and make it go 300 yards in 3 strokes are less...(snort) yeah right! I do love hanging out with my family and I pray I get better because when that ball does go flying, it makes me realize why guys love it so. I just think this sport is hard! You have to think about where your feet are, your arms, the club, the ball and then make those all come together to shoot a little ball with a little club across a giant field! I am not that talented folks!

Latte

Life with Cancer part 3...Treatment

2008-09-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

Heads up to those who read this and don't know us personally our walk through cancer is in the very recent past. My husband is now in remission I just write this to share with friends, family and anyone who feels they may grow closer to the Lord from this. I will not be going into the gruesome details, so rest assured it will be a clean reading.

okay this part of my husband's cancer is hard! I will not give all the details. I will just give an outline of what happened.

We went to a chemo class to learn about what kind of treatment my husband would get. He was told he would be getting 3 different meds and that the major side affects of all were hair loss. The other major side affect was sickness but the nurse said that it was not usually as hard on men. So we felt pretty good about that. His treatments were spread out over 4 months. They went something like this: he had 21 day treatments day 1-5 he got treatments every day, then he also got a treatment on day 9 and then again on 16 he got a break until day 21 then it started over 3 more times .

I went with him on his first treatment and while we both wished I could be there with him every day (they did not allow kids or a second person) we knew the kids could not be without us both that much. So we decided the best plan would be for the kids and I to drive him to his treatments, stay with a friend and do school with the kids and then when he was done go home. This friend was the wife of his work friend, and they were so cool to help us out! She had the most warm, home you could imagine! She was so sweet, and kind to allow us to stay there! This is her blog she is very inspirational! I pray we get to spend more time with them in the future!

Okay the treatment pretty much put my husband out of commission! That is pretty much all that needs to be said. He could barely work-and pretty much didn't-he was so blessed by a super nice boss! All of my husband's work friends were just the bomb!! All he could do was sleep on the couch. I never felt so bad for him in my life! It was hard to see such a tough man so crushed. Nuff said!

He did lose his hair around the second week. We decided that because we had a 3 year old the best thing to do was let him see daddy shaving his head so it would not shock him...that did not go as well as I had thought it would. While it was probably a good thing he saw daddy shave his head, he was still totally freaked about it and did not really want anything to do with his daddy for about 3 days. finally he warmed up and eventually did not mind at all. He knew daddy was sick and he knew his hair would grow back. He actually did well while his daddy was sick and pretty much left him alone on the couch. I think he took it really well.

For me his treatments to rid his body of cancer was my time to try and rid my self of many issues I had. And while I have not accomplished that to date, I am ever grateful to have had the time to reflect on many things and draw closer to the Lord instead of resenting Him for this tragedy. Before my husband's cancer I really felt I had lost touch with God. I let my sin's divide me from Him instead of leaning on him more! It is hard to turn to someone when your ashamed of your sins!

It was also a time for us to listen to the Lord and see what he wanted us to gain from this. For me it was #1 to lean on Him more and #2 to learn to not only be an example to my children at home but to get out more and fellowship with others so they can see the Lord in our family. It is SOOOO easy to hide in your home and do nothing with your life! You can say oh well I mentor my children and that is a great thing, but in that mentorship teaching the kids to feed and shelter children, to help the widowed etc. can not only be taught but should be seen being done by you. I felt that and so I am breaking out of my shell more. It is a slow process for me but I am making the changes. My husband said that he thinks the Lord was showing him that he should not be working so much. And even though it is nice to get the house paid off early it was not an important thing. I will cover more of that in part 4 along with how it has helped my children grow in the Lord.

Well that is about all I have to say about his treatment. My husband is my hero for going though such an ordeal!

Next is part 4 rehabilitation and life after cancer...my favorite part of the story. I am actually looking forward to telling this part because cancer, and chemo have changed my husband! It has changed us all and I will go though each of us and tell of the changes. This ordeal has a light at the end of the tunnel and it never looked so sweet. Our Lord is the most awesomeist ever. I can not wait to be with Him...hence the 'missing you' logo at the top of my blog. While I love my life and I want to live a full one, I can only imagine!

I pray this has brought you closer to the Lord.

Latte

The Artist/Dreamer

2008-09-24T09:15:00.000-07:00

Okay I took this test and did this tag because this c ool blogger had posted she had done it and I just can not step away from a test that might tell me who I am...like I don't already know=) Well I guess I am hoping it will tell me something about myself that I don't already know, and in a way this time it sort of did.

First 6 random things about me, well I have already done this, but I will do a simple version with 6 different things.

1. I am known around here as the square. I like things square...square cars, square plates, square tables, square glasses, etc. If it's square I usually like it

2. I'm a June Cleaver, Martha Stewart wanabe. Keep in mind I don't like Martha's Halloween worship though. I love that June is always put together and...clever (corny pun intended) With Martha she makes everything seem "a good thing" I swear I think that women could sell me poop!

3. I LOVE TO DEBATE! I hate that everyone does not...they think I am fighting, or arguing...It seriously irratates me how much people avoid debating.

4. My favorite bible verse is:

Matthew 22

37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38This is the first and great commandment.

39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

5. When I met my husband I thought he was a dork cuz he walked with his chin held real high. Who knew I was right, lol he's so cute though!

6. I am a dreamer more than a doer, I so hate that!

Your turn!

The test says I am an Artist/Creator!

Okay the first part says I march to the beat of a different drum, or better yet I hear that beat. Okay I will give you that. It says I tend to go with cool trends...with clothes yes with decor...NO WAY!!! I hate 'modern decor'! Yeah maybe a few pieces are cool and can go with my warm, and comfy decor but not that stiff clean lines crap! And I don't go with cool trends because they are cool, I usually don't realize it's cool, I just walk into a store and say holly molly that is cute! It's that simple. I can't help it if every new year the trendz hit my WOW spot. I am the kind of person though who will wear that trend years after it's over cuz I still like it. That and I never EVER spend more than a few bucks for name brand trends...usually at department stores, shirts $3-4, pants $7, shoes $5 for dressy $15 for name brand athletic. I buy them out of season on clearance and then wear them the next year. Most of the time department stores get rid of stuff before the season is over so I can wear it a few more times that season before I store it away.

The other part says I am private...um I don't agree, more like I like the closeness of everything. I don't let it all hang out but I don't hid much from those close to me.

I would have NEVER called myself artistic, and yet when I read it, it sounds like me...so I guess I am. I love building or working on my blog, I LOVE taking pictures, I love scrapbooking, I love decorating, so to say I am artistic, I should have known! I am just such a planner/organizer that it seems hard to say you are both...ya know?

About the ISFP

Expert Quotes & Links

"...first to hear the different drummer. Many eagerly plunge into new fashions, avant garde experiences, 'hip' trends--some even setting the trends. More in touch with the reality of their senses than their INFP counterparts, ISFPs live in the here and now. Their impulses yearn to be free, and are often loosed when others least expect it. The ISFP who continually represses these impulses feels 'dead inside'..."

- ISFP Profile (TypeLogic)

"...easily disturbed, fears drawing attention to self, prone to confusion, private..."

- Jung Type Descriptions (ISFP) (similarminds.com)

"...excel in the "fine arts," having not only a natural grace of movement, but also an innate sense what fits and what doesn't fit in artistic compositions..."

- The Portrait of the Composer Artisan (Keirsey)

"ISFPs live in the world of sensation possibilities. They are keenly in tune with the way things look, taste, sound, feel and smell. They have a strong aesthetic appreciation for art, and are likely to be artists in some form, because they are unusually gifted at creating and composing things which will strongly affect the senses."

- Portrait of an ISFP (The Personality Page)

"At work, ISFPs contribute by attending to the practical facts relating to the needs of people and all living things in their environments. They can infuse a particular knod of joy into cooperative nature. Because they pay attention to the humanistic aspects of the organization, they act in ways that ensure others' well-being. People enjoy ISFPs because they bring understanding yet adaptability to the realities of their work."

- ISFP - The Aesthete (Lifexplore)

Tot school and big boy school

2008-09-22T12:06:00.000-07:00

Okay first tot school:

This is a great adventure to have with your tot and if you click on the elephant's above you can join us on that adventure. My blog on tot school is Wee-school Pre-school it is so much fun! Did I already say that?

Okay now homeschooling with my big boy. First step by step break down of his school and then how he did in Archery at the STATE competition! Super cool!

Okay here is the break down of our school:

Bible time: we will be starting that this week!

Reading: Everyday we have been reading this book called Boys of Grit! By far it is the coolest boy's book you will ever read. It's about real life boys that grow up in poor or bad circumstances that really prevail into a neat life. Some are people like them man who invented the submarine, the Morse code, became famous singers, bible scholars, entomologist, etc. They have 3 of them and right now and I own two. I was getting them from the library but I really thought my son needed them so we could read them over and over, and we do. If you have boys get these books! The publishers have many great books for boys and girls! We will be starting a new lamplighter book this week!

Spelling: Stuntman is flying through spelling. I don't know if I told everyone or not but he is reading at maybe a 3-5 grade level but spelling at a 1st grade level while in the 7th grade. So all of his words are 1st grade words. I do plan on adding higher grade level words but I am so happy with how well he is flying through 1st grade and enjoying it at this website that I have left well enough alone.

History: So far he has learned about Creation, Adam and Eve, Jubal and Tubal-Cain, and Noah and the Flood plus he did all of his activities. I love how this book teaches about bible history right alone side of the rest of world history. I took pictures then accidentally deleted them so I will have to get more of those next week. We finally started our time line but we left part of it at his grandparents so when I get that I will also get pictures. He is ahead in this subject, always makes a mama happy to be ahead!

Science: We are doing Apologia and this is the first curriculum I have gotten without really looking at it and mulling it over in my head for months. It is so cool!!! It first covered the history of science then my son got to do his first experiment, with water, oil, corn syrup, a cork, grape and a rock. Betcha can't figure out what he did, yep density. Then I think it's followed by a test...not sure yet. I love scripturally based school work! I really like that we got the CD, it's the teacher. Which I don't usually like anyone else to be the teacher but sometimes it's nice for me to have a break!

Math: Same old same old Stuntman is good at math and it seems easy for him. I am going to have my husband check his work but so far it should be right because it's a repeat from last year. I think with future kids I am going to use Math-U-See, I just don't care for Saxon!

KONOS: This class is really fun for us! We get to build stuff, or look stuff up, or write stuff, or listen to stuff. The first week we worked on sound, he built an ear, learned the parts of the ear, and did experiments with sounds. He continuted this last week as well. The scriptures given talk about listening, the experiments pertain to listening, etc. Today we got a timer -ya know the one that goes tick tick and hid it so that we had to really listen to find it. It's just super easy. I don't follow any big schedule on this I just give him the lessons I have the supplies to and he does them...nice and simple! This book is a keeper! Great for scripture learning!

Private bible time and writing to the Lord: we will start that this week as well.

Okay this year in 4-H Stuntman will be doing so much, he has archery, wildlife, beef, photography, gardening, geospatial, entomology, rabbits, just to name a few. We really enjoy archery. I plan on taking a class to get certified for an extreme survival class and taking the kids into the middle of nowhere and trying to find our way back! So cool!

Okay the best part how well Stuntman did at State! We had to drive to Columbia Mo about 3 hours away. Wow long trip! We had to be there a 9:30 well actually an hour early. So here are the pictures

Us waiting for our time...so glad they made us come early!Finally Stuntman's turn!~

Can you see that, I got a pic of the arrow in the air...you don't know how long I have been trying to do that! Very cool pic huh? Oh and if you can't see the arrow it's the orange thing in the tree line.Okay so how he did. First let me explain the scoring. Stuntman gets to shoot 5 arrows each round. And each round he can get up to 25 points. The x in the middle is a tie breaker. He gets 12 rounds plus 2 practices, for a total of 300 points. His score was........drum roll please 224!!!!!!!!!!! He was hoping to get over 200 so he was very please with 224! At a regional competition (his first competition) his score was 187 and we all thought that was pretty darn cool for his first year at archery. Then at State in his first year of archery he gets a 224! We Could not be prouder of him! Sad part is he is a natural. So if he really tried he could easily get a 300!!!! Boy you should see some of those kids out there. The arrows are all dead center; even some girls were pretty cool. It was fun for us to all watch them! Here is Stuntman with his best round...it happened to be his last round. He got a 24! I don't know if you can see it but all are in the center but one and it was just a little to the right. He plans on going Deer hunting this week and I don't think he should have too much trouble getting a deer with a bow instead of a gun!

I pray this was enjoyable to read even though it was long. Don't forget to go over and see all that Little Thunder did this week.

Latte

2008-09-16T06:54:00.000-07:00

Okay before I start telling why we vote for the party we vote for let me say this. The reason I bring these debates up is because I want everyone to be exposed to the glory of God. Now your thinking how on earth can debating about political parties show anyone God's glory, well because I want this debate or information to be something you take to God, you search in scripture, and you pray about with the Lord. If you want to say God is leading you to follow a certain political party you better have proof and the best way to get that is #1 pray, #2 know what the party you support stands for(you can NOT do this by only watching the news or trusting them!!!!!!!!!!!) #3 teach others of this so they may know the truth. So please join me on this healthy fun, exciting debate...we all could stand to walk a little closer to the Lord huh?

Okay the hard part. We will as long as we live in America vote Republican. Here is why; when I cast my vote for a certain person I am saying that person pretty much represents our family (for the most part) and when I look at the track record of Republicans and Democrats I do not see our family in a Democrat. Because when person says they are Democrat they say they are for abortion, they are for gay rights, they are for big government, most are anti-gun, anti death penalty, and for government having their hand in everything including our schools, the raising of our children, and a huge weak moral system. Most people that vote Democrat usually say that Democrats are for the little guy...not true! First off how can you feel good about choosing a person based on your wallet instead of your ethics? I will never EVER say hey that guy will make me money even though I don’t value anything else he stands for I will still vote with him. Never pick a party on how much money he will give to the little guy…that’s just absurd! They walk the walk and talk the talk but if you look at their views on helping the little guy IT SO HURTS HIM!!! Take for example O'Bama’s plan to put taxes on gas, and the rich. Sounds great huh, but when you think about it...we poor people buy gas!!!!! We poor people work for the rich so you tell me will we feel the effects of this choice I GARONTEE IT!!! No rich company is going to take the brunt of the higher taxes without passing it on the the little guy!!!!!!!! Now don't get me wrong McCain's choice in fixing the problem with helping the poor ain't so good either...but it's a better choice than O'bama!

Now let’s talk Palin, I know most of you think a woman should not be in charge of a country, and for the most part I totally agree with you because scripture says so, and yet scripture also shows a few women who were voted into offices by Jewish men...look it up. I love how conservative she is, but hate that she is so NEA and that she does not have her children 'in order' While I realize that having ‘nothing but perfect’ children is ludicrous I also think if you can't run your home...you shouldn't want to run the country! Having said that if she were a guy, and her daughter wasn’t pregnant out of wedlock I would think she would make a fine choice!!!!

So while if we had it our way we would be voting for Ron Paul...I realize a vote for Ron Paul is a vote for O’bama. So this year our family with be voting McCain unless God directs us otherwise.

So let the debates begin! If you have some truth to add, or want to show me scripturally, and ethically I am right or wrong by all means go ahead. Have facts, and the Lord guide you!

Latte and Family

How I keep from losing my job!

2008-09-10T09:15:00.000-07:00

Well we all know that a house wife is a full time job and add homeschool to the mix and your just bogged down with stuff to do. I know most 'out of the house' working people probably don't see it that way but we homeschool mom's know we never stop working. Between the chores THAT NEVER END BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE HOME ALL DAY the errands we must run because WE ARE AT HOME ALL DAY SO WE MUST HAVE PLENTY OF TIME the homeschooling we do which I know my list says it takes 4 hours but really...it takes more than that, their is the missing assignment, the baby interrupting, my grading, filing, making the next day’s schedule I bet it's more like 6 hours a day when all is said and done! Then there is also the normal day to day stuff like dinner, laundry, dishes, etc. It's a full time job!

So in this full time job you can get so lost without a schedule right? I have been doing one that I like and I posted it earlier but how do I stay on task, how do I not lose the schedule, etc. I am going to explain what so far has worked for me.

First I think of the schedule as a must. Yet I don't want a minute by minute guide to my day so I can do stuff like this (posting) with my morning instead of working out. I also make my schedule give us plenty-beyond plenty of room. (I scheduled 2 hours for chores when they actually take 1 hour) so we never get off schedule because the boys were playing, they broke something, or because someone called, etc. Most of the school time is actual school time so I have learned that if an interruption happens then we can eat into other time, like the way over scheduled lunch hour or the 2 hours of free time after school. I made sure to cover my ground. I also gave myself time in the morning for errands (8-10) and in the afternoon (3-5) if need be. If I know that I have something to do out of the house, I try to do those chores either really fast, the night before, or skip what I don't have to do.

Also about how I keep the schedule, if you read my old post you know my schedule system. Well I changed it up just a bit. First I no longer keep my white board next to the computer, instead I keep it on the frig. and instead of one big white board I purchased two smaller magnetic ones. One has an erasable calendar which I write all that is going on for the month and each person has their own color on the white board. So if Stuntman has something going on all his projects for the month are written in green, and so on. This is really neat to have. The other white board has my daily list of "to do" for the day. This white board includes all non-scheduled items like errands or extra cleaning that needs to be done. I also have the grocery list and the dinner for that day on there. I just erase the dinner from last night and right the new dinner. This also helps me to not forget to pull something out for dinner because when I grab breakfast out of the frig, the word dinner is staring me in the face. The grocery list on the frig is so cool because the markers are right there and as I run out of something I am not looking for a pen.

Okay now to keep track of my schedule. Well I use to have it taped to the white board but there is no room on my frig for that so I tacked the schedule on the wall next to the frig and pantry. This way I still see if first thing in the morning and throughout the day, it reminds me to stay on task. I think we all had it memorized after day 3 so it's not too hard to do. I like easy stuff!

Well I hope that helps other moms out there. I got my white boards for I think about 5-6 dollars each at Wal-Mart and they came with magnets and 1 black marker. I think I got my colored markers from Wal-Mart with magnets on them and stuck them on the frig as well.

you can see at the bottom of the calendar I do have a small version of our schedule. It does not have the detail list of our chores or school but it has the time of when we are suppose to be doing curtain things.

I pray this helps you as much as it has helped me. Now if someone can tell me how to keep my desk uncluttered that would be great!

Latte

2008-09-08T05:50:00.000-07:00

Okay this school year is so far so good, but super crazy busy! The main reason it's so busy right now is my dear sweet husband decided to take me on a small vacation to "Aa de La Hospital" for 3 days and 3 nights. We did not get the private suite though, but we did have cable! Can you say FOOD NETWORK? And get this my husband did not eat almost the whole time we were there. I don’t know how someone can watch cooking shows all day and not eat! It seems he needed some stones removed from his gal-bladder (and the bladder itself) and the extra stay was because his pancreas was going kuku from it. So when I got home I was husband, wife, mom, and teacher!!!!!! Bet you did not know I could be all that did ya?

Well school last week went smooth aside from my having to hold the fort down. We did most everything on time and completed all the work. The only thing I need to do is look at his math to make sure he is ‘getting’ the work he is doing. I got into a stump last year where I hated grading math because there were SO MANY PROBLEMS! So I told Stuntman this year that if he got them most of his problems right he could cut back on how many he did...do you really need to do about 40 or more problems every day? and most being repetitive? Okay I now what your thinking so I will help you feel better, my house is super trashed! And not the normal everyday trashed, more like almost gross trashed! So I might have got school covered, but the rest is just a joke!

I forgot to add on my last blog about our school year that we homeschool year round...kinda have to because I ~~will~~ can not be tide down to this house 7 hours a day for 180 days (NOT INCLUDING WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS) I really don't have the stomach for that venture. I like saying on a Tuesday..."guess what today is a holiday" for no reason what so ever! Homeschooling year round also gives us EVERY Friday off for a 3 day weekend, long holidays so when my husband gets 11 days off for Christmas (that's right ladies, don't be jealous that I get my man for 11 or more days in December-though ~~I SO~~ my husband would like it in June so he could get more of his 'Hunny Do' list done) So year round schooling works out great this way. And because we homeschool year round we are able to do school 4 days 4 hours each day, isn't that super easy for all involved? And because our state law requires 1000 hours this alone gives us around 800. The rest he gets from 4-H, Field Trips, Life Lessons, Community Service, Bible Study, Educational shows and very little weekend homework.

I have a lot more I would like to post but there just is not enough time in the day, so for now....I will leave you with a teaser! I plan to post in the up coming weeks on 'Life with Cancer part 3'-if you have not read part 1 and part 2 now would be a good time. I also plan to post about why we vote republican-and our take on the parties running and their issues, about my homeschool favorites-I have many great ones I can't wait to share!, and many many more, I just can't remember them right now.

Latte

Our School Schedule and Bookieness

2008-08-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

Okay here is our daily Schedule to start September 1st M-Th:

11 year old Stuntman:
6-8am Chores/Eat
8-9:45am Yard Work or Guitar Lessons
9:45-10am Snack
10-10:30am Reading or Language Arts
10:30-11am Spelling AVKO and Spell City.com(test every Monday)
11-12pm History- The Mystery of History
12-12:30pm Lunch
12:30-3pm KONOS and Math
3-5pm Free Time
5-6pm Dinner
6-7pm Family Time or 4-H
7-8pm Chores/Bedtime prep
8-9pm Free Time
9pm Bed Time

3 year old Little Thunder:
6-8am Chores/Eat/Cuddle time
8-9:45am Yard time/mom time
9:45-10am Snack
10-12am School more School or Play time
12-12:30pm Lunch
12:30-3ish Nap Time
3-5pm Play Time/Help Mommy Cook
5-6pm Dinner
6-7pm Family Time
7-8pm Chores/Bath/Bed prep
8-8:30pm Bed time

Age something something Latte Mom:
6-8am Chores/Prep Dinner/Cook
8-9am Yard Work
9-10am Little Thunder Time/Snack Prep
10-10:30am Reading time with boys
10:30-11am Spelling
11-12pm History
12-12:30pm Lunch /Lay Little Thunder down
12:30-3pm Teach Stuntman from KONOS
3-5pm Cook Dinner
5-6pm Dinner or Work
6-7pm Family Time or Work
7-8pm Chores/Ty bath time/Get boys ready for bed
8-8:30pm Little Thunder time/Story Time
8:30-9pm Stuntman Time
8:30-9pm Me Time/Hubby Time/Bed prep
9:30pm Bed Time

Age something something Thunder:
5:15-5:40am Chores
5:40-6:30am Drive To Work
6:30-4pm Work
4-5pm Drive Home/Get Groceries When Needed
5-6pm Dinner
6-7pm Family Time
7-8pm Rest
8-9:30pm Rest/Get Ready For Bed
9:30pm Bed Time

Click on any of the links above and below to see what products I am talking about.

Okay to give you the run down first I know our schedules look too full but trust me I gave plenty of room for most everything. It does not take 2 hours to do chores but it helps to have 2 hours cuz we are trying to wake up!~) Chores are usually stuff like, get dressed, make bed, clean room, walk/feed dogs, laundry and eat. For me morning chores include a small workout and shower...and hair and makeup. Little Thunder's morning chores only include getting his cloths out and eating and sometimes helping me.

On day's it's raining or too cold Stuntman will do his guitar lessons, I figure about 2-3 times a week.

KONOS is a unit studies,classical style, and an all in one program that covers Bible, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Literature, and health and safety. KONOS also like the mystery of history covers all ages so while I am teaching Stuntman I can also teach Little Thunder. Very cool! What is also very cool is it's only one book and all other resources I need to get I can buy on Amazon, get from the library, or at supply stores as needed. It is 'mom hands on' a few hours a week, but I think I need to be in my kids work more. Besides most of his other work is pretty easy so doing this a few hours a day of KONOS is not so bad. I am really excited because this is Stuntman's kind of school...Like we will do stuff like make an otoscope or a royal costume, learn sign language, make a bird feeder, go to the zoo, etc. Also this book covers character traits like Attentiveness, Obedience, Orderliness, Trust, Patience, Stewardship, and Honor. This book seems like loads of fun for a boy huh! They have cool stuff for a girl too.

Friday's I work all day or shop so the boys get to either go shopping with me, with trips to the park and library or go to Grandma's house. They don't usually have to do school on this day.

Well that is all I can think of, I pray that you enjoyed reading this.

Latte

savings/diet/and such

2008-08-05T08:35:00.000-07:00

Lets start with the such...I love this ladies blog! Every time I read it I get a lovely laugh...I want to be as comical as she is, it's great therapy!!! I also wanted to let everyone know we will be starting school in September and I am getting excited again. We are so behind this year with my husband being sick but it does not bother me too much we have years to catch up.

Next savings...I went shopping again. Normally I do this on Friday's but this week we had to be out on Monday so I got some of it out of the way, it will give me more time on Friday to read blogs...tee he.

Okay first I love CVS, you buy certain items they give you coupons for anything on your next visit, you buy use your coupons + ad your Sunday coupons, and get their items on sale and the savings are huge!!!! Okay I will show ya!

Last week I went to CVS and paid 26.76 for these items but the store gave me 27.77 in coupons for my next visit. So this week I got:

Excedrin PM had a Sunday paper clipping (spc) coupon and paid 1.79
Crest Whitening toothpaste had spc and got it for .24 cents after 1.50 coupon for next visit
2 Crest Pro Health toothpaste had a spc and got it for .49 after 1.50 coupon for next visit
Oral B Advantage toothbrush had a spc and got it for FREE after 1.50 coupon for next visit
2 Bic whiteout had spc got it for .50ea
Dawn dish soap-lavendar and Jasmine YUM had spc got it for .38 cents
2 Sure Deodorant had spc got them for FREE
2 Covergirl makeup had spc got them for FREE
2 post cereals had spc got them for 1.65ea
Shick Razor kit 3.99 (this was a rain check item from last week)

My total would have been for all of the items (all were on sale) 36.17 But with my spc coupons the total came out to 20.03 then I used my store coupons from last week's purchases (all but a 9.99 one) and had 2.25 to pay in cash. But I got a 4.50 store coupon back and a 2 dollar store coupon back. So on my next visit I will still have 16.49 in store coupons.

This Grocery Game is fun!

At Walgreens my purchase were:
2 Dawn Dish soap (yummy lavendar again!) spc+store coupon (sc) paid .49ea
1Walgreen's ammonia 64 oz on sale (just needed some) 1 dollar
Paper mate 10 pens sc paid .09
Penway erasers 15pk sc paid .09
paper clips 100pk sc paid .19
wooden ruler sc paid .19
index cards 100pk sc paid .19
scrubbing bubbles cleaner 16oz sc+spc paid1.25
Glade candle 4 oz sc+spc FREE
XLVacuum Travel Bag (the ones that suck the air out of the bag of clothes) FREE after rebate
L Vacuum Travel Bag FREE after rebate

My total would have been: 32.39 But after coupons and rebates I will pay: $3.98!!!!!! Can you believe that!!!!!Hold on I want to do the math again to see if I got that right, yep I got it right!!!!! So everything I listed above for Walgreens came to $3.98!!! I am super stoked about that!

Hope you enjoy this game as much as I do!!! So to recap I got this:

and this:

for a total of $6.23!!!!!!!!!!!! Plus I have over $16 dollars left to spend at CVS!!!! Try doing that at the dollar store!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh oops that video my son got on sale for .99 cents.

Okay weight loss, I did not lose any weight, I did not diet very well and I did not exercise at all! So no update this week...sad. I will try harder this week on working out because I am trying to dieting and even though I am not that good it's better than I was and yet the weight is still not coming of so...

Latte

Deals Deals Deals

2008-08-02T08:22:00.001-07:00

Okay well I did some shopping yesterday using www.thegrocerygame.com and I had a blast!!! I really think I will like it more once I get use to doing it. I went to CVS, Walgreen’s, and Dillions.

Now before I tell you of my deals I want you to read all the way through because you may think oh well I don't buy that stuff, but with the grocery game I picked what I wanted/the best deals and you can too.

So at CVS the rules are a little different. You buy some items that are "free" but in a way they are not. First you buy the items that they say are free then you get coupons (good for anything at CVS) on your next visit. And if you play the grocery game and get good deals on the next visit you will really make your dollars stretch!

Okay my savings:

Kodak picture movie DVD (with music, moving pictures, + loads extra) cost 9.99 get 9.99 coupon
30pk Elmo Band-Aids cost .99 get 2.00 coupon
Revlon Lipstick 9.99 get 9.99 coupon
Children’s Advil 5.79 get 5.79 coupon

Now like I said these items sound high but next time I go I will have these coupons, grocery coupons and buy stuff I really need at huge savings. I will say that if I knew how cool that Kodak picture movie DVD was I would have paid full price. It was the bomb!!!

So to recap I purchased 4 large ticket items for 26.76 and on my next visit I will be able to spend 27.77 for free.

Walgreen’s was fun.

I got Sharpie pen buy 1 - 1.99 get 2 free
Gel Pen buy 1- 2.79 get 2 free
White Board .99 -came with magnets and pen
Paper Mate Markers .93 cents each
Hunts tomato sauce .67 cents for 3
16- 3 metal prong folders .26 cents
4pack 60 watt bulbs 1.99 FREE after rebate
BIO Organic shampoo 5.99 FREE after rebate
Pert Plus shampoo 3.79 FREE after rebate
Jane makeup powder $4.99 Free after rebate

All of this (without sales) would have cost me 70.29...I think with the sales it would have cost me 30.39. And after the rebates it will cost me 13.63! Cool huh!

Okay at Dillions :

Cantaloupe reg 3.49 I paid 1.74 each for 2
Sargento string cheese reg 5.35 I paid 2.50
Daisy Sour Cream reg 2.89 I paid $1.00
Kroger Apple Juice 64 oz reg 2.49 I paid $1.00
Welch's Juice 64 oz reg 4.25 I paid 1.50
Windex Glass cleaner reg 3.45 I got 2 for $1.00 each
Lysol all purpose cleaner 32oz reg 2.75 I paid .50cents
Lysol all purpose cleaner 40oz reg 3.15 I paid .50cents
Palmolive Dish Soap 20oz reg 2.29 I paid .87cents
Skinmate shave Gel 7oz reg 2.41 I paid .50 cents

Boy oh Boy is that not cool! Without the sales it would have cost me: 40ish with the sales it would have been 23.36 and with my coupons it was 12.85!!!! Plus get this, I am trying to be more 'green' and I brought my own bags and they give you a nickel for every bag of your own that you bring in! I brought in 2! That made me happy!

I will admit this took me a long time to do, but I bet with time I could get really good at this. I also made mistakes and did not get the right cheese the first time and not only had to take it back I also had to get them to understand they did not give me my extra discounts (buy 10 of certain items get $5 back) so I had to go back and get that! Luckily all the stores were together and I noticed the problems quickly! I also noticed Walgreen’s charged me buy 2 get one free when the ad says buy 1 get 2 free so next time I am over there I will have to get my money back on that. I should have caught that one sooner but the lady at the register was so nice and I got to talking and such and...well she got the best of me. I had a blast making my DVD and if I can I am going to put it on this blog.

Also I did all this running around with children and in the heat and it was still so much fun. We went to the park around 7am for an hour then shop, shop, shop then the library for an hour so that the kids could really enjoy the day too. Next time I pray the kids get more time because I will get better at this.

Love Latte

Deals At Michaels

2008-07-31T07:26:00.000-07:00

Okay well Michaels (www.michaels.com) is having dollar days this week. Sorry to tell you so late in the week but I usually do my shopping on Friday's so I was just getting around to looking at the ad. They have lots of stuff dirt cheap needed for school supplies or craft projects. They have stuff like:

15 foam paint brushes for $1
4 ribbon spools for $1
modeling clay for $1
Acrylic paint 2/$1
Crayola Art Supplies 3/$10

This is just a super small sample of what they have for sale in my area, go check it out!

Latte

McDonald's fund's Gay agendas

2008-07-30T09:33:00.000-07:00

Well I have to post this. We are boycotting McDonald's (probably should have stopped eating there years ago cuz the food is so bad for you) They have started to put money into Gay and Lesbian agendas. Now usually we don't concern ourselves too much with boycotting places because we know the agenda is something that a letter to the company would easily solve, like with the subway and homeschool issue a few months back. But the spokesperson for McDonald's has said that those that oppose same sex marriages are motivated by hate! Get that hate....they could not be more wrong!

Luke 19:¹⁰For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

And they are lost! Both the bible and nature are very clear that a man and a women are to be one!

And we can not support that McDonald's gave $20,000.00 to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. That means if we eat their my money goes to this agenda.

While we know my money probably unknowingly is spent on Gay agenda's, we will never willingly do so. Our family has made a stand on this...if you want to as well please go here and let them know you take a stand against homosexuality-especially when they force it on us!

Latte

Back To School Deals!!! Stock up now!!!

2008-07-29T04:46:00.000-07:00

Okay if ya want to get some pretty great deals on items for back to school visit THIS lady's website and get a list of places that are selling back to school items for FREE, .01 cent, .05 cents, and a dollar or 2-3 dollar stuff!!!! I got 24 - 70count collage rule spiral notebooks for $1.20 !!!! That is right .05 cents each!!!! I wrote down the list of items stuck it in my purse and when I am out near those stores I will be geton me some deals!!! So go check out her blog!

Latte

Tagged?

2008-07-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

6 thingez about me! That are weird...ha

Well I have been tagged. I did not really ever think I would get tagged...but I did. I am up for a good laugh are you? I will not invade other bloggers out there by tagging them (not that I am against tagging...just don't like to force my fun on others,lol) however if your my blog friends (look on the left sidebar) consider yourself tagged and follow the rules. That is what ya get for being my frindz!

Okay the rules are Link who tagged me: To see her blog go here She is a great gal that lives near me...and I owe money to for some blocks that I have yet to get...sorry I will get them soon if ya haven't already sold them, again sorry.

Here are the rules of the tag:
Here are the rules:
1) Link to the person who tagged me.
2) Mention the rules.
3) Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about myself.
4) Tag 6 other blogger´s by linking to them.
5) Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged.

Okay 6 Quirky Things about me!

1. I love to research things...If I could get paid to do it I would!
2. I think it's cool I can laugh like this:

I don't know why I like it, I have not shared that info with anyone except close friends and family...until now! I just think it's too funny!

3. I Love loving things my husband loves...even when I hated it before. I know some people think it's too dependant but I just get hooked by HIM. Like him quoting the Ace Ventura movie (mind you this was some years ago) he use to act out the scenes from that movie and I would be crying I was laughing so hard even though I did not like that movie before I could not wait until he started horsing around and quoting it again! I still love it when he starts doing that with other movies!!!! It's super dorky but so dang cute. I also get involved in HIS sports, HIS ways of thinking like with money, etc. And yet I can never remember his favorite dinners, to do his laundry, or to vacuum every other day!
4. I have a huge fear of lions!!! Almost more so than bad guys or spiders...That is very quirky!
5. I really do love the differences in everyone (aside from the gays and bad guys and such) I love when people are hippy like, or frilly like, or silly like! I love each person’s differences and truly embrace their differences when around them. Like when I am around my BFF Salted Girl I talk in a real girlie talk, and when I am around my family my southern accent come shining through. Or when I am with REAL folks (that means people who let it all hang out instead of only showing their good side) I adore watching them and learning to be a little like them each day. I don’t mind when people are not like me…but I am always shocked when they are not. For some reason I walk around thinking if I like it surly others will, stupid I know!
6. I wish bible studies lasted hours and hours. I actually hate when they end!!!! Truly if I had it my way we would have one every day and once a week it would be pretty much all day!!!

Well there ya go. I don’t know if they are quirky or not but I don’t share this kind of stuff much and I know others don’t seem to see eye to eye with me about this stuff…I mean who would really admit they like to laugh like Janice!!!!!! I should call this post Dorky things about me!!!! LOL

Latte

2008-07-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

Weight Loss Week 2

Okay let me tell you...I was bad this week. I only did my work out 2 times!!!! I did not avoid sugar like I should have!!! I also did not drink enough water, though I did do well to add more water to my diet! Well I need to do a lot better this week!!! It is getting so close to my goal date of August 26th!!! Just so ya know I made a pack with myself before I turned 30 that I would lose this baby weight so I have until the 26th to make that deadline. So today I am starting my fast again. Only fruits and veggies most of the week with the protein at the end....I will probably add some small amounts of protein each day to curb the light headedness. I think fasting is so good for your body...I think God knew that, or better yet he made it that way on purpose! Well anywho!

My Goal weight : 125
My Start weight : 155
My 1st wk weight: 151

And this week...no drum roll please

My 2nd wk weight: 151.5

Okay so to recap I need to lose 26 more pounds in 4 1/2 weeks! That is about 6 pounds a week...boy oh boy it is sure going to be hard to reach my goal now...okay okay out with the latte's at least until the 27th! I want one on my birthday!!!!! So lets pray shall we cuz I'm super addicted to them!!!

My challenge this week:

No latte's (after I finish this one)
Water Water Water
Workout every day 2 miles in 30 minutes-broke into mini workouts
Cabbage Fast again with extra protein!
Do more stuff with the family that gets me movin!

I just need to remember this diet thing is only for a few short weeks and then I can go ahead and learn to eat normal healthy meals with super small treats.

Latte

Weight loss Challenge week 1

2008-07-21T08:40:00.001-07:00

Okay so last week I did the diet for 5 days and then I got fed up. Not at the diet but I lost 5 pounds on day 2 and then on the morning of day 6 I still had only lost the 5 pounds. I thought what the @@#$@!!! So I said no more. I also COULD not work out because the detox made me way to light headed! I am anemic and if I don't get my protein I go kuku!!!

This week my challenge is:
*Drink lots of water at least 8 glasses a day!
*Jog 2 miles every day - 2 - 15 minute tread mill jogs
*Go for bike rides and walks w/the family
*Eat smaller meals!
*Try...try to cut back to one Latte a day or maybe two small ones
*No sugar or carbs (man made carbs like breads and pastas) other than the one latte

Okay my weight goal is 125 last week I my weight was:

155

and this week.................drum roll..............................

151!! So I lost 4 pounds!!! I actually gained 1 pound back after going off my diet..But I am glad for a four pound weight loss in one week...lets see if I can keep going!

To recap:

Start: 155
week 1: 151

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement! It means a lot. I also pray this helps you! Now I am off to clean that playroom!!! That will be a work out!!!

Latte

Buying a new home? Please read this first

2008-07-20T09:26:00.001-07:00

Okay America now that things are getting bad with the house buying my husband and I are going to lay down some simple steps to not getting caught in the lies lenders give! We have always wanted to do this before things got bad we just never had a place to do it...now that we have this blog we can. We pray this helps you!

#1 Never ever trust a lender. They will tell you "with your income you can afford a $100,000.00 home" all the while they did not figure in your electric bill, car payment, water,food, etc. When we first bought our home they told us we could afford a $75,000.00 loan. My husband did the math and laughed he said "sure if I don't want to eat or have heat in my home"

Of course these lenders do consider these things however they leave NO ROOM for any extra money. Meaning no money for movie night, no emergency funds, etc. Do the math make sure you leave loads of room for extras! It's a must! A few years back we had our air conditioner go kuput and we had to shell our $4000.00 for a new one! Think if we had bought a $75,000.000 home we never would have had that in savings! And guess what because we bought a home at less than the lender said (and my husband got a few bonuses, raises, and higher positions) we had a small amount left in savings after that big purchase. sweet~

#2 take the smaller (lesser value) home to pay it off faster. Sure it stinks to not get the big home with the perfect kitchen but get this. My husband and I got a 2 bedroom 1.5 bath home and as we got more income we used it to add on. Now we have a 3 bedroom, 1 office, 2.5 bathroom, with a formal dining room, mudroom, and soon we will have an entry way, car port/garage new driveway and extras. And we have upgrades done and left to do. And all the while we have paid more than double the house payment towards the house payment. Meaning our house payment at the moment is $400ish and we pay an extra $500ish towards the principle. So in one year our house will be paid for 21 years early!!!!!!!! Plus the cars will be paid off then...so do ya see the $$ that we will have in one year. I think we will have well over $1600 to play with every month!!!!! Okay I am not trying to brag I really want you to see how nice it is to save for a few years to have no debt and a nice income each month. Now before you go and buy a smaller home do consider add on potential. Some places don't allow many things so check into it...and don't trust the first person who says oh sure they allow add ons only to find out after you bought it that the county you live in does not. Trust facts like a going to city hall our the county office and seeing there building codes.

#3 Understand your loan...and then really pray about it! Okay so many people get these wonderful "arm" loans. Where the interest fluctuates but the loan officer makes it sound like its never that much at one time. And yes one month it can only go up so much...but after a year or two of going up up up you start to feel the crunch! Don't fall for these, yes they have a nice sweet low interest to start off with but if you cant afford the current interest then your buying over your head! Always get the fixed interest its just so worth it in the long haul!

#4 Make sure you leave enough to save. I think they say to have at least 6 months worth of income in savings...is that right? Well I think you should! Even if it's divided up into savings, 401K, stocks, and other extra monies you would have should you lose your job or have an emergency. Of course the savings needs to have the bulk of this money. So before you buy that dream home spend a year or two in a small cheap apartment (or with the parents=) saving and saving! It's really worth it. Emergency's are not cheap! My husband got sick recently (as you may have read in older posts) and having little in savings sure did make things get tight around here. So be sure and save. We are lucky and can afford to shell out payments each month...but it's rare you can do this so save!

#5 Know your income and expenses. Add + all that you make subtract - all that you spend (everything includes movies, trips to Come and Go, that daily latte, groceries, bills, lotto tickets) plus subtract - all you invest in (savings, 401K, investments). The see what is left = is what is left enough to cover a house payment, taxes, and insurance with room for extra? The extra is what I like to call unforeseen expenses like a higher electric bill, or other expenses related to the purchase of a new home! My husband and I tell everyone take one month or two and keep all your receipts ALL OF THEM even the ones to get a slurpy! Then take your income and subtract those receipts and your bills. Then subtract investments and savings. This will give you an idea of what you will have left each month. A bit of advise on remembering to keep all of the receipts is where you keep your money/credit card/checks keep an old receipt there and when you go to grab the mulla you will see it then remember to add the new receipt to it. I usually don't have any trouble remembering this...I have trouble writing down debit card payments as I always think of them as credit card payments, duh! I probably need to wrap a note around that darn card!

#6 please give it all to the Lord. Really look to the Lord for how to best do everything. Make sure he approves any home you look buy. We did and we are so happy we did. God is such a blessing in our lives! Not because of the home (it's just a material thing of no value to the kingdom of God) but because of how we have grown in the Lord from this experience. Always remember that when doing anything...it really takes the pressure off!

Love, Latte

2008-07-17T07:20:00.000-07:00

We don't usually go to church because this kind of teaching is everywhere and where it's not there are usually some doctrine from back in the day that does not line up with scripture and you can't tell anyone different (using sound scripture) because that is what their mamma and dadda and preacher believed so it must be true even though they have no proof. Read scripture outside of any teaching...you'll see.

Latte

2008-07-15T05:56:00.000-07:00

Okay well I have tried a few ways to save some mulla to help off set the fuel costs and they worked! So I'ma gunna pass it on to you gals (and guys=)

Tip # 1 I take a piece of paper and at the top I write my grocery budget on it then below it I listed the places I shop. When I am writing my check that piece of paper is right there on top of my checks (and in front of the credit card) so I can write down the amount I spent right then. At a glance (if it's a good day and I can count lol) I know how much money I have left at the next store. I usually get essentials first and then if I have money left over I can get extras on the next shopping trip.

Tip # 2 Grill Out! Boy o' boy that stove sure heats up the house and then the air kicks on agh! So I try to not turn the stove on all summer! Of course I do from time to time but for the most part my gas, charcoal, and smoker work their booties off. Yum!

Tip # 3 Indoor line drying! I take my hangers put most of my wet clothes on them and dry them in the laundry room ala natural! I don't like the smell of the outdoor line drying soo I do it in the laundry room. To help the cloths smell good I add fabric softener to each load.

Tip # 4 Homemade laundry soap. I think I figured it up and it runs me 7 cents a load to make my own soap and it smells yummy! I buy homemade Lye soap (you can get some online or at local Amish stores) that costs around 3.25 a bar. I buy a box of Borax (laundry isle costs about $3ish) and washing soda (laundry isle of your grocery store-don't look for it at Wallie World -costs about $3ish) I melt the bar of soap in a sauce pan of water then add it to a 5 gallon bucket, put in 1 cup of borax and one cup of washing soda and fill with water to about 3-4 inches from the top. Makes 60 loads 3+3+3+1(for taxes and cents) so for $10.00 you can get 6-60 loads and when I did the math last time it came to around 7 cents.

Tip # 5 Turn the air down! Sad but true we keep our air at 75 all summer. In years past it was around 70-72 but not anymore.

Tip # 6 colder showers! I love to burn my skin when I get in the shower but now I go as cold as I can.

Tip # 7 Make it yourself! Okay if ya know me ya know I loveas me some latte's but at $5 a drink Star Bucks can look like a ripoff! So I bought me a latte machine (around $30) and make them at home for about .70 cents a cup...much better! Same goes for blizzards, breakfast burritos and anything else a fast food place can come up with that I love.

Well that is all, what about yall! My savings have totaled in the hundreds! That is sweet! Of course I am totally not perfect and I still splurge or go over budget but every bit helps aye?

Latte

2008-07-14T08:58:00.000-07:00

I am on a mission to lose a little weight before August 26th. I want to get down to my pre-pregnancy weight of 125! I know I like that weight, it's my healthy weight, and my dear husband liked that weight too =) So I am doing what This Lady did and posting my weight and goals each WEEK! I cant wait each week to see how well she did, heck it's just so much fun so then I though 'well how much more fun would it be to see how well I do each week!' Maybe that is an overstatement but I am up for the challenge.

Okay first my goals for this week:
30 minute workout each day - 2 - 15 minute 1 mile jogs
Cabbage soup detox...only I will be adding lattes =(

That is all, other than I want to be more willing to get up and chase my kids around instead of making them come to me.

Okay now my weight...well if you checked out the link above with what my fellow blog lady is doing you saw she posted a picture of her scale, okay okay so my scale is not as cool as hers but here is my pic and weight err....

So my current weight 155 and my goal is 125 so...I have 30 pounds to lose in 6 1/2 weeks! Thats 4.6 pounds that has to be lost each week! I pray that doing the detox the first week or two will help me lose more than that to start off with. Last time I did the detox I lost 12 pounds in 7 days, boy that sure would help.

Goal:125
Week 1: 155

Okay I am actually nervous to hit the add entry button to this post! I hate committing to anything anymore because I usually flake out due to the fact that it's so much weight! In years past it's always been about a 10 pound weight loss but now it's 30! I do pray I get in better shape! I also pray that my experience can help anyone else out there that suffers from being over weight/out of shape. And that it can help bring your body to an acceptable 'temple' weight, and or shape. So will you join me?

Latte

The Truth about Autism

2008-06-30T06:08:00.000-07:00

Okay I can't take it anymore! I am so tired about being nice when it comes to autism! First I would like to say I without a shadow of a doubt whole heartedly know for a fact that the shots cause autism!!!! I am not stupid you can not look at the proof of thousands of mothers who's kids get autism around the time of their child's shots and say it's not the shots! I will agree that maybe the mercury is not the full cause, maybe its the whole dang coctail of crap in the shots or a copulation of the cocktail and the mercury. If you think mercury is no longer in the shot your a fool! They tell you they are not in the shots but what they don't tell you is they first "wash" the cocktail with mercury several times, then "strain" the mercury out! Hold on let me rinse your food with bleach a few times then strain it out and you tell me if it still has bleach in it! Get some books on these mothers struggles, listen to a mother talk about autism (even if she thinks it's not related to shots) she will give you the same tell tell signs that other mothers give about this problem. Fight people! Stop trusting our Government!

Now you say well what about kids born autistic? I have thought about this long and hard and did you as the parent have your shots? Do you think that since these shots are so dangerous do you think a weak immune system could somehow be passed on to the child? My mother is allergic to ticks, now I am too...do you think if a mother gets these shots and who knows she may have problems that were not diagnosed as autism...then she has a child born with a weak immune system due to the shots she was given and now her child 'seems' autistic, then after her child gets his shots the child goes full blown autistic? What do you think! People we need to start getting real about this!

Think of it like this, you are the person giving out these shots to MILLIONS and MILLIONS of people. Then after a while this problem comes up called AUTISM. After some moms notice their child gets Autism right around the time their child got his shots and they say something. Then they (they being our trusty old government) do a little "private" research and hum they (they being parents) might be right...but we (we being the Government) can't fix millions and millions of problems in the world...the problem is just so big! So then parents start to fight, now the government know it has to fight back they can't admit it or the government will end up supporting everyone who sues due to this issue, and 1 out of 120 people...that is a large amount of $, so they can't admit this...and they can't stop it. Do you see them doing research on this! No they keep doing research only on the neurological side (which is the damage that is caused from the shot but is not why it happens!) and fully stay away from the shots and how the diet cures them. Why why are they not really looking at this...do you ever wonder why?

You know in my research I see websites over and over say "There is not 'link' between the MMR and autism" Okay get this Our government teaches in the schools that while there is no "link" to the Neanderthal man and humans they teach that these two men are one and the same! And do we believe that? Boy I hope not! Our government also allowed this study in as proof and the researcher said this "This study really supports the view these are safe vaccines," said David Brown, a researcher at Britain's Health Protection Agency who worked on the study. "The evidence is now so solid there really isn't a need for further studies here."

'Isn't a need for further studies here'...doesn't that send chills down your spine!!!!! One study and we should trust it and drop it! Bull $&*^! I want 10 thousand studies from many different independent groups (including a huge panel of mom's with autistic children) to say it's not shots and then I might start listening!

Stand up and fight, if your kid has autism get informed about mothers who have cured...that's right cured their children. People like Jenny McCarthy, Karyn Seroussi, and many other mothers. Did you know that Karyn's husband is a scientist and he did his own research? Do you have any idea what he found? You would be shocked!~ I know once autism is present some parents can not use the diet to cure their kid. I do understand it is not full proof and once the damage is done there may be no going back...but look into it. My SIL did and now she see's my side in this and she now realizes that what I said 4-5 years ago was true.

Look at the facts above! Look into the research...stop thinking because some doctor went to school for 8 years he knows what is best he is usually just regurgitating what he was told and so on. And who heads all this research up? Look into it...you would be surprised! Get out there and get informed! Then inform!

I use to think people like me were nuts! I use to think our government was the best thing since Jesus, until I read Karyn Serousii's book. I now look at everything with "open eyes" and I research every bit of information given to me. I research the doctor's side, I research the parent's side, and I research the naturalist's side. I never leave a rock unturned, or a place left unanswered!

Learn to trust God, learn to listen to Him and listen when He is screaming at you! When you go to take your child to get his shots...you feel it don't you, that pull that says "this is not right" but you ignore it because our culture says we "need" the shots, and maybe it is nice to have those shots but if I come at you (a grown adult) and say hey I have 36 viruses in this needle and I am going to give them to you so you won't get these viruses later in life...wouldn't you run the other way! I would! So why do we give this to a TWO year old!!!!!!! Seriously! If you do feel the need to give your child shots there are spaced out plans you can look into.

I do not apologize for being angery! Every time I see an Autistic child I just start to get mad! Mad at our culture #1 and mad at the lies we let ourselves believe! My SIL daughter has autism I know first hand what happens I also know her story is the same as thousands I have read about. She agree's with me (after talking to mom's who's kids have the same issues) and talking to the medical community. She knows now...when it's too late.

Listen to the Lord, He will guide you in this!
Latte

Here is a great link: Go Here To Learn More!

Going against the "homeschool" grain

2008-06-23T13:23:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I am about to post something that has been bothering me since I started homeschooling! I am going to talk about what other homeschool families refuse to talk about...I dare say it...schedules! For years I would ask people "so what kind of schedule do you have?" or I would say "hey I am looking for a schedule can you help me by telling me yours so I can get some ideas?" And I would get this (blink, blink) stare and this empathetic you poor girl don't you know we homeschoolers don't keep schedules that is what the public school does? For years I would think okay this is crazy...my husband has a schedule why wouldn't I as a wife try and work my day around his? So I would set up schedule after schedule and fail! Then I would think maybe they are right I don't need one, then my husband would come home and feel discouraged that I have to do chores or school while he is home and they were not done while he was doing his work, I knew a schedule was for us. So I implored homeschool moms once again, and again I was met by almost hostile moms. I would think just because the public school has a schedule does not make schedules bad (that also goes for desks! I have met mom's who wont own a desk-school style-because that is what the schools have...it's how it's used that is the problem not the desk, people) So when my husband got cancer I soon found out my lack of schedules came off in a big way as laziness...and in part it was but the big part was my life was a mess from lack of a schedule. So while my husband would rest from his treatments I would organize and I met a this mom who helped us out so much during this time by letting us use her home (her husband and mine are good friends at work) during my husbands treatments so we could homeschool. Well she had a white board with what she needed to do each day or in the near future. She had this great schedule that was neat to see in action. Yes her kid were public school kids so her day was a bit more free to be a lot more organized but she was one of those PTA kind of mom's who is into so much with her kids that it's like she school's. It was neat to meet her! I took her white board idea (which I have tried in the past and failed because I did not do like she did and put it where I would see it each day) and picked it up again. Only I added to it stuff like Dinner, grocery list, etc.

I now have a loose schedule that is hard to stick to (because of years without one) but when I do it, it works well for our family. It goes something like this:

5-8 workouts, chores, showers, school prep, bible time

8-10 garden and outdoor activities or errands like doctor’s visits, dentist’s appointments, etc.

10-12 school type activities (mostly reading or video watching since we are hot and tired from being outside)

12-1 lunch

1-3 school type activities/nap time for little ones (actual book work as it’s nice to do this while the little ones take a nap)

3-5 chores/ free time/prep dinner/small errands if needed

5-6 Dads’ home and dinner-sometime mom goes to work

6-8 play time including stuff like 4-H stuff bed prep time (including bath time, story time, bible time, T.V. time, and family meeting time)
8 kids in bed mom and dad get ready for bed-mom and dad time

9:30 mom and dad bed time

I was talking to a mom that will homeschool and we were discussing not hanging out with friends we have or making new ones cuz it's a lot of work and I mentioned to her my problem with getting close to homeschool mom's mostly stems from a few issues (I will save for another blog) and one is schedules. She told me that in her line of work she has had to work with homeschool moms in the past and when she told them that they had to get on a schedule to fix an issue they angrily refused saying they did not need a schedule of any kind. She told me homeschool families are the only ones that do it to her. She had no idea why and a light bulb went off when I told her I think they don't because they want to stay sooo far away from the government's way of schooling that they get rid of anything that resembles what the public school does. It was unfortunate because these families she talked to whose kids had issues…well there issues would probably resolve with a simple schedule!

We all know the public school has many bad problems and we all want our families to stay away from those evils, but having a schedule is not a bad thing. Not having one of course is not bad either but let families know that are looking for one that while you don't have one you know so and so does and give them their #. Tell them your reasons for not having one and if those reasons are the same as there's then they may do what you do...if not they may call so and so. Either way schedules are not bad things so please stop making mom’s think they are.

Latte Cannon

Life with Cancer...part 2

2008-06-23T07:37:00.000-07:00

Heads up to those who read this and don't know us personally our walk through cancer is in the very recent past. My husband is now in remission I just write this to share with friends, family and anyone who feels they may grow closer to the Lord from this.

Okay Sorry this took so long to post but it was hard to write the first one...it's still pretty fresh (like an open wound) I cried all through writing the last post. I just pray that someone walks closer to God through my sharing this.

Part 2 Diagnosis

Before we begin the Diagnosis part I really need to finish part one. I was just too wiped out to do it when I wrote part one. Okay here goes.

My friends The McAdams called...I think the next day. It was all I could do to not start balling at just hearing their voices! They told me (after I informed them I felt this was a punishment for something I did) that this was not something where I needed to look at ME but that this is our natural life and instead I needed to look at God. This is just our fleshly body and that my husband needed a "tune-up" They also told me to be prepared for those in the "church world" who will say "we will pray and God will heal you". At first I could not understand what they meant by this but I was glad to hear from them. I then felt I could call my family and to my surprise they all said 'not to worry we will pray and he will be healed' I know this is the norm in the church world, this constant "healing" upon prayer and I am not against healing at all...I think we just miss the point of why God gave the cancer to begin with it's not just to show God's power. I think for my husband and my self it was a major growth in a lot of areas towards God, our Children, and the love of God through friends and family. So when my family started making those comments the McAdams words rang in my head and I looked to God for the point in all of this...not so much for the healing. I knew if we searched for the answers (by looking at Him) we would either get that healing or understand Gods plan. I was so calm after that, it was amazing. I was sad to know that I was not going to pray feverishly for my husband's healing...that is really hard. But that God would show us what he wanted from all of this. So we prayed.

I want to take a moment and explain why we did not pray for a healing (not that we did not say hey God it would be nice if... but why we did what we did. Think of it like this. Lets say your child is playing at the park and another kid pushes him down. Now you have a choice, you can 1. go over to the kid and the mom who pushed your child and tell them like it is or 2. you can realize that your child is going to face these kinds of trials all of his life and explain to him that this is just a part of life. Now that child knows you love them, they know you will always be there for them (just like God) but he now understands that this is just our natural life. It will have ups and downs and we need to find the meaning of it all...never doubt that you will learn something from every trial in your life. If your read the bible there are some tragically sad stories of men who went to their death bed serving God and living a horrible life. I am sure they asked God to take them out of this situation, but do you think the bible would be what it is today if God had saved Jesus? Jesus died for us, just think of what we could do for others during our trials?

Okay on to part 2

My husband got his scans where it was determined that he had cancer and they needed to remove it. Little at this time was told to us about what it was, where it was or anything. They thought it was "Seminoma" but they were not sure. It seemed like not much time went by and we were at the hospital and he was getting it removed. It was SOOO hard for me to take him there. I am not against hospitals but I know the statistics of death by hospitals and it scared me more than the cancer! I sat in the waiting room drinking an ungodly amount of lattes, watching Home and Garden TV and cropping pictures for a scrapbook project I started (that did not get done in-part until Christmas and the rest until...well it's still not done come to think of it as of June 2008) My sister-in-law with her daughter and BIL came to visit with my while I waited, and while at first I was not happy with company (I do well alone) it was nice to have them there. The doctor came out about a million hours later and said Thor did well, but there was more than they thought so they needed to cut more and put in a stint where the cancer put pressure on his bladder area. They were suppose to let him go home that day (I know crazy huh) but they decided to keep him over night. My MIL and FIL along with our kids came up to see my husband who was doing just fine. He got loads of calls and visits from friends, it was a huge blessing to see how loved he was. Even a friend of mine came by with Cookies and trail mix! It was like they wrapped us in a warm blanket and God was the blanket! I stayed the night with my husband and we both got little sleep because I drank too many lattes and the TV was on. I also think it was just nice for us to bond.

During the days that lead up to the doctors visits I came to reality about cancer not being "completely curable" I now understood we can take measures to care for our temple but the best cure is praying for the things we can't protect ourselves against...like the environment, drunk drivers, etc. I had to lay that idea to rest and start working on my husband getting his "tune-up" as the McAdams called it.

My husband got his results (rather quickly) and a few days later we saw the doctor. This appointment was something I prepared for because while I came to terms with no cure all cancer I knew we were going to do what ever we could to make sure that we ate God's food-herbs, vits, etc. to help my husband along. I knew that some drugs and herbs may not go together so I went there with questions. Large parts of that interview is burned into my head. My husband and I were told he had seminoma cancer its a testicular cancer and that it has spread over and was putting pressure on his bladder...area and hence the pain. He had lymph nodes near the cancer site that were beyond large and they needed to do chemo to shrink them. This doctor had great bedside manners and had the white board and went step by step through the whole process. He even told us we probably wont remember most of this...and while at first I did remember over time it has left me. But large parts are burned into my head! I was told vits can interfere with chemo and so I gave them to him up to the day of chemo. He told us we had a 95% cure rate with this kind of cancer. I had two thoughts 1. ugh 5% seemed like a lot, and 2. how sad I felt about families who do not get that kind of %! I wanted to be thankful and at the same time I was so sad for so many others with cancer.

Well I got through that without crying! Well there ya go...I hope this is not too much info for all of you guys!

I pray that those who go through this can learn to come to terms with this, and can grow towards God and his plan when something like this happens...He is a great God even in the worst of times.

Latte

Latte's Musings

I miss you blog!

Isaiah 45:7 and I create evil

First Week of School cuz it's cool!

homeschool book deals & organization mess

READ INSTRUCTIONS FIRST!!!! I Warned you!

Our 2009/2010 School Year

Mother Warriors my voluminous book review

This is not a hate crime, it's a belief

Gay and Lesbian Month??????????????????????

THIS CHILD IS ON LOAN FROM THE LORD!

'places to see' -Always YOU!

The milestones of a 3 year old

Four day weekends should be mandatory!

"Screaming at the top of my lungs"

Hey, have you seen my brain? What God wants is...

I'm a terrorist?..are you nuts!!!!!!!!-This is just not funny!

A Change Is Coming

Home School 6 month update

getting the funk out of funky

My frugal addiction...I need help!

Get off that ladder and get back in the Cabinet NOW!

You want to put concrete where?....

My new frugal blog!!!!

My plan to be frugal and natural!

Shopping Trip Total! Not Good!

Recipe Iced Latte

Menu Plan Day

12yrs old going on....His walk with God?

Monday Shopping Trip

Menu Plan Monday...sort of!

New Years and Homeschoolingish News

How I plan to save on Christmas this year....Seriously

Parental Right WILL Be Taken Away!!!!!!!!

A Godly wife fights with Santa about Global Warming and Evolution

Notuh! I'm Right, YES I AM!!! Yes! Yes! I AM!

An American Tradition

Su-prise Suuu-prise Su-PRISE

Ain't we American's smart!!!!!!!!!!

Kids, Dogs, Thanks, Black Friday, Football-ly

A taggie about my man

Quote: "Homeschooler's are DEMENTED"

Do you hear that...

The People Have Decided...Moving On...

A Black Man's Vote

I'mm Baaack! Movies, Voting, and friends

Still Fasting but...I have to say this now

Fasting...many things to pray and focus on

Beyond Politics and My Friends Factual Views

Schooling,Preparing,Camping and Lagooning?

The History of Halloween

Typos and Laziness!

Are you sure you want to vote O'bama? Really?

Missionary work in your backyard

That's IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Son in Cyber Space!

Golf, beds, and tot heads, but not in that order=)

Life with Cancer part 3...Treatment

The Artist/Dreamer

Matthew 22

Tot school and big boy school

How I keep from losing my job!

Our School Schedule and Bookieness

savings/diet/and such

Deals Deals Deals

Deals At Michaels

McDonald's fund's Gay agendas

Luke 19:10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

And they are lost! Both the bible and nature are very clear that a man and a women are to be one!

And we can not support that McDonald's gave $20,000.00 to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. That means *if* we eat their my money goes to this agenda.

Back To School Deals!!! Stock up now!!!

Tagged?

Weight loss Challenge week 1

Buying a new home? Please read this first

The Truth about Autism

Going against the "homeschool" grain

Life with Cancer...part 2

Luke 19:¹⁰For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

And we can not support that McDonald's gave $20,000.00 to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. That means if we eat their my money goes to this agenda.