9/12/2009

Weekly Wrap Up


 


 


With the Lord:


I am enjoying our new family bible study : Understanding the Bible: Biblical Survey from Genesis to Revelation  by Cindy Zeigler. This study is keeping us all in the word each day.


Now that school has started I am up much earlier and find the quiet time I so much need with the Lord each and every morning. The mornings are cool so taking time in the garden is such a pleasure.


Favorite scripture this week:


I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! Isaiah 65:24


So encouraging!


On the Missions Field: We are still seeing a huge increase in homeless folks. The newest group we are working with are living in their cars in parking lots. ( like WalMart). The food pantry has also seen great increases this month. We are blessed to continue to find free food to stretch our budget.


On the Homefront: I am finding that I have more time in my day to zone clean now that the gals are back on a school schedule. Our life is crazy busy 3 days a week with the Food Pantry. I worried that I would not be able to keep up…so I do 15 minute cleaning blitzes. (Starting in the kitchen before my coffee each morning) 15 minutes in each room just about knocks out anything that needs to be done for that day. The key for me is just focusing on what needs to be done for that day and not to look ahead.


I am also back to planning meals ahead of time. This is such a huge timesaver and budget helper. The girls are taking a more active role in cooking this year.  ( part of home ec) This past weeks menu included oven fried chicken, stuffed shells, grilled steak, ham, and of course leftovers.


In the Schoolroom: The first week of school went wonderfully! I am thrilled to say we had only a few meltdowns ( attitude related) and more smiles than usual.


I am not happy with the curriculum we have for French…we borrowed it so if I decide to ditch it it is of no cost to us but still leaves us without a curriculum.  What language course teaches without English translations? I don’t get how the student is suppose to understand what they are learning if it is all in French and not one bit of English translation???? I cannot teach French!


"Do not train children to learn by force and harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each."


-Plato


Lifestyle Change ( diet and exercise) I have gained a few pounds….still below my goal so okay but now happy with falling back into bad habits. Starting this week I will go back to tracking all food that passes my lips. Tedious but necessary. I need to walk more and set time to stretch and strength train. We will be going to the Y on a regular basis now that school has started. This is part of our PE.


From the Library:  A Mom After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George, Praying the Scriptures for Your Children by Jodi Berndt, Understanding the Bible: Biblical Survey from Genesis to Revelation  by Cindy Zeigler


On the Creative Side: The gals and I have been working on Christmas gifts since August. We have three done!!!! I am knitting hats for the homeless again. ( this gives me something to do while being available to the kids during school) Working on getting the gourds clean so we can craft with them. That is much harder than it looks!


In the Garden: Sunflowers are dying. Way too much rain this summer. The zinnias continue to look fabulous! We will be planting them again. The girls found leaf bugs on the sunflowers! Cool little creatures.


That’s about it for the week!


 


 


 


 

10 comments:

  1. I am hoping to start working on homemade gifts for Christmas.


    I don't blame you for being frustrated over the French curriculum. That would be VERY difficult to teach w/o any English to help you. DUH!


    I hope you have a blessed weekend. I hope to get my WWU posted this afternoon when I get off work. I can't post it on my work computer. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like to plan meals ahead as well. It's a timesaver and helps us stay on budget.

    Sounds like your busy but time well spent. :)

    Blessings,

    Dusti

    kimmelkids4.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am so glad that you stopped by my blog this morning, and I'm excited to hear that you have found so many "hits" with your curriculum and your school year (sorry about the minor dent in the Rolls Royce, aka your French curriculum).


    It is wonderful that you're able to bless so many homeless; what is happening right now is scary and it's humiliating, I'm sure, to the people that are going through it. My husband and I keep sharing with each other that, though it's tight around here, too, we have it so much better than many.


    God bless you, and enjoy the day.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I really struggle with planning meals ahead of time.If you have a formula for strugglers like me, let me know. I draw a blank every time I try to plan ahead.


    I love the notebooks your kids did.

    Antoinette

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for all the work your family does for the Food pantry. That is wonderful. i'm glad to know that we aren't the only family with a few meltdowns right as school begins. You may be able to find a free French program on the Internet. I know that we found a Spanish one. Just a thought. Have a great school year.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow you can tell fall and school is setting in. It sounds busy but wonderful at your place. Busy drying apples and visiting with bro. I am looking forward to slower days but not sure when they will come. Maybe by January. [0=


    Blessings and ((HUGS))

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm glad attitudes were up. I am looking forward to the day when doing school means I have more time...oh well, some day, but probably not this year...


    Have a great week.


    Carol

    ReplyDelete
  8. i left planting my sunflowers too late. will remember next year.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Tina, the book you mentioned about studying the Word sounds intriguing. I may have to check it out later when I have time. (I'm at work right now, so I can't be searching the internet much.)


    I love it when I find things that make me WANT to be in the Word more.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sounds wonderful!!!!!!!!!!! We can't wait to get back to school next week. Although the week off was great. You inspire me!!!!!!!

    Be blessed,

    Chasity

    ReplyDelete


Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Psalms 143:8