My kitchen...

...needs a serious facelift.

It has been my least favorite room in this house since we moved in, but we decided the rest of the house makes up for it and we can always remodel.  So, now that I am done with school, I can go back to obsessing over planning home improvement projects.  One of my most favorite things to do.


I have found some inspiring ideas here and here, and would love some suggestions.  Remember we are on a very tight budget and I love my floors the way they are.  Help!

See, it's too dark!

Madeline has been busy...

...making jewelry.

I love, and want to wear every piece.

Zoo Trip

We had a beautifully sunny, unseasonably warm, birds a chirpin' kind of day last week, so we loaded up the gang and went to the zoo.  At the zoo we...

paused for a photo, minus a few who needed a restroom break...

read a rather large book about birds, "is every one listening?"...

were slightly traumatized by the hippos, they were very, shall we say, active, today, barf...

(only me thank goodness, the littles were easily distracted, and the older ones were lagging behind)

 watched the otters eat their lunch (made the PB&J's we brought look yummy)...

they are cute little buggers...

 and counted heads so often we were dizzy.

We had a great day at the zoo with great cousins, 

and we all lived to tell about it!

Praying for Joseph

We are praying a Novena this week for Joseph to come home quickly.  Please join us.  Hopefully the powers that be in Armenia will feel compelled to make him top priority.  

Phonogram Flashcards

I'm going to print out these cute flash cards on card stock.  Maybe we'll even use them!

Giant Whiteboard

This giant whiteboard has been a fun addition to our homeschool.  I found this one on craigslist, cheap!

It was recommended in our writing program that every homeschool should have one.  It is nice for kids to see an example of what you are trying to teach them, and have written reminders to easily reference.  Hello!  McFly!  Not a new concept for classroom teachers, but something that I overlooked at home.  

They just don't have a very "homey" feel to them.  I resisted.  I stand corrected.

I didn't attach it to the wall though.  It can be tucked away when not in use, and can move it to different areas of the house as needed.  A good compromise.

BANANAGRAMS!

 

Marney received this game from Aunt Jen for her birthday.  We have been enjoying it very much!

It can be as simple or as challenging as you want to make it.

Each player plays their own hand, so any spelling level can play.

Great spelling practice for everyone.

These other games look fun too.

When I Grow Up

I want to do this....

Mercy Ships looks like an amazing program, they even have a school on board.  How cool would that be for our kids?  Madeline is ready to pack her bags.  Slow down sweetie, I have a lot to learn before the will let me anywhere near their patients.  

My training ground will be the large university hospital in our area.  I just accepted a position on a cardiac unit.  This is the job I have dreamed about, but never imagined I would get.  I start in a few weeks.

I'm excited and nervous to begin my career.  I have a mixture of positive and negative thoughts swimming through my head.

How will this impact my family?

Can I really manage everything I have on my plate?

Am I being selfish?

Will our kids be uneducated dummies?

(OK, mostly it's negative)

If I listen to these thoughts, will I be limiting what I can do with my life?  Will I be limiting what God has planned for my life?

So far I feel that He has been equipping us to handle everything He has asked us to do, from home education, to adoption, and nursing school.  Things have fallen into place too neatly, much more neatly than we could have done on our own.  I know it is God.  Who am I to argue with God?  I still feel strongly that he will use my nursing skills for His benefit in some capacity that has just not been revealed yet.

So for now I am going to continue to say "yes," and trust that God will give us the strength and wisdom to achieve a successful balance.  That's not to say that I still won't drive my family crazy with voicing my doubts, and my lack of self confidence.  I will continue to question our choices, even though I know I should just trust.   Sorry, it's just the way I roll.

Remember this - a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop.  But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.                                                                      
                                                                   -2 Corinthians 9:6

Whats making that noise?

We have a noisy visitor today.

We used this website to find out just who was making all that racket.  It's very cool website.   Has audio of the calls of hundreds of birds.

Spring is in the air, the Mourning Doves are back!

One Million Arrows

I just started reading "One Million Arrows" by Julie Ferwerda.  It's about raising a generation of heros.  About raising a generation of kids who are not apathetic.  To quote the book, " it is an inspriational call to raise your kids to impact their culture, community, and world for Christ.  If you want your kids to discover their purpose, if you want them to live with a passion for the Kingdom, if you want your family to go down in His-story, accept the mission...and leave a mark for eternity."

Join me in reading it.

If you can get past the slightly "churchy" feel, (which I'm not against, but it's not for everyone) you will find little gems like this one.  "The teen years are not a vacation from responsibility.  They are a training ground of future leaders who dare to be responsible now."

Powerful, right?