Yay Me!

Okay, so I have not blogged about my current personal challenge. I am determined to lose 106 pounds and would like to do it by Jan. 1 2011. There, I made it public. Well, last night I hit the 25 pound loss mark! I am SO EXCITED! I have tried before, most of us have, but something is different this time. I pray that I can keep the momentum.

How am I doing it? Weight Watchers! I love WW. I am a repeat WW member but I am shooting for my lifetime membership this time. I am afraid to say this but really I don't even feel like I have been dieting and have lost 25. Really, that is the goal. I don't want to feel like I am dieting, I certainly can not give up certain things like real half & half in my coffee. WW makes this easy with the points system. The other thing is I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Leslie Sansone's walking programs. I am up to the 3 mile workouts and a MUST HAVE is a Heart Rate Monitor! You see instantly how many calories you burn. That is so satisfying!!! Sometimes I workout twice a day for the fun of it! HA! Who would have thought it? Not me!

So, every once in a while I will post about my progress. I hope it encourages someone. I already feel the benefit. I am a better Mom and homeschool teacher, wife and housekeeper (that is a chore with my little ones.) The exercising helps clear my head and believe me I need all the help I can get in that area. :)

A Fine Group of Children

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R I P. Daisy

My poor, tenderhearted son. :( My husband says, "That's farm life."

A Wonderful Homeschool Project

And a great way to allow kiddos to learn responsibility. Josh bought the milk replacement mix so he says " I hope it lives....I've got eleven dollars in that kid"

Here are a couple of videos. I took them on my phone so they may not be the best ones.


I wonder if I could get a diaper on that thing........

My One Room School House

Jenna (4) at the computer.


Jessie (14) at her desk.



Janie (15 months ) going into the tent.




Josh (10) in his spot.

I'm having the time of my life. This is the hardest, most challenging, most rewarding and exciting thing I have ever done!

I am thankful for a husband that supports me and values what I do in our home (even if some days it appears that I haven't done much *big grin*)

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Duh.....

I can not believe that I am just finding this out. Did you know that you don't have to throw the board game in the trash when you lose parts? I am a little ocd about it and I will instantly discard anything that does not have all of its parts. Well, Jenna pulled out the Pop-O-Matic Trouble game and low and behold only 4 little pegs were there. I was on my way to the trash, bemoaning my inability to keep up with things and thinking to myself that if I wanted another Pop-O-Matic Trouble game then that would at least be 10.00 dollars....gripe....gripe...gripe....

So, I Googled it. There is it. Replacement parts for almost every game under the sun. The only drawback is you have to print and mail the order form. So other than a stamp it will cost me 3 bucks for 16 pegs in a baggie. I feel better.   : )

The link. Game Board Replacement Parts

What I am Reading Now

Well, after looking at that it is no wonder that my mind has been spinning. Also, I usually do not read more than 2 books at at time. I am also working my way through the bible with a daily reading plan.

I wanted to share these with you because they are some of the best books I have picked up in a while.

As you can tell at the present, I am deeply concerned about the state of the church and our children staying on the path. Family Driven Faith and Already Gone make some of the same points. They are very good reads.

I am always striving to be a better parent and most importantly I am the biggest witness of Christ in their daily lives. Gospel Powered Parenting is a deeply thought provoking book. You will not breeze through this book.

Then my latest find: Homeschooling at the Speed of Life. I LOVE this book. It really is a "FlyLady" meets homeschool book. And FlyLady has worked wonders for this girl! I first got the Kindle Edition and after reading it knew that I had to have a copy in my hand.

So if you're looking for something to read and ponder then grab any of these. Note: I have no ties with these authors or publishers and make no gains from listing them. I have just really enjoyed them and I am always looking for something good to read that I may learn and grow.

And one more thing. Sorry I did not take the time to link the covers with shopping links. You can find all of these at Amazon.com

Our Favorite Pancakes

I have tried numerous recipes for home made pancakes. This is one of the best, at least that is what my family says.

2 Cups White Whole Wheat flour
1 tsp. aluminum free baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup raw honey (I use Sage)
1/2 tsp. Real Salt
2 1/4 cups skim milk (you can use buttermilk, for the purpose of  cutting calories I use skim) 
2 large eggs

Combine the dry indregients in a bowl. Mix the wet ones in another bowl then combine.
Cook on a gridle until golden. I use a little oil, you can also use butter.

Makes about 18-22 pancakes


Weight Watchers points are 1 point a piece.


On a side note, this is what was going on while I was making these this morning.

So, as you can tell. I always have something to do around here and I better get back to it now.

Poppa's Chili

Saying it is cold here in the South is an understatement! We folks just ain't used to this kind of cold (bad grammar ~Southern dialect~ on purpose). The highs during the day are below freezing, the last I looked at the temp gauge it read 24 degrees. The lows are in the teens and then factor in the wind chill. Josh and Greg have stayed busy busting ice for the animals to have water. I could think of nothing better to have to warm us up tonight than my dad's famous (at least around these parts) chili.



Here is the recipe that I changed just a tad. Same great taste!


2 lbs. ground beef. (I boil my ground beef to remove as much fat as possible)
1 can Chili Hot Beans
2 cans Luck's Pinto Beans with onion
2 cans of diced tomatoes
2 packs of Chili-O mix
2 tbs chili powder

Blend 1 can pinto's and 1 can of tomatoes in the blender. Add this to the other ingredients and the beef. I added about 4 cups of water, just enough for it to simmer. Let it cook for 1-2 hours. I have cooked this in my crock pot with great success.

Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
Serves about 9
And....if you are interested it is 5 Weight Watchers points.

As a side note, I just looked at that picture and thought I should tell you...I have no idea what side the spoon should have been on ;)

Our Bible Memory

So I chose this Psalm for the children to memorize. It is so beautiful and wise that I wanted to post it here.


Psalm 1

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;his leaf also shall not wither;and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
KJV

Not that I feel like I have any grand homeschool advice to offer right now, but we are using the memory verses for handwriting practice. I use Startwrite and print it off in the font of my choice.

Have a blessed day!


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