To all my 'FRIENDS' on facebook

I am closing my facebook account. If, in the future, you want to know what I am up to, then please feel free to call me or even write me a letter. I am home most of the time. Since we homeschool, afternoons are best for phone calls, and it does usually take me at least a few days to respond to a letter. But I will respond. And I LOVE getting a real letter in the mail.

If it is urgent, an email is okay, but definitely not my preferred method of communication.

You may be wondering why I am choosing to quite using something so easy to use such as facebook. Did you read the article I linked in my previous post? No? Then here is the link again...http://voices.allthingsd.com/20090825/how-facebook-ruins-friendships/ read it.

If you truly are my friend, then we will work to maintain our relationship. How many people do you have on your 'friends' list. 100? more? Can that many people truly be your friend? Acquaintance maybe, but FRIEND? Come on, people, get real. Friendships take work. Facebook doesn't require any effort.

Neither does blogging for that matter. BUT, I am going to keep my blog, because it is an easy way to get pictures to Aunt C whom we call regularly as well as to other real friends that are now in other states and to whom we either write or call.

So, good-bye Facebook. it was fun for a while, but not worth the isolation that it caused, or the 'fake' friendships that it encouraged.

Join me if you dare in building real relationships, full of life, promise, trust, and encouragement.

How Facebook Ruins Friendships

Read the article I've linked and tell me what you think.

http://voices.allthingsd.com/20090825/how-facebook-ruins-friendships/

First week of school under our belts...

and it's been a good week. I did not realize how much we were 'unschoolers' until we started following a preplanned curriculum. I love Heart of Dakota! http://www.heartofdakota.com/

I can't say enough about it. It is steeped in the Bible, I think the only class that doesn't use God's Word in some way is math. In fact yesterday on of the kids noticed that everything we read and did pointed back to scripture and commented about it. When I assured them that this was indeed the case, they wondered if it wouldn't be confusing, so I pointed out that everything followed the same timeline, Creation to Christ and now they are seeing how it all ties together.

We are using resources by Ken Ham, Ruth Beechick, and Diana Waring to name a few. We are studying the geography of the holy land and we are using Apologia for science and learning all about zoology.

I do have to admit, the first 2 days, I taught like I was used to doing, and I was exhausted. Then I realized, this curriculum is designed to be done more independently, and why am I making it so hard on myself? With that in mind, the last 2 days have been easier.

We are still not doing everything that is scheduled. One reason is I just discovered that I overlooked the dictation assignment for this week in our Language Arts section. And we are also waiting on the student book to arrive for our reading program. I think that by week 3 we will be up to snuff so to speak.

Even though I'm tired, I'm really pleased with how the kiddos have taken charge of their learning this week. They are getting started on their individual classes on their own, not waiting on me to say 'get to work'. I have a 2-page excel spread sheet that I fill in for them to check off their assignments, it is semi-detailed and has them refer to the teachers manual for specifics. So far this is working well, I'll probably tweak it a little, but my thought was to give me a printed record of what we did this year and also be able to sell my teachers manual to help finance next years books if it is in His will that we continue homeschooling.

Now the only thing I really need to figure out is how to create a spreadsheet for grades. I think David can help me there.

Is summer break already over???

Tonight, at 10.30 pm, my children dug out their math books and started working on math for the 2009-2010 school year. Sarah couldn't find the math book she wanted so decided to work on spelling instead.

This after only 4 weeks of "summer break". I am no where near ready to resume teaching. Shoot, I still have to reorganize all the bookcases, order the books we need, and my teacher's guide for next year isn't even going to ship until August 1. (I plan on officially starting on August 17).

Daniel asked if he worked all day tomorrow on books would I count it as school. "NO"!

Sarah is also in the process of writing a preschool curriculum. I'm trying to encourage her to stick with it. After all, isn't that where a lot of the great homeschooling products have come from to begin with? Other homeschoolers? Why shouldn't she be one more author? She loves children and is really good with them. She seems to be a natural teacher. She has some really good ideas, now to get them on paper, organized and eventually submitted to a publisher...

Daniel on the other hand has a mind for computers and music and story telling. Who knows where God will take him with those interests and skills.

During these next few years, we are really focusing on helping them to grow in the areas where they have interests and skill, to become stronger in their weak areas and to grow in their love for Christ and for others. Sometimes it seems that it is all for naught. We cannot see the future. But our Father is in control and we have committed these children to Him from before they were born. They belong to Him. We are only temporary parents, hopefully teaching them to serve and to love as the Father has loved us.

Health Update

Went to see my Doctor today. Good news. No wheezing in my lungs, so no new meds for my asthma, just use my rescue inhaler as needed and call her if I think I'm using it too often. I've lost 12 pounds!! in the past few weeks, that's really exciting for me. Especially since everything else seems to have been going the other direction! She did increase my medicine for my diabetes, BUT it's the same medication and it's one that does NOT cause weight gain, instead it helps with weight loss. That's a good thing.

So, I'm praying for good air quality days so I can be out working in the yard and going for walks with the kids and Oscar. For continued weight loss and improved blood sugars and improved health.

The one thing that continues to be tricky is the migraine disease. We still have to find the perfect combo of preventive and rescue meds. But I hope we are on the right track there as well.

We're on a 2 month school break, so hopefully when we start back on August, I will be feeling better, more organized, and able to be the wife and mom God has called me to be. And if I'm not where I think I should be, I need to remember that God is in control, and His ways are higher than mine.

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Happy Birthday Sarah

Today is Sarah Kate's 11th birthday!

Our pastor announced it at the close of the service before the benediction and since we've only been at the church since the Sunday after Easter, I got a lot of well wishes from folks who mistook me for her, when I corrected them, one lovely grandpa said it was a special day for me as well.

Indeed it is.

Happy Birthday sweetie. We love you.

Happy Anniversary

Today marks the 25th anniversary of my first date with my sweet hubby!

In November we will celebrate 20 years of marriage.

That's right we dated for 5 1/2 years.

We both wish we knew then what we know now.

There are a lot of things we should have done differently in the first 15 or so years of our relationship.

But GOD has been patient with me and has grown and changed me.

There are 2 books that GOD in HIS wisdom placed in my life that really had an impact on me.

The first is, "The Excellent Wife" by Martha Peace.

http://www.amazon.com/Excellent-Wife-Biblical-Perspective/dp/1885904088

The second is "Sacred Marriage" by Gary Thomas

http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Marriage-Celebrating-Spiritual-Discipline/dp/0310227968

I chose to read the first book when I was asked to lead a monthly ladies Bible Study at church. Teaching something always has a huge effect on the teacher.

The second book was used as a small group study we were in at another church. It was harder for me. The reading was harder, maybe it was my heart that was not ready to listen. But in the end it is another book I would highly recommend to young couples.

But regardless of the reason those books came into my life, GOD used them to help change my attitude, my thinking, and my life.

So now that I am the "perfect" (NOT), wife... I can tell y'all how to be the perfect Proverbs 31 woman.

NOT A CHANCE!!

Thunderstorms

We are having a thunderstorm right now. Oscar, pictured above does not like thunder, he pants and is visibly stressed by it.

Psalm 29

A psalm of David.

1 Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of HIS holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 HE makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
11 The LORD gives strength to HIS people; the LORD blesses HIS people with peace.

Personally I enjoy a thunderstorm, when I'm awake. If awakened in the night by one, they at first terrify me. But once awake, I can once again enjoy the voice of the Lord.

Oscar on the other hand is a dog, he will never be able to enjoy the majesty of God's voice in the thunder. He doesn't have the capability of understanding.

But I do.

You do.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of HIS holiness.

http://www.amazon.com/Power-&-The-Majesty/e/B000APZCQM

For a wonderful recording of thunder, consider the above mentioned album.

It has a 30 minute track of a thunderstorm. We have it on vinyl, I need to get it for David on CD.

Book Mooch

Can you ever have too many books? I don't think so. But it can get expensive to purchase all the books you want. Is there a solution? There is and it's called...

BOOKMOOCH

I use a web site called BookMooch to exchange books with others.
http://bookmooch.com
I have found it a useful way to get rid of my old books, and get books for free in exchange.
The site is commercial free and costs nothing to use.
You can see my bio page here:http://bookmooch.com/bio/swymm89

Autumn Colors Purse w/ detachable flower

Here is my newest purse. It has a detachable flower with a beaded center, an outer zipper pocket, 2 inside pockets and webbing straps. It is made of a combination of new and recycled materials and is hand washable, dry flat.

G.ames A.dolescents S.houldn't P.lay

http://www.stop-the-choking-game.com/en/home.html

This is scary. Apparently the thing is to choke yourself to the point of passing out, of course you have to know the right time to let go . But many pre & teens are getting into this as a "safe" way to get the buzz.

The website has a chilling video, with a 911 call from a 13 yo whose twin has just done this and is dead because of it.

I made Daniel and Sarah watch the video. They both were sobered by the thought that people would actually try this.

It is addictive. The very first time you try it you kill thousands of brain cells that will be lost forever. Three minutes of it can lead you with permanent brain impairment if not damage. Four to five minuted can leave you DEAD.

Another Day

Another day of migraine. "What can I do that I'm not already doing?"
Another day of high blood sugars. "I know I need to do more, but with the migraines it is hard."
Another day of uncertainty about where to worship.
Another day of frustration with homeschooling, feeling like I'm not getting anywhere.
Another day of too much time wasted because I haven't the physical or mental energy to do more.
Another day of stress over David's traveling for work.
Another day of stress over finances.
Another day of letting my feelings rule instead of focusing on the Cross.
Another day to serve Him
Another day to worship Him
Another day to praise Him
Another day to honor Him who gave me LIFE
Another day to put Him first
Another day to focus on the Cross
Another day to honor my husband
Another day to love my children
Another day to be thankful
Another day to be joyful in ALL things
Another day
Another day
Thank you Father for Another Day

March 26, 2009
Susan Monette Gibson

Finished Crochet Projects

Here are a few photos of finished projects. I forget that I have a digital camera and forget to take pics of them. So now I'm posting everything I have in the house that I've finished recently.

Crocheted then woven hotpad in a celtic knot style.

My first attempt at amigurumi. A doll for I's 5th birthday.

Purse for my sister. Happy LATE birthday M.

Sweater and hat for missionary friends in Bolivia.

Frugal Meals etc...

Everyone knows that prices are going up. That's just the way it is. So in my effort to help make my hubby's hard earned $'s go as far as possible, I am looking for ways to cut expenses where I can. For me the #1 place to look is FOOD.

I am terrible about planning a menu. That is bad. We end up going to the store more than once per pay period, and we end up eating too much fast food.

So after today's trip to Aldi, and not getting a whole lot, I revisited a website that I've been on before.


Let me introduce you to:


http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com

This site has a lot of printable menus, as well as recipes, shopping lists, dieting info. Head on over and check it out. If you do, let me know what you think.