Back to the Land of the Blogging....

Well, I have been totally out of blogging world for many months now.   Family issues have really been piling up and even thinking about blogging has not been an option. 

But . . .  I have totally missed it.

To give you an update on our lives . . .

Homeschooling for 2011-2012 was a success!!

We did not get everything accomplished in school that I had hoped but all objectives were completed.

My husband was called to a new church.

I am continuing to care for my mom.

I managed to fly across the country to drive back with a friend.  Literally, across the country, we went from Washington State to South Georgia.

We said "Good Bye" to a friend who moved to Canada with her family.  (That is her smiling face in the middle.)

I have prayerfully decided to help a friend out and homeschool her daughter for her.  (That is her on the left in the above picture.)

Plus many other projects, missions, good times and blessings have been accomplished.

As you can see we have been BUSY.  But I wouldn't have had it any other way.

However, I have missed blogging so . . .  prayerfully and hopefully . . .  

I'm baaaaaaaack ........................

Living at the speed of life,

Kristie

Menu Planning Monday ~ January 2, 2012

Well, it is a new year.  I'm picking back up with menu planning now that the holidays are history for a little while.

Monday ~
B:  Pancakes, fruit, milk
L:  Leftovers
D:  On your own

Tuesday ~
B:  Oatmeal, peaches, milk
L:  Tuna salad, crackers, tea
D:  Ham & Potato Casserole, green beans, sweet tea

Wednesday ~
B:  Cheese grits, toast & jelly, milk
L:  Leftovers
D:  Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, a veggie ?, sweet tea

Thursday ~
B:  Cereal, fruit, milk
L:  Leftovers
D:   Homemade Chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, tea

Friday ~
B:  Waffles, fruit, milk
L:  Egg salad sandwiches, chips, veggies, tea
D:  Hamburgers, french fries, tea

Saturday ~
B:  Cereal, fruit, milk
L:  Leftovers
D:  Flank steak, twice baked potatoes, broccoli, sweet tea

Sunday -
B:  Cereal bars, milk
L:  Spaghetti, garlic bread
D:  Leftovers

Snack Options for the week:  Popcorn, cinnamon toast, fruit

Go to Organizing Junkie to find out what other families are having for dinner.

Feeding the crew at the speed of life,
Kristie

Happy New Year!

It has come to that time of the year where we get the opportunity to reflect on the past year and dream for the new upcoming year.

I don't really do resolutions.  Yes, I like to think the new year is a year of new beginnings . . . things that I am going to change.  However, I find that people tend to set themselves up to be disappointed. 

As a Christian, I should be striving daily to be more Christ-like.  I shouldn't allow a "holiday" to dictate who I am going to be for the upcoming year.  Everyday should be one filled with me living more like Jesus lived.  That should be reflected in every aspect of my life.

I should daily be in His word.   I should read my Bible with the same enthusiasm as a good novel would bring.

I should daily be working on my diet and exercise because my body is a temple to the Lord.  I can't glorify Him if I don't take care of myself.

I should daily be taking care of my finances and other resources, regardless of what they are.  God has truly blessed me, and I take for granted everything that He gives to me.

For me, those three things, reading, dieting and resourcefulness, would be in some way a part of any "resolutions" I set.

2011 has been a great year.  It has been a year of both ups and downs.  And I am grateful for each of those ups and downs.  They were given to me by the Creator.  I am grateful for the people that He has placed in my path because, in one way or the other, they have shaped where I am today, whether they or I realize it or not.  I am grateful for my family and friends because God knew who I needed and when and why I would need each and everyone of them.

So, my final thought is this . . .

Don't set goals for yourself that won't or can't be attained.  Realize that each day, circumstance, moment and person is God appointed for that moment in your life.  And strive each to live more like Christ.

Looking forward to 2012,
Kristie

23 Day Frugal Living Challenge

Frugally Sustainable is hosting a 23 Day Frugal Living Challenge for the New Year.

I am in on any challenge with the word frugal in it.  ;)

Hop on over and check out the challenge by clicking Here.

Living frugally at the speed of life,
Kristie

A Year Full of Homeschool Firsts

This year has been a year of my firsts with our homeschooling adventures.

I now have two that I am homeschooling completely.  I gave my youngest a few things last year as a Kindergartener, but this year she is in first grade so she now has all subjects to learn.  Some are definitely on the smaller scale than my fifth grader but they are still on the weekly agenda.  This new task of planning has left me a little scatter-brained.  What do I have one kid working on while I work with the other?   What if a question arises and I can't stop what I'm doing to help?  I could go on but you get my point.

Our family also joined a local Christian homeschool co-op.  The girls take classes every Monday afternoon.   I love co-op for the girls.  Here's how it works for our group.  There are three sessions in each school year.  They take three classes each session plus physical education. They also schedule field trips and service projects.

Classes this session include:  Drawing/Painting, Apologetics, and Math/Logic.

The girls are loving it all.  But do you know what their favorite class is . . .

Math/Logic.

I think that is crazy.  Assigning math at home is a chore but they LOVE math/logic at co-op.

I'm totally bewildered by it but I'm am happy that they love it rather than dread it.

Plus, because homeschoolers are never socialized . . . . . .      ;P (Insert eye roll)   They get weekly socialization at co-op.

We also ventured in the world of some new curriculum choices this year.

So we are abundant in firsts for the 2011-2012 school year.

I must admit however that I have been so overwhelmed this year.    I currently wear the hats of wife, mother, homemaker, homeschooling mom, part-time church secretary, church WMU director, childrens' teacher on Wednesdays at church, plus I volunteer with other ministries at church, help take care of my mom, and try to find time to blog.

But it's the wonderful life that God has blessed me with and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

So, what hats do you wear?  Do you get overwhelmed by it all?



Homeschooling at the speed of life,

Kristie