Eating My Words

So much for the weather changing.......while writing my last post, I must have imagined that I live in a place that actually HAS four seasons! BA HUMBUG!

MISSION: ORGANIZATION

Well, it's that time of year......the weather is FINALLY changing, so I think it's safe to pack away all of the spring/summer clothes and pull out the fall/winter clothes. I'm slowly collecting big bins and sorting clothes by gender and sizes. So far, I've got clothes somewhat sorted by sizes, but have boys and girls clothes in the same bins. My goal is to have MANY bins, one for each size and gender. This way I can grab just one bin as a child creeps into the next size without sorting through numerous sizes like I'm doing now. I'd just like to save any time and effort where I can. I'm keeping an eye out for good sales on those bins....as they can be expensive otherwise. I love to be organized and with an always growing family it seems to be an ongoing process, one that never comes to completion. I enjoy the challenge, though!

Another area in which we are doing some revamping is our homeschool schedule.  I have already created a schedule being that we are well underway with our school year. But, with the addition of our sweet little baby boy, I am seeing a lack of continuity in our school day. Now, some of that is to be expected with having a new, nursing baby in our home, but I definitely feel like there are some changes in which we can incorporate into our day to make things run more smoothly.

Part of my difficulty is that Ethan is not yet on a good napping schedule. I'm quite sure the other babies were on fairly reliable nap schedules by this age. However, sweet Ethan has not settled into one yet, and when he does nap, they're much shorter and sporatic. I know in time, though, he will settle into a regular pattern and we'll be able to accomplsh more in our school day.

Aside from a non-existant nap schedule, just the mere addition of one more baby requires some changes. I don't like to have some kids wandering while others are schooling. And I don't like the TV to be the babysitter for the little ones while I'm working with the big ones. So, this will require much thinking and creativity as to how I will come up with my grand schedule so that there will be peace and continuity in our home. I am rereading Managers of Their Homes and will attempt to create a schedule that will work and make us feel like we're accomplishing something each day and not just wandering in the wilderness. This schedule will look MUCH differently than our last few, so I'm looking forward to a smoother and more efficient home in the days to come.

The one area where I have accomplished organization and efficiency is our meal planning. For the most part, I have always planned our meals and and shopped according to our menu. But now, I have completed four master menus with a master shopping list to go with each menu. Each menu covers a two-week peroid, so with four menus, this gives us two months worth of meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Once we go through all four, we just start over. I LOVE not having to think about what to eat or what we need at the store. If we want to incorporate a new recipe, I just make the change to the master list and it's done! Hurray!!! One area that has been conquered!! In addition, with two older girls who have been well-trained in the culinary department, mealtime has become the least of my worries, and something to enjoy!

Update:  We now have eight menus along with their master grocery lists. 

Family Portraits

Yesterday was a special day for our family. I say special because we did something we haven't done in years! We had professional family pictures taken!

The last time we did this was about ten years ago, and that was just an Olan Mills type thing. We've had several family pictures done for church directories, but that's it.

We had a blast! The photographer was terrific.....her name is Jena and her studio is called Photography By Jena. She took us to a beautiful nature center filled with bright yellow sunflowers and wonderful trees. We took most of our pictures on a cute, rustic bridge with the flowers as our backdrop.

She got great shots of just the children, shots of the whole family, of course, individuals of each of the kids, and some sweet, romantic shots of Greg and me. Aside from a couple of meltdowns from Chloe, the session was great! We can't wait to see how they turned out!

This was a special treat for our family and I look forward to seeing a beautiful family portrait hanging on our wall. As soon as we view our pictures, we will be given a website address for family and friends to view as well. So, stay tuned.....

Walking for Life

Yesterday was Agape's Third Annual Walk For Life fundraising event. Many came out, in the rain, to raise money for the Agape Pregnancy Help Center. At Agape, we belive it is our mission and our responsibility to inform women of the precious life, in which God created, that is being carefully knit inside of them.

Thank you to all who sponsored me for this walk and to those who continually support Agape through your sweet prayers and appreciated donations! If you're not familiar with this ministry, please click on the link to the right and get to know Agape!


For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, yet being unformed. And in your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.
Psalm 139:13-16

If there is ever a day when we question how much God loves us, or question His plans for us, may we read this Psalm and be assured of His infinite love and how intimately He knew each of us, even before we were yet created! To God Be The Glory!

He's Four Months

Our sweet little boy is already four months old! My, how the days seem to fly by! Before we know it, he'll be walking and talking and running around with his siblings! It's this very thought that reminds me to slow down and enjoy each and every moment of his baby days! Even in the midst of the fussiness, the crying, the too-short naps, and the round-the-clock nursings, I am filled with thankfulness and joy for the moments God gives us with our precious children. May He continue to bless our family and yours!

New Blog Adventure

Well, here we go.....A journey into the unknown. At this point, I'm not sure what I'm doing, but as with most unfamiliar undertakings, I'll figure things out as I go! I know in time I'll conquer this blogging adventure and hopefully have a beautiful place where family and friends can take a peek into our home-life. As for now, the dynamics of our home is a peaceful one. The older babies are resting soundly, Cheyenne is sewing happily, and Celeste is graciously playing with baby Ethan while I publish my very first post! So, until next time.....