The One My Heart Loves

Part of Song of Solomon 3:4 was in the card I gave to Rick for our anniversary "I have found the one my heart loves."  I also wrote several things about him I am thankful for.  Among them  - loving me despite my shortcomings (thinking kitchen skills here), blessing me in big (new furniture on the way!) and small ways (cleaning the kitchen), and loving the Lord, most of all.

I love the way that verse continues "I held him and I would not let him go..."

Birth Days

Brock's birthday is tomorrow and that prompted a little birthday talk as we were sitting around tonight.

They were being silly......

Me:  "Braden, you were born on a Saturday."

Braden:  "I was born to par-tay."

Me:  Brock, you were born on a Sunday morning."

Brock:  "I'm holy.  Me and Jesus were meant to be together."

 That made me laugh!  I thought it was cute.  Apparently, all of us not born on Sunday are just plain heathen!

All in good fun!

TV Thoughts

Okay, so, my plan for not having a TV in the house failed miserably.  Totally no support on that one.

We've been paying for TV for all of three weeks now.  I'm learning a few things...

I can't watch the Food Network; it  just makes me hungry.  In no way does it make me want to get in the kitchen and cook something up.  All I do is think of restaurants that I could go to and have someone else make me something like I just saw on the show!

People on TV have potty mouths.  Can't watch some shows without incessant beeps, shows that would otherwise be really interesting to watch.

Also, the reality surrounding these supposed "reality" TV shows is that they are totally CONTRIVED!  Right now we just watched this guy on a survival show cut his own arm and then basically set it on fire with gun powder and fire in order to display his super awesome survival skills.  That's just dumb.  And how are they filming these people doing illegal activities (did you know there is a whole show dedicated to moonshiners?) and at the same time filming the authorities trying to track them down?  Whatever!

On the flip side.....I'm totally not going to complain (just keep it in check), because I'm getting high speed internet in the bundle.  Yeah, the Wades have advanced about a decade and a half in the technology department in the last 3 weeks!  Several shows are like a field trip on film, actually very educational; thankful for that.  And I love being able to watch better movies on TV (love the old black & whites!), The Walton's, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, and soon Little House on the Prairie.

Oh, and now I think I believe in Big Foot.

Boxes and Paper and Bows Oh My

It's quite comical unwrapping gifts around here.

My job is to wrap and make the boxes pretty.  I enjoy wrapping packages, making them look all festive.  Hobby Lobby has the best paper, and I love using fabric ribbon, it's my "one weakness" when it come to gift wrap.

But before I get them, they have to go through Rick.  His job is to box up the presents.  He likes to disguise the gifts so the boys can't guess what they are.  He even goes to the trouble of adding weight like rocks or some random object from his tool box, and lots of paper, excuse me, grocery bags - his idea of recycling - so they don't shake, to try to throw them off.

The boxes are what crack me up.  Some we've used for years now, like a certain "Stinger" flashlight box, one of the more durable ones. Dad always gives the warning before the boys open though, "Be careful.  I'm gonna need that box back."  This year came a few new ones though.  Let's see.  There was a Badger brand sink dispose-all box that Brock unwrapped, my 'couch mouse' was in a light fixture box, and I think someone else opened up a gift that was in a nail gun nail box.  Then there were the Christmas light boxes and my MUS box too.  The best one though was Braden's t-shirt that was boxed and wrapped in a toilet installation kit box!  It always makes for extra laughs on Christmas morning.

A New Adventure

Well, these past few months have been busy ones.  On top of homeschooling, children's ministry and just general daily life I've added in even more crafting. Yes, more crafting!  Now you're thinking that should probably have gone the other way.  An opportunity presented itself for my sister and I to share a couple of shelves in a new store in our downtown area.  So we joined creative forces and are now Spotted Owl Handmade Giftables.  We don't have a certain set of crafts we do, we just craft as we please and hope others enjoy.  Not sure if this will be a long term project or not, but we are having fun with it for now.  If you are on facebook we'd love it if you would 'like' us, or follow us on Twitter.  Even if you are far away and can't visit our shelves, we'd love your feedback on items, input and encouragement.       

facebook.com/SpottedOwlGifts or on Twitter @SpottedOwlGifts

Catching Up

Well, apparently I need to re-title my blog - RandomShares at RandomTimes or the Consistently Inconsistent Blogger!  haha!

I'm having a wonderful, mainly event free summer break.  We are taking several weeks off from lessons, and it is feeling good not to have to hit the books everyday!  I have all we need for the next school year which is a big weight off my shoulders.  I really feel like I'm getting a break!  At least from book work anyway, "lessons" are always taking place.

I've been pretty crafty lately, summertime is usually when the craft bug bites.  I've done some more embroidery and will be doing some easy sewing for a few babies that will be born pretty soon. 

I'll be participating in the Read the Bible in 90 Days challenge again.  I really thought it would be a while before I tackled that again, but I saw a few posts here and there about it and felt a strong desire to go for it again.  It starts Monday.  :-)

Praise

Computer troubles and lots of things going on lately are keeping me from blog land.  It seems I tend to have only little season of blogging! 

I love it when I clearly see God moving and working.  I had looked into joining a homeschool group in my area and also possibly helping to start a homeschool co-op in our church.  Well, the Lord clearly shut the door to the whole co-op thing for the time being.  That was a good thing, and felt so by all involved. 

I did join the HS group and what a blessing that has been, even in the short amount of time I've been a member.  I don't think I realized how much I needed "face time" with other homeschooling moms!  There are so many opportunities to fellowship with other homeschoolers, but in a relaxed environment and without having to make a weekly committment.  We've played soccer, went crawdad fishing, and already made new friends.  Praise God, he meets needs I didn't even know I had! 

He is Risen! 

     

Tea Time

Music, Bible teaching, food and lots of fun ladies = wonderful morning fellowship!  I named my table Simple Elegance. 

Super Duper Busy

"I'm running around like a chicken head" - say that in an Indian (from India) accent - I used to work for a doctor and when we got really busy that's what she would say.  It still cracks me up just thinking about it!  She was so cute.  Anyway...... 

That's me this week, at least I still have my head, I think!  I've had work days and meetings at the church this week.  Hopefully, we will be getting a new pastor soon.  We are also preparing for our Ladies Tea, or Simplici-Tea, as we are calling it this year.  Amidst all that I'm trying to deal with our math woes.  I think I have that figured out though.  Math-U-See should be arriving tomorrow for Braden.  Hopefully by Saturday afternoon I'll be able to take a breather!

New 'do

Please excuse the groggy eyes - it's a little early for pictures!  Oh, well.  Jenn and Melissa asked so here's my new hairdo:

It's a little short, but I like it for a change.  She cut off seven inches to start with and went from there.  It probably ended up being around 7 and a half inches.  I had planned on donating it to Locks of Love, but that requires 10 inches.  I was a little disappointed I couldn't do that.  But I would have ended up being "scalped" and dh would absolutely not go for that!  Me either, really.    

Springing and Reading

Well, spring is "springing" down here! We had some pop-up storms yesterday afternoon, which is typical of our North Texas springtime.  I think we must have had a tiny little downburst or whirlwind or something yesterday, because I've never heard the wind come through our chimney like I did yesterday.  I thought the chimney was getting torn off.  Several things were "taken" from our back patio and window screens were torn off too. 


Reading is slow right now. Haven't felt well and my mind has been swirling the last several days. I've been tweaking our schedule and materials a little. I think I'm finally settling down though.  I had to take a step back and really remember the why and the goals for our homeschooling.  That's another post when I have more time. 

I finished "Amish Love". It was so nice of Jenn to share it with me.  It was a good, late night, mindless read. I agree with Jenn it was not very well written, but I did enjoy it.

If anyone is ever interested in reading "Amish" novels I recommend Beverly Lewis. She really incorporates the Amish culture and history into her writing. I feel like I "know" the Amish from reading her books. Her books are very different from books like "Amish Love". I don't consider her books to be "romance" novels at all. I always come away from reading her books wanting to work a little harder and appreciate nature a little more. She is spiritually encouraging as well.  The first series of hers I read was Abram's Daughters beginning with "The Covenant".  That series remains my favorite.     

A few books I have going right now are "Little Men", although I'm not that far into it. I've been reading some Catherine Levison books on Charlotte Mason Education right now too.  As well as "Hearing and Reading, Telling and Writing" by Sonya Shafer from Simply Charlotte Mason.  These last few are helping me to regroup and gather my wits about me!   

I'm Melting, Melting

You know like from the Wizard of Oz   hehe :-)  I've been trying this past week to pull myself out of my "meltdown".  Have you had a homeschool mom meltdown?  You know where you panic, even ever so slightly, that your doing it all wrong.  Well, that's been me this past week.  I think I'm on the upswing now of my little down turn, sticking to my course and really praying for guidance for any changes that need to be made, or none at all.  I'm finding it hard to put into words right now so I'll just keep praying... 

I walked out the back door other day to this scene.  I thought it was funny, took the picture and then got on to them for climing with their guitars in hand.  :-)

Fourteenth Anniversary

We recited these verses during our wedding ceremony fourteen years ago today.  

Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:  Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.  Ruth 1:16-17

Broken Bloom still BLOOMS

y So I have to tell this story  It probably won't mean much to anyone else but I don't want to forget it! 

My 10 year old, Brock, with his own money, picked out a rose for me today.  Too sweet, right?!

Bittersweet to him....He pointed out that it was taped near the top.  His brother, being silly, accidentally knocked the bloom clean off the stem.  Braden felt awful.  Brock was devastated.  His dad offered a rose from his bouquet, he wasn't going for that though - this was the one HE picked!  A little doctoring by dad with some scotch tape - good as new. 

I probably would have never know if he hadn't pointed it out; except that he looked so sad and teary eyed when he gave it to me.  I could feel his disappointment.  It brought tears to my eyes as he told me what happened.  Of course not because my flower was broken, but because it obviously meant a lot to his 10 year old little heart.  He will realize someday, it's not really the actual flowers that matter, but the heart behind it. 

My heart sure was in bloom!

Happy Valentine's Day

Love this vintage Valentine!  I just stumbled upon it - here. 

Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. Jude 1:2

 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8



Snow Icing

Well, apparently, 4-5 inches of SNOW, yes, REAL, BEAUTIFUL, POWDERY SNOW, is the icing on our icy cake this week! 

Looks like I need to go clean out the birdfeeder.  I love those snow flocked evergreen trees in the background.  Snow is better than ice!

What's in a Name?

Well, on Wednesday it was a Cafe Mocha and the name was "Melanie". 

A Starbucks nearby takes your order and then asks your name.  I've always politely said "Sharity", making sure to enunciate as clearly as I'm able.  Still, I don't know if they don't hear it correctly, or possibly the handwriting is so bad they can't read it, but it always comes out anything but Sharity!  A favorite among friends (we all got a good laugh at that girls night out) SHANTY. 

So why do they bother if they aren't even going to get it right....or not even try.  Sometimes I'll be patiently waiting and "Jim" will get his coffee, next "Gina", and then "Beth" but then, oh, they get to mine and I'm the "uh, EggNog Latte". Gee, thanks!  Anyway, I guess they do try, it's just kind of silly if you ask me.  They really don't care what my name is.  And I'm really okay with that, I usually just want my coffee anyway.

I was sort of frustrated the other day, after once again, politely saying "Sharity", they call out "Sh-are-tee". Lovely, just lovely.  That would be me, I guess.  So thinking it over I thought it would be fun to just give some random name next time.  I DID!  I kind of shocked myself when "Melanie" came out!  hehe it was kind of fun. 

I did feel a little guilty though, after all that is not my name.  "Thou shalt not lie."  hmm  It's kind of funny, because I picked "Melanie" since in my mind she is a gracious, humble, meek, loyal, forgiving, lovely southern lady in 'Gone With the Wind'.  And here I am lying telling the guy at Starbucks my name is "Melanie", when in fact it is really Sharity!  Great!  Not being a very consistent Christian now am I?!  All in good fun, I guess.

Since 'Gone With the Wind' is one of my favorites - first choice, among many I suppose, would be 'Scarlett', right?  Now I'll not go into an in depth character analysis and comparison of Scarlett and Melanie, but growing up I thought Scarlett was just fabulous.  I even wanted to name my little girl Scarlett.  However, in my Bible reading and studying a couple of years back, I was mulling over what it meant to be a Godly wife and mother and it suddenly hit me!  (See Proverbs 31 and Titus 2:3-5) The movie popped into my head out of nowhere.  (I guess the Lord was giving me an illustration!)  It's not Scarlett in her selfish, me-first, try and have it all my way attitude I should have been holding in such high esteem all these years, it's Melanie, an honest to goodness all 'round sweet spirit!  Truly an a-ha moment.  Love it!

A sweet spirit and cafe mocha - that's what's in the name.  I had fun with my alias, not sure if I'll continue or not, but if I do I'll let you know what name I went with and why. ;-)