Coffee Talk 2.26.10

Happy Friday! Coffee Talk is my favorite time of the week so come on in and sit a minute.

Brevity is not really my gift, but I really think it should just be short and sweet this morning.

We have had a busy week and will continue to have a busy weekend. F.B. had a basketball game Monday night. I think his team has only lost one game and he is so excited to be in first place. Next week, the tournament starts and he is so excited! Tuesday night we had dance and then met Tigerfan and F.B. at our local Jason's Deli. It was a fundraising night for our church and it was so fun...tons of folks there! Tigerfan and F.B. then had to cut out for a class they are taking. It is a "Just For Boys" kind of class. VERY informative, if you know what I mean. But very worth it because he is getting good, accurate information with an abstinence approach. It has also been good for his daddy and him to have some bonding time. Wed. night was church and all those related activities and Thursday night was cheer leading practice, basketball practice and F.B.'s last class. Tonight is guitar, dance and a basketball game.

Tomorrow, we will watch our last two Upward games and have the awards ceremony. Dancer is super excited because she gets to lead the half-time cheer! So, it has been busy BUT, for the first time since F.B. was 4, none of our kids are playing baseball! Usually we go straight from Upward into baseball season, but not this year! At first, it was a little sad but now I am just thinking of all those free nights and weekends and I am a bit excited!

Yesterday, Dancer brought a friend home from tutorial. I was looking forward to a nice, quiet afternoon. I was even gonna work on those book shelves and get them all straightened up for this post! And, indeed, they played quite well together. Unfortunately, about an hour before it was time to go, I began to assess the mess. It seems they had decided to pretend that they were teachers that were going to Africa to teach children about Jesus. And, as you know, you must pack A LOT of stuff when you are going to Africa to teach people about Jesus. A LOT. Like ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ITEM OF CLOTHING FROM HER CLOSET!!! They literally had every bag they could find packed with clothes. Sunday clothes, dress up clothes, play clothes. I am pretty sure they could have outfitted several of the children they were planning on teaching. The mess extended to almost every room of the house. And then they got bored and decided to move onto an art project where they felt the need to open a bottle of Elmer's glue, pour it out on a plate and stick their whole hands in it...lovely!

On the upside. I was totally nice! I didn't scream OR throw a tantrum and I even helped clean up the messes. Okay, maybe I didn't help clean until I realized that they were "cleaning" by throwing all the clothes in the dirty clothes hamper and then I felt the need to monitor the process, but I DID help! After the friend left, I started discussing how next time they needed to play with the dress up clothes but leave her good clothes in the closet. She looked at me with those precious brown eyes and said, "but Momma, we were doing it to tell people about Jesus!" How can I argue with that? Next time, I am just gonna lock the closet!

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend! For more Coffee Talk, go to Home Sanctuary.

The Simple Woman's Daybook 2.22.10

FOR TODAY
2/22/10...

Outside my window...Dark and cold. It is way too late to be blogging but I won't have time in the morning!

I am thinking... about going to bed. Too many nights of little sleep make for a grumpy mommy!

I am thankful for...a great school day! Even got in a run with B.B. Those workboxes really are helping out!

From the learning rooms...tomorrow is tutorial for the middle kids and for me. F.B. will do the usual at a friends'

From the kitchen...Tonight, Nana and Papaw took us to eat Pizza. Tomorrow night is a church fundraiser at Jason's Deli. Wednesday night we will eat at church. Thursday night is find what you can do to too many activities and date night. Maybe we will use the kitchen Friday!

I am wearing...P.J.'s, hopefully I will be crawling into bed soon!

I am creating... ???

I am going...to BED! Do you see a theme here?

I am reading...Bible, my Bible Study and Beth Moore's "So Long Insecurity"

I am hoping...to run at least three days this week. I really don't enjoy it but people keep telling me I will if I keep it up. I'm skeptical.

I am hearing... the T.V., probably Tigerfan's snoring soon!

Around the house...Very productive day! Laundry got done, ironing got done and I even vacuumed the house! Along with an uncanny number of dead ladybugs. It makes one wonder why my house seems to have become a ladybug graveyard???

One of my favorite things...Low stress school days! AHHHHHH!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Same ole thing. Although this is the last week for Upward basketball and for the first time in about 8 or 9 years, neither of the boys has decided to play baseball!!! That means we will actually have some free weekends this spring!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing... This is what happens when you send a two year old into the bathroom to get tissue for his nose and he decides to "help" by cleaning for you. Let me just say that my floors haven't been this clean in a LONG time!

Coffee Talk 2.19.10

Good Morning fellow Company Girls! Hope everyone is doing well this morning! I have nothing delicious to offer you today but you are more than welcome to come in for some sweet fellowship!

I am hungry for some good "girl time" today. I have gotten hopelessly behind on blogs this week and even missed getting around to all of you last weekend. I missed you and hope to do better this time around!

We had a great weekend with family! My husband's sister and her family came for a visit and our nephew spent most of his time with us. He was highly entertaining. He kept us laughing most of the time but my favorite thing he said was after watching one of the boys play basketball Friday night and then getting ready to watch the other play on Saturday. He declared, "I know someone who can play basketball. They are called the Saints. And they are better than you, cause they won the Superbowl!" I think we are gonna have to get him this summer and give him a little tutorial on sports!

We had more snow the beginning of the week, but it has ceased to have much of an effect around here. Schools went on as usual, although many were already out for President's day. This year, my children discovered that other schools get out and were a little distressed that our home school was still "in session". I guess the days of them cluelessly working through holidays are over! They will be glad, though, when we have a day in the spring. They will. THEY WILL BE GLAD!

That is about all that is exciting around here. The rest of the week has just been more of the same busy. This weekend, Dancer has a FULL social calendar with a play date, dance, overnight dance party, cheer leading and a birthday party all by 5:30 tomorrow night. The boys have basketball and Tigerfan's new to him truck died yesterday so it will all have to be accomplished with one vehicle! Good times!

How thankful I am for my Bible Study and the perfectly timed encouragement it brings. This week, we have been discussing God's mercy and grace. I would like to encourage anyone who has not experienced that amazing grace of God to just seek Him! I love that, though I have been a christian for thirty years, His grace is still at work on me. I am just a sinner. I am SO unworthy. I mess up every day in a hundred ways. Usually in the ways I KNOW I am going to mess up and should be prepared.

Tigercub is in a trying stage right now. He is into everything! And I mean EVERYTHING! And when he hears no, a fit is coming. A BIG one. Look out because toys are gonna fly! Everyday is filled with screaming and tantrums and flying books and Noah's ark animals. Everyday, I wake up preparing myself for the onslaught and trying to figure out a more effective way to calm the attacks. I don't really enjoy being around him right now. But I love that little guy like crazy. He is so cute! And when he wraps his little arms around me and kisses my cheek or looks at me and says, "dank-do" (thank you), it melts my heart a little bit and all those fits and rages just melt away. I know he will throw the fit again. I know we will have to defend ourselves from flying giraffes at any given moment but I have a greater hope that he will outgrow the tantrums and grow into the little guy that God created him to be. That is what I think about right now with God's grace for me.

He knew I was going to mess up. But He sent His son to die for me anyway. He knew, as a christian, I would struggle every day, but His grace covers me...not just once, but over and over, continually forgiving and nudging me in the direction of holiness. How amazing is that grace! How undeserving I am! Nothing I can do can ever earn it, and yet God freely gives it day by day, sometimes moment by moment!

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--NOT BY WORKS, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

I know many of you are going through stuggles and trials right now, just know His grace is sufficient and many of us would LOVE to pray and lift you up! Just let us know. Let me know. Leave me a note in the comments and let me come beside you in prayer! And most importantly, if you have never experienced the grace of God in salvation. I pray you would seek Him. Ask me or Rachel Anne or many of the other Company Girls, find a pastor, or just start studying the Word of God. You will be so glad to rest in His loving, forgiving arms.

Finally, I wanted to leave you with our latest family photo. We had these made for my mother in law at Christmas and I think they turned out mighty cute!

















Ya'll have a blessed weekend and I will do my best to visit with everyone! For more Coffee Talk, go to Home Sanctuary!

Another Milestone

It was inevitable. We knew it would have to happen eventually. I just didn't think it would be this soon.

Tigercub...has learned to open the refrigerator! People, this just cannot be considered good! I foresee many ugly messes in my future and I don't think I am prepared.

Do they make child proof locks for refrigerator doors?

The Simple Woman's Daybook 2.15.10

FOR TODAY February 15, 2010...

Outside my window...another layer of fresh snow from last night. This time just about an inch so it is pretty but, hopefully, won't shut everything down again. I am so thankful not to be buried in it, but to be honest, I am READY FOR SPRING!

I am thinking... about how to "get it all done" today. I really need a clone!

I am thankful for... a wonderful weekend with my husband's sister and her family. My nephew stayed with us most of the weekend and provided lots of comic relief.

From the learning rooms...much to my children's frustration, this does apply. For the first time ever, my children realize that all the other schools are out today for President's Day but we are going strong. They are NOT happy with me but we are in a good routine and pattern and I don't want to rock the boat...they will be glad when we have the freedom to take a day off in the spring when it is pretty!

From the kitchen... leftovers, cleaning out the fridge! Tomorrow, chicken and dumplings, mmmmm!

I am wearing... P.J.'s but that will be changing very soon!

I am creating... I hope a clean house today...keep your fingers crossed!

I am going... to stay inside where it is warm today. And if all goes well, the house will get cleaner as a result!

I am reading... My Bible and Bible Study and Beth Moore's "So Long Insecurity"

I am hoping...For a smooth school day and for time to clean this house (yes, I am a little obsessed... I cannot stand it!)

I am hearing...The hum of the heater, what a beautiful sound!

Around the house... Declutter, vacuum, dust, scrub bathrooms and hopefully clean countertops.

One of my favorite things... a weekend spent with family

A few plans for the rest of the week:tutorial, dance, basketball, cheerleading, guitar, church, choir...just another week in Paradise! :)

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...Snow days! We have enjoyed you...now, please go away and bring on Spring!!!

Coffee Talk 2.12.10

Good Morning ladies! I only have a minute this morning so this will be brief. I know, you are saying I say that every week and it is never brief. That is true, but I am going to try!

We have had another cold week around here. A couple more days snowed in and more snow predicted the beginning of next week. Nothing compared to Washington D.C. but enough to shut things down around here (which actually doesn't take much!). I have been the mean mommy that has made my children do school despite the fact that every other school in three counties has been closed. I have been trying to convince them that that is preferable to be doing school in June...they are not convinced. But, hah! I have the final say!

I must admit that, despite the fact that I am a homebody and the fact that we would be home doing school anyway...I have begun to experience cabin fever. I was SO glad to get out of the house yesterday. Ya know, you can only make so many bead necklaces and block towers before it really starts to get to you.

Last night while the big kids were at there selected activities, I decided to run into Target to get Valentines goodies since the weather and business had kind of kept me from that. People, I know it is close but really...the aisles were CLEANED OUT!!! There was nothing but cherry flavored Snickers or something! What is the deal. Someone forgot to tell Target to order extra so the day after Valentines I can go stock up on lovely goodies at 50% off. Not only that, but there was already Easter candy and supplies EVERYWHERE!!! Seriously, one holiday at a time, people!

We had another great week of Bible Study. I am loving this study. My challenge this week is to be so filled up with Jesus that I just "slosh Him out all over the place" which is how Angela Thomas describes it. I am not there yet. But I think I have been more aware this week of what I am doing and saying and HOW I am doing and saying, especially to my children.

As for small things...I don't want to talk about it! I started off so well. Anyway, we have company coming today and I promised my nephew some sugar cookies so I must go bake and do school and get ready for haircuts, dance, guitar.... you understand. I hope you all have a blessed week! And no matter what is going on, remember, your saviour is ENTHRALLED by you so be encouraged!

For more Coffee Talk, go to HomeSanctuary.

Daybook 2.8.2010

FOR TODAY February 8, 2010...

Outside my window... It is COLD and they are predicting more winter weather headed our way! Why did that groundhog have to see his shadow anyway?

I am thinking... We are gonna be in TROUBLE if we get snowed in again because I haven't been to the grocery store!

I am thankful for... this:
It has given me several nights peaceful sleep without the aid of Benadryl! Thank you Gold Bond people!

From the learning rooms...BUSY day! I had to fit 14 workboxes into 12. F.B. is NOT going to be happy with me. Especially coming off a youth weekend where they went to bed at 2 a.m. each night.

From the kitchen... Any suggestions?

I am wearing...P.J.'s but will be trading that in in just a minute for a nice warm sweatshirt and comfy pants! Must be warm and comfortable to tackle this day!

I am creating...

I am going...to the grocery store if I have time, although that isn't really looking like a possibility.

I am reading... My Bible and my Bible Study, that is all I have time for. Although I would love to get my hands on Beth Moore's new book, So Long Insecurity.

I am hoping...For a more peaceful school day than what I am preparing for and for a deeper desire and hunger for God.

I am hearing...The hum of the computer and the clicking of the keys. I LOVE this time of day!

Around the house... Just the regular. Laundry, dusting, vacuuming and a little decluttering along the way wouldn't hurt a bit!

One of my favorite things... Weekends with family and friends. And when hubby's team wins the Super Bowl, that doesn't hurt, either!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Same ole routine, tutorial, dance, guitar, basketball, cheerleading, church, choir, Bible Study. This weekend, Tigerfan's sister and her family will come so that should be fun!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...


I am not a football fan, but this has been all the talk around my house. My husband has been a fan his whole life and is one excited boy right now! Congrats Saints!

For more Daybooks go to The Simple Woman's Daybook.

CoffeeTalk 2.5.10

Ack! Imagine my horror a few minutes ago as I was drying my hair and I realized...I FORGOT today was Coffee Talk! I didn't have a post ready or anything. Ladies, that is tragic! I mean, I even posted last Friday on Science Fair day in the midst of a winter storm...surely I can manage today!

So, here I am (I know you are breathing a collective sigh of relief)! Grab a drink of your choosing, it'll be cool, crisp water around here, and pull up a computer chair!

This week has been amazingly calm. We did indeed have our Science Fair last Friday. Where we live, we had gotten a bit of the storm but in the "big city" where all the hoopla was to take place, they hadn't gotten much. So we decided to proceed early hoping to get the judging done and get home before the big weather hit. We anticipated our husbands being our only judges and headed into town. My friend, who kept my kids, even offered up her husband as a judge and travelling aide, in case I needed it!

About the time we got to the church...the sleet began. We loaded everything in, moved our cars and started setting up. Before we could get all the projects out, judges began showing up. In the sleet. Amazing! In all, at least half of our judges plus a few last minute volunteer judges showed up! It was amazing. Of course, in the craziness of it all, I forgot to take a single picture! By the time we were through, about 12:30, the weather had gotten worse. The sleet had turned to snow and we already had about 2 or 3 inches. (I know, you northerners are making fun right now, but we don't get that down south)! I went to pull my vehicle up to load it back up and I couldn't back out. It seems I had parked on a very slight incline, but that is all it took! I couldn't get out. One of the husbands offered to back it out for me...and HE couldn't get it out, it was just too slick. Finally, another husband had to come stand on the back and weight the car down and it backed right up. That was all the incentive I needed to get home and STAY THERE!

We stayed in the house for two solid days! It was GLORIOUS! After all the stress and craziness it was pure heaven! Sunday, Tigerfan tried to venture out. He backed out of the drive, slid into a ditch and came right back!

Monday found us back to normal and we got on our regular school schedule. We got caught up on projects that had been pushed to the back burner during the Science Fair AND we got a call from F.B.'s teacher. He won 1st place in his division for Science Fair. Now we get to go to Regional. The best part, all we have to do is show up. The project is DONE and I have no part of planning or organizing the next one! Woot! He is SO excited and SO proud of himself. Eventually, I will post a picture of him with his project...you know, when I actually take one.

Everything else has gotten back to normal. The snow has melted and I have managed every small thing this week! I LOVED Monday's prayer small thing...how beautiful to join together with you lovely ladies in prayer! B.B. had a wonderful time running all over the house finding tags for me to cut off things. When we started running out, he even offered up the underwear he had on his body...just to up the count. Now THAT is sacrifice! On the groundhog task, I finally put in our first semester grades and I slid by with an easy menu for last night! Yippee!

This weekend it is back to normal with guitar, dance, a youth weekend for F.B., cheerleading, basketball and church. Somehow, it is easier to handle after last week's break!

As for Bible Study, it is going well. I probably won't win facilitator of the year, but I'll just hang that non honor right up with the non mother of the year award! I am getting a lot out of the study, though and that is what really matters. This week we are talking about hungering for righteousness.

As if this post hasn't been long enough, I want to share a quick moment about that. I decided a few weeks ago to train for a 5K, (that lasted up until snow...I cannot train in these conditions! said with as much dramatic flair as a computer will allow!) The only time I can really find to run is right after lunch. I can put Tigercub down for a nap and let F.B. watch the other kids while I am gone. Well, one day, I had fed the kids but not myself and Tigercub was already down. I was STARVING! but I knew that if I didn't go run, I would miss the opportunity. So, I pushed the hunger aside and went. Of course, when I got home, the kids had school questions and there was cleaning up and I needed a shower and the baby woke up...I totally forgot my hunger. It wasn't until I was cooking dinner that I realized I had never eaten and I was HUNG-A-RY!

Isn't that, so often, how we live our christian life. I start out great in the morning with a hunger for my savior...and then, I get busy. Before I know it, it is time to go to bed and in the business of the day, I have forgotten to enjoy the feast God has laid out for me. How much have a missed? How many blessings? How much nourishment that my soul is craving because I have allowed the business of the ordinary to cause me to forget my hunger! My prayer today is that I will "Hunger and thirst for righteousness" so I can be filled!

Blessings, sweet Company girls! Have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to go to Home Sanctuary for more Coffee Talk!

They Have a Way With Words

Baseball Boy and Football Boy got into several altercations yesterday involving physical retaliation. In Bible we are studying gentleness and they were supposed to be looking for opportunities to "practice" being gentle. OBVIOUSLY, the point was not getting across.

After yet another incident after lunch, I had had enough. I told them both to get a piece of paper, a dictionary and a Bible and to write the definition of gentle, look up five verses about gentleness and write them out and then write a paragraph on what gentleness is and how it can be accomplished.

F.B. quickly followed through. A few minutes later, B.B. also brought me his paper. He had the definition. He had the verses. And then he had his paragraph. It began like this: "Gentleness means generous and kind. We can show it by not getting our panties all up in a wad when someone is mean to us."

I'm pretty sure he gets his writing skills from his dad.

The Simple Woman's Daybook 2.1.10

FOR TODAY February 2, 2010

Outside my window... The pond has a layer of ice over the top and is glistening. I can still see tracks in the snow from the children's "redneck sledding" over the weekend. What is that you may ask? Well, in places like West TN where we are not prepared for 10 inches of snow, we don't have sleds etc. for winter fun. SO, last year my husband designed a homemade "sled" wherein he tied the aluminum boat to his four wheeler and drug the kids all over the yard. It was a hit and was replayed this weekend!

I am thinking...how excited I am that Science Fair is OVER! We did indeed get a winter storm and toyed with calling it off. Instead, we decided to go ahead and just judge even if no judges showed up...we would just use our husbands! As a testament to our incredible judges...we had a great turnout and now it is over!!!! It was a slippery drive home, but totally worth it!

I am thankful for... a weekend of being snowed in and being forced to stay home. We ate, watched movies, played in the snow (okay, I didn't play in the snow), played games, ate and slept in! It was a weekend straight from Heaven!

From the learning rooms...back to the grindstone. This week will be catch up after several consumed with Science Fair. Both B.B. and Dancer have projects due this week that have been put on the back burner...they just got moved to the front!

From the kitchen...Well, due to being snowed in and doing a lot of eating, the cabinets are a bit bare. I am going to have to go see what is there and work some magic!

I am wearing...P.J.'s, not a good way to start off the morning of catch up!

I am creating...I hope a home where my children know they are LOVED, not only by us but by a Heavenly Father who adores them. I want to be a picture of that loving God to them, not an angry, judgemental one that I am afraid they see too often.

I am going...today, nowhere. again. and I LOVE it!

I am reading...Only the scripture and my Bible Study.

I am hoping...for a return to some simplicity after the craziness of the past couple of months.

I am hearing...Tigercub announcing that he is awake and ready to get up. I must hurry or his crib organizer will be on the floor and emptied out!

Around the house...Well, you would think that 2 1/2 days of being home with nothing going on, my house would be in order. You would be wrong...although I did manage to vacuum up the floor in the kitchen, you can no longer make a meal there. Today we will strip beds and catch up on laundry and HOPEFULLY scrub bathrooms, dust, and vacuum. I think those plans are a little too ambitious but I am willing to give it the ole college try!

One of my favorite things... SNOWED IN WEEKENDS!!!

A few plans for the rest of the week: We have LOTS going on! Dance twice this week, guitar twice this week, church, choir, and Bible Study, B.B. practice and cheerleading practice and games this weekend.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Finally downloaded pics from Christmas. This is from my brother's visit. Are those boys adorable or what?

For more Daybooks go to The Simple Woman's Daybook.