Coffee Talk 12.23.11

Good Morning!

I hope today finds everyone full of holiday spirit and doing well!  I just put a pan of Cinnamon Roll muffins in the oven (a Pinterest find) and expect to have the house full of cinnamon goodness very soon!

We also have some fudge, Oreo truffles and some unbaked sugar cookies tucked away for any of you sweet tooths!

This year, I have tried to pair down our holiday activities.  I haven’t made as many treats (we don’t need them), we haven’t done as many “Christmas” activities, we have mostly been home or visiting with friends...and I have liked it!

For those that have been around here long, you may remember a couple of years ago when I said I longed to have a 3 am friend.  I have plenty of friends, but I haven’t had that really close girlfriend in a long time and I have longed for it.  Well, this week, a friend invited my children and I over for breakfast so we could talk, she ended up keeping my little ones for an hour while Tigerfan and I went to get our adoption physical.  When I got back to her house, we ate...four hours later we ate again...and an hour after that, we finally went home.  It was such beautiful, sweet fellowship and such a gift from God!  Something my heart has yearned for and yet so unexpected!

Another Christmas blessing has been the completion (almost) of our home study application.  All we lack are pictures of each room in our house (the camera batteries died mid photo-shoot) which I hope to finish up today and a letter from the director of our home school tutorial saying I really do teach there.  This is a HUGE accomplishment!  I had no idea what that entailed until we were in the midst of it!  20 something pages, an autobiography from my husband and from me, physicals for the whole family, gathering birth certificates and marriage certificate, finding references...it has been a huge undertaking and we are HOPING to mail it off Monday!!!  Tigerfan has been absolutely amazing...what was completely overwhelming to me, he just grabbed onto and plowed forward and here we are!  Our next step is to get our fingerprinting and local background checks and start on passport applications!  Things are moving along.

To that end, I, who have NEVER had trouble sleeping...cannot sleep anymore.  I go to bed thinking about orphans and I wake up at night thinking of them.  My new routine is to pray for those children, pray for their caregivers, pray for those who might choose them until I fall asleep each night.  And as I wake up during the night, my prayers continue.  I never saw the needs of the fatherless around us until my husband began to mention adoption...and now, I cannot ignore it.  147 million orphans.  147 million children who will go to bed fatherless.  Many who will age out of the orphange with no family and no hope.  Many who will be “sold” into prostitution or forced into military service.  147 million children who long for a family.  My heart is broken for them and for their plight.

So, this year...if you need a cause, if you need a place for your end of the year giving and your heart is tender towards these little ones, consider seeking out an organization that gives hope to the hopeless.  There are so many:  Sixty Feet (who you can help right now by voting for a grant), Amazima, My Father’s House, PeopleWeaver...there are SO many more!  Our eyes have been opened to the needs of those that cannot help themselves and we can no longer ignore them or pretend they don’t exist.  James 1:27 says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”  This Christmas, while we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the savior of the World, a little piece of our hearts will be in an orphanage on the other side of the world.  Hopefully, next Christmas, there will be one less orphan, one less who is fatherless, a little girl who will hug the neck of Tigerfan and call him daddy.  But there are so many more.  Please, this holiday season...pray for those who have never even heard of the Light of the World and consider what you can do.

On that note, our other exciting news is that our fundraising "stuff" has come in this week!  We got our paper bead necklaces from PeopleWeaver and they are completely beautiful!!!  We also got some beauty products from Ladybug Blessings that we will be using to do a brochure sell!  I'm excited to try them out...I just wish that we would have started earlier cause this stuff would have made great Christmas presents...maybe Valentine's???  Anyway, a friend of mine has also found a good price on Ugandan vanilla beans, so I am also hoping to make some Ugandan vanilla extract!  It is exciting to see these things coming together...I'll keep you posted, and if you happen to be in the market for some rockin' Ugandan Paper beads or some oatmeal soap...I can hook you up!!!

Don’t forget to visit Home Sanctuary for more Coffee Talk.

Coffee Talk 12.16.11

Good morning!

How can it possibly be Friday already?  By the same logic, how can it almost be Christmas already!

It has been a busy week at the Tigerden, as I'm sure it has been at everyone's house!  If you stopped by last Friday, you know Science Fair is over!!!  Sort of.  FB's project took second place, so we are going to Regionals.  I have mixed feelings about this.  It will look great on college applications to have gone to a Regional Science Fair as a high schooler.  However, it also means more work...which I will have to coerce out of him...again!  Ugh!

In other news, while we are pretty well finished with our Christmas shopping for everyone else.  I have NOTHING for Tigerfan except a wallet and some cologne that he was with me when I purchased.  Nothing, nada, zip.  In fact, I don't even have an IDEA for him.  Early on in our relationship, I LOVED shopping for him.  I loved trying to surprise him and get him something he didn't even know he wanted.  I soon realized that he didn't know he wanted it...because he didn't want it.  After a couple of years of getting my feelings hurt because my hard searched gifts were returned or unused, I learned it is just better to get specifics...like really specific (sweet OCD man)!  These days, it is tell me the exact shirt at the exact store and the exact size, or better yet go pick out the exact item and I will wrap it up for you.  I know this sounds a little harsh but it is the only way I know he will be happy.  The problem, this year he can't think of a single thing he wants or needs and he doesn't want me to spend much needed money just to have something.  Which is totally logical, but I am full of pride.  I know that he has been out and about ordering, shopping and he has a stockpile of little somethings for me and I don't want to be outdone...isn't that so American!  So I am struggling to come up with little things to make him happy so I can be happy!  How crazy is that!  I have already told him that I want next year to be different.  I don't want to buy a thousand gifts for rich spoiled Americans that don't know what it means to be in need.  (That is us, by the way).  I at least want to scale back...a lot and buy gifts that will support others who are truly in need...anyway, this year, I've got nothin' and I am running out of time!

Anyway, this week has been full.  We had a Christmas party for the kids at our apartment ministry, we did LOADS of laundry when Tigerfan finally got our new washing machine installed, after searching all over this city for a Christmassy dress for Dancer, I gave up and sewed her a dress very last minute, we have filled out MOUNTAINS of paperwork (and have mountains more to work on), we had Children's Choir Share time at church and Christmas parties at Tutorial.  But now, we are winding down.  We are done with Tutorial until next year and hopefully I can be a nice mom and take it easy on the schooling at home (except math, we MUST do math).  FB has three service projects this weekend so he is racking up his service hours and we have basketball practice and last minute shopping but HOPEFULLY next week will be filled with friends in our home, late nights of playing games and laughing and enjoying the simple things.

"The dress"

In adoption news, we are ALMOST finished filling out the Home Study book, er, I mean application.  We have pretty much laid our entire life out for the free world to examine and judge.  We have mailed off requests, paid out ridiculous amounts of money, and are just steps away from celebrating the end so we can begin the orphanage application!  Oy Vey!  It will be totally worth it, though.  This weeks stress out moment is stemming from a great opportunity.  A friend of mine is hosting an adoption open house in her home on January 3.  It is an opportunity for several families in the area who are in the process of adoption to bring their "stuff" to sell and help raise funds for their adoptions.  The problem, we are so deep in paperwork, that we haven't really taken that step, so this week I realized...I have NOTHING to sell and very little talent to "craft" with.  Yesterday, I purchased a few Ugandan paper bead necklaces to sell (love this idea because it supports the people of Uganda), that is all I've got.  Today, I am going to call a lady I've been emailing from a site called Ladybug Blessings about trying to get some of their products.  I am also considering purchasing some Ugandan vanilla beans and making/selling homemade vanilla extract (again, it supports Ugandan economy) which I like.  That is all I have.  The thing is...it is scary spending a lot of money HOPING people will want to buy the products, especially because we just do not have a lot to spend right now...you have to spend money to make money...but geez!  So, any ideas?  My husband says I could sew some of the outfits I make for Dancer and they would probably sell...but I am no professional, I'm not really an expert seamstress and I hate to sell something that isn't top quality.  I've also considered preparing meals (maybe frozen) for people or making baked goods for them.  What do you think?  Any amazing ideas out there?

Oh, one last thing.  I got the TWO most precious gifts I have ever received from students yesterday.  The first...a check for our adoption fund.  Our first contribution...tearing up right now!  The second, a student purchased a chick in my name for a person in a needy country...how completely precious is that?  THAT is what next year's Christmas is going to look like in the Tigerden!

Okay, I have rambled enough!  Can't wait to visit with all of you, hope you have an amazing weekend and don't forget to go to Home Sanctuary for more Coffee Talk (not everyone will be as long winded as me)!

Coffee Talk

If you are reading this post than there is rejoicing in the Tigerden...because Science Fair is through.  I am either at the judging or at home doing the Happy Dance.  Ask me next week and I will tell you what an incredible experience it is.  I will hail all its many attributes.  I will tell you how much the children learn by participating in this event.  Ask me this weekend, and, well, my opinion might be different.

At this point...I don't care if we place.  I don't care if we go to regional.  I don't care if we make a good showing at regional.  All I care about is saying, "We're done!  We're done!  We're done!"

So, here are some things I have learned from this year's Science Fair:

• It does not matter how many times I say, "You need three abstracts and one must go in the top, left corner of the board and DO NOT CUT IT!"...at least 1/3 of my class will, in fact, NOT have three copies, it will be cut down AND at least 3 children will put it in the wrong place on the board.  I am convinced, now, that that is because when I speak Science Fair, my students hear the Charlie Brown teacher voice.
• It does not matter that my high school student has done a project every year since fifth grade, somehow between November of one year and the beginning of Science Fair the next all Science Fair knowledge somehow leaks out of his brain and he reverts back to the clueless 5th grader.
• Choosing a project that supposedly interests previously mentioned high schooler in no way increases their excitement about research, experimentation, compiling data or putting together a board.
• It does, however, make the mother want to yank all her hair out because she is completely clueless as to what they are doing and yet seems to be doing all the leg work.
• Assuming that next year will be better because they have another year of experience behind them AND they will be that much more mature is kind of like assuming it will be more fun to pay your taxes next year because you got so much practice this year!
• Celebrating the end of Science Fair is right up there with chocolate and Diet Coke...in fact, I think I will celebrate WITH chocolate and Diet Coke and this could possibly rank as one of the ten best days of the year!

And now, the focus returns to adoption.  We have decided to stick with the original agency...I think, so hopefully this weekend will be spent filling out papers and getting our ducks in a row.  I am also trying to think of ways to begin raising money...cause it is gonna take a LOT!  I've also been asked by the Orphan Care group at church to try to help find donations for a silent auction to raise money for the ministry.  That really isn't my gift...really!  If anyone has any inspiration as to what to get, let me know. Or, if you happen to have a car or a week's vacation laying around that you don't know what to do with, I would be the BOMB if I brought in a draw like that!  Right now, it looks like my contribution might be...well, I think I have an unused photo album in a dresser drawer somewhere.  Maybe a nice freezer meal?  Hmmmm, I might have to think a little on that!

Still feeling a bit overwhelmed by all that is going on (see here) but we are choosing to just have faith.  And now, I'm off to the judging...by 3:00, there WILL be a celebratory Diet Coke I can assure you...and I don't even care if I've had my eight glasses of water yet.  I'm a rebel like that!

Make sure to head over to Home Sanctuary for more Coffee Talk!

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!

Coffee Talk 1.22.10

Happy Friday! Hope everyone has had a great week! It has been a whirlwind around here and the next week will prove to be the same! I only have a moment this morning and then the craziness will begin!

We are in the last week before Science Fair. Next Friday is the big day (thank goodness), and then we can all take a big sigh of relief. Before then, we must find a few more judges, finish our project, I must grade my class' projects and we must do all the last minute preparations.

We have the two oldest boys playing in basketball games this weekend and Dancer is cheering in another one.

This is also birthday week around here. My little princess will turn 7 years old tomorrow! I can hardly believe how fast the time has gone. I can remember not being willing to believe she was a girl. And then drowning her in pink everything when she really was. Everyone told me with two older brothers she would be a tomboy. And she can hold her own with those boys. But she is as girly as girly comes. My little splash of pretty pink in a world of sports and cars and balls and mud! She loves to read with me, cook with me, and momma Tigercub with me. I am SO grateful that God saw fit to add one little girl to our house of boys!

On Wednesday, we will celebrate Tigerfan's birthday and then next Saturday is my Mother In Law's. It will be a cake extravaganza around here!

I would love to stay and chat longer, but we have school and Science projects, and papers and guitar and dance and a ball game to do today. Somewhere in there, I would like to run...I have talked B.B. into training for a 5K with me, and if I do not go to the grocery store, we are going to have to start stripping wood off furniture to gnaw on.

I hope you have a blessed weekend! I will try to get around to visiting, but I don't know how far I'll get this week! Be sure to go to Home Sanctuary for more Coffee Talk.

Coffee Talk 1.15.10

Good Morning, ladies! Come on in and grab a cup of ...hot chocolate? Or maybe some nice cool water! That is my drink of choice. For several years I have made myself drink my eight glasses of water before I drink anything else, but lately I have "fallen off the wagon". This week, I have been trying to get back into the habit. I have had some great days and some Diet Coke at 10:00 a.m. days....but I am getting there!

Would you like a Krispy Kreme donut? Tigerfan has been out of town and brought them home as a treat. So far, I have been good and haven't consumed a single one...but I need them out of this house!

I look forward to, hopefully, getting around to everyone and visiting this week. I have hardly even stepped foot into blogland this week. I am BOGGED down with Science Fair, getting Science Fair judges, beginning our new Bible Study, and teaching both my children and my tutorial class. To top it off, Tigerfan has been out of town so I have been a single mother and I have been swamped. Hopefully, this weekend will provide a bit of a rest and some time for a little visitin' although, to be perfectly honest I didn't make it through last week...there were like 66 of us!!!! Which is totally great but I got through about half and then just plumb ran out of time. Hopefully I can make it around this week!

I guess I already told you a bit about the week. But the high/lowlights would be:

• My new Bible Study. I am going out on a limb and have agreed to facilitate it which, frankly, scares me to death. But I am really excited. At first we were planning to do "One in a Million" by Priscilla Shirer but due to some issues we ended up choosing one our church already had so we are doing "My Life as a Beautiful Offering" by Angela Thomas. I LOVE Angela Thomas. So, I am looking forward to this study. We met Wed. and I did my testimony, but now must wait two weeks to actually start because of some special programming at church next week.
• Science Fair. Hmmm, where to begin. I am the greatest advocate of the Science Fair. Until this time of year when projects are about to be due. Then, I HATE SCIENCE FAIR! I do this every year. I get so wrapped up in helping my class, that I put off helping my own child. So, here we are, two weeks away and we haven't even begun. Not to mention the fact that he chose a project that involves piezo? buzzers, soldering irons and audio cables. I can't even read the directions without going HUH?! We have already destroyed one part and must go replace it as well as, apparently purchase a soldering iron because...well, it is a long story! Thankfully, Tigerfan is home...he is doing some science this weekend!
• Science Fair judges. Okay, I totally deserve this one because way back in the beginning, the Science Fair was my idea. But then it grew and evolved and the high school science teacher, who is organized and "with it" took over. And I let her. Because I am not. She always does all the behind the scenes stuff. Like get judges. Which is really wrong, I should be helping, but she is so GOOD at it. Until this year. She is swamped. She can't do it. So I am. It is KILLING me, people. I have typed emails till my eyes are blurred. I have made phone calls, the office has made phone calls for me. I live, eat and breathe judges. I need about 20. I have 11. Science Fair is two weeks away. Would any of you dear ladies like to travel to TN and judge a science fair? We have a lovely hospitality room, well corner!
• I have a two year old. I know, most of you already know that. But he is my high AND low light. He is so dadgum cute I can hardly stand it. And he is so naughty that I want to string him up by his toenails. He doesn't like to play with toys, he likes to throw them. His newest favorite playground is our bathtub. He likes to hang upside down over the edge, walk along the side and attempt to jump off, using the faucet as a launch pad. He likes to dump out every bin, puzzle and bookshelf in the house and then throw himself on the floor in a screaming fit when I make him pick them up. He likes the kids to turn movies on for him, but doesn't actually want to watch them...but do not DARE turn it off! He likes to empty the pantry, unroll the toilet paper and draw on school papers. I am too old for a two year old...someone help me!

Well, speaking of that two year old, he is screaming for me to come get him out of bed. Can't wait to visit with ya'll this weekend! Hope you have a blessed one and don't forget to go to Home Sanctuary to check out more Coffee Talk!

Coffee Talk 1.8.10

Good Morning, ladies. I hope all finds you well this morning! Grab a soda or some chocolate milk and get comfy!

Anyone experiencing the predicted fierce winter conditions that we have been warned about? Schools around here are closed for the second day...but that is about the only evidence of winter storms! It is far colder around here than normal, but other than a light layer of white across the pond...we've got nothing!

Let's see, this week started with me all ready to embrace the new year! I bounded (okay, drug) myself out of bed Monday morning, exercised and ate a nice healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then I ate a Twix at about 9:00 (after the kids went to bed...you know, so I could enjoy it without sharing!). The rest of the week was downhill from there. I wrote about it here if you want to glory in my weakness. On the upside, I have now consumed pretty much every fattening thing in the house, so NOW I can get busy losing weight!

I also did something totally out of the ordinary and volunteered to facilitate a Bible Study for our ladies group on Wed. nights. Out of the ordinary because, despite the fact that I have been meeting with these ladies for YEARS now, I still cannot even bring myself to say one sentence in the class...and I have now volunteered to lead it! Hmmmmmm. I am really excited, though and totally terrified! We are going to do the study "Living Your Life as Beautiful Offering" by Angela Thomas. I have never done any of her Bible Studies but I LOVE her books! I had even thought about opening it up to ladies online to see if they wanted to join us and link up with your thoughts, etc. Sounds fun, right? Only I actually don't have too many regular readers AND the online folks wouldn't be able to do the video portion of the study, so I don't know. The thought is good, though!

In other news, I think the main computer we use has crashed...I am almost going into convulsions just thinking about it! There is power to all its components, but it will not even turn on. We have this lap top, so at least I can still get my Company Girl fix. But we have probably 7 years of pictures on that computer and because we are negligent little photographers only a portion of them are backed up. It makes me sick to even think about it. In fact, I was going to show you some holiday pictures this morning...but that will have to wait. Tigerfan says he thinks they can be recovered even if the computer is dead. Is it wrong to pray he is right? I think I will lose it if we lose all those pictures!

I have been terrible with small things this week, although, I guess you could say I have been creating sanctuary my own way. I have done lots of "to do's " that have been stressing me out and worked a little ahead and done some planning to make things go smoother. I have also made two meals out of my new cookbook, "Cook Yourself Thin". One was REALLY good, a meatless pasta dish that we would totally eat whether we were trying to be good or not. The other was turkey burgers. They were actually okay, but they had no condiments on them...in fact the recipe said to use avocados to replace the salad dressing and because I am a rule follower, I totally did that. But I must say, it wasn't the same. The sandwiches tasted alright, but were really dry and while we (literally) choked them down, it is not a go to meal that I would eat all the time. I think this is the problem I have with "eating right" as much as I would like to say I LOVE healthy food. I don't. I love sugar, I love creamy meals, I love carbs. I do like my green smoothies but there are times that I just don't want to stop and blend everything up and there are times I don't have the ingredients. I really just wish that the healthy foods tasted better, or that I could train myself to like them better, or that you really could lose weight in a healthy way, on a chocolate diet!

Okay, last thing. I have been trying to "rename" my kids online. Their nicknames aren't really appropriate anymore. I am still happy with husband (Tigerfan) and baby (Tigercub) and thought I would stick with that theme since we pretty well bleed purple and gold around here. For my oldest boy, I think I like Techno tiger, cause he is all about the computers and computer animation these days. And for our daughter, I could just go with Tigress (a beautiful mix of tiger and princess) but I have nothing for middle son...any suggestions?

Anyway, I better go teach some kids. Being home an extra day, you would think we had finished most of our schooling...but mommy was distracted so we have lots to get done today! Have a blessed weekend! Can't wait to visit with ya'll! Join all of us in Coffee Talk at Home Sanctuary.

Coffee Talk

Good Morning Company Girls! I am posting from my bedroom this morning as I hide out with Tigercub trying to keep him quiet while the rest of the house sleeps...not an easy task! If you stop by later in the day I can offer you some home made cinnamon rolls and even some coffee. I know, if you have been around here long you know we don't drink coffee, but my brother does and I even purchased a new coffee pot for the occasion---so drink up, when he is gone, so is the coffee.

I have missed Coffee Talk like crazy, it seems much longer than just two weeks. Hopefully everyone had a blessed holiday season!

It has been a whirlwind around here with Christmas and Tigerfan's sister and family visiting and now my adopted (sort of) brother and his family visiting. There hasn't been a dull or restful moment, but it has definitely been action packed!

Don't forget to stop by Home Sanctuary for more Coffee Talk!

Sometime this week I hope to begin loading some pictures, but I am on the laptop today and don't have them on this computer. As for this weekend, we will spend today with my brother and his family and with Tigerfan's parents. His daddy was a New Year's baby so along with celebrating The New Year, we will celebrate his birthday. I am sure there will also be lots of light saber fights between my boys and my nephews and hopefully a little peace in there somewhere, although I am not holding my breath!

As for all the productive plans I had for the holidays...let's see: Reorganizing school room-not done, Planning out January's menu-not done, helping FB complete his science fair project-not even begun, preparing centers and activities to keep Dancer and Tigercub busy on school days-not done...well, I guess you can give me consistency!

I did get the linen closet cleaned out and organized and I have great plans in my head for the rest of the house, maybe a few of them will see daylight! So, how about you? Did you have a productive break and are you all organized for the new year? Can't wait to hear from and visit you all, it will probably take me most of the weekend to get around to everyone, but I will do my best to get by! For now, HAPPY 2010, praying for a year of blessings!

Coffee Talk 12.18.09

Good Morning, ladies! Come on in and grab a cinnamon roll! Made fresh from Pioneer Woman's recipe...and let me tell ya, they are GOOD!

Like everyone else, this week has been a whirlwind! So much going on. This was our last week at tutorial until after the holidays so we have been finishing up chapters and taking tests and preparing for parties. I also fell hopelessly behind working on teacher gifts. Last year I did "dinner" for the teachers and made and froze meatballs and then made a bag with pasta, sauce, bread and brownie mix. I was proud of those little bags, too proud, I guess. Cause this year I had similar plans...but they just didn't happen. Suddenly, this week was upon me and I had no clue what to do. So, I made cinnamon rolls and each teacher got a pan of them and a Starbucks card. It certainly wasn't the break from cooking they got last year, but at least it wasn't another "World's Greatest Teacher" ornament....right? And the cinnamon rolls were really good!

We got a little more shopping done...but I am still not through and for this die hard, through before Thanksgiving girl, that is stressing me out. a lot. I guess at some point, I just need to do what I can do and not worry about it...or give away the two year old that is cramping my shopping style, hmmmm. Seriously, I tried to take the three youngest with me Monday and get a little done...It was AWFUL, Tigercub screamed, threw things, and fought me at EVERY STORE! On the way home, Baseball boy said, "Momma, there are a LOT of stores we can't go back to, aren't there!" Next year, if I can't find it online, I'm not buying it (I am so full of it, but right now I totally mean it!)!

We also experienced great sadness this week with the loss of a family friend who was killed in a car accident. I almost hesitate to even write this because, truly, it isn't my tragedy. And yet, it was such a part of the week, I feel compelled to share. We went to visitation Tuesday night and stood in line for about 2 HOURS! The family is well loved and has tons of support and yet that precious mother has been on my heart continuously since Sunday. I cannot imagine outliving my children. I cannot imagine a week and a half before Christmas having to bury my son. Their strength and faith has been amazing and is a testament to their faith in Christ. And yet, their hearts are broken! I have had this on my mind all week and I am just so grateful for Christ. I am so grateful that, though their hearts ache, they have the hope of seeing their son again one day. How precious the hope that we have as Christians and how desperate those without that hope must feel. How precious the arms of a loving God who wraps us up in love, completely understanding how it feels to have to give up your son. How incredible knowing that our suffering on earth is temporary and one day we WILL be in the presence of our savior! What a beautiful hope this season offers...not just the birth of a baby, but the beginning of our salvation. The hope for the mother who has lost her son. The peace that passes all understanding. I pray for those who do not have that peace this season, that maybe they will find it in a tiny baby this Christmas!

And one last reminder, as the traffic gets crazy, the roads get icy and more travelled and the last minute shoppers (like me) get more stressed...WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT! I know they can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, but they can also save your life!

As for Small Things...I have done great this week! Loved those mass points for a kitchen that definitely needed it. However, my favorite was chatting with my daughter yesterday about our favorite Christmas memories. I don't have one particular one that sticks out to me. I just love the memories from childhood Christmases of staying up till ridiculous hours playing games and eating candy from stockings around the kitchen table. The later it got, the sillier we got and I can remember laughing till our sides hurt. I miss my sisters! Love you girls (just in case you read this!). So what is your favorite memory?

Oh, and I almost forgot...tomorrow morning, we head out to jackson Mississippi to see Ballet Magnificat perform their Christmas Ballet...cannot wait!

Have a blessed weekend, and be sure to check out Home Sanctuary for more coffee talk.

Coffee Talk 12.11.09

Good Morning Ladies,

Come in and grab a mug of hot chocolate and a pecan sweet roll. I would like to tell you it is from my Christmas baking. I can't, because I haven't actually started my Christmas baking. Instead, I hit our favorite part of the grocery store, the "Oops, we baked too much" rack. And friends, it is worth the calories, even if it isn't home made!

Like everyone else this time of year, the days are flying by in a blur filled with far more plans than could possibly be done! This week has been no exception. Monday, we had the city Christmas Parade. I already blogged (or rather vented) about that this week, so I will just leave that alone. Tigercub also began running fever Monday and by night's end had 104. Which is scary. Tigerfan took him to the doctor Tues. and found he had an ear infection, but that the high fever was viral and possibly Swine Flu. However, true to his predictions, by yesterday, the rascal was fever free and his old self again!

Along with our normal schedule this week we have had dentist appointments, shopping, parades, guitar practice, cheer leading, basketball practice and today, Football boy will go caroling at a local nursing home. I have found myself a little grumpy, a lot sleep deprived, and contemplating how, exactly, do other people "get it all done". I know you are really not supposed to compare yourself to others. I know I can't see "behind closed doors" and what seems to be a together person might be falling apart behind the scenes. I really wish those people would let me see their craziness, maybe then I wouldn't feel so bad.

Normally, we do our Christmas shopping very early. In fact, I am usually done or almost done by Thanksgiving because walking in stores after that brings me freakishly close to a nervous breakdown. People, I did not do that this year. I just let time get away. Now, it is14 days before Christmas and I have two presents under the tree. I have a few more waiting to be wrapped. But I have A LOT left to do. And worse, I don't even know what I am going to do.

I am being punished for being prideful, because I do pride myself on being able to come up with really cute, creative gifts. I try to put together fun things for my distant nieces and nephews and really good teacher gifts that don't include teacher ornaments, candles, etc. This year...I've got nothing, NOTHING. I have splintered ideas that I can't quite bring to a finish, and I am running out of time, AAAAAGH!

I don't even have an idea for my own husband (that is another post altogether)! However, he told me yesterday what he had tried to get me. And, ladies, this is the sign of a good man who listens/knows your heart, because I never would have even THOUGHT to ask for this myself. My man.....was going to give me chickens and a chicken coop! I have always wanted a few chickens to get eggs...and he was going to do it. Only, who knew, you can only buy chickens in march! All day yesterday, I just dreamed of chickens and farm fresh eggs. He doesn't even have to do anything else, I am just beside myself that he would come up with that!

In other news, we woke up this morning to cold water again. Apparently our water heater, that has an internal heater so it won't freeze, froze. Which really isn't all that surprising considering our luck with plumbing. However, it sure does make getting a shower tough...so I am blogging instead!

Well, I would love to stay and chat, but I should probably go use my time a little more wisely. Hope everyone has a great weekend filled with Christmas cheer! In the hustle and bustle of it all, remember that the reason for this time is the celebration of the birth of our savior. Spend a little time reading Luke 2 and remembering Jesus left the splendor of heaven, to be born in poverty for you and me!

God bless you!

For more Coffee Talk, go to Home Sanctuary.

Coffee Talk 11.13.09

Good Morning Ladies! Pull up a chair and grab your coffee (you'll have to bring your own) or a nice mug of hot chocolate which I will gladly provide! I also have some, just from the oven, pumpkin muffins and some nice, soft butter. Mmmmmmmm!

I hope the week has found everyone well! We have had a lovely week around here. We had a little day off from tutorial Tuesday because the Tennessee Baptist Convention was taking place in our church. It was such a wonderful thing for a die hard home body like myself. A whole extra day at home meant much less stress in our school days AND a much cleaner house! I even found a little extra help when Tigercub approached me one day saying something like, "Momma, I-an vshhhhhhhn". I obviously was somewhat confused and after having him repeat himself several times, he grabbed my hand and took me to the closed door of the laundry room. I opened the door and he immediately reached for the dust buster. He was saying, I want the vroom (vacuum)...man that kid is cute! And vacuum he did--I think we have found an outlet for this little power packed 2 year old bundle of energy!

It was an interesting week with points as well. First, we got rid of a "pesky annoyance". For me, that was the coupons that I had been piling up on my counter...for about a month! I finally got them clipped, filed AND went to the grocery store and saved over $60.00! YIPPEE!

Then there was the Toaster challenge. I must admit that I don't use my toaster really frequently but we do enjoy the occasional bagel or cinnamon toast. I don't even keep it out on the counter. It is just stored away until I need it. It has always been kind of a pet peeve that those little crumbs get EVERYWHERE! And then, Rachel gave us this job...and mentioned about the little hatch at the bottom of the toaster. People, I am embarrassed to tell you, I HAD NO IDEA! What a brilliant person to add that lovely little door to catch the crumbs. I went and checked mine out. And sure enough...the hatch was there and full of years worth of crumbs! I can't tell you how many times I have tipped and shaken that thing over the garbage trying to get out all the crumbs and wondering why on earth it isn't easier to clean this thing! What a revelation! (I totally realize most of you are reading this and shaking your heads at my ditzyness, but I tell you, I had no idea!)

And then, of course, there was the "Have fun with your man" opportunity. Now, let me say that when I told my hubby we had to have fun together, the first thing out of his mouth was, "Well I know ONE way we could have fun!" Ladies, I think we all know what that one way was. However, I was trying to be a little creative and began thinking of ways we could have fun. Monday night, we started exercising together. We are using Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred video (renamed by me as 30 days to a slow, painful death). I thought, that could be fun. It is NOT! It is AWFUL and PAINFUL and we are both walking slowly this week but it is not fun. I know, there are people out there that love to exercise. I am not one of those people. I do it because I have to. BUT I DO NOT LIKE IT!!!! Really, why is it fun to cause intentional pain, work yourself so hard your chest burns and you are gasping for air and then know it is going to be worse the next day...that is not fun, people!

Needless to say, I had to rethink the whole fun thing. Instead, we will be having fun tomorrow (hopefully) Christmas shopping together. We will begin by eating at Mrs. Winner's for breakfast with the kids. Then they will spend the day with Nana and Papaw while we shop till we drop! I have tried to be organized about it...something that does NOT come naturally to me! I have the lists, they are organized, I have coupons and by evening's end, I hope to have a plan. Minimizing the stress and optimizing the fun potential (I hope). Then we will wrap things up with cooking some hamburgers and hot dogs! AND IT WILL BE FUN!

Kind of like game night with the family last night was fun! You know, playing a game as the two year old destroys it, soothing tears of disappointment when 6 year olds don't win and gloating when the 9 year old does. And then the rolling eyes of the 12 year old who has MUCH more important things to do...like read a book. All while Daddy is distracted as he keeps seeing fuzz on the rug and, GASP, it is crooked as well and Mommy is ordering everyone to stop fussing, stop destroying stop whining and just have fun for goodness sake! Yes, family night is a joy!

Anyway, I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! To check out more Coffee talk, go to Home Sanctuary.

Coffee Talk 11/06/09

Good Morning Company Girls! You may notice the lack of the Company Girls Picture today. I am posting "remotely" from Louisiana and am not too familiar with this laptop. We will actually just be lucky if this actually posts!



It has been a busy week in the Tigerden (aren't they all). Nothing really special or exciting. Dentist appointments, church, tutorial, dance, guitar...all the usual.



We are still trying to implement the workbox system in our homeschool and it is going pretty well. I do like the system although we are still working out some kinks. However, I have discovered that it is not a cure all. I know you are all probably thinking that is obvious, but I think I was hoping that all our struggles would be over when we started this and that has certainly not happened. Kind of like the housekeeping fairy still hasn't shown up at my door yet. I keep waiting and watching, but I am just about to decide I am going to have to do it myself!



Now we are in LA for the weekend. We are excited to visit with family, take in a HS football game and work on a little Christmas surprise for the grandparents. Apparently we have just decided to go with a four day school week--which is a great idea when you are already behind and can't get the work done in 5 days.



The highlight of the week for me was, pitifully, the start of Priscilla Shirer's blog and our very own Rachel helping out with it. Really...how much better can the week get when you have Rachel, Priscilla, and even a little Lisa Whelchel thrown in. When I grow up...I am totally going to be a part of that little group. In fact, I wonder if Lifeway would just go on and hire me as a groupie or something.



I hope all you ladies have an incredible weekend. I hope to find time to visit some blogs...maybe travelling home Sunday. In the meantime, we will be soaking in this sunny LA weather and enjoying a little visit.



For more Coffee Talk, go to Home Sanctuary.

Coffee Talk 10/23/09

Good Morning Ladies! I am embarrassed to tell you that one week later, I STILL have not been to the grocery store. Now, part of that was intentional...waiting for payday. But that day has come and gone, and still no groceries! I have just been too busy to fiddle with unimportant things like feeding my family nutritionally sound food.

Instead, we are going the route of Ramen Noodles, bologna and the occasional carrot and ranch dip. But something tells me that you probably don't really want any of those things. I totally have sodas, though. I mean, you have GOT to have priorities! :)

I am absolutely beside myself because in just a few short hours I will be bidding my family adieux and heading out with a friend to the Extraordinary Women Conference in Tupelo, MS. This was a huge surprise! A great surprise! A last minute surprise! She won tickets on the radio and called me Monday to see if I wanted to go! Oh yes I do!

So, this morning will be filled with rushed lessons, packing, and preparing the kids for a night with dad. I must admit a small amount of guilt (almost not on the radar)! Tigerfan must take all the kids with him to take Dancer to dance tonight. He must then get them all up and ready for an 8 a.m. ballgame in the morning and there is not one thing in this house to feed them. Okay, he probably wouldn't have fed them in the house anyway, but I do feel bad that that option isn't at least there! Supermom would have had individually plated portions of a nutritionally balanced meal frozen and labelled for this occasion. I am clearly NOT Supermom!

Anyway, I hope all of you have an amazing weekend! I KNOW I will! I probably won't be around until at least Sunday, but I will be thinking of all my sweet Company Friends and wishing you could be there with me!

Blessings, and don't forget to check out Home Sanctuary for more Coffee Talk.

Coffee Talk 10/16/09

Good Morning, my sweet friends. I hope this morning finds you doing well. As soon as I type this post, I will be running upstairs to grab a HOT shower before my kiddos wake up, so I am doing fabulously well!

Unfortunately, I don't have a lot to offer you this morning. Chocolate milk or a soda is about it...and how about a store bought chocolate chip cookie (oh, the shame)! Come back next week and I will try to do better!

It has been quite a week around the Tigerden. If you visited last week, you will know that our hot water heater went out...in a very wet way. After doing a lot of research, we decided to go with a tankless heater. A little bit more expensive (okay, a lot more expensive) but there is a tax credit AND, if it were to go out...no water damage. And I think that in the past six months, we have established that anything we can do around here to prevent water damage is a must do!

We bought the heater Monday, but we couldn't get it installed until Wednesday. That meant one entire week with no hot water....UGH! I will say that it was a humbling experience because as the week went on and I got more and more whiny, I began to realize that millions of people in the world today have NEVER taken a hot bath or washed their clothes in hot water...or had a dishwasher to wash their dishes for them. What, to me was a huge inconvenience is, to them, a lifestyle. I didn't stop whining...but I was humbled! :)

We also decided to switch gas sources this week. We have always had our own propane tank, so when it is empty, we have to pay to have it filled in bulk. It has been teetering on emptiness for a few months now, so we decided to go with a utility company and have them meter our gas. That way, the maintenance and liability is with them and we pay for only what we use. So, Wednesday, after days of rain, was the big day...new water heater, new gas tank, big backhoe rolling through a drenched yard...lovely! However, I will not complain, because Wednesday night I got the first hot shower in my own home in a week. I also did lots of laundry and ran the dishwasher...all at the SAME TIME...cause you can do that with a tankless! WOO HOO!

But, the highlight of the week was not a hot shower or clean clothes or dishes that washed themselves. The highlight came Wednesday night as I was kissing Dancer goodnight and she said, "Momma, before you pray, I want to pray first. Do you know why I want to pray? Because I want to ask Jesus into my heart." Oh, my...tearing up, even now! The most precious, beautiful words a parent can ever hear. So Wednesday night, after a horrible week that I haven't even scratched the surface of describing here, Tigerfan and I got to pray with our daughter and welcome her into the kingdom of Christ! It has been the BEST WEEK EVER!!!

And now, to make an already long post even longer, I am doing a really great Bible Study right now. It is called Ever Loving Truth by Voddie Bauchum. It is probably one of the most convicting, challenging, motivating Bible studies I have ever done. It has really challenged me to boldly stand up for my faith. So, in today's lesson, we talked about the supremacy of Christ and how He differs from other prophets and religious teachers. The last assignment was to answer this question, "How would you respond if an unsaved person asked you, 'How can you say that Jesus is superior to other prophets and teachers?'"

I answered like this (very, unprofound, by the way...no deep thinkers around here): "Jesus was in the beginning, he created all things. Unlike other prophets, He lived a perfect life, died sacrificially for us AND rose again. You can visit the graves of other prophets and teachers but not Jesus, because He is not there. Only He conquered death, only He has the power to cleanse us from sin."

Part two of the challenge was to discuss with others how they would answer the question. So, how would you answer? I would really love to know.

For more Coffee Talk, visit Home Sanctuary.

Coffee Talk 10/09/09

Good Morning Ladies, I missed our "talks" last week. Hope everyone had a great weekend and has had a nice week this week!

Grab yourself a Diet Soda and a doughnut and have a seat. I hope this post finds you doing well.

We have had a good week here in the Tigerden. Last week was plagued with sickness, although a trip to the Dr. said it wasn't the flu. By week's end, everyone in the house except Football Boy and me had fallen prey to the bug. However, based on what I have heard from others, we did get lucky because each person only felt awful about 3 days and were then able to get back into the swing of things. Most folks around here have been down for close to a week, so I guess we can't complain!

This week has been a catch up week. Monday we got the privilege of hosting a long lost friend for a few hours. Back in "the day" he, my sister, another buddy and I were tight! We called ourselves the "couch quartet" and spent many hours together watching senseless movies and just having a great time together. I don't think I have seen him since my younger sister got married...twelve years ago! We reconnected on Facebook about a year ago, how fun is that? Anyway, he and his family have purchased a motor home and have been on the "Freedom and Liberty" tour travelling the United States and visiting landmarks, historical places, and Disney (of course). We caught them on their way home and had a lovely visit. Baseball boy is now asking for a motor home for Christmas. I really think he wants one to travel around town in. Bunk beds with DVD players, a refrigerator stalked with food and a bathroom...that is the life!

The rest of the week has been pretty quiet and normal. Until last night. If you know the Tigerden very well, you will know that Thursdays are "date night" for Tigerfan and I. The kids are swept off to bed by 8:00, all our doings get done and at 9:00, we turn on House Hunters, pop popcorn and hang out with a soda and peanut M&M's. I don't even know when this tradition started, but it is SACRED! I don't even cook supper on Thursdays, I fix the kids a "quickie" meal and we don't eat...because that would ruin the popcorn, of course!

However, last night, Tigerfan came in and mowed the yard. When he got close to the house, he noticed water standing around the foundation. He wondered about it, but was anxious to come in. He showered up, we got the kids in bed and turned on the tube. We popped the corn and began indulging. But he kept thinking about that water. So, when the first episode ended and before we got started on the REAL bounty...M&M's, he decided to go check under the house.

Now, if you have read for any length of time, you know that we have had some plumbing issues this year. 7 or 8 to be exact. We have spent a lot of time and money replacing pipes, cleaning up water damage and we still have a hole in the ceiling while we wait to replace our leaky bathtub (which, on a side note, has become a wonderful storage facility for blankets and sleeping bags that I want to hide from Baseball Boy so he will sleep in his bed and not on my bedroom floor!).

Anywhoo, I think you can see where this is going. When he got under the house, he found himself standing in at least 2 inch deep water that covered the entire bottom of the house and the water heater was just pouring water out steadily. We are not sure how long this has been going on...obviously a while judging by the amount of standing water. To make it worse, we have a water source heat pump, which means that the water heater is literally under the house to prevent freezing in the winter. At some point, some owner poured a deck, covering up part of the access hole. So, in order to replace the heater, we will have to totally re-plumb and move the heater to the garage OR cut a new hole in the side of the house that is big enough to get the water heater out and a new one in. Good times! I must say, I am proud of Tigerfan because he didn't have a heart attack right there on the spot. However, if any one sees Ty Pennington or any other member of the Extreme Home Makeover team, we could really use them over here. I have never really been a camping girl, but right now a nice tent and porta potty would at least not be a money pit!

Hope everyone has a great weekend, and if you see a plumber, feel free to send him our way! Be sure to check out Home Sanctuary for more Coffee Talk!

Coffe Talk 9.25.09

Good Morning Ladies! Hope the morning finds you all doing well! Grab a Diet Soda or some Chocolate milk and a powdered donut...I know, my home isn't exactly a dieter's or a baker's dream lately, what can I say...the donuts were on the "oops we baked too much" rack and Dancer begged for them!

I can also offer you some chocolate revel bars which are usually a chocolate lover's dream come true. Unfortunately, I was baking and schooling at the same time and being somewhat distracted, I was a little creative with the recipe. A few left out ingredients, a few extra ingredients--a snack that can never be replicated, but hey, it is chocolate!

If you have ever been by here before, you may notice my new look. Now, I know some of you change blog designs frequently, but I have had this one ever since I moved to blogger at least 2 years ago! And...I did it myself! For a technology challenged person like me, that is impressive! Of course, it took at least 5 hours that I didn't have to waste and lots of frustration. My kids also didn't get the best education that day either! But I am excited to have done it, so I just had to take a moment to pat myself on the back!

In other weekly news, we are beginning plans for the ark that we are going to have to build soon. Ordinarily I get a little depressed when it rains non stop for two weeks. It really hasn't bothered me this time. My ferns are still alive! AND the weather has kept us from ball games, practices, and a couple of other extra curricular activities giving us one whole night this week at home. Total peace, it was beautiful! There is so much to be said for simplicity!

Finally, I am doing a Bible study by Voddie Baucham called "Ever Loving Truth" It is so very convicting. It talks about how politically incorrect it is to speak the truth of Jesus in our culture, but how necessary it is. I have really had it impressed upon me that I need to be more bold and not sit quietly by in order to "keep peace" or not offend anyone. So last night, on FB, an old high school friend made a comment about saying the pledge of allegiance in school but taking out the portion that says "under God". It is funny, because even though I won't see any of those people, probably ever, as I typed a response defending the Name of God, my heart just raced...it is so amazing how much we desire to fit in with a society that goes so against what we believe! Anyway, in a very small way, I stood up for my faith. I hope that as I proceed through this study and grow, that I will become more willing and more able to speak the truth.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. We have a busy day, with school, a haircut for Tigercub, guitar and dance. And ball tomorrow...if we haven't floated away before than! For more Coffee Talk, check out Home Sanctuary!

Coffee Talk 9/18/09

Good Morning Company Girls! I hope the morning finds you all doing well! I don't have much to offer this morning...I haven't been grocery shopping in awhile. However, I did go to the bread store last weekend (big mistake) and you will find some Ho Ho's and Ding Dongs in my freezer--throwbacks to childhood lunches, I guess!

If you hang around long enough, I may try out this recipe from Jolanthe today...it looks delicious and Tigerfan will LOVE it!

I haven't been around the blog world much lately, shamefully not even for the Small Things. We are still trying to figure out a workable routine around here and I am just barely keeping my head above water. I could whine but I think everyone is kind of sick of that so I choose not to.

We are staying very busy around here, although with nothing exciting, mostly school, dance and baseball. oh, and lest I forget, an almost two year old who goes from the sweetest, cutest, grinningest joy of my life to a little screaming hurricane trying to hit, kick and bite everything in his path. It is a joy!

Small things haven't been accomplished much lately, although I long to get back to them. However, we did get our kitchen vacuumed this week! I figure, if we can get one room vacuumed a month, by the end of the year we can have the whole house vacuumed one whole time! My grandma would be so proud!

The highlight of this week came last night. A ballet company by the name of Ballet Magnificat came to town to perform "The Hiding Place". It was AMAZING! I know, many of you out there are skeptical about the joy of a good ballet, but I am telling you, it was a worship experience! And, as the girl said before the show, there were no swans or miles of white tulle! Ballet Magnificat is a christian ballet company out of Jackson, Mississippi and they are amazing. First of all, we got the opportunity to talk to Dancer about how she could even use Dance to share with people about Jesus and secondly, it was just flat out good!

If you have never read "The Hiding Place" it is the incredible story of Corrie Ten Boom. My twelve year old will be reading it later this year in Language Arts so we drug him along, too. All the kids, even the nine year old boy enjoyed the show and we are now contemplating a Christmas trip to Jackson, MS to see their Christmas production...it was THAT good!

Now for the pictures of us all decked out for our night on the town. Oh, wait. I didn't take any! Trust me, we were stunning!

Today, we will do a little school, although after our late night, I am letting the kiddos sleep in. Then guitar practice, dance and visiting with Tigerfan's Mamaw, aunt and uncle who rolled into town last night. We also have an informational meeting about a basketball team FB is interested in joining...is it wrong to hope that doesn't work out? I don't need any more activities!

Baseball tomorrow if we don't have to build an ark due to the non stop raining it has been doing...which reminds me that we have another leak...this one in the ceiling, ain't home ownership grand?

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend and I really am going to do my best to get around to visiting everyone this weekend! Don't forget to stop by Home Sanctuary for more Coffee Talk!

Coffee Talk: When it Rains it Pours!

Good Morning ladies, grab yourself a slice of lemon-poppy seed bread and make yourselves comfortable! I hope you have all had a great week!

In all honesty, it has been another challenging one here at the Tigerden.

I am praying that things will come together soon and we will begin to have some not awful days. Right now, I am just trying to be thankful for not awful moments.


I would like to offer a couple of pictures up for your viewing enjoyment. They pretty much sum up our situation recently.

These are pictures of the latest chapter in our plumbing drama. This is what our school room looked like yesterday after Dancer and her friend decided to "swim" in the master bathtub and run the jets. In hindsight, after the past 4 months of plumbing disasters, I should have just said no.

In case you are not privy to the "flood" of excitement we have had, let me give you a brief update. Since the Wednesday before Easter we have replaced the plumbing in the downstairs bathroom, the main outside hydrant, under the kitchen sink. We had a leak in the air conditioner and when the repairman was looking for it, he found another in the hot water heater. We had to replace a switch on the pump for our well. We thought we were finished, I mean, what else could possibly leak, right?

And then, a couple of weeks ago, the water dispenser in the refrigerator started to leak. Now, I thought that was odd, because we turned the water off to the refrigerator a couple of years ago when the water dispenser decided to run non-stop. So the fact that it suddenly began leaking again was a bit perplexing. We called our friendly neighborhood plumbing expert. It wasn't caused by a leak in the water dispenser, although there was one, but a leak in the valve in the wall. So, Monday, we had the plumbing behind the refrigerator replaced! On a positive note, we now have running water and ice out of our freezer again! Yay!

And then...I let the girls swim in the tub. A couple of hours later, baseball boy was in the school room and said, "Mom--what are those big bumps on the ceiling?" I came to investigate and saw the bulging sheet rock. Knowing what was coming, I decided to check it out, got the step stool and with one gentle poke...was flooded with bubbly bath tub water!

However, we now cannot find the leak...we have run tons of water...not even a drip. Perhaps it was from running the jets, I don't know. I guess we will just have to call the plumber!

So, here's hoping you all have a nice, dry weekend!

For more Coffee Talk go to Home Sanctuary!

Coffe Talk-August 21

Good Morning, ladies! come on in and grab a slice of Amish Bread (cinnamon or chocolate chocolate chip) and a drink...as usual, no coffee. But I would love to offer you some delicious chocolate milk!

Hope everyone has had a great week. Or couple of weeks, really, cause I haven't been around the blogosphere much lately.

School has started with a bang around here and frankly, I am just barely hanging on! We are in full blown survival mode! I have missed more points than I have gotten this month and haven't read or commented on many blogs in weeks. You may have noticed that I haven't typed a blog either...just can't find the time!

I have been very slowly reading through a home schooling book that has really convicted me about my method of schooling. I think, because I have classroom teaching experience, it is a little hard to transfer to a home mind set. Our first year at home was AWFUL because I placed "school" expectations on my son and I. Pledges had to be done at 8:00a.m. Reading was at 8:30 on the dot, etc. While that system works in a classroom setting, it didn't work in our home and I finally learned to relax my standards and allow for some flexibility. That being said, I am still one of the most "anal" home schoolers I know. I write lesson plans, I keep very strict attendance records, I keep every piece of paper we use just in case someone comes to "check" on us. What I have learned, however, is that learning and school are not fun for us. Not for the kids or for me.

This book I am reading makes a great point. We have so many resources right at our fingertips. It is not so important that I teach my children facts because they can go to any computer and pull up those facts in a matter of minutes. What I need to teach is a godly spirit and attitude first, and a love of learning next. If my children love to learn, than they will find a way to learn.

Now I am certainly not saying we are stopping our structure altogether. Certain skills must be taught. Math and reading will never be improved if the skills aren't introduced and practiced. But my methods up until now have been instruction, workbook, move on. My children don't LOVE to learn, they HAVE to learn. So, the past couple of weeks I have been trying to change my style. We have begun a Bible Study that I am writing and customizing just for them. I have loved doing this, I have learned a TON...but it is very time consuming! I am also trying to make things more fun. More math games, more arts and crafts incorporated, more flexibility, more practice with the computer, less stress from mom.

It is a slow process. Because what I have learned is that having fun takes time. I know, that sounds weird, but to play a game or build with blocks, or make up a poem takes a lot more time that to just explain the work and get busy. Our days have been starting at 8:00 and ending about 4:00 and we have been skipping subjects! Add on top of this a very active toddler, dance, guitar, baseball, church, tutorial...I am tired! I am drained!

I have also learned about a new system called work boxes that I am considering. They will eventually foster more independence, but the initial start up will also take time and money...something I just don't have right now!

I am not trying to whine, I feel better about the direction we are going in than I have felt in a long time. I truly feel the Lord guiding us in this direction and know it is the right thing. What I am struggling with is how to do it all. I do believe this is just a season and if I have to sacrifice my own time for awhile, it will be worth it in the long run. But I am continuing to struggle with balance. I know they say a mother needs to take time for herself to recharge, etc. and I do see the wisdom in that. And I would be lying if I said I didn't long for a few minutes of quiet rest...even these few moments typing as I let my kids sleep in are sacred...but I don't feel I can take those moments right now. I feel so selfish saying I "deserve" it because I don't feel I deserve anything. Am I making sense?

Anyway, that is our life right now...well that and making Amish bread because I have run out of people to pawn starter off on so it is growing out our ears!!! We have tried banana, cheesecake, cinnamon, chocolate...you get the picture. I just found a recipe for sourdough pizza crust that can be half baked and frozen...maybe that is my answer. We can put away some pizza around here!

Hope you all are having a great week and don't forget to hop over to Home Sanctuary for more Coffee Talk!

Coffee Talk

Good Morning ladies, hope the day finds you all doing well. It has been a busy week at the Tigerden although I would be hard pressed to tell much of what has gone on. Mostly it has consisted of trying to get back into our school routine and get ready for tutorial to start back again.

We have had haircuts, lunch with Daddy, started a couple of subjects gotten lots of "goodies" in the mail (okay, goodies to me...work for them, cause it is all our new curriculum), and tried to start getting to bed on time. We have failed miserably in the getting to bed on time department, but there is always next week!

Dancer has officially moved up with the big kids at church and is no longer in the preschool department for anything! How has this happened so fast? I thought she would be a little shy, a little intimidated going into that big room with all the big kids. She was not. She hopped in there and ran around like a maniac with the best of 'em!

Today, I will go get my cart organized for tutorial. Classes start back on Tuesday, so I guess I better stop procrastinating and get ready! For the first time since he began the tutorial, Football boy will only be attending one day of classes and staying with a friend the other day--I cannot believe how quickly things can change!

I know, this is an incredibly boring post--just waxing nostalgic about my babies growing up...however, PLEASE do me a big favor. Go to this post and add your thoughts. I even opened up comments just for this because it is super important to me. I also learned, however, that I am not ready to turn comments back on full time because as soon as I published that post I began to obsess over whether anyone would respond. I really miss comments and the relationships that are begun through them and hope I can grow up soon and put them back! I love ya'll, thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

For more and certainly more interesting Coffee Talk visit Home Sanctuary!