Wordless Wednesday

Benefits of having a hair dresser in the family!

Our daughter Kim graduated from cosmetology school but doesn't work on anyone except friends and family. I'm not a hair person and not into my hair but it's a new year and time for a change. For me, a drastic change since I've never had my hair bleached! Here is the before color and new hair cut and......

here is the new me!! With a touch of red. (for sassiness I'm told!) The twins had their bangs cut for the first time in their lives!!

The little girls got trims and curls!

Happy Birthday Kimmy

Today is my Kimmy's birthday. Where does the time go? Seems only yesterday she was a curly headed little girl being a mommy to her baby sisters and brothers. Of course, that hasn't changed, she still babies them but she is all grown up and it makes me sad. Kim is such a sweet, loving girl and I love being around her. But the birthdays are coming way to fast for me and I need to set a stack of books on the heads of my kids to make them stop growing up!! We love you Kim and hope you have a fabulous birthday.

Weekends are for blueberries!!!

A fun Saturday morning reading Blueberries for Sal and topping that off with some delicious tasting blueberry muffins smeared with butter. If you don't have the book on hand you can go HERE and listen to it. Have fun!!!

Wonderful Wednesday

"Now for the dear, dear country,

Its trees and meadows fair,

Its roses, cowslips, violets,

Whose sweetness fills the air.

"Tis there we hear the music

Of lark's and blackbird's song,

And merry little finches,

Singing the whole day long."

But what about socialization.....

No, not this again!! I'm sure it's not going to be long and we will be seeing this question on bill boards all across our nation's highways simply because of it's popularity. But I'm not going there anymore. I've exhausted myself on the issue and closed the book on it. However, I really don't mind sharing what other's have to say about it. Because no matter who you ask, I think you may get a different answer. I've chosen one from R. C. Sproul to sum it up for many of us who have chosen to homeschool our children.

"Sometimes I ask those who raise this objection, "Now, when you speak of socialization, you're talking about my child's ability to get along with others who are different. Is that it?"

Uh, well, yes!

"And your solution is for my 10-year-old to spend seven hours a day stuck in a room with a bunch of other ten year olds?" "But this isn't really what people mean by socialization. What they want for my daughter is for her to be hip to all the things other 10-year-old girls are concerned about, like fashion labels, television shows, pop singers, and other essentials to the good life. They are concerned that my daughter is not under the sway of Madison Avenue, that she is free. But I have none of that concern. I raise my daughter, her sister, and her brother to be free. Their identity is in Christ, not in pop culture." R. C. Sproul

I have decided that there is some bottomless pit somewhere from which questions like this are pulled. How about you? What are your answers or comments that you have on socialization?

101 Reasons as to why I homeschool

Reason 82

If you live right, chances are your children will too. But teach them everything. What you don't teach them someone else will-and you might not like those lessons.~The Delany Sisters

Wordless Wednesday~Every family has a drama queen!!

"I'm not writing about a conspiracy."

"Conspiracies deal with what is done in secret." Quoting J0hn A. Stormer from his book None Dare Call It Education. This book is not new to my library as I've read through it before but just recently my dear sister in law Mary reminded me what the 'education reformers' are up to and how their plans are openly revealed in pages of documents available to anyone who cares enough to search out their agenda. John Stormer has done just that and documented what he has found in this book.

He starts out with: The education "reformers" who have made America's school's the primary agency for changing our culture and our way of life wrote spoke openly about their dreams and their goals. The tragedy is that for far too long no one noticed-or no one took their words seriously. Now we are reaping the harvest in a serious academic decline and a changed national culture. A changed way of living. It is time to look deeply into their goals to see how they are achieving them in the lives of our children.

Without a knowledge of what they planned, it is impossible to understand how American society and it's culture have been transformed-or where we are headed. What those "pioneer" reformers started planning for our children and our nation over 65 years ago, their present day successors in education and government are implementing now.

In this book you will learn things like: "We no longer see the teaching of facts and information as the primary function of education...Building a new kind of people must be part of the curriculum."

What kind of "new people" do these educators have in mind? Representative Henry Hyde is chairman of the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. In a letter to his congressional colleagues he said: "Behavior modification is a significant part of restructuring our schools. Children will be trained to be "politically correct," to be unbiased, to understand diversity, to accept "alternative lifestyles..."~~~~"In short-"The purpose of education is to change the thoughts, feelings and actions of the students." Or the way I see it, "To be socialized according to the standards of our current culture. No thanks, I've seen the village and I want no part of it!!

If you think the quotes I've left here are even a tiny bit scary, then I promise you, upon reading this little book entirely it will knock your socks off. Every piece of information will direct you to the person, the documents, etc. of each and every plan that has been set in motion by the education reformers of this nation. And the funny this is, is that it is not done in secret places but right before our eyes. Either we as a nation are sleeping, hiding our heads in the sand, or whatever, there is no excuse in the American people allowing such plans and reformations to be exacted out on our children; in turn affecting the sacredness of our homes, our churches, and our nations.

Is there a point where a grandma can go into brag overkill?

I think NOT

So, so good for you, whole grain quick bread

It's kind of my own version. So not really an officially written recipe. I've been using Nourishing Traditions methods and recipes for so long now that I take a 'normal' recipe and adapt it to the NT methods. My latest is taking a muffin recipe, adding soaked oatmeal, and baking in bread pans for convenience.

Soak overnight 2 cups oatmeal, 2 C. water with one of the following:

4 T. lemon juice

4 T. whey

4 T. buttermilk, yogurt, or kefir

Stir together and let soak for 12-24 hours

Combine separately 3 C. whole grain flour in one of the following:

2 C. buttermilk, kefir, or yogurt

2 C. water with whey, lemon juice or vinegar

Stir and let sit with oatmeal 12-24 hours

When you are ready to bake take both mixtures above and stir together well.

3 eggs

1 teas. salt

3/4 C. honey

3 teas. baking soda

2 teas. vanilla

5 T. melted butter

Pour into bread pans and bake at 325 for 40-50 minutes or so. Or, you can use the batter for pancakes or waffles which we have done. I just can't imagine how good this is for you! When I grind my grains I use all sorts of things. Spelt, wheat, beans, rice, millet, corn, whatever I have and mix them all together and leave in refrigerator.

My kids crack me up

I am trying hard to remember the funny things my kids say and write them down. But I have to admit I'm not very good at it. Better late than never I say.

I joined Jillian Michaels online workout program about a month ago. As a result we have been watching the Biggest Loser online. (you can buy whole seasons at amazon and download them for those who don't have tv like us) I own several of her dvds too so the kids have really got to see how she works.

My husband was running on the tread mill this morning and I heard one of my little girls yell, "Keep running daddy cause you're not getting off unless you puke, faint, or die. So STAY on it!"

I asked Makenzie to watch the timer for me while I was doing some mountain climbers. I was starting to lose it when she hollered, "Don't you dare quit mom or I'm showing you the door."

I did my 20 military presses and when I finished Makenzie screamed at me that if I do 5 more and she'll clean the kitchen for me. Hey, I'll do 5 more for that. Who needs a trainer when you have kids like this!!!?

More funnies from my week

Mary asked her daddy. "Daddy, who's kid am I, yours or moms?" He told her it depends on how she is acting at the time!

I was told by my little daughter the other day while she was hugging me, "Mom, you are just so beautiful, I can't stop looking at you. I just want to sit here and look at you all day. Ever since Kim did your hair you are just so beautiful." Sounds like I should spend more time in the salon!

They're absolutely loving this whole thing. Getting to yell at mom and dad is bringing them lots of joy!

Wonderful Wednesday~A seek and find photo

Four girls are very much front and center, but there is a fifth one hiding herself well. Look closely and you shall see!! (hint-right behind and to the left a bit of the pink dressed girl. She is wearing a green, flowered dress that blends perfectly)

Sourdough starter and sourdough bread

I would like to share our recipe for our starter and for the bread. Also, try making cinnamon rolls from the bread dough!! You will be amazed.

Sourdough starter:

3 packages active dry yeast

1 C. warm water

Starter feed:

3/4 C. sugar

3 T. instant potatoes

1 C. warm water

To make the starter: Mix the yeast and warm water. Put into a glass container, place lid on and put into fridge for 3-5 days.

To make the starter feed: Combine sugar, potatoes, and water in bowl and stir into the starter. Cover loosely and stand at room temp. for 5-12 hours. Mixture will be bubbly. Take out 1 C. to make bread and loosely cover the starter and return it to the fridge. Feed again after 3-5 days. If not making bread after feeding the starter, throw away one cup to avoid depleting the starter. Lid should not be placed on tight.

Sourdough bread:

2 T. sugar

1/2 C. olive oil

1 teas. salt

1 1/2 C. warm water

6 C. flour

1 C. sourdough starter

3 t. butter, melted

Combine sugar, oil, salt, water, flour, and starter in a large bowl. Stir to make a dough. Form the dough in a ball. Grease a large bowl and put the dough in it and turn to coat. Cover with towel and let stand overnight.

In the morning, punch dough down and divide into thirds. Knead each part on floured surface for about 5 minutes. Grease bread pans and place shaped loaves into each. Let rise 4-5 hours. Bake in 350 oven about 30-35 minutes. After removing from pans smear with butter and cover until cool.

101 Reasons as to why I homeschool

Reason 83

"True Education is, in one sense, a spiritual process. It is the nurture of the soul. Education is the nurture of a spirit that is rational and moral, in which conscience is the regulative and imperative faculty. The proper purpose of conscience, even in this world, is moral. But God is the only Lord of the conscience; this soul is his miniature likeness. His will is the source of its obligations. Likeness to Him is its perfection, and religion is the science of the soul's relations to God. Let these statements be placed together, and the theological and educational processes appear so related that they cannot be separated.

It is for this reason that the common sense of mankind has always invoked the guidance of the minister of religion in the education of youth....Every line of true knowledge must find its completeness as it converges on God, just as every beam of daylight leads the eye to the sun." Robert Louis Dabney

Reason 84

"I am much afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labour in explaining the Holy Scriptures, and engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which means are not unceasingly occupied with the Word of God must be corrupt." Martin Luther

Reason 85

"I can say that it is good and wise and judicious in parents to instruct their chidlren in the way. If they wish the word of the Lord upon the subject, I will give it to you and you may, any of you, write it down if you please. It is the will of the Lord our God that we teach our children the way of righteousness from the Holy Scriptures and there is no better method than for mothers to teach them at home, and in the Sunday Schools." Brigham Young

Reason 86

"As societies as a whole have decayed and lost their moral identity and so many homes are broken, the best hope is to turn greater attention and effort to the teaching of the next generation-our children. In order to do this, we must first reinforce the primary teachers of children. Chief among these are the parents and other family members, and the best environment should be in the home." James E. Faust

Oh mother dear!

It has to be a mom thing. Today I (the kid) walked into the kitchen and asked my mom a question.

"Hey mom, what's the date today?"

mom says, "I'm not sure!"

kid says, "Well, whens your birthday?"

mom says, "It's today" she said in a matter of fact, no manner of feelings way."

kid says, "Well then, it's the 3rd. Thanks mom."

Wonderful Wednesday~Thoughts of adventures

This beautiful piece of scenery is part of the Colorado landscape. Not far from where we were living before moving to our current state of residence.  Someday, soon, we hope to make Colorado our home again!  What makes this place so special to me?  On this day in the month of June several years ago we took our motorcycle up to this very spot.  It was our way of celebrating a blessing.  The knowledge that our 3rd child was on her way.  We have odd ways in which we celebrate events!!  Our goal was to take our motorcycle to the top of the mountain using the 4 wheel drive road that runs along the river.  However much to our disappointment we found that the most of the road was inaccessible because of heavy snow that had not yet melted.  To my great and fearful surprise my dear husband's determination was not deterred.  "We have a way to get all the way up, we'll just ride over the avalanche."  This avalanche had fallen at some point down the mountain and over the river leaving 'views' here and there of the gushing mountain river beneath us!!  Yes, I was on the thick snow that had settled itself over the top of the river.  Trembling in my boots and hanging madly onto the madman riding the two of us to the top of the mountain with only snow between us and water!  It was then that I knew my life with his man was always going to have an adventure thrown in here or there just to make life interesting.  This was only the beginning and I'm sure not nearly the end of the many wild and outrageous adventures we will share together.   He has a way of talking me into most anything and everything.  If you are new to my blog and haven't read about my biggest adventure with him yet then click HERE. to read about it.

photo courtesy