Heavy on My Heart!

I have friend.  I wish I could wrap my arms around her.  She is beautiful, wonderful, encouraging and a great blessing in my life.  While I cannot share the details of her needs, I will ask that you help me cover her with prayer.  Angelina, you are in my prayers and I love you!

It has been awhile Old Friend!

This blog and I have not always seen eye to eye!  I love writing out my thoughts, prayers and ponderings, but time, priorities and sleep have taken hold of me.  It has been way to long! 

So what's new!

In our homeschooling world, we have finished our first term with Charlotte Mason, taken and small hiatus and begun our second term.  Our oldest is still loving this different approach and the twins love to cuddle with a good story and "do school". 

Our home life has been altered a bit.  My 17 year old stepson has moved in and is so excited to be doing his last years of High School in Spain.  While this is a wonderful change, it is still change.  I am the most resistant to change, only because I like control.  This is growing process for us all because I know in my head I am not in control but now I need my heart to follow suit.  He is a great kid.  He has hopes of doing things he didn't in years before and it is fun to see him excited!  The little people are all fascinated with him and love having a big brother.

My mother in law came to visit a few weeks ago.  It was nice to show family where we live, how different and wonderful living abroad is.  I am excited to do it all again when my parents come out.  I am not counting down the days or anything!

We have a couple things our family is prayer for, we just ask for your prayer in choices that have presented themselves in quite a few places and people. 

We are truly blessed to be right where God has us.  Hugs and love to family and friends!

Brandy

Word

plu·per·fect   /pluˈpɜrfɪkt/

[ploo-pur-fikt]

-adjective
 
more than perfect.  He spoke the language with pluperfect precision.

We're Peelin' an Egg

First Science project.  It is going to take a few days so stay tuned...

More to come!!!

Witty

"Good teaching is one-forth preparation and three-fourths theater."



- Gail Godwin

And Everything Nice!

I have been on a long journey to find some system that worked for my 30 year old skin. I have always dealt with super red/dry skin that is usually painful after washing with conventional soap. I have always been interested in what others are doing and years ago a lot of friends were using the Mary Kay cleansing system. I thought I would give it a try. For me it was worse than the soap I was using. After only a couple of washes, I had a painful reaction to the cleanser. I have nothing against Mary Kay, in fact I love their mascara and lip protector. The skin care line is just not for my skin.



A few months ago I found a cleanser with olive oil in it. It helped a little to reduce redness and worked well with the moisturizer I was using. Then it happened, being overseas I am at the mercy with what is on hand. They stopped carrying (at least when I needed more) the moisturizer I had been using. I purchased the same brand for sensitive skin but it had sunscreen in it. I have never reacted well to sunscreen on my face, kind of the same reaction as the face wash above. So out of necessity, I searched for a more natural way to cleanse my skin. I found a site with a recipe for a homemade face wash.

The oil cleansing method, < click there. I have had many blank stares and weird looks when I have told people about it. I have been using it for a week now and I love it. My redness has gone down and I have only worn make-up one day out of the week. I would have never left the house with out some make up on two weeks ago.



I am excited to try out other natural options. Shampoo, Conditioner and maybe even homemade soap.

Happy Hunting for those searching and major props to those who have a system that works.



~Brandy

First Sick Day

All week long, at least one of my children have ran a fever.  With the first, I took him in to the Dr. and it ended up being a virus that needed to run its course.  Tending to him with Motrin, hugs, movies, liquids and rest.  The it moved to my youngest.  She doesn't even act sick.  She has had many fevers having to deal with chronic ear infections over the years.  She has run a temp the longest, since Tuesday night Wednesday morning.  Which brings me to this morning, both girls are running a temp.  The differences are night and day.  My youngest with the highest temp, is sprightly and giggly.  Only flushed cheeks and mass body heat indicates that she is not feeling well.  Then there is my oldest, almost nine.  She has a low grade fever and thinks it is the end of the world.  This what this post is about, her first sick day since implementing a Charlotte Mason education.  Normally I would stress over how far we would be set back in our lesson plans.  Today, I feel such freedom in not having my ducks in a row (corresponding lessons for each subject) because it means we just pick up where we left off and since I have more fun reading (poems/riddles, riddles because I am having a hard time figuring out what the moral is) scheduled for today so we can move past them and pick up next week.  Ah, the beauty of short lessons, it doesn't have to be daunting to "catch up."  This educational switch has been such a blessing to my educational expectations, limitations and stress level.  This week has been a lesson in being Thankful even during the hard times.  We are thankful to go through this because we can see the value of health, as well as our want for dad (who happens to be out of town during this week of fevers) to be home and not forgetting it is all a gift. 

Happy Friday
~Brandy

Saturday!

I know I should be doing something around the house like folding my laundry or some other service to my family but I am enjoying the sound of my kids playing nicely together. Even if right now is following a couple of melt downs and tiffs among them.  I'll take the joy of this moment knowing they can enjoy one another and the realization that they trust one another enough to show each emotion boldly.  I just had to share that in my struggle to find Joy (this has been boosted by a friends gift of a great read but has been my longing for a long time) I am reading three books at once.  Within a couple of days of each passage read, I have come across the same idea in all three.  My sight is tainted.  I am not seeing the world through the goggles of Grace, a necessity to find Joy.  What is Grace?  How do I show Grace, see Grace, embrace Grace?  Is it through Thankfulness you find both Joy and Grace?  I was Thankful for not over reacting and becoming angry when I dropped two separate food items down my sink.  I was Thankful not for dropping them but for not losing my mind.  My prayer today is that my reactions carry over to my kids, not losing my mind when they trust me enough to test me.  To bestow Grace on them through Joy!
~Brandy

Word

Magnanimous ~ adj.  1.  Courageously noble in mind and heart. 
                                 2.  Generous in forgiving; eschewing (to avoid or shun) resentment or revenge;  unselfish.

Changes are on the Horizon!

We have been a homeschooling family for three years now.  To me, that seems like a long time, like I should know the best way of doing it.  Well, throw in changes in our goals, priorities, and morals.  Not to mention, changes in interest, the addition of interested preschoolers (as opposed to dis-interested, they were this a few months ago) and the ability to challenge minds in a way that benefits each child.  We are chucking our current curriculum, throwing caution to the wind and jumping right into a Charlotte Mason based education.  I have been researching alternatives for most of this school year, thinking I would use it next year.  Last week, I felt many things come together and God spoke to me.  I have my babes home with me.  I have the ability to change what is not working and I don't have to feel I am doing something wrong by not finishing the curriculum we started.  It wasn't working.  My husband and I are in love with the methods and theories of education and child-rearing that CM taught.  I feel this change in the entire family and our educational goals are going to lessen the stress and bring much more joy out of learning!  I am so excited to read through some of the classic novels suggested by other CM parents.  I don't remember having been exposed to them but want my children to find joy in them right along with Dad and I.  I am finding joy in where God has me now!  My family, the people he has placed as friends and mentors and the ability to love my blessings, his blessings!  My prayer is for continued Joy and for others to find a passion for the children, embracing their whole being and find JOY in the now!

~Brandy

No More HFCS!!!

I made my own fruit spread.  This one is Strawberry.  I wouldn't call it a jam or jelly, as it has not set as firmly as I envisioned.  It may not be intended for a PB&J but on a slice of toast topped with a perfectly cooked egg, it is fantastico.  We are trying to move away from the high fructose corn syrup in our foods, so I am going to have to practice perfecting this.  Next, Apples!

Thankful

Today I am Thankful for Quiet time.  A time when each of us can be alone with our God, our thoughts and regroup those things we hold dear!

~Brandy

In Motion!

In Motion!

Super Moon

After my day yesterday, I needed to be reminded that no matter how small I feel He is always with me.

Not that yesterday was a bad day, I just felt pulled in many directions.  Pulled by my expectations, obligations, my concerns, and my children.

I love how simple a reminder of Love and Purpose can be, reminding me to set my mind on things above.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God."  Phillipians 4:6

~Brandy