For Today

--It started with a migraine. Yuck! Thankfully, Dan and Max were good with the younger kids while I rested my head for a little while.
--Joshua awoke at 6:20 a.m. for the 2nd day in a row. I think he's still "off" from me being gone over the weekend.
--Tommy is running through the kitchen and into the family room in a loop, over and over.
--Home school is complete for the day. (Certain children complained when schooling. You know who you are!)
--It's frozen pizza night. We have care group. LOVE those people!
--Celeste is getting ready for work and just got home from her classes at the college.
--Jamie is at a friend's house.
--The weather is dreary. I want a crisp, cold winter day. (Not too likely in FL!)
--Eden and Joshua are napping at the same time!!!! I need to go be productive... C YA!

A picture thought with Max

Math Helps!

Today we used 2 wonderful math helps. In order to practice his times tables, Dan likes to go to Multiplication.com. He really enjoys playing the trial version of a game called Timez attack. This is a free download. There are many other games to choose from on this site, also.

Then, today, Max was learning subtraction with borrowing. We found this short little video that really helped him to understand it. Base ten blocks would be wonderful to have. I may have to get some soon! It's going to take a lot of practice, but I think he'll get it.

A picture thought I'm sharing...

You can never have too much fun in the bath!

Fight the Freedom of Choice Act

Today is the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Please go to Fight FOCA and sign the petition. In addition, get involved and contact your state representative and congressman.

"Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in his own image,in the image of God he created him;male and female he created them.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day." Genesis 1:26-31

Weight loss note: I just finished my first week on Weight Watchers and have lost 5.8 pounds. Woo Hoo! Today starts another week. I'm not as hungry today. Praise the Lord!

In which Eden gets her ears pierced...

She cried for only a minute and now Eden has cute little ears just like her friend, Jill. Celeste was a sport while holding Eden on her lap. The lollipop was quite a treat as E had never had one before. After 4 boys in a row, we're being girlie around here.

I'm doing Weight Watchers right now. I would start a weight loss blog, but I wouldn't want to bore anyone ;)! My good friend, Tara, and I are spurring each other on. I feel like I spend every day hungry, but maybe that will pass. I'll try to keep you up-to-date on how it's going. This week has a been a little rough with Sara's Memorial Service and our crazy schedule.

Joshua has his 9 month well check today. I will add info to his blog later today.

What's going on here

I've been up into the wee hours the past several nights working on a scrapbook for my mother-in-law, Sara, who went to be with Jesus on December 21st. My fil asked me to do it for the memorial service that's this weekend. It has been a trip down memory lane. I am hoping it will help others remember her as a vibrant, talented woman and honor her memory.

Tonight, I have a mom's meeting. Usually I go alone, but I'm taking the baby this time. He's increasingly active now since he's about 9 months. He follows the big kids around like a pro--crawling, of course! I'll have to take a jacket tonight. The low is forecast to be 30 degrees. Yay! it's finally winter in FL. We were all wearing short sleeves and some us wore shorts up until a few days ago. A friend of mine is in MN and their temps have been 20-40 below zero. That's serious!

Since I have been scrapbooking a lot lately (in my free time, haha!), I have been working with my digital scrapbook program. I recently found this site that I want to share with you. They have a lot of cute digital goodies. Their weekly newsletter comes out on Saturdays and offers discounts. Check it out!

Care Bear Love

Care Bear Love
Originally uploaded by mommy7fl

This child is just too cute! She had just gotten up from a nap and she always has to have her Care Bears.

Piggies and M-ade

Eden is now just over 2 years old--27 months to be exact. If you remember, this feisty little girl had no hair for the longest time. Finally, she has her hair in pigtails! She calls them "piggies" and asks for them almost daily. Another cute thing she is saying now is "M-ade." She has eschewed regular juice in favor of "M-ade." (I only use it as a treat, though.) In addition, she is now sitting at the big table with us in the Stokke Kinderzeat which she calls her "kindermaseat." I love how cute they are at age 2. It's not even close to be terrible...

Recently Read

When Stu asked me what I wanted for Christmas, the book 20 and Counting! by Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar was at the top of my list. Why? For the past 4 years I have been fascinated with all things Duggar. They are an inspiration to me. Their children are bright, industrious, normal, and love Jesus. Even as an older mom, I never stop learning. Who better to glean from than a mom to so many. This book answers many questions about the family. They have made bad decisions at times. Quite a few of them. (Just like me...) There are family recipes throughout. This has been fun. We had Poor Man's Pizza the other day for lunch. The next day the kids asked, "Hey, Mom. Can we have that pizza for lunch again?" All of this is just to say, if you're curious about the Duggar family and you need encouragement, read this book. It's for all families, big and small. Enjoy!

P.S. There are recipes posted on their website, too. Our family loves the Tater Tot Casserole!

P.S.S. If you have any books that have inspired your parenting journey please share them with me in the comment section.

Homeschool Science Help

I am always searching for resources that will help me teach my children about this amazing world that God made. Recently, I received a free publication that is "top notch." The Institute for Creation Research has been doing some awesome work. They publish some free publications, namely Acts & Facts magazine and a devotional called Days of Praise. You can sign up to receive these free at the ICR website. While some of the language in Acts & Facts may be too grown up for young homeschoolers, it is helpful for me to explain to my younger children and is age appropriate for older middle to high school students. There is a wonderful article on the human ear (and it's wax!) this month. You can read this issue online, but if you're like me, you just LURVE books and want to have something concrete to peruse. I hope this will encourage you in your pursuit to raise a generation that marvels at God's creation!

The beauty of a quiet spirit

God spoke to me today. He told me to be quiet (silent, actually). This was in regards to a matter of heart that I am having. If you know me, you know that is very hard for me to do! In being obedient to Him, I saw immediate fruit from my action. God is so good! After bringing 7 children into this world, my brain can be mush, so the Lord was so good to lead me to scripture, too. 1 Peter 3:1-7 is scripture that challenges us to be better wives and helpmates to our husbands. This is always a good thing. Marriage and parenting is a sanctifying process. Sanctification can feel like trial by fire sometimes, but I am reminded that I am always to glorify Him in all things. (Even when being quiet is the last thing I want to do!) My hope is that this verse blesses you. It is confirmation of God's amazing love. That He would not leave me, but be there and encourage me in the smallest of life's happenings.

"but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 1 Peter 3:4