The Word of the Day is "Flexibility".

First, I'm sure you have noticed the new look. :-) I want to thank Amanda at Royal Daughter Designs for the amazing "face lift" she gave the blog. She is AWESOME. Be sure to check her out, and like her on facebook.

"Little Mark" and I are break this week. We, FINALLY, finished 8th grade last week, and we will begin 9th grade on September 8th.

I am now ending day 3 of my break, and this is the first time I have stayed up past 10:00 pm. I have managed to sleep in some. This morning I actually slept until 8:00 am. UNHEARD of for me. 1) because I don't like sleeping that late. It makes the rest of the day drag on, and I feel like I have missed most of the day when I could have been productive. I end up taking longer to get dressed, get my morning routines finished, etc. 2) By that time my back hurts from being in bad too long. Guess I'll have to do better about staying on my schedule; that way it won't be so hard to adjust when we begin school again. :-)

Speaking of school, we haven't even started yet and I'm already making changes to curriculum and our school calender. :-)

I sent a question to Alpha Omega regarding their Monarch program (which I was very excited about using) The nice person who responded sent me a side by side comparison of Monarch vs S.O.S. Most I knew, but a couple of things I didn't. So, I decided to stick with S.O.S. again this year for some of the subjects.

Also, we switched around our some of our days off, added some extra around Thanksgiving, and because we finished 8th grade 2 days later than planned we are starting 2 days later than planned. SO, this means we only get 3 weeks off in December instead of four. (Have I lost you yet?)

This is why I do my lesson plans/calenders in pencil. Again, "Flexibility" is my motto. ;-)

"Angel" has begun second grade, and comes over 4 days a week for me to tutor her. At least I try. She is in a dual language class, after all, and I remember very little from my ONE YEAR of Spanish. So far, I have remembered most of what she is doing this week, so I'm able to "hang in there." Of course, this is only the second week of school, so we'll see how long I last. :-)

And, that about completes my week. I have not been all that productive. I have mentioned to read the Sunday School lesson I will be teaching in a couple of weeks, but have not written it.
I read it while "Little Mark" was in his orthodontist appointment. The braces come off October 3rd. PRAISE THE LORD!!! He's been waiting for this since the day they put them in, over 2 years ago.

So, really, the last couple of weeks have been uneventful.

Well, except for the snake.

The BIG snake.

The one my brother found in the air conditioner closet a week ago tonight, that the policeman let go of, so it went in our attic!!

We are believing it is gone now. We have NO evidence to this, other than the fact that we have not seen it, and we are CHOOSING to believe it is gone.

Please, do not ruin our fantasy by telling us otherwise.

It is just a chicken snake, according to the policeman (And the animal control who were NO HELP because they are not allowed to go into the attic.) but, a snake is a snake in my opinion.

And enough about that because I will be going to bed soon and I don't want to dream about snakes. Thank you very much.

Y'all have a safe Labor Day weekend.

Love,
Wendy Darling

Curriculum Round-up, 2011

Most of you won't really care about this post. But, DeeDee (at Fiddledeedee) is having a curriculum round-up today. And, because I don't really have anything worth posting about right now, and because I don't want to feel like I am the ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD CRAZY ENOUGH TO DO THIS "HOMESCHOOLING THING", I am going to participate. :-)

So, sit back and enjoy.

I have had the pleasure (most days) of homeschooling my nephew for about 12 years now. (And yes, I'm getting an eye twitch realizing I just typed 12 YEARS).

I was VERY idealistic (or is it overwhelmed?) when we first began. I was truly blessed with so many people giving me curriculum, and "created" my own using a little from each one. I pulled from KONOS, Weaver, various "store bought" books, etc. I did that for about 2 years.

I do NOT recommend you do that. For pre-K to 2nd grade take advantage of things around your home, your public library, multicolored blocks, craft supplies and M&Ms. That's really all you need for the first couple of years. Just sayin'.

After a few years of "trial and error" with curriculum, and spending too much money at book fairs, I finally got a good grasp of what works for us, and stayed in that direction.

I've pretty much used the same curriculum for the last few years.

Bible/History and Geography/Language Arts

I use Switched on Schoolhouse by Alpha Omega. My nephew LOVES computers. He always has. If he had his way we would have done all of our subjects on computer. But, I didn't want him sitting and looking at a monitor the whole time. And, since he really is a hands on learner as well, I wanted something more well rounded. So , we use other curriculum for the other subjects.

Math

We have used Math U See for several years now. I have to confess we were a little late getting started with math. I did it on my own, for awhile. You know, the basics of adding and subtracting. (He loved subtracting, because he got to eat the Goldfish or M&Ms.) But, since math is NOT my best subject, I definitely wanted to go with a curriculum that was a good fit for both of us. A great friend introduced me to Math U See.

All I can say is, "Hallelujah!!" Steve Demme is amazing. THIS is how I should have been taught to do math when I was in school. Maybe I wouldn't have freaked out when they through letters in with the numbers.

I love that there is a DVD and that each lesson is appropriate for all learning styles. It has been a Godsend for us.

Health/Science

Abeka is a really great, Christian curriculum. We were very blessed when a friend gave us the curriculum they no longer needed.

For a couple of years I also used "Considering God's Creation." This is a wonderful, hands on science curriculum that teaches science in the order of Creation. It can be used for grades 2-12. There are a lot of options for assignments at any grade level. My favorite part was the "Evolution Busters". This brought everything back to the Bible to show how only God could have hung the stars in the sky, and put together the complex wonder known as the human body.

Reading/Spelling

For reading I just use books we have, or those from the library. I began buying classics at used bookstores or curriculum sales a LONG time ago. I get lesson plans for them off of the internet, or if I don't find one I like then I purchase one from our Christian Bookstore.

For spelling, I choose words from the other subjects. I did use a spelling curriculum when he was younger, but another friend showed me that it is more practical, and economical, to use words from things he is already doing. Made sense to me.

Writing

As you can see from my awesome grammar/punctuation skills I do NOT handle the writing. That job has been passed on to my very intelligent brother. :-) He uses Writing Strands. He also handled the reading this last year as well. Yes, he ROCKS!! :-)

Good Citizenship

For this I have used everything from visiting policeman and the fire station to voting. My nephew has attended every election I have voted in since he was 4. He gets to see the ballot, watches me vote, and then we discuss why I voted the way I did. I always stress to him that voting is personal. It reflects MY beliefs, which may not always reflect his. The important thing to remember is that YOU vote YOUR beliefs, and you stick by them. But, know WHY you are voting that way. Don't vote for someone just because they are the most popular, etc. I believe he has a good handle on that subject. I also used a unit study that taught about our entire legislative/voting process, but can't remember the name. Sorry.

This last year we also used "Drive Thru History America". If you have not had the pleasure of seeing a Drive Thru History video, hosted by Dave Stotts, then I encourage you to do so. He is just quirky enough to hold the attention of almost anyone, but really gets the facts to you so you will remember them. I have learned just as much as the nephew has. The DTHA really focuses on the character of 9 early Americans, so that students learn not only more about the sacrifices made for America to become a nation, but about the character traits they need to become better people.

We've also used various things for Unit Studies, etc. And, he has had other subjects through our co-op, such as drama, Astronomy, etc.

P.E. has always been a "freelance" thing, I guess you'd say. We've done everything from karate, playing in the park, attending a gym, water aerobics, and just playing on the Wii.

Like a lot of homeschoolers, we school year round. My goal has always been to take all of December off, and be finished mid July, so we can have a 4-6 week break before beginning the next "school year." Of course, there are other days "off" thrown in there as well. It doesn't always work, but it's what we aimed for.

I've also done the 4 day school week, as well as the 5 day school week.

Now that we are entering his Freshman year in high school (there goes the eye twitch, again) I will be making some changes.

Switched on Schoolhouse will be changed to Monarch. It's pretty much the same things, but I don't have to deal with installation CDs. We will also add Science to the Monarch mix. We will go 5 days, and our goal is to have all of December off, be finished by July 31, and have August off, and of course there are scheduled holidays/days off throughout the year. Even a week off in April and 2 weeks off in June.

Lest you think he is chained to a desk in a dark room this entire time, let me assure you he does have outside activities. He is very involved at church and 4-H. He also does more than his fair share of volunteer work. As a matter of fact, we have cut back on activities this year, because we were both a little "overloaded" the last couple of years. And, since I am a little more than anxious about homeschooling high school (eye twitch) I felt it was in both of our best interests to take some of the pressure off.

Because there are not enough M&Ms in the world to help with that kind of stress.

Hope you saw something that helped you, and I pray you have a very exciting year of homeschooling your family. :-)

Love,

Blogs I read...

Well, I told y'all I'd be back with a list on Sunday or Monday. It's Monday, just a week later than planned. :-)

In my busy schedule I do try to take a little time for myself, and there are a few blogs I read regularly. Some everyday, some a couple of times a week, and some whenever the owner of the blog has a new update.

I'm rather eclectic, and there are many blogs I read, all for different reasons. Some give me a much needed laugh/smile every time; some are nostalgic and bring good memories. Others are informative or creative, and I love to learn new things, while some are inspirational and uplifting. And others? Well, they just help me to feel "normal" because, like me, they just want to feel like they are reaching the "outside world", but not on a "political crusade."

Does that make sense?

And, I especially love the ones that use more run on sentences than I do because then I don't feel like the lamest person on the earth who should have flunked English instead of getting an A or B.

Which would be why Little Mark's Uncle handles the Writing subjects in our homeschool.

Thank you very much and AMEN.

So, if you feel like trying something new, you might give these other blogs a try. :-)

http://thebigmamablog.com/

http://boomama.net/

http://www.fiddledeedee.net/

The above three are the very first blogs I ever started reading. I don't even remember how I found them, but I just love them. :-)

http://thepioneerwoman.com/confessions/

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/

http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/

http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/

If you haven't heard of Ree Drummond, AKA "Pioneer Woman" then let me introduce you. :-) I began reading her blog in '08 or '09, can't remember. It started when someone recommended her "love story" she had entitled "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels". I thought it was very fitting. :-) She was putting on her blog, a chapter a month I think. At least it felt that way when you were waiting for the next chapter! Yes, I was one of the women waiting at the computer in my PJs on Saturday morning when she said the new chapter would be up by 8:00 am.

I have no life; thank you for pointing that out.

(You can now purchase it in book form, here) Or her cookbook here.

OR her children's book here.

I have read them all, and own the cookbook. (LOVE the cinnamon rolls and chocolate sheet cake.) OH, and the jalapenos. (Sweet mercy, they are AWESOME!) I do make one change to the recipe though. I throw in a bag of real bacon pieces instead of wrapping it in bacon.

Did I mention the are AWESOME? I also make a change to the cinnamon rolls which you can read about here.

The woman can do it all. And she homeschools and runs a cattle ranch with her husband. Did I mention they are also turning Black Heels to Tractor Wheels into a movie? Yep, they are. Ree will be played by Reece Witherspoon. If she has said who is playing her husband I must have missed that post, but I have some great suggestions. :-) OH, and she will have her own show on Food Network very soon. They already filmed the episodes.

I want to be Ree when I grow up.

I have to admit, I don't read PW everyday anymore, because HELLO, there is a lot there. But, it is informative and fun. And, she still writes like she always has, even though now she's "famous."

OK, more links:

http://www.sugarpiefarmhouse.com/

This one is fairly new to me, but I am loving it. :-)

http://www.thethriftymama.com/

Again, fairly new to me, but great info.

http://daeofourlives.blogspot.com/

I love reading my friend, Amanda's blog. :-)

http://cozylittlecabin.blogspot.com/

And my friend, Vera's blog. :-)

http://www.myrepurposedlife.net/

This one is also new to me, but I LOVE the craft projects she shows. I especially want to make THIS.

http://juliesthoughtstothink.blogspot.com/

My friend, Julie, is always uplifting and inspiring. :-)

There are others that I read and recommend, but I'll stop here for now. I hope you enjoy them, and find something that interests you. :-) I know they will appreciate new visitors, just as I do. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

It's a list....

Goodness gracious, I can't believe I've let so much time go by since I posted, AGAIN!

Actually, I can... and I really have no excuse except that I don't feel I have a lot to say that would be all that important to someone else. And, I'm lazy, but that's beside the point.

Actually, I have had a lot to say, but since I try not to post anything "overly political", or use the blog to "vent" too much I tend to not post anything. I guess it's my blog, and I should get on my soap box if I want to, but I'd prefer this to haven of good things for me, and for others.

Oh, I do tend to get sentimental and nostalgic, and that's quite acceptable, but I just don't want it to be a place of negativity. And, I guess I've been looking more at the negative than the positive lately. I need to work on that.

So, here is a list of the positive, sentimental, nostalgic... not negative stuff I've been thinking about lately. :-)

1. My Young Living business is going really well. :-) I'm learning a lot about using the natural oils for healing, and I'm finding great success with what I have personally used. I'm walking without pain, have more energy, and I've even lost a few inches. But, best of all, I'm able to share it with others and they are having success as well, without the high cost of doctor bills. :-)

2. Little Mark and I are almost finished with the 8th grade. :-)

3. I am almost prepared to Home School High School, and I'm no longer overwhelmed by it.

4. Have y'all been playing on Gardens of Time on FB? It is relaxing. It's the only app I play, and doesn't take long during the day. Not one I would become "addicted" to, or have to keep up with lest I should "lose the crops, etc." But, it's a nice, occasional break from reality.

5. God has truly, truly blessed us the last couple of weeks. Need to praise Him for that.

6. Season 2 of Haven is back on!! :-)

7. Friday Night Lights has ended, and the final episode was wonderful. Still get teary eyed when I think about it.

8. I've been thinking about redesigning my blog. Still not quite sure about it.

9. Little Mark won the 4-H scholarship for record book keeping for the second year in a row. :-)

10. He missed going to state by 1 place. I count that as a great accomplishment, since this was his first year to qualify for state.

11. I'm contemplating joining the church choir.

12. I'd really like to take a day and tank full of gas and just drive around and take photos all day. :-)

13. I cannot wait for the movie "Courageous" to come out in September!!! :-)

14. There are 155 days until Christmas! :-)

There, lets end it on a really happy note. :-) I plan to be back tomorrow with a list of blogs I follow pretty faithfully. :-)

Okay... maybe Sunday. Or Monday... SOON!! :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

It's been awhile....

I cannot believe how long it has been since I have blogged!!! Mercy! Things are so busy. Looks like this will be a random list. Please forgive me.

We are still doing school. We go year round and take several breaks throughout the year. As a matter of fact, 8 days from now begins a two week break for us. One is a family "staycation"; as in we won't be going anywhere, but the siblings have the week off from work and we don't do school. :-)

Well, that's not entirely true. We do plan to go to the zoo one day.

The week after that "Little Mark" goes to youth camp for a week. (Do you hear the Angels singing Hallelujah?!") :-) I get a whole week break. :-)

I have been posting at my YL blog, so if you are at all interested in using Essential Oils to help maintain your health, or help manage illnesses, please take a look. :-) We are so pleased with the successes we have had.

It is HOT!!

We had Vacation Bible School last week. We did the Big Apple Adventure. LOVED it. ;-) I was in charge of Missions for the 4th-6th grade. This is my 3rd year to do Missions. I really enjoy it. I hope to do it again next year.

I do plan to shower early and watch the Mavs beat Miami tonight. I'm thinking nachos are in order.

If you are at all interested in visiting East Texas you might want to check out this magazine. You can also find it in a hard copy if you are anywhere in East Texas. :-) I love that Neal McCoy is in the very first issue.

Did I mention it's HOT?

Our school year should end in August, and begin... in August. ;-) I've already picked my curriculum, and only have a couple to buy, so I'm set there. I've decided to go with MONARCH this year. Only for the subjects we already use Switched On Schoolhouse for though. So, no major changes.

I'm sure y'all are finding my list fascinating. :-)

I do have several recipes I need to share with y'all. I have been so horrible I can't even remember the last time I linked to the Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap.

Again, did I mention it's HOT, and I've been busy?

Hopefully this didn't bore you too much. I think I'm going to take a cold shower and get ready to watch the game. Y'all stay COOL!!

Love,
Wendy Darling

I love "throw together" meals...

Don't you just love a meal you can throw together in one skillet? You just heat, add a salad and eat. ;-) That was lunch today. And it was good. I used a new ingredient, the Savory Garlic Cooking Cream. Yeah, it was VERY good. :-) Here is the recipe I, literally, threw together. You can change any of it to suit your needs/use your leftovers. :-)

Veggie/Chicken/Spaghetti Thing - great name, don't you think? LOL.. ;-)

Left over spaghetti from last night's meal. (or cook any pasta you wish)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 bag steam fresh veggies - I used the mixed veggies with the corn, peas, carrots and green beans
about 3 tablespoons of the Philadelphia Cooking Cream
1 can of chicken breast, drained
1 small tomato, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
about 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
dried parsley - to garnish

Place skillet over medium high heat. Put in soup and a couple of large tablespoons of cooking cream. Add about 1/4 cup of water and stir together to break up the soup. Add the leftover spaghetti and coat in the "sauce." Put the veggie bag in the microwave and cook according to directions. Stir spaghetti to keep from burning, and keep it heating through. Add veggies when they are done, as well as the chicken, tomatoes and salt and pepper. . Heat everything through, stirring often. When it is hot turn off the heat and add the shredded cheese and parsley. Serve with salad. :-)

Best part, 1 pan to clean up. I don't really measure anything, so that's even less dishes. :-) Enjoy. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

I have a business blog...

Well, things have been busy around here. :-) "Little Mark", finally, finished Texas History. He's on the tail end of his 2 week break, and then it's back to school.

We only have one more 4-H competition to prepare for. He has until July to get his record book ready. He participated in the District photography contest and received 2nd place in 2 categories, so he moved those photos on to State.

My Young Living business is growing, in baby steps. I'm learning a lot, and having great success with the oils I have used. :-) I started a blog, just for the oils, so if you care to take a look at that feel free. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Happy Valentines Day...

.... or, as several of my friends refer to it, "Happy Singles Awareness Day."

Because really, what does Valentines Day do except force couples to buy each other cards, flowers, candy, and jewelry, and tell each other they love them on a specified day of the year. And make Hallmark and Whitman's a bunch of money.

OR, it just points out the fact that single people are.... I don't know.... SINGLE more prevalent.

But, I'm not bitter. Really.

Seriously, I kid about the last part. I believe I have stated that I am happily single, knowing that God is in charge of my life, and until He sees fit to include someone else in that plan, I'm content to be single.

But, I can't lie and say it doesn't bother me, occasionally. It does. I think that's only human.

Which makes me wonder about those women, and men, who aren't content with their lives, or who don't believe God is in control of it. Or the ones who think love is only proven with jewelry, chocolate, or roses.

Last week my Sunday School lesson was about HOW we truly show someone we love them, as well as WHAT love truly is. In the words of DC Talk, "Luv is a Verb." It's an action.

The greatest show of love was when Jesus died on the cross for us. THAT was love in action. The proof that that love still lives is when He arose 3 days later. The love of God is the greatest love I will ever know, or ever need.

But, that doesn't mean I don't need to feel love from humans. And we all receive that differently.

I recently took the quiz for the "5 Love Languages", again, and my answer came out differently this time. I always thought my love language was "Words of Affirmation" and "Acts of Service". They are still high on the list, but the one that got the highest score was "Quality Time."

I can see that. I would much rather spend quality time with someone than receive gifts. As a matter of fact, "gifts" didn't score at all on my test. Not that I would not appreciate them, but they just don't "show me the love" that 2 hours of uninterrupted time would, or a note telling me something nice about me.

Or someone scrubbing a floor so I don't have to. Now, that's love people. :-)

So, what about you? What's your love language? What's one thing someone can do for you that would show you how much they love you?

And, if you want to "show me some love", let's sit down and play a card game, or some dominoes together and just have fun. :-)

But, I wouldn't turn down the chocolate or roses should you desire to bring some along. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

"I've got an oil for that..."

This very well may become my new mantra. Seriously, I believe I have uttered this phrase at least a thousand times over the last 3 days.

Ok, maybe not a thousand, but I have said it A LOT. And with good reason. ;-)

I have not mentioned it to many people, but I am now an Independent Distributor for Young Living.

Relax! There is no need to run and stop reading; this is not a sales pitch. However, for me, it is turning out to be a blessing in disguise. :-)

I believe I have mentioned SEVERAL times before that I lack heavily in the "health insurance" department. (i.e. I have none.) Hospitals and doctors kind of frown on that sort of thing. So, I have been looking for "alternative medicine" for quite some time now. A couple of my friends (THANK YOU "J" and "V") shared these oils with me.

Oh. My. Goodness! So much information. It took me several weeks of looking at the website and doing some research, but I finally decided this sounded like something that could help my situation, and it was natural. So, I ordered one of the starter kits and waited for the first opportunity to try it out.

It didn't take long. The first day was spent smelling the oils and reading about each one and how it could help us. That very day I used one on my sore ankle and within a minute or so my pain was gone. Mom was stuffy, so we used the peppermint oil and she has been breathing easy ever since. :-)

The nephew has slept through the night, treated warts and "been energized" with a few of the oils. When I was deciding whether or not to try them I asked myself: 1) Is it cost effective in the long run, and 2) Does it work. Answers: Yes, and Yes. So, I decided to give it a shot. AND, in the long run, it's cheaper than a doctor/hospital/pharmacy visit.

OH, and don't even get me started on the all natural cleaner. Heavens to Betsy!! It's a Godsend.

AND, did I mention, it's cheaper than going to the doctor?! :-)

Did this sound to much like a sales pitch? Sorry about that. I just got excited about the millions of ways these oils can help me. I'll have to see if there is one for chronic exaggeration. ;-)

Anyway, in the last 3 days anytime someone has mentioned any sort of physical ailment I immediately respond, "I've got an oil for that, " and I run to my trusty oils and the info book/catalog. :-) It kind of reminds me of the character in Holes that always says, "I can fix that." LOL... ;-)

Just thought I'd share.

Love,
Wendy Darling

Chance for $500 Visa gift card...

Melanie over at Big Mama is giving away a $500 Visa gift card, sponsored by Swanson's Broth. You may find all of the info HERE.

Love,
Wendy

I believe I need an editor...

Even though today is our first day back at school I've been goofing off on the computer some this morning. I'm waiting for "Little Mark" to finish an assignment, so I decide to just check out some blogs.

I am so far behind on reading some of my "favorite" blogs that I think I'm just going to have to empty my Google Reader and start with a clean slate. The thought of doing that kills me. But, every time I open up GR and see that big 1000 + staring back at me I remind myself of what an awful person I am for not keeping up with my friends blogs, especially the ones who are MUCH better than I am blog every day.

So, really it would be best for my self-esteem to just clear it. I'm sure they will understand. :-)

The one thing that REALLY bothers me though is when I go back and read MY blog posts and I see all of the mistakes. You know the ones that are written late at night, or in haste, and I just want to get it typed out? Yeah. I go back and I see so many stupid mistakes, like using the wrong form of a word; putting an apostrophe in the wrong spot; or my constant overuse of commas...

I am positive I have driven away several faithful readers who just couldn't continue to forgive me for my grammar/punctuation mistakes.

And we're not even going to discuss run-on sentences...

So, I think the only thing to do is "hire" a proofreader/editor. I wonder if there are any who wouldn't mind being paid in cookies...

Love,
Wendy Darling

Skip Christmas??? NEVER! ;-)

Again, I am fully aware of what month it is, but tonight the family and I watched "Christmas With the Kranks", and I laughed myself silly. :-)

I have to admit that when I first saw this advertise a few years ago I had no desire to see it. It just didn't seem funny to me. Then, I got bored one day and watched it. I'm glad I did.

If you haven't seen it, yet, go ahead and set aside about 1 1/2 hours and enjoy it. You'll be glad you did. :-)



Love,
Wendy Darling

Yep, it's a list... again.

First, let me thank all of you for still hanging around. I think its' pretty obvious by now that I stink as a blogger. ;-) There are some days I have ideas for wonderful blog fodder, and then no time to blog. Most other days... I got nothin'. And, I've forgotten the wonderful blog fodder I had intended to blog about.

Like now. I really don't have much of anything, but after almost 2 months I feel I should at least poke my head up and wave a little to those of you still here. :-)

So, here's a list of what I've been up to:

1. I learned to play Chess. Now, this may seem rather boring to some of you, but I've wanted to learn for years. I actually did learn once, about 20 years ago. My brother taught me, but refused to play with me the first time I beat him. ;-) Then, he forgot how to play as well. So, we looked at this really great book;



and inside it says that Chess is one game all boys should know how to play. After all, it teaches strategy, concentration, and they learn how to be good winners/losers. So, Cleggy, "Little Mark" and I learned how to play Chess, and we have loved it. "Little Mark" is surprisingly VERY good. :-)

2. 4-H is now back in full swing. We have had the first Photography workshop, and the food show/challenge will be in November. A LOT of new faces in many of the clubs this year. I am so excited. I never did 4-H growing up, but I wish I had. It is such an amazing organization and really teaches kids leadership skills, as well as many other life skills. I have seen so many kids "come out of their shell" over the last few years, and really build there self-esteem. But, more importantly, edifying one another and teaching others. If you haven't looked into 4-H, you should definitely take a closer look. :-) And, as I always tell new prospects, "It's NOT just showing animals." ;-)

3. My college homecoming is coming up after the first of the year and I've been busy planning our chapter luncheon. I like to plan WAY ahead on things, especially when I'm working on a budget. I've decided on spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, cake (which I'm making) and tea/water. That's budget friendly and easy for our youth to serve us. ;-)

4. I've started filling in for the lady who does the desserts for our supper at church on Wednesday nights. Last night was my first time. I think it went pretty well. :-) It's only for a couple of months, and doesn't take a lot of time from "Little Mark's" school work. He does most of it on his own this year anyway.

I've been very pleased with this years' schedule. :-)

5. I'm also learning the Metric System along with "Little Mark." I don't know where you went to school, but I barely remember learning a LITTLE bit about it, but not much. And that was in elementary school. So, I know NOTHING. I love the way Math-U-See handles it though. And, I've been very pleased with how quickly "Little Mark" has caught on. He definitely has the mind for math. :-)

And, I have found that I REALLY like Math!

I KNOW! I can't believe I just typed that either!! :-) I even sent my college Math teacher an e-mail telling her how much I like Math now. I found myself looking at a receipt a couple of weeks ago, and I mentally put the total in Exponential Notation FOR FUN.

I'm such a nerd... ;-)

6. The weather has turned cooler and I LOVE it!! Fall and spring are my favorite seasons.

7. I'm getting very excited for Christmas!! :-)

You knew that one was coming, didn't you?

8. I'm now one of the teacher's in my Singles Sunday School class, and I really like it. :-) Our class is growing, and we have even decided to have a float in the Christmas parade. WOO HOO!! Two of my favorite things put together. It's the equivalent of putting chocolate with caramel. ;-)

9. I am doing the Beth Moore Bible Study "Here and Now... There and Then". It's on the Book of Revelation. LOVE. IT. I highly recommend it.

10 I've been listening to a song the last couple of weeks that really touches me. I'll post the link below. It's such an awesome reminder that no matter what goes on in this world/our lives, the most important thing is whether or not we are leading others to Christ. Whether directly witnessing, or just living our lives as an example of Christ's love. I don't always do that, but I'm trying.

Well, guess I'll end the list with this. Guess I had more to say than I thought. LOL.. ;-) I will try to be a better blogger.

Enjoy the song/video.
Love,
Wendy Darling

Some catching up...

Little Mark has been in Dallas for almost 2 weeks now. We FINALLY finished 7th so he has been on break. Which means I have been on break. :-)

We begin 8th grade on Monday, but until then I will enjoy the last few days I have to relax.

What have I been doing during all of that "free time"? Cleaning house, preparing for 8th grade, watching "North and South" books 1 and 2, playing Skip-Bo, eating stuffed jalapenos, baking, scrapbooking, cooking and playing on the computer.

I have also been listening to MANY people talk about how expensive school supplies/school clothes are and praising God we homeschool. I am so glad we don't have to deal with the hassle and expense of it all. One parent told me how much they spent on supplies and just a few school uniforms. I told them that was almost twice as much as I spent on all of Little Mark's curriculum for the whole year. They became very interested in homeschooling after that.

I seem to get a lot of phone calls around this time of year, and I have also been answering a lot of questions and advising several families about how to begin homeschooling. I have even turned down 2 offers to teach other children. I'm guiding the parents as they make the decision of whether or not they want to venture into the homeschooling world. I'm quick to tell them it isn't for everyone, but I am a huge advocate, and would definitely support their decision. and be happy to give any guidance/advice I can.

It is such a joy to see the smile on a parent's face who has a young one going into Pre-K or Kindergarten and say, you can homeschool this little one for FREE using the public library and what you already have at home. Save that private school tuition. It's a blessing. :-)

As you have probably figured out homeschooling is one of my passions. I could talk about it all day long, and have. :-)

Well, that's what going on with me. Tomorrow I plan to do a Home Blessing and watch a movie. We'll see after that. Things get back to "normal" on Monday, and I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be a great year. :-)

Blessings,
Wendy

It's a deep one guys ~ Get ready...

Those who know me know that I am influenced by music. Most of the people in my family are. I have said several times that I could put together a soundtrack of my life based on what was popular at the time. I hear songs now and I can remember where I was living/what was going on in my life at that time.

There are some songs that really speak to me though. Maybe it's just me, but I take the lyrics to heart.

Two of those songs have really been influencing me lately. One is an older song, but one I have loved since it came out in 1990. "Only Here for a Little While" by Billy Dean, and "These are the Words I Would Say" by Sidewalk Prophets.

While the genre/music style is different, the message is the same; "Tell people what they mean to you while you are here! Get your business taken care of daily." We've all had those people in our life that we wish we could have spoken to one last time before they passed on. We wish would could have told them how much they meant to us. OR, we wish they would have taught us something; told us more about themselves while they were here.

My Daddy died when I was 15. There are many things I wish I would have said to him. He was a great man, and taught me a lot, but I know there was more he would have taught me as I got older.

I don't have any children, but I do have family and friends. I have two nephews, and an "adopted niece" who I love very much. I try to be a positive influence on their lives and teach them something whenever we are together. Whether it's important to spend quality time with people while baking cookies, or how volcanoes work, or just letting them know how important they are and how much God loves them.

So, today I took both of these songs to heart. I really thought about what I would want to say to each of them if I knew I would not be here tomorrow. I sat down, and I hand wrote each of them a letter. I let them know what a blessing they have been to me and gave them that bit of encouragement, love and advice I would give them if I were here.

They are sealed in envelopes in my drawer and will be given to them after I pass on. None of us are promised the next breath, and I won't stop encouraging, teaching and loving them as long as I am here. Hopefully, by the time they grow up the letters will be obsolete, because I will have said it all myself. But, just in case I want them to have that last bit from me.

I hope this doesn't come across as macabre. Sometimes it is really hard to translate the feelings/intentions I have in words.

Why am I posting all of this here, on a blog? Two reasons. 1) I want to let those family members who actually read this blog (both of you) know about it and know to give the young ones the letters. 2) To encourage you to tell your family and friends how much you love them. How important they are, and how much they have blessed you.

If you wish, here are the two songs that have inspired this post today. Listen to the lyrics, and tell your loved ones just how important they are to you.








Love,
Wendy Darling

Five and Ten - Round Two

Instructions, just in case you forgot:

(1) Turn on your MP3 player/iPod.
(2) Go to SHUFFLE songs mode.
(3) Write down the first TEN songs that come up--song title and artist--NO editing/cheating, please (even if letting the world know you listen to crap "Weekend in New England" will humiliate you).
(4) Choose FIVE people to be tagged. It is generally considered to be in good taste to tag the person who tagged you, since there should be new songs appearing with Shuffle every time.


Ok, I got tagged, again. Cleggy and Phineas tagged me for this meme this time, and since I have over 1000 songs on my player odds are I will get a different ten songs, right? We can only hope.

And odds are at least ONE Eric Dodge song will come up, right? We can hope. SO, without further ado let me turn on the player and lets get started.... :-)

1. The Coloring Song - Petra
2. The Real Thing - Bo Bice
3. Massachusetts - Bee Gees
4. Anymore - Travis Tritt
5. A Few Good Men - Gaither Vocal Band
6. I Can Love You Like That - John Michael Montgomery
7. When You're Smilin' - Louis Prima
8. I Am Changing - Jennifer Hutson
9. Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley
10. Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford

OK, Cleggy did not want to be outdone by Princess Ladybug, so he did a bonus 10. Well if he can then I can too. :-) Here is the bonus 10.

Isn't this fun?! :-)

11. Something to Talk About - Bonnie Rait
12. I Honestly Love You - Olivia Newton John
13. I'll Be True to You - The Oak Ridge Boys
14, Soul Man - Sam and Dave
15. Song of the South - Alabama
16. Country Club - Travis Tritt
17. Try a Little Tenderness - Otis Redding
18. Rocky Mountain High - John Denver
19. Let's Fall to Pieces Together - George Strait
20. God With Us - Mercy Me

Unbelievable!!! Not even one Eric Dodge song came up. Oh well, maybe next time. :-) OK, since everyone If would tag has already been tagged I'll just open this one up. I you would like to participate, please do. And then leave me a message letting me know you did so I can come and see your post. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Music Tag... Five and Ten

OK, I got tagged by Princess Ladybug over at Fly Away Home. Here's how it works:

Instructions...
(1) Turn on your MP3 player/iPod.
(2) Go to SHUFFLE songs mode.
(3) Write down the first TEN songs that come up--song title and artist--NO editing/cheating, please (even if letting the world know you listen to crap "Weekend in New England" will humiliate you).
(4) Choose FIVE people to be tagged. It is generally considered to be in good taste to tag the person who tagged you, since there should be new songs appearing with Shuffle every time.


1. Indescribable- Chris Tomlin
2. If I Know ME - George Strait
3. Daydream Believer - The Monkees
4. Through the Years - Kenny Rogers
5. If We are the Body - Casting Crowns
6. Sunglasses at Night - Cory Hart
7. California Dreamin' - The Mamas and the Papas
8. The Snowman - Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby
9. How Can I Keep from Singing - Chris Tomlin
10. Common Man - John Conlee

I can't believe not a single Eric Dodge song came up. SO, let me take this opportunity to let you know that you can download a FREE song from www.ericdodge.com. The song is called "Home of the Brave" and is off of his new CD "Home To Me." You will LOVE it. :-)

Don't you like how I plugged that? LOL... :-)

OK, now I have to tag 5 people. Princess Ladybug tagged some of the ones I would have tagged, so I'll pick 5 different ones.

Amanda
Vera
Terry
Julie
LaVon

Even if you don't normally do these things, come on along and play. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Ok, so it's not really, but I'm sure getting in the mood. :-) Don't worry, this will not be a Christmas post, nor is it to make you hyperventilate thinking you need to start getting the decorations out of the closet/garage/attic; and start making lists of the gifts you need to get this year.

I have begun that list because I drew my wonderful BIL's name and I'm poor, which means I have to save and buy early. :-) And, T, you can continue reading because I'm NOT going to put what I'm getting you on here. :-) Fact is I still don't know... but I'm in the mood to make something so anything is possible.

Little Mark has been home from camp for a week and he had a wonderful time. I also enjoyed my time off, and I did everything on my "to do" list except read my camera manual. I was way too busy watching movies and eating massive amounts of salsa. It was a fun time. :-)

Little Mark will be taking one last vacation for the summer in August. He'll be gone for two weeks and I have already begun my "to do" list for while he is away. So far on the list:

1. Watch "North and South" Book 1. Don't ask me why, but I've been in the mood to watch it.
2. Purchase part of BIL's Christmas present and make plans for the rest.
3. EAT LOTS OF SALSA. You knew that one was coming didn't you? :-)

That's the list so far. I would add "listen to Christmas music" to that list, but those of you who know me know I've already been doing that. :-) I just might have to visit a Michael's or Hobby Lobby this weekend to look at he decorations/craft supplies. I need a "Christmas fix."

Love,
Wendy Darling

Plans for the week....

Little Mark leaves for camp tomorrow morning and I have been making plans of what I should do this week while he is away. After careful consideration I have decided on the following activities:

1) Get caught up on Scrapbooking at least one day
2) Watch movies via Netflix streaming/and on DVD, also via Netflix
3) Eat lots and lots of salsa
4) sleep
5) play Skip-Bo with my Mom
6) Eat lots and lots of salsa
7) Reread the manual to my digital camera and play around with it to see if I can learn to use it better, and I really should take some time to read more
8) Occasionally clean the house and cook a meal
9) Did I mention eat salsa?

That sounds like a full week of productivity to me. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Yes, I'm still alive.... and a recipe

Wanted to stop in and let y'all know that I am still kickin'. :-) I am also pretty worn out from VBS today, so I'm not doing a whole post. I do have several "in the works" though, so I will be posting soon.

For some unknown reason I have REALLY been craving stuffed jalapenos and salsa lately. Don't ask me why, but I could literally live off the stuff. Thankfully, jalapenos are inexpensive, and the salsa takes less than 5 minutes to make. :-) SO, here is the recipes.

Homemade Salsa

1 can of stewed tomatoes
1 jalapeno (chop the top off)
about 1/2 of a medium Noonday onion (any onion will work, but Noonday is in season and they aren't hot)
2 cloves of garlic
2 tsp. sugar

Put everything in a blender until smooth.

That's it. It's all fresh ingredients, except the canned tomatoes, and it tastes great. For a milder salsa take the seeds out of the jalapeno first.

Love,
Wendy Darling