I made my own laundry detergent!

Thanks, sis, for this recipe! Here is a link to a tip that can save you LOTS of money. I can not believe how LONG this batch lasted me. I've been using the same batch since the summer. This time, I will document exactly how long it lasts.

So Beautiful

This Wedding
(Lindsay Joseph to Daniel Underbrink)
So Beautiful
Family Filled
A Dream Come True
I left more in love with my husband.
What more is there to say?

Best Wishes to my niece and her new husband. Welcome to the family, Daniel!


Check out the pics my (other) niece, Raeley, took and posted on her blog. http://raeley.blogspot.com/2010/09/mr-and-mrs-underbrink.html
She is a sophomore in high school. And, yes, there are some great ones of my kids!

Fun Friday Photo

My kids are on another blog! http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/parentlife/2010/09/fun-friday-photo----september-17th-2010.html

I'm Still Here!

I know... I haven't posted in a while.
Small update:
I am homeschooling 3 of our kids. This is the first full week of school for us. Some parts of it I LOVE so much and wonder why I haven't done it from the beginning. Other parts... well, notsomuch.

I am a teacher. God gave me gifts and strengths that are in that field. I have used my gifts for income. I have used my gifts for serving Him. Now I am using my gifts for love. I had only thought I was using my gifts for love before. Now that I am focusing it all on my kids, the love abounds.

A surprising secret about homeschooling:
It's not about the teaching or the learning...
It's about life and love.
The learning and teaching happens out of that.

Coupon codes for photo books!

I know it's not me to stray from traditional scrapbooking, but when you are as behind as I am now... Sometimes it helps! I have come across some savings and would love to share them with you. They are about up, so you need to act fast!

Picaboo is offering a buy one - get one FREE classic photo book. The down side is that it is the SAME EXACT book that you get free. This is a father's day promo. I ordered one of their books and LOVE it. Some of the best quality in photo books I have seen. Coupon code: BGFJUN and it ends June 15th.

Snapfish has a buy one - get one FREE photo book. The cool thing is that it does not have to be the same! COOL! The down side, I'm not that crazy about snapfish quality. But I'll take what I can get for FREE without too much complaining! And those of you who know me, know I can be a picture snob. I like quality. I don't like blurs or grainy. Yes, I like savings even more! Just sayin'! Almost forgot: Coupon code: GRADBOOKS and it ends June 14th (I also heard it ends June 11th, so not sure. I'll check on it.)

So... if you don't hear of me for a few days, I'll be making 3 photo books! WOOO HOOOO!

Now, which ones should I do.... hmmm.....

Last Day of School!

This year, this has a whole new meaning! Last day for the summer or last day for... ????
Watching the kids so excited about the last day and excited about the little things... getting to watch movies at school, eating popcorn in the classroom, taking their shoes off...
at first I was a bit sad, thinking about how much FUN they are having and I am "taking" that away.
Then I realize...
I can continue the joy in the little things, not just at the end of the school, but ALL the time!!!!!!!!!

Monthly Movie Day!
Popcorn and Popsicles!
Soda for Subtraction!
(and you know, we do NOT give our kids soda at home, so that would be a HUGE treat!)

What is on my mind now is the layout of our new schoolroom. Any suggestions? Websites for ideas? Blogs that give tips?
I'm going to give the girls some graph paper and see what they design. I want to take something from each girl and design a great space. (That doesn't cost much at all.)

Last day of school! WOOO HOOO!

Homeschool Update

It has been a few weeks since I began the homeschool journey with Angela. In the short time I have been working with her, I have seen her improve leaps and bounds. She now willingly reads out loud with me. I started a phonics type of reading program with her and we normally do three lessons a day. She is 1/3 of the way through. At the end of the program (mid-summer), she should be on a second grade reading level! I started a second grade math curriculum with her and we do several lessons a day. She is rockin' it! It has been great having her with me.

The biggest improvement has been with her self-esteem. She said to me the other day, "Mommy, I really am smart! I'm SMART!" That was the most beautiful sound. All year the only thing I heard was how stupid she thought she was. I still can't talk about that without tears welling up. I know without a doubt this was the right choice.

People have been so supportive. I'm amazed at the level of support I have received. I'm also amazed at people I thought would be supportive have remained silent.

The path we are on now, although rewarding, has not been easy. The transition from school work to "home" work has been hard. The transition from Mommy being Mommy to Mommy also being Teacher has been very hard. Angela realizing she is in a safe place and her heart finally releasing all the things it has been carrying around, has been heartwrenchingly difficult. Me loosing just about all the "me" time I had, has been difficult. But what is Mothering? It is walking these hard roads, making the difficult choices, holding the hurting child, ignoring the unsupporters or silent ones you want support from, putting others before yourself while maintaining balance to take care of yourself, letting your children see you living a life you would want them live, and imprinting on their hearts a legacy.