Doing the Next Thing

A few weeks ago, I posted about my new washer & dryer . These fabulous new machines have definitely eased the laundry burden at this house. But as I said in the post, they don't fold! :-) So I still had clothes for seven people gathering in folded piles on my coffee table, sofa, or wherever I folded a particular basket. No sooner would I have all the kiddos pick up their pile and put it away, than another load would come out of the dryer! We always had folded laundry lying around no matter what we did! Here's the solution I came up with: I purchased the cart in the picture at Ikea for about $20. It lives in my laundry room and will eventually be part of a cute storage/desk combo and my new "sewing corner." (More on that when we actually get it finished!) Each of the "big kids" gets one drawer and the 2 toddlers share. As I fold the laundry, I put it into their drawers (which hold way more than you would think!) Once a day, at bedtime, they carry their d...

Ok , I'm so new to blogging! Forgive me for any breeches of blog etiquette! It occurred to me tonight that part of the honor of the Blogger Reflection Award is to pass it on. Here are the instructions: "Give to those who have been an encouragement, a source of love, impacted you in some way, and have been a Godly example to you. Five Bloggers who when you reflect on them you get a sense of pride and joy… of knowing them and being blessed by them. This award is for the best-of-the-best so consider who you pick, carefully. This award should not be given to just anyone. If you’re going to do the award don’t just write a few words and slap it on your Blog. Write real thoughts about these Bloggers and what they’ ve meant to you. If the Bloggers you pick have already been given the award, don’t be afraid to give it to them again. They deserve it as many times as it’s given." So here are my nominees: Kate at The Tate School introduced me to blogging and is a true friend. I c...

Imagine my surprise to sign on to my blog the other day and discover someone nominated me for an award! (I don't think I've won an award since being voted "Most Likely to Make Your Kids Eat Broccoli" in high school!) Mary over at Not Before 7 nominated me for the Blogger Reflection Award. I am humbled, to say the least, and feel very blessed. Thanks, Mary!

Well, tonight I finished reading Rocket Boys , by Homer H. Hickam, Jr. That means (lucky you) that it is time for another amateur book review! I picked this one up at Borders back in May while browsing a section labeled "Local Summer Reading Selections." I remembered enjoying the movie October Sky , which was based on the book - so I decided it would be my summer reading pick! The first chapter was engaging. Sonny (he calls himself by his boyhood nickname) begins by crediting his grade school teachers for inspiring him to read (gotta love that!) and become interested in the very new "space race." I admit that the next several chapters moved a little more slowly and I struggled with my commitment to finish the book. About midway through, however, things picked up. The storyline enveloped me and I found myself transported to late 1950s West Virginia. Hickam's very readable style made me feel like one of the gang and even made me want to brush up on my math and ph...

Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures For in these, you say, your life will never end, Don’t be misled; the life you’re looking for Is found in Me, for I am found in them. And… "These are they, these are they, These are they which speak of Me.” copyright Jamie Soles 2001 Music that blesses us! Check out www.solmusic.ca for more info. We have several Jamie Soles cds and they are family favorites!

My children have recently developed a deep interest in creation science. One day we were listening to our Jonathan Park CD and the narrator mentioned the Second Law of Thermodynamics: things left to themselves tend toward disorder. It struck me that this is not only true in science, but also in parenting and home-keeping. No matter how clean we get the kitchen floor, tomorrow it will be dirty again. We get all the laundry washed only to find the hampers full the next day. We overcome one tough discipline issue only to be confronted by three more. And on it goes. Today I'm trying to get our school supplies and books organized for our first day. I see entropy everywhere! While I'm shelving books in one room, the toddler is pulling things off the shelf in the other! I've spent a ridiculous amount of time staring at one particular cabinet, simply because it looks so tidy! (in contrast to the rest of the school room) Will it ever end!? The answer is - yes! One day Jesus will ret...

As I look forward to a new school year, I have come up with three verses to put before me as a lamp for my homeschool feet. The first is Luke 14:28 - "For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?" The educating and training of our children is like building towers. We have 18 or so years to disciple, teach, and influence each of our children. What do we want them to know in the end? What kind of people do we want them to be? With a 7th grader in the house this year, our thoughts have certainly turned toward these things many times. Prepare for college? Sure. Learn to work hard and be a good provider for his future family? Yep. But most of all, we desire our children to love God with all their hearts (and minds -you can love God by learning algebra!) to love His people, to learn to serve, to have a burden for the nations, and to love learning. Our prayer this year is that we will be always countin...

Here's a riddle: Can you name a song that hit the Billboard Top 20 with only whistling? (Hint: you'll have to go back a few decades.) For the answer, go visit my Dad's blog and enjoy!

Mt. Evans, CO - elev. 14,270 ft