The Simple Woman's Handbook

For today.....

Outside my window...it is dark. The sun hasn't made its appearance yet.

I am thinking...about all that needs to be done today.

I am thankful... for my salvation.

From the learning rooms...Bible flannelgraphs, Art appreciation day, read alouds, and lots more fun stuff.

In the kitchen...waffles for breakfast.

I am wearing...a black top and a denim skirt.

I am creating...patchwork skirts for my girls.

I am going...to the thrift store to drop off donations.

I am wondering...if I will find some children's classic books while we're there.

I am reading... (other than the Bible) "In My Father's House" by Corrie ten Boom. This book chronicles the years of the ten Boom family before "The Hiding Place". It's a wonderful book!

I am hoping...in the Lord Jesus.

I am looking forward to...spending the entire day with my children.

I am hearing...our rooster, Elmer, crow.

Around the house...laundry needs to be done...a never-ending chore.

I am pondering...how time passes so quickly.

One of my favorite things...hearing the laughter of my children.

A few plans for the rest of the week...working in the garden, a trip to the grocery store, and (possibly) a family field trip on Saturday.

Here's a picture for thought I want to share...

This photo was taken from our front yard a few months ago...a beautiful reminder of the handiwork of our Creator. (Psalm 19:1)

The Simple Woman's Daybook is hosted by http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Have a blessed day,

  








linked up at http://raisinghomemakers.com
                 http://www.raisingmightyarrows.com
                      http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com

Skirts For My Girls

One day last spring, my 2 youngest daughters were running around outside in long skirts - and barefoot. They were playing in the freshly plowed dirt of our garden and having a blast. That evening, they asked me to make them some "Little House on the Prairie skirts". I told them I would, but I soon realized that I didn't have enough material - only scraps.

Then, a few days later, a dear friend of mine told me that she had done some spring cleaning and had 2 white trash bags full of material. She asked me if I wanted it. I immediately said, "Yes!" The material was beautiful: summer prints, winter plaids, and even autumn-themed material. I couldn't wait to get started!

But first, I had to find a pattern. There were many skirt patterns to choose from, but I found one specially made for young girls to sew. I made a total of 12 skirts from this pattern!  (My seven-year-old made her first skirt from this pattern.)

The pattern is Simplicity # 2576. Here's the link for it..http://www.simplicity.com/p-1535-childgirl-skirts.aspx  
Note: the pattern doesn't have a ruffle at the bottom of the skirt. I added that myself.

Here are some photos of the skirts for my girls.......

"The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; her clothing is woven with gold." - Pslam45:13

Have a blessed day,









linked up at http://raisinghomemakers.com
                 http://www.aboverubies.net
                 http://www.raisingmightyarrows.com
                 http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com
                 http://theimperfecthousewife.com
                 http://simple-homemaking.blogspot.com
                 http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com
                 http://www.homemaker-by-choice.com
                 http://ladybug-blessings.com
                 www.themodestmomblog.com
                 http://vanessascraftynest.blogspot.com
                 http://countrymousemusings.blogspot.com

First Day of School

Yesterday was our first day of school. And it was wonderful...mostly because we started using the CM method. It was a very relaxing, stress-free, learning-filled day.

Once I explained the CM method to the children, they were very eager to get started on this new aspect of our homeschool journey.

I ordered some wonderful books for the new year. They haven't arrived yet, but I did take some photos of what we did on our first day....

                                     Of course, Bible is always our first subject.   :)

              Mimi likes her workbook, but she would rather use manipulatives. I agree with her.  :)

                                                   Aaron working on Math.

                                       Ian writing Scripture verses for penmanship.

                                            Asher decorating his Nature Journal.

                                                  They love the Time Line.

                                      Examining a grasshopper on the our nature hike.

                                                   And a Thorn-back Spider.

                                                        And a Harvestman.

                                         Cracking open a nut to see what's inside.

                                                     Examining some moss.

                                        Back home to journal in our Nature Journals.

                                   

Have a blessed day,











linked up at http://theimperfecthousewife.com
                 http://www.raisingmightyarrows.com
                 www.womenlivingwell.org 

Summer School

My children got a wonderful, in-depth education this summer.

No, they didn't memorize a 500-page textbook. But they did take some hands-on courses that taught them more than any textbook could teach them.

They took a course in theology........

..a course in agriculture....

..a course in entomology...

..a course in water ecology...

..a course in herpetology...

..a course in kinetic energy...

..a course in felinology...

.. and a course in music appreciation..

We had a wonderful, fun summer of hands-on learning! But we know that knowledge and wisdom ultimately come from the Lord.  We can read and memorize every text book ever printed, but godly wisdom and knowledge is what's most important.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." - Proverbs 9:10

Have a blessed day,









linked up at http://theimperfecthousewife.com
                 http://www.raisingmightyarrows.com
                 http://www.homemaker-by-choice.com
                 http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com
                 http://raisinghomemakers.com 

Tye Dye Tradition

As the end of summer approaches, we have a tradition at our house: we tye dye t-shirts. It's easy and inexpensive. I bought the t-shirts and tye dye kit at Wal Mart for under $25.00.

The children always look forward to it, and I do, too. I always encourage each of them to make up their own design. And it's always exciting to cut off the rubber bands to reveal the design they made.

Since I'm the one who puts the dye on the shirts, there aren't any photos of the process; only a photo of the finished products....

You can see the different design on each shirt...reflecting the different personality of each child. I love it!  :)

Have a blessed day,









linked up at http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com
                 http://www.aboverubies.net
                 http://raisinghomemakers.com 

Whole Wheat Flaxseed Waffles

Waffles are a favorite breakfast food with my children, but I wanted to make them healthier than the typical white flour version.

So I substitute whole wheat flour for the white flour, and I also add whole flax seed  - for extra fiber and a good dose of Omega-3s. My children hardly noticed the difference. In fact, I now have to double the recipe to have enough to feed all of them.   :)

Here's the recipe.......

Whole Wheat Flaxseed Waffles

2 eggs

1 3/4 c. milk

1/2 c. butter, melted

1 3/4 c. whole wheat flour

1/4 c. white flour

4 t. baking powder

1 T. sugar

1/2 t. salt

1/4 c. whole flaxseed

Heat waffle iron. Beat eggs til fluffy. Beat in remaining ingredients

til smooth. Pour batter onto hot waffle iron. Bake til done.

Makes 9 or 10 waffles.

Enjoy!

"Give us this day our daily bread."  -  Matthew 6:11

Have a blessed day,

Linked up at http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com
                      http://theimperfecthousewife.com
                      http://www.raisingmightyarrows.com 
                      www.deeprootsathome.com

Peace, Perfect Peace

I don't listen to or watch the news, but my hubby listens to talk radio throughout the day.  On Monday, he came home and told me about the stock market dropping. And yesterday, he came home and told me that it had dropped again. He also told me about all the trouble in London. And then there's the supposed impending food shortage.  I can easily go into what I call a "frantic panic"  after hearing about all the bad news.

Having peace in this world seems impossible. Only the Lord can give us peace during these dark days. He tells us in Philippians 4: 6 & 7 to "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

"Be anxious for nothing"???? That's a tall order....if you skip the next part of the verse: "in everything by prayer and supplication" and "let your requests be made known to God".  So prayer is the key to peace that "passes all understanding". I love that!  By having time in prayer, we can have peace that is beyond understanding!

The world can stand around and bite their nails and wring their hands about what's happening and what might happen in the future, but believers can have the peace that is cannot be comprehended!

I love the hymn "Perfect Peace" by Edward H. Bickersteth.  The 3rd verse goes like this....

"Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging 'round,
On Jesus' bosom naught, but calm is found."

And since our son-in-law is deployed to Afghanistan, the 4th verse is special to me...

"Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away,
In Jesus' keeping we are safe, and they."

So what does the future hold?  The words to verse 5 are...

"Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and He is on the throne."

Yes, He is still on the throne...

...even if the stock market crashes...

...even if the other countries ( and our country!) are falling apart...

...even if there's a food shortage.

Though the world may be crumbling around us, we can have the perfect peace that passes understanding and that only He can give.

Isaiah 26 :3 "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You,
                       because he trusts in You."

Have a blessed day,










Linked up at http://theimperfecthousewife.com
                      http://www.raisingmightyarrows.com
                      http://www.homemaker-by-choice.com
                      http://raisinghomemakers.com
                      www.womenlivingwell.org