tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63292400786653274542026-06-25T23:29:14.699-07:00Talking about faith, family, homeschooling, fun projects, children, and much more!Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-75636887864331021302011-05-28T04:06:00.000-07:002011-05-28T04:06:07.806-07:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that my blog is moving to a new address!  It's oh-so-exciting!  A few things have to be worked out yet (my learning curve), but the new design is done and looks pretty spiffy (if I may say so).  My designer and friend, Lori, is absolutely fantastic to work with and she has many exciting and fun ideas for making your blog look fabulous!&nbsp

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-10550967328180740562011-05-17T05:35:00.000-07:002011-05-17T05:35:09.671-07:00

I am linking up today over at Jen's Ink Pen!  Jen asked her readers to share the following: What do you remember about your very first best friend? What did your childhood bedroom look like, smell like, feel like, or sound like? Do you remember being allowed to do something as a child or teenager...that you would not think of letting your own child do today? Simply reading her

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-34058061636522400032011-05-16T04:55:00.000-07:002011-05-16T04:55:56.036-07:00

It was a crazy busy week (last week) around here!  There is much going on in our home and and some exciting online changes coming too! I just finished up with our homeschool co-op curriculum sale today.  It is always a great time of looking at curriculum and fellowship with other like-minded moms.  I confess though, I did take a nap when we got home! We also finished

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-24649849002636602182011-05-02T03:49:00.000-07:002011-05-03T04:26:05.503-07:00

This year I had the privilege of helping my friend Gail teach a class at our homeschool cooperative.  We taught 8th graders and up - what a terrific bunch of people!   We taught financial principles that we know will benefit them when they get out into the world.  They learned about budgets, tithing, getting an apartment, family life, resumes and interviewing. &

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-14060604478375337492011-04-27T04:29:00.000-07:002011-04-27T04:29:50.264-07:00

Coffee is... Love at 1st sight  Giving you energy too... Giving you a break from life  and most important..keeps Mom happy!  How do you like my (eldest) daughter's thoughts on coffee?  I love them!   She did this for my website, but I had to sell the site, so I wanted to post it here to honor her beautiful creativity.  

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-64546183583315257172011-04-18T05:21:00.000-07:002011-04-18T05:21:31.278-07:00

I don't know about you, but I have tried every tried and true technique I know or have read about to get my girls out the door on time.  We go over the next day's schedule the night before.  In the morning,  we talk about the way the day needs to go in order to get out the door on time.   I let them know about an hour ahead of time that we are going to have to

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-88584570637202193822011-04-17T03:58:00.000-07:002011-04-17T03:58:47.671-07:00

Good Sunday Morning! This is a simple post where I give some "link love" to some of my favorite blog posts this week.   Hope you enjoy! Shag Pillow @ V & Co. - the cutest ever shag pillow!  Great for any room of the house.  I'm going to make a few of these for my girls' bedrooms. Quilted Potholders @ Chocolate Covered Chaos - who doesn't need an extra set

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-73371501431630306142011-04-13T05:52:00.000-07:002011-04-13T05:52:17.222-07:00

My hubby is a tax man, so from January to mid April, he is crazy busy at work.  However, after tax season is over, we always begin our spring projects.   We always seem to have a running list of things we want to paint, stain, change out, pitch, or re-vamp around here.  Since we've lived here for going on 14 years now, I guess that's understandable...right? Our first

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-81713088007254651852011-04-12T03:47:00.000-07:002011-04-13T04:10:02.360-07:00

Good Morning!   It's definitely spring in Ohio - 80 degrees and windows open one day and 60 degrees and rain the next.   I love rainy days though - they give us a good excuse to bake!   These brownies were inspired by a recipe I found in a cookbook at the library called Budget Meals Cookbooks.  I changed it a bit and re-wrote the instructions because I

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-37944958448814693712011-03-25T05:02:00.000-07:002011-03-25T05:02:27.404-07:00

  That empty bench under the shade tree is calling my name... It's a question that has been on my mind and heart ever since our music pastor asked in choir practice, "Does anyone need some Sabbath?"  Of course, when he asked that question, my hand shot up right away.  I thought later that if I was being really transparent, both of my hands should have gone into the air. 

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-70465264673301128482011-03-23T04:57:00.000-07:002011-03-23T04:57:59.854-07:00

It seems that spring has sprung here in Ohio!  Now, I know we're headed for some cold weather in the next week or so, but there have been clear evidences this past week that spring is here...it's just going to hide for a bit for the next few days.   You know spring has arrived when... The rhubarb is beginning to make it's way through the soil - I can taste the pie already

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-43001013012447480962011-03-12T16:04:00.000-08:002011-03-12T16:04:28.479-08:00

Last Sunday, our oldest daughter Julie came to me and asked me to help her pick something out to wear to church.  I quickly realized after perusing her closet, she truly had nothing "church-like" to wear!  Don't get me wrong, we wear jeans to church sometimes and it's totally fine (in my humble opinion) to do so, but we gals like to get dressed up now and then too.  I told Julie

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-25898744564672801172011-03-12T15:40:00.000-08:002011-03-12T15:40:01.540-08:00

I'm honored today to be featured at Janet's beautiful blog,  Frugal and Focused.  Janet has a beautifully sweet spirit and it shines through her blog every time she writes.  I've thoroughly enjoyed meeting her via blog land and enjoy reading her posts too!  Thank you kindly Janet for featuring Busy 'Lil  Homemaker today!

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-32472956250897299692011-03-08T10:13:00.000-08:002011-03-08T10:13:22.945-08:00

Marie at Chocolate Covered Chaos graciously nominated my blog for the Stylish Blogger Award last week.  I am honored!  Thank you Marie!   She is such a sweet and kind person - you must visit her blog!  She shares excellent recipes, homeschooling and field trip adventures, and just all around wonderful things about her life and family. There are some rules with

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-41467532669680153742011-02-23T09:21:00.000-08:002011-02-23T09:21:07.904-08:00

Who doesn't love chocolate?  I know I do!  And I must confess to truly enjoying a cup of coffee too.  I am especially fond of the flavored coffees available now too, but do not like paying $4 to $5 for the privilege of drinking one!  I'm always looking for inexpensive ways to enjoy my flavored coffee and stay within my budget.   Perhaps you'll find these

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-12895943613854478892011-02-18T04:38:00.000-08:002011-02-18T04:38:08.854-08:00

So Julie (11-year-old daughter) and I head out to the grocery last night.  Heather had a sore throat all day, so she happily stayed home with Daddy to snuggle in the recliner and go over her Awana verses.  Julie and I are in the van, just approaching Meijer when we had this short conversation... Me:  Julie, I didn't put on any makeup other than mascara tonight... Julie: 

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-43118791894070613302011-02-02T11:46:00.000-08:002011-02-02T11:46:59.076-08:00

Greetings from ice and snow covered Ohio!  We've been experiencing one of the worst snow storms since the 1950s - at least that's what the morning news folks said today.  I know we are not getting anything compared to Chicago!  Sure hope those folks were prepared and are staying safe. It's been a while since I've written, so I thought I'd just share a few things that are

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-65683842425542019522011-01-14T03:57:00.000-08:002011-02-01T09:58:52.746-08:00

First, I want to thank each of you who shared words of encouragement with me over the last few days in response to my "no inspiration" post.  They were heard and taken to heart - many thanks!  This post then will be just a few miscellaneous thoughts...to try and get back in the swing of things. Remember my post about rediscovering puzzles?  Well, here is the first

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-68967581110286704362011-01-12T04:43:00.000-08:002011-01-12T04:43:45.136-08:00

  This is the conclusion to which I have come (I think...) - taking three weeks off from writing is too long!  I can't seem to get excited about any topic...can't get my mind around what to write...and am feeling absolutely no inspiration at all.  It's discouraging and frustrating.  I kind of feel like this old metal container - empty and a bit worn around the edges.  (

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-52907312302838588632011-01-02T06:00:00.000-08:002011-02-25T11:47:05.165-08:00

Happy New Year!    I hope your Christmas and New Year's celebrations were fun and blessed times with loved ones.  The Pardoes enjoyed much time with family and friends and have thoroughly enjoyed our vacation time.  It's back to "normal" around here tomorrow though! As some of you may remember, we are attempting to eat a bit healthier around here due to existing health

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-70753731650438777122010-12-28T04:01:00.000-08:002011-02-25T11:45:39.956-08:00

The enemy loves to tell us lies.  The enemy will tell us horrible, horrible untruths...whispering them into our hearts and minds constantly...and if we listen long enough to the wrong voice, we will believe those lies.  We will live like we believe those lies.  I've listened to this song by Mercy Me so many times and yet today it spoke directly to my heart.  I heard

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-44461721151871901732010-12-27T08:30:00.000-08:002011-01-25T07:07:57.607-08:00

I can't believe it's been nearly a month since I've posted!  Ah, the time leading up to the holidays goes so very quickly.  Kudos to all of you who have done so well with posting during December!  I must try and line up some posts early next year so I can still connect with all of you during one of the busiest times of the year. I hope your Christmas was joyous and filled

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-90071640260631166282010-12-08T05:32:00.000-08:002011-02-25T11:48:09.374-08:00

Oh yes, it's been a good day when... our dining room table looks like this - it means we're baking together!  Love, love this Gingerbread Cookie Recipe at Home is Where My Story Is.  It's truly the best gingerbread cookie I've ever tasted!  I get to work side-by-side with sweet Juliebug in the kitchen.  She is becoming quite adept at making and baking cookies! &

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-10359840228591887762010-12-02T03:31:00.000-08:002010-12-02T03:31:00.383-08:00

My blog has seen little love lately, so I thought I'd share some links to posts that have been inspiring and interesting to me.  I've been so busy with Christmas projects that I have very little time to write on my blog.  Of course, I want to share what I am working on, but then the surprises might be blown (especially since my girls read my blog sometimes).  So, once January

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329240078665327454.post-8208885893915637342010-11-29T04:45:00.000-08:002010-11-29T04:45:18.344-08:00

I remember as a child that my parents would erect the card table in the living room and have a puzzle laid out during the colder months of the year.  It was always a great distraction from the normal every day activities and it was a thrill to see it come together as we worked as a family.   Dad and Mom would usually put on some great music (on the record player of course!) and

Iron Girl!!http://www.blogger.com/profile/18290069923554586758noreply@blogger.com4