The Potter's Hand

Homeschool commUNITY

2016-02-06T10:45:00.001-06:00

OK, moms, let's talk community. Specifically your homeschool community.

Homeschooling is as varied as...well, as the people who choose to homeschool.

Classical versus unschooling, Apologia versus anything else, government directed versus parent directed, organic versus non-organic, attachment parenting versus schedule driven, religious versus non-religious, skirts versus yoga pants...the list is endless and unfortunately, so is the list of people who've been caught in the crossfire.

Somewhere along the way, probably as far back as Cain and Able, it became an "us versus them" mentality. We looked around at how others were homeschooling their children and felt...threatened, prideful, fearful, insecure...and we began to let those feelings erode our homeschool community. Instead of embracing and loving our differences, they have become the rocks we've used to bludgeon each other to death, leaving many wounded homeschool mommas in our wake.

We seem to have forgotten just how alike we are and have instead chosen to focus on the differences. Consider the fact that most of us have given up livelihoods, careers, newer cars, vacations and Pinterest worthy homes in order to focus our attention on our kids. That in itself is a point of unity. Friends, we're all on the same team! Your homeschool may look nothing like mine, but we're still working toward the same goal - a desire to train our children's hearts in the midst of educating their minds.

I know some amazing families whose homeschool experience looks nothing like mine. The beauty of these differences are the opportunities they afford us to learn from one another.

A college professor/homeschool dad whose kids could talk circles around me on the subject of politics on any given day.

A sweet mom whose laid back approach has allowed more time for her daughters to perfect their various skill sets and interests.

The family who travels extensively, forgoing traditional learning in favor of an interactive experience.

A friend with a child in public school, one in private and one learning at home as they search for the best fit for each student.

One of my closest friends using the resources offered by IDEA to help her kids get an amazing education.

I am a stronger mom and teacher (heck, I'm a better person) for having known each of these families. I could easily have looked at the different ways they chose to approach their kids' education and assumed them to be wrong based on the fact that they're different from mine. Had I done so, I would have missed out on amazing friendships and experiences. I would have missed out on community.

If you were to drop by for the afternoon, I would offer you my cozy chair, along with a cuppa joe and ask you about your story. Your story is what makes your homeschool unique. I want to understand your journey in order to come alongside and encourage you. Imagine what would happen in our homeschool community if we set aside the "my way or the highway" mentality and genuinely sought to understand and encourage one another on this crazy ride called homeschooling? The impact would be significant, not only for our generation, but for future generations as we lead by example.

So how about you? What does your community look like? Would you say it's characterized by a heaping dose of grace or maybe a bit too much criticism? Have you been guilty of judging? If we're honest, I think we all have at some point along the way. It's time we recognize we're on the same team. It's time to come alongside one another with love and grace in an effort to build bridges rather than burning them to the ground. Time to stop walking in fear of the unknown and recognize that our differences are our greatest strength. Time to lay down the rocks and pick up the pom-poms. Time to become each other's biggest cheerleader.

Gimme a U! Gimme an N! Gimme an I! Gimme a T! Gimme a Y! What's that spell? UNITY!

And UNITY homeschool mom, starts with yoU!

My favorite decorating secret

2015-11-12T13:59:00.001-06:00

Over the years people seem to comment often on how they love my decorating "style". Oh, you mean the "I got it at Goodwill" style? Um, yeah...pretty sure that's not one you'll find on HGTV.

I think many of us look at someone's home or pictures in a magazine and assume it cost a lot of money to get a similar look. Well, if you're perusing Southern Living then yes, it probably did cost a pretty penny. If you're looking at MY house then not so much. The majority of my decorating items were purchased at yard/estate sales or thrift stores. When on the lookout for things you might be able to use, try to look at an item for what it COULD be rather than it's current condition. Elbow grease, spray paint and a little sandpaper can transform just about anything.

One of the biggest struggles most people have with decorating their own space is viewing it with fresh eyes. We live with our stuff day in and day out. You've walked past that vase sitting in the same spot for three years and you probably don't even notice it anymore. So before you run out and buy new things for your space consider this idea.

The easiest way to break out of the decorating rut is to "shop your house". The best news is this is one shopping spree that won't break the bank!

1. Start by going room by room and collecting anything and everything you might use to decorate: vases, books, lamps, pictures, candles, trays, boxes, baskets, blankets, throw pillows, your kid's rock collection...anything that makes you smile.

2. Put all the items on the dining room table so you can get a good idea of what you have. Try grouping like items together. Maybe you didn't even notice you have several crosses or a collection of wooden picture frames. Grouping like items together makes more of a statement.

3. Choose a theme. This could be a favorite color or maybe reflect an upcoming holiday. My current mantel reflects my love for Texas and home. I usually do a fall theme, but loved the Texas one so much I've left it up a bit longer. It will soon be replaced with Christmas...my favorite!

4. Choose one area of your home to focus on: your fireplace mantel, a bookcase or the tops of your kitchen cabinets. Do NOT try to redecorate your entire house in one afternoon...it may leave you feeling a bit crazy....not that I'm speaking from experience or anything. Choosing a small area to work on will give you a sense of accomplishment and motivation to try other areas.

5. Get busy! Begin by placing larger items and then filling in with smaller ones. I'm sure there is a formula for this, but I didn't go to design school so I just know what I like. I know what I think looks good, so I play with the arrangement until it makes me happy. Sometimes it comes together quickly and other times I have to keep moving stuff around for awhile, maybe even walking away for awhile if I feel frustrated...again, not that I'm speaking from experience here or anything.

That's my secret - do what makes you happy! Forget Pinterest or HGTV. You're the one that lives in your house on a daily basis. You want your space to bring a smile to your face. To be a place where your family and friends can gather and feel comfortable. A space that is both functional and reflects YOU.

If you're still feeling stumped or overwhelmed by the process grab a friend to help. Two makes the process double the fun!

When your'e done snap a photo and send it to me. I'd love to see how it all turns out!

Brokenness

2015-10-21T15:19:00.001-05:00

I'm sure it's happened at your house. Someone drops a glass or plate and it shatters...everywhere. It's broken and useless; no longer good for its intended purpose, so we sweep it up and into the trash it goes.

Or maybe if it's a special piece you might try mending it. I have a set of red mixing bowls that my husband bought me for my birthday while on a trip to Angelfire, New Mexico. I love those bowls...they make me happy. So when one of them began to crack I quickly grabbed the Gorilla glue to try and salvage it. In my eyes the cracks didn't diminish the beauty. I wasn't about to throw it away because I loved it.

Kintsugi is an ancient Japanese art that fills the cracks in a broken piece of pottery with gold, incorporating them into the restoration. The result is amazing! Rather than covering up the brokenness, the faults and weaknesses become a beautiful part of the object's past.

What a beautiful picture of how God views us! My cracks and brokenness make me who I am and if I allow them to they will become an opportunity for His strength to shine through. Bringing our hearts to Him He lovingly takes each broken, jagged piece and puts it back together, sealing it over with His love and grace. The end result is more beautiful than we could have ever imagined and something that ultimately brings Him glory when viewed by those around us.

Feeling broken today? Don't hide it! Jesus wants to pour Himself into the cracks of your life to create an amazing masterpiece that will bless others and bring Him glory. Give Him the pieces and see what He'll do.

The lost art of letter writing

2015-08-19T18:07:00.002-05:00

Today the mailman brought me a letter.

A real, honest to goodness letter.

I can't even tell y'all how happy it made my heart! It was just a few words offered in encouragement, but they meant more than a 500 word e-mail or a barrage of texts. I think it was because I knew it cost her something. Not just in the stamp, but in time. Time is a commodity in short supply for most of us, but she made it a priority to pull out paper and pen, putting her thoughts into handwritten words. It made me feel warm and fuzzy, like a sweet long-distance hug. When was the last time reading a text made you feel warm and fuzzy inside?

Use to be that letter writing was our main form of communication. I remember going off to college as a freshman and leaving my boyfriend (now hubby) behind. Back then long distance phone calls were still charged by the minute so those tended to be few and far between. There was no texting, Facebook, Skype or Facetime. Letter writing was all we had. And boy did we write...sometimes daily. I still have every single one of those letters saved in my hope chest. Not that I read them often, but they represent the love we had for each other in those early days. They are a tangible representation of the growth of our relationship. While I love it when my hubby shoots me a text saying he loves me, it can't compare with a handwritten expression of that love.

Don't get me wrong, technology is a blessing when it comes to keeping in touch with people, especially those far away, but it's just not the same. I say we start a letter writing revolution! What if just once a week we put down our phones and sent a hand written note to someone instead of a text? Think of the joy when it arrives in their mailbox. The smile on their face as they read your words of love and encouragement. It will be worth the time it takes you...I promise.

So who's with me?

No words...

2015-08-07T10:15:00.000-05:00

I've always loved to write. As long as I can remember I've been filling notebooks with thoughts, prayers and dreams. There has never been a shortage of words. It's free therapy really. For some reason things seem to make more sense when I can get them out of my head and onto paper. There's a semblance of order that begins to happen as the words flow...like a painting taking shape at the hands of an artist.

But then there are times when the pain is so real that there are no words. There is simply no way to make order out of chaos. Things just need to sit for awhile; to settle. Thankfully, time has a way of helping us regain a bit of perspective; perspective that's important for putting things into words once again.

Our family is walking a hard road right now. A road that I am not ready to put into words. I know at some point the Lord is going to use our story for His glory as He brings beauty from the ashes, but the words aren't ready just yet. They're in there, tumbling around and being refined, but they're not ready...I'm not ready. And that's OK.

It's more than OK, because it's our story. You can't tell an artist what to paint or a writer what to write anymore than you call tell someone what their story SHOULD look like.

One thing I know to be true - God is faithful. He sees our journey from beginning to end and He has a plan in it all. Of that I am certain...and every so thankful.

Light in the darkness

2015-05-21T09:17:00.001-05:00

We've had weird spring weather this year. More clouds and rain than usual have made for some pretty amazing sunrises. I never tire of them...as is evidenced by the number of photos on my camera. My favorite place to steal away for my quiet time is the back patio. Coffee in hand, the view of the sun coming up over the mountains is the perfect backdrop for my chats with the Lord.

This morning the weather seemed to mirror my thoughts. Dark menacing clouds boiled behind me as I poured out my heart to the Lord. Tough stuff. Life stuff. Stuff that takes your breath away and leaves you clinging to Him. Over the mountains the clouds lingered, but as I prayed the sun suddenly burst from behind a cloud almost blinding me. What joy! There, in the midst of the darkness, was hope. As the darkness threatened to overtake, the light came flooding in. My prayers were turned to praise and I realized the Light is always at work in the darkness. This morning He painted me a sunrise as a powerful reminder.

There are reminders all around us. We just need to slow down long enough to take them in. To let them wash over us, reminding us that the trials we're facing are but a momentary blip on heaven's radar. All this will one day give way to an eternity with Jesus...where the Light will shine brightly and He will wipe all our tears. All the tough stuff will be nothing more than a memory. What a sweet promise that is my friends!

Until then, enjoy the sunrise.

The thing about parenting when it's HARD

2015-03-06T16:10:00.001-06:00

Life has sort of knocked me on my butt these last few months. Just being real. I'll sum it all up by saying parenting is hard. Not potty training hard...I mean raising teenagers hard. If you have teens I bet you're shaking your head right now. See, I use to say my least favorite part of parenting was potty training. It was the first thing those wiggly little humans really had complete control over and they would do it when they were darn well ready. Yeah, that was kinda hard.

Then they grew up and decided they would make their own decisions. Oy vey! Sometimes those decisions make me stand up and cheer, sometimes they make me cringe and sometimes they make me just want to curl up in a ball and cry. Yep, I've done all three. Good, bad or indifferent, they're learning all decisions have consequences and those consequences never affect just one person. They're learning how to live with consequences and make the best of them.

Me? I'm learning to pray. Oh, I knew how to pray before, or at least I thought I did. The whole "pray without ceasing" thing? It takes on a whole new meaning when your kids decide to find their own way. You wake up praying, pray in the shower, the car, while making dinner and then you fall asleep praying. Repeat daily for the REST OF THEIR LIVES. Yep, it's a whole new dimension of prayer.

Through it all here's what I know to be TRUE: God has a plan for each of our kids. We've known that from the start, but my little Pollyanna outlook had me believing those "plans" would be all rainbows and unicorns. It honestly never occurred to me that in order to fulfill the plans my kids might have to go through a whole lot of junk. Junk that will refine them to do exactly what He has called them to. Oh how that junk hurts my momma heart! We want to protect our kids from pain, but the pain is the sandpaper (or in some cases the sledgehammer) God uses to polish out the imperfections so they will shine for Him.

I may be knocked on my butt, but I don't doubt that God is still in control and working all things together for good. He's like that...faithful when we're faithless, sovereign when we fail and able to see the bigger picture when our eyes are so blurred by tears we can't see what's right in front of us. He'll pick us up, wipe our tears, dust us off and send us right back out there to keep fighting for these amazing kids he's loaned us to raise.

And he gave us coffee...just one more proof he loves us dearly.

God - the ultimate hacker

2015-01-28T09:43:00.000-06:00

We recently got a nasty virus on our computer. We didn't know it at the time, but woke up one morning to find our computer had completely reset. Wiped clean. Eight years of photos...our kids entire childhood...gone. The documents, while disappointing to lose, can be recreated. The photos cannot.

Desperate, we took it to a friend in our homeschool group who we are affectionately now calling our very own "computer genius". Yes he is. Turns out we had the same virus that took out all the East Coast banks last year. It's a savage beast that wipes your hard drive clean. While the virus had reset everything, the Lord sovereignly protected our data and photos and our resident "computer genius" was able to save it all! Yipee! He cleaned up the virus and restored what was to dear to our hearts. Now our kids won't grow up and accuse us of having no photos of them.

Lately I've seen the Lord working in similar ways. A virus invades our lives. It wreaks havoc on our systems - emotional, physical, spiritual and leaves devastation in its wake. Dreams are erased, Hopes altered. Much is lost. Maybe the virus lays dormant for awhile. We don't even know it's there until one morning we wake up to its destruction. Or maybe the damage is done a little at a time, but with the same devastating effects.

However it works, it has but one source and purpose. The purpose of this computer virus was to wipe out information. It was created by evil people, with an evil intent. Satan is the creator of the viruses that threaten our lives. His purpose? To steal, kill and destroy God's people. But thankfully God is the ultimate computer genius! He is able to hack the hacker, saving what was meant for evil and restoring it for good. The virus, engineered to destroy, doesn't have to be life altering. Instead it can remind us of what's important and of who is really in control.

We're so grateful that our photos were saved and the virus removed. Even more grateful knowing God is able to restore our lives when things get hacked.

Four reasons Elf will never sit on my shelf

2014-12-03T17:23:00.002-06:00

This whole elf on the shelf thing...I'm not a big fan. Not that he's not cute and all. His funny antics can be seen on social media posts throughout the holiday season. People are so clever! He's certainly a naughty little thing, but I can see how his mischievous escapades would delight children and parents alike. Me? I'm not so delighted.

Four reasons Elf will never sit on my shelf:

1. Failure people...failure.

Every single day of December this whole elf thing would set me up to fail. Coming up with something cute and comical for him to do on a daily basis would leave me completely stressed out. I'm the mom who who rushes in all ninja like seconds before my kids wake up to replace the tooth with the money because I forgot...again. Four kids and Lord knows how many teeth and I STILL forget. After a few days of forgetting to move the little thing I would probably just have to tell the kids that he met with an unfortunate accident and was no longer with us.

2. He makes a mess!

I already spend the majority of my life cleaning up after five other people and a dog. Why would I knowingly add another member whose sole job is to make messes and get into trouble? Nope. Not gonna do it.

3. Expectations.

When our kids were little I came up with this great idea for hiding their Easter baskets. We tied a piece of string to their bedposts and had them follow their colored string to find the hidden surprise. Sounds like fun doesn't it? Well, apparently it was a little too much fun because now they are teens and it is their FAVORITE tradition of the year! Heaven forbid we should miss it. We skipped the year Dad had knee surgery and they've never forgiven us. Do you know how much time it takes to intertwine four skeins of yarn all over the inside AND outside of the house? Trust me...it's a long time. Traditions are great, but just make sure it's one you're willing to continue until the cherubs move out.

4. It doesn't make sense.

The premise is that Elf is checking up on kids to see if they're being naughty or nice so he can report back to Santa. But from what I can tell most of his antics would certainly fall into the naughty category. So the elf is going with the "do as I say, not as I do" theory of parenting? Nope. It doesn't make sense.

Now don't get me wrong. If you are a parent who has welcomed Elf into your home with open arms then great...kuddos to you. I'm just glad he's busy making messes at your house and not mine because I'm pretty sure if Elf were on my shelf he just might send me over the edge of Christmas sanity. Just bein' real people...just bein' real.

So, is Elf hanging out on your shelf this year?

Pioneer Woman U-mazing mashed potatoes

2014-11-26T15:20:00.000-06:00

As I write today the doors and windows are flung open and the sun is shining.

It's November. The day before Thanksgiving.

We live in Idaho...where it's cold.

Do you see the significance of this for my Texas lovin' heart? Yes, it's a big deal.

My fridge is stuffed to the brim with all my Southern Thanksgiving favorites just waiting to be popped into the oven tomorrow. It's all I can do to keep my fingers out of the cornbread dressing and chocolate chess pie. Oh my!

I've been at it all morning, but just had to stop and tell y'all about the Pioneer Woman's mashed potatoes. I seriously think they have changed my life. They are U-MAZING!! Of course they are made with copious amounts of butter, a whole brick of cream cheese AND half & half. Yep, they're that good. The best part is you make them ahead, add more butter to the top and bake them on Thanksgiving. No more last minute stress trying to get the potatoes finished, make the gravy and carve the turkey all at once. Yah for me!

Since the Pioneer Woman takes such great pics of every step of the cooking process, here's a link to her's. I promise you will thank me. You may even stop in the middle of your Thanksgiving dinner to drop me a note of gratitude for such an amazing recipe.

You're welcome and happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. May your turkey be moist, your gravy without lumps and the desserts plentiful.

Losing the art of reflection - a major disadvantage of technology

2014-11-24T10:13:00.000-06:00

Technology has its advantages, many of which I admit are helpful. Information at our fingertips, keeping up with far away family and friends and giving the average person a voice can all be positive if used correctly.

One serious downside I've noticed is people's seeming inability to just be still. To be alone with our thoughts for even a moment. Sitting at the dentist office recently and I looked around to see every other person in the waiting room with their noses stuck to their phones. What use to be a few quiet moments to catch your breath between appointments, to close your eyes and reflect or pray or even strike up a conversation with the person next to you - these moments are gone; swallowed up by electronic sound bytes vying for our attention.

There are many things wrong with this scenario, but what hit me that day was how our love of technology has caused us to lose the ability to think introspectively; to take a look at our hearts, or better yet, allow the Lord to do so. Hopping on to play a round of Candy Crush, or text a friend about weekend plans is far easier than trying to think through what's been bugging us. It's easier to lose ourselves in the world of Facebook than to ask tough questions about why we responded the way we did to our spouse that morning. Technology at our fingertips is stripping us of the ability and desire to just be quiet. For some of us quiet is scary, so we keep our minds busy with the unimportant.

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts." Psalm 139:23

Stillness and quiet reflection is a difficult discipline, but one we must not ignore. No matter how hard we try to deflect, ignore or downplay, the junk in our lives is still there. The only way to get rid of it is to walk through it. Maybe it's time to put down the phone and listen to the One who already knows our hearts and is waiting to walk us through all the messy parts.

Giving thanks through trials

2014-11-21T09:57:00.000-06:00

This time of year "thanks" is all the buzz word. We're reminded of the importance of thankfulness, of turning our hearts toward gratitude in an effort to refocus on the important. We try desperately to prepare our hearts for the upcoming holiday season, wanting this year to be different.

Listing our thanks, putting pen to paper in an effort to recognize our blessings certainly makes us more aware. Some things come easily, no effort required to give thanks. Family, friends, a job we love, a home to share, a full pantry. These are easy. Smiles on our faces, we lift our hands and say, "Thank you Lord!"

But what about the "blessings" that don't come so easily? What about the ones that look nothing like blessings at all, but instead come wrapped in messiness and pain? Lamentations 3:37 reminds us that nothing happens unless the Lord allows it. If we believe the Lord's plans for us are for good and not for evil and that nothing will happen to us that He will not use, then isn't it safe to say that the pain is also a gift? A messy blessing bestowed on us by the Giver of all good things? Is it possible to move from viewing our struggle as simple a source of pain to part of His plan to show us more of himself?

I don't want to simply thank Him when it's easy. To stand before the Creator of the Universe listing off my thanks like a Christmas wish list, but to kneel in reverance in the midst of pain. To stand, hands raised and tears streaming because I know nothing we experience is ever wasted. Nothing we go through cannot be used by the One who allows it to happen.

The only way I've found to live out this type of gratitude is knowing where to keep my focus. Eyes on my circumstances leads to fear, worry and despair. In a moment's time it will suck me under. That's all it takes and before I know it I am consumed with everything but thanksgiving. Eyes on my Savior means there is no room for despair, no time for worry. How can I marvel at his faithfulness while allowing fear to consume me? The two can't exsist together. Focusing on God's goodness opens my eyes in a new way to my circumstances and I begin to see Him in it all. In every single ugly, gut wrenching detail. And I give thanks.

Thanks for the niceties makes us feel warm and fuzzy. Thanks for the heartbreaking, the unexpected, the stuff that leaves you reeling...that type of understanding brings you to a whole new level of gratitude and allows you to see God in ways you never expected. Warm and fuzzy is nice, but hearing the heartbeat of Jesus and feeling Him holding your hand trumps warm and fuzzy any day.

Caramel Macchiato candy corn - yes please!

2014-09-26T20:57:00.003-05:00

Fall is here. Sweaters, football, hayrides, apple cider and such. Granted all those things are awesome, but THIS is my new favorite thing.

I mean favorite fall thing EVER! It actually tastes like a caramel macchiato AND it's a whole lot cheaper than Starbucks when you want a quick fix!

Homeschool curriculum - what if it's not working?

2014-09-23T15:46:00.000-05:00

There are certain curricula that seems to be the "holy grail" or gold standard among homeschoolers. You know, the ones that get mentioned every time someone asks, "So, what do you use for science (or math, or latin...)?" While I'm incredibly thankful for the plethora of things we have to choose from these days, what if the gold standard just isn't working for your family? What if (gasp!) you really just don't like it? Do you keep plodding along, or put on the brakes and reevaluate?

We've used a popular science curriculum for several years now and it worked fine for our oldest. He's more of a "by the book" sort of learner. While I can't say he loved it, he did learn a lot. Enter son #2. Different kid, different learning style. Whole different ball of wax. Trying to make the popular science curriculum work for him has been a painful disaster for us both. He's an incredibly bright kid. He just doesn't learn best through the standard textbook approach. Time for mom to stop trying to put that square peg in the round hole.

As homeschool moms we take the task of choosing curriculum very seriously. After all, it's not a cheap investment. We want something that's going to get the job done, stay within our budget AND instill a life long love of learning...that's a very tall order.

So what do you do if the curriculum you purchased just isn't working?

1. Stop! You've heard the definition of insanity - doing something over and over and expecting different results. There's no reason to continue on with something that you've already recognized isn't working. Pitch it and start over. Breathe here ladies! It will be OK...I promise.

2. Research. Post your questions to on-line forums or blogs. Chat with other moms whose kids have similar learning styles. If your child is old enough, ask them why they think it's not working. Get their input on what they might like to use instead. Pray...and keep breathing.

3. Regroup and charge ahead again! Once you've found something new to use, don't focus on how much of the school year's already gone or stress over switching things up midstream. Instead, focus on the fact that the new curriculum will give your student the tools and opportunities they need to succeed.

So we're setting aside the "holy grail" of science curriculum for something I think will work great for him. And therein lies the beauty of homeschooling. We do what works best for the STUDENT. A novel concept don't you think?

Salted caramel chocolate chip cookies

2014-09-22T22:13:00.000-05:00

Happy fall y'all! In honor of the first day of fall I treated myself to a pumpkin spice latte and a couple of these amazing salted caramel chocolate chip cookies. They're like an explosion of chocolaty, caramelly, salty fall goodness!

The original recipe I found on Pinterest had too many steps and involved chilling the dough. Ain't nobody got time for that! I wanted cookies ASAP! No time for chilling! So I used my tried and true world's best chocolate chip cookie recipe with a couple of tweaks.

I added caramel pieces along with the chocolate chips. I would suggest buying the nicely chopped little caramel pieces you find on the baking aisle at your local grocery store. Again, I wanted cookies ASAP with no time for a trip to the store, so I took some caramels I had and chopped them up. Yes, I was desperate, but it worked.

As soon as I pulled them out of the oven I dusted them with a smidge of crushed sea salt. It tasted like a salted caramel mocha people! Oh my goodness.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 stick of butter

3/4 cup of butter flavored Crisco
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 t vanilla
2 eggs
3 1/2 cups flour
1 t salt, baking soda and baking powder
1 bag chocolate chips (1 1/2 cups)

1 cup caramel pieces

Sea salt

Mix ingredients (I just throw the wet ingredients in my KitchenAid, then add the dry and blend. If the dough is too sticky, add a bit more flour...you should be able to pick it up without it sticking to everything)

Bake at 325 for 10-12 minutes

Remove from oven and dust with sea salt.

Cool one minute and remove to rack (unless your family is eating them right off the cookie sheet!)

Excuse me while I wipe the crumbs off my keyboard.

Stinky feet - a sweet reminder

2014-09-20T22:06:00.000-05:00

I was enjoying a lovely Saturday afternoon nap today when my two oldest came blowing in from their Saturday job refereeing flag football. After a brief hello, I drifted off to sleep again. Waking up a bit later I was overcome by the smell of a what I was sure was a long dead animal. What the heck?

Using my amazing motherly powers of investigation and deduction, I began hunting for the source of the horrific scent. It didn't take long to realize it was coming from two pair of teen shoes recently disgarded across the room. Oh, my heavenly heck! Seriously! Grabbing my Costco sized bottle of Febreeze I was able to disarm the smelly bombs before more nostrils were offended. Besides the Bible, large quantities of Febreeze is one of the most essential things a mom of teen boys needs in her arsenal. That's truth ladies.

While the smell may have burned my nose hairs and caused blurry vision, it was also a beautiful reminder of my reality.

My sons are hard workers, getting up early to be at the fields by 8:00 a.m.

They're willing to give up their Saturdays when they'd rather sleep in after a busy week.

They're healthy and able to work.

They're growing up and I am blessed to witness it.

The may be big and stinky, but that's nothing a hot shower can't fix. More importantly they're really, really amazing young men and that makes the smell totally worth it...as long as I don't run out of Febreeze.

Homeschooling when you don't feel like it...aka Perseverance

2014-09-19T17:50:00.001-05:00

The word for this school year is PERSEVERANCE. The first week of September we chose a word or two to represent something we want to work on over the next few months and decorated rocks as a reminder. PERSEVERANCE and JOY topped my list.

This past week tested my perseverance to the limit. Just two weeks into school and I came down with a raging head cold. The "I can't breath and it feels like my head is in a vice" kind. Oh, it was bad. Bleh! I wanted nothing more than to curl up on the couch in my jammies and watch unending hours of decorating shows and reruns of The Middle.

Problem is there's these kids who need schooling. Oh sure, they'd be thrilled to have the day off. That's the thing about homeschooling...there are no substitute teachers and if we took time off we'd lose the momentum we worked so hard for the previous week. So armed with Advil, peppermint oil and my box of tissues we forged through and got every single stinkin' thing on the list DONE! That doesn't even happen when I'm NOT sick! I didn't give in. I didn't curl up on the couch...although I did stay in my jammies most of the week. I persevered when I wanted to give up and tonight I'm celebrating a job well done...happy Friday to me!

Now about the JOY thing...pretty sure that one gets tested on a daily basis, but that's a story for another post.

Homeschooling on the hard days

2014-09-04T17:05:00.002-05:00

We started school on Tuesday. It is now Thursday and I'm writing a post entitled "Homeschooling on the hard days"...does that tell you something about our first week?

Some days things just seem to go your way. Everyone gets up on time with happy hearts and good attitudes (including mom!), the coffee is perfect, breakfast and chores are done quickly and efficiently...I mean really done, not "shove it all under the bed so it looks clean" done. Once school starts things hum along smoothly with laughter, smiles and loads of learning taking place. Everyone can find their books and school supplies are exactly where they're suppose to be. It's not uncommon to hear, "Hey Mom, look at this! Did you know that...?" We're loving homeschooling.

But today was not that day. No, today I found myself wishing I could put them in school, give myself a coffee IV and take a long, hot shower.

So how do you homeschool on the hard days? Those days you won't to throw in the towel? If you've already put the local public school on speed dial, take heart my friend...there is hope!

1. REFLECT - Think back on why you started homeschooling in the first place. Chances are you're not doing it just for fun and certainly not because it pays well (at least not this side of eternity). No, you're doing it because it's your family's conviction or calling. Because the school system is failing. Because your child has special needs that only you can accommodate. You fill in the blank. We all homeschool for our own set of reasons, but keeping those reasons in the forefront of your mind on the hard days will help keep your resolve strong.

2. REFOCUS - Set aside the bad day and refocus on what your children need to learn. Maybe the "terrible, no-good, very bad" day shone a light on a character issue that needs addressing or a heart issue that's reared its head. Maybe you need to tweak your morning routine a bit to help it flow more smoothly. Ask the Lord to show you any areas that need attention and commit to making the necessary changes.

3. RECHARGE - After wading through our less than stellar morning, I headed out for a walk along the canal near our house. It was a beautiful September morning. I chatted with the Lord, sketched out the next article for my column in our state homeschool magazine and came home feeling much better. A bad day might be a signal to do something different, something to fill you up. You cannot effectively homeschool your kids if you're running on empty. Did you hear what I said moms? There is a bit of a mindset in some homeschool circles that taking time for yourself is considered selfish. No, it's a necessity! You wouldn't try to run your car on empty, or continue to pour water from an empty pitcher. Both need filling and so do YOU busy mom! Neglecting yourself robs your family of the best you can be.

4. RELAX - A bad day is just that, a day. It doesn't mean the rest of your week or year will be that way. Rest in the Lord and trust that his mercies are new every morning.

Or in the words of my favorite Southern belle, "After all, tomorrow is another day".

Back to School Mantel - it's so adorable!

2014-09-01T11:25:00.000-05:00

So the other day I was suppose to be planning our school year. Somewhere between researching history activities and ordering math curriculum I got sucked into the vortex that is Pinterest. I found this adorable printable from Sweet Coconut Lime and before I knew it was redecorating my mantel for back to school. Anything to put off that planning stuff just one more day.

Isn't it just the cutest??? I printed it on cardstock and used an extra frame I had hanging around to make this the focal point of the space. Then I got busy scavenging the house and my kids' school supplies for the rest. The burlap bunting was purchased a few months ago for $1 each at Craft Warehouse and covered with chalkboard contact paper. I've used them for loads of different things. Crayons, pencils and a few old books (one of them is from the late 1800's) round out the extreme cuteness. Total cost: $0!

Oooh, I just love free decorating! Now if only I loved school planning half as much.

Hiding God's Word in our hearts...and the shower

2014-08-31T11:23:00.000-05:00

Here's something I never expected about having teenage boys...the incredibly loooong showers. They don't have to spend much time on appearance, but apparently the shower is where they do their best thinking. Who knew? 30 minutes into it we're banging on the door and interrupting their watery reverie. Yes, we're dream killers like that.

For school this year we're memorizing what I'm calling the A-B-C's of scripture - a scripture passage for each letter of the alphabet. Should be a fun way to shake things up a bit. I'm not sure where the second part of my brainstorm came from. Probably a lack of coffee or something. I decided since they spend such an inordinate amount of time chillaxin' in the shower that I would give them something to stare at while they're in there. Sorry for the poor pic quality. I took it with my phone...in the shower.

Taping a large Ziplock bag in an area that doesn't get too wet allows me to change out the page inside each week. Around here, we call this multitasking at it's finest.

And in case you're wondering, anxious starts with an A.

Back to school - seriously?

2014-08-30T10:57:00.000-05:00

Normally this time of year we're already back in school mode. Seeing all the back to school supplies in the stores usually makes me giddy. Getting boxes of curriculum in the mail...oh man, that's like Christmas! I put the date on the calendar and go into full on planning and organizing mode.

But not this year. OK, I did buy some new pencils and composition books, but even that lacked the usual excitement. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that summer is already over. I've put off the start date until after Labor Day, hoping my feelings will catch up soon. I'll let you know on Tuesday how that works out.

Here's the thing - if I waited to start school this year until I felt like it, I'm pretty sure not much would get done. Feelings can't be trusted. How thankful I am that my God isn't like that! I don't have to doubt his promises or that he'll do what he says he will do. His Word is not dependent on whether or not he FEELS like doing something. Can you imagine if he were like us humans? Fickle and changing depending on the temperature outside, the time of the month or how much coffee he's had?

Nope. His faithfulness and mercies are new every single morning.

Times when parenting gets hard and we're feeling worn out.

Times when we lack the joy or excitement we expected.

Times when life seems overwhelming.

It's times like this we learn the meaning of perseverance, of doing what we need to do despite how we feel. The Lord honors our obedience when we do what he's called us to do. Obedience has nothing to do with feelings, but calls us to a new level of sacrifice.

That means getting my act together and starting school with enthusiasm whether I want to or not.

It means continuing in prayer when I don't see the end.

It means letting him be my strength when I have none.

It means complete and total dependence on him. And that my friends is exactly where he wants us to be.

Middle elementary writing prompts

2014-08-01T15:20:00.001-05:00

My goal when my kids are in elementary school is simply to instill in them a love for writing. We don't do a formal curriculum until jr. high/high school, but instead I offer them loads of opportunities to write each week. Journals, writing prompts, lists, letters, song lyrics...the possibilities are only limited by their imagination.

This year my youngest will be in fourth grade (insert sad mommy heart sigh). I'll encourage her to journal daily, as well as using writing prompt cards a couple of times a week. These include anything from "Would you rather give up reading or electronics for a year? Why?" to "Pretend you were there at Creation. What was it like?" I'm printing them on cardstock to laminate and will keep them in a jar for her to choose from each week.

Sometimes we will go back and edit some of her writing, using the opportunity to practice grammar, punctuation, etc., but oftentimes I will just let her share it with me, pointing out the good qualities and letting it stimulate further conversation. In doing so, writing will not be something to be feared or dreaded, but become an enjoyable part of everyday life.

Looking for some ideas for getting your kids writing? Check out this free writing prompt printable, complete with instructions and 78 writing prompts to use with your middle elementary kiddos...consider it my "back to school" gift to you! You're welcome!

Homeschool 101: Is homeschooling right for our family?

2014-07-31T13:52:00.002-05:00

Families choose to homeschool for a variety of reasons. Religious, state of the school system, safety concerns, learning challenges, schedules - each is a valid reason to seek a different avenue for your child's education.

Maybe you're entertaining the idea, but aren't sure if it would work for your family. Start by making a list of the pros and cons. What benefits would your family receive from the choice to learn at home? Freedom to learn at your own pace, study what your child is interested in and setting your own schedule are just a few of the pros. What cons do you see as a result of bringing your children home? These will be different for each family, but are certainly worth addressing as you move toward a decision.

Regardless of the reason families have chosen to homeschool, most will attest to the fact that the pros far outweigh the cons. In fact, oftentimes the things we first thought would be a negative aspect to learning at home ends up being either a positive, or a non-issue. Find a homeschool mentor you can share your list with and seek guidance. They may be able to help you see things from a different perspective.

Keep in mind that while you may know other families who homeschool, it is a vastly unique and individual journey. Maybe you're a family of night owls that prefers to sleep a bit later. Nothing says you have to start school promptly at 8:00 am. You might prefer schooling in the evening when everyone's more alert. Have little ones in the house? Make good use of nap times for getting focused work done. Work with your family's dynamics rather than against it. Your homeschool shouldn't look like your neighbors because your family is unique. Don't waste time comparing, but embrace what works for you.

More often than not, moms have an easier time embracing the idea of homeschooling. While sharing our thoughts is part of the decision making process, seeing things from the male perspective is sometimes helpful for our spouses to be able to jump on board with the idea. For this reason dads might consider sitting down with another homeschool dad and asking questions. It is important that you and your spouse are on the same page. From that point of agreement you can consider the options, research and make a joint decision about what's best for your family.

Whatever your decision regarding homeschooling remember it is not set in stone. If you decide a year or two into it that maybe it isn't the best decision, or it was just for a short season, you can always choose another educational option down the road. So relax, weigh the pros and cons, talk to others, pray and don't forget to breathe!

* First published for SELAH of Idaho's Homeschool 101 blog series.

World's best iced coffee recipe

2014-07-11T09:17:00.002-05:00

I admit it. I'm a coffee snob.

I use to be a diehard Starbucks fan, but as I've learned the art of coffee (yes, it is an art) I came to realize I can make my favorites at home for a fraction of the cost and it got harder and harder to shell out $5.00 for the stuff. Besides, I like my stuff better now.

Iced coffee keeps me going through the hot summer months. I'll often make a pitcher and keep it in the fridge to sip on over a couple of days...unless my kids find it and then it's all over.

World's Best Iced Coffee

2 cups strong coffee

1/4-1/3 cup half and half (depends on how strong a coffee taste you prefer)

2-3 T sugar or your favorite sugar substitute

chocolate syrup to taste OR you can make a bit of chocolate ganache (see recipe below) for an incredibly decadent treat!

Blend all ingredients for a few seconds until frothy.

Drizzle the inside edges of your glass with a bit of chocolate syrup or ganache. Carefully add ice and coffee.

Top with homemade whipping cream and a few chocolate shavings for an amazing summertime (or anytime!) treat!

* To make chocolate ganache, melt a handful of chocolate chips with a few drops of heavy whipping cream or butter to form a nice thick sauce to add to your coffee.

* For homemade whipping cream, beat heavy cream, powdered sugar to taste and a dash of vanilla in a mixer or Magic Bullet until stiff peaks form. You will never allow Cool Whip to pass your lips again after trying the real deal.

Iced coffee is best enjoyed with a friend. Or on the front porch. Or with a good book.

How do you enjoy your iced coffee?

The simple secret to a clean bathroom

2014-07-06T16:36:00.000-05:00

Cleaning the bathroom doesn't have to be an all day affair. A few simple steps in the morning will leave your bathroom fresh and company ready.

1. Swish and swipe. The Flylady coined this phrase years ago and it stuck with me. Take two minutes after you get ready to swish the toilet brush around the toilet and wipe off the counters with a clean rag.

2. Put it away! Return items to their proper place. A counter littered with hairbrushes, make-up cases and toothpaste tubes is not at all appealing. It just take a minute to put it back where it belongs.

3. Clothes and towels - Hang 'em up, put 'em away or toss 'em in the hamper.

4. Get it outta there. On your way out the door, return all items that belong in another room to their proper place (ie: newspaper to recycling, glasses to the kitchen, etc.).

Once a week do a more thorough, deep cleaning and in between these simple steps will keep your bathroom clean and tidy.