no-sugar challenge

For those who have asked about the no-sugar challenge, this is Laura's post I found via her recent menu plan. (It's old, Tania - you weren't sleeping) I emailed her this week to ask about it, and she says maybe she'll give a new challenge after the first of the year again.

And I want to give some credit to Becky as well. I read her blog a while back after she'd given herself a 21-day challenge and found it very beneficial.

Meanwhile, I'm doing my own challenge. I'm planning to indulge mildly on special occasions - like when my hubby is home for Sunday dinner! Minimal taste-testing occurred already Tuesday eve, but otherwise I've been "good" since Monday ::: this is DAY FOUR for me, my friends! ::: woohoo! for me ;-) And I've even been T-Tapping (BWO+). I don't know if my lower back pain is leaf-raking, way too much sitting at the computer, too much driving, or what. But I may have to give in and see the chiro before December :p T-Tapp works a LOT better for me if my spine is well-adjusted. =) It would be cheaper to give up reading/blogging... better get a timer for my computer desk!

Now, I'm back to the kitchen for some raw almonds and belated supper prep! =)

links anyone?

No, I don't golf. Sorry. I'm referring to hyper-links of course =) I was given a little helpful instruction, so let's try it...

T-Tapp - Here's "The Wellness Workout that Works!" The fact that I do not LOOK like Teresa Tapp should not hinder anyone from doing this to just FEEL better!

Kali - Here's a favorite 6yo who's amazing in her cheerful battle with a Dezmoid tumor on her jaw for the past three years. Her family is amazing in their faith and passion for ministering to others.

Laura - Here is one of my fave blogs at Heavenly Homemakers ~ she hosts a weekly "Gratituesday" theme along with plenty of hilarious stories (Be sure to read today's post for a good laugh!)

Ha. So cool and so easy. Thank you to my new bloggy friend Jodi!





Today's post is going to sit here until I can think of all the things I keep forgetting to list! That's why I am beginning after lunch instead of after supper ;-)

In addition to T-Tapp, Kali, Laura, and Jodi, I have been thankful for...

• hearing the grain-hauling semi-trucks driving by regularly the last couple days - that means progress in the corn harvest
• hearing the various neighbors' distinctive mufflers roar past ~8am every morning on their way to the local gov't-run school, while my kiddos might still be in their jammies :o (Should I admit that here?!) I am thankful we are able to stay home and learn lots together!
  
• ugh, the toilet that overflowed the other day :p so I had to wash the floor myself for once in a too-long time of leaving it to my 9yo's responsibility
• my DD's talent for drawing, even though it often gets in the way of solving algebra problems

• my 13yo's willingness to be the official light bulb changer for this house
  
• my 7yo's ability to still sit in my lap for giving the best hugs ever
• it's Thursday afternoon so our schoolweek is almost over! YaY!
• safety last night driving to church ~ the deer stayed in the ditch ~Thank you, Lord!
  
• the "silence" button on my cell phone when I get a 'junk' call
• free pears from my beloved 'egg lady' ~ I should cut some up for the kiddos' snack right now!
• the new basement floor which was poured yesterday
  

• Pastor's devo on Jacob last night. He's decided to begin a series on 'Encouragment for God's People when Discouraged ~ God Gives a Glimpse of the Unseen,' or something like that. Jacob - a lover of tents - is in the middle of dangerous nowhere on his 500-mile walk to Haran, fleeing his twin brother who wants to kill him, with a rock for a pillow...(and we think our life is rough)... God gives him a glimpse of Himself and His angels who obey His bidding... Gen. 28:10-22
  
• These delightful, familiar verses I read yesterday:

O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou has done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. (Isaiah 25:1)

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength. (Isaiah 26:3-4)

11-11-09

I remember after the fact that it's a good idea to carry a paper PDA (aka a 3x5 index card) in your pocket so you can write down those random thoughts that will be lost to the fatigue fog of trying to blog at bedtime... But here we go!


Let's start with the big obvious one: One of my favorite veterans and former Marines whom the Lord brought home from two deployments still in one physical piece. My nephew Max, who was released (Is that the right word? I am not a Marine Mom.) from active duty on July 4 of this year.


What else was I thinking about today. It all seems pretty petty compared to that young man's soul that could have been sent into Eternity in the hills of Afghanistan last year.

Well, just tonight on the way home from church, I was thinking about how thankful I am for my husband who usually is the driver when we go to church. How I have been missing him now that he's been solidly occupied with the harvest of many, many acres of corn! :-( I have been saying for the past 8+ years that we've attended this particular church which is 20+ miles away how it's *always worth the drive* Hmmm, it is, it still is. But my body is ready for him to be my chauffeur again, thank you very much. Sorry, I'm tired tonight, so I'm sorta whiney.

And that beloved Man of Mine is Home! =) Time to get off the computer! So I guess I'll have to leave you with that.

TruthQuest History

Someday, somehow I *will* learn to hyperlink without an extra bzillion steps to remember how... but what I really want to tell you about is possibly the only GOTTA HAVE IT curriculum in my house.

I *l*o*v*e* TruthQuest History!

Since I am a queen of cut/paste, here's a blurb from the website to tell you in 'official' words about this wondrous blessing that I am so thankful for - every day!

The exploration of history, then, should reveal God and His truth, not glorify the achievements of mankind. Indeed, the kings, artists, philosophers, writers, and scientists cannot even be understood until seen for who they are – people motivated by basic beliefs about God, whether true or untrue. The consequences of beliefs are displayed in history...and teach us all. Let us, then, not be found teaching humanistic history. Let us learn of civilization in a way that reveals the God whose name is Truth. Your children will realize the only source of freedom is God's laws, and the only source of human worth is God's love for us. Once common knowledge, our society now thinks the opposite...and suffers for it.

And here, of course, I was tryyyyyyyying to put in an image of the lovely TQ guide. But my understanding of Html is just plain pathetic. BUT what is that in the scheme of things eternal?! NoT MucH. {even if I did figure it out ...again... before I finished the post? God is so good to me!}



Instead let me explain that we are in our sixth year with TruthQuest History guides, which were written by Michelle Miller. We are headed into modern history - pretty much plunging into the early 1900s. The Age of Revolution guides cover history for America and Europe and are written for students in grades 5-12. SOoo, if you stop and consider the issues of the last 100+ years, this can be pretty heavy stuff beyond Little House on the Prairie. And since I did NOT learn this in my own childhood education (didn't take ONE history course in four years of college, thank you), I am having quite the time myself with trying to take in all this from a CHRIST-centered point of view. But I am loving it. And I am so very thankful that God used Michelle Miller to bless so many families with these thought-provoking guides!

I am so thankful that my children are better prepared already to wade into this world and hopeful that they will be able to influence and bless others with their biblical worldview, thanks in part to our study of HIS-story with TruthQuest.

Here's one more quote from the actual AOR3 guide:

The quest for truth is the issue of history."In the beginning” God expressed Himself, and He is Truth. He especially showed the truth that we’re created by Him for relationship with Him. The rest of history, starting with Adam and Eve’s desire to know the secret ‘truth’ which the serpent hinted God was keeping from them, is all about mankind’s search for truth. However, mankind usually rejects God’s expression of truth and tries to make his own. Since God is truth, every time mankind declares his own truth he is trying to be God! This is the heartbeat of history. God towers at the center of all life. Picture a teeny ant scurrying around Washington Monument, emphatically denying the monument’s existence. Ah, the silliness of humanism.

God's mercies are new every morning

... and THAT is something to be thankful for!

I have been enjoying my diversion into the Psalms lately. Here are some sweet verses from yesterday's and today's reading...

"Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning;
for in thee do I trust:

cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;
for I lift up my soul unto thee."

(Psalm 143:8)

"The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion;
slow to anger, and of great mercy...

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him,
to all that call upon him in truth."

(Psalm 145:8, 18)

When I read this and remember how gracious the Lord is to me, I'm again challenged to be more like Him -- especially toward my children!


And from Pastor's sermon last night, I am challenged to be more faithful in my witness of Christ's saving power -- and to pray for the Holy Spirit's working in the hearts of those who are lost. There is no sin too big/hard for God to forgive!

"Verily I say unto you,
All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men..."

(Mark 3:28a)

So today I am thankful...

• that my kids were well enough to go to choir and church last night
• for their choir director and the God-honoring music we enjoy in our church
• for continued glorious weather so that my husband can conquer more acres with the combine this week (and finish??)
• for the T-Tapp Basic Work-Out that only takes 15 minutes to accomplish
• for Laura's Sugar-free Challenge (from Feb'08?) that I am determined to take up this week(!)
• that we accomplished most of the basics this morning... even if our morning didn't end until 1pm ;-)

special sunday

I'm home today with my runny-nosed littles (who are not so little). We've been playing Mexican train dominoes =) (Did you ever wonder why someone gave it that name?)


Earlier I posted this on my FB status:

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast-bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray.
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me!

...celebrating God's salvation of my soul 11-8-87
and His continued work in my life!

Happy Day! =)

super sunny saturday

Here in central Iowa the weather was glorious today! We even had to open some windows because our solar-design home takes in southern sunshine really well. I was thankful for the oven in the basement so I could do some bread-baking. =)

I also took a quick outside tour of the new house...
We have some dirt work to do! That is a pile of dug-up dirt in front of the house that will easily disappear when we backfill and grade up to the house elevation. The black water-proofing material is meant to have dirt covering it. The garage on the right needs a LOT of fill before we can put a floor in there. (Remember it's just the basement walls up so far.)





The Well Crew came this week, and it appears that we have water ready to connect =)
Have I ever said how much I love water? It's got to be one of my favorite things...



And the Builder Crew and Mr. Plumber (Jacob to my readers who know him) have also been busy getting the works ready for the basement floor. In-floor heat for the basement- Yay! Maybe they'll pour the floor on Monday(??)

And the BEST news of the day for me:::

My combine king is coming home for a late supper with us!!! Hurrah!

=)

(nice pic of him from the bank's website, eh? I'm turning into a regular i-net hacker...)