...no longer two...

deciding

2012-03-06T22:59:00.000-05:00

I'm terrible at this blogging thing. There, I said it.

I'm trying to decide whether I have anything to say that isn't already being said. To decide if my reasons to write--capturing, creating, expressing, relating--are worth the time and energy expended. To decide if I will ever have an audience, or better yet, decide if I even desire an audience.

If I was good at this, I'd know. There would be no decisions. It would be a given, a force pulsing through me.

Yet, here I am. Still writing, about to hit publish.

just keep praying

2012-01-07T11:27:00.000-05:00

"The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying... The prayer of the feeblest saint on earth who keeps right with God paralyzes the darkness--that's why he tries to keep our minds fussy in active work until we cannot think in prayer."
~Oswald Chambers, as quoted in A Busy Woman's Guide to Prayer by Cheri Fuller

word(s) - 2012

2012-01-05T18:28:00.000-05:00

As much as I love new beginnings, I have to admit I've been a bit slow at setting my goals and intentions for 2012. Last year was my first year to put my goals in writing and my first time to choose one word that summed up where I felt God was leading me. To be completely honest, my vision of 2011 being a time of travel, dedication, and action was nowhere near how the year shaped up.

In a way it is disappointing, to set up a plan only to have it go awry a few months into the year. But in other ways, it is interesting to examine where God led me to other paths. And get-real-confession time: it's painful yet eye-opening to reflect upon how my lack of discipline and faithfulness in some areas led me to dead ends and extreme frustration.

Yet, here it is a new year and here I am again, choosing words (yes, more than one this year!), setting goals, and saying prayers for God to do what He will with these feeble plans of mine. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. ~Proverbs 16:9

Words :
Reliance
Relationship

Goals:
Develop consistent Bible study habits
Dig into prayer through reading and practice
Find and get involved in a church family (prayerfully, in cooperation with my husband)

I'm still working on goals in other areas, such as housekeeping, homeschooling, travel, and personal growth (including blogging), but these spiritual goals are really the most important to me and ones I know God is pushing me toward. They are also foundational goals that I know will be key in helping me achieve success in those other areas of my life. In the coming days, I hope to share more of my specific plans on how I can work toward each of these goals.

Hearty Minestrone

2012-01-03T20:15:00.000-05:00

I'm one of those nerds who reads almost anything for fun--cookbooks included. An oldie but goodie is one I borrowed (permanently--oops!) from my mom. I can never recall its title or who published it without looking, so it is perpetually known as the "Purple Cookbook". As in, my mom will call me to ask "Do you still have my Purple Cookbook that you took 11 years ago?" (once again--oops!)

The Purple Cookbook is a compilation, similar to one you might find being sold as a church or community fundraiser. While the recipes aren't gourmet, what sets Purple apart is the variety. You won't find 50 versions of ye olde Jell-o salad/cream-of-something casserole/Velveeta cheese dips; instead there are recipes like the inspiration for tonight's dinner: Hearty Minestrone.

As a newlywed, I made this soup exactly as written in the Purple Cookbook. As I became a more experienced cook, I tweaked the recipe to our tastes and penciled my adjustments in the book. It has evolved into what is entirely my own creation, the version below. This minestrone is fabulous served with cornbread or grilled cheese sandwiches, and it tastes great (maybe better?) after a couple of days in the fridge so make ahead or save some for later.

Hearty Minestrone
from Pure & Simple Beta Sigma Phi
(otherwise lovingly known as "Purple Cookbook)
1 T Olive oil
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced
32 oz. chicken broth
1 - 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes (with or without basil--Muir Glen is by far my favorite brand)
1 - 19 oz. can cannellini beans, including liquid
1 t. dried basil (can use fresh--just use more and add toward end of cooking time)
1 t. dried oregano
1/2 t. each dried thyme & Italian seasoning
8 oz. small shell pasta
1 1/2 c. frozen mixed vegetables
Salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese (optional)

1. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until golden brown. Add the garlic; cook for about 1 minute (careful not to let garlic burn).

2. Add the broth, tomatoes, seasonings, and beans. Bring to a fast simmer.

3. Meanwhile, cook pasta to slightly firmer than al dente. Turn off the heat and add the frozen vegetables. Stir and let sit for a couple of minutes to help thaw the veggies.

4. Drain water from pasta/veggies, then add them to simmering soup. Cook at medium-low heat to heat through. Check that pasta is tender and the vegetables are hot.

***Note: You can cut out steps 3 and 4 and just throw the uncooked pasta and frozen vegetables right in with the other ingredients. I don't like the starchy flavor and texture of the soup like that, so I go through the additional cooking/draining steps unless I'm extremely pressed for time.

Serve with freshly grated parmesan, if desired.

I'm back!

2012-01-03T00:43:00.000-05:00

It's a new year! Even though turning the page on the calendar doesn't actually change much, I'm so thankful for the related feelings of new beginnings and freshness. I like to view this time of year as a reminder of the new life that we are offered through Christ. It brings to mind this passage, which I have burned on my brain (haha--in a pleasant way, of course) from years of singing it (much like this) at church camp:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." ~Lamentations 3:22-24

Fresh

2011-09-24T18:35:00.000-04:00

As usual, life has been busy so this blog has been temporarily abandoned. I've got lots of ideas and motivation, so I'm hoping to make a fresh start of it in the next couple of weeks. No promises, though. I want to work on a new look, one that is more comfortable, more me.

Homeschool Mother's Journal - 2

2011-05-13T21:05:00.000-04:00

In my life this week:
This week I spent a lot of time planning for our next unit. We are going to be studying New World Explorers using Homeschool in the Woods' Time Travelers series. It has notebooking and lapbooking components, so I've been busy printing pages for those. It also has many fun hands-on activities, so my goal for next week is to make lists of the all the supplies I need. I would love to start gathering them now, because I know that will increase the likelihood of us actually doing all of those activities. Sad, but true. :)

In our homeschool this week:
More phonics for the little guy. He especially liked adding different consonants to the '-at' ending, using magnets and our easel. Another highlight was doing a word search puzzle he got at the restaurant on his Pie Date with Daddy this week. It was too difficult to do on his own, so I helped him a lot. We turned it into a fun letter and sound recognition game.

Lots of reading and math for the older two. We are just about finished reading Robin Hood aloud.

We visited a local children's museum. One of the exhibits has a 'lie detector' display. I must be related to George Washington because I just cannot tell a lie. My husband and the kids knew every time I was trying to hide the number I guessed. It was funny because my kiddos didn't want to lie about the number they guessed. I guess Ted and I have done a good job reinforcing that honesty is the best policy.
My favorite thing this week:
Mother's Day! While it technically was not a school day, we had a great day hanging out together. We ate at our neighbor's new restaurant. Besides enjoying the fabulous food, we had a good time socializing. Our neighbor's kids were there so all the kids had a fun time hanging out, with the added benefit that my husband and I were able to have some conversation time while the kids were busy. The kids ate quickly, then started working on making codes. They did that for like 45 minutes straight. How do they come up with these things?

What's working/not working for us:
Planning is working for me right now. Being in the planning stage is the easier place to be; let's see how I feel when I'm in the application stage!

I'm trying to simultaneously plan for the summer and fall, all while trying to keep up with our current lessons. It's a juggling act, for sure, but I'm motivated to finish what we are doing now so we can move on to the fun stuff I'm planning for the summer.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have:
It's Friday night--no questions or thoughts allowed! :) Maybe next week.

Just another day

2011-05-09T17:59:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was Mother's Day. But it was also just like most other days.

Eating together, hunting for small treasures at Goodwill, laughing at silly jokes, admiring artwork and creativity.

Teaching older siblings how to speak nicely to younger ones, saying no to endless begging for 'just one more Webkinz', convincing tired children that brushing their teeth before bed is, in fact, necessary.

What's that old TV show theme, "You take the good, you take the bad..."

That is what motherhood is all about: taking the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, and accepting them as what God wants for me right at that moment. Through His grace and mercy, I am able to cherish the ordinary, to grow closer to my children, and learn from the greatest Parent of all.

Avgolemono

2011-05-08T09:11:00.000-04:00

We live within walking distance of a fabulous Greek cafe. And our neighbors just opened up a Greek restaurant a few miles away. I *puffy heart* Greek food so you will find no complaints from me about either of those facts.

I have had such a craving for the chicken-lemon-orzo soup (or avgolemono) but didn't want to go to one of those restaurants for the ~~second~~ ~~third~~ fourth time in under two weeks. I thought I probably had the ingredients to make the soup at home but figured it would probably be too difficult or time-consuming or I'd end up with inedible glop.

I've never been so pleased to be absolutely wrong. This soup is easy, quick, and delicious. My only complaint is that it doesn't make a lot, so take that into account if you plan on serving it to a large group. You don't want a fight to break out over who gets a bowl of this!

Avgolemono Soup
slightly adapted from Epicurious.com

1 32 oz. carton chicken broth
1/4 c. orzo
3 eggs
4 T. fresh lemon juice
1/2 c. shredded cooked chicken breast
Salt and pepper to taste--I didn't measure but would guess I used 1/2 t. salt and 1 t. pepper. I like pepper a lot!
Greek seasoning (optional)--I have some from Penzey's so I threw a bit in.

Bring the broth to a boil. Add the orzo and cook to al dente.
While the orzo is cooking, whisk the eggs and lemon juice together until smooth.
When orzo is al dente, lower heat to simmer. Add a cup of hot broth to egg mixture and stir until incorporated. Then add all of egg/broth mixture into pan with broth/orzo. Add chicken and seasonings. Simmer until thick and creamy.

If you are me, it makes two servings--lunch and dinner. :)

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - 1

2011-05-06T16:57:00.000-04:00

In my life this week:
This week has passed by in a blur. Lots of hockey--N playing and the guys going to the Lightning playoff games. Plenty of cooking--five loaves of bread (two regular, three mini), chipotle chicken tacos, avgolemono soup, homemade yogurt, and poached chicken to freeze for later.

In our homeschool this week:
Among other things, these were three areas of emphasis for us this week:
Multiplication--We worked on review of concepts. Next week we will move on to drill work.
Home economics--We are working on keeping the house tidy throughout the week. My oldest two did a great job working together.
Free reading for the biggers, phonics for the little guy.

My favorite thing this week:
My little guy lost his first tooth. He is so excited! He loves anything that makes him feel like a big boy. Another tooth is loose, so he's been trying hard to get it to come out as well.

What's working/not working for us:
Supplementing our regular curriculum with units from other programs has been a huge success. We're currently doing this with handwriting and math. It has helped create some excitement during a part of the year when the 'blahs' can set in. It has also worked to hone in on areas in which my kiddos need more reinforcement. This is one of the things about homeschooling I love: being able to see the needs of my children and make changes to meet them right away.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have:
Will the school year ever end? Ha! We are year-round schoolers, so that's a trick question!

Sometimes I question our choice of calendar, but for the most part it works for us. Lucky for me there's a little rest ahead, as we will be taking a break this month to travel to my little sister's graduation.

menu plan-week of 01/10

2011-01-10T23:51:00.000-05:00

Okay, I failed miserably at sticking to last week's menu. Several of our plans changed at the last minute, plus one son got sick, the other had a birthday, and Ted had to work a couple night shifts (on those nights I usually don't make anything too involved). Oh well, if at first you don't succeed... So I've planned this week to be very similar to last week, just a few tweaks in content and order:

Monday:

B-Cereal, fruit

L-Turkey & cheese sandwiches, chips/salsa, carrots

D-Soup, crackers, pineapple

Tuesday:

B-Ricemeal, bananas

L-Broccoli & cheddar nuggets, salad, oranges

D-Taco soup, tortillas

Wednesday:

B-Waffles, grapes

L-Grilled chicken salad

D-Chicken stir-fry w/broccoli & carrots, brown rice

Thursday:

B-Bacon, eggs, bagels

L-Pasta, peas

D-Chicken enchiladas, rice, beans, pineapple

Friday:

B-Banana muffins, apples, cheese

L-PBJ, Carrots, Smores brownies

D-Pizza (homemade?)

Saturday:

B-Cereal, fruit, hardboiled eggs

L-Homemade lunchables

D-Turkey burgers, vegetarian beans, Alexia onion rings

menu plan-week of 01/03

2011-01-02T22:34:00.000-05:00

This is the first time I've blogged our menu plan. Confession time: I actually haven't done ~~much~~ any menu planning since we moved at the end of October. Yikes! My theme for 2011 is action, so we will see at the end of the week how well I execute this plan!

Monday:
B-Banana muffins, apples, cheese
L-PBJ, carrots
D-Chicken enchiladas, rice, beans, pineapple

Tuesday:
B-Ricemeal, bananas
L-Homemade lunchables, oranges
D-Chicken stirfry, brown rice

Wednesday:
B-Waffles, grapes
L-Bagel bites, salad
D-Chicken noodle soup

Thursday:
B-Bacon, eggs, bagels
L-Pasta, peas
D-Tacos, refried beans, corn

Friday:
B-Cereal, fruit, hardboiled eggs
L-Grilled chicken salad
D-Pizza (homemade?)

Saturday:
B-Oatmeal, apples
L-Sandwiches
D-Turkey burgers, vegetarian beans

Sunday: ???

Not exciting, but on Monday we are back to school, I'm starting the Bible in 90 Days, and Ted will be starting his P90X exercise and nutrition (part of which is eating 5 times a day=me making extra meals), so keeping it simple seems like the way to go.

out & in

2011-01-01T21:55:00.000-05:00

out with the old...
2010 was a year of

transitions--We purchased and moved into what we hope will be our 'forever' house. This was our 10th or 11th move in less than 10 years of marriage (I lost count 3 or 4 moves ago--ha!).
travel--We took the kiddos on their first big trip, California. Ted and I went to Paris for a few days, our first European trip together and hopefully not the last! :)
challenges--I read through the Bible in 90 days with Mom's Toolbox; Ted worked through the hardcore Insanity exercise program. We installed flooring, painted, and made our house company-ready in less than a month after moving.
hospitality--We hosted friends at Thanksgiving, friends and family on Christmas Eve, and Chinese guests who were attending an area conference. We've also had neighbor kids in and out of our house throughout the year, which can be crazy at times but is a dream come true for me.
epic motivational fail--We were so busy with looking for a house, buying a house, and fixing up a house that I was overwhelmed and let myself slack off on too many important areas. Menu planning, exercising, school routines, and many more got passed over way too often.

in with the new...

Looking for 2011 to be a year of

travel--Well, okay, not so new. Ted works in the travel industry, so I guess the wanderlust is in his blood. He and I are taking a short cruise in February (our first--I'm wary, but he has wanted to take one for a long time); I'd like to do more mini-trips, i.e. go on daytrips around the state, visit local museums and sites. We might go someplace special for our 10th anniversary...we'll have to see what Ted the Travelmaster has up his sleeve. :)
dedication--We are starting several new programs that require perseverance. I'm doing the Bible in 90 Days again, this time as a reader and mentor. Ted is going through P90X. Together we are going to take the next foster parent classes offered at our church. We plan on joining the YMCA, so we will need to dedicate time to exercise there. I also have several tasks as a home manager, mom, and teacher that I need to be diligent in completing daily, no matter what.
action--I've decided this is my word for 2011. I love to research and plan but often fizzle out when it comes to application. I don't want to be all talk but no walk. Like in Isaiah 6 when the Lord says "Whom shall I send?", I don't want to think about it, consider my options, weight it out. Instead, I strive toward being like Isaiah who immediately calls out "Here am I. Send me!" I want to be spring into action, not just stand on the sidelines waiting for others who are more capable to fill the needs. I want to act, not based on my own skills (which in most categories are sorely lacking), but instead based on a reliance on God for the strength and know-how needed.

I fully realize these are pretty vague--the traditional pie-in-the-sky type of resolution that doesn't make it past January 12th. I hope to expand on each of these goals with specifics in the future. For now, they work for me as a placeholder and reminder of the direction in which I believe God is leading me this year.

sushi: for the love of love

2010-12-16T19:16:00.000-05:00

I hate most fish and seafood. Long John Silver's is one of my only exceptions, but I think the malt vinegar is its saving grace for me.

My friend loves sushi. Yes, food made with all manner of fish and seafood and fish eggs and seaweed. *harf*

I hate fish and seafood, but I love my friend so some other friends and I took her out to her favorite sushi spot for dinner last night. I thought I would be brave and essentially go against the good instincts God gave me--I actually volunteered to eat sushi. As my meal. My entire meal.

I wish I could say it was a brilliant success, that I loved it and where had sushi been all my life. It was not like that, not a bit. Normally I eat with gusto, but I had to concentrate on the basic operations. Chew. Chew more. Don't breathe. Swallow. Repeat. Repeat?

I survived, yes I did. I will probably never eat sushi again. But it made for a wonderful, definitely unforgettable experience. I love that my friend got to enjoy some of her favorite food with her crazy girlfriends. I love that we moved to Perkins for dessert, where we laughed til we cried over the weirdest inside jokes, including what we would name our imaginary private homeschool academy (don't ask!). I love that we decided that trying new things is well worth the risk. I love love, way more than I hate seafood for sure.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.~1 John 3:18

A couple of us have never had Brazilian food, so that's our next adventure. I can handle that. But I might bring along some malt vinegar, just in case.

we interrupt this bubble bath...

2010-12-06T00:18:00.000-05:00

Okay, I'm supposed to be taking a nice, relaxing bubble bath right about now. I sure could use it after the craziness around here lately. We just moved, which is a complete blessing, but it has worn me out--physically, mentally, and at times spiritually. So, my plan is to continue working on our house slowly but surely and maybe even one day have a few minutes to beautify this blog. Most importantly, though, I'll be seeking peace and joy from the Lord during the days leading up to the celebration of His birth.

just because they make me happy

2010-10-16T12:41:00.000-04:00

one of those days

2010-10-14T00:54:00.000-04:00

Today was just one of those days...

In the wee hours of the morning I wasn't feeling well, so I couldn't sleep.

When I finally was sleeping soundly, my son woke me up because he had an accident in his bed.

After I'd cleaned him up and put his wet sheets and PJs in the washer, I once again couldn't sleep.

I read for awhile--Daniel 3 and The Road to Reality by KP Yohannan. Boy, I thought Crazy Love was convicting. Road to Reality had me thinking way too deeply for 6 a.m.

I returned to bed, only to be woken up shortly thereafter by my hubby leaving for work.

I went back to sleep, but was woken up for good by my children who were ready for breakfast.

I switched out the laundry.

I emailed my Good Morning Girls group and read my version of the daily news--new blog posts in Google reader.

I found out I would not be able to fly back home for the kids and I to see my mom this weekend as we had been planning.

I called my mom to let her know, talked way too long, and didn't get the kids ready in time for their ice skating lessons.

I checked our family email--mortgage guy said we will not be able to bind home insurance while there is an active hurricane around, which 'might present a problem.' We will probably have to push back our closing date yet again. Sigh...but faithfully giving it over to God and His perfect timing.

Then I opened my personal email and found out I won a Bosch Universal Plus Mixer from one of my all-time favorite cooking blogs.

I literally jumped with joy.

I don't remember much else about today after that...

I'm glad that today was one of those days.

so now that I'm done

2010-10-11T22:34:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I mentioned that I recently finished reading the entire Bible. During the 90 day challenge I became accustomed to reading long passages in one sitting. This type of reading plan was challenging, but at the same time it created this extreme hunger for the Word. During the challenge I was intrigued by and knew that I wanted to revisit several books in more depth, including Daniel and Romans.

God must have agreed that those books were good ones to come back to, as He put resources for both in my path during this time. I found a Kay Arthur inductive study workbook on Daniel at the library bookshop for super-cheap (just how I like it!). I snatched that little book up and am working through it for the next 13 weeks. It is a complete change-up from the Bible in 90 Days pace. I'm reading and re-reading one chapter for an entire week. I've been reading different versions and the study notes from our homeschool Bible (NLT Study Bible) and my hubby's two Bibles (ESV and NIV Archaological Study Bible). It's neat to take the time to compare the different translations and commentaries, take notes, and just dig in to scripture. I must admit, though, that the slower pace is difficult.

As for Romans--one of my favorite pastors, Bob Coy, from one of my favorite churches, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, has a podcast called The Active Word. I subscribe to the podcasts and listen to them when I go for walks or when I'm cleaning the house. Well, as God would have it, the subject for the past couple of months was going verse-by-verse through the book of Romans! I haven't devoted much time to walks or deep cleaning in the past week or so (bad, but true) but when I get back on the wagon I have some great teachings waiting for me.

I also just finished reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I read through it quickly for an overview and just to kind of fix my mindset. We are in the process of buying a house, and it's so easy to start thinking that we 'need' this or that for the new house. This book is a reminder to me to be careful about distinguishing between needs and desires and to focus on the eternal. Of course, there is so much more to Chan's message, but this is just one of the surface issues that came to me and spoke to me in the moment. A friend also read this; I'm totally hoping we can both re-read and maybe get some other friends to read it and have a little book club.

good reading, bad blogging

2010-10-10T18:39:00.000-04:00

Since I started this blog to chronicle our attempt at reading through the Bible in 90 days, I guess I should follow through with the results. So without further adieu...I finished reading the entire Bible in 85 days! It was only through the grace of God that I read the entire Word in that amount of time. It certainly wasn't due to any super routines or phenomenal reading skills on my part. When I got behind--which I did a few times, once more than ten days off of schedule--I prayed for God's help.

Obviously I wasn't praying for God's help in blogging, as one can tell from its poorly neglected state. But I'm okay with that, because I wanted to prioritize reading the Bible above all else.

I'm hoping to undertake the next online session of the Bible in 90 days program starting January 3. Not only do I want to read again, but I have other goals in mind as well. I will be praying between now and then that God will help me:

Take notes on my readings in a more organized manner.
Be a cheerleader to those participating, either through mentoring and/or regular prayer.
Encourage people in my life to read along (including my dear hubby who did not finish this time).
Have my children read through the Bible on an abridged kid's plan.
And oh yeah, I almost forgot, blog more!

I'm looking forward to the challenge--not because I know I'm up for it, because honestly it seems overwhelming. But when I'm doing God's will and it gets difficult, He always shows up to carry me through!

here, there, anywhere!

2010-08-09T19:10:00.000-04:00

I'd read my Bible in a box;
I'd read my Bible while folding socks;
I'd read my here or there--
I'd read my Bible anywhere!

Amy over at Mom's Toolbox has asked the Bible in 90 Days participants to share where they have been doing their reading. Thankfully, God hasn't tested me and asked me to read in a box just yet, but as for the socks... Well, I have read while trying to get chores done (such as the never-ending mountain of laundry, including a beach bag full of mismatched socks).

I've also done my reading at my sons' ice hockey practice, as well as hunched over a kiddie-size table during my break at VBS, sprawled across the couch at home during the quiet night hours, and perched beside the window of a friends' river house with the sounds of frogs chirrupping in the background. Ted's career is in the travel industry, so he's read in a variety of cities and at a variety of altitudes. :)

While we consider ourselves very flexible and really would consider reading anywhere, Ted and I probably get the most reading done in one place. That honor belongs to our bedroom, either in the desk chair or on the bed. We have a tiny house, so our room is one of the few places we can go with minimal distractions. Usually our house is quietest in the early morning or during the night hours--times when we're usually in our bedroom anyway--so that's where we end up doing our reading.

We are both steadily reading along. I'm currently on track; Ted is behind about 10 days. He is working a lot through the middle of this month, then his schedule will be slow for awhile. I'm going to pray and encourage him to gain ground during that slow time.

I ask, God gives

2010-08-02T22:01:00.000-04:00

I started last week so far behind, I didn't even know what day I was supposed to be on. I had gotten swamped by family birthdays and my VBS volunteering that I didn't get to the scheduled readings for more than a week. So I ended up more than 7 days behind.

In the past I would have used that as my 'sign' (i.e. my excuse) to quit. This time, though, partnering with my husband and the Mom's Toolbox group encouraged me to not to give up but to pray and press on! I asked God to open up time and just give me a thirst for the Word. I wanted to catch up quickly, but I also wanted to be excited about it. I never want my Bible reading to feel like drudgery, a chore, or just another checkmark on my list of things to do. To me God's Word is too precious to read with such an attitude.

Well, you know the whole concept of ask and it shall be given? Well, I asked and God gave--abundantly! On Sunday and Monday, while Ted was at work and the kids were playing I was able to fit in a lot of reading. Joshua and Judges were interesting and familiar, so I got through them fairly quickly. Then I started catching a cold, which sounds like it would be bad and put me behind. Not so! Ted took pity on me, so for two days I was able to lie in bed for a couple hours when he got home from work. I spent that time resting and reading at the same time. The books that I was reading at that point--Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel--were so interesting that I couldn't put them down. I got up to make dinner and hang with the family, but after the kids were in bed I immediately picked up my Bible and continued reading.

I was hungering to read more, so much so that I actually ended up getting ahead in my reading once I started reading through 1 Kings. As I got into 1 & 2 Kings, they were so interesting that I slowed down a little bit to figure out the relations between the different kings and the separate nations of Israel and Judah. I spent the weekend with a group of friends at our annual homeschool planning retreat, where I was able to have plenty of quiet time to study those two books.

So now at the beginning of week 5 I'm right where I should be. And I can't take any credit for that--thank you Lord!

As for Ted...well, he's behind but still plugging along. He has an upcoming training event/evaluation at work, so he's spending most of his spare time studying for that. I'll be praying for him to find times to devote to his Bible reading while still leaving plenty of time for studying.

what week are we on again?

2010-07-26T14:44:00.000-04:00

I had been doing so well with my reading...and then came VBS. For the first time, after encouragement from a friend and prodding from Ted, I volunteered at the last minute to help at our church's VBS. I was assigned to teach a preschool class. I have a Bachelor's in Education, so I'm no stranger to teaching. But--a big but--my experience is with older children. You know, the ones who can tie their own shoes and open their own fruit cups and mostly sit in one spot for extended periods of time. Between getting my room prepared, reading over lesson plans, and adjusting my schedule for the day, I was tired before VBS even started. Once it did start, each day was a lot of fun but left me dragging. And two days of VBS were Ted's birthday and our daughter's birthday (their b-days are one day apart). Each night I fell into bed with no B90Days reading done.

So a long explanation to say that I am now 7 days behind on my reading--far enough that I had a hard time figuring out what week we are supposed to be in! (Week 4, thank you Amy!) I worked on catching up today and read all of Deuteronomy and started Joshua. I'll still read before bed as well, so I'm hoping to knock a day or two off of that 7 days before the day is over.

Ted, on the other hand, was able to use the days that the kids and I were at VBS to catch up on his reading. He had gotten a little behind due to work and giving in to distractions.

For both of us, if we get out of the habit of reading and get a day or two behind, we lose our motivation and allow it to snowball until just a couple days turns in to several. Normally, that might escalate into not finishing. I'm determined not to quit, though, so now that life is mostly back to normal I'm trying to steadily get back on track. Ted and I are continuing to encourage each other and receive encouragement from our mentor, Amy at Mom's Toolbox, and all the other participants.

week 1, finished!

2010-07-12T09:33:00.000-04:00

Hi to all those from the Mom's Toolbox Week 2 Check-in! It has been a busy week for both Ted and I. Beyond the normal activities of everyday life, we had a houseguest for a couple of days and a visit from the stomach bug...twice! Despite the interruptions we were able to finish Days 1 through 7 of the Bible in 90 Days challenge. We read through Genesis and Exodus, and at the end of today will be more than half-way through Leviticus.

I've been wanting to take notes and possibly blog along the way, but I get caught up in the reading and can't stop long enough to write. There's a lot more reading to come, so maybe in the future... For now, we have been processing what we've read through discussing together. It's interesting how we can read the same passages, yet God speaks to us in different ways.

While I haven't taken detailed notes, I have noticed some common themes. The most notable to me is God's faithfulness contrasted with our sin. Genesis is very drama-laden, with the people lying, blaming, feuding, and so on. Exodus continues with the Israelites grumbling, disobeying, and worshiping idols. Yet God chose to redeem the Israelites and ultimately the human race. People are so undeserving of His mercy, yet He offered (and still offers!) it to us. These first two books are full of history, but reading them in the context of the entire Bible, they are most certainly the beginning of a wonderful Love story.

We're looking forward to the next seven days of reading!

Grace and peace,
Stephanie

introductions

2010-07-03T23:13:00.000-04:00

Hi to all the Bible in 90 Days Challenge participants who are linking up via Mom's Toolbox!

My introduction will be a bit unique, as I will be speaking for myself as well as my husband, who will be doing the challenge as well---albeit somewhat behind the scenes.

I am Stephanie, the writer/blogger/tweeter of the pair. I homeschool our 3 children, ages 4, 7, and almost 8. I like to cook but hate doing dishes. I like to travel but would gladly stay at home for days at a time without getting cabin fever. I *really* like to read but am still a little intimidated by trying to read the entire Bible in such a short time.

My other, better (of course) half is Ted. He has a career in the travel industry that requires him to have a very flexible schedule but thankfully still allows him to be home every night. He is interested in getting in shape and is currently working through Beachbody's Insanity program. He also likes baseball and is a diehard Yankees fan. He recently bought an old jet ski, so being out on the water is a hobby as well.

We attend a church that teaches through the Bible, book-by-book, so we are used to digging into the Word on a regular basis. Recently our pastor challenged the church to regularly set aside time for Bible reading/study and prayer. Ted and I were both convicted, knowing that many days we would go with little or no devotional time. When I heard about the Bible in 90 Days Challenge, I knew that I wanted to do it the next time around. I've never read the Bible straight through, which seemed odd to me considering every church I have attended since I was a child has had a strong Scriptural emphasis. Once I really felt God tugging me to do the challenge, I asked Ted if he wanted in. He agreed, so here we are!

For both of us, probably the biggest challenge of this Challenge (heh!) will be putting aside the time it takes to read every day. Our schedules are very fluid due to Ted's job, so our routines have to change frequently. I'm planning to read at night after the kids go to bed, and Ted is planning to read during the day as his schedule allows. He will be able to listen on his commute and read during down time at work. Overall, we will have to be willing, able, and prepared to change ours plans as needed while still allowing plenty of time to finish our reading. Thanks to our friends at Apple, we can make that a bit easier by keeping the Bible close at hand all the time on our iPhones.

We will also have to make sure that we make the Bible readings our priority, and let some of our other activities and habits slide a bit. Less Internet, Netflix, library books, ~~washing dishes~~... Well, promise not to come inspect my sink, okay?

I'm very thankful for the accountability through Amy at Mom's Toolbox, the mentors who've previously done the Challenge, my ladies' quiet time email group, and my husband. I'm praying that God will protect this group during these 90 Days, and that He will soften our hearts, give us fresh insights, and let us hear Him as speaks to us through the Word.

Grace and peace,
Stephanie

a very good place to start

2010-06-10T17:03:00.000-04:00

This is the beginning of our blog. We are starting it to enable and track our participation in the upcoming Through the Bible in 90 Days challenge hosted by Mom's Toolbox.