Redefining Success

Redefining Success
After a particularly challenging day, I came upon this post. Momma, you were right. Just look outside your door if you think you're having a bad day. There's always someone who can 'top' you.
The writer of this particular article, which articulates so well the concept of true holiness for the christian - was diagnosed with a brain tumor last Thanksgiving Day (09). He has 3 small children, & a wife, who saw his collapse & subsequent seizure, he doesn't even remember.
He sees his current circumstance in a far nobler way than I would.

This article is profound, and I believe a representation of what really matters to him, even before these circumstances permanently changed "normal" as he knew it.
Thank you, Habits for a Happy Home for sharing this christian's story.

photo: Mother Teresa ,a life lived by Romans 12:1-2

Need some inspiration for healthy eating?

I found Barbara Curtis tonight. She wasn't missing, I had just never met her. Her story is amazing, and inspring. Really.

If you need some healthy food eating inspiration, check this out. It's really, really interesting.

I think some of these I'll even share with the kids!

More on Barbara soon... she can be found at mommylife.net.

For those who do not practice Lent( and of course those who do)

Our 'faith does not practice Lent'. (forgive me if said that wrong or even offensively), but several of my friends do, as a part of their faith. So blessed am I.
I read this beautiful entry today by Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience, and thought it might be helpful to others if you, like me, have never been a part of a season like this. The post is beautiful. Part of the 'holiness 3C's - Commitment, Confidence, Conviction.' .... seriously convicting. Be blessed, and read it.

7 Habits & The Whole Hearted Child

A little catch up on some of the books & plans we've had for this spring is in order. And some cookie inspiration.

'The Year that Would be Kindergarten' has progressed well, learning along the way as homeschoolers do who have never been down this path. I've collected curriculum, disposed of some, put some on the backburner, and have a good feel for what a 'normal' day schooling at home looks like. I can say it's not much different than I thought. Challenging, yes, However, I've explored new paths, new books, and have a clearer vision of how to put the theories I had to work. Learning while working on character & good habits is the greatest benefit to me about homeschooling. Ideas from Charlotte Mason as well as books like Educating the Whole Hearted Child have begun to influence our home. 'Begin with the end in mind' is the second habit from '7 Habits of Highly Effective Families' The tool Covey encourages families to create is a family mission statement. Tsh at Simple Mom moderates the bookclub discussions in the bookclub. One of her articles about mission statements has about 20 questions to help formulate this plan. These books & writers compliment each other well, to help someone like me, find balance. I know in general what I want to see in our family, my husband has honorable hopes & dreams, but after 2 kids, and lots of living, we need to sharpen the focus. It saves energy for a well lived life.

One books I've been reading on line regularly is Diligently Seeking God (in my blog list). The posts/daily devotions are extremely helpful to keep my main priority in mind: my devotion to God & His purposes, to glorify Him in all this planning & living.

So as I look back at my 2010 Booklist, I'm only adding. I think I've only put one on indefinite hold, but definitely added. (Omnivore's Dilemma, Maker's Diet & Educating the Whole Hearted Child) So many books, so little time. And time is precious-- so today we'll be investigating the box of books my precious friend Leslie sent me, starting with Rascal, a Newberry Honor Book by Sterling North. Followed by chocolate chip cookie making(Mrs. field's chocolate chip recipe- thanks Kelley for that cookbook).

Sounds like a plan to me.

Because Amy Asked- What Went On In My Kitchen This Week

We have spent a little time out of town(working on our former house), but while I was gone, I ate well at other's hands(my mother & sister-in-law both are excellent cooks), & collected ideas and recipes.

I had anticipated visiting a farm where Rachel purchases her eggs & whole unpasturized milk, but alas we spent that precious time at the Urgent Care in Kennesaw, hoping Henry had no breaks in his arm. (Rachel, I almost came to church Wed, but you see we had an emergency...)

But because we are on a Food Journey, I purchased bread from a baker here in the Baton Rouge area upon our return. No I didn't bake it, something to put on my 'things to learn how to do' list (soon to be a feature on By the Bushel). Haven't had any yet, as we are finishing some loaves of bread that are extremely healthy from a discount store, that ended up costing about .65 each. Thanks Kristi- we're just finishing these up.

But I did purchase a turkey breast & actually had dinner on the, well, in the oven as my husband came in. Complete meal in pyrex. Chicken purchased at the same time as the turkey(neither organic, but from Bet'R which has the 'best meats in town'), rice(confess not wholegrain or brown)carrots & broccoli, with organic broth. Seasoned with cajun sprinkles. I say confess, because, I am a wanna-be organic healthy cook/eater. But I haven't successfully transitioned to all the 'good stuff'. We do it periodically, and then, well, it's crawfish season again, and my standard of eating revolves around the price per/pound at the mini-grocery down the street. All other groceries must conform. You must undertstand, I've only lived in Louisiana 4 years. 1st year, non-consumer, year 2, addicted, eating them by the pounds. We won't even address the quality of this food, at least not in this post.... think of it as the box of junior mints or the extra piece of xyz fatty, sweet, salty treat that you just can't live without. Giving up certain cultural food is a whole 'nuther issue.... Amy.... here's a topic for ya. (grin )

So while I had dinner on the table, I had loads, & loads of wet towels in the laundry, because after our return home, the refridgerator gave it's last gasp & started spewing water from the cracked water filter. If you don't properly clean the fan/exaust from the cooling system, it can't breath and will begin to freeze your food, including items in your refridgerator & all the connecte & related components. This is truly humiliating, remember in a former life, I'm a 'home ec' major... So while we have frozen produce, thawing out all over the counter, I've been thrifty, not to 'toss' out the old while I try to improve our diet. Trying to do the homework, to move into better habits, even some old habits we tossed aside when life became to busy, & budgets didn't seem to allow.

Currently in my menu prep pantry:

Large turkey breast

8 red potatoes

1/2 carton organic chicken broth

1/2 gallon organic milk

1/2 gallon cheap apple juice

store canned red, pinto, purple hull & green beans

store canned tomatoe sauce

chopped tomatoes

cheap shredded cheese mozarella

green olives

thawed head of cabbage

4 oranges

3 oz fresh organic spinnach

2 dozen free roaming eggs

1 head of cauliflower

1 loaf super duper wheat bread

leftover spaghetti & meat sauce(I make B'Lou's sauce)

left over chicken, rice, carrots dish

2 lbs baby carrots(see movie Food Inc. for how these are made)

1 tub of Stoneyfield organic french vanilla yogurt

If you read this, and see ALL the flaws in our diet, go gentle. We are a family ready for change, but like most tired & find it difficult to make the best choices in the moment.

I could really go for a big salad about now... with blue cheese dressing, Martha.

And some of Thy Hand Hath Provided's Potatoe Lasagna...

So just because we weren't here, doesn't mean I didn't collect a recipe for Pasta de Fagioli, or enjoy Nana's crabcakes, or her bean/butternut squash soup. I'm just glad I was here when the fridge decided to give way... can you imagine if we hadn't been here?

photo is of leftover King Cake, Eric's birthday cake, as his birthday happens right as Mardi Gras Season begins. I don't actually eat this. I have a salty tooth, not a sweet tooth.

Also, I must add, while I write Jack is enjoying a delicious bowl of sausage/seafood/chicken gumbo, our neighbor had ready for us when we pulled in the drive.

Common Phrase - Uncommon Outcome

I Peter 1:13-21
A common phrase we hear 'change we can believe in' is beginning to affirm in my mind, a common problem. Most people believe we can only mask what needs to be changed- we can't really change what's wrong in our hearts or lives.
Really? That's it? I'm doomed to repeat all my sloppiness & carless ways? Or can I really be holy? Sanctified, purposed, set-apart for the glory of God. Change.... is it possible?
Holiness is not always descriptive of divinity, deity, God. We are called to be holy, blessed to be partakers in a holy walk, a fellowship with Christ, fellowship with God.
We are called to partake in His salvation, purposed by Him, and then given the opportunity to choose how we will conduct oursleves. Our souls, created in His image, feel the emptiness when our lives are filled by aimless pursuits. We are deceived when we derive our faith & confidence in anything but the promises & their fulfillment by God.
But we have to present ourselves before God- not sloppy or carless, but holy, prepared, blameless. Are we not sanctified & set apart? A sacrifice made that requires nothing isn't acceptable. A sacrifice that doesn't require the life completely, isn't acceptable.

"I am Thine, Oh Lord, I have heard Thy Voice, and it told Thy Love to Me...."
'Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, to the Cross where Thou hast died,
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, to Thy Precious bleeding side.'
I am Thine, Oh Lord by Fanny J. Crosby

Ephesians 4:22 '...that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."

King David, an ancestor of Jesus

I'm enjoying so much, one of the books on my 2010 reading list, Dilligently Seeking God, today's post made me want to mention this book again. (I'm actually using the on-line version in my favorite blog list.)

Today's entry :

The Psalms David wrote are so inspiring, his needs, wants & hearts desires are so exposed so purely. In this devotion for today, David acknowledges God's strength & his own weakness. II Samuel 22:36-37

'Your gentlenss has made me great', a reminder of how God handles the creation, unique from all other.

I recommend this devotion book as it's described- for those who wish to step it up, when it comes to one's faith.

I want my kids to know all about David, the shepherd turned king, and to appreciate his prayers and psalms. To be able to pray like David, with confidence in His love and desire for each of our hearts.

So tonight we talked about Psalm 139, how God can see us everywhere, day and night to God are just the same, and we sang over & over, 'only a little boy David, only a babbling brook....'

And Jack learned, David, who slew the Philistine all-star, was an ancestor of Jesus, born in the city of David, King of Kings.

Food Inc.

Well, I've watched it, and now I'm processing, what to do next.

I'm tapped into Homestead Revival's posts, and learning alot. Even tho I know alot about the problems with our food system as we know it, I am like most American's who really don't want to know, because we don't want to go to the trouble. But I'm going to. Go to the trouble that is.

It's just a matter of planning. And that's what I seem to be doing this winter.

If you haven't seen it, it can be found at netflix.

hmmm. so much to think about. I'm really debating right now, with provocation by Amy @ Homestead, which to do first, work on produce buying or try to tackle the whole grains.

A few of my take-away's from the movie, without going into the painful details...

• I found it interesting that Kelloggs owns Kashi, H's favorite cereal.


• I was impressed by Stonyfield's owner, who now sells to Wal-mart. (not because he sells to Walmart)


• I thought Joel the chicken farmer was the bomb.


• My heart broke when Kevin's mother shared her story.


• GMO seeds can't be contained- and eventually even seed-saver's on a small scale will be illegal, if individuals don't begin to ask is the 'how do we do it' more important than the implications of the method.


• The above applies to all of the areas, I thought, in the movie.

Go to Homestead Revival (see the button in my side-bar) for really practical ways to step up to the plate when it comes to making your voice heard by what you purchase. I also suggest my friend at Thy Hand Hath Provided (one of my favorite blogs in the side bar). THHP has been practicing with her family simple ways, to feed their family, in a beautiful wholesome way. She's not advertising, just living & sharing. One reason I love the internet & blogland.

I'm falling in love with the setting for 'The Children of The Green Knowe'

This is for my quilter friends. And my Mom. I think this quilt is one of the most charming, deliberately beautiful quilts I've ever seen. The colors are spectacular. It is one of the pieced items made by the author of the books The Children of the Green Knowe, Lucy Boston, that is still in the home where the books were written and is apparently, the setting for the books.

Still have yet to actually listen to or read the book, as I mentioned in my last post. But I think at least my Mom will appreciate this beautiful historically significant home in England.(go to this link to see a brief and extremely enticing & informative visual highlight tour).

When are we going, Mom?

'The Children of Green Knowe' - Simple Living at the Libary

In an effort to cut spending down, I'm in a STOP mode of buying ANY new books or homeschool literature. Since Jan 1. (I also declared I wouldn't go to the mall, or eat junior mints. 2 out of 3 ain't bad.... )

So the library is my new hangout, on the internet & in person. I am shopping the web for our freebie book reserves, and walking in the doors to receive a stack of pre-selected books. For which I do not have to pay a cent. Now you may be saying, what took you so long? But you must understand, my genetic make-up doesn't allow for passing a bookstore with-out dropping a dime/$40. Serious di-lemmer, when you're on a budget, n'est pas? My family are experts in the 'law of book justification'. We can find reason-a-plenty for new book. New, used, yard-sale, doesn't matter, new reading material is the drug of choice in my family of origin. Hi, my name is Laura, & I'm a book-a-holic.

So this is big for me... bear with the slow-learner.

So, I brought home a book on tape for Jack today, with out research. Just one I'd never noticed. Turns out it's book-turned-British-TV. Usually anything that's BBC holds a special place in my heart, I grew up on fuzzy PBS. and this one aired my freshman year of college. The Children of Green Knowe, by L.M. Boston is the first in a series of 6 that were later made into television. The Green Knowe is a Manor with it's own great history worth investigating for a little background to the story.

I'm not sure of it's integrity as books go, but as I do the homework to determine this, I'll be appreciating the library systems across the land that bring so much to a community.

I'm interested in youre thoughts on the book if you've ever read! Thanks!

Homestead Revival - Giveaways! & So Much More

If you haven't ever visited Amy at the River Rock Cottage, you've got to see where she's moved-


Homestead Revival


This kindred spirit in the So-Cal promised land has so much to offer those who are looking to learn about and sharpen their homemaking skills. She offers a world of perspective and wisdom on the food we eat and how we can eat smarter and be wiser in our choices. Her perspective comes with a faithfulness to God, which is to me, priceless in our crazy world.
Amy's taste is simple & wholesome & her blog reflects her spirit, looking out for future generations. She's a constant reader bringing up regularly excellent reads. Go there, her premiere post will tell you so much more!

Go quickly, there are some AMAZING giveaways!

Five in A Row - Reading & Learning

My friend Leslie has been hounding me, I think before we had kids to start Five in A Row. I keep telling her to start a blog about her experiences reading with this program because she has so successfully used it. She tempts me with books about apple pies, coats for little children, animals named Ping.

So I'm venturing purposefully into FIAR (Five in A Row).

I have reserved The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills at the library & will stop to pick up today!

The book talks about a little girl who has no coat and her mother makes her one out of the quilt remnants she has. Based on more in the story, it seems like a good book to promote a child's community & roots, as well as empathy for others.

Meds for Life - Gratitude - a Lifelong Antidote

You know when you get near to the end of an anti-biotic, and you may be inclined just to stop taking it? You feel better right? Will one more pill really make a difference?

I have been feeling the benefits of the gratitude antidote. I have been ignoring the corrupted software on my hardrive & have updated my approach to word-processing. (7 Habits of highly effective family's likens our conscience to a hardrive, ch1 - for more see SimpleMom Bookclub). Some of that software is hard to remove. It won't be removed with a simple program. It will take large doses, and a lifetime of gratitude to clean up the hardrive.

So I need to keep up with my meds-more on the 4 gifts we all have in another post.

48 Coffee

49 pre-cut valentines with sweet scriptures

50 homeschool co-op valentine parties

51 my washing machine

52 my small quiet neighborhood wal-mart

53 church potluck

54 opportunities for friend's-prayers answered

55 friends you know you'll have forever

56 books you've kept that have come in handy

57 time to read the books you've kept

58 success in menu planning

59 a walk on the levy on a sunny day

60 hope eternal

61 that He carried the cross

62 confidence in His resurrection

63 His love that sustains me

It is Monday at the Gratitude Community over at A Holy Experience. Visit there for beautiful spiritual images, & a host of others who are counting One Thousand Gifts.

7 Habits of Highly Effective Families

I am truly enjoying this book, as well as the book discussion over at Simple Mom.net. It's not too late to jump in to the Book Club!

I have found the book to be very helpful already. It's just a tool to help you peel back some layers of the onion. If you find yourself in the same family dilemma's over and over and wish you had a few new tools in your family tool box, this may be the book for you.

The icon in the right sidebar will take you to the right site- just follow the links- there's some really nice folks contributing some really helpful comments.

A few highlights-

First habit -#1 Be Proactive! as opposed to reactive. Within the pages of this almost 40 page chapter, are some wonderful tools to help see ourselves as we're really participating in our own families. There is also a discussion of what really makes each family member thrive. There are also some very thought provoking points about unconditional love, and how it releases others to take accountability for their own actions.

Truthfully, I think its going to be a little more revolutionary than 'just a few more tools'... I think I see a change of perspective on the horizong for this gal.

Pinewood Derby 2010 - Scouting

I don't know who was more proud of the car this day...

Jack & Eric have been working on their pinewood derby car since Christmas.

The race was sponsored by our Boy Scout Pack.

This is 1 of 4 of the dens represented at this meeting.

This is just the Tiger Cubs.

Jack is on the front row, wearing blue jeans & cap.

There were some really nice rides, that all had to meet
specific details for the race.
Best paint job was only 1 of the categories for competition.
But weight specifics were important, couldn't weigh more than 5 oz.



Jack's was a sweet ride. He won all of his heats. An 2nd place over all in his den.

He has one more competition with 'this car' that won 'this trophy'.

A memory we'll cherish.

Food, Marriage, & Athiesm

Did I get your attention?

I have 2 books on my shelf by Douglas Wilson, author of Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning, and most recently I obtained a copy of Repairing the Ruins. I've 'bout memorized the first, still have yet to move on to the latter. However, the interest is revived. Like the time I met John Rosemond, I'd probably fall mute if I met Wilson. You see, 'Lost Tools' is one of those books that changed my life. My perspective on education, the purpose of it & my responsibility in regards to it were profoundly impacted.

The reason I bring him up: I saw on Veritas at Home a reference to this movie. Most Recently he's appearing in a motion picture ' Collision', which chronicles, I believe, discussion and debate between Wilson & Kitchens, an atheist. I want to devote time to this, because it looks good. Really good.

But then there's also this book In Defense of Food, & this movie Food Inc. That also look good, informative, relevant. And are mentioned by Douglas Wilson on his blog in a bigger picture perspective. He's not a foodie, nor does he discount efforts of folks to care about what they eat and where it comes from. But his perspective & opinion are an interesting angle, since my friend at River Rock Cottage, continues to make me think about food with all of her recent posts(thanks Amy!) The results from her poll have been tallied on where we get our produce.

But then I realize, my attitude has, well been lacking grace. Not lacking so much in thanks, but mercy & grace to those around me. Anger seems to set in. And get ugly. First things first, came to mind....

So I jumped over to Femina, written by Nancy Wilson, Douglas Wilson's wife.

She seems to tap in with a live camera to my home sometimes, and then provides the bit of encouragment & conviction I need. From the perspective of a seasoned woman, older teaching the younger. The title of this blog post is 'Why men don't lead'. Perhaps your grace & mercy are up to speed, and it will only be an affirmation to you in how you effectively appreciate and love your husband. But either way, visit. Her insights are wide in many subjects. You won't be disappointed.

I hear smart people talk about the 'Great Conversation.' I think I've begun to meet folks like that, for instance, Edie at Life in Grace,who is an exceptionally interesting blogger who'll be speaking?/attending formally soon in a WWC(WorldWideConversation). But like living languages, the 'Great Conversation' takes on its own life. Another rabbit trail for another day.

That is just a smattering of what I read early this morning... we had alot of sleepless critters in our house last night. Real life. Not the brainier stuff. The simple stuff.

That's where my efforts need to focus, but sometimes the bigger perspective helps. Keeps my soul up and going. Focused on the Maker of all. The Source of love that will keep me from belittling others with whom I do not agree, in brainier matters, and keep me from forsaking the simple and often more challenging things in life. For even if I could prophecy, it wouldn't matter if I didn't have love.

That's why I'm reading the Daily Devotion. To seek Him who can complete what I can't, meet all the needs that human relationships can't, find wisdom that is true, complete & infinite, and be convicted when I neglect the Word.

So I wander back to the whole point of the Gratitude Community, realizing I haven't started my day right. Haven't been thankful, haven't been a part of HHC (His Holy Conversation). There's always a WWC, and there's alot worth listening to, good stuff, but not more important than prayer, especially thanks. It sets the tone, provides the antidote to my head's spinning over all the other things I can't sort out, make right, participate in, or even understand. His truth is truth. Better to start there.

Simple things I'm thankful for, after an exceptionally early rising...

Thank you Lord,

for the rain, that washes my mind.

for little kids who enjoy snuggling.

Toast and jelly. Kashi, grapes.

Coffee.

Carpools.

'Busytown' videos, for mornings that come waaay too early.

Husband who leads.

It's a start- Bible reading will have to wait, the urgent & important are awake. It would have been first, but this morning officially started in the middle of the night.

Monday mornings, I usually meet friends at the Gratitude Community. Join others who are counting One Thousand Gifts.

** Warning:** Sleep Depravity will cause blog linkage overload!! Read with caution..zzzzz