Board Games--Scrabble

Board games are great. Besides providing fun, family time, they also are great learning activities. Of course, what's really cool, is that it's undercover learning!
Mija really enjoys Scrabble. She has gets better each time we play and asks less frequently for help.

Besides the obvious spelling practice, Scrabble can increase vocabulary and math.  Currently, since mija is still learning to develop the words, we haven't been keeping score, but there will be a lot of great math we'll do when we start! There's the obvious addition, but then there is doubling and tripling.  And if it's double or triple letter, you actually have to do a little algebra by doing some multiplying before adding.

I'll add a personal note. Playing Scrabble with mija on this board is very special to me. You see, this is the same Scrabble set I played on when I first started playing Scrabble. I would play with my grandma. Wouldn't it be cool if someday mija uses the same board to play with her children!

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March Calendar Celebrations

Here are some things to celebrate or study in March.

  1--National Peanut Butter Lover's Day

  2--Dr. Suess was born, 1904

  3--National Anthem Day

  6--National Frozen Food Day

  7--World Math Day

10--Middle Name Pride Day

14--Pi Day 3.14, you know!

17--St. Patrick's Day

19--National Poultry Day

20--First Day of Spring

21--Johann Sebastian Bach born, 1685

22--International Goof Off Day

23--National Chip and Dip Day

26--Robert Frost born, 1874

      also National Waffle Day

28--Something on a Stick Day

30--Vincent Van Gogh born, 1853

31--Bunsen Burner Day

Extreme Mom Makeover with Lorrie Flem

For over a year now, I've done reviews for Lorrie Flem of Eternal Encouragement.   I've also started writing articles this year for Eternal Encouragement Magazine and EE Etc. Web Magazine. It's been a big blessing to be sure, and this weekend, I had an additional blessing. I was able to meet Lorrie and sit under her teaching live by attending an Extreme Mom Makeover.  

It's an interesting fact in our computerized world that you don't actually have to meet someone to work with them or for them! So first off, it was great to actually meet Lorrie!

Even though she was fighting a sinus infection, she took the time to visit with me and to truly minister to all the ladies at the meeting. Her topic was The Power of a Positive Attitude.  

There was soooo much. I think one quote Lorrie shared kind of sums up what she was trying to teach us, and that is "Good attitude isn't from the environment but from the invironment. The whole day was spent trying to work on the what is in us that could affect our attitudes either negatively or positively. It all rises and falls on our spiritual growth which is directly related to the time we spend in God's Word and prayer. I'm going to be re-writing my notes and chewing over the contents.

Now, this Extreme Mom Makeover was four hours away in Omaha, NE, so I knew I wanted someone to attend with me for safety but mostly for fun. There was a special discount on the registration for any mother or daughter that came along, so I brought my mom along.

The blessings didn't end with little trip, however, but also with the return home. Mija had planned a "party" for us which included kool-aid and some little snacks. It was sweet to walk into read this banner:

She also gave us both presents from her stockpile of toys. What touched me most upon my return, however, was mija's note which read, "Dear mom, We love you very much. Were going to Mecdoldnla for snak.  We love you! Kiss Kiss"  (spelling errors intact).  

What a day?  Blessings from beginning to end!

Friday Funny

In case you want something more sobering on the subject:

Proverbs 30:17  

The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.

Pinterest Shares--Things I've actually done

I don't know about you, but it's so much easier to pin things on Pinterest than to actually do the things you pin!  Today, I thought I'd share a few of the things that I've actually done or at least attempted to do.  Several I've posted here on my blog.

Source: art4littlehands.com via Betsy on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Betsy on Pinterest

Source: tippytoesandtantrums.typepad.com via Betsy on Pinterest

Source: lessonplans.craftgossip.com via Betsy on Pinterest

Source: acooksquest.blogspot.com via Betsy on Pinterest

Source: blog.craftzine.com via Betsy on Pinterest

Okay, so I have 613 pins and only 6 listed here.  It's a start! 

Sunday Coupon Preview

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. February 22nd is National Be Humble Day...what makes you proud? What keeps you humble?

Writing articles for other blogs and magazines makes me both proud and humble.  There's the obvious proud point about God using me that way, but mostly it's humbling.  It's humbling to consider that people may want to read what I write and also a big responsibility if I share from the Scriptures.

2. Where is the catch-all (aka dumping ground) in your house?

My whole house is the catch-all!

3. Do you make it a point to visit State/National Parks when you travel or even in your own hometown? What's your favorite?

We'd like to make it a point but we haven't had a vacation in years.  We do live in the same town as the Harry Truman National Park which is his home.  I helped my daughter earn a Junior Ranger badge for it.  We'd like to go back to the George Washington Carver National Park outside of Joplin, MO.  It was free and was a BIG blessing with quotes from the man all over the park.

4. How would you define honor?

I'm going to be lazy but educational and share some of Webster's 1828 dictionary's definitions:

1. The esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation.
4. Reverence; veneration; or any act by which reverence and submission are expressed,as worship paid to the Supreme Being.
5. Reputation; good name; as, his honor is unsullied.
6. True nobleness of mind; magnanimity; dignified respect for character, springing from probity, principle or moral rectitude; a distinguishing trait in the character of good men.
1. To revere; to respect; to treat with deference and submission, and perform relative duties to.
4. To glorify; to render illustrious.
5. To treat with due civility and respect in the ordinary intercourse of life.

5. Angel's food or Devil's food-which cake do you prefer?

Since I don't like chocolate flavored things, definitely Angel's food cake.

6. What's the most recent road trip you've taken? Where did you go and how many hours did you spend in the car? Do you like to zoom to your destination without stopping or leisurely wind your way there with stops along the way? What is your car snack of choice?

We haven't been anywhere for AGES.  I personally like to take the drive leisurely stopping to go to the bathroom or see something along the way.  In fact, my husband has learned if I have to go to the bathroom or get even a little hungry, he needs to pull over unless he wants me to start throwing up.  I can get car sick fairly easily.

7. Recent headlines told how a preschool child in NC had their packed lunch from home taken away and a school lunch substituted by a school inspector who deemed the homemade lunch unhealthy. Reportedly the parent was then billed for the school lunch (chicken nugget meal) although an update to the story says the parent was not billed. The inspector was conducting a routine inspection of the classroom-he/she was not there solely to peek in the lunchboxes. The packed lunch contained a turkey and cheese sandwich, an apple juice box, a bag of chips, and a banana. You can read the story here. Your thoughts?

Keep the government out of your children's lunch. Homeschool your child like I do, and you don't have to worry about school lunch!  ;-)

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm excited because I'm going to a workshop in Omaha (4 hours away) to hear and meet Lorrie Flem of Eternal Encouragement.  I've been reviewing her products for over a year now and have started writing for magazine.  It will be a blessing to actually meet her.  My mom will be coming with me.

Fisher Price Coupons--toys and baby stuff

 

Quote--Frederick Douglas

It is easier to build strong children, than to repair broken adults.--Frederick Douglas

Dump Cake--an easy recipe to make and to eat!

Last week for Valentine's Day, mija made a dump cake for my hubby.  It's one of his favorite desserts since I first made it for him on our very first date by ourselves.  It's so easy that mija made it by herself apart from putting it in the oven and taking it out.

There are several different versions, but here is how it goes for us.

First, you DUMP a can of crushed pineapple including the juice and a can of cherry pie filling in a 13 x 9 dish.

Second, you mix it up and spread out evenly.

The next ingredient is a yellow cake mix.  You DUMP the dry yellow cake mix on top and spread out evenly.

Next, you use 1-2 sticks of butter.  We used one stick this time, but you can use up to two in order to make it really yummy.  It also give great cutting practice!

You back at 350 degrees for about an hour or until the top is golden brown (if you can wait that long).

We only used one stick of butter and mija didn't get it quite spread out evenly, so there are a few dry places, but trust me, it is just as yummy and edible!

As you can see, it's very easy make and easy to eat!

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Sarcasm. Yeah, right!

My latest article for the Home Educating Family blog is up today!  Enjoy!

Flu season is here and so is a coupon for Children's Advil

Calling all moms!

Flu season may leave your child feeling feverish, so as the season heats up, don't get caught empty-handed and having to make that midnight run to the pharmacy.

Children's Advil^® is there to offer the relief you and your child can depend on! Children's Advil^®provides up to 8-hours of fever relief in just one dose, relieving fever faster and keeping it down longer to help kids get back to feeling like kids again.

Click here for an online coupon link for Children's Advil.

Dye-free Infants' Advil^® is available for children ages 6-23 months and Children's Advil^® is available for ages 2-11 in four great liquid suspension flavors including Grape, Blue Raspberry, Fruit and Dye-Free White Grape, as well as convenient Grape Chewables.

For more information, visit at www.childrensadvil.com.

I got this information from Children´s Advil through MyBlogSpark.

Which balls to juggle--A Gabby Mom Review

This month for my Gabby Mom review, I was asked to review the MP3 entitled Just Say No by Lorrie Flem. Those of us who remember the '80s surely recall Nancy Reagan's program to Just Say No to Drugs, so I was intrigued by what Lorrie was going to tell me to say no to!!


This Eternal Encouragement recording promises to teach us how to pick which balls to juggle in our life.  I think she succeeds in giving us some wonderful guidelines on how and why to say "no" to certain activities.  Some of the things she mentions, I already knew.  I'm sure some of the things she mentions, you already know.  There are times, however, knowing and doing are two different things, and it's always great to have someone you respect tell you that it's the right thing to do!

Of course, you'll need to listen to get all the information yourself, but here are just a few comments from the MP3 to whet your appetite.

• Figure in preparation time.
• Keep in mind "brain space".  
• Leave unscheduled time for your children.
• Short-term vs. long-term commitments.
• Treat time like money.
• Lineup what you do with what your beliefs.
• Schedule time for relationships.

As Lorrie points out, stay-at-home moms are often asked to to do more because there is the assumption that we have more time, so learning to say no in the right way for the right reasons is an important skill. And it's nice to have someone even tell you that   
it's okay to say no.


If you want to find out more, which I suggest you do, you can purchase it for download or an audio CD at the Eternal Encouragement site.

So let's drop some of those balls we've been juggling, ladies, so we can focus on the things we really need to keep going!


I am reviewing Encouraging Moments as an official member of The Gabby Moms blogging program for Eternal Encouragement magazine.  I did not receive compensation for this post and all opinions are solely my own. 

Follow Friday Four Fill-in Fun

This week’s statements:

1. Sometimes I ____

 2. I ___ high school

 3. Deciding what to ___________________________ before I ___________________ is such a pain sometimes

 4. _________________is my favorite_________________

This week’s statements:

1. Sometimes I just want to cry.

 2. I loved high school; I got to attend a Christian high school, and it really help ground me as a new Christian.

 3. Deciding what to wear before I go to church is such a pain sometimes. Actually, it's a pain all the time.  I want to look nice, but don't have many clothes with which to do so.

 4. Pork is my favorite meat.

Friday Funny

These have been flying around Facebook this week.  You may have already seen them, but I thought compiling them all in one place was a good idea!

Sunday Coupon Preview

My Ministry--A Gift of God's Grace

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. (Ephesians 3:7, ESV)

When I read this verse, I thought about Paul's ministry and the challenges he faced.  I'll let him tell it in his own words.

Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. (2 Cor. 11:25-27, ESV)

Definitely sounds challenging.  Yet he believed being a minister to the Gentiles was a gift of God's grace. A minister is a servant or waiter. Most wouldn't consider a calling as a servant a great gift.  In fact, it's not just a gift but a gift of grace.  In other words, this gift is undeserved. He didn't even deserve to be a servant. 

Then I considered me.  I was made a minister to my family.  I serve my family.  I definitely face challenges in this ministry but thankfully none like Paul's!!  This role to minister to my family is a gift of God's grace.  I don't deserve to serve them, but God gifted me with this ministry.

Too often, the world tries to tell us that our roles as wife and mother are a curse or a trap.  Sometimes we believe them.  Instead, I'm going to choose to consider this ministry I have as a gift of God's grace.  Thanks for the gift, Father!

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Wednesday HodgePodge

1. George Washington-Abraham Lincoln-Thomas Jefferson...who would you most like to meet and why?
Wow, I guess I would choose George Washington.  His character speaks across the years.

2. What's your favorite chain restaurant?
Hmm, I usually say anywhere I don't have to cook is my favorite.  When you say restaurant, I leave out fast food, so I say Olive Garden.

3. I spied this question on the Bears at Home blog last week and she gave me permission to steal borrow it-

When you look back on your life, do you imagine you'll think about the goals you failed to meet with regret? Or will you look at what you accomplished and say: it was good?

When I look back on my life, I think I will see a beautiful tapestry woven together of both dark strands and many bright, colorful ones.  Together, however, thanks to God, it will be good.

4. Grapefruit-take 'em or leave 'em? Given the choice between an orange and a grapefruit which would you choose? Would you prefer it served as is or squeezed into juice?

Give me grapefruit scent but take the taste.  LOVE oranges.  In fact, I think I'll grab a Cutie right now! (I had two because this are REALLY small.)

5. When was the last time you cleaned out a closet? Is there a closet in your home that currently needs cleaning? What are you waiting for?

You're supposed to clean your closet?  I thought the closet was where you put everything to hide it after you clean the room!

6. You get to have lunch with three famous people...who would you like to see round your table?

Katherine Von Bora

I heard Martin Luther was a hoot around the dinner table.  If I include is wife, Katherine Von Bora, would they count as two or one since they were married? Besides, she really needed a meal served to her after taking care of all Luther, all their children and all his students!  Okay, so I'm going to count them as one. (It's my imaginary table!)

Then I'll add Helen Keller, but of course, Anne Sullivan would have to come along to translate.

Lastly, I would like Ronald Reagan, but he could leave Nancy at home.  She kind of gives me the hebby jeebies.

7. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your ability to parallel park?

There was a time when I was a good 8.5 because that was the kind of parking we had at our home.  I'm a bit rusty now.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Conversation this week:

My daughter:  Daddy, I'm serious!

My husband: Hi Sirius. I'm Rigel.

Me: Hmm.  Star names.  What's the name of another star.

My daughter: Taylor Swift.