Psalm 46:10

Be Silent, and know that I am God!

My Mind buzzing; school prep, household changes, prayers for friends, troubled time for family, heart-aches, loneliness, uncertainties, same old household upkeep. Sometimes, it's just so loud in my mind. It's so hard to quiet myself and stop thinking.

But that's just what I'm called to do. To be silent, to be still. To remember who the maker of the universe is, to remember who charts the course for the moon and keeps the earth on it's perfect rotation each day.

The One who designed the very birds who feed in my yard and painted the flowers.
The One who hasn't forgotten how many hairs are on my head, how much my heart hurts, how much I adore my four boys and how grateful I am for everything good I have.
The One who did forget all those things I'd like to.
The One who sees me as I one day will be, complete.
The One who has promised that He's not finished with me yet~ and He keeps His promises.

For the word of the Lord holds true, and everything he does is worthy of our trust.
Psalm 33:4

The One who reminds me:

I will guide you along the best pathway for you life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.
Psalm 32: 8&9

So the cry of my heart tonight, from a sweet songwriter Mary Barrett;

Quiet my heart Lord,
make me still before you.
Calm my restless heart Lord,
make me more like you.

Raise up my hands that are hanging down.
Strengthen my feeble kness.
May Your love and joy abound,
and fill me with your peace.

Mas y Mas!!

IF you didn't get enough of our beach photos, you MUST head over to my friend Cathy's witty little blog and see her set.

What a very fun family to camp with, I think we had 100 little kiddos begging to go to the park or to the beach and I think that might just be all we did 'sept for staying up super late for the P clan and telling stupid stories and answering silly questions and some deep ones too. It's good to have friends to talk with, to hang with, to jump in the sand with and to pray with.

We are blessed to have a fine friendship with these folk, I hope you have such rich relationships too.

Just looking at these pics makes me wanna head back to the beach! Ahh...but I'll be glad for the mountains in the fall...

Beach Mamas, Cutie Babes

My Sweet Familia

First Day at the Beach

What we do at Camp

Beach Days

My Favorite Beach Boys, all five

Outdoor showers, and the backs of heads

Four Years Ago...

This was me. Yup, big, and big. The boys and I went with friends to the Air and Space Museum in D.C.

This is an upclose shot of the boys back then, and their sweet-as-cream Pennsylvania friend. Time flies, my friends. Time flies fast. Now we are awaiting Elijah's 4th birthday.

I remember....

This is what I think of whilst I stir over the stove for my Eli;

I remember waiting in anticipation at the kitchen table. I sat staring at the hot, steamy glob of play doh on the table in front of me. I wanted to put my hands right in it and squish it up a million ways.

Too hot, still.

Mom had cooked it on the stove as I waited and waited.

When it was cool enough mom poked a hole in the top with her finger and dropped a few drops of food coloring inside the well.

Now, squish. Try not to break that pocket with color inside because it will stain your hands. But stained hands go unnoticed to me. I watch how the color takes over the white play doh,

squishing it a million times.

COOKED PLAYDOH
1 c. flour 1/2 c. salt 2 tsp. cream of tartar 1 c. water 2 tbsp. oil - solid 1 tsp. food coloring (any color) Combine all ingredients, except water and oil, in a saucepan. Gradually stir in 1 cup water mixed with oil, add food coloring. Cook over medium to high heat, stirring constantly until a ball forms. Remove from heat, place dough on table and knead until smooth.

Sometimes I add a dash of essential oil or cinnamon.
For best results, add playdoh cutter, scissors, children and mess.

10 things I won't be caught without....

To follow up on my list of things I MUST have for homeschooling:

1. Books.
2. Bookshelves.
3. Pencils, and colored pencils.
4. Pencil sharpener (I'm missing our broken sharpener dearly).
5. Home schooling Community and friends.
6. Spontaneity and Flexibility.
7. Table Toys for little hands whilst older hands are at work.
8. Support from my husband and parents (and an occasional Mom's Night Out)
9. A schedule written in pencil, meant to be improvised.
10. The library.

Karin says:

I don't have 10, but I do have a few:
1) Tabs- those tabs that are sticky on one side, to mark where to start for various books
2) Post-it notes- Basically same as above, but room for a note or two.
3) Highlighter- for the Mom portion of homeschooling, so I can mark up my guide books so I don't waste any time on certain special or important projects.
4) Matchbox cars. At the preschool level, they are math manipulatives, sorting items, characters in our story, or even distractions for the baby when we're trying to finish a project.
5) Crayons. For coloring of course. But also because a tedious assignment is so much more fun when you get to pick what color to use!

Oh- that's all for me. But I do look forward to the list from others... I need some more ideas!

Jenny says:

Here's MY list:
Prayer
pencils
colored pencils
paper
Bible or Bible verses
tape
scissors
patience
joy
pencil sharpener
crayons


So, friends...any more lists to share???

Top 10 Tools

This blog goes out to all of you homeschool mamas.

If you had to name the top 10 tools you need for homeschooling, what would they be? I'm thinking of supplies or somewhat abstract tools.

So post me a comment, leave your blog address with your post of your top 10 faves. I'd love to see what you love- and I wonder how many we have in common. You'll see my post in a few days. ;)

So they say...

Nate, On Frosted Mini-Wheats;

"I like the Shredded more than the Wheat."

Me too, Nate, me too.

What we're up to....

Freezing bananas (peeled) for smoothies and banana bread. Thanks for the idea, dear Amy!

August Harvest

Oops! Mama Brain.

Monster Smoothies: Yogurt, fresh peaches, bananas, milk and spinach for color.

Our greatest producer of the year, a volunteer summer squash. I think I'll have to learn how to freeze it.

An experimental project I found at Chasing Cheerios....DIY MoonSand. It was not a great reason to buy a 60 pound bag of sand (I used 5 cups). The boys played with it for a bit but I'll toss it today...

My sunny-side of the garden in full bloom

Organizing my markers and pens....it's working so well- the boys are putting them AWAY.