such things

"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, 

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—

think about such things. 

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, 

or seen in me—put it into practice. 

And the God of peace will be with you." 

Philippians 4:8-10 NIV

there's a lot of junk out there. negativity, judgement, bad news, fear-based conclusions, discouragement, and just downright ugliness. there's a lot of comparison, temptation, disbelief, and world-focused, me-focused, sinful behavior. it's out there. and i want to avoid it.

i try very hard to surround myself with such things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. i want to see things, hear things, and do things that bring me closer to the God of peace. i want to put into practice what i have seen in Jesus. 

but too many times at the end of the day my mind is full of the junk i've seen or heard, causing my thoughts to wander to dark places where the enemy lurks, causing far too many sleepless nights.

for the next 30 days, i will be taking a self-imposed challenge to focus on "such things," seeking the peace God intends for my life. less of me, more of Him. less junk, more lovely. 

i think it starts with giving. in the next 30 days, i am going to pack up 30 bags of things i can give from around the house: literally giving. i'll also be giving encouragement, time, and love, at a higher level than my normal. remember the 30 Days of Giving challenge? i'm revisiting. 

i will also be re-starting a study of The Book of Acts, this time with an accountability partner. and i will be off of Facebook for at least 30 days. deep in God's Word and separated from the "world."

i'll still be here, though, because you are all so lovely. 

my prayer is that in 30 days (or less) i will develop a habit of giving more and thinking on only "such things," and the God of peace will be with me.

-------------------------------------

this week's menu: veganish

eating vegan has been easy and good for me. i plan to continue this veganish lifestyle! veganish, because i am not 100% vegan 100% of the time. you see, i'm not trying to make my life or anyone else's difficult by being a vegan. i refuse to burden anyone with my dietary restrictions. for instance, at the Mamas Write Mini-Conference last weekend, the catered lunch was ham or turkey sandwiches and chocolate cake for dessert. sure i could have packed my lunch, ordered a specialty lunch, or eaten just the potato chips. but i needed the fuel (and the chocolate cake looked divine) and i didn't want to cause a fuss. so i ate a little turkey sandwich. no cheese. and i had some chocolate cake. and i didn't feel guilty about it. and then i had quinoa and lentils for dinner, so there. veganish.

here is this week's menu with links to recipes:
monday: baked potatoes w beans and greens
tuesday: black bean & white bean quesadillas
wednesday: falafel subs (falafel balls in hoagies with marinara)
thursday: "chicken" roll ups using gardein meat-free crispy chicken
friday: Mediterranean pizza (frozen Archer Farms all-natural)

also on the menu this week: Flax GloBalls!

what are you eating or cooking this week?

--------------------------------------------

contemplating the blessings

"a life contemplating the blessings of Christ 

becomes a life acting the love of Christ."

-Ann Voskamp

632. BigGirl's first pair of shoes in the "big girl" size

633. little ones in the back seat requesting the Selah CD again

634. contentment in my physical place; here, now

635. a heart that breaks for broken hearts

636. a tidy "junk drawer"

637. a day of learning, growing, and praying with bloggy friends face to face

638. the soft whir and glow of the aquarium, home of our new class pets

639. a surprise thunderstorm and shower

640. homemade sweetener for my homemade iced coffee

641. my husband's sense of humor

642. Bubba and BigGirl being sweet to one another

643. confidence in our decision to homeschool

644. my Pastor and church taking a stand and praying for Israel

645. empty cardboard boxes and their endless potential

646. a pediatrician that will see both of my children at the same time

647. city recycling service

648. United States Bill of Rights coupled with the Lord's Ten Commandments

649. coming home after a long day to dinner made and bathed children, a happy home

650. tattered jeans with a babydoll dress and ballet flats

651. a little promotion, a chance to do more of the work that i love

652. sweet little friends holding hands, dancing and twirling in the church hallway

...contemplating the blessings in every day. join the gift counting community: 

---------------------------------------- 

first things's first: i'm not pregnant {giveaway}

{{{  this giveaway is now closed: congratulations Rachel M.!  }}}

...but if i was, this is the first book i'd buy after seeing the pink stick:

i had some great books when i was pregnant with BigGirl and Bubba. i read every piece of "what to expect" i could get my putty hands on. i have a very vivid memory of standing in line at The Tattered Cover in Highlands Ranch, Colorado to buy my first ever, crispy clean copy of the What To Expect book.

me, November 2004, 30 weeks pregnant with BigGirl

when i was pregnant with Bubba, i prayed my way through Supernatural Childbirth and flipped through the dogeared pages of my now outdated copy of What To Expect. two books: one faith based and one medically based. both good. both necessary.

and that, my friends, is why The Pregnancy Companion would be my first pick of what to read if i was pregnant again. (which i'm not.) one book.

me, April 2008, 30 weeks pregnant with Bubba

The Pregnancy Companion brings medicine and faith together at a time when women need God the most. this book combines quality medical information with scripture and encouraging guidance for expecting women. chapters are organized week by week and begin first with a scripture. baby and mom changes are explained, along with what to expect this month, and a symptom checker. and then, my favorite part is "Truth for the Journey," a scripture, a devotional, a list of potential prayer concerns, a prayer relevant to this stage in the pregnancy, and blank space for the mom-to-be to journal.

ohhhh i love this book. i want it for all of my pregnant friends. (because i myself am definitely not pregnant.)

The Pregnancy Companion is on sale at Amazon.com (Prime eligible). you can read all about the purpose of this book and the authors, Jessica Wolstenholm and Dr. Heather Rupe, on the website http://www.thepregnancycompanion.com.

win it!
i am not pregnant, but maybe you are? your best friend? your sister? your cousin? win a copy of this faith-filled guide for your journey to motherhood for the preggo in your life! simply leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of The Pregnancy Companion by Jessica Wolstenholm and Dr. Heather Rupe. be sure to leave your e-mail address with your comment. open to US residents only. a winner will be selected and announced Monday 8/29.

---------------------
full disclosure: this is a sponsored post for the Mamas Write conference. i was provided with a book to review and a book to give away. my opinions, as always, are my own and honest. i blog with integrity. 

Around Here Lately {mock day & a free printable}

Crazy faces..."'cause we're never gonna survive unless we get a little crazy" -Seal

This week... flew by! It was Catch Up and Get Ready week. You have those weeks, right? I was doing every thing that needed to be done in preparation of our first official week of school next week, and we had a "mock" school day! I wanted a day to go through the motions of our school work with Big Girl since we are using the workbox system for the first time, and working alongside Bubba for the first time. Our day looked a little something like this:

7:30am breakfast
8am devotional & prayer, welcome wall 
BigGirl- Box 1 (2 subjects) Bubba- Box 1 (1 book)
9:30am mini break (played outside and ran errands)
11:30am BigGirl- Box 2 (2 subjects) Bubba- Box 2 (1 project)
12:30 lunch and break
2pm BigGirl- Box 3 (2 subjects) Bubba- quiet time
finished!

And that was it! I'm glad we had that practice round because I realized BigGirl needs to start the day with a light subject, she needs a box of Kleenex on her desk and the trash can closer to her, and I need to be a little bit more creative with the things I put in Bubba's boxes. Overall it went well and I feel like we are READY for next week!

Helpful homeschooling advice to share... don't forget why you're doing this. You were called for such a time as this. You know what you're doing. Pray often and lean on the Lord for extra strength and peace. He gave you your children and He has equipped you for this journey. Enjoy it, make the most of it!

Our Pastor's wife, Mrs. April Osteen Simons, prayed a prayer over the teachers in the congregation last week. Getting God's promises in my heart made me feel so empowered! I made it pretty and hung it in our classroom so I can see it, pray it, and plant it in my heart every day.

I made one for you, too.

Click to download and print: School Year Prayer.

(updated 8/2015 no sign-in required)

Happy School Year, everyone!

Linked with love to The Homeschool Chick's Homeschool Mother's Journal, and the NOT Back to School Blog Hop.

----------------------

works for me: {pin}spired

lately i've been taking on little projects inspired by Pinterest. this is just a handful; i've actually done a lot more. what can i say? it's so much fun! i'm Pin-spired!   

pinned it: felt fractions

did it

pinned it: chalkboard "paint"

did it

pinned it: sponge blocks

did it

pinned it: shaving cream painting

did it

if you aren't on Pinterest yet, why not? come see all the beautiful, cool, fun, and genius ideas that get pinned. need an invitation? leave a comment and i'll invite you.

Pin-spiration projects work for me!

-----------------------------------------------

 

refuge

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; 

let them ever sing for joy. 

Spread your protection over them, 

that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; 

you surround them with your favor as with a shield."

Psalm 5:11-12 NIV

-----------------------------------------

 

  

reminder: party tonight!

Join the Moms of Master Books Twitter Party TONIGHT 

to win a copy of The Family Illustrated Bible and more:

TONIGHT Tuesday, August 23 at 8pm central

follow @masterbooks4u and @mamahall

use the #TeachtheTruth hashtag

and Tweet #tttrollcall to let us know you’ve joined the party

The Moms of Master Books will review The Family Illustrated Bible 

and discuss the book at the party. Read the reviews and you will be super-prepared to win. 

Party Prizes include: 

The Family Illustrated Bible

My Take Along Bible

How Do We Know the Bible is True

The Answers Book for Kids Vol 3: Questions on God and the Bible

Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers

see you later alligator!

this week's menu + vegan chocolate shake

i am surprised at how well we have adjusted to vegan-ism. Costco has a lot of organic and all-natural foods, and vegan and vegetarian selections. we found dried spinach snacks, frozen organic falafel balls, ready-to-eat organic tabouleh, organic Rice Milk, and bulk organic quinoa. (spell-check hates that last sentence by the way.) i've found coconut milk, tofu, organic vegan cheeses, and vegan chocolate at Kroger, and the freshest organic produce at our Super Target. so, planning my menu, grocery shopping, and eating vegan has been easier than i thought. my kids are doing well as little vegetarians, still consuming dairy (organic only). and, after 18 days of going vegan, hubby is now slowly working dairy and meat back into his diet.  

monday: vegan corndogs
tuesday: vegetable edamame pasta
wednesday: lentil soup with quinoa  
thursday: leftovers
friday: falafel spinach salad

this vegan chocolate cake batter smoothie rocked my world.

Chocolate Cake Batter Smoothie

1.5 c rice milk
1/3 cups oats
1 frozen banana
1 tsp cinnamon-sugar
1 tsp vanilla syrup
1 tbsp carob powder
1 tbsp almond butter
1 tbsp chocolate chips
2 ice cubes

in a small bowl, mix the oats and milk. refrigerate and let soak for at least 1 hour to soften the oats.

after soaking, add to blender along with the rest of the ingredients (except chocolate chips) blend until smooth. add chocolate chips and blend until chunky. pour, stick a straw in it & enjoy! (from OhSheGlows)

-----------------------

continually counting

616. red sugar-syrup-stained smiles, snocones on a hot summer morning
617. the normal-ness of toddler boy undies in the laundry
618. superb customer service at a big box store
619. sibling storytime at bedtime, those sweet, quiet moments
620. Pinteresting with my hubby
621. my little guy holding the door open for me and sister
622. BigGirl's unbridled excitement in the library, her candystore
623. childhood memories shared with my little ones via a vintage cassette tape
624. garbanzo beans
625. my hot glue gun
626. random text messages from my sister
627. a friendly and wise stranger when i'm lonely, an angel in disguise
628. kid-friendly coffee shops
629. a few more days of summer
630. self-grace
631. children, mothers, and fathers- families- in the altar, giving their hearts to Jesus

gift counting is a habit i've cultivated. i'm not counting gifts that i want, rather gifts i have that God has blessed me with. 

---------------------------------------- 

a picture of his personality

this little guy just turned three. i wanted to have his picture made, but it wasn't that simple. i wanted a picture of his three-year-old personality. this little guy is sweet as pie, has a great sense of humor, is rough-and-tumble, and is happiest when he's making people smile. i wanted all of this caught on camera. oh, and i wanted him to have his favorite toys in the pictures, too.

i had a tall order for the photographer, Laurie, of Laurie Melissa Photography. between prop requests, location changes, and scheduling snafus, i definitely gave Laurie a run for her money. and that was even before i introduced her to Bubba!

but look:

she did it.

and they both had a good time in the process. Laurie *somehow* managed to get Bubba to do exactly what she wanted him to - "sit here," "hold this," "look here," "show me your teeth,"- while she stealthily snapped pictures. she used her natural nurturing and motherly tone to lure him into position without forcing him to pose.

i was in hog heaven watching Laurie and Bubba interact: her silliness and his gigging, his eye-lash batting to her adoration. there was no doubt in my mind that she was doing more than taking pictures of my Bubba- she was capturing his personality.

Laurie Melissa Photography, in the DFW area, specializes in un-posed moments that show connection, love, and bonding. her sessions are custom to suit the client's needs on location, at the client's home, or in a studio. i was provided with a discount in exchange for sharing her work with my readers. i honestly recommend her services and am delighted with her work. visit her website for her contact and booking information: http://lauriemelissaphotography.wordpress.com, LIKE her on Facebook to see more of her fabulous photos: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laurie-Melissa-Photography

---------------------

Around Here Lately 8.19.11

This week...we had a break in the temperatures - down to 99 with a breeze! and the kids finally got to enjoy some playtime in the backyard. We don't officially start school for another few weeks, so in the mean time we are crossing stuff off of our Summer Bucket List! We went to the circus, made a fork windchime, had snocones, played with water balloons and shaving cream, and even painted our faces! Making the most of it!

I was very productive inside: prepping the classroom, planning curriculum and organizing closets. Did you see the Weekly Homeschool Planner? I also did a lot of planning for the Mamas Write Mini Conference, Moms of Master Books Twitter Party, and the Relevant Conference. There is a lot going on behind the scenes! On the homefront, we are still going strong on our vegan diet. I found vegan chocolate bars so I am good to go! :)

The theme of this week's "Not" Back to School Blog Hop is Student Photos. I am beaming proud of my two students:  

I'm thanking God for...the freedom to school my children at home, the loving support of my husband, and encouraging friends to help me along the way. I'm thanking Jesus for His healing power, for everyday miracles, and for the "be still and know" moments in my every day.

And that is what has been going on around here lately! I'm linking up with The Homeschool Chick's Summer Version of The Homeschool Mother's Journal, and the NOT Back to School Blog Hop. Have a great weekend, yall!