Great Hymn Resource

If you haven't hear about it before now...
Center for Church Music - Songs and Hymns is a 5 minute radio broadcast that has a "hymn of the week," devotional and hymn story. This is a great resource to go along with your weekly/monthly/daily hymn.

Feeling Good

I have been feeling so good lately. I woke up one morning at the end of October and decided that it was time to do something about my health. 32 is looming ahead of me in July. I just am tired of feeling blah. Since I can't blame my physical health on anythbody but me, I am grabbing health by the horns and not letting go!

Yoga has been the new discovery for my family. I always hesitated to try it because of the spiritual roots from which it sprung. One day last week though, I decide that day would be the day to give it a whirl. I turned it on (Thank-you instant netflix!) and fell in love! The first time I was only able to do a portion of the workout. The next time, was the same, except I made it a little further. The next time I tried a different video by the same people and to my great surprise made it through the whole session!

It feels so good to stretch long and lean and feel my muscles burning to hold a pose. I guess it reminds me of my tumbling/cheerleading days. I used to love the stretch that went along with that, too!

What I really enjoyed about these particular videos is that while they use yoga terminology, and do focus on "healing yourself" they also focus on how to correctly do the poses, how to modify, and what they are helpful in strengthening. When they say something like, "Feel a light searching out all the achy places, healing it."
I just say to myself, "Thank you Lord, that you are my healer, and the Light."

I may be hooked?! and the bonus? My girls like it too!

been cheatin'

...On my own blog.
I have another blog that is completely private (I THINK?! I HOPE!!) that I can use as more of a journal. I had been thinking I was having writers block here, but then I clicked over the other one and the keys clicked beneath my fingers quite easily. I guess it's not really a case of writers block, but more of a case of what I feel like I want to share. Not that anybody reads, but the idea that they could read is why I think I hold back.

Maybe I'll get a little bolder and share what I've been writing about, but ....I doubt it.

I have been trying to think of something to blog about, really , but...the well seems dry for now.

I guess I'll be back, ...sometime. In the meantime, check out the archives.

Spring forward, Fall behind

Changing leaves often serve as a visual reminder for me that cool temperatures are coming, days are growing shorter, and soon the dark and sometimes seemingly never-to-end days of winter are ahead. Often, the very idea of fall makes me feel a funk already starting to form about winter. This year, however, as well as last year, have been different for me. It never occurred to me before to pray and ask for help in the area of my loath of fall and winter.

Hallelujah, people, God answers prayer!

Last fall and winter were so much easier: No winter blues, No deep funk, and we have been weathering this fall as brightly as the changing leaves. Emotions are good. Relationships are good. God is good.

Now, why do people have to go and mess with that?!

:D

Okay, really, it's not quite so bad as it could be.
Really.
I can't say that we're having any of the usual fall/winter related issues rather it seems that we've replaced one set of problems with another equally tricky one--We can't seem to roll our rear-ends outta the bed at a time I (or many others for that matter) would still consider morning. Okay, technically the clock hasn't got that "pm" button highlighted but really, it might as well be.

It seems my children have taken the "FALL BEHIND" message completely to heart. Later sleep times, later rising times, and the worst thing of all, later brain functioning times. I realize most people need some time in the morning to get there brain to motivate and function at the full alert level, but 'round here we're talking noon to afternoon until The Girls are ready for anything other than staring off into space.

Someone should really notify those Time People that they are totally messing up my schedule, because this is in no way, shape or form related to my parenting skills.

Happy Monday!

The joys of youtube.

I <3 youtube.

Really and truly.

I don't know how many times a day I click over to find something. I know that my youtube usage has certainly increased over the last year. For example I used it twice (already, and I'm sure I'll find something else to look at.)

Today's video picks for your random enjoyment.

I have been on a Korean food kick again. Maangchi's recipes are very easy to follow and we usually have all the ingredients in the fridge or cupboard anyway. (the benefits of having an immigrant Daddy)

This next one is completely opposite.

I was looking for a french story for Kindergartener today on Discovery Streaming (which we use from time to time thanks to a co-op subscription) but they didn't have what I wanted. Youtube, unfortunalty, didn't either, but she was happy to watch this.


BTW< tonight's dinner happens to be more Korean food. Yum. (and no, Daddy isn't even close to being Korean. We just love this food!)

Sunday Singin'

I haven't done one of these for a while. I thought today would be a good day to start back up.

This song is so peaceful. Based on Psalm 46:10.

In it but not of it

...The world I mean. Today was one of those reminders for my 11yo and I.

Wednesdays we have girl scouts and while this is usually something fun and looked forward to, this time of year it can be a real pain. Want a sure fire way to feel left out of the loop? Mention that you won't be participating in Halloween activities around a group of girl scouts. Yeah. It's a real quick way to get yourself the job of tallying up reward points while everyone else is making party plans.

What's with the idolization of the occult in our culture? ( As Joan Rivers would say, "Can we talk?")

As if seeing decorations and candy and prepackaged foods weren't enough, but the parties, and invitations to trick or treat and ALL THE CONDESCENDING LOOKS we get when we say we don't do Halloween is enough to drive one right to the edge of snapping!

And ya know what else? The fact that animals have taken on a higher level of consciencious thought than that of the poor, downtrodden, and unborn really chaps me! (a girlscout related thought but nothing to do with Halloween....)I think it's a very sad day when collecting stuffed animals for some puppies to chew on takes precedence over lending a hand to distribute food for the hungry!

Isn't it funny how a girlscout meeting can remind one of just what it feels like to be one of God's "peculiar people?" I am aware most of the time that we are different when we are out and about in the world, but tonight... yeah, tonight just kinda made it blink in flashing neon lights-

In the world, but not of it!

2009-2010

It's official. The 090-10 school year has begun. I have to admit, I was NOT ready to start. Not even one little bit. My children on the other hand were. Dutifully, on the day after labor day we started into our school year routine. This year however, I officially have 2 schooling. Previous years, 6yo was just informally schooling. I was pretty sure she was ready to start for "real" this year though.

The first week was rather hard. Not for the kids-ME. By day 3 or so I was starting to get into the swing and even...enjoying myself???

All has gone rather well until today when we hit a rather small bump in the road to school. Neither child had their heart in their studies today. Nope. They went through the motions, but really they would rather have been vegging in front of the old boob-tube.
I didn't let them.
I'm so mean.

After lunch their attitudes picked up, but we got such a late start that "lunch" came around 3:30 when we should have been wrapping it up for the day.

As of now they are happily playing in the foggy damp early evening hours racing down the hill on a homemade contraption of some sort. They are loud, noisy, and outdoors and blissfully happy. I am sure we will be back in action tomorrow.

Happy school days, y'all.

Miss me?

I have enjoyed this summer so much! June and July indeed were quite cool, but by August summer temps finally arrived and we have greatly enjoyed them! Not only are we swimming every chance we get, but we've participated in 3 VBS, several GS camps, and library activities. It's been heavenly. Despite all that fun, both girls are looking forward to school starting. I don't know who their mother is, but it certainly isn't me because I have never felt LESS ready for school!

I am still in vacation mode. I don't want to even think about teaching! What's a mom to do when her kids are played out but she's begging for more? I don't know, but I'll fill you in when I've figured it out. In the meantime, I've squeezing every last drop out of summer vacation!

Roller Coastering

One day co-op is on. One day it is off only to find that the next day it is on again.

I'm just tired thinking about all that emotional thinkin' yall.

Really, I just love a good routine. On or off, I know we'll be okay. What I don't like is not knowing.

As of today, it's on, with just only 1 other of the original families. This may work, or it may not. Whatever happens I know God is in control.

Things feel stirred up, mixed around I.E. Ripe for change.

I keep thinking that God must have a greater plan in all of this. In the past every time I have been in a place where things seem uncertain and wide open, something always fills the gap. For the past 4 years that gap filler happened to be co-op. I met a wonderful bunch of like minded women that helped to support me, love me, and carry me through an otherwise difficult period in my life. If God can so specifically answer a prayer like that then surely He will do it again!

-Seeking Him,
The Momma