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Homeschooling is Back to Normal

by Lisa on January 11, 2013

First of all…congratulations to Mandi Gehman for winning my ticket giveaway to the Homeschool Moms’ Winter Summit!  I am so, so excited to meet you Mandi!  I hope the rest of you that entered will still go….it is going to be so encouraging and fruitful.

I have had a few email exchanges with the woman that runs the conference and I am telling you…she has lifted my spirits already.  Her kindness and prayerful heart shine through and I can’t wait to get there and see how it spreads.

If you can’t be there, I’d love to know more about how I can pray for you to encourage you in homeschooling.  Leave me a comment so we can all pray for each other.

Speaking of school, we finally got back into a rhythm this week.  The holidays really throw us off.  It’s lovely to be sitting at the table with the kids calling out spelling words or talking about the Roman empire with no Christmas decorations to distract us or parties coming up in a few days.  Just us, the books and plenty of time to discuss and share.  I love school.  My little students melt my heart.

I didn’t notice until I took that picture that I still had the Christmas verse on the chalkboard.  It’s off now.  I’m Johnny-on-the-spot.  Or at least the child that I told to erase the board is.

So NOW all of the Christmas decorations are gone.  Whew!  Wait…I just saw a vinyl Christmas tree on the platter on the piano.  We keep finding random holiday decor.  I should probably check the couch cushions before I declare it completely finished.

Speaking of finished (queen of the transition) James’ car has been in the shop since December 18.  No kidding.  The transmission went out and it is just now, today, ready to be picked up.  I have no idea why it took so long; It’s been frustrating just having one car.  I don’t mind sharing, but when he goes somewhere it’s generally for the whole day and I can’t leave the house.  Since the kids got old enough for me to leave for a few hours, I have gotten into the habit of just jumping in the car and running into town when I need one little thing and this whole car sharing thing has cramped my style.

I am sure many of you will leave comments telling me how thankful I should be to have my own car.  I know it.  I’m spoiled.  I like it that way.  So you know, I’ve been with no car and we’ve been poor and I am incredibly grateful not to be there anymore.  But I still want my car back.

We’ll be hanging around here this weekend.  Some friend are staying with us and we’re just kicking back, filling shop orders and grading school papers.  By the way….we reopened the shop and all of our darling Valentine’s Day products are back and they are already selling fast.

Now that I’ve been all over the map with this post, I want to bring it back around to letting you know I do want to pray for you if you are needing encouragement in your homeschooling, parenting, or anything really!

Have a great weekend!

 

How Crowded is Your Brain?

by Lisa on July 19, 2012

Oh boy it was nice here yesterday.  It was only in the 90′s, which for this time of year is practically arctic.

It was so lovely I forgot to announce the winner of my ebook giveaway, “4 Moms of 35+ Kids.”  Congratulations to Jenny!  You’ll be getting the book in your email very soon.  For the rest of you that didn’t win I hope you’ll consider buying the book.  It’ll be the best $7.99 you ever spent.

Speaking of ebooks, I am finally getting down to the business of writing my book about raising children.  I’ve been knocking out chapters for the past couple of months and I am rounding the corner to being finished with the first draft.  Next it gets sent out to editors who will pick through it and make red lines all over it.  Then I get it back and work on it some more.  It’s a big job for sure.  But it’s been on my heart and mind for so long that I am thrilled to finally be getting it out of my brain.

It gets crowded up there in my brain, what with all of the Pinterest recipes and the cost of random things in there taking up space.  I don’t know why, but I am obsessed with prices.  When I go into a store I look at the price tags for everything.  I don’t want to buy most of it.  I just want to know how much it costs.  I might, after all, need a surf board one day and I will need to know how much money I need and where to buy one.  It goes for anything from crackers to cars.  I like to know prices.

It used to frighten James.  Here’s this flat broke guy who’s been married for just a few months to the girl of his dreams.  All he really wants to do is please her.  They go into a store and everywhere they turn she says, “I want to see how much this costs,” as she runs toward the furniture.  He would freak out and follow after saying, “Baby, we can’t afford that stuff.”  “I know,” rolling her eyes like he said something weird, “I just want to look at it.”

He has never fully understood the sickness.

But he’s used to it now.

I think.

And I’m going to spend another day outside and try NOT getting used to the cooler weather.  It will only lead to my disappointment next week when it’s in the 100′s again.

Good thing I know how much air-conditioners cost….just in case!

How Much Food Can 9 Bloggers Eat?

by Lisa on May 8, 2012

Before I begin to ramble on and on forgetting the point of this post I will announce the winner of the Treat VIP account giveaway!  Ready…..random.org?  Here we go…that winner is Number ONE!  Congratulations to April!  I will be emailing you shortly.

I guess that proves that the early bird gets the worm.  Or in this case, the Treat.

Last Saturday night Treat gave me the blessing of taking 8 other bloggers out to dinner and treating them to a P.F. Chang’s feast!

The pictures are dark, but it wasn’t dark there….we just were so excited to be sharing the evening together that I didn’t pay enough attention to my camera.

L-R: Stacy from Kids*Stuff*World, Kim from Hope Whispers, Amy from Maker Mama, Debi from San Antonio Busy Kids, Amanda from Team Espinoza, Me, Candace from Sacred Mommyhood, Celia from Paper n Pots, Claire from The Half-Hearted Housewife.

It was a great evening!

After we stuffed ourselves and we all agreed that we could not fit one more wafer into our bellies we decided to go out for ice cream.

It is my firm belief that one can always find room for ice cream.

I hope you’ll head over to the Treat site and check it out!  I have already used it several times and am LOVING it!

This post is sponsored by Treat.com.

Two Winners!

by Lisa on August 16, 2011

I am so glad to announce the two winners of the series, “Teenagers 101” by Norm Wakefield.  This series blessed me and I can’t wait to pass it along to you.

 

I used the random number generator and the first picked was: Elizabeth at Blue Clear Sky.

 

The second winner picked is Adena at Food, Fun and Fotos.

 

Congratulations to both winners!  If you didn’t win, I hope you will consider buying the series.  It has wonderful insight into the challenges of raising teens.

 

 

Magazine Winner

by Lisa on March 2, 2011

Hey all!  You guys make me so happy with your wonderful comments.  It brightens my day!

I put all of your names in a bowl, with extras for those of you that let me know you blogged or Facebooked the giveaway.  And the name I drew is….

Sheri O.!!!

Sheri said:

“I love the recharging station, I want one so badly!

And yes, I agree that is one creepy doll!

Thanks for being you!”

Thanks Sheri!  And congratulations.  Love you!

Favorite Things Giveaway Winner!

by Lisa on January 23, 2011

Thanks so much for all of your entries to my giveaway.  I REALLY wish I could be like Oprah and give this stiff to ALL of you.  Not being a billionaire is a real bummer.

I used the Random Number Generator and the winner is Tracy Rickstrew!  She was the very last to comment.  It just goes to show, procrastination pays off.

Congratulations Tracy!

Vintage Feedsack Pillow Winner!

by Lisa on August 27, 2010

We drew the name this morning!

I was so excited to see who would win….I just love this pillow.

Two of my boys were up and ready to help.  Adam folded the papers with the names on them and Levi stirred them in the bowl.

I’ve gotta tell you about the bowl.  I bought it on clearance at Target for about $.50.  It was during the week we were getting our pool and when Levi saw it he said, “Mommy! (gasp!) It’s a pool for my guys!  Yeah!”

His “guys” are his little toy people (mostly pirates) and he was so excited to have a pool for them that I didn’t have the heart to tell him he couldn’t have it.  So now it stays in the nursery full of swimming pirates.

Thankfully he let me borrow it for the drawing.  I had so many entries that they wouldn’t fit in our cereal bowls.

Levi drew the winning name.  I don’t want to be accused of favoritism. That wouldn’t be possible anyway….I couldn’t pick a favorite amongst you if I tried.  You are all so special.

And here’s the winning name, hot out of the swimming pool…..Dru!

Congratulations Dru!  I can’t wait to work with you on your pillow.

Remember you can still order one at my Etsy shop.

Some of my new followers have great blogs too!  Here are a few of them that I haven’t told you about before….

Kids Stuff World is a really bright and cheery blog with lots of great ideas.

No Minimalist Here is dreamy.  She’s got some gorgeous Pottery Barn inspired looks.

The Potter’s Hand is a godly blog.  I’ve never met her in person, but we’ve gotten to be friends and I know you’ll love her!

Metanoia is a blog about a sweet family.  She organizes and gives money saving tips…all around sweet.

An Abundance of Blessings is the simple life of a happy mom.

Kiwi in Texas has a lovely home, but you’ve got to check it our for their Pez collection!

Live, Laugh, Blog is on a weight loss journey.  I am right there with her!

Glory and Grace is one of Grace’s friends.  If you have daughters, you need to let them read her blog.  What a wonderful family!

The Peterson Clan was one of my first blog friends.  She gardens and cans and is generally amazing.

Musings on the Move lives in Brazil and has some terrific photos on her blog.

Long Days, Short Years really embraces her southern-ness.  I love that!

Alabama Slacker Mama loves Christ, her family and paper.  Yes, I said paper.

Cherished Treasures is getting close to being an empty nester.  She has a great style.

Blissfully Content is quickly becoming one of my favorites.  She has a simple, country outlook and beautiful photos.

Annie’s Mom is another blog friend, never met in person yet I have grown to love her.  She has a heartwarming adoption story and an adorable little girl, Annie.

Mary’s Meanderings is another must-see.  It’s bright and encouraging and full of great ideas.

googiemomma has wonderful ideas for things to do with your kids and she’s humble and kind.  She makes you want to do a better job at whatever you’re doing.

We Have a Winner!

by Lisa on June 28, 2010

I watched the clock tick down…3-2-1-midnight!

Quick, write down the names of all of the fabulous people that entered my giveaway.  Now, to make it fair I should have someone else draw.  I mean, I love all of these people and I may not be objective.  But I love them all so…..anyway.  I decided to drag Elijah out of bed to draw  the winner.

A bowl of names….over 40 of them.  You guys are so great!

Wake up buddy….Mommy needs to you do something important.

Stir these pieces of paper around and then draw one out.  As you can see from the picture, he’s thrilled for the winner.

Congratulations Nancy from Live~Love~Laugh!  If you go read Nancy’s blog you’ll see she’s had some struggles lately.  I am so glad for you Nancy….I hope this helps put a spring back in your step.  There were several Nancy’s that entered the giveaway.  So I wrote their latest blog post on their paper.  She not actually feeling tipsy, she had vertigo.

(Note to self, clip Elijah’s fingernails ASAP)

And if you’re worried about my poor boy getting up at midnight, don’t.  I didn’t really wake him up at 12:AM.  He slept soundly until 7AM when he woke me up to ask me a question….it was something important I am sure.  The sleepy look on his face in the picture is his permanent expression.

Congratulations Nancy!  For the rest of you the basket is available at my Etsy shop.

Giveaway Winner!

by Lisa on March 30, 2010

I’ve spent the day at the flea market in Round Top and BOY do I have a LOT to tell you!

But for now, since I am still visiting my parents, I will have to settle for giving you the giveaway winner.

I will get the pictures downloaded and tell you all about the flea market tomorrow!

The winner of Flea Market Style is….

Celeste of Cottage Dreamers!

Celeste and her husband are building a cabin in the woods.  I have really enjoyed keeping up with their advenures.  I hope you’ll hop over to her blog and see her stove makeover.  It is adorable and they are so thrifty!  I am amazed.

Congratulations Celeste.  I’ll send it off as soon as I hear from you!

Giveaway Winner!

by Lisa on January 14, 2010

My Etsy Giveaway is closed and we have a winner!

Thanks to all of you that entered….I really appreciate your comments.

And the winner is…..STACY!

Congratulations Stacy!

Just send me an email letting me know which one of the four new items you want along with your mailing address and I’ll send it right to you!

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