1. Do you play games of luck/chance for money? No Have you ever played bingo for money? No Visited a casino? No Placed a bet on a horse? No Bought a lottery ticket? No

2. Will you be preparing and/or dining on the traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage meal this St. Patrick's Day? No Mashed-baked-hash browned-french fried...your favorite way to have potatoes? french fried, for sure

3. What's the last thing you felt 'green with envy' over? I try really hard to be content with what the Lord gives me, so I try not to be envious. Due to the answer to number 4, which I answered first and came back to this one after I finished all the others, I guess it would be a house. I did like a home we visited before Christmas with my mother, but it is not my kind of house. To new and too formal. My dream home is either a log home or an old colonial with 4 bedrooms, a place for a craft room for my dd's and I, a library/study room, and a wrap around porch with part of it screened in and a sun room on the back next to the patio with the grill and the fire pit. Something like this... http://pinterest.com/pin/248401735669694498/ would be nice.

4. What's at the end of your rainbow? My Dream House

5. March 12th marks the anniversary of the death of Anne Frank (June 12, 1929-March, 1945).  Anne's diary detailing her time spent hiding from the Nazi's during the war ranks as one of the best selling books of all time.  Besides your blog, do you keep any sort of diary or journal? Yes Was this a habit you developed as a child or is journaling something new for you? Newer than childhood but not really recent.

6. What's an item in your home or closet that contains every color of the rainbow? The only thing I can think of is my completed scrapbook... I know that has every color in the rainbow in it.

7. Write a limerick with you as the subject. You can do it!! Just remember this is a family friendly blog...don't make me get out my wooden spoon.

I enjoy reading a book
On paper or on my Nook
       Crafts I also like
       And to take a hike
Or to Doodle in my sketchbook

8. Insert your own random thought here. Writing limericks is hard!


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all content on my blog is ©

I posted about my wood project on my Goals Planning Monday post but I am not sure anyone saw it. I decided to add it to a post for two new memes I found and wanted to participate in.







This is what the curio box looked like before I started working. I bought it at the dollar store.

I got the idea from Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/pin/248401735669581241/ but I made it with paper and doodads so that I can hang it on my wall all year... not just at Christmas.




I painted it brown but thinned the paint so it looks like wood stain. This is the box with the brown 'stain' and the paper inserted and decoupaged.








Here is the final box.

The center box needed something, the girls said a little bottle. We decided to try one of the cups and saucers from a tiny little tea set I have. It worked perfectly and looks just right. I have it stuck on with glue dots.

If you can't read the sticker, upper right, it says, "a family stitched together with love seldom unravels."

I still have to mount the box on the wall behind my desk, but I am sooooo excited about how it turned out.



I am participating in another new link-up. For this one you just link up the post you liked the most from you week of blogging and the others in the group pin your blog post on Pinterest. Each participant agrees to pin at least 3 of the posts that get linked up and the owner of the blog... because she doesn't want to show favoritism.. pins them all. It is supposed to get us more exposure. The link-up started because of a group on Facebook that I belong to for Christian blog writers. We would love to have more participants. Link up a favorite post of yours from this week and then find 3 links to pin.


My favorite Pins from this week ... not associated with the meme above, just random pins from blogs I follow... were:
Porcelain Knobs
and
Card Table Makeover - Our card table is terrible and I would love to make it over!!

A face in a pickle.
Where would I post about this that would fit any better than Friday Fragments!!!



What fun!

Well that's all the random things I have to post about this week. I hope to do this meme at least once in a while if not every week... it is such fun.

Time for bed. A new day tomorrow with a long list of to-do's to accomplish.


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It's been a long time since I did Wednesday Hodgepodge... I'm back to doing some of my favorite meme's and this is one I have wanted to do for a few weeks... I finally got around to participating.

1.  When were you last facing an ocean? Using just ONE word, describe how you felt as you faced that ocean. October 2010 on a trip to Salisbury, MD where my hubby was born and we met, we visited Ocean City MD. My one word - Nostalgic.

2. What are three sounds you hate to hear? Arguing in my house, arguing/fighting on the street outside (happens often), gun shots (also frequent but not as often as the fighting/arguing)

3. This question comes to you courtesy of some real life friends. Hi real life friends! When you shop for yourself, do you try everything on in the store before buying or do you buy, try on at home, and then return what you don't like or what doesn't fit? Try on in the store... always. I shop so seldom for clothes, I always try on and if it doesn't fit or doesn't look good on me I don't buy it. Also, our car runs so badly that hubby drives me everywhere... he would never stand for running back to a store to take stuff back.

4. February 26th is National Pistachio Day...are you a fan of the little green nut? Do you use them in cooking and baking or prefer to eat them right out of the shell? Not a fan of the little green nut at all... I do like other nuts though.

5. When did you last have to compromise with someone?  Were you happy to reach the compromise or slightly irritated it was necessary? Daily, in a family of 6 living in this home, where 5 of us are now adults, DAILY!! Sometimes I am happy to compromise, sometimes irritated. Last time I had to compromise I was irritated. I HATE arguing... see #2... and so I often give in without there even needing to be compromise... just to keep peace!

6.  Have you ever written a letter to an elected official? Did you get a response? No, and since I never have written to one...I never got a response.

7. We 'March' into a new month at the end of this week...what's something on your March calendar guaranteed to make you smile? Celebrating my two daughters' birthdays.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. I can't wait for warm enough weather to open the windows... sooooo looking forward to Spring.



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What did your mama do that makes her your mama? Let’s unpack those memories today. Let’s trace our fingers along the lines of the unexpected. The ordinary beauty in a day of motherhood. The food or the laughing or the dancing or the story telling.

Where is your memory buried?

In just five minutes. Tell me all about what your mama did that made her yours….
My mama taught me to love to play games. My mother loves to play games and will do anything to win... and so will I... as you can see from the photos below. Mom cannot play all the games she used to play. She is 90 now but a love for playing board games has been passed down to me and I passed it on to my children. It is something we enjoy, something to do together that takes little money and is a family activity that can be enjoyed over and over again.

Action games are becoming to difficult for her but she was a trooper and was determined to do her best. We let her hold on to her cane and the chair... you havc to make allowances some times. I remeber one time she wore a diaper made out of a towel for most of a game... just so she could get the points for doing the task.

My mom loves all kinds of games. Her least favorite are the games with questions and her most favorite are the card games and other games where chance or strategy are most needed. She also loves dice games. Her eyes are what keeps her from enjoying some games like she used to. When she visits us you can count on us playing more games than we usually do.

I do have a goal now to play one game a month with one of my children. It is something I can do to spend time with just one of my children, though I usullay invite them all to play.

My mother has passed down a lot of things to me. A love for the Lord my Savior and faithfulness to him. Love for family and faithfulness to marriage. Love of games and the fun that can be had playing them.

I love my Mom.

I have to admit that I took a little more than 5 minutes. I only wrote for 5 minutes though ... then I found the smiley and the photos.... that took just a little while.


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all content on my blog is ©

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!

Sorry. I will not be turning off the comment verification. When I do I get scam... I hate it!

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:::

Wonder…

GO

I wonder what next year will be like. The last year has been very hard. When my husband got unemployed almost 3 years ago I did not expect that 31 months later he would still be unemployed. I wonder what God has in store for us in 2013. I don't really want to know. I just wonder. Knowing may frighten me more than not knowing does now.

I wonder what the future will hold, not just 2013 but longer than that. I wonder when the Lord will come back and take his bride home with him. I wonder how much longer the world can last. Things are crazy... and all seems ready for his return. I must just go on and trust him for today. I cannot think to far ahead right now. There is just enough light for the path in front of me. A light unto my path. A lamp, like they used in Bible times does not shed light very far.

We have been reading by candlelight on Sunday nights. A new tradition. The light is not very bright and certain candles are better for reading with than others. The light of the Word of God is enough to guide my steps today. It does give me a peek into the future. I do know how the story ends... but the middle part, between now and then... that I don't know. But I do know The One who knows my future and it is Him I must trust. I must trust my Lord and Savior, to guide me and to guide my husband as he leads our family.

Time is up!


Want to know how Five Minute Friday got started and how to participate? All the details are here.
Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.


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1. In your opinion what's the most important job in the world? Oh, and parenting is a given so besides parenting, what's the most important job in the world? Homeschooling - not only do I parent my children but I have the opportunity to guide and lead them in their education. To point them toward Christ every day, to lead them toward a Christian worldview in every area of life, to be the biggest influence in their life instead of a stranger or their peers, to have them grow in a loving home in relationship with their siblings.

2. Share a favorite or not so favorite memory from a childhood birthday. Had a sleepover party at friends home and they started playing this card game where if you lost you got your knuckles hit with the side of the deck of cards. I refused to play. One girl lost so often her knuckles started bleeding, that should have been a sign for me to go home but I stuck it out. I was then the first to fall asleep and I snore so they thought that was funny. They put peanut butter on my hand and tickled my nose while I slept. I wiped my face in my sleep and got peanut butter all over my face. I woke up immediately and they were laughing at me. I called my mom and went home. Those are not the kind of friends I wanted. I don't think I was ever friends with those girls again.

3. Peanut butter-crunchy or smooth? Ha!! you would ask this after the last story I just told.... LOL! Smooth!! for sure!


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1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:::
Join…

I set the timer... Go!

I am so glad to have had the privilege to join many clubs, ladies groups and internet groups over the years. They have provided me many friends.When I join a group I feel like I belong. I am a people person.

In High School I was part of a group that studied geology together and helped with younger grades' classes and fields trips. I was close to the guys in that group (I was the only girl) and they treated me like a sister. I needed that as my dad died when I was in 9th grade, the teacher was also like a dad to me.

I have been part of many ladies Bible studies over the years.

I have been part of a homeschool support group for 20 years.

A few years ago I was part of the TOS Homeschool Crew, I am still online friends with a lot of those ladies and one gent, and some are close online friends who I know care for and pray for me.

I am especially glad for a new groups of ladies who have all been or are still the spouse of an unemployed husband. We have become fast friends and I can tell them anything, especially how I am feeling and dealing with things emotionally and spiritually. I know they are there for me and the group is private so I can be open, real, and honest. It is wonderful. I thank God for bringing them into my life.

Stop.
It is never enough time, but I have to stop because those are the rules.
If you would like to participate click the button at the top.


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I have been wanting to participate in 5 Minute Friday since I discovered the meme and the blog of Lisa-Jo Baker @ tales from a Gypsy Mama, and I have no idea how long ago that was. I keep saying to myself, you should join in, but I don't. Today, I decided, I'm gonna do it! If you have never seen this meme or Lisa-Jo's blog you should click the button on the left. If you are interested in joining this meme, you should click the button on the left.

Ok, this is what the rules are. Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back by clicking her button above and invite others to join in. 
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

OK, are you ready? Please give me your best five minutes on:::

Stretch…

This is interesting since I wrote about something similar to this on Wednesday in the Wed. Hodgepodge. What in my life stretches me, what do I do to stretch myself?

First of all I read to my son in our homeschool. That keeps my brain learning and growing.

Second I learn new things like

• how to use my camera settings
• how to use the My Memories software
• how to paint.
• play the piano better
• play my autoharp

I have been wanting to learn some painting and have some Donna Dewberry On Touch painting supplies. I am not very artistic, but this I think I could do if I practiced. I also love music and have wanted to get back to playing the piano and practicing on my autoharp. I can play songs for myself, but I don't put the time in to do better.

I want to stretch myself and keep learning, even as I get older, to keep my brain and body working well with what God has given me.

Wow!! 5 minutes is really short!



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1. I included this quote (attributed to William H. Danforth) in my blog post yesterday... "The best cure for a sluggish mind is to disturb it's routine." When was the last time you 'disturbed your routine' and how'd you do it? The last time my routine was disturbed was by the Olympics the past 2 weeks. We stayed up late and arose late as well. My son did most of his work on his own, and I struggled to keep up with the Olympics and my other duties. Now we are working on getting back to normal, which is easier for some than others. My teenage sons have a very hard time changing schedule, they struggle with making themselves get up earlier in order to be tired at night. I have already adjusted well. They are still sleeping in and staying up later than we want.


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My goal for reading this year was to read 52 books or more in 2012. That is one book a week. I am proud that I am doing so well. I am currently reading 10 books. One left over from school from last year, some for personal reading, some for devotions and now that we are homeschooling again I have books I am reading to Christopher. Some will be finished in a few days, some will be finished in a few weeks, some will not be finished until the end of the year. I really wanted to finish reading With Wolfe in Canada by G.A. Henty. I also want to just read more in August because I didn't even meet my goal of one book a week in July, though I am ahead of schedule overall, so that saved me from being behind now. That should not be a problem as school has started back up and so I am reading aloud to Christopher for History, Science, and Historical Fiction.
You can explore so much of our past and present and gain so much knowledge and encouragement! Also, reading is and can be Fun!

Read A Book Today!

Each month for the Reading Challenge we are supposed to do an update and link up. This month I read....

Rare Earth
Bunn, Davis
368 pages

Date started reading - Jul 03, 2012
Date finished - Jul 19, 2012

This book was given to me so that I could review it on my blog. I enjoyed it immensely and as soon as I finished it I gave it to my daughter for her to read. You can read my full review here if you wish... Rare Earth - a review


The Price of Fame (Tales from Grace Chapel Inn, #14)
Aarsen, Carolyne
304 pages

Date started reading - Jul 20, 2012
Date finished - Jul 30, 2012

I just love these books. In this "episode" a movie company wants to make a movie in Acorn Hill. Should the town allow this. Is is a good thing or a bad thing for the town in the long run. Is Randall here for another reason? The Howard sisters strive to reach out to this young man. Did God bring him to their inn for a larger purpose, something personal in Randall's life that needs attention? What will fame bring the people and the town? Extra business? A chance to be in a movie? Or are there secrets no one is telling them that make this a bad idea? What will be "The Price of Fame" for Acorn Hill? Read the book and find out. 

Taking Liberty: The Story of Oney Judge, George Washington's Runaway Slave
Rinaldi, Ann


This book is excellent. I read it aloud to my son Christopher for school. It gives you a good overview of George Washington and Mt. Vernon as well as the trials of slavery and the problem Washington had with wanting to free them yet having to please both the North and the South to keep the newly founded country together. It also gives you a view of what it was like to be a slave, even to a generous and kind family like the Washington's. This is definitely historical fiction as the characters are true living people and the events of the book really took place. The specific daily events are typical of things that would have happened and things that were taken from the diaries of General Washington. The dialogue and some of the characters were made up.

This book would be good for everyone with children grade 4th and up for read aloud, especially for homeschoolers. If reading on their own then probably a grade or 2 above that.

This series was recommended to my by the Holman family when they purchased the first book in the series for me as a gift when they visited us last summer.

That is 3 books for July. That is sad. Good thing I am already ahead of schedule. That makes 37/52 books for the year. I am 7 books ahead of schedule!

Here are the previous updates if you are interested:
Reading Challenge ~ January Update
Reading Challenge ~ February Update
Reading Challenge ~ March Update
Reading Challenge ~ April Update
Reading Challenge ~ May Update
Reading Challenge ~ How I did in June


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