Versatile Blogger Award ~

I've just received my 1st blogging award!

Thanks so much to The Academy of the Good Shepherd for passing this award onto me!

Now I'm supposed to list 7 things about myself ~

1. I LOVE the Good Shepherd!  I've been drawn to Him since I was a little girl. My grandmother would read the 23rd Psalm to me when I'd visit her.  Later in life I was blessed to receive instruction for The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

2.  I never dreamed of homeschooling my kids.  It was a calling from God when our oldest had just begun kindergarten.

3.  I am an only child waiting to meet 3 siblings in heaven.

4.  I LOVE MUSIC!  As long as the message is pleasing to God. 

5.  We enjoy watching Jane Austen movies and quote lines from them.

6.  My favorite band is Switchfoot and we just got to see them in concert.  My honey and I had more fun than the kids ;)

7.  My sweet husband and I will celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary this month two days before our 21st dating anniversary.

Next I'm to give this award to 15 bloggers (some new/some favs) ~

1.  Hold on to your Catholic Kids

2.  Take up and Read

3.  Leaping from the Box

4.  Living Without School

5.  Karen Edmisten

6.  Here in the Bonny Glen - Tidal Homeschooling

7.  Strewing

8.  Unschooling Catholics

9.  Wildfowers and Marbles 
10.  In the Heart of My Home
11.  Cherished Hearts at Home
12.  Shower of Roses
13.  Waltzing Matilda
14.  Paper Dali
15.  That Resource Site

Now it's time to contact these bloggers and let them know how much I enjoy their blogs!

Thanks again to The Academy of the Good Shepherd for the award :)

To Everything There Is A Season ~

A time to blog and a time to take a break. I've been thinking a lot about taking a break from blogging. I seem to get overwhelmed pretty easily these days... Life throws so many twists and turns at you. I know Our Lord is in control of it all. However, I also know when I need to pull back and re-group. That's what this is a re-grouping.

So, with that being said...I'm going to to change my settings to private soon. I wanted to give you a heads up in case there's a link you might want to save.

I pray you will all be blessed abundantly.

Love, Lori

My new favorite site...

I guess I'm on summer break with blogging. 

A friend introduced me to this and that's all she wrote....

  I'll be back...sometime or another.  

For now I'm off to coupon land :)

Many Blessings to You and yours!

7 Quick First Blogging Anniversary Takes

Had I not been Blessed with so much rest lately, I'm sure this day would have slipped by without notice. I've been labeling all of my old posts and was surprised to notice yesterday that I began blogging a year ago today! It's been nice to have the time to travel back through our last year together. I think back to a year ago and remember saying yes to another of God's callings. He has called me to do so many things I'd never dreamed of doing. I always feel inadequate but, know through Him I can answer His call. As always, I've been tremendously blessed in doing so.

So, I thought I'd share 7 ways my life has been wonderfully blessed this first year of blogging.

1. First of all, I must thank my dear friend Mary for telling me about Catholic Cuisine. This was my introduction into the world of blogging. Catholic Cuisine is a wonderful site to visit for recipes to use in celebrating the liturgical year.
2. I wondered who it was that came up with this site and was blessed to click over to Jessica at Shower of Roses. Boy did she open up a new world to me! She is full of inspiration and to think she's way across the country.
3. I also discovered another beautiful blog thanks to Catholic Cuisine. Wildflowers and Marbles is also a treasured site and she's actually here in Alabama! So many of Jennifer's post have been extremely helpful. Her morning basket, A Mother's Rule of Love seeking Harmony, and Pretty Notebook posts are few of my favorites.
4. I've read Real Learning by Elizabeth Foss several times and been blessed by it. Her blog In the Heart of My Home is another of my favorites. Serendipity, home of the Alphabet Path and much more, is also incredible!
5. I'm always on the look out for better ways to be organized. Dawn, By Sun and Candlelight, had a wonderful post on her file crate system and weekly folders. These are helping me to stay on track.
6. Participating in The Simple Woman's Day book helps me to appreciate all of the beautiful people and things around me that are so easily taken for granted. I'm so blessed by reading other day books. They are full of inspiration and comfort.
7. Last but not least, I'm so blessed to hear that so many people read and find my blog helpful. I give all of the glory to God. This is His doing and I pray that you may be blessed by it. Let me say, we are by far NOT a perfect family. We have our trials and imperfections like everyone else. I just choose not to share them here. I feel as though God wants me to share the "blessings" here. Please pray for us. God Bless You

Visit Conversion Diary for more quick takes.

My New Look

Hi everyone. I've been looking around at different blog templates/backgrounds for a while. Today I finally came across The Cutest Blog on the Block. They really do have a lot of FREE cute ways to spruce up or change your blog. It was relatively easy to change over to. I've enjoyed working on it. I'm still not 100% done but, I hope you like what I've come up with so far. Let me know what you think!

My New Look

TA DA........

I finally figured it out!!! :) YEAH!!

I've been researching 3 column blogs for a while and have finally got it to work. Could you hear my shouts for joy?

Once again I must thank Jessica for her help. I felt as if this site was the one to use since we have something in common :)

Hopefully now I'll be able to expand and add some things I've been wanting to. Please bear with me and let me know what you think!

God Bless you all, Lori

Congratualtions to the Foss Family

Congratulations to Elizabeth Foss and her family on the birth of Sarah Anne. Many blessings are wished upon you all. Thanks so much for the inspiration you shed upon us all!

I am currently immersed in Serendipity,finding myself wanting to redo all of my curriculum!? :( or :)? I'm not sure what to do. I bought ALOT of Seton this year and have started Along the Alphabet Path, with Buck and Honeybee. I'm finding myself wanting to include the House Cat and Snuggle Bug in more and more activities. ARGGGGGGG! I love our Seton books but, I also love the Catholic Charlotte Mason approach. I know for now I'll probably continue to TRY to do both. However, I'm beginning to wonder about next "school" year's approach. I'm a planner so I need to see things laid out in front of me to a certain extent. At the same time I want to allow The Holy Spirit to guide our path. So it seems for today I'm confused about the future. Another good opportunity to "practice" trusting in God!

Thanks Mary for listening today!

Hey everybody! Well here I go again trying something new - as if I've got the extra time ;)

Anyway, I've been following some incredible homeschooling blogs lately and have realized it's a great way to keep a record of all that you're doing. It is also a great way to share with others all the blessings in your life and hopefully bless them in return!

So here I go. Come along on our journey in living for God and see how we stay Busy With our Blessings!

God Bless You All,
Lori