Hearts for Home ~ Thanksgiving Week 2011

In today’s busy and aggressive society mothers at home are not given much encouragement to be committed to their role in being home. Here I encourage myself and others to commit to thinking about what 4-6 things we can do each week to bring our thoughts, prayers and actions to keeping our 'Hearts for Home'. ~

Happy Feast of Christ the King.  May He always reign as King of our hearts!

~

Tomorrow we are going to start our day a little differently.  The older girls and I are going to have a "Monday Morning Meeting" where we look at the upcoming week, talk about interests,  make notes and have a basic plan for the week. 
As I shared last week, I'm reading

A Little Way of Homeschooling, Thirteen Families Discover Catholic Unschooling.  I can relate to so many things I have read in this book.

Such as: "Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire." W.B. Yates

I don't think I'm a radical Unschooler but, I am definitely drawn to pursuing my children's interests and fostering a love of learning.  I think I'm more like the families toward the end of the book who are a combination of one or more methods.

I've got books ordered from the library and am waiting on Homeschooling With Gentleness to come in the mail.  I look forward to see where God is taking us with all of this.

~

My honey will have knee surgery on Tuesday.  Please offer a little prayer for his speedy recovery.

~
We are looking forward to having Granny and Papa, my honey's parents, to stay with us for Thanksgiving.  The girls and I will bake apple and pumpkin pies to go along with our turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni and cheese (for Buck), corn casserole, green beans and crescent rolls. 

~

We will also meet with some homeschooling friends for Little Flowers this week.  This is great for Buck since he has some good "boy" play time then too.  Our Little Flowers group is small and sweet and the big girls enjoying helping out.  We also have group time where everyone comes together for recitations.  This can be anything from poetry to Latin to Classically Catholic Memory work.

~

I hope you all have a very blessed Thanksgiving week! 

Don't forget to pick up your Advent candles this week  :)


Visit Cherished Hearts at Home for more weekly inspiration for keeping our
'Hearts For Home'

Hearts for Home ~ Mid November 2011

In today’s busy and aggressive society mothers at home are not given much encouragement to be committed to their role in being home.  Here I encourage myself and others to commit to thinking about what 4-6 things we can do each week to bring our thoughts, prayers and actions to keeping our 'Hearts for Home'. ~

My friend, Mary, gave me this beautiful plaque as a housewarming gift. 

She is a special friend who knows me well.  I've struggled for years with planning and staying on a

schedule.  I always come to the conclusion that Our Lord is in control of our day and His plans are much better than mine. This week I'm going to try to remember to ask for His guidance each day in my morning offering.

~

I also want to get back to my "special time" with each one of my children each week.

Before the move, The House Cat had Monday, SB hadTuesday, Buck had Wed., and HB had Thurs.  The two big girls would read their fiction to me, which always left me much impressed.

~

My honey celebrates a birthday this week.  The kids and I will make a special dessert and meal for him and do our best to make him feel as special as he is to us.

~

It's payday which means it's time to make a meal list.  Everyone is so much happier when they know what's for supper.  I'm having a great day when I set out the meat to thaw by lunch time.  I'm also working to update our Sams Master Shopping List and the Walmart one too.  This makes shopping so much easier. 

~

I hope to read more of A Little Way of Homeschooling this week.  Thanks Kathy for letting me know the library had this!  I've only read a couple of chapters but, I LOVE IT!!!

~

One last thing I hope to do is to get back to the books I've started reading aloud to Buck and Honeybee.

The Children of Fatima, Paddle to the Sea, The Kirsten Story collection (HB).  After such a fun and busy weekend it's easy to let the week slip by just catching up on "keeping house."

~

Could you please say a prayer for my honey?  He hurt his knee during Buck's birthday football game.  He went to the dr yesterday, came home on crutches, and has a MRI scheduled this afternoon.  We are hoping it's not too serious.  Thanks so much :)

~

Visit Cherished Hearts at Home and join us as we strive to keep our "Hearts for Home."

Hearts For Home ~ Last Week of October 2011

In today’s busy and aggressive society mothers at home are not given much encouragement to be committed to their role in being home.
Visit Cherished Hearts at Home for more inspiration.





I've been wanting to make this post for a couple of weeks now.  It's a little late but, I didn't want to miss out on sharing our fall fun.

We celebrated The House Cats Baptism Anniversary.  Here she is holding her baptism candle and lapbook.  I just love our little tradition!

I just LOVE the view from my laundry room ~

and seeing this in the back yard.

My mama took Buck, Honeybee and I to the pumpkin patch.  It was their first time to go and they enjoyed it, especially the hayride ride to the patch. 

It was a quick trip since HB's been coughing for weeks now. I finally took her to the doc and she's taking an antibiotic for a sinus infection :(

This pumpkin became one of our Saint O-Lanterns.

Roasting Marshmallows for Smores ~ Yummy :)

Dad and Buck worked hard one day chopping wood for the fireplace.  I've never had a wood burning fireplace before and am happy to have one now.

Dad said Buck worked HARD and loaded this whole load in the back of his truck for him!

While the guys were doing the lumberjack thing, us gals had a tea party.

Snuggle Bug made a delicious carrot cake (bread).  The recipe was given to her by a dear friend who is a Dominican Nun.  I hope to post the recipe soon.

I just Love this time of year.  God has blessed us with so much beauty to behold. 

We saw six turkeys just down the road from our home

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Thank you Lord for ALL of Your Blessings!

Hearts For Home ~ April 6, 2011

In today’s busy and aggressive society mothers at home are not given much encouragement to be committed to their role in being home.

In my weekly 'Hearts for Home' post I am encouraging myself and others to commit to thinking about what 4-6 things we can do each week to bring our thoughts, prayers and actions to keeping our 'Hearts for Home'.

Begin reading Courageous Generosity by Stacy Mitch.  I'm really looking forward to starting this!

Continue to be mindful of my computer time.  It's soooo easy to let time slip away even when your perusing "good stuff."  Try to only get onto the computer every other day. (If you know me well, you'll know this would be a HUGE accomplishment!)

Spend more time reading aloud to the kids. 

Fight the temptation to listen to secular music.  It really does pull one in the wrong direction.  Besides, there's soooo much wonderful Christian music out today!

Spend more time outside with the kids.  We planted flowers last Saturday.  It was truly therapeutic.  We gave everyone a spot and let them pick out their own flowers.

Honeybee's Garden ~

Buck's Garden ~

Snuggle Bug and The House Cat's Garden ~

Columbine

pretty pansies

Grace Ward

Mom's Garden ~

~new comfy swing~

~Rosy Cheeks~

Dad's Garden ~ (for now)

New mailbox

(I'm sure the mail carrier is thankful for this since the other door fell off every time you opened it :)

Vivacious Vincas

(My mom swears by these.) 

Visit Gae at Cherished Hearts at Home for more Hearts for Home inspiration!