I have returned!

Well I am back .... I have had a busy 8 months.. some great learning, stretching times.... I was able to purchase a laptop for my birthday that I have wanted for a long time. I always thought that with a laptop I would be able to better blog and keep it up because I wouldn't have to be fighting for time on the computer. Well this summer has not proved that possible. The kids are back in school as of Monday the 16th. This will be a fun year with our oldest being a senior. We have some college fairs and trips to explore, she has already had her pictures taken so that is out of the way. Things are different this year as she has opted to only play one sport after playing 3 sports since junior high. She loves softball and that is all she wants to play this year. She is working and trying to save up money and concentrating on her grades. The days ahead will be filled with many memories. Our next daughter is a sophmore this year. Kalinda has gotten taller this summer and loves to hug me and comment on my shortness! She finished her drivers ed course so I have a chauffeur until next June when she can get her license. Now if she could only get a job. She is getting discouraged because she has filled out a ton of applications but many have said until she is 16 they can't hire her. So we wait for December when she will turn 16. Kameron is an eighth grader and wants to play sports so badly. But until his schedule frees up some that is going to have to be a dream for the spring. He keeps busy walking our neighbors dog, Destiny, and mowing his lawn. Lastly, Kaitlyn entered the 4th grade. She has a great teacher and I am praying this is the year the light bulb comes on and things begin to make sense. She took the summer off of playing softball but is looking forward to playing basketball this winter. She uses alot of her free time to shoot baskets and work on her dribbling. "She wants to be good!", she says. She has kept me busy this summer with her two friends. She even got to go to Indianapolis with her friend and see the Barbie exhibit at the Children's Museum and go to the Indianapolis Zoo.

I am looking forward again to subbing this year. I had to stop in April so I could homeschool my son, and I realized how much I missed the variety and the students. But until that picks up I am enjoying getting some projects done around the house and drinking in the quiet that is my house as I wish my kids goodbye for school. I sit down at my kitchen table with my cup of coffee and breathe a big sigh and let it all sink in!!! I am reminded that in the quiet I can hear the still small voice of my Savior speaking His love words to my heart.

Mike has been very busy at his work. Which was a God-send with my not subbing since April, but it has been very draining on him. He has worked 6 days a week, averaging 12 hours a day. He has had only 3 Saturdays off since March. He is hopeful that things will be changing soon and they will get their Saturdays free.

God has been so FAITHFUL over the past 8 months. Our family has been through some rough waters but I do believe we are emerging in better shape than when we began... We have made some great strides. We are looking forward to a great year and enjoying our times spent as a family as that will change sooner than we think with the graduation of Katrina. As stated in my January post I am still desiring to perfect something and say I have accomplished something in 2010. I have only 3 more months to go.. I better get on it!!!

Thanks for stopping by...

Kelly

I am narrowing it down!!!

Feeding on my thoughts from yesterday I have been doing some more soul searching and I think I am narrowing things down. I know I have been tossing around the whole cooking through someone's cookbook but I have too many unanswered questions and with my picky family and limited finances I don't think I would be able to pull this one off. So I have narrowed it down to these choices. Something I would like to learn the art of.... i.e. cake decorating or how to make scrumptious rolls or breads..... or something I would like to improve on...i.e. making cookies and candies... so I am ready for Christmas next year. Have I wet any ones palate yet? I am still stuck on the food aspect. I know how to do many things just not well... so I would like to pick an area and work on that so at the end of 2010 I will be able to say.. "With God's help, I accomplished this!". Well to move from the food arena, I would like to focus also on other self improvement needs.. like learning to play with my kids, working on a quiet time for my daughters and son, reading through some books I have been sitting in my bookcase for too long to name a few.

So my question to all those who are reading this... what are some of your goals that you have for this coming year. Who says that goals can only be decided on Jan 1st??? I would love to hear what you have planned for this year? Maybe we can encourage one another and spur one another on to good works.... Stay tuned for further updates on my quest to accomplishment in 2010!!!

Catching up!

Well its been awhile since I have written here... I want to say its because I have been so busy.. but that isn't quite true as I have plenty of time to frequent my Facebook page and see what all my friends are up to these days. It isn't because nothing has happened in my family newsworthy because I could sure fill these pages.... My life is a sitcom waiting to be aired!!! I keep others entertained by my families escapades!!! I believe the reason for my silence would be.. is anyone really interested in seeing inside of me or my family... ???? I love reading others blogs but can't possibly think others would be interested in what I had to write about. I guess its a perception issue and looking into why I created this blogspot. Something to ponder on....hmmnnn. Wonder what my conclusion will be???

I have entered 2010 with the desire to change how my life has been... I feel like I haven't really grasped the purpose that I have as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend.... I seem to just fly here and fly there... get up, go to bed, and so the days, weeks, months and yes year passes not accomplishing anything. I am struggling with either wanting to be something I am not.. an organized, yet flexible, purpose driven homemaker. If those qualities can ever be wrapped into one individual. Maybe I don't have what it takes.. some people are just organized... schedule driven people... I am on paper.. but I seem to lack what it takes to actually stick to one.. a schedule that is...
I recently watched the movie "Julia/Julie" I think that was the title.. the character in the story has lacked purpose and decides to work her way through Julia Childs cookbook for an entire year. She is also blogging about her adventure... Although I have to admit I got a little snoozy through the middle of the movie.. I seem to keep gravitating to the characters project and wish that I could do something like that.. it seems fun... Just not sure how to begin... Many questions.. such as.. " What if my family doesn't like what I cook?" " What if I don't like what the recipe calls for or it just doesn't sound appealing?" " What cookbook or website should I use?" Many things to think about.. What would you suggust???

Alot of things to ponder on... until next time...

Milestones

I feel really old this week as my oldest is now a licensed driver. It is a scary thought but also a warm fuzzy feeling that she has gotten to this point. I know my thoughts were not of this day when I was holding this little 5 lb. 12 oz. little thing back what seemed a century ago. After a rocky struggle to pass the written we finally had success and then came the driving test which she past brilliantly. I definitely acted differently with her than I thought I would. I thought I would be a cool and collected mom but instead I was a hissing... foot through the floor.... white knuckles on the bar above the passenger side. I told her that I was just preparing her for the driver instructor. Maybe with my next one I will be the cool mom!! I can only hope!!!! My second child who is sitting right next to me.. I am sure would like to have me say something brilliantly about her.. so here goes... she is my fashion consultant.. my makeup artist... without her help I am just a bland flower!!! What did I do all these years without her. MY 3rd child is reaching a milestone tonight as he will be serving us tonight at our schools POPS concert. We have been through this before with the 2 oldest and now it is his turn. Where do the years go??

Daily blessing for the day....

This morning I had the wonderful blessing of spending time with my mother. We went and had breakfast together at the hospital cafeteria. We enjoyed some great time of sharing and reminiscing. It reminded me of the days after I graduated from high school, I had enrolled in our local community college to take some general courses because I wasn't sure what God wanted me to do. During this time my mother was also taking some classes and we would meet for breakfast or lunch. It was truly a memorable time of my life. I am very blessed to have a godly mother who daily prays for me and is a great source of encouragement.

Money saving tip:
If you live near a hospital, a money saving tip is utilizing the cafeteria. Our hospital cafeteria has some really delicious food and inexpensive which is surprising since if you have ever stayed in the hospital a single Advil could set you back a pretty penny. During the evenings and on Sundays they often have carved meats like ham, roast beef and turkey. Our hospital even has conference rooms to use for gatherings and they cater as well. Its worth checking out.

A Great Read...

Our Ladies Bible Study is going through the book "When I lay my Isaac down" by Carol Kent. I was only suppose to be reading the 1st chapter so we could discuss it this week, but I can't put it down. It is a story of unshakable faith in unthinkable circumstances using the well known Bible story of Abraham and Isaac. I think I am daily amazed at Bible... God's precious Word to us and how no matter how much you think you know, new nuggets come to the surface everytime you read it. Sometimes it is easy to just skim over a passage and not stop and look at it from different aspects... to put yourself in the shoes of the Bible character... to understand the underlying truth that God is trying to get us to understand and learn. When you take the story of Abraham and Isaac and the personal faith that went through each step, each action in following God's command to sacrifice his only son. In the days ahead as time allows I would like to share some of the nuggets of truths that I am gleaning from going through this study. Keep checking back for new insights.

Welcome to Blessings Renewed Daily....

February 2, 2009
Clean Slate, New Beginning, Fresh Start, New Year, New School Year, a New Day... All opportunities to begin anew... start over.... make things right. A favorite verse of mine is... " Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22, 23. The beloved hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" is also a favorite of mine and comes to mind quite often. In December of 2007, I became acquainted with the blog "Money Saving Mom" and my desire to start a blogspot began to take root. I wrestled over a name to call my blogspot there were so many great ones that were out there, I thought I would never be able to come up with a catchy name or know what to put on my blog page. I would push away at the desire but it kept resurfacing. I also wrestled with what would I write about... I don't see myself as a person who excels at anything wonderful that anyone would be of interest. I am an eccleptic kind of person, I have many interest and none I do well. But... that aside I still wanted to delve into the blogging world. So here is my first step into blogworld... it won't be as defining as the first step on the moon, or the famous storm on Normandy, but for me it is a big defining moment. I hope to share money saving tidbits and websites, recipes, stories from my zoo-like life and have an avenue to share my thoughts that I am learning in God's classroom that starts fresh every day.