Happy Monday!

Happy Monday, everyone! Right now things sure are quiet in the Watson household. Still there's the promise of it being a busy and rowdy day, as always. From the looks of this classroom here, we will have plenty of chores too! Here's a breakdown on the week to come, Lord willing.

~school: This we are neck deep in! I have so many balls juggling that it's quite exciting. Brittany is intensely(but not intently) studying physical science and algebra. While not working in those two, she's working on papers for world history. That covers her writing as well. And now I am about to have her jump into speech lessons. She can also couple that with her history.

Dalton and Samuel are into their usual math, grammar, penmanship, writing, science, history and geography. We are enjoying learning about God's creation and how scripture has much to teach us in the world of science.

Jesse and Bethany make fabulous learning buddies! They both are plugging away at their phonics and math. I read to them some neat science books and lessons as well. These initial years are so pleasant and simple!

Joy-Anna is a "wanna-be" right now. She's quite ready to get her feet wet in the world of schooling. So we have fun with her in working on her colors, counting, sorting, coloring, shapes, etc. She's such a cutie pie when she asks if she can do her school, or if we will read to her. Who can resist, no matter how busy one is? ;D


Menus/grocery lists: This is ever constant as well. I have been working up a list for when I do the first shopping trip for the month of October. Hopefully that first trip will be this Thursday or Friday. I am most excited to have a challenging budget this month. So, I'll have that adrelin rush, to find some good deals and see how God will fulfill our needs! I will try to share our menus and deals along the way.

Housekeeping: As always, this is quite a challenge with being into teaching full time, on top of wee ones to tend to. But, we somehow stay above water! Each Saturday we have our weekly houseblessing and this keep things under a certain degree of orderliness. I have also came up with our newest chore daily lists.

Mama: quick clean bathrooms, laundry, meal prep, master bedroom, diningroom floor, fish tank, and any other "fires" that get started.

Brittany: big dishes(pots, pans, mixing bowls, etc.),kitchen floor, birdcage

Dalton: load dishwasher, bedroom(all paper, sweep floor), livingroom

Samuel: chickens, trash, take out food scraps, bedroom(clean sheets,make bed)

Jesse: unload DW, playroom, bedroom(shoes)

Bethany: diningroom table and chairs

Joy-Anna: assist where directed


On Saturdays for our "weekly house blessing" we do whatever I have put on a list that needs doing that week. I make a running list of what all needs attention on that Saturday. Then I split up the chores among each of us. Our reward is having a semi-clean house for the rest of the weekend! :D I say, "semi-clean" because we never get done what's on the list but we all work very hard and look forward to the next cleaning session.

It's that time of year again to pull out the fall/winter clothes. So that's to be done within the next few days. eeegggaaaa... one of my least favorite things to do~!

Okay, it's well time to get rolling with today's activities. :D Have a wonderful day in the Lord!

Forever in my Heart

Today it's been four years since I had our sweet little girl. I had her with me for 18 short weeks. But she will forever be in my heart. How could you miss one you never really met? How could you picture a fully developed baby in one whose not? How could one hurt still after four whole years? I had many plans for my Martha Joy but God had bigger and more righteous plans. I thank the Lord that we have had one of our own in the presence of God's goodness for four years now. I get sad but then glad at the same time. All I have are pictures, a sweater,hat foot and hand prints. But because of the most important prints of all, I will see my Martha Joy one day. Jesus come quickly!

Shhhhhh! It's Very Quiet!

Wow, it's very quiet in this early morning hour. I am enjoying the quietness while drinking my morning lemon water. This is a VERY rare experience and so I snatch the quietness while I can. I enjoy our busy and loud family but sometimes a little variation helps the mind to rest. :D

So here we are on Friday! James had a day off yesterday, staying true to the four day a week plan. But he had to go back in today. Then he'll be off for the weekend. Yesterday during his time off we were able to run some errands. It was nice to be out for the day. I think that the children had a good time too.

We went to Target and picked up some storage containers for James' lunch items. Every day since he began this job he's taken sandwiches to work. I wanted him to be able to take something different. I was having a hard time finding a nice insulated container for him to take soup or warm leftovers. I found said container at Target! It is so nice. I couldn't find any at Wal-mart. Also I found a nice box of storage containers as well. This was very much a needed item as well.

Through James' current employer insurance premiums were unaffordable. So we've been praying for what would be the best option. Years ago we had looked at the option of Samaritan Ministries. I am SO excited to say that we have made the decision to be a part of this Christian sharing program as an alternative to insurance. We are excited to be able to put prayers with other members in order to not only provide financial needs for health issues. But to see blessings through prayer. It's an encouraging way to help each other. It will be a short while before we can join, but are looking forward to this move!


We were finally able to find dental insurance as well. With our family, the past several years we have needed dental just as much, if not more than health insurance. We are hoping that this company we signed up with will be beneficial to our needs. I have fear of companies being to picky and not wanting to pay claims. Hopefully this won't be the case and they'll be a blessing! We have much work to be done within the next year or two.

So, you see! Your prayers for those wrinkles are working. We are working at finding answers to little glitches that stand in the way. James' new job has been very good to him. We are so thankful that he ran upon this job. We are excited to see consequences of answered prayers!

Okay, I have much to do today and it won't get done sitting here! With being in town much of the day yesterday, we have to double up on some school today. But, the weekend is almost upon us! Have a wonderful day in the Lord's goodness.

Hello Blog World!

If nothing else, I will post for my own way of chronicling. I wouldn't be surprised if no one reads this. :) I am sure that anyone who read before thinks that I have totally abandoned ship. I was only at port for a little while but hopefully I can touch base more often. Ha!

Some very good news is that James was able to begin a new job. He is now with a gas company as a service technician. He will be used in many areas but mainly to install and repair gas appliances. We have been blessed with him being home most of the day on Fridays. So, we have become accustomed to have a full 2 1/2 day weekends. Beginning in October our Fridays may be taken away until the spring though. So we are enjoying this time right now. This company has been very good to James so far. We are pleased and pray for this to be a place that James will have security and a great career to see him through to retirement.

Our school year has been so good so far! I think that this has been the best year we've had as far as I can remember! We have five children being schooled full time and another who is getting her feet wet just for fun. I am hoping as Gloria gets older that school will be even easier to accomplish. She's at the age where she has to be constantly monitered for dangers and mischief!

Brittany is into her second year of high school and she's doing so well....so much better than her first year. This year she's taking a writing course and has found a new love. She is turning out papers left and right. I have it to where she writes on her World History topics. So this piggy-backs her studies and saves time!

Dalton is cruising through his studies as usual. He's very self motivated and easy to teach. His favorite subject in school is grammar. Ironically his least favorite is probably math, of which he's good at.

Samuel has blessed me with progressing well. I can see what direction he's going this year and can almost see a vision of where he'll be at the end of the year. I am praying for us to keep progressing at this rate. Samuel has been one to struggle but I am glad to say that things are becoming smoother for him.

I am having many joys in teaching Bethany and Jesse as a pair. Jesse was ready for his studies a little later and Bethany a little earlier. So, here we are with them together! It's been interesting to teach them phonics and math together as a pair. I am excited for the progress I see that they can make this year.

Jesse has had a slight challenge in the dailies of schooling. He's had the "excitement" of him fracturing his arm. He has had a cast on his arm for three weeks now. Today I take him to get his cast off! I am hoping for a very good report from the doctor that Jesse's good to go.

Miss Joy-Anna is our sweet three year old who's ready to partake in preschool fun. She's constantly asking to do school. And who am I to hold her back? She very sharp so I see her being an early reader. We'll see!

In so many ways the Lord is guiding us and allowing us to grow. In so many ways we have been and are being molded by His mighty hand. He has brought us through shadows and dimmness. I am so happy to say that our lives are much brighter right now. There are wrinkles to iron out but overall it's all good. Maybe one day I will chronicle some of our journeys. Until then, could you please pray for these wrinkles?

Have a wonderful week in God's goodness!

Psalm 113

Boo!

Did I scare you? It's been a little while since coming here. Well, we DID start schoool,ya' know? So I've been very busy. The good news is that the garden has slowed down a lot. That is until the next planting starts producing. But with dailies of schooling, cleaning, cooking and disciplining...mixed with play and church our lives are full.

I weighed this morning after a little while of not dieting. To my delight I am down to 152.1! That and someone commenting that I have lost weight gave me a boost to move forward. I will take one number at a time. I am excited to soon be 151.? and then 150.? and then 149.? I don't know how long this will take as I am obviously a fly by night dieter. Wish I could do like Jessica on the blog I shared earlier. That girl is a' smokin' dieter. I usually do fine maintaining but it's so against the flesh to have a defecit in eating. Ya' know?

School is coming slowly but surely. We still have yet to get a full day in. But we are working here and there and thus making some progress. That's where the discipline comes in with keeping a tight schedule. I want the house cleaned, the children taught, yummy food to eat, time to relax and enjoy each other, place to go...this all takes time. This all takes discipline!

Today we are going for our monthly grocery shop to Sam's Club. That takes a big chunk of change but we save in the long run.

First Day of School

This was how we started our day! I am telling you the honest truth, I am SO thankful for each of these children! They are all a delight to me and I am looking forward to this coming school year. Yes, new school year is right! We began school today. We've been off for almost two months and that is enough for this mommy. So, while our local public school won't be starting for another month, we went ahead and took the plunge. So this will give us time to take off later for those sick days, hooky days, or just those blah days. Besides, homeschool moms don't have substitute teachers to helps us out. We don't have planning periods aside from trying to sort things out with a house full of loud children. And then when it was quiet today what did I do? NAPPED! Can you believe it? I was sort of frustrated for my weakness but I really had to nap or I wasn't going to be worth a whole lot.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, school! So today we did for the most part a lot of organizing and getting into the groove of having that time set apart for learning. Most did some bookwork but as each day passes by we'll be into studies more and more. And fun studies they'll be! We are all ready for our journey this year. Here's to fun schooling!

Weigh In, Etc.

I was a little hesitant to get on the scale but did anyway. I told James not to look and was scared to look myself. But I did and to my delight I was actually down! I am down to 152.6. So to move forward from here and keep my head straight will be nice.

We are beginning our school year this coming Monday. So I am working on all types of schedules and plans. I am excited to get started and there will be no pressure later as we can take off when we want because we'll have time and work in. I came up with a great way to log our lesson plans in. Brittany took the time to work up the lesson plan sheets on Excel. I am excited to have a new way to log in our info. It's more detailed than last year's way, but won't take a lot of time.

Okay, I am off to cook breakfast. Have a great day in the LORD!

Don't Hate Me....

because I didn't weigh in. I totally fell off the wagon the whole weekend. I am beginning back now though. I just couldn't bring myself to step on the scales. Maybe I can in the morning. Sorry! Here's to getting back on the wagon and moving forward!

Shopping Update

After church last night we were able to stop by Bi-Lo and catch some of their sales. We got a few good deals from them this week! A friend commented on here and told me of some coffee on sale at Food Lion this weekend. Thank you, Beth! I'll check that deal out.

So here's our Bi-Lo purchases:

2 boxes tea
2 cans no sugar added apple pie filling
1 box straws(.29!!)
4 jars applesauce
4 dozen eggs
4 pounds smoked sausage
3 pounds shrimp
2 packs baby carrots
4 packs lettuce salad mix

Total: $35.20 (reciept says we saved $40.88. Granted I would not have paid that much for these goods!)

Total left for the month: $63.19


On a side note, progress has been made in the laundry department. The Lord totally blessed us when He gave us an older girl and older boys, with younger girls and younger boys. Now I have a girl to do the girls' laundry and a boy to do the boys' laundry. All I do now is mine and hubs, along with all white clothes. Yeah! Now, if only I didn't have to remind them to do their laundry. Hmmmmmm.....

Diet and Budget Update

Okay, so what kind of diet blog is this? The kind where the lady gains two pounds on only her second week! Seriously! I was down yesterday morning but this morning up again. I was at 154.? this morning. Maybe I over did the eating this weekend. But really, I thought if anything I ate just enough to maintain but certainly not to gain. Go figure. Oh well, all that to say that I am still on the wagon. I am still counting my calories and considering each bite that enters my mouth. Oh and when I temporarily lose it I pick right back up and keep going. So, this goes to show how real I am being. I didn't do good this time. But here's to next week's weigh in!

As far as the budget goes. I am right on track! We did spend some unexpected money this past weekend but it was/is worth it all! Here's an updated spending list.

Sam's Club:

6 cans green beans(for a big church fellowship on the 13th) $21.45

Subway:

3 foot long subs. We went to visit James' aunt and needed to eat some lunch out$16.05


IGA:

vinegar
whipped salad dressing $4.88

Food Lion:

3 packs hot dogs
3 packs hot dog buns $8.97

Aldi:

ground beef patties
10 cans chicken noodle soup
6 cans mixed vegetables
1 can tomato soup
2 jars applesauce
2 packs fig bars
1 box graham crackers
1 bag pinto beans
1 box saltines
1 can sloppy joe sauce
sliced peppers
turkey bacon
4 packs flour tortillas
canola oil
2 bags sugar
2 packs tostada shells
melting cheese
2 packs paper towels
5 loaves bread
2 packs hamburger buns

Total: $54.28

So we have $98.39 left for the month. I have projected having to buy coffee, milk(about 7-8 gallons), eggs, and lettuce. We'll see what else comes up later.

Here's a great blog for inspiration on losing weight. Thanks, Jessica!
http://pudget1.blogspot.com/

I have to run. It's time for lunch and I am canning tomatoes. Have a great day!