Thanks Everyone!

Wow! I got a lot of comments on taking a break, I sure appreciate it! Sometimes you wonder if there is anyone out there reading anything you write, know what I mean!?

Not having a computer around sure can be hard, it's tough not to be able to communicate with all of my friends. I realize how many people I email and don't even have their phone number! What did we do before the internet? There is no way you can actually hold a conversation with on the phone for more than 30 seconds with six children anyway.

But, you know what? The "office" is much cleaner now too, I took out one desk, cleaned out a bunch of junk and lots of cords and there is a lot more room. If we do go back to having a computer at any time, it will not be a desk top, it just sucks up too much space!

I also wrote a new winter schedule for the kids and I, which I am not following at the moment because I am at the library on the computer! :) But it has been working wonderfully and I'm getting a lot done at home. You know, those nagging little projects I know I need to complete but never get to it.

Going low-tech really has been great for the family, albeit difficult.

Thanks for the understanding! :)

Taking A Break

We have made the difficult decision to turn off our internet service. Boy, if this isn't the hardest thing we've done in years, I don't know what is! I can't tell you how many times I've thought to just run to the computer to request a book from the library or check a recipe. I guess I really am more addicted than I thought. Back to the old ways of doing things for a while, phone calls, snail mail and cookbooks!

I'll try to give updates as we are able to get to the library and borrow a computer!

Pray for me!!!! :)

Bowing Down to Jesus

I have my three youngest at their "table toy" time. I hear a bit of my two little girl's conversation. It has something to do with bowing down to Yeshua. I take a look:


All of the action figures are in a prostrate position, including Batman and the characters from Scooby Do.

Chicken Tonight, Chicken Tonight

Since we had a major catastrophe here last night - my crock pot broke - tonight we will be having a substitute for what I had planned. It's a favorite around here.

Chicken Nuggets

2 lbs. chicken breast

2 cups crushed cereal (cornflakes or whatever you want to use up, my kids are not liking the Safeway brand organic cheerios I bought, so I'll pulverize those until recognizable!)

2 tsp. Paprika

1 tsp. Italian herb seasoning

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. onion powder

Preheat oven to 400

1. Cut chicken in to bite sized pieces, it is so much easier when your it's slightly frozen.

2. Put cereal in a zip lock bag and crush with a rolling pin.

3. Add spices to the bag and close it tightly, shake to combine.

4. Add chicken, a little at a time, to your zip lock bag and shake to coat.

5. Lay chicken pieces on a lightly coated cookie sheet so that they are in a single layer. Bake until golden, about 12-14 minutes.

Add a little honey to mustard for a dipping sauce and a side of rice, potatoes or pasta along with a green salad and you've got a dinner that everyone will be raving about, even your most picky eater.

Today's To Dos

Sundays are a work day for me. I look forward to it, really. I like having a good list to start out with, chores to get done and things to check off. The weekdays aren't really like that so it makes a nice change.

I generally have a lot of laundry on Sundays because I don't do any on Saturday and we change the beds today. All during the day I am running back and forth changing loads and putting things away. Laundry is one of my favorite chores so it is enjoyable. I love to sort dirty, smelly, wet clothes and put away that fresh, clean-smelling, nicely folded pile when it's all finished. It seems like such an accomplishment!

Since it is the beginning of the month, the big job of going through all of the coupons to get rid of the old and add in the new is here. I've got to get a menu nailed down for the week too. I plan to run to Albertson's today (double coupons in the Seattle papers) to take advantage of the sale that is one the back page of the ad for this week. It says that you'll receive a Catalina coupon for $10 when you spend $25 in participating Procter and Gamble products. Think diapers and Tide. Last week there was a P&G circular in the paper. Combine it all and it's a great deal.

Last on my list will be something I've been thinking of doing for a while. It may not get done today but I am trying to keep in on my mind and maybe work at it slowly. We have a room upstairs that is rarely used... I've been thinking of making it a preschool room for the rest of the winter with centers: dress up, kitchen, dolls, blocks and cars. This room has a lockable door - which I believe is essential to something like this. When you've got a lot of little ones and lots of toys out, inevitable it equals a big, huge disaster of a mess. I want this room to be used for about a half an hour a day in combination with their half and hour of preschool (crafts and activities) and half an hour of table toys (puzzles, building, sensory and other small motor development) times. This way the play in the new room can be monitored and the toys cleaned up after each use. It will be a special and looked forward to time. Something we need in these cold and seemly endlessly dark days of January and February!

Laundry
-whites
-darks
-colors
-bedding
-iron table cloths
-mend work clothes

Coupons
-buy newspaper
-sort through coupon box
-clip and file this week's

Menu
-grocery list

Albertson's

Girl's bath
Boy's haircuts
Boy's bath
Clip nails x 4

Make soup

Make dinner

Preschool Room
-plan centers
-haul toys upstairs
-organize and decorate
-label centers

Why do I write about these things? To encourage you! I know that your list looks a lot like mine. Isn't fun to do this together? :)

What's Next?

Well, here we are. 2010. Last night I was trying to figure out where I was at the end of the 80's and 90's. How much lives change in just ten years! Although the whole Y2K thing seems like it was just the other day, it was a lifetime ago. Know what I mean?

Even though I am sick (ug) I really wanted to start this new year off with a good workout. I've had the same VHS tapes for years and years. I realized today that when I first started doing them in my late teens, my age level wasn't even shown on the charts they have for the heart rate checks on this particular tape I did today. Now I am down to the third, very close to the fourth age level on there. Am I getting old???

I do wonder what these next ten years will hold, don't you? If things are as drastically different for us a decade from now as they were a decade ago, there is no telling. I just find it ironic that God already has it all planned out. All these crazy twists and turns our lives take seem so unexpected but they are not. He knows what's around the next corner for each of us. "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jer 29:11 So, no matter what the changes are in store, He will be with us. Never forsaking, even in seeming times of trouble. And what's even better, He's already where we're going, "The Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard." Isaiah 52:12. I bet none of this is new information to you, but let it be a reminder. The things He's asking of you are for an purpose.

May this year be one full of obedience and ultimately, trust for you - and me. Like never before!