Familiarity

These days I long for familiarity.  The way my house looked a few months ago before I was in bed for a couple months.  The way I used to feel when I ate versus the constant upset stomach or at the very least the overly full feeling.  The way our days used to be fairly planned out and consistent.  The one-load-of-laundry days.  The weeks where I knew what I did on each day of the week and it didn't vary all that much from week to week.

I am a creature of habit and consistency.  I like to know I bake bread and wash sheets on Tuesdays, make my menus on Thursday and grocery shop on Fridays.

But those days have been few and far between lately.  I cannot seem to get my groove back and it's driving me nuts.  I strongly desire to do all these things on time and when they need to be done, but something just keeps me from doing them.

When I was sick I remember lying in bed just dreaming of the day I could get up and cook.  Or clean.  Or dare I say it...do laundry!  But then when I could do those things something had changed and I no longer wanted to even though I really needed to.

I am in the midst of a strong desire for familiarity.  The way it all looked six months ago.  I don't regret what I am in the midst of, but I just wish I could be going through this special time in my life but feeling like I did six months ago, physically and emotionally.

And yes, I know it's going to change even more in a little over three months.  I remember those feelings of total chaos and I can say that is what I dread the most.  Having a plan, but not being able to work it because there is something much more important that needs to be done.  I'm a planner by nature so going without one creates more inner turmoil than not being able to work my plan.

I'm praying that the nesting desires that should be coming soon will help me regain some of the routine we used to have and motivate me to put a few new things in place to aid us when the baby arrives.  I'm scouring pinterest for any and all ideas I can find on time management and home school organization since I will need to be even more on my toes than usual this fall.

What are your best tips for regaining motivation after being in a slump?

Recognition

Since we home school, we don't have awards days like our friends who are traditionally schooled.  We don't do AR points, we keep up with grades but don't get formal report cards, and since they are both in different grades for most subjects we don't have a high scorer. 

We do go over things until mastered and sometimes even use candy as a reward (GASP!).  I even bought little certificates several years ago to give the girls at the end of the year but never did them.  They don't seem to mind so I don't either!

But when I received Camille's spelling curriculum a couple years back I chuckled when I realized they actually include a certificate of completion.

I was not planning on using it, but Camille seemed to really want me to present it to her when she was done.  So we did.  And we have ever since that first year.

I guess sometimes it's nice to get a little recognition. 

Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary

It has been a LONG time since we have been able to go on a field trip.  We missed about 7 really good ones while I was sick, but finally got to go on one a few weeks ago.

Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary hosted our group and showed us a few of the animals they care for.  They had a precious baby raccoon, several baby and grown possums, deer that had been released but still visit, an owl, and other birds.  They even brought in an injured bird while we were there.

BBWS takes care of any wildlife native to the southeast United States.  They try to care for them and help them heal before releasing them. They also educate groups like ours on what to do with an injured animal and what animals potentially carry rabies.  It was very interesting and informative.

Lillie decided she wanted to volunteer here when she gets a little older.  I think it's a great idea, as long as she steers clear of the raccoons or other critters that can carry rabies!

Table for Eight

About a month ago a sweet friend from church approached me about an email she had sent out entitled A Table for Eight.  I don't remember getting the email, but she told me it had a picture of a beautifully set table where eight special friends were seated and it had the following quote:


 “May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us." 
  

One person she sent it to sent it back saying, "This is a table I would love to sit at." And my friend's idea was born.

She decided to host her own Table for Eight and invite seven other women whom she enjoyed.  Each of us would bring a dish that she assigned and a set amount of money to pay two servers. 

The evening was perfect!  The table was set and we all showed up in our best clothes and enjoyed old friends and getting to know some that were new.  We were served by two young ladies at church (who giggled the entire time!) and just enjoyed each course as it was served to us.

I cannot think of a better way to spend an evening with close friends!

Shake It Up, Baby

One of our recent science experiments was to make ice cream in a bag.  It was to show what effect chemicals can have on the temperatures of things, like our planets.  I'm not sure if the girls got the correlation but they sure enjoyed their ice cream.

This was fun even without the science explanation.  If you want to give it a try, make sure you have 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar, 1/2 heavy whipping cream, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, 6 tablespoons rock salt, 1 sandwich ziplock bag, 1 quart ziplock bag, 1 gallon ziplock bag, and ice cubes.

 

First, put the milk, vanilla, and sugar into the small bag and seal it.  Put this bag into the quart bag and seal.  Next, fill the large bag about halfway with ice and add the rock salt.  Put the other bag containing the ice cream mixture in this bag with ice and rock salt.  Then, have your child shake continually for about 10-15 minutes until ice cream forms.  Make sure to wipe down the quart bag to get off the rock salt before opening.

Open up the sandwich bag and enjoy!

We all three made a bag and it was the perfect afternoon snack!

What a Great Show, Jack!

I'm not sure how many of you are Duck Dynasty fans.  But Alex and I really enjoy watching them when we get the chance.  And Camille has seen an episode and thought they were hilarious.

 

A few months back they came to our city and we had not planned to go given the ticket price and the fact they sold out in about an hour or less.  A few weeks later it was announced they were coming back to do another fundraiser and our local newspaper, The Dothan Eagle, was giving away tickets.

Guess who won a pair?

 

You guessed it!  Me!  I knew when I registered that it would probably be too hot for me to sit for an outside event.  Alex could have taken both girls since Camille could get in free still, but Lillie didn't want to go.

So he called our brother-in-law and one of his was interested.

They loaded up and headed out praying the rain would hold off.  It did for the most part even though two little girls thought they needed the ponchos anyway.

Alex said Willie and Si were good, but enjoyed Phil's message the most. He definitely does not pull any punches, but you can tell he has a genuine desire to share Jesus with everyone.  I love the picture of him holding up his Bible--something he said he never leaves home without!

 

The girls may not have heard too much, but they had a good time!

We Will, We Will Rock You!

The girls spent a week studying about the three different kids of rock.  I found a cute little song/video on pinterest to the tune of We Will Rock You, hence the blog post title.

The most fun part of the whole week was making food to represent the different types of rock.  We first made metamorphic rock.  Metamorphic rock is formed by heat and pressure.  We took a fun size Snicker bar and put it in a sandwich bag.  The girls then applied heat and pressure to the candy bar to change it.  And by heat and pressure I mean than smashed, pounded, and sat on it to make it change.

They both said it was quite yummy afterwards!

We made sedimentary rock next.  Sedimentary rocks are made from weathering and compaction of the sediments.  We took graham crackers and pounded (or weathered...) them until we had crumbs and put those in a ramekin.  We added sugar (our sediment) and butter (fossil fuels/water) and pressed into the ramekin.  We then baked them and after sitting for a few minutes they were delicious.  You could pop it out almost like a cookie.

 

I had intended to make igneous rock by layering several different items between two types of bread.  Then we would grill them on the stove and watch as the items melted together and changed. But I just never got around to it. 

Instead, we did something we had done in the past in a simpler form.  I melted chocolate chips then spread it on wax paper and let it melt into a new shape.  Much yummier than a sandwich!

Learning can be so yummy and fun!  And when we are reviewing our science facts each week, the three types of rocks is always answered the fastest!