The More Better Brownie

I have a confession. Until one week ago I had never made homemade brownies. I just figured Betty Crocker was good enough and that was that. I tasted other brownies at church socials and  birthday parties and had never had a brownie that tasted that much better than Betty's so I just figured I'd stick with what I know.

Until last week, when I was craving something chocolaty and didn't want to go to the store. So, I thought I would just look up a recipe and see what ingredients I had on hand to make something that would satisfy my desire for some sweet goodness.

And now I will never buy Betty's brownie box again....sorry Betty.

Here's a link to the more better brownie than Betty... (Go ahead...click that last sentence...you know you want to...

I knew they were good the first time I made them, but last night after dinner when Savannah asked me to make them again...and Bruce and Tucker chimed in that they were the best brownies ever....That did it for me!

Hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

The Homeschool Schedule

A few people have asked about our schedule for the homeschool year. Here it is, for your viewing pleasure...Not gonna say it's permanent, because in our house...like your's, life happens, people need us, we need others, we get bored, we need a day away from each other....and the list could go on and on. But this is best case scenario. Here ya go:

Time	Subject	Name
8:00	Rise and Shine, Dress, Eat	Savannah and Tucker
8:30	Sweep Porches- M,W,F Vacuum-T,TH	Savannah
8:30	Take Trash Out- M,W,F Dust T, TH	Tucker
9:00	Bible - Kay Arthur for Kids	Savannah and Tucker
9:30	Math - Horizons and Xtramath.com	Savannah
9:30	Handwriting- Horizons	Tucker
10:00	Language Arts- LifePac	Savannah
10:00	Phonics and Reading - Horizons	Tucker
10:30	Independent Reading	Savannah
10:30	Math - Horizons and Xtramath.com	Tucker
11:00	Break	Savannah and Tucker
11:15	Piano Practice	Savannah
11:15	Stack the States/ Geography	Tucker
11:45	Science- BJU	Savannah
11:45	Journal, Flashcards & Independent Reading	Tucker
12:15	Lunch	Savannah and Tucker
12:45	Maps of the US and World YWAM	Savannah
12:45	ipad games	Tucker
1:15	Wii Fit or TKD	Savannah and Tucker
2:00	Quiet Hour (Read, Educational videos, puzzles, games...leave mom alone)	Savannah and Tucker

Officially Home

School starts tomorrow at the school I've taught at for the last few years. And I'm officially a full-time homemaker. It really hasn't seemed real until now. Back to school sales, the hustle and bustle of getting a classroom and bulletin boards ready have alluded me altogether. As teacher friends are pinning teaching ideas and cute quotes, I've been in the back of the class cheering them on...quietly. I pray all the patience, wisdom and grace they will need for this year ahead.

And today as I sat down to write out a few goals...I realized...it's official...Homemaker...that's me. A dream come true. And while it's filled with some uncertainty and a little nervousness on how this is really supposed to look, I'm certainly thrilled that God has allowed me this blessing.

So...here's my goals for this week.

1. Make homemade bread (instead of sandwich bread).

2. Cook dinner every night (except Wednesday because the church cooks for us...Hallelujah)

3. Stick to the homeschool schedule

4. Write Genesis 1:26-28; 9:1-7, Psalm 16:11,1 Corinthians 10:31, by hand, daily, in preparation for Sunday School Sunday.


5. Spend time studying for Bible Study teaching Wednesday Night


6. Work on needlework for 30 minutes


7. Menu plan for next week


8. Read one chapter of Pollyanna aloud with kids.


9. Encourage Bruce
How are you spending your week? If you're a full-time homemaker, do you find it easy to waste time? Or, are you a go-getter? Do you keep a pretty tight schedule or fly by the seat of your pants? What works for you....Give a girl some advice if you have any tips you think I could use! Thanks!

Dear Savannah

Dear Savannah,

You're eleventh birthday. It's here. And you are everything I could wish that you would be at this point in your life. You're a child of God, who is learning her way in her own walk with Him. It excites me to see the passion you have to learn about Him, with your note taking at church during your dad's sermons, to our daily devotions together, you're grounding your heart in God's Word. I'm so proud of you. Keep that close to your heart because there will come a day that is darker than today that you will need to grasp it with everything you've got and hold on to its truths.

Things are going to be changing in the next year. Physically you're going to be growing into a young lady and the world is going to try to explain to you what that looks like. They are going to show you pictures of girls your age who are skinnier, tanner, prettier, better dressed. But none will be more loved...and really that's what the world is trying to tell you...."You'll be loved better if you are skinnier, tanner, prettier, better dressed." But the truth is, you're loved as much as you're ever going to be loved right now. See, God has already loved you with an everlasting, immeasurable love. He can't love you any more than He does now because that would mean that right now, His love would be lacking. And that would mean that He isn't enough now. And that would be a lie. And that would mean God isn't God because He would be a liar. And He's not. So as you grow and change and mature...remember how loved you are just the way you are.

And what about boys....
Ugh...it's gonna happen, sometime. We're going to talk about it. It's going to be uncomfortable...more for me than you probably. But the fact is that...right now, there's no way you're having a boyfriend. It's just not right, not the time. You're eleven, you're still a kid and even though you're finding out how much God loves you, other than your family, there's not another person on the planet that you need to trust with your heart. A boy your age isn't capable of being careful with your heart. It's ridiculous to put that kind of pressure on him or you. So, let's just agree...boys aren't going to be part of the big picture yet. Sure, you can be friends, but let's keep it at that....whether you know it or not, you really don't want more than that anyway...besides, they still don't bathe on a regular basis without their mommy telling them.

What about friends? Well, from what I've seen over the last 20 years working and being around teenagers is that things might get a little rocky. I hate this for you and for your sweet gal pals that you hang out with. Here are a few things that might make this transitional time easier for you:

1. Watch your words. Be careful that the things that come out of your mouth encourage people. You can always find something nice to say about someone.

2. When/if you have a disagreement with someone, before you go and give them a piece of your mind, think about it. Ask yourself if this is really worth getting upset about? If the relationship is important to you, give it some grace, give offenses a pass, give second and third chances and let it go. Because sometimes people make mistakes and just need to be let off the hook. Give a hug and forgive.

3. But if you do have to go to someone who has offended you. Be sure your words are used wisely. When someone is confronted with an offense they will remember the words you say, and they will replay those words over and over in their head. Say what needs to be said in the most loving way. Forgive when others don't ask.

4. Just because you''re best friends now doesn't mean you'll be best friends when you're 16. Ugh, I hate this, but know that from my own experiences, as you grow, mature, change, learn your way, that you're friends might change. You'll make friends as you find hobbies and interests. And that's all good. But as those comfortable and uncomfortable changes come, don't treat your old friends poorly. There are seasons in our lives when we are closer to some than others. It's just the way it is. (However, I'd like to bottle a couple of your sweet friends up and keep them with us forever!)

Lastly, let's just go ahead and talk about modesty. You're going to pretty much hate me for the next 7 years or so of your life as far as fashion goes. The world is selling a bunch of goods that is trying to convince girls your age that showing off all your body parts is pretty. The world is trying to make money, sell a product, make money. They don't love you. I do. I'm trying to teach you to love yourself enough to save your body parts...all of them...for someone who God has made especially for you to spend your adult life with. Someone who is going to love you as Christ loved the church. Someone who isn't trying to make money on you or sell a product to you. Respect yourself and your future husband ....I know it's early to think about this...and of course it's not going to happen for a long long long time, but you need to know that how you dress says a lot about how you respect yourself. And since respecting yourself and God and others is essential to growing into a mature young lady, we're not going to budge on the modesty issue. I love you, that's why.

So happy birthday sweet tween. You are so special to your dad and me...but most importantly your God. These next years are going to fly!!!!!!

Destination Home

I left Saturday morning at 8:40 to head to Paris, (TX, that is) to finish up some shopping for our ministry fair at church next Sunday. I stopped by McD's to pick up a diet coke, since I had been out till almost 1am at the ladies craft night at church (wait, who am I kidding? I start every day with a diet coke...I'm not gonna lie)....Anyway, with dc in hand and a quick stop to put $20 in the Expedition, I was on my way. I was be-bopping along, listening to the radio, all my favorite songs were playing...and I was thinking the day couldn't get any better.

But, then I found exactly what I was looking for at Hobby Lobby...ON CLEARANCE! So, I snagged them up, took a glance at the yarn, embroidery and scrapbook stuff...and well, pretty much the entire rest of the store. I checked out at the register feeling very proud of myself for the good deals I found.

Then I spotted Belk out of the corner of my eye and thought...maybe I was on a bargain streak and could find a few things to spend some of my birthday money on...so I moved the car over to the other side of the parking lot and entered the store. 15 minutes later I had formulated the opinion that this particular Belk must only cater to women who are nothing like me. But I happened to see many 70% off racks in the junior dept, so like any good mom, i perused the clothing options for Savannah, and within another 20 minutes I was out the door with 9 articles of clothing for 60 dollars. Not too shabby. I was feeling pretty darn good.

And maybe that's where things started going south.

Bruce called....needed to meet someone for lunch, wondered when I'd be home. I let him know I was on my way, talking through a stuffed mouth of nutter butters that I was inhaling because I had not eaten anything with my diet coke. Nutter Butters happened to be one of the few protein (albeit with sugar) items at the register at Hobby Lobby. So, with mouth stuffed, quite pleased with myself, I started the trek home. I thought.

Somewhere between Belk's parking lot and my brain, I took a wrong turn and winded up about 15 miles north of Paris..which is basically Oklahoma...give or take a few steps. When I finally realized I wasn't where I was supposed to be, I panicked...just a bit. But then I remembered that Bruce had plugged our address into our car's GPS so that if I ever got turned around I would always be able to make it home. I think I'll keep him a little bit longer.

So...I peeled, I mean pulled into a little old tire shop on the side of the road, finagled around with the GPS, until I saw...HOME. Without hesitation, I pushed the button, clicked on my address and heard the friendly, yet annoying, GPS lady say those words we all love, RECALCULATING. RECALCULATING.

And without hesitation I followed each turn, each caution that she suggested. And roughly 45 minutes later, I made it home.

Before I had even gotten a mile down the right path, I had already thought of the spiritual implications of this little adventure. God is so patient with us, allowing us the freewill to go down paths that won't get us to our intended destination. He waits and then without hesitation, when we are ready, gives us step by step instruction to HOME. Sometimes we take the wrong path because we aren't paying attention, sometimes because we get bored of the same way all the time, sometimes because we think we know better...but whatever the reason, it never gets us HOME.

There was such a peace and comfort when I remembered that Bruce had plugged our home address into the system. I knew I could get back there...back to where I felt safe, if I just followed those directions. The same is true when we follow the directions found in God's Word. When I follow His Words, there is peace. No, I may not always be comfortable but we will be safe, because He is our shield and defense, a present help in time of need.

Thankful Thursday

This week I'm thankful for:

1. A birthday celebrated...turned 41 last week and was showered with sweet messages and thoughtfulness all day long...and a few days afterward!

2. Cooler weather...let's face it...90 degrees is cooler than 100 degrees anyway you look at it. No, it's not the cool temps of Wyoming ....but this is Texas and anything less than 100 is a good thing!

3. A successful easy start to our school year. Kids are loving that the real schedule doesn't start until after Labor Day....but it's coming!

4. Friends who make me laugh and think and cry. I need them all.

Thanks Lord...for these and all your blessings upon my life.

WY13 Mission Trip Recap #6 - final

I've given a little time for the emotions of our Wyoming trip to die down and for me to be able to really see and think about what I came away with from the WY13 trip. Bruce said it Sunday night and I happen to agree, sometimes we come back from these trips on an emotional high and need some time to rest and reflect on what God truly did in our lives. While the emotions are beautiful, sometimes they are provoked by lack of sleep, poverty, desperation..so after time, what really remains may look totally different than what we feel as we are pulling out of the parking lot of the mission church for the last time.

So after begin back for 8 days, I'm a little more ready to share how God worked in my own life.

I was reminded of the difficulties of small, rural American churches. The work that it takes when one couple is doing most of the work. This impacted both Bruce and I and we've shared many conversations about the memories we personally have of how difficult it is when you carry the load alone. It's given me a more clear look at how to encourage those who do much of the ministry alone, while growing a congregation in obedience to the service of the Lord.

I was reminded of how beautiful the body of Christ can be when we are working, encouraging, loving and genuinely caring for one another. While of course someone had to take charge of the trip, there was such a sweet humbleness of servanthood that drifted from the construction team to the ministry team. Men worked hard in the rain and hail, women scrubbed toilets, teenagers moved chairs and moved more chairs, kids dug up cactus. There were no "I'm too good for that" jobs. Everyone pitched in and did what they could or what was needed.

I was reminded how important humility is in the body of Christ. As we served each other and ultimately, the Lord, I was so blessed to watch and participate in the activities of the week. It's not about who is doing what...it's about doing what needs to be done for the furtherance of the gospel of Christ. It's not about who has power or control, it's about serving the least of these, the last, the forgotten and the tired. It's about tearing away the pride we can so easily wear and humbly walking beside someone, listening to them, not yourself. It's about doing things a different way than you're used to and it being OK. It's about being perfectly OK with not understanding a culture...but learning from someone who does. It's about being moldable, bendable, teachable.....so we can be more affective in a community.

So...there you have it. WY13 is a wrap...but the lessons learned there will be etched in my heart forever.