Gobble Gobble

Well, I wasn't very successful in sticking to my diet over Turkey Day. I stepped on the scale this morning and weighed one pound more than I did last week. I guess that is not so bad considering that I ate no less than two slices of pie and two brownies in the last few days. I did, however, eat healthfully yesterday and went for a walk. Today I started a new way to impart more scripture to my family. As I read my Bible this morning, I found a scripture that we could all use and wrote it on a note card. I placed the note card and my prayer journal on the end table. As my kids rise, I will have them read and sign the note card (as I have already done myself) showing they have read it, and write any prayer requests they may have in the prayer journal. Well, enough gobble, gobble.... I am off to walk away my pie pounds! : )

New Leaf!

Once again, life has gotten hectic and I have not posted. Once again, I am promising myself that I will post on a regular basis. However, I have changed my focus. This blog has been about my family and school and homeschooling and, well you know, life! I am turning over a new leaf! All that is going to change! I'm sure my family and going to school will sneak it's way into a post or two, however they will no longer be my main focus. I am now focusing on Healthy Living. Body, Mind, and Soul. You see I am not where I want to be spiritually (I don't think anyone ever does or should get there anyway), but I want to be a brighter reflection of God's light. The way I plan on doing that is by seeking God daily and by physical discipline.

You may be wondering: "What does she mean by that?" Well, I plan on the traditional approach of reading my Bible and praying daily. I also plan on a sacrificial form of praise. I will discipline my body in the form of eating right and exercise to re-train myself to have self-control. If I can achieve self-control in this area, I can be controlled in every area of my life. I know I can only do this with God's strength because I have tried to do this on my own all my life. I am giving this area of my life to God with not "take backs". I believe God can break this strong-hold in my life for good! I will be blogging my successes and failures every week.

On average I read my Bible: 4-5 days a week and pray 2-3 of those days.

My starting weight is: nonya! (none ya business) This really isn't about a number anyway!

My Goals: Read and Pray: Daily

Get to a Healthy weight and Exercise Daily! : )

"Babble on in Babylon"

BRIMMING CLOSETS, SHOE RACKS BULGE

ONE IN EVERY COLOR, I'LL JUST INDULGE

MY WILDEST WHIM WILL OFT BE MET,

BIGGER, FASTER, GIVE ME, GET...

...TRAVEL ON IN BABYLON.

MAY I GO FIRST?

KNEW YOU'D NOT CARE.

FOR MY TIME'S PRECIOUS.

YOU'VE LOTS TO SPARE

I'LL SLIP IN FRONT

AND OFF I'LL GO

SEE I'M QUITE FAST AND WELL...

YOU'RE QUITE SLOW.

I AND ME, FAST FRIENDS, LIFE LONG,

...PRATTLE ON IN BABYLON.

NIP IT HERE, JUST THERE A LIFT

I JUST TURNED FORTY, IT WAS A GIFT.

THE EYES, THE LIPS, THE BOSOOMS DO,

SCULPTURED, LASERED, INJECTED, TOO

NO WRINKLES LEFT, THE TUMMY'S GONE.

..JOURNEY ON IN BABYLON....

ENOUGH OF ME, HOW DO YOU VIEW ME?

YOU GET ONE, BUT GIVE ME THREE.

I COULDN'T BARE TO JUST SAY NO,

IT'S MY DESIRE AND RIGHTLY SO.

ADD ANOTHER AND ON AND ON

...SHUFFLE ON IN BABYLON...

NO END IN SIGHT THAT I CAN SEE

TODAY IS BLOCKED BY THE MIRROR IN FRONT OF ME.

A WRECK, A DEATH, TSUNAMI TIDE,

IT MILDLY STIRS ME, I MUST CONFIDE.

T.V. CLAIMS TENS OF THOUSANDS GONE

OH, WELL LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE IS ON

NUMB TO THE STUNNING SIGHT OF EACH NEW DAWN,

SINKING FAST IN BABYLON.....

LIKE A LOBSTER IN A POT,

WHO BEGINS TO LIKE THE WATER HOT.

I'VE BEEN DUPED! BEEN TRICKED! BEEN HAD!

CONVINCED THAT TRUTH WAS SOMEHOW BAD.

EVIL, CODDLED AND COOED AND PURRED.

AND BECKONED ME ... AND CALLED.. AND LURED...

NOW, IN A PLACE WITH THE LIGHT TURNED ON.

I'M RACING HOME FROM BABYLON!

I'M RACING HOME FROM BABYLON!

BY BETH MOORE

The caterpillars have arrived!!!! Yay!

Finals

This week I have all my finals for the Spring semester. This is the end of my first full year of college as a full time student. I am nervous about all my exams this week, so I looked up a scripture. Isaiah 41:10 says "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Praise God, for He is good. His mercy and his blessings are so great, my heart overflows with joy. : )

boing, boing, boing....it's Spring!

So, Spring has sprung everywhere, including the Newport home. We have started our first garden. We planted strawberries and we are super excited! We also ordered our caterpillars to watch grow into butterflies. It is very fun and we hope to be surrounded by butterflies and strawberries soon. Happy Spring!

Bored we r driving back from Gainsville. I tried to take a picture of us in the car, but it is too dark : )

Almost Done

The boys finished their standardized testing today. I have two more weeks til the end of my semester. I have to say Composition II kicked my butt. I am not sure weather it was so tough because it is a hard class, or if this instructor was just too picky. Regardless, I will just be happy when it's over! The boys sighed a sigh of relief today after three days of testing was completed. I will sigh a bigger sigh in eight weeks when I get the results. It feels more like a report card for me more than the boys. It is like a end of the year evaluation of how I did as a homeschool teacher. I hope I did well. The boys said that the test was pretty easy, so I am not too worried. I am excited about summer break, and even more excited about next school year. This summer we are taking our yearly trip to Michigan. We will be camping again and we are all super excited. Next school year we are switching curriculum from Abeka to Switched on Schoolhouse. I am excited because I think this will free up some of my time and help keep us on track. I also think the boys will love doing their "school" on the computer.

Life is Good!

Yesterday we had a home school park day. The boys had a great time. There wasn't very many kids there so they were really able to connect with the other boys. I had a great time too! I was able to talk to the other moms and get some great ideas. I found that there are great documentaries on Netflix that we can watch instantly through the PS3. We tried it out today, and it was great! They also made me realize that I don't have to follow the lesson plan to the tee. I am finally learning that the great part of homeschooling is tailoring the lessons to fit my boys, not the other way around. I knew this in theory from the start, but it is hard when it comes time to implement that knowledge. I am always afraid to navigate away from the lessons for fear of missing something and messing up their education. I am loving homeschooling more and more as time goes on.

Back to Life

We are getting back to school today! I am excited. I feel the Christmas break was just the rest we needed to spark our interest in learning again! I am enthusiastic about teaching again and I hope that the kids are re-energized about learning. We are embarking on a new quest to learn God's Word. We were doing a younger kids bible story book for Cole, now we are going to go deeper into the Word for Weston and Chase. I am, also, planning to spend more time exploring Science and History. In the beginning of this school year, I may have glossed over these subjects because as a new homeschooling mom I felt the crunch of time restraints. There are only so many hours in a day. However, I am hopeful that I have streamlined my teaching a bit and can afford more time to devote to these important and interesting subjects. I am truly blessed to have this opportunity, now to wake the kids!!!!!! : ) lol!

Spring Semester

Well it is my first day of the Spring Semester. I went to Spanish class this morning and havn't found a kindred spirit yet. I have also been reading syllabises all day. I am a little nervous. I would like to get all A's this semester. I am taking Spanish I, Humanities I, Composition II, and Intermediate Algebra. I really hope I can juggle all of them and homeschool the boys.

Happy New Year

Jesus' family tree is filled with imperfect women - Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba. You need not be perfect to be a good mom; you just need to be willing to trust God to guide you.

My New Year resolution for 2011 is to give my life over to Him more then last year. I would like to remember that each day is a gift, my children are a gift, and I am just a servent willing to do my master's will.