Daily binder

Today I took it easy on my arm again. It’s feeling somewhat better but not all the way so I didn’t want to push it.  The kids worked at trying to restore some sanity to our messy school room. I tore it apart Monday sorting thru all my 15 years worth of curriculum, and then add in the normal wear and tear to the room and it equaled a disaster.

While the kids worked on cleaning and organizing I spent most of my day working on my binders. I have a Home Management binder that I love, but I realized I really didn’t need to be hauling it out daily when there were only a few sections that would be used every day.

I decided to fine tune it and create a smaller binder for daily use, something that had everything in it I needed on a daily basis. I broke it up into sections:

Calendar: monthly calendars for the entire year printed out

My daily planner sheets: this is a sheet I made to have my day at a glance and mark things off as I go

Our daily routines section: Every day has an assigned duty such as Monday being our “kitchen” day. I’ve listed the things that need to be done on Mondays such as specific cleaning in the kitchen or extra meals made, salad dressings made, granola, or snacks for the week.

A daily chore section: This has a detailed chore list so the kids and I can look at what chores each child has. We have our house broken up into “zones”, such as kitchen, living room, etc. Each child bids on a zone and that’s the part of the house they are responsible for maintaining. We keep a copy of each zone and the duties that go with the zone printed up and hanging somewhere in that room but we also have copies of each zone list and what needs to be done in that zone in this section of the binder.

Weekly, monthly, and semi annually chore lists: This is just chore lists for things we only do weekly, monthly, or even less often than that. We do detailed cleaning of each zone in our home on the weekends. We only focus on one zone a week. I really don’t think we need to deep clean the bathroom every week. That may sound gross but when it’s swept and wiped down daily that makes it easier to maintain and doesn’t usually require the heavy duty cleaning every week.

Table time: This section keeps track of the things we do together at the table for school. We’ve really been slacking in this area over the last few months of fundraising and preparing for Shelbie’s trip. I’m anxious to get back into the swing of things!

Lesson plans: Instead of having my lesson plan book sitting around where it always gets misplaced, I cut off the binding, 3 hole punched it and popped it right into a binder that I knew we would being using daily. The less I have to keep up with the better!

Reading logs: I make my kids individual reading logs for school every year. Usually they go into our big school binder that holds all of our tests results from the school or other info that we don’t need daily or sometimes even monthly. I decided that having a section for this eliminates me having to pull down that heavy binder every time someone completes' a book and they don’t have to look it up on the computer either. It’s right at my finger tips!

I’m sure I’ll continue to tweak and fine tune this over the rest of the summer. Hopefully by the time we start school it’s working the way I hope it will!

“ He who gains time gains everything.”

Story time, lunch, and nothingness…

Today we did our normal Tuesday thing…story time. My little girls really loooovvvveee story time! My first batch of little girls enjoyed it the same. I love getting to relive some of these moments! After story time was over and everyone was settled in at home Shaylah and I snuck out for a lunch date together. (and don’t worry, I didn’t “sneak” out, Grammy was here!) It was nice to have a chance to sit and chat one on one.

After lunch we picked up Shyloh and Bodey to come and hang with us. Bodey got hit in the face with the swing and has his first “shiner”. So sad! Studpa made it all better by introducing him to whipped cream. Mmmmm! It was a hit and he kept signing please, please, please! So sweet!

Other than that I did nothing, like seriously nothing. I did something weird to my arm Saturday night and today it is still hurting and I can hardly move it. This really stinks as I have sooooo much that needs done in Neyville and I can’t do a thing. Yesterday I worked at going thru all my curriculum and storing it in plastic bins…maybe that’s why my arm is worse today??

Shelbie updated her blog today. Here are a few pics from her weekend at Livingstone. She had a great time and the interns all enjoyed a free weekend before the busyness of all the Camp Hope’s kick in! Go check out her blog to see the rest of her photo’s. 

Multitude Monday

901.  New bed buddies

902. Bags being stolen at the beginning and not the end of a trip

903. Songs sung at the perfect moment904. Quiet games

905. Keeping our eyes up

906. School planning907. Decluttering

908. A quiet Sunday afternoon

909. Sweet tea and sweet conversations  910. Tiny students.
She is working oh, so hard on her “school”.  

(If only all my students were this eager!)

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
Psalm 1:1

A quiet Sunday

Today is a quiet sort of day. We started the day off with church. After missing two weeks it was so good to be back. The first week I was in Texas but last week I just wasn’t quite up to going. We had been blessed to Skype with Shelbie both Friday and Saturday nights, but due to the time difference we had to get up in the middle of the night to chat with her. I was beyond tired but more than that my emotions just weren’t up to it. I just knew that there was no way I could go and answer any questions about Shelbie at all. My heart just felt to fragile.

I received my morning text from Shelbie and this was part of what she had to say. This made me miss her even more at church this morning, but I also appreciated being there all the more:

“I am missing church sooo much lately!! I miss the sermons, the people, and serving for second service, but most of all I’m missing worship!! My soul is craving a ccturlock  church service!!! I need to hear worship songs and get a good teaching in. I can’t wait til we go to church again!!”

Overall this was a good week in the sense of settling in without her. Her bag was stolen so that was a bump in the road, but seeing the awesome ways that God stepped in and looked after Shelbie helped to remind us all that He truly is in control and is covering her in only a way that He could do.

This afternoon my house is unusually quiet. The Ney house is never, ever quiet on a Sunday afternoon. Shyloh and Jeff haven’t come over yet, Duane and some of the kids ran an errand, and sweet Shaylah and I had a chance to just hang out and chat while the littles were napping.

I’m planning my projects and goals for the week. I’m praying for lots of productivity in Neyville this week along with lots of fun. I’m looking forward to next weekend and the chance to see my girl. Her birthday is Sunday. It will be very odd to not have her her with us but yet I know she is getting the chance to celebrate her 18th birthday in the place she has dreamt of for the last 9 years. Though the thought of not having her here is sad for me, I know that she is in the perfect place to celebrate her special day.

God is good!

Eating, cleaning, and laundry

Duane, Shaylah, and the boys went to the San Francisco Giants game today. I had a list of things I had hoped to get done, but unfortunately I didn’t get to any of it. My day started with laundry. I lost track of how many loads I did today. Between feeding people, cleaning the kitchen and doing laundry it’s a wonder how anything gets done! LOL I really think I need to institute a rule of only one meal a day and everyone just wear their bathing suits everyday. It would cut down on hours of my day. I’m not sure I can convince them of this great plan though.

As I was getting the clean laundry put up I realized that the girls room really needed some major attention. It’s hard to expect my little girls to maintain and keep their room and drawers clean when they have too much stuff and it’s not organized at all. I spent the afternoon going thru all their clothes, trying them on, packing up the sizes that didn’t fit, and ended up with 2 bags to goodwill. I even went as far as packing up camping clothes. Shelbie usually packs the little girls up for camping, but with her gone I knew it was my job. I figured that even though we don’t have a date planned yet I better be prepared.  The beginning of our project. Did you notice my floor is missing?Yay! My floor is back. Drawers are clean, clothes that we don’t need until the next season are packed away in bins under the beds, and two bags are ready for Goodwill. I guess it was still a successful day!

A day of nothing

I slept in til 8:00 and missed a chance to chat online with Shelbie. I am really sad about this as now I have to wait until Monday to have the chance again. The interns all loaded up on a bus this morning and went 6 hours away to Livingstone. Livingstone is where the famous missionary David Livingstone lived. He was a missionary in the 1800’s and helped open up the heart of Africa to missions.

While they are there they get to go on a safari, ride some elephants, and possibly even get to pet some lions. This was the part she was most excited over.  

Does this bother anyone else?

Duane, Shaylah, and the boys went fishing today so I was really excited about having a semi empty house to work on school planning and get some projects done. Not much of that happened. I did make a batch of liver cleanse and did several loads of laundry, but other than that I just can’t account for most of my day. I hate when that happens. 

Since I’ve stepped back into meal making here since Shelbie left I’ve been so surprised at how long it takes to feed people! My goodness, they’re always hungry! Then add in snacks and there is half of my day. I think they all need to go on a diet for the summer.

Tomorrow half my people are gone again to the Giants game. I’m feeling really optimistic about getting things done tomorrow. My room needs some major attention and I am still working on decluttering and cleaning out my closet. I’m also hoping to get some school planning done. Hopefully I can convince my little girlies that they don’t need to eat much then I’ll have hours more to my day. I’m not so sure they’re going to go for that.

I will place no value on anything I have or may possess except in relation to the kingdom of Christ.
~David Livingstone~

Things that make me smile

Or in this case laugh…hysterically!

As you all know Shaylah broke her collar bone a month ago today by biking. Tuesday I went to the library to pick up our books on hold and the book on the left is what I checked out to go over with my littles. The book on the right is what Shaylah had in our hold pile. What is the girl thinking? She’s clearly delusional from her accident. Does she not realize I’m having training wheels put on her bike?

Not in my strength

Yesterday not much got accomplished around here. The kids and I got up and headed to the pound to register the dogs that I was cited for the day before. Ugh! I prayed the way there and asked the Lord to let me see the lady who I had been so fussy with the day before on my doorstep. He is faithful…she was there. This was good and bad. I knew what I needed to do.

When she came up to collect my paper work I said, “you probably don’t remember me”, to which her very flat answer was, “actually, yes I do.” Ouch! That hurts. I then proceeded to swallow hard and apologize for my attitude the day before. She really didn’t say much but asked if everything had been taken care of with my daughter. (I had been texting back and forth with Shelbie as she was at the police station dealing with her stolen bag when the pound lady showed up. Part of why I was feeling so fussy and stressed. No excuse though.)

I saw this lady again in the hallway as we waited in a crazy long line to pay. She shuffled past staring at the floor, looking, exhausted, tired, looking like she didn’t feel well and so worn out. My heart went out to her. Why didn’t I see that the day before? I was so self absorbed in my own “worries” that I failed to see this woman thru the eyes of Jesus.

The rest of the day thoughts of her flooded my mind and regret filled my heart that I failed what felt like a test to me. My day had been met with some challenges and instead of meeting those with God’s grace I met it with my own human strength. Nothing ever comes from my own strength.

I’m chalking this up to another hard lesson learned. It seems like I’ve had lots of those lessons in my life. Once again I’m so grateful for grace. I’m sorry for taking all of it from all of you! Thankfully He has a lot to give!

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
II Corinthians 12:9

O’ Me of Little Faith

Well today was one of those days that you’d just like to have a do over and change how things go. I got online this morning to check for my morning email from Shelbie. I anticipate these every morning and have to make myself wait to check until I’ve accomplished a few other things. Today I decided to check my emails before I got my stuff done. Bad idea since t-tapping, laundry, and chores never got done after I read her email.

I opened my email to read:

“Hey Mama and Daddy,
I just wanted to let you know what is going on. Kate said before I tell you I should reassure you that it can happen to anyone, it's no big deal, and it will get taken care of soon.”

She went on to tell us how her bag had been stolen and in it was her license, flight itinerary, all her money, and worse of all her passport. Ugh! Can we please do a rewind? This very brazen and most likely desperate thief, stole her bag while it sat on the floor by her feet. The girls had gone to the internet cafe to blog and saw the man bend over and pick something up but because he was dressed similar to the waiter they assumed he was a waiter and just cleaning up. They were engrossed in their blogging and didn’t realize he had taken it at first.

Shelbie texted just minutes after I read this to ask if I had been online yet. She said they were going to the police station to file a report and first thing in the morning they were headed to the embassy to get a new passport. She was very bummed, nervous about going to the embassy, and overall shaken up. I know this will get taken care of and that she is in good hands but never the less this is not what a mama wants to hear when your separated by 10,732 miles from your child and there is not one thing you can do.

This is when I have to remember that she is not mine, but His. He is once again going to use this situation to teach and grow Shelbie into who He wants her to become. Once again she has shown me how strong she is and that her roots go very deep in her God. She said she has once again been given the chance to trust and be faithful in a situation that isn’t what we consider ideal.

I wish I could say the same for my faith. My morning just got worse. I was already feeling stressed over Shelbie so when the animal control came by to do their yearly walk through the neighborhood and make sure that people had their dogs licensed, and mine were not, I got fussy. I’m embarrassed to say it but I refused to sign the citation. Shame on me, I know. I just didn’t want to do  it. Later I ended up calling them to find out what my fine is and how to get the dogs registered and I apologized. Ugh.

As I was puttering around the house, stressing and waiting for updates from Shelbie, Shaylah was going about her morning routine and I heard her quietly singing away…

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His word;
Just to rest upon His promise;
Just to know, Thus saith the Lord.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er,
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more.

Then Shyloh comes over in the afternoon and she is quietly singing…

Take my heart, I Lay it down
At the feet of you whose crowned
Take my life, I’m letting go
I lift it up to You who’s throned

And I will worship You, Lord
Only You, Lord
And I will bow down before You
Only You Lord

Take my fret, take my fear
All I have, I’m leaving here
Be all my hopes, be all my dreams Take my heart, I Lay it down
At the feet of you whose crowned
Take my life, I’m letting go
I lift it up to You who’s throned

Each time I heard one of them singing I just knew the Lord was speaking to me. Can I trust Him with my girl? Or should I say His girl. Has He ever given me a reason to not trust Him?  Shelbie has truly laid her life down at His feet to use as He see’s fit, can I not do the same? Why do I think I’m entitled to having it easy and never having to deal with the stresses of this life?

I’m a slow learner. I’m thankful I have a God who is full of compassion and doesn’t give up on me. Once again I’m attempting to take my heart and lay it down and trust He who is ever faithful. I will take all my fret and all my fear and leave it for Him.

I’m praying that this person who stole her bag will be convicted by what he did, but that if he was that desperate for money that he will also be blessed. He needs a God who has compassion, one that he can trust to meet his every need. I pray he finds that God, my God, Jesus Christ.

School, cleaning, and herbs

After taking most of the last month off of school we jumped back in yesterday. We worked out a nice and easy summer schedule that allows for lots of swimming and free time while still getting some of the things we are behind on done.

• 6:30 Get up, devotions, TTap
• 7:30 –8:30 Chores and Breakfast prep
• 8:30 Breakfast
• 9:00 –11:00 School
• 11:00 –12:00 Swimming
• 12:00- 1:00 Lunch and clean up
• 1:00 – 2:00 Quiet reading/Nap for littles
• 2:00 – 3:00 Group school time/finish school
• 3:00 Snack time and more swimming
• After Daddy gets home it’s all party time!

After school I worked on a few projects around the house. One of which was sorting all my herbs and taking inventory. I love herbs but I really didn’t realize just how many I had. Yikes! I took them all out of the outside fridge and moved them to a plastic bin. My fridge is really empty now! I guess I can do a Costco run and have room again!

I went through and put herbs that I use for specific things in gallon or 2 gallon bags to make it simple when I need to make something. Everything I need for my super food is in one big bag, healing salve herbs are now all in one bag, and my formula 1 and 2 are also in individual bags. I’m hoping this makes easy when I go to make something. I can just grab a bag and have everything I need all in one place!

I need to finish taking inventory and make a list of all I have so that I don’t need to fish through the entire bin to check if I need some more of something.

I also started gutting my closet. This is going to be another big task, one I will have to work on little by little. My motto for this summer is “SIMPLIFY and ORGANIZE”!!

Multitude Monday

891. Family (Shelbie, my Aunt Pat, and me)

892. A dry heat, not humid

893. Being with my family

894. Knowing good bye is not forever

895. Africa…half of my heart is here right now

896. Bocce ball with my boys

897. Camo diapers

898. Swimming on a hot day

899. Dinner at the picnic table

900.Skyping with Shelbie

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8

Father’s Day

Today was a very relaxing day. We spent most the day lounging around and swimming. Shyloh and Bodey both fell asleep and took naps. We all went down and visited Grandpa and Grandma for a while too.

I made dinner again. Wow, I’m on a roll this week! I made a blueberry crisp for dessert with some of the blueberries we picked the other day. It was really yummy! 

I’m so very blessed to be married to a man that loves the Lord and his family like he does! I’m grateful my children have an example to look up and see what it looks like to selflessly serve your family!

Happy Father’s Day Honey!

Swimming, Bocce ball, and Movie Night

Today I slept in, like really slept in, the kinda sleeping in that you’re actually embarrassed to share. Don’t get me wrong it was definitely worth getting up at such an ungodly hour to Skype and see my girls face. Okay, okay, it was almost 11:00. I felt like I had slept away my day! It was still worth it, but I may need to start taking a nap the day I know we get to Skype with you! lol

Daddy and I ran some errands, one of which was to get his Father’s Day gift. Yes, he knows what it is! Spoiled man! We also got groceries for our b-b-q tomorrow. I’m really having to get back into the swing of cooking!   We also added another clock in the school room to help us keep track of you!    We came home and daddy and I swam with the little girls and Shiro. He wasn’t to sure at first but then he loved it. The boys spent the day working out at the Brawley Ranch with Uncle Micah. When they came home Daddy and I beat them at a few games of Bocce ball.

 

Tonight the Garcia’s brought over their projector again and we watched a movie in the backyard. Last time they did this I was in Texas with you. It was a nice night for it and was fun!

The little girlies had their own movie night in the playroom!

Blueberry Picking

Today we went blueberry picking. We will be enjoying lots of blueberry goodness for a while. We froze 3 gallon size baggies. Shylie girl had a blast picking away. When we were done the kids jumped in the bounce house they had. Even your very prego sister got in there!

Tonight I actually cooked dinner again. Pretty impressive, eh? I’m not sure once Shaylah’s arm is better if I’ll be getting my shot at making dinner much. Who know’s maybe I’ll just stake my claim to a night and not let her or the boy’s have a say so?

Here’s some shot’s of the day for you!Shylie girl starting her morning off with a good book

Shiro practicing his animal sounds. What a smart baby!

    We signed the building again this year…   

Things that make me smile

Knowing that there are no good bye’s in Christ, only farewell’s. Eric Liddell  

(the day we dropped Shelbie off at the director’s home)

Daily diary

I’ve decided to do a daily diary of sorts for Shelbie while she’s gone. As we were texting today we realized that since our texts are so limited we don’t want to use them up on the daily happenings in Neyville, but yet she still wants to know what’s going on with us and what we are doing.

I’m going to “attempt” to every evening do a recap of the day for her. For those who don’t want to be bored with life in Neyville please just ignore. For you, Shelbie, I hope it helps to make you feel like you are still here with us in spirit!

Wednesday evening we spent mostly outside…talking about you, Shelbie! Thinking and wondering how your flights were going and checking the live flight tracker every few minutes! The boys played in their pool and we ate lemon chicken stir fry, with sautéed zucchini that Aunt Nett brought us.

Today Aunt Nett came over and hung out and swam with the girls. We waited around with baited breath to hear that you had landed safely. Daddy and I decided that these were the most stressful 30 hours we’ve ever had! LOL

Every one is missing you bunches, even Libbie, but she is doing great! Shannen has been great about giving her her medicine.

Shaylah is serving at VBS tonight and Shadd down will be going too. It will be strange for Shaylah to be there without you! This will be a good thing to sidetrack everyone today!

Missing you and loving you tonight Shelbie!!