Making Memories

With November comes Thanksgiving, and I am feeling grateful for my family and friends. Life is so brief, and I want to express to my loved ones how special you are to me. I thank God for surrounding me with such loving and generous people.

Hiding in Heaven

My little angel said the sweetest thing today: "Mom, if I were playing hide-and-seek with my friends, I would hide in Heaven." I asked her why. She energetically replied, "Because I love God!" These words are music to my ears.

The photo pictures her with 2 recent books we've studied for home school. If you haven't read them with your children, there are remarkable life lessons tucked inside.

We're truly enjoying our time spent learning together each day. If only I can keep up with her inquisitive mind. What would I do without a laptop and Google search engine each day? Today she wanted to know why the sky turned beautiful colors during a sunset and how to dye feathers. Having let my fingers do the walking, now we both know the answers!

Sofia, I will no doubt fondly reminisce about our quality time spent together learning about God's world and all that is in it. Next to your Dad, you are the apple of my eye, and I adore you.

Pop's Visit to Oregon

During October we had the privilege of a visit from Tate's father, who lives in NC. This was his first opportunity to visit our favorite sight-seeing locations.

We sure enjoyed your visit Pop, and hope you will come again soon.

What a joy homeschooling Sofia has been! I cannot express how much we enjoy our time together learning, creating and sharing ideas. Sofia is such a smart 5-year-old, an ambitious reader, writer, artist and more.

We are using a curriculum called, "Five in a Row", which takes us through classic story books for 5 consecutive days, each day spent on a different subject.

Pictured are the 2 books we have studied so far, each one already becoming more meaningful and memorable as we dig deeper into the lessons.

We're looking forward to studying Madeline next week. I have to admit that NOT reading the story before Monday morning is taking serious will power! She has done well also, considering the books we will be reading this Fall are stacked on a table waiting patiently for us to open them.

My Baby Just Turned 5!

Happy 5th birthday Sofia!

Funny things you have said recently:

After paying you 25cents for cleaning the kitchen floor, "You can't buy anything with cents!"

"When I grow up to be a Mommy, I'm sending my kids to bed at 7." Why, I asked. "So I can stay up late."

"When I'm a Mommy I'll go on dates with my Husband."

Proud Of My Clunker

Recently I discovered a Mom's blog about wise money management. Her entry about driving a clunker, and not making a rash decision to buy a new car, just because of the Cash For Clunkers Program, reminded me of how proud I am to be driving a clunker. My 1994 Volvo wagon may not be the most luxurious or modern vehicle, but it's paid for, runs well, and the insurance premium is very affordable.

Another blog entry describes how to save $1 million by driving one car (per family). We drive one family car and one company car. The monetary savings are astronomical. I highly recommend reading Jen's article.

Wouldn't you like to be the millionaire Mom next door? I certainly aspire to be one in the future and leave a financial blessing to Sofia and her family. Foregoing material pleasures now allows my family to save more and enjoy simple pleasures like family time.

They grow up fast

As a Mother, the song In My Arms, by Plumb, captures my desire to keep our daughter safe as she grows. Click here to listen to a sample. Read lyrics.