July Blogging Challenge, Day 31

So, this month has come to an end. The blogging challenge has, too.

Our final topic is: Why do I blog?

Sometimes I truly wonder that. Because so much of the time it seems like no one is reading my blog, or interacting.

The truth of the matter is, I blog because I like to share with others little glimpses of our life at Rossmont: our homeschooling adventures, my photographs, occasionally my poems, cooking adventures and recipes. I also enjoy sharing book and homeschool product reviews. Most importantly, I like to share bits and pieces of my faith journey.

I hope that, someday, my children will enjoy reading what I have shared.

I hope you have enjoyed the journey this month. Our new home school year is about to begin. I look forward to sharing what we have coming up, what we are planning for the year, etc. Be sure to join us in a few days for the 5 Days of Back to Homeschool Blog Hop.

Please, tell me what you hope to find and read on my blog.

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July Blogging Challenge, Day 30

These days things made by me tend to be mostly food related.

 I also sometimes make dishwasher soap, or laundry detergent. I've even attempted making shampoo.

I used to do quite a bit of scrapbooking, and rubberstamping/card making. I've done some sewing, as well. These days, I just don't have much time to do any of that.

What is something you've made recently?

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July Blogging Challenge, Day 29

My favorite book from my childhood? Well, I can't choose just one. It seems I was always reading. We made frequent trips to the library.

My favorite set of books, though,  are the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I read through the set at least once a year, from about third grade, clear through my early twenties.

Another favorite series was one my mom read aloud to us, on our way to and from school in North Carolina. Those are the books by Sam Campbell. I am currently reading them to my youngest.

What are some of your favorite books from childhood?

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July Blogging Challenge, Day 28

As you may have already figured out, we are animal lovers around here.

It seems strange to be down to just one house cat.

It wasn't long ago that we had two goats, a dozen chickens, nearly a dozen rabbits, three indoor cats and two or three outdoor cats, a couple of dogs, a pair of parakeets...oh, and that donkey!

I do keep bird feeders filled, for the birds. They are such a joy to watch, and a pleasure to listen to.

While I was growing up, we always had pets. Ones that I remember: ponies, goats, guinea pigs, fish, birds of various kinds, hamsters and gerbils, and always dogs and cats. We've had some unusual pets, too: a skunk, a chinchilla, hermit crabs.

My grandparents and parents raised Siberian Huskies, to show. Other favorite dogs were Shetland Sheepdogs and Welsh Corgis. My mom had a beautiful Burnese Mountain Dog when I was little. She was such a sweet dog. We had a bouncy Old English Sheepdog. She was a lot of fun!

My very first dog was a little black Pekingese, named Kirin. How I loved that little dog! Another dog from my girlhood was a little black ragamuffin dog (mixed breed, a Heinz 57). I called her Twinkle. She was a cheerful little dog.

To be honest, I really miss having a dog. We'd love to have another Great Pyrenees. We really loved our Blaireau.

And I really miss Jen's cat. He ranked among my top favorite cats, a real sweetheart. He's becoming an old cat now.

Has your family had pets? Favorite animals? Please share about them.

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July Blogging Challenge, Day 27

What is the best thing that has happened this year? Or the most fun we've had all summer?

Well, the most fun we've had all summer is our visit to Florida! But all good things must come to an end...we had to travel home today. And that trip wasn't particularly fun.

It was smooth sailing, until about Pensacola, when the air conditioning died on us. From there on, we had to drive with the windows down...and we were facing heat advisories all the way along the Gulf Coast. Ugh.

The when we got nearly to the state line between Mississippi and Louisiana, they told us at the visitor center that there was road construction ahead, and gave us directions for an alternate route, which took us the scenic way, through some of the bayous of the southeast corner of Louisiana...an area we'd never seen before.

The closer we got to home, the worse our engine sounded. And the more earnestly we prayed!

When we were nearly 15 miles or so from home, we ran in to more road construction; further delays.

But we made it home safely! And I got to give my oldest boy a birthday hug!

The best thing that has happened this year? Little Bit being baptized!

What is the best thing that has happened for you this year? The most fun you've had this summer?

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July Blogging Challenge, Day 26

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. Psalm 100:4.

It is important to take time to be thankful. I think it should be done more often than just once a year (on Thanksgiving); in fact, I think it ought to be done on a daily basis.

Today I will list just a few things for which I am thankful.

I am thankful for my children.

As you may remember, last week, my daughter had her birthday. Tomorrow, my oldest son has his birthday. Jen is 22 now; Tim is 24 tomorrow. I am thankful, awed, with the wonderful young adults they have become. Both are well-liked at their jobs. They are both conscientious, responsible employees. I am just very proud of them both.

I am proud of my younger two as well. They worked hard today, helping Grandpa, along with their friend, M. Daniel and M make a great team! Lots of strong muscles in the both of them.

I am thankful for the commitment to God my children have made. My youngest publicly shared that commitment earlier this month, when he was baptized. And the Botanist Boy is sharing that commitment the first couple weeks next month, helping with VBS.

I am thankful for the time I get to spend with my folks, when ever we are able to visit them in Florida. Believe me, I know how fragile life really is, and how fortunate I am to still have my parents (and that they are still married to each other!).

I am thankful God loves me unconditionally, even though the devil tries to tell me otherwise. I am thankful He forgives me, and heals me. I am thankful He is patient with me.

I am thankful for my husband, who puts up with me, and allows me to put up with him. <grin>

For what are you thankful today?

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July Blogging Challenge, Day 25

"If I knew then..."

There are a lot of situations for which I often say, "If only I knew then what I know now..." Do you know what I mean?

"If I hadn't married that person, with that addiction, life would be totally different now." But, then I wouldn't have my children!

"If I hadn't married that person who wasn't a Christian, my children would be in the church." Again, but I wouldn't have those children.

"If I had gone to college right after high school, and gotten my bachelor's degree, our finances would be in a much better shape than they are now." But I might not be a homeschool mom now.

"If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have moved from here to there." But in that case, I wouldn't have met that person, who has become a good friend. My son wouldn't have gotten the job, at which he's been for 6 1/2 years now (and he's just turning 24 this week). We wouldn't have met that Christian orthodontist, who has taken care of three of my four children.

"If I had known how fast the time would fly, how quickly my children would grow up, how soon it would be that they'd be moving out, I'd have spent less time running from place to place, from homeschool activity to co-op to field trip to numerous church activities or sports activities, and more time at home, just hanging out with my kids, playing games or reading books. I'd have spent less time distracted by phone calls or computer time or TV programs."

I hope you don't have many of those "If only" moments, events, in your life.

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July Blogging Challenge, Day 24

Today is Friday. In our home, in my parent's home while I was growing up, Friday has always been our Sabbath preparation day. It is the day we do our weekly housecleaning. So my children have learned, from the time they were little, how to do the household cleaning chores.

No, I haven't limited teaching housecleaning to just my daughter; each of my sons knows how to clean bathrooms, sweep and mop (well, my youngest isn't doing sweeping and mopping yet), vacuuming, dusting...laundry, dishes, and cooking. 

I enjoy having a clean house, but I will admit that my house isn't always neat and tidy. It definitely has a lived-in look!

So, moms of young children, start teaching your children to have little housecleaning chores now. Then when they are preteens and teens, they will know how to do the household chores. When they are young adults, and out on their own, they will know how to run their own households.

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July Blogging Challenge, Day 23

Today's topic: Treasure boxes.

Since we are still currently at my folks, I can't share any "treasure boxes" my kids might have. But I can share a treasured box of my mom's.

It's treasured by my mom, because she was born in Haiti, to missionary parents. Haiti has always had a special place in her heart, and thus in the rest of our hearts.

My mother also collects small figurine boxes, which she treasures.

Do you, or your children, have any treasure boxes, or treasured boxes? Please share about them.

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July Blogging Challenge, Day 21

Family fun time.

Today my daughter celebrates her 22nd birthday. I love my beautiful girl, and I am so proud of the young lady she has become. I am thankful I get to be here, to celebrate with her.

She has been at her job at McDonald's for over a year now. This week is her first-ever paid vacation. She is pretty excited about that! She is doing well at her job, and seems to be well liked (but we all knew that'd happen. What's not to love about my girl?!). A couple weeks or so ago, she caught a counterfeit $20.00 bill come through. She received a commendation from the store manager and owner! And a 10 cent pay raise. And a free meal. :-)

So, what did we do to celebrate her birthday? Well, this week, my folks are involved with volunteering with FreeD.O.M. Clinic. So we made other plans. We went with our friends (M and J are the boys' best friends, and their mom is my close friend), to see a movie downtown, at a restored theater. The movie was Lion King. Cost: $2.00 per person, which included small popcorn and drink.

I wish I had taken more pictures inside the theater. It was really pretty cool! It'd be fun to go again sometime.

After the movie, we made a stop at Starbuck's, just around the corner from the theater. Then we went to our friends' house, to just hang out. They have a pool, but none of the kids went swimming this time.

To further celebrate Jen's birthday, we will be going out with my folks to our favorite restaurant at the end of the week, when Mom and Dad are finished with the FreeD.O.M. Clinic.

What are some of your family fun times this summer?

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July Blogging Challenge, Day 20

Today we are sharing one of my favorite topics: favorite foods. Yum! Since I do enjoy eating (most of the time, anyway), it is hard to narrow down the list to "favorites."

My favorite fruits are:

• fresh peaches
• mangoes
• avocados
• tomatoes
• bananas, with peanut butter on them, or frozen in smoothies
• pineapple
• Fuji or Gala apples

My favorite vegetables are:

• tender green beans
• green peas
• beets
• baked potatoes, with sour cream and cheese
• kale
• a huge salad always hits the spot

Some of my favorite dishes are:

• spinach lasagna
• Special K Roast
• enchiladas
• cauliflower cheese soup
• homemade macaroni and cheese

And don't get me started on desserts, or breads.

I like pretty much anything Mexican: enchiladas, burritos, tostadas, quesadillas. During each of my pregnancies, early in the pregnancies, about the only thing I could tolerate was cheese enchiladas, from our favorite restaurant. You might say that my kids were "enchilada babies!" <grin>

What are some of your favorite foods?

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July Blogging Challenge, Day 19

Summer down time. It seems like we do have more down time in the summer, than the rest of the year...and yet, maybe not really. We've been spending time visiting my folks this summer.

Living in the Deep South certainly makes it difficult to feel like doing much outside, thanks to oppressive heat and humidity. So mid-day to early evening is definitely spent indoors, reading or watching videos. Sometimes the boys and I might play a few games.

We don't have a swimming pool. My folks don't have one, either. So swimming isn't much of an option...unless we go visit friends.

How do you spend your summer down time?

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July Blogging Challenge, Day 18

Today's topic: Pamper Me; favorite indulgences.

Hmm. Really? We are supposed to pamper ourselves, at least now and then? Honestly, I don't know how to do that. Never been one much for it.

I used to enjoy a good soak in the tub. Now I don't dare, because I know I'd never be able to get back out of the tub!

A couple "indulgences" might be time spent reading a good book, or watching a good movie. Some people consider chocolate an indulgence. Yes, so do I, but I have to be careful how much I eat, since I am allergic to it. Sometimes I put up with the enormous headache it causes anyway.

The past few weeks, I have been getting frequent hot fudge sundaes from McDonalds; but then the last time I got to feeling sick afterward. Too much chocolate, and too much dairy (I'm lactose intolerant, too), I guess.

How do you pamper yourself?

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July Blogging Challenge, Day 17

Reading is one of my favorite past times, which is one reason I signed up to review books for Litfuse.

You can read reviews for some of my summer reads. On my current read/yet to read list:

• Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor
• Crazy Little Thing Called Love
• A Bride at Last
• Irish Meadows
• A Heart's Home
• Among the Fair Magnolias
• Through Waters Deep
• Counting on a Cowboy

As for books the boys are reading, Botanist Boy has already devoured A Stand at Sinai. He will be reading Pudd'nhead Wilson, and The War of the Worlds, for the Illuminating Literature course. There are more for the lit course, as well, throughout the school year.

What is on your summer reading list?

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July Blogging Challenge, Day 16

Our topic today is "Way Back When." I don't have any old pictures on my mom's computer, and only a few in my Flickr account. Such as I have, I'll share a couple here.

This is my mother, with her mother and brother, when they were home on furlough from the mission field one time.

This is my grandparents, my parents, and my brothers with me, way back "forever" ago. I was 5 years old.

My senior portrait; fall, 1980

This was taken during my first marriage, before the kids began to arrive. Back when I was thin (yes, I really was thin, once upon a time!). <grin>

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July Blogging Challenge, Day 15

Lights! Camera! Action!

If you have been following my blog for very long, or are friends with me on Facebook or Instagram, then you know that one of my passions is photography.

I began photographing way back "in the dark ages," using a Kodak Instamatic camera, with black and white film.

When I married my first husband, we used some of our wedding gift money to buy a Canon AE-1. About 11 years ago, I upgraded to a fairly inexpensive digital camera. My dream became to own a Canon Rebel t3i. That happened for Christmas a few years ago.

Now you see photos on my blog, often, on Wordless Wednesday. I've also done Beauty Captured; 365 Days of Photos; Monthly Reviews in Photos; and most recently, Our Week, Illustrated.

I chronicle most of our life events through photos, too, like Little Bit's recent baptism, which kind of "overshadowed" his 13th birthday, to be honest.

Cupcakes, from Just a Cupcake Bakery and Cafe, in Dunnellon. Very festive for Independence Day!

These days, more often than not, I use my phone for photos (which aren't the best quality), or Little Bit's iPad. (Oh, yes, and I do scrapbook...or at least used to!)

How do you like to share your photos.

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