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We’re Home!

Valerie Basham

September 11, 2010

We had a wonderful time in Illinois! Aside from seeing Terry’s parents and Gramma, we also got to see Terry’s best friend, Thomas and his wife, Shelley; Terry’s cousin, Misty; and a facebook friend of mine! We also saw several other friends. I have about a hundred photos to sort through, and several I want to share here, but I need to be getting busy with the laundry and preparations for the Lord’s Day tomorrow, so blogging about that will have to wait.

We are so thankful for safety on our trip. Matthew did very well, as did the other children. Matthew is my first baby to take a pacifier, and that helped keep him happy during the nine hour drive. The kids had to entertain themselves by reading, drawing or playing travel games since we didn’t have a portable DVD player this time. Except for a few moments here and there, the trip was a peaceful one. Praise the Lord for His watch-care. It was a busy and fun trip, but I’m so thankful to be back home. {insert contented sigh here} :]

I was away from my scale on my weigh-in day last week, so my new weigh-in day will be Saturday from now on. I was sad to step on the scale today and see that I’d gained back a pound. 😦 I knew I would probably gain, since we had to be sedentary for so long in the van. Eating out didn’t help, though I did try to make good choices. Oh well, back to work!

I just got a book in the mail that I ordered last week. It’s called Healthy Meals for Less: Great-Tasting Simple Recipes Under $1 a Serving. My husband and I are trying to save as much money as we can. We are attempting to save six months salary as well as begin saving for our retirement. We already have an emergency savings set aside as well as life insurance. While our trust for each day is in the Lord, the Bible illustrates using the ant to show we are to plan ahead. We are also told to avoid the “evil” that may happen.(Prov.22:3). We noticed after going over our budget with a Christian financial planner, that we spend more than we should on groceries and dining out. We want to still enjoy a meal out occasionally, but we need to cut back on this. To help shrink this area, I would like to prepare more homemade dishes and try my hand at making homemade laundry detergent. We’ll do whatever we can to save some moola. 🙂

This autumn, I am planning on doing some very simple sewing and some cooking with my daughter. To help me with these endeavors, (since I’m no expert in these areas!) I purchased the Homestead Blessings “Art of Cooking” DVD and “Art of Sewing” DVD. They were on sale for over 50% off! I had been watching them for a while and was so happy to get them at a discount. In the spring, my goal is to get the gardening and canning DVDs.

I’ll be posting photos from our trip, our sewing projects and my efforts at saving money in the near future, so I hope you will check back in! I have lots to talk about. 🙂

Have a great weekend!
Valerie

Blogging from Afar

Valerie Basham

1 comment

September 8, 2010

Hello, friends and neighbors! Thanks for dropping in. I just wanted to post quickly and say that I’ve been away from the computer enjoying a visit with my husband’s family in Illinois. I plan to blog about our trip soon and post some photos upon our return. I hope you will stop by again soon, I have so much to write about! 🙂

See you in a few days. =)

Valerie

Week in Review

Valerie Basham

2 comments

September 4, 2010

We have completed three weeks of school! Yippee! We are using the A.C.E. program for 3rd and 6th grades this year. This curriculum choice has freed me up to care for our seven week old baby, teach Leslie K5 using the Abeka materials, and spend time with Laci, age 3. In the A.C.E. program, a student completes a workbook every three weeks and is tested on the material. To pass, they must make 90% or higher on the Self-Test (practice test), and 80% or higher on the actual test. When you pass a test, you get to put a star on a chart.The kids completed their first Paces this week in each subject and passed with no problem. They were so excited to put up their first stars!

Leslie had a good week also. She has learned all of her vowel sounds, how to write them and how to write 1 and 2. She is loving the games and songs that we do. I think her favorite time is art time though! She told me that she would like to be an artist someday. Our home school support group is starting an art class (taught by someone who actually knows art!) at the end of the month! I know they all will really enjoy that, especially Leslie! :]

Here are some photos from our week:

We made little work-stations for the kids in our dining room. Looks like they are working hard, at the time this pic was taken, anyway! lol!

Leslie loves playing the learning games.

Some of the work we did in K5 this week.

Laci does some “school” each day, too. 🙂

I just thought this wall was pretty with all the colors. :]

Lauren, checking her work.

Putting up their first stars of the year!!

Looking good. :]

Mitchell wanted to rock Matthew a few days ago, I couldn’t resist taking a pic!

He got him to sleep!!

This week, I trimmed about four inches off of Lauren’s hair. It was getting kinda…stringy.

My mom sent me flowers which I posted about HERE. Every time I walked into our dining room, I immediately felt better! I couldn’t resist taking a pictures so I would always have the memory.

I loved the way they looked on my table. See the reflection?

Hope you had a great week!

Valerie

Ordering My Days

Valerie Basham

no comments

September 3, 2010

Psalm 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

I am a big-time planner, list-maker, and scheduler. I love to organize closets, cabinets, drawers, and even cubby-holes. I like to have a place for everything and everything in its place. I just had my fifth child, and we home school, so life can get crazy! While my goals are to have things in apple pie order, I’ve had to realize that life happens. This means that many times my goals are not a reality. I’m learning to relax and not stress out about clutter. The toys, books, and sundry articles can be picked up in record time by tiny little hands. We make a game out of it by timing the kids or giving them sections of the house to work on. Dust is my lowest priority. It isn’t as noticeable as a room strewn about with toys, so I leave the dust till last. (But I do dust..eventually. lol!) When we are learning, we sometimes make a mess. The mess used to really bug me, but then I read a quote by a home schooling mom who said “we make messes when we’re being productive.” I like that! I have five productive children in my home. The messes mean we are learning and growing. As long as the mess gets cleaned up, I’m happy.

I’ve had to be more realistic about what I can accomplish each day as I home school, nurse a newborn, and supervise two pre-schoolers. Here are the tasks that I make a priority each day.

*Note – My first priority each day is my quiet time with the Lord ( Bible reading & prayer). When the baby needs me first thing in the morning, then I do it as soon as I can get a few minutes alone.

1. Food – three meals a day, as healthful as I can make them.
2. Dishes – we have to have clean utensils and plates to eat the said meals on. 🙂
3. Home Schooling – I refuse to be lazy on this one! This must get done each school day, even if we must get up early or stay up late to finish.
4. Laundry – my goal is to get at least one load done a day but most days, I get two done.
5. Clean children – Baths, clean hair, nails & teeth are important.

I also have goals to accomplish each week. I used to have specific days these things get done, but now, I just do them when I can. The children complete most of their jobs on Saturday, with a few to be done during the school week. My three oldest children are assigned the following tasks in their chore packs which I wrote about HERE.

Each week they must:

1. Clean rooms – vacuum, dust, pick up, change sheets, empty trash, straighten closets and totes. (We don’t have dressers, just a storage tote for underwear, socks and pjs for each child.)
2. Clean glass doors.
3. Vacuum all rooms, except Mom & Dad’s room.
4. Sweep deck, carport and front porch
5. Clean hall bathroom – sink, counter, mirror, toilet, tub (This is done more than once a week)
6. Dust – I keep cloths with dusting solution on them in an air tight container for the kids to use. This way, they don’t use too much polish.
7.Clean out van.
8.Empty all trash cans.
9. Clean light switch plates and doorknobs – especially during the cold and flu season.
10. They also complete any job as it arises whenever I need help.

My responsibilities include: (and sometimes, I have little helpers :] )

Laundry
Sweeping & mopping
Cleaning my own room and bathroom
Menu planning and grocery shopping
Cooking

It doesn’t always run like a well-oiled machine, but this has worked for us. We tweak our schedules as needed, and of course, there is always a dispensation of grace available to all. 🙂

If you have any tips, ideas, schedules, etc. to share, I’d love to hear from you!

Happy homemaking!
Valerie

Cloud Nine

Valerie Basham

3 comments

September 3, 2010

Dreams really do come true. It takes a lot of prayer and work, but I’m living proof that it can happen! After working on and off for nine years to be published, I have finally gotten an article in print! I submitted something to Home School Enrichment magazine and they actually accepted it! Can you believe it? I still can’t! I haven’t received my copy yet, but I’ve heard from good friends that it’s really there! I’m about ready to camp out by the mailbox till mine arrives. I have submitted a few more articles that will, Lord willing, appear in later issues. I am also working on two more right now. I hope and pray God can use my writing, both here and elsewhere, for His honor and glory.

To celebrate the occasion, my mom did a wonderful thing for me. She sent me the lovely bouquet above! What a great boost to my day! In fact, I was cleaning the chalkboard when the delivery lady knocked on the door. 🙂 The best part, however, was the enclosed card. It said, “Yea John-boy! I’m so proud of you! Love, Mother” The “John-boy” reference is a little family joke. When I started writing a while back, my sister said once, “You’re gonna be our ‘John-boy’!” John-boy, of course, was the character who wrote about his family in TV show, “The Waltons”. He made it to the big-time when he started writing for a newspaper and later, a novel. I doubt I’ll ever have the success that John-boy had, but it won’t be for lack of material. My family is every bit as loving and remarkable as his, I just don’t have his talent, or six other siblings. :]

I am so grateful to see years of hard work and hundreds of thousands of words finally bring forth fruit. Instead of rotting in my drawer or on my hard drive, a few of them will actually see the light of day! What a joy!! I’m sitting on cloud nine! I can’t begin to count the number of rejections, or worse, the no responses, I’ve received over the years. It did make the acceptance that much sweeter, though. :]

I thank the Lord for opening the doors for me to have this opportunity. I also want to thank you, friend, for reading. Blogging or writing would be pointless without you. 🙂

Filled with gratitude,
Valerie

I’m Not Crazy. Really, I’m Not.

Valerie Basham

1 comment

September 2, 2010

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

I have an active imagination. I think I must be unusual in this way, because when I tell people some of the things I’ve thought about, they look at me like I’m crazy. Or, maybe they do that just because I really am crazy? Oh well, who knows? Anyway, I’d like to give you the chance to look at me like I’m crazy, too, so I’m going to tell you some things that have crossed my mind:

– One night, around 1 AM, a man knocked on our door needing money. The thought occurred to me that he might have a gun or a knife and try to do my husband harm, so I stood behind the door with the phone, ready to dial 911.

– I often think (okay, it’s really worry) that my family could be in a car accident.

– Sometimes, I drive across bridges and wonder if they will collapse beneath me.

– When Lauren was a baby, I thought (read: worried) that there would be a fire and I wouldn’t be able to save her. (I think this might have stemmed from a Little House on the Prairie episode where Mary’s baby is killed in a fire. That show always made me cry!) I mentally devised a plan for how I would get her out.

– I admit it, since 9/11, I’ll never look at a fellow passenger on a plane the same again. Yep, I thi…worry…about that, too.

Hmmm. Now that I’ve written this, I can see why people looked at me so strangely. I kinda do sound…crazy. But before you pick up that phone to have me committed, let me explain! 🙂 I am not consistently bombarded with these thoughts. They just pop into my head here and there and leave just as quickly. However, I’m sure you noticed the pattern here. These thoughts are not just plain ol’ thoughts – they are really worry. I am prone to worry, and I do so nearly everyday. Most of the time, I worry about finances. Sometimes, I worry about the health of my family. Yet, other days, I worry about whether everyone in our church hates us or not. Some days, I worry about worrying too much.

I worry, and worry is a sin.

Lately, I’ve been convicted about it. The Lord nudges me every time I have worry-some thoughts and reminds me to trust Him. He’s seen me through so many trials in the past, why do I doubt Him? I suppose it’s simply because I am a sinner. I fail often. As I brought this matter to the Lord for help, He gave me the verse above. My thoughts and imaginations can get pretty crazy, and I need to keep hold of them. I need to make them “captive”. I need to keep my mind on Christ, and trust in Him. (Is.26:3) I need to think on good things.(Phil.4:8) I need to think only about fearing the Lord, and pleasing Him. (Ecc.12:13; Prov.16:7) The Lord corrects me often, and I’m so grateful, for I need His guidance each and every day. I need His mercy, and His forgiveness. He’s so good to me!

I have so many verses that I claim to help me conquer worry in my life, but one of my favorites is Hebrews 13:5b-6 which says “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

No, I’m not crazy. Really. (I see the doubtful look on your faces!) But, I do worry. And I’m happy to say, I have a Helper today and He will not leave me.

The very sane and normal (Right? Help me out here!),

Valerie

Somewhere Out There

Valerie Basham

2 comments

September 1, 2010

I enjoy feeding-time with my Matthew so much! It is a sweet time to cuddle him. Sometimes, I pray while I feed him. Other times I blog, or just sit and think. Yesterday, as I was feeding him, I began thinking about how quickly he will be grown! Being my fifth child, I have seen first hand how quickly kids seem to take off. Lauren is already 11! Wasn’t it just yesterday that she was the baby I was feeding? My, my…it kinda makes me sad.

As I thought about Matthew’s growing up, I thought about the girl he would someday marry. She is probably alive now. Then I thought about my other children, they are 11, 8, 5 & 3. Their mates are alive now, too, I would assume. Somewhere out there, mothers are raising my future sons and daughters in-law! I began to pray that they would be raised by loving parents who serve the Lord. This led me to pray for their future mates’ salvation. I prayed they would have happy and strong marriages. I think I will pray more regularly for these things.

Happy marriages are unusual in today’s world. So many couples get divorced or, are together, but miserable – even Christian couples! Of course, all marriages have times of struggle, after all, no couple is perfect. Yet, by following God’s Word, a blissfully happy marriage is possible, even in today’s world. I hope and pray that my children find the right mate. My heart’s desire is to model a happy marriage and see them experience that joy themselves.

But not right away, of course! I’m in no hurry. 🙂

Valerie

Bubble Pizza

Valerie Basham

3 comments

September 1, 2010

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1 jar (28 oz) spaghetti sauce

2 tubes (12 oz each) refrigerated biscuits

1 1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup (4 oz) shredded cheddar cheese

Brown meat in a skillet and drain. Stir in pizza sauce. Quarter biscuits and place in a greased 9×13 in. baking dish. Top with beef mixture and bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle with cheeses, bake 5 minutes longer till cheese is melted. Let stand a few minutes before serving.

Yield: 6-8 servings

My family really loves this dish, so I wanted to pass it along. Enjoy!

Valerie

He Ain’t Heavy…

Valerie Basham

2 comments

September 1, 2010

…he’s my brother!

I thank the Lord for my loving children!

Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.

Valerie

Our Week in Pictures

Valerie Basham

2 comments

August 30, 2010

Lauren wanted to go bowling and eat at Golden Corral for her birthday. We had planned to do these things on her actual birthday, the 27th, but when we found out that Golden Corral let kids eat for $1.99 on Tuesdays, we decided to save some moolah and head over early. It turned out to be a bigger blessing than just allowing us to save some money. As a pastor, my husband must be on call, so to speak, 24/7/365. On Wednesday, he received a call that a lady in our church lost her mother that morning. The visitation would be on Friday and the funeral on Saturday. My husband spent Wed., Thurs. & Sat. ministering to this dear family. I was so thankful that the Lord led us to celebrate Lauren’s birthday a bit early. We were able to make Lauren feel special and loved, as well as care for a sweet family in our church. We were able to have her birthday cake and presents at lunch time on her actual birthday, and my mother was able to join us as well! We had a wonderful time.

Here are some photo highlights of Lauren’s birthday, as well as a few other bits ‘n’ pieces of our week. :]

“We’re ready to bowl!!”

Doesn’t she look older? *sniff sniff*

Her first attempts did not please her at all, but I thought she did great! This was only her second time to bowl.

Dad stepped in with some coaching and she did much better after that!

Mitchell didn’t care about points or skill, he just had fun.

I just love Leslie’s smile!

Laci was told to “watch her fingers” so she waited patiently…most of the time. 😉

Yes, that ball is moving, though you can barely tell. She could have turned three somersaults while waiting on it to reach the pins. I kid you not! Of course, we didn’t let her…

Leslie takes her turn with Tonto at her side.

I was the photographer and “Matthew watcher”. I think I had more fun than anyone else. 🙂

Of course, in the end, my handsome man won the game. We enjoyed watching him bowl – his ball went much faster than the others! The kids were quite impressed! 🙂

Lauren enjoyed her birthday meal at Golden Corral, in fact, we all did.

She chose chocolate cake, with Cool Whip frosting and strawberries all over it. She loved having all those candles, too! 🙂

Mitchell got her a DVD she’d been wanting called “Tom & Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes”. It was a cute film, and I was glad she isn’t all grown up just yet. She still likes cartoons!

Leslie and Laci got her a jump rope and some glow sticks. She also got lots of cards with cash in them!! 🙂 Terry and I gave her a gift card to Wal-M*rt. We weren’t exactly sure what she wanted – she tends to change her mind! heehee!