My New Look!

Well, I decided it was probably time to take down the last of the Christmas 'decorations' from around here, expecially since I added them in '08!  That's evidence of how Facebook came along and nearly ended my blogging career.  While I do still enjoy Facebook, my heart has returned home, back to blogging, where I can elaborate all I want about our days and not have to whittle down what I'm trying to say to 420 characters!  How rude is that anyway?  What mom, what WOMAN, can limit what she's trying to say to a measly 420 letters?  Shoot, for me that's usually only one sentence!

So, how do like my blog's new look?  My header is absolutely P~E~R~F~E~C~T for me for two reasons.  One, it is my favorite, FAVORITE color, pink.  Secondly, my favorite animal is the giraffe.  As soon as I saw this design I knew I had to make it mine!  Are you kidding me?!  Pink AND giraffe print together in one pre-made blog header, of which I have no idea how to make on my own?  Naturally I'll be tweaking things here and there; I can never just leave things alone.  There's always a picture here, and link there, maybe a button or two to add.  Such is the life of a slightly OCD blogger-mom.

I look so forward to sharing our days as a homeschool family once again.  That's something I don't think a lot of my Facebook friends really care about reading.  Can you believe that?!  Although, I did do the statistics one day and the majority, well, at least half, of my 401 Friends actually ARE homeschoolers so I guess I really shouldn't let those few comments here and there against homeschooling deter me from sharing about it, should I?

Ah well.  Anyway, when our new school year starts we will have a 3rd grader, a 4th grader, a 5th grader, and... GASP!!... a high schooler!!  How did THAT happen?  I have to tell ya', I'm just a bit nervous, but also very excited!  This will be a whole new adventure for all of us and I look forward to what God has in store for us. 

Oh, I also began babysitting back in January of this year so this next school year really WILL be an adventure.  Two to three days a week we also have a 4 year old and a (currently) 9 month old in our home keeping things lively!  Wanna see a picture of the cuties?

See!  Aren't they adorable?  They are awesome and have quickly become added extensions of our family.  If we are Friends on Facebook then you have undoubtably read some of the halarious things that come out of little Jordan's mouth which I have affectionately dubbed 'Jordanisms'.  I'm sure I'll be sharing how he makes us laugh here on my blog as well.

Our calendar for the month of July is filled so I should have lots of things to blog about, the most exciting (for me anyway) being planning out our next school year.  Yes, I'm a bit late in getting started but I have a pretty good plan in mind.  I just have to get it down on paper and purchase everything we'll need.  (The planning and purchasing is my FAVORITE part of the school year!)

I'll also be doing reviews on various homeschool products for The Old Schoolhouse so be watching for those!

Ahhh.... it's great to be back!

A Priceless Treasure, For Generations to Come!

Why am I blogging about all these give-a-ways from another blog when I haven't even personally blogged here on my own for so long? Well, for two reasons. One, when I blog I receive an extra entry into their drawings and I really, REALLY want to win these things (!), but also because this new Raising Homemakers blog is EXACTLY, so far at least, right in step with my beliefs and convictions in raising our daughters and I want to help spread the word so others can find their way to this wealth of knowledge and together maybe we can make a difference in the lives of future wives and mothers!

Today's give-a-way is a collection of 9 sessions with Victoria Botkin, a true Titus 2 woman. Here is an excerpt from the description of these sessions:

Listen to Victoria discuss subjects like woman's great power, sinful tendencies, obedience vs. submission, independence vs. submission, freedom vs. submission, beauty, dress, makeup, respect, women's rights, hospitality, speaking words of life, managing with grace, pitfalls of perfectionism in homemaking, Hollywood expectations, trials, trust, and cultivating personality. Throughout, she responds to questions and answers from women. This download contains recordings and slides from all nine sessions:

1.All About Eve
2.Biblical Submission and How Godly Women Do It
3.Lessons from the Proverbs 31 Woman
4.All About Love
5.How to Help Your Husband Love You
6.Thoughts on Beauty
7.Loving Your Children
8.Questions, Answers, Slander, & Gossip
9.Review and Closing Remarks

Oh how I would love to have this treasure to listen to whenever I wanted! It would be just like having my own personal Godly mentor; that older, wiser, more experienced wife and mother passing on her years of knowledge and wisdom any time I needed!

Doesn't it sound wonderful? Hop on over to Raising Homemakers and enter to win. Or don't. That would be ok too. The fewer entries the more chance I have of winning! Just kidding. (Ok, not really.)

Set of 10 Homestead Blessings DVDs Giveaway!

Wow! What an awesome resource this would be in training our daughters as well as learning some new things ourselves!

Jump over to Raising Homemakers to enter to win!

Raising Homemakers

I am so excited about the new Raising Homemakers blog! My heart's greatest desire as far as raising our two beautiful daughters is to train them in the things they will need to know as future wives, mothers, and keepers of their homes. I'm not ashamed to admit that there are still a lot of things *I* need to learn in these areas as well and I can't wait to dive into all that comes from all the contributors at Raising Homemakers!

Here is a quote from the blog...

"We are so excited about coming together to learn, grow, encourage, teach, and journey together on the path of raising homemakers to the glory of God."

Sounds like a fun, exciting, and worthy journey and I look forward to learning and growing as well as joining others in the raising and training of our daughters God has entrusted us with.

Check it out as soon as you get a chance! It looks to be a wonderful blessing.