Archive for the ‘Family Life’ Category

One of the simple joys of homeschooling is that my family spends a lot (and I mean a lot) of time together. This constant togetherness provides numerous opportunities for impromptu lessons.  I remember one such lesson in particular, a study in vocabulary.

While driving home from an appointment, my then six-year-old Elisabeth asked for the specific definition of the word “deflating.”  (She likes to confirm the definitions of words she is already using.  Better late than never.) I explained that deflating is when a person’s joy or energy seems to be leaking out or when the air comes out of something.

Pleased with myself for presenting such a simple, yet all-encompassing explanation, I was even more delighted with Elisabeth for her mature intelligence.  A quick glance in the rearview mirror assured me that, indeed, her “gears” were turning.

Confirming in her matter-of-fact way that the definition had, in a sense, sunk in, she said, “Oh, like pooting. You’d better open the window, ‘cuz I’m deflating.”

After I went out on a limb and explained why my Beloved does not give me chocolate, what do you suppose he did for the first time ever on Valentine’s Day? You guessed it. He presented me with a big, beautiful box of chocolate.  Ha ha ha! It’s pretty safe giving me chocolate these days, since I’m good at sharing, and the box has been pilfered by everyone.  I think there is one turtle left, so I’d best get it before…oops…too late.

Have you ever dared to venture to the store on Valentine’s Day? It’s very amusing and pathetically sad at the same time. Valentine’s Day is one day when the men vastly outnumber the women in the store. Almost every one of these men is trying to find something, anything that is red, heart-shaped, cuddly or sweet to give to the woman in his life to appease her until next Valentine’s Day. Most of them look confused, some resigned, others annoyed. Why are they there? Because society tells them they have to show their love on this day above all others. It’s pitiful actually. (Never mind that my own dear husband is at the store right now! He’s buying a router…and not in the shape of a heart.)

I remember from years ago in my waitressing days a threat made by the restaurant owner’s twenty-something daughter. She fumed that her “significant other” better make a good showing at Valentine’s Day or it was over…again. I asked her what she had in mind, not particularly wanting to know the answer, but not having an escape route at the time. (Life lesson, always have an escape route!) She showed me the catalog she had been carrying around with her all week. She pointed an adamant finger (can fingers be adamant? I think so!) at a rather garish piece of jewelry with a shocking price tag of $349. The poor man. I hope he ran while he still could.

My husband and I wear silver bands on the ring fingers of our left hands. We purchased them together at a small jewelry stand at a Renaissance Fair in Illinois. We never can come to a consensus on what they actually cost. I say $30 for the set. He says $20. At the time, it was a lot of money for us. We have in the past discussed getting gold rings with diamonds and other frills, but then we laugh, rub our rings on our jeans a bit to shine them up, and go on living. Read the rest of this entry »

I have a sweet dilemma this morning. My children have been polishing their debating skills in a “discussion” about who gets first dibs on the kitchen after lessons are over. Hannah (12) wants to make heath toffee cookies, while Marissa (10) is planning to whip up a batch of her original recipe M&M cookies and is already soaking sliced sweet potatoes for sweet potato chips. Elisabeth (8) wants to make my personal favorite, snowball cookies, and would like to team up with Mommy on testing a new recipe she found for fresh apple cake. Emily (5) wants to make cookies, but, judging by the state of the bananas, will more likely set to work on banana bread and some buns for dinner. Elijah just wants to “hep” everyone, and especially loves cracking eggs. The dog especially loves it when Elijahsaurus Rex cracks eggs also. Read the rest of this entry »

Years ago I told my then newlywed husband that I would follow him anywhere except the desert. While some people love the desert and others think–say it with me–”it’s a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there,” I did not even want to visit. I did not want so much as to see it on television. I’d been there a few times and had enough!

The Lord tested my loyalty. Apparently, I passed the test, because we moved to the desert three years into our marriage, and we have been here ever since. Read the rest of this entry »

I challenge anybody who does not believe in the inherant differences between boys and girls, to join me on a little outing. The outing is simple–the underwear aisle at Wal-Mart.

Taking my son underwear shopping involves going to the store and buying underwear. That may seem obvious to those of you who do not have a houseful of estrogen, but to me, it was a learning experience. Having frequently bought underwear with four daughters before this little man came along, I had not realized one could walk into a store with the intention of buying underwear, and then walk out with underwear. I did not realize that you do not have to walk through the entire clothing section, check all the clearance racks, and try on three pairs of shoes when you went underwear shopping. It was enlightening. Read the rest of this entry »

Life is not easy. God never promised the road would be smooth. In fact, he says that the proper road is the narrow road, the difficult road, the rocky road. In his faithfulness, however, He does give us means to maneuver the potholes which that narrow road holds. One of the greatest gifts he has given me over the latter half of my life is a godly husband with whom I travel that road. Read the rest of this entry »