Delayed Opening

That means two things in our house...

snowflake pancakes


and day off of preschool for Peter to do what he loves most (seriously) - shovel snow.

My Week on a Clipboard : Part I

Before you go any further, know that this home management/organizing thing has become a hobby of mine. So, please excuse all the type-a-ness of this post. It's embarrassing, really. (but I. love. it.)

After reading Organized Simplicity, I was inspired to change a few things around here, mainly our family calendar and home school lesson planning.

Our Calendar:
For years, I have had a paper, notebook-style calendar and it worked well for me. I think and organize best with pencil to paper, so it was a good fit. Then I got an iPhone and everything changed. I had this super-powered tool in my pocket and a bulky planner in my bag. As much as I liked how my planner joined our family calendar with home school planning, it contained so much I didn't need and was proving to be rather bulky. Also, the school planning sheets were not customized to our subjects and schedule. So, I decided leave the paper family calendar in 2010 and move to Google Calendar (which already held my birthday calendar). Then I went on to create our own weekly lesson planning sheets. No more extra bulk.

What I am loving about Google Calendar vs. Paper:
(which leaves me wondering what took me so long to do this...)

• The ability to repeat an event. This works especially well with meal planning because really we don't have more than two weeks worth of Sunday-Friday meals. So, every other Tuesday we have stir fry, etc. Saturday evenings are left open for new recipes and going out. And it's all there waiting for me when I make the weekly grocery list.
• No space constraints. I don't have a pencil and a little box, so I can be as detailed about my day as I like. Because of this, I have added my weekly exercise schedule to my calendar - that is a huge motivator for me.
• Reminders. This is a life saver for me with birthdays and orthodontist appointments.
• Sharing. Even though my husband doesn't use Google Calendar, if he needs to check my calendar he can.
• And I always take my phone, so now I have my calendar, too. I know I am late to this way of life, but letting go of paper was a big deal for me.
  

Home School Lesson Plans:
Before our school year begins, I create a spreadsheet with each subject and what lessons need to be completed each week to get it all done in about 34 weeks. For instance, I know that in week 20 Will needs to do math lessons 76-79. With all that work completed ahead of time, I spend about an hour every weekend planning for the next week. That includes filling our file box and gathering books. Our file box has a folder for each school day filled with worksheets and papers needed for each day. Hannah (red) and Will (blue) keep things moving to the next day's folder if they are needed every day.

Before each week begins, I print out our lesson planning sheet, a grocery list, and a to do list/weekly chore sheet (I will post about this soon). It all goes on my clipboard. Along with any other papers I may need (like right now I have Peter's birthday party planning sheet in there, too). When the week is over, the lesson plans are transferred to my home management notebook.

Our lesson planning sheet:
(if anyone would like me to email them any of these documents just let me know)


My grocery list (with spaces for our weekly dinner schedule):
(the week begins on Thursday because I go to the store with the boys on Thursdays while Hannah is at piano)

January Joy : 1000 Gifts

Seeking His gifts in the everyday, my joy list continues...

0765
Paper snowflakes taped to windows.

0766
Church steeples in the cityscape.

0767
Sunday afternoon naps.

0768
The sound of basketball on the driveway.

0769
Saturday morning snow.

0770
School papers organized.

0771
Peter's adorable class (singing at their snow-postponed Christmas program).


0772
Prayers before bed.

0773
Church family dinners.

0774
Easy friendships.

0775
Eyesight.

0776
Warm slippers.

0777
Afternoon tea.

0778
An evening with my in-laws.

0779
Warmth of home.

0780
Toddlers.

0781
Friends caring for friends who grieve.

0782
When he warms up the car and scrapes the icy windows for me.

0783
"Thanks for dinner, Mom."

0784
That all three cannot stop singing Christmas hymns.

0785
Hope for Sudan.

0786
Grace and Peace.

Snowflakes

Here is a fun, little project to do when you have a backyard full of sticks (and sadly, no snow).

What you need:

• an assortment of small twigs
• hot glue gun
• twine/string/yarn...
  
• scissors
  

I had Hannah and Will design their "stick-flakes" and then I did the gluing. To create the angles, Hannah broke the stick - but not completely. I added a little twine to reinforce the middle. Very easy to make... and very easy to break. I was quick to get them up where they would be safe.


Peter (disinterested in making a snowflake) inquired about the glue gun as he created a little bunker and kept careful watch with gun in hand...

"Mom, what is this?"
"It's a glue gun."
"A GUN that shoots glue!?!"
"Hot glue, actually."
"Whoa... do they use these in wars?"
"No, mostly just for crafts"
Still amazed... "Daddy must have taught you how to use this gun!" : )

Organized Simplicity

I read Simple Mom Tsh Oxenreider's book, Organized Simplicity, over our Christmas break. It was a perfect get-ready-for-a-new-year read. Highly recommended! Full of inspiration for creating a simple, well-managed home, this book has really encouraged me to evaluate what living simply looks like for our family, "Living holistically with your life's purpose."

I plan to post more about the changes I have made and things I have re-worked, including...

• managing our family calendar.
• my home management notebook.
• my weekly to-do list and house cleaning schedule.
• organizing our homeschool week.

So, stay tuned. : )

New Year : 1000 Gifts

When it comes to life the critical thing is
whether you take things for granted
or take them with gratitude.

-G. K. Chesterton

A new year begins... and with a heart full, my list continues...

0750
Friends that feel like family.

0751
Beginning our fourth year of Dinner Club.

0752
Productive school planning sessions.

0753
Health.

0754
These past two weeks of restful vacation.

0755
Hours of imaginative play.


0756
Will's sweet compliments.

0757
Sunday morning muffins.

0758
My sweet, handmade, Christmas gift... smiling at me next to the kitchen sink.


0759
Vacuum cleaners.

0760
Mild winter days.

0761
My running trail clear of ice.

0762
New Year's Eve with good friends.

0763
My very talented friend bringing her calligraphy tools for Hannah to use... and spending so much time with her on New Year's Eve. And the next day, Hannah (still practicing)... "Mom, I REALLY want to be a calligrapher when I grow up."


0764
Cheers to the New Year! ... with sparking apple cider : )... and shrimp cocktail the kids all begged me to get at Whole Foods.

Prayer for the New Year

O Lord,

Length of days does not profit me
except the days are passed in Thy presence,
in Thy service, to Thy glory.

Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides,
sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour,
that I may not be one moment apart from Thee,
but may rely on Thy Spirit
to supply every thought,
speak in every word,
direct every step,
prosper every work,
build up every mote of faith,
and give me a desire
to show forth Thy praise;
testify Thy love,
advance Thy kingdom.

I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with Thee, O Father as my harbour,
Thee, O Son, at my helm,
Thee, O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.

Guide me to heaven with my loins girt,
my lamp burning,
my ear open to Thy calls,
my heart full of love,
my soul free.

Give me Thy grace to sanctify me,
Thy comforts to cheer,
Thy wisdom to teach,
Thy right hand to guide,
Thy counsel to instruct,
Thy law to judge,
Thy presence to stabilize.

May Thy fear by my awe,
Thy triumphs my joy.

{from Valley of Vision}