BFS Assignment #103

....It keeps going, and going, and going…. (Energizer)

Assignment: How do you keep energized so you can get it all done? bouncy music? treat it like a workout? Do you use a schedule?, a housekeeping binder system? luck of the draw system?.. or is this an area where you need encouragement? Do you need God’s help to keep order and beauty in your dwelling place? Take this week to tell us how You diligently keep going with your housekeeping chores.

Right now I have no energy LOL after all I am 7 mos pregnant. So yes, you could say I REALLY need encouragement and prayer in this area - especially now that my depression/anxiety is back. I don't usually follow any schedule, I am not good with those - lack of self-discipline. I do have a home management binder but I haven't used it in months. Everything seems to get pushed aside when I'm pregnant.

Usually I have Emira help with whatever needs to be done. She is such a huge help to me, I honestly don't know how I would get by without her. She can sometimes start the chores and I finish them up, and it inspires me to get going and get things done. It is a never ending chore with a 19 month old right behind you and into everything LOL and not to mention our home is very small and we have TONS of stuff! Sadly it's stuff we need as I have de-cluttered lots.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phillipians 4:13

How about some COOKIES??

We just made some of these tonight and they are absolutely DELISH!! I actually found the recipe on this blog. We love cookies and bake them often but we had been using the pre-packaged mixes. After much debate as to whether or not we could find a recipe that would taste as good as Betty Crocker, we decided to try this one.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
(from The Frog Commissary Cookbook)

1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tbsp milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups oats (rolled or "quick," but not "instant") {We used whole wheat oats}
2 cups chocolate chips (about 12-oz.)

Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the sugars until mixture is light in color. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the milk and the vanilla extract.
In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Either by hand or with the mixer on low speed, (we mixed by hand) gradually beat the flour in to the sugar mixture until just incorporated.
Stir in the oats and chocolate chips by hand.
Drop 1-inch balls of dough onto the cookie sheet, placing about 1 1/2 inches apart so they have room to spread.
Bake at 350F for 10-13 minutes, until golden brown at the edges and light golden at the center.
Cool on baking sheet for at least 1-2 minutes before transfering to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 4 dozen.

Notes:
- If you chill the dough for about 30 minutes before baking, you will have a slightly puffier cookie.
- You can substitute raisins for the chocolate chips.
- You can add up to 1 1/2 cups chopped nuts in addition to raisins or chocolate chips. You might want to make the cookies slightly larger if this is the case.

Homeschool Freebie!

Get a Free Unit Study on Spices courtesy of Marmee Dear!!

Homeschool Memoirs: #5 My Favourite Things – Er – Sites!

THEME:
Since I've been making you work really hard on the previous Memoir themes I decided to take a little break, and do something fun! This week I want to invite you to share a few of your favourite things - er - sites. I know the list of favourite things could be never-ending, but I've made a list for you to do regarding your favourite homeschool things. Just copy this list and add your favourites underneath the appropriate category. BUT by all means you're welcome to add your other favourite things on the post as well!

Magazines/Carnivals - in print or online
The Old Schoolhouse
Growing In Grace

Freebie sites - any sites that offer freebies or often have giveaways
Freebies4mom.com
MoneySavingMom.com
Donnayoung.org
CurrClick.com
ikeaGoddess (digi scrap freebies)

Homeschool news/informative
TheHomeschoolLounge.com

Forums/book clubs
PaperBackSwap.com
Crossings.com

Mom site - a sites just for moms
BeckleyMommies.com

Youth/kid - sites geared towards youth/kids or owned by them
TheLittleLounge.com

Memes
{All the memes I participate in are linked in my left sidebar}

Organizing/crafts - sites that you look to for organizing tips or crafts
OrgJunkie

Homemaking/Homesteading
Simply Susan

Bible-focused - sites mainly about God’s Word
BibleGateway.com

Homeschool Method - sites that offer a lot of info on a certain method
Abeka.com

Family blogs
My friend Susan
My friend Mistey
My friend Julie

Businesses, particularly homebased
Etsy.com

BFS Assignment #102 – Try it, You’ll Like It!

Intro: Try it, you'll like it! (Life Cereal)
When everyone else was afraid to try Life Cereal, they called on Mikey. Sometimes stepping out of our comfort zone is just too scary. Have you felt God gently (or maybe not so gently) nudging you to do something for someone else? You know that it needs to be done, but you keep putting it off because it is outside of your comfort zone? Well ladies, this week we are taking a step outside of our comfort zones.

Assignment: This week I want you to do something for someone else. Do you have a neighbor that needs you? Do you know an elderly person or single mom that could use you? What about the homeless? Pack even one single sack lunch and give it to someone in need. Do you know someone in blogland that is struggling right now and could use a note from you about how much you care? Pray about this. Let God put on your heart the perfect thing for you to do for another. Now, here is the kicker ... I DO NOT want you to post about what you do. Whatever you choose to do is between you and God. Our rewards are in heaven, not here on earth, Mathew 6:1. I want you to post about how doing this "act" made you feel. Was stepping out of your comfort zone in this area as hard as you thought it might be? Could you see the gratefulness in their eyes? Hear it in their voice? Tell it from their typing? Do you think you might make doing things like this a more regular part of your time? If this is an area that you are already active in, tell us how you feel this has impacted your life.

What a great feeling to do something for someone and not expect anything in return! Sometimes when I am feeling down and I need a quick pick-me-up, I will make or create something to give as a gift, whether it be a scrapbook page, a mini-album, or just printing a photo. The thought of giving to someone else is so satisfying for me. Thankfully I can also see this in my daughter. When she makes something or draws a picture, she is so anxious to give it to someone, never wanting to keep it for herself. Just a little something to show Christ's love, sometimes that is just enough.