Owner: Duckabush Blog URL:http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/ Join Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 02:07:58 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: The musings and ravings of a bloggart family with five children, a homeschooling mama and a computer geek papa; all trying to serve the Lord and survive each day with plenty of laughter (and not too much shoving). Site statistics:Click here
I Can Write My Name 2007-12-06 02:33:56 Well, almost.
Sarah tries out her new Gel Paint.
Project 365 is coming to an end. Wednesday is Day 339. It’s been a long year of many pictures. No wonder I’m having trouble writing our family Christmas newsletter, I’ve already said everything on the blog.
I never thought I could really take a picture every day for an entire year. I guess I should have been more worried about taking only a SINGLE photo each day. Maybe the second edition of Project 365 should be: Take a meaningful picture every day. Hmmm.
What do you think?
Another round of Project 365 - don’t make it specific, just capture one image each day
Scrap the whole thing. Enough is enough, how many pictures of cute kids do we really need?
Change the whole focus - give each day a theme.
Less rambling/babbling on the blog, more pictures.
Other thoughts…
Kathy
Read more:Write
WFMW - Easy Meals 2007-12-05 00:08:09 I’m excited about this week’s Works for Me Wednesday category - What do I Fix Edition - because I am the worst meal planner ever! I LIVE in that place of constantly wondering, always at the last minute, what we will eat for dinner. I plan to plunder all the blogs linked to the site for fabulous ideas and never have to worry about coming up with a last minute, easy meal. Assist my poor family and leave a comment with your favorite easy-to-fix meal.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
My younger children thank you.
My (perpetually hungry) teenage son thanks you.
My (please tell me you’ve started dinner) husband thanks you.
This homeschooling mother of five, too busy teaching the little darlings to feed them, thanks you.
I try to have the children work with me in the kitchen but it’s so hard to find good help these days.
Super Easy Family Meals
:
Italian Chicken - Frozen chicken breasts in a baking pan, top with Italian salad dressing and fresh parmesan cheese.
Vote Early and Often! 2007-12-04 11:56:29 Kathy and I were flattered and thrilled to discover that our blog has been nominated for the 2007 Homeschool Blog Awards, an informal organization of bloggers desiring to promote homeschooling excellence through weblogs.
Click on the image above to vote
Since both of us write articles for our shared blog, we thought there was a natural fit with the Best Family or Group Blog category — we feel that our collaboration is a key factor in the success and uniqueness of our blog. Besides, Kathy is (by a two-to-one margin) the more prolific author, despite my earlier dominance over our entrée into the blogosphere. We were not, however, nominated for the Best Family category, and so we take joy in the category for which we were nominated: Best Homeschool Dad Blog.
There is one very obvious problem: although all five of my children are homeschooled, as Dad, I don’t do a lot of the actual homeschooling. Oh, we started out boldly enough:
Me: “OK, sweetie, if we’ Read more:Early
, Often
Tuesday Tips for Parenting - Guest Blogger Tina 2007-12-03 23:39:32 Tim and I are thrilled to share the Tuesday
Spotlight with Tina Burt. It is particularly appropriate that Tina be featured as a guest blogger, since she is a dear friend we first met while living in the Duckabush Valley, for which this blog is named. Now serving with New Tribes Missions in Thailand, Tina and her family are dearly beloved kindred spirits. Wherever they go, Greg and Tina live out the example that Paul laid down for the Thessalonians:
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. (I Thessalonians 2:8)
Kathy and Tina on the eve of Tina’s departure for Thailand.
Hello Duckabush Blog Faithfuls,
As a guest blogger today, I will try to uphold the high standards set by my dear friends. Kathy asked me a while ago to think about submitting a post on her Tuesday Tips for Parenting
blog. While obviously very honored by such a request, I was not sure what parenting ge Read more:Guest
, Blogger
, Guest Blogger
Chastened and Repentant 2007-12-03 01:53:20 Some of you may have wondered at my absence from the family photos that were posted yesterday. Let’s just say that I came to the negative attention of the Blog Taunting Police, whose authority is much more far-reaching than you might suspect. Kathy and I agreed not to further aggravate the matter by posting any pictures that featured me; I didn’t want to come across publicly as defiant or unrepentant, after all the wife- and blog-reader taunting that transpired.
Based on advice from legal counsel I have retained, I may further jeopardize my precarious standing with the BTP (Blog Taunting Police) unless I am very careful with any public statement. Suffice it to say that it is now permissible for me to post one of my favorite pictures from the CD, if only to prove that I did, in fact, attend the photo-shoot:
As you can see, all was forgiven, at least by my daughters.
You’ll just have to take it from me that my ‘interview’ with the BTP (let’s just
WFMW - Christmas Names 2007-12-18 23:30:25 Christmas is almost here!
Do you hear the panic in my voice? I am not ready, not ready, not ready for Christmas!! I think there should be two full weeks left until it’s actually Christmas.
Anyone else agree?
Can we vote on it?
Panic aside, I am thoroughly enjoying the season. We have Christmas lights up on the house. My Advent Calendars have been an overwhelming success. We hosted a Christmas brunch, had a huge birthday slumber party, attended a mother/daughter craft gala, and tomorrow we’re decorating cookies with friends.
So really, the only area in which I am unprepared for Christmas, is in terms of actual presents.
Now it’s my children who are panicking!
Don’t fret little ones, Amazon.com ships in two days. They might make it here by Christmas.
In spite of my lack of credentials in this area, my Works for Me Wednesday tip relates entirely to Christmas presents. It’s one of my ‘bestest’ ideas ever. You will love this. It truly is a Read more:Christmas
, Names
Rachel's Birthday Extravaganza 2007-12-18 03:00:51 To celebrate Rachel
’s 12th birthday party, we decided to host a Sleepover Extraordinaire. First Rachel invited all over her friends (most of them from large homeschooling families), next I begged the moms to come along (”to keep me sane company”), then we convinced Rachel to let us bring the little sisters as well (that added 3 five year olds to the party), finally we made sure to grab some girls from the old neighborhood.
Yes, all of that meant we needed two vehicles (packed to the ceiling) to take everyone off for the sleepover.
How else do you have a BirthdayExtravaganza
?
A few of Rachel’s nearest and dearest friends - Hannah, Emily, Sarah, Alivia, Bethany, Jenny, Brigette, Katie, Elizabeth and Abby. Leanne had to go home early so she missed all the photo shoots.
We had quite the assortment of entertainment for the party.
Some friends loaned us their karaoke machine (Thanks, Casey!!). It was a huge hit, playing cds at full volume (or so it seemed) whil
A Household of Men 2007-12-17 02:19:51 In celebration of Rachel’s recent birthday, Kathy and the girls have gone off for a birthday overnight, leaving me and the boys home alone. So far, as befits the men of destiny that we are, we’ve accomplished quite a few things on our list:
Vacuum the dining room
Call all our friends and chat with them
Dust the furniture
Shop for matching clothes for our next family photo
Do seven loads of laundry
Exercise to a twenty-minute aerobic workout video
Clean each of the bathrooms
Cook a healthy, balanced meal with lots of vegetables
Men of Destiny
Oh, wait, that wasn’t our list. Here’s ours:
Litter the dining room with woodcarving chips
Let all calls go to voicemail
Put our feet on the furniture
Shop online for a new computer video graphics card
Create seven loads of laundry
Lay on the couch while watching a Hornblower video
Use each of the bathrooms
Eat pancakes and ice cream
There’s really not much difference between those lists, is there? And here Kat Read more:Household
Linky Love 2007-12-16 02:42:39 I thought I would share some fun links I discovered this week:
BooMama is offering a $100 Gift Card from Lands’ End. All you have to do is pop by BooMama’s site and leave a comment. I’m torn between shopping for the children and getting myself a new winter jacket.
I’m sure the children would want me to be snug and warm in a new coat. They’re always putting my needs first.
Rocks in My Dryer (where you can find me most Wednesdays, hanging out, reading tips and becoming a better person) has a Bloggy Giveaway Site. There are several giveaways going on right now. Stop by and enter for a clothing certificate, a blogging design package, and a chance to win a scripture bag.
Michelle over at Scribbit is hosting a photo collage giveaway. Fill out her giveaway form and your name is entered into the drawing. Super easy.
Michelle also has a great collection of Winter Activities to do with the children over the holidays. Of course, the snow suggestions make my ki
Because I Bribe My Children 2007-12-15 03:53:13 A messy house is so discouraging, not to mention overwhelming. Yesterday I was determined to get the house ready for our Christmas brunch/craft party. I announced to the children that we were going to clean.
They love it when I do that.
“MOM, I don’t know where to start.”
“It looks fine to me, Mom.”
“What do you want me to do, I’ve already picked up 30 things.”
“You’re kidding me, can’t I do school instead?”
As I looked around at piles of assorted mess - everything from socks to papers - I wondered what was so difficult to comprehend.
“Anything that is out of place needs to go BACK into it’s place. We’re done when the entire downstairs is picked up and cleaned,” I explained patiently.
“Oh,” they all intoned in voices full of gloomy understanding. And then they stood there motionless, no doubt ‘moved’ by my brilliant leadership. Finally I realized I needed a diffe Read more:Children
, Bribe
Twelve Things I Love About Rachel 2007-12-14 02:48:04 My oldest daughter recently celebrated her 12th birthday, and Kathy asked me, “Aren’t you going to write a post about Rachel
for her birthday?”
Talk about time flying. It seems only yesterday she was 11 …
One of our many traditions is that, on each child’s birthday, Kathy and I nostalgically reminisce about the actual day of that child’s birth. Rachel’s birth-day is memorable in terms of weather (a very cold Michigan day), in terms of inconvenient timing (born at 4:50 am during a snowstorm), in terms of worry for me (Kathy lost a lot of blood at her birth), and in terms of the joy of having a first daughter. The kids never seem to tire of hearing the story each year — of course, I try to liven it up with snide comments and family jokes.
As important as the birthday is, what happens after that seems much more significant, which is why it is no trouble at all for me to come up with a list about my beloved daughter:
Twelve
things I l
Let's Talk About Advent Some More 2007-12-13 02:25:26 I warned you that I am a bit obsessive. It’s part of my cheerful, optimistic, ‘more is better,’ out look on life. If one day a week of blogging is good, then daily must be even better. Why have one cup of coffee when you can enjoy a whole pot? If having two Advent
calendars is special, then more would add to our Christmas joy.
You can see how we ended up with five children.
I’m not very good with limits or boundaries, especially on things that are fun. I am more of a ‘have your cake and eat it too’ kind of girl. Mind you, I’ve never really understood that expression. What would you do with the cake except for eat it? How does “having it” differ from “eating it?” Help me out bloggy friends.
But I digress…
Back to Advent - I ran out of time last night to share what types of things we include in the kids’ calendars. And you thought the post was long enough as it was - ha!
Advent Calendar Gift Id
WFMW - Advent Calendars 2007-12-12 02:23:16 I love Christmas! The nativity displays, Christmas lights, Christmas carols, Christmas movies and the whole holiday season! Every year I tell myself I’m going to savor the time before Christmas, that I won’t let the days fly by in a super-sonic-seasonal rush, that we’ll spend afternoons reading Christmas books and baking cookies amidst the smells of our fresh cut tree and left over Christmas wreath cuttings.
As soon as that happens, I’ll be sure to let you know.
I’ll blog it - complete with pictures. And soft Christmas carol playing in the background.
Until then I’ll just share one of our favorite Christmas traditions.
The Advent
Calendar
For years we have enjoyed Playmobil Advent Calendars
. They are a fun way to count down the days until Christmas. Playmobil produces a new calendar every year with a different theme. Each calendar comes with a cardboard backing that hangs on the wall. There are twenty four slots on the mat that hold small ca
A Submissive Wife 2007-12-11 01:21:38 Tim says I have to get to bed by 11 pm tonight.
We read a lot of marriage books during our courtship and first years of marriage. During the submission chapters, I dutifully took notes, vowing to cheerfully submit to my husband. I have a wonderful mother and mother-in-law who model beautiful Christian marriages of mutual love and respect. My grandmother was a staunch advocate of marriage and believed submission was easy when your spouse was laying down his life for you as Christ did for the church.
No one ever warned me submission would involve bedtimes.
That’s going from preaching to meddling to this night owl.
Okay, perhaps Tim didn’t really say I have to go to bed by 11 pm. In fact, all he really did was make a suggestion. And, to be completely truthful (because I’m all about being honest on the blog here), it’s only because I was an emotional wreck today and am very over-tired and he’s looking out for my best interest.
Hmmm. That sounds an aw Read more:Submissive
Where's Your Camera? 2007-12-10 02:44:29 Sunday was a big day in our house. It was Rachel’s 12th Birthday!!!
Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!!
Sunday is a difficult day of the week to celebrate a birthday. There’s no time for breakfast in bed, relaxing and opening presents. Taking the day off from school in honor of your birthday is a bit anti-climatic on a Sunday.
Well, this Sunday was busier than most.
Four of the five children were in the Christmas pageant at church. Rachel was one of the narrators (meaning she sat in the front with a mike in hand the entire time) and led a choir of four in a song. Sarah was a beautiful angel, singing a verse with Rachel. David and Daniel were wise men, each with lines to recite.
There were costumes, friends, and precious moments.
Where was my camera???????
Sitting, happily at home being charged up for the big day. Yep, I planned ahead and made sure to plug the camera in Saturday night, ready for a full day of usage on Sunday. I somehow forgot to take the next step and a Read more:Camera
He Gives and Takes Away 2007-12-23 02:22:24 This is my Thanksgiving blog entry, written while spending four days in the Duckabush valley, over that holiday. For some reason, I never got around to posting it, but Kathy tells me: “It’s late and I haven’t blogged,” so perhaps it is time to post it.
Five years ago, I sat in this house in the forest, not feeling very thankful. I had just been laid off from my comfortable job and I was embroiled in a sharp dispute with the leadership of the little church I attended. With a wife and five young children to support (Sarah was born just a few months before I lost my job), I was almost paralyzed with panic. Over the next two years, it began to appear that these two setbacks were just the tip of the iceberg, until the litany of loss felt as though it would sweep me away:
a) My job
b) A position of authority and autonomy in my work
c) Permission to work from home, four days a week
d) The ability to provide for my family
e) Medical and dental insurance
f)
Christmas Cards, Parties and Shopping 2007-12-22 04:42:39 We tried to do school today. Really we did. Okay, we didn’t try very hard.
In a moment of distraction, I let Rachel go off to play with friends. Once you lose one child to a play date, you are on slippery ground. A short while later Daniel begged to go and join Rachel.
Suddenly it was much quieter. Ah! Who needs school when there’s shopping to do.
Online.
How else can you avoid the crowds?
Sarah, fresh from the bath, shows off our two gingerbread houses.
I turned on my electric mattress pad, grabbed the Rainbow Resource catalog and started making lists. After 300 pages and TOO many curriculum choices, I was no closer to my Christmas
OR homeschool shopping.
I nearly needed a paper bag for my hyperventilating.
I have a love/hate relationship with Rainbow Resource. They have amazing prices and just about any subject and study you could ever want, but I’m a curriculum junkie. I hardly ever see new homeschooling materials that I don’t want. Rainbow Read more:Shopping
, Cards
A burdened heart 2007-12-21 04:03:42 I had a long talk this evening with a beloved one and my heart is burdened. After I got off the phone I immediately went to find Tim. He was on his knees praying.
Praying for this precious child of God. Interceding on their behalf.
Despair creeps in like the icy fingers of a winter night. The problems are too big, the troubles real, and the struggle overwhelming. I’m too far away to help. I don’t have any answers. Hopelessness sidles alongside despair to wrap me in a chilling embrace.
I fall to my knees. “Lord, surround this dear one with Your comfort and love. Awaken others to pray. Do not allow the lies of failure and desperation to speak louder than Your grace and power.”
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43:2)
I can do so little to help, it seems, but I can pray
Where Do You Shop for Christmas? 2007-12-20 14:05:57 As Christmas
Day approaches, Kathy and I are hurriedly starting finishing our shopping, looking for the perfect gift or in some cases settling for free shipping of whatever they happen to have in stock.
It made us wonder — what do other people do to get presents into the hands of those they love? So we came up with this little poll:
Take the poll
Free Poll by Blog Flux
Let us know! Leave a comment about a great deal you found, or an excellent gift idea you’re particularly proud of.
Tim
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