Pinterest Creations

Wow, words fail me when it comes to Pinterest. I LOVE it. I have been wishing something like this existed for ages I just didn't know it!

No more cutting, pasting and printing out quilt ideas and filing them in a cabinet. No more printing out recipes until I am actually ready to try it. I am saving toner, paper and time not having to go through mile long list of bookmarks.

Now that I am homeschooling there are so many great ideas out there for lessons and projects. I can't imagine homeschooling without Pinterest! Just 3 weeks of homeschooling and I am already reaping the benefits of using Pinterest to keep track of ideas for school.

In the spirit of my love for Pinterest and my new camera, after being camera-less most of the summer I am posting pictures of projects I found on Pinterest or did while I was "nesting".

 This Pinterest idea involved a circle made of masking tape and bean bags. I couldn't figure out how to make masking tape become a circle so I improvised. I didn't have any bean bags but we are learning, A, B, C, D, E, F so now we have the "Letter Toss" game - Objective: review letters & toss them in the box. I hide the square under the nursery throw rug when not playing. We can continue this through out the alphabet.







We are using this curriculum. I don't do it all because my boy isn't much for singing at this point or memorizing poems. I use this as my skeleton and add or take away based on what he needs to learn. He has already mastered many of the skills they plan for like using "Please" and "Thank You."








We are working our way through the Creation story. The Sun and Stars were my idea to go along with the lessons. It is amazing to me to see his world beginning to take in the Creator of the world and we have actually been praying more together and asking God to help him make good choices / decisions. A couple times he has even asked to "Pray." It does a mother's heat good!

I have found lots of quilt ideas on Pinteret or just found ideas and pinned them. These pillow cases were my own creation. I had wanted to use the transportation fabric and I also thought doing this project would of course put me into labor... Ha! But I was happy to get it done during nap time. I pieced together pieces until it fit the pillow. It was very haphazard but I frequently work that way! To make the most of the fabric I did 2 different sides.

I did find this last project on Pinterest. I knew I had to do it because I am just not into cutting faces into pumpkins!

It looked so simple. I considered getting a fake pumpkin but I have storage issues so I went with a real one. I still have 2 more pumpkins to do and will probably put the kids names on them. This was fun for me. My son thought the dots were "chocolate chips" but I have corrected him on that point and replaced the missing dots.



I am going to create a board of completed projects because there is little point of pinning ideas if you don't actually do anything. It will be nice to have a record of Pinterest creations!

Good Old George

Between PB&Js and no naptimes anymore, its hard to believe that only a few years ago I was a working woman. A single one at that!

I had the honor to work for a church and two pastors who were both different and inspiring. One put me in the middle of something that continues to have a far reaching impact - that I only see glimpses of from time to time. It was just a matter of typing, occasional proofreading and also an element of keeping the ball rolling. Sometimes it hits me profoundly what it means to have been part of a bestseller. Sure someone else could have done it, but God chose me.  I got to help keep the spirit and character and morals of George Washington alive in an age when the country and the world are desperate for men like him or even just one man like him.

And because not everyone has the time to read the 3 inch thick book - George Washington's Sacred Fire - there is now this song... be moved. Be moved to action.

Call this a Post Script. I watched the video again this time with my son. I got all emotional thinking about... How do you teach or instill into a 2 1/2 year old who George Washington was? Where do you even start to help him understand the magnitude of what George Washington did for us? What a responsibility, duty and honor it is to teach -begin to teach- a 2 1/2 year old who George Washington is. Oh to raise a son who will not only admire but emulate such a man.

And then I thought of Jesus - and the responsibility, duty and honor magnifies as I think about how I will teach my son to love and emulate Him. The end results are more eternal.

Then, he said, "Again" so we watched it again and I thought, "well I guess we are on the right road."

The Death of the Nap

In many ways, I feel like I am mourning a very good friend. This dear friend brought peace and quiet into my home- if only for an hour or two each day. This dear friend helped me get things done like switch the laundry, make a phone call to some utility company and even helped me put my feet up and rest my eyes. Sometimes I even got a full fledged nap. This dear friend helped me do a blog post or check things out online or balance the checkbook.

We are talking about a really special friend. We are talking about naptime.

I should have known this friend wasn't doing well all summer, as I fought with a 2 year old lay down and rest. Then, one day I knew the war was over. I had to give in and admit defeat. I knew this day would come - someday. I had just hoped it wouldn't be for another year. I also hoped that it wouldn't happen the week I brought home a new baby.

The death of a nap is a life changing event. It is something you just won't ever get back. I wasn't prepared for how losing naptime would make me feel. I would be lying if I didn't admit that it is overwhelming to have a new baby and no napping 2 year old. The high energy and noise level of this particular 2 year old can be deafening.  I feel a little like I am caught in a whirlwind with the Tasmanian Devil - ALL DAY LONG.

Sure, bedtime comes earlier now. Even when he is fast asleep my work isn't done. I know I am not the only one dealing with this. Still, I can't help but say its all relative. I have lost a good friend, naptime, I loved you and I miss you. Hopefully, someday -soon- I will be able to find some time in the day to rest my frazzled nerves or my son will master the fine art of an inside voice. Until then utility customer service reps will have to hear me "shhh" and change diapers in between our conversation.