Busy time of the year

I've not been keeping up with anything on the computer lately. If you now me, you know how awkward that is for me. I've been so busy, it has been easy, though. This is our busy time of the year with our business, so it's all hands on deck. The older kids have wonderfully surprised me with how well they maintained their school work while I have been out of pocket. I sure am glad Cameron got some educational games for Christmas because she hasn't had a real "lesson" much the last two weeks. I will post about some temporary changes we have made to our school schedule soon.

I have had some great learning/growing opportunities lately with work. It's hard when you are in the middle of it but I love feeling challenged like that and learning so much! Fortunately, everything worked out fine and I was able to stick to my convictions about what was right even under pressure. It's never as easy as it sounds and it's easy to second guess yourself. My staff have had great attitudes and are able to laugh at what is going on. It is keeping me laughing, otherwise I might just cry. Laughter is a great source of stress relief and bonding.

February will continue to be like this also, but that is OK, because the beginning of the year is that important to our business. It is busier than usual for us since we opened a gym last month and we are opening a gym right now. I also think it is a good lesson for my kids - we run our own business, so everyone has to "make sacrifices" and do a little extra.

And can you believe I even cut out coffee some this past week, and when I do drink, I have cut my daily consumption in half! I also feel that this hard work is paying off because some of our gyms are exceeding our expectations!

Challenging Book Club

I was very challenged in my book club Thursday morning. We are going through the book Axiom by Bill Hybels - a great book that is easy to read. We covered these axioms:

• Always take the high road (sometimes not as easy as it sounds)
• Read all you can (something I took a break from since it's a busy month - but should make a priority!)
• Lead Something (great points AND great discussion. I'm praying about this)
• Arrive Early or Not at All (can I just say ouch?)
• I'd Never do this for Money (I can't relate to that one. My job is not a charity!)
• We Need Us All - (Who have I been there for lately?)

I will recap a little bit more:

Always take the high road. As Bill Hybels mentioned in his book, an older man once told him, "I am an older man now, and never once have I regretted taking the high road. Bless what you can bless. Thank everyone you can thank. Cheer on what is appropriate, and be done with it. page 195. Can I just repeat the last part, be done with it? OK, Be done with it. Leave the yucky stuff behind you and move on.

Read all you can. I was challenged by another individual (A founding owner of Anytime Fitness Corporate) with a $100 prize in AF merchandise if I submit a book report in Feb. on a book I read in Jan. It's the middle of the month and I've only read a few pages. I think maybe, even though this is our busiest month, I should pick up the book and keep reading - it's that important!

Lead Something - this deserves a post all it's own. Stay tuned for that one.

Arrive Early or Not At All - I think this is the New Year's Resolution I have not been wanting to acknowledge!

We Need Us All- "Lean into the empowering presence of God and realize that you're not alone. Reach out to God, and he will reach out to you. He will restore your soul. He will encourage you and inspire you. He will heal you up and set your feet back on course." Here's the part I struggle to believe "He will rally other leaders to your side who will pray for you and walk with you." page 204 What am I doing for others? Do I believe that others will be there for me? Will God provide me with EVERYTHING I need?

Conversations with Cameron

January 6

Conversation with my daughter, Cameron: "Mom, do you think Tinkerbell is real?"

"No, I think she was created by Disney like Mickey Mouse."

Cameron said, "Why do so many people not believe in her mom? I think it's because Tinker Fairies never come to the mainland. But maybe we can see a water faire near some water. They are the ones who put water droplets on spider webs."

Menu Monday

For more menus, visit www.orgjunkie.com

Monday and Tuesday -out of town
Wednesday- chili - I love my chili recipe! I'll post soon.
Thursday - crock pot taco beef, Spanish rice from a box (I will be working)
Friday - breakfast for dinner, eggs, bacon, and waffles! (I've been craving waffles.)
Saturday - I'm hoping for a date night. The kids will have pizza.
Sunday - leftovers

A day in the life of Robert the hunter

Robert Hunting - As you can see, this picture was taken a few weeks ago before the weather turned so cold! Now he'll be huddled in a shooting house!

I thought that today would be a good day to describe a day in the life of my son, Robert. One Saturday morning he wakes up and talks with his grandfather about what all they will do at their land today. He rushes to take his shower in his no -scent soap, runs downstairs to make sure his dad uses the no -scent soap in his shower also. He leaves to go to Lowes with his grandfather to buy some things needed for hunting.

To me, hunting is pretty basic, so if you have a gun, some camo, and protection from the elements, what more do you need? I think it was for parts for the 4 wheeler. They get back from Lowes, eat lunch, then leave for hunting. Robert is fortunate that he lives only 30 minutes from where he goes hunting. Dad and sis will follow later.

They want to scope out some land by the big pond, they haven't been there in a while. Their to do list before heading into the woods:

Work on 4 wheeler

feed fish at pond

scout for tracks

check the deer camera and change out the photo card

ride around on 4 wheeler looking for deer markings

At the appropriate time in the afternoon, my guess is 3 pm, they head out to their deer stand. They see a small spike but aren't shooting the small deer, so they pass on it. That was all they saw, so as the sun goes down, they meet up with other fellow hunters, Dad and sister Raeley. The fellow hunters saw three small deer, but passed also as they were holding out for the big deer they could hear in the brush.

They all convene at the cabin and visit with Doug, keeper of the cabin (it's his home), and play with his grandson, baby Tripp.

Robert heads home with dad and sis, meet up with Mom and other siblings at a restaurant, and then head home. All kids do a quick tidy, then Robert settles in with his wii hunting game to sharpen his skills before bed. While he sleeps, he dreams of the big great buck. Sweet Dreams Robert!

Schedules

A friend of mine, Roan, wrote about her homeschool schedules on her blog, so I thought I would do the same.

Raeley

The curriculum I use for Raeley, my highschooler, has a daily/weekly chart for her, so she knows what she is to do each day. She is independent, so I grade her work once a week (or at least a couple times a month!)

The Boys

I have a checklist with the boys, but I find that it works better if I go over with them what they are to do, then they leave to go work on their assignment, then I look over it. When I was using checklists, I would look at their checklists, not at their work, and would forget to grade their school work! They sometimes ask to go back to the checklist, but what I do is write down what they are to do independently after we finish all of our together work, and they check it off after they do it. The next day at the beginning of school, I review that hand written list with the boys together and look over their work then if I didn't get to it the day before.

Cameron

I would like to make a checklist with photos for Cameron, and that is somewhere on my to do list. I have a checklist for her, but it doesn't really mean a whole lot to her because reading is still a chore for her.

Roan, any ideas on checklists for the young ones? What do you do for Leah?

My checklists are basic, with days of the week across the top and assignments down the side. I also have one for myself that is daily with all the subjects I would like for them to do broken up by time. I use it if I find we are not finishing our work in a timely manner.

Something New

I have started something new this week. Usually I have several issues with work I have to deal with in the morning, waiting for me in my inbox. Here is our new morning routine:

6 am wake up

6:30-7:30 work out at the gym

7:45 - cook breakfast (high protein right after a hard work out)

8 am wake up kids, they eat, tidy up or do a quick chore. get dressed

9 am school starts

Here's what's new:

They do independent reading, memory work, and computer school -like typing lessons for about an hour while I shoot off emails, make phone calls, tie up a few loose ends (or like this morning -blog) or even do laundry. It gives my husband and my staff a chance to get a hold of me on something time sensitive without disrupting our school.

We start school together by no later than 10 am. Now they have my undivided attention until school is out. So far so good, I'll keep you updated.

Another benefit is that I have a sleepy head who just can't wake up easily. This helps him not drag quite so bad and it gives them a chance to read -which later in the day they are pretty good at finding excuses NOT to read independently.

Myers Briggs Personality Indicator

So, I've started another book. That means I am currently reading 5 books right now. Simultaneously. Yeah, I know, not that productive.

Last night, in my effort to start the new year off right, I got to bed at a decent time and read for a while waiting on Mark. And waiting. So much for getting to sleep early, but at least I got quite a bit read.

Anyway, I started a book on the Myers Briggs personality types. It is Please Understand Me II by David Kiersey and I am reading it to understand my staff better. I felt it hit between the eyes last night. I didnt like everything it described me as, but we are who we are and I have quite a bit to ponder. WOW, was it accurate and showed me how very polarized I am. I jst started the book, so I'm not sure if that is good or not.

So, for those of you familiar with the Myers Briggs, what do you think I am?

BTW, Mark was right. He nailed me before we even dated and was right back then.

Here's your choices:

Extroversion or Introversion

Sensing or iNtuition

Thinking or Feeling

Judging or Perceiving

If you don't know the definition of the dichotomies listed above, check them out on this web site.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think I am.

And, referring to last night's post, today was a great day - although we are STILL doing school work, I still have dirty dishes, and I'm still not done with laundry. And even though there were snow flurries (really - I saw 8 flakes wafting in the air) when I left to go to the gym, I didn't let that stop me and still made it to work out.

Menu Monday

How's this for starting the New Year off right?

Mark helped me grocery shop after working out this morning and we got most ingredients in less than 30 minutes!

For more Menu Monday posts, visit www.orgjunkie.com!

Monday:

Baked Fish

Mac and Cheese

Lima Beans

Tuesday:

Crock Pot Chicken with Northern Beans

Rice

Salad

Wednesday:

Hamburgers

Sweet potatoes

English peas

Thursday:

Depends on the snow.

Either leftovers if I visit my clubs

or Orange Chicken from the freezer

Friday:

Having company over, so menu to be determined when plans are confirmed.

Saturday:

Breakfast for Dinner

Scrambled Eggs

Bacon

Biscuits

Sunday:

Pizza

Ready for school to start?

School starts in the morning. Jonathan can't find his books. Robert is missing one of his. The house is a mess because I just helped Mark with two years of paperwork. I feel good about that, but it has consumed two days. Laundry is half done. Not the way I wanted to start the first day of school for the new year, but I knew it would happen because I didn't plan any time to prepare for it. I was just hoping it would happen and knowing that it wouldn't. I'm not gonna skip my workout in the morning, though. I'm just gonna wing it with school. I have one hour before I go to bed to finish the laundry, put all the pulled files and piles of receipts in an orderly fashion, wash the dishes that have been neglected for two (or three) days, and clean my very messy room. Then maybe I'll have a few minutes to pull out the school books and see what we have in store for tomorrow. Can you tell the house is in total disarray? I wish I was better at housecleaning. Hmm, should I stay up late to get it all done? Should I put off school (teacher inservice day)? I'm gonna get off the computer and see how much I can get done as fast as I can, make the house as pleasing on the eyes as I can, and go to bed at a decent time. The kids can journal about Christmas while I review lesson plans. I'm SO glad I planned the start of school at the end of last year's school. Just thought I'd share what's whirling around in my head. Is it this hard to come off of a vacation for you?

Top 5 Tips for Resolutions

Resolutions are like goals, are they not? And what good is a goal if you don't have a plan? I'm a big believer of resolutions. I love the feeling of a new year and a new start. A chance to make myself better. Optimism unbounded and one step closer to new dreams.

I hope you make resolutions for yourself. Don't jump into it, though. Think it through, turn it into a goal, and make a plan.

Are you going to exercise more?

When?

What will you do?

For how long?

Is it realistic?

What is your specific goal?

Are you going to eat healthier?

How?

What will you change?

How will you fit it into your life?

Is it realistic?

What is your specific goal?

Are you going to grow in your relationship to God? Spouse? Children?

How?

What will you change?

Is it realistic?

What is your specific goal?

Here are my top 5 tips for resolutions:

1. Set a specific goal and turn it into a plan.
2. Evaluate after a month and make neccessary changes, and again after 4 months and get back on track.
3. Reward yourself for good progress.
4. Don't beat yourself up if don't do as well as you'd like, just start fresh again.
5. Don't give up!

Happy Resolutioning!

Happy New Year!

My post last year on New Year Resolutions is one of my favorite posts.

I'm still undecided about what my New Year Resolutions are. I want to take a few days and pray about it with Mark.

I'm taking this holiday off, though. We've had so much company in town, and we are opening a new gym, and we opened a new gym a few weeks ago, so I just wanted a holiday of no cooking. No black eye peas tradition for us this year. I'm glad I don't believe in bad luck! Anyone have any leftovers they want to share?