Chilly.......

Ahhh...41Degrees here this morning! Definately FALL!

Enjoyed time with my God this morning with a homemade mocha and a glorious sunrise....and wonderful hugs and good morning kisses from my dear sweet husband and kids.

Today we are going to a friends house to make Apple Pie and enjoy some fellowship and just good old fashioned fun. (maybe I'll post pictures) ....when we get home, we are going to paint some pumpkins we have and maybe get our scarecrows put outside....then after Daddy gets off work and we have a wonderful supper of Chicken and Dumplings and homemade bread, we are going to sit down and enjoy watching a hunting video with Daddy. He so enjoys these fall evenings when he can sit down and enjoy watchin those videos with his baby's . While we enjoy the video, I am going to finish knitting Alainas scarf and maybe start a blanket, we will see how far I get.

I will try to post recipes and pictures this weekend. If I dont make it back before then...Enjoy this glorious Fall week!

Blessings
Crystal

First day of Fall (Autumn)

The first day of fall (aumtumn)!

We are so excited around here when the first day of fall comes around.....Cooler temperatures, leaves changing colors, the pretty fall scarecrows that we get to put in our yard, pumpkins, pumpkin pie, apple pie, leaf piles to play in, long sleeve shirts, hooded sweatshirts, long skirts and boots......We are just fall crazy around here.

Some of the things we are doing and are planning to do this year......

We are planning on making an apple pie with some friends of ours....

We are planning on making pumpkin pie, and pumpkin cheesecake......

We are making a Fall wall in our school room (aka dining room).......

We have already put our our decorations for fall.....

We have already been wearing long sleeve shirts....

We are planning on coloring lots of fall color sheets and putting scarecrows together....

Have any of you ever pressed leaves between wax paper?

We are going to watch the leaves change and collect all that we can and study them.....

The girls have already figured out that the Acorns are falling and we have been collecting them....

We are going to be studying the birds of Fall.....as soon as we figure out which ones they are....we pretty much have all birds all year round around here....

And I think we may do a squierel unit....sounds fun anyway.

And here is a poem to end this post with (sorry no links, maybe later as I get time...so be sure and come back and check.)

A Fall Song
by Ellen Robena Field

Golden and red treesNod to the soft breeze,

As it whispers, "Winter is near;"

And the brown nuts fall

At the wind's loud call,

For this is the Fall of the year.

Good-by, sweet flowers!

Through bright Summer hours

You have filled our hearts with cheer

We shall miss you so,

And yet you must go,

For this is the Fall of the year.

Now the days grow cold,

As the year grows old,

And the meadows are brown and sere;

Brave robin redbreast

Has gone from his nest,

For this is the Fall of the year.

I do softly pray

At the close of day

,That the little children, so dear,

May as purely grow

As the fleecy snow

That follows the Fall of the year.

Day 30......How did you do?

Well ladies, tommorow is the last day of this challenge.... and I know I havent posted on every day or even half of them. I have been very busy with getting my house and mind ready fro the coming school year and my blog has kinda taken a back burner. But I would like to report that I need to do this challenge again....more importantly, I need to learn to encourage my husband daily, not just for a challenge. I have been very short and snappy with him, and have not been encourging at all. Have any of you had bad days, weeks, months where you just know that you are not honoring your husband?

Here is tommorows Challenge....Maybe I will do better with it than I have the whole last month....
Day Thirty:
"...This is my beloved, and this is my friend..."
Song of Solomon 5:16b
Friends can be completely honest with each other, but friendships are strained when
truth is not spoken in love. How are you speaking to your beloved? Are you so "used" to
him that you don't appreciate the wonder of his friendship? That is your challenge today.
Is your sweetheart your best friend? Does he know this? Have you told him, or do you
assume he "just knows"?
Friendship is something that is cultivated through the good times and the bad. Friends
can share their hearts, but they don't step on each other's hearts.
The way to have and be a good friend is to cultivate and celebrate the relationship. As
you end this "30-Day Encouragement Challenge," celebrate your friendship with your
husband. Get alone and reflect on your beloved friend. Write him a letter, listing the
qualities you admire and appreciate about him. If you are creative with words, write and
frame a poem about him.
Perhaps you can prepare a special meal, just for the two of you, and read the letter or
poem to him. Ask if you can pray for him, and if he is willing, thank God for your love
and friendship, asking for His blessing on your home.
Encouragement, as you have seen these past 30 days, is a synonym for love in action.
***
How has this challenge changed your heart and life, dear friend? Did God encourage
you as you planned ways to encourage your husband? Were there difficult days where
you simply needed to trust that God was working? Days when it was hard to leave the
results to God? Remember that God is faithful, and He will bless you for your
willingness to obey Him. His ways are not our ways, and perhaps He will honor you in
ways you do not expect, but one thing is sure - you will never be the same because of
your commitment to be more like Christ!

Day 21 and How did you do on getting up early?

I realized today (someone brought it to my attention) That I put the wrong start date in my post that I started the husband encouragement on. I said that I was going to start it on the 17th of August, but I started it on August 13th. But dont worry, just keep going with whatever day you are on and KEEP ENCOURAGING!

Day 21 of the Husband Encouragement Challenge!


Day Twenty-one:
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be
added to you." Matt. 6:33
If we are living in light of eternity, everything we think, do or say is seen from an eternal
perspective. We will someday give an account for our failure to speak words of love and
encouragement. Determine today that your words will be sweet and helpful.
Does your husband have an eternal perspective that allows him to reject materialism
and temporal values? Express your gratefulness for his value system, and praise him
for putting eternal things before riches and other things of this world.
If this is a problem area for him, consider how you might alter your own value system
and live for eternity in front of him, encouraging him to do the same. Only two things will
go into eternity...the Word of God and people. Be sure that you are focusing on the right
things.

I really have no thoughts on this. Paul is really good about putting God first and his values are really in the right order......Maybe if some of you have had a problem with this then you can put in something that will help someone.

Getting up early ended yesterday........or at least the Challenge did. :) I did pretty good, Most days I did get up early and really enjoyed my quiet time. We arrived home early this morning from a trip with Hubby so we all slept in this morning. It is making me feel like I have forgotten something and my day is just dragging......amazing what that difference can make.

And It is almost Autumn! or Fall...whichever you call it! I cant wait. These cooler temperatures and the rain is really setting the mood for Sept. 21...The girls are just as excited as I am...lol

Blessings
Crystal

Happy Birthday Kylie!

My Kylie Bear! What can I say about you that people dont already know? You are so smart, and have a wonderful loving, giving heart.

Being the first born, you gave me a little more problems figuring out this whole mommy thing. But you have also been very patient with me and very loving and you tell me that it will be okay...you tell me not to worry and to just pray about it.

It is hard watching my little girl getting ready to really start school (homeschool) and deciding already that when you grow up you want to be a mommy and stay home and teach your kids.....I can only pray that you get to do that....that you get to accomplish your dreams. You make me feel really good about what I am doing as a momma and a teacher....when I really dont think I am doing all that great a job.

You love animals and hate to see anything hurt. Although you dont mind wanting to kill a deer like daddy. You are such a good mommy to your little dolls and you are a great Big Sister to Alaina and Jason!

And you cant wait to cook all on your own! You are so ready to grow up and I am not ready to let go.......

I pray that you have many more joyous years and that you are able to grow up and live your dreams....whatever they may be when you do grow up. I miss your baby years, and I am sure that in another 6, I will miss this year...but I am so glad that I get to share your years with you! I love you my Kylie Bear......my little "mommy"

Blessings
Crystal

Husband Encouragement and Up Early! And Happy Birthday Kylie!

Do you realize that we are over halfway through with the Husband Encouragement Challenge? But should we really ever be through.....We should encourage our husbands everyday! Not just because it is our job, but because we want to! How is the challenge coming for you?


Day Sixteen:
"And the LORD God said, 'It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a
helper comparable to him." Genesis 2:18
God says that it is not good for man to be alone. But the way some women criticize their
mates, the husbands may long for solitude. Be careful today not to criticize your mate,
but look for ways to encourage him personally and publicly.
Speaking of communication, does your husband communicate with you? God has made
you a companion and helper for your husband, and part of being "one flesh" with him is
the privilege of sharing and discussing personal needs and concerns. Thank God for
that wonderful gift. Thank your husband for communicating with you.
If your spouse does not communicate as you wish, look for ways that he communicates
that are normal for him - smiling at you, nodding his head, even a pleasant "grunt!" - and
then thank him for letting you know that he cares. Perhaps he needs to be lovingly
taught how to communicate. Be patient with him...and listen when he does speak.

Paul is not a very big speaker....Not saying anything negative trust me...He is the most loving caring man but he just is not a big talker. He communicates in other ways.....bringing me a snack or something speacial when he goes to town.....or coming in and helping with supper.....or helping with the house chores I have left to do (which I shouldnt have any left to do...) He holds my hand in the car...almost constantly, puts his hand on my back as we walk through a store or through a parking lot, sneaks little kisses throughout the day, calls me just to say I love you! So see, your husband does not have to talk to communicate with you.

I have been doing okay on getting up early. I have missed a few days but Paul has told me not to worry about it, just do what you can. I dont know why but the past few days, I have been exhausted and havent been able to get out of bed. I think I may have caught a little bug or something....because Kylie, the one who is always out of bed by 7 has been sleeping until 8 or until I wake her up....so I think either allergies or a bug has gotten us.

But I will keep trying!!!!

And later today, a birthday post to my Kylie Bear! She turns 6 today....6 Oh my Gosh where did the time go? Love You Kylie!

Blessings
Crystal

Misc....

Starting with the Husband Encouragement Challenge, I have a some Misc. stuff.


Day Twelve:
"With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love."
Eph. 4:2
Part of the difficulty you may face as you continue in this 30-day challenge to encourage
your husband is that you really are struggling to find positive things to praise. Perhaps
the problem is not with your husband. Have you checked your own heart?
Sometimes we get disillusioned because of our own unreasonable or unrealistic
expectations (Prov. 13:12). It may not be that our mates are doing something wrong; it's
simply that we expect too much in some areas.
Our expectations must be met in God alone, and then we will have the right perspective
to ask God for the healing and grace we need to respond to others.
How sad that we give more grace to others than to those in our own homes. Today, try
to look at your husband through eyes of grace. Verbally thank your husband for what he
is already doing.

This was yesterdays Challenge. I know how difficult it is at times to think Positive and find things to praise your husband for....While I am not currently having a problem with this, I do need to thank him for it verbally and to show him more that I appreciate all that he does. I do however know of a young woman who is having problems with this and with blaming her husband for all the problems they do have, everything is his fault. While I have been there, and know what is going on, and I know how my situation was handled, I was wondering if any of yall have any suggestions and ideas for how to help her and him.

On the homeschool side of life, we are doing good! I have almost worked all my curriculum plans out, and am working on a daily and weekly schedule. The girls are really enjoying doing Starfall
I am reading over all my Charlotte Mason books. Whew...I never knew I could love to read a book about education....

I will post more soon over on my homeschool blog.

I am so ready for fall! We have our fall decorations in a tote in the girls closet, and everytime we open the closet door, we can smell the candles.....pumpkin pie, mulled cider, apple pie....yum. We are so ready for the cooler days of leaving the oven on with baking....

That is about all for today...sorry for the rambling.

Blessings
Crystal