BFS Assignment #115 - Prayer Box

Assignment: Tell about your prayer box, if your family has one that you peruse at New Year’s Eve or New year’s Day and share those prayers, thoughts and acts of faith on the next year.


On December 2, I was told that I did have cancer. Our world can to a complete stop and did not start to move again until Dec. 19 when we were told that all the cancer was removed. I cam hoe the next day from the hospital.

My family has always prayed together. I am the one who keeps a journal for us. As a woman I feel strongly that God has given me the best gift and that is the gift to pray. Over the years I have prayed for my husband as he as grown in his faith and as the leader of this family. For my son that God would bring people into his life that would draw him closer to Him. For my girls to begin to grow deep roots of faith when they are young and build the foundation for a lasting relationship with Christ. For myself to be the women, wife, mother and friend that would bring glory and honor to Christ.

When told that I did have Cancer my strength came from the Lord. Everything I felt and said were words that He spoke for me. I could feel Him wrapped around me, the warmness of His hands, the whisper in my ear and He held me tight. Then after the news was given to us that all the Cancer was removed. I took my first breath again and for days afterwards I would fall on my knees and cried like a child. He has give me a gift that I know I do not deserve. I question His judgement knowing all my past sins and ask Him: Why me and not ______? Lord please give ______ this gift, I would plead. For there are many names who deserve to be in the blanks.These are ones my family and I faithfully pray for. This is when our trust in the Lord must be put into action.


Thanks for reading and I am so happy to be back ;}

So here is one of my favorite journals I love to write:




Resting in HIS arms,
Trina

BFS #108 - Quality is Job #1

Memory Verse: I Timothy 4:12-13 - Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Intro: Quality is Job #1 (Ford)


Assignment: My family and I rarely do anything apart from each other. We don’t really have quality time together because all our time is together. We feel like the more special moments are when we have dinner together or when we worship God together. For this assignment, tell how you and your family spend QUALITY time together.

We also spend alot of time together! The girls love to take a ride with us and look at NEW homes for sale. We cheeriest the times that we get to spend with our extended family. Here are some past pictures this year:

All the grandchildren at my Mother-in-Laws kitchen table dyeing Easter Eggs.


My cousin who is the closest thing to a sister that I have. Has two young ladies who my girls call their "BIG Me's". They also in return call them their "Little Me's" Here is a picture of them together. Both of the girls are very kind and loving young ladies.

This is all the kids together (my cousins children (with her daughters boyfriend) and my children.

Here are my parents, My aunt, my cousin and her husband, and Tom & I.

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If you would like to see what other homeschool families do for quality time, or if you would like to join this meme, please go to Blogger Friend School. I hope to see you there.

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Thanks for visiting!

In His Mighty Love,

Trina

BFS Assignment #105 - M’m M’m Good

Assignment: Post your favorite fall recipe/recipes to share.

When ask HANDS down my familyask for this!


No-Fuss Potato Soup
(Serves 8-10)


6 C cubed and peeled potatoes (I used can potatoes)
5 C Chicken Broth
2 C chopped onion
1/2 C thinly sliced carrots
1/2 C chopped celery
1/4 C butter or margarine
2 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
12-oz. can evaporated milk
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
3 Tbsp Bacon Bits


In a large slow cooker, combine all ingredients (except Bacon Bits). Cover and cook on high for 7 hours or until veggies are tender. Top with Bacon Bits and some chives before serving. Yum, Yum!!

In HIS Mighty Love,
Trina
All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13

BFS Assignment #100 - Oh What a Feeling

Assignment: Take time this week to write about YOU and your feelings of trials and triumphs with home schooling. Touch on when you first heard about the concept of home schooling and whether you tip-toed into the idea or just jumped in and never looked back. Share your schooling as a child and how you compare it to what your goals are for your children.

Let’s start off with when I first heard about Home schooling: When I was single, at a ladies luncheon I heard that my pastor wife home schooled their 3 sons. This is how the seed got planted! Several years latter when I got married “Family~time” became a main focus for our family. My husband works retail and with that comes odd hours. We needed to be flexible to get that time we wanted to have with each other. We like eating at least one meal together a day if not more. We thought we would try this out. So for the next year before we official started home schooling, I got involved with our local homeschool group through our church. On the first Monday of each month they had a mom’s night out over at a members home. During this time I would get to see how that family home schooled. Tour their school room (if they had one). See the curriculum they used and how they used it. I was able to ask tons of questions. I was learning so much. No one family was ever alike. Everyone did things different. One sweet lady took me under her wings and helped me to fine out what I was going to do my first year. She even helped me to save money and taught me how to shop the used curriculum sales. (Our homeschool group puts on a BIG used book sale each year.) I have girls and girls like colorful things . . . workbook pages! I also did not do well in grade school; I was label with a learning disability. So it is needless to say I had some dough’s in myself about doing this. A Beka work for us in the beginning for one main reason . . . they told me what to say in nice BIG BOLD print! Who could go wrong with that? I was so excited and ready to get started. I got my school room all fixed up. The walls were painted nice bright colors; I even had a chalkboard painted on one wall. The A B C’s ran along one wall. Number charts were on another. Had all my blend ladders in place. My husband even made the girls a cute little bench. This fitted perfectly at the table that was just their size. On the table they each had their own school box filled with supplies that they each would need. They each had their name written in cursive as an example on their side of the table. I was read to go! Looking back it looked like a mini school room.

When I was a child I moved around a lot. It was not until high school that I stayed at the same school. So my memories of elementary school are vague. What are my goals for them as they grow older? I would say what are my prayers for them? They both have accepted Christ as their personal Savior. I know that they have made this decision at a young age. May God give me the wisdom to encourage them to grow closer to Him in the years to follow. May the seeds that are planted on their hearts have deep roots. Can they please keep the sweet spirit they have now when they are adults. Please understand I want to teach them and prepare them so that when they enter into college they are self taught, independent learners, and are able to be successful. I have already started gathering up information that will help me to do this in their high school years.. But more then anything else I want them to know and love God with all their heart. To be able to hear Him when He calls them, to obey His will for their life.


The last six years that I have home schooled I have learned a different reason why I am doing this:

Year 1: Have more family time!
Year 2: Wake Up Trina! You need to spend time with God first before you try to teach your children. When I put HIM first in my day everything else falls in to place.
Year 3: Missionaries: Scottlyn had a missionary kid as a pen pal this year. She was a teenager from Thailand. Scottlyn started writing to her in the fall. They exchange maybe two letters. In the spring her family was back in the states. Scottlyn and her ran into each other at church one day. The impact that made on my daughter was amazing. Because of that young girl, Scottlyn has a deep desire to serve God in maybe short term missions or even long term missions one day.
Year 4: Pure Innocents! Scottlyn has the personally to please everyone she meets. Shalyn has the personally to take charge. They have sweet innocents about them that I want to preserve as long as I can. They first are sisters, and then play mates and best of all they are each other’s best friends. Being an only child I a so grateful for the bond that they share. I don’t know if they went away to school if they would still have this?
Year 5: Learning Styles! I started to spread my wings when it cam to what material we used. Up until now I had been studying the classical learning method. This year is when we started bring it home and using that style in our History and Science studies.
Year 6: Lord only knows what I will be learning. But knowing HIM he pull’s us and stretches us so that we all can grow more like HIM.

We have gowned over the past six years. Our school room looks more like a study area. No school desk. Just one big table we can spread everything out on. We have a medium size dry erase board. There are two maps on one wall and a Timeline on another. The room is painted a taupe with white trim. The girls have black desk chairs and I have a BIG computer chair. The piano is right when you first come in the room. Both girls are taking lessons. Scottlyn made it all the way to State level last year! We are all so proud of her. If I could sum up our room I would say: It’s Cozy . . it’s our school room!






In HIS Mighty Love,

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13

Blogger Friend School

I am so excited . . . This was such a blessing last year. So all you home school moms out there come join in. Here is a little info about class and you can click below to find out more.

GENERAL CLASS DESCRIPTION:
COURSE TITLE: Blogger Friend School

DESCRIPTION: A full year of online fun with other homeschooling moms with blog assignments to answer on your blog! We will share our special posts related to our daily activities, spiritual growth and our blessings!

PREREQUISITE: Open enrollment is year round for Homeschooling Moms! Our homework assignments will be BIBLE BASED with the purpose of uplifting one another and strengthening our faith. Digital photographs are usually encouraged but are not a requirement. A desire to learn scriptures and grow in your faith is important.

Serving HIM,

BFS #16

This weeks assignment I was given $1000 PRETEND online spending money! The rules are simple for this assignment. Using ANY online store…write out a shopping list of what you would buy! You can even post pictures of the items you're buying, if you want, it's not required. These things should be things for YOUR self ONLY! List the name of the website with a link and include product item # and cost…you must use all your $1000 without going over! As a bonus every commentator will have their name put in a basket and Nancy will draw three names of people who have signed the Linky and commented to receive a special prize in the mail from her! Have fun and my assignment is below as well.

This will be easy . . . I NEW one is $1299.00 and that is over the amount. I will just buy a Refurbished Mac Book 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - White for $999.00 I sure with shipping and tax I went over. But this is for me and I would be the FIRST one to have a Mac in the family. You see we are a family of laptops We have 3 (Tom, Reece and me), the girls have a computer down in the school room. You would crack a smile if you ever passed us going down to Florida. I am on my laptop, Reece is on his and the girls are on Tom's watching a movie. Got to love it :)!

Here is the picture and the link:

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?nplm=FB062LL/B

Blogger Friend School #14

My Dearest Lord and Savior,

The love you show me is more then I deserve. For you know I am a sinner and so unworthy of the daily grace and mercy that You give. My heart is grateful that You gave your only son so that I may be reunited with You. I am so in love with you. My heart skips a beat thinking of when I will be able to walk the streets in heaven by Your side.
Thank You for putting Tom in my life. You work all things out for your glory and over the past 10 years have turned our home around where You are it’s center. Thank You for my parents and his parents. The love our mothers have for You are the examples we want to build on for our children. Thank You for allowing me to be a mother/ step-mother. Please help me to be an example that will bring You honor and glory.
You are my first love!

Your child,

Trina

Please visit Nancy to read more Love Letters to Jesus!

Blogger Friend School #13 ~ Meet My BIBLE~

1. How old is your Bible? It's a baby Bible. I got it for CHRISTmas.


2. Why did you chose this Bible? My hubby got it for me. My old one was over 10 years old.


3. Do you highlight/mark passages in your Bible? YES!


4. If so, what is your system for marking passages? If I am doing a bible study, I may pick a highlighter color for that study. Then I mark when ever the Spirit moves me when I read a verse. I only use the color purple to hightligh anything that has to do with my girls or my becoming a more Chirst liked women.


5. Do you have notebooks to record things? Yes, I keep a prayer journal!


6. If so, how many and what do you record? My thoughts and prayers for that day.


7. Where is your favourite spot to read your Bible? At my school desk first thing. I am longing for a chair and 1/2 w/ottoman to curle up in and read. My favourite verse is: A Spirit of Submission: Ephesians 5:21-24


8. Are there any special thoughts about your Bible you want to share? It is a book I long to read everyday. It is where my spirit is renewed and a place that I find comfort and shelter.
   

If you want to read more Blogger Friend School Assignments you can find Nancy’s blog HERE! Thank you Nancy's for helping out Tamara. I look forward to knowing you.

Blogger Friend School #12

Our assignment this week is to write out some goals that we would like to accomplish--personal as well as for our family. We are also to try to write out small attainable rewards for each goal accomplished.

Personally:

I just thinking about this last night. We our coming up on our two week break. I would like to spend time with the Lord, seeking what my goals for the new year will be. What do I hope to accomplish this year? What are my spiritual goals? What goals do I have as a mother? Goals for each of my children? What are personal goals that I have for our family and our marriage.

Family:

I will be taking a blogging break the next week to spend time with family. My goal is to spend the time I would normally be blogging on my knees in prayer about the next year. Prayer is the most powerful tool we have as women. Before something new starts it must start first with prayer.

Reward:

For doing this the reward will be a plan that has first comes from the Lord. It will be a blessing to myself, my family and all who our around us. This plan will be give to the Lord. It will be blessed by the Lord.

Blogger Friend School #11

Prayer is something near and dear to my heart. As women this is the most powerful gift God has given us. I look forward to praying for each and every one of you.
Prayers that I am in need of are:

• My cousin "Sharon" found a lump in her breast and in undergoing test. She also has a job interview today. This would be closer to home for her.
• A friend & co-worker Linda has Thyroid cancer. She just found out this last week. She is such a Godly women and a wonderful mother. May God continue to give her the strength as she is in this season. I pray for healing and full recovery for her.
• My Husband works retail. This time of the year it gets crazy. Pray for him; he will be able to rest when he returns home from a long day or night at work, that work will run smooth and God may bless his store.
• Myself: I am still recovering from a stomach virus this past weekend. I though yesterday I was getting better. But last night I was up and down with cramping.

Growing in Him,

Trina

Blogger Friend School #9

Part A: Share at least 3 “Bountiful Blessings” that the Lord has abundantly provided.

A God Honoring Husband, to be a mother to two tender hearted young ladies, to have all my basic needs provided and my desires filled, parents and in-laws how also love the Lord with all their heart, friends who are such an encouragement to my soul, Health, Happiness and the feeling of being loved and to truly understand the word contentment!



Part B: Share your Thanksgiving Feast {past or present}

Before last year we got together with my Dad's cousins in the local area and had Thanksgiving. Last year something came up for just about everyone and they could not make it. This was my first time to have Thanksgiving here at my home just for my family. I cook my first Turkey (I should say Turkey Brest, we all like the white meat) It was wonderful and relaxing. Kind of nice not have to go anywhere. Let me explain that my Husband and I come from a retail background and the Holiday Season (Oct. - Jan.) is NEVER relaxing for us. This year will be his FIRST day after Thanksgiving day OFF!! We are going to put up the tree and enjoy time as a family. We might even hit same of the CRAZY sales ;)!


Traditions - We started a new one last year; The Sunday before we head down to my SIL and have Thanksgiving with her family, My in-laws and this year my parents will also be joining us.


Menu:

1. Roasted Turkey Brest w/ gravy
2. Mash-potato's (I use instant Idaho Spuds Loaded kind, fix it just the way it said on the package, blend in a 1/2 block of cream cheese, 1 cup of sheared Cheddar, transfer into an over safe dish and top with more Cheddar, at 350 cook until Cheddar is melded. )
3. Green Bean's suttee in garlic and pepper (This year green beans are fresh from a neighbors garden, a blessing)
4. Cranberry Sauce
5. Yeast Rolls
6. Sweet Ice Tea

"Who carves the turkey?” My Husband
“Do you save the wishbone?” yes, the girls break it
“What do you serve for dessert?” Peanut Butter Cake w/ Ice cream

Leftovers - because we only use a turkey breast, we lave little leftovers, I make my husband several dinner plates to take to work on the night he closes and we finish everything else up that weekend.



Part C: Post a Scripture that reminds you of your blessings!

I found this picture & verse and it touch my heart. This year I felt like I am the lady in the picture on my knees praying. With each passing year of homeschooling my days are spent this way. Also, as being a wife and mother. It might be better said: As I get older and my childish ways leave me, as I become stronger in my prayers to God. I am growing just as you are and I find the strength I need when I am on my knees praying to my Lord. The power He has given to women in prayer, I am so humble by His mercy.

Blogger Friend School Assignment #8

Hmm…How many are thinking what is this assignment going to be? My laundry or something hidden deep within that you haven’t shared? Let me end the suspense and say BOTH! Keep in mind that these assignments are meant to stretch you and encourage you to creatively blog.

• Part A - Share about your family’s laundry. Where is it kept? Who does it? How does your family sort it? Do you wash by hand? Hang clothes on the clothesline? Make your own laundry soap? How often do you do laundry? How many loads each day/week? Indoor laundry room, in the garage, or laundry mat? Even more fun…share a picture!

• Part B - Do you have an area in your life that you know that the Lord is tugging at some heart strings that needs to be cleaned up? Have a testimony of your past struggle(s) that might help another homeschooling mom? Share a piece of your heart (dirty laundry) that you are seeking a good washing or how it got cleaned up. Sharing with one another is a great way to have your post feel human and real.

• Part C - FIND a scripture this week that pertains to this assignment to help you with your laundry and share it this week.

Here is mine:

• Part A - A few yeas back we had to get a new washer and dryer. We picked front loading ones. This has been a great way to get the girls to help loading and unloading. All the bedroom clothes has laundry baskets in them. When they are getting full (this is two times a week in the summer and three times a week in the winter) the girls will sort the baskets in to whites, darkes, blacks & jeans (winter months only). Plus another load that is just my husbands work clothes(dress pants & button downs).They will take the color I saw and put it into the washer. My jog is to do the detergent (we use Walmart Lavender Brand) and set the washer: they push the start button. They the youngest will transfer the clothes into the dryer and put a dryer sheet (Bounty) in. She will also unload the dried clothes onto my bed, clean out the vent and reload it. I do all the folding and ironing, myself. The girls will also put away their own folded clothes. Our laundry room is in the hallway for easy excess. My husband just installed the cabinets over the summer. He got a great deal at Builder's Surplus! As you can see I also store my extra hangers here. It gets weeded out twice a year during the consignment seasons. We average about 7-10 loads a week between the four of us. This will go up now my that my step-son will be moving back in with us.

• Part B - Over the past two yeas we have been trying to de-clutter the following things n our lives: Our Home: We are taking back control of all the stuff we have here. Tossing and selling the things that we don't need or want in our home. LESS stuff to DUST! Also, I am a curriculum JUNKIE. I have been letting go and only keeping the things that I really like! Selling the other stuff or my first choice is to bless another family by giving it away. Our Finances: It will be two years in February that we have been using the Dave Ramsey "Baby Steps". We have been able to pay off all out dept except our house and the 2ND mortgage. We have also been able to pay in cash for a good used truck, pay in cash for some land just north if us and do some home repairs. I mention before that my step-son is moving back here. Because of this financial freedom we will be able to help him out with college. Our Hearts: We are an open family that shares our daily struggles with our children. They see us laugh, cry and get mad with each other. My husband has been married before, he brings a child into our marriage, I am an only child and I also come from a broken home. That is just a few of the major things we have, had or still working through. But God is good and He works all things out for His Glory. We just had our 10Th wedding anniversary last month.

• Part C: "Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. 'We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,' they said" (Acts 14:22).

Hear my heart: Thank you for reading this. I can not begin to express the blessing you make by commenting on this blog. It has been an encouragement to me in my first short month of entering the blog world. I truly look forward to returning the blessing back to you. Have a wonderful day with our Lord!

Blogger Friend School #7

Gingered Pumpkin Soup with Gruyere Cheese

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 - 2 Pound Fresh Pumpkin, seed and skin removed, diced
1/2 Pound Yukon Potatoes, peeled and diced
2 Tablespoons of Fresh Ginger, minced
1/2 Sweet Yellow Onion, sliced thin
4 Cups Vegetable Stock or Water
1/4 Cup Orange Juice
1/2 Cup Cream Sherry
1 Cup Heavy Cream
2 Tablespoons Butter, unsalted
4 Ounces Gruyere Cheese, grated, for garnish

PREPARATION:
Heat the butter over medium heat in a large heavy pot. Add the onions and cook until soft and translucent (about 10 minutes). Add the pumpkin, ginger, and potatoes. Cook for another 3 minutes.
Add the stock or water, orange juice, and sherry. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook until pumpkin is soft and easily pierced with a fork (about 1 hour).
Transfer mixture to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Transfer back to the pot and stir in the heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle Gruyere over individual portions and serve with a hearty bread.

I too, like the Pumpkin Patch Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs

The verse I would like to encourage you with is:

Two are better than one,

because they have a good return for their work:

If one falls down,

his friend can help him up.

But pity the [one] who falls

and has no one to help him up!

Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10

Your friend,

Trina

TrainingHearts Blogger Friend School

This is my first assignment and I am feeling very proud of myself for being able to do this!

This is a picture of me when I was just over a year old. We lived in Miami, Florida. My mother made this dress. I am a December baby. My hair was so thin that my mother had to stick the bow on with scotch tape. The boots are Black Patton leather with red brush trim and lace up. The wonderful thing about this outfit is that my mother passed it down to me and I was able to let my two daughters wear it as well. My second daughter's birthday it the day before mine and we got her in a slimier pose. Now I wish I had in on my computer so I could post it too.

The scripture that reminds me of my childhood: "Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all you mind,' This is the first and greatest commandment." Matthew 22: 37 & 38