I finally broke down and joined Pinterest...as if I have time... :)
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Saturday, January 28, 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Where I've Been...
So I promise I haven't dropped off the face of the planet. I really do hope to really get back into the blogosphere very shortly.
This...
is where I've been.
We call her Ruby Grace. She came very quickly (we had less than 24 hour notice). And she has changed the course of our lives. I would say God has a sense of humor, but the reality is...I've been praying for a baby for the longest time. Little did I know she would come as our adopted son's birth sister and that she would quietly sweep into our hearts and lives and radically change everything.
This certainly isn't how we planned it. But what in life is, right?
All this to say: I miss you. I miss blogging. I miss reading blogs and keeping up with all these random strangers. I will be back. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Because to be quite honest...I feel like I'm going to come OUT OF MY SKIN if I don't get to do a crafty project ASAP.
Anyway - we would appreciate any prayers as we learn to function in a purely chaotic state.
XOXOXOX jos
This...
is where I've been.
We call her Ruby Grace. She came very quickly (we had less than 24 hour notice). And she has changed the course of our lives. I would say God has a sense of humor, but the reality is...I've been praying for a baby for the longest time. Little did I know she would come as our adopted son's birth sister and that she would quietly sweep into our hearts and lives and radically change everything.
This certainly isn't how we planned it. But what in life is, right?
All this to say: I miss you. I miss blogging. I miss reading blogs and keeping up with all these random strangers. I will be back. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Because to be quite honest...I feel like I'm going to come OUT OF MY SKIN if I don't get to do a crafty project ASAP.
Anyway - we would appreciate any prayers as we learn to function in a purely chaotic state.
XOXOXOX jos
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Susie-Home-Maker...NOT
So...I'm getting ready to crush some of you. I mean, really.
I have good intentions, I really do. But I just can't seem to do it.
Do what, you ask?
Be a good Susie-Home-Maker.
Now, to be quite honest up front, the measuring stick with which I measure is P.R.E.T.T.Y. big. My Marmi Jo-jo is an UH-MAZING housekeeper. A perfect blend of Susie (HomeMaker), Betty (Crocker), and Martha (Stewart). No really. This woman is just...someone I can only attain to be.
When I was teaching (pre-kid), I thought I was struggling because I was busy. Especially those first 2 years...man, I spent a LOT of time in the classroom. There was rarely energy left for cleaning/cooking/picking up/straightening/being a good home maker. So I rarely did.
Then we bought a house. It had 2 more rooms than the past house (that I had already struggled to keep up with). Not to mention a yard, etc. So...Uhhhhh....Not sure why I thought "maybe here I will do well." Nope.
Then we got a dog. Love him to pieces. Don't even GET me started on the mess they make, smell they make, etc. (And mine even does his business outside! He's just a stink-er!)
Then we got a 4 year old. Oh, brother. Again...love him to pieces. Can't live without him (literally...don't think I could.) Can't BELIEVE the mess he makes. Every. Waking. Hour. {Though to be quite honest, I am trying to teach him to clean up after himself. 1.5 years later, he's not doing too bad.}
{Now, in case you're wondering...this post is not JUST about how I suck at being a house keeper.}
I've tried everything:
secretly are not the best @ this ever-loving, never-ending job.
I found something that works!
I have good intentions, I really do. But I just can't seem to do it.
Do what, you ask?
Be a good Susie-Home-Maker.
Now, to be quite honest up front, the measuring stick with which I measure is P.R.E.T.T.Y. big. My Marmi Jo-jo is an UH-MAZING housekeeper. A perfect blend of Susie (HomeMaker), Betty (Crocker), and Martha (Stewart). No really. This woman is just...someone I can only attain to be.
When I was teaching (pre-kid), I thought I was struggling because I was busy. Especially those first 2 years...man, I spent a LOT of time in the classroom. There was rarely energy left for cleaning/cooking/picking up/straightening/being a good home maker. So I rarely did.
Then we bought a house. It had 2 more rooms than the past house (that I had already struggled to keep up with). Not to mention a yard, etc. So...Uhhhhh....Not sure why I thought "maybe here I will do well." Nope.
Then we got a dog. Love him to pieces. Don't even GET me started on the mess they make, smell they make, etc. (And mine even does his business outside! He's just a stink-er!)
Then we got a 4 year old. Oh, brother. Again...love him to pieces. Can't live without him (literally...don't think I could.) Can't BELIEVE the mess he makes. Every. Waking. Hour. {Though to be quite honest, I am trying to teach him to clean up after himself. 1.5 years later, he's not doing too bad.}
{Now, in case you're wondering...this post is not JUST about how I suck at being a house keeper.}
I've tried everything:
- Daily Cleaning Lists/Chores - Woops! I'd go days without looking at it.
- Fly Lady - she's neat, she really is. Just can't keep up.
- Weekend Cleaning - nope...doesn't work
- Week Night Cleaning - refer to the above comment
- Split Cleaning - The Mister & I will split chores and take responsibility for only those chores. He quit that after there wasn't a clean towel (in the whole house)...Not to mention other things that are quite necessary.
I found something that works!
Yup. It's an egg timer. I make a list of areas that need to be cleaned up (usually ALL of them). I split time up (usually 10-15-20 minutes). Set the timer. Give myself a few 5 minute internet breaks (because I'm severely addicted...maybe THAT'S why I stink at this). And work my way down the list. It makes it fun, quick, and I end up trying to beat the timer. After all, if the bathroom gets cleaned up before the 10 minutes is up, I can have a few free minutes on Blogger....so...ya know...it's worth it.
That's what I've been doing the past hour. Beating the clock. And 1 hour went by VERY fast, yet I got a LOT done.
Off to see if I can get dishes AND laundry done in 10 minutes flat...
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
First Day of School Blues...
I used to be on the other side of the door.
As the teacher, I pried children off parents, telling them they will be just fine and will have a great day. "You just wait and see," I would say. I saw mom's break down, drop & run, snoop (stick around much longer than needed), and I saw my share of silent tears, as well.
I didn't think I'd struggle. I've been needing a "break." Working and being mom and trying to balance hasn't been working terribly well (yet), mostly because he has to be there. {Try being productive with a hyper-active 5 year old on your heels...it's NUTS!} Add to our crazy equation...a week stretch where Daddy has to work a LOT extra. Not only did D struggle with that, so did Momma. I needed a break.
My Mister is so good about giving me a break when I need one (if he's able). And so I got several breaks this weekend.
But then this morning, as we walked to school, I was chastising myself. I should have enjoyed a few more summer hours with my sweet boy before shipping him off for 7 hours a day. I coulda just waited for my 7 hour break. And then reality hit me that I am not going to be there all day with him. Every day. For, like, 180some days.
180 days of not knowing what he REALLY eats for lunch.
180 days of wondering if he's going to break a limb (for he's not only accident-proned, but also just quick to action, slow to think.)
180 days of hoping and praying that he's standing up for those being bullied.
180 days of praying that he's not BEING bullied (or being the bullier, too, I suppose).
180 days of someone else calming his fears and insecurities for those hours in the day.
180 days of someone else seeing his lightbulb go off and watching him learn new things.
Ugh. I've never quite felt like this before. Now, more than ever, I want to spend every minute with him, soaking up his sweetness and hilarity. And so I did. After school. We were quite inseparable for those 5 short hours together. How fair is that?! (Not at all.)
I'm not one to worry. I don't really believe in worrying, and those who worry REALLY bother me. But I'm not gonna lie...in those 15-20 (possibly 30) minutes where I was having a breakdown once we got home, I mighta been a bit of a worrier. God & my Mister calmed my fears and my unknowns {and truth be told, my lack of control}.
And now, here I am. Wide awake (since I slept for many hours today) and wishing my D was awake with me. I can't wait to see him tomorrow.
A chuckle worthy moment from this past week.
Me: "Sweet D, I'm gonna miss you. You're going to be at school for a long time. What am I gonna do without you?" D: "It okay, Mom. I won't miss you. I be having fun at sool." {At least he's honest. And excited about school. I love that.}
As the teacher, I pried children off parents, telling them they will be just fine and will have a great day. "You just wait and see," I would say. I saw mom's break down, drop & run, snoop (stick around much longer than needed), and I saw my share of silent tears, as well.
I didn't think I'd struggle. I've been needing a "break." Working and being mom and trying to balance hasn't been working terribly well (yet), mostly because he has to be there. {Try being productive with a hyper-active 5 year old on your heels...it's NUTS!} Add to our crazy equation...a week stretch where Daddy has to work a LOT extra. Not only did D struggle with that, so did Momma. I needed a break.
My Mister is so good about giving me a break when I need one (if he's able). And so I got several breaks this weekend.
But then this morning, as we walked to school, I was chastising myself. I should have enjoyed a few more summer hours with my sweet boy before shipping him off for 7 hours a day. I coulda just waited for my 7 hour break. And then reality hit me that I am not going to be there all day with him. Every day. For, like, 180some days.
180 days of not knowing what he REALLY eats for lunch.
180 days of wondering if he's going to break a limb (for he's not only accident-proned, but also just quick to action, slow to think.)
180 days of hoping and praying that he's standing up for those being bullied.
180 days of praying that he's not BEING bullied (or being the bullier, too, I suppose).
180 days of someone else calming his fears and insecurities for those hours in the day.
180 days of someone else seeing his lightbulb go off and watching him learn new things.
Ugh. I've never quite felt like this before. Now, more than ever, I want to spend every minute with him, soaking up his sweetness and hilarity. And so I did. After school. We were quite inseparable for those 5 short hours together. How fair is that?! (Not at all.)
I'm not one to worry. I don't really believe in worrying, and those who worry REALLY bother me. But I'm not gonna lie...in those 15-20 (possibly 30) minutes where I was having a breakdown once we got home, I mighta been a bit of a worrier. God & my Mister calmed my fears and my unknowns {and truth be told, my lack of control}.
And now, here I am. Wide awake (since I slept for many hours today) and wishing my D was awake with me. I can't wait to see him tomorrow.
A chuckle worthy moment from this past week.
Me: "Sweet D, I'm gonna miss you. You're going to be at school for a long time. What am I gonna do without you?" D: "It okay, Mom. I won't miss you. I be having fun at sool." {At least he's honest. And excited about school. I love that.}
Can you tell he's excited to be there?!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Fabulous Food Friday: Sweet, Sweet Strawberries
When I was teaching, we had Fabulous Food Fridays in our classroom. Every Friday a.m., we would make something fun together. Do you know, my first year instituting this, only 3 out of TWENTY 3, 4, and 5 year olds had ever MADE J-E-L-L-O with their parents. Really, parents?
Baking/cooking/making with your children is one of the most enriching things you can do! I'm not talking big stuff. No grand meals served here in the Keathley Homestead.
But most meals are made with my 5 year old. We have some of our best and coolest conversations in the kitchen. We each wear aprons. Lil' D is the Master of the KitchenAid...I taught him how to be gentle with our precious beast, and he even helps me make bread.
Today I thought I'd share one of my favorite fruits. My little man can eat a pint of these in one sitting. I love eating them whole, but my Marmi always sliced them to make them go further (in my family of 6). This is a variation of how she did it.
It's simple. Start with a quart of strawberries. Rinse and wash thoroughly but gently. Take tops off (with your preferred method).
My mom would then take each individual strawberry and carefully slice with her Cutco knife....have y'all every USED a Cutco knife? Yea....THAT'S a good way to lose a finger.
Being thatI'm lazy I like to save time and energy in the kitchen, I thought I would try something...the food processor. It has a slice method. Surely it would work!
And it does! This is my preferred method. Little D's job is to put said strawberries in the hatch for the processor and turn it on. Then we sprinkle just a tad bit of Splenda on top. Refrigerate for yummy juices and whatnot.
This also freezes well in cottage cheese or cool whip containers. If I'm going to freeze a batch, I try to put a little "Fresh Fruit" on it...not sure what all it is, but keeps it nice and red when it thaws out. Otherwise, it's kinda...brownish-reddish. Fresh Fruit can be found in the jello aisle usually on the top shelf (FYI).
Enjoy! (And cook with your children for goodness sakes!)
Baking/cooking/making with your children is one of the most enriching things you can do! I'm not talking big stuff. No grand meals served here in the Keathley Homestead.
But most meals are made with my 5 year old. We have some of our best and coolest conversations in the kitchen. We each wear aprons. Lil' D is the Master of the KitchenAid...I taught him how to be gentle with our precious beast, and he even helps me make bread.
Today I thought I'd share one of my favorite fruits. My little man can eat a pint of these in one sitting. I love eating them whole, but my Marmi always sliced them to make them go further (in my family of 6). This is a variation of how she did it.
It's simple. Start with a quart of strawberries. Rinse and wash thoroughly but gently. Take tops off (with your preferred method).
My mom would then take each individual strawberry and carefully slice with her Cutco knife....have y'all every USED a Cutco knife? Yea....THAT'S a good way to lose a finger.
Being that
And it does! This is my preferred method. Little D's job is to put said strawberries in the hatch for the processor and turn it on. Then we sprinkle just a tad bit of Splenda on top. Refrigerate for yummy juices and whatnot.
This also freezes well in cottage cheese or cool whip containers. If I'm going to freeze a batch, I try to put a little "Fresh Fruit" on it...not sure what all it is, but keeps it nice and red when it thaws out. Otherwise, it's kinda...brownish-reddish. Fresh Fruit can be found in the jello aisle usually on the top shelf (FYI).
Enjoy! (And cook with your children for goodness sakes!)
Monday, June 27, 2011
At the Cross...
Ever have one of those days? It's been a rough one around the Keathley Homestead. {Good, but rough. Is that possible?} We had many ups and a few downs, but in general, I was just in a "funk."
Ever have one of those songs? A song that puts your mind so much on the right things that it just turns everything around? Enter this song.
I remember it from when a group from Olivet came to sing at my church a year or so ago. It touched me so very deeply then. I listened to it over and over, but then couldn't find it again before buying.
Be assured. It is now on my iPod Praise playlist.
A friend put it on Facebook tonight, and I've just had the greatest "God time" tonight right her in my office/craft room. There is clutter and chaos all around me and a million things to do...But "at the cross I bow my knee, there's no greater love than this...what can seperate me now?"
Ah-mazing. {Seriously. You should listen to it.}
Ever have one of those songs? A song that puts your mind so much on the right things that it just turns everything around? Enter this song.
I remember it from when a group from Olivet came to sing at my church a year or so ago. It touched me so very deeply then. I listened to it over and over, but then couldn't find it again before buying.
Be assured. It is now on my iPod Praise playlist.
A friend put it on Facebook tonight, and I've just had the greatest "God time" tonight right her in my office/craft room. There is clutter and chaos all around me and a million things to do...But "at the cross I bow my knee, there's no greater love than this...what can seperate me now?"
Ah-mazing. {Seriously. You should listen to it.}
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