Who is More Expensive: Boys or Girls?

I've heard many parents complain that girls are so much more expensive than boys. The prom dresses, the make-up, the hairstyles, the shoes, the handbags, the cell phone bill... and dare I say, the wedding!

While I do believe that we, females, trump the deck in all of those areas. I still have reason to believe that boys are more expensive. Give me a moment to explain.

My daughter has never broken a light bulb with her bare hands, punctured a hole in her bedroom wall, destroyed carpet with markers, taken apart a game system just to see how it works (only to lose pieces in the process forbidding any possibility that it will work again), broken appendages from action figures because it is critical to have an amputee, scraped a rake across my car (just to see if it would leave a mark), attacked a camera with a light saber, ruined every pair of jeans worn on a playground... and dare I mention the FOOD!

Even if all of these things evened out in the end, I feel girls are actually LESS expensive because for the most part they actually take care of the things that we spend money on. I'd rather spend money on a handbag that will be used and enjoyed than replacing and repainting my drywall. I think you see where I'm coming from.

This all leads to another question: Are men or women more expensive?
Oh mercy, I better stop while I'm ahead. ;)
I will at least tip-toe into the water... Men are more expensive- the bigger the boy, the bigger the toy!
Okay, I'm not wading out any further. You can... if you dare. Feel free to share your opinion, I'd love to hear it!

This too shall pass...

This too shall pass...

We've all heard it when going through a trial. We've all said it to someone going through a hardship.

These four words are meant to bring comfort, to remind us that the sun will shine again.
This phrase reminds us that there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

After "this" passes... whatever the current "this" may be... we should have gained some bit of wisdom that we otherwise would never have the opportunity to receive. However, if you are like me- you may miss out on other good things during the trial.

For instance, “the good things” too shall pass. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the current crisis that I miss out on the good things in my life.

“My kids’ childhood” too shall pass…

“My loving dog” too shall pass…

“Vacations” too shall pass…

“My current age” too shall pass…

“Life” too shall pass…

If you are like me, struggling, hoping, eagerly waiting for those bad times to pass don’t get so caught up in the hardship that you miss the blessings. Endure the battle but still hold the ones you love and enjoy every moment because each moment is a fleeting vapor.

I’ll end with this song. One of my favorites by Third Day: When the Rain Comes.

Buckeyes!

After our study of Virginia last week, I let my son choose which state we would study next. (I don't care what order we do them in as long as we get them all done.)

With excited glee, he proclaimed, "OHIO! I've wanted to learn about Ohio for a long time."

My quizzical brow popped up as I asked him, "Really? Since when?"

It was then that he reminded me that last year- in the third grade- he wrote a letter to a boy in Ohio as a class project. Silly mom, how could you forget something like that! ;)

This week, I learned a few things, too. Ohio had the first traffic light, police car, and ambulance. Ohio shares the same state bird as we do here in VA- the cardinal. Ohio is akin to VA with one of its nicknames as well. Virginia is known as "The Mother of Presidents" since eight presidents were born here. Ohio has given us seven presidents, earning the name "The Mother of Modern Presidents."

Even if you didn't know that Columbus is the capital of Ohio or that tomato juice is the state's beverage, I bet you knew the state tree. Yep, the buckeye tree. The tree attained the name from Native Americans who thought the seed looked like the eye of a buck. (Ohioans say that carrying one around in your pocket will bring you good luck!)

So, what's the best thing about all this new-found knowledge? Making a recipe, of course. I almost chose a savory dish for this week's study but who could turn down making Buckeyes?

Another name for Buckeyes is peanut butter balls, basically. Remembering the best peanut butter balls that Bill (a sweet old fella) used to bring us at the office; I also remembered his trick. He always put a little honey in the mix... so I did. It was a fun way to remember him but mine didn't taste near as good as his.

Well, this is where it got messy... and I must admit, I'm a little impatient in the kitchen and this recipe required some "wait" time. The middle mix was a bit runny and had to chill extra long.

In the end, they may not be as pretty as we envisioned when we started but they are yummy! The best part is we had fun learning together.

Smile :) donnamusing

Pea-Pickin' Cake

School is in session. Today marks the end of homeschool week number two for us.

Last week we started learning about our state- Virginia. As we learn about each state, we are making a recipe from the cookbook "Eat Your Way Through The USA" by Lorie Pettit. The Virginia recipe we chose from the book was Pea- Pickin' Cake. It's a very simple and quick recipe.

The kids had to answer questions about Virginia to get each ingredient open, poured, and finally, to be able to mix it all together themselves. My daughter's questions were easier than my son's since she is in first grade. She can tell you that our capital is Richmond, our state flower is the Dogwood, and our bird is the Cardinal. My son learned much more for his fourth grade study.

Here's the Pea-Pickin' Cake recipe:

1 yellow cake, 4 eggs, 1/2 cup oil, 1 11-oz. can mandarin oranges

Mix all ingredients, pour into 3 greased and floured round cake pans (we did 2), and bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Cool completely.

Topping: 1 20-oz. can crushed pineapple in juice, 1 16-oz. non-dairy whipped topping, 1 3.4-oz. box vanilla pudding

Combine pineapple and pudding, fold in whipped cream, spread in between layers and on top of cake.

The result:

Super easy and yummy. My kids and I enjoyed making it. Definitely a better way to review the state facts, much more fun than to do a boring old worksheet.

Smile :) donnamusing

The Faith of a Child

We started homeschool at our house this week. I know it's a little early but we have to start early because Fridays are our fun days! If we get all of our work done Monday through Thursday, then we all can have a three-day weekend every week. Okay, on to the reason for my blog entry today. On Sunday, after church, I asked my daughter to help me write their verse on our little chalkboard. We plan to use the same verse they are learning at church, along with the materials sent home from church as part of our weekly Bible curriculum. Currently, the kids are learning about God's grace and here is their memory verse. Ephesians 2:8- For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. 

After Lora wrote it on the board, I asked her, "What does this verse mean to you?" She replied, "God gave us the gift of Jesus so we can have him in our heart and go to heaven."

Such precious moments.

We talked about it for a while and then she said that she wanted to ask Jesus in her heart. She prayed the sweetest heartfelt prayer. It wasn't a repeat after me prayer. It was raw, genuine, tender.

The first thing she did was run upstairs and tell her daddy. She is becoming a bit of a daddy's girl. Especially since they have daddy/daughter/iPad time together. ;)

Then, I asked her did she want to write what she did and the date in her Bible. Of course, she did. Again, these are her own words. I only stood by to help with spelling.

I pray her heart remains tender, compassionate, and merciful all the days of her life. And may her days be blessed abundantly.

In case you can't read the photo, it says:
August 5, 2012
Today, I asked God into my heart forever and I will never turn my back on Him. For He is my Savior and He is worth more than gold or anything else. ~Lora

She is such a delightful child, when she wrote "Savior"- she said, I wrote it with a big "S" because I think that's like God's middle name.

How blessed I am to be her mommy!

Smile :) donnamusing

Chore Chart Overhaul

My kids' Chore Chart definitely needed an overhaul. 

We had used a simple page taped to each of their doors for quite a while now. Each chart consisted of what is expected from each of them every day, such as making their own bed, putting toys away, etc. Also, It reminded them of chores that are expected to be done as needed, for example, taking the trash out of their room and taking dirty laundry to the basement. Finally, each day had an assigned chore. 

At this point, Alec and Lora have both proven faithful with their daily expectations so it was time for a Chore Chart Overhaul!

Out with the OLD:

In with the NEW:

I started with a magnetic board, specifically- this is an Everyday Display by Creative Memories. There are three pockets. One for my son, one for my daughter, and a "DONE!" pocket in the center. All of the Chore Cards are stored in the "DONE!" pocket. Every morning, I will pull out a few chores that are expected of Alec and Lora, and put them in their pockets. After breakfast, their job is to check the Chore Cards left in their pocket, accomplish them, and then return them to the "DONE!" pocket. We pay our kids commissions for their work. If their work is slacking, then so is their pay. Trust me, they have only skimped on getting the job done a few times. 

We believe in developing a strong work ethic in our kids. They are expected to be productive members of the household just like Mom and Dad. However, we realize their abilities are in line with their age. As long as they attempt to make their bed neatly, then it is considered acceptable. On the flip side, when my son balls his clothes up instead of folds them, he has to start back over from the beginning. 

Here is a peek at some of our chore cards:

Of course, there are no chores on Sundays and special days are chore-free as well.
If this helped you have an idea of how to set up a chore chart for your kids, leave me a note and let me know!

Smile :) donnamusing

The Song In My Daughter's Heart

My daughter sings all the time, ALL the time. From sun-up to sun-down. In the bathtub, on the swing, while folding laundry, while running the swiffer across the floor (her favorite chore), even in the middle of a movie.

(Sometimes, I have to ask her to turn it off.) It doesn't matter if we have music playing, if she has a song in her heart then she WILL sing it over top of my Pandora station. ;)

She is always singing to God. Songs of thankfulness, songs of love, songs of praise.

She always asks if we like her song and proclaims that she knows God loves it. Of course, I wholeheartedly agree!

In one of her songs, she says, "We love you, God, because You are the only God we got."

What a simple lyric but so profound.

You see, my children are adopted. They've had a 'tougher' life than many of their peers. We are the 12th place she has lived- could you even imagine being moved 12 times before starting Kindergarten?!

She had several 'families' before us, her FOREVER family. Yet, through it all, she had one God- and so she sings what is in her heart: "We love you, God, because You are the only God we got."
She is a trooper, a survivor, and my little hero!

Through it all, she has grown thankful instead of bitter. She will proclaim that Jesus was with her through every move. She knows that God answered her prayers for a family, in HIS time. She speaks of God's faithfulness in such a way that challenges me to trust HIM more. And, she sings because she has a song in her heart. 

One moment when she particularly challenged me was a few nights ago- when laying down for bed and saying her prayers. She prayed, "Thank you, God, for my talents. Thank you for my good singing voice so I can sing to you. I love you, Lord. Amen."

Be challenged by her faith: What talents has God given you? Are you using them for Him?

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12