friday freefall

this is going to seem so anti-climactic from yesterday, but that is me.
first off, let me just say

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a really great kid ... mine. Jonam turned fourteen today and is, of course, still in bed. Gotta love homeschooling and teenage hood.
Guess I will have to wish him a great year later.

another thing that got me going this morning was the fact that I am constantly being asked by people how in the world I can stay so organized. I used to think I wasn't organized at all, or particularly neat, until I had to spend copious amounts of time in other people's houses. Um ... yah, I no longer question either my organizational skills or my cleanliness. not.at.all

so, as I was getting ready for a cup of morning tea, I thinked a thunk and decided to just go ahead and let you know the things that seem to work for me. I have been doing things this way for my whole life. It started with my mom teaching me to wash and wipe as you go. so I never really have to do a major cleaning in my house when it comes to sinks, stove tops or counters. really. if it splashes, wipe it up.
then my dad taught me to think in terms of the lowest common denominator when cooking or baking. easy. it saves so much time in clean up it almost isn't funny ... until I watch my kids try to prepare a meal and the measuring cups and bowls begin to stack (which is also precisely when they claim they make everyone sick when they wash the dishes so, really, things go better, health wise, when I wash up. right.) more on that when I get to my kitchen.

ok, so here is where you interrupt me, saying "but aren't you one of those first-born types who are all cholicy and demanding? you probably stand behind your poor kids all day with a whip, bossing them around so your house stays in order. yah ... while I eat bonbons and watch the satellite tv I don't have.

true, I am a little over-bearing at times, but that is usually followed by some heart-felt conversation with a child or two admitting that they aren't carrying their weight like they should and can they help me with something? good kids.

while I am a first-born, and perhaps that does mean organizing comes a little more naturally to me, I am also one of those sucky baby last born types who prefers to go play over work. you know, all work and no play makes jack a dull ... wait, that is totally another post.

let me quickly take you to my bedroom, first, then next time I'll hit another area. wouldn't want to make a post too long ...

in our bedroom we have one three drawer dresser, a wee closet (not exaggerating, ask Barb. she's seen it) to share and a bed. we will be adding a side table for my husband as soon as we find one we like. the alarm clock on the floor thing isn't so "me".
so, how does this work? well, I adopted a philosophy a long, long time ago, probably from living with my mother the clutter queen (yes, she knows I think this. yes, she reads my blog. yes, she will be fine with the title) that the problem solver ISN'T going out and getting MORE dressers or slamming through the wall to steal the closet belonging to my other son (though the idea did cross our minds last night, briefly. it was a short-lived moment of weakness).

the idea is this: get rid of some of your clothes

let me tell you just how many articles of clothing I have right now, so you know.
two turtlenecks (it is mighty frigid here compared to Papua)
one button down casual shirt
three skirts
two jeans, one beige cords, one beige cargo pants, one dress pants, one pair of yoga pants which are nicer looking than regular sweats but I don't wear outside
three t-shirts
two 3/4 sleeve shirts
three long sleeve dressier shirts
one dress
a few meri blaus'that I can wear because I am just that weird
two sweatshirts
one long sleeve thin hoodie
three nice tank tops to wear under hoodie
a really pretty black dress top
socks, underwear, tights ... in a small shoebox so I can have all in the one drawer
6 sweaters

what can I give?

this has been one of those days where I hide myself in my room for a few minutes so I can dry my eyes and simply try to catch my breath.

amazed by the grace of the Lord.

there aren't any other words for it. earlier, a fellow missionary friend stopped by, quite unexpectedly, with coffee, hot chocolate and timbits. she just wanted to talk. well, didn't we finish off our school week early, meaning yesterday? and didn't dad get pink boy bedroom changed into young man grey late last night, so he could finally move in? so while ladies sipped and shared, boys helped each other assemble beds and put things away in closets. nice, warm morning.

then I received an e-mail from Sonlight, asking how they could be praying for us, specifically, which I also didn't expect. not only that, but before I could get over how much that sentiment touched me, another e-mail came asking if we were still missionaries with New Tribes because Sonlight offers a discount on curriculum for missos. I wrote, explaining our situation, thanking her for asking but not expecting any sort of re numeration at all.

God thinks differently than I do.

imagine the tears of thankfulness as yet another e-mail comes into my inbox, telling me this " you are still serving in your hearts " and we have credited back to you the discount.
yep, here come the tears again.

it only gets better. my husband e-mailed to let me know that he had had lunch with a pastor who wanted to ask some questions about our time in png and to present us with a cheque, a huge offering from one of the tiniest church bodies we have worshipped with but a congregation with some of the largest hearts. they also asked us to come share on the 15th of february, which, truth be told, means more to our spirits than even cold, hard cash, though needed.

there have been many, many times in my life, single and married, when things just haven't made a lick of sense. like now. why take a willing family half way across the world where you cannot speak the language, cannot make out the food, battle bugs you haven't a clue what to do with ... some of which insist on making your food supplies their lasting home, try to live every day in heat you never imagined in your wildest dreams only to have them fall madly in love with the people, miraculously learn to speak after all, embrace the meals, discover the humour in the wildlife, seem somehow to appreciate the heat over the cold and then tell them "that's enough?"

because God is God and He thinks differently than I do.

so as I type this post, and ponder the bounty of blessings, this song is brought to mind ...

what can I give Him
poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb

If I were a wise man
I would do my part.
Yet
What I can I give Him
Give
My heart

wordless wednesday

the simple woman's daybook

FOR TODAY... Monday, January 26

Outside My Window... snow, silos, pines and birches ... sheer lovliness

I am thinking... that I am starting to feel like "home" again

I am thankful for... my new home


From the kitchen... mmmmm, grape crush

I am wearing... jeans and a pretty blue sweater from the Gap that I, of course, got second hand

I am creating... a lot of friction because my kids want to finish school and I just want to be on the compy now that we have internet after almost 5 loooong days without

I am going... to pick up a loveseat at my parent's place later, which my dad informs me is all ready to go out the door (hint, hint)

I am reading... still reading stormie, oh, and 71 e-mails

I am hoping... to kick kerrie and taylor off my favourite chair mwah, ha, ha

I am hearing... a myriad of sounds, all of which are new and foreign to my ears

Around the house... piles and piles of snow, literally

One of my favorite things... news from a close friend in Papua New Guinea, in tok pisin

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... a missions meeting, rehearsal,a drive to St.Thomas,and hanging a plethora of pictures on crisp, clean walls

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

FOR TODAY... Monday, January 26

Outside My Window... snowy farmland, pines and birches ... sheer lovliness

I am thinking ... that school begins soon so I really should wrap this up

I am thankful for... where do I begin? the collection from last Sunday to help toward our coming home expenses, the loan of a '98 Safari van, the Canadian Tire gift card (whatever amount) and free eggs

From the kitchen... seriously the ugliest and worst cooked egg ever

I am wearing... jeans.pretty much hating skirts right about now due to the over-wearing of them for the last half year

I am creating...peanut butter on toast

I am going... to get my bum to school ... in four minutes

I am reading... still reading stormie. the last one from my pile was just "ok"

I am hoping... to move on friday, and enjoy the process

I am hearing... one son brushing his teeth ... I must be running out of time to eat the ugliest and worst cooked egg ever

Around the house... quiet

One of my favorite things... my husband

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... I would love to see myself relaxed and easy, homeschooling, taking Jonam to rehearsal, visiting with my sister in law and kids then gliding into my new digs, without incident

wordless wednesday

tuesday timetable

I don't want to bore you with all the details but this week is certainly filling up quickly.
Tonight we go sign the papers for our new house along with giving up all our savings to make the down payment and pay the lawyer fees. I am still surprised in many ways that we are financially able to do this at all. No, we don't have all the money we need to pay our credit cards off yet ... it cost a small fortune to get back home so our son can have his surgery. I just think it is so cool that the Lord allowed us to sell our home 7 months ago, make a profit for the first time in our marriage, place that money in a bond, have it actually gain interest rather than lose, and become a blessing in the form of a down payment. I never imagined things would start coming together this quickly. The couple we are buying from already own a second home; a fixer-upper since that is what he does for a living.

Also, in other newsworthy news, I got my Sonlight stuff. Have I really told you how impressed I am by all they have to offer yet? Honestly. It has been worth every penny we scraped together to buy Alt 7 (which we will tweak to use over the rest of this year and next). I was beginning to doubt my knowledge, however ... small surprise for this insecure melancholy ... when I began last Monday.
The History assignment just didn't exist in any of my papers. I called Neal over to show me my error, sure I had just had another brain fart, only he couldn't find it either.
Then I noticed some other things in the Guides that just weren't adding up in my brain. I didn't really worry too much, though, since I constantly remind myself that I failed my first attempt at grade 9 math and went steadily downhill from there.
I totally remember like yesterday ... the red spiraled poster in the guidance office, showing me all the occupations I was "kissing" goodbye by not choosing to further my maths. I even hated that word: maths. If I didn't actually kiss my hand and blow it toward the poster, I wanted to. but I digress ...

Anyway, I finally pondered the possibility that these things were NOT a result of a faulty brain and maybe, just maybe, a mistake in the Guide. So I e-mailed Sonlight.

Imagine my delight that they not only personally answered my e-mail, but they fixed all my problems in one single blow (they have a link to any changes to the Guides complete with downloads to print out so you have the updated version, which, in the end, was the simple fix I had needed all along and just didn't know about the service ... love it) they did it in less than ten minutes if my clock is right.

so, on with my happy day ...

the simple woman's daybook

FOR TODAY... Monday, January 19

Outside My Window... more and more snow

I am thinking... that school begins soon so I really should wrap this up

I am thankful for... where do I begin? the collection from last Sunday to help toward our coming home expenses, the loan of a '98 Safari van, the Canadian Tire gift card (whatever amount) and free eggs

From the kitchen... seriously the ugliest and worst cooked egg ever

I am wearing... jeans.pretty much hating skirts right about now due to the over-wearing of them for the last half year

I am creating...peanut butter on toast

I am going... to get my bum to school ... in four minutes

I am reading... still reading stormie. the last one from my pile was just "ok"

I am hoping... to move on friday, and enjoy the process

I am hearing... one son brushing his teeth ... I must be running out of time to eat the ugliest and worst cooked egg ever

Around the house... quiet

One of my favorite things... my husband

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... I would love to see myself relaxed and easy, homeschooling, taking Jonam to rehearsal, visiting with my sister in law and kids then gliding into my new digs, without incident

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

sampela samting bilong sande

spent some wonderful time with good friends after church today and got to talking. scott told us that he has spent some time really thinking about things since we left for png ... not because of anything we did but just because.
well, I am all about revelation so I begged him to fill me in
he said that they had watched the movie kung fu panda and that was when it struck him
there are no coincidences; no accidents

so true

we felt the Lord calling us, strongly, to go be missionaries in papua, so we did
we up and sold the car
and the house
and most everything else that we could drag out to the driveway for the annual town-wide garage sale ... what we didn't think we needed went to value village
in some ways, I wish we would have known that it was only going to be half a year
in most ways, I am so glad we get the chance to completely start over, pretty much from scratch, like being given a new lease on life
not that I desire all brand new stuff; far from it. I just think it is totally cool that, though things did not work out the way WE would have orchestrated them, we listened and did what we thought He was asking us to do, and we have not one single regret

it was a time of huge confirmation of who we already thought we were, both as a couple/family and as individuals
I travelled to some amazing places I have only read about in books
I ate things I never knew existed
I drank water from a tin roof, soothed weary bones in the baltic sea and breathed in orchids and hibiscus daily
I got hotter than I thought humanly possible but didn't pass out or die
I slept peacefully and soundly for five months straight ... a feat in and of itself
I got to help seventeen incredible young men and women see the value in their own written words
I taught twelve other amazing kids how to learn outside of the box, and heard them beg me to never stop, over and over again
I "knew" for one of the first times in my life that I had heard from the Lord, specifically
and I got to see myself for who I really am ... and I was more than ok with it

this week ended our official term as missionaries in that neal started back to a full time, paying job, and I no longer teach twenty-nine students in the blazing heat, but my own two boys, in the livingroom of a friend's house, thankful and fully aware of the gift I have been given
it is oddly dream-like when I look at my pictures from the third world country I called home for a while
I doubt I will ever get the chance to go back

... I always wondered, and now I know

people ask if I have changed and I am reminded of a wonderful quote one of my National students wrote in her journal, having newly discovered Anne of Green Gables:
"I'm not a bit changed--not really. I'm only just pruned down and branched out. The real ME--back here--is just the same."

friday freefall

i almost cannot believe how cold it has been this week. it hardly seems possible that i have gone from one extreme (typically 120 F, with around 96 percent humidity in Papua New Guinea) to the other (average of minus 22 C with a windchill making things feel closer to minus 30 C)... now i am back in canada so we use celcius

i felt sorry for the pregnant goats this morning as i watched them shivering, waiting for their feed. yikes. i forgot to wear a touque to the barn so had quite a headache for about an hour after coming back into the warm house. it has been while since i felt this cold

and in other non-exciting news, i ate balogna today for lunch, for the first time in over six months for sure.
some things never change


... some things really should

wordless wednesday

tuesday timetable

spending one last day together as missionaries ... does anything else really matter?

i kid you not

i am just waiting for the day when what I THINK is somehow, simultaneously, stored in my compy. just waiting.

i cannot begin to tell you how many times i have composed an absolutely brilliant song or perfect blog post while lying. in. bed.

why?

is it so difficult for me, in particular, to be able to master the art of writing while completely lucid ... and vertical? how come i am so able to crack me up in the middle of the night but not so much in the dead of day?

sad. truly.

i just remember something completely hilarious occurring in my mind last evening with a great run on about bread machines and jen igarashi.
it was simply stunning.

and i cannot remember a word of it.

guess you had to be there.

FOR TODAY... Monday, January 12

Outside My Window... acres and acres of snow

I am thinking... school wasn't so bad today

I am thankful for... days off with my husband, especially when he chooses to stay with us for the whole school day, helping me find my way around the new stuff and encouraging me to describe myself with an adjective other than "idiot"

From the kitchen... not enough

I am wearing... because it is MUCH later in the day, jeans, great socks (though I miss bare feet), a Vancouver t-shirt that I actually bought in Hong Kong, and a super gray sweater

I am creating... well, I should be editing my latest e-book, but ...

I am going... to start dreaming about furnishings

I am reading... Stormie's book, and thinking that she is really brilliant

I am hoping... nothing goes wrong over the next few days

I am hearing... that unmistakable, ear-splitting, headache-inducing, rather irritating sound of Lego shuffling. it could very well drive me mental for real

Around the house... the tick tock of a solitary clock

One of my favorite things... my own pillow, which I finally secured this weekend

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ... starting with our new curriculum choices and wading through them well. that, and a couple of hard meetings I have to be present at

Here is picture thought I am sharing ... because I prefer palms presently

sampela samting bilong sarare

BOX DAY!!!

I wouldn't let anyone else touch the new books but me ... yes, I think it IS a disease ... and Neal acquiesced by acting as Chief Curriculum Checker. That was good since I would likely have had some sort of conniption if a child (or even husband) got to feel a book before me. I cannot explain why. Something must have happened in the womb.


*sigh* I almost couldn't make it to today. I watched my tracking e-mail link like some sort of crazed woman all week. I knew we had missed the first Fed Ex drop off attempt too, back on Thursday. Then Grandma called yesterday to say she wasn't going anywhere so she would take the boxes in when they arrived.

I.just.had.to.go.one.more.sleep.

sick, really.
Now that it is all here in front of me, I feel like I am home. In less than two weeks, I can spread this all out in my new livingroom, in my new house, dreaming of bookshelves that I am pretty sure we either sold or gave away. I may not have a couch or any chairs either but I will have books, so who really cares?

friday freefall

Heart of the Matter has a meme today that I couldn't seem to pass up ...

2008 is behind us and we are two weeks into the New Year! In considering your resolutions, or simply your hopes and goals for 2009, how do you plan on accomplishing them? What is some great advice you can give someone about homeschooling?..or maybe you simply have some encouragement for parents of your own! Can’t wait to read the posts…remember that many people struggle with the after-Christmas let down. What keeps you positive?

hmmm, some weighty questions, for sure.
This year is completely different than any other Christmas/New Year's time I have ever celebrated ... ever. I thought I was still going to be a misso in PNG when November rolled around. I never dreamed I would be spending over 20 hours in the air because my oldest son needed surgery sooner rather than later. I never thought that the Lord would un-call us, if you will, in less than a year, but as they say in PNG "em laik bilong Bikpela" ... as God likes.

so, for this particular New Year, I have made no resolutions. Everything is so new right now seeing as how we just landed a few weeks ago, and that not in our own Province, to start. We "missed" our fifteenth anniversary, "did" a pathetic Christmas in about four minutes back on the 12th of December, and were so tired for New Year's Eve that we were all in bed well before 10p.m.

this year, we are working on something as a family ... something to which we are all agreed. something that I believe sums up all the HOTM questions in one.
so, to quote the words of my good missionary friend, Deanne:

let's not find fault

no surprise

so i sign up for twitter, since it seems like a good idea at the time, and as i am hitting the "send" button, i see that i have made my unchangeable username

konfie

on fie?

brilliant.

wordless wednesday

tuesday timetable

waiting for sonlight stuff to show up so i can pour over it and decide what will work best for us, switching from core 5 to alt 7 in the middle of the year.
i wish the school had been using the world history 1 or 2 from the beginning, instead of core 5, which 3 of my 12 students have already done.
we made it work and the kids told me i was their favourite english teacher ever ... not to mention how much they ate up the lapbooks!
i completely forgot to take any pictures of them. how sad is that? i do have the two that my boys made, however, and can showcase them once we figure out where we are going to live.

today i got that fantastic e-mail that told me sonlight has now shipped my order.
oh happy day!so, this week looks something like this:
keep sleeping while neal feeds assorted animals
eventually wake, maybe get out of pajamas, definitely drink a tea
organize breakfast
family worship
blog
read
talk to children and husband
think about what i would do if i lived in my own house
make lunch
put something in crock pot, remarking to neal once again about how many times i have already used this crock pot since purchasing it last week
read
feel somewhat restless and possibly bored
read again, thus forgetting above
think about watching tv but don't
eat supper
think about taking malaria meds
watch a movie or at least discuss the possibility
read
go help feed assorted barn animals
sleep like ten hours

... riveting, i know ...

want it for free?

I don't know about you, but I love giving away something just as much as I love receiving something, so when I got the latest Heart of the Matter e-mail, I just knew what I was going to do:

Celebrate our birthday with tons of giveaways!
January 4, 2009 by The Amies

Here are the guidelines

and here is what I am giving away ... a copy of my most popular-ist ever e-book study guide. I promise you will not be disappointed! all I ask is that you tell me why you would like to add Cheaper by the Dozen to your already growing list of things you would like to read to your children (in your comment on this here blog; nothing long or detailed)and, voila! I pick the winner, and e-mail the book for your viewing pleasure, at no cost to you and plenty of smiles for me.
check out an honest review here

the simple woman's daybook

FOR TODAY... Monday, January 5

Outside My Window... no more mountains or palms, but acres and acres of snowy farmland

I am thinking... that i really slept poorly last night.

I am thankful for... peace that passes all understanding

From the kitchen... stew in the crock pot, for supper

I am wearing... why am i always wearing pj's?

I am creating... a bit of a mess

I am going... to remember this quote:"I almost missed that, but I get it now ... I spent a lot of years fulfilling an expectation that no one had of me."

I am reading... finished sister's inc, so moving on to the next title that appeals to me

I am hoping... that i know what i am doing

I am hearing... motorbike sounds from the ps2, another son frustrated at his first attempt at oil painting and a husband frustrated that he forgot yet another passcode

Around the house... pretty quiet actually, just the sound of the tv and the occasional furnace noises

One of my favorite things... right now it is definitely a full size washer and dryer

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ... buying the bungalow we have our eyes on and a van or something to get us around again

Here is picture thought I am sharing ...

narapela samting

so, the house we are staying in has a small hobby farm in the back "40" and it is fun to have the chance to be the keepers of so many animals.
our friends were kind enough to be sure that both goats were pregnant, thereby avoiding the task of milking, which we know absolutely nothing about.the pigs are all in the freezer ... reminding me of the Godfather for some reason
the guinea fowl and peacocks just need feed and water, oh, and don't stare the male down as he takes that as a threat.
the turkeys are few in number as the majority of them joined the pigs in "the locker"
the chickens are down in number, too, so we only need collect three to five eggs each day and, well, eat them ... the eggs, not the chickens.
two cats also live here and their litter box is in desperate need of changing. I am pretty darn sure that I smelled it last night, at intermittent intervals. gag.a farmer's wife I am not, but it is a great homeschool experiment while we wait for all our new school stuff to come from Sonlight. I am guessing we will be back to the books sometime in february ... or so :)

sampela samting bilong sarare

Jonam: "do we have a flyswatter?"

me, thinking, visualizing my home in PNG
"when you ask me that, all I picture is the mint green one hanging by the back door, in Papua"

Jonam, obviously taking care of the problem while I stand, oblivious, in the kitchen of my 'not' home, not looking in his direction at all.

"It's dead. I used your Woman's Day magazine. It doesn't have any guts on it. It's ok."

friday freefall

so the house we are staying in has tons of channels on the tele, but we still chose to hit the library this afternoon. i ate it up. (you really only have access to so many books in the middle of a field in papua new guinea) it was today, also, that had me realize that i primarily choose books based on the outside. how has it come to this? what does that say about me? i totally judge a book by its cover.
and these are the covers i done picked, in case you are interested in peeking into my spontaneous and eclectic novel selections:

Un-Bridaled by Eileen Rendahl
Balancing in High Heels (in case i liked her first one ... i hate waiting)

Sisters, Inc by Rebeca Seitz

The Wedding Machine by Beth Webb Hart

Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern (who wrote P.S. I Love You)

Praying Through the Deeper Issues of Marriage by Stormie Omartian (i like what i have read of hers in the past)

1001 Things to Eat Before you Die edited by Francis Case

Great Hair by Nick Arrojo (shut up)

i have little desire to write book reviews like my more intellegent friend Sarah, but i do read from time to time and will try to remember to let you know which of these gems i chose to finish. (i also hate to feel as though i have mismanaged my time)

thursday throwback

there is a picture of us in yet another airport, waiting for the shuttle service to pick us up. I think it was in Hong Kong, really REALLY early in the morning but thankfully only a two hour time difference (so far).

Hong Kong is one place I would like to see again. Such technology juxtaposed with immense beauty. Didn't spend enough time searching its shores but glad I had the opportunity to go. I really like what I have seen of Asia.

I bought some silk placemats and a pillow cover while there. Neal bought a cheesy watch and paid too much for it but we did need to know what time it was. The boys each chose a souvenir also. I did bring home a silk fan for me and one for B, of course. Hopefully they last the years ... you never know.

One thing that was a bit overwhelming in Hong Kong, particularly, was all the high end shops. I didn't go in any. There were door men, wearing gloves and suits, allowing a small percentage of shoppers inside.
Prada, Gucci, Fendi, Dolche and Gabana, Mc Donalds ... stuff like that.
I have very little vested interest but it was still kind of cool to see the displays in the shop windows. Some of the dresses were simply stunning.
... and the gold ...
it looked fake but there sure was lots of it.

I passed.

So, yah, it was just another field trip for this humble homeschooling family. I mean, you can't study the country of China for six weeks, make a killer lapbook and, like, NOT go, can you?

(wouldn't life be amazing if it were always that way? giggle.)