The Quest for Character continues...

My sister was visiting from out of town.  At the time I was living with my mother, caring for her, and my sister's visit was a much needed reprieve from the full responsibilities of her care.  I had not been fully aware of the physical toll it was having on me until a spur of the moment trip to the grocery store and the incident that followed opened my eyes.

Upon entering the store with my sister by my side, I stumbled over one of those brilliant signs they use to warn customers of danger.  My reaction was to look back at the offending obstacle and wonder why I hadn't seen it.  I knew I was tired, but really who could miss that bright yellow sign?

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New Design for Living Waters

LeAnn at Living Waters won a blog redesign, and I am thrilled to unveil her new look.

Here is the before:

And here is her new header.

Go over and check it out for yourself.  Here's her new button.

The Mom Pledge

Want to take the pledge?  Click here.

1. "I am a proud Mommy Blogger. I will conduct myself with integrity in all my blogging activities. I can lead by example." What does integrity mean to you?

Answer:  Having a moral standard and adhering to it no matter the cost.

I began blogging after our first year of homeschooling.  It was amazing how many homeschoolers were looking for advice and help.  I started a series of posts, and was humbled by the number of visitors who came to read them.  Not being an expert, it was wonderful to have others comment and share on my posts.  I was learning from them too.  But I felt conflicted with my choice of curriculum.

We were using secular curriculum, and although I had been adjusting it to our beliefs, my son and I knew we had to make a change.  He no longer was excited about the work.  There was constant discussion about the correctness of the principles that conflicted with our Christian teaching.  In an effort to gain integrity in our homeschool I began searching for a faith-based curriculum.

Since then I have seen my readership decline, but I'm ok with that.  What I'm not ok with is my inability to find a niche again.  There has been an increase in spiritual awareness on my part, and my posts and the visitors to my blog reflect that change.  This awareness has created a feeling of disconnection from my homeschool focus.

As far as our homeschool curriculum, I've been privileged to win quite a bit of free curriculum, I've researched different methods, I've read hundreds of reviews, and I've tried many of the recommendations made by my blogging friends.  One example is TimezAttack.   I thought this was an answer to prayer, but after ten minutes my son was frustrated and in tears.  After trying many other outstanding resources and failing I came to one conclusion, what works for so many just won't work for my son.

Our homeschool curriculum is a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  We use a mix of new and classical texts, and a hands-on, old fashioned, somewhat Charlotte Mason approach.  Of course this has created more work for me, and there are times when I feel like we're on an island.

I'm also realizing this method requires an extended commitment that quite frankly scares me. It's like when you get engaged or pregnant, for a split second you feel overwhelmed and question whether you're truly prepared.  Or when you're about to make a major business or life decision and it dawns on you that failure could happen.  Standing strong in your convictions and decisions...

That's what integrity means to me!

One step forward, two steps back...

"It's 3 am and I've been sitting in front of this computer wondering what I'm doing still awake.  I spent a couple of hours studying, another hour or two writing an article for one site while thinking about and then posting at another.  I promised myself I'd start going to bed at a decent hour... "

That was a conversation I had with myself last week. Since then I've tried to write a post about it and finally gave up. Then after four days of disparaging myself for not living up to my own expectations I've come to one conclusion.  The writer/blogger in me is going to put up a fight. Not one to give in, I just stopped writing altogether.

I surfed the blogosphere, signed up at Pinterest (still debating if that was a good idea, but wow what an amazing site), and yesterday I spent the day looking over some homeschool resources to add to my list of possibilities for next year.  Today I emerge with a somewhat wary sense of my objective.

Of course I could also blame one of my bloggy friends for throwing me a curve ball last week and my son's father for making life so comical (sarcasm) that sent me into a spiritual and emotional upheaval, but then I can't blame someone else for my inability to concentrate.

I read Oh Mandie about needing a compass and could completely relate.  Then Julie's post reminded me of my extensive prayer list for bloggy friends and how I'm mentally involved in their lives, and I had a moment of thoughtful awakening.  Taking two steps back isn't such a bad thing, and maybe it needs to happen more often.

Some of you may be saying, "Seriously, where is Lynda going with this one?"  To be honest I have no idea, but since I have all of 2012 to "organize" my life, I'm taking my own sweet time about doin' it.

One bit of information for all those who work with me closely ~ I'm paring down.  A couple of weeks ago I was accepted to join the TOS Review Crew.  HUGE honor, right?  But I had to say no.  In fact it kind of broke my heart to say no, but it was the right thing for me at this time.  If you'd be interested contact Kate Kessler, the Product Reviews Manager.

Some other changes:

I discontinued the Create in Me a Clean Heart challenge.  I thought this would be a way of keeping myself accountable for my decluttering and cleaning goals, but it became more of a distraction.  I am personally continuing the Devotional for the Disorganized, but now it's between the Lord and I.  Hopefully all those who were joining me will understand, and you are all still on my prayer list.

I'm a little behind on the Zone Defense, but not too far.  Hopefully slowing down in other areas will enable me to focus on this.  There are days where one step forward, two steps back is not a good thing.  As everyone knows housework is never ending.  I'm thinking it's all in my attitude, and my understanding of the real problem.  Answer me this, an empty bookshelf is easy to clean, but I love books.  Is it me or is there something I'm missing, and no little sister I'm not throwing my books out.

My son made a breakthrough with math this week.  Amazing how things just seem to click when you least expect it.  And last but not least, tomorrow I'll be installing LeAnn's new design.  So excited for her!

A few notes (and links) to myself:

Remember when you were going to make a blogging schedule?  (Read about it on Ashley's post, Day Twelve.)  No, didn't think so!  Consider this your kick in the tail!!!

Here are few reminders ~
Editorial Calendar
Make a schedule that works
Focus, focus, focus!
This isn't a race, but a marathon.
Blogging is not the problem, your focus is.

By the way, I link up.

Photo Credit:

Happy Valentine's Day!

 "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13 (NIV)

Adapting or falling behind?

Last weekend my son and I worked very hard to organize and rearrange our living/school room.  On Monday I was ready for school.  Everything was neat and had a place of it's own, what could be more inspiring to start the week than a clean, organized homeschool environment.

My son, on the other hand, woke up with a nasty cough and a little fever.  He was complaining of a stomach ache, and wasn't at all feeling up to hitting the books.

This year I've been worried about whether my son is keeping up with common core state standards.  I make a copy of the Typical Course of Study from World Book and mark off topics as my son masters the concept.  I noticed we seem to be falling behind, but I'm hoping that my decision to school year-round will help us get back on track.

I was also thrilled to find a site with intelligent adaptive learning.  It addresses the core state math standards, and offers completely individualized learning games.  Since my son was feeling a little better on Friday, he decided to try it out.  I noticed it started pretty easy, but progressively began to challenge him.

Although, I try to somewhat keep up with state standards, it is not my main objective.  We work at his pace, focus on his strengths, and find alternative ways of teaching for the more difficult subjects.  Homeschooling allows me to adapt to his learning style, but I do get a little nervous when we seem to fall behind.

How about you, do you worry about if you're teaching your child enough, or do you take a more relaxed approach?

Kids Today

Guest post by Jewel Cole

Sometimes I just stare into space and think about how awesome it must be to be a kid today.  Kids today have all this cool stuff that I never got to experience.  I can’t even imagine what it would be like to be ten years old and have Direct TV, an Xbox, a Wii and all this other cool technology they have.

I appreciate my childhood since most of it was spent playing outside, but man would it have been cool to have all this stuff.  Every time I travel I see kids with Ipods and Iphones playing games.  I’m sure the money spent on those devices is well worth it for a parent trying to keep their child busy on a long flight.  It’s so funny how most of them know how to use technology just as well as their parents, or sometimes, even better.

Even though I think it’s really cool what they have access to, sometimes I do get a little sad.  I think about all of the hours these kids spend inside and then I realize there is a trade off for everything.

It's time to stop putting out fires and start living with purpose

As you can imagine with everything I have going on scheduling is imperative.  For months my daily schedule has been more like putting out one fire after another rather than a steady, easy-going, checking tasks off a list sort of plan.

This not only raises the anxiety level of not letting important projects get put aside, or forgotten entirely, but it also has the potential of making those who matter very disappointed.

Before my son was born, ten years ago, it was rather easy to focus on projects.  Now I've been trying to tear little pieces of myself off to stretch my time, attention, and efforts.  Obviously that is not going to work.

January was a real eye-opener for how much I can and cannot get done in a day, week, or month.  What I've learned my first month of 2012 is re-prioritizing what's important will have to become the major factor of organizing my life this year.

After spending a(n) day hour wishing for the days of not being bothered about working 60-70 hours a week, spending one day a week getting lost in a good book, and having one day a month of light cleaning (if at all), reality hit me between the eyes.  I heard Cher's voice saying, "Snap out of it!!!"

When I was talking with one of my sisters about scheduling meal preparation, it seemed so easy.  My plan has worked for me for years, so why can't I do the same with everything in my life.  Silly me!!!  Sometimes we just need to step back and look at what we are doing well to make sense of the rest.

What I have to do is make a list of all my projects, responsibilities, and desired goals.  Then I have to break each month, day, and week into manageable sections of time to fit in those priorities.  Can you guess the number one priority that will get the most attention this next month and beyond?

If you guessed sleep then you're correct.  I'm going to finally take my sister's, my doctor's, and my son's advice and start working on getting the sleep I so justly deserve.  This means there's going to have to be a whole lot of discipline on my part to force myself to bed at night.  I'm going to force myself to "pleasure" read and/or write in a personal journal at least 10-20 minutes before bedtime.

Now you may be thinking this is the easiest, most enjoyable goal and how could I ever fail at this, then you don't know me very well.  I have a problem believing all those fires that are sooo urgent couldn't possibly wait.  My brain doesn't want to slow down, or maybe it's just that I don't want it to.

Either way that's where I'm starting, and I'm still trusting God, waiting for His guidance and peace, and taking it one step at a time.


Join me for the challenge, and head over to No Ordinary Blog Hop to vote for the next Star Blogger!