Edible Earth

I've decided to come out of blog hiding. Mostly because I want to start documenting our life again.
I feel like I've come out of a haze. That would be pregnancy, in itself; in general.
Our homeschooling is going really great right now. Like, the best its been in the 5 years that we've been homeschooling. Everything is flowing so smoothly. Maybe I shouldn't breath so I don't mess that up.....
But, I feel so much more productive.
On the note of being productive I've started making a schedule for us every day. I'm adding in tiny details. Like, cut up the carrots and put them in the crockpot.
Because, if I didn't, it probably wouldn't get done. And, then, at 4:30 I would realize I never put the carrots in the crockpot. And, thats no bueno.


Back to homeschooling-and the point of this blog post.
We are doing Apologia Astronomy this year. And we're all- yes I said all, including me- loving it! We're currently on the planet Earth. So, today we made an edible Earth. We learned all the reason why the Earth is the only- and perfect- planet for human existence. We also learned the layers of the Earth.
And here is what they are-

The M&M represented the inner core (chocolate middle) and outer core (candy coating)
We then surrounded the M&M with Rice Crispy Treats to represent the mantle layer. (The rice crispies reinforce the molten rock and all...just kidding I didn't realize that until it was too late)

We formed the Rice Crispy (with the M&M inside) into a sphere

Like the Earth...ha, get it?

Next we dipped the Rice Crispy Treat Sphere into melted almond bark. 

This represented the crust. 

Once it was hardened it made much more sense. :)

Here is a plate of edible Earths. As they were hardening some of them started to lose their shape. I'm guessing due to the weight of the hardening almond bark vs the not yet hardened rice crispy treat.

My plan was too color some almond bark green and blue- you know, for the water and land. I did actually color two bowls of those colors but the colors never actually ever made it to the Earths. Doing this project with a 4 yr old, 2 yr old and 4 month old (along with the 2 big kids) we were lucky to get as far as we did before the Rice Crispies hardened without being shaped and the almond bark hardened without anything being dipped in it!


All in all this was a super fun project that the kids loved! And I really think creating the edible layers and talking about them as we went along will help stick the actual Earth layers into their minds. 


These times make me really thank the Lord that He is allowing me this privilege of being able to stay home and homeschool my kiddos.  

Things Ive Learned in a Summer full of 100+ degree Temps

According to this website we are on our 24th consecutive day of 100+ degree temps for the Dallas/Ft Worth area.
 I am currently 31 weeks pregnant in my 5th pregnancy and very hot.

And, that's probably an understatement.

But, trying to look at the bright side of this current situation, I've been mentally thinking of things I've learned through this heat. I thought- ya know so I can look back and remember this summer in all its hot glory- that I would write them all out here as a simple reminder that it's not that bad.
Right???

1. A $200 initial {ahh key word there} investment in an above ground pool is worth every.single.penny.
2. If I thought it was hard being pregnant any other summer {this is my 5th pregnancy and 5th time spending the Summer pregnant} I was wrong. This one is by far the hottest and hardest with a 3 year old and almost 2 year old.
3. Leaving the house to hang out with friends was much more appealing when I was 40 pounds lighter and it was 30 degrees cooler. {sorry guys}
4. I can get a lot more laundry done when I'm home instead of out hanging out with friends and having playdates. :) {shhh dont tell Derek}
5. The kids really do survive weeks on end without playing with friends.
6. Surprisingly, when we're home more the kids all get along better. Go figure.
7. A trampoline with a sprinkler spraying on it provides HOURS of uninterrupted fun for 4 kids ages 1-10.
8. I discovered Pinterest. Enough said.
9. We spend a lot less money eating out when the desire to stay home, in the cool air, over rides the desire {read: laziness} to not cook.

And the 10th thing I've learned this Summer full of 100+ degree temps is......

10.The Lord is changing my heart towards home again. Even if it took over 30 {non-consecutive} days so far this summer to give me the desire to stay home more.

Somewhere Along the Way

Somewhere along the way....I lost my way.
Actually, I lost His way.
I don't mean I lost my faith or anything similar. I just lost sight of what I am supposed to be doing in this life. What He has called be to do.
To be.
As a wife.
A mother.
A teacher.
A homemaker.

This past year I think I just felt the burnout of being a homeschooling mom. It was only our 4th year but it started off rough. With Audrey's eye issues and my dads sudden death our fall wasn't too great.
But the Lord did show His faithfulness through it all.

I know I have been just going through the motions of everything. I've been homeschooling this year because I know that's what I'm supposed to be doing. But, I had no passion or vision in doing it.

Then, all of sudden, some time in May this renewed energy and excitement about being home with my kids and homeschooling them and training them came back to me!
Maybe its the fact we have a new baby on the way. Maybe the Lord is using that to remind me of this important thing He has called me to. But, whatever the reason I am grateful.

I am so excited for our new school year. I'm so excited to get back into a routine of having purpose in our daily musings. To not just go through the motions of getting things done because that's what we're supposed to be doing. But, instead doing everything while being mindful of what I've been called to do and be. And aware and intentional about training these kids the Lord has entrusted to us.

I've really missed blogging. And, Im well aware very few will actually read this post after such a long absence but it just feels good to be writing out some of the thoughts going through me head. And to share with no one
maybe someone what the Lord is doing in me right now.


So, I hope as part of my renewed passion for this calling of mine that I start blogging regularly again!

Slacker+Pictures+A Big God=Post

Man, I've really slacked off on the whole blogging thing. I have pretty good reason though. 

No no, I'm not pregnant :) {you moms of many know thats the first thing that came into your mind!}

I've been working on starting a little photography business.

It's been something I've wanted to do for a long time. And this is the first time in 4 years that I'm not pregnant or nursing a baby every 2-3 hours so we figured I should give it a shot!

I started out in hopes of making some extra money to pay down some debt. {read: the car loan}. I was listening to Dave Ramsey {love that guy!} and he suggested taking photos on the side to a guy trying to get his debt snowball rolling. So, I thought.... hey I need to do that!

I got some stuff together and started advertising on Facebook and to friends. I figured Christmas is the perfect time to get this started since everyone wants Christmas photos! 

Then, we got the bill for Audrey's eye surgery she'll be having on Nov 17th {keep her in your prayers please!}.

WOWZA!

So....that's what all these session fees are going towards right now. 

Its so cool because we prayed for the provision to cover all these medical fees and between photo sessions, homeschool school picture sessions, family and our local corporate fellowship {that would be the Church} the Lord has provided and met those needs above and beyond anything we could imagine! 

{wait...isnt there a verse that promises that somewhere!?!?}

But, enough babbling from me....just check out my photography blog at:

LindsayLanePhotography.blogspot.com

or become a fan on Facebook here 

or by searching Facebook for Lindsay Lane Photography. 

Heres a few shots of my sweet kiddos I did last weekend!

 

Give a Cup of Food

This is a repost from last year. I thought it was worth reposting and reminding everyone that 1 click will give a cup of food to a hungry person. And, it wont cost you anything except a few clicks. 

I just ran across a way you can help give 1 cup of food to a hungry person around the world.

All you have to do is click the link above. Your simple click will donate that cup of food. We so easily click links to online celebrity gossip or the most current sale at our favorite store. So, I don't think its too much to ask you to click the link to help give food to the hungry. You can click everyday and make sure give that hungry mouth a meal.

 

Coming out of hiding....

So, here I am. Coming out of hiding. I've been planning on picking up the blogging again once life settled down a little.

And...

we'll here's hoping it has!

I'm excited to start our Christmas giving goals again. Remember last year and why I originally started this blog?

Well, its that time again!

My friend Stephanie over at Life As Supermom was inspired by this last year and has already started blogging through their plans to Give Christmas Away this year! So cool!

As a kick off to coming out of hiding and rejoining the {consisten} blogging world again I've entered a contest that could change the course of our families lives! If I won we could use the winnings to pay off our car and other small debt and become 100% debt free!

How cool would that be!?

Can you imagine the giving opportunities we'd have with the cashflow released from becoming debt free??

And...how fun would it be to get to be a "Good Mood Blogger"!!!

So, can you take some time everyday to cast a vote for me?

Good Mood Gig from SAM-e

Raw{e} Girly

I decided to join this weeks Raw{e} theme over at Sailor and Company.  I had the perfect picture for last weeks theme but with everything going on with my dad I didn't have time to get it off my camera and onto the computer....much less my blog. Oh well. This weeks theme is girly. What could be more girly than playing outside on a swing set dressed as a princess?! This is Audrey a few months ago. Its also one of my favorite pictures of her. I think one reason I love it so much -- other than the fact that it's an adorable picture!-- is because the colors are so vibrant straight out of the camera!

 Please continue to keep her in your prayers. We have her MRI scheduled for tomorrow morning. I really have peace that everything will come back fine and her eye problem is just some freak thing. Once the results are back we can set a date for surgery and get her taken care of and back to normal! God is good!