Meet my friend Maggie

 I have been meaning to introduce you to a dear friend. I want to show you how she organizes her large family. Share some of her amazing vision. Follow her around and start a whole tutorial series. But that's not going to be the tone today.



Maggie and I are real life friends. I dont just mean that in a "not on the Internet" way. We have lived side by side in the trenches. I can come to her in tears and we can cry together or hold each other up and find a way out. She is how I imagine extended family and having a sister to be.

She has been with me through so much and given he so much of herself. Her hard working husband, who has always worked at least two full time jobs and still managed to be an incredible father to their brood of ten, has lost his job. Actually, he worked for awhile while they didn't pay him. So he worked and worked and his days were taken up and money was spent driving an hour away and back for long long days but there was no money coming in.

You can meet him here: PoserDad.com 

Maggie has started a small blog and today shared her heart and the threat of losing their house very very soon. I know this scare and fear and am once again so impressed at how she handles it and has the strength and courage to share it with others. She writes not in a spirit of fear but knowing that God is in control, has a plan and they are safe in his hands. What a lesson to us all.

Their problems seem so huge right now and ones that only God can turn around...but could you stop over and say "hello" on her blog: Blessingsdythedozen.com? Maybe say a prayer today for these dear friends of mine? I wish I could do something to turn it all around but right now, I just want these dear family ot know that they are NOT alone and there is someone in their corner: routing and praying. That we can do.

Real Friends

Can I take a minute to gush and tell you about someone really important to me?

Edie is a special special person in my life. She is an example of Grace and fun and I think of her daily. Honestly. She is such an encouragement to me. I think of her when I do little things like put up our initial in a random place

that I know Edie would get. or search for curriculum,
or write on a chalkboard

and take a picture to Facebook her that I copied her.  I have poured my heart out to her and she has showed such amazing encouragement and giving me a push to strength. Even in little things like posting our initial or wearing a flower pin
and in the bigger things like acknowledging all that I have given up to pour my life into this home and these children dn acknowledging that, "Yes, it is hard and moving on"

How does she tackle theology and lipgloss in the same breath? How does she fully grasp our depravity and sin yet smile and life her southern life and have fun in life? How does she layer so many things and colors on her tiny little frame? Why does it work? Edie is a mystery to me :)

How did we meet? We haven't. She is on one side of the country and I am on the other. She is the prom queen and voted most popular in the yearbook of Blogs while I am the dorky middle schooler struggling along. Im not going to say she didnt notice. How could she not? She noticed and reached out to me and encouraged me and repeated to me that "we are so friends" when my kids pointed out that I dont actually know this person.

Tragedy struck Edie's life. And I cried. Her house burned to the ground. Her family barely escaped with the pajamas on their backs. I cried. Im angry. Not at God not at anyone. Just angry and blubbery. She praised God that only by His Grace were they able to escape with not a hair harmed on their heads. I feel horrible for her and want to reach out and fix something. Instead, she reached out to me and reminded me of God's Grace and Love. That didn't even occur to me and I'm not the one who lost their home and every little insignifigant memeory and knick nack that went with it. i may need to go cry again...

Happy Birthday Edie! You are so special and important to me! I thank God for all that you are and all that you encourage me to be. Thank you for allowing us to learn through your tragedy. thank you for your example and laughter and love. Thank you for giving yourself to us. You are there as a bright birght spot in the spare moments on our computer screens. It means so much more than you'll ever know.

Many women have linked up to wish Edie a Happy Bithday. There is also an adress to send cards:) at
Life In Grace

New to Me Christmas Post

This year I am sooo incredibly thankful for our home. A year ago we were cramped into a little house with so many problems and this year is amazing and magical. Honestly, I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. Our home still seems to good to be true.

Christmas trees are a big issue every year. Is it a justifiable expense when you need food and want your kids to have something to open on Christmas morning. Every year, I tear eyed grumble, "YES"  We were given a small tree by dear family friends.
It had been theirs for years and years. Then we were given another 7 1/2 foot tree that did not fit in our house.

Then when helping a friend move we ended up with another.


Can you see our third tree hiding back behind my two littlest bakers? Have you ever baked with two toddlers? I always seem to forget how much WORK it is!!

I am sooo thankful for our new to us trees and a home that fits them all (Christmas trees and bakers)

It feels odd to be searching thrift stores for practical things right now. But my boys have outgrown their pants. All of them. So, I wandered into a thrift store this week and found THIS beauty!!
Isn't she wonderful??? $6.00. My big dilemma became: "Do I buy something for ME" which soon turned to "Do we use it now or wait until Christmas?" I guess no matter how blessed one gets there are always dilemmas ;)


Linking up at Twice Owned Tuesday, 65th Penny Pinching Party,

 

Fall Mantle Fun OR Sharp Clippers at Nap Time

This is what happens at naptime when I can FINALLY find my sharp clippers:)

I have this bush in my front yard that really really needed pruning back. not sure if this is the time of year to do it--BUT it happened today and then this mantle happened out of it.

I *think* the topsy turvy off kilter feeling is only coming from the photograph. Although, honestly I'm not climbing back up on the ladder anytime soon to fix it:)

AND a little closer up....

AND closer still........

My photography skills are really lacking. I'm not sure I can blame my camera for this one:(


I made the banner last year from placements and curtains I got at Good Will...the framed verse is from HERE, and I made the Dollar Tree Hurricanes.

Not exactly magazine material but pretty decent for my decorating budget ;)

Linking up at: Weekend Wrap up, Thanksgiving Linky Party (somewhat simple,) Just Something I Whipped up, Making the World Cuter, Made by You Mondays

First Day of School

We don't start school until after this little lady's birthday:


So on September 7th. The weather went from Summer to Autumn just like that. I was up very very early and made breakfast. If you know me well, you may not believe it. Stayed cozy in my PJs for way too long.

We tried really hard to stick to THIS schedule. Except for losing a few math books:)

We were all cheery and sweet and on task. Seriously!! Everyone was so kind and excited. I fell apart around noon and everyone was kind about that too:)

We did have our share of mishaps like when I yelled "Where is my coffee?" from one side of the house and my two year old find it on the other end of the house and brought it to me. Apparently, he has quite a swagger and I had lost my coffee a lot earlier than I realized (it was cold:)

Our first day of school did go remarkably well. It has been several weeks and I still havent posted this--although it was written in it's entirety that day. Why? because after that first day EVERYTHING fell apart. I have spent my days since then trying to repair and revamp and rebuild. I figure I can get it running smoothly by the Holidays. Then we'll take a nice break and start all over again:)

Monday August 24, 2009

My facebook status now reads:

Kathy Eller childrens' frustration that we havent started school like "everyone" else somehow involved a water bottle and being locked outside and mud. now Im cleaning and school planning and disciplining. Before coffee. Hello Monday.


BUUT....Im going to take a quick break and answer these questions. Not because I think Im all that interesting but in hopes of breaking the ice and getting to know people a little better.:)



1. Do you cook every night?
Yes. Nothing that great or exciting. The same few meals over and over BUT we eat and are thankful for that. (Can you tell that this has been addressed before?)



2. What kind of laundry detergent do you use & why?
Tide FREE, High Efficiency because I have a front load washer/dryer and have a highly sensitive child (follow Feingold program) and have not gotten around to making my own laundry soap. I have bought some detergent on Etsy. But find Tide on sale and with a coupon and earn cents off gas. I also use Tide in my Bissell carpet steamer.

3. Do you do laundry every day or loads at a time?
EVERY single day. I try not to on Sunday. I pre-sort by doing big boys now day, little boys one day etc...I alternate cloth diapers and towels/rags. I dont put things away :) Either people put their own clothes away or i sits in baskets until my husband repeatedly asks me when "we" are going to get to putting the laundry away.


4. How often do you eat out per week?
We almost NEVER do. But I will scrounge change and eat Taco Bell when Im out running errands.

5. Where do you usually eat out?
As a family? Subway. Me? Carls Jr with a coupon, Taco Bell. Seems like forever since we actually ate out together as a couple....

6. What is your favorite retail store?
Target. there isn't one nearby....

7. What's your favorite thing to drink?
Coffee, red wine, Mountain Dew,....

8. Do you take vitamins? What kind?
Im not too good at the "every day take one" and am kind of hit and miss :) I am still working through a bottle of Rainbow Light Pre-natals.
Really like them though. I would like to try the Supermom.

9. What percentage of the household chores to you do?
Its getting to the point where I am overseeing more than doing. But it still takes ALOT OF TIME.


10. Do your children do chores? {Or will they, did they, etc}
Yes, they do and are pretty good about it and trustworthy. I need to work on a schedule of morning chores, afternoon chores, evening chore and before bed chores....

11. Do you go to church?Yes. Love love love "my church" The teaching is solid and sound. The people have been so gracious and amazing and generous to us in so many ways the past 8 1/2 years that we have lived here. We attend a Reformed, Presbyterian (OPC) church a half hour away.

12. Do you have a housework schedule?

No but I can really see where that would be freeing :)

13. Do you keep a working budget?

Would LOVE to work up to one. Right now we spend the absolute bare minimum and juggle bills to be paid.

14. What do you do at night as a family?

We prepare and eat dinner, clean up and prepare for bed, "do" family worship. My husband works in the early am hours so he and the babies go to sleep. The older kids linger longer and longer to spend time with me OR get out of going to bed....I clean up the house, handle paper work and watch tv/go on the computer (usually until about 2am)

15. How do you prepare yourself for a new week?

What I really WANT to start doing is go through the weekly evaluation sheet in This Planner

Click here to visit Graham Family Ministries.and pray about the week being better than the last:)

16. What should do your mornings look like?
I got this all down on paper last night:)
We gather at the table
(so wish it was this one:) for breakfast and Bible reading together. Chores are done, people are dressed, diapers changed, rooms tidied. Big kids start individual math lessons, Madelyn and I do a seperate devotional, babies watch a short video and the days goes on switching "activities every half an hour-hour...

17. What time do you get up in the mornings?
Really working on that :)SHOULD be between 8 and 9.

18. What time do you go to bed at night?
about 2am. Hoping this is just a "summer schedule" and I can turn things around:)

19. How do you manage all of the paperwork that floods into your household? {bills, school work, magazines, ads, etc}
Increasingly and increasingly better :)

20. How do you keep your household organized? {calendars, charts, etc}
There is a calendar on my office wall. A daily schedule in the dining room. A laundry schedule and chore schedule in the hallway....


There are more great ladies answering these questions HERE.

Birthday Finds...As in they find me:)

First off! I want to say that:



and

2nd time around Tuesday


are like my youthful carefree Saturday mornings shopping with friends :) Thanks for caring about my thrifty finds :)Thank you cyber space!!


Remember how I was whining about having a birthday every month during the summer? Whine whine whine here

Our little town just got a GoodWill and I am sooo loving it!!

Remember when I got this:
there for 7.99? Well a friend was with me and when she saw this:


for 3.99 she bought it for my son who will turn 11 next week.

I went in last week with another friend and my two year old. My little guy found this funky mask and fell in love with it. He wore it and talked to it and called it his "man." There was no price tag. They couldn't sell it to us. He cried and cried. My friend needed to go to Walmart so I drug my crying two year old and while I wandered I found this:

his "man." Apparently it is a paintball mask that Amazon lists for 49.99-59.99.

We went back the next day. And bought it for 3.99.

On the way there, my 10 year old told me he thinks I have some BIG birthday surprise for him. I don't. He found this:

Nerf Rifle
and asked if there was anyway I could get it for him and he would forget and it would be a surprise? Amazon lists it for $23.99. We paid 2.99 (It may be missing some shells)

He also found this:

Wooden Gordon Train, new, in the package for $1.99. Amazon lists it for 21.99. It will be wonderful for my soon to be three old to play with on this:
The house that we are renting has BIG over six foot windows. Five of them. When we moved in, there were blinds on the over 6 foot windows. They lasted a few days. Blinds were not meant to go accross an over six foot window. I tacked a navy blue curtain accross the window in my boys' room. It was supposed to be temporary, but every morning I climb up on my sons' dresser and flip up that stupid sheet to let some sun in. I got really annoyed at my boys last week for having a sheet tacked over their window. How cheap. How ghetto. (I don't know how this is there fault, but trust me...somehow it is) I started to wonder what kind of curtains belong in a bedroom shared by a 13 year old and an 11 year old. I couldn't figure it out. I KNEW I coudlnt afford them. I can't sew either. Or afford the materials to sew them...I walked into Goodwill the other day and found out what they needed: denim tab topped curtains (with buckles like overalls) two panles for 7.99. total. Not a great picture but SUCH an improvement.

Somehow. Things come together :)

Dress Shopping

This is my first submission to :

Bear with me because I can take a while to get to the point :0 But I promise that this point is relevant :)

I want to be honest here, because frankly, I know no other way. I hate hate hate though when my last blog post seems dark and whiny LIKE MY LAST ONE. I then let it sit there for seemingly forver. so time to clear it up :)

Remember this lovely lady that we just talked about?
She graduated from college last weekend.
And THIS weekend she is getting married! Our parelell lives have been very seperate lately. Although she mesans the world to me, all I need to do is show up. With my family. Dressed. All 7 of us. Normally my family feels totally manageable but sometimes.......

So, we need haircuts and clothes and, to act like we have some sense :)...My twelve year old is a little annoyed because we have been to a few funerals and weddings lately and we go to church every week. Why do we need to get haircuts and buy clothes. He may have a point :)MAYBE but how do I stop him from "dancing" at the reception. These are his moves. He preserved them forever on MY camera.

I live in a small town off the beaten path. We have just had few store closure. There is no where for me to get a dress! I also am hard to fit. I wear an 18. Doesnt sound like a big deal does it? Somehow, it can be.

I have been looking online and found a few things. I would start to order and they would suddenly not have my size or be on backorder. I kept going for loud designs and then wondering if they were moo-moos :)

My daughter and I somehow snuck out alone for a few hours this week. We were wnadering a thrift store and they had all their prom dresses out. I spotted an orange dress from Davids Bridal, tags still on. It was a size 16. I tried to force it on. There are no dressing rooms mind you. My daughter was scared. I then spotted a szie 18. A nice classic fitting, tank dress in light coral silk. hmmm $6.00 and a cleaning later here is my dress for this weekend :) Feels handpicked just for me. I did take a picture to show you, but somehow a size 18 dress on a hanger taken with a crappy camera, doesnt look that great in retrospect. Your mind will do a better job, trust me. I'll try to get some pictures of it this weekend ON. If I have trouble findig my size, how is it that I found it a small thrift store? In a color that I like but much mellower than I may have chosen on my own. Sounds like someone is looking out for me doesn't it.

Thankful Thursdays

I have a lot to be thankful for. We all do. Even when life feels bleak and like there isn't much to be thankful for, we are called, In Philippians 4:19, to bring our thanksgiving to God, . I think we miss out on a lot of Joy and Blessings and the fruit of the provisions of Jehovah Jirah because we don't take time to be thankful....

That is one reason why I was so excited that my dear friend over at Monkeys on the Bed is doing Thankful Thursdays





This Thursday...I am thankful for my children. I am thankful that they are easily contented. Sometimes this breaks our hearts. My ten year old son fell head over heels in love with NERF">Nerf guns

These guns are great and VERY inexpensive. My sons came from a yard sale. He made a box for it and wears the ammo..My husband was a little choked up that our son was so excited about a $5.00 gun, and wishes he could give him more. But the thing is that our son is happy.

It has been hot here. We don't have access to a pool. We don't have an above ground pool.
We DO have a sandbox that we have been meaning to fill.......
They didn't seem to notice that it wasn't very deep, and that they didn't actually fit.

My oldest son (12) wanted to take our toddler to McDonalds to play in the toy structure there. I finally gave in. The thing is that the oldest four played and played and played and had SUCH a blast.

I worry sometimes that we won't be able to provide for our children. That financially, we won't be able to give them what they need: Do they need thier own room, 10 pairs of shoes, private lessons catering to every whim, 30 electronic devices, dessert every day? They do have 3 square meals a day, a warm and safe home, constant supervision, an education, time to grow.....I am thankful for each of these things and the lessons they have taught my children.