Why meal plan...

... when somebody has already done it for you?

Eat at Home 'Weekly Menus'

Granted, I don't love the sound of all her recipes... but they are easy to modify according to your liking and some of them sound really good!

Grocery lists included!

I found the weekly menus site through this blog which I just love!

Family Guidelines

I found this list by Harold and Lori Walker and thought it really hit on every behavioral goal we'd hope to live by as a family. It's in child-friendly wording and straight to the point:

1. Always use soft words, even when you don’t feel well.

2. Always display kind actions, even if you have been mistreated.

3. Show joyful attitudes even when no one is looking.

4. Have sincere motives with no thoughts of self-gain.

5. Think pure thoughts.

6. Always give a good report of others. Never tattle unless physical harm will come to someone. Use Matthew 18.

7. Never raise a hand to hit.

8. Never raise a foot to kick.

9. Never raise an object to throw.

10. Never raise a voice to yell.

11. Never raise an eye to scowl.

12. Use one toy/activity at a time.

13. Never go to bed angry or guilty.

14. Put Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last = JOY Make serving your family a priority.

Thankfulness

And LOVE.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if I didn't feel an overwhelming amount of thankfulness and love.... but I just can't because those two emotions dominate my life. I can think of so many reasons to be thankful, and while I am far from perfect, I never run out of compassion and love.

But what is on my mind right now is that day when I mentioned homeschooling to my husband. Not because I had a desire to homeschool... I mean, I really didn't. I had questions. I had a long list of reasons in my head of why I cannot. I found some entertaining answers on this blog.

My husband was positive and encouraging from the start... He even wanted to go to a homeschooling convention with me and find out more. We went... (I went) hesitantly. At the convention I realized something new: that it's a lifestyle and a state of mind... definitely not "School at Home" as I had previously imagined. Freedom. Freedom from the ordinary to explore and learn more about what truly matters.

Extreme encouragement.

Complete confidence. Passion. This is what I received from my husband in every conversation we had after that convention. And I don't take that for granted for even 1 second. He believed in me and still does, amazingly. I am thankful for new insights revealed to us each day that encourage us even more to be okay with being different.

For me, being different is not easy. I have always strived to be peaceful and do what is pleasing to others. Surprisingly, most of the people I know are totally comfortable with it and are extremely encouraging... Another thing I am so thankful for is amazing friends!!!

Lately Mr. C. announces to everyone he meets "I am a kindergartener, and my mom even let me start a early!" I am overflowing with thankfulness. I am so thankful for the freedom to homeschool. I am thankful to be part of so many networks that support and encourage me. I am thankful for our busy, full schedule and cannot wait to see what God will reveal to us each day.

I am mostly thankful for a husband who loves me and really, really believes in me even when I don't know how to believe in myself.

Love.

And Thankfulness.

That is really all I have to say.