Busy Hands

Busy Hands

My hands were busy through the day,

I didn't have much time to play

The little games you asked me to.

I didn't have much time for you.

I'd wash your clothes, I'd sew or cook,

But you'd bring your picture book,

And ask me please to share your fun,

I'd say "A little later, son."

I'd tuck you in all safe at night

And hear your prayers, turn out the light,

Then tiptoe softly to the door....

I wish I'd stayed a minute more.

For life is short, the years rush past,

A little boy grows up so fast,

No longer is he at your side,

His precious secrets to confide.

The picture books are put away,

There are no longer games to play,

No goodnight kiss, no prayers to hear,

That all belongs to yesteryear.

My hands, once busy, now are still,

The days are long and hard to fill.

I wish I could go back and do,

The little things you asked me to.

   Author Unknown

Dear God,

Please help me to not wish away the days. My kids are growing right before my very eyes. I am so blessed and grateful to you for allowing me to be a mother to these three children. Even though the days can be stressful and challenging. I am glad I have them.  Let me remember this poem because I know before to long it will be me looking back and wondering..... Where did the time go? Amen

What's in your bowl?

Monday night we had the Ladies Salad Supper/Craft Swap at my house. Our theme was "What's in your bowl?" I picked that theme because I did a short devo on Fruits of the Spirit. Each lady received a piece of fruit in her bowl:

Strawberry = love

Pineapple  = joy

Kiwi = peace

Oranges = goodness

Apple = faithfulness

Banana = kindness

Watermelon = gentleness

Cantaloupe= longsuffering

grapes = self control

We read a verse from the bible that went along with each fruit. At the end of the lesson I asked them, "What is in your bowl?" Are you striving daily to have all these in there?

To go along with the theme I asked everyone to bring something to eat that would fit in a bowl. To make these ladies think I let them know I would be offering a prize for the most creative. Let me just tell you it got quite competitive. Here are a few of the ones that participated:

 We enjoyed eating them too!

 Our winner was Shelia with the Salsa Fire Pit.

Her prize was bowls with fruit on them.

Next, we had the swapping of lots of wonderful spring crafts.

The craft I brought was an apron which I would later monogram.

It was a great night of Christian female fun!

Check back tomorrow when I share with you a sweet poem I read that night.

Trip to the Tifton Agrirama

We went yesterday a few days ago on a field trip with several other homeschoolers to the Tifton Agrirama. 3rd grade and below did the schoolhouse tour. In this tour the children were able to go back in time to the 1800's and see was school was like back then.....

The first thing they did was pick out skirts to wear.

These are the ones Laney and Ella picked out. Laney said she looked like a Duggar...you know the ones with the tv show 19 kids and counting. I asked her who she was and she said Anna( Josh's wife). I think it's because she is the only one with a baby right now.

The kids were placed in a particular seat in the schoolhouse. The 2nd and 3rd graders sat on one side and the younger kids sat on the other side. On each desk was a reading book, chalkboard, story for writing and  a pencil(with no eraser).

This was their teacher. The first thing she showed the children was a long switch from an outside tree. Guess what that was used for......You guessed it...... swatting the children. I wanted to know what tree she got it from so I could get one. I felt like I needed to extend that part of the lesson at home. I don't think my girls truly understood.

Laney's row came to the front bench and read from their book.

While Ella sat at her desk  flipping the pages in her book. She was suppost to be working on her writing assignment. Where is that big switch at???

Ella went to the front to read her book...with help of course. The teacher would go to each child and help them read a line from the story.

Laney sat at her desk and worked on her writing.

The kids had recess where they played a game like duck duck goose except instead of hitting on the head they gave the chosen child a handkerchief.

After school, we walked around and saw an old printing shop,  mill, houses, Dr. office, ice cream parlor and a few others.

It was a great day filled with wonderful memories!

Couponing tip

I thought I would share one of my tips on couponing.

Many of you may get coupons from the newspaper, websites, blogs, tearpads and some who will remain anonymous have been known to go through recycling bins/trash cans to get their coupons.

Another great place that people tend not to look is on Ebay. You can find really good coupons for hardly anything. If you find a good coupon in the paper one week, look on ebay and chances are you can purchase a bundle of them for around a $1. 

Here are some examples of what I have purchased.....

I purchased 40  $1 off Johnson and Johnson product for around $5. I use them to buy these Buddies soaps that are priced at Target for 99 cents (yes, a penny of overage) or $1.09 at Publix. My kids love these!

I purchased 40 $1 off any Fisher product 4 oz or larger for around $2. I buy these for 99 cents at the commissary (penny overage).

I purchased 40 $1 off or free Marcal tissues for around $2. I have only been able to find these at the commissary but they are priced 99 cents (penny overage).

I purchased 20 $3 off Snuggle fabric softner for around $11. That is the most I have spent on purchasing coupons but as you will see it was well worth it. It is also the one I am most proud of! These are priced at $2.49 at the commissary. Did you catch that! As I like to say, "They paid me $.51 cents to take them." You can do the math and see that my puchase for $11 was well worth it. Even if you do not have access to the commissary on base, you can still get them for cheap at other stores.

So as you can see, if you do a little research buying coupons from ebay can add $$$ to your wallet.

Now you may be thinking but what are you going to do with all that. Well, besides my family using it I can share with others! I fixed up a basket for one of my friends who is unemployed.

This post was in no way meant to brag. I love saving money and enjoy sharing my frugal tips with you!

Now ladies go out and SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!

Savannah's 1st Birthday

This past weekend we traveled to South Carolina to celebrate my niece turning 1. She is such a cutie and oh so sweet. I thought many times about sneaking  her into my suitcase and taking her home. Here are a few highlights from the weekend. 

This is Savannah.

I snapped a few before the party started.

I remember when I was Laney's age and loved holding babies. My sisters and I used to sit and watch the clock anticipating our turn to hold our cousins. 

Laney was by Savannah's side just about the whole weekend.

We got her several outfits and this bow. She left it on for a full 2 seconds.

Her favorite part of opening presents was playing with the tissue paper.

Time for cake!

She ate a bite or 2 and then........

let everyone know she was done!

Carmel Weed's 2 girls decided to help themselves to the rest of the Savannah's cake.

pinata time

I am thinking maybe we should sign Laney up for softball again. She smacked the pinata twice and it broke open. 

Yes, that is my goofy husband sporting part of the pinata.

Later that day the kids got in the hot tub or should I say cold tub.

What a wonderful weekend with family!

Miss Spider's Tea Party

Yesterday, in my Storybook Chef class at CoOp we read Miss Spider's Tea Party. We made napkin rings, discussed manners, set the table and had a tea party. 

Just in case you are wondering, yes those are coffee filters. I forgot to get bowls and was not going back to the store. So I searched and found the next best thing.....filters. 

We are off to South Carolina to celebrate my niece turning 1.