From Gold Hoops to Chicken Coops

Man... Homeschooling is rough! We are in our sixth year of homeschooling (5th grade and 3rd grad) and just recently I have realized that I have been doing it all wrong.  Yup.  I said it. I own it.  I have been trapped between being too busy and making it look like school.  By the way, that was neva my intention.  I swore I was a Charlotte Mason homeschooler, I mean I own the books, so I must be down right? Wrong.  I have never actually read the books.  DOH! But they are on display for all to see.  I mean, why do I need to read them? I listen to ALL of the Charlotte Mason podcasts out there.  I've ready all the blogs, I've listened to "For the children's sake" 7 times and I look at every single picture on Instagram and I download the Amblesideonline book list every year.  I think I have earned my CM Certificate.  But alas, I have not. I was recently reading Julie Bogarts, " A Gracious Space ", her fall edition and got punched ...

I don't really know why I'm back here or for that matter what has kept me away for so long. It hasn't felt like 6 years but apparently it is.  A lot has change but so much remains the same.  Isn't that life? My littles aren't so little anymore. My beloved grandmother went to be with the Lord last year.  And as a family we are going through the toughest trials BUT God. It's hard to think that God has planned these days and events before the foundations of the Earth were laid. And that gives me comfort.  Because if He has planned out all of these days and knew that they would be filled with sadness and pain He has also planned out days full of hope! Yes hope.  You see, because my God is a promise keeper. He has promised me hope.    For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 I have never been more sure of His promises as I am now...

Oh my word! Where has the time gone?  Why have I not written a post since July?!!!!  Things have been more busy than crazy, which I guess is a good thing. In September we started our first "officical" year of home education (I'm starting to dislike the term "home school").  It's had it's ups and downs but I'll write a post on that soon.  I have been working on a lot of things these past months, not only organizing my heart and thoughts but my yarn stash . Yes, my yarn stash.  You know you have one.  It's okay.  I understand. It's an emotional thing.  I use to buy coach bags and shoes.  Now I buy merino wool and knitting needles. This is not all the stash.  This is just the stuff that was in knots and out of control.   This is a true story.  I have a picture on IG of a trunk full of yarn and tools.  I don't know where I was going with all that. But this past summer I decided that I was not going to bu...

This past week has been crazy in the world of sports, especially football.   Did you know that since this past Super Bowl 27 players have been arrested ? Three were just last week.  It's just crazy.  What's going on fellas? I mean seriously.  I get it.  Football is an extremely aggressive sport.  But why can't they leave all that crazy on the field?  When did it get like this?  Are there any classy players out there? I'm sure there are. Do you know who comes to mind when I think of classy football players? Rosie Grier .  Do you know him? My mom is always talking about him. He is a defensive lineman who played for the NY Giants from 1955-1962.  He also played with the Rams from 1963-67.  He would later become a body guard for Robert Kennedy.  Although he was not guarding Kennedy on the day of his assassination,  he was the one that took the gun from the assassin.   He was guarding Mrs. Kennedy that day....

I've never been a loyal sports team fan like my brothers.  We were born and breed in NY.  My mom is a METS fan, my one brother Yankees, Knicks and Giants and my youngest brother strangely enough is a Broncos fan.  I'm more like my dad when it comes to sports.  My dad enjoys any sport that has a Puerto Rican on the team.  " ¿ Ve ese ah í ? ¡Él es boricua!" You see that guy there? He's Puerto Rican.  And that's pretty much how I have followed and enjoyed sports ever since.  I love hearing their stories and how they grew to love the sport they played, whether it be on the island or a local worn down ball field or court on the block.  More recently I have been following tennis thanks to Monica Puig.  Being the mother of two boys I decided to really get into sports, for their sakes of course.  There are  two stations on in our crazyvan, KLOVE and ESPN .   I love listening to The Herd .  Colin Cowherd is just right up my alle...

Keeping track of my Joys was something I thought I would be able to easily blog about.  But it really is just one more thing on my to do list.  But I vow to continue and not get lazy with it.  This is more for me than it is for you.  It's a way for me to sit down, ponder and thank the Lord for His gifts and mercies.  I could easily sit down and complain about it all but I'm reminded to count it joy.  Last week was a reminder of that.   I was reminded that the world's pain can always be used for God's glory, if I allow it.  40. Memories (even the painful ones.  the Lord can be glorified.  One day they won't hurt as much.) 41. A confidant.  I'm so blessed with the people the Lord has placed in my life.  Even the ones He has taken out. 42. Date with my boys. 43. A very generous and loving friend. 44. A sick day at home. 45. The blessings of new babies (not here ;-P ) 46. Little boys that one day will turn into m...

For the past couple of weeks I have been feverishly making little hearts.  My goal this year was to make my home a happy home.  One full of handmade things.  One that my children will always remember.  I have been heavy into crochet lately.  Mostly because of how quick and convenient it is to make.  I tried making snowflakes this past Christmas but ran out of time.  But I promised myself I would have something done in time for Valentine's day. And so... ta da!  I was making this everywhere I went, the doctors, the library, as a passenger in a car, in bed ( I never crochet in bed because I immediately fall asleep).  These were going to be done no matter what. I made tons and gave tons away.  I actually can't stop making them.  They make me super happy.  I found the original pattern over at Sarahndipities .  It was a lovely pattern but I did change it up bit.  (Round 3 and the garland directions are from Sarahndipiti...

Last week I had a super hectic schedule.  I had to drive into the city several times a day for a couple of days, attempt to homeschool, work and organize my house. Not all of those happened all the time.  Especially the organize my house part.  I just found out that I suffer from a very debilitating disorder.  ADCD, Attention Deficit Cleaning Disorder. This means that although I think I'm cleaning/organizing, I am actually appearing to be a horder.  It's just awful! And super exhausting.  For the record, I'm an amazing organizer, just not in my house.  But I'm working on it. When I was 25 years old, and still living with my momma, my bestie Jenna had to come over and teach me how to clean my room.  It was a mess.  I'll never forget it.  But she did give me great pointers.  "Start here.  And don't go anywhere else until you finish here.  Then work your way around the room."  She followed me around the room until I g...

First I want to start with a big Happy Birthday to Cary Grant! Isn't he just dreamy? I plan on watching his movies all weekend! Things to be Joyful for: 15. Wolverine paying us a visit. 16. A snowy day at home. 17. New snow boots. 18. Will power. 19. Lazy day of learning in bed. 20. Encouragement from an unsuspecting place. 21. An accountability partner. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” - James 1:2-3 

I look forward to writing about the joys of the week.  It helps me to keep a look out for the good as opposed to bad.  There are so many things to be joyful about, if we could just keep our eyes and hearts open to it. I hope you are able to keep count of the joys in your life. 7. A loving husband 8. Lunch with an honest and loving friend 9. The end of colored rice (pa'la basura) 10. My little yarn club 11. A media free day and brothers playing together 12. Macarons 13. The return of Downton Abby 14. A loving family who give my children crazy gifts Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” - James 1:2-3

Week 1 Following on the heels of the British blogs I have been obsessed with, I mean following, I've decided to document the joy in my life.  The things that I am grateful for during my weeks.  It's so easy to forget the joys in our lives and fall into the traps of all the things we think we are missing. Thank you Victoria , and don't give up on your blog!  Most of the other blogs are calling it "52 Weeks of Happy".  I have decided on Joy. You see, happiness is an emotion.  It's fleeting.  It's usually driven by materialism... I would be happy if I had a bigger house.  I would be happy if I had a new car or the latest gadget. I may never get those things, so does that mean that I will never be happy? Probably.  But Joy! Now that's something I can always have.  Because I have Christ, I can count it all joy, even the hard stuff. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith...

2012 was an adventurous year for us around here.  We moved.  Grew more as a family (with a few bumps here and there).  Began our journey to home education.  Watched broken hearts be mended.  2012 was the year  I really tried to listen when the Lord spoke (with more than a few bumps here and there). My prayer for 2013 is that I listen to His promptings more and follow in obedience.  I hope to listen to the voices of my children's hearts and not the needs of this world.  I hope to be a better wife.  I pray for broken hearts to be made new.  I pray for the lost, that they seek Him, for He is the only one that can lead them home.  And I pray for you.  Whatever that need may be.  I pray for the things that the Lord has prepared for me. But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” ~1 Corinthians 2:9-10 Bless...

What started out as an innocent day of yarn organizing turned into an explosion of African Flowers .  I  had come to the sad realization that until I used up all of my yarn I would not allow myself to purchase any more yarn, I came to the same conclusion with my kitchen pantry.  So I thought about what I could do with all of these different yarns, each one was purchased to make a different project that I probably started and took apart or just didn't finish, I'm a closet starter non-finisher.  There. Now that is out in the open. So I thought about what to make and thought these colors would all look great together on a blanket.  But I needed something that would be instant gratification because I had the itch to make something.  So I went to my trusty Pinterest board and got to lookin'.  First pin on my board was an African Flower baby blanket. I thought, this could be fun.  I would be trying a new pattern and it could be don...

I read something on Facebook that really upset me today.  So much so that I was ready to pack my family up and move to a cabin in Montana.  You know it was serious because I hate the cold. I started to get myself all riled up when a song popped into my head... I lift up my eyes to the heavens Cause I know where my help comes from I will set my mind upon You, Jesus My Savior, God's only Son There is peace for the seeker Blessed hope from the Lord There is love without measure For all who trust in the Lord  Praise God for that song because it immediately took me out of that doom and gloom cloud I was just about to pitch my tent in.   My heart then began to ache for all those who don't have this Peace.  This free gift from God.  Something so easily attainable.  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."~ John 14:27 Without peace, people ...

                                   I love this time of year.  Not so much for the gift giving part, you can do that any time of the year.  I also could do without the cold, although last nights snowfall was lovely.  I love this time of year for what it represents, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 NKJV The Savior of the world would be born on this day.  The bread of life would be born in the town of bread (Bethlehem) and the prophesy would be fulfilled.        This year is the first year our oldest who is now five was really looking forward to Christmas, mostly for the gift part, but still it ...

Do you ever watch "American Pickers" or go on those blogs that show this amazing transformation of a piece of garbage and just wish you could do that or think that you can? Well I do.  And even though I said I was going to take a break from furniture I sort of didn't. I tend to bite off more than I can chew and that was the case this past weekend.  Driving through the neighborhood I found, what I thought was this amazing old hutch and couldn't believe someone was actually throwing it away.  I drove by it and thought "Nah".  The closer I got to home the more I wanted it and convinced myself that this would be the piece that changed it all. So I went back to get it and stuffed that crazy object into the back of the minivan with the help of my sidekick, Mom.  As soon as I drove away I began to suffer from "pickers remorse".  I'm not sure if that's an actual condition but that's definitely what I had.  When I saw this piece I was so e...

I would like to apologize for skipping last week.  I really did want to post my progress on the Trestle table but I was so busy.  I can't really tell you what I was busy doing because frankly I don't recall.  I do know that I was too busy to get gas.  This afternoon, after I had strapped the boys in their seats I went to start my car, as I usually do when I need to go somewhere, and low and behold, it did not start.  I immediately diagnosed my car as needing an alternator.  Did you know I was a mechanic too?  Well, chaos ensued in our household and then my husband insulted me with the idea that I might not have any gas in the soccer van.  Of all the... I always have gas... I pay attention to what goes on around me...I'm not careless... 2 hours later... maybe I don't have gas.  Thank goodness for my mom who saved the day with...yup you guessed it... GAS! Sorry Marty.  Now. What was I talking about?  Oh, right.  The trestle ...