On the Home Front - November 26

No fancy graphic - I'm not at my computer. Only a few starters (the ones I remember)
A daybook written on location in Albuquerque.

Outside my window... a wonderful deck with views of the mountains and lots of glorious sunshine!

On my mind... being present in our Christmas celebrations. I probably have a bit more responsibility than I care too, but we are looking forward to our part in Toys for Tots and to Hubby being home (not working) between Christmas and New Year.

Reading.. I read "Lead for God's Sake" on the way here and started skimming Billy Graham's new book "Nearing Home" (belongs to family). I have a history book for the ride home (not light reading at all).

What the boys are doing...they worked filing at their grandparents' store yesterday. Basketball practice starts this next week.

Plans for the week...I'm not working Monday and Tuesday - going to chapel (at Christian school) where Hubby is preaching Monday and trying to catch up from being gone and work on Christmas plans.

Menu planning ... delicious traditional meal on Thanksgiving. Enjoyed ham, twice baked potatoes, green beans, rolls, and fresh veggies on Tuesday night with my uncle, the boys, Hubby, Aunt and friend C. Will make chicken morsels Monday night, but now it's time plan for the month...again (sometimes this task feels like laundry, it never ends).

I am richly blessed... have so enjoyed having family around my table this month - and joining in with family for Thanksgiving. It was a joy to read my youngest nephew bedtime stories and to catch a movie with him and my sis in law. Hubby and I were immensely blessed to attend the wedding of a dear friend yesterday. God's grace is amazing!!!

One Month to Live

When we first moved back to Oklahoma, several churches in the area were going through the book One Month to Live. I hadn’t had the chance to read it yet, so when I was given the opportunity to read it for review, I quickly took it.

Besides the authentic, clear way the book is written with doable and real life examples, I love the methodical lay-out of this book! It is designed for a chapter to be read daily with each week having a different theme: live passionately, love completely, learn humbly and leave boldly. After a little bit of writing there is a “Make It Count Moment” that is designed for you to reflect on what you’ve read and think about your own life. At the end of the chapter is “Make It Last for Life” where three action steps are outlined. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming either. If we just took one of the three or one or two steps from each week and made some lasting changes – it could really improve our life!

At the beginning of each chapter are also two quotes. My favorite one in the book is “A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for” By William Shedd. The quotes, call for reflection, action steps, and style of writing are great for several different learning styles and provide “hooks” to make the message of the book stick.

I’m sure if we found out that we only had one month to live, our perspective would change and we’d strive to live each day to the fullest. We would focus on what truly mattered. One Month to Live has encouraged me to live that way now. When it is my time to leave this fleshy self, I want to have lived life on purpose.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Integer Race

My oldest, M - just doesn't feel very well right now. The nurse at school called today and when she didn't get me called my Hubby. After a second call - M got picked up at school. He was supposed to finish up some science project trials tonight, but I think that's going to have to wait.

Last week he turned in his math project. The assignment was to create a grade level appropriate math board game. M. did this racing theme where the object was adding and subtracting integers. (I must say that besides a few standardized tests, after college I never used negative numbers!).

The classes played/graded the games last Thursday and Friday. Here's M's creation:

Game of Your Life

Family Movie Night's 'Game of Your Life' is set to air on NBC Friday, December 2nd at 8/7c,
Synopsis: Zach Taylor gets a scholarship to Digital Institute of Game Design (DIGD). For his freshman project, he, his two roommates and strong leader, Sara Ramirez spend hours developing an interactive game. Will Zach get to stay at DIGD or will his project fail? Will he be enticed to take a prohibited side job? What can he do to help his father facing troubles at home? Zach has several tough choices. This movie is all about making decisions and how those decisions affect others.

Website: http://www.familymovienight.com/game-of-your-life/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/familymovienight
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/fmnib
Trailer: http://vimeo.com/31917601

This movie was not enjoyable for me to watch. However, I think that may have been because of my age or because I’m not a gamer. My ten year old spent a lot of time trying to figure out how the movie flowed together and kept asking me what was going on. Don’t let that stop you from watching though. Your kids might love it!

Overall, I really appreciate Walmart and Proctor and Gamble for sponsoring movies that you can feel comfortable sitting down and watching with your family. ‘Game of Your Life’ was clean with no questionable words or content and taught a character building lesson. It would be a great springboard to talk about loyalty, fairness, honesty, tough decisions, and commitment.

I received special access to a screening of this movie and all opinions are certainly my own.

Multitutudes on Monday - November 21

This is Thanksgiving week and our multitudes keep overflowing. We've had some health issues to deal with - M's headaches and my carpal tunnel; the weather is dreary now; and we have a couple issues we're working through - yet we still have so much to thank our Provider for graciously giving...

901 Finishing a math project together
902 Solution worked on
903 Free stuff
904 Cfa with M
905 Starting science project
906 Hearing boys talking in bed
907 Walk with J on a windy day
908 So warm I had to open a window on Saturday
909 Absolutely wonderful human video
910 L using his talents to praise the Lord
911 Shopping for shoebox
912 Hubby going with us
913 A shirt fitting
914 The grove of trees in the park that I can see from sitting at my desk

A peek through my window… Foggy and windy. It even looks cold! S – 47 M – 55 T – 53 W – 63 Th – 67. Our van is parked on the street with only one headlight waiting for the new one. I’m sorry for Hubby that time got away yesterday (soccer game and too many other things) and he has to replace it today. Yesterday it was so warm I had to open a window and change to short sleeves!

What’s going on this week… Thanksgiving! Aunt’s best friend comes to town. I’m having lunch out with them and another friend on Tuesday and Tuesday night we’re going to have Thanksgiving here with my uncle (this is my Mom’s only brother).

What “the boys” are doing… Downtown missions is today for M. and L. starts practice for Bible competition. No soccer this week! Before or after missions M needs to work on his science project more. We had a good time together yesterday starting it – lunch at Cfa, shopping for supplies and then testing out what he needed to do.

On my mind… my things to do list sitting right here – some Christmas shopping before going to Abq., some reviews, Thanksgiving cards, getting to the P.O. (I don’t like going there at all!), and cleaning out the car (yes, mine – the one that still smells like a skunk!)

On my bedside table… One Month to Live

I am richly blessed… with a warm home and my family here. We worshipped together this morning (Aunt along with both boys in the service and Hubby preaching) and now one boy is upstairs playing video games and another is watching the game and cheering for the Cowboys. Hubby’s in the cold fixing the above mentioned light.

I’m praying for… many things. I'm praying for our small group and upcoming travels and holiday celebrations.

Our home… new candles are making it smell wonderful – and it’s almost clean – I had to take a break and write/post this.

Menu planning… Finger foods tonight for small group, chicken tacos, rice and broccoli tomorrow night and ham Tuesday.

A photo or two…

M and Cousin last weekend

A Truly Ordinary Evening

The main purpose of Our extra-Ordinary Life is a family journal (with some reviews thrown in) - so I wanted to post what a very ordinary evening is like here. On Thursday, a soccer practice night,I had subbed so I got home "late" (4). I checked email and made dinner while the boys did some chores and whatever else they did. M. took these pictures at dinner mostly from the perspective of the camera on the "J" bar counter.

We left the house around 5:45 to take L to Hubby's office so they could go shopping for indoor soccer cleats and go to practice. I got a call from a friend in Texas and we talked during the 20min. drive to the office (and back!). M. and I went to the YMCA basketball meeting and really didn't find out any new information, but it was nice being part of community and running into people we knew. He and I then went and picked up canned food goods for the school's food drive. We retired to the couch to study fungi and cells, etc. for his science test - while the football game was on (I know it's awful that I let him study like that!).

Hubby and L. came home with new cleats, but with uncertainty about keeping them (sometimes I feel like store exchanges are the story of my shopping life!). The indoor season is only 8 games and if L can wear his regular cleats, he'd rather put the money towards better outdoor cleats. Whatever - it was nice that they had a better selection at the new sporting goods store.

I spent some time working on Bible quizzing/competition with L. and then after we had put both boys in bed, Hubby and I watched the news and then went to bed.

Update: After this ordinary evening - I overslept about 45 minutes. Yay!, Hubby for sticking around to take L. to school (since there was no way the boys were going to make the bus). I subbed near Micah's school so I took him (and we even had time to stop for sweet tea for me). I made it to my school with these shoes on...

Wouldn't you like to have such a beautiful pair?