Faith SOAP

It has been awhile.  I know.  I don’t want to have fill in all the details, just have been very busy!  My SOAP today just made me feel like it is something that needed to be shared.

S: Hebrews 11:6 And without Faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe He exists and that He rewards anyone who earnestly seeks Him.

O: In this chapter we are reminded of all the people in the Bible who had faith. They were commended for the actions they committed that showed that faith.  Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, etc.  Even Rahab the prostitute was mentioned.  These are people who also didn’t always make the right choices yet they are given to us as examples of commendable faith.  Amazing isn’t it?  Sometimes Christians think that true Christians have to be perfect and that is so untrue.  I love reading how the most impactful people are those that are just plain human.

A: I am so grateful that we are reminded how important it is to have faith though we must understand that even those who had the greatest of faith did not receive all that was promised (Hebrews 11:39).   I will be different today by reading this because I am going to remind myself that it is important to have faith even when the enemy tries to plant lies and doubts in my head.  This particular reading helped me because last night I was beginning to worry about sending my oldest to camp.  Will he be ok? What if he gets lost? What if no one watches him like I watch him? What if he doesn’t make any friends? What if… this? What if … that?  It was such a sinking and terrible feeling.  This reading helped me remember that I must have faith.  Sending him to camp is the best investment of $250 we could ever spend.  He will receive an experience he will forever remember. My Lord knows my concerns and I must have faith that he will see me through that week.  Thank you Jesus!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for that whip of reminder that it is not for me to worry but to have faith.  Thank you for providing me examples of what faith is and how to have it.  I hope that one day I will also be commended for having great faith through everything.  I love you Lord, you are so amazing! In Jesus Name, Amen.

Homeschool Week in Review

In my life this week...

I’m making progress in my personal Bible study and SOAP time.  I get really hard on myself when I get angry easily.  I know that it’s more about making progress and not perfection.  I’m not perfect but I can work every day to get better and better!

In our homeschool this week...

Lil Dude didn’t have to do school because he wasn’t feeling well. 

Lil G decided that he wanted to start school earlier (9am) so that he could finish earlier (about 2pm) and have more playing time.  I am proud of his initiative though it means that my mommy time is either cut shorter or I’d have to wake up earlier.  That’s ok though, I am super proud of his perseverance!

We also celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday by reading every book we own written by him. 

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

We went on our Cub Scout geocaching field trip today! I love taking the boys on field trips to experience the beautiful wonders that our Lord created just for us to enjoy!

My favorite thing this week was...

Though my little one was sick this week, my favorite part was cuddling with him! I also thanked God that I wouldn’t have to worry about “calling in sick” from work to care for my little one, or wondering if I should send my child to school.  I know many moms have to face that turmoil and it breaks my heart because I understand it is very hard. I thanked God for that privilege and choice that we have and prayed for mommies who have to go through that.

What's working/not working for us...

The Handwriting without Tears curriculum is really working wonders! Lil G’s handwriting is like night and day. We are currently working on our second book now and it is a bit more difficult but that’s ok.  Trying to break old habits is very hard and I try to remind him that you don’t form new habits over night.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...

How does a mom manage their day with homeschooling, cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, etc.? I feel that I am always behind!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

 

Lil Dude working on HWT

The Homeschool Mother’s Journal link up is hosted by The Homeschool Chick. You can click the link to see how you can participate or to read other link ups.

Book Review: Same Life, New Story

I am so excited! I completed my first book to review. The most amazing thing is that I will forever remember this book as my first one blogger book review and how it personally impacted me. 

Same Life, New Story by Jan Silvious is a 10-week Bible Study for Women.  I loved the women in the bible stories that Jan Silvious chose to make her point.  There was Esther (my personal favorite), Naomi, Hannah, Leah, Deborah and even ones I wasn’t too familiar with like Jehosheba, Anna, and Naamon’s servant girl. Each one of these women left a legacy because of their willingness to take risks and change their life story.  While the biblical stories in the book helped me think about the way my own personal story is being written, I especially liked the modern stories that were included as well.  I am glad that the author chose to include parallel’s to the biblical women heroes with modern women heroes.

The personal reflection and group discussion questions were helpful at the end of each chapter.  It makes a great option for one to complete the book on their own (like I did) or with a group.  As you complete each personal reflection, it allows you to dig deep within your soul and to pull out the weeds that are inhibiting your own personal growth to develop a positive new story for your life. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.  I loved the way it made me think. It made me think about my own life and gave me a fresh look at how God is the author of my story.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Melting Mama Moment

Unfortunately, we've been hit again.  This weekend my Lil Dude came down with croup.  It's been a long time since he had croup and the last time he was sick (which was only less than a couple weeks ago), it wasn't as bad as what he has come down with now.  I feel like I have a toddler again and I am certainly enjoying the moment.  He only wants mama and nothing else will do.  While I feel so badly that he doesn't feel well, I am loving being needed and snuggling with my "baby."

Last night, while we were cuddling on the couch, he looked at me in the eye and said, "Mama, I'm so glad to have you taking care of me. You are the best."

I melted right then and there.

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Salt Writing

 

We’ve been working our way through the Handwriting Without Tears Curriculum and I noticed Lil Dude still having trouble on where to start his letters.  The HWT curriculum has a great CD with a song that reminds you to start your letters at the top and we sing that all the time.  But even though we sing it, point to the Happy Face on our door corner, and much more, Lil Dude always wants to start his letters at the bottom!

So, I decided to break away from writing on paper and go back to some preschool basics.  I brought out a cookie sheet and poured salt on there.  This was way fun.  To erase, you only have to shake the cookie sheet just a little.  It reminded me of the old school Etch a Sketch toys, only better!

Lil Dude had fun with the salt cookie sheet activity.  He even says he doesn’t remember doing this when he was smaller!

Which serves as my homeschool reminder for the week.  Just because my kiddos aren’t preschool aged anymore, it doesn’t mean that all those fun activities I did when they were smaller doesn’t apply anymore.  I can always bring back the basics when I need them!

Homeschool Frog Unit Study

This week the boys and I worked on a Frog and Toad Unit Study and it was a whole lotta fun!
We read:

and completed a study on Frogs with this fun activity book and Frog model:

Lil G and Lil Dude spent an hour putting this model of a Frog together…

Lil Dude also helped me make a map on the feelings of Toad throughout the stories.

And began to write about his favorite Frog and Toad story.

He mentions that he did not like the ending of the story called, “A swim” because the way his own friend laughed at him.  So he decided to tell me a new ending for the story in which Frog apologizes for laughing at Toad in his bathing suit and they begin to read a book together .


Lil G worked on a booklet on Parts of a Frog to put in his lap book.

Lil Dude also did math addition problem with buttons that correlated with the story, “The Lost Button” from the frog and toad book.

Lastly, we watched videos about frogs in Arizona and learned more about a very special frog that is near and dear to my heart.  Which is called the Coqui.  This is a special Puerto Rican frog that can be heard throughout Puerto Rico.



A fun homeschool week for us!  We more than made up for being sick last week.  I think after the kind of week we had last week, we were anxious and ready to get back into our homeschool routine!

Chuletas… Mami Style

We call my grandma Mami and I think about her often. 
I had some pork chops in the freezer and I wanted to make some pork chops that I remembered my grandma would make when I was little. I remembered some of the basics, she had pork chops, a yummy gooey tomato sauce to go on top and some veggies.  Unfortunately, my ma doesn’t remember my grandma making this so I was on my own to try to recreate… and I am glad I did!  This came out delicious!

Ok, so I don’t have a fancy camera to take good food porn but this isn’t a food blog so I’m not too worried about it .
Ingredients:
Pork chops

Bag of frozen mixed vegetables

Salt, Garlic Powder, 1 packets from each of the Sazon boxes here (found in ethnic aisle of grocery store), and tomato sauce.

A jar of Sofrito is optional.  You can also find this in the ethnic section of the grocery store.  I like to add it in when I make Puerto Rican food.  I know fresh is better and there are a number of recipes out there on how to make this.  For now, I’m still trying to get comfy in the kitchen so when I can use premade stuff, I do!
 
First rinse off and pat dry the pork chops.  Then season with salt and garlic powder. My ma uses garlic salt but I didn’t have any!
Then fry the pork chops in the pan.

After nice and brown, put them on the plate and tent with a foil (a trick I learned from Rachael Ray).

Next, make the yummy sauce in the same pan that you just fried the pork chops in.  Add the tomatoes (chopped), tomato sauce, 1 packet from each of the sazon boxes, and a couple spoonful's of Sofrito.
Bring back the pork chops and let simmer with the sauce.

Start to pour out the bag of frozen veggies and realize that there are peas in them! Ack! I don’t remember peas being in my grandma’s pork chops so I decide to pick out every single one of them.

Then go ahead and them to the yummy pork chops simmering away.

Serve over white rice and use leftover throwaway plates from the party so that you won’t have anymore dishes to wash . Make sure to scoop up all the sauce!

The verdict… YUM!
And now, missing my grandma like crazy!