And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything?

Ezekiel 15:4

My oldest was going on retreat and they were talking about how good this was.  I decided to make it myself.  Oh my… this is so good and easy.  A wonderful quick snack to make!  Have you had it or made it?  I’m sure my children will request this again!

Puppy Chow

Ingredients

• 9 cups crispy rice cereal squares
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

Directions

In a saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate; add peanut butter and mix until smooth. Remove from heat, add cereal and stir until coated. Pour powdered sugar into large plastic bag, add coated cereal and shake until well coated. Store in airtight container.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.

Isaiah 40:8

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.

Song of Songs 2:12

Our family of 6 has one bathroom, one VERY small bathroom that we all share.  We do have a  bathroom in the basement, but let’s face it, the house is almost 100 years old and the basement is not “the place to be”.  That bathroom also has no walls.  Seriously, who’s great idea was it to put a 3/4 bathroom with NO WALL for privacy???

The upstairs bathroom is like a long closet.  Tub, pedestal sink that you have to almost shimie {how do you spell that?} by to get to the toilet and a tall built-in cabinet that you almost knock your head on when you use the toilet.  It’s on the list to remodel, but the kitchen is STILL a work in progress.

All that to say the cabinet in the bathroom is pretty important.  Thankfully it is as tall as the ceiling which is about 8′.  It has two big doors that we store towels, cleaning products, medicine, jewelry, and my hair products behind.  Under that are two smaller drawers, both half the width of the cabinet.  Rich has one for his stuff and I have the other for my stuff.  Then there are four LONG drawers.  One is for the hair dryer/first aid/lotions, one for  TP storage and some random things, one is for the kids, and the bottom most annoying one to open holds bath toys cause it really is a pain to open.

The one for the kids has been driving me nuts.  Last year I reorganized it and gave each child their own basket to keep their things in.  That worked for a while, but the girl’s hair things tend to take over the drawer, another little one is terrible about putting the lid back on the toothpaste and got it everywhere… it was just out of control.  I saw a great idea on Pinterest {with no linking credit, sorry} and jumped on yesterday.  Mr. J, my Mr. Clean, LOVES it.  I think it is a much better arrangement too.

{toothbrush holder, boy box for their “things”, girl box, and then two containers with lids for the hair things}

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 7:19

How did I miss the update after Winter break?  The first week back to school went rather smoothly.  We caught up on some things in Mystery of History that we had not done before break and then did the new week.  In the two weeks we covered India and Hinduism, The Olympic Games, Jonah and Amos, The city of Rome, Isaiah and Micah, Israel falls to Assyria.  Great dissuasion and we learned some interesting facts we did not know.  They took the quiz Friday – certainly could have done better, but it is always a great way to review all of what we have learned the whole year.  Also I like the quizzes because it shows them how to take better notes on the cards – what is important to remember.

Ms. S is reading the first Bob book and has moved onto the second one.  She is slowly putting sounds together to make words and she is seeing words when we are out and I hear her sounding them out.  I think we have turned a corner!  I added some snowman activities {some from 1+1+1+1} to her school and she is having fun with those.

Ms. A had trouble getting back into the groove trying to just “get by”.  We are also working on some character issues and this made up for two weeks that were hard.  I have been praying often and have even stopped as we are in the midst of an issue and just prayed aloud with her.  It is helping.  She continues to read and write stories “just for fun” which is not something I ever experienced with my older boys!

We decided to not join the IEW online class for the 2nd semester for the boys.  We are continuing to follow what they have learned the last two years and write papers, but at a scaled back pace and with topics that interest them.  Mr. J did a paper on Abraham Lincoln’s assassination conspiracy theories and Mr. C did one on a Rock Hyrnax {?? I think that is right}.  They both did a good job.  This week they are looking forward to starting a computer class with my Dad.  He is going to teach them what makes them run, have them take one apart and then put it back together making it run.  Great class, yes?

Halfway through the year!

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:7