Category Archives: teens

Back to School Goals for August 11-16

11 Monday Aug 2014

Posted by in goals, Homeschooling, One Life, Parenting, teens, Uncategorized

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Back to School Goals for August 11-16

Two of my kiddos are starting back to school this week, but it is very different than in the past.  We’ve home schooled since the beginning with them, but this fall Mae and Petal Rose begin a full time course load at a school with a hybrid early college program.  So they don’t go full time (Monday through Friday) but it is still a significant amount of time away.

I am committing this next week to a little less of my own endeavors and plans, and a lot of watching & note taking to do my best to make this transition as smooth as possible.

Last week…

Intentional Relationships

Go to “Step into My Shoes” event with Chica

Backyard Smores & Stargazing – we did a few fun things, but not this one. Most nights we were falling into bed dog tired after dinner.

Receive Mae & Petal Rose home from their mission trip into a period of comfort and rest before they hop right into school classes on Tuesday

Intentional Self Nourishment

Get back on James 1 memory work

Reading:  What He Must Be, Where There Was No Church, Pursue the Intentional Life, Families Where Grace is in Place and Sheba’s Song

Continue the nightly walk or bike ride (4x), Strength exercises (4x)

Making this One Life Count

Attend Step into My Shoes and spend time after processing. Not letting this the opportunity to learn and grow pass me by.

Other Pursuits –

Create syllabus for General Science (Petal Rose & Chica will be in general science this school year)

Clean one fridge

Organize laundry/dish washing roomDone, some plumbing and gas work and not things are a bit jumbled again. This will be an ongoing job until I can move dishes back to the kitchen!

Intentional Relationships

BBQ with young family friends on their way to Alaska

Be open to the new rhythm & changes this year brings

Intentional Self Nourishment

James 1 memory work, Justice Study

Reading:  What He Must Be, Where There Was No Church, and Families Where Grace is in Place

Daily walk or bike ride (4x), Strength exercises (4x)

Making this One Life Count

Back to school outreach event on Saturday

Stay present and calm

 

 

Newsboys at Elitch Gardens

31 Thursday Jul 2014

Posted by in Celebrations, Parenting, teens, Uncategorized

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Last weekend we had the fun opportunity to see the Newsboys at Elitch Gardens in Denver Colorado.  What a fun summer event, I was thrilled!

What a blast!  About two weeks prior I had found we could purchase VIP tickets to ensure that we were able to get in, since the concert was free with admission to the park.

What we didn’t realize is that the tickets were for the very front of the arena.  We found ourselves right in front of the stage, nearly center!

Newsboys in Concert

 

Family Fun, Newsboys Concert

Family Fun ~ Newsboys Concert

There was a security person stationed right by us and we were able to visit with him just a little.   I found myself praying for him off and on during the concert, as the Gospel was shared and sung though out the evening.  It was a great evening of worship and fun.

Newsboys in Concert at Elitch Gardens

 

Michael Tate greeting the kids around us

Michael Tate greeting the kids around us

 

Newsboys Drummer Duncan just before the set tipped and spun while he continued playing

Newsboys Drummer Duncan just before the set tipped and spun while he continued playing

The opening band wasn’t advertised so we didn’t know until 1GirlNation bounded onto the stage.  Mae recognized them right away and I was able to make the connection to a past conversation when she told me about some music by a “girl band.”

1GirlNation

1GirlNation

This was a first concert for our girls and I am so glad we were able to share it with them.  We are looking forward to Rend Collective and Casting Crowns in October.  A couple of us are working those two concerts as Compassion volunteers!

Summer Volunteer Work

23 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by in Colorado Springs, Gratitude, Homeschooling, Life Long Learner, One Life, Parenting, teens, Uncategorized

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Our youngest 3 daughters’ summer volunteer work includes acting as historical interpreters at Rock Ledge Ranch.  The ranch has 4 historical sites, with junior docents working each site.

Summer Volunteer Uniforms, period appropriate clothing

Summer Volunteer Uniforms, period appropriate clothing

The ranch allows guests to visit the different time periods of our area and learn about the people who lived there, and what life was like at that time.  The historic buildings have been restored as close to their original state as possible.  The National Register of Historic Places added the ranch in 1979.

One benefit to my kids through their volunteering at the Ranch has been their deeper understanding of our local and state history.  Anything they now read about Colorado history, or even western US history, is greatly enhanced by their experience working at ranch.  They also apply what they learn outside the ranch to their conversations at the ranch.

It has been a rich experience and one our kids look forward to each January when they complete the application for the following summer.

Ticket Booth, TB Hut

Ticket Booth, TB Hut

If you are visiting the Colorado Front Range think about adding Rock Ledge Ranch to your plans.  Maybe you’ll get a tour led by some sweet junior docents and enjoy a peak into Colorado History.

Camping and Hobo Dinners

22 Tuesday Jul 2014

Posted by in Garden and Home, Gratitude, One Life, Parenting, Recipes, teens, Uncategorized

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We haven’t done a lot of camping in recent years, and I haven’t made “hobo dinners” since my daughters were pretty young.  Early this summer the kids were after us to plan a “real” camping trip with Dad as last summer we girls got out and did some camping, but Dad was away working.  So a camping trip was one of the first items put on the summer calendar!

And as this post shows up on the blog we are at camp, in a beautiful tent site on the river.  Our hobo dinners are in the cooler all ready to be cooked for the next 2 dinners.

Two mornings while the kids were all at vacation bible school earlier in the month I set to work.

The veggies were prepped.

hobo dinners prep shredded veggies

Shredded Carrots & Cauliflower

chopped carrots

chopped carrots

Veggies all prepped

Veggies all prepped

The ingredients all measured and mixed together for Turkey Veggie Hobo Dinners, using this recipe

Pretty Eggs

Pretty Eggs

Turkey Veggie Hobo Dinner

Turkey Veggie Hobo Dinner

I tore out 8 pieces of foil that were about the size of a small rectangle cookie sheet.  I spooned the mixture onto the first sheet and began folding and shaping the packet.  Once I had the shape I wanted I rolled the foil on top.

folding hobo dinner

folding hobo dinner

Then I pressed and patted it all again to make a nice rectangle and folded the ends up somewhat like a present.

hobo dinner assembled!

hobo dinner assembled!

Finally, I wrapped the hobo dinner with another layer of foil.

Five packets fit nicely into the gallon freezer bag, so I ended up with 2 bags for the 8 servings.

hobo dinners ready for freezing

hobo dinners ready for freezing

Hobo Tacos is another set that I assembled.  We’ll eat them with tortilla chips and fresh veggies.

hobo tacos

hobo tacos

Keeping the hobo dinners in the gallon bags inside the cooler keeps everything nice, with no waterlogging our dinners and no contaminating the other items in the cooler.  The bags of dinners also help keep the cooler cold!

Do you make Hobo Dinners?  And what recipes do you fill them with?  I’d love to expand our hobo menu!

 

 

This Moment

04 Friday Jul 2014

Posted by in Gratitude, One Life, teens, Uncategorized

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{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, visit SouleMama and join in!

 

Mae & Marme, America the Beautiful Bike Ride

Mae & Marme, America the Beautiful Bike Ride

 

Oh how I love this girl.  This week we had the opportunity for an early morning 6 mile bike ride together.  No one else was up and wanting to go, so it was just her and me.  And it was fabulous.  We had a great 2 hour conversation.

Even though I crashed my bike towards the end of the ride, it was abosolutely the best time!

Thanks be to God for this girl, her words, her gift of encouragement, the way she is growing in wisdom and understanding!

What I’m Into June 2014

01 Tuesday Jul 2014

Posted by in Books and Thoughts on Books, Compassion International, Education, Gratitude, One Life, Parenting, teens, Uncategorized

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What I’m Into (June 2014 Edition)

Read and Reading: Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker, The Warden and the Wolf King by Andrew Peterson, The Good News About Marriage, and Walking Prey

TV: Just this month I turned on PBS for my granddaughter. We sort of watched Clifford the Big Red Dog. I wondered if she would choose the Clifford book at the library this week, but no, she wanted the book with the baby on the cover. I’m actually relieved about that, that she prefers a photograph of a face over a big red dog.

Music: DCTalk, Toby Mac, Newsboys and Hillsong United Zion. Chica and I bought a few cds on our mother daughter getaway in June, when we could not find an audiobook. Neither Barnes & Noble nor Family Christian bookstore had any variety of classics in audiobook format. Back to amazon or iTunes shopping.

New discoveries: Glenwood Springs Hot Springs and the Glenwood Canyon bike trail. Zip Lines are FUN!

What I Love:

Mae & Marme, America the Beautiful Bike Ride

Mae & Marme, America the Beautiful Bike Ride

with Petal Rose on the spinny ride at Elitch Gardens June 2014

with Petal Rose on the spinny ride at Elitch Gardens June 2014

with Chica on the trail to Hanging Lake

with Chica on the trail to Hanging Lake

I didn’t love this: mosquito bites. Living in Colorado Springs has many many benefits, one being very few bugs. On our trip to the western side of the state I was bitten dozens of times. Before we travel to Bible Camp and on our planned camping trip, each on the western side of our mountains, I am going to order Bug Block!

In the Blogosphere:  Organizing for a busy toddler

The Responsibility of Opportunity

On The Blog:  I am working on 2 parts of my story and hope to get one of them posted in July.  I’m also sharing more about our Compassion kids and my family’s partnership with Compassion International.

The Gift of a Smile

09 Friday May 2014

Posted by in Parenting, teens

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Yesterday was a rough day.  Usually I try to deny those kinds of day any power and seek to reach bedtime with a tired sigh and a counting of grace gifts, but yesterday. whew.

The loads on my shoulders got more numerous as the day went, between painful phone calls, ignorant business mistakes, teen attitudes and general neediness, and that ongoing unknown about the “where” of the next job.

Sadly, my frustration and pain poured out on one of my daughters toward the end of the afternoon, just lashing her with words that were neither helpful nor beneficial.

Even though I apologize and asked her for forgiveness later in the evening, and even later crept into her room to pray over our relationship, bedtime was a quiet sorrowful time.  The morning greeted me with the knowledge that while my daughter said she forgave me, the word wound was still there.  All I could do was get up and greet the day, the family and wait for the healing that follows the act of forgiving.

And then there it was, the smile, a gift full and complete.

Ephesians 4:29

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

 

 

 

One Simple Life to Another

28 Thursday Jun 2012

Posted by in Compassion International, Gratitude, One Life, Parenting, teens, Uncategorized

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Two years ago, when we sponsored Lesbia and Bryan Marcello through Compassion International, we were just starting to really understand the opportunity to impact lives and sow hope where there might not be any hope.
Two months ago, when Builder and I made the decision to become Child Advocates and to strengthen our family’s ministry efforts, I had a tiny idea how it might impact our children.
But here were are in the hot middle of summer and my heart is bursting with joy as I see just glimmers of what God is doing in this family and through this family.
When my children asked me what I wanted for my birthday recently, I just couldn’t think of anything.  And then as I prayed I started seeing faces and upside down symbols and there was the answer.  Sponsor a child from the areas at risk for exploitation and abuse.  Let God rescue one of this young ones through our commitment, love and letters.
And here she is, the gift my Beloved Builder granted for my 44th birthday…
Neema, Tanzania
What a beauty she is and what a blessed woman I am.
And in the same week, surpise another child, unexpected, this one from Indonesia, joined our international family.
Niki Agusta, Indonesia

What joy swells in my heart as I look at this faces, sense the pain and maybe fear in those beautiful eyes, yet I also see the potential.  There is a song that is sometimes on the radio.  Just this week I bought it from iTunes because the lyrics are a prayer I occasionally pray for my daughters, and now plan to write to these children.

The Words I Would Say
by Sidewalk Prophets

From one simple life to another,
I will say,
Come find peace in the Father,

Be strong in the Lord and,

Never give up hope
,
You’re going to do great things,

I already know,

God’s got His hand on you so,

Don’t live life in fear,Forgive and forget,
But don’t forget why you’re here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day.
His love will find a way

And today while I am hoping what I share encourages someone else to begin singing hope over a child through sponsorship, I also want to leave you with these words, dear reader friend

Be strong in the Lord
Never give up hope
You’re gonna do great things,
I already know,
God’s got His hand on you so,
Don’t live life in fear

Don’t forget why you are here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day.