Cooking and Sharing

Ruby wanted to know last night at dinner if I would give her my recipe for 15 bean soup when she was a grown up. I assured her that I would, while chuckling to myself thinking about how incredulous she is going to be when I tell her to just follow the recipe on the back of the bean bag, minus the flavor packet. She is going to be shocked that I don't have my own adapted recipe, since I do for most other things I cook.

She then asked if I would tell her how to fix her dish if she put too much seasoning in it and needed to change it. I again assured her I would.

I'm not sure exactly why I thought this exchange was so cute. I think part of it was because she thinks I'm a good cook. And part was because I know how many times I've called my mom to ask her a cooking question or for a favorite recipe.


Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

My "Duh" Moment of the Day

I'm blaming this on the cold medicine.

This morning I started running errands with a trip to the post office.  I needed to pick up our Disney World tickets that they had tried unbeknownst to us to deliver several days earlier.  I'm glad I tracked the package as the notice on the door apparently disappeared.

I get in the post office and the self service kiosk had a line and the main area of the post office is locked up.  I start looking around thinking they've changed the hours.  Honestly, I must have looked completely crazy to the others there as I am quite dumbfounded by the fact that the counter service wasn't open.  Then I see the sign to ring the bell for package pick up and such.  In my befuddled state I conclude that the Post Office has decided to go self service in an attempt to save money and they now only have someone in the back for the things that you can't do at the kiosk.

I ring the bell.  Nothing happens.  I wait.  I ring it again.  Still nothing happens.  About that time an elderly man and woman enter the post office.  They take one look at the scene and say, "I should have known it was closed.  It's a federal holiday!"  I look up thinking "what holiday?"  And that my friends is when I remember it is Veteran's Day.

This would not be quite so idiotic of me if I had not already this morning, before leaving for the Post Office, changed my profile picture on Facebook to be a picture of my Dad in service and posted a status update about it being Veteran's Day.

I hope you got a good laugh at my stupidity! 
Jenn

How I Spend My Time

One of my children lost a recorder this week.  Said child has not been able to find it and has supposedly looked everywhere.  I've seen how my children look for things and this child can be especially oblivious, so I have a really hard time believing all possibilities have been explored. 

The child recieved two F's in music for losing said recorder.  One for not having it and one for not being able to take a quiz because of not having the recorder.  If the recorder had been located the child could have taken the quiz the following day.  It was not located.

The child was not overly concerned about finding the recorder because they knew where another one could be purchased.  This is how the conversation went:

Child: I know where to get a new recorder

Me:  Oh, you do?

Child: Yes at Straight Music.

Me:  Do you know how much a new recorder costs?

Child:  Um, I think about $9.

Me:  Great, so you will need to pay me the $9 for the recorder, plus gas money for me to drive to the music store, and you'll need to pay for my time.  Let me see.  Gas is currently $3.15/gallon and it will take me at least gallon to get there and back.  Hmmm.  I don't know what to charge you for my time.  Lets say $10/hour and it will probably take me about 45 minutes.  So that would be $7.50 for my time.  And honestly I should charge you more for my time but I think that is reasonable.

Child:  Why should I pay you for your time?  All you do is sit around anyway...

Me:  Really?  You think so? 

Child:  And you know the recorder wasn't working well anyway.  I think it was broken.

Me:  Is that so?  And who else used the recorder?

Child: Just me.  But it was getting broken. 

Me:  Well that doesn't really change anything.  I told you I would only buy one recorder.  You have now broken and lost that recorder so you will now need to purchase a new one to replace the one I purchased.

Child:  But music is over this week.  I don't need it anymore. 

Me:  No. But I bought a recorder for our family to use.  I trusted you with it.  You lost it.  Now you need to replace it.

Child:  But I don't want to spend $20 on a recorder because then I won't have enough money to buy the 3DS!

Me:  Yeah, that's a bummer isn't it.

I still can't believe I didn't lose it at the "Why should I pay for your time?" point.  Oh my goodness.  It will be a long time before that statement is forgotten. 

Said child has one more day to find the recorder before the new one is purchased.  Not surprisingly, I haven't seen the child looking for it.  I guess that 3DS wasn't so important after all.

Jenn

Halloween 2011

I feel like preparing for Halloween is all I have done for over a week.  I spent most of last week accumulating all of the costume pieces.  This weekend I realized I was still missing some key items.  That meant my morning was spent going to six different locations to get all of the finishing touches.  Then I spent the afternoon completing assembly. 

We had our traditional Halloween dinner - Papa Murphey's Jack-o-lantern Pizza.  I bought two simply so I would have something easy to pack in the kids lunchboxes tomorrow. One would have easily fed everyone tonight.

After dinner the mad dash to dress and style everyone began. Rehm's costume took the most prep work and assembly but was definitely the easiest to get dressed and styled. The girls took much more time as they all had to have various hair styles and makeup.  Over all I think they turned out great.

All four kids picked their costumes.  Granted I told Eliza Claire and Ruby that they had to pick something we already had as we had several costumes that still fit them. We spent 30 minutes today trying to find Eliza Claire's dress.  She had misplaced it and we could not find it.  Luckily, Michael saved the day and found it hiding in a seldom used drawer in her room.  I think she had put it there to keep it safe until Halloween and had forgotten where she put it.

Rehm's costume was inspired by one of his nicknames from school.  Apparently some of the kids refer to him as The Laptop because he is basically a walking encyclopedia.  But of course kids these days have no idea what an encyclopedia is so they call him a computer.  In telling us about this nickname, he mentioned that some of the kids even call him Super Computer.  And thus, a costume was born.

His tag line was "I'm faster than a quad-core processor, more powerful than your new laptop, and smarter than the internet.  I'm Super Computer!"  It is hard to tell from the pictures but his screen lights up and even has a power light.  He was insistent that his key board lift up to reveal his candy bag. 

Three houses into trick or treating Rehm ran into two girls he goes to school with.  He decided to go around the block with them.  When we next saw him he was with a different girl from school.  Go figure.

Charlotte had her heart set on being a mom.  I wasn't really sure what we were going to do to make her look like a mom but I think the final costume makes her look like one very hip mom, indeed.  I think the baby being in a Halloween costume it the icing on the cake.  Of course halfway through trick or treating she was done with the stroller and Starbucks cup. Her candy bag was my purse.  She complained at one point about how hard it was to juggle all of her stuff.  We laughed and told her "welcome to parenthood."

Ruby of course could not just be a poodle, since that is what she was last year.  So she decided she was going to be a fairy dog.  I think the final product came out awfully cute.  I'm so sad that this is the last year this costume will fit any of my kids. 

Eliza Claire was going to be a monkey but about a week ago changed her mind and decided to be a princess.  Her costume choice surprised me as she is not usually so girly.  I think she looks beautiful.  She was a bit disappointed that no one really commented on her costume.  Of course, she was the only one that everyone easily and quickly recognized and therefore didn't ask questions about and of course there were a million other princesses trick or treating tonight. 

The candy has all been combined and sorted into the fruity container and the chocolate container - can't have the flavors mixing, yuck!  The costumes have been put away and my bathroom no longer looks like Sally's Beauty Supply exploded there. 

All in all a successful Halloween. 
Jenn

Discussions in the Car

Driving in the car I had a 20 minute 9/11 discussion with the three girls. That discussion was sparked by driving by the building that Joseph Stack flew into that is currently being rebuilt.

Rehm was reading the Blue Bonnet award winning book Out of Her Mind. It must be a really good book because normally he would dominate a 9/11 discussion.

Then this conversation took place.

Eliza Claire: Mom, did you go to college?

Me: Yep.

Eliza Claire: Really? And your still just a plain, old mom?

Me: Yep.


I'm sure I should have taken this opportunity to talk about all the different career choices I could be making. Or discussed the value of an education in and of itself. Or discussed the fact that I have had a career in the past and may have another in the future. Or discussed the fact that there is no such a thing as a "plain, old Mom." Or discussed the fact that I'm not old... You get the idea.

But today, I simply owned my choices and felt no need to justify or defend them. And, you know what? I'm perfectly happy being "a plain, old mom" right now.



Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

Guess what's in here

If you guessed Eliza Claire's toenail you would be correct. It fell off this afternoon with no drama. Unfortunately looking at the nail underneath I think it is going to fall off a second time... Oh joy!

Oh, and she thought the nail finally coming off was "Awesome!"  The nail was stuck to her bandage when she removed it today.

Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

Eliza Claire and the Toenail

Eliza Claire injured her toe this summer at swim lessons.  She was opening a heavy door and somehow got her toe caught under the door.  This is what it looked like a few days after the injury







The toenail is finally about to come off.  It is hanging by a thread.  For the last two weeks I've had to bandage it every day so that it doesn't get caught on something.

Last night when we were changing the bandage I was showing her how close it was to coming off.  She started crying.  She asked what we would do with the toenail when it came off.  I said we would throw it away because she wouldn't need it any longer.  She got so sad.  She looked up with big crocidile tears and said, "But it has been such a good toenail, I don't want to throw it away."  I told her she could bury it in the yard or save it in a baggie in her room if she loved it that much. 

Oh, and how could I forget?  It is all my fault.  She is still very upset with me and has not forgiven me.  You see, that day she asked me to go with her to the bathroom or water fountain, I don't remember which, at the swim center.  I told her she could do it herself.  You know, like she had been doing all summer long.  Since I didn't go and she got injured by opening the door onto her own foot, I am the bad guy! And maybe I really am...who knows...but she is certain I am responsible for her losing her dear friend, her toenail.

Who knew a child could be so attached to a toenail.  I'm kind of surprised she hasn't named it.  I wonder if I could redeem myself if the toenail elf came when it finally falls off.  Hmm...Now there's an idea!

Jenn

PS Mom, did her reaction remind you of anyone or anything?

An Afternoon with Sisters

Ruby and Eliza Claire filled two bags with books.  They got comfy on a nice sunny fall afternoon and enjoyed reading together.  How lovely to have a sister the exact same age as you.  They sure are blessed to have each other.















Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

I confess, I've resorted to bribing my children

I try very hard not to bribe my children.  I believe that in most cases there are more effective ways to get them to behave/preform in the desired manner.  Part of me would like to say I'm rewarding them, not bribing them.  Maybe that is true.  At this point, I'm willing to call it bribing and willing to own it.

Charlotte and Rehm enjoy playing sports but they are not motivated to do their best.  They don't love playing sports they just sorta, kinda like it.  Both of them always want to play a sport, I'm not forcing them to play.  But they just don't try very hard.

I really noticed this with Charlotte's hitting this season.  She was not hitting nearly as well as she had in the Spring season.  She would get up to bat and just kind of wave the bat at the ball, but with no real expectation of hitting it nor any real desire to hit it.  It drove me crazy!

She wants a digital camera and is currently saving money to buy one.  I told her that for any fair hit she got in a game I would give her a dollar toward the cost of the camera.  She has gotten at least one hit in every game since then!  Now when she gets up to bat, she actually looks like she cares and tries much harder.  It is working.

Of course Rehm heard about this deal and wanted in on it.  So we are now paying him a dollar per hit toward the 3DS he is saving up for.  He actually has to get on base to get payment.

Since starting this it has cost us $8.  I figure we have about 10 more games in the season so it should cost at most $20 more.  Given the amount of time and energy we are already spending on them playing sports I think it is worth it for now.  I have warned them that over time what they get rewarded for will change.

I wrote the above post prior to last weekend's tournament.  I have now spent more that $8 and have added a new layer to the bribe.  Each child can now earn additional funds(no more than $2 extra) each game, at parent discretion, for such things as sportsmanship, encouraging team mates and hustling. Since instituting this Rehm is definitely moving much faster on and off the field.  The slow paced meander both of my children are prone to drives me absolutely batty. 

Jenn

PS. all pictures in this post were taken through the fence and from considerable distance so please excuse the quality.

Ruby Funnies

Every Friday at school Ruby and Eliza Claire's class get to play freeze dance as a special Friday treat.

Me: Ruby, did you play freeze dance?

Ruby:  Yes!

Me:  Did you have fun?

Ruby:  Yeah...once I got buzzed!

Oh my goodness!  Upon further questioning I gather that they go around and "buzz" each other to unfreeze each other.  But, I thought to myself, if this is what I'm hearing in kindergarten I can not imagine what high school and college will be like with this child.

*****************************

Ruby was playing a pretend game with Charlotte the other day.  Their new favorite game is to pretend they are in high school or college and they have boyfriends.  I don't know why this is their current thing but I try very, very hard to ignore it.  Ruby comes downstairs and says, "I'm 18.  I have a boyfriend.  Charlotte and her boyfriend needed alone time (!!!!!) and my boyfriend and I are going to see a rock band.  We like to rock out!"

Again, where do they get this stuff?  I'm assuming the "alone time" is actually a reference to how play dates work at our house.  Everyone likes to have some of their play time alone with their friend as whichever girls are not having a play date always want to play with the person who does have a friend over.  But still!  Not what I wanted to hear.  I chose to ignore the comment instead of getting into the fact that Charlotte and her boyfriend would not be allowed to have alone time in my house!  I decided we could have that conversation several years from now when it is an issue.


*******************************

Ruby and Charlotte were setting up the Playmobil house to be an apartment building.  In Charlotte's apartment she had a family with a baby.  She told Ruby, "Here is my family.  They have a baby.  I just love babies."  Ruby responded, "I just looovveee Rock Bands!"


I really think I may have a nervous break down before I get this child grown.  But she is the cutest, sweetest, most amazing girl.  I just hope she and I survive her teenage years and that she eventually has a daughter with her zest.
Jenn

To Die For Blondies

Not the best picture.  After completely cooling the sauce thickens to more of an icing consistency as seen above. 

I have to share this recipe.  It is absolutely amazing.  Everyone at my house absolutely loved it.  I will admit it is a bit of a commotion to make since you have to brown butter and make butterscotch sauce. But it is well worth the time and effort.


This recipe did bring up a question for me.  What is the difference in butterscotch and caramel?  Having made caramel before and tasting this sauce I would call this a caramel sauce not  a butterscotch one.  But I've never made butterscotch.  Does anyone know the technical difference?

The recipes for the blondies and the sauce are adapted from Collecting the Moments
Brown Butter Snickerdoodle Blondies
1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) of unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoons of salt
1 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

2 1/4 cups of firmly packed light brown sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350F.  Line a 9x13 pan with foil and spray foil generously with cooking spray.

In a saucepan, melt all the butter. Over medium heat cook the butter until it is browned but not burned. It will take several minutes.  Be very careful.  Butter goes from not brown, to brown and then on to burned very quickly.  For me, it went from being a little bit foamy to extremely foamy when browned.  It will smell nutty and have a  golden brown color (once the foam goes down) when it is done. Set aside while you gather and measure the rest of the ingredients

In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set it aside.

In the mixer bowl, mix the browned butter and sugar together.  Add the eggs one at a time and mix well.  Add vanilla.  Add the flour mixture and stir until combined. Pour the batter into the 9x13 pan. Place immediately in the oven.  If you leave this sitting the melted butter will start to rise to the top. 

Bake for 30-40 minutes or until jiggly in the center when the pan is gently shaken. Cool in pan. 

Butterscotch sauce

1/4 cup (half a stick) of butter
1/2 cup of packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup of heavy cream
1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt


In saucepan, melt the butter. Add the sugar, cream, and salt. Stir until blended. Bring the mixture to a slow, easy boil. Cook for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce begins to thicken. Then cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Remove from heat. As it cools, the butterscotch will thicken. Poor the sauce on the blondies while it is still warm.  If it gets too cool it will be too thick to spread on the blondies and it doesn't reheat well.

Remove blondies from pan by lifting out the foil.  Cut and serve with a big cup of your favorite coffee. 

I am seriously thinking about doubling the sauce the next time I make these. I think I may also sprinkle some pecan pieces on some of the blondies before topping them with the sauce next time, as well. White chocolate chips would also be good sprinkled between the layers.

Enjoy,
Jenn

Kindergarten Update

Everyone keeps asking how the girls are adjusting to kindergarten.  They absolutely love school and their wonderful teacher.  The first few weeks definitely an adjustment.  Neither one was used to getting up as early as they need to for school, thus they were tired.  Neither one was used to being on a strict schedule and being "good" for 7 hours straight, five days a week, thus the melt downs in the afternoon.

Eliza Claire had a few afternoon meltdowns but mainly just needed a little afternoon alone time to be her usual sunny self.

Ruby had afternoon fits every day for the first two weeks.  Then morning fits for the next week.  Then a week of alternating morning or afternoon fits.  They all culminated one day when she got mad at me for something.  The fit ensued.  When I didn't respond to her satisfaction she told me, "You are a mean mommy!  I don't like you! I don't love you!....I am going to run away and die and you will never see me again!"  Then she proceeded to just yell gutturally every time I looked at her for another 15 minutes.

After that day, the fits have gotten much better and are probably down to about once a week.  It is very hard for Ruby to follow rules and be compliant for seven straight hours, but she finally seems to be finding her emotional even keel.

On a positive note, both girls love school and get glowing reports from their teacher.  At least their saving their more questionable behavior for me.

Jenn

Charlotte is Eight!

Here is her birthday in pictures

It helps if you read it correctly

I got an email this morning announcing that it was National Creme-Filled Doughnut Day and that if you went in a participating Krispy Kreme and said "Happy National Creme-Filled Doughnut Day" you got a free doughnut.

Being the good mom that I am I immediately planned to take the kids to Krispy Kreme for snack after school.

We showed up at the closest Krispy Kreme only to find it closed. Apparently it has new hours and now closes at 2:00

Not deterred, we headed to the other Krispy Kreme in town. We get to the counter and all my kids shout, "Happy National Creme-Filled Doughnut Day!" the guy behind the counter looks at us like a deer in the headlights and informs us that National Creme-Filled Doughnut Day is...tomorrow! Ugh! I missed that small detail in the email.

So if you have a Krispy Kreme near you I suggest stopping by tomorrow to see if they are participating in free doughnuts for National Creme-Filled Doughnut Day.

My free doughnuts cost me $9 (doughnut and drink cost). But I'm still the super cool mom for taking my kids to get doughnuts for snack so I guess it was worth it.


Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

Why Job, Ecclesiastes, Proverbs and Romans?

These are the four books that made my mental list for needing further investigation while completing the Bible in 90 Days.

Job
After suffering incomprehensible loss when my son, Sam, died at birth, Job's suffering spoke to me.

Ecclesiastes
My interest in Ecclesiastes also relates to the loss of Sam. There have definitely been times in the last 12 years where I've wondered if he died because of some wrongdoing of mine from my past. Some people find Ecclesiastes demotivating due to its "good and bad happen to everyone regardless of their deeds, it is just how life works" theme. I found it refreshing and reassuring. I want to read it more slowly and see if I still find it refreshing and what else I might learn.

Proverbs
I've always thought of myself as a pretty practical person. Proverbs is right up my alley. Very straight forward and simple. But Proverbs is not a book to be read in two days, which is what I did on the B90 plan. There are too many pieces of advice to be absorbed in that short of a period. I want to savor Proverbs, slowly.

Romans
In my quick read of Romans, it stuck out as being the Christianity 101 manual. I want to look at this book in real depth. I think it has a lot to teach me. I want to see what I can learn if I truly study this book.

I don't know when or how I will investigate these further. But I'm sure I'll figure something out soon. What I do know from completing The Bible in 90 Days is that I need to come up with a plan and a timeline and stick to it.

Jenn

The Bible in 90 Days: What I Learned

I learned that God is always faithful to me. God wants a relationship with me. God loves me. He waits for me even when I don't seek Him or when I run from Him. God forgives me when I ask.

The hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness, by Thomas Chisholm sums it up for me.

Great is Thy faithfulness,
Great is Thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,
Great is the faithfulness, Lord unto me.

I may not always do my part in my relationship with God, but God always does His.

Twelve Years Ago Today...

...I became a Mom. I met and said goodbye to my precious firstborn.

Today, he would be twelve. He would be red-headed. He would be in middle school. He would be taller than me. These are all the things I know would be true. The rest are only guesses, ideas, hopes and dreams. And none of them do I get to experience with my precious firstborn.

Sam was with us for a mere nine months. Those nine months were spent cradled and protected inside of me. Others, never got to experience my precious son. His sweet, perfect, short life was spent warm and cozy cradled in my care.

His father and I were so excited about going from a couple to a family. To experience the wonder and joy of parenthood. Twelve years ago today...we got to experience the wonder of seeing our beautiful amazing son only to also experience the crushing grief of saying goodbye to him.

Nine months, to last a life time. Nine months to make all the memories. Nine months to love and nurture and dream and plan.

A lifetime of wonder. A lifetime of what ifs. A lifetime of being a mom to a child no one knows.

It isn't enough. I want more. I want to celebrate a birthday with my child. I want to see his face light up when he opens the perfect gift. I want to hear his voice. I want to give him a hug and have him return it. I want to know my son. I want him in my house. The wants never go away...

But, I know that he lived the life God intended him to live. I know his purpose on this earth was fulfilled. I know God chose us to be his parents for a reason. I know Sam changed me. I know his life while brief had a long and profound effect in so many lives. I know he is not forgotten and never will be.

Sam's life was not a tragedy. It was not a sad life. Sam had a wonderful life, he was and is loved and cared for.

I am so blessed that I am Sam's Mom. I am so glad I got those nine months with him.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, my beautiful son. I love and miss you always.
Jenn

The Bible in 90 Days: We did it!

Everyone in our house who was doing The Bible in 90 Days has officially finished the program, and thus, the Bible! I finished last Thursday. Rehm and Michale finished last Friday.

I can not believe I can now say that I have read the entire Bible. Honestly, this is something I never expected to accomplish.

Why was I successful? I think there are three reasons. I had accountability at home, among my friends and in my church community. I had a plan. I had a short term commitment.

Participating with family members was great because it added daily motivation to stay current. I won't say we were competitive or ever kept score with where we each were, but getting behind my family members always motivated me to catch up and persevere when reading got difficult, monotonous or boring.

Having my son, who is ten, reading really motivated me. We did not approach him about doing this. It was completely his idea. We did not nag or incentivize him to read. He was completely responsible for finding time to read and staying on schedule. What good excuse could I possibly have to not read if my ten year old could do it? I mean, seriously, he's ten!

Having friends and my church community reading helped reinforce my commitment. I can not tell you how many of my conversations in the last three months have been about what the Bible actually says. It was awesome because we were all in basically the same place in our reading at the same time. If I found a story, chapter, or book interesting, perplexing, or disturbing I had plenty of people I could discuss the topic with.

Every Sunday, I got to hear a sermon about something I had just read. This was great for two reasons. It made me really want to go to church each week to see what the minister had chosen to focus on out of that week's reading. And, it made me want to stay on schedule so the each week's sermon would coincide with my reading. The sermon series was excellent.

I had a nice book mark that told me exactly what I needed to read each day. And, it had a nice little check box to check off when I finished each day. It was so easy to see my progress. I had a daily email encouraging me in my reading, and giving me a key verse for the day. I had a weekly discussion with others and DVD series to summarize the key points of the week. I didn't have to figure out what to read when, it was all perfectly laid out for me.

The length of this program was perfect. I was not committing to doing something every day for the next year or five years. I was only committing to three months. That seemed very doable. OK, at first, looking at the size of the Bible and how thin the pages are and how small the print is, it didn't seem doable. At that point it seemed very daunting and crazy! I promptly downloaded the Bible on my Kindle so I didn't have to see just how big the Bible really is. After a few days of reading and learning I could stay on plan, knowing I only had to do this for three months was kind of nice.

Reading the Bible in such a short time period really makes you read in a different way and makes different things stand out. You don't have time to deeply ponder each verse, or look up an unfamiliar unit of measure equivalent, or who a person is, thus you see the "big picture" of the Bible. Also, reading this quickly allows you to relate things that happen hundreds of pages apart together because it is all still fresh in your mind.

When you study an individual book of the Bible, you get to really dig in. You can study the time period, the historical context, read what the scholars have to say, etc. But you don't get to see first hand how that book relates to the rest of the Bible. Reading this quickly, you see much more clearly how it all fits together. It is kind of like reading a really great epic novel.

Now that I'm done, I'd like to go back and have a closer look at Job, Ecclesiastes, Proverbs and Romans. Job, I would probably just like to read a second time at a slower pace. Ecclesiastes, I would like to read again and then maybe again or maybe at that point do a Bible study - I think I need to read it again to decide what I want to do with it, but I really liked it. Proverbs, I would like to read regularly a chapter a day for a month and repeat for a few months. Romans, I would like to do a year long inductive Bible study.

After the follow up, I might just want to do The Bible in 90 Days again and see what stands out, as I'm sure it would be completely different things than this time.

I highly recommend this reading plan to everyone. I think the key to success is doing this with others, whether it is a friend, spouse, small group, congregation, or all of these. The community accountability and bonding were essential for me.

I hope next summer our church finds another church-wide study to do. I loved, loved, loved doing something with my family, small group and church community all at once. It was an amazing experience.

Jenn

My other posts on this experience can be found here.

Introducing

Rubilicious, Rockstar


Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

First Day of School Work

This was what Ruby and Eliza Claire were working on when we left them Monday morning. Their very first school assignment.





Jenn - Posted from my iPhone