Healing Choice "Give Away"

Ladies, both copies of Healing Choice will be mailed out as soon as I find addresses.

I do have a personal copy that I've loaned out. When I return from vacation if any other local women would like to borrow that copy, please let me know.

©2008 D.R.G.

COUNTDOWN ~ 2 DAYS!!!

Simply typing that makes my heart race, my ears start to tear...and I'm still really 6 days out. Yes, these are being blogged ahead of time and scheduled to post....you don't REALLY think I'm so obsessive that I'd be blogging on the day set aside for LOADING AND PACKING? ::snort::

It's hard to resent the absence of the girls when it is such a JOY to watch them follow God's heart for their generation. We raise them to grow up and be warriors (prince and princess warriors) in the battle of our King....and we've been blessed that three are doing that.....but I've got to admit that it will be nice to have everyone in one spot for a few glorious days this year.

No, she didn't get married without me fully covering it on the blog. Krista in a human video.

Bre is 3rd from the right (on her knees)



©2008 D.R.G.

STUPEFYING SUNDAY/Camping Food/Pre-departure List

The day was filled with our normal Sunday routine. We went to the Traditional Service. We went to Burger King ::blech::. Mike stayed at the office. The kids and I came home.

We continued to work various lists....

The boys loaded The Caboose with kayak, tents, water, camp chairs...

They were pulling my chain - they didn't REALLY load the kayak into the trailer....they put it under the trailer in the storage unit.

We turned 9 lbs of ground beef/turkey into pans and pans of cooked meatballs. "Someone" mistakenly mixed the BBQ sauce that I usually pour over meatballs with the meat mixture...but yum they're tasty. We may do it like this in the future.


Arielle made 4 batches of "Shake N Bake" mix.


I made 3 batches of "Instant Oatmeal".

I think we need to go buy a case of apples...THIS is not going to be enough for the trip.

If you've ever wondered what the inside of a grain mill looks like....

No, we aren't worried about the warranty. I bought it used for $50 ten years ago. We've been grinding a lot yesterday and today. It started slowing down again, backed up with flour, started smelling and quit. One of these times Mike will not be able to get it started again.

We went to the Contemporary service.

We came home and continued working the pre-departure list.

I updated the local PWOC blog. I've felt chained to the computer lately. This mess will need cleaned up before I leave.... note the multi-colored spreadsheet - my TOG planning sheet. ::snort::

©2008 D.R.G.

COUNTDOWN....ONLY 3 MORE DAYS!!!

Krista truly can sleep ANYWHERE....but this time she will not be flying and will be sleeping in a hotel in MT rather than skylinks and walking whatevers in DFW airport.

Krista, keep Bre off the caffeine for your own travel comfort. ::snort:: (Though a 5 lb bag of m/ms are essential travel food).

©2008 D.R.G.

The Power of 15 Minutes

I'm often asked how I "get it all done". Just as often as I'm asked, I respond, "I DON'T do it all!"

Catch that key before we proceed. None of us can possibly participate in EVERY opportunity that presents itself. I have made deliberate choices about how to invest my time. You have too.

There is, however, one little secret that does help me corral the chores, school, children, play time et al. The Power of 15 minutes! I believe this trick will work for you if you are single as well as if you are the Mom of a Super Sized family.

I first learned this concept YEARS ago when I began to read work by Charlotte Mason. Charlotte believed that young children learn best with short lessons. She recommended 15 minutes. At the end of that time you do something different...not necessarily recess...doing anything different for 15 minutes let's your brain "rest". This worked well in our school.....

The Power of 15 Minutes began to spread into other areas of our home life. I experimented. Several times during the day we have "15 minute pick ups". I pop in to blog for 15 minutes. I check email in 15 minutes. I go play for 15 minutes. I can begin a devotional in 15 minutes. I can clean a bathroom in 15 minutes. Most parts of a house can be cleaned in 15 minutes come to think of it. I can make a salad in 15 minutes, grind the wheat for using during the next break..... Our phonics, math, writing lessons are kept to 15 minutes.

Charlotte explains better than I that if you train yourself and your children to give something full attention you can accomplish more in a shorter period of time. You train yourself to be diligent and not to dwaddle.

Try it - it's worked well for us. (One more thing off my to do list - done in 15 minutes).

*Disclaimer - I've not read Emilie Barnes' 15 minute books (though I have one I'm currently planning to read) but I bet she mirrors Charlotte's thoughts.

*There are many wonderful Charlotte Mason sites out there...google it.

*The series I first read about the Charlotte Mason method is by Charlotte, herself. The Original Homeschooling Series. I've since read many wonderful books about the method. I should corral a list of sites and books....but not until after vacation. ::snort::

More Super Size Saturday entries!

©2008 D.R.G.

Pre- Departure List

Mike had thought to have Fri - Monday to get us ready to go. He had office stuff to do Friday. He'll have to go in tomorrow for office stuff, chapel services, studying....and Monday at 1:00 he'll be taking his next to the last ACSC test.

He woke up with determination and a LIST - a "pre-departure" list. I finally feel like we may make it out of here.

He and Jared replaced our attic fan which chose last week (triple digit heat) to go out.

Jared and Zander began draining the pool. It's had "issues" - the lastest being that it turned green. We treated it and 1/2 of it turned clear and 1/2 stayed green. We were worried about kids getting in while we were gone. We'll drain it, clean it, and start fresh when we get home.

Mike and Nolan changed the oil.

Arielle and I cooked (see following post) - which meant we ground a LOT of wheat today.
Mike filled the propane tanks for the trailer.

Nolan cleaned the "game closet".

Truth be told, I don't KNOW all the things that Jared and Mike got done today. ::snort::
I worked on the book list (following post), food, laundry, cleaning - well I got 11 things on my list done.....not as many as lately...but all specifically related to getting our family out the door. That's good. I know it was a 3 trip day to Walmart and Lowes.....

Mike and Jared are running.

Jamin will soon be needing a ride home from work.

It's been a full day! Oh - oh - oh - we'll see the girls soon....and I'm praying Cy can join us.
©2008 D.R.G.

Camping Food

One of the best things about the trailer is that we can control what Zander eats easier while traveling. One of the worst things about the trailer is we have less of an excuse to eat out (usually only on traveling days), eat junk food etc.

STILL - it's a lot of work. We often can't find the brands we need without additives, colors and flavorings while traveling; we take a lot with us.

Today Arielle and I began to get ready for 3 weeks on the road.

We made trail mix. (I ran out of nuts and rasiens or would have made at least twice this amount).


We made 10 bags of pancake mix (only need to add wet ingredients).

We made 3 bags of cookie mix (again only need to add the wet - though I'm not sure how I'll bake them).

We dried apples.

What are some of your favorite camping foods? I have plans to make more things in the next few days but would love ideas! New ideas! Fresh ideas!

I had hoped to make dozens of hot pockets to take - but it isn't going to happen - I don't think. Maybe. LOL I have a long list of things to try to make: meatballs, chicken coating mix, spaghetti sauce, bagels, bread, "instant" oatmeal packets....

I was fretting about finding a substitue for "Dinty Moore" beef stew ::gag:: The organic stuff that has ingredients we can splurge on are EXPENSIVE. It's family tradition to go hiking and cave exploring - get RAINED ON - and have Dinty Moore back at the campsite. Deja reminded me to take my crock pot....throw it all in and go sludging up the mountain.

I usually bake muffins but for this long of a trip, fridge space will be at a premium. I have much more storage space UNDER the trailer and so will take bisquit and muffin mix along.

Alas - still no substitute for marshmallows (Squirell's Nest wasn't shipping) and I haven't a clue what to do about s'mores. I do have organic graham crackers and chocolate.

So....give me some ideas....camping comfort foods?
©2008 D.R.G.