Thank God today is produce co-op - things have been frightening in our home.

Let the Mother's Day Celebrations Begin....

Look what I got in the mail today from my grown up Girl Childs.

One dozen mutli-colored roses...that had to be thought of, planned out, ordered on time and paid for. It made my day. I also got a sweet card in the mail yesterday from them about adult daughters and mothers. Please understand it wasn't the gift...though I do love flowers....but it was the relationship that the gift signified.

I had been a bit blue when I realized Mike would be preaching in 3 services on Sunday and we aren't going to be able to do a nice dinner or have a leisurely family day (and 2 of the kids are far away)....but really Mother's Day is about relationships - and in that I'm very, very blessed. I hear from the kids regularly, they serve the Lord, they still miss Mike and I, the older ones still at home are respectful (as are the ones out of the home ::snort::) but my point is that really it's not about gifts, or a nice dinner....but relationships.

The celebration has begun.

Little Gems

Every a.m. Stacia wakes up, comes to find me, throws her arms up, tilts her head to the side and says, "I'm AWAKE now! and hugs me. It's precious.....I need to keep the camera with me some a.m.

This a.m. Zander informed me he had brushed his teeth. I gave him a high five and he said, "with this finger"....ummm....back to the bathroom and use one of your zillion toothbrushes. No wonder we have cavities. ::snort::

WHEW WEDNESDAY

Tuesday I thought about United Co-op....then I thought about Produce co-op. I've spent quite a bit of time thinking about what is working and what isn't working. I called another produce co-op coordinator and chatted about how she runs her co-op. On the weeks when ours is too low to order, I may order from her. I know I need produce. I've made some decisions.

I wasn't sure that I was saving enough to make running the co-op worth my time and effort on weeks when I can't take any free produce. We didn't have co-op last week. I went to buy some pink ladies and they were $2.99 a LB....I get them for .99 a LB......I coudln't buy any....but by today...I had to buy something......

This bakers rack is usually full of baskets of produce, pineapples on the racks, oranges on my counter....and we are down to NOTHING.....in either fridge, or on the bakers rack.... The compost heap was starting to look tasty. It was time to cave and go to Sam's Club. This family would not make it until Friday. I have heard several times, "I can pick it up at Sam's cheaper than $28 ". I got this.....

ONLY this......a bag of gala apples (they aren't Pink Ladies), a 10# bag of navels, 3 lbs of bananas (6), 2.5 lbs of grapes and 3 cucumbers.... $25!!!! I only pay $28 for a basket full at co-op (veggies, lettuce MORE). It's worth it. I've been restructuring.

I think a single share is too big for most families. It was built on the premise of 5 servings each, for 4 people, every day.....so 140 servings max. It's had about 100 - 140 servings, but we hear over and over that it's too much. SO.....we are going to restructure....make the single share more in keeping with what I guess a normal family eats. Now WE aim for 10 - 13 servings a day....so I would think 5 a day doable....but it appears it is still more than most families eat in a day. I will ADMIT that I got very sick of lettuce a few weeks ago. I thought I would die if I had to eat another salad. Being out of all greens this week has cured me of that. ::snort::

I'm revising our brochure and FAQ and then will send out an email to all whose emails I have who have EVER belonged to produce co-op. Just letting them know what we are doing. It may work for some and they may come back. If not, I have three plan B's of what to do at the end of May. ::snort::

I also took care of some PWOC things.....ordered some door prizes for our tea ::shhhh::: (Thanks again, Trish), sent in numbers and announcements to the chapel, thought about what to get for dinner on Friday night Project night, tried to come up with a date for our board planning retreat....just things.

We did school.

I went to the gym. Yep - whipping my bohonkus - I hope it shows some results. ::snort::

I took Jared to meet with the personal trainer at the gym. While he did that the littles and I ran to the library (got the "new" Grisham book - finally) and Sam's Club.

A full day.

Kathy got me started on this Works for Me thing.....I wasn't ready to post until Thursday last week, so saved it for this week. I published it and went to link to the big site...and WAIT it's been changed.....THIS week is what DOESN'T work.....but I'm ready for next week. ::snort::

Off the top of my head - a few things that don't work for me (though they may work fine for you).

~Strict schedules for school, home, parenting, family life.....routines work better for me.

~Many natural deodorants - I still stink.

~Comparing my self and children to others.

~Fitting in a box.

~Playing the victim.

~Walmart.

~Potty training young toddlers.

~Teaching young adults to drive.

~Chlorox mops.

~Son says Tom's toothpaste but *I* love it.

~Gorgeous plants in TX - I have caught Charly's black thumb of death.

~Living up to other's preconceived expectations when they hear I'm a quiverful, homeschooling, crunchy, pastor's wife.

~Labels. ::snort:: See above.

~Fish Oil.

~Fluffy Bible studies.

~Out of context Bible teachers.

~Being expected to be a groupie.

~Many traditional curriculums.

~Civic pep talks in church.

~Cliques.

~Protein drinks.

~Instruction manuals.

~Running free and wild - give me the gym.

~6 year olds who know how to install programs on computers.

~Homeschool co-ops - though I'm dreaming of next year and a new plan. LOL

~Super, self-righteous, practically perfect people - we're all sinners saved by grace.

~Memes that change topics mid-month.....I suppose I need to keep checking back...and that is not directed at THIS one - I never even checked to see if they had a schedule. ::snort:: So what doesn't work for me is skimming instructions?

~Address books.

~Schedules.

~Killer Geese.

~Killer fruit flies swarming from the composter.

That's enough. For more entries on this theme go here. More of my WFMW posts can be read here.

Hero or Celebrity?

We ran across this little blurb in school today and I thought it had some great food for thought. It's taken from "Ancient Greece! 40 Hands -On Activities to Experience This Wondrous Age" by Avery Hart & Paul Mantell.

A hero overcomes obstacles and helps others.
A celebrity is famous.

A hero seeks honor and wisdom.
A celebrity is famous.

A hero is interested in becoming all that he or she can be.
A celebrity is famous.

I think it is noble for my children to seek to be heroes as they follow God. . . as for celebrity, without heroism, it's fairly hollow.

I AM Sorry!

I was working away on our United Order when I heard Stacia utter the most terrifying words in our household during this season, "I AM sorry! I am". I grabbed the camera.

She has discovered puffed brown rice......and it was all over the floor....


I headed for the broom.....When I came back she had a big white bowl, milk, and a spoon ..... and was singing, I LOVE YOU MOM! ::Snort:: She took care of clean up herself.


I ordered a case of puffed brown rice as it is to late to split with anyone. LOL