Family, Faith, and Fridays: 2018

Showing posts with label 2018. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Top 5 Posts of 2017

2018 has entered my life so quickly that I have hardly had time to take a look back and reflect on this blog- something I try to do each year to evaluate where we have been, where we are, and where we want to go.

Numbers may not mean a lot to you, but for a blogger numbers are everything in many ways. Good or bad, those numbers are often the key to success, or the demise of your blog. Sad but true.

Years ago I decided that this blog was not a money making venture for me. It's not that I have anything against making money, I just was not and still am not sure that is the direction I want to take. For now I am content to write about what is on my brain and heart, as well as review homeschool materials just because I want to, not because I am getting paid to.

As you know, I am a pretty eclectic blogger. There are not many subjects I do not cover at one point or another. In the blogging world, many will tell you that is a recipe for disaster. Never the less, it is my life and therefore my current formula.

After looking at the top 5 posts for 2018, it seems that formula makes most of you happy and therefore you can expect pretty much the same formula this year as well. How else could you explain that in the top 5 you will find me blogging about my life, talking about our homeschooling, sharing a review, taking you on a cleaning and de-cluttering journey, and just sharing my heart?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? That being said, if you have something you want to see more (or less) of in 2018 here at Family, Faith and Fridays, drop me a note and I will see what I can do!

So the Top 5 Posts of 2018?

Adoption Aggravations

Schooling Year Round While Other Kids Have Summer Break

Is there a Doctor in the House?

34 Weeks of Clean Masterpost

Refining

And just for fun- the all time most read post is one written by my oldest daughter years ago! This post still gets read daily and it amazes me still!

Modesty- A Command, Not a Conviction

As always, we thank you for following this blog and being a part of our lives. You are more than readers, you are friends, and I treasure YOU!

Here's to another great year together!

Blessings,

Friday, January 5, 2018

New Year, New Word, New Plan

When I first started blogging I was introduced to this WORD OF THE YEAR concept and it intrigued me. Unlike New's Years Resolutions it was just a word to give meaning and hopefully a vision for each new year.

Who here doesn't need vision?

Webster defines vision as "something seen," or "unusual discernment or foresight."

And when the word popped into my head that was really what I was thinking- foresight, or a plan for the future. We have some big events pending in our lives (one of which is retirement from the military after 26 years) and it has been on my heart that our family needs a new vision for our future- a new plan.

But then I referenced vision in the Bible and look at what I found.
Take note of the different translations!

AMP

Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained; But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God].

NLV

Where there is no understanding of the Word of the Lord, the people do whatever they want to, but happy is he who keeps the law.

ERV

If a nation is not guided by God, the people will lose self-control, but the nation that obeys God’s law will be happy.

NKJV

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.

Now I am no word study expert (I will leave that to smarter people than me) but I SEE that vision in the Bible is something quite different than what I was originally thinking. And in reading it, I liked it even better! Go figure- God has a better definition! ;)

Vision- revelation, understanding, guidance by God Himself.

Yes, please!

While I may long to have a plan, I need to know that God already has one and He will reveal it in His time.

While I often long for understanding, God has given me just what I need for the moment in His Word.

And while we may sometimes feel we are wandering down an uncertain path, have no doubt God IS guiding us.

That my friends, is all the vision I need.

How about you?

Be blessed, dear friends, and may the Lord of the universe be YOUR VISION!

In the past these are the words I have chosen-

2014- Grace
2015- Joy
2016- A New Thing
2017-Restore

Check out more blog posts from Homeschool Review Crew and Friends!

Monday, January 1, 2018

January 34 Weeks of Clean Schedule

Physical and mental clutter can lead to unhealthy habits, obsessive thoughts, and anxiety

-Psychology Today

It's January 1st and you know what that means. It's time to begin 34 Weeks of Clean!

Welcome friends! We are so glad you are here!

Let me start with a real quick background and then a few ground rules.

34 Weeks of Clean began a few years ago out of desperation to keep myself busy while my hero husband was deployed for a year. Somehow I convinced some people to play along with my madness and such began a cleaning, de-cluttering and organizing frenzy! Each year our followers have increased in numbers and each year I count them as friends. I cannot even begin to tell you how glad I am you are here with us!

Plan to have fun, make friends, and take your houses back!

This year I will be running things a little differently due to my need to save myself some time that I need to use to focus on some big, impending changes in our lives.

Each month I will post the assignments that will take place within that particular month, with any updates I might have, here on the blog! Each week on our Family, Faith and Fridays blog Facebook page, as well as my personal page, I will post a quick reminder for your week.

Hence, these rules-

1- Stay connected! Keep your eye on the Facebook pages and feel free to ask about anything or simply chat away. ~~Misery~~, I mean friends, love company.

2- Take ONE WEEK AT A TIME! I cannot emphasize this enough. Really, I can't! Our tendency is to hit the ground running at the beginning (picture the gyms across America in January) and then fizzle out because we pushed too hard. This is divided into 34 Weeks for a reason. Some weeks will take longer than others, but all require some effort. Do what you can when you can, but stay with us each week. It will benefit you in the end, I promise.

3- If one particular week simply does not apply to you, enjoy a week off. It won't happen often, but it can happen. Treat yourself to a break that week and be ready to go again the next week.

4- Have fun! Grab a few friends and challenge each other, winner gets dinner out. Or enlist the help of your kids and then celebrate each success with a special dessert. Or find a friend to work together with, a few days at your house and then a few days at hers. Do whatever it takes to make it fun and get it done! (hey, that rhymes!)

5- Keep the goals in sight! We are DEEP CLEANING, DE-CLUTTERING and ORGANIZING! It takes ALL THREE to equal success.

So without any further ado, let's get January started.

Week 1- Holiday Decorations

Week 2- The Pantry

Week 3- Kitchen Cabinets and Doors

Week 4- Fridge, Freezers, and Floors

Week 5- Recipes

I can't wait to hear how you do!

Thanks to the many people who have shared 34 Weeks of Clean with their friends! You have blessed me, and I know you are blessing others as well. Plus, it is simply more fun to work with friends.

Blessings,

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Christmas Tour

I have to admit that we have been a bit slow this Christmas with decorating. Usually I pull all the boxes out and do it in one long day. This year, I have pulled out a few boxes at a time and strecthed it out more. No real reason other than lack of motivation honestly.

Well, that and when you have been working hard to simplify the last thing you want to do is add more things back in.

Plus we have seen no snow.

PLUS, one of our daughters just got home, so tonight we will put the ornaments on our family tree! I simply refuse to do it without her.

Here the bare look-

This year I also chose to not bring out the Nutcrackers, but instead swapped with the stuffed animals that did not come out last year. These belonged to the kids as they grew up and they loved having special things to play with in December. While they are too old now to play with them, they hold special memories and I was feeling nostalgic, so I added them back in.

Another tradition we had when the kids were younger was to add a Christmas book each year. Some of these books have been read many many times often under the lights of the tree at night. Colby still pulls them out each day, and some of the older ones still get read aloud for fun.

Two of the other trees I decorate are my Cross Tree-

And the Americana Tree. Both are favorites and I usually add an ornament to both each year. The angel tree did not come out this year, just not enough room!