Weekly Song - Samantha Ebert ft. Seph Schlueter - Flowers

Ok, I heard this song a few weeks ago and fell in love with the feeling of this song - the song writing, the vocals - they are just great.  It is a somber song but with a great message - basically that the flowers of our life grow in the valleys.  Now, don't worry - as you listen to this, I am not in a valley and that is not why I love it - it is just plain pretty.  I could just take out the vocals and just listen to the beautiful music!  

Our Weekly Snapshot

 Here is a look back at our week:

On Saturday I took Nate to a black belt testing where he had to help since he wasn't testing this time.  It is always enjoyable to watch the folks go through their testing. 

Monday was St. Patrick's Day so we had to take some photos! 

But . ... we didn't eat our traditional dinner until Tuesday due to scheduling on Monday! 

Friday brought the first day of Spring . . .Snow!  We also enjoyed some Library events and free Ice Cream Cones from Dairy Queen since it was, well, the first day of spring!  

This is the first year we have every taken advantage of the "Free Cone Day" since we were already in town for the Library Events and cleaning our church.  I can't justify driving 20 minutes for a free cone normally HA!  

Yep, we woke up to a "snow storm".  Granted by midafternoon it had all melted and the sun was peaking out!  

Weekly Menu

 Whew.  Why "whew"?  Because last week was full of all kinds of things and we are ending the week with our semester Presentation Night.  We all love it but it is a wonderfully long and fun day.  I am  hoping to kind of pull things back and slow things down just a little.  

Here's the plan for the coming week:

Friday - Presentation Night.  We usually grab something in between setting up in the afternoon and the program in the evening.  

Saturday - Joshua and Nate are going to a youth activity so Darryl and I will enjoy a dinner somewhere 😊

Sunday - Joshua and Nate are going to a play with friends so the plan is to grab pizza after church and probably just eat at church. 

Monday - Chicken and Dumplings (moved from last week) 

Tuesday - Pancakes and Sausage (and probably bacon too HA!) 

Wednesday - The guys are at youth group.  Darryl and I get date night. 

Thursday - Chick-Fil-A Nuggets and Fries 

March Goals

I've marked March as my month in 2025 to regroup and try to tackle things that have carried over since January.  I have a couple of accountability groups that I am part of that focus on goals as well as decluttering and organizing.  One is called 25 in 2025 which is just like it sounds - 25 goals you hope to accomplish in 2025.  That is what I base my monthly goals on in order to break those big goals into manageable goals. The second one is called 2025 Organize 317.  It is the idea that you list 17 areas/things that you want to touch 3 times throughout the year.  For example a person should tackle all 17 areas in January-March; again in May-July; and finally September-November.  Ideally the first time you are just doing a quick toss/organization.  The second time you would be a little more in-depth to really clean out what you aren't using.  The third time would be set up that area for success so that you can easily keep up that space. Yes, I love the idea of organizing and decluttering even if I am not always as successful as I would like to be or accomplish things as quickly as some might.  I always say that our house was clean and organized with Darryl and I both worked 70-80 hours a week LOL  We were never here!!!  Now three of the four of us are here basically 24/7 so our house is very lived in!  

 Here are my March goals:

1. Follow the declutter 365 plan for March and do every task that applies to me. I plan to review the March calendar and mark off any tasks that don't fit my home/life.  Then I will take the items from January and February that I did not accomplish and fill those in with the goal to be caught up with the Declutter 365 plan by the end of March. 
1. Make sure and go through all of my 17 areas to touch in this first 3 months
2. Follow Flylady weekly plan for decluttering then cleaning each room - 15 minutes at a time.  My goal once again is to complete the daily tasks in each area each day.  If there is additional time I'd love to work on decluttering but I also declutter both through the 365 calendar and room cleaning. 
3. Pick a room cleaning - 15 minutes decluttering
1. My focus this month is the dining room.  I'm hoping to "empty" it as much as possible so that I can deep clean it right down to the corners.  I might even do some rearranging.  
2. If I finish that I plan to try and get more done in the bathroom. 
3. AND if I am EXTRA this month - I will start on the Living Room - same idea as the dining room - "empty" it so I can deep clean it.  
4. Spend 15-20 minutes a day cleaning the basement - this months goal is still the laundry room side. 
5. Finish all of the odds and end in Josh's room (hang things, paint closet) . 
6. Replace a board in Nate's bed that is broken. 
7. Replace burned out lightbulbs inside and outside 
8. Go on a date with Darryl  
9. Read!  As many books as possible but at least the 2 for my book clubs and to read 6 books total! 
10. Do my daily Bible study, prayer journal and word study  
11. Scrapbook 
1. Finish 2017 and 2018 
2. Scrapbook January 2025
3. Upload March photos and order them.
4. Do virtual scrapbooking weekend 
12. Co-Op
1. Make Presentation Night signs
2. Work on my Joyful video.  
3. Figure out Google Docs so that I can begin uploading docs to that for anyone to see/print. 
4. Write out my "job description" as Secretary.  Really looking for a rough draft that I can add to over the next few months so that it is accurate.  
5. Take Homeschool Curriculum to our Co-Op Blessings table that we aren't using or are done with at this point. 
13. Practice my piano song until I can play it for offertory and then pick a new one; Practice a song with the family to do as special music. 
14. Update some seasonal items - Find some cute things for spring/Easter
15. Write my blogs each week  
16. In March our quarterly family activity is going to be going to see a Movie (we received gift cards for Christmas) and dinner out. 
17. Plan Easter (yes it is in April but I like to plan ahead) 
18. Finances - continue to work on tracking everything and limit spending
19. Computer clean -up - Go through every file on my computer and clean things out. 
20. Depending on the weather - I'd like to tackle the spring cleaning of the garage.  This includes emptying it, cleaning it, and putting things back in their rightful homes. (If we end up with a cold March this will get pushed to April!) 
21. Cut the cord on cable and figure out the least expensive way to watch what we love. 
22. Clean out my filing cabinet - it is time to organize it once again! 
23. Clean out our firebox - it has been a long time. 
24. Buy and hang curtains in my Living Room.
25. Register my teens for all of their weeks of summer camp.
26. Pick out and (hopefully) order Josh's 11th (WHAT!) grade curriculum. 
1. Not sure how to measure this but I also need to wrap my head around things like maybe doing duel enrollment (Both Josh and Nate) if that is a possibility; researching schooling options with Josh as he looks at his career ideas, as well as other post high school things.  Hard to believe we are at this point! 
27. Update my calendar with all of the dates that I currently have for the rest of the year (I feel a little behind on this as someone gave me a calendar but after using it (or not using it because I don't love it) I decided to order the one I've used the last few years that I love.) 

Brandon Lake - COUNTRY PSALM (Music Video)

I found this by accident while listening to other songs on YouTube and just liked the simplicity of it.  

Our Weekly Snapshot

 Here's a quick look back at our week !
  

Last Saturday we finally headed back to my mom's for dinner and a game.  It's been awhile due to schedule's and sickness.  

It was a very intense game.  Josh got the best score ever I believe.  

On Sunday Joshua and Nate headed to a friends house after church for a birthday party and then they all went to youth group together.  Darryl and I enjoyed a very relaxing afternoon! 

Our week was pretty quiet.  School, lessons and normal activities. 

We celebrated Pi day on Thursday due to actually Pi Day (Friday) being a very full, busy day! 

My mom came over to enjoy our Pi Dinner.  We had "Egg Pie" (Quiche), "Mushroom Pies" (Stuffed Mushrooms), and "Potato Pies" (Individual scalloped potato muffins).  Plus we had . . .. Pie for dessert but I totally did not take a photo of the pies! 

Friday morning started bright and early for Joshua and I because we got up at 2:15a to catch the total Lunar Eclipse.  Thanks to Joshua's amazing telescope we had a front row seat to the show and Josh was able to take some amazing photos! 

Finally, Friday was our final day of our Co-Op for the semester and it fell on Pi Day!  Needless to say we ate pie and played some activities related to the day too.  

That's a wrap of another great week! 

Weekly Menu

 Something you should know - I write and schedule many of my posts a week or more in advance.  I love the feature because it allows me to create when I have time instead of needing to sit down every night and write something.  The only negative is that sometimes I start a post, don't get it finished, and then either forget to go back and finish it or it's a super busy week and it just doesn't happen!  Why am I telling you that info?  In case you ever come across a half finished post you will understand why! 

Friday - Today really IS our last day of co-op.  It will be a long but fun day.  I plan to finally put my turkey toast in the crockpot ( it’s been planned for a few meals but hasn’t happened) then I’ll make some super easy “souper” rice and veggies 

Saturday - Dinner at my mom's!  

Sunday - A Potluck at church.  I'm not great at potlucks HA!  I'm not sure what I'll take.  

Monday - It is St. Patrick's Day and we have our annual dinner!  Stuffed Cabbage, crash potatoes, green beans, 7 layer Jell-o and Green pudding cups!  

Tuesday - Tacos

Wednesday - Youth Group

Thursday - chicken and dumplings - a favorite!