The Daily Log

I am so thankful for my husband and the godly and practical wisdom that God has given him.  I go to him with "problems" that I cannot resolve. Oftentimes these are "issues" with the children, young and old, and I am at my wits end. Always, when I heed his counsel, (for I know that God makes it works this way so that He will get the Glory), things turn around.

In California we are required to keep attendance records on the premises. I had tried and failed to keep attendance records again and again.  I could not figure how to mark someone "present" who is always present nor how to mark someone absent on a day that we didn't "have school" when it is on these days that the children often learn the most while we clean, organize, bake, cook, garden, shop etc... Furthermore, how could I ever account for Ruthie helping me with lunch, Mary reading a story to Peter,  Sarah instructing Joe in his Math or Seth helping a neighbor feed his cows?

 When I poured out this whole mess to my dear husband he simply and without delay replied "Just have them keep their own records"!  He suggested to get them each a small notebook in which they would be responsible to write down what they did each day for "school".

Of course, I ran right out and got them each tiny spiral bound memo-pads. What a great idea! They love to see how much they can "log" into their books. Eager to jot down lots of entries, they include anything that I say can count for "school". Once again, Jeff to the rescue. I am completely off the hook to keep attendance records. We use one memo-pad per child, per year.

 I have yet to have them logging through the summer, but I should; that's when alot of real learning happens too...swimming, camping, gardening, building forts, ball games, bike rides, star-gazing, yard-work, barbecuing and so much more :) Maybe this summer. :)

Out of the mouth of (sisters) babes :)

Joseph is a wiz at Math but he doesn't at all relish wielding a pencil and transcribing his knowledge onto paper. Not at all! Well, today while doing so he got a bit discouraged and posed the question: "Who made up Math, anyway?" Ruth quickly replied with this: "All things were made by Him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" which she quoted from our recently memory work in John 1. Yeah!
That did the trick, Joe swallowed hard and got back to work.

And Jesus said unto them, Yeah; have you never read, Out of the mouth of babes and infants you have perfected praise? Mathew 21:16


Isaiah 55:11
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:  it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.



I

My Favorite Muffins

I love recipes. Especially ones that I've copied from a friend, like this one from my old friend Wendy. We've made these for years and always when we share them with others they rave and want the recipe too...so I thought I'd share it here.

Seems we often have apples around that aren't really good for fresh eating.

6 cup portions for our bunch

Grated apples

Apples really aren't  good, unless their good, if you know what I mean. Who wants to eat a mealy apple? But once grated and used in these muffins they're great...and it's such an easy way to keep them from going to waste. If you don't have time to make muffins, simply grate the apples and freeze them in the portions needed until you do.

Ruth is our main Apple Muffin maker

Apple Oatmeal Muffins
3 c. grated apples (leave peels on)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
1 t. salt
1 t. soda
1/2 t. allspice
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. raisins or chopped dates or dried cranberries
 2 eggs, beaten
1/4 c. oil
1 c. oats
1/2 c. chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
1/2 c. brown sugar

 Cook apples in water with sugar. Cool.  Stir flour, salt, soda and spices together. Add remaining sugar, oatmeal, nuts and raisins. Combine eggs, oil and grated apple mixture. Add everything together  and stir until just moistened.  Fill greased muffin tins or tins lined with papers 2/3 full. Bake @ 375' for 20 minutes or until no longer shiny and look done.

These are so yummy served warm with a little butter or a spread of cream cheese.