National Trust Membership for Home Educators.

I don't know if many are aware of this. I do know the family membership is running currently at £90 a year. unaffordable for many home educators, who are already on a tight budget. For £37.50 you can have a home educator's membership. However, as always there are strings attached. You only can visit in term time. This means no weekends. You also have to book the day before. However, in my opinion, you are still getting a lot for your money! http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/membership/educational-group-memberships/

Meal Planning

Why meal plan? I used to ask that question. However, there are quite a few good reasons to plan meals in advance. 1) It helps you to budget. 2) It helps you to get through the week, without running out of something for dinner. 3) It really does save time. Dinnertime can often get boring. I can remember as a child, always having liver casserole, and mash on a Wednesday. Saturday was our roast day, but I loved that. What I didn't love, was Wednesdays! To avoid boredom with meals, I rotate around 30 different meals. I follow a process each week, which ensures only a few real favourites are repeated. I also like to make sure red meat is not more than 4 times, and at least one meat free meal per week. Here's how it works: 1) We always have at least one minced beef meal. (for this I use lean minced steak, as it has not got the extra fat, and yukky taste) This is done in rotation of lasagne, bolognaise, tortillas, cottage pie, and chilli. 2)We usually always have chicken, and the second day I pick bones off the chickens, boil up and make a stew. Now, every stew I cook is different. I sometimes add Indian, sometimes Mexican, Chinese, or just traditional. I don't always add the same veg either. I do add lentils, or beans for extra protein, but use whatever veg I have, or whatever is in season. 3) On Sunday, it is either a roast, casserole, lamb chops, or cottage pie. Again, in rotation. 4) Once a week, the non meat meal will be pizza, (home made of course;) pasta bake, or quiche. 5) If you are counting, you will see I have 2 meals to fill, now this might be curry, sausages, fried beef, fish pie, salmon fillets, fish fingers and wedges, risotto, egg chips, and home made beans, or meat pie. To vary this, the pie may be beef, or just cornish pasties, the casserole might be beef, or lamb. Again, I always add different flavours. So, this makes it really easy to plan in advance, and if I see offers in the supermarket, I can tailor the menu to meet that. I make sure I always have a few emergency meals on hand in the cupboard. I can save money buy using pasatta, instead of sauces, and buying sauces on offer. These can be stored for long periods of time. Beef joints, can be bought when half price, and frozen. We are still eating the ones I froze before christmas! I also love to look at cookery books for inspiration, and often incorporate ideas into a meal I already use.

Keeping Fit

How many times have I been here? As in talking about keeping fit. Life always seems to get in the way, and yet I was very fit before I got married. Ten children can take quite a toll. However, I seem to at last be making progress, and the scales are going down, and my waist measurements have decreased 3 inches. So, what have I been doing this time? Here's the summary: 1) For 7 weeks, I have done 3-5 DVD workouts a week. My favourite ones are rosemary conley, and Davin Mcall. However, if you are new to this, I really would recommend starting with Rosemary, as Davina's ones can be pretty tough! 2) I have cut lunch down to 2 slices of wholegrain bread, sometimes rye, and sometimes sourdough. 3) No biscuits, except for the last week, I have had the odd digestive. 4) Desserts are not everyday, and have been sensible. Yes, I did even have some cake, but it was home made, and if you follow me regularly, you will know I always bake with much less sugar than the recipe suggests. 5) snacks have been fruit, or nuts. 6) Small dinner plate, with less starchy carbs, and more veg. So, basically I am sticking to a low GI diet, and eating lots of complex carbs, so I don't have to snack. So far so good. I haven't given up butter, or full fat cheese, or even bacon. I just have them in moderation, as I believe that moderation is the key where food is concerned. My metabolism is definitely increasing, and I feel sooo much fitter. The exercise is giving me lots more energy, stamina, and the ability to even burn calories why I am sitting here. So, what are you waiting for? If you haven't tried any of these things, and need to get fit/lose weight, give it a go. You are guaranteed to see a difference.

Trim Healthy Mama

I am sure many have heard of the new book, Trim Healthy Mama, by Pearl and Serene at Above Rubies. I was excited when my copy arrived, and even excited after reading it. A lot of it made sense, and I have been able to make some good changes to my eating. The first, is halving my carbs, at dinner, and lunch. The second, reducing cows milk, by switching to almond, which makes yummy hot chocolate. The third opting for lower carb grains, such as quinoa, and rye. A few of the recipes are quite good too. There is a recipe for pancakes using porridge oats, and egg whites. However, even though they say it isn't about a diet, it is. Just about everyone I know doing it, is expecting to lose weight, and I have my concerns about the long term effects of eating a high fat diet, and low carb. For example, the cake in a mug, may not have carbs in it, but it does have a whopping 20 grams of fat, and that is just one small serving. Yep, I am all for healthy fats, but if I were to consume this regularly, I am not so sure. I tried my best to follow the gist of the plan, but the last straw came when I developed a reaction to the truvia. It was awful, headaches, awful taste in mouth, and severely hydrated feeling. In fact, the side effects seemed to last for 24 hours or more. Even using the more pure form stevia is not recommended if you have had reactions. However, I googled, and found that side effects were not rare. So, a word of caution, especially if, like me, you have had reactions to sweeteners in the past. I don't believe there is any quick fix to losing weight, although I know it has been helpful to some, and many have lost a lot of weight. Personally, I believe as christians we should exercise self control. This book almost says you can have your cake AND eat it. I will use a few principles from the book, but I WON'T be giving up my potatoes and bread, just watching how much of it I eat, and sticking to my 3 workouts a week. I will let you know if I drop on the scales!

Our New Chore Chart!

I was faced with having to write up another chore chart, as the one we were using had become very faded in places. However, considering it took me the best part of a couple of hours to do the last time, I was not relishing a repeat..........Then, I got thinking, well why don't we do it a simpler way. So, I come up with a new idea. Here is how it works, and could work for anyone. 1) I drew a list of all the jobs that need completing every day. (I found 16) 2) I wrote them down on pieces of card. (all the same colour, and size, or it would be unfair, as people would guess!) 3) I took an envelope for each child, and wrote their names on each. 4)I then figured, that there were 16 jobs, and 8 children. So, I gave them 2 jobs to pick each for each day, without seeing what they are. They then place them into their envelopes, and the process is repeated every evening after the jobs are finished. How did they feel about it? Well, I am pretty sure they will vote to keep it, as they never know what jobs they will get, and everyone gets an equal amount. It is simple, and you can take it anywhere with you. If I didn't have a number I could divide equally I would of let the younger children just pick one, instead of two. However, this is perfect, as the youngest really want to be doing their share.

Keepers at Home part 2

Last time, I was writing about what the Bible talks about, being keepers at home. As home educators, I guess we are fulfilling that role, as the child's formal education takes part at home. I am talking about learning to read, and any bookwork, etc. Although, saying this, I have heard of many families, who have somehow been fooled into thinking that because their child/children, is not in school, then somehow they need to make up for that by taking them to a zillion clubs and activities. A word of caution here. If you find you are spending more time out on the road, to-ing and fro-ing for different activities, then you are doing too much, and your child won't thank you for it. I have heard children in this situation sigh, and say that they wished they were at home. Where is the purpose in that? Not only are you burning yourself out, but the children, too!! I am not saying don't engage in activities, just don't overdo it! We also can't be keepers at home if we spend most time away from it. Home is where the nurturing takes place, and it can be surprising how much they can learn just by being at home. So this aside, there are proven benefits of children of mothers who are keepers at home. They include lower crime levels, greater satisfaction, and generally well balanced individuals. I cannot understand society, in thinking it is healthy for a 10, 11, year old child to go home to an empty house. It is very disturbing for the child, and is generally what leads them into mischief. If we are keepers at home, then we will be there to guide, nurture, and encourage. Not chasing a high flying career, which sets us on a different track from our husbands. We may have a business, or work that occasionally takes us away from home, but we need to remember home is where not only our hearts, but our persons should be. Years ago, large estates, had gate houses, or lodges, and they were called keeper's lodges and were situated on the edge of a large rural estate. What was their purpose? Well, their purpose was to monitor those who passed through, and to make sure no one cut trees from the land, and poached their animals. If the keeper of the lodge did their job correctly, then if it happened, it would be immediately dealt with, but if the keeper wasn't there, then all manner of poaching etc could potentially go on. So, there are many who exclaim, but I don't desire to be a keeper at home, it is a dead end with no prospects, I am not using my potential! To put it blunt, this is the very place we can be that which God intended us to be, and if the world laughs, then tough! There is a lot of scope for creativity. We will be wanting to make sure there are meals on the table, clothes to wear, finances planned. We will want to order our homes, and add personal touches. Some of us are more creative here than others! We are there for when our husbands, and children need us. There to oversee what influences come into the home, and who comes into the home. I would think our children are more important than trees, and deer! We are able to practice hospitality too, and some may do this more than others. Again, a good experience for children to learn how to serve, and let's face it. We rather children willing to serve, rather than be served. Jesus came to serve, and our role as keepers at home, is that of a service role. It gives immense satisfaction to serve others. There can be no joy in being selfish, but serving others gives delight, and satisfaction, giving us a calling, and a usefulness in life. Those who feel useful are always those who are the most happier as individuals. I know ultimate happiness, and peace comes from God, but even more when we are serving our purpose.

Keepers At Home

Now, this is something I have been looking at for some .time. I will probably tread on toes here, but I would hope every part of our lives should be open to inspection regarding what the bible teaches. If we believe the bible to be the inerrant word of God, as I do, then we will realise that we can't just pick and choose. Oh how different society has gone in the last 30 years. However, this is no pointer for us, as we are not to be conformed to the world. Now, most mothers work full time outside of the home, and sad to say, it isn't due to necessity, but often because they desire a mortgage, or more material things. Then, when they get tempted into all this, they become a slave to mammon/money, and it does become a 'necessity' to them, if they want to keep the same roof over their heads. So where did it all start? In Titus 2, we read that; '' That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.(EMPHASIS MINE) So, what does 'keepers at home' mean? In the Greek, it has the meaning of 'stayers at home' So what does this mean? I would say, it can only mean one thing, and that is our main job is in the home! (is not to say there won't be exceptions to this rule, as there are some, including single mothers who have to go out to work full time.) It also doesn't mean, that we are NEVER to leave the home, as the Proverbs 31 woman pursues her own business, and sells her wares, and buys in the market place. She will make sure she has enough food, and supplies in the home, in case of emergency, and she will also be fit, active, and given to charity! I have to chuckle a little, as I doubt we would match up perfectly to all these qualities! In fact, in Proverbs 31:10, it states; 'Who can find a virtuous woman?'' Yes, that's it, ''Who can find?'' It is in the negative, as if this is a rare phenomenon. However, this should be our starting point, if we are truly serious, about following God's plan for our lives. So, our job is to make sure the home is running well, and is a place of nurture for the children we might be blessed with. How sad, that the home is usually the most empty place, in the day time. I have known of whole streets, where every house is empty, as all are out pursuing work outside the home. How society derides stay at home mums. How can it be, that a mother, or woman only has value when she is looking after other people's children, or working for a boss, other than her husband? I see it as Satan robbing people of their joy. If we are to be working full time outside the home, then we will not be there for our children, and not be there for our husbands, and to keep everything in order. There is a trend now for husbands to do their shareof the housework, as it is accepted it is impossible to do both. However, it is our job. This doesn't mean our husbands should never help, but rather it is our responsibility. A warning here, too, even if we are not working outside the home fulltime. It is possible to make ourselves too busy outside the home, even to the point of idleness.Not to use it for gossiping, and going idly from house to house. The whole point of the proverbs lady, was that she was to be doing good works, and helping, but again, not to the expense of her own family. I will explore this more again, as there is more to say. Feel free to comment.