little things that make a house a home

It's Monday. And on Mondays I tend to give myself permission to write just a bit more random, you know? So as I sat to write this {on Sunday...lol..or else it wouldn't be ready for Monday} I decided to spend some time thinking about things that make my house our home. Little things unique to us and little things that I love.

Like these.

Rock em Sock em Robots. Yes, some of you may have this delightful toy of the past, but do you use it do decide things at a stalemate? Like whose turn is it to sweep? Or take out the trash? Or grab the mail? If you don't, might I encourage you to try it? Grin. Just call me the Red Rocker.

Me. With Short Hair. And 2 Kids. Let's see, this picture is probably about 12 years old now. And, yes, I had short hair. And also yes, Samuel looks a bit like Chloe. And also thirdly yes, Hannah was quite terrified of that Santa. That picture? On our fridge. Reminds me of when I was younger looking. ;)

Iced Coffee. This is my newest favorite thing. I could have written about it on Friday for Friday Favorite Things, but then that wouldn't be fair to you all as I'd be enjoying it for a week before you could even buy it. What compelled me to buy it? That would be the coupon that spits out at the end of a transaction. And a very sweet husband who runs to the store to get it for me. Delicious and yummy {see, I even added those words as an added bonus.}

Measuring Cheat Sheet. Every household needs one. I don't care how good you are at math, really, when it comes to the heat of cooking, and you're in the midst of that fabulous recipe, the last thing you want to do is doubt your math. Enter the $1 purchase at the Target Dollar Section and the find that really keeps on giving with correct measurements.

Elijah and the Nintendo DS. Something we try not to make a regular site in this house. He loves to play this Mario game -- March of the Minis -- where you solve puzzles. If it's too quiet, he's found the DS and is probably hiding in his room under his covers. He's pretty covert. ;)

Art, pencils, and Star Wars. All found in my older boys' room. Art, made by Brennan several years ago that he taped on his wall. {Yes, I let him...they're only young once.} A pencil bucket made out of an old flowerpot with clear beads pressed on. And a Star Wars vehicle. All part of a room that my older boys inhabit. I'd show you the floor, but sigh, then I'd have to title this one -- legos, bad guys, pencils, paper, blocks, duplos, books, socks, playmobil, starwars, and art. 

A favorite cleaner. Love this stuff. Worth the price at Target, which by the way, I can totally afford since I got a steal of a deal when I got that measuring thing for a dollar. As you can see, because it's almost empty, this is totally used in our home. Natural. Without that gross smell. And it cleans fabulous.

Verses in our Kitchen. This was one of those garage sale finds that I love. I think I paid $5 for it. And I totally love it. It's such a good reminder to me and the family when we're in the kitchen eating, doing math, reading, cleaning and more about what our family is about. Favorite verse? The one blown up below. Live with a Thankful heart.

Sleeping Samuel. Completely unique to our home. I had to sneak in to get this picture -- even then, he stirred when the shutter clicked on the camera. Love his floppy hair, and how he always sleeps on his little Backyardigans pillow, and is tucked in with his John Deere blanket. Sweet, simple things that bring this mamma a great deal of joy.

Since this was totally random I'm, of course, linking it with my friend, Carissa. Who I met, sigh, a long six months ago. I can hardly believe that was when I was in South Carolina. It feels as if several years of events have happened in that short half of a year. Blessings on your Monday! ~Rachel

marbles plus old race set equals total fun

When the girls were little I was really loving Discovery Toys. That was the day of those home parties -- you know, where everyone went and there was the hostess up front passing around super cool and almost totally needed toys. {There wasn't much internet used during that time...so to see we had to go to the parties.} One of those toys that I just had to invest in? A colorful deluxe marble race track.

We still have it.

And I still make the super cool amazing out-of-this world tracks for the kids. Or at least that's what they like to call them. I just like to believe that's what they really are and I create away with them cheering me on.

Of course, sometimes we incorporate just a wee bit of learning into our marble racing fun. For instance, yesterday, we made a risky track -- where the marble leaps off a jump and doesn't guarantee landing on the next chute and the safe, but long route. Sometimes you have to take a risk, right?

Then I had the kids predict which route they thought the marble will take. Then we decided to track what actually happened for ten runs. Will it go the risky route or the safe one? For added fun, I ask them which route they'd take if they could be the marble. Gets them thinking.

So, much to my surprise, the risky route was the winner. We took our results, tallied them up {which I didn't take a picture of} and proceeded to make a real simple bar graph. A bar graph of something that they just witnessed -- something real -- where the results make clear sense and the learning is easy.

Learning can be fun. And, learning doesn't need to be forced. I just took an opportunity to add a bit of learning to our regular play. Neatest thing for me? I have some bar graphs and stats made for some marble tracks from when Hannah and Chloe were little and we did the same thing.

That was an excellent investment for that oh it feels so steep price of $29.95 in the year 2000. We still play with it, and it just never seems to grow old. Somehow it's such a parallel to life -- take a risk, you could fall, yet taking the safer route doesn't guarantee a path without obstacles {you should have seen the twists, turns, and funnels I added to the safer side}. Point? You just have to keep moving and working to the goal.

Who knew Discovery Toys was teaching life lessons in the midst? 

why do you write?

I'm asked the question again. It's just a simple question wondering why I dedicate a portion of each day to sit in front of the screen and type letters into words and words into sentences and sentences into a story. When I'm asked, it seems to take me a back for a bit, makes me question myself, and eventually pushes me into wonder.

Why do I write?

Initially, I could find all sorts of reasons convincing me that, perhaps, writing isn't a good thing. There's the time, or being too vulnerable, or is it wise? Then those very reasons that make me doubt actually propel me to continue to write. When I sit in front of the keys and share my heart -- whether funny or serious or in pictures or raw or simply conversational -- it helps me understand my own heart.

I see where I've fallen and it motivates me to get up again.
I see that in sorrow and hard times that there is still good.
I see how laughter is a balm for a soul.
I see friendships formed.

You see, writing for me, has become this journey in life where I feel that, at this time, I am to share. Just a bit about me, and my heart, and my family, and our struggles and our hopes. Not for fame or glory of self. But, really, the bottom line is that in all I do I hope to to reflect our Father.

So I write about Celiac Disease and cancer and hard times and still praise. And I write about homeschooling, mothering, being a wife, and a friend and seeking joy. I write about childhood and the beautiful lessons that I've learned from just watching my children.

Life can be a very lonely place. There are ups and downs and bends and turns and good days and hard days. This little blog? It's a journey. My journey of trying to keep perspective in all things -- a journey of truly seeking and finding joy in the most mundane moments in life, in the beautiful moments, and in those places where one's heart is breaking.

Writing helps me think. It helps me process life.

And, today, I simply must thank each of you for walking along this writing journey with me. For your kind comments, encouraging words, and support. I really am grateful and honored that you've chosen, for this season, to read the words that I type late at night or early in the morning while the world around me still sleeps.

In all I do and all I say I hope that you see in my heart that I love the Lord.

Blessed be the name of the Lord -- in the good days, the bad days, the every days, the motherhood-filled days, the sick days, the joyful days, the learning days, the sad days, the laughter-filled days, the trying days, the anxiety days, the calm days, the vacation days, the rest days, the disappointing days, the tiring days, the hopeful days, the throw-in-the-towel days, the normal days -- in the every single day, blessed be His name.

And that is why I write.

red blue red blue red....real life learning.

Yesterday, Elijah and I decided to play cars. We carefully lined them up -- creating a perfect traffic jam -- and then destroyed it only to start again.

Then Elijah decided we needed to park all the cars.

As we began to create our rows we also created patterns. Well, actually, I started the pattern theme, but quickly Elijah caught on -- and loved it.

Red car, blue car, find another blue car, then a red.

How about gold yellow, momma?

Green car, silver car, find a green.

We laughed and explored and ended up parking all the cars.

And Elijah learned about patterns.

Sure, I could have pulled out a book and explained it to him. That would have worked, and honestly, some day we'll do that. But, today, he learned through life -- organically -- and loved it. His little body would race around the room searching for the next color car he needed.

It was fun. For both of us.

Sometimes we think we need the next educational toy, or manipulative, or workbook when we have what we need in the toy box {yes, the cars were still sorted} upstairs. Play, play, play with them. Let them lead. And sometimes you can add a bit of learning to the fun.

When he went to bed the cars were still out in the perfect lines.

Play cars to-morrow, momma? Again?

I think I might.