A New Year, A New Beginning

It is day one of 2013.  So much has changed in our lives over the course of the last two years, none of which I documented.  I decided that today, January 1, 2013 was a good day to change that.  I did a lot of blogging in the past.  It was a good outlet for me and a great way to note all that was going on with the boys, which is my main motivation in doing it again.  You can find our previous blogs here and here.

So, what is going on with us currently?  We haven't been back in the area for more than 6 months.  In that time, a lot has changed as well as rocked our world.  Jeff has returned to working with some of the builders he worked with previously as well as some other jobs that come up along the way.  The boys are all growing up so fast.  Jordon is now 19.  Mack is 15, has his permit, enjoys playing the guitar (self taught) and has recently taken up long boarding and speed skating.  Harrison is 12.  Still enjoys the great outdoors, enjoys survival shows, as well as racing around on his go cart.

We are in our NINTH year of homeschooling.  Mack is in 10th grade and Harrison in 7th.  We are still eclectic as some would call it.  Mack is doing Geometry, Notgrass Exploring America, Apologia Biology with a lab class every other week, as well as Rosetta Stone Spanish and a writing class every week.  Harrison is still using My Father's World has his core curriculum along with Teaching Textbooks 7, Beautiful Feet History of Science, Easy Grammar, and Daily Grams. Unfortunately, neither of them care to read much on their own anymore but they certainly have enough required reading with the things we are using.

I decided 2013 will be our year of simplifying.  I've started going through cabinets and closets to get rid of things.  We have so much that we don't use on a regular basis so it needs to go.  Haven't decided if I will hold out for a yard sale in early Spring or just donate it.  We also have a one-car garage that needs to seriously be thinned out.  There is so much stuff in there that was never unpacked from our previous move.  And despite being in a house twice the size as the last one, I see no need in keeping stuff that I have no need for.

During the last two years, the Lord humbled us in a mighty way.  I've learned to be frugal and Goodwill is my preferred choice on where to buy things.  I've found some really amazing deals there and will continue to take advantage of getting great things at a fraction of the cost.  Some of my most awesome purchases: an electric grain mill normally costing over $250 - I picked up for $15.  Three rice cookers that normally would've cost anywhere from $50 to over $100 - I picked up for $5, $2.50 and $2.50.  Dansko shoes, 2 pair that normally cost around $150 each, I picked up for $4 each, as well as a pair of Ugg clogs and Volatile flip flops.  As I look around my house I am continually amazed at all the great things I've found that fill my house and make it our home.

My personal goals for this year are to keep it simple, reading through the Bible in 2013, and to start writing letters and sending cards (an art my children know nothing about). And of course, shed some of this unwanted weight.  I got a good headstart by cutting out the white stuff in mid November.  No sugar, pasta, rice, bread, crackers, chips, cookies, etc.  Despite having indulged a bit at my mom's while we were there for Christmas, I've lost 15lbs to date.