Today we had a great family meeting. We discussed our overall vision for the Zinga family, including some things we want to see happening in our family soon.

ONe of the biggest deals for our family would be scheduling.

God is really dealing with me about both creating and keeping a schedule of routine for the kids’ peace of mind, and also for my sanity. We’ve created schedules in the past but never kept them. We are such a laissez faire group that at times it’s hard to really pin ourselves down, but I’m learning to see beyond being “pinned” down and embrace the opportunities that regular routine bring.

Which leads me to the point that I’ll actually need to be home more to make this work for us. Currently our schedule leads us out the door every other day and sometimes every day. As a homeschool family, I’m finding that most of our schooling is being done in bits and pieces, small chunks and increments here and there…and it’s working for me, but not necessarily for Nyomi. She’d much rather stick with a topic and explore it into full depth until she tires of it, while I’d rather hit and miss, touch on the topic lightly and break it up into interesting tidbits to chew on a little at a time. In homeschool, I’m learning that if my teaching style differs from my child’s learning style, then I must adapt to meet her needs.

So that’s what I’m doing now…

Anyway, the family meeting went well and we’re set for some changes in responsibilities (how we can all pitch in and help each other out), respect (how to honor one another more), and “visioneering” (how we can set the tone for the future of our family by creating a vision applicable to us).

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This weekend we attended CHEF (Christian Homeschoolers Education Fellowship) Convention in Birmingham.

It was really nice, though not nearly as crowded as last year…so there ended up being less vendors in the curriculum hall…but it made for a quieter and less crowded events and workshops. More for me.

I really enjoyed many of the workshops. I especially liked Kay Ness who did a few workshops on the neurodevelopmental aspects of learning math and reading. She has a very scientific background, which I think really helps to explain learning pathways to the non-scientific person like me. She had a few good pointers that helped me understand how to really teach math — what I should or shouldn’t expect my daughter to learn at this age and how to actually go about teaching her. It just made a lot of sense to me. I like my info bottom line, cut and dry, to the point…and she had that really meat-y information I was looking for.

Some of the other speakers were inspirational, fun, or entertaining…all of which made the whole conference a well rounded experience for me.

What I really liked about this year’s conference (besides getting a chance to meet so many cool homeschooling families across Alabama) was that Integrity Music was there, and their children’s worship instructor (Annette Oden) facilitated a children’s worship workshops and Nyomi got to participate. They got to practice a few choreographed worship songs and perform the following morning during the main assembly. IT was beautiful! The children were so free to worship, jump, praise, and dance. Those kids made me proud. It was the highlight of my daughter’s time there and she had a blast!

It was so good my husband bought the 52 week children’s worship curriculum (SPK 52), and I plan to use it in our homeschool this coming school year.

I got some good used science curriculum at the used book sale. Then in the curriculum hall, I ran upon some good grammar material (Shurley Grammar). I purchased it after another homeschool mom gave me raving reviews on it. I also got a few books on motherhood, biblical womanhood, and all those topics that mean so much to me in this phase of my life. Not just the typical self help books, but books that show me the good ol’ ancient ways of womanhood that WORKED. I want the real deal. I want real advice that worked in the past and will work today for every woman who loves God. I don’t ever want to go back to the “good ol’ days”, but I have great respect and reverence for the way women honored their families back then. There was none of the selfishness that modernization has brought upon today’s typical pop culture family. I could write a whole post on that…but I’ll save that for another time.

You know, I have pictures galore on my camera…but I’m having a hard time getting my camera to sync with this PC.

Once I get it working on my laptop I’ll have pictures of Nyomi dancing on stage during the worship session. That was fun

While we were away at CHEF this weekend, Nyomi received her new Strawberry Shortcake dolls (which her daddy ordered for her when she lost her other one in our luggage at Delta the week before last). She still misses the old one dearly, but is beginning to enjoy the new doll, although it does look a little different from the one she had before.

Update on Zoe: she’s a strong baby! She’s now 5 1/2 months old, scooting, flipping over, pulling my hair, squeezing my nose, shoving her fist in my mouth, and verbally fussing or happily squealing depending on her mood. She’s eating pureed pears, apples, carrots, squash, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, and of course her rice and oatmeal cereal. She’s still nursing. It’s sad to know that it won’t be long before the use of my beloved nursing cover and sling will be over as she’s getting older. I so enjoy the feeling of having my baby receive her nourishment from me. Breastfeeding is so intimately beautiful. I’ll really miss these days when they’re gone…which is why I want to purpose to live in the moment as often as I can and enjoy Zoe being a baby. I have no complaints — she’s a really good baby. Nevertheless, I know she must grow up. I’ve learned with Nyomi that they grow really fast, and when they do I must transition along beside them. I am learning to embrace Nyomi’s maturity and her growth, knowing that it is a process in life that is inevitable. Part of me just wants to reject it…almost as if I am afraid of her growing up. Each time I look at her it seems that she’s grown another inch and it almost scares me– but I have to constantly remind myself that yes, she will get taller and wiser and older, but it just means that I as mom will need to adjust to her next stage of life and parent her from a new perspective with each new phase of her growth.

Motherhood…

Speaking of that…there is another transition that I feel happening within my spirit about the direction of my business/ministry. As I’ve been praying about direction for Faith Media the Lord has shown me a few things already…

It seems that I’ll either be completely phasing out tech help to work at home moms or adding on a new business venture that will be a family based business - a publishing company. Ebooks, audios, and curriculum will be in the works…

Meanwhile, anything that compromises my position as wife and mother will have to go out the door. My time is so valuable and precious, and tech coaching isn’t exactly my cup of tea these days. I love teaching it, but just don’t have time for all the one on one stuff. I have SOOO many more projects and dreams and visions that need to be brought forth and I can’t hold it within the box of my degree (tech degree = life calling/career). It’s really not true.

Women’s ministry is still definitely very important to me, and is part of my calling. Therefore, Christian Ladies Connect will continue on. MOre word about this year’s summer convention soon.

What about my programs on internet marketing, podcasting, etc.?

I don’t know. Times are changing and in order to truly sell reputable online courses I’d have to continue to revise and update my video courses which is something I actually dread doing for my Podcasting Basics 101 (bootcamp). I put so much time and energy into creating it only to watch new methods of podcasting unfold and new services and companies online which offer different platforms (that make even more sense to me than what I’ve offered in the course). I’ve also seen companies go obsolete and disappear online after I’ve created a course based on how to use their services. That’s really bad. Internet marketing…same thing. What works today may not work tomorrow. Today’s Google algorithm may get me that much-needed traffic…but next year the algorithm may change and I may be back to #4 or 5 instead of #1 under a key term in Google…and to be honest, I don’t have a team of experts working for me in Faith Media to help me keep on top of the internet marketing game, and I obviously don’t have time during this phase of my life to stay on top of Google or any other search engine marketing for new strategies, etc., nor do I have the desire to. So that phase of my business is over.

It hasn’t been reflected on my website yet, but is something I’m redeveloping with time.

Okay, time for bed…

I’ve got to get some rest and think about my goals for the upcoming 2nd half of this year 2008.

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Today…organizing, teaching, cleaning, exercising, business…Here are my updates

• organizing my desk drawers
• laundry: cloth diapers, folding and putting away last night’s laundry, still a pile on my daughter’s bed
• exercising: worked out to Leslie Sansone’s Walk Away The Pounds - did a 1 mile walk
• teaching: bible: Noah’s ark, science: butterflies, math: place value,  grammar:capitalization, handwriting, sentence structure
• family: visiting my parents, taking the kids out to see grandma and grandpa
• organizing: sorting old mail
• cleaning: dishes again and again, kitchen table, bathroom sinks, bathtub.  Giving baby a bath, washing her hair, giving oldest bubble bath, untwisting my hair for a shampoo
• business and ministry: networking with newest resident expert at Christian Ladies Connect, checking on WAHM University’s stats progress

Busy day indeed.

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Well I haven’t begun reading any of my classics yet (as I’d proposed on my personal goals list about a month ago), yet I still have The Great Gatsby sitting on my desk. Perhaps I’ll get around to it soon before the year is out.

Meanwhile, there’s the project of a lifetime– or so I call it for now– Christian Ladies Connect. My desire is to reach women all over the world with the good news of what Jesus Christ can and will do for each of us. To live a life of victory and not defeat is optimal, and that’s what i want to share with the ladies there.

So far the group has really grown and it’s good news and exciting to be part of a growing community, but it’s also quite a responsibility. The level of commitment is high — especially when it comes down to caring for, praying for, and tending to God’s special ladies. I’m trusting the Lord for His strength to be able to carry out this vision, and for the people who will be sent to help me carry it out. Currently I’m seeking other like-minded women of faith to lead in various areas at the site such as contributing to the blog as a resident expert in areas like health and fitness, parenting, home and garden, recipes, devotionals, etc. So we’ll see…

This week has been different– with my husband gone this week my days just run right into the next. We really miss him and can’t wait for him to return home. Business trips where I can’t accompany him are no fun…but we do our best around here to keep life happening. I put on a smile and stay strong for my little ones. Then I just keep reminding myself that he’ll be here soon- before I realize it in fact.

I’ve GOT to get back on schedule. Pulling these late-nighters is not working for me at the moment. My body is calling me, pleading with me and BEGGING me for more sleep, and yet I just feel totally buzzed by around 10 p.m. and the idea of sleep completely leaves me. i don’t know what happens but I just start to get really active once my girls are in bed and I don’t really want to sleep although I should be in bed.

Okay…I was just staring at this “Body After Baby” book by Jackie Keller and realize…I need to be implementing this into my life. No more sugar for a while. I need to fast.

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Another weekend, another day…

My bible studies– they’re going okay, but nothing like the euphoric world of intense, quiet bible study that I dream of.

Nope, nothing like that.

It’s more like I’m jogging and jogging and jogging to catch up and I never do.

I SO want to really get in tune with God’s Word in a whole different way this year.  I mean, REALLY study.  But (and there’s that “but” again)…I seem to find time for everything else and struggle to find the time to truly do in depth study.  Oh, I read my daily readings, but I want to be more intensely focused on learning the Word of God as I go along…

So, as I know , anything that’s important to us in life, we’ll make time for.  I’m just going to have to make it a priority, because it is my heart’s desire, and it is God’s will.  If I have to put study materials along with my bible, pens, notebook, and everything at hand on my desk so that each time I pass by my desk all day long I’ll be reminded of my studies, then I just have to do that.  Whatever it takes.

Family Updates:  Nyomi is doing much better.  The cold is gone, praise the Lord! :-)   Also, I’m feeling the pressure of getting back in shape.  Baby is now 3 months old and it’s time to start hitting the treadmill.  I’m feeling frumpy and saggy, and pretty much like a milk machine all day.  These days the self esteem has taken a slide downhill, and I know it’s because I don’t feel my best.  I mostly want to feel better about myself.  I did lose a lot of weight but fail to see it because, again…I’m too hard on myself.  (I’ve always been inclined to set extremely high standards for myself).  So…I have to keep telling myself “you just had a baby!  Chill out!”  Great thing Hubby continues to keep me uplifted.  He has nothing but good to say about my body.  He’s the one grounding force to keep me sane (he and my mom).  I’ve been readint this book by Jackie Keller “Body After Baby”, and hoping that some of the tips may help me.  I mean even completely try out the program with the menu and exercise suggestions.  Or I may just begin walking to my Leslie Sansone’s Walk Away The Pounds DVD’s again.

Business updates:  I have a new client.  I’m finishing up some updates on WAHM University - my site for professional work at home moms.

Okay- off to spend time with my husband now that the kids are in bed.

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What a day, what a day.

I’ve been thinking over my personal goals for the year ‘08 and breaking those down into smaller, more manageable objectives and tasks.

On my immediate to-do list is to begin reading at least one classic (after finishing up any other books I’ve begun last year– and there are several!)

I want to continue to read. I want to be a great thinker. Great minds read. So I need to read really good books.

Most of the books I’ve been reading up until now have either been self help or Christian inspirational, which are definitely great reads! But, now I just want to go a bit further and stretch myself into reading material that I’m not typically accustomed to.

Books that will make me stop and think and ponder. Books which will broaden my vocabulary and help me to see beyond the common and the ordinary.

Another one of my goals: read through the entire bible this year.

Reading through the bible is something I always wanted to do, but I’m one of those slowpokes who likes to linger…

I like to hang on to every scripture and meditate on it (chew on it), get all I can out of it before I move on to the next. Part of my nature is teaching, and as a teacher I like to digest the information for myself so I can be in a position to share it with others…

but I also realize that teachers know how to digest LARGE amounts of information in order to get the whole picture and create a synopsis for their teaching…and that’s what I’m working on now. Learning how to take in the entire meal…

So, I’m plugged in to The Daily Audio Bible as a tool to help me with the bible in a year program.

Another objective — to write a book.

Yep…

I want to write a book. I began writing a book for singles (married hopefuls) last year but never got around to completing chapter 2. I have the outline of the entire book but just no definite plan to work on it in a systematic way. I bet if I wrote a little every day I could have that book finished in a month.

As for home education? I want to put forth more effort and energy into teaching my daughter piano.

She’s so in tuned to the music, even playing by ear…and I want to find an easy way to teach her note recognition and good music theory and help her practice her songs every day.

I wish there was a Christian ballet company where I live– I’d enroll her in a minute.

(She’s asking about ballet since her last lesson 2 years ago. We dropped the ballet due to the clique-y-ness of it all, the competition, and the overemphasis on what our family considers to be too ‘worldly’ in nature when we are determined to raise our children in a godly fashion. ) In other words, I’m not going to pay for my child to be encouraged by her ballet teacher to “shake her booty” to some trashy pop song. Of course, if the classes were more classical in nature, I wouldn’t have minded keeping her there. I want to encourage my children to use their giftings to the glory of God. Dance is given to us a type of expression to be used for His glory…and that’s what we encourage in our family.

Back to goals…

On a more personal note, I want to be more conscious of my prayer life- praying in the spirit all day every day.

Being a typical busy mom means I don’t have the time to just have a 3 hour prayer session in a “prayer closet” or anything, but I have 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there sporadically throughout my day as I go about cleaning house or using the bathroom or putting my baby down for a nap. Those are times I can bless the Lord with my prayers and praise alone with Him (instead of running around crazily trying to accomplish other things, which never really seem to get done anyway!)

Women’s Ministry - stop and smell the roses

and see what God has (or doesn’t have) for this year’s objectives at Christian Ladies Connect and Christian Ladies Talk Radio

Music– I’ve got to begin recording my music again.

When I stop writing songs, I feel that I’ve stopped living. Music is a part of me.

Maybe I’ll start posting some of my music here from time to time. That may encourage me to keep at it…

…More goals and objectives later as I think about them.

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