tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53479437719061706612024-03-05T11:39:18.443-07:00Not So UsualUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger992125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-78901880323353821182017-02-12T22:55:00.002-07:002017-02-12T23:42:15.904-07:00Music Composer Valentine Cards (Set of 12)I made this set of 12 printable Valentine's Day cards for my High School Men's choir. Yes. They want to have a Valentine's Day party, complete with DIY Valentine's mail boxes and everything. So, I figured I'd make my own cards to pass out, and I figured I'd share too. You're welcome!
These would also work for private piano/voice/instrumental studio students. Just print on cardstock, cut to size,Emma Steuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11881202082739911951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-77485982284905669312016-12-24T09:19:00.001-07:002016-12-24T09:24:07.637-07:00Christmas Letter - MAD LIBS STYLE! (and 23 other ideas)
Each year we do a family Christmas letter. I've been doing this now for 22 years. I also print an extra one for each child, and on the back I write a personal message to them. I love this because the letter is a record-keeping of what we've done over the year and my personal letter is {hopefully} meaningful. I add the letters to each of their scrapbooks. I think they will love looking back at Emma Steuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11881202082739911951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-91949332229426445312016-12-05T18:02:00.000-07:002016-12-05T21:47:43.702-07:00Giving from a Place Sincere
This should probably be a journal entry, as it is pretty much a reflection and documentation of my growth. But since it is the season of giving, I thought it apropos to share.
Since becoming an adult, I can remember for years picking names off of Angel Trees or Sub for Santa lists at work, church, or town hall. I would use my own money to help buy gifts and essentials for those in Emma Steuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11881202082739911951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-86689431805441765102016-08-09T10:05:00.002-06:002016-08-09T10:07:32.696-06:00Quickly I'll ObeyWhen my mother calls me,
quickly I'll obey.
I want to do just what is best,
each and every day.
When my father calls me,
quickly I'll obey.
I want to do just what is best,
each and every day.
These are the words of the first two verses to a children's song the kids sing in church. It's also a concept my husband and I taught to our 3 year old class in church just a few weeks Emma Steuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11881202082739911951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-73749916859081960592016-06-06T16:20:00.000-06:002016-06-06T16:23:55.161-06:00I'm The Mom, Not Your Entertainment Coordinator
Ahhhh....summer! I remember summer when I was a kid. When I was in 4th grade, we moved to a little town in Northern Indiana. Those years hold the best summer memories for me. We lived across the street from the town park, which held an annual "Summer Fun" program for kids.
Parents could register their kids for free and drop them in the park anytime between 9a-12p, and again from 1p-4p. There Emma Steuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11881202082739911951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-40054285040796552932016-03-16T01:13:00.002-06:002016-03-16T08:39:59.906-06:00Irish Faire Perfect for your St. Patrick's Day DinnerHonestly, while I can eat corned beef, I am not a huge fan of it. Or rather, should I say my acid reflux is not a huge fan. So, I tend to avoid making it, which leaves me to come up with other alternatives for our annual St. Patrick's Day dinner. But honestly, I love the challenge.
Here are some dishes I've tried over the years, and some that are on my list for future St. Patrick's Days.
First Emma Steuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11881202082739911951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-2703940225991394362015-07-18T09:21:00.001-06:002015-07-18T09:21:59.115-06:00Miller Family DynamicsAs a kid, I remember watching certain sitcoms or family drama films, wherein the family dynamics elevate until a major argument breaks out and everyone is mad at everyone else, and finally the lead role is either the hero or gets a second chance, and everyone is soon hugging again. I remember thinking, how ridiculously unrealistic situations like that were. Then I grew up.
I know families where Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-10168123473910299072015-03-23T10:33:00.002-06:002015-03-23T10:59:05.017-06:00What's In A Name?As many of my friends are still having babies, I often see the "What shall we name the baby?" question circulating social media. Of course, there seems to be that standard set of unwritten rules parents check off the list while sounding out candidates.
Does it rhyme with a naughty word or a body part? Do the initials spell something unfavorable? Does the name carry a negative connotation (an Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-7923357485002472472015-03-02T11:09:00.001-07:002015-03-02T11:09:38.766-07:00Our Decision to Move
Why are you selling your house? I love your house. Don't you love your house anymore? Isn't your house big enough? Wait, you're building a smaller house, on a much smaller lot? Can't you afford your house anymore?
When we listed our current home about a month ago, these were the questions I started getting. My answer to these questions starts with, "It's part of the plan."
My husband and I Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-23327347194165833862015-02-21T08:42:00.000-07:002015-02-21T08:42:34.509-07:00SurgeryAll of the medical shows on TV are proof some people just love knowing the nitty-gritty about medical procedures. I usually shy away from them, especially the gruesome pictures.
However, many friends and family have inquired about my ankle surgery, wanting to know what happened, what type of surgery, how long I'll be down, etc. The biggest question was "Did you get hurt? Is that why you have to Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-20005955800582014812015-02-10T00:37:00.001-07:002015-02-10T00:37:43.204-07:00Dirty Laundry Confessions
I HATE Laundry. I hate that I have to throw it in the wash and then wait for it (and forget all about it and have to re-wash it) and then throw it in the dryer and wait some more, and then worst of all -- fold it and put it away.
I.KNOW. Our ancestors scrubbed their clothes on a rock alongside the riverbank and beat them with a washing stick or cleaned them with ash or lye. As time Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-42706337532667208872014-12-15T02:19:00.000-07:002014-12-15T17:37:52.307-07:00Sam's de-LIVER-y: More to the Story
Michiana. The seven-county area which encompasses Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana. Home to University of Notre Dame. Home to the 2nd largest Amish settlement. Home to my brother Sam and his wife Jenny.
Growing up the middle of seven children in a moderate-income household, Sam knows all too well how to pull his own weight and what it means to sacrifice. As my sister Sarah said, "[Sam's]Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-61852926181787171532014-12-08T10:28:00.000-07:002014-12-08T10:28:55.184-07:00Lights, Cameras, Christmas!I love looking at Christmas trees & decor!
Growing up in Northern Indiana, east of Chicago, we were lucky enough to go to the wonderful museums there. One of my favorites is the Museum of Science & Industry. Each year, they have a "Christmas Around the World" exhibit. This includes many large trees (more than 50) decorated in the traditions of other nations and cultures. It was a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-41897314539492344292014-11-17T23:14:00.001-07:002015-01-09T14:24:19.692-07:00It's Just TurkeyI've never really been one for Thanksgiving. The holiday, that is. As for the art of giving thanks itself, well I try to do that all year long. But the holiday?
I truly don't care that much for turkey and while I do eat it, leftover turkey just seems like a chore I can live without. I've heard people say how Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday ever. Really? I never understood that.
Maybe Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-55577171587779188322014-11-05T10:04:00.003-07:002015-01-09T17:35:05.125-07:00Off-Track Homework Keeps {Some} Kids On TrackMy youngest is in year-round school and is currently off-track. (They go roughly 8-9 weeks on and then 3 weeks off). Even though I am not a huge fan of year-round school, it works out okay for us, mostly because last year my college-age son was home nearly every morning and this year I have a high schooler doing online school. It's nice that he isn't home alone and that he is old enough to Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-65551255830416115762014-11-02T01:20:00.000-06:002014-11-04T16:46:49.804-07:00Say NO to Hover-Peeing!
This issue of proper pee etiquette has gone on long enough and frankly, I'm sick of it enough to devote an entire post to it. Yes, I'm talking about the Thoughtless Pee-Hoverer. Ladies, this has become an all-too frequent problem for those of us who utilize shared restrooms on a daily basis.
First, a little factoid clip on public toilet germs. A riveting must-see for all.
Just to review, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-85582409706981075392014-10-12T10:15:00.000-06:002014-10-13T07:20:52.204-06:00Pray. Then Press On. Once upon a time I went through a very difficult (for me) period in my life. I felt alone, in spite of good friends/family who offered moral support.
They'd tell me, "You're such a strong person." I'd think, "Well, I don't feel strong," crying all night, many consecutive nights, for the better part of the year.
I often wondered, "How will get I through this?" All I had to hang on to was Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-3097761366258326772014-10-08T03:26:00.000-06:002015-01-09T14:12:14.102-07:00Reject Persecution of ANY Kind (and teach your kids to do the same)My father was raised Amish. The majority of my family on my dad's side has remained Amish or belong to the similarly doctrinal based Mennonite or Church of the Brethren faiths. Very few have strayed.
My mother's family attended a variety of churches as a little girl, mostly non-denominational or pre-denominational. Today, most of her side of the family remain non-denominational Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-70664989490890275532014-09-29T17:26:00.000-06:002014-09-29T17:27:00.528-06:00Hum-dinger of a ProblemMy 8 year old hums. And by "hums", what I really mean to say is he is CONSTANTLY humming. In the tub, at the dinner table, in the middle of conversations, and during those "quiet moments"- like in church, the movies, or independent study time in school.
There are many reasons children hum and we already know why he does it. Our problem is -- what to DO about it? I know Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-63498334407863979182014-09-10T21:53:00.000-06:002014-09-10T22:37:00.832-06:00Rude or Respectful. Which Audience Member are You?When someone is given the task of standing before an audience to give a presentation, the appropriate and courteous thing to do would be to pay attention -- or at the very least, acknowledge them by making eye contact. Would you ever dream of sitting during a presentation and pulling out a book to read or your smart phone to play games? Would you blatantly close your eyes to take a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-15899535856012378032014-07-28T23:51:00.002-06:002014-09-29T17:38:22.525-06:00Shake Off Childish Resentments
Do you now, or have you ever had that one person in your life, with whom you are "supposed" to be close, yet who drives you absolutely crazy? Like, so crazy you can't stand to be around him or her and you find yourself feeling angry or resentful towards them and their every blasted move? As if their sole purpose is to irritate you to no end?
I am quite ashamed to say that YES- &Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-73722401794587805782014-07-03T10:52:00.000-06:002014-07-03T11:58:57.616-06:002 Hours After Sunset (and 10pm on weeknights)It's true. We Americans love to celebrate our independence day. It's crazy how much we spend here in the United States for our fireworks. $600 million!!! {{source}}
As a kid I loved going to fireworks shows and I loved it even more when my parents let us make "air designs" with sparklers. I'd write my name and make squiggly twirls and all sorts of amazing things in Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-75192839417942870082014-06-29T10:15:00.001-06:002014-06-29T15:24:39.079-06:007 Sins of -ail, -ill,and -ellMy linguistics professor might argue that common mispronunciations of -ell, -ill, and -ail has more to do with geographical accent than lack of knowing how to actually pronounce the word correctly. That might be true in some cases. However, in most other cases, it seems that we {Americans} have simply become sloppy in our diction. (Ever listen to how Americans used to speak in an old Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-6862186161429652092014-06-03T15:06:00.000-06:002015-01-09T14:20:20.366-07:00Our Debt-Free Journey (So Far)
No, we are not living debt-free -- yet. But, we're well on our way!
If you haven't taken financial freedom guru Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace University" course, let me urge you to do such. He has a book, and that's great reading too. But personally, I find it much more inspiring to attend the classes. It's like church. We have the Bible we can read and study atUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5347943771906170661.post-82446225578545358872014-03-16T10:36:00.000-06:002014-09-29T17:42:12.422-06:00No Fighting: A Marriage VowWhen I was a teenager, my Bishop told me he and his wife didn't fight. I was close to their family and knew them well. I knew this wasn't a case of one spouse being submissive to the other. I understood this was a choice. I wanted a relationship like that; where I could be free to express my feelings without the other person blowing up at me.
I was 19 when my mother gave me Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0