03 April 2011

Ultimate Blog Party 2011


I'm winding down for the night and doing a little blog hopping. While doing so, I decided to write a post for the Ultimate Blog Party 2011. It's always fun to participate in fun blog posts like this. I didn't expect to have the time, and I technically don't, but I'm doing it anyway.

I love blogging. That's the first thing I'll share with you. It's a way for me to de-stress and wind down. Sometimes, I start my day with a blog post, but most of my blog posts are written in the late afternoon after I've had a busy day of homeschooling my children and home making.

That brings me to one of my busiest roles. I'm a homeschooling mama. My children have never attended school. I enjoy spending my days with them learning and exploring the world more than anything. Our family life has a rhythm of learning that I don't believe we could match in any other way.

I should back up a little. Before children came my husband. Eric and I met while studying music and education at Indiana Wesleyan University. We married in 1998 and graduated in 1999. We have lived in four states in our almost 13 years of marriage, and we're getting ready to move again next weekend. This time, we'll be staying in the same state and moving to the area where I grew up. We don't love to move, though you might think we did if you knew our track record.

Our family is a ministry-minded family because we love Jesus. My husband has served as a children's pastor in the past, and, since that time, we have continued to serve in various capacities in the churches we have attended. Being connected to a church family through service and worship is one of the single greatest gifts God gives us. Our current church family is found at Grove City Church of the Nazarene. I direct the kids' choir there (for another month at least) and have been singing in the adult choir for the past couple years as well. Music and worship go hand-in-hand for me. God reaches me through music.

Our family loves to travel. Short trips. Long trips. Fun vacations. Learning adventures. It doesn't matter. We're up for it. My husband spent 15 months unemployed, and he has now only been working full-time for a few months. I'm cautiously dreaming of future traveling adventures. Disney World is our favorite place, but we're ready for something new. The beach? Colonial Williamsburg? The kids are asking to visit the Smithsonian (Thanks to Night at the Museum 2). Who knows where we'll go?

Our family also works hard to have purposeful family time on a regular basis. Sunday afternoons are spent at home resting, playing board games, playing Wii or playing outdoors. On Sunday evening, we have dinner in the living room and have a movie night. This is something we started over the past year, and now we look forward to it all week. We watch all sorts of movies, old and new. Last week, we watched Megamind, and this week we'll be watching the Disney classic, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. You never know what we'll be watching!

Besides writing, I have other interests. I love to scrapbook. I read for pleasure. Historical fiction is my favorite, but I find I have less time for this during the school year. Reading aloud to my children makes me extremely happy. I love sharing great books with them! I enjoy simple crafts like making hair bows for my daughter. I always do art projects with my children. I am not an artist, but I sure have a fun playing with all the art supplies and giving them an example to follow. I am also passionate about photography. I dream of learning all the ins and outs and taking glorious photos. I have plans to decorate my home with my own photos. I grow things like tomatoes, herbs, squash, peppers, zucchini and more, though I'm going to have to get creative since I'll have less space available this summer. A few people have given me the title of "crunchy." I would have to say they are rather observant. I cook from scratch. Fresh, organic, locally grown produce in season is the best thing you can serve your family.

So that's me in a nutshell. I'm sure I could share more, but this gives you an idea. If you stop by my blog again, you'll see posts about mothering, homeschooling, ministry, family life and the occasional post about something ridiculously silly or fantastically memorable that my children have done. My blog serves a very eclectic purpose. This is where I share all the parts of me with the world.

To be a part of the Ultimate Blog Party 2011, check out the website to read all the details and then write your post some time between April 1-8, 2011.

15 comments:

  1. Nice to meet you!! I just linked up from the Ultimate Blog Party =0) Party on!

    I can't wait to read your future posts!!

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  2. Just stopped in to say Hi from the UBP! My sons were homeschooled all the way and we loved every minute of it... and it sure made the moving easier too :-)

    joy & blessings to you and your family,
    Alida

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  3. Love to scrapbook, take pictures and eat fresh grown food too! I like history too, but am much more into non-fiction, the true stuff is just fascinating to me.

    Glad you could join the party, stop by and say hi when you get the chance!

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  4. Stopping by from the UBP11!! I also love scrapbooking however I haven't worked on my book in a while!!

    You can find me here - http://www.marvelousmommy.com

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  5. Just stopping in from the UBP to say Hi!! We love, Love, LOVE Disney World too!! My husband used to work there a long time ago and we feel like it's our home away from home.

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  6. Hey, we homeschool too. I love scrapbooking and Jesus and my husband, but not in that order. LOL.

    Good to meet you.

    have fun partying.

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  7. Hi Kendra,
    Lovely to meet you through UBP. This is my first year and I am enjoying finding so many great blogs, like yours.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

    Gg - Notes on the Journey
    #269

    ps. Our homeschooled daughters are all grown and doing well.:)

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  8. Hello! I'm stopping by from UBP. I see that we have some common interests, like scrapbooking, travelimg, and homeschooling. I haven't started homeschooling yet, but will soon. My daughter is now in 2nd grade and we are just decided to not enroll het for next year. So, I'm excited to meet you and to learn from you as an experienced homeschooling mom. :)

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  9. Saw that you are a Kendra too! You sound like a busy mama...glad to connect with you via UBP11. Please pop by my little site and say hello---
    www.bittyblueberry.blogspot.com.

    Happy Blog Hopping!

    Kendra :-)

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  10. Hi just stopping by from UBP. Always great to meet another woman who loves Jesus and includes Him in her life and writings.

    Sandra

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  11. New follower via Ultimate Blog Party11. Hope you will follow me too @ http://masalabowl.blogspot.com/2011/04/day-298-ultimate-blog-party.html

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  12. Hi Kendra,
    I joining you from UBP and I just became your newest follower. I blog about healthy eating and post a healthy recipe each week. I hope you will visit my blog at www.glutenfreewithjudee.blogspot.com and follow me back..

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  13. Hi! I'm stopping by from the UBP - trying to visit all on the link for Christian blogs by the end of the day (but I'm not going straight down the list so I still have quite a few to go!). I'm #73 (Being Made New - http://tinahollenbeck.blogspot.com) - I'm a homeschooler like you, and I also love to blog and scrapbook. I hope you might be able to pop in at my place sometime soon.

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  14. Hi! I’m belatedly stopping by from the UBP. Nice to meet you!
    I have two blogs, and I’d love for you to stop by when you get a minute. We’re giving away a $100 Visa gift card until the 19th at Giveaway Corner. Thanks!

    http://giveawaycorner.blogspot.com/ (A free giveaway every weekday)
    http://anne-somekindofwonderful.blogspot.com/ (Family blog)

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  15. Hi! Following you from
    UBP! Hope you visit me
    and return the follow!
    :0)

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