Lou family's blog

A Simple game

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:15:00 +0000

Thanks to my friend Risma "mommy mayonaise" for this game!
Do you think you're hot?
Well. I received "the hottest female blogger award" recently...

Please upload you favorite picture!

Why do you love this picture?
this picture was taken just before breakfast...when hubby n li'l Josh had just woke up from their slumber...It reminds me to be grateful that every day as I open my eyes, start a new day, two precious ones are surrounding me..

When was the last time you eat pizza?
yesterday in Paparons Pizza

What is the latest song you've heard?
Rags to Riches by Barry Manilow

What are you doing while working on this game?
watching Joshua taking his afternoon nap!

What is your favorite nickname?
nonik..it's what the Javanese people call you when you're the eldest daughter..and I love when people call me that! My family lives in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia..so we use this tradition of calling the eldest daughter with "Nonik".

What kind of people are you?
introverted, melancholic, quiet but I can be very talkative when you successfully open the keys to my heart..LOL

What is your favorite song?
anything that's classical, intrumental, old songs with great lyrics, carols and hymns

What is your favorite food?
Noodle...aka..mien..aka...bakmi

What is the most stressful thing to you?
when all is not done properly and nobody just seems to CARE?? and I'm the one responsible to run everything in its proper way..

Mention the three must have items in your purse!
money, ID card, handphone

What is your favorite color?
a combination of pink and green..

Please tag other five friends of yours!
CC-Mine's Mine
Michella_Vie
sang nona
mba fanda dan mba fanny-ini aku tag bareng yah...untuk blog f2!! he3

What is your not-fulfilled yet dream?
travelling around the world with my family!

What is your favorite city to stay?
Hong Kong...who knows I'll meet Angie Chiu by chance!! LOL

A Woman’s Roles at her Home*

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 07:13:00 +0000

*) A homemaker is a family manager, just like what Kathy Peel wrote in her book “Family Manager”. This article is inspired by Henry Mintzberg’s managerial roles and Kathy Peel’s book, the Family Manager. I read through my management books and find this interesting: Why not try to list out a family manager’s roles? So I give it a try… Then I thought: why not just make a list of woman’s roles at home? And this article is written. Enjoy reading! The pictures here are what you find on the cover page of my HMB!

my HMB cover

It is so amazing how a woman is entrusted by God with a list of critical roles as the queen of her home! How a woman can beautifully maintain, manage and keep her “home” is praiseworthy. No matter if she’s a stay at home mom, a working mom, or a single mom, her home is still her castle and she is the one in charge of keeping a well-managed household.

For every queen of home, her main roles are that of a wife, a mother and a homemaker. Each main role is filled with sub roles:

Roles of a wife

• Bride- The moment a couple is declared as husband and wife, the woman enters her husband’s life, and it all started as a bride-the life time journey begins with “I do”!

• Lover- The sweet moments after marriage, when a married couple celebrates their love for each other. The memorable honeymoon, the romantic moments and the infatuation!

• Helpmeet- Eve was created to be Adam’s helpmeet. A wife is created to be her husband’s helpmeet. She is a helper in every possible way to her husband.

• Friend- A good friend gives good counsel. A friend loveth at all times. (Proverbs 17:17a)..

• Partner- Some household run a home business, whether it be the main income of the household or a side job to add extra income, a wife acts as a business partner who runs the business together with her husband.
A business partner is trustworthy and shares both risks and return on the investment made together. Unity and commitment in executing decisions made together through endless brainstorming sessions.

• Soul mate- A soul mate is described in Pocket Oxford dictionary to be a person ideally suited to another. Husband and wife are just M.F.E.O (made for each other)-share same dreams, visions, ideals, aspirations and hopes!

Roles of a mother

• Bearer- At the moment of conception, for nine months, a mother carries her baby in her womb. Wonderful moments that ties two souls in a body. What a privilege to bear children!

• Deliverer- A mother gives birth, endures her labor pains to deliver her children into the world. Anybody knows a person who can laugh in the midst of pain and agony? A mother does! The moment she holds her firstborn in her lap!

• Nurturer- A wonderful word that depicts how a mother feeds both her children’s body and mind! One of the exclusive privileges for every momma is to breastfeed her baby! Never miss this opportunity!

• Teacher- The next exclusive privilege is to home school her children! The shaping of mind, the formation of a good habit of mind, the transfer of moral values and a discipline of life—is best taught by a mother who walks the talk! By giving examples from her own life, she gives greatest impact in her children’s heart! I personally disagree with mothers who said that homeschooling is a calling of life. No! Home schooling is never a calling! It is a way of life! Even if your kids went to a formal school, that fact doesn’t mean that as their mom you stop becoming their teacher! No! Every home should have a learning spirit! Every home is a school of life! So I’d rather think this way: every momma is a homeschooler, but some moms are happened to let her kid have tutors in a classroom for a couple of hours a day..

• Spiritual coach- A mother is her children’s spiritual coach! Faith is cultivated in the little children’s heart. Her faith is transferred to her children as they commune and maintain a good relationship with God.
• Friend-A child will eventually grow up and leave the nest. There is a season in parenting, the childhood days, when a mother needs to use more authority. Soon the season will shift, from authority to influence and when that moment arrives, let every mother be a dear friend of her children!

Roles of a homemaker (or a family manager)
There are resources that should be managed and assets to be kept by a homemaker. They are: time, money, food, clothing, house, relationship, etc..

• Time planner- Time is a valuable resource that should be planned wisely. The use of a Home Management binder can be a very good help, or a PDA, any way that suits?
• Event organizer-When a homemaker already has a schedule, a blueprint, a plan, then this sub role is easy to do! Just follow the planner and prepare for some delays with plan B or C!

• Budget planner-Money is an important resource and a good budget plan can save a lot of money. It can help us stay on track with our expenses.
• Accountant/bookkeeper-A good record of the amount of cash inflows and outflows is needed. Further decision can be made through evaluation of current and past ways of spending and acquiring money.
• Purchasing-It's part of a homemaker's routine to do the grocery. We call this grocery day?

• Nutritionist-a good knowledge of nutrition and health is needed to plan a healthy and balanced diet for every member of the family. A homemaker should have updated information on these issues.
• Cook-A meal well-planned will save a lot of time and budget!

• Cleaning - Cleanliness and health have strong correlation. It’s always a challenging task to keep a house in a clean state. Some household might hire a cleaning person.

• Designer- The creative and artistic soul of a homemaker is shown in the interior arrangements of the furniture and the way the whole family is dressed up.
• Artist- How a woman can take her time to knit a sweater or arrange flowers in a vase.. Or how she make the bed in a harmonious colorful combination of pillows and bolsters.. It really shows her artistic touch to the house! For the lady of the house, every corner is a gallery of art.

• Public relation-The lady of the house is the public relation person of the house! She keeps a well-organized address book and she sends birthday, and season's greetings to the friends and dear ones of the family! She's also in charge to be a good welcomer for the guests that visit her home.

Well, this list is not a complete one. I don't include those roles of a career woman! Could you believe it when a woman with these list of roles to handle and to her bosom be added another role in the working place? But such ladies exist! And I give my salute to those of you who are in such a posistion! Only by God's grace you can continue what you're doing...

A well-kept home isn’t the one with a stainless sink,
Or the one with no dust in every corner,
Or the one with a spotless carpet,
Or the one that looks like a five star hotel!
It is a home well-stocked with plenty of love, laughter, attention, kisses, hugs and a warm meal served fresh from the oven!
Let the spirit of every home created an open heaven on earth!

(c)2009 by Yunie Lou
Lou family's blog

Our Homeschool -August 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 06:12:00 +0000

Bible study:
The Story of Paul (Ephesians)
Verse to memorize: Eph 6:10-13

character building: attentiveness& obedience
I choose the Bedtime stories and Read out loud books that emphasizes the Bible study and Character Building topic

Read out Loud:
The KJV Bible-the epistle of Paul to the Ephesians Chapter 3 & 4
A small children's cathecism by Chris Schlect

Bedtime stories:
-"Bear Obeys" taken from First Virtues for Toddlers

Manners: eye contact, smile & greet

Personal skill: wash own hands

Recite: Obedience from Character First booklet

Music: Random classical collections

Maths: count 1-12, sequencing and random

Color: green-coloring cross activity (each day different numbers of crosses are colored)

Shape: cross

Science: recognize,taste & smell different kinds of green vegetables

Craft:Alphabet book: E-F-G-H (stick pictures of things that starts with the following alphabets...each alphabet for each week of the month) and decorate the prayer notebook

a song that fills my heart...

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 09:22:00 +0000

really enjoy this song...!!
He is mighty to save!
He is bigger than our mountains!

Let's live for His glory..

Our Homeschool -July 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:03:00 +0000

Homeschool guidelines of the month:

Bible study:
The walls of Jericho falls down, The story of Joshua and Ephesians chapter 6
Verse to memorize: Psalm 100:4, Eph 6:10-20

character building: gratefulness & obedience
I choose the Bedtime stories and Read out loud books that emphasizes the Bible study and Character Building topic

Read out Loud:
The KJV Bible-the book of joshua and the epistle of Paul to the Ephesians
A small children's cathecism by Chris Schlect

Bedtime stories:
-"Bear Obeys" and "Squirrel says thank you" taken from First Virtues for Toddlers
-"John Wesley-Taming the Money Monster"taken from Hero tales Volume I

Manners: say "please" and "excuse me"

Personal skill: eat from a spoon--he makes a real mess every meal time!!!

Rhymes to recite: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Music: Ludwig van Beethoven's collection

Maths: count 1-12, sequencing and random

Color: yellow -coloring stars activity (each day different numbers of stars are colored)

Shape: star- we stick glow in the dark stars on the bedroom ceiling-12 stars...when the lights goes off..we'll start counting the shiny stars..
we also use "space navigator" kit to learn about the stars of the universe...actually we planned to go to Lembang to gaze at the real stars...!!

Science: recognize,taste & smell different kinds of yellow colored fruit (lemon, banana, starfruit, etc..)

Craft: A-B-C-D book (stick pictures of things that starts with the following alphabets...each alphabet for each week of the month) and prayer notebook

Happy homeschooling to all homeschoolers...!! smile....

a homemaker's diary (July 2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:37:00 +0000

prayers& thanksgiving:
praying for my aunt's checkup results
We're so grateful by my auntie's visit!! It's been a long time since we can chat and talk about everything...thanks You Jesus for the opportunity to be with her!

from my kitchen--today:
currently preparing the ingredients : shabu-shabu for dinner...auntie & her friend will come and stay with us toninght...can't wait to see them..

Movies we watched:
We plant for a movie date this week...not yet..but we're gonna watch "Harry Potter and the Half blood prince!!"

books that hubby and I read, study & discuss:
Growing Kids God's Way chapter 13. Hmmm, raising our li'l boy is not an easy task..it takes our whole being to be a parent! grant us Your wisdom Lord that we're doin' the best that we can for our Joshua

songs that we play this week (these songs are such a blessing!!!):
classical music collection: Ludwig van Beethoven's collection

my favorite quote for today:
Keep our gaze immovably fixed, not on the things which are seen--but on the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal--but the things which are unseen are eternal. -Henry Law

Renungan Amsal 31 (Proverbs 31 devotional in Indonesian language)

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:25:00 +0000

Renungan harian ini diambil dari website Stacy R Miller "Proverbs 31 Devotionals"It's been such a blessing to my spiritual life!

Saya meminta ijin Stacy R Miller untuk menterjemahkannya ke dalam bahasa Indonesia supaya bisa menjadi berkat buat pembaca yang berbahasa Indonesia.
pendahuluan
amsal 31:10
amsal 31:11

amsal 31:12

amsal 31:13
amsal 31:14
amsal 31:15
amsal 31:16
amsal 31:17
amsal 31:18
amsal 31:19
amsal 31:20
amsal 31:21
amsal 31:22
amsal 31:23
amsal 31:24
amsal 31:25
amsal 31:26
amsal 31:27
amsal 31:28

amsal 31:29

amsal 31:30

amsal 31:31
penutup

Semoga menjadi berkat!

Jesus bless you abundantly!

a homemaker's diary (June 2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:20:00 +0000

prayers& thanksgiving:
I thank God for His Providence and blessings throughout our days.

from my kitchen--today:
breakfast--pancake & hubby's homemade maple syrup...
lunch--Fu Yung Hai (Chinese Fried egg with minced pork and carrot)
dinner--fried rice noodle..

Movies we watched:
We went for a movie date and we watched Angels & Demons--just for fun...

books that hubby and I read, study & discuss:
the Bible--the Book of Numbers

songs that we play this week (these songs are such a blessing!!!):
classical music collection: W.A.Mozart's collection, OST of The Sound of Music
Religious album: Alive in South Africa by Israel & New Breed

My other blog

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:11:00 +0000

Hi, I'm writing a new blog...
It's an Indonesian blog, so I'll write all the posts in Indonesian language.
Here's the link: http://agenda-iburumahtangga.blogspot.com/

Our Homeschool -June 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:39:00 +0000

Homeschool guidelines of the month:

Bible study: King Solomon's prayer
I bought a story telling kit for Sunday school class and I use a felt board
Verse to memorize: James 5:16b
I noted down the memorized verses in a special organizer(pocket size binder), I use a card for each new verse

character building: obedience & attentiveness

I choose the Bedtime stories and Read out loud books that emphasizes the Bible study and Character Building topic
Read out Loud:
The KJV Bible
A small children's cathecism by Chris Schlect

Bedtime stories:
-"Bear Obeys" taken from First Virtues for Toddlers
-"Revival in a Chocolate Factory"and"The Piece of Junk" taken from Hero tales volume III
-"The white tailed deer"and "the Circus Elephant" taken from Character First booklet

Manners: say hi & goodbye, eye contact

Personal skill: eat from a spoon, drink from glass without straw

Rhymes to recite: The Itsy Bitsy spider

Music: W.A.Mozart's collection

Maths: count 1-10, sequencing and random

Color: orange

Shape: circle

Science: recognize,taste & smell different kinds of orange colored fruit

Craft: solomon's crown

Pictures of our homeschool:

This is Joshua pretending to be King Solomon:

"Hi! I'm King Solomon!!"

We're learning about fruits with orange color, I bought orange, tangerine,and grapefruit. I let him taste and smell the differences of these three fruits!

He looked at his flashcards,recognized the fruits and then he tasted them:

the tangerine is sweet...
the orange and grapefruit is sour....

I am so blessed to be my kid's first teacher! Homeschooling is so fun...
Once you catch the spirit of homeschool, you'll be filled with the enthusiasm of a learning journey with your kid!!

Happy homeschooling!! smile....

my 26th birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:33:00 +0000

Yesterday was my 26th birthday, and the most wonderful gift that I received was from my li'l one-- he sang to me "Happy Birthday" song!! The first birthday greeting from my son!! I was so amazed, I thought hubby taught him to do so, but he didn't.

I think he learnt the song from his Sunday school class? They were singing the song for every birhday boy or girl..But see the coincidence? It must be God's gift!! How come my boy happened to sing the song to me on my special day??

The little voice was the best gift!! And my hubby prayed for me and blessed me. A special prayer that really encourages me!! Thank you dear!!

Btw, I'm joining the CIBFest 2009--a community of Christian Indonesian bloggers. They annually held writing competition. I haven' t submit my article yet, but I'm planning to submit! Pray and support this event!!
If you're one of those Christian Indonesian blogger, you can consider joining too...

A Peek into our Homeschool trial

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Tue, 19 May 2009 07:42:00 +0000

Reading Time
This happens when I read out loud a book, he usually sits down on my feet or on his chair and read his own book, or play his toys--while I read out a few pages from a book.
My Joshua is reading a book:

He is so serious when he reads a book! I think he's gonna be an avid reader. See how he turns each and every page of the book? So funny..LOL!!

Writing time (or it should be an introduction to writing or scribbling time?)

"According to several writers on education, they have noticed that children who are allowed to play with their learning equipment before being put through any exercises with the equipment do much better than those who are immediately forced to use the equipment for its "proper" use"...Play is the brain's scouting expedition... -Mary Pride's Complete Guide to Getting Started in Homeschooling page 116 [emphasis mine]

Mary Pride also suggested that children should be allowed to scribble freely before we try to help them make specific marks on the paper. She called this as 'scribble stage'.
So I am doing this stage with my little Joshua, I use a special book for his scribble activity and see how he does it:

He has a funny habit of singing while scribbling!! He likes to hum some songs that he's been familiar with. Sometimes he just sings the tune, no lyrics. Some of the songs that he likes to sing: The Alphabet song, Into my Heart, Doe a deer, Ask Seek and Knock, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Libur T'lah Tiba,Anak Gembala,etc.

I am still not confident to be entitled as a homeschooler momma. I'm still in the homeschool trial stage.
My hope is that I can give the best education for my Joshua.

I had to go now, see you!!

My MotherStyle Quiz Result

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:00:00 +0000

I took the Mother styles quiz, and here's the result: (very helpful!!! every momma should try it too...)

The 'Individual Integrity' Mother

INTJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging)

"My kids are better off arguing their own point of view than telling me, 'But everyone else is doing it.'"

Individualistic and independent, the INTJ mother is both a role model and teacher of how to be an individual and live life with integrity. She is introspective, defining her own success from within, and generally confident in her decisions. She is unlikely to be persuaded by her children saying, "But all the other mothers are doing it."

The INTJ is competent in providing for her children's basic needs, but she is likely more focused on developing their self-esteem and confidence. Observant and insightful, she puts great importance on independent thinking and self-sufficiency, yet she is comfortable providing protection and boundaries.

Self-motivated and intense, the INTJ works hard and takes life seriously. As a mother, she lives for those moments when she can impart knowledge and offer her children perspectives on life and important issues.

My Strengths

Non-conformity. The INTJ mother follows the beat of her own drum and is able to support a child who is different from the crowd. She respects each one's individuality, encouraging him or her to "think for yourself" and "act on your own beliefs." Because of her non-conformity and inner drive, she may break stereotypes and provide her children with a role model of what a non-traditional woman can be.
Thoughtfulness. A natural teacher, the INTJ mother is intellectually concerned with addressing the complexities inherent in a child's everyday life. She accepts very few situations at face value, lifting the day-to-day to a higher level of importance and meaning. In discussing the broad lessons of life, she is respectful of a child's questions and reasoning.
Expecting those around her to do their best. The INTJ mother lives with high standards, encouraging self-motivation and improvement… from herself and others. She expects her children to stretch themselves, accept the challenges of life, and do their best despite obstacles along the way.
Commitment. Because she takes life seriously, the INTJ mother often chooses an issue, job, or project to which she fully and tirelessly commits herself. Her children may catch the spirit and learn the meaning of persistence as they watch her persevere.

My Struggles

Noise and confusion of family life. The INTJ mother is drained by much of the hubbub of raising children: intrusions, noise,bickering, chatter, messes, and disorder. She may find it difficult to relate to several children at once, preferring instead some one-on-one time with each child.
Mothering confidence. Despite her commitment to doing the job of mothering right, the INTJ mother may struggle with not feeling like a "natural" mother. Believing she is different from other mothers, she may feel inadequate if she compares herself to more domestic mothers who have a house full of homey nick-knacks and daughters with bows and braids.
Leading a balanced life. The INTJ mother may find it difficult to strike the right balance between her "accomplishment self" and "mother self." Wanting to tackle any responsibility with 100% effort, she may wonder where to put her focus and energy—sometimes she ignores her own competency needs for the sake of the family and sometimes she feels alienated from her children because she's so involved in a project.

Tips:

It is essential for the INTJ mother to have some work or project to call her own. Volunteer responsibilities and paid employment (full- or part-time) can meet her need for mental stimulation, adult conversation, time to concentrate, and a worthy goal to achieve.
The INTJ mother may need more time alone away from her children than many other mothers. To be her best self, the INTJ must nurture her introspection and analysis—both of which require time and space. Being physically and emotionally available to her children needs to be balanced with time for her to think, read, or listen to the silence. A walk alone, a visit to the library, or a self-improvement class are ways to renew her energy for mothering.

try the quiz also: click Family Education.com

simple woman's daybook- monday post

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Mon, 18 May 2009 07:20:00 +0000

May 18th Edition

Outside my window...
it's a sunny noon & it is raining so suddenly????

I am thinking...
what a wonderful gift every minute is!!

I am thankful for...
Jessica & Daniel for the Chinese medicine.. (smile...)
Tyas & Homing for the family doctor....
Herlina G for your prayers, thanks a lot sis!!!

From the learning rooms...
just finished learning numbers 1-5 & tracing lines

From the kitchen... today I cooked Fu Yunghai

I am wearing... gray girly shirt & light blue skirt

I am creating...
my childhood scrapbook--in progress: scanning my pre-digital photos

I am praying...God's wisdom and grace for me to manage our homeschool

I am going... to hypermart--its grocery day!!

I am reading... Growing Kids God's way

One of my favorite things...read other homemakers' blogs

A few plans for the rest of the week:
create my two weeks menu planning & grocery list

Here is picture thought I am sharing..
one of my childhood pics: 4 years old li'l me..

Join simple woman's daybook here!

a homemaker's diary (May 2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:10:00 +0000

prayers& thanksgiving:
hubby's & Joshua's health--thank You Lord that both are as healthy as can be!!
hubby: The fever assuaged, his trombosites are rising to normal 150,000
Joshua: The fever assuaged...and this little boy is happily doing his activites...

from my kitchen:
Sayur bening (Indonesian spinach & corn soup) & Chicken Porridge

Movies we watched:

books that hubby and I read, study & discuss:
the Bible--the Book of Haggai

songs that we play this week (these songs are such a blessing!!!):
classical music collection: my favorite is Salut d'amour and Fur Ellisse
children songs: Itsy Bitsy spider & Pat-a-cake
Sunday school songs: I love Him better every D-A-Y, Into my Heart, Roll Away
Joshua likes to hum these songs... [smile...]

got to go......

20 Of My Favorite Things

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Mon, 04 May 2009 00:10:00 +0000

1. Color-pink & green
2. Dessert-tiramisu
3. Smell- vanilla scent (I love the smell of a cake while it's baked in the oven...)
4. Flower-rose..all kinds of roses!!
5. Animal-dogs....cute li'l ones
6. Month-December: reasons??it's Christmas, my wedding & love anniversary and hubby's birthday!!
7. Beverage-sweet ice tea
8. Pair of shoes-slippers, no high heels!!!
9. Snack- double decker
10. Song-the Prayer
11. Book- the Bible
12. Fruit- banana
13. Hairstyle- plain & simple hairdo (a bit of wavy curl is OK) with a hairpin
14. Piece of clothing- blouse and long skirt
15. Store to clothes shop- ITC (stylish & cheap: you can bargain clothes prices here)
16. Season-rainy season (I live in Jakarta, we only have 2 seasons here...)
17. Hobby-reading
18. Thing to collect- books...
19. Movie- fireproof
20. Restaurant- Sushi Tei

join peggy here..and blog your 20 favorites!!

simple woman's daybook- monday post

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Sun, 03 May 2009 15:53:00 +0000

May 4th Edition

Outside my window...
the sun is so bright & so hot!!

I am thinking...
how do other homeschoolers mom made her first step in homeschooling??

I am thankful for...
God's precious gifts: a nice husband and a cute little boy

From the learning rooms...
creating a buletin board and a special nook for our home-learning activities

From the kitchen... just finished cooking "moon tofu" see the picture below...

I am wearing... yellow T-shirt & black pants!!

I am creating...
Joshua's buletin board

I am praying...God's grace & salvation for the rest of hubby's family & my family

I am going... to have lunch soon with little Joshua

I am reading... books on getting started in Homeschooling

I am hoping... that everything is alright with my C-section stiches

I am hearing...
Salut d'amor by Kyung Wha Chung

Around the apartment... sound of cars, I shut the windows so my little one can take a nap silently

One of my favorite things...tickle Joshua's tummy..

A few plans for the rest of the week: buy a small table & chair for Joshua--this would be his learning table

Here is picture thought I am sharing..

lunch menu..."moon tofu"

This is my first simple woman's daybook post...Really enjoy this carnaval...

Join simple woman's daybook here!

my master schedule--updated may 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Sun, 03 May 2009 12:25:00 +0000

I always update my HMB semesterly, and this time I update my master schedule to get in tune with Joshua's homeschooling. As I did this, I begin to ponder over my wonderful role that God has entrusted: I'm a family manager!! Isn't it amazing?? I finished my college with a degree in Management Economics,and now: here I am---the manager of my own home!!
A manager is not an owner, she only manages the property to run well! She is responsible of her home because her husband's authority is delegated(not given) to her while he's not at home. But still, her husband is the final decision maker, not herself!
To run well, it takes a wise management of resources. So, what are my resources?? My resources are classified in these major departments:
1.time
2.food--the targetted outcome would be health and longevity
3.money--the targetted outcome would be
4.house (the building)
5. home (the people: my dear ones--DH & little one)
6.clothing
7. philosophy (food for thought--this creates the atmosphere of the home)

From these departments, which one is the most valuable??
my answer would be: time!!! we can't create time!! we can't turn back time!! we can lose money and gain it back again! we can get sick and be healed!! we can sell a house and buy another one!! we can wear used clothes!! We are more than enough with the Bible as food for thought.
But if we lose time...that's it...we lose it!!
So: we should manage our time wisely--I try to make a master schedule for this purpose!
It's not a fixed schedule--my days are flexible, but at least with a master schedule I don't get sidetracked easily!! I can say "No" to activities that are not in my riority!
We should really cherish and value the time that God is providing us. This present time is a wonderful gift from God. What we have is "this moment"--right now!! So: start to bless others around us at this moment with what we have, and be a channel of His love!
Here's my master schedule:
5:30-quiet time
6:00 morning routine (check HMB, SMS my friends who are having their birthdays!!!,prepare breakfast, cook for breakfast & lunch!!, take shower, get pretty, prepare milk & water for Joshua, charge Handphone batteries, prepare hot water for Joshua, bathe Joshua)
7:00 breakfast
7:30 start packing time* (if we're planning to go somewhere at week end or weekdays, if not I use this block of time to get hubby's things ready before he leaves for work)
8:00 family prayer time
9:00 homeschool 1
10:00 weekly routine (I use cards for every day of the week, what to do at what day)
11:30 bible reading (together with little Joshua)
12:00 lunch
12:30 memorise verse, prayer time with my little one (we create a special prayer notebook--this is done to help my little joshua to visualise what we're praying. We stick photographs of family members that we list in the notebook, we also make a section in this notebook for our dreams..filled with scraps of pictures of our dreams..)
13:30 joshua's nap time--my reading time or browsing time!! make a bottle of milk for Joshua, if he is good at his homeschool, reward Joshua with a bottle of Chocolate milk...
14:00 coaching time--I teach only two students right now, Joshua usually wakes up in the middle of my coaching time, that would be his Homeschool 2 block!! He join us in study, but first he'll drink a glass of water and have his potty
16:00 bathing Joshua
16:30 take a shower, get pretty
17:00 playtime with Joshua!!! we go to playground, or take a walk to a minimarket, etc
18:00 prepare for cooking dinner (thaw meat, blend garlic, etc), cook dinner
19:00 dinner
19:30 story telling
20:00 Joshua's sleep time!!
20:30 before bedtime routine(lay clothes for tomorrow, check HMB,balance transactions,brush teeth,wash face, recharge HP batteries, a time for me*)

I still try to improve this schedule..well, that's it for now!!
Adieu!

homeschool preparation

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:22:00 +0000

I'm in the midst of homeschool preparation right now. We'll start our homeschool next month, and thanks to my sister in law, who lent us her used curriculum for preschool!!
She also supplies me with a variety of great books and resources for homeschool!
One of them is what I am currently reading:
Mary Pride's Complete Guide to Getting Started in Homeschooling
I'm so delighted at planning ahead...[smile...], preparing supplies and worksheets.
We will use Hands on Homeschooling curriculum for 2 years old.

I still remember in grade 5--I wrote a composition that I want to be a teacher when I grow up. I love teaching and I believe that the best way to learn a subject is by teaching them! I have been teaching private students at home for 8 years, and I enjoy the job! Now that we're homeschooling Joshua, I should quit some of my students. I only have two students remaining.
It's wonderful to have an opportunity to be my son's first teacher!

Today I taught Shakespeare's Othello to my student. I love this story especially the character of Desdemona--the wife! She's a fascinating lady!

gotta go now..
Adieu!

Our Joshua is Two years old....

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:44:00 +0000

It's amazing to see how infants developed rapidly into a toddler---and now he's already a little boy!!

JOshua's 2nd birthday

These are some of the funny events that we recorded during Joshua's first year:

trying to comb his own hair...
he did this after shower...I think he wants to look nice!!! smile...

using daddy's sandals...
he did this in my dad's house...he quietly use hubby's sandals and come in sneakingly...
Joshua is imitating us on the phone...
as soon as the breakfast is ready...he can't wait to eat the pancake....

a homemaker's diary (april 2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:29:00 +0000

movies we watch this week:
Fireproof-I really like the movie, it's about rekindling the romance and love in a marriage!

from our kitchen--our cooking adventure--:
we made a successful pancake recipe... we modified some of our pancake recipe... and we can make a beautifully looking pancake!! Voila!!! [smile....]

books that hubby and I read, study & discuss this week:
Blessing or Curse: You Can Chooseand The Normal Christian Life (Hendrickson Christian Classics)-We compare and learn the views about Christ work of redemption in our life and how we should have a renewed mind as a new creation in Christ Jesus!!

songs that we play this week (these songs are such a blessing!!!):
Alive in South Africa ---my favorite songs from this album are: I am not forgotten and You are alpha and Omega...

got to go......

1930s Marital Scale: a quiz for married couples

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:01:00 +0000

I try this quiz just for fun to find out my score. You can try and get your result too...

As a 1930s wife, I am
Very Superior

Take the test!

happy holiday...26th march 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:54:00 +0000

Yesterday is a public holiday in Indonesia. We spent our day together, enjoying our togetherness as a family! So we decided to go for a walk in Pasar Baru:
We ate the bakmie aboen (a chinese chicken & pork noodle) in Pasar Baru...so delicious!! The noodle is famous for its unique taste. Pasar Baru is one of Jakarta's old town views--many old buildings and ancient restaurants as well as street food! If you ever visit Jakarta, you can go here...

We also bought the popular streetfood here--- Siomay (fish dumplings with nut sauce, sweet soy sauce and chili sauce), one plate of the Siomay will cost you about Rp 7,500 --It's not so expensive, is it??!! There are some department stores here also, in the old buildings...
All the way in this trip, li'l Joshua is with his dad, while I'm the photographer... [smile..]

Joshua saw an elevator..and he wanted to ride on it! So hubby took him up and down..Just one turn..(note: we're not following Joshua's will all the time!)
Joshua has a funny interest in clocks...and watches! He likes to watch the ticking of the clock and count the numbers on it! He'll murmur "cuckoo clock" everytime he sees a clock on the wall.
From Pasar Baru, we went to Ancol. We took Joshua to Seaworld Indonesia! He was so happy!!! He enjoyed looking the big fish in the giant aquarium!! So cute!
Now, It's hubby's turn to be the photographer...

I'm so delighted with what God has done in our family!He really is a God that answers prayers! I'm so happy to be a part of my family!Thank You God for giving me this precious gift! Praise God!

The Hand that Rocks the Cradle

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 07:13:00 +0000

By William Ross Wallace (1819-1881)

picture taken from allposters.com

Blessing on the hand of women!

Angels guard its strength and grace

In the palace, cottage hovel

Oh, no matter where the place,

Would that never storms assailed it,

Rainbows ever gently curled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Infancy’s the tender fountain,

Power may with beauty flow,

Mother’s first to guide the streamlets,

From them souls unresting grow

Grow on for the good or evil,

Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Woman, how divine your mission

here upon our natal sod!

Keep,oh,keep the young heart open

Always to the breath of God!

All true trophies of the ages

Are from mother-love impearled:

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Blessing on the hand of women!

Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,

And the sacred song is mingled

With the worship in the sky

Mingles where no tempest darkens,

Rainbows evermore are hurled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

a Homemaker's diary (march 2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Yunie 罗 (陈有芳)) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:21:00 +0000

Movies I watch this week:
The Battle of Red Cliff (First Print Edition) DVD

[I watch this movie coz I love Chinese hero films...martial arts movies... and I just can't wait to watch the sequel...]

The Battle of Red Cliff 2 [First Print Edition] with Small Font Chinese/English Subtitles

[The movie is an adaptation ofrom a classic Chinese literature "Three Kingdoms"--Sam Kok--I said to hubby that I am interested to read this book also...]

Quiz I take:
I love Jane Austen's books, and my first acquiantance with Jane Austen is Pride & Prejudice, so I tried this quiz to find out what Jane Austen character I am:

Take the Quiz here!

My Homemaking update:
I'm changing my master schedule!!! I want to have more quality time with my li'l one..

From my kitchen:
New recipes that I tried this week: my mom's oxtail soup... & hubby's paternal grandma's porridge recipe with dried scallop..
they're so wonderful!!!! I am delightful everytime I successfully make a new recipe!!!!!
[big SMILE....]

Books I read this week: