Corinne Johnson Tells All

roasting tomatoes and making spaghetti sauce

dcscte — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:26:11 +0000

There has been a surplus of farm fresh tomatoes at the seminary co-op and I’ve been picking them up and eating them. But, even we get tired of tomatoes every day. However, I do want to use the tomatoes and not let them go to waste.
So, I was thrilled when my friend Lora (the rebellious pastor’s wife) posted this link for Roasted Tomatoes on her blog. I can’t wait until Saturday when the co-op is open again so I can pick up a few pounds of tomatoes and make sauce. I plan to add garlic cloves, oregano and basil to the pot while roasting (I may even try it in my slow cooker, instead of my oven as the house is already hot enough). I want to have the sauce all made up, then I will use it for spaghetti and pizza this winter.
I can’t wait to try it!
I love it when a few fresh free ingredients can come together and make a delicious meal. If you don’t have a garden of your own, ask around, your friends probably have a lot of surplus that they would be happy to share. Our home church has a ‘share’ table set up during harvest season. People bring in their surplus to share and can take what they like from the table. City dwellers can often find community gardens to participate in. This can be a great way to learn about growing food, use it as a science lesson for your kids, and get yummy and nutritious food.

Get rid of fruit flies for free

dcscte — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:51:19 +0000

Here’s a cure for fruit flies: Put a banana peel in a Cool Whip (or similar) container. Wrap plastic around the top, and tape down so it is sealed tight. Use the tip of a knife to poke holes into the top of the plastic wrap. The flies will swarm the banana peel, following the scent to get into the container, then will be unable to find their way back out. When it is full of the little buggers, you carry the entire container out to the trash. Done.

expensive bulbs no good

dcscte — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:42:27 +0000

I’ve personally been very skeptical of the claims of companies that sell flourescent bulbs. The cheap bulbs that are 99cents a package (of four), and sometimes go on sale for 69cents seem just as long-lasting to me. Even at regular price (25 cents per bulb), it would take 20 of them to match the $5 (or higher) price tag on many of these supposedly ‘economical’ bulbs.
Our overall experience, using several different brands from several different sources over several years has indicated that these are not longer lasting and although I haven’t done any scientific testing. (I only buy them if they are steeply discounted). I have not seen any substantial difference in our electric usage.

I am posting this today because we just moved into a new house, and installed two of these bulbs (they were a gift) into a living room light that is difficult to get to. Today is our 15th day in the house and one of the bulbs just went out. If a cheap 25cent bulb went out after two weeks, I would be disappointed, but not feel like I just lost $5!

Is homeschooling really superior?

dcscte — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:14:53 +0000

I’ve begun to sort through the many pieces of paper that threaten to drown us, in an attempt to organize them into some usable fashion.
I’m working on a homeschooling notebook that I began nearly a decade ago when I first considered homeschooling an option.
Here is an idea that I wrote then:
“Evidence of successful home schools does not prove superiority of studying at home – children of parents who care that much usually do better anyway.”
Then, I asked this question, which I now pose to all of you:
Is academic success a result of home schooling or a result of involved parents?

Amazing Weekend

dcscte — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:05:16 +0000

God is SO good to me. Don said it perfectly yesterday, “To think, a week ago, I was worried.”
We raised more than enough money to get the Thrivent match just from the bake sale. Then, we were blessed with so many donations of items for the yard sale that we made twice that again. Then, we were gifted another large amount to top it all off!
All said and done, our little fundraiser brought in over $3000!
We were also donated the use of a moving truck (no charge), another generous person offered to pay for the gas…
We found a house to rent, and now have enough money to move in.
We are counting down to the big day.. 12 days to go.
The moving truck will arrive at 8am on August 2nd, we’ll be loaded by 12noon, arrive in Fort Wayne by 4pm, unload and be living in our new (temporary) home by bedtime.
I sound like a broken record when I say again, it is all very exciting and terrifying at the same time, but there is just no better description of how I feel.
We had another showing on the house today; they were here for over thirty minutes. I think that’s a good sign. We prayed that they would write up an offer on the spot.
We do know that even if they don’t make an offer, it was a blessing to have the showing. It forced us to get our yard cleaned up from the sale and to get our house back in order. It’s been a hectic and amazing weekend, we feel abundantly blessed, and exceptionally tired.
Early to bed tonight

TV Babysitter

dcscte — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:35:02 +0000

I tend to be a television-basher. I am usually against all things video box. I don’t like the idea of my children becoming zombies in front of a video entertainment box. I don’t like their attitudes when they disagree about what to put into the video box, or their attitudes when their favorites are turned off.
However, today, at this moment, the television just became my friend, and I just became the BAD momma.
For the past few weeks, my husband has attended play practice along with my oldest three children nearly every evening. I am home with my three youngest children, left alone to clean up from dinner, bathe the babies, get them ready for and into bed. Noah wants to spend the evenings snuggled up and nursing as this has been our habit; Jacob (nearly three) wants to get himself a snack and eat it in bed while we read books, Ethan (6) wants someone to help him do all the things that he is capable of doing himself, but also wants to help me in ways that really aren’t helpful, but are more just him getting in the way.
The more I try to console or entertain them and get them to cooperate, the worse my evening goes.
Last night, by the time Don came home I was exhausted and all three boys were still awake – all climbing on me while I tried to pretend to be asleep thinking maybe that would convince them to do likewise.
Today, I dreaded the moment my husband would leave.
I knew that Jacob would be screaming and throwing a fit because he wants to be with his daddy, and doesn’t like being left behind. I knew that Noah would be crying because I couldn’t give him my undivided attention. I knew that Ethan would be whining and complaining about having to clean off the table all by himself (it’s his chore, but his sister usually helps).
Ethan (with food still all over the table) was begging me to play chess with him, then I had an idea.
If Jacob would get ready for bed and Ethan would take care of the table, then I would put on a movie…
How did that sound?
Suddenly, they were acting like big boys, helping each other out and soon, they were sitting quietly on the couch waiting for the movie to start.
Now, all three (even Noah – the baby) are contentedly staring into the oblivion of the video box. No one is crying. I’m hiding in the dining room, eating a piece of chocolate cake by myself, having a glass of ice cold milk and updating my blog.
I’m only feeling slightly guilty.
Bad, bad momma using the TV as a babysitter.
But, I’ll take a deep breath and return to my children a better mommy because I won’t be screaming and crying and throwing a temper tantrum either.

School for Toddlers

dcscte — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:28:55 +0000

One of the issues I often hear moms ask about is this:
What do I do with my little ones, so I can focus on teaching my older ones?
Usually, we don’t want to just plop them in front of a television or other video box, but we can sometimes be frustrated by their need to be underfoot and disruptive.
Here is one idea that has helped our family.
I made Jacob (almost three years old) a ‘school’ book of his own. It is a three ring binder, with plastic page protectors. I insert coloring pages, mazes, activity sheets, photographs, etc. into the page protectors. He is given a few different colored dry erase markers. He uses these to do his ‘school’ book. As he grows, I will replace the pages as his interests and abilities change.
The trick here is that this is a special ‘school’ book, and I do not let him just play with it. It is only used when I need him to do his school work so that others can do theirs.

By the way, I am not totally opposed to television, and since we hardly ever watch it, I did think at one time that I could try a video for our toddler. I bought and turned on Elmo’s Potty Time. I thought this is a great way to encourage bathroom use, and get him interested in something besides me for a bit.
Gradually, every child in the house gravitated towards the musical video box. That is every child except the toddler. He watched and danced for about two minutes, then left to see what else there was to do.

Overall, my experience has been that toddlers want to do whatever mom or dad is doing.
If I want to read a book, I bring one for him to read also.
If I need to do laundry, I give him something to fold and carry.
If I am weeding the garden, I assign him a plot to care for.

Whatever I am working at, I try to give him a task, even if it is a menial task, he is learning to help.

I try mostly to remember with all of my children that there will come a day, when they will be too big to pick up and carry, when they will not need my hugs and kisses to get over their bumps and bruises, when they will not come to me with every woe, when I will no longer be the center of their lives…
Take time to enjoy being so important!

MTV wants homeschoolers

dcscte — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:05:53 +0000

Click here for an article posted by another homeschooling mom. Apparently, they are looking for hsers willing to share their experiences for a documentary.
It could be a fun class project!
They are specifically looking for kids ages 14-18.

Caitlin Trained her Fish

dcscte — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:24:22 +0000

Caitlin found an abandoned fish in an empty apartment she was helping Gramma clean. She was given permission to keep the fish, but not to bring it home. My rule about pets is that you can not have an animal to take care of until you prove you can take care of your own self. This means that I don’t have to remind you to shower, brush teeth, brush hair, wear clean clothes, put your things away, etc.
If I am still taking care of a child’s basic needs, then I will assume that I would have to take care of the needs of that child’s animal also. No thanks ~ I have enough to do.
But, Gramma let Caitlin have the fish and keep it at her house. Gramma took care of the fish, and Caitlin was allowed to visit it.
About a month ago, we gave Caitlin the opportunity to bring Ruth (the fish) home. Gramma provided the bowl and food.
Caitlin has proven very responsible with her pet. She cleans the bowl every week and feeds the fish every day.
I think it is adorable that she has gone above and beyond the basic necessities. She talks to her fish and has taught it to come to the edge of the glass when she goes over to it. She puts her finger up to the glass, and Ruth comes over to her finger. Caitlin puts a piece of food between her finger and thumb and leads the fish up the side of the bowl to the top.
She began doing this because she was worried that Ruth might not be able to find her food, so she shows it to her before putting it in. Now, the fish follows her fingers whenever she goes over to the bowl. It’s very cute to watch.

Ruth (the fish) will follow Caitlin's fingers up to the top of the bowl

I HOPE that I can HELP

dcscte — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:21:03 +0000

I was depressed yesterday, to the point that I was hardly functional. I get that way sometimes. It’s like I wake up overwhelmed by all that there is to do, drowning in a sea of hopelessness and helplessness. I see all that is before me and feel like no matter how hard I work at it, I will not have helped any of it (Helplessness). I feel like it will always be so daunting, and it will never get better (Hopelessness).

This is a place that Satan likes me to be. When I recognize that I am sinking deeper and deeper down the drain of helplessness and hopelessness, I reach out to God. I know that if I focus on the way I feel, then I am unable to focus on God, and I struggle to keep my eyes on my Creator.

I don’t mind trials; I thrive in challenging situations. I struggle when I am unable to see what I can do to help the situation. That’s where I was yesterday. I still did the daily duties; picked up the house, cooked the meals, played with my children, nursed my baby, but I was not working toward anything or for anything. I was just getting through the day.

I begged God yesterday to show me what I need to do, to show me how to function.

Don is starting classes at the seminary in September. It will cost approx. $50,000 for the first year. We can get $20,000 in financial aid, that leaves $30,000 that we have to raise. School is a full time job; Don will not be working much. I have six children and God called me to homeschool ~ I will not be working much. We have three houses for sale in Michigan, no current prospective buyers, and no where to live in Fort Wayne. I felt like I was drowning.

This morning, I am writing this at 5:30 am.
Today, I feel different.
Today, I feel like there is hope.
Today, I have a purpose; a function; a job. I see something that I can do, that I can accomplish, that has potential to better our situation.
We were given a tip about a possible low cost housing option; I’m going to check it out today.
We were given the go ahead on a fund raising idea with the possibility of some matching funds; I have to organize the fundraiser.

Even when I am surrounded by things to do, it is hard for me to get motivated when I feel like there is nothing I can do that makes a difference. (I can clean the toilet, but it will just get peed on again; I can cook a fabulous meal, but everyone will just get hungry again.)

I will always continue to do the daily duties, and plug away at some long term projects too, but TODAY there is HOPE that I might be able to do something that will HELP.

When I am hopeful, and feel that I can be helpful, then I am motivated to go above and beyond the immediate, and work toward the future.

Thank you God for giving me something to do.