Hoping to figure out a better way...

I'm trying to simplify here...

Trying to make Jamie Buckland a one stop shop for my writing, my music, and my crafting.

I hope you'll be patient, and also loyal, to seeking me out over there to read any future posts.

I am hoping to figure out a way to actually MOVE my blog from here to there, but until then, just check it out there, okay? Okay.

How was lunch?

I had an extra child at the table when we set down to school today. For those who find they relate to this, I share your joy in being able to school a, shall we call them, a free spirit?

Ah, my Emma. Anyway...

I took a late nap yesterday. Bad idea. It resulted in my being up til 3am. On top of not being able to sleep, my throat started to feel slightly scratchy, and I just didn't rest well. I'm married to the greatest man on earth? Have I ever told you that before? Well, I am. Every morning, it is the norm for me to awake, prepare breakfast (something not cold), pack his lunch (cold), and send him out the door. I only do not cold breakfasts to get my bottom out of the bed. So, for those who think I'm such a great wife and cook, let the curtain be pulled back. I am not a morning person, I am lazy, but I am not worthless. So knowing that I can't rely on my man pouring himself a bowl of cereal, and knowing that I can't live with having him go hungry all day, well, it gets me outta bed in the morning.

Now, there are a few mornings where I roll over, and in my most manipulative sleepy voice say, "Do you need me?" Ha, and I will say that most mornings he says, "Yes." To which I grouchily arise and head to put on my apron.

But this morning, he said, "No." Thus the reason he's the greatest man on earth. He could tell I really didn't feel all that well. I had thought I heard him packing his own lunch, but I was mistaken. I saw the belongings to my purse scattered abroad when I did get up, which only happens when he's scavenging for cash.

So, when he called to tell me he to write down a withdraw in the check register, I felt better knowing although he had had no luck in my purse, he was getting him some moolah to get him some grub. Goodbye guilt.

So, now to feed these kiddos. Well, this will do...

Leftover pizza, leftover cinnamon rolls, and a can of good ol' Ravioli :) Hope your lunch was satisfying today. It's back to the grind here.

Grace: Do your kids just think it's what you say before that first bite?

There is much to be said about this word.

I have realized I'm an amateur at giving it. And although needy of it, I am also an amateur at resting in it. And finally, I am sure that I have become a student of it.

I started hearing the message about a year ago from friends around the way.

It started creeping into family conversations at Sunday dinners.

Having been raised in a good ol' once in grace always in grace culture, well, I just figured there wasn't much more I needed to know about it.

I was wrong.

I'm still learning, but obviously, still not in complete understanding.

But what I've found is that even those who know about it, preach it, and really seem to understand it, still find themselves living in such a manner that is ignorant of it from time to time. So, therefore, I am reminded He wants me to take time out of my day to submit to Him working on me some more...

Are you aware of grace? Really aware?

Would love for you to read this, and share your thoughts.

The Big E

Right now, I'm comfy in my favorite spot of my two-seater chair, with just a few sips of Pepsi left in the can to my right. My dog is snuggled in by my side, and my loaner cell phone that is temporarily replacing the one that went through the laundry last night, is by my other side.

My daughter is dancing around freshly showered in fresh pjs with a freshly pulled tooth in a Ziploc baggy.


My son, who is almost at his daddy's shoulder, is standing shirtless beside his daddy, who is just back from having to make an evening trip out for work in Mullens, as the two of them make the most of borrowed Wii time.


Ah...the goings on of a Saturday evening.



Hard to believe the view from this same comfy spot last night looked like this...





Ethan turned 10 on November 3rd. Can I just say that it is strange when your baby boy hits double digits? Being Ethan's mom is an absolutely joyful, and amazingly rewarding experience. Ten years ago, I was at a very difference place in life. You can kinda get the picture by reading about his beginnings here.


Even after writing that post a year and a half ago, things have changed. I have changed. I am sitting under teachings of grace that He has used to open me up and show me grace in an entirely new light.


What does this have to do with Ethan's birthday? A lot.


He is using grace to teach me so much about parenting, and discipling, my young man.

And I must just say, I love who He is forming Ethan to be. And I thank God that out of my rebellion, He could build us into the family we are today. Praise be to my God.


Okay, with all that being said, last night we had 8 of Ethan's bestest buddies over for a sleepover. We don't buy Ethan or Emma birthday gifts from us, don't worry, they don't go without! The grandparents did a fantastic job, and supplied him with a new DSI and a MP3 player this year!

So anyway, because we don't do gifts, we do provide the actual party. We live on a single income, so it requires me to be a tad more creative than buying the most popular party favors, ordering a cake, and inviting everyone and their mama for a "different" kind of "wow" birthday party.

Well, let me just say, I guarantee my boy didn't feel this was a sacrifice AT ALL!




I looked at lots of different ideas for party favors. Something the boys could play with here, and then take home. Last year, we did small Lego toys. They were about $5 a piece. Well, I just couldn't afford that this year. So, we went with insulation foam lightsabers covered in duct tape. Each lightsaber was about $1.89 a piece. Not too shabby. The boys got creative, and had double sabers before you knew it...I was impressed.


Between borrowing the Wii from my sister, and having a friend bring their controllers, too, we were able to supply sufficient entertainment for our 9 fun-seeking guys.

So, what's the other big cost to throwing your kid a party? Food.

Well, with a little effort, and some extra dish washing, you can cut cost there, too.

I made 3 pizzas from scratch. I'd say each pizza probably cost me about $2.50. I only bought 3 2 liters of pop, each were $0.79. Once they were gone, we just did water. For dessert, Ethan asked for hot fudge brownies. So, from my mawmaw's Betty Crocker cookbook, I whipped up a 9X13 pan of some unbelievably scrumptious brownies. Then drizzled a bottle of microwavable glaze I picked up at Wal-Mart atop, since I couldn't find an ingredient to make the icing I wanted to on my own...at first I was bummed, but then I realized the bottle of glaze for a few bucks wasn't so bad after all!

One gallon of vanilla ice cream was about $3, the brownies and icing would probably be just under $6, and then poor guy had to settle for just 3 candles since that was all we had in the cabinet!

This morning, we had cinnamon rolls from scratch, couldn't have had more than about $3 in all 24 rolls.

So, if my calculations are correct...

Party favors for 9 boys = $17.01

Food to feed 9 boys = $19.50

Entertainment for 9 boys = free

Watching 9 boys fight to near death with foam, wrestle fairly to the 3 count out, and giggle uncontrollably over each other's antics...

yeah, you know it...priceless!

Pride. Sin. Proverbs.

Good discussion going on here about comparing ourselves to one another.

Is our pride at work when we post status updates about something we've accomplished? Or is it at work when we withdraw from doing such for fear that someone will think ill of us?

Good stuff.

like a jewel in the nose of a pig

Busy day yesterday, enjoying friends in from New Mexico, but today's Proverbs is proving to be full of good ol' wisdom!

22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

Well, on Facebook last night I posted this.

And it's good to know we have these lovely young ladies below to offer up as role models to our babes.

Ah yes, here we have Miranda Cosgrove. What 8 year old girl shouldn't be admiring her idol's I heart boys shirt?

Now, for Selena Gomez. We wouldn't catch her leaving a bar or behaving badly, at least that is what the article says. But, would we catch her actually wearing modest clothes? Or just being labeled modest when compared to good ol' Miley?

Now we have Victoria Justice. Is anyone else seeing the masterminding behind this marketing? What pendulum swing are they talking about? They say that "this" is the modest side!

Ah, and my new personal least favorite, Miss Swift. Talented? Yes, very. But innocent, sweet, and modest? No. Far from it. Please, please, please parents! The very article that claims statistics for all the damage these immodest Hollywood girls are doing, tells you that these girls are the modest ones to look up to.

I pray that someone who was viewing these shows, these songs, these idols, as harmless to their little girls, sees this and has their eyes open to the filth it is, like a jewel in the nose of a pig...

How do I respond to criticism?

That tells a lot about a person, eh?

I've been criticised a fair share in the last few years. Some of it very justified. Very. And looking back, I think I've had plenty of practice at learning how to take it well!

Some of it I had to look at who was doing the criticising and pray that I would have discernment to see if they were wise or foolish. Does that sound mean? Ah, don't the Scriptures tell us to do just that?

Anywho - today's Proverbs is a good 'un. I'm not a huge fan of The Message version, but I thought it post-worthy this time...

7-12 If you reason with an arrogant cynic, you'll get slapped in the face;
confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins.
So don't waste your time on a scoffer;
all you'll get for your pains is abuse.
But if you correct those who care about life,
that's different—they'll love you for it!
Save your breath for the wise—they'll be wiser for it;
tell good people what you know—they'll profit from it.
Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God,
insight into life from knowing a Holy God.
It's through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens,
and the years of your life ripen.
Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life;
mock life and life will mock you.

We've been talking with Ethan about how he takes criticism. Trying to help him to practice humility even when he feels it is unjust. This is a hard lesson to learn! But a necessary one to teach.

Whose your biggest critic? Is there some truth to be found in their advising?

How do you respond to criticism? If it is unjust? If it is just?

When the Word stirs

I sat under biblical teaching yesterday.

Teaching that sent me pouring through Proverbs to further investigate what a wise person looks like, and what a foolish person looks like.

I find that my flesh can be pretty foolish, yet as a new creation, I'm not given over to foolishness as frequently as I once was.

It reminded me to get back in Proverbs. We used to read Proverbs, a chapter a day, but for the past few months, we started a new Bible reading and it replaced Proverbs. I am thinking that a daily Proverbs reading is a pretty fantastic supplement.

Today, the 8th, what is my mind stirring about after reading it?

Wisdom in Creation.

What stirs your mind when reading Proverbs 8? Well, try it and see!

per Martin Luther's quote

Is it true that not everyone has the OPPORTUNITY to have the Holy Scriptures as the spine of their child's education?

What is keeping the Holy Scriptures as being the spine of your child's education?

The original quote was...

I am afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labour in explaining the Holy Scriptures, and engraving them on the hearts of youth. I would advise no one to send his child where the Holy Scriptures are not supreme. Every institution in which men and women are not unceasingly occupied with the Word of God must be corrupt.--Martin Luther

So, I want to hear from you guys, does the public school system hinder the engraving of the scriptures? If you say no, then you say no! No need to defend yourself! But I do want to hear the positives, really, I do! I want to hear how it's helping to raise godly young men and women.

But if you say yes, then why?

And if yes, and you use the public school system? Why do you use it? Do you think your child being taught evolution will challenge their belief in Creation? Are you just praying that it won't be that bad?