Clements Academy

Clements Academy 2014-2015

We began Clements Academy on August 18, 2014. Days leading up to beginning, Annie-Sarah would wake up and ask, "How many times do I have to wake up until school starts?" The day "school" started Annie-Sarah woke up excited, I cooked her a back-to-school breakfast and surprised her with a new outfit. The night before I thought what a blessing it is that God called us to Homeschooling!!! I absolutely  love being Annie-Sarah's teacher. Our Church cover is Ridgecrest Christian School, the school also offers a co-op which we are very excited about. Our prayer this year that we become closer to God and as a result closer as a family.

The "Spoiled" American Church

        I am currently in graduate school and I am in a class that is tearing down any cultural bias that I might have in order to be able to better counsel people of all cultural backgrounds. This past Sunday I attended a worship service at a local Hispanic church. The worship was very different than I have ever experienced. A one word description of the service would be “beautiful.” Even though I did not understand any of the service I could feel the presents of the Holy Spirit in very real way. I also took Communion with my fellow Christians. Communion was a very moving experience because I could see the brokenness and longing for the presents of God to be with these people. There were five people that were baptized the day before and they received their letter of membership to the church. I will never forget the older women that received her letter and she broke down. She was so grateful to be part of the family of God. As I sat there I realized why it was so important to her, that church is the only place where is not the minority and she is full accepted for who she is, which is a beautiful creation of God. These people truly have to rely on God for strength in a foreign place. I also could see what a hard life this woman has had. She has calloused hands from the many hours of hard work to get where she is. She has fought every day of her life to make sure her family has better.  

         I think this whole experience impacted me emotionally in a big way. I really can not stop talking, thinking, and praying for the amazing people in that church! God was really opened my eyes to this amazing culture that is truly “right in my back yard.” A lot of my preconceived notions of this culture have been completely torn down and I have found a new respect for these HARD working people. Being the minority is very very intimating. While sitting in the pew being surrounded by a language that I did not know was intimating and scary. My mother always taught me to put myself in someone else’s shoes and I truly did that on both occasions, but the worship service had the biggest effect on my. I also figured out through this experience that my church is spoiled compared to what they worship in. There church consists of a metal shell of a building with no electricity, no bathrooms, and no running water. What if the churches we attended only had Porta Potties? God has rocked my world while doing this project and I love it. I have gotten my passion back for ministry that had been put out by the "spoiled" American church. 

         I have learned so much through this experience and I can not thank my profession enough for giving this assignment. I first learned that Hispanics are not here to “steal” our jobs, like us they just want better for their families and they are willing to do what it takes to do it. Second that they serve the same willing and able God that I serve just in a different language. Thirdly, as a society we need to embrace this culture and love on them and minister to them. 

        I want to challenge everyone to reach out to a culture that you have negative preconceived notions towards. I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone, seriously be uncomfortable and you will be amazed what God shows you. I think the biggest problem in the American church is that we do not challenge each other to be uncomfortable!!!!  

Finanical Check-Up for March

Financial Check-Up

 12 Money Saving Goals for 2012

1. Make Laundry Detergent (http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm)

Will be done this week!!! I will let you know how I like it.

2. Make Dishwasher Detergent ( http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/02/2011-do-it-yourself-experiment-2-homemade-dishwashing-detergent.html)

This turned out great!!! It cleans better than the store bought stuff!!!

3. Make Fabric Softener (http://acontentedcommonlife.blogspot.com/2011/08/for-love-of-things-homemade.html)

I am making my second around of this fabric softener this week, I am using a different scent this time. I want to change this up a bit.

4. Make Baby food (http://moneysavingmom.com/2010/05/freezing-homemade-baby-food.html)

I made 80 servings of baby food this month and Katie-Beth loves it!!! Made all the 80 serves for $20. I saved a total of $28 by making it myself.

       As you can see, she likes it!!!

5. Make rice and oatmeal cereal (http://www.homemadeginger.com/2011/02/homemade-whole-grain-baby-cereal.html)

I made this, but I didn’t like the texture. I am going to give it another try

6. Make baby wipes (http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/06/how-to-make-homemade-reusable-baby-wipes.html)

7. Cut grocery bill by $50 biweekly (http://moneysavingmom.com/31-days-to-a-better-budget-series)

I cut our grocery bill by about $200 this month!!!

8. Spend $0 on K3 curriculum(http://moneysavingmom.com/category/series/15-favorite-preschool-kindergarten-resources?orderby=date&order=ASC)
(http://teachbesideme.blogspot.com/2011/03/learning-alphabet.html)

I have started writing the Bible portion of the K3 cirriculum

9. Learn how to coupon, save $20 monthly (http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/08/couponing-an-investment-in-our-family.html)

10. Buy almost all clothes at thrift shops(http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/06/lessons-learned-from-my-first-thrift-store-shopping-experience.html)

I am changing the name of this one to buying everything at thrift stores. I have fallen in love with the concept of buying everything (except shoes and swim wear and things like that) thrift stores. This month I have purchased all clothing at Good Will, salvation Army, Rhea Lana(consignment), or Simon Says(consignment).

11. Only eat out 2x a month or less!
12. Take an inexpensive vacation
If I can accomplish these goals we have the potential of saving about $3500 a year!!!! That is motivation enough!!!!

IT IS FINISHED!!!

Alrighty, I finished the challenge and I have to say that I feel amazing!!! I am never finished anything! This Friday will be 2 weeks since I finished this life changing challenge. Since finishing I have only taken the time to put makeup on 4 days!!! I have to say I like myself better without it!! Man, that is a change! If you remember back to when I first started this whole thing, I would not look people in the eyes when I would speak to them and was just utterly ashamed of what I looked like without makeup, but God has delivered me from that. I know Satan is going to attack me extra hard because I just said that(or typed it, whatever). Any who, I want to thank the women and teen girls that went on this journey with me. Lori, thank you keeping me accountable through this, thank you for sharing you struggles with me, and thanks for letting God rock your world!  Rachel, thank you for being such an encouragement through this, I do not know what I would have done without you! Marshall, thank you for being you, thank you for being beautiful on the inside and outside, you are an encourager, and a pretty stinkin' amazing girl and I know God is going to do pretty amazing things through you. Keep it up! Madison, thank you for being an amazing Godly girl, I learn things from you all the time, God is going to do amazing things through you! Jordan, even through you only did the challenge for a short time, I am very proud of you! I am proud that you did it and God was able to show you things in your life that you need to work on.
     Okay ladies(and guys if you wear makeup), I want to challenge you now!! Do this challenge, it is life changing. I know what some of you are thinking, makeup, really? Yes, makeup! No matter how attached or not attached you are to makeup, God can use this challenge to show you things. Think of it as a fast because in reality it is a fast. You will be amazed! Please leave a comment if you feel the pressing upon your heart to do this challenge, I want to be able to encourage and pray for you and I will even do this challenge again if need be.

Update: 12 money saving goals of 2012

Alright so the first month of money saving is almost up and I think I have done a pretty good job. So here’s how I have done:

12 Money Saving Goals for 2012
1. Make Laundry Detergent (http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm)
2. Make Dishwasher Detergent ( http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/02/2011-do-it-yourself-experiment-2-homemade-dishwashing-detergent.html)
3. Make Fabric Softener (http://acontentedcommonlife.blogspot.com/2011/08/for-love-of-things-homemade.html)

I made this fabric softener yesterday and it turned out great. My clothes smell great!!
4. Make Baby food (http://moneysavingmom.com/2010/05/freezing-homemade-baby-food.html)
5. Make rice and oatmeal cereal (http://www.homemadeginger.com/2011/02/homemade-whole-grain-baby-cereal.html)
6. Make baby wipes (http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/06/how-to-make-homemade-reusable-baby-wipes.html)
7. Cut grocery bill by $50 biweekly (http://moneysavingmom.com/31-days-to-a-better-budget-series)

I have actually cut my grocery bill by $150 this month!!
8. Spend $0 on K3 curriculum(http://moneysavingmom.com/category/series/15-favorite-preschool-kindergarten-resources?orderby=date&order=ASC)
(http://teachbesideme.blogspot.com/2011/03/learning-alphabet.html)

I have started writing the Bible portion of the K3 cirriculum
9. Learn how to coupon, save $20 monthly (http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/08/couponing-an-investment-in-our-family.html)
10. Buy almost all clothes at thrift shops(http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/06/lessons-learned-from-my-first-thrift-store-shopping-experience.html)

I really had to lay down my pride on this one, but once I did God really delivered. I was able to get almost all the girls spring and summer clothes for $80, where as I was spending $600 a season on Annie-Sarah’s clothes alone. I also bought myself a pair of American Eagle jeans, a gap shirt, a Columbia Shirt with the tags still on it, an Old Navy skirt with the tag still on it, a really cute shirt and a sweater dress for $15.50!!! I was so excited!!!

11. Only eat out 2x a month or less!
12. Take an inexpensive vacation
If I can accomplish these goals we have the potential of saving about $3500 a year!!!! That is motivation enough!!!!

February 20-24- No makeup Challenge

No I haven't fallen off the wagon! I am still doing it!!! I have had sick little girls this week and this is the first chance I have gotten to give you an update. I am actually starting to like the way I look and somewhat haven't cared what others have thought. I know surprising. My husband has been such an encouragement through this challenge and he has told me how beautiful I look! I really like the reaction I am getting from my hubby. God is showing me alot through this. God has also given me alot of opportunities to tell Annie-Sarah that we are beautiful the way we are. She is a lip gloss fanatic, I am not joking, if I allowed she would use 6 tubes of lip gloss a day. Okay maybe not 6, but probably at least 1 tube a day! lol She has been dying to put lip gloss on me and I have had the opportunity to explain to her about my fast and she really seems to understand. She is such a smart little girl.I am so thankful that God has called me to do this because He is showing me that I was beautifully made by Him and He is also using me to show my little girls that they were beautifully made by Him as well. I can do this and intend to follow through with this with the strength that only can come from God.

Day 2 and 3

I have decided that on the weekends that I am only going to give you an update Sunday. I want to spend as much time with my family as possible!

Yesterday (Saturday) and today (Sunday) have been pretty hard days. My skin is going through detox right now, my pores are being cleansed and that means my face is breaking out. If I was not already self-conscious enough before, I now feel like a teenager going through purity. I almost feel as if I need to apologize to people for the way I look. I have been really praying about that and God has convicted me saying, “Who are you to say that my creation is not good enough.” I am not boasting by any means, but my God created me just the way He wanted me to look. I am beautiful in his sight. I am learning to love myself the way I am. God is teaching me a lot through this journey and I am scared and I am loving it all at the same time. I serve an amazing God, who loves me and took the time to knit me in my mother’s womb.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.” Psalm 139:13

Day 1- No Makeup for a Month

Alright I did it!! Here it is, I am exposed! This is what I took like without a lick of makeup on. This has to be one of the hardest things I have ever done. I pray this gets easier as the days go by. Thank you for your responses and support!!! I have a couple of women that have committed to going on this journey with me. I am so grateful.
I am learning a lot about myself already. I am learning that I am so absorbed in the way I look. I have noticed that when people have talked to me today, I have caught myself looking down and putting my hand kind of over my face. How have I made such a small thing(makeup) the ruler of my life? I almost feel like I have to explain to people why I look the way I do. How sad is that, that I feel I have to explain why the Creator of the universe made me the way He did. Who am I to question His work?
I have sent up alot of prayers today. A matter of fact I have been praying Psalm 139:14 quite a bit. I got a little boost of confidence last night when my sweet little Annie-Sarah looked at me and said, "Mommy you look beautiful!" I am so thankful that she has not picked up on our society's belief that we have to look "perfect." I am having to learn to look over comments from students because they have noticed that I look a little different. One K-4 student this morning looked at me and said, " Mrs. Clements are you sick, you look sick?" One of my students said, "Mrs. Clements why are your eyes so red, they don't look good?" That student then remember that I am making a change in my life and said he was sorry that he forgot that today marked the day of a new me. I though that was very sweet and I was glad that he had been listening to me.
If you feel that it is silly that I am this wrapped up in such a small aspect of life, then you might want to reflect on your life and see what silly little thing is hindering you from fully worshiping and surrendering to God. Pray for me today, I need it!

31 Day Challenge

THE hardest challenge that I have ever been presented with was given to me today!!!! Today I was looking through this great resource that our church provides to us, it is a Christian magazine called, Homelife. I was flipping through trying to find a good article to read and came across, “A month without makeup.” When I first read the title of the article I thought to myself, “There is absolutely no way that I could do that!” Well, I should know better than to say something like that because God hears everything and then He challenged me! After I felt that little tugging on my heart I read this sentence in the article that pretty much jumped off the page and slapped me right in the face, “God is interested in our hearts; not our ability to put on a perfect face for Him.” Come on God, really, makeup!!!! I love my makeup!!!! “ Just think about its name-makeup…when you put it on, what are you trying to ‘make up’ for?”

After reading this article I realized that I rely on my makeup too much. I feel like I am a completely different person when I do not have it on. I RELY on it for my confidence, I RELY on it for people to accept me, I RELY on it!!!! Where is my reliance supposed to be? God, who made me perfect! Psalm 139:12 says, “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully made; wonderful are your works, and my soul knows it very well.” I am not saying that there is anything wrong with makeup, I am saying that there is something wrong when we RELY on it!!! I need to take this challenge, but I am super scared. Like the article in the magazine said I am afraid of 4 things during this fast from makeup:

1. People will react negatively to me and/or ignore me if I’m not wearing make up.

2. Parents of my students will not listen to what I have to say because I don’t look like someone that is well put together.

3. People won’t want to work with me on a professional level because they are disappointed that I’m not better looking.

4. People (particularly women) will think they’re better than me because I don’t look as good as they do.

I would love for more ladies to do this with me! I need the accountability and support! I am a mother of two beautiful girls and I want to be able to teach them by example that they should be happy with the way God made them!

Your prayers and support would be greatly appreciated!

I am going to try to post a picture everyday for 31 days!

Ladies when should I start?

In Christ,

Dawn

www.truecampaign.org

12 Money Saving Goals for 2012

12 Money Saving Goals for 2012
1. Make Laundry Detergent (http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm)
2. Make Dishwasher Detergent ( http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/02/2011-do-it-yourself-experiment-2-homemade-dishwashing-detergent.html)
3. Make Fabric Softener (http://acontentedcommonlife.blogspot.com/2011/08/for-love-of-things-homemade.html)
4. Make Baby food (http://moneysavingmom.com/2010/05/freezing-homemade-baby-food.html)
5. Make rice and oatmeal cereal (http://www.homemadeginger.com/2011/02/homemade-whole-grain-baby-cereal.html)
6. Make baby wipes (http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/06/how-to-make-homemade-reusable-baby-wipes.html)
7. Cut grocery bill by $50 biweekly (http://moneysavingmom.com/31-days-to-a-better-budget-series)
8. Spend $0 on K3 curriculum(http://moneysavingmom.com/category/series/15-favorite-preschool-kindergarten-resources?orderby=date&order=ASC)
(http://teachbesideme.blogspot.com/2011/03/learning-alphabet.html)
9. Learn how to coupon, save $20 monthly (http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/08/couponing-an-investment-in-our-family.html)
10. Buy almost all clothes at thrift shops(http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/06/lessons-learned-from-my-first-thrift-store-shopping-experience.html)
11. Only eat out 2x a month or less!
12. Take an inexpensive vacation
If I can accomplish these goals we have the potential of saving about $3500 a year!!!! That is motivation enough!!!!

The people spoke and I listened!!!!

I took everyone's advice and I made wreath number 3!!! Here is the finished product!

I CAN'T make up my mind and I need your help!!!!

With Katie-Beth's birthday fast approaching I need to make up my mind what wreath I want to make for the hospital door. This is were I need your help I have three options that I can not decide between. The top wreath is #1, middle wreath is #2, and last wreath is #3. Please leave a comment and let me know. Her initials will be on whatever one I decide.

15 day challenge!!!

In our walk with God it is always easier to have a closer walk with Him if we have an accountability. Well I want to have a closer walk with God and the area I want to work on is being a good steward of the money(very little) that God has blessed us with. This is were this 16 day challenge comes in, for the next 15 working days I am going to pack Daniel and I's lunch for work. I know what your thinking, this is not a hard task, but for us I want to be more disciplined in this area. I have become addicted to pinterest.com in the last couple weeks and it is where my inspiration has come from. I have found a blog that I think are going to help me in my adventure. I did some research on the average cost per week to pack your lunch is $11. So that is $22 for Daniel and I both. We are spending much much more than that! I am praying that I can do this, it is only 15 days and who knows I just might like it!:) Here is the blog that is going to help me get started....
http://www.familyfreshcooking.com/2011/09/16/project-lunch-box-30-day-challenge/

Annie-Sarah's Christmas Presents

Daniel and I are tried of buying the same old same old toys year after year. We want Annie-Sarah to have things that she truly enjoys and will make alot of memories with. This year we have decided that I am going to make all of Annie-Sarah's Christmas presents. I am excited and nervous about this:)! I am pretty much addicted to Pinterest.com, but I have got all of my inspiration for this adventure from this website. I am not done looking for things to make but here are just a few of the things I am going to make for her this year:

http://www.delawarecountymoms.com/2011/07/getting-crafty-with-nicole-homemade.html
This is homemade doodle paint. Annie-Sarah LOVES to paint!





http://www.skiptomylou.org/2007/04/25/on-a-roll/
This is a crayon holder. We are always traveling and this is a great way to store her colors!







http://emptybobbinsewing.com/2010/06/04/birthday-week-the-quiet-book/

This is called a quiet book. This is going to take me the longest to make, but I think she is going to love it. Each page has different manipulative that works with hand-eye coordination and you finish the book with a "paper doll" or in this case a "felt doll". I am really excited about this project, but it is going to test my skills(or the lack of lol).


As I find more projects I will share them with you!!!!!

Pumpking Patch 2011

I can't believe that it has been a year since I last posted on here. I wish I was a better blogger cause I really want to be. Is that something that you can pray for?lol Anyway, this past Saturday we took Annie-Sarah to the pumpkin patch for the third year in a row. We had a good time, but Annie-Sarah felt horrible. Her allergies were bothering her so bad, but she insisted she wanted to go. This year they had a few upgrades: instead of the hay bale maze, they had two new inflatables. Annie-Sarah did not feel like getting in the inflatables, but she did get her face painted, rode on the hay ride twice, and we pulled her around in the wagon. Here is are pictures of every year we have taken her and you can see how much she has grown. :)

Pumpkin Patch

We took Annie-Sarah to the pumpkin patch on October 2, 2010. This was Annie-Sarah's second time going to the pumpkin patch! She has grown so much since last year! She has alot of fun and cried when we had to leave.

School started today!!!

Today school started for Daniel and I!!! It does not seem like it is time for it to start, but ready or not here it is. This is my senior year at Liberty University and I am super excited about graduating!! We are planning I traveling to Virginia in May for graduation and then after graduation we are going to go to Washington D.C. for a couple of days. The only problem is that I feel like I am never going to make it to graduation. I feel like I am working towards a goal that I am never going to achieve. It is taking me 5 years to get a 4 year degree, but hey at least I am getting it. Daniel is in his second semester of his master's degree and he is doing great! He is very much looking forward to graduation and it looks like he will graduating in December 2011.

Our mini vacation to Hot Springs and visit to the zoo!!

Daniel and I just celebrated our 4th anniversary!!!! I is really hard to believe that we have been married 4 years already!!! Well to celebrate we went on a mini vacation to Hot Springs, AR. A wonderful church member allowed us to stay at their lake house and we can't thank them enough for that! We left after church on Wednesday August 4 and came back on Saturday August 7. On Thursday we walked around down town because Hot Springs has a beautiful down town and a lot of really cool shops. That night Daniel cooked an amazing meal: Steaks, sweet potatoes, and salad. I got to enjoy my meal, but I think Annie-Sarah enjoyed it more when she climbed over in my lap and ate my food(I didn't mind at all). Friday we go up went to the zoo, but first we went to Chick-fil-a and Starbucks. We had a little surprise a Starbucks, we were standing there ordering and then Daniel and I feel something wet all over our feet. We just thought that we dropped her cup, but unfortunately she had gotten sick. She was a real trooper, she didn't cry. We had a wonderful time at the zoo. Annie-Sarah learned how to say a lot of new words. Her favorite animal at the zoo was the giraffe. Saturday we got up and had a relaxing morning and then came home.

We took the pacifier away!!!

The pacifier has bit the dust!!!! Annie-Sarah has 16 teeth now, so we thought it was a good time to take it away. The pacifier left our lives on June 28. She has taken her loss well. The first week was really rough because we traveled quit a bit. The next goal in our life as parents is for her to starting sleeping in her "big girl" bed.

Annie-Sarah has the chicken pox!!

This has been a very interesting week in the Clements' house, Annie-Sarah has the chicken pox!!!!! She started running a fever of 101 on Sunday night and then she acted normal on Monday, but Tuesday morning she woke up with a rash and it steadily got worse throughout the day. Wednesday she woke up and she had a red rash all over. She had the chicken pox shot at 12 months, but they still have the chance to get them, but she does not have a bad case of them. She is actually in a pretty good mood, but very sleepy and gets irritable when I don't give her medicine regularly. The hardest thing about her being sick is that she has wanted to go outside and play because she has been looking out the window and seeing other kids outside playing. Daniel is at Centrifuge this week and she already missed her daddy, but being sick makes her miss him even more. I am very thankful that God has blessed me with such a wonderful church family that has called and checked on us.