Homeschool Diva

You have to feed your kids good stuff. Not just good food, but good life experiences too. Bottom line. That takes plugging in, prayer and really observing where your kids are at, and what they need  at any stage of development.  Whether you home school or do private or public, you as the parent need to make sure you are tending your little garden. Ever hear the saying “No one can do your push ups for ya?”  Well the same is true in parenting. Lately I have been getting emails of admiration from non homeschooling Moms who want a little help on how to supplement their child’s education.  I love it.

First I would recommend taking stock of were your child is, physically, mentally, relationally, emotionally, spiritually and academically.  Make a list if you have to. Maybe we get things turned around when we hyper focus on academics and leave other very important formational stuff out?  Let the Lord lead you, on things that you see that your  child needs.  Do they need a good dose of habit training, how to do chores or how to take care of their hygiene?  Do they need to read some deep literature, other then fast food type stuff that is typically marketing to early elementary readers?  You get the idea.  I don’t know, only you will now that for each of your children.  Hey, and if you don’t know, maybe you are just too  busy and you need to slow down a bit so you can take stock or where you and your littles are at.

I would recommend you intentionally add a few things into your family rhythm to help give you some well balanced nutrition for you growing brood, weather home educated or not.  Pick a family read aloud.  Stretch and pick a classic or even, shock….. some Shakespeare.   This is also a great resource for those wanting to steer their children into some really good literature.  Living literature will take you and your child into deeper things like geography and history and science.  These books are simply outstanding and every family would do well to read through them together. We have gone through seasons of this on and off in our family and are right now back in this season.  Make your children earn video game or TV time by reading  2 for 1.   For every 2 minutes they read, they can earn one minute of TV or video game time.  It works for us.  Instead of filling your house with the sound of a TV on, play some music quietly in the background.  There are tons of online math helps out there or even some interesting math books that will help your kids.

Think through some practical things you can do with your kids.  Take them to the post office and have them do the whole deal, buy the stamp, address, and mail the letter, use the automated kiosk etc. Go to the hardware story and but the supplies for a family project and involved them in actually checking out and paying for the items.  Involve them in your whole life.  Even the simple things can be a learning moment.  You don’t have to be teacher or a school to schedule a field trip.  You can make a few phone calls in your local area and set up some family things for you all to do together.

Life is short, and there are so many things you can do and accomplish when your kids are big and have flown the coop.  Take a little time, in whatever way you can, to add a little richness to your child’s education.

Hope this helps some of you out there.   I am going to go take some of my own advice and do some phonics games with the kids.

Grace and Peace to everyone out there

We are leaving for a blissful stay-cation while Mike’s parents tend the young ones…

We will be going to my FAVORITE local place for a little R&R married 14 years style.  I will kill the pictures and leave a tiny peek….

Grace and Peace to all those who know that life just keeps getting better and better!

See you next week.

We had a fun weekend.  Our oldest had his first swim meet.

I did a little diving. I took some pictures but they are not nearly as good as my Dad’s.

Now, I am off to upload some pics to flickr and finish up some school work.   This week, we are celebrating our wedding anniversary, with half of the rest of the married world:-)  So, between, school and play  I may be spotty on posting here.

Grace and Peace to all those celebrating life with those they love.

Things on the list to do for today:

• Start a family book Huckleberry Finn
• Build a Lego city as a family
• take a bike ride at River Bend Park 
• do some cooking and then eating together
• Read, discuss and pray through this as a family. (HT: Sarah)
• and finally the crowning achievement….a family clean bathrooms, mop, vacuum time before bed.  (All my chore training is paying off, now that they all can really clean, and I don’t have to go back and redo it.) Life is grand.

Enjoy your day everyone, be blessed so that you may be a blessing to the world~

a

that is what I call it when Mike and I  sit down and hash through all of the “things” going on in our life.  I remember when we were first married and an older married couple made a mention that they hadn’t talked about some given event that happened a week earlier.  They just had not had the time.  I thought it was strange then, now I understand completely.

So, I thought I would give you all a SOU on my life so you are in the loop.  I will do this via bullet points as I don’t have a ton of time this am before our day starts with a BANG! Rest assured, I am thinking of you, as this little blog space keeps me energized most of the time.

• I have a stress fracture in my hip and it is hurts like mad.  A common sports injury and will only heal with time and rest and that is it.
• I am not doing any training, I can only swim with a pull stoke and no kick which is a serious bummer.  I had to postpone my races reluctantly.
• I am learning how to rest and be still. (I am always learning that one!)
• We are still bunking with my parents for another week before we move yet again in to our own home.
• My Mom has had knee replacement surgery while we are here. Wow is that one wicked painful thing to recover from.
• All of my techie stuff is in pieces sitting on my parents dining room table, which doesn’t really call me to be creative with it. My camera is forlorn, my ipod is rarely charged, my computer has some dang virus and we can’t find the cables for my disc drive and can not burn discs without a lot of maneuvering, which has been a serious thorn in my side.
• I haven’t uploaded to flickr in about a month and my blogging is spotty at best.
• I realize I miss them, they help me keep my mental life sorted so to speak and my creative life on track.
• Our children are doing well without their own space and their own things although I am seeing signs of weariness around their little edges.
• I had to spend a junk load of money for dental cleanings and then a cavity filling on our kids teeth.  Dang make sure you floss your kids people, heck floss yourself too while you are at it.  I have been a bit tardy on that for various reasons….I will leave you to guess what.
• Then I had to spend a junk load of money on figuring out my hip.  Here is a tip, never get attached to money or things….they never last only Jesus does.
• Homeschooling schedule has been crazy but  thankfully we are getting it done.
• Our older 2 are joining a local swim team and my  youngest is learning the strokes so he can do the same.
• I have been praying about what to do with our oldest as he needs some new things in his growing life, so I am signing him up for a local co-op next year for 2 classes.  Latin, possibly Art Appreciation and definitly Learning with Legos.
• I am moving into the season of parenting that causes me to be in my van non stop.
• I want to travel overseas again…….like mad.  I am itching for us to go on a little “walk about”.
• Mike and I are seriously overhauling our schedule in the new house….to carve out room for dormant things.
• I am in need of a silence and solitude retreat, like yesterday.  I understand why Dallas Willard plans his out for 5 years that way NOTHING gets in the way of him getting away to be alone and silent with the Lord.
• I still love photography and am starting to clear the decks enough to start some photography  projects I have been wanting to work on.  Maybe June will be the month?
• I believe I will do this tomorrow with my dear sweet kiddies. Today I will prepare supplies and make them guess at what we are doing.  I love making them guess and be held in suspense.  It is the right of every mother, no?

So there you have it.  Now you know why I have not been very good at blogging lately.  As a matter of fact, I haven’t read another blog in I don’t know how long….hope to get to that one day soon. Thanks to all you who still stop by even in my tardiness. I’ll try to show up a little more often;-)

Grace and Peace to all those muddling through~

Today we had a little tea, these three and I.  Our oldest read a part of the Christmas Story, I read some poetry about “tea time”.  Our youngest poured hot tea for the first time successfully, our middle sipped through the new hole in her mouth were her first baby tooth used to be. We listened to Handel’s Messiah playing in the background.

This has been a family tradition since they were tiny little guys.  We do not have it scheduled, it just happens spontaneously. We sit and read a little poetry, or invite Great Grandparents over to share a little time with us.  We say please and thank you, we let the ladies go first, we try not to slurp our tea. We feel so special.  You know how you feel when you put on a pretty shirt and fix your hair just right.  It is the same thing.  They feel so special when we put away all that darn plastic ware and give them pretty plates and tea cups and let them have a go at working with the adult things.

We got a full size tea set last year for Christmas, because the tiny play one we used to use, was just too tiny.  They feel like grown ups, I feel like I am having a special time to just give them a lesson on manners without the rush of dinner, and tiredness falling down upon us.

Just 15 minutes, breaking up the day, allowing for a special space to open up right before us. Then they clean it all up and the normal roar starts up again, trucks zooming away, board games resumed,  the “Mom can we….” converstaion about whatever thing they just can’t let go of. Oh how I love the tea that calms the storm. Now I have to go and sweep the dirt up on the back patio from the plant that has just been knocked over and used to fill up a dump truck.

Peace to all and a good cup of tea.

I want to travel the world on an all expense paid trip with ALL of my children to Hawaii and stay in a 5 star hotel, go skiing, go to the Grand Canyon and who knows Paris next.

Apparently, all I have to do is have 8 or more children, call TLC and ask them to do a reality show about my family. Oh wait, I think they need to be multiples, so we can have a cute name. Maybe we have to be super extreme, grow our hair long and have 17 kids or something, have all their names start with a “J” and show how we get it done at the grocery store.

Oh no, I am not cynical. Hey I don’t blame them for “pimping” their family to give them what most average family in America would never have in a whole lifetime. I will parade my parenting for millions of people to see every week, if you will just give me that darn trip to Hawaii, because I want to renew my wedding vows too.

I gather TLC is picking up on the fact that America and the world really, is fascinated with family life. Healthy family life, that supports the idea the children are a blessing from the Lord. That there are parents who DO really love each other and want to stay together even when things are hard. Somehow they just don’t believe it, so they have to make it into a real life tv show. Of course we all know “WHO” is at the center of their family life, but they keep all that on the”down low” so they can air it on tv.  You know political correctness and all.

I am writing a test pilot. What do you think? Dang, I just don’t think I have enough kids to make that fly. 3 is just too normal, just too average! Well, that kills that plan, now how are we going to get to Hawaii?

Our middle child is a girl bookended by brothers. She is tough and can throw down with the best of them. I work hard at taking her on “princess” dates and doing special little things so she can see through modeling that being a girl is great. I understand that she will learn about her femininity through watching me. She does like to wear dresses and look pretty, just not overly girly in anyway.

We enrolled her in ballet, so she could have girl time, and be prissy and wear pink etc. You know a break from all this boy stuff around here. The testosterone, drowns us out at times. Guess what. She could care less. In fact, she doesn’t really ever want to go, and would rather stay home and play soccer with her brothers. I do have a loose game plan on things that I am exposing her to, and working with her on in regards to the wonders of being a woman but I am now seeing that ballet doesn’t have to be one of them.

Here is the reality. She is just like me. She doesn’t really like pink, she told me the other day she doesn’t like princess stuff. It is “dumb”, a word we don’t use so I am sure she really meant it. The other night we were sitting outside playing and she asked if she could get the skate board to skate. The hysterical thing is, it is her brothers and he never touches it. She is rockin’ on it. Honestly, she is a total athlete, even over the boys. The boys are athletic and do well at athletic things, but she is a natural at almost everything and has crazy spacial awareness.

So I gotta say, I think it is totally RAD to have a skater chic for a daughter. We are discontinuing ballet. I agree that we should require children to do certain things even if they don’t like it because it is good for their character training…like cleaning their room, and eating their vegetables, not something that we are stretching to pay for and she isn’t really diggin’. We are rethinking something else I can get her involved in that would nurture her feminine side, that she will be down with.

Any ideas for an athletic, rad, little 5 year old who thinks she is invincible and can do anything she puts her mind to.

Dang, I want to be like her when I grow up!

This week we have the honor of hosting 6 of our out of town family members. Our kids get to spend some quality time with their cousins and Aunt and Uncle who they rarely see, and of course their Grandmama and Grandaddy.

I am shooting picutres like a fool and am even going to attempt to do a group family shot with a tripod and a timer. My girlfriend is gracious to come up and help me get at least one good image of 11 people, which trust me people, I know from experience is WICKED hard.

During my blog rest, and now my school break, I realize how many images I shoot a week. I shoot about 1000 images a week. I am always working on growing my ability to nail settings in manual, and learning the back end technical side of photography. I have found that composition is only half of the story with good photography. Connection to your subject matter and editing skills are the other half if not more of any piece of photographic art you are creating. I love the never ending challenge of photography. There is always something to experiment with and learn.

God is moving and doing really deep deep things in my life and the life of our faith community here. It is amazing to watch. I hope to flesh some of what is going on more deeply, when my life slows down a bit. It is in my head and heart, now I just need to get it out on to paper.

Grace and Peace to all~

One of the greatest treasures of homeschooling…..

is the ability to observe your children, and REALLY get to know them. Not to manage them, or cart them around, or teach them, or discipline, or train them. As parents, we can get so busy in the “business” of raising kids, that we schedule our way right on out of it.

Every day, I get to know these little guys as real live people, who think and talk and have opinions, and who are being called by God. It is amazing. Most people say to me, “I don’t know how you do it?”. They must think I am super woman. I am here to say I am not. This isn’t easy, but nether would sending them off to school now would it? Are you kidding me? With all the fund raisers and early morning rat race rush, and homework that you would probably teach them how to do anyway, to me it seems simpler to stay home.

This is what I love the most, getting insight into them as people, so that I may partner with the One who made them. I KNOW I wouldn’t understand them as people the way I do now, if they were away in school for 7 hours a day. I would ask their teacher, and she would tell me. All these little inside conversations that they have are my little gifts to keep for ever and not someone else who wouldn’t really treasure them the way I do…and trust me I do treasure every one.

Grace and Peace to all~

Today started like this…

• throwing up children (again - what the heck is going on?)
• wet sheets
• I started the day at 4am
• Got through 2 lessons and everyone lost steam.
• Our oldest just said…while laying on the couch”Mama, I feel like a slob.” as he runs to the bathroom to throw up again.

Mama, is second guessing herself today!

Pray with me!

In our home, over the years, I have tried to keep a special table set up just for the kids to interact with. The last 18 months or so, I’ve let it slide, so I am bringing it back. I am doing this specifically for our youngest, who is 3 turning 4. This is a very special time of wonder. I did this for our older two, and so now, I am doing it for him.

My COGS training inspired me to create a prayer table in our home, that would allow the kids to interact with God on their level. A child under 6 or 7 can not read the bible on their own, they have to have it read to them. But they can interact with the word of God through things that remind them of stories that they are learning, and center their mind on God in a way that is helpful for them. (Hint - this is why I am big on worship playing in our home. The kids can be with God, without my needing to facilitate it.) I have been scoffed at by some, for this seemingly silly table, but again, I don’t care….I just keep pluggin’ along. So here is our table, currently.

Many pieces of art - conveying beauty from around the world. Some purchased, some made by myself or the kids. It is good to create beautiful things.

I leave a timer on the table so the kids, can just sit and think and be silent for a minute. You would be amazed at how much a child loves to sit and watch the sand fall through a timer. This helps my very active, youngest boy, sit still for three minutes without moving a muscle, all on his own. In this I hope to teach them that silence is a good thing. To listen, and not speak is a valuable skill.

I let the kids make small flower arrangements as a symbol of their work. Doing your best, as a gift unto the Lord is a wonderful life long lesson to have. Even the smallest things are precious to the Lord.

I leave lots of natural, nature items on the table. About once a week, this jar of shells is opened and spilled out on the carpet, just to look at. I love to see them find their favorite one, over and over again.

This is a “vintage” needlepoint of an old church I picked up at Good Will for $2.29. I love it, and so do they. If you look closely behind this piece, you will see a few canvases that are “primed out” and ready for some new art. I am just waiting for the inspiration. I pick them up super cheap at Good Will. There is also a picture of a Peruvian boy and the cross. All of them, just adding to the sensory story I am telling.

Lots of books….. (I have to find creative ways to organize my husbands theological library)

and hand made art by the children are proudly displayed…

and baskets to hold, all the little things I find on the floor throughout the day. It helps me stay sane. It is a special treat, to look through it at the end of the week and say “Oh, there that is, I’ve been looking for that!” and off they go for another time of play with some little bobble.

From time to time, I will leave beautiful picture books that I find at the library, sometimes, the picture Bible, some sand tracing cards with new and interesting words. My parents in law have a wooden carved sign that says Jesus. Hudson loves to run his fingers over the letters and trace that precious name. So I need to find one. If you have an extra one lying around - could ya send it to me?

Our youngest spends the most time here. It is his space, and he doesn’t even know it. I made it just for him, and I pray that he finds a special piece of Jesus here as he wonders about all the beautiful things that have been made for him to enjoy and all the wonderful things that we have created to give.

My hope is to keep it interactive and changing all throughout the year, with new things to look at, smell, see, and interact with, all pointing to the reality of the Risen King.

So go make your own table and send me a picture. Don’t worry about those that think you bizarre. You have a special purpose in mind.

Peace to those who are thoughtfully parenting today~

Last week, we checked out the epic Little House on the Prairie movie from our library. It was stunning.  The cinematography was gorgeous, especially for a “children’s ” movie, although we all know that a book of this caliber is timeless and ageless.

The kids, were spell bound, and slightly horrified in all the good ways.  Our children our almost 7, a new 5 and a “brave” 3.5 year olds.  They did well with most of the film, and walked away for a few of the tense scenes. We are teaching them to walk away, if there is something they can’t handle yet. Even with good parental monitoring, children need to learn to manage their emotions within a given environment as well.  I understand that there will be times, that We can’t control everything they see, and they need to know how to walk away.  We stopped the film in a few places to explain some of their many, many questions, but mostly just enjoyed being together watching this as a family.

It was a huge clue to me, about how much our children loved this classic, when our 3 year old cried when we returned it to the library.   He asks each morning, if we can go back and borrow it.  I highly recommend this, even if you have “sullen” teens at home.  They may just be thankful for that ipod and having to do laundry when they see what Laura and her family really went through:-)

This fourth of July,Try this.

Trust me I am a guac snob and typically make my own, but when there is lack of ripe avocados, and you gotta have it, you must give this a try. I found it by chance in our refrigerator section where the produce is kept at our local grocery store. The avocados where hard as rocks and I was making fajitas.

No preservatives, no junk, just the same stuff I put at home with a unique vacuum packaging that keeps it FRESH!

Enjoy:-)

We will “school” through the summer. Let me explain. Life is learning and we never stop that, and our kids like to do things with me and with each other all the time, so I will keep doing what we have always done and some people may call it school. I just call it lifestyle learning.

So - we will work on building beautiful art together this summer. Develop team skills by playing tons of “together” games, that sneakily use math and reading skills in order to play. Learn a bit more about map reading with an around town treasure hunt and develop real world math skills be creating a small store and selling items in the store. We will find little objects around our house, price them and use play money to buy them from each other. Oh boy we may even do it under the dinning room table and add the fort component in. (People it is HOT here in the summer and we need tons of indoor things to do!) In addition we will reread some of our year one favorites out loud again, like Pinocchio and King of the Golden River, and work on our writing skills by corresponding with our compassion children. All fun, all learning, all school.

It is getting very hot and sunny during the mid-part of the day, so we need to do indoor activities to stay our of the sun. Anyone have any other ideas?

We are off to have our quiet time and then make banana bread this afternoon. The kids have asked me for the last time, “What are we going to do with these black bananas in the freezer Mama?”.

Peace to all bakers today!

I am becoming like my Dad!

There are 3 things we heard as kids growing up more than once from my dear Dad.

• I wish the house had a floor drain, so we can hose the house out after you kids eat.
• Just give me a yard of cement and paint it green. Yard work is the pits.
• Humans are not meant to live with animals. They need to stay outside.

I have on more than one occasion said each of these things to our children. Heck, we bought a townhouse so we didn’t have to keep up with a big yard. (That and we couldn’t afford a house here.) Weekends are for playing NOT doing housework or yard work. I do wish I had a floor drain or maybe lived on a house boat. Spills and crumbs would just be hosed right out and now, our daughter asks daily, several times a day for a dog and a cat. She even tries to pet our Beta fish, and all I keep thinking is “Humans are not meant to live with animals. They need to stay outside.” That and, I surely don’t want to add that into the work mix, at least not right now.

I will go take her over to our neighbors to walk their dog and see if that pacifies her a bit. Better yet, maybe I should send her over to Grandpas, because even though I never got it when I was a kid, Lord knows, he would run her down to the first pet shop around and buy her the first puppy she saw.

Anyone else out there, ending up to be just like their parents?

I got my new birthday present today, a Nikon D60. I had fun and here is the proof.

Chloe had her first ballet class today!

Jackson lost ANOTHER tooth!

Hudson was throwing up all morning and running wild all afternoon.

and the sunset was stunning.

Peace to all~

I am finding the more I am willing to submit to what God is doing in my life and be present to the season He has me in, the more fufulled and content I feel.  Let me “splain”:-)  Parenting young children 5 and under is a very taxing and physically intensive season of parenting. The more you have and the closer they are the harder it is.  There are days you wonder if you will ever have you body back and not be constantly doing something for,  or cleaning up after your young charges. 

But I am here to say that as your children grow and mature (mine are now 6,4.5 and 3) that exahustion disipates. I don’t want to send them away or have a break. You enjoy them and their little thoughts and games and songs and general sillyness.  We take walks together now and I don’t need all the parifianalia.  I don’t have to hold all three of them while we cross the street, they just stop, look and cross along with me of their own valition.  No more diapers or diaper bags.

I will say that some good family habits have helped me feel a bit more free.  All of us having alone time every day was  a great first start.  Mom’s night out everyonce in awhile after the kids are in bed, family walks and clean up time before bed helps me keep the house in order as a team and consistent dates with the hubby all makes for a happy, healthy, Mommy. So, now I don’t want to send them away, I want to learn with them and from them and enjoy this very litte slice of time that I have with them. 

Being Present helps me see all that God is doing in me, through me and around me.  I highly recommend it.  As soon as you stop thinking about that grocery list, or something you need to do next week, and start observing the space you are in and digging into what God has you doing at that particular moment, the better you feel as a Mom with young ones.

Just my 2 cents for the day!

Peace to all~

Just need to get our own GPS!

A week before we left, we hung a bird-feeder outside our kitchen window.  It was full of seed, and no little tweeties to be seen for the entire week.  We left it wondering if any little tweeties would find it.

The kids burning question about their home was…”I wonder if the birds found our feeder and if it has any food in it?”  Well, I am happy to report it was empty when we returned. Our feathered friends are making their way to our kitchen window for some grub. I hope to capture some good shots.  We also have some new duck families who just moved into our neighborhood pond.

In other news, we got all of the materials for our kitchen composter and the worms are on their way. Heavenly Days…I will keep you posted on that one.  Our family walks after dinner resumed last night.  I had this idea that I wanted the children to have a memory of walking at dusk as a family. On our walk, we cut several flowers and leaves around our neighborhood and made some pretty little flower arrangements around the house.    

Chenoa inspired me in Peru.  She always had fresh cut flowers in her home from her yard.  

AH yes, spring is in the air. The house is open, the wind is blowing the children are playing. Life is good.

Literally!  Today, the sun is out for the first time in  over a week.  It has been rainy and cold for the last week, which I am told is unusual here.  So, I am washing and hanging up a storm and getting ready to give the kids a hot shower fast.  You know, the little things in life.

Yesterday we went to the monastery.  That was interesting and a bit creepy at the same time. (Pictures) You really see how the people here, took their Inca “traditions” and idol worship and melded it right into the catholic church. Today we are going to a mountain park, so the kids can climb a mountain and see llamas. 

We are all feeling great again, and getting into a feeling of normalcy.  The kids have finally adjusted and finding “work” to do around the house.  Their normal play they used to do at home, is now popping up here.  I can get to the grocery and back fairly easily and we can maneuver around town in tekos and such.  Just in time to go home.  We knew that would be the case.  We wanted to feel what it would be like to live in another setting.   It allows you to appreciate what you have at home and be sensitive enough to pray for what God is doing around the world. Mike leaves for Chencha ( a very poor peublo hit hard by the earthquake) on Sat for a few days and then we are off to Lima.  Please continue to pray with us that God will give us a deeper vision for what He is doing in our local context that we may partner with him more deeply.

Peace to all!

When you take 1 suburban family of 5, who live at sea level (and at times with rain under sea level) to a city 9,000 ft in the Andes Mountains?

SICK!

Honestly, I have traveled all over the world. Cuba, Russia,  Nordic Countries, Europe and NEVER been this sick.

You take precautions everywhere but  even those precautions are not helping  here.  It is one thing when  it is just  you but when your kids and hubby  are sick too,well  it is just HORRIBLE!

OH MOMMY- pray for us!

Well this morning Mike came downstairs and there was a bird in our kitchen.  It was trapped and trying to get out, so Mike let it free.  There is tons of new wildlife here for us to observe.  The kids are really enjoying the news birds and flowers they see and the experience of climbing “mountains” (really, high hills) with the panoramic picture of the Andean mountain chain in the background.  We are picking new flowers most days and have them in our home.  That is the fun and beautiful part of living here. 

It is a hard life though.  It takes tons of work, just to gather food to eat here.  Cleaning is literally a full time job. You have to think well in advance of everything you do, definitely no drive-threws (sp?) here if you are hungry.  I have so much respect for the Styrons and the Williams who have sacrificed everything to live here among these beautiful people proclaiming the goodness of the kingdom of God and the life of following Jesus.  It is slow, unseen, hard work in any culture, but I think especially challenging when you add in the language barrier.  God is good and He is moving, so when you think of it please pray for our dear family in Peru who work hard and long with little thanks or acknowledgment. (That is the way of Jesus though isn’t it?)

Not to mention, the other day, as 24 of us sat down to eat lunch together in a small, quiet seemingly friendly spot, Grace got her purse stolen right in front of all of us.  I was trying to process what was happening, while she and a few others were up and running after the little, daring, punk.  Grace is 10 and speaks fluent Spanish and English and living in Peru is almost all she knows.  All her favorite birthday things, and special ten year old girl things were in there, including her birthday ipod from her grandparents.  So sad.  I just hugged her, and then a worship circle member gave her his ipod and she was blessed by God’s provision. 

At every table here, they have leather cords with little snap hooks on the end, so you can chain your purse to the table, so it wont’ be stolen, hopefully. Our friend Lucy had her pocket cut open when a man with a knife tried to steal her cell phone.  She fought him off.  Our friends, The Morgans (seriously cool people who I will introduce you to later) were jumped by 7 people trying to steal some of their legal documents and other items.  They fought them off too.  Although they say it was the Angels who did it for them. The week before we arrived, 3 different missionaries where kidnapped in Tekos, and accosted to get there money. 

So we are careful here.  We always travel together as a family and only take “approved” tekos and I don’t carry a purse.  If I would of thought about it enough, I wouldn’t of worn my wedding ring, but I just never take it off so I forgot about it.  It is very modest, but here it seems like royalty.  So keep praying for us.  The conference is underway and very fruitful so far.  New, deep, life-long, kingdom relationships are being formed that will be nurtured for eternity.  Despite the hardness of this trip, it is a beautiful thing

We decided to hire Lucy to give us language lessons while we are in Peru.  We thought it would be great to jump start our language study because I am weak with that at home with our little homeschool.  I figure if we get a good dose here, I may keep up with it at home.

So this is Lucy.  She will come to our house three times a week to teach us Spanish.  She was the first person the Styrons met here 4 years ago and lead her to the Lord.  She is a treasure.  She is now studying other languages and hopes to become a translator I think.

This is Chenoa.  She is one of those people who you meet and are instant friends with.  She was the person who gave me the courage and the encouragement to home-school. When Mike and I finally said ”yes” to homeschooling she was one of the first people I called. Her three kids are amazing and I love their family. (My kids love her kids too - in fact when we say “The Styrons” are coming over, the say yeah and name off their kids.)

I will be gathering other pictures during the conference of all of our friends so you can put a name and a face together.  More later!

Today we went to a Peruvian hospital.  Yeah!  Here is how it went.

Today we were inviting everyone over for dinner.  I began cooking in the morning.  I said we were preparing to have our Peruvian church family over.  Hudson wanted to help.  He started cutting oranges before I realized what he was doing and gave himself a nasty cut. 

I am thinking small cut, however there was a lot of blood and I was applying pressure and trying to calm him down, so I didn’t look at it very closely.  An hour later it was still bleeding.  Mike looked at it and felt like it was deep enough for him to get stitches for fear it would get infected.  A little side note - there is a reason we hide the kitchen knives at home. The child thinks he is Emeril Lagasse.  I was mostly nervous about the infection thing because Hudson is very allergic to 2 of the 3 strains of antibiotic.  It puts him in the hospital in the states.

My Mike and Mike Styron (our friend who lives here full time) took him to the hospital.   As they were leaving Chloe said, “I didn’t know they had Doctors here.” and Jackson replied “Chloe, they have Doctors in every part of the world even the most poor countries.  Everyone deserves a doctor.”  All I could think was “Where does he get this stuff?”

Everything went wonderfully.  The doctor cleaned out the wound and put antibiotic sutures on his cut and bandaged it well.  Now we have to have him keep it clean and dry (that is almost laughable) and go back on Monday.   Mike was very impressed with the care.  Chenoa kept me calm saying there was nothing to worry about.  I guess I wasn’t really worried about the cut or the care but the possibility of him having to go on antibiotics.  I can’t even describe to you how horrifying that who process was. (Discovering his allergy to antibiotics)

All I can say is, thank the Good Lord we decided to come 1 week before the conference begins.  Our family is acclimating to the altitude, the culture, the food and the hospital care, so now all of that will be out of the way before the conference begins.

Tonight went well.  The “littles” didn’t quit get it that our “American” church family would not be coming as well as all of our “Peruvian” church family. I made spaghetti in a pot the size of a thimble.  We ate and drank and laughed and prayed and talked about Jesus and the Kingdom of God. In the kingdom of God there are no boundaries, not even language.

Please pray that we don’t get food poisoning.  I am doing much of our cooking, so I am hoping to skirt that issue.  Mike Styron has been sick with a fever all week from eating “bad” food while out and about.  I started taking pictures of our “Peruvian” church family and will start posting them tomorrow.  You can meet some of our extended family. If you are reading this back home, please email me, so I can email you back.  I don’t have every-ones email addy’s saved on this laptop. 

Peace to all.  Wish you where here!

Shocking I know! Wow - just keep adding on to the typical experiences down here.  I am really living the local life.

Today, I went with the kids to a small “tienda” about a block from our home. Think of it like a 7/11 about the size of a master bathroom, dark and cramped. I  needed water and bread and didn’t want to take a taxi to go to the supermarket.  I don’t really speak Spanish.  I studied French for years and the two languages are similar, so I can fumble around a bit.  Let’s just say, I know enough Spanish to know I was being cheated and over charged for a silly piece of bread but not enough Spanish to stick up for myself.  Jackson consoled me by saying, “Cheaters never win Mama.”  Thanks bud!

OK - I am off to plug in the Rosetta Stone. 

The kids are cracking me up with the Spanish they are picking up.  Chloe walks around all day speaking gibberish with occasional Spanish words thrown in.  It is hysterical. 

Let’s just say we are getting the entire South American experience.  Like, they say we will be there on Friday at 2:00 to hook up Internet access and they really arrive Tuesday at 4:00.   Not much moves fast here, so I am enjoying the entire process.  I feel like this whole trip has been such a gift I don’t want to waste any of it.  I want to enjoy all of it.  So, no Internet, no biggie. 

Our flight went really smoothly.  Thanks to all those who were praying, we felt it every minute.  I was very proud of how well the kids did.  Today will be our first time with the entire “community” down here kids included, so we are all excited about that.  The kids are even picking up some Spanish.  I will post some pics later today  but for now I thought I leave you a little top ten list.

Top Ten Things to Know While Traveling to Peru:

1. LAN is about the best airline!  Whenever flying to South America, try using them. 

2. Traveling with young children in South America is a plus.  Everyone treats you like royalty.  Every where we went, in the airport, they just waved us through. No lines, no waiting. They even let us board the plan first, right after the elderly. Instead of getting dirty looks for having children who act like “children” like we do in South Florida, we got smiles and sweet gestures.

3. Boil all your water. You don’t waste water here, it is too much work to get. 

4. It is as light as noon at 5am so we are starting our days early.

5. Everyone walks here, or take taxis. 

6. Anything imported is very expensive. Like a bag of chocolate chips is $10 US.  Other things that are “spendy” in the states are dirt cheap here.  Like avacados and whole fresh pineapples are under $1 US.

7. All clothes are hung out to dry.  I like this, however, we are in the rainy season.  It rains about 5x a year here and yesterday was one of them.  I am not sure if I need to rewash the clothes on the line?  It was a light misting rain.  Very different from South Florida rain.

8. Everything here can be “delivered” like water, groceries, food.  Really anything, just add the cost of the taxi trip which is usually about $1 US.

9. Solar heated water means hot water is also a luxury and baths are not typical here.  I never realized how hard it is to get three little kids clean in a shower instead of a bath. At home I used the soak and wash method, here I have to scrub.  I think their feet will be continually dirty here as it is very dusty.

10.  Children our kids age, beg on the streets as normal practice.  They will do a trick, try to sell some gum or wash a car with a dirty rag to make a little money for their family.  Jackson equated this to his lemonade stand.  Well, kind of but not really.  They need it to live and his lemonade stand is just for fun.  Big difference.

So those are a few little glimpses into life here.  We wish you could be here.

Blessings from South America!

I have been praying for deep friendship between our children.  That they would truly love each other, and be “for” each other instead of the typical bickering and fighting, although we do have some of that at times.  I think that siblings need to be together a ton, in order to learn how to love each other. They need to play together and have adventures.  Just like any friendship, it needs to be nurtured and developed.  These first interactions will shape how they deal with relationships their entire life.

I keep scheduled play-dates to a minimum.  Honestly, we would like our children to interact first with each other and our family and secondly our church family, after that we limit other play-dates.  I have been around too many other families that let their children at 5 and 6 watch HORRIBLE things on television that our children have no concept of.  The stories and conversations that we have had, after  the few play-dates we have had, are so shocking to me that I am left speechless.  I was unaware that most 5/6 year olds have seen Hanna Montana and High school Musical  and know about kissing boys, or have watched Transformers, Spider Man and Star Wars (the PG-13 ones)?   I didn’t know this, I was shocked.  Jackson came up to me the other day at the park. He said “Mom, that boy right there is only 5 and he has seen Transformers the movie.  What are his parents thinking?”  I chuckled and was half embarrassed because the boys mother, who I didn’t know, was sitting next to me on the bench.

This morning, we are listening to Yo-Yo Ma and enjoying warm porridge.  Our children are giggling and laughing with each other.  They are talking about doggies and veterinarians and we are getting ready to go to the post office for a field trip.  Life is good, the children are happy and the air is crisp. 

Sounds like a Hallmark card doesn’t it?…..well except for dirty dishes in the sink and the children who have colored marker all over their hands, other then that it is pure Hallmark.  Thank goodness for washable markers.

Peace to all Friends in the house today~

I found this great site that gives you step by step instructions on how to make ice cream at home. It is also a great science lesson.

I intend to do this once we are home from Peru.

Jackson has been putting some pieces together theologically speaking.  I love to watch God call our children.  Anyone who doesn’t believe God speaks today hasn’t spent time with a thoughtful child.  There are days you could knock me over with a feather with things that my children say to me concerning God and his overarching rule and reign. 

About a year ago, he realized that not everyone decides to follow Jesus with their whole life.  A few days ago he asked me, what happens to people who don’t follow Jesus when they die.  Let me tell you,  it was a fascinating discussion.  By the end he was completely perplexed at why anyone would ever choose to not follow Jesus. 

After our discussion he said “Mom, Satan walks around this earth taking on different forms, in order to trick people to follow him instead of God, like when he took the form of a snake in the garden.”  I said yes, he said that is why we wear our armour to fight him. I again said “yes”.  Then there was a long period of silence.  I wonder what he is thinking about and what God is showing him.  It keeps the mystery of our faith alive and exciting to me almost every day!

I left our children quietly carving soap at the dinning room table as I prepared our dinner.  As you see from the picture, the soap is setting next to our little fish tank.  I vaguely remember hearing Hudson say something about the fish being hungry.  I obviously never thought it would end in this.

 He explains that the fish were VERY hungry, and that is why you see the tablespoon in the fish-food.

The fish were gorging themselves on food. If fish do grow according to the amount you feed them, I should wake to find Shamu in our living room.

As I frantically try to recover the fish from suffocating on food, I absent mindedly poured them both into the same container. (People - You try to think clearly when you have the life of family pets on the line.  It is clear why I never went into the medical profession.) I move about my business of cleaning out our grubby little tank when I hear a sweet angelic voice say, “But Mom they are fighting fish. Now they will have  a war.”  I forgot they shouldn’t be in the same container so I frantically am trying to scoop “red fish” out of the way of “blue fish” with a 1/4 measuring cup.  I called my girlfriend “stat” who is well versed in such matters and she said “Be Brave and use a Dixie cup!” Note to self, “Buy a fish net.”

Chloe and Hudson hid their eyes for fear that I would squish them.  Jackson calmly played legos as the rest of us were in a “code red” situation. I prayed I would not drop them down the drain, in front of little eyes.  That would be tramatizing for sure. I can hear it now “Mom killed our first pet.”

            “red fish”                                   “blue fish”

Chloe rubbed my back after the episode was done and said “Good job Mom, that was a close one.”And people think stay at home, homeschooling Mom’s don’t lead an exciting life.  Hillary Clinton I dare you to do any better! On the up side, we got a clean tank out of the deal, and I REALLY needed to do that.

Hope the spaghetti’s good tonight.

Well, we have had no problem renting out our home as a vacation rental.  In fact, we have been able to be a bit “choosy”, as we are getting 4-5 requests a day.  Mike and I are still in amazement, although we are excited because it will allow a regular, old, normal (OK - not so normal), homeschooling, telecommuting, simple church family who holds fast to the kingdom of God, be missional, without having to raise support.

My posting has been light lately, not because I don’t have anything to say, but because I have no time to say it.  School was wonderful last week.  I am thoroughly enjoying “For the Children’s Sake“. We had a great Nature walk on Friday. I hope to record that on the nature blog…..soon.

Cleaning out the house, touching up paint and other maintenance projects are on the books for the day.  I am starting to think about packing…for 5 weeks and the problem is, unlike most women, I am a notoriously light packer.  I will tell you why in another post, but for now, my dear husband is encouraging me to pack for comfort…I am not backpacking around Europe but going to live in the same location for over a month. 

That’s all from the home front here!  I am cleaning and listening to “Over the Rhine”. Wish you all could go with us:-) 

So there are a few things I have been thinking about.  I will write a few more developed posts next week, but for now I just want to capture them here as I continue to think and pray through them.

1. Fostering an atmosphere where God is the primary and central theme of our day, without going into overkill and suffocating your children.  I am running into so many homeschool moms who are hyper frenetic about making sure their children are “getting the word” that I fear they may be smothering them over zealously.  I want to be mindful of this.  Charlotte Mason talks about this too in one of her volumes.  I need to go find that again, does anyone know off hand?
2. How to help your siblings be friends.  I have  a few theories on this.
3. Praying for the Holy Spirit to keep me soft to his leading in regards to training our kids.   Not too much and not too little.  It is a fine balance.
4. Starting early with your children in regards to how to treat the opposite sex and how to work in the home.
5. I finally have a plan for how I will tackle school in Peru and it feels so right for us.  I have been thinking through it for some time and the other day it all just came to me.  I am excited about it!

I have been reading through the past few posts and I realize I am writing about tons of training issues and not as much about practical home school ideas.  The reality is whatever year you start homeschooling, your first year is really all about getting down a rhythm.  I am taking as much time as I need to weed my little garden as far as family dynamic is concerned.  We are moving along with our readings etc., but I really feel like it is much more important to have good foundation in habits then it is to be hitting every cylinder with our curriculum.  

Ok - that’s it, have a great day!

Despite all of my pleading,  the last faint bastions of baby days with my big boy are dissolving, or should I say, falling out….out of his head.  Another baby tooth is gone. 

Here they are coming in!

And here they are coming out!

We have now taken to calling him the “Double toothless wonder.”  He thought of it himself. Turkey!  Chubby hands and diapers have been long gone, so I guess I have to wave good bye to baby teeth too.  Shhh! don’t tell anyone, but he still likes to snuggle.  I will take it as long as I can get it!

Shh, I will tell you a little parenting secret that Mike and I have stumbled upon.  But don’t tell our kids, because so far they don’t know it is happening yet.

I have a friend who has a degree in child psychology tell me that it only takes 15 minutes of one on one time a day with each child to make them feel extra special.  You just need to plan for it and work it in.  Mike and I are very good about having special dates with each of the kids alone, and date nights for each other as well.   Everyone gets their own time throughout the day to be alone, and I work on one on one time throughout the day too so I feel like I am covering the bases so to speak.

So here is our little twist.  Mike and I secretly keep one of the three children up after the other two have gone to bed for about ten minutes or so for special Mommy and Daddy time.  They all get ready for bed together, brush their teeth etc. and secretly one of us takes one down stairs and the other of us puts the others to bed. 

Give it a try….it is so much fun.

Our dear missionary friends from Peru gave us a hand made creche last year.  We will be staying with them for the month of February as we teach, train and serve God’s people in Peru. Please pray for us.

They found it up high in the Andes by Lake Titicaca in a city called Puno.  Yesterday the children asked why “baby Jesus” was in a little canoe.  I got to tell them how the people who live there lash reeds together to create floating islands.  The weather is hard and cold and the altitude is very hard on their bodies.  Imagine living in a cold wet environment your whole life.  Be thankful for what you have today and where you live.  There are people all over the world who live a very hard life.

The house is quiet this morning.  My husband and the boys went camping with our church family.  We have had some “princess time” and they are off roughing it.  I feel a family tradition forming.  Like once or twice a year the boys go off and be boys and the girls go off and be girls.  I also want to start a family night once a week where we make some type of dinner together like homemade pizza and homemade ice cream, play games and read out loud to each other.  I think we are getting to that phase so I want to start developing those memories.

Although it has been fun having Mother/daughter time I miss our boys.  The house isn’t the same without them.  I’ve been reading my husbands blog because I miss him.  I know it is silly but I love how he thinks and writes.  He just finished up a series on ethos that I love. 1,2,3,4,5, I love it when he pontificates deeply from the heart about theological matters.  It makes me swoon. 

You know that is how we fell in love.  We met in CCC at UF and just talked and talked about God.  Then one day I realized “OH - I think I have fallen in love with this guy.  Darn it! - I swore I would never do anything like that.  I was going to be a missionary overseas not some mushy girl who needs a boyfriend.”  We had the “DTR” talk at the Atlanta Christmas Conference and the rest is history! This time of year always makes me mushy remembering how the “us” started blooming. Well almost 15 years later my friends I am here to tell you, I need him then and I need him now.  I am so much better because of it.

There was a day I didn’t think I could have kids.  Mike and I tried for 2 years to get pregnant and then our first pregnancy sadly ended in a miscarriage.  I almost needed to be checked into the loony bin.  My whole world was rocked, and my ideas about prayer stretched.  It was a pivotal moment for me.  And then, in His time, our family was born. Life changing to say the least.   I cherish every moment with them. 

They teach me so much. How to stay grounded and in the moment, connected to what I am doing.  How to NOT “Have a care in the world” and not think of tomorrow or the next day just enjoy the time I have now.  The time I spend with them daily, keeps me young.  It is seriously good medicine for the heart.

Thanks Jordan for a great group writing project.   Here are some other thoughts on children.

Here is  a snippet of a conversation our children had amongst themselves while cleaning and reorganizing their toys. I wish I had it  on tape to play it back to them when I need it:-)

Jackson:  It is so fun to play with your toys when they are picked up.

Chloe: Yeah you can see everything you need and I know where all my babies clothes are.

Hudson: Silently stacking blocks on a clean floor.

 Jackson: Yeah you can’t think when everything is such a mess! 

OK - People I have been saying this for years!  I think they are starting to get it!

Step 1:  Be prepared.  It is a lot more fun if you do.

Step2:  We light a white candle.  It is a symbol.  It reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world and no man can come to the Father except through him.

Step 3:  We play classical music in the background.  The more senses we bring into play the more deeply the brain holds what ever information they are learning.

Step 4: We read the Bible out loud.  The King of kings moves among them, meeting them where they are at, teaching them his mysterious ways and sparking their imagination.

Step 5:  After I read out loud, Mommy stays quiet.  Shhhhh Holy work is being done.

More to come. Enjoy your day~

Have you heard of them?  As in…all of this Halloween candy MUST-GO!

They are my own secret invention to terminate many of these Halloween goodies.  We are chopping them all up and making them into decadent brownies and sharing them with our church family.  We told our kids they could pick their favorite 15 pieces and the rest we need to get rid of.  Does anyone else hear at 7am, “Mommy can I have some of my treats?”. 

Well, my husband predicted it accurately.  We had clear weather for the party and one trip around the cul-de-sac and then the rain cut loose.  Imagine a costumed group running in mass with candy, fire men helmets, tiaras and capes all a flurry.  Many ended up back at our house soaking wet sorting their loot.  It was a good time. 

I am happy to have our kids interact with the neighborhood kids in limited doses on our terms.  I have already discovered we need to come up with some family rules about it. Like letting neighborhood kids know when they enter our home, they are going to have to interact on our rules and not theirs. Every day is a learning process.  Enjoy the pics!

This is a good investment.  We borrowed it from a friend.  She calls it her portable play yard.

Food galore.  I made Swiss cheese fondue. 

Honestly, I am washing all our costumes and selling them on eBay next year in August.  I am sick of seeing them.  The tallest one is one of the kids Nannies.  Yeap - here they all have nannies, so the moms can work their high powered jobs.  Our neighborhood is a ghost town during the day.  Everyone at work or school/day care. 

Loot sorting has begun.

Our three tired, wet, candy hounds enjoyed the party.  They went to bed tired and happy.  As we all grow together, Mike and I will continue to make space for others in our home and teach our kids that this is what part of being “salt and light” is all about. Go throw a party.  You will have some fun and  just maybe some of your family will rub off on the world, which I am sure would be a very good thing!

a tropical depression darkened our door. 

Our poor weary travelers are ever so worried that treats and goodies will not be forthcoming.  A wonderful gala event has been planned for neighboring children and their parents at the gates of our humble abode and we fear that all might be lost.

Oh the scandal, oh the injustice, the travesty.  The earnest and humble prayers of three young saints have been on their lips since sunrise.  Me thinks there will be no “trick or treating” if 40MPH gail force winds persist but we believe that prayer does move mountains and in our case weather systems.

Please pray with us!

…that no one else in the North American Continent, dare I say even the world….

started their day with a 5lb bag of sugar being poured all over the floor, the couch and the carpet.

I found him after he started trying to clean it up. SIGH!  At least he was trying to clean it up. Honestly, people, don’t ask OK - School is postponed a few hours for some KP.

*****Update*****

OK - I bagged the agenda and we got most of school work completed by dinner time.  I am also almost positive that no mom in North America ended the day by sitting on the stairs and having their 4 year old princess say…

“Mom you don’t look so beautiful, you look a little wild. Sit down and let me brush your hair”  She then proceeded to brush my hair and put pretend makeup on my face.  I said I was sorry for having a bad attitude today.  She said “It is OK - I understand.  I get really frustrated when my stuff gets ruined too” and then she gave me a hug. 

One bonus…..I have a REALLY clean house to start my day off tomorrow.

 You will be proud to know that I stopped riding my children’s emotional roller coaster.  I know enough not to ride any of  my peer’s emotional roller coasters but somehow the concept escaped me when it came to our kids. 

I had an epiphany 2 weeks ago and it has made all the difference. My attitudes, emotions and feelings are not dependent on or directed by their attitudes, emotions or feelings.  It is a beautiful thing!

Our kids that is.  We just completed yet another road trip to Oriental North Carolina (12 hour trip) for our friends wedding.  Mike and I were interested to see how our kids would do and were considering it a good dry run for when we are off to Peru in Feb.

They ate well, slept well, were fairly flexible and obedient.  Yesterday we drove the entire 12 hours straight through in order to get home in time for Mike to be at work this am.  I was dreading that part but they all handled it well.  The last 30 minutes resembled this but other then that it was good. 

Oriental is a sweet  little fishing town on the coast.  I think there is only one stop light in the whole town.  It had a nice slow pace about it.  On the way home we asked our kids what their favorite part of the trip.  Our oldest said the driving. Yes I know that is a bit strange.  Our daughter said the party after the wedding.  With a  Pinata and sparklers to see the bride and groom off, it was every kids dream.

Out littlest said, the ferry boat.  We got to ride a car ferry several times. He loves boats and the water so that was the highlight for him.  That is our grey van right up front.

For Mike and I it was deepening of relationship. We were able to take one of the teenagers who went to Peru with us along for the ride so those connections were deepened and also being with our Peruvian missionary friends strengthened those bonds too.  The change in weather was nice but unfortunately we didn’t see any leaves turning.  Our kids did find some good nature finds but we will have to go again when the leaves are in all the glory.

For us Florida folk, snow and leaves changing is a pretty big deal.

Peace to all~

We don’t get to see the leaves change, but we are going to North Carolina for a dear friends wedding and hope to catch the change. To celebrate I made sweet potato pancakes.  We are also off to Sea World for a week of fun and education.  I will be posting pictures of our time there throughout the week.

 So part of my whole process is letting my artistic side get back into the game.  Like I have said before I have been a little out of whack these past few years, so I am getting back into painting, experimenting with photography and learning how to build this dang word press website if it kills me. (Trust me it is a creative process too!)  So I am participating in a weekly photo hunt.  I have wanted to learn how to work with digital photography and I  am the type of person who does well with a tangible thing to shoot for.   All you Northerners, go run through the leaves for us!

Peace to all!

RELATIONSHIP! 

I don’t say that lightly.  I mean that deeply.  Maybe it is because pursuing relationship is extremely important to our family as a whole. Not just with our children but with real live people who walk and talk and have issues and need healing and need friendship.  Mike and I have always wanted our home to be a haven for anyone that God has in our life. The fabric of relationship that is woven here is more important than my routine or the things we have in our home.  The house is just a tool for the real living that is happening.

It is important for us to immerse our kids in a lifestyle of building into people in a natural, non-programmatic way. They don’t understand why we always have people over in our home, or why Mommy stops and talks to neighbors a lot or why we throw parties.  Lot’s of parties. It is just part of their life. 

Tonight we had our neighbors over for dinner.  This is the first time we have actually had neighbors that said “yes” to us.  We’ve asked before in other neighborhoods but no one would take us up on it.  It was lovely, relaxed, natural.   All of our children stayed up late playing.  Very late by our normal bedtime standards.  But I could do 2 things.  Stick to the schedule because it is more important than diving into people, or two, ditch the schedule in preference of relationship.  We ditched it!

Because of what it happening with the economy, none of use are moving anytime soon in our neighborhood.  For that I am thankful.  I am digging in and looking to build bridges all over in the neighborhood.  So our children will sleep in tomorrow.   I will start schooling a little later.  I will choose to have a lighter load tomorrow.  I don’t have to jump through hoops tomorrow to get them up, dressed, fed and off to school by 8.  Life is short!  Minutes pass too quickly.  People (even the little people who live with you) are too valuable.

We love the library.  We are on a first name basis with the librarian.  We check out our home school books for the week, a few Spanish children’s books and an appropriate DVD. 

Some time ago, we checked out Rescue Heroes for our youngest.  He adored it and I KNOW we returned it to the library. At least I think we did. He asks for it all the time.  The library can’t find it and we have renewed it 3x hoping it would pop up. It hasn’t.  We have torn the house and van apart looking for our lost item:-(  So now the library said, I could pay for it with them at the cost of 24.95 with a 4.95 processing fee. WHAT…do they think it was made of gold?

So I just reordered it today on Amazon for 4.91 with 2.95 shipping.  Once I receive it, with the shipping and late fees, that I can’t stop until I produce something to them, I will have about $9 in…$13 if they charge me the processing fee.  Much better than $30 don’t ya think.

I guess it is bound to happen, but it irks me!  I guess we do borrow hundreds of dollars of books a week from them, so one missed item isn’t a bad track record.

It has been a long week!  Tons of crying, whining, fighting and complaining….and that was just me!

Lest you think I have this all under control….I don’t! I am ready for a “do over” and a start of a fresh week…get this train back on track.   Or at least those were my famous last words! Funny thing is, the “school work” is completed, it is the inter-family dynamic that was all out of whack.  I had to be on the phone more than usual this week with some stressful financial things.  Maybe the kids picked up on that?  Maybe they were just off, who knows?  I am waving the white flag and heading for the hills,  I am “tagging” my partner, I’m calling the reinforcements… well you get the drift! 

I am lovin’ the Daddy unit right about now and will be relying heavily on his loving diversion this evening and weekend and will need some  extra special attention from said Daddy unit. (”a hem” - that is a hint to the wonderful Daddy unit who reads this blog, who has yet to comment on this blog but never the less reads it) 

WOW two subversive hints in one blog - how did I get so good?

 Peace to all~

Yesterday our oldest spent about 2 hours with his G’Pa building a rocket. When he came back….he was somehow older.  I saw it in his face and his continence.  He had picked up little words my Dad uses and started using them in his vocabulary.  Our youngest is almost out of potty training and our daughter is teaching herself to read. Life is fleeting.  Why worry about tomorrow, it will take care of itself.  Enjoy the day, right were God has you.  Even if it is hard because the older I get, the more I understand that “hard” is usually “good” being birthed in your life.

I loved kids from a young age.  I was the church “child care helper” and the resident babysitter growing up.  I have worked with young children it seems all my life.  Non of it has compared to being a Mom. Now that I have my own wonderful children, it seems that they have met that need in me that seemed to be there since I was very young.  I use to gush at other peoples kids, and now I gush at my own.

I have owned my own business for the better part of 10 years now.  I also love building, thinking, promoting etc. my own business.  The idea of seeing something go from an idea to reality is very fulfilling to me as well.  Now that I am fully into the mothering role, building business isn’t even as fun anymore.

I have found myself fulfilled in a way that nothing else could by becoming a Mom.  In this season I get to leverage myself like no other.  In leadership or business you are supposed to duplicate yourself over and over again to advance your cause or mission.  I sounds great but is very hard.  Weather you think about it or not in parenting you are doing just that. With parenting you are creating little versions of you.  The good and the bad.  The philosophies and the cleaning skills are all absorbed by our little charges.  It is a revealing process that challenges me to be better and to pray that God blesses the work of my hands especially where it concerns our children.  Putting my hand to this task has been the hardest and best thing I have ever done.

 This post was inspired by Mamma Blogga’s September Group Writing Project.  Feel free to participate if you feel inclined!

So our 4 year old is still in 2T’s.  She is in the 25%.  She is healthy and thriving, just small.  So her jeans still fit everywhere but the length.  My friend recommended putting some ribbon on the bottom to give her another year out of them.

 Aren’t they cute?

One of the tips I picked up from the book I just finished had to deal with weekly meal planning.  I want to try and prepare something new each week for us to try as a family…to  help me out of the rut I spoke of earlier. I think this will help me out.  

Annette actually prepares, plans and shops, for an entire month at a time.  Wow that is intense, but hey she is the one with her housed paid for so who should be talking….right:-)  I am throwing this into the mix this week.  I will let you know how it is!

Cuban Shredded Pork

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 pounds boneless pork chops
1 pint water to cover
1 lime, juiced
1 sprig fresh thyme
8 black peppercorns
1 tablespoon garlic powder, or to taste
1 tablespoon onion powder
salt to taste
 
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
1 lime, juiced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

DIRECTIONS
In a large saucepan, combine water, juice of one lime, thyme sprig, peppercorns, garlic powder, onion powder and salt. Bring mixture to a boil. Add pork chops, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until meat is very tender. Add more water as necessary to keep chops covered.

Turn off heat and let the chops rest in the broth for 30 minutes. Remove chops from broth and shred, removing excess fat; set aside.
In a large frying pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the shredded pork and fry until it is almost crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the onion and garlic and continue to cook until the onion is just tender yet slightly crisp, about 10 minutes more. Add the juice of one lime, mix though and toss with cilantro. Serve and enjoy.

It is an interesting word. Wikipedia defines Training as the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relates to specific useful skills. It forms the core of apprenticeship. Isn’t that a wonderful way to think about working with your children, apprenticing them to be fully formed adults?  It keeps the big picture in view during the day to day grind.  It also helps me remember that I am to be the “master” trainer (being trained by the ultimate Master)and that I need to continue working on me as I am working with them.  I am choosing to view it as “team development”. 

We are currently “apprenticing” our children in the skilled art of eating whatever is put in front of them without “whining or complaining”.  Let me say for children 6, 4 and almost 3…..it is a skill to be learned.  It is also something I need to be intentional about by offering a wide variety of foods and at least something new each week.  I realized, when we go to Peru for a month in Feb. my kids are going to be miserable if I don’t tackle this picky issue now. We asked the children, “What happens when you are grown ups and someone invites you to their home as guests, and they present you a beautiful plate of food that you have never seen before, and you don’t know how to act or  are too scared to eat it?  Whose fault would it be?”  They thought for a moment and Jackson said “Yours?”  We were able to have a whole conversation about how we are helping them learn how to do things they don’t want to do now.  It is a core skill that will serve them well in life. 

They say it takes 28 days to form a new skill or habit.  We are one week into being very intentional about this and we are already seeing fruit.  Last night our daughter (the very picky one) ate everything on her plate without even a word.  It was even something she would of turned her nose up at even a week ago.  Baby steps will take us there.  Our dear friends who are missionaries in Peru (who now have a great blog) sent us a great recipe to help broaden our culinary horizons. This is going on the weekly menu plan for sure.  I will post it here for your sampling enjoyment as well.  I will post pictures next week. 

Papa Rellena (Stuffed Potato)Ingredients:
- 4 cups mashed potatoes
- 1 cup flour
- 1 egg
- 1 lb. hamburger
- 1 cup onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup raisins, plumped
- Garlic
- Salt and pepper
- 3 boiled eggs, cut lengthwise
- Black olives
- Oil

(Serves 4)

Preparation: 
Sauté the hamburger, onion, garlic, salt, pepper and raisins until cooked through.  Set aside to cool.  Mix together the potatoes, flour, and egg (Make sure that the ingredients are cool). 
Flour the palm of your hand and put in it a couple of heaping Tbsp. (or so) of the potato mixture.  Pat it flat and round, like a pancake.   Place a Tbsp. (or so) of meat mixture in the center, a piece of hard boiled egg, and a black olive and with well-floured hands, fold top of potato over to completely close it up. It will look like a giant egg.  Repeat with remaining ingredients.  Heat oil until very hot.  Flour hands and carefully lower a couple of the stuffed potatoes at a time into the very hot oil. Fry until golden brown.

 For more Child Training Tips visit Sallie’s Blog.

Always use gentle words that give life.

Try new food, we may like it.

As we move along together in shaping our family rhythm, I am finding some things that I need to emphasise.  The family rules list has been so helpful as we move through our day.  We have it framed and displayed in our kitchen at their level.  Our youngest loves to run up to it and remind his siblings of their errors throughout the day. 

I am thinking through training children and how intentional you need to be with it. I am developing another piece on it that will be up next week, but I have found 2 things that I want tweak a little on our personal family rules.  They have to do with some things that are cropping up that need to be worked on.

One is the way our children speak to each other when they are frustrated. There is way too much yelling, which of course ends up with a domino effect around here. Our oldest is VERY dramatic and we are working on training him to control his outbursts. (Gee I wonder where he gets that?) The very first verse we taught them was “Gentle words give life” in Proverbs, so it seems appropriate that we tweak the “Be Kind” to “Use Gentle words that give life.”

And two, I have not been offering enough variety in what they are eating.  I am in a cooking rut and so I am working my way out of it.  Firstly we are creating a family recipes cookbook that we work on together using picaboo. I am offering different veggies other than broccoli and raw carrots.  Our daughter has become VERY finicky and that is not very becoming in a young woman me thinks, so we will work on it now when she is a wee woman.  That is where I came up with  “Always try new food. We may like it.”

I am finding that baby steps along the way pay off big in short order. For me I am working on following through…on everything.  Like using all the food I buy at the grocery store for each meal I planned to prepare, instead of getting board with one meal left and ether buying different things or going out to eat. Not very disciplined for a middle aged woman me thinks.(Is 33 middle aged? Yikes) 

So I am going to work on that too.  It all adds up to freedom.  Freedom for me, our family, our kids.  When we can tell our bodies “no” when we really want to say “yes” we can say “yes” to hard things when we probably would of said “no”.  Sounds like a good life skill to have don’t ya think?

 ”A wise woman builds up her house.” Proverbs 14:1

I remember when I was in my early 20’s and I was hanging out with a friend in her early 30″s she said something that I now can say is true. She said “Your 30’s are so much better than your 20’s.  You finally fit into your skin.”  I would have to second that! I gather that is more true the older you become. 

It it funny, I know less now than I thought I new then.  I am less idealistic, more introspective and have  more questions than I have answers. I was talking to my “homeschooling diva” friend (who actually home schooled back in the day when it was illegal) and she said “Isn’t God good, using the hardness of things to get at your heart.”  I am seconding that one too!

Lot’s of thoughts running around today in my head about my calling, child training and how it trains us, the freedom that comes from discipline and the absolute necessity for finding Sabbath rest in the midst of it all. 

 I am off to build my house~ Peace to all!

for our extended church family in Peru.  I am posting an email we recieved early this am.  Mike and I heard of reports of the earthquake in Lima and have been praying for the church as well as those who have so little and are now left with nothing.  This world is so fragile.  It is only the hope of Jesus that sustains us in any country that we live in.  You can visit their blogs found in my blog roll under “Peruvian Posse” for any possible updates.  Here is an article that will help fill in some more detail for you.

Good Morning~
As many of you may know by the news this morning, a massive earthquake struck Peru last night. As more information comes in this morning, it seems that the damage is very severe and many people, already very poor, have been left homeless. 
Arequipa faired well, though we felt the quake quite strongly here as well.  We are fine and none of us had any damage to our homes.  We are considering how we might help our friends in Chincha and surrounding areas and hoping to hear from friends in Lima this morning.  We’ll keep you posted as we know more.
Below is an email Lee sent out this morning- 
Please pray with us for the people of this country…
 

Good morning friends,

I assume that most of you have heard about the massive earthquake that hit Peru on Wednesday evening.  First, just wanted to write and let all know that we are all o.k. here in Arequipa, though we did feel the quake.  A little before 7 PM Michael, Dori and I, were in my home when we noticed the back door rattling and the walls swaying back and forth.  This wave-like motion is different from the usual earthquakes down here that tend to be short and jolting.  The quake lasted close to a minute.

After finally getting through on the phone to the Styron’s (they have a television and saw pictures of Lima and people in the streets), we began hearing reports that the quake was a very large one, and that the epicenter was only forty miles from Chincha Alta - the town were I first served the Church here in Peru.  I then began trying to reach a number of our friends there, but the phone lines were full.  I also tried contacting missionary friends in Lima without any success. 

Mike Styron and I were already planning to arrive in Chincha Alta on Thursday, August 30 to begin a three-day ministry conference at the invitation of a couple pastors and local congregations there.  I have many, many friends (those who know the Lord and others that don’t) in Chincha, and would ask that, as you are able, you would seperate some time during your day to intercede to the Lord on behalf of His people here in Peru, that they might receive consolation from Jesus, and be a source of consolation for others, and for this nation that has suffered so much and needs to know the healing touch of Our God.

More to come…

–Lee

I spoke awhile back about me learning how to have Sabbath in the midst of child training , homeschooling, house tending etc. etc. etc.  Finding daily quiet in my life for my own “souls formation.” This has been a process of learning something new.  I will say it has been very revealing.  I don’t presume to have this all together or even, that what God is leading me into is right for you in your current situation.  People who “know all the right answers and have it all together”, wear me out.  So you wont get that here, just an honest look at what I am now doing and how it is freeing me up and slowing me down. Firstly, let me start by saying that I see what I am doing in our home and with our children as my job or business.  Have no fear, I do not think of it that clinically. It is just one way for me to block things out in my mind.  I have the type of personality that really gives my all to the task at hand.  In business, you track and chart everything so as to improve your overall objective. So I am also, tracking and charting myself in this arena as well.  It is simply a way for me to have more information about what is exactly going on in any given day and where we can make slight changes to improve or be more free.  Read on because that statement will make since in a moment.

The first thing I addressed was the need for some “me” time without anyone else around.  Just me, my thoughts and God.  I realized in our family dynamic, I needed to wake early in the morning in order to carve that space out. Now I wake before the family at 5 to be exact. That means that my bedtime is pretty firm at 10 as well.  You may think that sounds intense or harsh, but the space it creates for my soul is crucial to doing well in every area of my life.  I now see this.  It is a good thing.

The second thing I addressed was my house work.  In order for me to think straight, I need to have an environment that is peaceful and non chaotic.  Three kids is chaos enough:-)  So I have gone to work on coming up with a system to better handle the chores of our home.  I affectionately call it the zone system.  I basically have found a rhythm of doing a small amount of laundry and deep cleaning 4-5 days a week.  It has taken all of the stress out of the upkeep.  It allows me to give around 30 minutes a day of my best to cleaning and then leaving everything else go until another day.  Teaching and training the children in daily household upkeep is part of our formation as a family who “stays home” together.

 The third thing I have addressed was my own personal “up keep”.  Working out has been the one “negotiable” spot in my life.  It always got pushed to the side in lieu of everyone else needs. It is no longer negotiable.  I have to work out 5-6 days a week, just for me.  Charlotte Mason refers to it as “mother culture”.  I call it just plain smart.  A cranky, out of shape, overwhelmed Mommy is no good for anyone especially herself.  This is where I see the daily consistency bear fruit over a long period of time.  It is an outward symbol of inner workings. 

These three things in combination open up the space in my life to just be.  Because I have already determined in my mind, when and how I will be faithful to daily tasks, I am open to hearing, being, moving etc. etc in line with what God is doing at any given moment.  This opens up the space for me to home school without stress or pressure on myself.  There isn’t anything else I should be doing.  I am not guilty or resentful because I haven’t taken care of me.  I am free.  This is where you will hear me say over and over.  FREEDOM WITHIN STRUCTURE!

So what does it look like you may ask?  Tune in tomorrow to see how it pragmatically works out in my life.

Our oldest is six as of and hour ago.  Where has the time gone?  I was a bit melancholy yesterday thinking “It’s 1/3 of the way over all ready.”  Mike chuckled at me.  My Mom said “It’s never over honey”.  But you know what I mean. 

 As I have been praying with God over our children, little glimmers of His handy work peek out at me.  Like watching  a seed sprout.  Jackson is a passionate and determined (slightly perfectionist) thinker.   He observes things for long periods of time and then jumps in with gusto, He loves to “experiment”.  My prayer is that he will always  ask healthy questions and that he will continue to love learning like he does now. 

I’ve spoken in other posts about how important is is to us to name our children with meaning.  Jackson’s name means “Yahweh is gracious”.  After 2 years of trying to get pregnant and a miscarriage before Jackson, I was unsure I would ever have kids. Looking back now, it was all about timing.

His middle name is Caleb. The meaning of the name is faithful, intrepid, and victorious — a great description of the Old Testament Caleb, who was one of only two ancient Israelites (Joshua was the other) who set out with Moses from Egypt to finally enter the promised land.

So today, sweet boy, Mommy and Daddy pray many blessings over you.  May you be a blessing to the world with your God given, curiosity, passion and thoughtfulness.  Grace and Peace to you dear one. 

The past few months our family has been blessed in amazing ways.  We needed a second car and through someones generosity we were given one.  Last week someone bought me a few hundred dollars of much needed clothing and this week someone else purchased our entire families tickets to Peru.  (We are spending the month of Feb. ‘08′ there doing some training for church pastors etc.)

As I was meditating on that fact last night I realized how hard it is for me to receive things in spite of my need.  It has been an interesting week for me  addressing my pride.  I feel like I am seeing things in a new light.  I tend to rely on myself to “get things done” instead of resting in God and his timing.  It is a horrible habit that I am being forced to address.  Isn’t it lovely when God brings you to the mirror and gently  says, “Let’s look at this together.”.

I am repenting of relying on myself and trying to get comfortable with relaying on God and His working through others to meet our needs.  It is humbling to receive gifts when you know you don’t deserve them and that it is only God’s grace and Mercy that provides them.

We had new friends over the other night.  Wonderful, wise followers of Jesus.  They have successfully raise three boys in their thirties.  I called the wife the other day with a question.  I said “Knowing what you know now, after raising 3 children, what did you do right and what would you do different?”

 You know how hind-site is always 20/20. I really wanted to know what their experience has taught them.  They had some wonderful words of wisdom.  They were VERY encouraging.  I want to be like that in everything I do.

Firstly, they said to make sure that in the teen years, get them out of this country on a short term missions trip.  That is very important to their overall formation.  Especially when it comes to them having to work out their own faith apart from you as their parent.

They did home school for many years in the early years and then sent them to a traditional high school.  In retrospect, they wished they would of stepped in a bit more in some relational issues.  It is  a thin line of giving them the independence to deal with things on their own, and also take over when they weren’t quit old enough to  handle it on their own.

And the most important things was, their house was “the house” to be at for all the kids in the neighborhood.  They were raising kids during the ‘latch key” generation.  So most of their kids peers had 2 working parents.  So they were their neighborhoods stabilizing force.  Simple home made cookies and strong house rules for the “neighborhood” to abide by endeared them to their kids peers. 

Through this they were able to develop strong relationship with their boys and constantly show them the light of Jesus in the midst of everyday life.  It was a very encouraging story.  It makes me think about relationship and how it is the fabric of life.  For me homeschooling is more about the “being, knowing and training” our kids then it is about teaching them.  It makes me wonder about today’s culture that hops around and moves so much.  Isn’t it good for our kids to develop deep meaningful relationships too?  Isn’t good for us as parents to lead them by example of that?  Call me crazy but I think it is the most important thing to model to them.  Especially in a culture that values individualism so much.

 Their children live life outside of the box because they were raised that way.  I pray that for our kids too. I pray our children will know the value of being connected to a group of God’s people in deep and meaningful ways.  That what we have together is so special.  It doesn’t happen overnight and it isn’t always found but it is a treasure that is worth digging for. 

Well, we all know that there are three to six degrees of separation between everyone.  I thought I would post this here and see if any of you all know someone who might want this!

 We have been holding 2 properties for a year now and it is rough sledding!  Please pray with us that God sells this property and that we will continue to wait on him.  Over the years we have had friends go through this and every time I would think, “How are they handling that? It would kill me!”  Well, I have news for you.  It has killed  me, in  a GREAT way.  I am back in a place of total reliance on God for everything in my life.

Maybe we wax and wain in this area depending on the circumstance in our life. It is a shame but true of human nature.  I have seen God move in amazing and unexpected ways over the years and after seeing such things, I always stand back and am shocked!  Why?  God always comes through in the least expected or predicted ways. 

 In the midst of “financial straits” I know we are right were God wants us to be.  Isn’t it interesting?  Tell me your stories.  Encourage me in how God has moved in amazing ways in your life.  Everyone loves a good story!  Post it in the comments or in your blog!

Peace to you~

It has only taken me 12 years of marriage, 11 years out of college, 9 family moves, 6 years of parenting to 3 amazing children, and 3 self owned businesses for me to finally find a rhythm of keeping up my home.

In college, I was a neat freak.  It was very easy to keep my chores up to date when it was only me making the mess.  Then I got married (while still in college) to a wonderful husband who had a different version of “clean” than I did. (I know that is a shocker.) It was a good 5 years of working full time and trying to find out how to keep my house together..and how to let go of unrealistic expectations.  Then kids came into the picture.  Well, as you all may of guessed, the whole “cleaning thing” went out the window. 

So how , do you ask,  have I cracked this nut? Firstly, Laundry.  Less stuff to wash is helpful.  I gave away 60% of our families clothes.  Now I do a load of laundry every day and put it away right when it is done.  That has helped tremendously.  No stress in the morning looking for clothes in laundry baskets is a very good thing!

With this little bit of experience I had a thought the other day.  What if I clean a little bit every day?  How would that work? Not picked up and straightened up but actually cleaned. So I have broken our house down into 6 zones for 6 days of the week.  Leaving the 7th day free for Sabbath rest.

So now I wake an hour before the kids to have my own time to workout and start the day with a God centered frame of mind.  The freedom within structure is holding true in my own life as well.  I have a plan to slowly and steadily do my work in a God honoring way, while including the children.  I must say it is very satisfying.  It is actually inspiring me to write something on our typical daily rhythm.  So look for that soon!

So what is your daily house keeping rhythm?  Consistent or nonexistent.  Feel free to tell on yourself in the comment section or let me know your thoughts on your blog.

Peace to all~ 

The July Mama Blogga Group Writing Project has ended with 28 exceptional entries! Feel free to click on the links below to read other bloggers giving their mamas a little sugar.  This was a great process for me.  I suggest you process through this yourself.  You’ve got one life and you don’t want to wait until your mom is gone before you think this through.

Peace ya’ll

• No Market For Used Teenagers by Robin
• Thank you Mom! by Michelle Buck
• July MamaBlogga Writing Group - Thanks Mom! by Jennifer Hitchcock
• Thanks Mom! by Mama Zen
• To my mom by Deb
• If She Were Alive Today by Mommy Zabs
• Danke Rot Koph by Kymberlyn
• Will she ever say it? by Lisa
• Thanks, Mom. by Kulia
• Thanks, Mom! by Laura Spencer
• Thanks Mom - Group Writing Project by Amber
• Dear Mother…Thanks Mother! by Corey
• Thank you, mom by Lynnae
• My Mother, My Mentor, My Friend by Jill
• GWP - Thanks mum. by Amanda Regan
• Thank you Mother by Donetta
• I wanted to say thanks by Summer
• Thanks to my Mommy by Southerngirlmusings
• Group Writing Project - July by Jenn
• Blue Denim by bellevelma
• Thanks, Mommy! by Stacey @ Look, Mom, Look!
• Naming the Mother by Daisy
• I’m turning into my mother… by Summer
• I learned by example by Heather Erbe
• Making Memories with Your Kids—Be Crazy, Unpredictable by Karen (Pediascribe)
• There’s Loving and Then There’s Liking by Dawn
• Thank You Mom in Law by Julie
• Right from wrong by Jordan (MamaBlogga)

Here is the nature blog as promised.  I think it is going to be a fun addition to our homeschooling rythm.  Jackson would love a comment or two, so Grandparents, please chime in:-)

I have been in a process of asking God to reveal our children to me.  Not what I want to see or what I think I see, but what He created.  I want to understand what He sees so I can partner with Him on it.  A little insight or glimpse of their calling.  Little by little He shows me things that stun me.  I am aware of the privilege of parenting them.  I’m humbled by the responsibility.  I am deeply thankful that God is using our children to shape and mold us as people as much as he is using us to shape them.   So it with this understanding that I will be working on crafting our “why home school” statement this week.  I will also be working on a series of posts on finding Sabbath rest in the midst of the daily grind.  Good things for me to ponder on this week.

So for those of you interested, the party was great! You can see for yourself! (Thanks to all in our local community who helped).  We took about 200 bucks and threw a “shin-dig”.  I met a new neighbor who just moved here to help plant a church. I also met a family form Peru.  My boys wore their Inca cola shirts and we meet Peruvians all over the place.  It is our calling card. They had all sorts of cool stories of how they are working towards helping Peru and the local Peruvian community. 

People were so thankful for the party.  The church planter actually asked me “Why did you do this?”  I was like “DUH” isn’t this what God’s people are supposed to do?  Be in the neighborhood, seeing what God is up to?  But I just said  “It’s what we do!”  Everyone couldn’t wait for the next one.  One family wanted us to put up a community bulletin board so we can stay more connected.  Another family suggested we have a little meeting to make sure our builders don’t leave the property without fixing everything that needs to be fixed.  Another neighborhood said “This is what makes a house a home.”

Overall good times.  Many baby relational seeds were sown and Mike and I look forward to seeing what God does through them.  So here is a challenge to  you.  Take some money.  Maybe your monthly tithe and do an experiment.  Take that money and plan a party and invite your neighbors and then invite your church community and see what God is up to.  You never know what you will find and others may just follow your lead.

Many of you have asked about our community bbq tomorrow.  So I wanted to give you all the “digs”.   Firstly, Mike and I had a “spirited debate” about the manner in which information should be broadcast in our community.  I wanted to have 4 signs made (that can be reused) similar to the  garage sale signs that you see that I would put at all of the entrances to our development.  I thought, “Oh we could just throw a quick webpage together describing the party and that we would love to see everyone there.”  To me that would of been the easiest for me, but it was too programmatic for Mike. He wanted the kids and I to pass out invitations to all of our neighbors.  Have it be more relational.  It would be like “oh yeah your the family we always see at the pool, or we bought lemonade from your son type thing”.  So being the submissive wife I am, I agreed to do it his way:-) So last night we made invitations and the kids and I rode our bikes around the neighborhood.  The kids were excitedly knocking on doors, chasing down people as they got in and out of cars  and telling anyone who would listen, “Come to our neighborhood party.”  Mike was right.  It was more relational that way.  At least for the first one, although I do think the sign thing would work after we have a few. And yes, for the record, I did get “Oh you are the family we always see around the pool”. and “We bought lemonade form your son” and “We’ve been hearing about this and are so excited” and “oh we were hoping you were still going to do this!” Shocking if you ask me.  They have heard about it?  I did speak to a few people I saw at the pool through out the week about the party.  I did try to focus on “connectors” in the community.  I did want the word of mouth thing to work in our favor….there are a lot of houses here.  Almost everyone that opened the door to us said…”Thank you so much. I’ve been thinking I should do something like this but I just never have.”  Hmmmm.  I wonder how many people think about connecting with others and then just don’t?  So Mike and I are taking it seriously the  whole “Jesus becoming flesh and blood and moving into the neighborhood” thingy.  

 More thoughts from…..Death By Suburb.  I know, I know, I can’t help it. 

Mending is the key image for  embracing the Sabbath in the suburbs, letting us “experience the depths of Jesus Christ,” as the classic work by Jeanne Guyon puts it.  The trick for the lover of God is to learn how to become better at mending ones life, making small adjustments on a regular basis to avoid the speed and clutter of modern living.

Mending is a verb.  An ongoing action that is consistent and small.  Mending is a thing that reverses the affects of the fast paced business of suburban life.  It is a bridge that leads you to the thicker life.  The deeper life of Jesus Christ.  It is obedience in the small mundane things.  

Now this may seem bizarre to some, but for me right now, home schooling is mending my life.  Our family rhythm is decidedly slow.  There is no rush.  There is no fire to put out, no hill to conquer.  Just deepening of roots and building of relationships.  This is my Sabbath YEAR!  It is a lovely, yummy, comforting thing.  God is moving deeply in the quiet.  Maybe hovering is a better word.  Yes….I think hovering describes it well.

Find the Quiet today!

You never really know how much you love your mom and how much she really does and did for you until you are a Mom yourself!  Thanks to Mammablogga and her group writing project for July, I get to expound on what makes my Mom so special.

Most Moms are biased of their children. (i.e. our kids are the best, brightest most talented children alive)  In healthy parent/child relationships, I think the thought holds true for adult children of their parents.  My mom is the best Mom in the whole world.She’s not perfect, none of us are, but she is generous, and funny (man can she make me laugh) and smart and encouraging,not to mention supportive.  There isn’t anything she couldn’t do if she put her mind to it.  I think she passed that on to me.

Growing up she worked hard, (she still does)  She went back to school for her masters when I was in high school and has had a very successful career. My brother and I learned the value of a dollar early, and we always had chores and responsibilities around the house.  Our family worked as a team and I am so thankful now as an adult for that chance to learn how to do real things early.  We grew up in an environment that honored God and followed Jesus.  She and my father instilled that in me.  I remember sitting at the desk in her bedroom one summer and teaching myself to type as she guided me along.  I just got to replicate that with my own son.  It is funny how times fades away in an instant inside those memories.

The neat thing is…she always gave me room….just enough room to hang myself if you know what I mean.  She let me sit with my choices and loved me through the bad ones. Now as a parent I KNOW how hard that is.  Even today she encouraged me to take 100% responsibility for myself.  She keeps me grounded with her parental experience.  She wishes she could of been home more, and constantly tells me time flies and that this time is so short.  Do whatever you have to to be home with the kids.  Take family vacations…build memories you’ve got one life with these little buggers.  Cherish it!

She is still a better cook than I am.  She can fix or sew anything and at 33 I still call her first when I am unsure about what temp to cook something at or if one of my kids has some medical issue I am worried about.  She still parents me, in a healthy way even now.   Maybe that is the way it is supposed to be.  Maybe we get to be the kid for a lifetime and even into the next.  Always having that bond that grows and changes through the years.  Will we ever stop worrying as parents, or stop wanting to help or stop wanting to deepen relationship with our children?  I hope not.  I hope I get to ask her advice when I am 55 and she is 78 and I want to know how to be a wonderful grandparent, or that just right ingredient to keep my skin soft.  She will know…and be sure of this…I will ask. 

I am ALWAYS finding myself stuck on Lindafay’s home school blog Higher up and Further In.  It is very comforting to read through her many years of home schooling experience for tips, ideas etc.  I have been slowly reworking my blogs organization.  It is becoming my home school dashboard.  Thoughts, wonderings, resources and other inspiring people to read found in my blog roll.  Jackson is on it as much as I am tooling through the resources.  He LOVES THIS! My hope is that one day this site would be an encouragement to a brand new home schooling mama who is excited and nervous and wondering if she can ever pull this off.  And then voila, she will find this blog and she will say to herself, “Oh my goodness if SHE could do it I will have no problem!”  So keep watching the links come in.  (I hope you find them as helpful and inspiring as I do) I will soon begin adding book reviews and the kids and I will be starting a nature blog here soon.  Their sketches are still scribble and I want them to have a place to see what they are recording.  I taught Jackson how to use the digital camera and he routinely goes out and snaps shots of local wildlife.  Mostly flowers and trees.  Yesterday we went to a little park called “Peanut Island”.  During the summer we go every Monday night with my parents in their boat.  We saw a spotted manta ray with a 5 foot wing span and 2 mini hermit crabs walking along.  I wished we had our camera.  So now we wont leave home without it.     Speaking of blogging…I wish other really experienced homeschoolers I know (not to mention any names, Chenoa Styron and Carolyn Hanson) would start a blog like Lindafay’s so more newbie’s can bask in their wisdom.  It is such a gift.  I am thankful for their encouraging words along the way.  Anyway….no pressure, I was just thinking how cool it would be if I could scroll through their brain and not bug them all the time with calls and emails.

Do rest, every Sabbath. 

Don’t run around like a chicken with your head cutt off.  Even if it seems like fun activites. 

I am really resonating with Death By Suburb - David Goetz’s comments on the Sabbath rest.

“This is a realm of time where the goal is not to have but to be, not to own but to give, not to control but to share, not to subdue but to be in accord.”  He quotes Heschel as saying “spiritual life begins to decay when we fail to sense the grandeur of what is eternal in time.”  Sabbath is “eternity in disguise”.  It’s a day not for furthering our opportunities and those of our kids but to liberate ourselves from the pursuit of such things.  He points out that this is a space, where all of Gods people, regardless of economic position enter as equals.  Able to feast on eternity one consistent day a week without a care in the world.

This is my space right now.  Slowly, steadily working with God on the small space of soil in my heart that has to do with time.  It is as if there is enough time in the world for things to “get done”, and yet such a small sliver of time to really purchase those things worth working hard for.  Namely relationship.

Mike and I are really thinking about all of this in regards to our home schooling decision.  We really want our children to grow up in a slow, easy, expectant of amazing things, joy of life type of way.  A deep since of wonder. Not shuffling around from play date to over done birthday party.  We are not even pursuing organized sports for them. Maybe one day, but not now.  Mike and Jackson did T-ball last year.  Mike had the opportunity to coach, and it was a way for them to be together, but we knew no one on the team.  Jackson was mildly interested, and the other kids and I stayed home because it was too much for them.  Not a way we want to use our time again, any time soon.   Even home schooling is a relaxed, gentle rhythm.  You only have to read a few lines of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy to begin to unwind and dig in. 

Deep roots come from deep rest.  Deep rest is a choice.  It is a discipline regardless of the debt, or the schedule, or the lists.  It is a decision to stop one day a week and really reorient yourself around the kingdom of God.  In His kingdom there isn’t a care in the world.  The joy is knowing God and being known  by Him.

So get off the computer.  unplug the phone, go into your room shut the door and be quiet, with the one who made you.  With no need, or question to be answered.  Just listen, and make room for his inner workings.  I promise you will feel much better when you do.

It is a great word picture for my life this year.  I am in a process of calming down, simplifying, and learning all about how to REALLY be and not do.  I completely believe that there is freedom within structure.  So I am shaping up my housework, finishing up that “decorating” that I never get to, lacing up those running shoes and hitting the gym with consistancy, nurturing my artistic side, and feeding the need to read “deep and wide”.  A general overall weeding it taking place.  Bad habits (like too much TV and rewarding myself with sweets) haven’t formed over night and they will not be gone in a day ether.  Day by day, I move onward and upward and I hope I inspire you to do the same.

Here are some things I have recently reintroduced into our lives.

1. ABSOLUTELY NO TV UNTIL 5PM DURING THE WEEK. In the past I have used TV to medicate my kids when they have no clear direction on what to do next.  Bad habit…I admit it.  I started pulling way back in April.  I didn’t think we watched TV very much.  The sad thing is, in reality we didn’t, but it was how I was using the TV that was not the best.  Mike and I had no TV for years before kids.  Once I was pregnant with the second, and “sick as a dog” we reintroduced it to help me out with escaping the reality of my life. Now I don’t want to escape anymore.  Embrace the race is my motto. So now the kids only watch about 30 minutes of monitored TV a day.  We even drove all the way home yesterday (4 hours with only a 30 minute DVD) We played site seeing games and counting games the rest of the way. ( and they slept some too.)

2. Early morning exercise. ( Me time before the rest of the family is awake.)  Thanks to a great work out buddy and good old endorphins, I can’t wait to wake up early. - This is a big switch for me.

3. Reading at least 2 new books a month. - I used to read like a nut.  I think I piggybacked through seminary on Mikes old Theology books.  I got through second grade by reading all of the Nancy Drew series once I finished my work. (I was soooo bored, another reason I was drawn to home schooling our kids - bored kids are kids who get into trouble.)

Those are the first few.  I will keep adding to the list as I am inspired. 

Grace and Peace to you and all you love!

Today, I got to pretend I was a Mom of 5 who were 5 and under. It really wasn’t bad at all.   I do so much better with out all the birthing, and nursing and sleeplessness etc. etc.  That and I have a rhythm down and I am not trying to figure out the whole “how to be a mom thing”.  So that has some to do with it.

I am off to Gainesville to have  a week with my girlfriend from college.  She and I knew each other before husbands and kids and our friendship has survived and thrived with the addition of both.  Bonus is her van can fit all 6 car seats without a problem!  

Pray for my drive tomorrow.  4 hours is a hike by myself, but I am timing it over nap time.  Hopefully that will take some of the bite out of it.

I wanted to leave you all with one quote form Death by Suburb before I go.

“Mature Christian faith discerns God behind all the circumstances in life that conceal God - from the mundane to the tragic.”

He quotes Bonheoffer (One of my favorite Christian theologians)

“It is good to learn early that suffering and God are not contradiction but rather a unity, for the idea that God himself is suffering is one that has always been one of the most convincing teachings of Christianity.  I think God is nearer to suffering than to happiness, and to find God in this way gives peace and rest and a  strong and courageous heart.”

Peace to all! 

The Following is a conversation between our 6 and 4 year olds! (enjoy)

 #1 Biggest misconception about Home schooling:  That you have to be a gifted and trained teacher to do a great job at home schooling your kids.

No, not really, if you can read, you can do it.  You just have to be willing to work on yourself in the process.

This was my BIGGEST fear about home schooling.  Now a few months into this I have “seen the light. ” All of my veteran “home schooling diva” friends are chuckling at me.  Lovingly of course.  One of the reasons we are home schooling is to help our children think.  Think critically.  I am sorry no matter how you slice it, that is more important than grade point average, extra cirr. activities or anything else.  If they can think they will thrive wherever God has them.

Lynda says it so well.  “I don’t know about you, but I find this to be freeing for me as a mother who must wear many hats in daily life. I don’t have to be ‘gifted’ in teaching in order to adequately educate my children.”

(For my parents in law you can read till your hearts content on her website about Charlotte Mason method)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma98wzazFlQ]  (Thanks to Dolly Mamma for this!)I live in the “best little” planned community this side of Disney world.  People here drive fast, live large and have little time to really get to know anyone.  Of course this is a huge generalization, but the prevailing thought here, is stick to your self, buy your plasma screen and consume until you can’t feel any pain.   I just spoke to someone on the phone the other night who found our church website.  We related experiences and he said “It is good to hear I am not crazy and that we are not alone in feeling this way!”  

Bev tagged me for a top 8 game, so I thought I would play along.   

Here are the rules:

A. Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves.

B. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed.

C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

Here we go:

1. I love to travel.  My husband and I want to take our kids on a home school adventure around the world.

2. I love to read.  I was  history major in college.  I learned to read “fast and furious”.  Right now I am reading Graham Cooke.

3. I love/hate to run.  I ran a ton when I was younger and I am just now picking it back up.  Wow what a difference 10 years make.

4. I love our church.  Me familia. 

5.  I used to hate laundry, but for some reason now I enjoy it.  I think I enjoy the order of having laundry folded and put away not so much the process.  I also think, it is due to the fact that I purged our clothing inventory to 1/4 of what it used to be.  Much easier to stay on top of!

6. I hate being pregnant.  It was pretty much “hell on wheels”.  You know how some woman say “Oh you forget.” Not me!  I don’t think I will ever forget.  Kind of like POW’s who are tortured.  It just stays with ya!  All I could think the whole time is “Dear God, how do women in third world countries go through this, and still have to do manual labor, in the heat and sleep on straw mats?”

7.  I love being a mom.  That makes the pregnant thing bearable because we have three beauties out of it.

8. Painting.  I have not picked up a brush in 3 years and I will do it before the year is out.  I need to get some canvas going, but you wait….just when you least expect it, the paint will start to fly.

Now  I need to tag a few.    Mammablogga, Mommy Zabs , The Day of a Mom ,

I think I will think a little bit and tag some more tomorrow.  Have a good night!

….at least I am big enough to admit it!

So for all of you out there who don’t know….never leave a pair of children’s scissors unattended with a 2.5 year old around.  Bad things happen.  My homeschooling diva friend (who is starting home-school high-school this year) said last night.  “It’s OK.  things will happen.  You can’t control everything.”   Good advice form a veteran. 

 In other news, my cell phone was thrown into the pool and is inoperable.  Nice!!! I have tons of numbers on that phone that I did not have anywhere else.  Hope the SIM card still works once the new phone arrives.  Thankfully it was free. My computer is doing something weird and only opens in DOS, so I have strict instructions not to touch it until my husband can look at it.  I am writing from his lap top which is like driving someone elses car.  The seat and windows are all out of place.  I am still working on my list that Bev tagged me with.  I will get it up soon.

Peace to all!

I wonder? ……….Most Homeschoolers need to pinch their pennies.  I was just turned on to a great idea from a new friend I just met through my buisness forum.   Buying Coupons on ebay!  I remember seeing this when my kids were babies but I never purchased any coupons for myself but I am rethinking the idea.  The Grocery Game is another tool that you can combine with eBay coupons and save significantly.  I am just now looking into this to really make our dollar stretch.  The woman in front of me at the grocery store was “all a buzz” about it and told me of her savings.  I have never been able to make the savings work with the actual items we buy.

We were counseled before our home schooling journey to think big picture about who we wanted our children to become and what type of education did we want them to have.  I keep that vision in front of me daily.  It helps me NOT to “lose the forest for the trees” if you know what I mean. 

Do my interactions, my body language,  my tone of voice, my consistency with the very things that I am requiring of them etc….what is all of that saying to them?  How is it shaping them?  After correcting/disciplining our children, I strive to have an “eye”  moment.  Where we look each other in the eyes and I tell them how much I love them.  How much I want them to be people who are respectful of all people and the world around them.  That God gave me a job to do, and I need to be obedient to that job.  Our oldest gets that.  Our youngest does not…but he will. Our middle child is just starting to grasp it.

With our oldest our “correcting” episodes are less and less frequent.  After they happen and we talk about why I had to discipline him etc. I have this huge big picture view of where I am guiding him. With our younger ones, I know it is just a matter of time.  For that reason, I now enjoy the correction of our children.  It keeps me in touch with where we are going.  These are not arbitrary corrections so that I can “rule the roost” or have complete order in the home.  That is a possible byproduct but what it really is, is “training for reigning” as Dallas Willard puts it. 

What I have found through it, is a calming of our children when we are home together.  They understand the drill, they know I am not caving and that I don’t act emotionally (most times) it is just “steady as she goes” rhythm that keeps a well oiled machine moving.  I am not perfect, or have it all together.  Our children are not perfect ether.  We are still working on how to discipline when we are in group situations, but we are getting there.  I have found when the focus is not on them per se or me per se and the day to day grind, but the big picture goal, we move past the hardness, tedium, and constant repetition of daily correction into training.  And now I wonder, how can parents do that well, having their children away from home 7-10 hours a day especially when they are little?  There is no indictment in that statement if you have your children away from you, it is just an out loud wondering question that I am mulling over.

Anyway, Peace to all!

I readily admit that a good friend gave me this idea.  She doesn’t blog so, I will post it here.  If you are home schooling mixed aged children (who isn’t?) and have those that are 3 and under, create a busy box just for them.  We now call it “Hudson’s busy hand box”  he sits on my lap as long as possible for family reading and copy work time. He has his own pencil and paper and we work on the “sand paper alphabet” when the older children are doing their own work.  Then when he can sit no longer, I take out the box of “busy things”. (stacking blocks, a Thomas train, silly putty, floam with appropriate tools, small hard books that he loves and a sorting work.)   That usually keeps him busy for some time.  Everyday, I set our sink up with one side clean water, and the other side soapy water.  The family puts their dishes in the “soapy” side all day and one child or another invariably comes to wash the dishes.  I have a sponge wand and a dish drainer and a drying towel. They have all had a “dishwashing lesson”. They love it and so do I.  This gives me enough time with the older children and helps our youngest feel connected to what we are doing.  As Martha says “It’s a good thing!”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3Rw_3ky-uo]

My kids love to watch this! 

I must say that I lingered a little longer on Mommyzabs site than normal because I was scrutinizing the color of her walls.  I love it and I must have it.  Now if she will only share it with me:-)   Please all beg her to give me her secret color!  That and I have to clear it with my dear husband. 

Honey, do you like it too?

Emerging Grace has a list of her 7 favorite books going.  After I read through her reading list, I knew I liked her.  So, today, I will give you my 7 books and tag you to do the same. Firstly, 7 is a bit much for me at one time.  I do have three little kids, a business, a house, and am trying to fit in home schooling so my reading has declined a bit:-) I will say, I was just talking to some friends about how I want to get back into reading more stories and not just theology.  I will read a ton with the CM home schooling method but I also want to read more just for me. So here are my 3!

“No son, You are just getting Taller!”

 So has anyone found a cure for this yet?  I would be much obliged!

Blogging is a great medium to not only share your thoughts on life etc. but to learn from people all over the world.  Today I am focusing on blogtipping other DIVAS whose work I enjoy and learn from.  I hope you learn from them too! In no particular order! 

Diva #1:  Higher up and Further In - is an inspiring CM homeschooler in the middle east.  Her blog is a wealth of info.  I have already picked up several things from her site and I am sure you  will too. 

DIVA #2: Yielded has a blog that really gives a ton of nutritional “food for thought”  (Excuse the pun:-)  ) and some home schooling highlights thrown in.  You will get some tasty recipes from her!

DIVA #3: The Truevyne has some funny home schooling stories.  She loves CM, Montessori and Cavaletti.  When she posted about The Forty Day Fast I new this Diva has some serious Social Justice “kickin” and that inspires me.

DIVA #4 Hidden Art Jumps right in and comments away.  I think it is one of the most interesting things about blogging…the interaction!  So Thanks for all the thoughtful comments, I will try to reciprocate:-)

 Diva #5: The SecretlifeofKat   I found her through the truevyne. She is a soccer mom who actually plays the soccer.  What do you know about that.    I think it is funny.  I first read of the 40 day fast through the true vine who took me to Kats blog.  I then see her linked to Brant who is part of our faith community and a very smart Blogger too…even though he is not a DIVA.  Blogging is a really small world.

Ok - people so there you go…go and learn a thing or two, or three or how about this, just never stop learning!

Peace to all!

A thunder storm woke us all very early this morning.  Our daughter is suffering from growing pains and we are all cranky:-)  We finished our work early this am and I was thinking, holy cow we can be done with schooling easily before lunch and play the rest of the day.

You just can’t beat that!  Because on cranky days  like today, we all need to play!

Ok - you can now classify me as a home schooling, home business, organic eating (as much as possible), breast feeding (when they where younger) simple church, composting, recycling DIVA.

  For every-time someone who sees me out with our three children says “You’ve got your hands full”  I would be rich!  Then I would be doubly rich if I had another quarter for every-time someone asks me “You go grocery shopping with ALL of them?”  Honestly, what do people think? No people, I leave them at home and go live it up!  Geez……

You can read the entire 20 Principles of CM education in my previous post. This one is GOLD! 

20. We teach children that all truths are God’s truths, and that secular subjects are just as divine as religious ones. Children don’t go back and forth between two worlds when they focus on God and then their school subjects; there is unity among both because both are of God and, whatever children study or do, God is always with them.

My husband has a brilliant post on following “the voice”.  It will keep you right where you are supposed to be.  It isn’t always safe and secure but it is good.  I look at this whole journey into home schooling and see the whispering that Jesus has been doing.  The timing, the trusting…how so much of this is really about me and not so much about them.

Earlier this year, I was going through a rough spot with my business.  I was praying at the computer and in the midst of my prayer, I felt the impression that God was rescuing me.  And indeed He has.   I am at a really good place now and I am excited to learn new things. 

Some simple observations this past month with our kids.   I think this whole home school process is about really getting to now our kids and not manage them. Does that make since? You manage so much when they are little you miss the small quiet moments of inspiration.  Things that send their hearts soaring.  So I am not managing anymore. I am on a treasure hunt to see what God is doing in them.  I could mess the whole “curriculum” thing up and still have an amazing relationship and insight into our kids that I would of never had if I had not sat down with them everyday in attempt to expose them to something. 

So, the wild west was fun.  We are moving into the ocean and then probably launching into the Charlotte Mason method in August.  It really fits our family rhythm already and lines up with our overall educational/life vision for our kids.  I am still exploring but I am fairly intuitive and this feels right.  Sorry for all of you analytical folks. So I will keep you updated on all of that.  Meanwhile, I keep a painting, and cleaning and organizing and exercising….it occurs to me that I have a lot more time to just be without running the kids to school every day and then errands and then all the other things that crop up in a day.  Anyway..life is Good.  Hope your’s is too!

we got married. It seems like a lifetime ago and then again it feels like just yesterday.  Mike and I were dreaming about what our life would look like in another 12 years.  It will be here in the “blink of an eye”.

It is true what they say….”time flies when you are having fun.”

I got a call today from a friend “jus because”.  Just to see how I was etc.  Nothing needed, nothing to ask or check on or anything like that.  It was like a hug over the phone.  It was nice.  I need to learn to call more often, just for a moment, just because, not to do, or see, or check on or anything else.  Some times I can be too “task mode” and forget “just because”.Give a ring today, just because!

Here are some great thoughts for first time homeschoolers here.  When I read this article, I heard my friend Chenoa’s voice.  Honestly, I can say I have about 100 friends who home school.  OK that is a bit of an overstatement but she was the first who said, “Don’t read another thing about home schooling, or ask another friend.  Go ask God what his vision for your childrens life and then go from there.”  That was a slam dunk.  It got me right over my fear and right into inspiration!

For some years my husband and I have been relearning and redefining how to be a disciple of Jesus in our whole life and not just for a Sunday morning service.  I’ve had LOTS of work thinking out of the box, so that part of home schooling is coming very naturally. We are learning with our whole life.  I think one of the things that feels the best right now, are the looooong kisses my littlest gives me all through out the day.He is so happy to have his brother and sister home. To be honest…..I am too.   That……. and my kitchen is cleaner. 

This goes along with my previous post about slimming down.  It really applies to my whole life.  Simplicity is the predominate theme right now, so I am cleaning out in every way I can.  I kind of felt like 2007 would be that type of year for me.  

I have mentioned before that we have moved 7 times in 5 years. (I don’t know what I am complaining about.  Laura Ingles Wilder moved 5 times in 6 years via covered wagon, so I need to get over myself!)  It is a long story that I can tell later but let’s just say we will be in a current home for at least 5 years.  Famous last words right:-) Anyway, I have moved 10 gallons of paint from 3 houses now intending to paint at some point.  Well NOW I am painting away.  Along with hanging things that have been in boxes or in the garage for years.  Not to mention my mom just moved as well and she is cleaning out and I am the proud owner of her wonderful cast offs so I plan to decorate with little to no money spent.  I will post picks of my progress and I move along. 

So what you are doing reading this?  Go clean out a closet or something!  Grace and Peace to all in the house! 

I am amazed that I dug my heels in for so long about home schooling.  I guess I was not sure of how it would look for our family.  Now, all I can say is, I can’t believe I didn’t do this sooner.  There is timing for everything and now is definitely the time for this. 

 As I move forward into this, I have read about and heard about tons of different approaches to schooling.  I have friends who do everything from unschooling to classical approach so I was a bit lost as to what was best for us.  Well, I still am feeling this out, but I can say that Charlotte Mason has got my ear.  I have been very drawn to Montessori for so many reasons.  There are some places that it gets a little too child centered, but for the most part it resonates with us.  It seems that Charlotte feathers nicely into that philosophy, so I will keep reading and learning right along with our kids.  Something about those gutsy turn of the century broads that inspire me. Add Sophia Coveletti to the list as well.  Talk about having a strong voice:-) For now the one thing I know for sure is that we are all  “Learning to Live…one day at a time.”

OK - I am on a crusade to lose some wight.  I really need to lose about 20 pounds and I aim to do it by the end of the summer.  One of the things I just started doing is exercising with a friend almost daily.  I know I do so much better when I have someone doing it with me.  I am also using the weight loss forum to help me stay committed and motivated.  Less calories, more activity and more accountability will help the weight melt off for sure.  Check out the fitness boot camp in my links.  Good well rounded stuff.

 Hold me to it people.  My jeans are too tight!

One of my hero’s  just started a new blog to help you along with your preschoolers.  Go check out her daily activities.  I know I will be trying a few for sure!