Homeschool Diva

Another rainy day, which in my book are good days to think. I’ve been reflecting the last few days on how essential certain things are in life. It is so important to have a small group of deep friends that you can be truly honest with, that challenge you to dig deeper with Jesus, that hold you accountable in an appropriate and Godly way, and that sharpen you.  I am blessed to have this in my life.

Today Mike and I have officially been married 14 years.   I can’t even remember what is was like not being married or with him.  It is fun to watch how he has grown and changed over the years. I love you honey.  Thank you for a beautiful weekend away, just the two of us. It was raining just like this, 14 years ago, as I was trying to run around and do all the things a bride is doing before her wedding.  Mike and I were laughing at how we know each other so much better now.  It is so good to laugh with your spouse.  He still makes me laugh, and blush, and feel safe.  He is a good, deep, thoughtful caring man and a wonderful Father to our children. I love him so.

I’ve also been thinking about how parenting is full time job.  People occasionally say to me, “Are you just a stay at home Mom?”  and I quietly chuckle inside. I do a little photography on the side, just to keep a small non-Mommy part of me active but on the whole, I’ve been called to tend this little garden, and trust me it will shake you to your core, if you let it.  The older our kids get, the more fun this is, to walk with them, and model to them, and train them and be with them as they walk through hard things.   We are constantly adjusting, readjusting, checking in with the Father in regards to our sweeties. What a gift this all is.  I am still perplexed when I hear Mom’s say they need a break.  Trust me, I know what it is like to have lots of kids close together, and never know where you stop and they begin.  I struggled with that in the early days.  I think it is funny, friends who see me out without my kids don’t even recognize me without the three in tow.   Now, I embrace it. Life just moves too fast, and you just don’t EVER, EVER, EVER get these days back.  I just want to keep working on relationship with these little guys who are fast moving into big guys. I can do other things when they have flown the coup.

Wont it be fun to see where the next 14 years takes us babe? The world is our oyster.  I love you!

~a

My baby girl is 6 today.  Life is moving along and I always have a bitter sweet day on their birthdays.  Happy for all the time we have had to grow together.  I am excited to watch her grow and mature and learn new things yet sad at the little pudgy hands that I don’t get to kiss anymore.  Enjoy every single minute. Even the sleepless, messy ones.

She is reading and writing and working her math facts like a stellar little six year old. She is growing into quite the little artist.   I am so blessed to have her as our child.  She is a tough little scraper who has such a sweet tender heart.  I am off to take her on a special birthday outing…as we give experiences over just a flat gift.  So it is a mini-pedicure and a new dress at target.  Gotta nurture her feminine side. As you recall, she broke her arm wrestling with 4 boys all bigger, stronger and heavier than her.  She needs a little girl time.

Happy Birthday Chloe,
child of love,
[God bless you].
And blessed you are, beyond telling,
to be born to parents
who love you
and love each other
servants of the
great King Jesus.

Grow gently, Chloe in love of God.

We bless you,
and pray
Christ be near you,
now and each hour
of your life.

As you grow
may faith grow with you.
May you find the presence
of Christ your clothing
and protection.
And year by year may the
knowledge of His presence
be greater for you,
that daily you may put on Christ
and walk as His own in the world.

Chloe, May God make clear to you each road;
may He make safe to you each step;
should you stumble, hold you;
if you fall, lift you up;
when you are hard pressed with evil,
deliver you -
and bring you at last to His glory.
Amen.

I let her eat cake fore her breakfast too.  Isn’t that fun, she was tickled silly with that. Later today we are off to Gainesville. I have a few shoots booked, a family get together and some quiet time in the car with my honey.  We always have such good talks in the car.  4 hours of driving help to foster deep conversations.Here is praying you have a deep talk today with someone you love.

Grace and Peace to all those twirling like a six year old today,

My girlfriend had her four year old answer some questions about her. I thought it was so cute that I had all 3 of mine do the same thing and it was a hoot listening to all of them tell me their answers.  Now, remember I did this separately, so I think it is interesting on what they came up with and how common some of their answers were. The first response is our 4.5 year old, the second response is our 5.75 year old and the last is our 7.5 year old.

1. What is something mom always says to you?

• Go to bed at the right time.
• I love you.
• “No’ and “Can you please help me unload the dishwasher” which are both horrifying to me and then you also say you love me a lot too.

2. What makes mom happy?

• snuggling
• kissing her
• When I do what she asks me to and load and empty the dishwasher.

3. What makes mom sad?

• not hugging her
• not hugging and kissing her
• not doing what she says

4. What makes your mom laugh?

• being silly
• tickling her
• silliness

5. What was your mom like as a child?

• she liked inspector gadget
• she liked to read books
• she liked to climb trees

6. How old is your mom?

• I don’t know
• 15
• 35 ( not yet bud, slow down)

7. How tall is your mom?

• 15?????
• 22″
• I don’t know I am about 4′ so 11′.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

• be with her girlfriends at night after we are asleep or be on the boat.
• hang out with me
• be a mama

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?

• be with her girlfriends
• work
• watch TV

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

• her pictures (well thanks bud)
• collecting money???(Maybe she means saving money?)
• painting pictures (ahh they are not that good bud but thanks for the vote of confidence. )

11. What is your mom really good at?

• painting
• reading - I love when you read to me Mommy.
• taking pictures

12. What is your mom not very good at?

• driving boats
• I can’t think of anything
• you are not very good at letting us do what we want.  You have a good reason for that, you don’t want us to grow up and be rotten right Mama? (Umm, yes I think you are getting it.)

13. What does your mom do for her job?

• She goes to the art store to get pictures (I think they are getting the art thing don’t you?)
• computer work
• photography and sending emails

14. What’s your mom’s favorite food?

• salad or sushi
• sushi
• sushi and seafood and any of Daddy’s grilled food. (I think they know I like sushi)

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

• taking out the trash
• that she loves me
• taking care of me and giving us a good house.  Actually God gave us the house so I guess I should say I am thankful to God.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

•   What is a cartoon character?
• a ballerina (is there a ballerina cartoon character?)
• Jerry from Tom and Jerry (yes I liked them too as a kid)

17. What do you and your mom do together?

• go on special dates
• talk and hang out  and have special dates
• we play monopoly together

18. How are you and your mom the same?

• we both take the trash out
• we both have short hair
• we both have the same chin

19. How are you and your mom different?

• we do not talk the same
• our eyes are not the same
• are ages are different

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

• because she gives me kisses and hugs
• because she gives me hugs and kisses
• because she gives me hugs

21. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go to?

• Pollo Tropical
• The Sushi Place
• I don’t think you really have a favorite place to go.

Well, so far they know I love art, sushi and them passionately.   I guess we are doing pretty well so far.

Grace and Peace to all~

The kids are off to their PE co-op class today.  I have laundry to fold, a gallery to put up for a photography client, a kitchen to clean, a floor to mop, a bookshelf to put back in order and some stones to move out of the courtyard. Don’t ask, but they are driving me nuts.

So while I am off working away, you all can stare at this lovely little flower.  Don’t feel a bit guilty that you are here, looking at this, and I am on my hands and knees scrubbing junk off our floor and moving little pebbles, one by one, off of our courtyard.  Just say a little prayer for me and we will call it square.

Grace and peace to all those trying to get it done while their kids are out of the house for 3 hours~

Here is another silly installment of 5 little things about me.  Today I am taking our kids to their homeschool PE co-op in the morning, shooting a newborn session and then brainstorming with a friend for a bit and finally trying to squeeze a run in.  So quickly before we head out the door for a day of organized play…

1. I have worn that toe ring for about 16 years.  Isn’t that interesting? The other night, someone said to me, “That toe ring is so cute.” I said, “Oh thanks, I have had that for a long time.” and then I counted the number of years I have had it and I realized time is moving much faster then my mind and body realize.

2. I have moved 10 times in almost 15 years of marriage.  Yikes that is about every 1.5 years.  The longest we have ever lived in the same home is 4 years, so I don’t know why I think I will be in any one home for more then that.

3.  I drive a minivan - but trust me, I AM still cool.  It is paid for and we will drive it until it is dust. Then I secretly want to get an old school open top land rover like our friends in Peru.  Only I want mine to be red and beat up.  Sand from the beach will rinse right out of that one.  Hey it isn’t eco friendly but I don’t drive a ton, and I recycle, use cloth napkins, never use paper plates and eat organic as much as possible so give me a break.

4. I hate doing puzzles, because I get addicted and can’t stop trying to figure it out.  We have a 550 piece one right now under the couch and I am the only one doing it? Nice.

5.  Last night I laughed so hard, I feel off the couch and starting rolling on the floor with tears in my eyes.  I just couldn’t take it.  I was truly one of the best and funny moments I have had in a while. Laughing is good medicine, it keeps you young, and clearly rolling on the floor makes you look young.

Grace and Peace to all comedians today.  Go have a good laugh!

My closets were that is!

Cleanliness is next to Godliness.  Did Benjamin Franklin say that too?  Goodness that man coined a ton of terms that we use all the time. My Parents-in-law arrived late Thursday for the long weekend.  Every time they come, I get a heap of work done in our home.  Granddaddy takes the boys to play and Chloe, Grandmama and myself  get to work on all things that need arranging and organizing and general de-cluttering in our home.

All told I cleaned out and rearranged:

• the pantry
• the upstairs bathroom cabinets (2 sets)
• both kids closets ( 2 whole closets)
• the linen closet
• organized the upstairs children’s library
• and last but not least cleaned out our closet

I trashed 5 bags of junk, donated 8 bags of toys and clothes that we have grown out of and one box of books that were hand me downs and not a good fit for our family.

It feels good to have it done.  In  a busy homeschooling family of 5, you need to schedule this type of weed out every 4-5 months or so.  It was embarrassing to say the least, to show my mother in law my horrifying hidden closets.  People always come over and say, your house is so clean.  I laugh and say, you haven’t opened any closet doors.

So, now closets are clean, laundry is done and put away, book shelves are organized and I am ready for a great week.

Peace to all those who need to weed out this week.  Just do it you will feel soooo gooooood!~

 P.S. - photo taken in Arequipa Peru.  Props to all our South American People. We love you guys.

1). Go to the park - your house will be too messy for you to relax anyway, so get out in the fresh air. You might start feeling better. Better to feel the fresh breeze than get overwhelmed with all the mess that has grown up around you, in your demise.

2) Read a book, it may just take your mind of how your head is throbbing.  I suggest Outliers.  It is a fascinating read.  I wonder how homeschoolers fit into all that junk?

3) Give your kids tons of responsibility.  They will really enjoy being the boss for the day.  You shouldn’t be surprised at how well they all work together. You may, however, vacillate between being disturbed and proud at how well your oldest can do your job as teacher, how your middle can do the job of  a Mommy and how well your youngest listens and narrates to his siblings…..Really mind blowing stuff.

4) In risk of milking it….take a day where you don’t speak..at all….to the kids. Heck I would be sick again just to do this once a week.  It was fascinating and so calming at the same time.  Only motion, do a ton of hand clapping to get their attention, write cryptic notes on scrap paper and make your oldest be your runner. It is amazing how quiet you will find your children, when they have no verbal cues to go on.  Little tip, 7 year olds can not read short hand….so write the whole thing out neatly, or you will have to write it 2 times.  Do the job right the first time and it will save yourself time in the long run. Isn’t that what we tell the kids about a bagillion times a week?

5) DON’T…I repeat DON’T get overwhelmed with what you have fallen behind in in regards to your homeschool schedule.  Take a deep breath, take another Tylenol, drink tons of water, and then right when you are feeling about back up to speed, just do the basics, reading, writing, math…then put it all away. Take your book “Treasure Island” to the beach. Read a chapter and then “play” like you are on the real treasure island and you just found Ben Gunn.  Tomorrow will be another day, and you are waiting on the next level of math to arrive in the mail anyway.  Relax…life is short…and even real teachers get sick too.

Grace and Peace to all who were sick, are sick or will be sick in the next 24 hours the way this bug is running around~

Things are changing! Life is not what it once was…carefree and gluttonous.

I am sullen, and sulky…and groggy. I am cranky and unmotivated….

I have a headache and I feel a little sick……

I feel like the opening paragraph in the terrible no go horrible day book……

I am detoxing from sugar…..Great Scott it is the scourge of the earth.

Pray for me….First week is a bear. Why do I do this?  I get off sugar and caffeine and feel great, and then slowly I say, oh it is no big deal, and then one day I realize I want dessert for breakfast lunch and dinner, and then here I sit having to control myself and say NO, NO, NO.

Paul, I am getting you man…”do what you don’t want, don’t do what you know you should” stuff is discipleship 101.  So I am submitting what I put in my mouth to the master King and asking for help.

A good discipline for sure.

Peace to those conquering their addictions!

Why spend gobs of money on fancy toys that fall apart 3 days after Christmas? Here are the best tried and tested gifts that will give them hours of imaginative play.  Trust me, they are all kid tested and Mother approved, at least in our house.  Give them a try, you will be pleasantly surprised.

• an empty box
• a box of band aids
• a roll of tape
• a ball of string
• a bag of balloons

There you have, an amazing day for under 5 bucks.  Now, don’t say I never gave you anything.

The older I get and the older our children get, the more I remember how much I LOVE to play.   I got my SCUBA diving license when I was 10 or so and started my private pilots license when I was 16. I worked my tail off in high school to pay for those two things. I still need to finish my private pilots license. College, then marriage, then kids have taken all the extra funds needed to accomplish such a feet.  There is still time. Some golf when they retire, I will fly…and I think it will be a lancair when I do.

One of the things I love about homeschooling, is how it gives everyone room to dream.  Even Mommies who are relearning along with their children.  We get a big do over, and we get to do it with our kids.  It is just such a beautiful gift for those called to it. After watching this today, and seeing a lady tear it up, I thought, I want to do that.  So I think I will. What new thing do you want to learn in 2009?

Peace to all dreamers today~

In all of the picture cacophony around here, I realized, I have no pictures of me and my beautiful works of art. I have them and everyone else in my family in their natural state, but I am kind of lost behind the lens.  So I was inspired by my blog friend who has a stunning series of herself and her kids on her flickr.  I just had to follow suit, and get a little  bit of me in the action. I typically hate being in front of the camera, but it was fun to get my kids involved.  Kinda….I will through the outtakes up on my flickr so you see we all are not airbrushed around here;-) I was stunned at how much they understood and some of the technical lingo they were throwing around.  They really do pick up WHATEVER you have floating around in your environment.

This is our youngest, the future worship leader/comedian.  He keeps me on my knees.  Many say he looks like me, but that is because they have never met my brother.  Good Night, this child takes me back to my childhood.  It is fascinating to me.

This is our oldest, the spitting image of my husband in almost EVERY way.  He does have my chin though. He longs for righteousness and wants to make sure we all are following the rules. I am learning how to give him more responsibility and treat him like a big kid.  He lost another tooth yesterday.  He is growing up and FAST!

This is my mini-me.  She is like me in EVERY good and not so good way.  God teaches me how to let go through her. She also lost her first tooth yesterday.  She was so proud and finally felt like a big girl.  I cried!  They grow so fast.  She cried when she thought she had to give it away for the possibility of money from the tooth fairy.  She decided against it, and kept it, just like her older brother.  She said later, “Mom the tooth fairy isn’t really real, is she?”  I said, “What do you think?”  She said, “No, I think it is just you who take my tooth and I want to keep it.”   So, she did.

So there you have it, a little piece of us, now held fast in time, so when they are 16 and out and about working and such, I can look back and smile.

Go take a picture of you and your offspring today!

Today, I woke a few minutes before my run to get my head screwed on straight. I mean come on when you wake up at 5:20 what is the big deal waking up at 5. Really is 20 minutes more sleep all that helpful?

20 minutes early to just breath deep, pray, lay my day at the one who made me. Quakers call it “centering down”. Dang new agers co-opted the term and now you say that and people think you are chanting omes or something. For the past few months I have been up early, running, listening to worship music and praying all throughout my run, but it just isn’t the same as taking the first 10 minutes before your do anything else to sit still and listen…lay it all down before you ever pick it all up.

I have a fun day planned and a neat Advent activity. The kids are settling down, I am settling down, life is good, all is well, cinnamon is simmering on the stove….You’d almost think it is getting close to Christmas around here.

Peace to all who need to “center down” today!

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands….”

1 Thessalonians 4:11

So, I’ve been working with my hands today. I already determined not to school this week, because tomorrow, we have 6 family members arriving that we will efficiently pack away in our little space for the next week. We are all excited because we usually never have family in to stay with us. We typically go to them.

Like I said earlier, we have been cleaning and washing and rearranging. I love leaving for a good space of time or having people in for a space of time. Both situations cause us to deep clean, weed out, and organize. I have gotten some things done that I have wanted to do for 5-10 years now. REALLY….I am not joking.

1. See those candle sticks on the pass through? They were wedding presents, hand made by my great uncle about 75 years ago. Guess what, they don’t hold modern candles worth a darn, and I am not making my own for these bad boys. So, I finally dug them out, and re-purposed them, so I could use them and enjoy them. I attached (semi-permanently) little candle dishes on the tops of them and now they can hold pillar candles. (I’ve wanted to do this for 5+ years. Having nursing infants derailed my plans a bit:-)

2. See that hutch to the right of the photo. That was my husbands baby hutch when he was little. My dear father in law, refinished it and gave it to us. I love it, and it too has been in our bedroom collecting dust and junk. I moved it here by the dinning room table, and now store, china (that i never use) and cloth napkins, hand towels, our tea set etc. (I’ve wanted to do this for 2 years. I am just now getting to it.)

3. I rearranged some art in our home. Above the previously mentioned baby hutch is a new piece I just shot last week. On the pass through wall, is a collection of our art. Some made by me, some by the kids, some we have purchased on our travels around the world. I’ve always wanted a funky, eclectic gallery wall. Well, now I have it. You see the violin hanging? That was mine when I was a wee tyke. 10 years ago, when Mike and I lived in Gainesville, we were/are friends with a young/their kids are gorgeous well adjusted teenagers now, family about our age now, who home schooled etc. Super cool, super funky and non traditional that helped lead worship at our sending church. The wife had her violin hanging this way in her home, and I have wanted to hang mine the same way ever since. (To my Gainesville readers, can you guess who that is?)

4. We rearranged some area rugs, and I now realize after shooting this picture that the table is not centered under my light, so I will fix that. My dearest girlfriend gave me that light for my birthday present some years ago. I tricked it out with some trim and shells. It is just a little bit of me hanging right over our dinning room table. That dinning room table was given to us by dear friends who pastor a simple church in Michigan. They have little guys and home school too. When Brian left our home, he gave us a gift of money saying it was a blessing from their community to us and that we had to buy something made of solid wood. Well, we did and we LOVE that table. At the time we needed a dinning room table but couldn’t swing it and were eating off of plastic patio furniture. (Thanks Brian and Amy and your crew in Michigan. I promise we will get up that way soon!) I pray for them often when we sit around it. If you look through my pass through you can see into our kitchen and right out into our front walk way where it is windy and rainy today. I can take you on a tour of that tomorrow.

I lean towards a modern design aesthetic with a little bit of eclectic punch. I don’t like a ton of matchy-matchy things, and get a serious high on reusing what I already have, or things I find or have been given. I LOVE Amy Butler design and drool over her mid-west modern book. Did I say I drool over it? Now, I am thinking through a paint color for downstairs. I want something cool (because we have dark furniture) and a little unexpected. The original color I wanted isn’t flowing with this vibe so I am back to square one.

Any Ideas?

Fun with Flowers: Today we dissected a flower.

They had great fun, looking at all of the little parts and I found a fun game online to help them identify them.

In our little homeschool, we strive to get all of our core work done by lunch, so that our afternoons are free, for fun and interesting pursuits, like this flower dissection. I see a microscope in our future. In fact, it sounds like a great Christmas gift.

So, now I am off to pursue my own interests, as Mommy has them too. I think I will create a sign that says “Shhh, do not disturb, Mommy is playing.”

Peace to all discoverers today~

Seriously, I have a MAJOR problem that I can not remedy. Please give me some tips if you have any.

I have two young men in our home. Okay let’s be honest, they are little boys and they are both independent in the restroom. I think they are training to become fireman or something as they are experimenting with spraying. They must “miss” often because the smell of urine has slowly been escalating the past few weeks. With the summer heat and my need to keep the door always closed, because it is located in a walk through area and if it stays open it blocks the path, the smell intensifies.

I drench it in pine sol and wipe it down and, and, and…… NOTHING! I am disgusted and have to apologize to guests as the walk in to use the facilities. We are leaving for the weekend, and I am literally leaving raw pine sol on the floor the entire time, in hopes that the smell will be gone already!

Any Helpful de-stinking tips? Please….anyone…… help!

(Please read previous post)

I had Hudson recap the story to his Grandfather this evening and he revealed one tiny bit of info that he had not shared with me this morning. He exclaimed, as he jumped in mid air “To infinity and Beyoooonnnnnndddddd.” Wow -three year olds are literal, and maybe he has seen Toy Story one too many times, which trust me people isn’t that often.

Honestly, my parents are laughing their backsides off, because I am getting my paybacks. That is OK, it is only a matter of time, until I will be laughing my backside off watching our dear children parent their young ones through the maze of this life.

In addition to the now infamous jump, I found these.

I know, I now know better. I thought it would be cute and festive as well as a reminder to our children to eat healthy snacks by placing them in these super cute, orange bowls on our kitchen pass through. See them in the back of this pic? The only problem is, they can be easily reached by little hands without my knowledge. Let’s be honest, I know they are dong it. But hey it is fruit how bad can it be for them? If it keeps them busy while I am finishing up school, then all is well, or so I thought. As I cleaned up the mess of a room after the jumping incident, I found these 6 half eaten apples all over the place. Almost as if, little chipmunks had been eating them for sustenance during their rambunctious play. Then, being all hopped up on natural sugar they felt super human and able to overcome the affects of gravity. As they found out, THEY CAN’T!

So, no more chair, no more apples out in plane site (tomorrow we will make applesauce from the remnants) and a huge helping of laughter makes life interesting. Just as long as we enjoy each moment, laugh at ourselves, pray for grace to cover the inevitable gaps and keep falling forward, everything will turn out all right.

This morning, I was finishing up a narration with Jackson downstairs while the “littles” were upstairs “playing”. I hear Hudson, our adventuresome daredevil, say “la la (his nickname for Chloe) if I get in trouble with this, run downstairs and get help.” (At least he had the forethought to think of possibly needing help and that what he was about to do might tun out badly. I am still not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing.) Before I even had time to find out what was going on, I hear a loud crash and Hudson crying hysterically, while they both run down stairs.

While I put ice on a slightly bloody, goose egg sized knot on his head, I found out that he put their desk chair on top of the dresser and then proceeded to climb on top of it and attempted to jump the three feet across the room onto the top bunk. It obviously failed miserably.

After he had calmed down he said, “Mom I have a good idea, we can go to the grocery store and show the cookie lady my bump and she will give me a cookie and then I will feel all better.” I decided I wouldn’t tell him about the time that Mommy climbed a tree and swung a garden hose over the limb in order to swing around like Tarzan. My youthful zeal had the energy and lack of fear to conquer said task, however my three year old mind didn’t have the logical thinking skills needed to know that I must grab both sides of the hose so that gravity wouldn’t have its way with me. I ended up in the ER with a sprained ankle. Good Times People. I am reliving my childhood.

One cookie later, we are all off for quiet time.

Peace to all furniture jumpers today.

I have been saying for 7 years that I wanted to take an adult ballet class. So I finally did it. I signed up at our local rec center. The other night was my first class. Our babysitter is super into ballet, so I asked her what she thought it would be like. She said it would be like free movement, so I showed up in a pair of jogging pants. I realized immediately that I was NOT prepared.

There were about 15 women in the class of all ages, rehearsing for a RECITAL! WHAT! I did not anticipate this. They had the full get up on, and the best dancers in the class where those who had been dancing all their lives and continue to do it to stay limber and in shape. I was comforted by the other Moms who never danced when they were little and wanted to give it a try too. I am not alone in my feeble experimentation. That is comforting.

So, they pulled out the bars and away I went, never having taken a ballet class in my life. I must say that more then once I thought, “What am I doing?”. I tried to stay in the back but they kept pushing me to the front. “You can see better up front” they said. “Yeah” I say better all right. I saw I had no idea what I was doing. The women, however, were so nice and encouraging. Around here, women tend to be a bit clicky. It is hard to break in, and when you do it is usually based on your neighborhood, your children, or your job. Within those circles the “keepin’ up with the Joneses” is rampant. This setting felt different. No one was trying to be the best or have the best kids or anything, they were just wanting to have fun.

So I did. I had fun. It is much harder than it looks. I think I will go back. So what do you think of that?

Yeap that is what the salesman said when he sold us our , then new, microfiber, brown suede sectional coach. That was 4 years ago, and it looks almost brand new, well kind of. OK let’s be serious, we have three little kids running around, nothing is brand new in our home.

Our previous coach we had moved from Gainesville, had been slip covered, reupholstered and finally left out for the trash. I wouldn’t dare give it to goodwill. So when we went searching for a new coach, the one requirement was it must be kid proof. This couch, like many of our possessions, is a pure workhorse. Don’t even get me started with our minivan and dining room table. I must be a horrible mother that I can not contain the mess, nor discipline, train, beg and plead the young members of our clan to stop being so messy. Oh well, it is what it is.

Dark trendy brown, not because that color is a hot color now, but because it hides the many stains

.

This microfiber can almost be hosed off, which in our case is a very good thing. A scrub brush, a bucket of soapy water and Folex cure all evils on this bad boy! (Trust me cats - BUY THE FOLEX! - it is worth every penny for so many reasons!) The cushions become a sailboat for hearty travelers many times a week much to our chagrin.

We store many, many, many little toys amongst its comfy cushions and underneath its carriage.

I have to vacuum it out often, because, even though we have a NO FOOD ON THE COUCH rule, there seams to be unending food product wedged between its cushions.

So, Lora asked me to join a group of moms who list some of their favorite things each week, and as I replaced the cushions once again, to this couch, I knew this was a definite favorite thing. Families with young kids shouldn’t decorate without it!

4:34

Chloe: “Mom, I want to take the training wheels off my bike.”

Me: “Well, honey the wrench is in the garage. ”

Chloe: “I know Mom, please I know I can do it.”

Me: “Well, the garage is such a mess, we may have to wait for Daddy to come home.” (I am stalling because I don’t want to do the running along side thing right now.)

Chloe: “Mom, I know where it is, PLEASE!”

Me: “Well, honey it isn’t like you are going to just get on and go like your brother does now. He had to practice to get that good. It is going to take some practice.” (I am still stalling)

Chloe: “I know that, I want to practice, right now.”

Me: “You really think you can do it?”

Chloe: “YES MOM I KNOW I CAN DO IT!”

Me: “OK - Let’s give it a try.” ( I finally get that there is no way we are not trying this, so I embrace it, and gear up mentally to do the run along side thing.)

4:45

The training wheels are off and we begin. After about three passes she has the balance thing, but we need to work on steering and breaking.

5:00 Daddy home, park the bike out front, eat dinner.

6:00 Family clean up time. I remind everyone that we need to put our outside toys away in the garage. She hops on the bike again and rides it around to the back alley where she sees another family with her friend, and then I felt it in her spirit. It was like “sea biscuit”. She said “Let go Mom I can do it!” and with all the force her little frame could exert, she was off. And not a casual pace, I mean I couldn’t even keep up running along side her, let alone stop her from falling. I gulped and said a quiet prayer and she rode away from me, like she had been riding her bike for years. (Wow that is a metaphor for parenting, isn’t it?)

6:15 All the other little girls in the neighborhood wanted their training wheels off too. (Way to lead by example Chloe!)

6:15 - 7:00 Riding, and Riding and Riding, steering and breaking are old hat.

Today we work on starting by herself and at 4 and three quarters our little Chloe is a dare devil on wheels!

Oh the days they are a flyin’ people! Next thing I know she will want the keys to the car!

Have you ever had a day where you wanted to trash the plan?

Maybe kick your shoes off and play in the sand?

Study your shadow…

Build sand castles…

Think quietly about the meaning of life…

or splash and play like there is no tomorrow?

I know….Me too! Life is short and I only have these moments once. I was rescued from striving to have it all.

I was spinning my wheels,

but then I saw the light. In the process realized I have everything I need.

and I never looked back!

and I am here to tell you, “Life couldn’t be any sweeter!”.

All photographs are original and taken during my travels throughout the course of our day. Thanks to Jordan for letting me share them and Lora and the Sisters for encouraging me on!

Other participants in Jordan’s GWP are:

• in gratefulness by Lora LeBreck
• April Group Writing Project: Savoring The Season by Ivy
• In-between seasons by Michelle (The Beartwinsmom)
• Savoring the Season by phyllis
• A Letter To My Childless Friends by Mama Zen
• Savoring Spring by Daisy
• Savouring the season(s) by Jen
• April 2 by tiffany (threeringcircus)
• Savoring the Season: MamaBlogga March/April Group Writing Project by Julie Arduini
• ‘Tis The Season to Enjoy Some Mommy Time by Jenny
• to everything there is a season by boogiemum
• Makes-Me-Smile Monday: The best of times, the worst of times” by Jane of What About Mom?
• Purpose by Christy
• What a Difference a Week Makes by warillever
• Savoring Spring by Deb - Mom of 3 Girls
• Signs of Spring in Ottawa by Barbara (MomOnTheGo)
• The Sweet and the Savored by Ursula
• Savoring the season… by melissa lightfoot
• Spring Has Sprung by Jill
• Better Safe, Than Sorry by Jackie
• Savor the seasons of motherhood by Jordan (MamaBlogga)

Check them out!

Chloe upon waking~

 ”Mommy, Daddy prayed for me last night and it really worked!  I am going to have a much better day!”

 Ah - music to my weary ears!

Last Jan. about 15 months ago, God was gently leading me to lay down my striving and trust Him in a deeper way. The last 15 months have been an amazing, beautiful and hard process of dying to what I think is important and waking up to what He says is important for me and my discipleship to Him.

Yes, I love being home with our children and homeschooling them but it does not define who I am. I want to make sure I continue to work on me outside of our kids, because there will be a day that they are building their own life and if I haven’t spent time on me, then it will be tough sledding.

I can say I would not trade any of it. One of the unique things about me learning to rest and be still, has been deep, deep bubbling in me. Isn’t that a product of learning to rest, the real you can come out and play? One of those things is my artistic development. If I had to do it all over again, I would of gone in a completely different route in regards to where I put my energies, with high-school and college. So, I am working through the book The Artists Way.

I feel like for the first time in my life, outside of my call to ministry, I am discovering who I was made to be, what I love and what feeds me. It is funny, that it is almost as far away from what I had been working towards as imaginable. So I am putting together my Etsy page, thinking through what I want to paint and photograph and will spend the next 15-18 months digging into that. I am deeply excited. Kind of like a kid in a candy shop.

More to come.

Before you click the links see if you can figure out who I am talking about. 

I’ve been thinking about some of my heroes.  This is one of my all time heroes, interviewed on a rare you-tube video. If you know me well, you will already know who this person is. 

This person, to me, embodied incarnational living is such a way, that to be in their presence you experienced the peace of God.  Thanks to Tivo, and you-tube, my children know this person too. An activist, humanitarian and advocate for young people, their life inspires me to be “best I can be.”

Who are your heroes?

No, I am not dead…I have been sewing, and cleaning and generally getting some projects done that I am unable to get done without an extra set of hands.  My dear parents-in-law are here and, as always, they are such a big help. 

Let’s just say that I am not dumpster diving anytime soon, but I am making do with what I have, and not spending money on things I don’t need.  Making due with what you have is an art form, just ask Edith Schaeffer. Recently, I have become the proud owner of several friends and families gently used cast offs.  I was given several adorable pairs of curtains that were too short for our home, and a grocery bag full of upholstery grade fabric.  With a little quick stitching all the curtains work now and have a custom look.  It has been my goal this year to decorate and organize our home without spending any money.  Necessity breeds invention, and creativity.  So here are the first set of embellished curtains in our dear little girls room.  Martha Stewart…eat your heart out!

This is a little fuzzy but you get the overall affect. 

Here is a close up of the band I put at the bottom.

Well…It is official.  Our oldest can tie his shoes all by himself:-)

Jackson turned 6 in August and it was a “clue” to me that life as I had know it with him was shifting.  He wanted his own shoes and wanted to have “big boy” lace up shoes.  Thank goodness I had him with me when I was buying his birthday present so I could check for the right size.  I showed him what I had thought he wanted and he gave me this disappointed look, like I had picked out baby booties or something.  Instead, He wanted these “cool kicks” shown above. I acquiesced on the premise that he would learn to tie them himself, to which he agreed.

Well, He has had steps 1, 2 and 3 down for ever but the last step has been eluding him/frustrating him to no end.  I never made a big deal about it.  He just got as far as he could and then I finished up for him.  I noticed in the last 2 weeks or so, his fine motor skills have progressed rapidly.  The big clue has been his writing.  He just can do it now without a problem.

 So today we went over the ”tying procedure” again.  We figured out the problem and within precisely 1 minute and 26 seconds he was tying his shoes as if he had done it his whole life.  I wish I had the video camera going, but I didn’t think it would happen that fast.  His little happy dance at the end was too cute.  I would of shown it to his wife one day if I had it on film.

So tying shoes has been like every other thing.  Potty training, riding bikes, swimming, reading….if I just wait until he is ready and try not to push it too early, he does it in like nano seconds.

OK - I am going to go shed a happy tear.   

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.

In the car, the kitchen and in the stair well.  These seem to be places I end up with the kids, that I fall into “quit fooling around and do it mood”.  I need to remind myself that time is short.  Kids need love and direction more then they need a clean house.

• “You can be busy and not be hurried”
• “Your kids are only this age once~enjoy it!”
• “Build them up with your words.”
• “Have you given them something to love, something to do and something to think about today?”
• “Call out what you see God doing in them.”
• “Discipline consistently in love.”
• “Take a picture~one day you will smile at this mess!”
• “Savor every moment~it is a gift”
• “You have  a beautiful life”

My days are wonderful most days but there are days that at 4:00 I loose my sanity.  I am shoring myself up for those 4:00 moments when I have lost site of the goal.  Little sign posts that will point the way and help me stay grounded in reality.

Peace to all~

OK - so I have taken your thoughtful comments to mind and have been inspired. 

 Of course I will be purchasing books.  I consider those “hand-made”.  It is like buying an author’s art and as I said before I am “down” with that. I am purchasing the Tales of the Kingdom Trilogy. Holy Moley you need to read these with your kids if you follow Jesus and love allegorical tales  plus some Christmas classics like, The Other Wise Man and The First Christmas Tree.

For Jackson, I will be making a quiver and new bows for his authentic bow that came from Peru.  It only had 2 arrows and one of them was broken by his little brother.  One arrow is a bunch of work so we need a few more and a quiver to hold them all.  And I think a target too.  I am not sure how to pull that off, but I will think on it.

 I will get Chloe a full size tea set.   It is store bought because making one from scratch would be crazy expensive and time consuming.  The idea being that she and I will make and have tea together with special guests.  That to me is where I am at with gifts.  I strive to make things experiential so this qualifies. 

For Hudson I will purchase him a small starter set of real tools.  I know I am not making them, but we will make things together.  He is forever pulling out Daddy’s tools to work with.  I think I will make a small work bench for him with screws and things he can work with.  I had a small tool set with a had crank drill when I was his age and I still remember how much I loved it and how much I worked with it. 

Then if I have time and am adventurous enough I will make them all swords, shields and capes.  We have been learning the Armor of God and of course reading the 50 Famous Stories so we fight many battles around the home.  I may regret it, but I thought it would be fun….. if I can get them to not whack each other with them.  Hmmmmm, I will have to think of soft sword material.

They will have plenty of “store bought things” from extended family, so the store bought toy thing will be met there and I can start making the toys that we will enjoy and then in time when they grow past them I will keep them for the grand kids.  (OK - now I am thinking too much but we are creating a legacy right?:-)  These are hand made wooden items people. If I am spending the time to do it I am making them to last! Or at least I hope I am but you never know with our youngest.)  

I was thinking that on Christmas morning we could have a scavenger hunt with clues to find their gifts.  My mom did that one year and my brother and I had a blast, so I thought it would make a nice memory.  For advent we will beginning reading out loud together each evening and working on delivering gifts to friends and neighbors.  We like to put the tree and decorations up Thanksgiving day after we eat.  This year we may even put lights on the house - heaven help us all.

OK~ now sound off people!  What say ye?

Vacation was nice, but it is good to be home.  Hudson is 100% potty trained and dropping naps so my life is a bit different these days.  Because they share a rooms right now, they don’t have individual places to have quite time.  I have been experimenting with different ways to have them quietly working and playing together during the mid day so #1 they have down time and more importantly #2 I have down time.  We live in a townhouse with no yard so we have limited space. 

I came to a realization this week.  Because our kids are super close in age, they all feed off of each other and it may be this way for ever I don’t know.  The youngest wants to be like the oldest, the oldest wants to be like the youngest, the girl wants to be like the boys and the boys want to wrestle so the little peanut of a girl is always getting bumped too hard. They all fight to sit on Mommy’s lap for family reading and the reality is they all can’t fit at once anymore.  When a “take turns” policy in enforced, crying commences for what seems like hours. I can’t be three places at once and three children speaking at once for some given food product, even in quiet voices can be deafening.  

I find myself extra tired these days without Hudson napping.  He is all boy and a mile wide and can wear out a Saint.  Let’s just say at Sea World he WALKED most of the day, all day, and didn’t nap and had the energy that my older two together don’t have.  So I am getting geared up for the week with a trip to the Planetarium with our local PEC group.  Hopefully a good nights sleep and a good dose of vitamins will give me the “umph” I need. I will post picks if I have the energy.

Any thoughts, tips and encouragement would be appreciated:-)

Peace to all~

1. Weekly scheduled times of silence and solitude.  Lately I have found that if I don’t get this, I get all out of whack and take it  out on my family.  Serious bad deal all the way around.  Willard and other theologians have said this is one of the most important spiritual disciplines for western Christians because  of the frantic pace of our lifestyle.  In my humble opinion I tend to agree.

2. Daily scheduled time to work on me.  Whether it is working out, reading or painting, if I don’t get this I start getting resentful.  This is not a good deal ether. Charlotte Mason called this “Mother Culture”.  How can a mom stay balanced and offer her best to her family when she is strung out and never gets ant time just for her?  

3. Discipline to think of what the other person is saying and not what I want to say. The first two disciplines help me to relax and “center down” as the Quakers used to say. This allows me to actually get “outside” myself when I am with other people.  Have you ever thought about how many times you interrupt someone when they are talking before they are through. (Think of the little people in your home too!)

Make a choice today, to be right where you are and not three steps ahead.  Let people finish their own sentences and don’t think of how you will answer them before they are through speaking. Go “pencil in” some time just for you to work on you and then practice being still and silent.   You will be amazed at what you might hear!

This piece is inspired by Mommy Zabs group writing project.

For the linky love here are the other entries for your reading pleasure:-)

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!

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?

 Di Vinci was depicting two very important people and he named this painting Virgin of the Rocks.

Mommy, what is a virgin?  (ummmmm deafening silence)…….

And why do those  babies have such big muscles?  (again crickets chirping in the background)

I am all out of bullets on that one! 

Let’s get our math books out kids!

 ”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!

Honestly, I don’t know how I will top this today, but give it a read and see for yourself.  This Diva is “off the chains”. She is on my reader now!

I am in my third week of homeschooling using the Ambleside prescribed curriculum.  This week both of my boys were sick.  I thought for sure we would bag school.  That was what I had planned to do because I was cleaning up vomit all day.  (That was fun!)  Anyway, I digress.  I realized between the cleaning and the rocking and the laying on the couch (they did watch a video that day) and the not getting out of their pj’s until noon, and the no real prescribed “school time”, they finished ALL of their lessons in 15 min segments throughout the day. 

It was incredible to me that 1) they asked for certain lessons by name 2) they did them in short increments and then went back to throwing up 3) they had fun and it kept their minds off of the sickness thing.  Can you believe it?  I still can’t.  They ask for lessons every day. What do I say…. no?  I don’t think so but what do I know, I am knew to this.   They don’t know  a weekday Monday from a weekend Saturday, so they just keep going.  At this rate we will be done with the math book by Christmas. Jackson is half way through his phonics and it is only the end of August.  I only read the chapters/selections that are slated for the week so they have to learn to think on that one piece for a week before we move on, despite their begging. (Can you tell they love the books?)

Really People….is this normal?  I am thrilled they are enjoying it but I am kind of shocked.   The other day, Chloe said I go to “Turtle River Montessori”  (her old school) and I said, “No honey you go to home school. ” She said “I do?  Where is that?”  I said at home with me and your brothers.  She said “I never have to leave you again?”  I said “Nope” she squealed, I smiled.  It hadn’t even occurred to them that all of these months we had been schooling. 

So what do you think of that?  I guess I just go with it….right?!  OK this is where all the older wiser homeschooling moms jump in and tell me whats up.

 I am adding and building the content of this site on an ongoing basis.  One of the things I will be providing for my readers is a “book of the week recommendation”  I love to read.  I have always loved to read and in fact sat in elementary school bored to tears every day reading books inside my desk as the teacher droned on and on.  I would stay up late at night after my parents had tucked me in with a flashlight under the covers.

Reading is one of my favorite past times and so I thought I would post here what I am currently tackling.  Check back often as I will always be updating and growing my knowledge base. 

Currently Reading:

• Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola
• Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Burns -I snagged this off ot Truevyns site.  If she is reading it it must be good:-)
• Confessions of an Organized Homemaker: The Secrets of Uncluttering Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life by Deniece Schofield

Just Finished:

• Death by Suburb by David Goetz
• Hints on Child Training by H. Clay Trumbull

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 other night I went out with some women from our church. We were discussing our favorite movies.  I love small independent films that have a deep story. 

I think I will check out this one with my Blockbuster coupon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVcdo24gaiE

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. 

Today I am participating in the “All Woman Blogging Carnival” over at 4fabmoms.  

We live in a small three bedroom town home.  Currently the two smaller rooms are occupied by our three young children.  One is a playroom and the other is a sleeping room.  As you can imagine there are some nights we have to split the three of them up in order to  get them to settle down for the night.

One of these particular evenings, we put our tiny daughter (then just 3) on our bed so she could fall asleep.  Things were quiet and all was well for some time, until we heard noises up stairs.  I went upstairs to see what was going on, to see our daughter had gotten into my makeup in our bathroom.  It was all over her, the walls, the floor and the tile grout.  It was a beautiful mess.  I had to not only clean her up but the entire bathroom that night.

What amazed me most was that she was able to put on the mascara perfectly?  Thankfully I use non-toxic make up. In retrospect I should of taken a picture so I could remember the look on her face when I found her.  Now, I lock my bathroom door always, because you never know what mischievous little hands want to explore.

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)

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.

 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.

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)

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.

I am at a point in my life that where I am embracing the hardness of things instead of complaining or praying them away. (Prayer doesn’t work that way, but that is another blog)  I figure, they are there for some “omniscient” reason to train me more in Jesus’ kingdom ways.   

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! 

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……

Here are some questions to think about.

What do you do to nurture your own unique voice

(apart form your husband/wife)?

Do you think it is important to do so?

How does your husband/wife help you develop that uniqueness?

I have been thinking lately about my own “unique voice”   Like I mentioned before one of my main fears with homeschooling has been…”Will I turn into someone who only knows how to talk about kids and home-school?”.  I really want homeschooling to add to me and not become me if that makes since. 

I know there are plenty of seasons in life and God uses all of them to shape, and transform us….if we let Him.  And there may be some that seem completely con-summed with one facet of their journey because that is where God has them.  I have recently been reminded that balance is so important.  Being out of balance takes a toll.  Or I will say It has on me so the pendulum is swinging back towards the center.  It feels nice.

The reason I ask about how your husband/wife nurtures your voice is because I realize what a huge role my spouse plays in nurturing my unique voice.  Here is an example. I remember being newly married and Mike and I having our first fight!  We had been married for 4 months or so and I was really steamed that he left and played golf for 5 hours on a weekend when he could of been hanging out with me.  He explained how important it was for him to have time to himself and golf was a non negotiable for him.    He was very good (and still is) at encouraging me to stay close to my “girlfriends”.  He didn’t want the pressure of having my whole world revolve around him.  I am so glad we had those really hard conversations when we are first married.  It really helped me continue to grow as an individual and not as “Mikes wife”.    Now 12 years later, we are interdependent not co-dependent, or in-dependant. 

I bring all of this up because this blog is another extension of me developing my voice.  I want to know what you are doing to develop yours. 

Leave a comment poeple.  Share the love. 

Tip #1 Give them a roll of tape and some paper.  It will keep the busy for hours.  Seriously! Chloe just now used 50 pieces of tape to make her foot look like a mummy. 

Tip #2Give them 10-12 empty boxes of various sizes and it will keep them working together building things again…for hours.  Warning, you may want to advise them not to start throwing said boxes as to keep glass breakage to a minimum.

Tip #3  Use ice-cube trays to separate paint.  It is much easier than muffin tins.  After 5 years you think I would of already  come up with that one.  I was just getting some paint ready today when I spy-ed the 3 ice-cube trays in the back of our cabinet I used to use to freeze their homemade baby-food.  I used to put their paint in throw away muffin tins, but they are kind of big and clumsy.  Ice cube trays work great!  They can even mix colors without a ton of mess.  OK - the mess is minimized if you instruct them to use paintbrushes only instead of hands. My 2.5 year old thought he would finger paint. He then painted his face to look like William Wallace from Brave heart.  I wish our camera wasn’t out of batteries.  I would of had a picture of that and posted it for sure.

Really…keep reading I am sure I will come up with at least 3 more today……………