Mama said there'll be days like this, There'll be days like this Mama said

Happy Mother's Day!

Being "Mom" is one of the greatest joys of my life. I love the sound of the giggles, the late night chatter of the girls, the enormous hugs my only boy gives, the sweet little "ma-ma's" that are just starting to come from my baby girl's mouth. There are so many blessings to being a mommy, my heart overflows with the joy of it.

There is also the other side of being a mom. And the "less than perfect mommy moments" as a friend of mine put it. The days when the chaos overwhelms. Sibling wars peak. My housekeeping and laundry folding are way behind. The flower gardens sport more dandelions than flowers that were planted. When dinner is the last thing on my mind and it's already 6:00.

Yes, my mama said there'd be days like this. I've got a wise mama!

As I raise my children there is something that Mom said that sticks with me. "God gives us children to grow us up while we are raising them." I didn't understand her. I had the phone tucked between my ear and my shoulder, my first newborn snuggled in my arms, talking to Mom.  I was ready to be Mom. Ready for the exciting adventures of parenthood. After all, I knew how this was going to go. I had my parenting map laid out and ready.

Fast forward a few years. My second newborn in my arms, standing at the window of our - fairly new to us , in the heart of being remodeled -home, job changes and pay cuts still being adjusted to, phone tucked between my ear and my shoulder, toddler tugging on my legs, crying into the phone, "Mom, how do you do it?"

The lessons I've learned as a mom have come from seeing my character flaws in my children and choosing to make a change in myself. Seeing the joy they gather from the little things and learning again to slow down and watch a earth worm bury itself. Blowing dandelion fluff and not worrying about the million new plants we just released. Rows of beets and lettuce growing crooked and uneven in my garden. Planted by little fingers that were full of joy.

I'm learning so much from my kids. From their joy. From their misbehavior.

It's easy to latch onto their joy. It's so difficult to find the heart of their misbehavior. Oftentimes, as much as I hate to admit it to myself. I need to root out the heart of it in myself. When my kids are angry and quick with their words, I look at the example I have been setting.

When they don't have time for each other, have I made time for them? Do they share freely? Do they seem insecure in their place in our home. So many areas they struggle with, I trace back to myself.

That's not to say that I don't recognize that my children have innate sin in their lives. That is part of my job as mom. Many times their wrong choices are simply that - wrong choices. Choices that need to be disciplined, corrected, changed. Just as their right choices need to be disciplined, applauded, encouraged.

In each of these situations God is growing me as a mom, as a wife, as His child. I'm so thankful for the godly Mom I have who encouraged me to "grow up" with my kids.  As I continue to learn from her, gleaning for the wisdom and discernment she continues to give I want to say a public thank you.

"Her children arise and call her blessed""

I love you, Mom! Happy Mother's Day.

Hitting My Stride

The school year is coming to an end. How is it that this school year is almost all in the record books?

The days required by the state will be completed in just a handful of days and now begins  "mommy days." The kids don't know it, but what the state requires is different from what I require. I'm not about to shut the books when I see my kids on the edge of a break through in math. Or when they are in the middle of a fabulous science until. Or when the history book that the beg to read is almost finished, but the days have already been crossed off.

So we are studying on.

And it's a good thing too. I finally feel like I've hit my stride. More than 170 days later. This year has been a roller coaster of a school year. We started early, I knew I'd need to build in some days with a newborn around. (Was it really just a year ago she was still kicking my ribs?)

We started in July. With a days old baby, caterpillars were ordered and math books were cracked open. Diagrams of the habitat were drawn, labeled, colored and proudly shown to Daddy. VBS interrupted (HA!) with it's stories, songs, crafts, and history/economic/social background of India - the kids worked (I'm a mean mom) to earn pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters to donate. The proceeds went to buy chickens and help pay for Indian children to attend Bible school.


Through the year, my mom - who still teaches at her local homeschool co-op - graciously sent the lesson plans, and study guides that she wrote over email for Ty and Becca for science. They loved reading what Grammy wrote for astronomy, oceanography (field trip to FL anyone?), weather, geology and more.

A few months ago I went to a Charlotte Mason conference. It was a small informal meeting in a friend's home, but it has changed my approach to homeschooling so much. I never had a "teaching style". Our days were loosely organized. I knew the kids were learning what the needed, but I still felt incomplete as a mom/teacher. Since that meeting early this year my approach to school and our days have changed so much. Especially in the last few weeks. Part of it I know is answers to prayers from dear friends. This has not been an easy year outside of school life. Our family has had big changes. Some good - Doug was promoted at work. Some wonderful - the addition of Breeley. Some heartbreaking - Jim's death. 

I think the biggest change this year has been the way I look at our school.  When I began to teach I said I would homeschool as long as I could still be a good mom. I've been blessed to be around families where homeschooling made the familial bonds stronger. I've also watched as families grew apart and didn't get back on track until school choices changed. My commitments are God, wife, mother, homeschooling mom... Keeping the third and fourth roles of my life straight are important to me. So this year I put that into practice. Up all night with a fussy baby? I had a choice: try to do school sleep deprived and grouchy or snuggle with my kids on the couch and watch a movie, listen to them read, get out the paints, or other activity that would build a family bond. I chose the latter. The kids need time to grieve? Let's do Bible and call it a day.

It may be later in the year than I would have liked, but I'm finally hitting my stride. It's so affirming of our decision to keep homeschooling. I know that each year will have it's challenges. Breeley's two naps a day are saving my sanity. What's next year going to look like with only one nap? We found a weekly co-op that the kids love. How will that fit into our schedule? I'm can't wait to see what next year looks like. I'm so excited to be finding my way down this crazy, fun, wild ride called homeschooling.

*The rest of the post is the kids progress this year. While I'm in the mode I thought I'd write that down too!


Tyler has grown leaps and bounds this school year. Still so inquisitive, he keeps me on my toes. His reading has improved about two grade levels. It's been so much fun to watch him take learning into his own hands. He researches the birds in our backyard, is devouring the "Little House" and "Boxcar Children" books, loves to build with his tool set and legos, and (he is a boy after all) frequently asks to take things apart so he can see how they work. Math continues to be a strong area. He is working on multiple digit multiplication including regrouping. 

Becca is doing so well at school. She flies through her seat work. Creative writing and arts are by far her favorite things. She is learning to write stories that flow well and loves to make "bubble letters." This year her handwriting has improved dramatically. (Thanks, Mom, for the workbook!) She is working on addition and subtraction and loves to read, sing and dance. Her love of learning is paying dividends for me. She often plays school with Hope and Breeley reading to them and keeping them occupied. She continues to read well above grade level.

Although I had no intention of starting a newly turned three year old in school, Hope had other plans. This year she has learned to write her name and draw faces. Along with the letters in her name, she is recognizes the most frequently used letters and their sounds. She counts to thirty and does some simple addition and subtraction using manipulatives. She loves to sort, recognizes most colors (red/green confusion), and memorizes stories and songs very well. Play dough and simple jigsaw puzzles are her favorite quiet activities. She is helping with chores and learning to play well alone. She loves to cut - thankfully paper - and paste. Some of her art work adorns our walls.

Belated Easter

Saturday Before Easter Service we had a little extra time to take pictures. The kids did so well posing in newly cut grass without getting a single grass stain on their clothes. Blessed much? Not my smartest move.

Becca is looking so grown up here! She picked this outfit out herself for her birthday. I love this LONG skirt. 

My handsome man! This is his first "real" tie. Doug's not excited about having to tie another tie. At least he doesn't have to do his hair! 

Hope was too wiggly for a picture! I think no nap may have factored into this. Love her grin in this picture so it won out. Notice the grape hyacinth she picked?

My 10 month old baby girl on her first Easter. She's showing off her clapping skills. This is her cousin's dress. Thanks for sharing it, Marley!

You're Nine!

Dear Tyler,

You're nine today. I was thinking back over these past nine years this morning.

How still and silent you were when you were born. Three of the scariest minutes of my life. How mad you were at birth. Everyone laughed at how furrowed your brow was. You are the only newborn I have seen who looked ticked-off. I can't really blame you after the way your birth went.

How eager you were to move. Walking by nine months. Climbing ladders before you were two. I'll never forget turning around to find you half way to the roof and all the entire roofing crew yelling at me in Spanish.

Your eagerness to talk and take part in adult conversations.  You still crack me up with the adult words you use. The other day you used "per se" appropriately in a sentence. Currently "vaguely" is your favorite response to someone asking about a distant memory.

I'll never forget the hurt the first time other kids picked on you. Walking out of Sunday school and trying so hard to keep a brave face on. And having to sit on my hands as you and daddy worked through it the way "men" deal with these things.


Your pride as you learned to read and discovered how much you truly loved it.

The first time you asked if you could ride your bike down our front steps. And watching you do it.

So much has changed. You rarely want help bandaging your scrapes or solving problems. You are a do-it-yourselfer - just like your daddy. You have a confidence that sometime gets you in trouble, but will carry you a long way. You are a hard worker. You don't shy away from things because they are hard, you try harder to reach the goals you set for yourself. You no longer want to be watched, but want to be the "helper" at church functions.

You are so quickly becoming a young man, one that I'm blessed to call my son. I watch as you stand up for the underdog. I've watched as you've had the opportunity to do wrong, but chosen right. And I am blessed. I pray each day that you grow in knowledge of God and in wisdom. That you will know His plan for your life and walk daily in it. I love you sweet, sweet boy. Happy Birthday. Love,

Mom

Happy 10 months, Baby Girl

Breeley,

You are a mover and shaker now. In the last month you have conquered crawling, started standing for a few seconds at a time, and cruising. It's getting to be a challenge to keep up with you. I love to watch you map out the house. The excitement on your face as you round a corner and find the person you were looking for makes me laugh.

 

You are eating everything now. Cheese, pasta,bananas and green beans are among your favorites this month. You also had your first grilled cheese. You ate almost a whole sandwich.

You are trying to stand up from sitting on your own. As we found out on our trip south, you hate to have anyone help you. If we hold your hands as you try to stand, your legs immediately go limp. Sitting here you though you might be able to do it. Instead you slid off the rock.

You are exploring everything around you. And it all goes into your mouth. You also are learning to tear things. A corner of a page of the book of Judges went in yesterday. Today it was a piece of this daffodil.

Your favorite games now are "So Big" and "Peek-a-Boo". You also love to play hide and go seek with the big kids. You are love your shape sorter and pop-up toys. You also hate books. You quickly flip the pages and get upset if Mommy takes to long to read it. We're working on it. :)

You are in a mama's girl phase right now. Although the only person who's name you you know and say is "Da-Da" You have started saying it every day when he comes home from work. You love weekends when we all snuggle in bed together. I love to watch your face light up when daddy comes in from work.

We can't wait to see what new adventures you are on to explore. Love,

Mommy

*Thanks, Meg, for your help with the pictures. 

Wordless Wednesday - Ready for church

Sometimes people ask 

why we wait to give our baby

a bath after dinner.

 Now you know.