Baby News: Our Family is Growing (Again)!!

Hello there, Ladies!



I am so honored to share with you all the blessing God has given to our family. He has allowed life to grace my womb again, and I am still in awe of a Mighty God.



I am in the fourth month and the various challenges of morning sickness have passed. I have a bit more energy and am hoping to get back to posting here more often. For some reason, blogging and morning sickness don't work well together for me. So, that is why I my posts have been a bit sparse the last few months.



At any rate, God has been good to us and has brought us a mighty long way. . . undeserved mercy and grace. He is awesome. My family and I feel grateful and blessed beyond words. My husband and children all think the baby is a girl.  I, on the other hand, have no "motherly intuition" either way, which makes me think they're right. Of course, we will all be happy either way, as we are simply blessed to be in this situation again.



To God be the glory!

READ MORE - Baby News: Our Family is Growing (Again)!!

Where Has The Time Gone?

I looked at my blog today and was shocked to see that my last post was on September 17th! We have been happily busy over here in the "No Idle Bread" household and I must say that God is good. Here is a bit of an update . . .



My children have been working diligently at their school work and chores around the house. They are really reading everything they get their hands on! LOL I usually try to read a few chapters ahead of them if it's a book I even read yet. But I can barely stay ahead of them! According to the kids, they are having fun and I am blessed by that. Here are some books we've been reading. . .

 

 

 

 

 

My little baby boy is a few days shy of 10 months old and WOW has time flown by! He is trying so desperately to walk. My 3 older children didn't walk until after their 1st birthdays, and none of them crawled. This little guy, on the other hand, is crawling EVERYWHERE, pulling up on EVERYTHING and is even climbing the stairs!!! He definitely keeps me on my toes. :o)

The weather has changed and fall is certainly in the air. I've decorated my home for the season--I love fall! It is my favorite season--pumpkin spice, candles, apples, baking, orange/red leaves, my favorite tea. . .just a few things I usually enjoy about this season. Some things I haven't yet delved into like I've wanted (such as baking and apple picking), but hopefully I will soon.



I've been crocheting a fall wrap to wear this year and I'm just about finished with it (see below). I also hope to soon crochet a few toys for my girls as Christmas presents (teacups, pastries, dolls, etc.).







My dear Husband is also doing well. Often us Moms talk alot about home and children, but hubby is special, too! ;o) He's been working so hard and I am encouraging him to take a vacation. I am so blessed to have a man who works hard to provide for his family. But, I have to remind him that God approves of rest when we need it, and that taking a break isn't being lazy. My sweetheart, he knows that and he's working on it! (LOL)



Well, I hope to have more to share in the coming days. . .





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First Hair Cut

Traditionally, boys receive their first hair cuts on their first birthdays in our family.



But not this baby boy. My husband could take it no longer. Today, we said good-bye to the Afro at just 9 months old.

Baby JD did not mind at all. He wasn't afraid and actually wanted to help hold the clippers. (No pics of this hilarious moment, because somehow I was tricked into holding the baby still while Daddy just clipped and cut away.)



Well, Daddy's thrilled, baby could care less, and Mommy is the only one with a little tug at her heart. :) They grow up so quickly!

Both boys with a fresh hair cut.

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Receiving Correction

Just a simple thought. . . .



Today, I was showing my daughter a better way to clean the bathroom sink. She's 7 folks and sometimes details elude her! (smile) So, I called her downstairs to show her the stains in the sink that had been left behind after she "cleaned"it. I showed her how to spray the cleaner, and showed her which side of the sponge was best to use. I cleaned the sink and showed her the job from start to finish. (Not the first time we'd been over this, but sometimes part of training is saying things over and over again.)

She looked at me, smiled and said, "Thanks for the information, Mommy!" And then bounced her way back upstairs. It made me smile because I was thankful in that moment for a child who was willing to receive instruction and correction. Thankful for a child who did not take the correction as something "bad" and was quite okay with it. I thanked God that I was able to correct her in a way that she could receive it. I had "proud parent" written all over my face. . .



. . . Until I realized that there was much more for me to consider in this brief encounter. God is a far better Parent than I ever could be. He always knows what's best; He always gets it right. Why then is my attitude toward God not more like my daughter's when it's my turn to be corrected? Why don't I respond more often like she did--"Thank you God, for that correction!" with a smile on my face? Because, trust and believe, there certainly are things God has had to tell me over and over and over again before I get it right.



God's correction, His instruction, His direction always comes from a pure place of Love.

Dear God, when you correct me, help me to have my daughter's attitude.

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School is Underway

Hello friends!!



The children and I at Chelmont Academy Homeschool just completed our 1st week this school year! We have had a good week.



We started off the week with a trip to the doctors office. . .all is well, but such is life!

Then, Tuesday through Thursday, we tried to establish a bit of a new routine and it's been going pretty well. My oldest daughter (4th grade) is becoming more independent in her work, especially in English. My youngest daughter (2nd grade) has improved nicely with her Spelling. Both girls are beginning a new writing program (just because writing is their "thing!") and they are enjoying it so far.

My oldest son is officially in kindergarten this year and he is trying to convince me that playing the computer and the Wii are great ideas for school work! LOL In other words, he is still transitioning a bit, since he has more of a structured day. But overall, he is doing well and is SUPER excited about Math. He wants to keep going and going and that is fine by me!

On Friday, we took a break from Grammar, Math, History and Science, to focus on a few other things. We talked about the digestive system (Health) and we listened to a Kids' Song CD ("If You're Happy and You Know It," "Whistle While You Work," "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," etc.) more for my son's sake, but the girls joined in and began to dance and get a little silly. It was fun, though!



We finished our Friday up with an art project--the kids made robins from their footprints. I found a site through Pinterest with art projects made from either hand prints or foot prints. Lots of fun. It's so neat how every one's pictures turned out differently. This is not one of ours, but it's an example from the site.





Then to round out the week, Daddy surprised everyone with a trip to Six Flags! The kids were SUPER THRILLED because that was a major item on their summer bucket list. They had so much fun and my oldest daughter even conquered a few rides that she wouldn't have dreamed of going on before. There were smiles on every face and lots of laughter. Even the baby was so content to be pushed around the park in the stroller, getting to have a taste of Mommy's Slurpee every now and then. I think the highlight of the day for the kids was the water ride. At first the kids stood on a bridge to get splashed from the water ride as the boat went by. Once they were soaked, they thought, let's just get on the boat, too. Oh, boy! It was so funny to see their faces and hear those screams and giggles! It was a great family day. We all slept very soundly that Saturday night. (Sorry, no pictures. . .I forgot the camera!)



So there you have it, a bit of an update from my home to yours. More updates to come!

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It's Been A While

Hello out there in the blogosphere!! It's been a while since I've written, so here's a bit of an update.



The "No Idle Bread" family and I have been busy tying up summer's loose ends.



My children swam every week, twice a week this summer and they are doing SO very well. I'm so glad they are gaining such a valuable life skill. We will pick swimming back up in September, but will enjoy a few weeks off.



Our Chelmont Academy Summer Schedule went well! We had school 2-3 times a week, really focusing on Reading and Math, with bits of Ancient History sprinkled in. We will take the upcoming week off before we resume our regular homeschooling schedule.



My children got to cross many things off of their Summer Bucket List, including: eating watermelon, camping at Grandparent's, ice cream, getting soaked with the hose, playing in the rain, making popsicles and ice cream, roller skating, chasing butterflies, and going to the movies. Since summer is not officially over yet, I'm hoping that we'll get to cross off a few more things.



This coming week, I will go to the store to stock up on paper, pencils and other school supplies. The public schools will begin tomorrow, so I'm hoping that I've avoided the major crowds. I'll also be piecing together a schedule of sorts (in pencil, of course!) for the way our days will flow, now that we have an official kindergartner in our school! I've been poring over our curriculum materials and I am praying for the Holy Spirit's guidance in directing my children. (I'll post our curriculum choices soon!)



We've weathered a few storms in our lives this summer, both literally and spiritually. But this Truth still remains: God's Grace is greater than ANY problem I'll ever face. He has been so faithful to me and to my family. . .I can never repay Him for what He's done for me. So grateful.



Happy End-of-the-summer to you all!

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Wisdom (& A Laugh) From The 5 Year Old

At lunch today, my son looks over at me, with all sincerity on his face, and warns me. . .

J.R.: "Mommy, don't ever eat grass!!!"

Me: "Okay. . .don't eat grass?!"

J.R.: "Yes, because it tastes bad and it can choke you!"

Me: (Silently wondering how he knows this and weighing what my response should be...)

J.R.: "Yeah, I used to eat it," he says, as he gazes out of the patio door, looking upon the backyard, where I'm certain this experience has taken place.

 Me: (Trying so hard to keep a straight face because he's so serious. I'm struggling not to fall out of my chair with laughter!!)

LOL!!!

HILARIOUS

Gotta love these years!

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Busyness and a Birthday

In my life the past couple of weeks…

There seemed to be a lot of busyness. Just regular errands, grocery shopping, doctor's appointments, helping my husband in the yard, laundry, etc. It seems like we were trying to get things back on track after having lost power for so long. We finally got someone to come out and cut down our tree that was damaged during the storm. The great thing about it was that the tree company shredded the tree and gave us all of the wood chips from it. My husband was thrilled about that because that saved us a good chunk of change that would have been spent on buying mulch. The pile of wood chips was HUGE!

We all pitched in to help my husband lay the mulch around the various bushes and trees in our front and back yards. After that there was still enough left over for a friend of ours to load up the back of his pick-up truck so he could use it in his yard. After that, there was still enough for my father-in-law to take 3 loads in my husband's pick-up truck to use at his mother's house. After that, there is still enough left over that my husband's friend wants to come back for another load. We are thankful for the way God has blessed us to give and share.



We also planted a new tree in place of the old one. We planted a Crepe Myrtle that will blossom pink.

In our homeschool this week…

We are progressing well considering many of the interruptions over the past few weeks. My oldest daughter is resuming Latin, which is fun. She is also taking flute lessons and she is super excited about that. My younger daughter is eager to begin reading Peter Pan. We listened to it on CD earlier in the year, but she wants to read it herself. My son is having a ball! What I am pleased about is his increased interest to read on his own. We are also beginning to memorize the books of the Bible.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

1. If it works for you and your family, stick with it!

2. Consider joining online groups for homeschooling, such as Yahoo Groups. I joined one for a group in my area so I could know about local homeschool events and resources. I also joined another for Biblioplan, which we used for Ancient History. It's great because I can ask the authors questions about the materials before I make a purchase.

I am inspired by…

My children, who have learned at an early age how to swim. This is big for me, someone who is not a strong swimmer and who did not learn until adulthood. My son is still learning how to do rhythmic breathing, but he has no fear of the water. My girls just blow me away. Both of them are now able to swim the length of the pool, freestyle and backstroke, without assistance, in deep water!!!  I don't think they realize how much they are teaching their Mama about swimming and conquering fears. I am so glad that they have a life-saving skill.

My favorite thing from a week ago was…

My son turned 5!!!!!! His only request: a dark blue birthday cake! LOL So we certainly obliged. Did Mama make a cake from scratch? Nope, not this year! My husband picked out a dark blue cake that even had the Avenger's superheroes on it!

The Avengers decoration actually lights up!

Now my son plays with it all the time.









My sweet boy, JR. . .











being goofy. . .











and really silly! LOL











This is one of the shirts my parents sent him for his birthday.

He ran upstairs to change into it, and asked me to take a picture.

This is the pose he struck! Funny!

What’s working/not working for us…

We do bible study at breakfast, before school starts. We've been using a book called The Wonder Devotional Book 1, that our church gave to my girls upon accepting Christ and being baptized. It's good because it covers meaty topics which is great for the girls' developing faith, but it is given in bite-sized pieces so that my son is not totally lost. (I don't know why I'm using food metaphors, but you know what I mean!) Anyway, what isn't working is that as soon as I begin to read from the book, the baby starts babbling. Loudly. And it is hilarious! So, we're working on that!

Things I’m working on…

Still finalizing my curriculum for the upcoming school year. I have most things squared away, just trying to find the best deals so the budget remains under control

I’m reading…

The Resurrection of Nat Turner by Sharon Ewell Foster

It is not an easy topic, the subject of slavery in our country. But it is one that must be told, in truth, in the Light of God's Word. Ms. Foster does that quite well; so far so good.

I’m cooking…

I made deep dish pizza for lunch today, using my cast iron skillet. Yummy!

I’m grateful for…

Prayer with my husband.

I’m praying for…

The people of Colorado.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." -Romans 12:2 (New Living Translation)

This particular translation of this verse really struck a chord with me.

READ MORE - Busyness and a Birthday

Tell Them

Are we always honest with our children? I mean do we really tell them truth, particularly about ourselves? Do we tell them about the sin in our lives--what God has cleansed us of, the struggles He delivered us from, the things we are still working with?



I remember when my oldest daughter was about 12 months old, she noticed something "strange" on my leg. Not knowing what it was, but knowing it was different, she would run her little fingers along the edges. At about 18 months old, she'd say, "Flower, Mommy, flower on your leg." I'd tell her that she was right, it was a flower and then she'd look on her own leg, wondering where her flower was. I would tell her that the flower on my leg was a "no-no." And she would repeat, "no-no!"



As time went on and the older she got, the more complex conversations and questions we had about that "flower", which is actually a tattoo of a purple rose.** And the same thing happened with my next daughter, and then with my oldest son, and I'm sure it will happen again with my youngest son. They all have asked (and in my son's case, continue to ask) about that flower: Mommy, who did that to you? Why did you let someone write on you? What did your parents think? Are you sorry you did that? You mean it won't ever come off? Maybe you can erase it. Mommy, maybe you should put a Band-Aid on it. . .



I've made decisions in my life that were not altogether lovely, some of them just downright sinful. But if I close that off from my children, by pretending it didn't happen, then I run the risk of inaccurately portraying myself as "perfect" or "without sin." If I present myself to my children as one who is always right, I can make myself unapproachable for the times when they fail. It is so important to show my children that Mommy is forgiven, meaning I have done some things the wrong way, against God's way, but I have repented and am a living example of God's Grace and Mercy. If I am open and honest and have the difficult conversations about when I'm wrong, I notice that my children are more open and honest when they are wrong.



So, I've explained and shared with my children my faults along the way, as things have come up in life. Not to encourage them to be sinful, but rather to let them know that I am not perfect and I can identify with them during times when they are wrong and need discipline, forgiveness, grace. God disciplines those He loves. . . and I can tell you, I am loved! (Hebrews 12:5-7)



So, I say, tell them. Let us not lie to our children by misrepresenting ourselves. May we present the truth about ourselves (in age appropriate ways, of course!) so that our children are able to know the power of God, that He heals, that He delivers, that He sets free, that He is available to us all, if only we come to Him.

**I know there may not be a consensus on whether getting a tattoo is sinful or not. For me, the Holy Spirit convicted my heart about it. I knew that my body is to be a living sacrifice to God, a temple where the Holy Spirit is to dwell, and that I should not defile it. (Romans 12:1, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Growing up, I always took these Scriptures to mean: "Don't have premarital s*x and say no to drugs!" I was in a VBS class one year and the topic of tattoos came up. The Holy Spirit had me think on this: Consider your physical place of worship. What if someone "defiled" the church building by spray painting graphics and images all over the outside of the church building? No matter how "cute" the images are, I would feel there was a lack of respect for the house of God; it would be offensive. That clicked with me in terms of what I had done by getting a tattoo.

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School Prep, Fun with Friends, and Father's Day Ideas







In my life this week…

We've enjoyed our last week of "no school" before starting our summer schedule. I've continued straightening and cleaning around the house. I created chore charts for the children--one for the boy and one for the girls because of the age differences. This will begin on Monday. I think only my oldest daughter is excited about that!

In our homeschool this week…

In preparation of summer school, I transferred most schooling items back into our school room. Since the baby was born, we've been schooling at our kitchen table. It's been 6 whole months. The calendar is still says December, December 5th to be exact. . .one day before my son was born. I miss it! My kids miss it, too! My husband worked really hard to get that little place all set up for us. Being in there today brought back many memories of the hot summer days full of drywall and paint and flooring. . .all in anticipation of our first year of homeschooling. So, the plan is to transition back into the school room next week.



Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

Another homeschooling mom and I were talking about co-ops, and how we both misunderstood the term. Neither of us was looking for an academically structured group to be a part of. In our area, so many homeschoolers are part of something like that, and I'm not against it. However, what this mom and I were looking for was something where homeschooling families got together once a month or so to let the children play, eat lunch, and moms could hang out and chat. . . just fun and fellowship with like-minded families. My tip: Don't forsake relaxed, "unstructured" fellowship with other families because it can be so encouraging and validating on a number of levels.



I am inspired by…

Routines and schedules. They generally work for me. Now, am I the best at it? No. Do I always stick to them? No. But it is extremely helpful to have something in place to judge my time against. I'm still working on getting into bed earlier!!!



Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

This week, we spent a day at a nature park with some new friends: another homeschooling mom and her children. It was a great day. The kids played on the playground, we saw the farm animals, had lunch, and went to the indoor nature center there, as well. It was good to talk with her and exchange ideas. Our children had a lot in common, namely horses, cats (well, any type of animals, really) and books. Neither of us remembered to bring a camera; I think we were too excited to share some time together!



My favorite thing this week was…

What I loved doing this week was working on Father's Day gifts! I created photo greeting cards with CVS online. They have great photo greeting cards for just $1.99 each, and you can pick them up same day. (So, there's still time for a last minute gift that's sure to please.) I made one for my husband, my dad, and my father-in-law. The kids' pictures were on the cards. Here are the pictures I used:

Our official "Homeschool Picture Day" photo.

You can't imagine the number of retakes there were!!!

The photographer snapped the shot just before

his hands went into his mouth!

JD's official "baby picture"--5 months

is better than not at all, right?!?

The kids and I also made this cool paper weight for their father:

Before baking

After baking

This is super easy. You make a salt dough, press pebbles (from the back yard!) in to spell out  your message. Then, bake it for a couple of hours and you've made a paper-weight! (Another last minute idea that costs $0.00!!) We added some food coloring to ours in daddy's favorite color. Go HERE for complete instructions.

We also made this:



Click HERE for the tutorial

Click HERE for photo credit/tutorial tips

And we filled out this printable--the kids' answers were so hilariously sweet:

I found this on Pinterest and unfortunately, the link I have for the source doesn't work.

I changed the year at the bottom to 2012. 

We had lots of fun making these gifts!!! There's nothing like heartfelt and homemade!



Questions/thoughts I have…

Kindergarten curriculum? U.S. history/facts for multiple ages?



I’m cooking…

I made a sour cream pound cake loaf for my husband, for father's day. I'm thinking of doing a cream cheese icing/drizzle or lemon drizzle or maybe lemon cream cheese. I'm undecided! Right now, the cake is wrapped up in a secret hiding place in the fridge. Since it's my first time making this particular cake, I'll have to try it first before I share the recipe. If it's a winner, I'll let you know!



I’m grateful for…

My husband's vision for our family.



I’m praying for…

My extended family.



A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

In honor of Father's Day:

This is SO true!!

I found this on Pinterest, too!

READ MORE - School Prep, Fun with Friends, and Father's Day Ideas

Saint George and the Dragon--Review Questions

My 1st grader and I read this story. I needed a few review questions for her, to help her summarize the story. I looked all over and couldn't find any that were age/level appropriate. So, I decided to make my own and post them here so they are available to others.

1. Who is the main character in this story? (Saint George of Merry England)


2. What other name (or title) does St. George have at the beginning of the story? (The Red Cross Knight)


3. What is St. George's mission? (The mission is to defeat the dragon who frightens the people of the town.)


4. Who goes with him on the mission? (The princess, Una, and a dwarf come with him on the mission. The princess brings her lamb, as well.)


5. When St. George battles the dragon, what does he have to protect him? Name as many things as you can think of. (St. George wears heavy armor and a helmet. He carries a shield, he has a spear, and a sword.)


6. Was St. George defeated or was he victorious? (St. George is victorious after several battles with the dragon. He does not give up.)


7. What happens to St. George in the end of the story? Does he keep his promise to the Fairy Queen? (Once the dragon is defeated, St. George and the princess get married. He keeps his promise to the Fairy Queen by going on brave adventures when she needs him to serve.)

There are several versions of this story.  Please be warned that the story does detail the battle, so if fighting knights and dragons don't sit well with you and/or your babes, then this is not the book for you.This version has lovely artwork that beautifully tells the story on its own. Many of the answers come from a combination of the story and the illustrations.



I found a unit study on Saint George and the Dragon at Homeschool Share. The unit study offers many parallels between St. George and wearing the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17), as well as some history on St. George, being a knight, and the meaning of the Red Cross and much more!



Hope this helps!!

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A New Heart

My day had been full . . . .piano, math, reading, orthodontist appointment, cranky-eared baby, sleepy baby, lunch time, grammar, art, and cleaning and so forth.



I thought I handled it all well.



Then, the dog killed a mole in the back yard, the other dog made a mess in the laundry room. So my afternoon was taking care of the mole situation, dog baths, cleaning floors, gathering trash, rushing to prepare Husband's after work snack (Yes, I spoil him!), getting the baby's applesauce and peas together before he starts to cry, and by the time the spoonful of baby peas went splat on my kitchen rug, I was a wee bit stressed.



So, I let out a very aggravated sigh, groan, grunt. . .some kind of noise that meant FRUSTRATED! I complained, "Mommy is having a tough time this afternoon!"



Immediately, my 4 year old son comes rushing in the kitchen as I wiped peas out of the rug. He said, "Here Mommy, I have a new heart for you. Here you go!" And he places my "new heart" on my chest. He said, "Take this new heart Mommy, then your heart won't be sad anymore." In that moment, I recalled the Scripture, (and read it since it was right above my head, hanging up in my kitchen!), "Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me." -Psalm 51:10



Mmm, seems like Mommy needs to read that verse a little more often! :o) None of my tasks were "end of the world" situations and I had allowed them to get the better of me.



So, I thanked my sweet boy for my "new haert." And I thanked my Heavenly Father for the funny ways in which He works on me through my children. God is always standing there, offering a new heart in exchange for the old one; if only we would just receive it.



I thanked Him for my new heart's attitude, a right spirit. I collected myself, took a deep breath, chuckled at my son, and started afresh . . .

A little bit of "Change My Heart, O God"

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Conversations . . .

Whenever I am out and about with my children, the conversation begins. . .



So, is school out today?

Wow, you sure do have your hands full, don't you?

I bet you have a lot of "help," from your older kids, huh?

So, you homeschool????????



The question people really want to ask me is, Are you crazy?



Ladies, I have to say, I was just not prepared for this constant, on-going, reiteration of explaining myself and my situation to random people. I was just not prepared.



In this, our first year of homeschooling, God also graciously expanded our family. So, it seems like all at once, we became a homeschooling family of 4 children.



It is as though people can accept one or the other, but not both. It would be okay if I had 4 children, but only if I sent them to school. Or, it would be okay if I homeschooled, but with only 1 or 2 children. So to be with all 4 of my kids everyday shocks the socks off of many people, namely other women, many of them are also mothers . . .



Baby JD has had a grumpy ear, so I took him to the pediatrician. I've known the medical assistant since my oldest was 18 months old. And each time the Lord has given us more children, the more and more bewildered she becomes with our family. For the past few years though, one or both of my daughters were in public school, so when I came in, usually everyone wasn't with  me. But now, the gang's altogether again, plus new baby. I guess she reached her breaking point and so the conversation began.



Hands on her hips, skepticism in her eyes: "Will you ever let them go to school? I bet it's hard to homeschool 4 kids. Look at her," she says to a coworker, "she has 4 AND she homeschools. Do you want more? You just had them so close together. You can't even go out for a quick trip to the store, because you have to take everyone with you. None of your children can really stay at home by themselves. . ." These were just some of the things she said, in front of my children, of course.



So I replied with a question of my own: "Since they are my children, why wouldn't I want to be with them?" She was at a loss for words. I asked again, "Why wouldn't I want to be with my own children?" Again, a blank stare. (Thank You, Holy Spirit, because in that moment, His Grace fell down to usher in peace, because that was NOT what I was going to offer her. Thank You, Holy Spirit.)



Moving on, this time in God's Grace, I asked her to think about some things, from a different perspective. Why is it in our society we look so poorly upon the children God has blessed us with? Why is it that we have them, but can't wait to rid ourselves of them, looking at them as being so burdensome? I explained to her, that often times, we have to change our perspectives.



If I'm not wanting to be with my own kids for any length of time because they are "getting on my nerves," then perhaps it is me (the parent) that needs some readjusting. After all, children cannot give what they have not been taught (a quote from a friend of mine!). If I am not working with my gifts (teaching, training, discipline, etc.), then their behaviors will show it.



Gone are the days when I can be out of the house in 5 minutes and jump in my car to run an errand. I have accepted that it's going to take at the very least 15 minutes just to get everyone into the van, to run an errand that would have only take me 5 minutes if I was alone. I'm okay with that. I've welcomed that. I know that, so there's no need to be stressed about it. It's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.



I explained that I will willingly receive however many children God gives me, because when you receive a gift, you say thank You, not turn it away. I explained that God opened our eyes to another way of educating our children, one where we are free to teach and promote our family's faith-based values. . .we're Christians, yes. I explained how homeschooling coincides with our daily living. . . it's part of life.



I explained, again; reiterated, again; answered questions, again. By the end of our conversation, her hands were off of her hips, there was a smile on her face, there was wonder in her eyes, because I don't think she'd ever heard that perspective before. . . .God's Grace.



I am praying that through this conversation, she would want to know more about the God who gives Grace to the strange lady who homeschools her 4 children and has the  nerve to bring all 4 of them to a doctor's appointment. I pray that God would help me to be kind, less defensive, not so frustrated with all of the questions, because if I can answer in a way that has brought Honor to His Name, and curiosity about His character, then I've done well. . .



So, baby JD ended up needing to be seen by an otolaryngologist (special ear/nose/throat doctor) and I had to take him directly down to the 2nd floor for that appointment. And guess what? The conversation began again. . ."My goodness, you have 4 children, huh?"



:o) God's Grace is sufficient!

My children on

Mother's Day 2012

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Mother's Day At Any Time??

{This is a post from last year, but it's timely. And, since I still struggle with this, I thought I should repost it.}

So, I know it's the middle of July and Mother's Day was officially months ago. But, I've been on a bit of a journey between then and now, and there's something I want to share.



When May comes around, I see all of the sweet commercials showing how husbands and children surprise mom with a wonderful gift of appreciation. In the grocery stores, there's an abundance of roses, balloons, and candy, just perfect for mom. The card aisle becomes devoted to mom, making her cry tears of joy because of the love her family has for her.



As a result, I begin to wonder: what will my Husband get me? Will my children create something sweet? Have they all planned some big surprise? Is it a fresh-cut bouquet of my favorite flowers? Dinner out to some fancy restaurant? Maybe it's going to be a fabulous breakfast in bed? What about one of those necklaces--you know the ones with the gemstones representing each one of my children? What will it be?!?!



Horrible, I know, but I think you get the picture. . .I probably could go on and on. In our society, we are saturated with this message: "Because I am a mother, I am supposed to receive special recognition by way of material things. Things, things, these things are what should bring me honor. . ." And there I sit, glued to commercials, flipping through magazines, embracing a message that not only do I deserve these things, I should also drop "hints" all over the place on the best ways to honor me.



Mmmm. . . .let's go to the Word. . .

She watches over the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her:

“ Many daughters have done well,

But you excel them all.”

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31:27-30

If you are familiar with the "Proverbs 31 Woman," then you know there are many wonderful, noble, and excellent things that she does for her household. The way she manages her time and makes provisions with what she has; how she cares for her household; and the way she brings honor to her husband, all to the glory of God. With all that she does to care for her home and those she loves, not once does this passage mention that she deserves to be rewarded with gifts and material things to reflect her worth.



How is this beautiful woman, the very epitome of Biblical womanhood, just how is she "rewarded"?



With the fruit of praise from the lips of her husband and children.

They simply tell her what she's worth . . .

In the days and weeks after Mother's Day, the Holy Spirit really impressed this upon my heart. In talking with my Husband about it, his thoughts were that he can honor me at any time as wife and mother, so why the pressure to do it only one day out of the year, in a certain way, with certain "things" and unspoken expectations?



So, I walk away thinking, Lord, when does my family honor me? What are their words of praise? When do they tell me what I'm worth to them? All the while I'm asking these questions, still holding on to the societal expectation of things, because things mean I'm a good mother, right? Isn't what I do year-round supposed to be summed up and reflected on Mother's day, by way of all the things I get?



The Holy Spirit urges me: stay in My Word, continue to care for your family and home, serve Me when you serve them, and most importantly pay attention--don't be dismissive. I'm like, pay attention? What am I missing? So, I've tried to quiet myself as I go about my days, still wondering and trying to pay closer attention. . .



I begin to notice things, that really aren't out of the ordinary, but shed so much light: My son randomly says, Mommy, can I give you a kiss? I love you! My daughter tells me, Mommy I just want to hang around you today. My oldest daughter watches me as I do the laundry and asks me to write down some tips so she can wash clothes the way I do. My husband says, babe, dinner was good, what did you put in it . . . Mom, we love you. . . Stacie, thanks for making that appointment for me. . .Mommy is like our nurse, she always makes us feel better when we're sick . . .Honey, I'm glad you've been working with the kids on "this and that". . .



These words, these little tidbits here and there. . . it is the praise of their lips!! They honor me more than I've given them credit for. . .they've already told me and continue to tell me what I am worth to them. Just pay attention, Stacie!



I am humbled, and also horrified at how I dismissed their words, their awesome, precious praise, in exchange for wanting things. . .things that don't measure up to their expressions of what I am worth, their love and appreciation for me. May God forgive me.



It has certainly been a journey. And though my flesh may still struggle, I am over joyed at the possibilities that come from a new way to think about my worth as a mom and wife. Their unprompted, un-asked for, non-hint dropping, precious praise is what I must treasure in my heart.



My family is teaching me that any day (or moment) can be Mother's Day.



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Words For Baby 4

I don't know your name, but I think of you, wonder about you.



Today at lunch, I started singing, "He's got the whole world in His hands, He's got the whole world in His hands. . ." Your brother and sisters joined in.



I had your baby brother in my arms.

I looked at him and sang, "He's got the little, bitty babies in His hands. . ." and by the time I sang those words again, all I could think of was you...the little, bitty baby I never held in my hands.

Photo Credit

Most times when I think of you, I have to fight the tears away. Many times, I lose the battle.

But this time, singing about you being in His hands--there was a sense of peace.



I always knew that, but today, peace instead of pain, confirmation instead of confusion. (Thank You, Father.)






Rest comfortably in His hands, baby.





Love,


Mommy

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What About the Children?

As wipe crumbs from my kitchen table, I am reminded of my children, my little olive plants that sit around my table. I am reminded of how precious they are. I don't mean precious in a "aren't they cute?!" kind of way, but precious as in sacred, extremely special, not to be taken lightly, a serious responsibility. It has occurred to me that so often we under-value children. . .their worth, what effects them, our influences on them, what they learn from us, what they "pick up" along the way. We are their examples, their teachers, whether we want to be or not. Whether we want to accept it or not, we are teaching them something, good and bad.



There is a not-so-good situation going on within our extended family. It concerns a family member and so I will keep the details private at this point. But it effects the children of our extended family. Not only them, but my own children, no matter how much my husband and I try to shield our children from this situation, it still has some effect, simply because we are family.



It bothers me because the "situation" is recurrent, not a "one and done," but again and again. I've had to remain daily in prayer. . .not to judge, not be hypocritical, not to criticize, not to condemn. I am struggling with this. And I cry out to God, "What about the children??? Do they not see beyond themselves to realize what the children will go through? The questions the children will ask? The brokenness they will feel? This is real, God, so real." I find myself recalling the Scriptures about a Christian household, the dynamics of family life, why the husband is covering and leader, why the wife submits and keeps order, why children are a blessing, the ministry that God calls husband and wife to as parents. . .do they not see this?!?!!?



Then the sweet Holy Spirit (thank You, Lord) steps in to remind me: "Stacie, you are not perfect. Stacie, there was a time when you were misinformed. Stacie, you have matured over the YEARS to BEGIN to understand what I want from you with your family life. Stacie, you have failed, repeatedly with some things, yet My grace remains for you--why not for 'them'? Stacie, pray for this situation, don't just be merely frustrated. Stacie, listen to your husband and use this as a teaching moment for your children, not as a moment to be judgmental. Stacie, pray without ceasing. Stacie, I'm trying to use you as an example in this situation. Stacie, you still are in need of my love, forgiveness, grace. . . ."



So, I'm praying, for the adults, for the children, for the "situation," for God to work it out for good. I'm praying that God would season my tongue and that I can be used for His glory, not my own. I pray that I would forgive and not be angry. I pray for myself as much as I pray for "them" because we all need His grace.



Lord, teach us to care for Your children in a way that is pleasing to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.






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A Week in the Life

In my life this week…

I'm still feeling full from remembering the life, death, and resurrection of my Lord, Jesus. . .so thankful for His sacrifice and His love for me.

Also started a new routine with the baby and he seems to be adjusting . . . but adjustments wouldn't be such if there weren't a few quirks here or there!

In our homeschool this week…

We've been working steadily. The kids are working hard and I'm happy about that. We have been doing a 10-week character study found HERE, that has been great for our morning Bible work. The kids always try to guess which character trait it will be for the week.

We also did some Easter art/painting. I know it's a week late, but why not--it's still relevant!



Click HERE for full instructions.

I found this on Pinterest!



Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

DON'T COMPARE!!! Your homeschool will look drastically different on any given day from any other homeschool. Why? Because our families are different, we are different women, we're married to different husbands. That makes for our own, individual family way of life, which in turn, effects our style of homeschooling. I know this is nothing new, and we've all heard it before, but I think we can't repeat it enough. :)

I am inspired by…

Nap time! LOL

People we’re seeing…

A good friend of mine, along with her son and daughter, came over for lunch this week! It's always nice to have another family over and give my kiddos (and me!) some practice with hospitality.

Questions/thoughts I have…

What curriculum will I choose next year? I've never been to a homeschool fair, and I'm interested in the "experience." BUT, I'm not so sure it'll be a good idea. . .I don't want to get caught in the "this-is-THE-BEST-curriculum" trap. We're deciding to school year round, but with an abbreviated schedule in the summer. . .

Things I’m working on…

Housework. . .it's never ending! :) 

I’m reading…

Unashamed to Bear His Name: Embracing the Stigma of Being a Christian by R. T. Kendall

So far, so good. I'm only 1 chapter in. But to be honest, it was the title that drew me.

I’m cooking…

I have some bananas that REALLY want to become banana bread. I posted a recipe for it a while back.

I’m grateful for…

My husband, my children, my parents, my brother, God's grace.

I’m praying for…

The strength and wisdom I need to continue teaching and raising my children. I want to be led by the Holy Spirit and I want to do right by them.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

My sweet children on Palm Sunday,

which was also the same day we

(publicly) dedicated the baby (JD) to the Lord

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Homemade Baby Wipes

Photo Credit

Yes, my friends. . .homemade baby wipes. I got such a kick making these because it is so simple! Had I known this 3 children ago, I would have purchased wipes for going out only!! And even as I just typed that last sentence, I think I could make the homemade wipes for on-the-go, too--I think i could make it work!



Anyway, I found the original recipe HERE through Pinterest. I found that the original recipe was a bit too moist for me, so I just cut in half. Here is what I used:

1 Tablespoon Baby Wash Natural Baby Shampoo
1 Tablespoon Baby Oil w/ Aloe & Vitamin E
1 Drops Vinegar
1 Cup Water

Roll of Quality Paper Towels

Air-tight Container (to store the wipes)

1. Cut roll of paper towel in half. (You may have to enlist your husband for this step--I know I did!)
2. Mix all ingredients together.
3.
Pour 1/4 of the liquid into the bottom of your container, then put the cut side of the
paper towel roll into the container.

4. Pour the remaining solution over top of the
paper towel roll, going around in a circular motion, so the liquid is evenly distributed.

5. Let stand for ten minutes and then remove the cardboard
center.

6. Start using your homemade baby wipes by pulling from the
center!

 

I've been using these for 2 months now and saving money! They're great for uses other than for baby--think grimy fingers, messy faces, small spills, etc.

 

Enjoy!

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