The Park

Friday we joined my sister and her kids at the park for a birthday playdate. Her birthday and Iris' were both the 24th. Her daughter, Davis, had a birthday on the 25th and her son, Colt will have his birthday April 2.

Charlie, Colt, Davis

Case, Emma, Iris

Jackson and Case

Jackson took this one for us.

All the cousins (8 of them, that is)...

Charlie (5 1/2), Davis (5), Colt (almost 4), Jackson (almost 7), Iris (4), Case (1), Emma (9), Gray (8)

First Salad

I pulled some lettuce leaves from the garden Thursday night to make our first salad! The carrots and tomatoes are store-bought, but ours are coming soon!

What was that?

Don't you love it when kids mess up songs? This morning Charlie was singing the bumble bee song. This is how he sang it:

"I'm bringin' home a baby bumble bee.
Won't my momma beat it out of me?"

Teach Them to Love Reading

When I started homeschooling I had all the same fears as other homeschooling moms...

Am I going to ruin them for life?
Am I doing enough?
What if this isn't the right curriculum?
What if I'm missing something?
Will they do okay in life?
Will they be smart enough?

God has assuaged my fears.

This is my fourth year homeschooling unless you count the year I did soft-school with Emma (3 days a week, simple).

I am not a fluffy homeschool mom. I actually enjoy the basics (unlike some of my friends, whom I won't name...Tiff ;)). So for a time, I struggled with not being the "fun" mom. I'm okay with it now, because I know God made me this way. And I love my friends that are creative and "fun" without jealousy or guilt.

In kindergarten, I teach reading, writing and math. I spend about 45 minutes a day. My philosophy has been, if I can't remember history, science, social studies, or geography from my first couple years of school (or more), then my kids will be okay if I put it off a few years and save myself the stress of adding more to my day. (Disclaimer - This is not a post about not doing the other stuff and I'm not saying you shouldn't do the other stuff. I just chose not to that early.)

By Christmas of their kindergarten year, all three of my school-aged children have been able to read. Because they learn to read so fast, it has fueled their excitement for reading.

Each of them in their first grade year read The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian. Emma has actually read through all of the Chronicle books at least twice.Every afternoon, they are required to read for an hour - whatever they pick to read. Emma reads the most because it's just what she loves to do with her spare time. But they all love the fact that they can pick up the Zoobooks magazine and learn about the animals.

What is my point? And get to it, right?!I've been reading Island of the Blue Dolphins to them. In it they talk about pelts. I had no idea what it the world a pelt was. Emma told me it was the otter's skin. I mostly believed her. As I read chapter 10 today, it confirmed it. I said, "Emma, how did you know that?" She said, "Just from reading."

They learn so much just from reading. They know and use words I haven't taught them. They know science facts I haven't taught them.

My point - give your kids a love for reading!

Our Time?

Is the 24 hours in our day really ours? This post will shed some light on that subject.

Happy Birthday, Iris!!

Iris is 4 years old today! This is the child we almost didn't have. Thank you, Lord, for this gift!

Here's a birthday brag for my sweet baby girl!

She melts my heart. She's so affectionate. I can't help but kiss her all the time. When we pick her up for a hug, she wraps her legs around and hugs you with her whole body.
She's quiet around others but very talkative at home with this cute little girl voice. Sometimes I ask her, "Iris, is that your real voice?" She is definitely the baby of the family. The others dote on her and treat her the way they always did the baby of the family until the next one came along. She's had a good 2 1/2 years extra of it.

Of course, all parents think their kids are the cutest, but seriously, she is so stinkin' cute with her blue eyes, white hair and Coppertone tan. She's pretty easygoing and patient. She plays well with all the children.
She loves to sing. The other day we were in the car listening to the Z and I could hear her singing along. She just makes up words if she doesn't know them.

She's a smarty pants. During school, she'll come in and get her pre-school book and work on a page or 4. She and Charlie learned their letters and sounds watching the Leap Frog Letters DVD.

She's also learned I Corinthians 13, Luke 2:1-21 and the books of the Bible with the older kids - with prompts, of course.

Iris, my love, I don't know what I'd do without you! You are sweet and loving, joyful and precious. You warm my heart continually! I am so thankful God gave you to us! I love you more than words can say. Happy Birthday, Sunshine!

Date Night

If you are cheap like me or things aren't financially great for you right now, you can still have a weekly date night.

You can go on a date right in your own home. Now the only prerequisite is that you have trained your children to obey you. After that, it's up to you.

Several months ago, we started this. We decided that every Monday or Tuesday night we would have an in-home date. Depending on the schedule for the week, we pick the day that works best.

About 8pm, after securing the house, we set the kids up with popcorn and a movie. We then retreat to our room , close the doors and either watch a movie, read a book together, talk-ahem, whatever we want.

The rules for the kids are:

1. clean up the popcorn
2. brush teeth
3. go straight to bed
4. and under no circumstances - other than blood, serious physical harm or death - are they to knock on our door.

The consequence for coming to our door - except for the few reasons above - is that they miss out on the next date night.

That's it.

Every week the kids ask, "Is tonight date night?!" They love it. And we do to.

You can customize your date night to fit your family and home. Our friends set the kids up in their room with the tv and then claim the rest of the house off limits. After the kids watch the movie, they put themselves to bed without disturbing Mom and Dad.

There you have it. No more excuses. Have fun!

FYI - Zinc

I learned something new this morning...NEVER take zinc on an empty stomach. That is, unless you like throwing up!

My throat was a little scratchy this morning. Iris has a cough and because I'm always kissing her, thought maybe I was starting to get what she has. So before I ate my breakfast, I popped a vitamin C and a Zinc. About 10 minutes later I started feeling a little nauseous. Roddy brought up my breakfast - he always makes me poached eggs on toast on Sunday mornings - and I started eating it.

About 30 minutes later I was done -cramping, diarrhea and vomiting (twice). Finally after a short nap, my stomach stopped hurting. Whew! Won't make that mistake again.

So a word to the wise - take Zinc after a meal!

Abundance

Abundantly blessed...children are a reward from Him.

Abundantly Blessed...Sacrificed that we might be called sons and daughters.

Abundance

Abundantly loved...love notes from my children.

Abundantly Loved...love notes from my Father.

True Treasure

What is better than earthly treasure? Find out here.

Abundance

ABUNDANCE, n. Great plenty; an overflowing quantity; ample sufficiency

This week I want to thank God for the abundance of blessings He gives...

Abundantly fed...

Abundantly Fed...

Garden Update

Our garden is going strong. I'm ready to build a couple more beds to add to it.

We planted potted plants: tomatoes, broccoli, bell peppers, romaine lettuce, strawberries, onions and seeds: pole and bush green beans, lettuce, cucumbers.

Broccoli (left) and romaine lettuce (right) then... and now...

Tomatoe plants then...and now...

Green beans just breaking ground and now:

Withdrawal

I'm going through withdrawal! It started this morning just thinking about being away from my children!!

My awesome in-laws asked the kids to go camping with them. They have an RV and our friend, Kevin, got them a spot at the The Wilderness Lodge at Disney. I dropped them off this (Tuesday) afternoon. Thursday Kevin's getting them in to Disney. And Friday morning I get to pick them up.

They always have such a great time.

What am I going to do, you ask? Well, while I'm not drying my tears, I have 10 chairs that I started refinishing during our Winter break that I am determined to finish. If I actually get those finished, I have a gift card from Christmas to my favorite clothing store that I'd like to use.

Thursday night, before my Bible study, Roddy's going to take me out on a date. He says it's a surprise and he's got it all planned out.

And hopefully I'll get some posting in, too.

So if you think of me, pray for safety for my sweet children. They'll be swimming at the pool, playing in the water and fishing at the lake and, of course, a whole day at Disney. I'm not a worrier. I prefer to pray to the only One who really protects them.

Competency Exam

For those of you who homeschool, have you ever wondered if or worried about being competent for this job? Or if you don't homeschool, have you thought about it but worried that you wouldn't be competent for the job?

RC Sproul Jr. has a quick and easy test for you. It goes like this:

"...wait until it is late at night. Then, very quietly, go from room to room in your house. Peek in carefully, and see if you find any sleeping children. Then be sure that these are your own children. If there are wee ones in your home during the wee hours, and if they belong to you, you are competent to homeschool. The true Expert on education is the very One who gave you these children."

Making Sense of Loss

I was thinking today that if we really knew what Heaven was like, and if we really understood the awesomeness and magnificence of being in the presence of God, we'd never question why He chooses to take people Home. If we really knew what was waiting for us, we'd never chose to stay. And we'd never chose for others to stay when they have the opportunity to go...even as much as we'd be left with the sorrow of missing them.

(Photo from a day at the park.)

Sowing and Reaping

"But if you do not take trouble with your children when they are young, they will give you trouble when they are old. Choose which you prefer."

-J.C. Ryle

In other words, it is often inconvenient and tedious to take the time necessary to train, instruct, correct and discipline our children consistently. But to ignore what needs to be done now will only give you more trouble later.

The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

Proverbs 29:15

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,

and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

II Corinthians 9:6

Sin

Okay, my friend got me going today. She posted about a topic I have been stewing about and I took up way too much of her comment page with my own soapbox. I thought I would go ahead and post more here.

Saturday when she was over, she mentioned that she watched the Bachelor. Roddy told her we had been watching it, too. Unfortunately, our common sense went out the window when we couldn't find anything else on basic cable to watch on Monday nights. So we watched it this season. Later I said, "I hate that we watch something that I'm embarrassed to admit."

Then Sunday morning I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in months and in the course of our catching up informed me of two couples who are either divorced or getting divorced. I was shocked! As prevalent as divorce is, it still cuts me to the core to hear about it. Especially among believers.

I was angry. So angry I wanted to cry. I know my sin is no different from theirs. I know this and I hope this doesn't come across as if I'm judging them.

What I don't get is that at least one person in each of those relationships did nothing to stop their sin. To turn away from it. To run to Jesus and ask Him for help before they destroyed their families!

This got me back to thinking about all the crap we fill our minds with...TV, magazines, internet. It has jaded us. It has warped our view of what God intended marriage to be. It has skewed our view of romance and love. So much so that we become so selfish and self-centered we don't care who we hurt, let alone the fact that we are blatantly, unashamedly disobeying our Father.

I'll give you my own example of how I was jaded. We used to watch House. When they introduced a lesbian relationship, we quit watching it. Why didn't we quit watching it when they had an unmarried couple having sex? Sin is sin!

We are not to be conformed to this world but are to be transformed - DIFFERENT - by the renewing our minds! Not by the filling of our minds with crap!

We are to taste and see that the Lord is good. Not taste and see what the world has to offer. We start out with a little nibble thinking it's no big deal. Soon that is what we crave! We buy into the world's philosophy that we should "do what feels good or what makes us happy." We have to "follow our hearts!" God says our hearts are deceitful above all things. We can't trust our feelings to guide us towards righteousness!

Roddy asked me if there were any other shows we watch that I would be embarrassed to tell about and thankfully there aren't. I'm still convicted, though.

At one point I said, "If our kids can't be in the room when we're watching something, maybe we shouldn't be watching it either."

Just something to think about.

Thought for Today

For am I now seeking the approval of man,

or of God?

Or am I trying to please man?

If I were still trying to please man,

I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10

Good and Pleasant

How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

Jackson (6) reading to Charlie (5)