Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Summer School

Here is what summer school looks like for us.



We are choosing to home school our kids year round. They do 2 pages out of a workbook each day. We take walks through the woods and talk through everything in our day. We look up how big Noah's ark was and measure it with a ruler.  We talk through temper tantrums. We sing songs like "He's Able, He's Able, The Fruit of the Spirit, and Who Built the Ark?"  My 22 month old is also picking up on "Alabare, Alabare."  Shiloh loves "El Shadai."  The 5 year old likes to make up his own songs.

I would like to say we take an "eclectic approach" to learning. We use workbooks but anything that the 5 year old asks about we research and talk about through out the day.  There are educational resources scattered throughout the house. On random days the kids will choose to learn about sharks or whales.  We recently read a book about bugs and catepillars.  I'm learning right along with each of the kids.


Tuesday, May 19, 2015

May

May brings warmer weather.  We are finally able to go outside most days.  We have graduations planned and Camp Meeting in June.  Our garden is also growing well. I continue to work on a contractual basis which is working well for our family.  I love following others blogs.  Today we went for a walk in the woods. All 3 kids are actually sleeping right now so that is amazing. I am so thankful and blessed to be a mama of my three toddlers.

Here are some recent pics:

Training for Camp Meeting 5K.  Hubby and I are running, pushing jogging strollers again.  The kids love to stretch with me.


Recent Trip to Lake Michigan








Sunday, April 19, 2015

Back to Eden

Our garden is our new adventure. Last year we did raised garden beds and that also went well.  This year the hubby researched "Back to Eden" gardening.

First we planted the seeds and put them in an indoor green house in the kitchen.




Then we put eight truck loads of horse manure, shredded newspaper and hay on top of a layer of newspaper.  The newspaper was also on top of our grass.


We then put in fifteen yards of top soil.  We planted some potatoes and strawberry plants today.

We will also put mulch over top of the plants when they start to sprout a little.


The idea behind "Back to Eden" gardening is that you won't have to water much if at all because the mulch holds in the moisture. The mulch will also keep out a lot of the weeds.  We have mulch from our local tree company. The mulch or wood in small pieces is not even but it will work.  




Sunday, April 5, 2015

The Book of First John

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments.   


For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.  And his commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  

And this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?




Saturday, March 28, 2015

Peace

The book of John has been giving me a lot of comfort lately.

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In my Father's house there are many mansions, if if were not so, I would have told you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may also be. 
John 14:1-3




Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let if be afraid
John 14: 27





Monday, March 16, 2015

Burdens

Days are filled with sorrow and care,
Hearts are loney and drear;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary, 
Jesus is very near.

Cast your care on Jesus today, 
Leave your worry and fear;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near.

Trouble soul, the Savior can see
Every heartache and tear;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary.
Jesus is very near.

Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Calvary, Calvary;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near



Saturday, February 28, 2015

Imitators of God

Tradegy seems to be all around us.  Car crashes, natural disasters and shooting rampages.  Our finite minds try to gain understanding to what is going on around us.
My friend's nephew was recently killed in car crash. They honored Lucas this past Thursday at a basketball game.  I am amazed at Lucas' mom and her stamina.  At half time she gave a short speech of how Lucas strived to live like Jesus. Melissa told a public school gym full of teenagers that high school is not always a happy place. She encouraged teenagers to see out those who are struggling, to smile at new faces walking the halls.  

Through her grief Melissa was able to give her son's testimony and spurred others to spread Jesus love. "In his fifteen short years, Lucas taught us more about life than many learn in a hundred.  Lucas' heart and his gift of loving other encompassed everything he did. His compassion was evident in his service in Guatemala, through his loving on his little brother and sister, and standing up for those being bullied at school.  He cared more about others than himself."  Every day he sought to bring a smile to the face of those who were hurting. He overcame his own medical struggles with courage and dignity. We can be a light in a dark world."   

Her current verse to remember Lucas is:

Ephesians 5:1-2: Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.  



Come soon Lord Jesus!


Sunday, February 22, 2015

Fear



Fear has been in my heart lately.  Anxiety has been in my heart too.  This is a picture of my oldest child when he was 20 months old. We just brought his little sister home from the hospital. He fully embraced each moment to the fullest. He would hug and kiss her, point to her nose and eyes and continued to march on sharing his parents devotion.  His dad is in the background giving him a send off into the world of toddler hood.  May I be more like my 20 month old.  Determined and ready to face any challenge.  

God doesn't want us to have fear or anxiety. Life is hard, even crazy difficult, but God walks along each step of the way. I need to give each fear, each anxiety to my Creator and he will carry me. 


Saturday, February 14, 2015

Speech Apraxia Resources

As a homeschool mom you want the best for your kids but you want to minimize the outside influences on your household.  My 3 year old has some speech difficulties. I was a nanny for a girl with speech difficulties and I find that my knowledge of ASL has helped as well.  Instead of bringing in a speech therapist we decided to look for our own resources.  I continue to pray that I will run into another homeschool mom who is a speech therapist or knows of specific resources for me to use.

Youtube has some great resources.

Ipad also has some resources for speech apaxia.

Articulation Station has also been helpful for us.






Sunday, February 1, 2015

Impulsive

This weekend I tried to be impulsive. I made a couple plans with friends and intended to go out to eat while the hubby was away. However, it just didn't happen.  Friday afternoon I was able to hang out with a friend and her two kids. I went to Meijer also with 2 kids. Wow, is Meijer overstimulating for me now. Its hard for me to focus.

I also thought being impulsive and "Free" would bring me happiness. It doesn't. So thankful my hubby keeps me grounded. I desire to continue to live the simple life and continue to simplify my life.

My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;  All other ground is sinking sand,  All other ground is sinking sand.



Saturday, January 17, 2015

Grief

Grief is a multifaceted response to loss to which a bond or affection was formed, particularly to the loss of someone to which a bond or affection was formed. Although conventionally focused on the emotional response to loss, it also has physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, spiritual, and philosophical dimensions.

Yesterday I got home from work and my hubby said "someone was killed on a road near us." He then showed me the news clip. That someone was a son of a girl in my hometown neighborhood. We would play "wedding." Melissa was usually the bride because she was the tallest and around age 13 fit into my mom's wedding dress (she was tall for her age). My friend Amy and I were the bridesmaids and my sister was the flower girl.
We would set up the wedding scene and even walk down the aisle to the music of Pachelbel Canon in D.

Fast forward nearly a decade. Melissa is in college, has a son and continues to teach piano lessons. I helped Melissa by holding little baby Lucas. He cuddled and slept the entire time. What a sweet baby, only a couple weeks old. Lucas grew and grew and grew. He played the viola, ran cross country and played basketball. About 4 years ago he struggled with a brain infection. The doctors said this infection was life threatening. He made it through that challenge only to be hit by a car yesterday while he was crossing the street to the bus stop. Lucas wanted to be a doctor and he was only fifteen.

"Grief is an emotion beyond compare. The mind doesn't rest. The body won't be still. Sleep will not come. Memories, moments, conversations, touches, hugs, hopes, dreams. He was our miracle."   My dear friend Amy put these words on her face book page recently.

Please pray for this family. They need to feel God's loving arms around them.




Isaiah 43:2 New King James Version (NKJV) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned. Nor shall the flame scorch you.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Panic Attacks

So, after having 3 kids, 3 and under I will have to say that I have been deal with panic attacks the majority of last year. I have high anxiety during transitions and packing the kids up into the car. Maybe because we had a 97 Volvo that I packed 3 kids into the back of for several months. Oh, and maybe it was because those car seats are difficult to latch when a kid is flaring their arms. Or maybe I panicked because I was not sure if I would be able to get the 3 year old latched correctly without getting bit. I would often pray out loud "Dear God, please let me find the buckle and give me grace and strength for today."

Any time we were transitioning to go outside or go in the car, someone was throwing a temper tantrum and the baby would always cry. My heart would race and I found it difficult to breathe.  I would panic that I was going to forget something or a kid would act out and I would not be able to control them. I would panic that I am going to lose my water bottle (because when you are nursing 2 kids, you need your water!)

My husband again helped me out this past week with meeting me at the Secretary of State. Even though I do not have a baby anymore, I now have 3 walking and talking toddlers. I wear little Jonah (all 25lbs of him) on my back in the ergo just because it is easier for me in public places. He is content to watch the people. And so for the second time in my life I have been wearing a baby for my drivers license. You cannot see him but I will always know he was there.

One of the blogs I follow had a great article on Baby Boot Camp. During these toddler years I need to continue to remember to be focused on my toddlers.  They will grow someday, and someday I will have more time on my hands and less anxiety.  I found great tips in that article to put away the phone, don't go anywhere, and to just be there for my toddlers.  And that is what parenting is all about, correct? :)


Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.