And this week at Chick-fil-A a pair of knights may or may not have been seen having lunch...
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Friday, October 18, 2013
Just keep sewing...
A few sneak peeks of what I have been busy doing (since I have obviously not been blogging)...
I'll try to get the back story up this week, as well as some photos of everything coming all together!
Monday, October 7, 2013
A little weekend...
It's a long story, but our family was spoiled and pampered this weekend by the amazing folks at the Omni Colonade Hotel. All in all, my floors didn't get mopped, dishes weren't washed and I got behind in laundry, but it was totally worth it. :)
Probably my favorite show of the day, Azul, with diving and synchronized swimming and beautiful animals from God's Creation. It should be called the 5th day show with birds above and water creatures below...
I think they liked it...
A little fall harvest theme to the dinner Friday evening...
Waiting to get started on our Sea World adventures...
We found Shamu!
I love my iPhone camera...
Front row seats...
I love sharks!
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Busy days ahead...
The speed of life seems to be in warp overdrive lately. We are being productive, but the days are blazing past and we will finish with our eighth week of school this Friday. I even had a night of anxious awakenings that I would not be ready for Friday co-op, I kept thinking it was Thursday night and was waking up and looking for my lesson plans. I even jumped out of bed and woke Elliott with my exclamation of terror at being unprepared. It was Saturday.
Then, after months of discussion and two years of not being involved in regular extra-curricular athletic endeavors, we decided to put the kids in some different activities. The older two are taking Tae Kwon Do classes twice a week. They seem to be enjoying it, Noah especially likes all the punching and kicking and Hannah seems to be getting a better idea of body control. The younger four have been begging to go back to gymnastics, and schedules fit just perfectly for the younger four to each take their age-specific class during the older two's Wednesday Tae Kwon Do class. Yes, all six children are in an activity within the same 60-minute time slot. I honestly don't think we would be able to do it any other way.
I have to split my time between the front and back gyms so that I can see everyone do at least a little of their practice. I let Hannah and Noah drop off Micah to his class in the back gym and I go watch the middle three kids warm up and go through their first circuit. I have been impressed with the intensity and seriousness they all show during practice. None of them are chatting or goofing off, and the skills they are already excelling at in three weeks is just awesome. When I make it to the back gym for Micah's class, I watch a kid who looks like my youngest, but I am amazed at how focused he is, not running around being silly like at home, but sitting and waiting his turn, being quick to listen, and catching on to the skills super fast. E and I have been encouraged that we made a good decision adding this activity.
After Micah finishes his class, we walk together to the front gym and find the middle three finished with their class. Today, Caleb handed me an invitation for him to join the Boys Team. My jaw dropped. We have only been going for three weeks. I had a flashback of the 6th grade when I made the gymnastics team. I also had a feeling of dread knowing how careful you must be to not let sports derail the direction of your family. The team for Caleb's age group practices on Monday, a day we are already at the gym for martial arts. I asked if there were slots for the twins and Micah during the same time, just so they could take another class instead of waiting, and there was. My mind was spinning...
I have been hesitant to become involved in sports with the kids, even one sport for each kid could pull us in all different directions for practices and games. I was an athlete all growing up, and yes, it kept me out of trouble, but it also became all consuming, and left plenty of scars to prove my dedication. I have watched friends and family who have put their lives on hold to follow the schedules of their kids sports and haven't wanted to repeat that. But I am not cold and heartless as to want to deny a child access to try out something in an area where the Lord has gifted them. I find myself having to wrestle with whether or not I am wanting to deny being active in sports because I think it is the best thing for my child or if I am selfishly wanting to keep my schedule simple or if I am acting in fear of future trials. Until now, no one has shown any aptitude for a particular sport so it was easy to not be in any.
Elliot and I chatted and I am going to call the gym tomorrow and ask if Caleb can try out a team practice before we commit. I want to see what the coaches are like, and I want to see if he enjoys the longer, more intense practice or if he really just enjoys the classes... so we shall see. A part of me is excited that at least a few of my genes passed on, those being the athletic ones. The other part of me is terrified, I have said I didn't want to go the athletic route with my kids, this will be a test of faith for me, I will need to weigh my decisions prayerfully and examine my heart for selfishness and fear.
Busy days ahead...
Then, after months of discussion and two years of not being involved in regular extra-curricular athletic endeavors, we decided to put the kids in some different activities. The older two are taking Tae Kwon Do classes twice a week. They seem to be enjoying it, Noah especially likes all the punching and kicking and Hannah seems to be getting a better idea of body control. The younger four have been begging to go back to gymnastics, and schedules fit just perfectly for the younger four to each take their age-specific class during the older two's Wednesday Tae Kwon Do class. Yes, all six children are in an activity within the same 60-minute time slot. I honestly don't think we would be able to do it any other way.
I have to split my time between the front and back gyms so that I can see everyone do at least a little of their practice. I let Hannah and Noah drop off Micah to his class in the back gym and I go watch the middle three kids warm up and go through their first circuit. I have been impressed with the intensity and seriousness they all show during practice. None of them are chatting or goofing off, and the skills they are already excelling at in three weeks is just awesome. When I make it to the back gym for Micah's class, I watch a kid who looks like my youngest, but I am amazed at how focused he is, not running around being silly like at home, but sitting and waiting his turn, being quick to listen, and catching on to the skills super fast. E and I have been encouraged that we made a good decision adding this activity.
After Micah finishes his class, we walk together to the front gym and find the middle three finished with their class. Today, Caleb handed me an invitation for him to join the Boys Team. My jaw dropped. We have only been going for three weeks. I had a flashback of the 6th grade when I made the gymnastics team. I also had a feeling of dread knowing how careful you must be to not let sports derail the direction of your family. The team for Caleb's age group practices on Monday, a day we are already at the gym for martial arts. I asked if there were slots for the twins and Micah during the same time, just so they could take another class instead of waiting, and there was. My mind was spinning...
I have been hesitant to become involved in sports with the kids, even one sport for each kid could pull us in all different directions for practices and games. I was an athlete all growing up, and yes, it kept me out of trouble, but it also became all consuming, and left plenty of scars to prove my dedication. I have watched friends and family who have put their lives on hold to follow the schedules of their kids sports and haven't wanted to repeat that. But I am not cold and heartless as to want to deny a child access to try out something in an area where the Lord has gifted them. I find myself having to wrestle with whether or not I am wanting to deny being active in sports because I think it is the best thing for my child or if I am selfishly wanting to keep my schedule simple or if I am acting in fear of future trials. Until now, no one has shown any aptitude for a particular sport so it was easy to not be in any.
Elliot and I chatted and I am going to call the gym tomorrow and ask if Caleb can try out a team practice before we commit. I want to see what the coaches are like, and I want to see if he enjoys the longer, more intense practice or if he really just enjoys the classes... so we shall see. A part of me is excited that at least a few of my genes passed on, those being the athletic ones. The other part of me is terrified, I have said I didn't want to go the athletic route with my kids, this will be a test of faith for me, I will need to weigh my decisions prayerfully and examine my heart for selfishness and fear.
Busy days ahead...
Thursday, September 26, 2013
So thankful...
I am so appreciative of all the notes and calls and texts I have gotten this week, it has been a treasure to my heart in the midst of this trial. Monday I got a call about some blood test results that could mean nothing or could have meant the first of many tests and a potential chronic and debilitating diagnosis. Since I knew worry could add nothing to the situation, I submitted to additional tests and just waited to hear. In the mean time, I moved along with life, a household of six children, three dogs and two rabbits affords quite the opportunity for distraction. :)
I did share some of the "what if" possibilities with a couple of friends and they prayed for me. A peace and a calm that could not be explained was with me all week, I am continually reminded of the beauty of Christ's Church and thankful for the place God has me. During the days of waiting, I was trying some of the things the doctors told me to do, and a small amount of relief was being achieved. In the middle of gymnastics and martial arts classes for the kids on Wednesday evening, I got the call about the second round of blood work. Totally normal. No sign of the "scary" diagnosis. Praise the Lord! There was no real explanation either, so, I am currently chalking up this bout of physical pain to my soon being closer to 40 than I am to 30.
While physical pain has been a near constant companion the last few years, I am gaining a better perspective. I can relate to Paul's thorn in the flesh, I personally know how my inability to "do what I used to do" motivates me to look to the Lord to complete what is lacking in me. God promises in James 1:2-4 that trials are for our good, to strengthen our faith and grow in us endurance and in Romans 8:28-29 we see how all things are being used to conform us into Christ's image. I am thankful for God not just giving up on this proud, self-important sinner. I am thankful for His mercies, new every morning to walk in the good works already planned for me.
And I know God isn't finished yet, proved so clearly by my flipping out over the messy upstairs when I went to put the kids to bed last night... proof of my flesh still raging, proof that when I take my eyes off Jesus, I sink as fast as Peter did. Oh, that the Lord would choose to return soon. The no tears and no pain of heaven sounds so amazingly good! :)
I did share some of the "what if" possibilities with a couple of friends and they prayed for me. A peace and a calm that could not be explained was with me all week, I am continually reminded of the beauty of Christ's Church and thankful for the place God has me. During the days of waiting, I was trying some of the things the doctors told me to do, and a small amount of relief was being achieved. In the middle of gymnastics and martial arts classes for the kids on Wednesday evening, I got the call about the second round of blood work. Totally normal. No sign of the "scary" diagnosis. Praise the Lord! There was no real explanation either, so, I am currently chalking up this bout of physical pain to my soon being closer to 40 than I am to 30.
While physical pain has been a near constant companion the last few years, I am gaining a better perspective. I can relate to Paul's thorn in the flesh, I personally know how my inability to "do what I used to do" motivates me to look to the Lord to complete what is lacking in me. God promises in James 1:2-4 that trials are for our good, to strengthen our faith and grow in us endurance and in Romans 8:28-29 we see how all things are being used to conform us into Christ's image. I am thankful for God not just giving up on this proud, self-important sinner. I am thankful for His mercies, new every morning to walk in the good works already planned for me.
And I know God isn't finished yet, proved so clearly by my flipping out over the messy upstairs when I went to put the kids to bed last night... proof of my flesh still raging, proof that when I take my eyes off Jesus, I sink as fast as Peter did. Oh, that the Lord would choose to return soon. The no tears and no pain of heaven sounds so amazingly good! :)
Sunday, September 22, 2013
When you can't...
There is nothing more discouraging to this mom than seasons of physical pain. They always seem to come just when things are starting to "work"... you know, when everyone is learning the new schedule, chores are getting done and children are eating lunch before 2pm. Then, WHAM! Mom goes down with pain.
I always think and hope the pain will be short lived. I continue to power through and try my best to ignore it and not let the children know. Sometimes I end up irritable, and many times I sin in anger. And every time I do, I am grieved.
But this time was different. Though I have endured a week full of migraines and debilitating back and neck pain, my heart has been turned toward gentleness and thankfulness. It was hard not to think about all the things I couldn't do between passing out on the couch and tears of pain, but I chose not to.
Instead, I spoke softly (it hurt to speak in more than a whisper) and listened hard (pain is "loud" to me, so hearing people becomes incredibly difficult). My children stayed on task while I was unable to function at times. The house didn't burn down and people ate. I can't remember the last time the house was this clean.
I wish I could say that this pain cycle has left. It hasn't. Not fully. And in its wake, a round of tests with unexpected results, which will likely translate into making some doctor appointments and more "unnormal" days.
What I know is that God is near me ever so much more evidently in the moments of pain, than in moments of ease. And yet both are a blessing. Right now, there is no pretending that I am functioning in my own strength, for my flesh is weak. And maybe that it is, God is humbling my proud heart, bent on showing how capable I am and yet I really am a mere weak and broken vessel. God's grace, more real today than yesterday. Oh that I would live in light of His grace and mercy.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Day 12: Style...
I could list off all the different styles of homeschooling I admire, but I don't really fit perfectly into one. What I am is passionate about creating an environment that makes the children yearn for the next piece of the puzzle that is our history and culture and world. Sometimes it takes thinking outside the box. Sometimes it takes trying new things. Sometimes it means staying up until 3am carving a Viking masthead. And while in this season of life, my style seems to tends toward the last minute, all those late nights are worth it when you see the kids get excited and engaged.
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