Back To School!

I really need to get more organized to keep up with my blog posts here. We are back into the swing of homeschool now and I am realizing that I need to tweak our schedule. The girls are all doing well but the pace we are keeping is making me frazzled. We need structure (that's for sure!) but I am just working on how to keep things loose enough so we don't get burnt out too soon. Our 7 year old finally is feeling happy about her English text (she used to dislike English) and 5 year old is reading very well! 3 year old is learning her alphabet and numbers.

I finally got my sewing machine up and running and made a dress for our 3 year old. It is adorable, I will post a pic soon. She looks like a little doll wearing it. I am proud of myself because I didn't think I could really make the dress. I tried to learn to sew years ago but my patience level was not up to par for the task. I suppose a few years and 4 children have helped me build my patience up some :0)

Love My Children

We are about to be in full swing with homeschool in the next week or so. I have lesson plans made and plenty of supplies, but as always I feel a little nervous. Have I chosen the right text books, will be be able to cover all I plan, will there be time for more than just academics? These questions and more keep pouring through my mind. But then my girls come up to me and say how much they love homeschool and they are glad they don't have to go away from home to school. THAT is what makes homeschool worth it to me. The joy I see in my children from learning at home.

A new homeschool year

We just received our homeschool book shipment this past week. The girls are so excited to get started! Our nephew will be coming to visit this next week so we will wait a couple of weeks before officially starting school again. It seems a bit daunting, having two children in school now as well as a toddler and a baby. It will a challenge, I am sure, to keep things going on a daily basis. I am working on making a schedule for us which I think will really help. The girls also really want to go to the zoo so I think that will be our main field trip this fall. We also want to take them to an art museum or a history museum. I need to do a bit of research to see what is available that will be enjoyable for children. It is such a joy to watch them learn and grow and to know that their father and I have been (with the Lord's guidance!) their teachers and mentors all along the way.

Progress!

The de-cluttering project is coming along great! It is amazing the amount of things that can accumulate in a house over the course of a year. I have thrown out many broken toys, magazines, duplicate kitchen utensils and many, many others. It is such a feeling of relief to be in a nearly clutter free home. We purchased two bookcases as well which have given our front room a nice homey feel as well as given a new home to all of our favorite books and most all of our homeschool books and supplies. Tomorrow I am going to put up some family portraits on the walls as well as sort a couple more boxes. I am also going to make a list of things we need to purchase like a dresser for our girls clothing and a couple of plastic storage boxes for some of our school supplies.

Slow steady progress

I can hardly believe that our sweet little baby girl is three months old today. Time sure does fly! Just watching her laugh and smile is amazing to me. God's miracle of life is certainly awesome.

I have been a huge undertaking this week. Our home is in major need of de-cluttering. I have been sorting and throwing things away and preparing our home for one of the Lord's calling for us which is hospitality. We often have visitors but I would love to have a more inviting home to welcome them into. I've been looking around on-line quite a bit for inexpensive decorating ideas. My dear mother-in-law has blessed us with curtains for our bedroom which are due to arrive any day. We are also preparing to add some bookshelves to our front room. I have many quilts in progress as well as materials to make pillows and chair pads and such but with a newborn those have been put aside to complete at some future date.

The schedule I worked out is working ok but not as well as I would like. I'm going to need to work on tweaking that soon too.

Getting on track

Since we moved to this house I have felt totally disorganized when it comes to homeschooling. Don't get me wrong, we get things done. But we have been falling behind on some things while getting way too far ahead on others. Yesterday I finally came up with what seems like it will be a workable schedule for us. So far, so good! Today the girls were able to get up and follow their morning schedule without my help. Of course the 2 year old and newborn were not left to their own devices, but the 5 and 7 year olds did great! I am one proud mama :0) A schedule really makes and the difference in the world!

Keeping Focused

I'm typing this one-handed with a newborn in my arms. What a morning... it's days this when I just have to remind myself how blessed I am and undeserving of God's grace and the precious blood of His Son.

I woke up this morning with a sore shoulder, a stiff neck and a beautiful little baby staring at me in the spot where my husband usually sleeps. Poor guy... he temporarily moved back to the kids play room to sleep since he works 12 hour shifts and wakes up at 3 am, for work. My only goal in life right now is to help this precious little girl to sleep all night so her daddy can have his spot in our bed back. So far, so good... she's only woken up twice a night the past two nights. Our new baby is a total doll-face but I miss my husband! (Note to baby girl - you can stay in our room for a while sweetie but ya gotta sleep in the bassinet!) :0)

OK, so back to our day. I never did get around to getting dressed before breakfast... thinking I'd do so when we were done. So now it's almost 1 pm and I'm still not dressed. What happened? Let's see... baby girl has been very unsettled. Our 2.5 year old had a VERY yucky accident which turned into a major bottom scrubbing, a bath, a change of clothes, a carpet cleaning and a hand spanking... not to mention a talk about why big girls use the potty.

Leftovers from dinner last night which were supposed to be for tonight were missing (note to self - remember to tell husband what is not available to take for lunch in the morning) so had to get a plan together quick. Spent an hour figuring out breakfast and dinner, calming crying baby then 7 year old loaded the crock pot after I prepped everything.

OK, so it wasn't the worst morning in the world but I know one thing, God is teaching me something that I really need to work on is patience. My Spiritual fruit tree is slowly growing. I may not always realize why thing happen but looking back I can always see what God's plan is for me. Praise Him for His grace and mercy, I need it every day!

Last Day...

It's hard for me to believe that tonight is the last I will spend at home before our new arrival. Our little girl will be here so soon it's amazing to me. I actually wonder why. One would think with three children already it would not feel so brand new to have another baby, yet it feels like the first time in many ways. We'll leave for the hospital at 3 am tomorrow and arrive home with a new little one. I can't wait to meet her... to smell her fresh baby scent and watch her personality develop as she grows. I keep looking at my youngest daughter thinking she won't be my baby any longer, in a way it makes me sad. But I can just see how much of a wonderful big sister she will be. God has truly blessed me, being a mother is the most awesome thing and I feel honored that God chose me to nurture these four sweet little ladies.

Introduction

Blogging is one of those things I really enjoy. I've been blogging about food and cooking for some time now but I have been led recently to start a new blog. It's just one of those things... when God leads you to do something, you just DO IT! :0)

So... what will this new blog be about? I believe it is to about my life... as a Christian... a wife, mother and everything in between. Just a simple blog about how my walk with Christ has shaped who I am and who I strive to be. I hope that what I share here will bless people along the way and if you don't know Christ, I pray you can get to know Him through your visit here with me.

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