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!