What a difference a year makes!

Actually, we are getting closer to two. I quite writing, just because I figured I was too late, too far behind...too something.

But looking back, I am realizing that I appreciate the journey, and miss things when I don't take the time to write them down.

So back at it.

I am now the Children's Director at New Hope Community Church. My kids are now homeschooled. They are huge! That really doesn't sound like all that much, but it has all changed so much.

Josiah is 12 going on 30. He is such an old soul. He loves studying his Bible and is working on memorizing the book of Hebrews. He loves baseball and is such a stud now! He is a joy to be around, loves to think, and is almost two inches taller than me. I enjoy him so much! It is strange to see my little boy become a man-child. But what a privilege to see him grow in the Lord!

Rayana is my little mother. She is 9 and 1/2. She can handle any situation with younger kids that we could ever throw at her. She is fun, capable and just so special. She is quickly catching up to me in height and I love that! She just finished her first year of softball and improved quite a bit! She really wants to be a pitcher like her older brother.

Noelle is our baby. Or at least she still plays that role pretty often. She is 6 and 1/2 and the 1/2 is very, very important to her. She loves to sing. She constantly has a song in her head and does her best work when she is humming. She can't wait to play t-ball this summer.

We are just finishing our first real year of homeschooling through an Alternative Learning Program that our state offers. It has seen far more joys than trials. I have loved getting to be a part of my kids learning and being free to teach them so much of God's truth! But I also struggle with wanting to give them what seems "normal". I constantly pray that God will show me how to serve Him best with my children.

So there's the short version. More to come.

Birthdays

Saturday was Rayana's 8th birthday. It was a wonderful day...filled with simplicity and fun. She told me over and over that it was the best birthday ever. That makes my day. Life is so full at the moment, it was hard to take time to really celebrate with her, so I was very relieved that she felt special! We started with chocolate chip pancakes....her favorite food EVER...then went to Josiah's first soccer game, followed by Rayana's with cookies and drinks for her team. They all sang to her and she loved it. Then it was home to change out of soccer clothes and out to Moctezuma's with Masako. She loved every minute of that, but especially the big sombrero and the loud singing by the waiters. Then we came home and cut off her hair. She had a good foot cut off and donated and now is sporting a very adorable, and much easier to care for, hairdo! We both love it, but Randy really misses her long hair I think. Then off to church, which was just what she wanted to do for her birthday. Then we finished with Blizzards at Dairy Queen with Uncle Bill, Nathan, and Masako. It really was a great birthday. Finally, she snuggled into a new bedding with new hot pink sheets, a new pillow and a new comforter. I can see why she enjoyed the day.

Our schedule is not easing up at all, but we are starting to fall into sync a little. Josiah and I are getting the hang of his school work, and Noelle is getting the hang of hers. Rayana is enjoying public school for now. But wants to reevaluate around Christmas. I think that is a great option. I sure would love to have them all at home, but I am also aware of how much work that might make for me. But on the other hand, there would be a lot of extra time as well. Time spent making lunches (more than once a day), time in the car, waiting in parking lots, at recess, in between classes, that we could squish all together and just get it done. It sure is tempting.

And I'm still working on my schedule. Months ago, I ordered a book from www.titus2.com. It is called Manager of their Chores. I loved it and have implimented their chore system in our own home, though I am not as disciplined with it as I really should be. I am finding that the big reason the kids chores don't get done is not their unwillingness as much as it is our lack of a good schedule. Well thankfully, the wonderful family at www.titus2.com also wrote a book on scheduling called Manager of their Homes. So I ordered it as well. They were both a little expensive, but I strongly believe that they represent a bood biblical model of what God wants for our home, and they have encouraged me to tackle character training in our children, which is something that had basically been overlooked. So I am almost finished reading the book now and am working on listing everything that I need to get done in a day so that I can see if it will fit. It is very interesting to think of very moment of my day scheduled like that, but I can really see how unproductive I am and how a schedule could really allow me to devote my time to my priorities.....my family. I am anxious to see where this will lead.

Love the way God works!!!

So I have been praying for a long time for God to give me discipine. I am not naturally very disciplined...unless I absolutely have to be...then I get it done. But if there is not stress...it might not happen. Well, in preparation for our new crazy school year, I decided to read the Maxwell's book on scheduling. I have had a very hard time getting very far into it though, as life is busy, but have scheduled time to read it a little at a time. (Like that?? I'm getting better just by owning the book!)

Well today was crazy, but Josiah and I managed one hour to sit down and work on his school. We did a lesson from his Intro to Online Learning class. Can you guess what the subject was?? Of course...organization and scheduling! Then I ended up needing to take Rayana to soccer practice and wait with her...which gave me 45 minutes with nothing to do but sit and read my book! I only have a few chapters left and have serious prayed about a new, organized and disciplined schedule for myself and the kids. We have a lot to do, and it just isn't going to work if we don't discipline ourselves and use our time wisely. I am excited to being the actual process...but am determined to wait until I finish the book. I want to have all the necessary info together.

On the other hand...today was the first day of school for the kids! Rayana is in the second grade, and really loved her teacher. Her birthday is this weekend, and we are excited to be bringing cookies to school....quick way to make friends! Josiah had the opportunity to spend the whole day at Idlewild, just to see how things work, get to know the teachers and hang out. So we didn't get a lot of is schoolwork done, but think it was very good for him! And we have his schedule figured out...at least for now. He will go to Idlewild at 11 on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. He will be there for recess, lunch and then either Art or PE. Then I will pick him up at 1. 6 hours a week will really help him to stay in touch with his friends, and hopefully leave him with enough time to do his work at home. I am ecstatic about how this has all worked out! Now if he could just get some more challenging work...but one step at a time!

Noelle loved her first day of homeschooling. She called me "Teacher" all day, and wanted me to call her "Student". She really enjoyed the activities and I believe it will be very beneficial for her as well as allow me to focus on Josiah a little more, while she is occupied with her work.

All in all...I am very excited, both for our new schedule and for the choices we have made for our children this year. At least for now, we are giving them the best we can.

New School Books

Today Josiah's books for school came. I have been very excited about this, but Josiah did not seem to care...until the books showed up today. Then we were both excited. He opened box after box smiling with delight at all the books he would be learning from. He was especially thrilled with a math workbook that is at least 3 inches thick. It was exciting to see him getting anxious for school to start.

There was also big thick books for me! Didn't quite realize I would be getting so much work too, but I am delighted as well. I know there will be questions that Josiah has, and I am very anxious to help him discover the answers. I love that I will be learning all of this with him. We can talk about everything that he is learning at school, and I will be completely informed about what is going on.

Josiah pointed out something that I had not considered about online schooling. He and I both love to know what is ahead. I love the syllabus for classes. It let me know what to expect, what I would be learning, and what I needed. But in elementary school, you don't get that. You never know what you will be learning next. You don't know what books you will be reading...what you will study...what you may be doing. This is not always true, but often it is the case. So for Josiah to sit down with all the books he would be using to complete his 5th grade year...or at least the books a normal 5th grader would need was pretty exciting. He can figure out what he will be doing, just by looking at his supplies.

Well, we looked at them all, got them all put up on the shelf, his on the left, mine on the right with his science kit in the middle. We are ready...and excited.

PS. Josiah is already halfway through the math textbook...it's been 2 hours.

Busy...busy...desperately busy

It has been too long since I blogged. Especially being that it was a New Year's resolution, but oh, well. Lots has happened. Most specifically was Josiah's bacterial meningitis. But that is for another day.

This summer has been a lot of fun. I thoroughly enjoy spending time with my kids. I love summer vacation, and hate when school starts again. Lucky for me...this year Josiah will be doing an online academy, so I will be his learning coach/fellow student for a majority of the school day. He will attend Idlewild for a little also, so he maintains friendships and peer contact. But I am soooooo happy to have him home more! I hate when they leave for school.

Next week I will have my hands very full. Both my brother and sister will be going to work for the week, giving me 4 extra little girls, ages 4, 4, 2, and 1. I can't wait! My kids are very excited for "Cousin Camp" and are planning activities and things. We are also trying hard to clean up our house and "toddler-proof" is again, at least sort of. It has been a while since we had a toddler in the house, and we are trying to "purge" and go back to living in a "simple" house. That has left a ginormous pile of stuff for our garage sale right in front of our door. Today we got most of it picked up and taken up to Josiah's room. We have made quite a bit of progress toward the garage sale, but still have a long way to go.

Some of the things we need to prepare for "Cousin Camp". Menu that is easy, the kids will like, and we can stick too. Then need to get grocery shopping done on Sunday. Recipes....edible playdough, fun snacks, that kind of thing. Our character quality for the week is "gratefulness", so we are going to include the little ones and are printing our coloring pages, and making a porcupine out of pipe cleaners. We hope to run through the sprinkler, watch the newest VeggieTales movie, and read some books too. We also want to make concrete garden stepping stones, so we need to get those materials in the next few days also. I really wish we had a 15 passenger van, so we could go to the park, but alas...not yet.

To make us even busier! The Danskin Triathlon is the weekend. Tomorrow I will be taking my bike up to Seattle, and picking up my race number and such. The family has not been to the traithlon in a few years....rain, sickness, laziness on my part. But they are coming this year, and I am looking forward to that. Noelle did not want to go though, she doesn't remember it at all, and thought she would have to DO the triathlon. Poor girl. She was fine with it once I told her she could just watch. Though this really hinders my preparation time for next week, I am glad to have a little "me" time this weekend. I really enjoy the triathlon, and hope to really run this year. I have never really run well in the triathlon, but having finished two half marathons now...well, I'm hopeful.

Better get to work!