Thursday, February 26, 2009

Anticipation

The kids and I are getting ready to spend time with dear husband for the next week or so and I am so excited. Anticipation could not be greater right now! We will be in beautiful Charlottesville some of the time and looking forward to lots of field trips to Monticello, Mitchie's Tavern, Montpelier and more! The trip fits in great with what we are getting ready to study in Tapestry of Grace Y2. The revolutionary war is coming up and then all the way up to the Constitution. We will be walking around where Thomas Jefferson did, and I get so excited about these kinds of field trips. I love to feel and see and experience our great country's history. We will fill our days with the field trips while dear husband is in class at UVA.

Oh if you could slow time down and just live in slow motion for a little bit. I know that as we begin this trip before I know it the time will be over and we will be back to the normal routine. I have purposed to live in every minute so that I can really enjoy everything. There is a fine line between trying to make everything perfect, which can drive you crazy, and just trying to relax and enjoy the time together. I want all the usual things a mom wants, everyone to be kind and loving, to be well from sickness and to pay attention on the field trips, and to soak up the time with one another. Just a few things on my list that I am trying to "control" which is impossible!

So I will get on my knees and turn this precious gift of time with dear husband over to God and let it be what He makes it and rest in Him for the strength and knowledge to know what to do and when to do it. The list is so long... all the things we want to do and say and share. We will make great memories and have fun and it will be like he has never even been away from us. I am thankful for this gift. I will hold on to the memories of the time together and replay them over and over in my mind. I will post some fun pictures of the trip and time together later.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

A Different Kind of Valentine's Day


Happy Valentine's Day!

I always enjoy this holiday because it reminds me how much I am loved by God, my darling husband, my wonderful children, my precious family and dear friends. I could feel really down because my husband is away from me this year for Valentine's Day. I was thinking back, we have spent Valentine's Day together for the past nineteen years. Wow! O.k., I could get very sad, but instead I am going to concentrate on what I do have this Valentine's Day. Three children to hug, two furry dogs to chase, a family that surrounds me with love and sweet memories and dear friends that fill me up with fun and happy times. This holiday has really been captured by commercialism. Forget all of the stuff our culture says this day should be. Cut past all of the unrealistic expectations to the LOVE part. The best place I know to go for pure love is God.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Now that's what I am talking about! What a Valentine's Day present. He can fill you up to overflowing and then some. I know that is a good place to be and I am camping out there!

Thank you Lord for this Valentine's Day. It is different, but I feel loved up to the very top!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Creek Days!

All of this wonderfully warm weather has made the kids dream about spring. School work is getting done quickly around here so there is time for outside play. The words "outside play" mean going in the woods and having a little creek time! The kids pull on the mucky boots and play clothes and disappear down through the woods for hours of imagination gone wild at the creek. There are boat races, survival games,camping and cooking and all kinds of adventures down at the creek. We have built wigwams in the woods and played pioneer. The best thing in a mom's eyes is the time spent with siblings not arguing, not in front of an electronic device but out in God's beautiful creation having fun, together! Even if they do not know it now, creek time is a gift because they are making memories they will cherish one day.

I just have to remember a good balance of play time outside and school work so we do not get...uh oh, BEHIND! You know that dreaded word this time of the year in homeschooling. We need to keep moving forward but not get too crazy. It is so tempting to spend all of our time outside, but school time is a great motivator for creek time. So, yeah for this advance look at spring time in Carolina!

I included the picture of Ginger, taken by my oldest son, because it makes me laugh out loud and that is a good thing! We should all try to laugh as often as possible.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

The Snow That Didn't Show!


This week we were suppose to get more snow. I was hoping for some more pretty pictures like this one from a few weeks ago. The weather man had even thought we would get a pretty good amount again for NC. It did not happen for us in Wake Forest. We just got a light dusting, and it has been very cold the last couple of days. It was pretty interesting how it worked out because my oldest dear son was praying that we would not get a big snow because of some plans he had. I had a good time showing him the snow fall total all around us, as some in our state did get snow, just not our area! He was amazed. Thank you God for this illustration for him.

We have been getting back to our regular schedule of daily life since returning from my Grandmother's funeral. The trip went well, and the kids were able to see some of the things that I did when I spent time with my grandparents in the summer. The flexibility of homeschooling is wonderful. I was so thankful the kids could go on this trip and not be concerned about all the school work they were missing. The trip became school for a few days. We learned among other things about several states, coal mining, rail roads, weather, hot springs and my dear son and I had some excellent talks about major events in history. Homeschooling is great!

Our school schedule is getting back to normal as well. We are enjoying our adventures in TOG land week 23. I am learning so much about the founding of the colonies. I really do enjoy this curriculum. I will be ordering my Unit 4 books later on this evening, and I have already ordered Year 3 of Tapestry of Grace for next year.

Well, I am going to finish up now with a some more pictures of our snow days a couple of weeks ago. I never got to post them, so I thought now would be a good time!

Ginger, our new puppy loved the snow and so did the old hound dog Sandy. Enjoy the snow scenes!