With the oldest three out of public school and our homeschooling schedule on a lighter load we are enjoying the break... pool fun, sprinkler splashes and popsicles!
Tons of Vacation Bible Schools and lots of new adventures for Amos! Boys have Summer Training soon and July is packed with camps for the oldest six!
I'm learning to enjoy the moments of memories big and small.... Remember time is precious!!
Happy Birthday to Grace Elizabeth who was given to us on the day we met 7 years earlier.
After three boys as blessings we were in awe of a beautiful baby girl!
She is very giving, loving and a wonderful sister!
I'm amazed at her beauty and the woman of God she is becoming!!!
Happy 11th Birthday Grace!
Before having children my plates were always sparkling, clean and my socks always matched.
In the past 17 years that all seems to matter much less.
I sit holding my youngest as he sleeps and remember that while my dishes are washed by children who miss spots and my laundry basket is full of socks longing for a mate... These moments disappear all to soon.
Tomorrow the dishes will still be dirty and the socks will still need folding. My baby will be another day closer to moving out.
Cherish the clean plates, the matched socks, and especially the sleeping baby... It will all change before you know it!!!
I'm a Mom of 8 so you'd think that I'd be prepared for a new driver in the family.
So not true!!!
From day one I've struggled with letting my oldest get behind the wheel of a vehicle in which I was a passenger.
Ask God? Yeah no I just settled to say my nerves couldn't handle it. Wrong attitude. Wrong choice.
Tonight God showed me through my husband that even though I trust God I wasn't trusting Him completely.
I could freak out everytime Micah drives. I could clench my fists, grind my teeth or closer my eyes. What is that saying?
I don't trust God? I don't trust my son? I don't trust at all?
Hmmmm?
Thoughts on what if I don't get a grasp on this now... I have seven more drivers to trust eventually.
Proverbs 3:5 (MSG)
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.
I thought why worry about the next time... Each time is under God's protection!
Proverbs 3:6 (MSG)
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go. He's the one who will keep you on track.
How much more evidence do you need that God is keeping a young driver on the road. It was as if God said gently," My child I care for your child! "
Tonight I took a grasp on the fear I previously felt, threw it out the window and said, I trust God completely.
It was a very nice conversation with my oldest as he drove me home! One of many to come!
Today Amos Ethan turned 1!!!
He is 18lbs 12ozs.
26 3/4 in long
He is walking, jabbering and discovering new foods with his five teeth!
We celebrated today by eating at Golden Corral a favorite of ours.
A loved the squash and sweet potatoes.
We then came home and fed him his first cupcake after singing happy birthday. He demolished yellow frosted chocolate cupcake.
Everyday he changes a little more into a little boy who loves what he loves and knows every member of his family to a t!!!
God blessed us with 8 wonderful children!
Happy 1st Birthday Amos!!!
I often forbid my little and big "Insighters" to say they dislike something until they have first tried it.
My first thought was to write this entire post of how much I disliked certain areas of my life at the moment... I'm not going there!!!
Over all my life is wonderful now. So curves and bumps get thrown my way.. I just go with the flow of faith and jump for joy over the hills.
In today's time raising teens is not easy and I shed many tears in prayer for my three boys. They are becoming young men and changing daily!
So do I dislike things? Of course... Especially about myself... Those things I can change!!
I choose to focus on the things I do like about everything else... I promise it makes for a much better day!!!
Being a large family we often have lots of quality time that others do not qualify as the same. For instance...
Today was my 13yr olds orthodontist check up and I took all the younger ones with me. Even waiting patiently in the van we took advantage of the time and read a book.
I have wonderful children and often I remember the small things add up in the long run!
Take time to spend every spare moment with your children... Any non-electronic activities are special in memories! Read books, or play a game to create fun in your house or wherever you may happen to be!!!
I've now been homeschooling for what seems like forever...
In reality it has been about a decade...
I still do not have all the answers or the solutions to problems that arise. I do however actually enjoy it now as opposed to years ago.
Seeing my children learn or get excited to discover new things is an amazing motivator.
I will admit when this school year began I was frustrated to see my oldest three go to public school.. I felt like I had failed.
I now see my boys thriving and exceeding all expectations in their studies!
Grace is 10 and asked the other day if I thought she was getting taught enough because we skipped days. I did not hesitate to say if course she was getting plenty, yet my heart an that she even felt a need to ask. In reality we may have not done what everyone thinks of as enough... I know it is though. Key was I wanted her to think she was doing way too much without being overwhelmed.
Today was the first day that I challenged myself to teach all four at once. We did more than enough and finished by one!!!
My motivator today was not overwhelming them each with amounts... Just quality things they needed to improve on.
If I step back and look at one who is doing work on the 6th grade level I feel I'm doing things right. If I look at another who is struggling with 1st/2nd grade level when she should be on 3rd I could get frustrated.
Today was one of those days I didn't go either direction... All four did above and beyond what I could imagine and their effort was amazing!!
Homeschooling is about meeting a child on the level they are. One on one taking the time they need and encouraging them to excel in every area they can!
Every child learns differently and at a different pace!!!
Perfection is not our goal, learning at any level is! I often tell my children... Regardless of what level or grade a book says it is if you don't know what it is than it's learning for you.
To any parent who takes the effort to teach a child at home.. Bravo!!! I know firsthand the struggles and the joys!!!
They say admitting you have a problem is the first step...
I admit I have a problem not reading enough books, especially reading to my children not near often enough.
That is going to change beginning today!!!
I pulled out every single book in my house today... Sorted them and gave away a bunch... Then I organized them all in hopes that ease of access will make us want to read more.
Months since my last haircut, I figured it was time today... I even managed to go alone which was in itself a huge step.
Aside from feeling lighter.. It's a nice getting out and taking care of me!
Any mom needs to know she is important enough to take the time to do things she enjoys and improve herself... Honestly it makes a better you for all those around you!!!
It seems like years since I hired a sitter. Let me elaborate... My oldest three are boys and all are ages I used to babysit when I was younger. On top of that I have a preteen daughter who helps tremendously!!
I enjoyed a day out today... Although I took my close to one year old along it was a wonderful break. I strolled the nearby outlet mall and ended with a wonderful dinner with hubby.
Amazing it how so much time has passed that I can now go on a date without worry and come home to a cleaner house than I left!! Truly I am Blessed!!
My life consists of raising eight children with hubby of almost two decades.
Three teens, and five under them.. Keep me on my toes.
Homeschooling, public school and church keep us busy.
Being a large family is not difficult... We face the same challenges that small families do... Just on a larger scale at times.
From watching a baby take his first steps to seeing or oldest learn to drive... Those are the range of our experiences at this time.
My children teach me daily to; laugh, love and learn...
