LEARNING TO BREATHE

Here we are, almost a full 3 weeks into homeschool year. We have already had so many things go on, that I wonder why it is called "Home" school for us, we never seem to be home. We spend our mornings and afternoons in full learning mode that by the time that school is over with for the day our brains are exhausted and hurt. I crave nap time after a full morning of math!! Being that yesterday was Labor day, we were able to take a needed break and just relax. We shut off the phone, and our brains and just enjoyed being together, fishing, swimming, building sand castles and laying in the lake. We found (at the suggestion of a great friend) this fantastic place nearby. It is only a short 45 min drive from our home and it's called "MoonShine Beach". I have lived here for many years, yet have never been there nor heard of it before. Yesterday as I sat in the lake, just relaxing (and getting very burned), I realized I wasn't stressing about the house, the car, the bills, the kids and our future, and I for sure was not stressing about what to have for dinner. There were moments when my thoughts drifted away from the day and I would begin to think about the many task for the next day but then I would correct myself and say we don't have a stress filled day ahead of us. We don't have to worry whether all the homework is done before piling it all back into our bags and cramming everything in them. I didn't have to worry whether I had packed their lunch and made sure all papers were signed and ready to go. I so enjoyed my day yesterday and can not wait to go back and rest some more.



It really was a much needed break from the first few weeks of school and all the adjustments that were made. Last week, I had moments when I felt like I was failing my son and keeping him hindered. I felt like I wasn't giving him all that I could give him or all that he needed. I had great moments of head in hands and wanting to give up. I had a good friend, who also homeschools, give me the best advice ever. She said that who better to teach your child then you. It is my job as his mother to teach him and that I am not failing him, but giving him more than I could even think up.

I know that someday's there will be doubt, but I do know deep down that this is the plan and the path that God has set for us. I am excited to teach him and see what happens next. I am exciting to take field trips to the zoo, pumpkin patch and apple orchard. I am excited to see what ideas he thinks up for science class and am very excited to see were his imagination goes with each new day.

It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. Albert Einstein

Summer of Fun

Life is never what I expect and sometimes really what I want, but it is what it is and it is exactly what I need.

New Adventures

“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.”

I had not posted in awhile, so I wanted to post some recent pics of the house. I finally was able to finish the painting of the kitchen and dining room. I am very delighted in the outcome of the walls. I truly am inspired to create when I am in the kitchen. Though we have not yet finish, we are getting there. We have decided to place wainscoting on the bottom half of the walls in the dining room. I think it will really give off a rustic ,vintage look to it. We still are planning for new flooring, but we can not find or decide on anything. I have realized that shopping for home decor/flooring/wall coverings........it is a true test on a marriage!!! LOL These are not the best pictures, as all I have is my phone for now, but......


Not only have we taken on the project of fixing and renovating the home, but have embarked on a new journey.......Homeschool!!

I have never been more scared and excited all rolled into one. We have finished our first week, and I feel pretty confident that this will get better and better with each passing day. Our son is attending a homeschool/shared school. He attends there twice a week and then three days a week he is home for me to teach. We are using the Abeka curriculum and so far so good. I have to say I am very impressed with my critical thinking skills as well as coming up with some great tools for learning. Yesterday was one of our best days so far. We start each day at 7am, getting dressed eating together and getting ready to start the day. Around 7:45, we begin with pledges and bible class as well as a time to just pray for the day and get started on the right foot. (It really does make a HUGE difference). Yesterday, we did math class and was very impressed by how quickly Camden picks up on numbers. I am trying to teach him to memorize the tables and no finger and toe counting, and he really is getting it. We added and subtracted with dominos and pennies and did multiplication with dimes and nickles. By the time science class came around we were tired and ready to be done. We talked about how God created us perfectly and how everything in our bodies is so perfect in form. It reminds me of
Pslams 139: 13-16
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body,
and you knit me together in my mothers womb.
Thanks you for making me so wonderfully complex!
It is amazing to think about.
Your workmanship is marvelous - and how well I know it.
You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion!
You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe.
Every day was recorded in your book.

Anyway, we did some science projects and went over all that we needed to discuss. There is nothing like seeing your child get excited about learning and education. When they want to keep going and not stop..... Made me realize I am doing the right thing for my kids. It was a tough decision, one not taken lightly. Yes, It would have been easier to take him someplace and have someone else teach my son for the next 10 years, but who else is better to teach and love and know my son then me???
There was a moment this morning, when the house was quiet, Camden was doing his work at the table and Brenna was doing some art. The windows were open and the wind was calmly blowing in. I was sitting in the sunlight and looking at my beautiful life. It just feels right. I can't help but be thankful that my children have the opportunity to learn in an encouraging, quiet, peaceful environment. I think about haw last year Camden was one of 300 kids, 25 in his class alone and the noise would make anyone go insane. Thankfully we are in a new place of our lives. I know that we will have good days and bad days, and some days I will just want to throw in the towel and give up, but I have to hold on to what I know is right for my family and trust that God will see us through that situation and moment.

Thinking Out of the Box...My box!!

Now that I have finished painting the kitchen cabinets and the trim, it has come to the time to pick a paint color. I keep going back and forth with all the variety of colors. There are so many reds, greens, blues, browns......too many colors to choose from. I am realizing that each color brings about different emotions and and feelings. I can't seem to make any sort of decisions as well as not being able to stick to one job at a time. I did however do some gardening....which by the way has really taken off and exploded with beautiful colors, fruits and veggies. I did a little landscaping and transplanting. The yard is starting to look pretty nice. I am anxious to see what comes next spring.






Anyhoo, back to the color situation, It really has become a situation for me and alot of anxiety stricken moments as I make my way up to the paint counter at our local wal-mart. I just can not commit. So, I started doing some research on colors. (Yes, I know I am a nerd with issues) So, apparently Red means: It is the color of fire and blood. It is associated with war and energy and desire. It enhances human metabolism and increases blood pressure. Ok, lets be honest, it really sound exciting!!! I need a little of all that red brings. LOL Green: I guess green symbolizes harmony, freshness, growth and FERTILITY????? As much as I love having babies and being a mom, I don't need help with that. I guess it also aides in digestion and improves your vision. Browns:Well, Brown means solid and reliable. That pretty much sums up brown!! I want to know how they came up with all this info. I would have loved to have been apart of a study like this. I would have made a great "lab rat". It all really seems ridiculous, but in reality, think of the feelings you have when you walk into a restaurant and the walls are painted a neutral color and the feeling you have when you enter a restaurant with bright bold colors and decorations that demand your attention. I think there might be something to all this color science. After all that research, I wiped the sweat off my brow and began to really think about my "vision" for the kitchen. RED!! RED, RED, RED, RED!!! That seems to be the only color that excites me and gives me a desire to cook up and create beautiful and flavorful dishes. I feel as though it might awaken something in me with my love for food and the dishes I will create. I have not even painted my walls, and yet I am stimulated and ready to go. Good sign right??? Blood pressure rising already!!!! So, all that being said, white trim, white cabinets, RED walls!!!!! Pics to come!!!

Before and After

I have been so overwhelmed with all that life has thrown into my lap. I finally....yes finally finished the kitchen cabinets. I must say, it really has a refreshed and clean and new look and feeling to it. I can't help but take a step back and pause when I walk into the kitchen in the morning for my cup of coffee.



My mind is quickly set on all the next things I have to do. It really is unending. The next step of the kitchen process will be to take down the wallpaper, paint the walls, trim and door. Putting in new flooring hopefully next month and then of course the little things like making curtains and painting the bar stools to keep with the the decor. Of course then I am on a mission to find all the little decor items. I am on the hunt for cool looking plates to display on the wall. I have gone to a few different antique/ flea markets, just have not been able to find the ones that really get my attention. I have great plans in my head for these plates, just a matter of starting and going for it. I am realizing that I have a really difficult time making final decisions. I really do break out in a sweat and then heaven forbid if I actually do buy something, then I spend the rest of the night with buyers remorse. Lord I need help with the little things in life. I have so much to do with this house. I see that it is not a matter of I have to get it done because the house is selling soon to I have to because the house isn't livable, it is a matter of me trying my hardest to make this house MY home. I am still struggling some days to make sure that my decisions for paint colors and things, are the the decisions and thoughts of my parents. What would my Dad say???? What is Mom going to think of it???? Now, I have to say what do I want and what do I like and be satisfied with that.
I have taken some time to see family that have come in from out of town. In the middle of all the craziness that is my everyday life, there has been some laughter as well.

My life has always and most likely will always be like a roller coaster. Up and Down and All around!

I must stop and breathe

take a moment

I must take it all in


I must slow down

I must close my eyes and feel everything around me

It (life) all goes by so fast, too fast

If I could just lie back for a moment

I'd watch the clouds take shape

and then re-shape

If I could just not move and listen to myself breathe

in and out

in and out

Listen to the sound of the trees

Listen the world around me

Only

if I could just slow down!

ALL IN WHITE

It has been such a crazy couple of weeks here. It seems as though I don't actually get to sit down till after the kids are in bed, but that is only to fold laundry. We have had a lot of rain and cloudy weather so at least the pollen is getting all washed away. My work schedule seems to have increased overnight, not to mention baseball practice, soccer practice, soccer and baseball games, homework, end of school year activities,birthday parties, and that is only to name a few. So, that being said I am finally able to sit for a moment and collect my thoughts.



We decided to get started on the kitchen. I guess I didn't realize (or avoided) the fact that this was going to be and is a very intense and overwhelming project. To say BIG does not even cut it. Here we are over a week later and all, yes all my kitchen things are still sitting on the counters, floors and table. We started the process by removing everything, sanding it all down and then priming. The sanding was such a disgusting part of this. We had sawdust covering everyone and everything. I have learned several things during the early stages of this project.....#1 Always open a window or wear a mask when you are in a small space and using oil-based primer!!!!! I swear I saw pink elephants a few times dance around the house. #2 Make sure you Always wear another mask when sanding or you WILL breathe in every bit of dust that flies around. And #3 Make sure you wear gloves and keep your hair up in a ponytail when using primer. IT DOES NOT WASH OFF!!!!!


These are very important lessons to have learned! I must say that there is something very invigorating about that first brush stroke. It's like having to mark on the first page of a new notebook... just because. We have worked late into the night to finally be finished with the priming and ready to start with the painting. I do hope it turns out nice. We get to go tomorrow to purchase the new handles and hinges. More than anything, I hope my mom really loves the changes we are making in the home. Every time I begin to paint I can hear my dad behind me saying, "Why in the world would you want to paint over Oak?" Well dad, hope you like the changes too. :)










All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. ~Anatole France

Gardening Day

A Prayer in Spring

Robert Frost (1915)


Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fullfil.

Sunny Days part two

Sunny Days

I have taken a little break from the house and from work and taken some long needed time to myself. Though I have enjoyed not having a time schedule to meet every minute, and my babies little voices around me, I am so very glad to be back in my life and the house I now call home. Now that warmer weather is here, we have begun the hated suburbs wars of who can keep their lawns trim and greener and nicer. We have a long way to go, but have many plans in store. Will be starting my gardening this week. I am planning on having a beautiful vegetable garden. I love to make homemade salsa, so I am excited to make new salsa recipes and having family and friends over to try my creations. Our local farmers market opened this weekend, so I will be doing some shopping next weekend for some plants as well as other homemade items.

My plans are to plant tomatoes, garlic, onions, lettuce, spinach, purple cabbage, bell and other peppers as well as all the needed herbs in my veggie garden. I also have great plans to plant some strawberries, blackberries and grapes. We will also begin.....or should I say my husband will begin the tedious process of power washing and re-staining and sealing our large deck and the kids playground equipment to match. I have hopes of creating these great spaces in each corner of the yard. One for the kids with lots of area to run and the other in a separate corner for a beautiful tree and a fire pit and maybe some log seating for, of course....s'mores nights. The Cherry Blossom tree and the phlox bloomed yesterday. Smells AMAZING!!! The kids enjoyed chalking and climbing the tree in the front. We have had beautiful weather this weekend. Each warm day makes me so excited to fire up the grill, invite people over, taking long walks after dinner and staying up late on the deck , drinking margaritas, with the just the moon to be our light. Oh how I love summer nights



With all my mind can see and all that I can dream up on a daily basis, one thing is for sure, the love that is in the home, the love that has been in this home and the love that will continue is stronger than ever before. As I have said before, each wall of this house has a story, but now I am finding out that with each change of this house, will come new stories. I am excited to see all the changes and hope to make this house even more beautiful from the inside out.