Another Year

It's been awhile since I carved out posting time. We've wrapped up our first homeschooling year and are making plans for next year. We're doing school together with the Lynn family so taht we can work together, share info, and tag team the kiddos. It's been great so far. This year, we'll have 2 more of my kiddos in "school", plus Baby Girl, who thinks she's a big kid. That will be 9 total kids that we are teaching. Sounds fun? Yep, mostly :)

This week and next, we'll be preparing for our 2012-2013 adventure. We've settled on curriculum and such and we are currently working on our schedule. Pray as we prepare. Sometimes I feel like I'm in WAY over my head. Other times, I just feel blessed beyond belief. Here's the lineup for this year:

My Father's World - Exploring Countries and Cultures - Bible/History/Science/ Reading
Abeka - Writing and Reading
Math U See - ummm... Math, you see?
Spanish - Rosetta Stone
Prince Charming will be teaching music

Ready? Set. Go!!!

A Story of a Blessing

Can I tell you a story?  

Oh, good.  Thanks.

It's a story about a girl whose life is crazy.  She has an amazing husband and some great kiddos.  She loves them dearly.  And they love her.  Her life is filled with much laughter, many tears, cute smiles, warm hugs and abundant blessings.  Her children have been begging her for the last month to take them swimming, but she dutifully says, "We can't kiddos, it's too cold and the pool is closed until Nathaniel turns 6 (in May)" EVERY TIME they pass the YMCA's water park.  She drives out of her way sometimes, so that the little angels don't see the water park and cry and scream about what a mean Mommy they have. 

This same crazy mama picked up her prince charming for lunch one day this week.  They went to a restaurant with one of her favorite words written in 2-foot-tall letters on the glass:  CREPES.  She loves crepes, but there is no place that makes them like a little place in Cincinnati.  Occasionally she will tell her prince that she's thinking about driving to Cinci for the day, just to have lunch there.  He laughs, thinking she's kidding.  She's not.  But she doesn't go.  He's right.  That's a long way to drive for one silly lunch.

One day, as she was surfing some blogs and websites looking for a mom to learn from, she runs across a blog written by a beautiful Christian woman. It's full of pictures of her family as they play at an indoor water park at Great Wolf Lodge.  This crazy mama starts to think about how much fun it would be to take all her kiddos to this park.... but it's expensive.  And her family just started Financial Peace University.  They are getting a grip on their budget.  They actually paid October's bills with October's income... a first in a long time.  So, this crazy mama, dutifully closed the web page about Great Wolf Lodge, and didn't even mention it to her husband.  All the extra money this month is going to a project he is working on.  If she told him about this desire, he would, in handsome-prince-fashion, forgo his project to give her the desire of her heart.  He's sweet that way.  But it's her turn to bless him and allow him his special project, guilt-free.  

THE VERY NEXT DAY she receives an email from someone who is becoming dear to her heart. A friend who listens to her God and who shares his blessings.  Now she gets to go to Great Wolf Lodge with her kiddos... and eat crepes.... lots and lots of crepes :)

My cute family

I've been messing around with storyboards, and I thought this one was cute.  Isn't my family adorable.  God is so good to me :)

The Power of Yes

Prince Charming and I spent this past weekend at an Empowered To Connect Conference.  We've been drinking from the fire hydrant of wisdom of those who have gone before us.  We left the conference feeling some sorrow over past choices when dealing with our kiddos.  However we also left with a feeling of new-found hope.  We were given new weapons for our arsenal to fight Satan against any foothold he has in our babies minds.  So... things will be changing around our household.


I'm learning about the power of yes.

According to Dr Karyn Purvis and a vast amount of research, one thing our kiddos are in need of is "yes."  "Yes"s build trust.  Trust helps them to not be afraid.  Fear keeps them from sleeping at night.  Fear makes them think that they can't learn their ABCs and their 123s.  Fear makes them pee in their closets or dressers.  Fear makes them change clothes several times a day for numerous reasons.  Fear fills my bed with kiddos on stormy nights.  Fear causes little ones to feel attacked and retaliate when someone brushes against them. Fear makes them terrified to take a bath, even though they begged for it.  Fear makes them want to be picked up, put down, picked up, put down, picked up, put down.....

All that to say, my kids need more "yes"s from their Mommy and Daddy.  So.... we've been going out of our way to say yes at every opportunity.  We bought a big bucket of Double Bubble gum, which I like to refer to as, "380 yes's"  When the kiddos ask me a question, I ask myself if there is any reason that I need to say "no".  If I can say yes, I do.  At least, that's how it's working out so far.  Prince Charming has had to catch me a few times, but that's one of the perks of being a team :)

Always reminded of things I should be thankful for. So many blessings, so little time.

92 - constant learning
93 - time enjoying the outdoors with kiddos
94 - they're ours... really ours 
95 - sweet Granddaddy and Auntie to care for little ones while we're away
96 - free fruits and veggies from a new friend
97 - new phones
98 - surprise visits from friends

Join me and others, as we give thanks.

My Bucket List

While cleaning out some boxes in our bedroom, Jason came across a yellow paper from a legal pad.  Several years ago, I made a "bucket list" of things I'd like to do before I die.  We were excited to see that I have some to check off my list.  I've added a few things to the list, but for the most part, this is my list from way-back-when..


My Bucket List   

 ride in a hot air balloon
 visit all 50 states (43 down, 7 to go)
 marry my prince
 learn Arabic
 see the Sphynx
 go inside a pyramid
 name a baby
 adopt
 learn to be a barista
 buy a new car
 learn Spanish
 weigh 150
 buy a house
 fly a plane
 watch fireworks from a boat
 go to Mardi Gras
 visit every Six Flags park
 run a mini marathon
 experience weightlessness
 take dance classes with Jason
 earn a black belt
 vacation at Sandals
 memorize a book of the Bible
 own a "smart home"
 be debt free
 spend a night in a castle
 own a hybrid car
 go to the Olympics
 go to the World Cup
 go to NYC on New Year's Eve
 drive on the Autobahn

Our Blessed Day!!!

Finally, after years of waiting and waiting, our babies are ours.  Please enjoy our video and share in our joy.