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!!!

Another day, another fit.

How often I have to remind myself that he is different. He'll always be different. The other kiddos are... well, kids. Not Muscles. He's... different. He's an incredible little boy, and generally he's very responsible. But holy cow, when he doesn't get his way, it's unlike anything you've ever seen before. It's all the fury of a hurricane trapped in an 8 year old little boy. And he tries different tactics. First is all out anger. He throws things, calls me names, rants about how we are unfair to him. When he starts to see that it's not working (which it never does, so I'm not sure why he still tries), he moves into baby mode. He wails at the top of his lungs about being scared, wanting Mommy, etc. It's so tiring. I'm sure sometimes he is genuinely scared. I just don't always know when those times are, and I don't want him thinking that his behavior is going to get him what he wants.

Ok, thanks. I just needed to get that out of my system....

30 Day Photo Project

Day 5: Photo of an Old Memory

Just over 2 years ago, Prince Charming and I were waiting patiently to have a foster baby placed in our home. We were so excited. All we requested for Christmas that year was gifts for the little one we were anticipating. Our spare room was wonderful. Crib, changing table, glider, even a twin bed for me to crash on if necessary.

Then... THIS happened

Not a baby, TWO TODDLERS!!!!! This was the day our life flipped upside down. And certainly one of my absolute favorite memories. Especially when Cuddlebug couldn't stand to be separated from Protector and would sneak int his bed at night.

Ah, how's that for a memory :)

Peaceful eyes.

Today was the first day back to school after Christmas break. Our kiddo's social worker came over today also. I was worried that Muscles would have a rough day and come home ready for a fight. His worker was at our house when he got home and he was incredibly pleasant. I could see the peace in his eyes. I was so excited. We had some disappointing thing happen this evening, but he didn't throw a fit. He cried a bit, but moved on very quickly. He is learning to control his emotions. It's a long, uphill battle, but I think he can do it :)

52. Medicine that helps.

53. Sugar free snacks

54. Online freebies

55. Forgiveness

56. Honesty from those I love

57. Cribs that can't be climbed out of

58. cell phone games

59. YMCA

A new year...

2 Cor 5:17 - The old has passed away, behold all things become new.

I love New Year's Eve. It feels so much like a chance to wipe the slate clean. And boy, does my slate need cleaning sometimes.

If I've learned anything this year, it is that I'm not NEARLY as wonderful as I think I am. I have so many more issues that I ever knew about. Anger. Control. Power. Pride. The list could go on for ages, but for the sake of my sanity when I go back and read this later, I will stop now.

I often take my children places and complete strangers tell me how wonderfully they are behaving.

You must be doing something right.

How in the world are you so blessed to have such wonderful angels?

You must be a great mom...

So on and so forth... I appreciate it. I really do. But then I go home and cry.... if I even make it home.

Not too long ago, this happened at Cracker Barrel. Prince Charming and I took all 5 of our little crazies out for breakfast. About half way through our meal, an older gentleman and his bride walked by us and he whispered a sweet remark about how pleasant it was to see so many kids behaving so well in public. I thanked him very much and assured him it was only by the grace of God.

Toward the end of our meal, a lady from a nearby table headed our direction. She also commented about how wonderful they had been. I thanked her politely and continued to get my kids ready to head back out to the car. Charming took several and left two with me. I sat quietly for a few moments, waiting for the last two to finish their last minute bites and put on their coats. As I sat, I was overcome with the need to tell this woman that she was crazy. My kids are not well behaved, they are faking it! But I knew it wasn't true. They are well behaved. I have amazing kids.

Ma'am, thank you for your kind words about my children. I really needed to hear that today. I've been yelling at them for one thing after another all morning.

So far that morning, Cuddlebug had broken 3 dishes, Muscles had been in trouble several times, Protector and Princess were being good... generally, and Baby Girl was, well, a baby. I was so frustrated with them that we almost didn't go out to eat. I'm glad we did though. It was a reminder that we all have our problems, but to most people, we look pretty nice. Perhaps we're not quite as dysfunctional as I think we are.

What did she ever do to him???

So, we passed a church this morning with a tall steeple and a little cross on top. Protector started jumping in excitement in the back seat, "Mommy! Look, it's a little cross for Princess to die on!" Wow... What did she ever do to him? So we had to go into great detail, yet again, about how she doesn't have to die on the cross. Jesus already did that for us. My kids are hilarious. I love them so dearly. Each day is a blessing :)