Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Down to Destin

At our children's home annual auction/fundraiser this year, my dad and Boss bid on a week's vacation at a condo in Destin, Florida and won! A few weeks ago, we made the long trip down south and had such a wonderful time together as a family. What a beautiful city! White sand, sparkling water, dolphins. It was everything that you would hope a beach get-a-way to be (except for the jelly fish, but we did not let them ruin our fun!). Here are a few snapshots from our trip. Is it just me, or are my children beautiful?!











Monday, October 17, 2011

Back to School, Back to School























Another school year is under way, and this year our family has a second grader and a brand new Kindergartner! This year we plan to follow much of the same schedule that we kept last year. Three days of lessons, one day for hands on learning (baking and creating, etc.), and one day of co-op classes (this is new for our girls!), which we are super duper excited about! We kept much of Emma's curriculum the same from last year (Abeka, A Reason for Writing, Pathway Readers), only we advanced to the next grade level. She is so smart and likes to work independently, so this curriculum really suits her. With Kate we are simply focusing on math concepts, handwriting, and learning how to read. She is so excited to be joining big sister at the table for studies each week! Kate always has a great attitude and is excited about learning new things! Co-op is each Wednesday, and it has been such an awesome experience for us so far. The girls love getting dressed up and pulling around their backpacks like "real" students. Ha! They are both in an "Art Around the World" class, and Emma is also in Musical Theater Jr. This year they will be doing School House Rock. I LOVE the music and am so happy that it plays 24/7 in my car and and in my brain! Okay, that is a lie. The music makes me want to beat my head against the wall, but then I look in the rear view mirror and see my girl singing her heart out and my heart feels full once again. I feel so blessed that my children get to be a part of such a wonderful organization! I feel so blessed that we have the freedom to educate our children at home in the first place. Period. I get chills when I think about it. I can't imagine life any other way. Here's to the start of another wonderful school year!

Friday, October 14, 2011

29

Almost three months ago, I had a birthday. My 29th birthday to be exact. Once you become a Mama, your birthday isn't quite the shebang that it used to be, but my family and friends are so sweet to always spoil me rotten. Boss always gives me the day off from diaper duty (a REAL treat!), and usually treats me to a date night sans children. My sweet children shower me with love, hugs, and kisses, my mom always makes my traditional birthday cake (mint chocolate chip ice cream layered between chocolate cake and iced with hot fudge), and my girlfriends are sweet to take me out for supper at Olive Garden. Yummo! With such blessings as these, getting older each year is not quite as difficult as I once thought that it might be, and the years (and birthdays) have seemed to pass by without me hardly noticing them at all. But this year was a bit different.

29. I am 29 years old. For the past three months I have been repeating that small little sentence over and over again to myself. On one hand, 29 still sounds quite young. So much life left to be lived! So many experiences yet to be had. Lord willing, my party is far from being over! But on the other hand, 29 is just one short year away from 30. 30! And that sounds old. I have found that this last birthday has caused me to do quite a bit of self reflection. Have I done and accomplished all that I thought that I would in my first thirty years? Do I like the person that I have become? What needs to change so that I can grow more into the person that God designed and desires for me to be? What are my goals for this next season of life that is approaching? How will I accomplish them? These are the thoughts that have been swirling through my brain, over and over again.

To some of those questions, I feel that I have found answers. For starters, I do believe I have accomplished much in the past 29 years. From the time I was small, my only desire was to be a wife and mother, so to spend my days caring for Boss and the children really is my dream come true. I can't imagine life any other way. I wouldn't want to imagine it any other way. Some people want careers, some want fame, others excitement. All I have ever wanted was family. I have no doubt that I am right where I was meant to be in my role as wife and mother.

Do I like the person that I have become? Sometimes. I do see many ways that I have grown, strengthened, changed, and matured over the years. But when it comes to personal character there is always room for growth. What needs to change in my life, what are my future goals, and how do I plan on achieving them? These last three questions have been on my heart the most.

I really feel like God is doing a work in my heart and in my life, and I am quite excited to see what He has up his sleeve for me with this next season approaching. I feel it deep in my heart that change is in the air. Not necessarily BIG changes, although there might be a few. But little changes. Changes in the way that I relate, talk to, and serve my husband. Changes in how I spend my time. Changes in the way I do "life" with my children. More time together, or rather more purposeful time spent together. More hugs, more laughter, more memories. More of Him, them, and less of me. Slowing down. Savoring the everyday moments. Realizing more each day that these small, everyday moments, are what make up my life. And I want my life to count.

So that is what has been on my heart and in my mind. Lots of thoughts. Lots of self reflection. Lots of pen to paper, writing down dreams and weeding out all the extras (things that might be good, but aren't necessarily best). It is my desire to love God, to serve and nurture my family, and to make a difference in this world one day at a time. 29 years might seem like a long time, yet in some ways it feels like I am just beginning. Just beginning to realize who I was meant to be.