What We're Doing Today...

I can assure you that this won't be a very exciting post. ...That sounded a bit 'Eyeore', didn't it?! I keep thinking of things I'd like to share here, things I'm reading, how God is working, funny things that happen from day to day, but I just simply am having a hard time finding the time to get on the computer and blog. I'm not ready to give it up, though; I've been blogging here for about six years! It's a kind of journal of our lives, and though neglected at times, I think I'll keep 'er running. 

Keely is nearing her fourteenth birthday. I never thought, fourteen years ago, that my baby would turn into this lovely young woman...that was an eternity away! Keely is a writer and reader, and spends much of her time doing that. School is pretty light for her this summer; just Algebra and reviewing a little of her Challenge A work every day. I am hoping she will invest some time in cooking, sewing, outside time, etc. Saturday I took her and one of her friends to a wooded area so they could practice their photography skills. Fun to see what they did! 

Noah is looking forward to his twelfth birthday tomorrow. We'll delare a national (or at least household) holiday and take the day off of school. Noah is maturing so much and really growing right before my eyes. He's still that wonderful mix of little boy/young man, though; he loves his Legos and loves to be silly, but on the other hand has taken over the mowing and weed-eating for Kevin. He's a fun kid, and I am so thankful for him! 

 Lily is every the little Mama. She's often at my heels asking what she can do to help. She is funny and hyper and is a joy. She's currently painting an old birdhouse she found in the back yard. The girl LOVES animals, too. 

Rowan is getting ready to celebrate her eighth birthday this month, too. She is excited because this means that she will begin to get allowance (we give them 50 cents per year of their age, per week, til they turn thriteen, when there are often more opportunities to earn money on their own). She is becoming a great and hungry reader, and school seems to come easily to her. She is learning to laugh at herself and grow into the loving 'big sister' role. Rowan is a sweetie, and I see the Lord working in her life, softening her heart. Right now she's in her room reading Betsy and Tacey go Up the Hill. 

 Joe is such a boy. Kevin and I say that to each other a lot. He is constantly in motion, constantly dirty or sweaty, and often in lala land when I tell him something. He has an adorable smile, though, and you know he isn't malicious in his disobedience....he's just such a boy. :) He makes me laugh...when he's not making my temperature rise. :) 

 Annesley is independent, affectionate, and funny. She and Joseph are into 'playing house' together in the basement, where they've erected 'houses'. Annes also loves loves to eat. She's also learning to 'pull her weight' and help out...some. It's so easy to ask the older kids to do stuff and not Annes, but I know I am probably cultivating laziness in her! Need to work with her more on that... 

Sam. Ah, Sam. What can I say? Into something every minute of the day it seems, and often it ain't good. Kevin and I are kept on our toes by this little guy, and realizing that we have got to be more consistent, though that's a huge job as he disobeys so much! He is so much fun, though, and though this is a challenging season, it's also delightful in many ways, too. (Watching him conquer his fear of the trampoline and jump around with his little legs....seeing him 'pretend' play in his cozy coupe in the backyard...funny boy!)

Elijah is growing, and smiling and charming us all. Love love that little baby. Savoring every minute with him, or trying to at least! 

Kevin has been struggling with health issues these past few months. The Lord is growing us both, though, and teaching us to depend on Him. Please pray for Kevin's healing if you think of him, and pray that I will be a supportive (not overwhelmed and resentful) wife to him. 

I just finished reading Sarah's Key, and it was good. Lots of crying involved. I have several books on my nightstand that I picked up at our local homeschool conference a few weeks ago. Loving the Little Years is one I have finished but plan on re-reading and discussing with Kevin. Seems like the longer I'm a Mom, the more I realize how much I don't know and don't do right! I'm not despairing, though, but am going to keep working and keep trusting in the Lord. He's the One my children need to ultimately look to for example, for perfection, for salvation. I also bought Give Them Grace, which I can already tell is going to be extremely convicting. Also hope to read that with Kevin. In all our free time, of course. :)  Blessings to you today!  I must go run an errand so I can make a certain birthday boy's cake...

I'm In Love With this Little One

It Feels This Fast

Our New Place

Here are some pics of our new place. I thought about making it as magazine-perfect as I could, but then I thought, no. It will be like you just dropped in for a quick visit and you can see our home in action. Plus, I was feeling too lazy to do the extra work. :) 

This is what you see when you first come in the front door. To the left is the dining room. 

We were doing school in here, but it was just too much hassle to try to get it all cleared off every night for dinner. So now we'll eat all meals in here, and use the small breakfast room table for school. All I can say is good thing we have a carpet cleaner--which you met already when you walked in the front door. 

Looking back from the dining room into the little entry area. Isn't that a pretty antique piece? It is the homeowner's, and he's letting us use it.

Looking back from the other side of the living room into the entry area.

Now we're upstairs looking across the 'bridge', as my kids have named it. The boys' room is behind that door. I'd show you but there is a sleeping two-year-old in there, and we mustn't wake him yet. :) If you notice something funny and reflective on the spindles, it's not my camera. For safety we found some neat rolls of plexi-stuff to attach and keep heads and appendages from wedging between them or diving onto the first floor. This house was built in '78. I guess kids were just tougher then. 

This little half-finished room is the older kids' study room. They were so excited about this space the first time we saw the house. I think Keely would want me to issue a disclaimer that this room is undergoing a redecoration/reorganization project. It always looks worse before it looks better, right?

Looking down from the loft area onto the living room.

Breakfast-school room, and kitchen. Like the wallpaper? We hope to remove it at some point.  Not looking forward to that process, but I know it will look so much better.

The blue canopy-thingy is going, we just haven't gotten to it, yet.

I really love the house, but this oven is not my friend. It's only two years younger than me, but we just don't get along. Most of my cookie sheets don't fit in it, and I can't get the 'clean' function to work.

Laundry room. Like my little baskets? I found the narrow baskets at WM, and the sticky chalk labels at Staples. I love those little labels! When I got home with them I walked around the house looking for things I could stick them on. I know. I'm kinda weird.

Our bedroom. Yes, that looks like a poopy diaper on the floor. We try to keep those properly picked up and disposed of, but at the rate that Eli produces them, it can be a challenge. I think I'll go pick it up now.

What's this? How did this get in here? Isn't he a cutie? Well, that's mostly the tour. I can't get the kids' rooms because they're all occupied with nappers. Also, I'll try to get a pic of the basement sometime soon. It's finished and the kids love to play down there and crank up the homeowner's huge Casio keyboard. It does have some fun songs and effects that the whole house enjoys via the ductwork. :) Blessings to you and have a fantastic weekend!

Plans and Reflections

Wow. I feel so out of the loop with homeschooling right now. Before we moved two-and-a-half weeks ago, we took a few days off to hit the packing hard. Then, the week after we moved, we took a not-so-relaxing spring break settling in. Last week we did lots of running to and from standardized testing, yesterday we had CC commitments, and today we had a fun day with friends. It's been a working vacation from normal school, for sure! I am really looking forward to being home tomorrow with a focus on school--not unpacking, cleaning, or planning for anything else. I can only take so much erranding around before I start to feel worn thin. I love to be home, and need to be home to make it 'run'. Do you find that, too?

The Lord has been convicting me lately about a specific sin in my life. I was discussing this today with my lovely friend Tara. She expressed how hard it is, but how good it is, when the Lord shows us some ugliness in our hearts. So true. I am seeing, by God's grace, how I tend to rush my children, not really take the time to listen to them; how my schedule, productivity, order, and peace are often idols in my heart. Ah--it makes me tear up to think of the times lately that I have put off a child needing my undivided attention because I was too busy with 'more important' things. Lord, thank you for revealing this area of sin in my life. Please help me to die to my own desires, to tear down those idols that hurt my loved ones and displease You.

Will you pray for me? How can I pray for you?

Settled, Mostly

It's been two weeks today since we moved into our new place, and we are feeling pretty settled. There are still a few boxes hanging around, a lot of construction junk in the yard from the owner's last building project, and the basement is not fit for company to see, but we're getting there! We are LOVING being so close to our church. The kids and I have walked a few times, actually. There are mature trees in the backyard and lots of bird sounds, and the size and layout of the house is really great for our family. I am so amazed and thankful to the Lord because He worked out such a great situation for us; eight or nine weeks ago we had no idea where we would be moving, yet He has provided such a nice home, a reasonable rent, and the owner is a Christian brother who is also benefiting! Why am I surprised? :) God is a loving Father who delights to give good gifts to us and provide for us.

I hope to post some pictures of our new place soon. Life has been too busy lately to do much blogging, but I miss it! Better go get breakfast for my hungry kids. Have a great weekend!

E: Two Months