sweet sisters, busy brothers

This was the first time she'd finished this whole puzzle. We're making progress with attention span.  I told her how proud I was of her, and she lifted her arms and said, "Victory!"  One of her pet words. :)

Here is Beth, celebrating Mary's "victory".

I no longer buy grated cheese because I found that it has an additive to keep the cheese from caking.  Good thing Peter likes kitchen work.  He's working on their cheese/bean burritos for lunch.

Peter is taking an English test on the steps of the writing process, and Paul is reading a Bible story.  Paul finished his AWANA book and they didn't give him another one yet.  He usually starts table time with AWANA verses.  

After table time the girls let loose in the playroom.  This used to be a nice looking jean couch.  Now I refer to it as our "gym" couch.  They love it!  Who says girls are less active than boys?  More sensitive?  Yes.  Sweeter?  Frequently.  But not less active--in our gene pool anyway.

Sharing a snack.

spring beauties

My sweet Beth started talking! We've heard five simple words so far, uttered during the last three days.  

Baby has Paul's sense of humor.  Praise the Lord for that.  The rest of us are funny-boned challenged.  Waaaay too serious.

Our tulips, inherited from previous owners.  

Oh, my little girls!  I want to sneak into their bedrooms and squeeze the stuffin' right out of 'em.  

We call this table time.  It's a feeble attempt at keeping all children busy at the same time, once a day.  Peter becomes the Table Time Teacher after he's finished at least one assignment.  It's a hoot to watch.  He loves teaching and facilitating.

I love to watch him go around and around the table, complementing their work and monitoring their activities.  Sometimes he gets a little annoyed when Beth continually drops her manipulatives or her Playdoh or her twistable crayons.  She smiles and watches Big Brother pick them up.

He likes to tape her drawing paper to the table, and she likes to peel off the tape for careful study, making it the main attraction instead of the picture she's supposed to be making.   He manages a professional reminder:  "Beth, we leave our tape on the table."

I love that boy!  He has challenges, but his heart is pure.  The anxiety is a huge issue, but I see him growing in the Lord through it.  He has to talk to God far more often than most kids his age.  He needs God.  Now.

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On Decluttering

Interesting activity, decluttering.  A lot goes on under the surface.  I got rid of several bags a few weeks ago but it still seemed like the house was overfilled and always untidy.  We still had too much stuff!  So I bagged up more toys and clothes last night and took them to Goodwill today.

The toys and clothes I chose this time were given away on faith.  The first batch were no brainers--they needed to be chucked.

Ultimately, if we have faith that God supplies our every need, we don't need to keep stuff around just in case we might need it.  The decluttering rule is that if we haven't used it in the last year, we're not going to use it.


If we need it God will resupply it!  What we need more than stuff is to dwell in peace in our surroundings.  Baggage and peace don't go hand in hand.


Peace to you friends!

What's an Xbox?

I lifted the yellow sentences below from an article on The Pioneer Woman's Homeschool blog.  One of the perks of being poor?  Our media is limited, compared to others.  We have two computers and two TV's and two basic cell phones (in place of land phone).  The second computer was recently acquired secondhand for my husband's computer class work.  Without cable, the TV's are of limited use (videos/DVDs).

Entertainment – Reading is a form of entertainment in our home. Our kids are limited in the amount of time they can allot to movies, the Xbox or Wii, computers and their DSi’s. We have television, but we don’t have cable, so the only shows we get are what we rent (Netflix) or download (AppleTV).

I don't even know what these are:  Xbox, Wii, Dsi's.  I know nothing about renting Netflix and I've never heard of Apple TV.  I have enough trouble limiting our collective computer use!  I don't need any extras, so I consider our ignorance a blessing.

Screens powerfully addict, like the worst kind of street drug.  We need to diligently preserve our dear relationships, while using screen time to our advantage.  Personally, I notice when I have enough outside fellowship, I could care less about being on the computer.  Makes me wonder if I'm more lonely than I realize?    Homemakers from decades past interacted more with neighborhood women, and moved away from extended family less often.

Life has changed so much, no?  Do you have a neighbor from whom you can borrow a cup of sugar?  I suppose we do, although she'd wonder what I was doing at her front door.
_________

"Mom!  The weird homeschooling lady from next door is here!  With the four kids."

"She is?  What does she want?"

"A cup of sugar."

"A cup of sugar!"
________

Still, people of all eras struggled with something.  Balance is the key lesson for every generation.

Anyhow, back to our limited electronics.  Being able to take the kids to a restaurant would be nice, but I'm glad for comparative simplicity.

I had to put the decluttering of toys and clothes on hold to prepare for my sister-in-law's visit.  Time to get back to the task.

This concludes my procrastination-related media use for this evening.

Sleep tight, friends!

a new habit

You know that new-believer love of all things Bible?  That giddiness?  Those countless hours you easily spent pouring over Scripture?

They pass away, don't they?

Yes, what was once like chocolate, becomes like broccoli without cheesesauce (at times).

Discipline becomes a requirement once the giddiness subsides--especially for exhausted parents of littles.

If you're like me and you're not so disciplined, well......then you can plan on faltering.

I did.

I don't know where you are in terms of years saved, but I want to share with you how I've gotten over this hump.

Through some sort of revelation, maybe divine, I've learned to embed the devotions into daily tasks--tasks that must occur every day, regardless of how I feel. Think eating, showering, laundry, bathing kids.  The specific one that works for me?  Eating time.

In contrast, when I tried to put devotions in the early morning or at night, temptations abounded.  I would roll over and go back to sleep, telling myself I would surely make time later.  Or I would fold that load of clothes and clean up that floor, telling myself the next day would be less stressful if those things got done while the kids slept.  Or I would blog and do bills and dishes, only to fall asleep when I finally got to my Bible.

Sound familiar?

Forget those ways!  If they haven't worked by now, they aren't going to.  For you.

Try something new.

At first you need some sort of reminder, such as routinely leaving your Bible on your dining room table chair, or in your bathroom (if you read while kiddos bathe), or on your clothes dryer (if you read a chapter each time you shuffle laundry).

About twenty-one days later (or so), you won't need the visual reminder anymore.  You've given birth to a habit.

As I'm setting the table, I do a mental check to ensure I've included everything--salt, pepper, napkins, milk, glasses, serving spoons, etc., so that I'm not acting out a cranky-waitress role.  All moms have played that role at mealtimes, I'm sure.

Someone does prayer, then the whole family starts eating, except for me.  After covering my food with foil, I commence reading Scripture, stopping to discuss concepts when necessary.  Husband usually leads the discussion, since he's had five years of intense Bible College.  Boy, does that come in handy!  Don't rely on me to come up with obscure historical facts and cultural notes.

Since the family is busy eating, the event is mostly free of interruptions.  Unless of course you have an incessantly-talking ADHD child, in which case you can be assured of questions and comments.
_________

"Why are you skipping those adultery chapters in Proverbs?"  (He overhead me discussing it briefly with husband.)

"Well, um.  We've decided to read them to you before you get married."

Several days later, while we're still in Proverbs:

"What if we get married and you forget to read the adulteress chapters to us?  What will happen to us?"  (Remember, he has an anxiety disorder too.)

"Well, Peter.  I'm sure you'll remind me.  No worries.  Can I continue?"
__________

I can't say I'm as giddy as a new believer after developing this habit.  But my time in Scripture is now anything but a chore.  I thoroughly enjoy it!

The same thing works for prayer.  I pray while nursing my baby, and while I shower, and when I'm driving alone (which is usually just to the grocery store and back).  Remember that ADHD child?  He ensures there's no prayer time when he's in the car.  When the family is along, driving means answering questions.  I sound sarcastic, but really, I know I'm blessed to have a carload of littles along with me!

Happy reading.  And praying!  Enjoy that chocolate, or at least that cheesesauce!

sorry note

Can you decipher this sorry note?

I am sorry for my spoold bhafyor.