tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55296374411451152912024-02-20T20:09:15.222-08:00Country Mom City MomCountry Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-77419255041647456182014-01-08T20:29:00.000-08:002014-01-16T07:45:36.464-08:00My Very Favorite Baby GearMy “new” mommy years have spanned a decade now. My oldest is 10, my youngest is 6 weeks old and I have a few kiddos inbetween. <br />
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I thought it would be fun to share my favorite baby gear for those of you like me who get a thrill out of this kind of thing. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Keekaroo-Peanut-Diaper-Changer-Solid/dp/B009A7VTYA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389239555&sr=8-1&keywords=changing+pad+keekaroo">http://www.amazon.com/Keekaroo-Peanut-Diaper-Changer-Solid/dp/B009A7VTYA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389239555&sr=8-1&keywords=changing+pad+keekaroo</a><br />
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I have the Keekaroo Peanut Changer diaper changing in the “Chocolate” color. Which I’m thinking will come in handy when we start table foods. Or, hmmm, maybe not. Ewww if it gets missed during a clean up. Anyway, I picked the color because the rest were TOO bright and it looks cute in my baby’s pink room. <br />
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This changing pad is fabulous! I can move it from room to room, which I actually did this morning when I got up to use the bathroom and heard a loud something coming from my daughter’s bassinet in my bedroom. It is soft, easy to clean, and somewhat attractive. The best part is if you get a little messy...go ahead and clean it up with wipes and it’s done! No stripping of the changing pad cover, throwing it in the wash and leaving the pad coverless for a week or two (before you remember to put it back on and get the changing pad all grossy gross in the mean time).<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moby-Wrap-Original-Cotton-Carrier/dp/B004VB0GRG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389239839&sr=8-1&keywords=moby+wrap">http://www.amazon.com/Moby-Wrap-Original-Cotton-Carrier/dp/B004VB0GRG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389239839&sr=8-1&keywords=moby+wrap</a><br />
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I got a Moby Wrap when my third child was four days old. I’m not quite sure how I was able to parent my first two without this lovely wrap! (I had a carrier, but it was nothing by comparison). My children live in this for the first several months of their lives. It is WONDERFUL...just ask my little one who is snoring in it right now!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blooming-Bath-Baby-Turquoise/dp/B007S1T42O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389239978&sr=8-1&keywords=blooming+bath">http://www.amazon.com/Blooming-Bath-Baby-Turquoise/dp/B007S1T42O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389239978&sr=8-1&keywords=blooming+bath</a><br />
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The Blooming Baby Bath is a new one after this baby. She did not enjoy our first go at it. But every bath she’s had since has been such a pleasure that I think my 5th child will get bathed more than the rest of them combined. It is so soft and SO CUTE (the yellow one is at least) and it’s GREAT for pictures. She smiles and enjoys her baths so much and it’s easy on the back. I bathed all the others in a baby bath on the floor of the bathroom. So uncomfortable and stressful for everyone. I just keep all her bathing supplies in the kitchen and do this in the midst of the hustle and bustle of our day. Lovely!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Trend-Universal-Infant-Carrier/dp/B00838BNK2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1389240224&sr=8-4&keywords=baby+trend+stroller">http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Trend-Universal-Infant-Carrier/dp/B00838BNK2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1389240224&sr=8-4&keywords=baby+trend+stroller</a><br />
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I purchased this Baby Trend Snap n Go stroller on craigslist and I can’t tell you what it means to me. It is so light and so easy to maneuver and getting the car seat in and out is a cinch. I love babywearing...but in a cold climate it isn’t always so convenient to get your newborn in a carrier to go in a store. And sometimes you need somewhere to put the baby. And carrying those car seats around is HORRIBLE on my back and neck. So, I officially love this product. ***I use a Chicco Keyfit 30 infant seat which is a new venture out of Graco world for me with this baby as well. I really like the ease of the seat...installing it in the car and getting baby in and out of the straps. It’s a winner.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Brest-Friend-Original-Fireworks/dp/B003TSDMH8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389240487&sr=8-2&keywords=my+brest+friend">http://www.amazon.com/My-Brest-Friend-Original-Fireworks/dp/B003TSDMH8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389240487&sr=8-2&keywords=my+brest+friend</a><br />
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The My Brest Friend pillow is the bomb. I started out using the “boppy” pillow with my first four. I always used it approximately twice and then handed it off to whomever happened to be the toddler to use to hold the new baby. They sag down and the baby and everything else sags with it. My back and neck were always killing me with the constant nursing the first four times around. I have no complaints this time around. Baby stays positioned where I want her to stay and it’s the pillow is comfortable. I can walk around with her on it and in the early, early days, I would walk around with her asleep in my arms and use it to help me hold her so I wouldn’t get too tired. This is an essential.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Arms-Reach-Concepts-Co-Sleeper-Bassinet/dp/B00BFBUYAO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389240693&sr=8-2&keywords=arms+reach+co+sleeper">http://www.amazon.com/Arms-Reach-Concepts-Co-Sleeper-Bassinet/dp/B00BFBUYAO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389240693&sr=8-2&keywords=arms+reach+co+sleeper</a><br />
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We got this Arm’s Reach co-sleeper bassinet on loan from a friend. At 6 weeks my baby is just now letting me put her in it for one of her night stretches of sleep. Even before she would sleep in it, it was nice to have by the side of the bed, to know she was safe and wouldn’t fall off the edge. It is wonderful to be able to scoop her in and out of the bassinet without having to get up out of bed. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-First-Years-GumDrop-Pacifier/dp/B004IOHN8Q/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1389240828&sr=8-4&keywords=gumdrop+pacifier">http://www.amazon.com/The-First-Years-GumDrop-Pacifier/dp/B004IOHN8Q/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1389240828&sr=8-4&keywords=gumdrop+pacifier</a><br />
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I started using Gumdrop paci’s with baby #4. I love how they are one piece like the hospital brand...so no fear of the sucking part separating from the other part. It is perfectly shaped for a breast fed baby as well. AND the casing of it kind of cups around their little faces. Plus, they are kind of cute for a paci, and the little attachments for them are adorable (we have the ice cream one and the candy bracelet one). My kid’s choir teacher gave us this super cute little clear bin that has some colorful painting on it with our baby’s name personalized on the side. We store her paci’s in there and it is the cutest thing. Too bad she doesn’t really care for them and it looks like she is trying to get her thumb in her mouth. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Inglesina-2013-Table-Chair-Ibisco/dp/B006JV4HFS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389241061&sr=8-2&keywords=high+chairs+that+attach+to+table">http://www.amazon.com/Inglesina-2013-Table-Chair-Ibisco/dp/B006JV4HFS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389241061&sr=8-2&keywords=high+chairs+that+attach+to+table</a><br />
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I have the Iglesina Fast Table Chair waiting up in my daughter’s closet. We got it in red. The purple one is definitely cute but didn’t think I’d like it in my living space. Not that bright red is what I’m going for, but it may be a bit better. I look forward to using this. It seems comfy and easily on and off. We eat outside a lot and moving a high chair in and out was annoying with the other kids. This looks like it would wash up easier and I love the fact that you can fold it up into it’s own bag when we’re on the go...which with 5 kids we will be more so than with any of the others.<br />
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OK, that is all for now. Just thought I’d share what I’ve been loving.<br />
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****Edited to add on...<br />
I can't believe I forgot about THIS product. It is an absolute MUST HAVE and is truly miraculous. With my first baby I used traditional swaddling method with a big blanket. With baby #2 I got the Target kinds with velcro. Nice but the velcro was noisey and when he pulled out of it it would wake him up. I got this blanket with kiddo #3 and have used it now with 3 babies. It is A.MAZING. When they are little they CAN NOT escape their swaddle and it keeps them asleep longer. I have really sleepy babies and this might partially be why. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Miracle Blanket.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cirque-D-Fleur-Miracle-Blanket/dp/B004GLHK16/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1389886806&sr=8-3&keywords=miracle+blanket" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Cirque-D-Fleur-Miracle-Blanket/dp/B004GLHK16/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1389886806&sr=8-3&keywords=miracle+blanket </a><br />
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<br />Also, I just ordered these little booties from Amazon last week. The girl brand are really hideous looking next to my daughter's adorable outfits, but they STAY ON HER FEET! They don't come off during feedings or in the car or playing on the ground. This is true of robeez too, and I like Robeez when they are older. But having something soft for a newborn is nice. Plus they grow so fast and shoes don't last long at this age and these are CHEAP! Love them!!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scooties-Fleece-Booties-Luvable-Friends/dp/B00H7IA14S/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1389887105&sr=8-7&keywords=baby+booties">http://www.amazon.com/Scooties-Fleece-Booties-Luvable-Friends/dp/B00H7IA14S/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1389887105&sr=8-7&keywords=baby+booties</a><br />
<br />Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-90337875211663390552013-11-15T13:02:00.000-08:002013-11-16T07:10:05.348-08:00When God Says "No" ~City MomI’m currently pregnant with my 5th full term baby. When I saw the heart beat at the doctor’s office and knew this pregnancy would be viable, I began to pray, along with my husband & children, some specific prayers.<br />
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That I would not get polyhydramnios (translation: “many waters” or too much amniotic fluid, that happened with my last 3 pregnancies and I desperately wanted to avoid the misery and worry that accompany this condition). <br />
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That I would not get gestational diabetes. I have always had this fear of diabetes. So much so that I was CONVINCED I had it in every pregnancy and I get tested for it from my family doc as often as my insurance will allow. <br />
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That I would have energy and feel good during this pregnancy, as I’m usually miserable for the duration.<br />
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I’ve felt pretty decent this whole pregnancy, but to make a long story, slightly shorter, let’s just say: I have gestational diabetes AND polyhydramnios. OK then. We decided, we’ll adjust our prayers. That my GD would go easy on me and that my poly would stay under control. My poly has grown and I’ve needed medication to help with the GD. As the prayers adjusted, they were added to as well. Our baby is flip flopping around in an unstable position and it is best to get head down by 36 to 37 weeks or else they want to try an “external cephalic version.” We began praying for and doing anything we could “naturally” to work on her position asking God we could avoid the version. By 37 weeks baby was still in a wonky position. So, we prayed, “alright God, if we have to do the version, please let it work. Please help her get her head down and help us to avoid surgery.” We’ve been praying for a head down baby and the avoidance of a cesarean section for weeks now. I went in for the version yesterday and it was unsuccessful. My doctor recommended thinking about planning a birth date via c-section, and also offered another shot at the version, with very little hopes that it would work next time. <br />
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About a week ago, I began to whine inside. It’s not fair! I’ve been asking and asking and asking! My kids have been asking God. What is this going to tell them about You? Don’t You hear us? Why do You keep saying no? Don’t You care? Why should we keep asking? I’m almost afraid to ask, because I think you will do the opposite of what I’m hoping! I admit it...I fell into defeat. I didn’t want to, but we had been so faithful! We even fasted for a short time from media and some of us from food to show God we meant business! We went into this thing with COMPLETE trust that not only COULD God do these simple little things we were asking, but He WOULD do them. And it feels as if all we hear is “no, no, no, no, no, no, no.” <br />
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As I began pouring out these rebellious thoughts of mine, knowing that God knew the interior of my heart anyway, I may as well be honest. He then began laying different things on my heart. First of all, I kept hearing (not audibly, in my heart) “Call on me. I will help you. I’m listening.” Then He laid the Steven Curtis Chapman song on my heart “Still Listening.” I began journaling the words and tearfully listened to the song, but I wouldn’t budge to say just “help.” Then He filled my mind with the following thoughts:<br />
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When your cousin was begging me for health and life on behalf of her child, was I there? <br />
When baby’s die useless deaths in poor countries every day, am I there?<br />
When your friends have lost babies they've carried for 20-40+ weeks, was I there? <br />
When you’ve lost friends in car accidents or disease over the years, have I been with you?<br />
In natural disasters, in moral failures, in cancer, in useless killings, am I there?<br />
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And then...even more chilling:<br />
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When you almost lost your own life in Latvia, and thousands prayed on your behalf, I said “yes” and though you suffered, you lived. <br />
When you made mistakes in relationships and you wanted to get married but felt you weren’t worthy of a godly husband, you asked, I said “yes” and gave you a husband that loves you far beyond what you could have asked me to provide.<br />
You were told when first married you’d likely never bear children. You asked me for a child, and you’ve been pregnant 7 times. I said “yes” and your home is now filled with joy filled laughter and noise and little people I’ve entrusted to you for this time.<br />
You have been fearful about each of your previous births ending in c-section and every time you’ve had the vaginal birth you wanted, which has allowed you to have more babies. I said, “yes.”<br />
You wanted (not needed) a bigger home for your family in a quieter neighborhood. You asked, I said “yes” and even gave you extra land on top of it. You asked me for a chance to take your kids to Disney World and the finances to provide it, I said “yes” TWICE...and the 2nd time you didn’t even ask. <br />
When two of your children had atypical cells on their head and you asked for their safety and removal, I said “yes.” <br />
And on and on and on it went. All the yes’s...from safe surgeries, to bringing my family safely home from camping trips...He has said “yes” far more than “no” in my life.<br />
You do NOT understand my ways. But in the times I’ve said “no” to you and to others, my grace has been sufficient and my purpose larger than your own. When I’ve said “yes” I’ve given you gifts you did not deserve, but I showed you my kindness and generosity, blessing you, not because of YOU but because of me. <br />
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The days that followed have led to a jumble of prayers...adjusted prayers. Still begging God for things to go my way, because He keeps showing me in His word that He wants me to make my requests known to Him. But today, He opened my eyes to the gifts He’s been giving me in the “no’s.”<br />
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The Gift of Gestational Diabetes: God is teaching me self-control, turning my heart from simple things like worldly pleasures, and increasing my capacity to love someone else more than I love myself (as He is helping me manage this for our baby’s sake and future). <br />
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The Gift of Polyhydramnios: As people make rude comments about my size or badger me telling me I should have had the baby two months ago, I’m reminded that the tongue holds life & death. How do I want to use mine? To bless others or curse? I get to see my baby twice a week on ultrasound and see how perfectly she is getting along. My faith is increasing as I’m forced to trust God with an outcome that is out of my control.<br />
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The Gift of a Baby with an Unstable Lie: I’m gaining compassion for those who plead and ask for healing or progress and feel like You are silent or saying “no” yet, realizing you are still our Father & Friend.<br />
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The Gift of the ECV Not Working: Again, I’m forced to grow in thinking of others going through far worse circumstances who do not get their ideal way.<br />
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The Gift of Having to Consider a C-Section: I’m growing in empathy for women who have never had the birth plan they desire. I’m learning to give up control.<br />
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So much of what we are facing right now is frustrating. But as my kids watch me, I hope they are seeing that their mom can be intimately honest with the Lord and that He is bringing me to a place of humility, learning I can not demand of Him my agenda. <br />
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Now, once again, my prayers are shifting. Sure, I’m still sharing my desires with Jesus. But for the first time, today, I was able to simply ask for His wisdom in any choices I have to make and for His ultimate will to be done. Right after submitting to this, I was worried that an impure motivate seeped in: If I submit, maybe this will manipulate the Lord and THEN He’ll do what I want. Ugh. But He helped me confess and showed me in His word He understood and then led me to this prayer after reading Philippians 2 this morning:<br />
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“Heavenly Father, I confess my hidden motives of selfish ambition and vain conceit. I admit that my heart still seeks its own. Forgive me, Lord! Replace my selfishness with the selflessness of Christ, Who laid down His life for me. Replace my ambitions with the attitude of Christ, Who purposefully took on the very nature of a servant. Teach me to love and to live as Jesus did. As Christ was made in human likeness, so also may I be transformed into the likeness of Christ. <br />
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I exalt the glorious name of Jesus Christ the Lord. He alone has defeated the enemy. He alone has paid the full price for my sins. Now He has been exalted to the highest place, and His is the name that is above every name. One day every knee will bow before Him in worship and every tongue will confess that He is Lord, to Your glory, Father. Even now I bow at Your feet, confess His name and plead with You to transform me into His image.” <br />
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Amen, Amen, Amen.Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-39389067407525079982013-09-12T10:37:00.002-07:002013-09-12T10:43:12.642-07:00Quiet Time~WITH the Kids~City MomThis blog has been silent for an entire year. I'm good with that. I've had a lot of "real life" ministry and part of it has been encouraging families, part of it has been music, and most of it has been just plodding along with my own gang.<br />
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I am still blogging, but it is a private blog I've set up for my children. Memories, funny things they say, and things we're learning as we are walking more and more by faith and grace.<br />
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I thought this was shareable with others though...and maybe, just MAYBE someone else might be blessed by the idea.<br />
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Life with Homeschool has been HARD lately. We are all learning how to function as a FAMILY instead of selfish individuals (and I'm the leader of that pack). We are learning to speak the truth in love (instead of anger). We are grappling with new facts, harder lessons, and MORE PEOPLE that need "schoolish" attention. All that plus the 3rd trimester of a pregnancy and let's just say, some days have been wearying. I've felt desperate at times, at a loss, and not knowing how to pull it all together~especially tending to all of our heart conditions. Of course, God in His kindness, has shown me again, to lean not on my own understanding. Why do I need that lesson over and over? I've always been OK with "mommy seasons" where maybe the most Bible reading I'll get is glancing over my kids handwriting sheets and my prayers are on the fly or during our "family times." That hasn't been cutting it lately. But how do you do it all? Get enough sleep: ha! Exercise. Eat healthy. Meal plan. Organize. School kids. Taxi kids. Get everyone to appointments. Keep a clean house. Keep husband priority. Shower. Brush teeth. Get in the Bible and pray regularly?<br />
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Well, this may be just for a season...but, I'll take it. Even if Baby Cinco changes it all up in a couple months!<br />
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I have a quiet time with the kids! After breakfast, I give everyone 15 minutes to tidy rooms and beds, get dressed, brush teeth, etc. Meanwhile, I clean up the kitchen and set the tea kettle to boil. I then call them down and they each get their mug with their choice of decaf. coffee/hot chocolate/tea and one little "tea time" kind of cookie treat.<br />
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Then I set the timer for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on our plan for the day. I bring their tray of mugs (COVERED mugs...essential here...believe me. I made a trip to the dollar store after learning this the hard way) and a bin of "Bible" books I collected from the book shelves in our home. When the timer starts, we are not allowed to talk/answer the phone or text/argue/touch each other, etc.<br />
The kids have access to journals, pens, prayer cards, and Bible books and devotions.<br />
Mom gets to read her Bible, journal, and pray. My little ones just look through the books and the older two do their devotions and read. It is so simple and so wonderful. Of course an easy consequence is to take away the treat or drink if we find ourselves not complying to the "quiet time" rules we agreed upon. Easy. We just daily talk about expectations we can agree on for this time. I have found a lift in my spirit...at least for the first hour or two of the morning. Nice! We do our "study" of the Bible together after lunch...where I am teaching them how to select a passage of scripture and really STUDY what it is saying to us. That's fine. But it doesn't replace the quiet sitting, and listening, and pouring out of hearts that happens in a devotional time. That kind of space needs to be created. And when you're in the busy stage of life I am in, sometimes you have to be extra creative in how to get that space. <br />
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If you happen to stumble across this post, please share below some of the creative ways you've come up with to take that much needed quiet time. Especially if you have kids around you 24/7!<br />
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<br />Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-50781084354474916812012-09-24T21:06:00.000-07:002012-09-24T21:06:00.831-07:00The misconception of a perfect life.....Country Mom<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Do you ever feel like everyone else has it all together and you never will? As a homeschool mom, my kids are home more than they are gone....messing things up, tracking things in, leaving dirty dishes in places that aren't the sink. Sometimes I think I just can't keep performing the fruitless task of recleaning what I've just....there is little recognition, no permanence in anything I do around my house, no reward. And I think about the fact that everyone probably thinks that I have it together. Let's face it...we don't let others see us at our worst, we don't want to expose the ugly parts of our lives, the messy parts, the hurting broken parts. Whether it's a messy house, a barn that needs to be mucked, a struggle with anxiety, problems with finances that seem to permeate every area of life, or stresses in marriage..... we don't want people to see that stuff...we don't want to let people in to the uncomfortable mess of our lives.....we just want others to see the good stuff. The problem is, it's that messy stuff that God uses to grow us into who he knows we can become...and it's the uncomfortable stuff that others need to see. A few months back I read a book called "Permission to Speak Freely"....a book about being honest, specifically within the relationships of our churches. The idea that stood out to me the most is this....paraphrased....<br /><br />"Someone may be waiting on us to speak our struggles...waiting for permission to share their own trials, and pain, and sin. If we neglect to share ours, we rob them of the opportunity...and we rob the next person that would respond to them, and the next person and the next person. We have to be willing to be speak freely about the messes in our lives and to create an environment where others can do the same." <br /><br />What a freeing thing it would be to be able to share our struggles and then give others permission to do the same. How much healing would there be if we could all do that with just a few people. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I have some perfectionistic tendencies, and I want things to be a certain way in my life, but honestly, they are seldom the way I envision....and maybe that's okay. As a homeschooler that has brought one through to graduation, have 2 more still at home, I have the suspicion that many of us tend to tell all that we are doing right....we show the pictures of the perfectly posed field trips, the first day of school at the dining room table looking so happy(it's seldom that cheery any day after that....am I right ? :) We brag about the the things we do right but fail to mention when our kids aren't doing. It puts unrealistic expectations on everyone....making us think that we aren't measuring up to a goal that isn't even attainable. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In my own life I'm striving to be real, striving to be honest about my shortcomings....and I have so very many. I want others to see that I'm very imperfect, that I'm forgetful, that I have dishes in my sink when I go to bed many nights, we have days where unschooling sounds really really good, our house gets messy, we eat ramen for lunch many days, and I fall short more times than not. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So next time I post pictures of our gourmet meal that we just made I think I'll post a picture of what our kitchen looks like after we finish cooking....it won't be pretty. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Everything will line up perfectly when knowing and living the truth becomes more important than looking good." ~ Alan Cohen</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Thanks for listening to my ramblings......</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kari</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Country Mom. :)</span><br />
<a name='more'></a>Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-71991396479099718722012-09-16T19:44:00.001-07:002012-09-17T04:54:25.712-07:00Camping Birthday PartyHappy 7th Birthday Peebs!<br />
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You are 7 years old today! There are no words to express my profound love for you Peebs! I remember clearly the first time I held you and heard the words "it's a boy!" I remember marveling at your sweet little face. Your hands! They were so distinctly "male" and they have the same look and shape to them today, 7 years later. I let you sleep 8 hours the first night you were born (the nurse was NOT happy with me). We were both so exhausted from your long journey into this world. The second night you were not so sleepy. The nurse came in and told me I was doing a commendable job, but that I needed some rest and to please let them have you down in the nursery for a bit. I knew she was right, and reluctantly yielded you into her care. I nuzzled down into my hospital bed, aching with loneliness for the baby I had thought of for 10 months in my body and grown to adore in the short few hours I had to hold you. I quickly however, gave in to sleep. Within 45 minutes you were back and another nurse said "he doesn't want anything, we can't keep him calm, you have to take him back mama!" "Gladly!"<br />
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Gladly, will I always accept you into my arms and my heart dear boy. How dearly we all love you. Your infectious laugh, your endless energy, your intelligent/inquisitive mind, your love for truth and love for God; all of these things are so evident to all you meet. I am captivated by your servant's heart. The way you take care of the little people in our house with affection and tenderness. The way you assist daddy or I with all of the family chores that need to get done. I am blown away by your desire to follow God. At the age of three you spent an evening struggling with forces unseen as you grappled with the idea of sin and death and ultimately, it was the night the Holy Spirit called you to Himself. We stayed up late that night (even after your big sister went to bed) and you yielded yourself to a Power and Love that is greater than the Universe. Since that day, you have grown in holiness, knowledge, and desire to serve God...in a way that challenges me and motivates me. We love your non-stop chatter and how you love to talk, talk, talk about anything and everything that comes to mind...peppering every conversation with deep questions about how life works. You are an amazing boy and I am so blessed to be your mommy.<br />
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I hope you always remember your 7th Camping Birthday Party! You are a great outdoorsman and it was fun to plan your party with you in mind! I love you Peebs...now & forever!!!</div>
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Making cakes for four kids has gotten more stressful. But a tent and campfire and tree cake you wanted...and that is what you got!</div>
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Camping themed coloring sheets helped all the guests to warm up to each other. </div>
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You proclaimed M.W. as one of your new best friends. M won the "pin the flame on the log" game by coming closest!</div>
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There's no better way to get acquainted then to rub bare feet together, right? All in the tight space of a 3-man tent.<br />
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7 boys came to celebrate your big day. Along with you and your brother and sisters, that made 11 kids! Plus mommy, daddy, Papa, Nana, and Mr. Mud. Each of you had a bag with a tent and campfire on it with your name. On the back was a "nature hunt" list which you were just about to do in this picture.<br />
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After the nature hunt...your guests alternated between hiding your gifts in the woods behind our house and making their own "trail mix" mixture.<br />
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It wouldn't be a normal party at our house if we didn't do SOME type of fishing! Especially at a CAMPING themed party! This was some strange fishing though. Putting your line into a tent?<br />
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Cute fish!<br />
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This s'more filled bucket is what you were fishing for. Everyone got their own s'more kit when they went fishing...tied to the end of their line.<br />
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You hunted for your gifts with your friends. They played hot~cold with you and then they brought your gifts into a circle. You took a camping pan and spun it. Wherever the handled landed is the gift you opened next. This was the most AMAZING group of kids you could really imagine. SUCH nice boys. It was a 3 hour party, but I could have kept them here much longer! Such delight and such laughter! I'm so happy you have such nice friends Peebs!<br />
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JuBe bought this little lego set with her own money. She spent almost as much time getting ready to celebrate you as mommy did! She made you two incredible cards, wrote and illustrated a story for you with all of your 1st grade vocabulary words, wrote out a scripture verse on a paper she colored that had a camping theme.<br />
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Odes paid the tax for the lego set. He is now broke.<br />
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Each guest got a campfire to go with their cake.<br />
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Happy Birthday to you!<br />
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A mentos/pop geyser tube took place. This may just need to be a birthday tradition with Mr. Mud.<br />
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Football and water games followed cake and ice cream.<br />
Your regular camping buddies, Mr. Mud and his boy's spent the night with you and your siblings and daddy in the back yard last night. Mommy stayed inside. :) You have to camp at a Camping party, right?<br />
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The next morning as we pulled into the garage on the way home from church we heard from the back seat "I'd like to go out to lunch" coming from your seat. At first I said "no" but you reminded me how much it meant to you last year when the two of us went to lunch together. I told you I'd feed everyone else first and then we were off. "Where would you like to go?" I asked. "Where do YOU want to go mommy?" I explained it was your birthday pick. In a timid shy voice you said, "well, would it be OK to go to McDonald's?" Off we went to get you a happy meal and to have some alone time...discussing your party, your gifts, your siblings, what you want to be when you grow up (used to be a pastor, now you want to be a Builder ---ahhh, so THAT is why you keep asking me how thick the walls of our house are. You want to do the digging part though). You asked me how many more years you had left to decide what you wanted to be when you grew up. I love getting to be alone with you Peebs man.<br />
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Grandma & Grandpa and Papa & Nana celebrated with a pizza party tonight!<br />
You picked the "5 meat Papa Murphy" and with bloated guts we went around the table and each of us shared with you things that we love about you (a birthday tradition in our family).<br />
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You don't like lego's do you?<br />
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Happy 7th Birthday to our sweet boy!<br />
You. Are. Loved!<br />
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Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-91238659208889768782012-09-05T20:33:00.001-07:002012-09-05T20:38:17.072-07:00She Ponders All These Things in Her Heart...but Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart...<br />
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Mothers...across centuries, across cultures, across religions, we are all the same. Mary the mother of Jesus had Luke to record her treasures. Some of us ponder and then pen them in a baby/remembrance book or a blog like this ... but all of us have those moments, big and small that we treasure.<br />
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I have had lots of those treasurey kinds of pondering moments with my kids over the last week or so. So many that I've lost several of them. They weren't the BIG kind of pondering moments...you know, like Shepherds coming after angels told them your Son was born, or Kings bringing extravagant gifts of worship. But little things, that make my heart swell toward my kids and give me the title "Mommy."<br />
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As I'm sitting at the piano and singing "Jesus, Light of the World Shine Upon Us" JoJo joins me and begins to play a counter melody. Then she adds lyrics "Elmo the potty. Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah"<br />
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JuBe whispers in my ear "I don't think you got your money's worth out of the foot rub I gave you the other night. How about another one while you read to us before bed time Mama?"<br />
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Peebs..."I like when you lead worship at church Mommy. What do you do again though? I forgot? Do you sing or play piano?" (ahem...4 to 5 out of 7 nights, I tuck them in bed and go downstairs and both play piano and sing as they fall asleep....and last Sunday at the worship service I did both play & sing)<br />
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JoJo after tinkling on the floor right before she got to the toilet "I'm sooooooo sorry Mommy. You happy with me?" (Oh, how could I be anything but happy with you, lovely girl?)<br />
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Odes: "Mommy, let's do that thing where I hide under the blanket in my room and then you lay on me and ask everyone else if you know where I am and then yell for me to come to bed now. Do I always ask you to do that?"<br />
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Peebs: My sweet, talkative, yet quiet-spirited, servant-hearted boy/man...taking care of little siblings, and taking on large tasks without being told. We went into the back yard and saw that our 6 year old son had set up a fire pit we had been wanting to set up...all on his own. It was perfectly done...we wouldn't have changed a stone!<br />
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Odes: "Your hair looked creepy and your face looked shiny in college."<br />
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JuBe: "Why am I getting a callus on my toe?" Me: (not really sure why I said this) "because you're becoming a young lady now." JuBe: "Oh, you say that because you have them. But, I don't think calluses are lady like. You certainly aren't." Me: (feigning offense) "What do you mean I'm not lady like?" JuBe: "Samantha's lady~like Grandmother (story figure from the late 1700's) would never chase her kids around the house and laugh hysterically and say weird stuff like you...it's not lady~like." Me: "OK...I'm going to take this and say 'thanks.'" JuBe: "I like you mom."<br />
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JoJo: Any time we ever ask a question during school, she raises her hand and yells "I know, GOD! No, no Jesus! I got it Woo hoo!"<br />
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Odes: "you should really take off that swim mask mama. It doesn't do good things for you."<br />
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Peebs: "Mommy, I don't understand why they put words like 'jab' and 'ram' in my readers. These are not words I care to read about."<br />
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Peebs: (yelling into the next room) "JuBe! I can read 'yak' now!"<br />
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JoJo: "let's race mommy!" (in the pool) "I get the gold, you get the silver!" She is two and can barely dog paddle, but insists on winning every time.<br />
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JuBe: A good and loyal friend...always wanting to give in her friendships, but never seeming to be a push over. I love her strong, constant, sweet spirit. Learning to speak her mind, while remaining kind and respectful...a quiet, strength-filled dignity surrounds her as she grows in humor and creativity.<br />
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Peebs: upon understanding the reason for an exclamation point at the end of a sentence, yelling every sentence that he reads which ends with one.<br />
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Odes: "I'm really not comfortable talking about this with you mommy. I mean, it's just uncomfortable to say how I feel about you singing in front of the whole church."<br />
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JoJo: "Call me Catty now. Cuz I want a Ruffy/Catty birthday party. But, then, call me Bongo, cuz I like my monkey."<br />
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Odes: "Is that your breath or your feet mommy? Just sayin'"<br />
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JuBe: "If I won the American Girl contest for a trip to D.C., I'd take YOU Mommy!"<br />
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Oh, so so so so many things just fill up my heart as the days fly past. It's so easy to get caught up in all of the "stuff:" driving to appointments and striving for timeliness, getting through curriculum and assignments, breaking up fights, meeting needs, shaping character, mopping up "accidents," getting beds made, toilet reminders, teeth brushing reminders, putting stuff away---endlessly, making meals, cleaning up meals, giving medicine, kissing boo-boos, looking for the last band-aid, listening to 15 billion knock-knock jokes (or worse, listening to the 20 minute long joke a cousin shared at camp~for the 15th time)...<br />
but in the midst of it all...there are little things to ponder-to treasure and store away. To remember, because the "days go by slowly and the years slip away quickly" and one day, they will be pondering their own little treasures in their hearts.<br />
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So so so thankful for my sweet babies and all the joy and love and lessons we are learning together. Thank you Jesus for my family!<br />
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<br />Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-75239431448227231632012-08-27T13:18:00.001-07:002012-08-27T13:26:41.173-07:00First Day of School!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGBCPV5WE8iU09PJpTKqDVIg8lm8Kr8vauvmk6ttWDoLuXt46V1sv9ddS1NEvI9ymeC2ey5AB-aL8FG6JdZYrG_7uEXMjXw7CBSthTpIVonzTKzAUfGZgrtl1i0lC8xKM5VVrlGQSTafc/s1600/IMG_1945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGBCPV5WE8iU09PJpTKqDVIg8lm8Kr8vauvmk6ttWDoLuXt46V1sv9ddS1NEvI9ymeC2ey5AB-aL8FG6JdZYrG_7uEXMjXw7CBSthTpIVonzTKzAUfGZgrtl1i0lC8xKM5VVrlGQSTafc/s320/IMG_1945.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I made a special "celebration breakfast" for the first day of school.</div>
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Here is the link: <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/crispy-cinnamon-rollups/detail.aspx" target="_blank">First day of school cinnamon rollups</a></div>
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Our first "Calendar Time" was "challenging" to say the least. Getting back into a groove after running around with no schedule and two adults around all the time will take some time.</div>
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We start in our "school room/play room" but certainly don't stay there. That is mostly "school headquarters" where we store our toys/books. This is JoJo/Catty leading us in the pledge.</div>
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Spinny came out! Spinny is the brains of our homeschool and holds all of our plans for the next several months. I love spinny. After taking out "week 1" I distributed each child's work for the week and they were responsible for putting it in their folders/box.</div>
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JuBe storing her work for the week. </div>
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Peebs loading up his folders.</div>
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Odes putting his work in his box.</div>
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Jo getting her work all organized in her box. This is my 4th year of homeschooling but my FIRST year of homeschooling with no "baby" no pregnancy and no diapers! Sure, it takes a little time out of my day to remind her to go and to help her get re-dressed. Why do toddlers have to take off EVERYTHING before they go? But, no diapers! It's CRAZY how nice that is!</div>
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We did a little "craft" and while I finished laminating it...they had to take a quick break to "build something." Alrighty then.</div>
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The theme of "hard start" is what I have captured here. There was a lot of fighting and tears going on which I did not capture on film. They don't like it when I catch them in a bad mood (can you blame them?) We had a hard time getting this picture to happen...</div>
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This was our craft, which is a bit hard to see, but I didn't want to share close ups on the blog. I traced each of their hands on patterned paper. Then we wrote their name and year in school and laminated them. They're all going on a "ring" with a tab that says "school year 2012-2013." It's so sweet to see their little hands all piled up on top of each other. </div>
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This does look creepily like a seance...but they were just getting in a circle for "Bible time."</div>
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We started our new curriculum and began memorizing the order of the books of the Old Testament. Each card has key information about each book of the Bible on it. </div>
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JuBe deep in thought about a Math problem during "one-on-one" time with Mom. We do some things in group, but each kid got their "mommy time" for lessons in my office. Then they went off to do their individual work. </div>
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Peebs during "mommy time." He ate it up! We had such a good time and he is learning SO much. My big 1st grader!!! I didn't get photos of the little one's mommy time because it was mostly us reading books and being crazy in the play room. We all read together later on the couch...and I don't have pictures of Geography either, because we haven't quite finished yet. The big 3 are playing while we wait for the baby princess to awaken from her glorious slumber!</div>
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It occurred to me a couple weeks ago, that I should pre-plan lunches like the "normal moms" (I'm using lots of quotation marks, aren't I?). This went off like a BANG! They loved the little containers and cute little compartments and I loved having lunch done ahead of time so all I had to do was take it out of the fridge and we were ready to go!</div>
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So cute...inspecting the little cubbies to see what I had packed. </div>
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Lunch was a hit. Geography was not. It was a mass of tears and general over-tiredness...let's hope when we start up again in the next 20 minutes or so, all goes better than before!</div>
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The big kid's finished work goes in a slot for me to look over in the afternoon time. Just thought of that today. I felt pretty genius.</div>
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All in all it has been a good first day. I'm glad I didn't cave in and just let everything go. I didn't want to begin a pattern. Staying disciplined isn't exactly my "strong-suit"---using quotes however, apparently is. We figured we'd go with David's work schedule...and take off on the same days as him, instead of the district we are in. </div>
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It was a fun day with good/rigorous/fun work accomplished. I would say however, that the most beneficial education is probably taking place right now as they roam around the garden and pick foods and play and bike and set up shop on the front porch when the sun gets too intense. They are loving, relating, learning about the world and it is so precious I can't stand it!</div>
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Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-20863227451934073252012-08-22T07:54:00.000-07:002012-08-22T07:54:26.993-07:00Cracked Cantaloupe Do-Over~City Mom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A neighbor gave us a melon. A perfect, garden cantaloupe she had grown over the Summer. My husband and I not being fans of the fruit had set it in the back hall to take along for a day outing and sharing with my parents. (that sounds really selfish. we commonly share things we like as well, but we didn't want this to go to waste knowing the children would likely not eat the entire thing themselves.)<br />
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I turned the corner and a small boy who had been told to put on his shoes and get in the car was barefoot and holding the cantaloupe over an even smaller boy's head and messing around.<br />
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Something came over me. I kind of snapped. I gave "the look." You know what I mean. Remember the look you got as a kid that made you go, "uh-oh, I'm in for it now." And then...<br />
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catastrophe.<br />
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the cantaloupe fell.<br />
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and, the world stopped.<br />
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Instead of taking my own often shared advise of holding back, breathing/praying/taking stock...I charged. I gave the "you know better than this, I'm so disappointed lecture." The kind of lecture that you swore before you were a parent you would never give to your kids. Then came in the reinforcement. My husband took off on my disappointment lecture and picked up the guilt lecture "we can't give a cracked cantaloupe to your grandparents now...and oh! how horrible to do this when our neighbor was so thoughtful to give us a melon!"<br />
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Result? Crocodile tears. And I watched my almost 7 year old blessing, put on his shoes with his head held low and get into the van. (Yes, I'm crying as I type this.)<br />
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I asked my husband if he would be willing to chat for a moment. Still fired up from his charge he reluctantly agreed. I carefully laid out the situation and confessed my sin. "He was exhibiting childish behavior...and besides it was a melon! And look at our son! He was shamed and guilted and is drooping in his spirit right now."<br />
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David gave me the green light to invite our boy back inside.<br />
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I pulled that precious child on my lap, wiped away his tear and cuddled him a moment. I asked him if there was anything he would like to say to us. He shook his head no. Then I said, "Darling, Mommy was so wrong in communicating that a melon was more important than you. You didn't hurt your grandparents or our neighbor by what happened. I chose to be self-serving in my sinful nature and for some crazy reason, I chose a melon over my dear-beloved son! Please forgive me and know that this is not the mommy I want to be to you."<br />
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A similar repentant attitude was then expressed from father to son.<br />
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That sweet child reached out and hugged us both and offered his forgiveness. He also said that he would have been better employed obeying us by having put his shoes on and gotten into the van, than messing around with the cantaloupe.<br />
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This is grace. This is love. This is forgiveness. All found in Jesus. The ability to humble ourselves was not in ourselves but from the Holy Spirit. That cracked melon, produced a crack in our son's little spirit. But, something beautiful happened. Love covered over a multitude of sins, and our son saw feet on the gospel.<br />
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As we parent, we strive for gentleness, peace, patience, kindness, self-control. Ultimately, we often fail. I think the striving for those qualities speaks volumes to our children. But, I'm praying that the ability to humble ourselves and repent will speak highly as well. Following Jesus is not about being perfect. It's about being forgiven.<br />
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I Peter 4:8<br />
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-56031534095581535122012-07-16T19:46:00.002-07:002012-07-16T19:46:12.764-07:00The Newest Country Mom~by my favorite Guest Blogger, Tam-Tams<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Yesterday I told my friend Michelle I am homesick. This whole hobby farm gig is beautiful but its also been hard. It feels like we’ve been on an exhausting vacation and I am ready to go home. She encouraged me to make a memory with my children to make our new house feel like home. I thought about her advice and what we might do throughout the day. At 4:30 PM, quite by accident we got our memory. Gillian ran into the house alarmed and announced “I think the neighbor dogs did something to the chicks!” I dropped everything and ran. Sure enough, they did.<span style="line-height: 17px;"> </span>Seven dead baby chickens were strewn about the yard. This was not what I had in mind.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Amidst the tears, shock, disbelief, and carnage a thought kept running through by mind, “I have no frame of reference for how to handle this.” I didn’t know what to do. I wanted in that moment to go back to my easy carefree life in the ‘burbs. Where we never would even have chickens let alone worry if a predator would get them. The most I ever worried about there was a nuisance barking dog. But here I was, needing to tend to the mess, tend to my kids hearts, and tend to an awkward situation with my neighbors.</div>
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Thankfully the hubby was home. He dug a grave while Gillian and I searched for a nice big rock for the top. He dug it nice and deep so our new hole-digging puppy couldn’t get to the bodies. We let the kids watch him dig. We let them ask questions. We let them see the dead chicks. We hugged them and consoled them and explained animal instincts.<span style="line-height: 17px;"> </span>He called the neighbors to say what had happened. They felt awful. We felt awful. It was awkward.</div>
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Of course in this day and age an event like this warrants a facebook status update. Well meaning friends offered encouragement. Folks said this was a good opportunity for a lesson in farm living or death or animal food chains. I suppose you open yourself up to everyone’s thoughts and advice when you post things on facebook but I was challenged. I think those lessons were inherent to what happened. They could plainly see the chicks were dead and they knew how it had happened and why. They didn’t need a lecture to drive home how sometimes life is rough, especially on a farm. <span style="line-height: 17px;"> </span>They were experiencing it. And lets face it, three weeks of living out in the country on a hobby farm doesn't make us farmers. Not even close.</div>
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In my heart I sensed that there was probably a more meaningful way we could coach our kids through this other than talking about the obvious or the negative. I prayed for some assistance in figuring out what that was. I am oftentimes amazed at what the Holy Spirit accomplishes in spite of me and how God has a way of using imperfect people to accomplish beautiful lessons in life. He proceeded to use Dave and I to teach some important lessons to all of us.</div>
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It started when we talked our oldest daughter through how she might handle it when the neighbors came by to apologize (which we sensed they would do.) We explained that they never ever meant for this to happen and to try to think about how she would feel if our dog did something like this. We reminded her that it was an accident and they probably felt awful (which they did). We gave her verbiage and told her to be gracious. It was a lesson in forgiveness and grace.</div>
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And when the neighbors came with their kids in tow and tears in their eyes to apologize she did great.<span style="line-height: 17px;"> </span>She smiled graciously and said it was an accident. We told them of course they didn’t mean for it to happen and of course we accept their apology and tried to put them at ease. They asked what they could do and offered to buy us new chicks and we had a moment of comic relief when all realized we have no idea how or where to get chicks. Our kids and their kids watched all this play out between the grown ups. It was a lesson in understanding and empathy.</div>
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Later that night when we were tucking the kids in bed we prayed and thanked God for such great neighbors. We talked to the kids about how while it is very sad that the chicks died, the relationship we have with our new neighbors is more important than dogs behaving badly and chickens dying. That people are more important than animals. Always. It was a lesson in perspective.</div>
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So yes, we did have ourselves a memory and it turns out we got some beautiful lessons in as well. I sense that we and our neighbors will all laugh about his someday. I might even be ready to now. And I am so thankful that God in His wisdom whispered into my spirit to look for a better lesson. And I am thankful that God made sure I learned these lessons right alongside my children.</div>
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RIP: Shoe, Tricky, Isabelle, MacKenzie, Sunshine, Shadow, and Oreo</div>
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</span>Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-79551698851447338122012-06-12T12:07:00.002-07:002012-06-12T20:16:15.688-07:00Madame Blueberry~Guest Blogger: Inbetween Country and City Mom<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
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My<i> sweet</i> friend Tammie is moving from a City Mom to a Country Mom this week. Enjoy her reflections on leaving the home where she brought home (most) of her babies...</div>
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My mom moved us from our childhood home my freshman year of college.<span class="ecx" style="line-height: 17px;"> </span>She told me that after all the boxes were out she sat in the silence and cried. She said she could literally see the four of us kids running through the house at various stages of our lives and hear our voices as if it were real. I thought she was crazy and blew her off as any normal 18 year old would. How wrong I was.</div>
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Packing up this house has been harder than I ever imagined it would be. Though I trust Gods timing, this is where my memories are. I brought one toddler and 3 babies home here and raised them. I watched them take their first steps, heard their first words, cheered on their accomplishments, prayed with them, homeschooled them, ran behind them as they learned to bike, celebrated 22 birthdays, and 9 Christmases here.<span class="ecx" style="line-height: 17px;"> </span>Just like my mom I can see them playing and running and hear them giggling. It’s eerie and wonderful and sad all at the same time. Oh how I have cried. I've cried and I've cried and I've cried.</div>
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I remember how excited we were to buy this house. We thought the place was ginormous compared to our tiny old home. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">But after we got here it was a let down. I longed to go back. That was our first home and it was darling and fixed up the just way we liked it. We had dear friends as neighbors. We brought our first child home there as well as grieved the loss at birth of our second. <span class="ecx" style="line-height: 17px;"> </span>Here our fridge broke the DAY we moved in. Our furniture (what little we had) was all hand me down and didn’t look as cute in this house. I looked at my new walls that were not the colors I liked and the dated fixtures, old appliances and ugly flooring and the kitchen sink which was disgusting and the ugly landscaping and I was miserable. We could barely afford our mortgage and I knew I would have to live with all this<span class="ecx" style="line-height: 17px;"> </span>. . ugliness. I wished we had never moved. And I cried. I cried and I cried and I cried. (Mind you I was very pregnant as well as still grieving a loss. I am not really that much of a basket case. Only sometimes.) And then the Lord spoke to me. Through Veggie Tales.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
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One day two year old Gillian was sitting on the couch watching a Veggie Tales and I was working in the kitchen. I glanced up when Madame Blueberry started singing:</div>
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<i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">I'm so blue-hoo-hoo, </b></i><i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">Blue-hoo-hoo, </b></i><i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">Blue-hoo-hoo hoo!</b></i></div>
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<i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">Bob and Larry: She's so blue she don't know what to do!</b></i></div>
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<i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">My neighbors have nice things, I've seen them myself</b></i></div>
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<i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">In fact, I keep pictures up here on my shelf!</b></i></div>
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<i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">Look at this new flatware of Monsieur LaGoon's</b></i></div>
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<i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">And Monsieur DesPlanes has twelve Franklin mint spoons!</b></i></div>
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<i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">And Phillip Van Pea went and bought a new sink,</b></i></div>
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<i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">Why, he even has a disposal, I think!</b></i></div>
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<i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">And look at this crock pot of Madame Lacrosse's</b></i></div>
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<i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">And ceramic jars where she keeps all her sauces!</b></i></div>
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<i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">Nice sauces...</b></i></div>
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<i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecx" style="line-height: 17px;"> </span>Just look at this sofa of Edward and Tammy's,</b></i></div>
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<i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">And lovely armoire where they keep all their jammies!</b></i></div>
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<i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">I really can't stand it, I think I may die!</b></i></div>
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<i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><b class="ecx" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">Now where was that hanky? I'm going to cry! . . . . .Too late! Waaaah!</b></i></div>
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I thought to myself, “Yes! This berry can RELATE!” I plopped down next to Gillian to watch. The story unfolded as one where she learns to be THANKFUL for what she has. It ends with the ditty <i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;">"Because a thankful heart is a happy heart! I'm glad for what I have, </i><i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;">That's an easy way to start. For the love that He shares, 'Cause He listens to my prayers, </i><i class="ecx" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;">That's why I say thanks every day!" </i>The message hit me like a ton of bricks. And I cried. I cried and I cried and I cried.<br />
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From that moment I purposed to be thankful for the gift God had given us in this home. I daily thanked God and reminded myself of what we loved about this house. It was on a beautiful quiet street by a park and a lake and had more than enough space. We slowly but surely made it our own and eight and a half years later it looks nothing like it did when we moved in.<span class="ecx" style="line-height: 17px;"> </span>It is now exactly how we want it with new flooring and baseboards, paint colors I have chosen in every room, new light fixtures and appliances, new bathrooms, new furniture and a beautifully finished basement. I am thankful.</div>
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God has been so faithful to us. He has directed each step of this moving process as we felt Him lead us to wait in the past when we thought we should move and nudged us forward to purchase our new home. It has been my dream to raise my kids on a hobby farm and God saved me one. It had been on the market for two years at a price we could never afford but dropped in price the very day we sold our home. HIS timing is always perfect. It literally has EVERYTHING I had ever wanted in a hobby farm. It looks like a doll house and He made sure it had some of the features I love in my current home. <span class="ecx" style="line-height: 17px;"> </span>He even made sure I still had a toddler to watch grow there.<span class="ecx" style="line-height: 17px;"> </span>What a God of details.</div>
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As I pack up and grieve I am committed to not let myself fall into despair and ingratitude after I move into our new home. I know I will miss the wonderful people, convenience and features of this neighborhood. I will miss this house that we have lovingly made our home. I will be consoling my children whose little hearts are heavy to leave the only home they have ever known as well as best friends and their beloved park.<span class="ecx" style="line-height: 17px;"> </span>And I surely have my work cut out for me to make the new place feel like ours. (God thought we could deal with the cosmetics of the new house ourselves. It needs a little TLC.) But I am committed to being thankful.</div>
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I am excited for our new adventure as a family. I am so so so grateful for the opportunity to give my children room to roam. I pray that I will honor God by opening my home to friends, family, and strangers alike. I am excited for the future and trusting God as he has never ever failed this family. Dave keeps reminding the kids (and us grown ups) that the memories come with us.<span class="ecx" style="line-height: 17px;"> </span>And as strange as it seems to be hearing and seeing my children’s sweet faces in the stillness and quiet, there is one more voice I can’t get out of my head. That pesky berry. She is coming with me, too.</div>
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</span>Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-91516329912464869002012-05-17T12:22:00.003-07:002012-05-17T12:22:55.750-07:00Toy Storage Rotation~City MomI've been praying that God would give me the ideas for this blog. I do really like to "express myself" so I find blogging is a nice outlet. I'm hoping in the midst of my "self expression" that I can bring some kind of encouragement/help/hope/life/light to anyone who may stumble across my little blogspot. <div>
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I've been hesitating whether or not to share my "toy storage rotation system" with the world. I finally decided I would share...with this caveat: PLEASE do not compare your own system to mine (unless you feel that yours is superior...than by all means...feel free). I do not want to share one.single.thing that will make you as a mom (or dad for that matter) feel burdened or less than. My point in sharing this TOTALLY SIMPLE MINDED system, is that you may see it and go "light bulb!" and let it be an opportunity to get your own creative juices for storage going. Or just copy it. Or, share an even better system. Just don't put yourself down or lift me up higher than I should be lifted.</div>
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Deal?</div>
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OK...so, here it is!</div>
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My cooler than cool friend Amanda asked me to meet her at Ikea one day. We had been talking about the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00208646/" target="_blank">Ikea Expedit</a> for awhile and how she had put nearly ALL of her six children's toys in it. We ate meatballs and roamed the store for a few hours and by the time I left, I knew I had to get the Expedit. I sold my <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S29857351/" target="_blank">Trofast</a> and was saving money...when City Dad came up with his brilliant idea: "Look for it on craigslist." Not only did that brilliant man save me money on taxes, we (he) didn't have to set it up the shelving unit. He simply had to borrow his brother's truck and pick it up. Much better!</div>
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***(in case you are wondering...the blue and pink bins to the left and right of the Expedit are the Target "Itso's" and I love them more than I should. They can be re-configured into different shapes for different spaces (and oh have they been through many different stages in our home) and they are so cute. (The kid's school stuff is in there, so I won't say anymore about them now.)</div>
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I have books in the upper three shelves of the expedit. This is nice. Books aren't ALWAYS thrown all over the place all of the time anymore (hint*toddlers can't get to them as easily~don't freak out moms...I make them available to my JoJo, just not ALL of the books at all times). The top three shelves will look different once I get all of our school things for next "year" ready, but for now, they are a nice book spot. </div>
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The bottom two shelves are filled with gender biased colored bins that I got from the Target dollar aisle. Maybe they were $2.50/piece but that's still kind of a steal. The children VERY EASILY put the "girl toys" in pink bins and the "boy toys" in blue ones. I don't label them (and you'll see why in a moment). </div>
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You would be A.MAZED at how many stinking toys fit into 10 bins! These bins are on the main level of our house and can be moved to the family room or office or a bedroom if need be. But for the most part these are the ONLY toys accessible to the children. They have special things in their rooms (American Girl stuff and legos mainly--that could be entire storage blog post in itself). There is also a play kitchen in the above picture which you can not see. And the basement has gross motor toys that are available at all times (but most stay downstairs). </div>
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This lovely storage shelving pictured above is in the basement. I got it on (ta-da!) craigslist. It is STURDY. And it holds...a LOT! All the rest of the kid's toys are in these bins. The idea is that every two weeks or so, we bring the canvas bins from the main level, down into the basement and swap out toys. In each bin you see, there are toys (grouped in plastic Target bags). You empty the "current" week's canvas bin into a plastic bag and put it in a downstairs storage bin. Then you take out a plastic bag of toys from a storage bin, empty it into the canvas bin, bring it upstairs and wa-la! your toys are swapped! Simple, isn't it?</div>
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This is a LIFE saver for me. When kid's are home all day it is nice to change up the flavor of "tools" for them to use in play time. It is also nice to not <i>always </i>have access to every tool (toy). We value things being "tidy" while also valuing the idea of actually <i>using</i> what we have.</div>
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This is my way of "subduing" (as Sally Clarkson would say) our toys in the home. </div>
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It is fun to go "toy shopping" with the kids and pull things out that haven't seen the sunlight in awhile!</div>
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How do you store/subdue toys? Do you have a "toy rotation"? How does it work? Just ask JuBe, I'll be changing this up in about four months (I have ants in my pants!)...so share your ideas so I can store them away for future needs! </div>
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On another quick note...</div>
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I <i>did</i> wake up on Mother's Day to a BEAUTIFUL perler beaded heart. I've gotten a lot of perler bead hearts for Mother's Day over the years...but this one has such a special story attached to it <a href="http://countrymomandcitymom.blogspot.com/2012/05/his-version-of-fourcity-mom.html" target="_blank">(Mommy, she broke my heart!)</a> that I had to share the pictures of the surprises I was blessed with first thing in the morning.</div>
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<br /></div>Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-85084661798151787572012-05-11T19:29:00.003-07:002012-05-11T19:46:57.450-07:00His Version of Four~City Mom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I got home from the gym tonight and this is how I found my Odes. Standing in the back yard, blue shorts too big for his body, a batman night shirt inside out, complete with bike helmet (he does not yet know how to ride). I felt a lump rising in my throat. I know exactly why.<br />
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There's just SOMEthing about a four year old.<br />
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Odes was an extremely content baby. He nuzzled into the Moby wrap and the Ergo carriers almost like an extension of the womb. He never cried. Ever. He laughed. He smiled. He let us pass him to nearly anyone at church. He began talking early. At a year he was a bullet running around the house and his mouth went faster than his feet. The pediatrician asked me at his yearly check up, "how many words does he say?" I laughed and said, "everything!" She looked at me doubtfully and then her jaw dropped when he began to sing, "The boys are back, yeah, the boys are back" (from High School Musical).<br />
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Years 1.5 to 3.5 were blurrishly exhausting with this boy. He'd say cute things like "Mommy, can you get my winter on?" when he wanted to go outside. But, I also had to come up with ways to keep him from destroying EVERY MOMENT of our homeschooling efforts. We'd put him in a gate with a snack and the ipod or a special toy. That worked for a short time. We tried to encourage him to sit on my lap. That never worked. He was often making some kind of offense toward me or one of the other kids. We'd strap him in his car seat to keep him in a "time out" (don't get nervous, I didn't leave him in there alone). I called my parents in Florida saying I simply did not know what to do! We'd school during his nap, but by then, we were all so exhausted by our attempts at "play" from the morning that none of us wanted to sit down and <i>focus</i> on anything. He got kicked out of the church nursery at the church we visited when he was not even two. The workers thought he'd do better with the pre-school aged class. We found him with the pre-schoolers, charming the teacher and participating in the little study.<br />
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I need to say...during this time Odes brought us delightful gifts as well. He decided at 2.5 one day when he woke up that he was "done" with diapers. He walked over to the toilet, used it, and never wore a diaper or pull-up afterward. Not even at night. He just potty~trained. The end. He made us laugh...unendingly. At DisneyWorld, he'd get measured to see if he was tall enough to go on a ride. After the ride, he'd beg to go on again and would go up to the worker to get measured <i>again</i>. When they said he was tall enough he'd jump up and down and say "I'm big enough! I can go on!"<br />
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But something happened when Odes turned four. First of all, his eyes began to open up to Jesus. During communion in church he began asking things like, "Am I *in* Christ mommy? How do I know if I am saved or not?" He told me he wanted Jesus to pay for his sins and to follow Him. Even tonight as he sat on my lap, he felt the need to check in with me again to make sure that it was simply Jesus payment for sin on the cross that helped him receive eternal life, and nothing in himself which he had to do. And whether it is his new found love of Jesus or turning age four, there is something in me that wants to slow down the clock a little and keep him right here...just for a little longer.<br />
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Life these days with my four year old Odes looks like this:<br />
~When he got up just a little earlier than everyone else, and couldn't find me because I was in the shower, he sat in the play room, looking sad. When I found that he was not in his room, I searched and found him there. His tear stained eyes looked up at me and said, "I'm so glad you are MY mommy!"<br />
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~He runs to me when I come home from the gym or an errand like I'd been gone on vacation. He leaps into my arms and hugs and kisses over & over.<br />
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~Odes says, "please mommy, can we read "I'm Special, I'm Me" one more time? And will you change the names in it to our family like you do?<br />
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~When he goes to the Dr. and they offer him stickers he picks one out and then asks, "But would it be OK if I picked one out for my brother and sisters?"<br />
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~He curls up in my lap after naps, or any chance he can get and asks me to hold him.<br />
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~His heart longs to be kind toward others and obedient to me. When he messes up, he readily submits to a "do-over" as long as I am empathetic and understanding of how it is he is feeling.<br />
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~Odes was working on perler beads...his very first "big" project all on his own. He asked me not to look at it. I told him I *might* have to peek at it just a bit, if I was going to be the one to iron it. When he finished the project, he came up to me with the pink heart behind his back saying, "pink IS your favorite color, right?" and a few minutes later, "I have only ONE thing for you for Mother's Day mommy." And that night when his new little friend found the heart and it broke in her hands he came running to me saying "She broke my heart mommy!" He is still four, fortunately mommy can still take care of things like that. (At 10 pm I got out my iron, adhered the parts back together and left presumably <i>my</i> Mother's Day gift next to his spot at the table with an "I love you Odes" note next to it.)<br />
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~Odes asks me nearly every day, "Mommy, let's play guys, just you & me." And I do. Because, and oh, I'm getting choked up thinking this...but he won't be asking me to be playing "guys" for much longer.<br />
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You see...I didn't understand, when JuBe and Peebs were four, that there is some kind of turning point when a child turns 5. They begin to separate more. They begin to form friendships. They don't get <i>quite</i> as excited when mommy comes in the room. They don't want to be on my "team" anymore when we play Sequence. They won't put on silly clothes with no thought of what others think. They don't hold my hand quite as readily in public. They may still sit on my lap, but their long legs and gangly bodies don't fit quite as comfortably for long periods of time. They don't tell me EVERYthing on their mind. They don't like toys as much and aren't quite as enthralled with things like "Rescue Heroes" or stuffed animals.<br />
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But my little four year old...he's still all mine. At least for a little while longer. I plan to cherish each day of this year with my Odes...and all my babies and the sweet phases they are in. Today, I just can't shake "there's just something about a four year old." Makes me want to go run over and curl up next to him and cuddle him just a bit before I head to bed. These sweet days pass so quickly.<br />
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Is there an age or stage that you've really loved with your children? I'd love to hear about it!!!Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-41013152530269359872012-05-08T20:33:00.003-07:002012-05-08T20:33:39.769-07:00Smiles & Laughter~City MomI laughed a lot today.<br />
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I remember when Jube was two, reading or hearing something about how many times a toddler laughs during the day. It's sad to think that you laugh less as you age.<br />
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As parents we have so many opportunities to laugh (these were from just the last 45 minutes of our day):<br />
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During devotions when JoJo interrupts over and over saying, "Ummmm, Daddy, I know! GOD! No, no, Jesus!"<br />
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When one kid repeats "shake your booty" over and over until the baby starts saying it but mis-pronouncing the word.<br />
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Hearing Peebs giggle uncontrollably.<br />
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Reading "Richard Scarry" books and watching Odes laugh hysterically when Ma Pig's car gets crushed in a construction worker's arms.<br />
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Putting JoJo to bed and listening to her saying "Buzz Lightyear, buzz buzz" and then letting out fake laughter 15 times in a row.<br />
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JuBe & Peebs sharing jokes: "Why did the Chicken cross the playground Mommy?" To get to the other "slide."<br />
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There are so many times to SMILE as well. The other day I was looking at my children as they were telling me little tid-bits of things going on in their hearts and I realized how sober my face was. Sober and maybe a tad "distant" as well. I shook myself and put a big smile on my face as I asked a follow up question to the story. Peebs face lit up and he kept talking and pouring more of his heart and ideas out to my softened face that looked at him with adoration. In fact, my demeanor change affected him so much, that he literally followed me around the rest of that day, talking, sharing, hugging, and engaging me.<br />
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When is the last time you evaluated what your face looks like to your kids? Try it! What kind of non-verbals are you communicating?<br />
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Here's a time when it's really hard to smile...but very important: when they mess up. I got this concept from Jim & Lynne Jackson from <a href="http://connectedfamilies.org/workshops/speakers/" target="_blank">Connected Families</a>: SMILE when they do something wrong? Yes! Smiling, hugging, getting down on their level when they've done something sassy or trying or frustrating.<br />
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I started doing this a few months ago. I remember one particular day, Odes was having a really hard time and every time I pulled him aside to talk about what was going on in his heart, he'd look at me a little funny until he finally said, "Mommy, why do you keep smiling at me when I mess up?"<br />
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Here is why sweet little boy: I sin in my heart often. I resist God's leading in my life. I think bad thoughts. I lose my temper. I make rude comments. And you know what? God looks at me, and through His kindness, draws me to repentance. God has a righteous anger toward sin...but Jesus lives in me and that's what He sees! He is ever so kind and gracious and merciful.<br />
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If God can look at me like that with my adult sins that <i>should</i> be more tempered...why should I look at YOU, precious little one who is still learning right from wrong, and scowl when you mess up?<br />
When I smile at you, you open your heart to me. You feel safe. You feel loved. You feel like you can trust this Mama to process through the issue. If I frown and scowl, will that lead you to <i>heart change</i>? Or will you just simply learn to try to please me with actions? Or turn away from me because I never seem to have empathy or understand?<br />
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So, I smile. I hug. I kiss...when they are funny, when they are naughty, when they are silly. I hold them to a standard of high ideals...oh yes! After all, I'm looking to shape their hearts~not just let them have their own way without accountability. My goal is to accomplish that "shaping" with love & tenderness ~ (more and more every day...this is NOT easy for me and I don't have it down perfectly).<br />
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My questions for you today: Have you noticed your face while interacting with your children? Or spouse? Or friends? Or co-workers? Or acquaintances? What are you communicating with that face? What would you like to communicate? Try a smile and see how much of a difference you can make!<br />
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<br />Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-43565450359759464052012-05-07T12:50:00.001-07:002012-05-07T12:50:16.505-07:00Homeschool Lyceum~City MomI need to preface this by saying, "yes, I know how extremely blessed we are!"<br />
One of the things that can be difficult about the choice of the homeschool lifestyle is the perception of things missed. I have thought of the elementary school lyceums or little parties or holiday programs and at times wondered if my kids were really missing out. However, there are so many ways to make life "special" or "stand out" when your kids are home. Sometimes you need just a little creativity or ingenuity. Sometimes you just need some AMAZING parents/grandparents to kick it in gear!<br />
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Last Thursday was National Day of Prayer. My dad called early in the week and said he wanted to do an event with my kiddos and my brother's kids. We sat around our kitchen table while Papa taught us a bit about the constitution and the history of the day. We talked about our freedoms in this country and some of the beliefs of the founding-fathers. Dad came awesomely prepared and we enjoyed the content, with a few giggles inserted here and there from the little's antics. I think we all especially loved when little JoJo went on & on & on about President Obama. I mean, it really is fun to say his name!<br />
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Then...we prayed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pre.cious</td></tr>
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I know many homeschooling families do not have the support of people in their lives. So believe me, it brought me to tears more than once, to realize that my children and I were sitting in my home with my brother's homeschooled kids and his wife, and our precious Papa & Nana as they poured their lives into us. I loved that dad picked the "National Day of Prayer" to honor...but to be totally honest, it could have been ANYthing and I would have been just as moved. To know we have their support is amazing. To know they want to pass on the legacy of Christ to their grandchildren is a blessing beyond the description of words.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids wore all of their new "Arizona" t-shirts they got in Easter baskets from Papa and Nana's recent visit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, I love these boys so much!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet cousins</td></tr>
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Mom/Nana brought over pre-made lunches for all the kids...complete with drink boxes and fruit leathers. First they provided us with educational material based on values we desire to promote and then FEED us too?!?!?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for lunch Nana/Nan/Nanny/Neena/NewKnee/Hannah</td></tr>
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As I watch my parents interact with the world, I'm challenged. I want to look at their example and reach out and serve and give to others. I want to live selflessly in my home with my own children. Thank you Mom and Dad/Papa & Nana for shining your lights for us, for loving us, for encouraging us and investing your lives in us. It means more than you will ever know!<br />
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So, blog readers...I'd love to hear from you! What do you do in your home to make certain days stand out more than others? Are their significant people in your lives that give of themselves in your homeschooling efforts? Is this something you desire, but lack? How are YOU shining your light to encourage others in their home educational efforts? Share the LOVE ;)<br />
Thanks for reading!Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-12362281491443060622012-05-02T09:36:00.005-07:002012-05-02T09:36:48.145-07:00Kid of the Day~City MomEach day we have a kid of the day. This simple little concept, transformed the life of my homeschool. I'm not kidding. It COMPLETELY turned us around. <div>
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Some time in the beginning of last year as we worked through our Calendar Board (which I will lay out in another post some day), there would be fighting & tears. I usually had JuBe do most of the work, because she was technically the only one in "school" and frankly at the time was the only one capable of doing pieces of it. Then, I'd let the littler ones do the simpler things on the board, but JuBe would then feel bad that she had to do all of the "hard" stuff and never got a chance to do the "fun" stuff. I was in one of those homeschooling mom funks. You know the kind where the yellow bus drives by and you don't even care that you haven't showered for 3 days and you look like you just got over a bad bout of stomach flu (even though you didn't), and you try to run after the bus, but it leaves without your kids, so you turn back around and start banging your head on the door before you go inside. You know what I'm talking about, come on...don't pretend like you don't! I just tried to find an appropriate picture to share of me in one of those funks, but realized...the camera doesn't come out during those kinds of days.</div>
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Anyway, during one of those funks, the Lord gave me this idea of the Kid of the Day...and it has been going strong for almost two years. Here's how we do it.</div>
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Each morning after breakfast, one chore, and getting ready for the day, we have Calendar Time.</div>
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We have a Good Morning song where the kid of the day is announced. I rotate them like this.</div>
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week 1: Jube, Peebs, Odes, JoJo</div>
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week 2: Peebs, Odes, JoJo, Jube</div>
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week 3: Odes, JoJo, JuBe, Peebs</div>
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week 4: JoJo, Jube, Peebs, Odes</div>
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then start all over again.</div>
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Rotation was key in our home. If we always started the week by age, it became "unfair" due to life's rhythms. For instance, if we always had, say "swimming" on Tuesday, and Peebs was always the kid of the day on Tuesday, he would miss out on some of the roles in which the kid of the day takes advantage.</div>
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We have a "name-o" song, which comes from <a href="http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.net/" target="_blank">here</a>. We spell each other's names and then the Kid of the Day gets velcro'd on the outside of the envelope which contains our names after we sing/spell everyone's name. </div>
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The Kid of the Day gets to:</div>
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complete all of the Calendar Time activities</div>
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be the first in each activity</div>
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lead the pledge of allegiance</div>
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pick a movie (if we watch one that day)</div>
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play his/her webkinz (if they play that day)</div>
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decides where they are sleeping at night (they like to rotate bedrooms and sleep together)</div>
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gets choice of where to sit during read alouds</div>
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gets to pray at meal time</div>
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gets to choose the first bite of a treat</div>
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...you get the idea...</div>
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The Kid of the Day ALSO:</div>
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is my kitchen assistant for the day...setting tables, vacuuming after meals</div>
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helps serve food</div>
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helps JoJo with different tasks (if the kid of the day is not Jo)</div>
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and is generally called on to be a "servant" for the day as well</div>
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You see the genius in this, right? They DON'T FIGHT over who gets to choose or who gets to do things. They don't buck me when I ask them to get out the vacuum or load the dishwasher. They know they have privileges, they know they have responsibilities that go with them. They look forward to it when it's their day, and they let it go when it's not, because they know their day is coming again.</div>
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What kinds of systems do you have in place to help your kids feel special? Or to minimize fighting? Or to help kids rise to responsibility? I'd love to hear about them!</div>
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<br /></div>Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-28446927753979844032012-05-01T20:01:00.002-07:002012-05-01T20:20:05.792-07:00To workbox or not to workbox~City Mom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A couple years ago I was introduced to <a href="http://www.workboxsystem.com/" target="_blank">Sue Patrick's Workbox System</a>.<br />
I really love the concept. I love boxes. I love storing things. I love the illusion of things being neat & tidy.<br />
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I did them for awhile. With my own little twist:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkl9kmrtWtefvg_iNSAH60QMA-xxritVm5-Rx0-7KhjHLbLYmJj_TZ5D7Ki8lPIEG8ZCDQuNt0lTfXiMLtrtKjqENcooF0UMkMrq_jDIrEfpqOwYVL4hdM9Ekg8H_6ckU8av7eFnjm8cLC/s1600/IMG_2061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkl9kmrtWtefvg_iNSAH60QMA-xxritVm5-Rx0-7KhjHLbLYmJj_TZ5D7Ki8lPIEG8ZCDQuNt0lTfXiMLtrtKjqENcooF0UMkMrq_jDIrEfpqOwYVL4hdM9Ekg8H_6ckU8av7eFnjm8cLC/s200/IMG_2061.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is where I stored all of JuBe's work.<br />
These bins are ITSO's from Target.<br />
I heart them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSgxGue9uKVnL8rxxCbASm8cKTlKG5w6EsU1T712jr6UeDVSB4mKvpISsnz4gY-WpcTlLZvYWwxcTXgXe7N4u2EQhVtjpDMbGgUPJlVdLtuDY0BM5cPvYzMUwp0oZg5q4qN6lG5GhtTfo/s1600/IMG_2064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSgxGue9uKVnL8rxxCbASm8cKTlKG5w6EsU1T712jr6UeDVSB4mKvpISsnz4gY-WpcTlLZvYWwxcTXgXe7N4u2EQhVtjpDMbGgUPJlVdLtuDY0BM5cPvYzMUwp0oZg5q4qN6lG5GhtTfo/s200/IMG_2064.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I labeled folders instead of "boxes" because<br />
I wanted to use ITSO's in pink/purple and blue/green</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrWUyqE1Dat6frm4mJ-f1oKqYOJEw6LwcSFe_qSFGPxOKHIWtGCxCXHTueZbpECEnX4OnqUG7NJk4d1W0qXYkaMBMOUYt33uOSV_JfDMfZ_1ngyroqnPjDDQZFxFWdX2g5GJNfXHPd4wY/s1600/IMG_2069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrWUyqE1Dat6frm4mJ-f1oKqYOJEw6LwcSFe_qSFGPxOKHIWtGCxCXHTueZbpECEnX4OnqUG7NJk4d1W0qXYkaMBMOUYt33uOSV_JfDMfZ_1ngyroqnPjDDQZFxFWdX2g5GJNfXHPd4wY/s200/IMG_2069.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The night before I'd set up the work for the next day<br />
or sometimes I put ALL of the work for the week in the folders on Sunday.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayYMt7qyYpbrmeckuAMjfaGyYSjuClwFIEt0NvUQJTHsjraM8jKVvXqm69CaTgjGIzpY-TKNrOcchEW59mmwiZuQN4RGrxg3Yfpf0DpcbqmB9N5jo2k62S1nVS07qfotQZOupOzY9s-gV/s1600/IMG_2062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayYMt7qyYpbrmeckuAMjfaGyYSjuClwFIEt0NvUQJTHsjraM8jKVvXqm69CaTgjGIzpY-TKNrOcchEW59mmwiZuQN4RGrxg3Yfpf0DpcbqmB9N5jo2k62S1nVS07qfotQZOupOzY9s-gV/s200/IMG_2062.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the kids finished their folders (boxes) they put their work on a clipboard for me to look at<br />
and then they put the empty folder in a crate for me to refill at night.<br />
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This was fun for awhile...*maybe* three days. Then I decided I am not the kind of person that will keep up with the intensity of this kind of project with four kids.</div>
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I really like this new set up. Maybe some of you ladies who have similar temperaments to mine will appreciate this approach to our homeschool organization. I found this interesting mom's organizational tool <a href="http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com/2011/02/homeschool-planning.html#.T6CcFO3N5FI" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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And now I will show you mine!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcWhjJ4Z-jTOT3Avy2VE05PwWIiFMpIiODQaF9YJ2IOuzlB8rNVy-ia0rgsl_jPfUTns6nJz6qrKilhERFeTmlcug8yrFqkb6m_V4vdAub-gvMGX6YyZWIoc3XqcDe_DFN-qx7m-XxhRu/s1600/IMG_9636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcWhjJ4Z-jTOT3Avy2VE05PwWIiFMpIiODQaF9YJ2IOuzlB8rNVy-ia0rgsl_jPfUTns6nJz6qrKilhERFeTmlcug8yrFqkb6m_V4vdAub-gvMGX6YyZWIoc3XqcDe_DFN-qx7m-XxhRu/s320/IMG_9636.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got this great little tool at <a href="http://www.staples.com/Staples-The-Desk-Apprentice-Rotating-Desk-Organizer/product_597003" target="_blank">Staples</a> for $25 (not $45 like it is online).<br />
It spins. And you can fit OH.SO.MUCH.STUFF in it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUksVVFrfUisDARKsXsVPtoxf9LSHV1ITFbBMeMNEihpXcsblJNEq-dRBATlLBx9ZxtxKQbr06TyfYK6gUj6KfLKFUMAwh8gM8Lryvwsdzfn6jYIcPmMr4uenIKzsNt16EACrxfhSozz6w/s1600/IMG_9626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUksVVFrfUisDARKsXsVPtoxf9LSHV1ITFbBMeMNEihpXcsblJNEq-dRBATlLBx9ZxtxKQbr06TyfYK6gUj6KfLKFUMAwh8gM8Lryvwsdzfn6jYIcPmMr4uenIKzsNt16EACrxfhSozz6w/s200/IMG_9626.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside is a file folder for each month of the year.<br />
My school planner for 2012-2013 fits in the big top with a tray for supplies like paper clips, etc. as well.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbg0sXO_umxUCCiakhPFiVMmm132qukL2TzP_5dG1wPyq3HshYZEpT2XkZ4SwNalhEU6sXNT-STM0j68Km0ZcCMsHueFG6MOB2PndPMw7ppvPsMrqZ8QhL8VMixwy1rHSXy2GL3kXpCEP/s1600/IMG_9634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbg0sXO_umxUCCiakhPFiVMmm132qukL2TzP_5dG1wPyq3HshYZEpT2XkZ4SwNalhEU6sXNT-STM0j68Km0ZcCMsHueFG6MOB2PndPMw7ppvPsMrqZ8QhL8VMixwy1rHSXy2GL3kXpCEP/s320/IMG_9634.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside each file folder is a folder for each week of school.<br />
For each week, there is a set of school work for each kid, paper clipped and labeled to whom it belongs. I simply tore out all of their worksheets and put them in the week that it needs to be accomplished. It is a little work upfront, but to have this done for next year, September-December feels like a huge relief to me!<br />
There are also "thematic" to the time of year activities that we'll do as a group in the monthly folder. For example, in November, I have some Thanksgiving craft ideas I got from pinterest, printed out and sitting in that month.<br />
My planner has labeled in it all of the things I'll need to have on hand in order to make those activities happen. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8p2C4lsb-H9W-yo9GbzMjtQ9w7Y5yhVMZOe_NDrv1t8_WldNNKo2OvWyM6NwNZQ9I0Det52b_JEA6zQFsSlOJ1WAnETL5QkyBT50tYqR-GwOepMm6JjCcieA2qMF9QgqYJS8Rar4wauO/s1600/IMG_9624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8p2C4lsb-H9W-yo9GbzMjtQ9w7Y5yhVMZOe_NDrv1t8_WldNNKo2OvWyM6NwNZQ9I0Det52b_JEA6zQFsSlOJ1WAnETL5QkyBT50tYqR-GwOepMm6JjCcieA2qMF9QgqYJS8Rar4wauO/s200/IMG_9624.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Monday morning, after our calendar time, I pull out the "weekly" folder. I pass out the work that needs to go in the folder shown above. Each child has their own. They put math in one folder, spelling in another, handwriting in another, and so on. They may work at their own pace. If they want to get a lot done in one day, they have the freedom to do so, because they have all of their work for the entire week set before their little finger tips. But they file away their work for the week in their folders on their own. No more trying to get it done on Sunday nights (or scrambling on Monday mornings. We work together to get this done!)<br />
One thing about the workbox system that was too hard for my abstract/random mind was that there was some "order" as to when someone had to do something. My two oldest "concrete sequentials" would get totally thrown if I went out of order and it made things miserable for all of us and we started to clash. Doing it this way, there is no set order for when something needs to get done. We simply work through our work and we flex around each other. I know workboxes are s'posed to work that way, but they didn't for me. Besides, when it was a box, I felt pressure to come up with things like a random toy or snack or whatever to put in the box. Now, I can be more spontaneous about that kind of stuff...because hey! that's my personality!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SEKYDKzPBjJ2QmCh0K7V2iHwmuZOGIyyOD_MSX_r3OrxiPKbAT-GkLwvWAn7P4u0ho844L_9_kB_R7Ivc95UBKwJ0wudlNPlSodVIQaEbB46OozPLcHV7vmPiPpnnQSXT3I2JHK3U4hG/s1600/IMG_9620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SEKYDKzPBjJ2QmCh0K7V2iHwmuZOGIyyOD_MSX_r3OrxiPKbAT-GkLwvWAn7P4u0ho844L_9_kB_R7Ivc95UBKwJ0wudlNPlSodVIQaEbB46OozPLcHV7vmPiPpnnQSXT3I2JHK3U4hG/s200/IMG_9620.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the kids are done with their work, the finished product goes into a section in one of these sturdy 3 ring binders. They each have their own color coded binder that goes in our big Expedit (which is from Ikea but I got on craigslist).</td></tr>
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Is all of this making sense? Probably not. I should have split this into a couple different posts, but I'm going to keep going since I've gotten this far.<br />
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Want to see the rest of the spinny desk organizer that I love oh so much?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhwhyphenhyphenUF1fff2pnkZ4wzPThWH7FTHIeEQP-l-a56UBo6cO7Rbf0-TWYz9FhfA6IWyn0iLtdK02Dwnoc1vHslUeu5TcLlvgTjqF-12q3V26oy33_0vBTV6vuyDhTYgKS59zCYc5MX1H_15L/s1600/IMG_9637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhwhyphenhyphenUF1fff2pnkZ4wzPThWH7FTHIeEQP-l-a56UBo6cO7Rbf0-TWYz9FhfA6IWyn0iLtdK02Dwnoc1vHslUeu5TcLlvgTjqF-12q3V26oy33_0vBTV6vuyDhTYgKS59zCYc5MX1H_15L/s320/IMG_9637.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can keep all of my teacher manuals in here. There are even spots for those supply items you need as you go about the day. My 3-hole punch fits in there. My special "sharpies~just for mommy" have their own home. Our Bible time materials, the math manuals...it all fits in this little special desk. No longer do I run around wondering where I put MY manuals and supplies. Have I mentioned how much I love this thing?<br />
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I sat down with my kids a bit ago and asked them if there were some areas where they wanted to GROW in their relationship with the Lord. I had picked out a hand full of verses that I thought might apply and shared them (Peebs was the only one who picked a different verse than I had thought through, so we used the one on his heart). We then prayed about some areas they thought they'd like to grow and then they picked the verse they wanted to focus on for the year and the areas where they wanted to actively pray and seek God in which to grow. JoJo was too little to confer on this, so I simply chose Ephesians 2:8-9 as her verse, so that we could pray about her understanding of the free gift of the gospel that Jesus has for her.<br />
We're focusing on Ephesians 2:10 for all of the kids and we talked about areas where the kids wanted to serve God now. I have been explaining to them that they don't have to wait to become an adult to serve God and others. The big two picked areas in their live where they wanted to pursue service. I didn't pick anything specific for the littles, but wanted this concept in front of them during the year.<br />
I typed up their verses and the areas of growth they shared they wanted to pursue and laminated them and attached them to my spinny desk. This will be a visual reminder of the ways in which each child wants to individually grow spiritually during the year. This is our number one goal in homeschooling and I wanted to keep it on the forefront of our materials so that it wouldn't get lost in all of the wonderful curriculum/ideas/plans that the Lord has put before us.<br />
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So...any questions? I'd love to hear how you are organizing your school. Share how workboxes work for you. Or what other system do you use to stay organized and keep on top of it all?<br />
<br /></div>Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-31846207906162557712012-04-30T17:43:00.000-07:002012-04-30T17:43:17.927-07:00Connect 4~City Mom<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvYTr4QR7qiZxBmc1Kca2Uo1dxw9nFzuNGYY_jNsfHaRkQUUGzaGiouvdXNdixuO8SU6Qvy_1HABumdUIx89FMLBTZFjMI05MDWRk16eq-5Gn4e7uITZ-FYc7mq17oY0uT1HCJMx9j_3-/s1600/IMG_9609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvYTr4QR7qiZxBmc1Kca2Uo1dxw9nFzuNGYY_jNsfHaRkQUUGzaGiouvdXNdixuO8SU6Qvy_1HABumdUIx89FMLBTZFjMI05MDWRk16eq-5Gn4e7uITZ-FYc7mq17oY0uT1HCJMx9j_3-/s320/IMG_9609.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does that sandwich look good? This is what we had for dinner last night. And tonight too.</td></tr>
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We meet with three other families in a group called "Connect 4" where we discuss parenting in a grace-filled, spirit-led manner. And when someone talks about whining at the dinner table, I offer up <strike>helpful</strike>, awkward suggestions like "oh, when that happens at our house I remind our kids that children should be seen and not heard." (I'm hilarious! Our group just doesn't know it yet) ;)<br />
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We share a meal and then have a time of discussion.<br />
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Last night we had a "build-your-own Subway Sandwich" night. I think it was a hit.<br />
You need to have a really cool husband who knows how to make bread to pull this off (unless you're a really cool chick who bakes bread~that is not me).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TxPUQsiciywfgkFHnJnaUuRADZMbwWqtHCNqY3jGREDBK2xfsbD7SPcpcU4jFWNjjznm1V0hW0e8lD92xz8SfUKvKDteUt-0z6I-Cq1pV9s75_Sop9mwgKYF39lXjK8NYUtB13F-zuqq/s1600/IMG_9593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TxPUQsiciywfgkFHnJnaUuRADZMbwWqtHCNqY3jGREDBK2xfsbD7SPcpcU4jFWNjjznm1V0hW0e8lD92xz8SfUKvKDteUt-0z6I-Cq1pV9s75_Sop9mwgKYF39lXjK8NYUtB13F-zuqq/s320/IMG_9593.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not a huge bread eater anymore, since I've been making healthy lifestyle changes, but look at that!<br />
City Dad made it all by hand. It was far more enticing than the broccoli (for SOME of us)~Mr. G, I'm so proud of you!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYetp171HkhkT_Ta-NnW8dVHWtZGbujXSaZOoXEaAq_564lXh8MVZQonXKXvBq7SLsy0sYmROIGHea2hoeXNdtphI3AaR3Wx_Rca58z14k2iqW_Wtwk5txZSGFszM9VxlFd1O_P3wFqom/s1600/IMG_9594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYetp171HkhkT_Ta-NnW8dVHWtZGbujXSaZOoXEaAq_564lXh8MVZQonXKXvBq7SLsy0sYmROIGHea2hoeXNdtphI3AaR3Wx_Rca58z14k2iqW_Wtwk5txZSGFszM9VxlFd1O_P3wFqom/s320/IMG_9594.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You also need men with beards to pull off this evening. HOW did this picture get in my camera Mr. Mud?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZW3893x1vZUUxgaIxg4SreUbbESCJeNYmqVFkvBegufOyCSJXJwWfgT9mgWIuDKOr4VN7iB0M-l7WgrZhLRwL2QIYNxC3e3N7NrmNyJVUGl9Y1PWjM4PMKWgWBP8Jz0DkWsdxUXYqsnO/s1600/IMG_9596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZW3893x1vZUUxgaIxg4SreUbbESCJeNYmqVFkvBegufOyCSJXJwWfgT9mgWIuDKOr4VN7iB0M-l7WgrZhLRwL2QIYNxC3e3N7NrmNyJVUGl9Y1PWjM4PMKWgWBP8Jz0DkWsdxUXYqsnO/s320/IMG_9596.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's our cute crew of kids. It is fun when City Dad gets them all settled and then has them come upstairs and jump at their parents to thank them for learning and growing as parents.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NVCeDxtzwJkkYMQD6TflXELJonGu9rJ0G5ljjlV0g_8rU3myUL6UD7f_0GdXEOtUjtotO5gbOW2AVR8j6CXlT4SHZiiAzBaiu3IwvL5aGR3o1hiM9F3cxWooLrQt_kEXkBQd7s8WMd6A/s1600/IMG_9597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NVCeDxtzwJkkYMQD6TflXELJonGu9rJ0G5ljjlV0g_8rU3myUL6UD7f_0GdXEOtUjtotO5gbOW2AVR8j6CXlT4SHZiiAzBaiu3IwvL5aGR3o1hiM9F3cxWooLrQt_kEXkBQd7s8WMd6A/s320/IMG_9597.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 2 year olds in the group. They look like they just jumped out of a cute Family Circus cartoon!<br />
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It has been life changing to me to approach parenting from the stand point of walking by faith, being spirit led, and leading our children in grace. In the earlier years, I was a little more "harsh" with my children~thinking if I was stern enough, or if my "consequences" were unpleasant enough that I would be leading my children well. Over the years I've learned that if I dole out unpleasant consequences I CAN get my children to do what I want. However, when I look down the road, I don't want "compliance" so much as I want my children's hearts.<br />
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A couple of my favorite thoughts from our times of study:<br />
"My children are not my report card" ( Jim Jackson)<br />
"It is not my job to FORCE my children to obey. The command for obedience in Ephesians and Colossians is to the children. I can train them in righteousness, but whether or not they obey is entirely up to them."<br />
"If Jesus treated prostitutes and drunkards and the vilest of sinners with a tender hearted compassion, why do we as parents think we need to treat precious, small children as if they were Pharisees with hardened hearts?" (I think that's some kind of Clay Clarkson very poorly paraphrased thought.)<br />
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You kind of get the idea. I love the ideas from the book "Discipline that Connects with your Child's Heart" book. It is basically "walking by faith" as a parent. When an issue or concern arises, my job is to step back, ask Jesus for help, make sure my child knows he/she is loved (even in the midst of sin and bad choices), try to look for the gift that has gone awry, and correct the sin/misbehavior in a way that helps them know they are capable of doing the right thing.<br />
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It makes so much sense to me to ask God for help in situations with my kids. There are so many parenting resources out there that have "blanket" answers and set us up as parents as if we always know what is right~and if we don't, the author of the book we're reading does. I don't always know. I DO need to rely on God! I do need to check my own heart/spirit as I interact with my kids and not always assume that I am "right" in all of my demands or interactions. I do need to realize that sometimes I need to give up what I perceive as my "rights" in my home...like a quiet atmosphere, a peaceful afternoon, a sleep filled night. Parenting is sacrifice. Parenting requires faith. Parenting requires grace and most of all, love.Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-62679358210853323822012-04-21T12:22:00.002-07:002012-04-21T12:24:01.566-07:00Goldie's Last Day~City Mom<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deuteronomy 6:4-9 </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you were to ask my husband and children about me lately...they'd tell you I've been slightly obsessed with certain CD's. Recently, the group that has frequented our CD players the most is PFR. I was a HUGE fan in my college days and have found that those old CD's are still pretty much the bomb.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other day we popped in "Goldie's Last Day" during a van trip across town. The kids actually begged for it, so either my good taste is rubbing off or they're really cool kids. If you haven't heard the song, then you need to get yourself over to youtube and take a listen: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac2FWpXas3o" target="_blank">Goldie's Last Day</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I "facebooked" Joel Hanson my kid's comments about the song. (**he "liked" my comment. sigh. facebook can be so fun sometimes) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JuBe was full of questions as she hummed along: "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Did he REALLY have a dog named Goldie? Was it a boy or girl? How did Goldie die? Is this song funny or not?"</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Peebs was the skeptic: "Why would you want to SING about that?" and "Ewww. The dog LICKED him?"</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><br />Odes...the philosopher: Goldie's dead mom. Dead. Will I have a last day some day? Will all of us have a last day? I guess I want to have a last day. Then I'll get to see where I'm going to go. You know...heaven or hell.<br /><br />My response was internal: I wonder if the PFR guys ever anticipated as they recorded this song, that a four year old boy was going to get schooled in the gospel as a result.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">The verses from Deuteronomy flashed up in my brain after I heard Odes ask his simple child-like questions and as he pondered life, death, and all that God has for us. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">There are SO many instances like this as we go through our days...when God gives us these little "divine appointments" with our children. Opportunities where we have a choice! We can chuckle and write them down in a baby book. We can feel frustrated and try to push the questions away so we can get back to our own thoughts. Or we can do the "Sh'ma...Deuteronomy 6:4-9. One of my favorite aspects of homeschooling is that I get to be there when these little thoughts crop up <i>all day long</i>. And as we are sitting at home, walking (or in this case driving) down the road, at bed time, in the morning, <i>all day long</i> I get to be there to lovingly take these sweet buds of thought or deep questions of the universe and I can help to shape their hearts and minds and remind them that "The Lord our God, the Lord is one."</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">After Odes said the above, I turned off the music and began to ask him questions. Questions that reveal the heart. We talked about the reality of an after life. We talked about sin and the amazing grace that Jesus bestowed on us when he bore our sin and stood in our place to take on God's wrath against our depravity. And yes! I use big "theological" words like that with a 4 year old. Sometimes he gets it, sometimes he doesn't! </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><b>You know what he said though? "Well, I sure want Jesus to pay for my sins! </b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><b>I don't want to pay for them myself!" </b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">He shared his assurance of where he would go on the day when it came from him to stand face-to-face with Jesus. We've had variations on this conversation a hundred times. He wants to follow Jesus. Sometimes he gets confused and thinks HE needs to do something to be in right standing with God. Sometimes, something "clicks" and he realizes that it's all based on Jesus. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">What is the last "divine appointment" you've had with one of your kiddos? How are you impressing God's commandments on your children's hearts?</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">One of my favorite ways to "schedule" this into our day is at breakfast. I will try and share something that God is teaching me either from His word or through the encouragement of another person. David is going through the scriptures with the kids each night as they follow the book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Long-Story-Short-Ten-Minute-Devotions/dp/1935273817" target="_blank">Long Story Short</a>. (This is a really great devotional for kids of all ages. I find myself being challenged at times. And there are many sweet times when David and I are able to share applicable stories of God's faithfulness in our lives in the past and present as we go through the scriptures with our children.)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">We still go through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Our-Family-Ways-Clay-Clarkson/dp/1888692022/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335035578&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Our 24 Family Ways</a> (I do this with the kids in the mornings and we all do the "memory" of each way and verse, together as a family). I met with each kid this week one-on-one, to pick out verses that we're going to focus on in how they want to grow in Christ over the next year. I really love the spontaneous moments with my kids that catch me by surprise the best though. Go ahead and share some of yours below!!!</span></span></div>Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-58269753313623429192012-04-20T12:46:00.003-07:002012-04-20T12:47:44.055-07:00How Many Homeschoolers Does it Take to Make Lunch?~City Mom<br />
Today we tried to do our own version of a Homeschool Cooking Show to share with you. I'm going to say straight up, that this didn't go as planned. There were tears. There was fighting. There was a "stern-talking-to" at one point. A lesson on fractions was interrupted when a character lesson raised in importance. It took us 45 minutes to make something I could have made in five. We made a mess. A fairly large one. We tried to video tape our natural reaction to the lunch coming out of the oven, but the sun in the background didn't cooperate so we had to do a lame fabricated one...<br />
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But here is our Pannekoeken lunch lesson:<br />
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Pannekoeken recipe:<br />
Preheat: 9x13 pan dotted with butter<br />
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5 or 6 eggs<br />
1 1/2 C Milk<br />
1 1/2 C Flour<br />
1 heaping T. Sugar<br />
1 T. Melted butter/with a little salt<br />
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Mix above ingredients together<br />
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Bake at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes<br />
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Serve with: syrup, fruit, whip cream, brown sugar, or powdered sugar.<br />
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**Bring to the table piping hot, banging on an old tin pie plate shouting "Pannekoeken, Pannekoeken"<br />
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How many homeschoolers does it take to make lunch in your house? What are some fun things you do at meal times? Do you include kids in your cooking? Do you have a favorite or funny recipe?<br />
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<span id="goog_1704578746"></span><span id="goog_1704578747"></span>Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-44698660993109039432012-04-18T21:44:00.002-07:002012-04-18T21:46:54.572-07:00My Weakness, God's Strength~City MomBefore I had children, I knew I wanted to be at home with them. I wanted to be like my mom. She was always there. She knew everything about me. She helped me with projects, was always there before and after school. She watched Sesame Street with me, and braided my hair, and colored with me, and read me every good classic book. She made awesome meals and laughed and rode bikes and let me listen to records. Mom let me have friends over, and buy scholastic books, and was OK with me selling wrapping paper and Christmas cards to the neighbors. She encouraged my giftings and never shoved me away. She would bring a blanket into the shade under the trees up at the lake and read to me and then tell me her own stories, like the one about the cows across the road who wore jewelry. We shopped and went to the restaurant with the goat on the roof in Door County. She said weird German phrases and spit on us when we got hurt. She let us ruin her beautiful Easter Eggs with our stupid crayon sayings, and always made Christmas and birthdays magical with the perfect cakes and thoughtful presents. She let us watch Mork & Mindy and have an atari and let us be the "who" we were supposed to be. She took me on a weekend trip to talk to me about all of the changes that go on in a pre-adolescent girl, giving me a beautiful diamond cross at the end to signify purity and the price that Christ paid to win mine for me. Doesn't she sound too good to be true? She's amazing.<br />
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Then...it was my turn. Like many new moms, I went into parenting with a head full of ideals and a heart full of fear. Here was this tiny life set before me, and I wanted to do all of it <i>right.</i> Sigh. I did really well with that too...for the first 20 months. Then, another baby came. I was going to do an ever BETTER job with Peebs. I'd live up to my ideals...but without fear! I had confidence now!<br />
...We got home from the hospital and my mom and dad met us at home to drop off JuBe and I sobbed, begging them to stay. I couldn't handle having two babies at one time!!! During the next year, most of my ideals were stretched and challenged in ways I couldn't believe! It was HARD to breastfeed this big boy sometimes 12 times a day. It was HARD to divide time between two babies. My husband wanted a clean house and orderly toys (or so I thought). JuBe was starting to challenge me! Peebs was far more needy of a baby. I was tired. Finances were tough. I felt great pride and joy in my sweet little gifts, but I was in over my head.<br />
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I began to think that maybe I needed to do something <i>else.</i> But what? I hated to part from the kids for more than 30 minutes and I had to do that three times a week to work out. So, I started a MOPS group! That sounds good, right? I could get encouragement and it would be a project to do with the kids in mind! In the midst of that "good" thing, I also became pregnant and started a Home Based Business. I didn't realize it then, but I was grasping for something outside of my Calling. Because frankly, my calling was just waaaay too hard. Being a passionate person, I gave myself to planning my new mommy group and making some "fun" money for my family. I felt little tugs of guilt as to where my heart was heading...but I justified it away, thinking about the ministry opportunities that were in front of me. I lost my baby and became pregnant again fairly quickly.<br />
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Odes join us. We went through a time of sweet, sweet joy. Odes was the sweetest, easiest baby.<br />
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My business was making us a nice little income alongside my husband's. The Bigs had each other and I got to spend a lot of time cuddling my third little baby. We sold our home, moved in with my parents, built a new home, and SURPRISE...another baby was on the way! With all of the change in our lives, transition after baby #4, our sweet JoJo wasn't quite as easy. That's another story, for another time. But, I will say that everything seemed to crash around me. The Mom ministry was long-gone...but I was still grasping all around my Calling and trying to find fulfillment in additional ways.<br />
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However, JoJo gave me a great, great gift. Or, I should say, Jesus gave me a great gift with the addition of her to our family. I.could.not.do.it.any.more. I was busted. I was running full speed ahead in everything. I was putting finishing touches on our new home, running my business with all of my energy, homeschooling, and breastfeeding a new (and 4th I might add) baby on demand.<br />
I crashed. Fell apart. Physically, emotionally, mentally, I was totally depleted.<br />
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And then...Jesus. I began to learn that I couldn't be *my* mom (what a bummer, cuz she's awesome!), I couldn't be all things to all people. I couldn't even be the mom that *I* am called to be...in my own strength! Slowly, I began to relinquish the control, the fear, the craziness to Jesus. And something beautiful has come as a result. My home is messier, my kids are louder, we make more mistakes. Sometimes I forget things I put on the calendar. I don't always look "perfectly put together" when I go out. Sometimes my kids are really, really, really, naughty in public. Sometimes, I have to say "no" to the good things, in order to say "yes" to Jesus and His Calling on my life as a mom.<br />
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"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)<br />
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As I continue to relinquish myself to HIS plan, I am able to show more weakness. And HE is shining more and more in my home. That is my goal in this home! For Him to shine. More of Him, less of me.<br />
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Stay tuned...because the next part in all of this is a difficult lesson I've been learning in "sacrifice." And I'll be excited to share it, if I get the right inspiration and the words are able to come. This mom-path is so crazy. I daresay, my sweet mom came to these conclusions in her own way when she walked the early days of mommy-hood. But there are some things can't be <i>taught</i>~so I've <i>had</i> to walk through this path of refinement and sanctification in my life<i>.</i> My wise-mom never says much as I walk through this journey. I know she stands back and prays as she sweetly encourages me day-in and day-out. Maybe, I *will* become more like her, because we're both becoming more like Jesus. And ultimately, He'll be the shining light and legacy that both of us will leave as this next generation rises up.<br />
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<br />Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-46191573346967930302012-04-12T07:28:00.001-07:002012-04-12T07:52:42.632-07:00Curriculum picks ~ City MomTo quote one of my BFF's Tammie: "Next year is going to be the year when everything is going to come together in our homeschool and all will be right."<br />
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Is that what is going on with me? For crying out loud~it's April! I haven't gone to a homeschool convention, I haven't finished this year's studies with the kids, but I have a PLAN for next year. And it is AWESOME. I can't wait to implement it! Woo hoo!!!</div>
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This is actually the eve before my very first homeschooling convention, so before I share my picks, I want to share a link up to some cautions from one of my favorite homeschool mom/grandma's out there in the blogosphere. Check it out! <a href="http://www.thatmom.com/2012/04/11/the-bestest-ever/" target="_blank">the bestest ever</a></div>
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JuBe will be in 3rd grade. I can't BELIEVE it! I remember when she was 3 or 4 and didn't want to be homeschooled. I told her we'd pray about it and she agreed. One day I went to Target to buy some tag board and markers and she said, "does this mean God wants us to homeschool?" I told her "yes." She sighed and said, "alright then, if that's what He wants." I'm happy to say that she wouldn't have it any other way now!<br />
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This past year we did "My Father's World" the "adventures" year. A lovely gracious mom I met at a homeschool showing of "Annie" loaned it to us for the year. We have enjoyed our intro to the states and early U.S./colonial history. That said, we won't be diving into the MFW cycle this next Fall like I had previously planned. It's still an option for the future, but right now there are a few reasons we'll be passing.<br />
1. It is $350+ for basically history and Bible. I love the thematic nature of the beast...but that's a lot of cash flow for something I could do for almost nothing, if I utilize the library, pinterest, and my own creativity.<br />
2. It gives a nice structure, but I'm not sure I *want* that kind of structure. I kind of felt tied to going back to the MFW "schedule" and then trying to implement my own stuff and back and forth and back and forth until I just went with theirs. I don't really enjoy that, so for now, we are moving on.<br />
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So...drum roll please...here is my Rough-Draft of the 2012-2013 school year:<br />
This first section will outline what we will all do together.<br />
<h4>
Science: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Childs-Geography-Explore-His-Earth/dp/1932786325" target="_blank">A Child's Geography</a> by Ann Voskamp (a holy experience mom). This looks to me more like an "earth science" book than Geography. But, my goal for this year is to give the kids a picture of the Great World that is beyond our door step and country. I think it will fit in nicely to what I am hoping to introduce to them. We will do this book 1x a week. Looks like there are some awesome activities in it. We'll also be doing some experiments that I found on pinterest.</h4>
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<br />Geography: I was a little extravagant this year and decided to purchase <a href="http://www.littlepassports.com/" target="_blank">Little Passports</a>. I was introduced to this cute little "tour of the world" a couple of years ago from Jolanthe over at <a href="http://homeschoolcreations.com/" target="_blank">homeschool creations</a>. I've wanted to do it ever since and decided this has to be the year. JuBe will still think it's fun. I didn't want to miss that window. They love getting mail, so that aspect is very exciting. I realize it won't be a complete geography study however, so I've been compiling some different lapbooks on my pinterest page. Then, I came across: <a href="http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/world-geography" target="_blank">Expedition Earth</a> by Erica over at Confessions of a Homeschooler. For $15 she's already done all of the work and it looks like FUN. So, we'll probably be adding that choice to our "daily" routine.</h4>
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<h4>
Bible: I've had this wonderful book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Childs-Story-Bible-ebook/dp/B001J54VAK" target="_blank">Children's Story Bible by Catherine Vos</a> for several years now, since Country Mom told me it was a must-have. We read it 3 years ago when my Bigs were tiny and even though there are virtually no pictures and the stories are long, they used to beg me to read it to them. During that time, Peebs had a light-bulb moment and completely embraced the gospel. I have seen fruit of repentance and belief in his life ever since. I really have a fondness for this book. So, I've decided that we are going to re-visit the New Testament portion of it. We're simply going to read it daily and discuss. I may add coloring pages from time-to-time that go with the theme of what we are reading, or a fun activity, but this is simply what we're doing for "Bible" this year. We will be doing a scripture memory routine that we always do (we put scripture verses on cards and also on a cute chalk board by our table) and learn them as a family. Here's the cute chalkboard: </h4>
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The writing on it is from the Clarkson's <a href="http://www.wholeheart.org/" target="_blank">http://www.wholeheart.org/</a> "24 Family Ways." We will be continuing to learn and talk about the 24 family ways & scripture passages which accompany them next Fall.We'll be doing this during Calendar Time however instead of meal time which is what we currently do. (I'll cover our new Calendar Time in another post some day.)</div>
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<h4>
Art: This will be a compilation of "Drawing Lessons" with Barry Stebbing, "How Great Thou Art" and simply areas of interest from books we're reading, holiday themes, and pinterest ideas. Gotta love pinterest. </h4>
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Physical Eduation: We'll be doing Swimming Lessons and I have a plan to take them to a HomeSchool swim two times monthly. I have some other ideas planned for teaching them some gross motor skills, but this isn't fully developed yet. </h4>
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Read alouds: We do at least two Read Aloud chunks of time a day. Usually right after lunch, and right after afternoon pick up (right before Dad gets home). Often we'll read a chapter or two at bed time as well. We'll start these this summer most likely. We like to sit on our nasty old swing on the front porch and read together as we wind down from a day of playing outside. </h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DDf7vmcsXApesKQh-DJjbsySzuDAvz-a_iZfIJX7Et3ULi7Wd9NiRSK6U087QRR19Eaj8A1ChGKaOdoJDZfHf0rrJrJWSLj-GBGFmZOGIjdYxN4zKZ-duAin79BkarpKG9vxLqOgpIeH/s1600/IMG_9241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DDf7vmcsXApesKQh-DJjbsySzuDAvz-a_iZfIJX7Et3ULi7Wd9NiRSK6U087QRR19Eaj8A1ChGKaOdoJDZfHf0rrJrJWSLj-GBGFmZOGIjdYxN4zKZ-duAin79BkarpKG9vxLqOgpIeH/s200/IMG_9241.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxpIHnBkY0_1MhmYkPc2NnUH_Pv3rznXvARiHm8qlTm6nKQ0l94z7kE_RvolichzxTfn2FiVBH25YR7ZDV_YwnlSbu2pvJMARQz707Z_vXZfng4hQtHQide70s8DF5uHPjRtbCRToMMHS/s1600/IMG_9242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxpIHnBkY0_1MhmYkPc2NnUH_Pv3rznXvARiHm8qlTm6nKQ0l94z7kE_RvolichzxTfn2FiVBH25YR7ZDV_YwnlSbu2pvJMARQz707Z_vXZfng4hQtHQide70s8DF5uHPjRtbCRToMMHS/s200/IMG_9242.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't it horrible ugly? It is comfy though. And a sweet neighbor walked it down to our house, 2 blocks away just to bless us. It's hard to get rid of it. It folds into a bed. We utilize it all the time. The kids can eat and drink on it. It is not "House Beautiful" but it is loved. I am often tempted to go out and purchase cute front porch furniture, but can never really give up this ugly, old piece!</td></tr>
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These are the books on our list for the coming year: Indian in the Cupboard, Mouse & the Motorcycle, Mr. Popper's Penguin's (In honor of Nana's favorite childhood book), Betsy~Tacy Go Over the Big Hill, James and the Giant Peach, Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of Nimh, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. Honestly, this list excites me more than anything else in my stuffed little planner. City Dad has his own reading list which he reads to the kids. He's looking forward to the "10 girls/boys that Changed the World" series.</h4>
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Individual kiddos...</h3>
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JuBe... </h4>
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language picks are here: <a href="http://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/all-about-spelling" target="_blank">All About Spelling</a> (2x weekly), <a href="http://www.primarylanguagelessons.com/primary-language-lessons-workbook-part-2" target="_blank">Primary Language Lessons Volume 2</a> (2 x weekly). My friend Tammie told me about this workbook option. I'm excited about this! We have used the book this year, but it's been slightly unmotivating to do it without a workbook, so next year hopefully this inexpensive little fix will help us stay focused. <a href="http://www.areasonfor.com/article.php?id=19" target="_blank">A Reason For Handwriting</a>, we've loved this and we'll be moving into cursive this year. The little Bible verses at the end of the week are a treasure. She'll be doing this daily. She'll be practicing writing in our Geography and Science units. Also, my 4th grade teacher, Mr. Reinsmoen (who was the best teacher I ever had), would read aloud to us every day and then have us "journal" on our own afterward. She'll be practicing writing skills this way as well.</div>
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Math: ugh! I haven't decided on this one for absolute certain but am leaning toward sticking with <a href="http://www.clp.org/" target="_blank">Christian Light Math</a>. I love that it's a spiral approach and she has her math facts solid (even if she does hate it!). I've considered "MathUSee" and "Teaching Textbooks." I think MUS is ruled out, based on the "mastery" approach and from a conversation with my friend Jean and reading some reviews. I don't like that you just work on one skill all through the level. That would make my kids and I both nuts. I'll talk to the Teaching Textbooks people at the convention tomorrow and will still consider this shift. My one caution is the finances and the idea that she would be doing ALL of her work on the computer. I'd miss being her "math teacher." I know we'll move to this system at some point, but I'm not sure if *I* am ready for that yet.</div>
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Peebs: </h4>
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Language: we'll be doing <a href="http://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/all-about-reading/" target="_blank">All About Reading</a>. We've loved Ziggy and are excited to move forward. We have tried different reading approaches and haven't loved anything until we came across AAR. I wanted to include Odes during these lessons but that had Peebs in tears as he wants his "alone" time with me and doesn't want Odes shouting out the answers. So, we'll see how he feels about that in the Fall. Odes is a language pro, so I understand Peebs objections. He'll also be doing <a href="http://www.areasonfor.com/article.php?id=19" target="_blank">A Reason for Handwriting</a> this Fall.</div>
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Math: We'll stick with <a href="http://www.clp.org/" target="_blank">Christian Light</a>. Peebs is a math whiz and will zoom right through his lessons. He is excited!<br />
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The Littles (Odes and JoJo)...</h3>
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We'll be doing <a href="http://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/all-about-reading/" target="_blank">All About Reading</a> with Ziggy again next year. They LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Probably 2 times a week. We'll also be doing <a href="http://fiarhq.com/fiveinarow.info/index.html" target="_blank">Before Five in a Row</a>. I have most of the books and did it with the older two. Precious! I plan on doing this 1 to 2 times a week. I just hope I don't skimp out on this. These are sweet days with those little two, and I don't want to forget that and get bogged down in life, schooling, housework, my own job, etc. and forget to invest and pour into them on their own level!</div>
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Well, that's it! If you made it this far, you are amazing! I'd have to say this post was good for my own processing...and maybe I'm the only one who cares about it, and that's OK! If you did read and have some thoughts...feel free to chime in. I love hearing opinions on this stuff! What are you thinking about for your family's curriculum next Fall???</div>
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<br /></div>Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-21433962942626937052012-04-07T19:13:00.002-07:002012-04-07T19:13:34.995-07:00He Is Risen Indeed!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWry97KHRXITfFoGF-6mjdG9BJsZYE5JWHpP3C2mYz1gIGDbiAwIlTipgFJBelRbC9eRKZIkTNaFnyKCvIuFJCXTAgaKIqFBvEjbDOski2t4nMQ7prQYIiU633Uz3cp55nA9pLrpYJdrl7/s1600/IMG_8896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWry97KHRXITfFoGF-6mjdG9BJsZYE5JWHpP3C2mYz1gIGDbiAwIlTipgFJBelRbC9eRKZIkTNaFnyKCvIuFJCXTAgaKIqFBvEjbDOski2t4nMQ7prQYIiU633Uz3cp55nA9pLrpYJdrl7/s200/IMG_8896.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right after we put it together.<br />
We used a jelly roll pan, an old candle holder, some rocks form a jar which held a candle.<br />
We purchased the dirt and grass seed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvedTkN1md2jVvMscyt23KWIIAeK9n6eU0xxdqcz73PL9e4zIJMw_MLRiw3Sd1kpfshJk4BYhRT-7vSriQCOT-DL-xf-VWDf5w4vBeNlnL3YOoi3CBm3U1uyomp5gahjcoMTq-_PWbuTF/s1600/IMG_9164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvedTkN1md2jVvMscyt23KWIIAeK9n6eU0xxdqcz73PL9e4zIJMw_MLRiw3Sd1kpfshJk4BYhRT-7vSriQCOT-DL-xf-VWDf5w4vBeNlnL3YOoi3CBm3U1uyomp5gahjcoMTq-_PWbuTF/s640/IMG_9164.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here is our (pinterest) "Grace Garden"</span></td></tr>
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<br />
Country Mom and I were giggling about how millions of homes across the planet will have some variation of these little empty tombs as their Easter table centerpiece thanks to pinterest.<br />
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After we laughed, I thought..."how awesome! little sprouts of worship in homes across the land!" What a beautiful picture to think that these little projects will grace many tables...right next to the ham and twice baked potatoes!<br />
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Lord Jesus, you conquered sin & death.<br />
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"I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross"<br />
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Odes asked me tonight as I was tucking him in for sleep "Mommy! Is God dead?"<br />
"Oh no sweet son! Jesus paid the price for our sin on calvary, but he is very much alive. He has won the victory and death has no sting!"<br />
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He Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!<br />
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<br /></div>Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-44039005695351526252012-04-05T08:10:00.000-07:002012-04-05T12:00:43.093-07:00City Mom's homeschool REALITY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
When we decided to start a blog...ANOTHER BLOG about homeschooling, Country Mom and I wanted to present ourselves honestly. We have some good ideas. We can be creative. We have really good and cute kids. We like to share the good, but never want to come off as if we are perfect, or that we in ourselves are something to strive to go after. We'll share our ideas...and the imperfections that accompany them on the way. Here are some <i>realities</i> about City Mom's homeschool life:</div>
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JoJo likes to change up the answers to our "Good Morning" song we do during Calendar Time. The other day instead of saying "I'm fine" she said, "I'm Obama" during her portion of the song. Do other people's kids change it up like this? Or is it just mine?<br />
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Then it was Odes' turn to answer. He also decided to answer "I'm President Obama" only with the intent to get others riled up. Are my kids the only ones who fight during calendar time? Confession: I used to get upset about stuff like this. I mean, my kids weren't looking like the perfect bloggers' families I'd seen doing these activities. What was wrong with us?<br />
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The kids make the Pledge of Allegiance into a goofy time. Hitting each other with the flag, laughing. JuBe was the only true participant. Is this what homeschool looks like? Is it something I've done? Should I be cracking down on the kids and making sure we are doing this "right"?<br />
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During devotions this morning I asked the question "How do we let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts?" <i>Someone</i> answered, "I smelled **George's gas once. I mean, I didn't put my face in his butt, but I smelled it. More than once." That put an end to our time. Really, no one could recover.<br />
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As I begin to share ideas, curriculum picks, how we organize, some or our family goals, some pictures, our "pinteresting" existence, I want you to remember this post. I get asked often: "how do you do it all" "your kids are soooo well behaved" "I could just NEVER do what you do" ... remember this post.<br />
My kids are great, great kids. They are not perfect kids. I am NOT supermom/perfect mom. I am however, learning that these little "blurps" in our day are really the "gifts" in our day. I'm learning to laugh and enjoy and realize that we don't need to look like our friend's homes, blogger's homes, or anyone else's home but OUR home. That is a happy place to be. It's the best place to be.<br />
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And remember, the next time you see pictures of my kids or hear about our family devotion time...our kids are probably talking about the scent of your kid's gas. Oh boy!<br />
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**name changed to protect the identity of the child.<br />
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<br />Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-33499428033857055072012-04-04T13:24:00.001-07:002012-04-04T13:24:51.003-07:00Pray For Rain ~ City Mom<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fGKBMBYkWU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fGKBMBYkWU</a><br />
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I recently took a road trip. I brought along a few friends from my past:<br />
James Taylor, Christy & Nathan Nockels, Whitney Houston, Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Brian Eichenberger (OK, he actually IS an old friend), Joel Hanson and the PFR guys were among the crew. It was a packed little Honda Accord!!!<br />
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The past decade has been an interesting one musically. Right around the time I had my first baby, I also had a time of deep pain in regards to my musical journey. The combination of the painful event and the first baby caused me to put all musical ambition on hold. Don't get me wrong...I've had much joy as a mother over the past several years, HOWEVER, I have switched off a crucial element in my life. God has always used music to reach me. The gospel became clear to me through a SONG. I played instruments and sang all through grade school at church. In middle school I began to get a taste of truly "educating myself" in music as I played in the jazz band. I was in dance. I liked theater. In high school, music/theater/choir/band were really the only things I cared about. This led to seeking a degree in music and a career in music after graduation. Every missions trip I've ever been on turned into me somehow being an element of some type of "song-leader" even when I tried to avoid it---it's just been a part of who I am. Almost all of the turning points or significant times in my life, can be led back to a certain song, or band, or show, or gig. Even when I was near death in a foreign country, the way God spoke to my heart was through a <i>song. </i><br />
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It's really been tragic to turn off this area of my life. It's affected my personhood and spiritual journey.<br />
But, last Summer, my dear friend Handt,<br />
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asked me to come sing with his worship team. I cried through the entire rehearsal. Until he looked over and told me I had five days to get it together...and then I laughed. This flood of tears, opened up a flood-gate in my heart. Then I remembered my friend Brian (Ike) had a CD out. He sent it to me and it made me so happy to hear his developed gift for song-writing, and his amazing skills. <a href="http://www.ikemusic.com/">http://www.ikemusic.com/</a><br />
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This all led to my road trip. There were some really great moments of memories listening to the songs from the artists above. But two of my favorites came from PFR...the song linked above and a song I'll link below. I don't know that I want to EXPLAIN the significance in them for me, as that will seem to take away a bit from the ART. But, I will say that the second verse of "Grace of God" was particularly compelling. "So, I bought the lie and I chained my soul..."<br />
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Unchain my soul Lord God! By the Grace of God!!!<br />
The flood gates have been opened, and the Song in my Heart...is back. It's a little wiser now...it's a little more cautious...it's a little more open at the same time. I'm made whole again. Thanks friends for joining me on my road trip and being <i>instruments</i> (ar, ar) in my journey!<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXukyxom8Fw&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL55F6BB0FDA611D17">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXukyxom8Fw&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL55F6BB0FDA611D17</a><br />
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<br />Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529637441145115291.post-89970499026958445052012-04-03T11:26:00.003-07:002012-04-03T11:26:28.896-07:00Life on the Farm<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZdF8ArebVSKCzu-Ce4LHBRL-6ORuCZUrBpN44z3AWQB3_of88l_m0UoHOcH6CFBcRdalOfEkulKzn0rJR9estka06y07CRg2FAzslI2wDpJ0u1rLNwC3fSYVvMKa4HceB5TbgYkNI6Na/s1600/IMG_2117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZdF8ArebVSKCzu-Ce4LHBRL-6ORuCZUrBpN44z3AWQB3_of88l_m0UoHOcH6CFBcRdalOfEkulKzn0rJR9estka06y07CRg2FAzslI2wDpJ0u1rLNwC3fSYVvMKa4HceB5TbgYkNI6Na/s320/IMG_2117.JPG" width="320" /></a> This month we will have been on our little farm for 4 year.....it's hard
to believe that it's been that long. After so many years of living in a
little neighborhood in the Twin Cities, I still sometimes can hardly believe
that this is our home. It's silent here, it's beautiful, I can go out
to the barn in my pajamas and no one will care, I can sit at the fire at
night, look up at the stars and see constellations that I would never
have been able to see in the city. I hear coyotes, and owls and frogs, see pelicans fly over our house on the way to Lura Lake.
In June and July the fields are dotted each evening with fireflies, and
in August the corn is close to 7'tall surrounding our property. It's a
quiet peaceful place!! Sun setting behind our little vineyard<br />
<br />I'm a believer in learning though experiences and this spot that the
Lord has put us is the perfect backdrop for us to do just that....since
moving here, we've raised chicks into hens that give us our eggs,
rescued a little horse and brought his hooves back to health (and taught
him some manners along the way), put in a 60' x 90' vegetable garden, a
dozen fruit trees, a large perennial garden, gathered LOTS of wood to
burn in our wood burner, watched birds, raised bunnies and cats, trudged
fields looking for field stone, gathered morel mushrooms, bought snowshoes to get to the barn in the winter, witnessed
meteor showers, and storms, and wind like I've never seen before.<br />
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I think that life on a farm is shaping us daily....giving us discipline and character. Out here, if dinner isn't made you don't have the
option of running to McDonalds.....it just isn't an option.....you make fried eggs or a pannekoeken. We've all
learned the value of hard work....when it's 40mph wind in middle of
winter and the animals need feeding you don't have the option of waiting
until the wind dies down....you have to do it. It builds a discipline
in you that can only come from the work of doing. Plowing the driveway, weeding, shoveling horse or chicken manure, hauling hay, hauling wood....all things that are hard and not really fun, but that I try to embrace.....life is fleeting, and I know I'll look back on even these things when my kids are grown and remember them fondly. <br />
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Marcella and I trying to convince the chickens to go in their coop a little early so that we don't have to come back out after dark </div>
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Marcella picking and eating a piece of rhubarb</div>
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Tiger sitting in front of the woodshed</div>
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James 4:14</div>
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Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a
vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.</div>
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Kari </div>
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<br /></div>Country Mom City Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574327330660070322noreply@blogger.com1