WOW - our school year is about to wrap up and I cannot believe it.  I must say that homeschooling was not the bear I thought it would be.  My son has loved it!  I, on the other hand, was still feeling like I have not found 'my groove' - but look - here we are at the end of our first year.  Everyone survived - my son learned to read, my daughter can count to 20, and the baby is walking and finally saying MA-MA!  Whoo-hoo.  The big girls are more fully convinced that I am crazy - but that is nothing new.  I have not convinced them (or their mom) to let me me homeschool them, but we will keep working it!  I am excited about next year and think we will do some small things over the summer.  Nothing major, but some math activities and science experiments.

We don't have any major plans for our summer.  My hubby is going to Nicaragua to surf in June.  I am considering sending my 5 year old to day camp at the YMCA, we have VBS scheduled, perhaps a trip to Nana's and the big girls are off to Africa in July for their first mission trip.  I am really looking forward to just hanging out at the pool and playing with my kids.   What about you?  What do you have planned for the summer???

Hope you are enjoying your week - I would love some comments - just to know I am not out here all on my own!  *T

Hi!  Can anyone shoot me some pointers about how to get my blog 'snazzed' up?  Can't figure out pictures, links, etc. 

Thanks!

So, my last entry was such an "Oh, woe is me" day.  I am glad to say that - God came to my rescue.  He is so awesome and I have had a great week.  Part of that is changing my perspective!  Easier said than done, but so helpful.  I have exercised twice this week (no small fete), had a couple of early morning QT and cleaned the house!  I did manage to keep my oldest in bed until 7AM one day this week.  But, I really do believe that is was God showing me his grace in tangible ways!  Whoo-Hoo.

Well, we adopted a dog from the animal shelter/recuse organization.  We had a cute small Maltese for several years who was hit by a car several years ago.  Since then, my hubby has said NO MORE ANIMALS! He teases and says its just another mouth to feed...which, really, it is.  Well our 14 y.o. was working hard on Daddy today and he actually said OK.  The only catch was that if the dog pees in the houuse - back she goes.  Although, I was filled with excitment (everyone has really wanted a dog), now that she is here, I am totally nervous! 

First of all - her name at the shelter was Jazzy.  OK, not a name I can call a dog.  So, we changed it to Bella.  She seems to like it, too.  She looks like a border collie mix, black & white, about 2 years old.  She is very mild mannered and so far, so good.  When I drove up the driveway, my 5 yo. and 2 yo. came running out of the house like I had a car full of TOYS.  It was adorable.  They already are in love.  I hope she doesn't pee on the floor...

So, anyone out there have any tried & true obedience techniques?  She will stay (a little), lay down, etc.  She tries to lead on the leash- almost pulled my arm off!  Any suggestions are appreciated.  She is sleeping in her crate right now - no problem there. 

Well, off to sleepy land - church comes early!  Enjoy your sabbath tomorrow!!

I know its a pity party - really, I do.  But, I just am in a season of feeling overwhelmed.  I look around and see nothing but God's blessings - good health, awesome kids, great husband, nice house, paid off vehicle.  What could I possibly have to be down about?  First of all, I have been trying to get up AHEAD of my kids in order to spend time reading and having my quiet time.  This is no easy task.  First of all, I am NOT a morning person - at least not an early morning person.  The earlier I get up, the earlier my kids get up. My 5 year old refuses to stay in bed in the morning.  If it is 5AM or 6AM.  Once he hears me or my husband up - he is up and ready to go - wanting breakfast, wanting to talk, talk, talk.  My husband doesn't mind it so much, but it drives me crazy!  Then, the baby wakes up - because they share a room.  Then our 3 year old hears the commotion and guess what??  "Mooommmmy, I'm awake!"  as loud as she can manage.  And then, before you know it - I have been up an hour ( the hour I had intended to spend with God) and I have changed the baby, made him a bottle, put him back down, scolded my 5 y.o., tried to get him back to bed without re-waking the baby, had a complete power struggle, tried to be pleasant with my hubby, taken my 3 y.o. to potty, gotten her fed and now - its too late for QUIET TIME.  My husband is gettting ready to go out the door...and poof our day has begun.  And to my sadness, it has not started out the way I intended.  Instead of my children waking to a peaceful, sweet mommy, they are getting up to a grouchy and irratated one!  Instead of smiles, I greet them with a stern "SHHH!" or "Get back into bed."  So, do I really have to get up at 4AM in order to have time alone with God?  Surely, not - that seems like punishment!!  So, we start our day off this way and my attitude is bad or sad.  This mornign I just sat here and cried as I just wanted to get up and have a Quiet Time and I feel so defeated. 

Then, of course, there is the whole new to homeschooling thing.  My son is doing great, but I find that I am irratated easily when we try to do the work.  We do a lot of coloring, cutting, etc. and it takes forever.  He has no sense of time - i.e. - if we are coloring a picture, it could take him up to 20 minutes.  He is just taking his sweet time.  Therefore, dragging out very simple lessons so that for me, it becomes tedious.  I have tried setting the timer and he hates that and it forces him to 'hurry' and do a sloppy job.

We finally just took the diapers away from my 3 yo.  She is wearing big girl panties and does fine with tee-tee, but poops in them at least once a day.  I know, I know, someone out there is thinking - she's just not ready, you did it too soon, etc. etc.  Well, that is not the case here.  I know her - this is an issue of obedience ( or disobedience) and her choosing to do this. 

The baby is awesome.  Growing like a weed, sleeping well, eating well.  Ahhh, but entering into the stage of SEPARATION ANXIETY!  He is rarely with a sitter, so he is extremely attached to me - go figure. He just screams when I leave the room to do some house work.  He is much too heavy for me to carry him around and I know this is just a stage, but wow, overwhelming.

Then there are my two precious step-daughters.  They are coming home tomorrow after being at mom's for two weeks in a row.  Major transition time.  Mom is not a believer from what i can tell and her home is very, very different than ours.  She is going through a divorce and moving out.  The girls act as if this is not big deal, but come on - of course it is!

OK - and so, I want to exercise!  I NEED to exercise!!  None of my clothes fit - still - even though the baby is already one.  Very disheartening and we certainly don't have the money to go out and get new ones.  Exercise requires time.   Anyone have some extra they can give me?

So now, if you, or anyone is reading this, you must be thinking what a pitiful woman!  I know I should just change my perspective, but today that is hard.  I am just overwhelmed.  Thanks for listening...

I count on the Word that says,

I am aware of several families with severly ill children.  Everytime I receive their blog or email updates, I am overwhelmed with their stories.  God has given me a serious burden to pray for them and their children like I have never had before - especially for strangers.  And yet, at the same time, I am overwhelmed with thankfulness for my healthy children.  All five are just the most perfect, healthy kids.  I love, love, love them and I am SO thankful to God that he has blessed me with them.  I also pray that I can see them for the blessing that they are - even when they are pitching fits!  :)

Here is one link if you would like to keep up with their stories and of course, PRAY for them.  T

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourquiverfull 

So, this is my first entry in the world of blogging. I suppose it is more for me to journal as we journey rather for those that choose to read it.  But, either way - here we go!  I have 5 kids, two step daughters who are 15 & 14, a 5 year old, 3 year old and 1 year old.  My wonderful husband, Tim and I have been married for 8 years and just took a wonderful weekend trip to celebrate!  It was so awesome to have him all to myself for two whole days!  And, I was able to sleep late for the first time in a few years!!  We are born-again christians, sold out to serving the Lord and learning how to do it everyday.  Tim & I both accepted Christ when we were teenagers.  HE is great!

We just entered the world of homeschooling.  Why do we homeschool?  Well, first of all, because I believe that this is what God has called me to do.  He first spoke to my husband, who told me, and I, being the most submissive wife in the world, said NO WAY!  But as God often does, He changed my heart, and I came under my husband's authority and after praying and researching, I chose to submit - both to my husband & to my Savior.  I never thought I would be a homeschool mom.  But, so far, so good.  We are loving it!  My step daughters are in public school.  We just started Kindergarten with my 5 year old son.  We are using a hybrid school here.  He goes to King's on Tuesdays & Fridays.  I really feel like I have the best of both worlds.  My step daughters have gone to private 'christian' schools - which were the hardest of their school years so far.  I have not been impressed.  However, the King's Academy is different.  Wyatt's teachers are wonderful, the staff and faculty are amazing.  They actually walk the walk and are completley behind parent-centered education.  Although Wyatt attends two days a week, we do homeschool on Monday, Wednesday & Thursday.  Again, in starting out, I felt that this was the best option for our family.  I enjoy the structure and Wyatt enjoys going to play with his friends.  We are also involved in  a local support group that I love.  The moms in my group are just real - I love that!  They are also very funny, have so much insight into my new world and have been a great encouragment to me.

So, that's a little about me.  Take care and enjoy the blog!

*T