I have been asked to share what a day in the life of me is like.  Sometime back I shared a basic schedule, but I know sometimes it is more fun to read an all day account of what someone's day is like, so I will try.  I do not have any eloquent words today, as I am a bit sleep deprived, so bear with me!

  Since today has been a basic day for us, I thought I would share what we have done so far and then pick up from there with what is the usual.....

First off, I am not a strict scheduler.  This is why the block schedule has worked so well for us.  If it is time to take a walk at 3 and time to make phone calls at 3:30, I am not going to rush a delightful walk with my children to make that time.  I will not miss the flowers in life, rushing about through my days.  I am a firm believer that the Lord has laid before me each of my days and I want to be open and flexible to what He has in store for our day.  SO, there may be days when I miss that phone or email time because the children and I walked a bit farther to pick some lovely flowers....hmmmmm....which memory would I rather have...stressing about my schedule or the everlasting picture of my precious children running through a field drinking in fall breezes!?  That being said, I DO have respect for others and try my best to be on time for things when it involves others outside the home depending on me.  I just want others to be sure to know that here, at home, I do not stress about my schedule, but ask the Lord to open my heart to any changes He might bring about in our day. We do, daily, keep a basic schedule, but work with it with much flexibility.

Before breakfast, after wake up time, everyone has a short list of chores needing to be done.  After chores this morning.....

It was eggs and biscuits for breakfast, made by my 12 year old daughter.  The children are in complete charge of breakfast and all have their own special duties in which they enjoy.  My 8 year old made the juice, my 6 year old set out the dishes and my 5 year old helped his oldest sister with the mixing and prepping of the food. 

By the time breakfast is ready the 2 year old is awake.  The one year old sleeps a bit later because she still likes to wake mommy up in the night for a bottle.  Mama eats lighter at breakfast because it is all her tummy can handle.  While the children eat, she sips her coffee and wakes up for she is NOT a morning person.  She is not grouchy, just not awake, lol.

After Breakfast there is another short list of chores everyone is responsible for completing.

Once that cup of coffee starts to settle in Mama is quite ready for the day.  The children gather round and listen to her read the Bible.  We often have wonderful conversations about God's Word and all He has done/is doing in our lives.  We talk about others who are hurting, need prayer and need our help.  We spend time in prayer and song.

Once our time of family worship is through, the older 3 children sit down for seat work.  We use School of Tomorrow's ACE program for Math, English and Word Building Seat work.  This has been so wonderful for the children to be able to work at their own pace!  My 6 year old will be ready to move up to the 2nd grade in her Math work in another 8 weeks, because she has been able to work quickly through the things she already knows well!    This has also been a wonderful program for my oldest daughter as she has been able to speed up and then slow down whenever it is necessary in her two and a half years here with us.

While the children do seat work (usually in the dining room or kitchen, so they are close by if they should need my assistance) I am in the kitchen beginning our dinner preparations.  We eat our big meal at noon.  During this time I will also get some bread mixed up and rising.  Today I made some apple crisp and boy did it make the house smell delightful!!!  Once I am done with those things I like to sit and snuggle with the littlest ones, still readily available to be of assistance to the older children.

During this time the 5 year old (just turned five last week) will color, work with manipulatives, ask me TONS and TONS of questions :) and play with his little brother and sister.  My 1 and 2 year old play very well together and are usually playing with a Little Chubby People set that we have set up in the corner of the living room, right off the dining room.  Sometimes they get rowdy and I put them in their high chairs with some fun things to do......they LOVE to play with my plastic cookie cutters, measuring cups and spoons!  Sometimes I even give them a bit of flour and water to work with :).

Around 11:30 the children put their seat work aside and help with table setting and getting beverages (usually just ice water :)).  Sometimes my oldest daughter will take a break around 11 to help with the meal.  My children love to be in on the bread making!

Daddy comes home around noon and we eat with him and enjoy his company for a short time!  After dinner everyone pitches in to clean up.  Table cleared and washed, leftover food put away, high chairs washed, dishwasher emptied, counters washed and dinner dishes going in the dishwasher.  Kitchen is clean!  Daddy gets to rest a bit during our clean up time before he goes back to his hard work.

Everyone has after dinner chores to be done.  They usually take a half hour and then it is time to settle in for some quieter time.  The babies nap for a couple hours.  Right now my 5 year old is playing with an educational toy teaching numbers and letters.  My 6 year old is working on her latch hooking project.  My 8 year old has been building with K'Nex and my 12 year old has been working in a 'crossword puzzle' book.  She also has it on her list to do some latchhooking.

During this time I do some writing, emailing and make phone calls if need be.  Sometimes I have to skip all of those and take the time to rest and refresh.  Some days I like to do something different, such as sew, crochet or knit as well.

About half way through the babies' naps the older children will listen to me read.  Right now we are reading a History book that we are ALL enjoying so much!  They have been enjoying writing 'reports' at their own age levels and drawing a picture on what they have learned for a notebook.  We are also reading a book called, 'The Cabin in the North Woods".  We are reading that some during the day, filling daddy in on what he has missed and reading it with him in the evening.

When babies wake up we all have a light, healthy snack and play games together.  If we don't play games, we go for a walk, do an activity or craft.  Around 4:30 we have an afternoon chore time.  This ensures the house is tidy (mind you doesn't happen EVERY day) by the time daddy gets home.  We are trying to use some of this time as our laundry time but is still a work in progress!

Around 5:30 we will prepare a light supper and eat at 6pm.  We all pitch in to clean up then ready for a restful evening.  During these times of beautiful weather the children usually go outside to play and I will often sit on the deck to watch them.  When it is cooler we will settle inside with some reading (everyone cleaned up, in jammies and ready for bed).  We spend some good family time talking, reading and then have devotions with daddy.  He reads a Bible story, talks to the children about how it applies in our lives, prays with us and then we all sing some favorite songs.

Bedtime for the children varies because of our previous activity.  Sometimes the children are in bed by 8:00, sometimes 9:00, just depends...but usually no later than that (with summers as an exception)! 

Once the children are in bed, my husband goes to shower so I check email and wrap up any office work or school work.  I do a bit of pick up around the house, if it is needed (and usually certainly IS needed).  My husband and I then spend the rest of the evening talking or just sitting next to eachother reading or watching a video.  My husband likes to go to bed by 9:30 so I try to be sure I am ready to go along with him.  Sometimes, especially of late, I just cannot fall asleep.  I ask him if he minds me staying up to work on the computer or just read.  He, of course, never does, but I like to ask him just the same.

My day doesn't end there, as my night's are full as well.  This has been an area where the Lord is working through me and teaching me His ways.  I, like any other, would love to get a full night's rest.  Most nights it just doesn't work out that way, though.  I am learning to use this time as a time of prayer and a time of searching my own heart.  I just had a night a couple of nights ago where I had to search my own attitude about having to be up in the nights.  I finally surrendered this to the Lord and asked His forgiveness for my attitude and boy is my day today going so much better because of it!

So, nothing really exciting in the eyes of the world.  That is a day in the life of me and I believe it is a rich and full life indeed! 

Many blessings!