Posted in Mondays on Mothering
 I know this post may describe many homeschoolers, but I thought I'd write it anyway! I was inspired by my 9-month-old, as I showed him the end table with a door underneath that holds our many board books. He began pulling out books, stopping at the Usborne Touchy-Feely books; he was really enjoying them! My husband and I both love to read, though we obviously don't do a lot of leisure/fiction reading nowadays. We read the Bible, read a bit of what's going on in the world, and read about and for homeschooling. I guess you'd say our reading is purposeful. But we have a lot of books available to all of us, and I believe we are passing along a love for reading and learning to our children. Our oldest (17) loves to read, though he doesn't pursue that interest as much these days. We've purchased hard back copies of the novels he enjoys, and Grandpa Hull has built him a bookshelf, in order to provide him with something for the future. We've already gotten him a book as a gift for Christmas. Our 10-year-old daughter has become an avid reader; she especially loves Marguerite Henry's "Misty books" and re-reads them whenever we haven't supplied her with something new! She's often happy to read to her siblings, just because she can, which can be especially helpful for me. She also does devotions on her own now, too. Our 8-year-old son says "I can't read," but it's just that he isn't a confident reader, yet. He'll pick up any book around here, to look at pictures and decipher what he can, and he loves to read the sports page. He and the two "little girls" (6 & 3) love to be read to. They all enjoy "reading" a book after it's been read to them several times. Rhyming books also make them feel like they're able to read. We can't be around to read or make sure the kids are reading, but we can provide the opportunity and materials. And all of the children are enjoying listening to audios: Jonathan Park and downloads from HomeschoolFreebieoftheDay.com. They're getting Adventures in Odyssey for Christmas, too! You'll have to check out the "Listening to Learn" e-book from the hostess of this meme, Amy! ♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ Post your own Mondays on Mothering (a meme for you), telling what you enjoy about mothering, then link back to Bow of Bronze. And please check out my WORLD magazine giveaway! Blessings, Danielle |
Posted in Mondays on Mothering
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Caedon (8) is usually up first; he often makes it downstairs in time to see his Daddy before he goes to work. I'm glad they get some one-on-one time. Caedon is such a great worker; he often has his morning chores done before everyone is downstairs. ♦♦♦ Sometimes Miss Regan (3) comes and gets into bed with me, and if it's dark enough, we get some cuddling time. Of course, sometimes she's one of the reasons I'm awake in the night! ♦♦♦ At some point I hear the baby, 9-month-old Josiah, and he quietly plays or is visited by a sibling. Since he's still nursing in the night, he's not demanding (hungry) in the morning, and I love to lay and hear him play and guess who's playing with him. ♦♦♦ That's often Miss Eden (6); she can be very quiet while playing by herself, yet be the loudest during play with others! She tends to be quiet in the mornings, fortunately. ♦♦♦ Then there's my Greatest Helper Ever, Miss Sierra (10), who would be our night owl if we let her stay up as late as she wanted to. She likes to help around the house and visit after the others go to bed, but she especially likes to read, read, read. I'm shocked if I don't have to wake her up; she's rarely downstairs before me and the baby. Our morning routine is that we eat breakfast together, otherwise a child would eat any where from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.; then you never know when lunch requests are going to start! Sometimes I don't get to eat with the kids if I'm busy with the baby, but I love it when we eat together and talk. Once we did devotions during breakfast, and I really enjoyed that, as I felt they were listening better! I'm hoping when I'm allowed to get more than 2 hours of sleep at one time, I can start getting up before the kids to have breakfast and devotions ready for them. ♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ Post your own Mondays on Mothering (a meme for you), telling what you enjoy about mothering, then link back to Bow of Bronze.
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Posted in Mondays on Mothering
I just love to rock a baby or toddler. It can be difficult to find quiet time around here during the day, but the rule is not to bother Mommy while she's putting the baby to sleep! I think it's such a great opportunity to pray and sing a praise song, in place of old-fasioned lullabies. It really helps me to stay focused on the Lord and have His peace in our home. And please don't ask me to watch your baby and lay him down while he's awake or let him cry it out; I just can't do it! The current song we're rocking to is "Holy and Anointed One," lyrics by John Barnett; I have it here at my blog. Jesus, Jesus For the last two girls our main "lullaby" was a favorite of our Bible study teacher's wife. She shared how it ministered to her when it rained after their house fire. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus I also like to sing "I Love You, Lord" by Laurie Klein: I love You Lord Take joy, my King ♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ Post your own Mondays on Mothering (a meme for you), telling what you enjoy about mothering, then link back to Bow of Bronze. Maybe I'll get mine done on Monday, one of these days! Blessings, Danielle | |
Posted in Mondays on Mothering
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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 Our Pastor used that scripture on Sunday, and he talked about honor. I'm a word person: I've always loved spelling and word meanings, and in college I loved phonetics and linguisitcs. So, when Pastor gave definitions for honor and dishonor it got me - first in the gut, then in the heart. I'm not sure the full definitions he gave, but it was as simple as: dishonor is treating someone as ordinary, so honor would be treating them as precious. And he made a point to say how those sitting next to us are the ones we most often dishonor. Ouch! On Sunday, I asked my hubby to forgive me, as I realized I often treated him as ordinary. And I also talked to my oldest son on Sunday, as I didn't know when I'd get a chance to have a "serious" talk with him again. But on Monday, I sat down with the littles to do devotions, and I pulled out my Bible and went to that verse up above. And I talked to them about honor and what Pastor had explained. They all stayed seated around, but I took each one's face in my hands and told them I was sorry (naming something specific I struggled with that child on) and that I had failed to treat him or her as someone special to me. Of course, I was crying, and they were all trying not to. There was no giggling by this point. And I told each one that I loved him or her and that he/she was very precious to me. I also took this as a chance to verbally tell them that no matter what ever happened, their Daddy and I would always love them and pray for them, no matter what. I don't think any one ever told me that growing up, and I want to know that they know - no matter what! I have been so humbled lately that the Lord will continue to teach me and give me a second chance. I so need His grace. And I appreciate it! Danielle Visit Mondays on Mothering to share what you enjoy about mothering. |
Posted in Mondays on Mothering
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I committed to enjoy my children more this year, and I know the only one who can help you attain new goals concerning the heart is the Lord. I have made it a goal to have more fun, to appreciate their goofy humor and to just laugh more! My morning prayers often include "Help me to have fun with my kids today, Lord." What have I been enjoying? Caedon's attempts to joke and "play" on words; Eden and Regan giggling together like sisters should; Sierra being the big helper and noticing cute aspects of her younger siblings; sharing the comics and political jokes with Seth. And it's great when they "get" a joke, but I really love it when they "get" something from God; that's what I'm most in awe of. ♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ Post your own Mondays on Mothering (a meme for you), telling what you enjoy about mothering, then link back to Bow of Bronze. Blessings, Danielle |
