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Living Life By Design
Monday, November 24, 2008
She's baaa-aack...
Not sure how long I've been gone, but I'm back...for a while anyway. So much has happened in the list year. Primarily, the baby went from being one to two years old!
The boys are getting bigger, the activities are getting more intense and we're having more fun.
I'll keep blogging here till I figure out that error/upgrade issues on my domain.
Ta ta! |
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Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Blog-O Disappear-O
Thursday, March 29, 2007
The Just-Say-No! Card
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! I got kicked in the rear end and it HURTS! How?
To tell you the truth, I'm kicking myself. Want to know why?
Alright, I'll tell you.
An opportunity presented itself to make a little extra dough, which sounded great for the upcoming homeschooling conference. And it's doing what I love and what I'm (professionally) best at. No biggie, right?
Wrong!
I forgot one, minute detail. My emotions. When I do something, I throw ALL of me into it. I prefer to do something with excellence or I don't want to sign my name to it.
So here I am with this project that is SO interesting and challenging and fun. And here are these children who are so interesting and challenging and fun. And our homeschooling schedule and projects which are so interesting and challenging...well, you get the picture. There are only 24 hours in a day (can Congress change that?). And I messed up. What's worse, I know EXACTLY where I messed up.
See, the last 2-3 years, I've been using Proverbs 31:16 as my gauge for adding new things to my docket. I've read -- as have most of us -- Proverbs 31 about a zillion times. I got past the part of it being an "expectation" and now it's just a "goal" to which I strive with excellence and no condemnation to work toward as God perfects me according to his will and purpose until the coming of Christ Jesus.
But Proverbs 31:16 in the Amplified version actually gave me MORE freedom than I could ever imagine. Having no problem saying, "No," when asked to do something, I didn't think I needed this freedom. Check this out, though.
She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it
[expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties
by assuming other duties];
with her savings [of time and strength]
she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.
(italicized emphasis mine)
Did you catch that? It's a Just Say No Card! Before I decide to add something to my life (activity, freelance gig, bible study, ANYTHING), I have to assess if it is going to cause me to neglect my present duties (wife, mom, homemaker, friend). Wait, read it again...not just cause me to neglect my present duties, but court neglect of them; in other words, will I put myself in a position to be wooed by the new thing? Will running the bible study cause me to get so wrapped up in the prayer burden of the study-mates that I neglect the prayer responsibility I have for my children? If I take this freelance gig, will I yield over so much of my free time that it makes me irritable to my family and neglectful of kitchen and laundry? Hmmmmmmmm....
And I know better. I thought I knew better. And here's where I really did it...I usually ask my super-hubby before I take on a gig. And I didn't this time. I usually ask him specifically, "Am I going to be neglecting something that I haven't thought of if I do this?" Matter of fact, I asked that of him about 2 months ago when someone asked me to help out with child care at a church event. He said, "No way, you just had a baby, it's enough just trying to get the family there on time." And I listened. I could have done it, but could I have done it and maintained peace in my heart and home (Col 3:15)?
HECK-E-NO!
Obviously, I didn't know better. The money to buy "stuff" that would help us have a "better" school seemed like a good deal (given, the project grew beyond original plan...inevitables of life that I didn't account for). And now I'm longing for a day with no thought of the freelance gig and time to just sip tea and sit on the sofa with my man-cubs and read and color and discover life together.
I courted neglect. Hmmph...and I'm kicking myself for it. I told my super-hubby tonight that I'm done freelancing; he's not allowed to let me talk myself into anymore freelance stuff. The money is not worth the guilt of neglecting my present duties.
This blog will be my altar of sorts to remind of this place.
If you are considering something, I encourage you, please...consider that new field and ensure that it will yield a savings of time and strength. You are a prudent woman...do not court neglect of your present duties.
It just ain't worth it!
[please comment to let me know I'm not the only one who's ever done this..]
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Sunday, March 25, 2007
This is a gift...not torture!
Our church is reading through the bible in a year. I'm doing my best to keep up. I'm not beating myself up about the days I miss (Romans8:1)...I'm just celebrating the days I hit.
For a while there, in the early books of the old testament, we spent a lot of time reading about the the Sabbath. No, this isn't going to be a blog about Sabbath-keepers. That's an issue I'll leave to others.
Instead, I was amazed at how many times (don't recall exactly how many) that God mentions that the Sabbath is a gift to us. "The Sabbath is a gift from the Lord."
This hit me SO hard as it was paraphrased several times within two weeks of reading that I began to seriously evaluate how I spend my Sundays. And I realize that I treated them like "catch-up" days.
But I never caught up.
I'd just enter the next week more frustrated and more irritable that I couldn't get my work done and my ever-elusive "fun stuff" like cross-stitching and scrapbooking was even more elusive.
For the last month I've made a more considerable effort to not touch dishes or laundry or any housekeeping task that I consider "work" (i.e., I'd pay someone else to do) on Sunday. Do you know how HARD that is? Geez, Louise!!
One of the neighborhood children asked me today why I made a comment about avoiding my house. I told her that I was afraid to go back in because I could hear the voices of the work calling me. I can HEAR the laundry saying, "Just iron one shirt...you'll be so much further ahead tomorrow," or the desk saying, "Just organize the piles a little...it'll be easier to sort tomorrow." It was so loud, I had to go sit on the driveway. TORTURE! I was driven from my house by the work that I was supposed to be resting from. Hmmph!
But then, the boys challenged me to a bike race. So I raced (and won...moms rule!). And I played with S on his upgraded wheels...training wheels, that is. I caught up with my neighbors who I haven't really chatted with in a while. I took in the fresh air. I giggled. I laughed heartily. I played with a Rubik's cube.
That work thought it had the best of me by driving me from the house...but it drove me to play. It drove me to experience the abundant life that I have.
So I see now that the Sabbath is a gift from the Lord. It's the day I get to dwell on all the gifts that I often take for granted during the week. And something tells me that this week I'll be a titch more thankful for the work and the blessings! |
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Friday, March 23, 2007
Science Museum & Plastic Surgery
We had quite a wonderful day at the science museum yesterday. The littles learned a lot (had to make the alliterative sentence there, you know). We were there with an admired homeschool friend, Grace. She's 18 and mine are 7 and under. So she's a MAJOR hero in their world.
Toward the end of our science escapades (which included the fantastic NASCAR omnitheatre showing), we observed the 3500-year-old mummy from Cairo, Egypt. Next to the case was a description of the mummification process.
Grace and I stood reading the process and immediately following, she made a statement that I warned her then would be the summary for my blog of our adventures in science museum-land. After reading the description about what goes into the body to "fill it out" and make it appear plump and life-like, Grace concluded: "It's like old-fashioned Botox."
'Nuff said. |
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Wednesday, March 21, 2007
The Power of Agreement
Scripture tells us in many places the power of words and the power of agreement. I think in no other place on earth is agreement more powerful than between a husband and wife. When they agree on something...anything, they can change the world! It may be agreement to change the financial situation and for some couples, there's an unspoken agreement to disrespect each other. Whatever you agree on...the power of a married couple can make it happen!
We've made some changes in our home through agreement in the last week and I'm loving the results!
The first is another trickle-down effect of my parents on the lives of their grandchildren. Last week H and I agreed that TV is gone during the week. It's too intrusive on our lives. So from dinner on Friday through dinner on Sunday is TV/Playstation permissible. It's been so nice because I haven't heard "Mom, can we watch...?" at ALL! They know what the answer is, so why ask it? Hmmm...peace. I hadn't even considered the TV in the van. I typically allow school viewing there while on the road. But as we loaded the car on Monday, S asked, "Mommy can I take my Bibleman, Jr. DVD?" and before I could reply, J and T both scolded their younger sibling, "No, S! Remember, there is no tv during the week. We'll have to sing or read a book. Go get your book. "
I stood by, eagerly anticipating the magnitude of the tantrum that would no doubt ensue. And then came the reaction from S:
"Okay." And he toddled to the library basket and pulled out a book.
Oh, the power of agreement!
In order to be more efficient with our time, we parental types also concurred that T is starting first grade...today. J is on Year 1 of Ambleside and T will be 6 in a few months, so why not? We're doing the accelerated schedule for J and have already started S on Year 0 of the Ambleside curriculum. T will have the best of both worlds...the Year 0 and Year 1 curriculum. Besides, he listens just by hopping around, so he'll probably absorb more than the other two combined.
When I told T he was going to start 1st grade, he said, "When?" and I replied "Now." I wish we had the Willy Wonka glass tower at that moment because that child was about to BURST through the ceiling! I made his whole month with that one word.
I would never have witnessed that exhuberance without my wonderful husband's agreement. If I had just "made a decision" without discussing it, I think I would have encountered resistance across the board.
But I talked with him first. And the result is a peaceful, more communicative marriage relationship, giddily adorable children who love to learn, and a television that doesn't intrude on our living of life. I'd say I'm living it up pretty good...
...dont' you agree? |
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Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Suave Suzuki Sisters
It's not a topic oft discussed, at least not in the circles within which I dizzy myself. Yet I find I must make mention of it here.
We're familiar with the Suzuki method of instruction, primarily for violin, right? In January, T started taking violin from a wonderful instructor. I say wonderful because I haven't seen that degree of patience in a long time. Music teachers are a anointed, special set of people. God bless them!
For those of you who have not had a child take music lessons the Suzuki way, part of the commitment is on the part of the parent to sit attentively engaged at each lesson. AND...then to show that same level of engagement for each day of practice throughout the week with their child. That's quite a commitment.
Especially for violin. It's quite a tricky instrument...I think we attended 4 or 5 lessons before he even put bow to string. And the other level of commitment...
...well, you ever seen what a 5 year old can do when you put a fragile instrument like a violin in his hands? We're talking serious mom/dad needs to be "in the moment" during music practice.
Not long after he started lessons I watched a show on the Duggers (large family of 12 now, I think). As they celebrated the building of their new home, the family stood next to the grand piano and about 10 or 11 of the children played together on their violins.
10 violins for children: thousands of dollars
Coordinated holiday outfits for family: hundreds of dollars
Sweat equity of mom and dad who had to sit with each for each lesson and HOW many practice sessions: priceless!!
The years of musical memories the family will experience: residual emotional income.
God bless Mrs. Dugger and all parents of violin students, especially those tiny Suzuki students. I had NO IDEA what I was signing myself up for.
So today, this post is just a shout-out to all my Suave Suzuki Sisters...may you be blessed a hundredfold for your gift to your children! |
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Saturday, March 3, 2007
The Psalms
It just occured to me the other night that the Psalms are David's blog. Yes, the book of Psalms in that trusty bible you tote everywhere.
We call it something different in every time period. Sometimes people journal. But when you journal and it's on the internet, it's a blog.
If we were to modernize the language in the Psalms and put them on the internet, one at a time as individual entries, it would look like everyone else's blog.
The Psalms are David's blog.
Your thoughts? |
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Friday, March 2, 2007
Ramblings Upon Re-entry
Haven't posted here in a while and it's only because we got so carried away with the living of life, there was no time to document it.
Since my last post, we've added G to our family. That was November and already we can't imagine life without him. So I've gone through my post partum-ness, which has been MOST interesting the fourth time around. I'm much better acquainted with my body and hormones at this juncture that the emotions didn't take me off guard this time around. Instead, I just awaken for the day, take inventory of my state of being, identify the glitches, and pray for God's grace to work through it. The last month or so, though, I did realize that something was "off" from the last pregnancy. I just felt different. Why? That's when I remembered that I didn't use the Happy Cream this time around. That has since been rectified and all is right with the world!
So Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year have all been celebrated with Baby G. January saw the passing of my wonderful grandmother, known affectionately as Grandma Grape [Great] to the boys. And now we're trying to settle into some sort of a schedule.
We were quite unit study in our approach, but the children are all so little that I had to switch back to CM in approach because I can catch the moments. It's easier to have a book and sofa ready than simulcast project supplies ready and attentive little boys. I'm no magician!
The last few days there's been a snowstorm in our area. The public school kids have been out of school. I mentioned to my father that we homeschooled kids don't get snow days. Nope! They come in from playing and have to answer questions, such as, "Is a snowflake liquid, solid, or gas?" and "What was the estimated velocity of that snowball you threw that nailed the postal truck?" Nope, no snow days around here! Snow is just a welcome tool to be used in the world we call a classroom! In the next week, we'll be welcoming in Mr. Wind, Ice, and Rain.
The snow has helped the school approach transition. After coming in wiped from a couple hours of snow play, J has willing sat down with a mug of hot chocolate and is ready to listen to a story or two. I love that! I've noticed how developed his narration has become. The challenge is allowing only him to narrate instead of have the tag-team narration with J and T. The good side of that is that they are both actively listening and both excited to tell me all they learned.
Well, I've re-entered the world of "blog" (which I'll have to give my blog theory in a forthcoming post) with these ramblings. I'm going to more diligently post, as it will keep me off the phone when I know folks can catch up here rather than the phone. That's the theory anyway.
Loving this designer lifestyle... |
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