• 8.24.2009
I love Mondays!

I think that I have blogged about this before... that just goes to show how much I really do love Mondays!!

But think about it --- it's a chance to start over, start fresh, try again to get it right, a chance to believe that you might actually make it happen THIS time! 

I think God likes Mondays, too!  His entire plan includes years of Mondays and "Monday opportunities!"  As I review our goals for our family and look at all the reasons we have chosen to homeschool, I am reminded that no matter how far we wander off course, He continues to offer us Mondays, any day of the week! 

We can choose to wallow in the muck we have made of schedules that are too hectic, remodeling projects that put us behind, sport practices that take up too much time, etc.... or we can choose to "take a Monday"... a day to refocus, cancel, rearrange and try again!!  I choose MONDAY!!! 

And since that's today, I better go and get started!!  :)  Have yourself a wonderful MONDAY!!!!

Patti

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• 8.23.2009
I miss blogging!

Haven't blogged for a while and when I started checking up on everyone, I remembered why I enjoyed this so much!

Family is all doing well!  We started our homeschooling year way late this year, just two weeks ago.  I have no real reason, just busy and enjoying the outdoors way too much to focus on school work!

Anthony is playing 6man football this fall with a great homeschool league.  He is enjoying spreading his wings and the thrill of the tackle!  Gabriel and Micaela are enjoying their 4th soccer season!  They are both really improving their skills, which is fun to watch!

Hubby and I are staying busy, but really enjoying our time together as a family!  I am trying to talk him into ballroom dancing classes for just the two of us when soccer and football end in October.  I think it would be loads of fun and I almost have him convinced, too!!  I'll keep you posted!

Our family has soooo enjoyed my moms chickens!  The kids helped Grandpa build the coop this summer. We are always so excited to get those free-range eggs!  The kids will get to go and collect them all this next week while parents are on vacation!  Can't wait!!  I need to find all my egg recipes... they lay about 15 to 16 a day!  That's alot of eggs!

Well, off to bed so that I can function tomorrow!  Missed everyone and can't wait to catch up! 

'Til next time,

Patti

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• 11.24.2008
Holidays

It seems every year, we set out to not be as hurried or weary during the holiday season.... "Honey, this year, I want to ENJOY Thanksgiving dinner!"  And off we go, fretting over our shopping list,  scrubbing the entire house (even the closets because Aunt Joy is SO nosey), rushing to the store (with kids in tow) carefully avoiding the other grouchy shoppers, home to put it all away in the fridge that won't hold it all with that huge turkey taking up all the room, crawling out of bed the next morning to wrestle the turkey in the oven before dawn, then the mad rush to get everything else ready, racing through the house RE-cleaning it, yelling at the kids for messing it up again, jumping through clean clothes, briefly checking the hair, answering the doorbell 10 times with smile properly plastered (wondering if they can see the sweat rolling down your neck), pretending you are happy to see everyone (even the ones you haven't spoke to since last year's "episode"), throwing the food on the table, giving everyone their seating instructions so that Aunt Joy doesn't annoy Cousin Charity... and then flopping into a chair to ENDURE the meal!  So much for enjoyment!  What a crock!

But this year... I got to thinking... I WILL do all those same tasks... there really ISN'T a way to have a clean house and wonderful meal without those tasks being done... but what if the problem wasn't the tasks and the inevitable busyness they bring... what if the problem was my focus... my attitude... my HEART???? 

So THIS year, I am rewriting my holidays!!  As I move room to room, I will clean diligently but with a song in my heart.  My song will be one of thankfulness that God has provided such a wonderful home for me to share with family, both the ones that live here and the ones who will visit.  I will carefully create my menu so that all the favorites are included for everyone.  What fun to give my family gifts of great food!  I will thankfully drive to the store, not having to walk as so many do, or lug grocery bags on the city bus as we witnessed one mom do last week.  In the store, I will take time to smile as I manuver my buggy around others.  Who knows?  Maybe they just need a smile to remind them that this is the time of year for thankfulness, not grumpiness!  When I return to my home, my great, big, warm, inviting home, I will find room in my new fridge even if it means taking the time to clean it out and make it shine!  I will rise with joy and anticipation on Thanksgiving morn, ready to bring wonderful smells into the home as others rise slowly and peaceably.  Cooking has always been relaxing for me.  Why should this day be any different?  I will choose to let it relax me and enjoy the pleasure of knowing that as family arrives, they will sense the love put into this meal, the love found in this home!  Greeting my guests at the door will bring joy to my heart... that out of all the places they could be today, they chose to be with us.  I will seat myself at the table next to those that have a harder time dealing with family dynamics... those that REALLY just need an ally!  And at the close of the day, I will know that my attitude... my heart's condition, was the cause of peace, not strife, the cause of warmth, not the cold shoulder... that my family will have memories, not regrets!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, friends!  And if you need to REwrite your holiday, remember, God's grace is sufficient for you, too!

Patti

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• 10.1.2008
Lesson Learned About Pleasant Speech

Have you ever noticed how God will use our children to teach us the most valuable lessons?  Even lessons we think we are teaching them? 

Gabriel, my 10 year old, taught me a great lesson the other day.... One that I think the Lord has been trying to teach me for awhile!  I noticed over the past month that EACH time I corrected Gabriel's behavior or attitude during homeschool, he made eye contact, listened to my instruction, reprimand, etc., said "yes, mom," corrected the offensive behavior, and with a smile on his face, went back to work!  He didn't argue, didn't try to defend himself, didn't get frazzled or upset, just listened!  Now, that is what we TEACH them, but there has been much less consistency than this display.  After several weeks of this WONDERFUL response, I got curious enough to ask what had changed.  He said that he noticed when he got upset or tried to argue when disciplined that he had a hard time completing his work and it took too long to finish his task.  He explained that he just decided he would try what Dad and I had been saying, to heed instruction and be "productive" not "destructive" with his attitudes!  AMAZING!!!!  Out of the mouth of my 10 year old!!

To top it off, several mornings later in my devotions, I found this Scripture... Proverbs 16:21b  "...and pleasant speech INCREASES learning."  After months, even years of training for a specific response for a specific outcome... here it is in 5 amazing words.... "and pleasant speech INCREASES learning."  I chose to take the time to check myself regarding my own speech.  I was challenged to recall the moments of instruction when I had been harsh with my words.  Most of the time, the only thing I accomplished was getting my point across.  Little learning took place.  Yet, the moments I chose to use calm and pleasant speech to instruct my children, much more learning was achieved!

Gabriel had learned, by trial and error, that his negitive words and attitudes would not promote learning.  In fact, it only caused him to feel bogged down and unmotivated.  Yet, when corrected, the results left him feeling no only motivated, but challenged to do his best!  It is amazing to me that we train and train and train... then one day it becomes so much more than just something they do because we say so.  The training morphs into something they do because they notice the benefit of it!  And then the most amazing thing of all... it is at that moment that it STICKS!!!! 

To all you wonderful, diligent, struggling homeschool mommies out there... hang in there!  It will stick... and the moment it does, you will realize that it really IS worth all the hours, the instruction, the frustration, etc.! 

Now I'm off to battle all the other bad habits we need to break!!

Until next time,

Patti

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• 9.26.2008
My Goodness! How time flies when you're having fun!

Hi everyone... I cannot believe this spring and summer just flew by so fast!  One of the crazy things about life is that when you are not careful, it passes you by! 

We had a wonderful church camp season... my kids had a blast going down each week and helping with registration.  Then we were able to go as an entire family for a week!  Dad was our sons' coach and I was our daughter's coach!  It is wonderful that they are all able to go and that we can experience it as a family!

We finished with camp season the end of June and had to be moved by July 1st!!!  What an adventure!  The church bought a parsonage for us to live in!  We went from 980 square feet with a backyard that we could not use to 2400 square feet on a double lot, beautiful back yard with a pool and a great place for a trampoline!!!  We barely left the backyard the rest of the summer!!!  God is good and always has a blessing in store if we are patient and ready!

August brought a wonderful vacation to Six Flags (a first for our kids) and then off to New Mexico for a wonderful time of camping, hiking, and fishing!  We came home so relaxed and refreshed.  It always amazes me what mountain air will do to your body and spirit!

We are doing great with our homeschooling... trying to stay on track and the kids are really doing well with the schedule!  They seem to thrive with consistency!!  Who would have thought!!  LOL  They are all in volved in soccer... one stop practices, games, and not alot of craziness for our family as a whole!  We get to all be in one spot a couple of evenings a week and that makes mommy and daddy really happy!!! 

I will post pics later... just wanted to update everyone and let you all know that the Castro family is still here!!!   Hope to hear from everyone!! 

Patti

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