Something is Conspiring Against Me!!!

January 5, 2008 in Uncategorized by Joyfulhomemaker | Permalink

So everyone is over whatever they had.  I had already started my planning.  I had a list for today.  Children fed, baby down for nap, cleaned several messes up, disciplined a couple of children, then the call came.  We are having company in a couple of hours.  Funny thing is I had just put hospitality on my list to do more of this year!!!  Isn’t God funny! 

Well, off to clean and cook and do the things not on my list!  And one day I will have the nice relaxing day I picture for my planning and organizing!  Yeah like when I am 102 and really do not need it!!!!!

Have a lovely day.

April

Uhmm….Homeschooling–What is that???

January 4, 2008 in All in a Day! by Joyfulhomemaker | Permalink

Let me start by saying:  I realize I am a truly bad, horrible, lazy blogger!  I wish I could make a New Year’s resolution stating I would blog everyday about the wonderful things happening in our home.  BUT then I would be lying since I know myself well enough to know I will not blog everyday!

Since our new addition at the end of Sept.  school has not been what I envisioned quite honestly it was not what I wanted in the weeks before her birth either.  I was simply to tired and to large to do the extra.  Yes, they did the basics. BUT I do not want our "school" to be about the basics.  Since she was born we had recovery time, Thanksgiving (we study that every year) and Christmas and a big birthday party.  Once again they did the basics.

Well, MY plan was to start school back full force on the 1/2/08.  Guess what!?!  December 31st one child was feeling ill and I did not have the house in order but I still had the next day so I was hopeful.  Jan. 1st.  said child ran a very high (104) temp and had a stomach virus.  Oh! great!  By the end of the day (of course I did not have things in order for school) two children were sick.  By the 2nd four children were sick and the baby was VERY fussy!!!!!!!

So much for school and getting the house in order!  When I was near tears and feeling overwhelmed dh helped me refocus by asking a question.  Are the children being cared for and loved?

Yes, they were!  And that is what counts.  In this house when you are sick enough to not want to play (if you can play you can work and do school!) then Mommy and Daddy focus on you ( and whoever joins you in your illness).  We have snuggled and played lots of games and watched lots of movies!

So now it is Friday and everyone is feeling better although we cannot leave the house just in case someone would need the restroom.  Now I will work on getting the house in order and school organized.

I LOVE schooling year round!  This way I do not have to stress.

Smile!

'Tis the Season

November 19, 2007 in Uncategorized by Joyfulhomemaker | Permalink

This time of year has me thinking on how to keep my family’s focus on Christ. I love to make crafts with the children and cook and read stories, but if I am not careful I will forget why we do all these things. And become more focused on accomplishing a list of ‘fun stuff" than building relationships and memories.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to thank God for all the wonderful blessings He has given. The turkey is wonderful, the pie delicious, visiting with family refreshing, but do we focus only on ourselves??? Or do we take this time to come before God with thanksgiving?

For me Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season. I want to use this time to teach my children to give to others in the name of Christ. I want to make memories and build traditions that will last for generations. Not traditions for the sake of traditions but ways to pull our focus from ourselves to our Savior. Traditions that my great great grandchildren can carry on. Traditions that will point my family to Christ a long time after I am gone.

How neat it is to see God answer prayers. A dear friend gave me a Christmas journal and suggested I use it to write down the good memories from Christmas and then each Christmas my family could pull the journal out and read the past entries to be reminded of the goodness in past years and add new memories. Only a couple of days later I read the same idea in a magazine article. SO… this year we will start that tradition!

I have not fleshed out the idea, but I hope to take the children to a nursing home on Christmas day to visit with the residents. Some years we spend the holidays at home and others we go out of town, BUT there are nursing homes everywhere! The elderly will enjoy visiting with the children and the children will learn not to think only of themselves. Now to think of a small gift to take along???

For several years now I have wanted to learn and teach the children the names of Christ. This is the year!

I hope! I even have book. Somewhere….

Cute 2 year old!

October 29, 2007 in Uncategorized by Joyfulhomemaker | Permalink

While sitting here nursing Ally and the other children were having a snack, Katherine runs into the bathroom.  She does not realize I can see her.  She pulls her undies down, places her stool in front of the potty and proceeds to get on the stool.  One problem–she is standing on the side of her undies.  So she fixes that.  Climbs up and arranges her undies just right, then sits.  All the while saying,  "I go tee,tee".

When I start clapping for her she looks up and has the sweetest smile.  She is so very proud of herself and so am I!  I should mention she had already had an accident, BUT the thought was there right!

April

Not really 43 weeks!

October 29, 2007 in Uncategorized by Joyfulhomemaker | Permalink

Sorry about the 43 weeks pg thing!  Ally is now 5 weeks old and while I have a lot to blog about the only time (so it seems) that I get to sit in front of the computer is when I am nursing her!  So I will get the counter taken off soon and hopefully make a real blog entry!

God Bless,

April

 

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