Lazy Days

I love days where I can actually be lazy. And when I say lazy I mean have a low key day. Still being productive but at a much slower pace and doing only what needs to be done. Those kinds of days are few and far between but the Lord knows when to give them to you. He always knows what is best for you. On my lazy days, I realize that what I do lifts my spirit. Usually, I bake something I don't normally get to or work on my scrapbooking for a long period of time or spend more time that usual visiting sites I love on the computer. Or maybe my family gets to play more than one game in a row because, well, its a lazy day. I still get a load of laundry done, keep my kitchen orderly and do small chores around the house. My family helps with this as well and that allows us to enjoy our lazy day even more. These days are so special to me because they give me time to relax and gear up for what the coming days will bring my way. I never know when my "lazy days" will show up but I look forward to them and thank the Lord for providing them. He is so loving in all He does.

**Painting by Georges Jeannin

Our Little Home School

I mentioned I would share our homeschool with you and here you go. I have graduated our oldest and he begins his 2nd semester of college. I am currently teaching our youngest two. We are doing the following books:

Bible: Studying God's Word-D (daughter)
The Life of Christ (son)
Science: Considering God's Creation (finishing up what we srated last school year)
History: The Mystery of History (finishing up what we started last school year)
Geography: States Study (my own curriculum)
Math: Horizons Math (daughter)
Saxon Algebra 1 (son)
Grammar: Easy Grammar Plus (son) 3 days a week
Handwriting/Spelling: Various Scripture verses (daughter) 3 days a week
Reading: Little House on the Prairie (daughter)
George Meuller (son)
Memorization: Book of Psalms (3 days a week/recite on Fridays)
Art: (as we can)
Read Aloud: Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends

These are what we are making our way through at the moment. I have everything timed out so they are productive and get through it all. Having a schedule for them to follow truly helps in keeping them on top of things. When we finish up our science we will move onto weather. And when we get through history, we will move onto the next volume in the series.

Growing In Wisdom

Growing in wisdom. That would be our oldest son. He has recently turned 19 and had to celebrate it with a skin infection on his abdomen. It has been quite the week for him having to learn much about his pain tolerance and about the Lord he serves. He has been a child of God since he was 7 years old. I have seen him grow throughout the years to trust and love the Lord. As a fellow Christian would know, you have your good days and your not-so-good days. Thankfully, the Lord knows His children well. This past week Damian has seen the Lord work in his situation, drawing him unto Himself. He has seen how many people were willing to pray over him and then see that prayer answered. He saw the Lord's provision in his medical care. Doctors and nurses who cared and showed him compassion not to mention knowledge of what to do. He saw the Lord's faithfulness in his family's love and understanding of what he was enduring. And he thanked the Lord for his love for him, an undeserving, sinful man redeemed through Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Yes, he is growing in wisdom. The Lord is awesome to move in his life so faithfully and sovereignly, educating his heart even more. Yes, he growing in wisdom!!! Praise the Lord!

A Day In My Life

Though I have my daily schedules, know they aren't always followed to a tee. Unscheduled things happen or I get caught up doing something longer than I had planned or my health is not at its strongest and my schedules are thwarted a little. That's why I must pray daily that the Lord make me productive in whatever the day holds. If I can stick to my schedules, it's awesome. If I can't, it's okay. So, here is my life....for the most part.

My Morning Routine:
Wake up (usually around 7-7:30)
Read Devotional & Pray
Brush Teeth & Hair
Exercise (MWF)
Get Ready for the day
Start Laundry & Make sure kids are on schedule
Make Bed/Straighten Room
Drink Protein drink (MWF) or Have a small breakfast
Touch up Kitchen/Master Bathroom
Do Science with Kids
Check on Laundry/Finish up Master Bathroom
Dinner Prep, if needed
Do History & States Study with Kids
Lunch & Read Aloud

My Afternoon Routine:
Straighten kitchen after lunch
Finish up School
Laundry
Do scheduled chores or Run Errands
20 minutes Nap (if I can :-) )
Quiet Time (Bible Study)
5 Minute Room Rescue
Start Dinner, Kids set table
Greet Husband with love!

My Evening Routine:
Look at daily schedule/calendar for tomorrow
Do one hot spot, Sweep tile floors as needed
Shine Sink!! (I'm not always faithful but I try)
Put out fresh dishcloth
Prepare bed for rest
Kitchen/Dining Room/Living Room Room Rescue
Wash Face/ Contacts
Brush Hair
Computer Time
Kids to bed (Dad)
Time with Husband
Read a Devotional, Pray and Lights out by 11pm

Now, these are designed to keep me on my toes throughout the day. I'm not always able to stick them exactly but that's okay. And my family helps out with much so that I can strive to keep my schedules. Like my husband cleans up the kitchen after dinner. He just believes that if I cook the meal, he can clean up. And keep in mind, I do believe in cleaning as you cook so I try to not leave him too much. And my kids help from time to time. Also, my kids have their own schedule as well and that helps me as well. Here is what theirs (in a nutshell) looks like:

Rise 'n Shine (7:30-7:45)
Get Ready
Make Bed
Morning Devotional
Do morning Chores
Eat Breakfast
Begin School with Bible first (8:45/9:00)
Do Science with mom (10:10)
Snack Time (10:35) (Tend to Pets)
Do History & States Study with Mom (11-12pm)
Lunch & Read Aloud
Finish up School
Do Afternoon Chores
Free Time (3:00-ish)
Dinner/Afternoon Activity (Piano, Guitar, Tap Lessons, Baseball)
Bedtime by 10:00pm

(Note: They do do more in school but I didn't write that all down. I plan to share their home education in another post.)

So, that's my day here at our house. As much as I enjoy sticking to my schedules, I am ready to adjust if needed. Keeping flexibility in the back of your mind is very important. And if I get off on a day, I just pick up with the next day and move forward.

Back To Order

August is here. Life is back to a schedule and I'm feeling more orderly and organized. Summer is a sweet season because it allows our family to be more laxed and less orderly but it can only be a season. Our family seems to operate more efficiently when they know what they should be doing and when and where. I'm thankful the Lord stresses orderly living as well. And it is because He commands it (1 Corinthians 14:40) that I work diligently to make it happen in our home plus I find we are a "well oiled" family if we remain orderly.

I keep a Home Management Binder (HMB) to assist in keeping me on top of all things concerning our family. (I plan to share my HMB in a future blog.) I am almost finished with putting it together and look forward to when all is at my fingertips to keep me on track. For my kids, they have a section in one of their binders that we call "Life Skills". It is here that they keep their own schedules for school, chores and daily activities. I have seen how more productive they are using their schedules. If we get off, we just pick up where we are and move forward. Guilt is not allowed. I know there will be days where we be unable to stick to our schedules but I don't let that hinder my productivity or the childrens. We just do what we can and "roll with the punches", as they say. The Lord is sovereign over each day as it unfolds and we try to keep our eyes focused on Him.

In my next blog, I will share what a day in my life is like. Until then, be blessed.

(Happy Birthday Damian! You're becoming quite the man before my very eyes. )

A New Life

We are finally in our new house. We've been living here since February and what a blessing! Being here feels like a new life. A fresh start. A new beginning to another part of our lives. I find that such a cool thought. We waited over 16 years to be at this place in our lives, to have a home of our own, designed just for us and in a place we so desired. It's been worth the wait. God's timing is perfect. And this week I was reading in the book of Ephesians in the my Bible. It was chapter 4:17-32....A New Life. A new life in Christ to be exact. I found myself remembering that in the Old Testament that God said He was going to "raise up a righteous Branch"(Jer. 23:5). But the people of the OT would not see this happen. It wouldn't be until the New Testament times that this "righteous Branch" would be revealed and seen. Jesus Christ was this righteous Branch. He would offer a new life through His sacrifice on the cross and ressurrection. Sadly, some would not accept this gift of righteousness. Paul writes to the Ephesians that they "must not walk as the Gentiles do" (Eph. 4:17) They are "darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart" (Eph. 4:18). He goes on to remind them that they, the Ephesians, were "taught in him as the truth is in Jesus" (Eph. 4:21). So their lives should reflect this new life in Christ. They were to put off the old self and "be renewed in the spirit of their minds" (Eph. 4:22a & 23). A new way of living. A new way of thinking. A new way of being. It was a new beginning in their life. What they knew before would no longer be for they have found a new life in Christ. Just as we have a new life here on our mountain and things will never be as they were before. It's a new beginning to another part of our life. Just as accepting Christ into your heart and as your Savior is a new beginning to the best part of your life.