April 11

Just needed to record this day once again when God finally got to my heart to calm me down and what a blessing it is. I have been so anxious about when this baby is coming out. It's been much more uncomfortable theses last two weeks than I remember with the other kids, shouldn't I get to deliver early?? The Lord has said NO! I haven't accepted that and been complaining and trying things to get the baby out. Lord please forgive me again for not giving you the reigns completely each day. You are way better about ordering my life than I am. Thank you also for you perfect timing for this child and the words from Jesus Calling today..... This is the day that I have made. Rejoice and be glad in it. Begin the day with open hands of faith, ready to receive all that I am pouring into this brief portion of your life. Be careful not to complain about anything, even the weather, since I am the Author of your circumstances. The best way to handle unwanted situations is to thank Me for them. This act of faith frees you from resentment and frees Me to work My ways into the situation, so that good emerges from it. To find Joy in this day, you must live within its boundaries. I knew what I was doing when I divided time into twenty-four-hour segments. I understand human frailty, and I know that you can bear the weight of only one day at a time. Do not worry about tomorrow or get stuck in the past. There is abundant Life in My Presence today./span> This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. —Psalm 118:24 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 3:13–14 I also want to mention that Grace's favorite thing to say is "Baboom". She is really getting good at reading and loves Matt. She is trying to be so independent and call the shots but the lord is giving us wisdom and patience to reign her back in. Avery is growing up way too fast with all her deep conversations obsession with purple and own sense of style and creativity. She still lives the book Pinkalicious and hasn't been confidently napping which has this semi intraverted mom ready for her to get the concept of ALONE quiet time :-) Drew is just the adorable and lately talking machine( favorite phrases are No and Oh,gosh) hmm does he hear those a lot? He has colored and eaten every route of writing utensil and surface we own. But when he offers me kisses or constantly says thank you and your welcome it all disappears...mommy can't stand that he is turning two in a few short days!!!! He repeats a lot and loves to try and do anything the big kid are doing. Like waking all by himself to the park climbing on anything literally but crashes hard every day for a nice long nap:-) :-) God you are good and so perfect in ALL your ways.

Almost there

Ok folks, Im about done!! Not quite by weeks I'm 37 weeks on Sunday, but physically I'm getting quite weary. No big deal when you only have one running around or all are napping but when you literally only sit still to do school with the older two while constantly keeping the youngest from drawing in walls with any source of color, dumping and loose item or fliud, and the lovely screaming NO stage is being added to the mix :-) :-) :-) Overall I still love my children most hours of the day. Just stinks that it gets harder to keep your cool and do things on the floor with them as the days go on. I am thankful that they are pretty understanding cause they can tell by my waddle and effort of getting off the couch :-) PS I Really really want to know what this baby is, so that doesn't help my ability to patiently wait, but since God knows that I'm sure He is watching daily just smiling cause once again He is in control and knows what's best and it's driving me crazy :-) :-) So here is to a few more weeks of me working in enjoying the ease of the baby being inside and enjoying my current caios before more is added.

Yep, it's been way too long

I've thought for weeks and weeks "I am going to start sitting down on Friday nights and blog." I want to have the outlet to share and express what this school year has been. I will take more time soon to do so with more detail but for now my heart is and belly are so full and happy. This year has been one of the most draining, exciting, tiring, the list is long....but I wouldn't trade it for anything. The Lord has put it together just as He saw fit. He needed me to learn and be humbled in so many ways. The kids haves taught me so much about themselves but mostly about myself. I can't say enough how privileged I feel to get to spend so much time with them and being their teacher and influence. We have made many new friends through Grace's Latin school and our involvement in Heritage Builders, an enrichment group where we have attended dance and music classes and fun field trips. I love seeing how much each child is changing and gracious getting super excited about their sibling...only 8.5 more weeks!!!! I have less and less days where I think how am I going to handle four little rascals and get anything done let alone school the oldest two, and every time I do God stop it you aren't WE are. He and I have had many more times to chat in the last few months. I have had to cling to Him, cry to Him, and literally survive by Him and Him only. So now I am simply embracing what He has called us to. I am NOT blind to think it will be easy but I have learned this year once again God is right there we just have to reach for Him. Not sure why I try and do things on my own, but I am vowing to do it less and less. So as we celebrating our 100th day of school last week, I want to celebrate a hundred opportunities God has provided to bring Him glory. I pray I am more like Him than when we started and the kids have gotten a better glimpse of His love for them.

DAY ONE...WOW!!!

Today was a BIG wow! I'm so beat in so many ways. It just wasn't the best of days. There were really awesome moments and the girls made great strides on their curriculum, but WOW was it tough. Behavior was tough all around literally all day long from one of the girls at any given moment, but as we visited a friend they were fabulous!! God was in it, but I am needing to REALLY adjust to taking it easy and taking a deep breath and know that better days are to come....and clean up black paint, vaccuum up salt, replant flowers in the front yard ripped out by the lovely Avery, replace a ripped apart paint brush, make sure a tired 5 year old has some quiet time NO MATTER what she thinks she should have and finally.....take myself to bed at a reasonable hour!!!!! GOODNIGHT :)

Here we go!!!!

I'm set, the room is set, and now I just have to sleep, wake up earlier for my new routine, get a quiet time in, a shower, make the crew breakfast, get them dressed and ready for the day, go over expectations and all the new things we've put up and what things mean, dive into our Creation Unit and try and cover the first day of it by lunch time :) :) NO PROBLEM!!! I'm totally gonna need God throughout this WHOLE journey of homeschooling. THIS AINT GONNA BE EASY!!! This crew of kids is amazing and I love them to pieces, but they are a crew who at 5, 3.5, and 15months. They have tons of energy and quirks. I still can't believe we're really doing this and I'm sitting here the night before it all begins like it's Christmas Eve or something so excited and anxious about tomorrow. I'm wondering do I have it all figured out, is it all ready? That's just it I can't have it all in place or right cause there is no room for God. Here is a video I keep playing over and over in the last few weeks. Tim Timmons is my new favorite and his story is amazing. Just touches so much that God wants me to cast my care on Him because He loves me. No matter how this year goes, may I always remember He loves me and is right there when I need Him.

Short update

  I'm in awe of God and how good He is. He has been tugging at my heart, taking me on a journey, and finally I surrendered and now feel at peace again. We've decided to do a homeschool co-op next year for the girls. After hearing the words "she's just not ready" we knew very clearly that what God had been urging me to do was the better option...I knew that I was just too scared to step out on faith. But why, it's not like He calls us to things and leaves us to dry. Man I've been through this before and thought I had learned my lesson...guess not. 

I get more and more excited about it each day and know that it won't be easy but He is my rock and my strength and He is going to be there every step. 

Avery turned three, Drew is 10 months (crawling everywhere and wants mommy a lot...has a tooth coming in), and Grace always emphasizes she is four AND A HALF! God has brought me a knew mommy joy I can't explain. I love them more than I ever have and enjoy the good times more than I ever have. We still have our hard times but its like He is doing more work in my heart for when we will start school next year and spend a different kind of time together doing school. Lord thank you for reconnecting and bonding us like never before. May I never forget to cherish and appreciate them. May I live each day seeking what you would have for us. 

Short update

  I'm in awe of God and how good He is. He has been tugging at my heart, taking me on a journey, and finally I surrendered and now feel at peace again. We've decided to do a homeschool co-op next year for the girls. After hearing the words "she's just not ready" we knew very clearly that what God had been urging me to do was the better option...I knew that I was just too scared to step out on faith. But why, it's not like He calls us to things and leaves us to dry. Man I've been through this before and thought I had learned my lesson...guess not. 

I get more and more excited about it each day and know that it won't be easy but He is my rock and my strength and He is going to be there every step. 

Avery turned three, Drew is 10 months (crawling everywhere and wants mommy a lot...has a tooth coming in), and Grace always emphasizes she is four AND A HALF! God has brought me a knew mommy joy I can't explain. I love them more than I ever have and enjoy the good times more than I ever have. We still have our hard times but its like He is doing more work in my heart for when we will start school next year and spend a different kind of time together doing school. Lord thank you for reconnecting and bonding us like never before. May I never forget to cherish and appreciate them. May I live each day seeking what you would have for us.