Early Saturday Morning

Getting up early on a Saturday morning has it's rewards.

The Little Things

~~~~~~~~

 

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”  ~Robert Brault

~~~~~~~~

My husband brought this chair, and it's twin home with him a couple weeks ago. 

He was doing a job for a customer, and mentioned that his wife likes cast iron patio furniture, and the sweet lady offered to sell them to him.

Funny thing is--on his way home someone offered him almost four times what he paid for them.  I thought it was nice of him to say no. 

Back to the Grind

I truly enjoyed my Christmas vacation this year.  I slept in a little, and played games with my children, and drank way too much coffee.
However, there is a part of me that longs for the normal routine.  I felt at loose ends somehow.  There were things I wanted to get done during our vacation, and I never did.  I didn't use my time wisely at all.

Don't tell anyone, but I can accomplish more while homeschooling than when I'm on vacation.

A big part of that is just that I follow a schedule during my day.  I discipline myself to get the job done.  Uh-oh, I just used the word discipline didn't I? 

Sometimes when my days are long, and I'm tired, and my children are not working diligently--I think I could accomplish so much more if they just climbed on a bus every morning.  The truth of the matter is that I would still have to organize my time--even if they went to school.

I would still have to remind them to brush their teeth.

I would still have to help with homework.

I would still need to limit my computer time. (ouch)

Life just functions better on a routine.

So, allow me to welcome you back to normal!

A New Year

I'm not a big fan of New Year's resolutions.

For one thing I think it probably is better to work on things in bite size portions.

Perhaps I should make new month resolutions.

Anyway......I would rather look back at some of the good things that happened to me this past year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1.  Blogging has become a creative outlet for me.  I've made some wonderful friends through it, and hopefully I've encouraged a few people along the way.

2.  I've been stretched and grown stronger by foster parenting my two little boys.  Six months ago I was mostly scared by the thought of this venture....now I'm just amazed by the things I was able to do.

3.  I've left behind quite a bit of physical weight this past year!  Probably due in part to number 2.

4.  This has been my best year of homeschooling so far.  In part because of a curriculum change, but also just a fair amount of attitude change on my part.

5.  My husband had a very difficult year with a hard work schedule, and although it was stressful we came through it stronger in our love for each other.

This is just the tip of the iceburg so-to-speak.  I could write a lot more good things that happened, but these are some of the highlights.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, I'd like to hear from you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What are some good things that happened this past year in your life? 

Merry Christmas

May your Christmas be peaceful, and surrounded by those you love!

Merry Christmas!

Random Craziness At Our House

I'm considering having an IV port inserted in my arm so that I can take my coffee intravenously.  I feel like the last six months of "tired" are all catching up with me this week.

Someone is "making eggs"--by pounding on a plastic ball with a toy hammer. ( They say children imitate what they see--I don't think I've EVER made eggs with a hammer.)

No gifts are wrapped at my house yet.  I HATE wrapping presents.  Somebody want to come do it for me?

My son just asked me what 5 minus 8 is?  Really?????

Another child of mine informed me that yogurt does not count as breakfast.  Apparently we need to have something else for breakfast.

There is a twenty pound turkey brining in a bucket on the front porch.  Poor thing!

Where is the snow?  Have I mentioned that I would like to see some snow?

How do I keep an exuberant two year old from dropping his pants to show EVERYONE his "big boy undies?"

I'm ready for Christmas--really I am.

When I Couldn't Pray

I told you last week that we had a court date coming up for our foster children.

I also mentioned that this was a pretty pivotal hearing.

To be a little more specific it was a hearing to terminate birth mom's rights.

My way of handling stressful situations like that is outward calm with lots of inner turmoil. (and stomach ulcers )

Our social worker had warned us that termination hearing's are usually quite long 4-5 hours or more--so we were heavily fortified with prayer, and some "clench-jawed" determination.

What we weren't prepared for was the animosity from the birth family toward us.

I guess it makes sense--we have their children--hence we are the villains.

It doesn't make it easy to deal with though.

The hallway that we were waiting in prior to the hearing was filled with a lot of profanity, and angry comments--all directed at us.

I was stressed out enough that I couldn't even get my thoughts together to form a prayer in my mind.

I tried repeatedly, and finally gave up--hoping that

someone

somewhere

was praying for us.

As we were preparing to enter the court room I felt almost opressed--I wondered how I was going to survive 4-5 hours of this.

We found our seats, and an odd feeling of calm surrounded me.

I felt almost peaceful.

I felt protected.

Like SOMEONE had put their arms around me.

The feeling lasted through the entire trial.

Which, by the way, only lasted  45 MINUTES!!

Later when I told my friend about this she asked when the hearing had started.

I told her it was almost an hour later than scheduled.

She chuckled and said,

"I looked at the clock--thought you were an hour into it, and prayed you would feel God's presence."