Obama Visit

Image via Wikipedia

My hubby had the opportunity to be working when President Obama came through the base last week.  He didn’t actually meet him and speak to him like he did when President Bush came through and he wasn’t seated on the stage behind him like he was when Vice President Dick Cheney came through but he was in the same hanger and heard the speech.  Other than the fact that they made them switch out the planes in the hanger so the one he cut from the budget wouldn’t be there and that he couldn’t read the rank of someone correctly off the teleprompter, here are Hubby’s comments about the whole thing…..

“Stood around for 6 hours at the base just to hear Pres O speak for about 20 min. Lots of promises that made me think my taxes are going up.”

Can it Be?

Can it truly be that my little one is a year old today? It seems only yesterday that I was waddling around with her inside! She is a sweet, funny, smart, talking, walking toddler now! Where did this past year go? She is definitely an Alaskan baby too! Her very first word was “bear” and said with a growling tone! Makes me laugh every time I hear it!

Happy Birthday Sweet Bella Boo! We love you!

Patience, An Exercise in Self-Control

Homeschooling brings many ups and downs.  There are the days that are full of joy because your children seem to really grasp the concepts you are teaching and then there are days when you wonder where the children have placed their brains!  The concepts that seemed so easily grasped the day before have overnight turned into what seems to be a foreign language.  There are days when the children seem to have forgotten things that we have been working on for years!  It is easy to get discouraged, frustrated, and angry.  I have found myself in this situation more times than I would like to admit.

I have often been told that I am a patient person.  I beg to differ with those who say that.  In fact, I think it is one of my weakest areas!  I may indeed be more patient than some but it does not necessarily make me a patient person.  It is something that is a constant battle for me.  I want things done the instant I think of them and I want them done correctly.  I want my children to understand and remember everything the first time I teach it.  I do not want them to not understand.  I do not want to struggle to get the point in a manner they understand, I simply want them to understand.

This sounds a bit unrealistic doesn’t it.  This sadly enough is something I struggle with daily.  Today has been no different.  I have a very grumpy little one who just is being difficult.  I have a kindergartner who just cannot seem to remember that the number ten is written with a one and a zero.  I have an older child who is questioning everything I say.  I want to scream at the top of my lungs, “Don’t question–just do!”,  “Quit grumping!”, and “One and zero, One and zero, how many times do we have to go over this!”.

I had a moment in the midst of this today where I paused, took a deep breath, and heard the Lord whisper, “Self-Control.”

I did not yell at my children.  I dealt with them calmly and kindly.  I once again nicely said, “Remember one and zero side by side make 10.”, “Please don’t argue, I really just need you to help me out with this.”, “Come here, I think you need a hug and a cuddle.”.  Chaos was once again averted!  Peace dwells in the house.

If you had seen this scene you might say I was a patient person.  I was indeed exercising patience however it was more than that.  Remember what I said the Lord taught me today?  Patience does not happen alone.  Self-control plays a bit part.  I had to conscienceless make the decision to be patient.  I had to control my urge to be impatient and too loose my temper.  Thankfully, today, I exercised self-control.  That unfortunately is not always the case.  Exercise is not always easy, it is hard work.  It can be tiring!  However, the more we exercise the easier things become.  The more I choose to exercise self-control in  this area of patience the easier it is to do it again.

Then it occurred to me.   How many times does God exercise self-control and patience toward me?  How many times has the Lord had to say to me, “Remember………”, “Please don’t argue I need you to obey.”,”Come unto me.”?  More times than again I would like to admit!  I am so thankful that I did not receive the angry, “Don’t argue, quit grumping, how  many times do I have to go over this!!” from my Lord.

God truly is a loving Father who shows us how to deal with our own children.  He teaches me to love, to be kind, to be patient, and to exercise self-control.  I need only to be obedient and turn to him when I am weak!

Thank you Lord for using the struggles of my day to grow me more into your likeness.  Help me each day to exercise self-control to be patient.

My Preemie is 17!

It seems only yesterday that I was sitting in the NICU with my 33 week preemie.  Now she is a godly young woman!  I have been abundantly blessed to have this young lady as a daughter!  She celebrated her birthday yesterday.  Happy birthday to my sweet girl.

Three Years Ago Today……

This little bundle of joy was born! She was one of our more traumatic births and gave us a big scare in her first two weeks of life but God is so very good! Here she is a beautiful, healthy, BIG girl now!  Happy Birthday Sweetheart!  We love you!

Sharing My Lesson Plans

I have had many ask about my lesson plans recently. I thought I would post an example for you. These are not completely filled in but it will give you an idea of what we are doing and how it is organized. I have one page for each day. My notebook then has 180 pages for 180 days of school.  This also does NOT include our extra curricular activities outside of the home.  This is used as a check off list.  When one thing is completed we mark it off and all should be completed by the end of the day. This is a bit scrunched on here and looks cleaner when printed out. I would love to know what some of you moms use to track your lesson plans for the year.