Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8
*making cereal and banana chocolate chip muffins
*eating a banana chocolate chip muffin...yum!
*working on a story
*reading blogs about motherhood on Proverbs 31 ministries
*the storms in the afternoon
*being so thankful for my girls
*being thankful that the washing machine worked
Thoughts, quotes, and poems on raising and homeschooling 3 little women. Ephesians 2: 8-10--For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." ~William Butler Yeats
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
*reading library books with the girls. Madelyn's favorite is Ella the Elegant Elephant.
*the way the girls drew pictures at the table without a fight breaking out
*watching Aubrey continue to work on crawling
*working on ideas for a future classroom (even though I have no idea if I'll ever actually go back to teaching so I am probably wasting my time)
*listening to the thunder
*the way the girls drew pictures at the table without a fight breaking out
*watching Aubrey continue to work on crawling
*working on ideas for a future classroom (even though I have no idea if I'll ever actually go back to teaching so I am probably wasting my time)
*listening to the thunder
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Favorite Moments and Thoughts
*hearing the girls sing enthusiastically when we got home from church..."my heart will sing, no other name, Jesus, Jesus..."
*that we made it to church and made it through the sermon without any major meltdowns from the kids
*reading a book about writing and getting inspired
*creating a few scrapbook pages for how I would like to decorate our next home, especially excited about our future library/learning room
*listening to the girls play Cupcake Wars after watching the show
*deciding I do need to teach in some way, probably Sunday School
*watching Home Improvement with Jim
*getting Roxaboxen in the mail and reading it to the girls
*creating question webs about gemstones and seahorses
*watching the clouds roll in as the monsoon starts
*reading teacher blogs and getting ideas for the girls--a Fancy Nancy word wall and dot cards for number sense
*hearing that all of Madelyn's blood tests came back normal--Thank you, God! I'm glad her tummy is feeling better and she is eating better again
*seeing a chocolate ice cream mustache on Madelyn
*finding a cute suitcase for Madelyn
*watching Aubrey learn to crawl--she's almost there!
*listening to Gracie read
*enjoying the quiet as I sit here and type this
*that we made it to church and made it through the sermon without any major meltdowns from the kids
*reading a book about writing and getting inspired
*creating a few scrapbook pages for how I would like to decorate our next home, especially excited about our future library/learning room
*listening to the girls play Cupcake Wars after watching the show
*deciding I do need to teach in some way, probably Sunday School
*watching Home Improvement with Jim
*getting Roxaboxen in the mail and reading it to the girls
*creating question webs about gemstones and seahorses
*watching the clouds roll in as the monsoon starts
*reading teacher blogs and getting ideas for the girls--a Fancy Nancy word wall and dot cards for number sense
*hearing that all of Madelyn's blood tests came back normal--Thank you, God! I'm glad her tummy is feeling better and she is eating better again
*seeing a chocolate ice cream mustache on Madelyn
*finding a cute suitcase for Madelyn
*watching Aubrey learn to crawl--she's almost there!
*listening to Gracie read
*enjoying the quiet as I sit here and type this
Saturday, June 16, 2012
At thirty-one-years old, I find that some days I'm no different than my middle school self. Finding your niche as a stay-at-home mom is a lot like finding your niche in middle school. Will the other moms like me? What groups am I going to join? Why wasn't I invited to the mom gathering? Is there a world outside of my own problems?
I have been reading a book called The Drama Years by Haley Kilpatrick. It's all about the topsy-turvy middle school years. It was written by a girl who started a foundation when she was fifteen called Girl Talk. Ten years later, it is still going strong. It is a mentoring program for middle school girls that allows the girls to talk in a safe environment about all the ups and downs of middle school. The author offers up three ideas to help "downplay the drama" during those years.
1.) An anchor activity--getting involved in an activity that she chooses and is good at helps her build self-confidence and allows her to release some stress. Examples are dance, sports, music, art, etc.
2.) A Helping Hand--volunteering on a regular basis allows her to see the world outside of her circle and help those in need.
3.) An Adopted Older Sister--Someone who has just been through those years will be able to listen and offer advice in a way that parents often can't.
So, as my girls head toward those middle school years, I am going to keep those ideas in mind. And then I started thinking that as a stay-at-home mom, I need these three things in place, too! It is so easy to be focused on my husband and kids and forget to take care of myself. Right now, I have two of the three ideas in place in my life, but they happen very sporadically. How would I feel if they were happening on a regular basis? I think I would be a lot more content.
My Anchor Activity--Writing. I absolutely love to write stories, poems, letters, and blog posts. I often don't set aside the time to do it.
A Helping Hand--I am still thinking about what this could be for me. Having a baby at home and no set babysitter, it is hard to leave the house by myself. Maybe joining the Prayer Ministry at church would be a good option. I am also going to join the PTO at Gracie's new school.
An Adopted Older Sister--I have a great mentor that I meet with.
Future Ideas
starting a Bible study for middle school girls
having a mother-daughter book club at our house during the summer
teaching Sunday School
As I navigate the world of being a stay-at-home mom, I am going to keep referring back to these three ideas. If I have them all in place, I think I will be a lot happier woman!
I have been reading a book called The Drama Years by Haley Kilpatrick. It's all about the topsy-turvy middle school years. It was written by a girl who started a foundation when she was fifteen called Girl Talk. Ten years later, it is still going strong. It is a mentoring program for middle school girls that allows the girls to talk in a safe environment about all the ups and downs of middle school. The author offers up three ideas to help "downplay the drama" during those years.
1.) An anchor activity--getting involved in an activity that she chooses and is good at helps her build self-confidence and allows her to release some stress. Examples are dance, sports, music, art, etc.
2.) A Helping Hand--volunteering on a regular basis allows her to see the world outside of her circle and help those in need.
3.) An Adopted Older Sister--Someone who has just been through those years will be able to listen and offer advice in a way that parents often can't.
So, as my girls head toward those middle school years, I am going to keep those ideas in mind. And then I started thinking that as a stay-at-home mom, I need these three things in place, too! It is so easy to be focused on my husband and kids and forget to take care of myself. Right now, I have two of the three ideas in place in my life, but they happen very sporadically. How would I feel if they were happening on a regular basis? I think I would be a lot more content.
My Anchor Activity--Writing. I absolutely love to write stories, poems, letters, and blog posts. I often don't set aside the time to do it.
A Helping Hand--I am still thinking about what this could be for me. Having a baby at home and no set babysitter, it is hard to leave the house by myself. Maybe joining the Prayer Ministry at church would be a good option. I am also going to join the PTO at Gracie's new school.
An Adopted Older Sister--I have a great mentor that I meet with.
Future Ideas
starting a Bible study for middle school girls
having a mother-daughter book club at our house during the summer
teaching Sunday School
As I navigate the world of being a stay-at-home mom, I am going to keep referring back to these three ideas. If I have them all in place, I think I will be a lot happier woman!
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