Well, last night was the first night I have slept in nearly a year. I awoke at 3 to nurse Kate (mommy home? mommy home? mooooommmmmmyyyyyy hooooooommmmmeeeee?)
yes, I'm home Kate.
And then back to sleep and got up at 6:15.
Devotional and coffee and about to get OFF the computer.
God is sooooooooo good.
KEEP praying. PLEASE.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Finding our way
Well, we did bible study and talked about well, a lot.
Doesn't seem like much I know, but for someone seeking harmony,(remember harmony not balance) it was wonderful!
We talked about school and what they wanted to learn and honestly. It was just a few words from a few people that got me on the way. I spent a lot of time looking around blogs and really enjoyed some new ones I had never been to. Kris's and Tree-Climber's. What is her name anyway??? Lol
I think I would like her. Where does she live Lisa?
Anyway...seeing everyone's schedule, Wendy's telling me to seek peace instead of balance and Tiffany telling me at the skating rink to just start with ONE thing. (You may not think that was big but it WAS Tif. It was like getting permission to just do one thing and that was okay.)
And also Wendy telling me to list my 6 priorities for the following day before I went to bed. Didn't matter if 36 things made the list....you still just pick six. That way you have your plan.
Sloan made me change it to seven since she likes that number better, lol.
Okay, so seven priorities.
HA! WHO doesn't know that God comes first, and school comes next? (in terms of study in homeschooling)But somehow they just weren't making my list.
But manna is only good for one day and you cannot think that the Word of God just sporadically will sustain you. You must take it in daily.
So please, don't just shoot up a prayer for me, for us. Please add us to your serious prayer list that I may find my way back to listing my priorites rightly.
It sure does feel good. Blowin' the dust off the math books and getting to the library.
Who cares about the magazine! If it is supposed to get done, it WILL! Right?
Lauren wants to learn about the United States, Rachel loves to do just about anything and Sloan loves Geography, grammar and writing.
They all love to read so we're off to the library later today to search some good reads out and all is homeschooly on the Western Front.
At least at the moment!
Doesn't seem like much I know, but for someone seeking harmony,(remember harmony not balance) it was wonderful!
We talked about school and what they wanted to learn and honestly. It was just a few words from a few people that got me on the way. I spent a lot of time looking around blogs and really enjoyed some new ones I had never been to. Kris's and Tree-Climber's. What is her name anyway??? Lol
I think I would like her. Where does she live Lisa?
Anyway...seeing everyone's schedule, Wendy's telling me to seek peace instead of balance and Tiffany telling me at the skating rink to just start with ONE thing. (You may not think that was big but it WAS Tif. It was like getting permission to just do one thing and that was okay.)
And also Wendy telling me to list my 6 priorities for the following day before I went to bed. Didn't matter if 36 things made the list....you still just pick six. That way you have your plan.
Sloan made me change it to seven since she likes that number better, lol.
Okay, so seven priorities.
HA! WHO doesn't know that God comes first, and school comes next? (in terms of study in homeschooling)But somehow they just weren't making my list.
But manna is only good for one day and you cannot think that the Word of God just sporadically will sustain you. You must take it in daily.
So please, don't just shoot up a prayer for me, for us. Please add us to your serious prayer list that I may find my way back to listing my priorites rightly.
It sure does feel good. Blowin' the dust off the math books and getting to the library.
Who cares about the magazine! If it is supposed to get done, it WILL! Right?
Lauren wants to learn about the United States, Rachel loves to do just about anything and Sloan loves Geography, grammar and writing.
They all love to read so we're off to the library later today to search some good reads out and all is homeschooly on the Western Front.
At least at the moment!
Stream of Thought
It is 4:20 a.m. and yes, I know where my children are.
A know a woman who is very successful and has two small children. She is admittedly a high bar achiever but recognizes it and endeavors to keep it in check. She is also a strong Christian. She helped me tremendously yesterday when she changed my perspective somewhat when I was discussing that ever elusive "balance" I was seeking. She told me to replace that word with "harmony". Peace in knowing that today the balance is tipped too heavy on one side but tomorrow we can tip it the other. Life is not balanced! It is an ever swinging pendulum.....PEACE no matter our circumstances is the goal....
I love Law and Order. I just-can't-help-it.
I am getting organized! Eventually the mess really starts to tick me off and I go crazy. My car is clean and the front porch is half done. Lauren's room looks great and I am keeping on going.
My friend invited me to go on a free four day Disney cruise next weekend. It is the right time and I actually COULD but don't know if I actually WILL.
Kate can completely talk and understand everything now. She even gets in trouble like the other girls. When I call a "meeting" and all the girls come running in and line up for the lecture, Kate sees them and comes running up to get in line with them so she can "get it" too.
I think she is quite well adjusted.
She was a bear at the skating rink and I will never take her again if she hasn't napped first.
Next issue has two pieces that are sure to be my all time favorites. Well, one for sure, the other if it comes out well.
I am ready for something different in life but I don't know what.
While waiting for the next stream I noticed my bookshelves. I guess I have more organizing than I thought!
I am thinking about joining the Y...but don't know if it is just one more thing I won't do.
A know a woman who is very successful and has two small children. She is admittedly a high bar achiever but recognizes it and endeavors to keep it in check. She is also a strong Christian. She helped me tremendously yesterday when she changed my perspective somewhat when I was discussing that ever elusive "balance" I was seeking. She told me to replace that word with "harmony". Peace in knowing that today the balance is tipped too heavy on one side but tomorrow we can tip it the other. Life is not balanced! It is an ever swinging pendulum.....PEACE no matter our circumstances is the goal....
I love Law and Order. I just-can't-help-it.
I am getting organized! Eventually the mess really starts to tick me off and I go crazy. My car is clean and the front porch is half done. Lauren's room looks great and I am keeping on going.
My friend invited me to go on a free four day Disney cruise next weekend. It is the right time and I actually COULD but don't know if I actually WILL.
Kate can completely talk and understand everything now. She even gets in trouble like the other girls. When I call a "meeting" and all the girls come running in and line up for the lecture, Kate sees them and comes running up to get in line with them so she can "get it" too.
I think she is quite well adjusted.
She was a bear at the skating rink and I will never take her again if she hasn't napped first.
Next issue has two pieces that are sure to be my all time favorites. Well, one for sure, the other if it comes out well.
I am ready for something different in life but I don't know what.
While waiting for the next stream I noticed my bookshelves. I guess I have more organizing than I thought!
I am thinking about joining the Y...but don't know if it is just one more thing I won't do.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Kate Trained.
Okay, I got cut off in the video but this is not me displaying Kate's verbal prowess which is MARKEDLY better than this mess, but instead an example of loving training, consistent application, and her unregenerate spirit! God is so good and I am so thankful that as much of a sinner as I am, that I am trying to raise these kids in the power and admonition of the LORD! She'll get there! ANd perhaps it will help her one day to know that she can make it with her own precious arrows! I am feeling better thanks to all my wonderful friends. Thank You! (especially tonight for Steph, Am and Chewhi)
The Passing of the Scones
Ann was a natural and loved to get her fingers in the cutting in of the butter. Scones are easy to make and always a favorite. No one bakes anymore so I told her what I tell my girls: a few signature recipes and you will be the HIT!
Funny things she says
So you know that mag is nearly to print when I blog this much.
Kate is speaking fully on now. Not when you want her to of course, but in long complete sentences when SHE wants to.
While Rach was upstairs still asleep, Kate wanted her DOWNstairs with her so she stood at the base of the stairs and yelled at the top of her lungs:
"Raaaaaaachullll, Raaaaaaaachullllll, come downstaaaaaaiiiiirrrrs,and I will go potty on the potty for youuuuuuuuuuuuu.
To Sloan on any given occasion: "Get off me Sloan. Stop it. Stop kissing me. No kissing."
Mommy, whatchoo doing? Whatcha doing mommy? Wanna play a game?
To me when I reprimanded her yesterday: "Be nicer Mommy."
And my personal favorite: At church last week when we were standing in worship and Kate had had enough:
"Sit down right there Mommy. NO praying. NO singing. I too big. How aboooooowt, donut time?!"
No wonder they quit the donuts. Poor kid. Are you guys just throwing those all away?? What a waste!
Kate is speaking fully on now. Not when you want her to of course, but in long complete sentences when SHE wants to.
While Rach was upstairs still asleep, Kate wanted her DOWNstairs with her so she stood at the base of the stairs and yelled at the top of her lungs:
"Raaaaaaachullll, Raaaaaaaachullllll, come downstaaaaaaiiiiirrrrs,and I will go potty on the potty for youuuuuuuuuuuuu.
To Sloan on any given occasion: "Get off me Sloan. Stop it. Stop kissing me. No kissing."
Mommy, whatchoo doing? Whatcha doing mommy? Wanna play a game?
To me when I reprimanded her yesterday: "Be nicer Mommy."
And my personal favorite: At church last week when we were standing in worship and Kate had had enough:
"Sit down right there Mommy. NO praying. NO singing. I too big. How aboooooowt, donut time?!"
No wonder they quit the donuts. Poor kid. Are you guys just throwing those all away?? What a waste!
Kate Trained. haha.
Yes, this is the longest post of all time.
Well, I made it To and THROUGH church. Lol
I am glad I went. I mean, it makes me feel a little guilty NOT going when there is a whole family room there for us. And though again, I realize it is not just for us...so far we are the only ones using it! It is only the second week after all though...So though I may be a little dry at the moment, I keep trying. I guess I shall try to bring guests each week so I am held accountable to go. Poor Doug. Well, at least I know he knows I love his teaching. Lol It is just sooo hard with Kate. I have to remember it is for a short time. Man I am so impatient! I did it three other times, WHAT is my problem?
The service? Uh...I have no idea. Can you believe it? ME. LOVER of God's Word to the nth degree. Is that how you spell Nth?
Anyway, I have no idea. Am said it was GREAT and that he was AMAZING. So, maybe we could call it the Osmosis Room and pray really hard???
So as SOME of you know (and you know who you are, ;)) I need PURPOSE so I see that instead of feeling alone in a glass cage (remember John Travolta's old Boy in the Bubble movie? Yeah, a little like that) Today when some people walked by they looked in (amazingly last week, no one did) and when they looked in they pointed and smiled, laughed or waved. I just smiled and waved back but in that moment I felt different. I don't know why mankind must conform. I am the ultimate non-conformist. Or so I like to think. But you know, how about some one way tint people? JUST KIDDING. It is totally cool and I totally love it and well, if I am the fish in the fishbowl, than SO BE IT. I keep telling myself....it is worth it in the end.
I love the non-worldliness in the kids....and the maturity at such a young age. No biting comments, no mean spiritedness, no hitting or being hit, etc. etc.
Mainstream Christian teaching is just not for us. Some programs teach as if the kids already come from the world..you know MTV teaching. God is not "cool" or "hip" or "rock and roll". I do not think Calvary teaches this way. I believe that if they teach adult church the way they do, they surely take the kids church pretty seriously. Feel free to fill us in, whomever.
Anyway, God is not fun and games He does not "change with the times" I do not believe you should teach to the culture UGH, I despise that. Let God be God..we don't have to get him in line with the awful CULTURE of the day...He is timeless, the ALPHA AND OMEGA...when did that start getting treated so lightly?
Ok, I am rambling and so am moving on...
MY POINT: Instead I choose to chronicle Kate's training with you. Yes, we're Kate training. Why do I think that is so funny? So what do you think? A blow by blow training of a two year old. All you need to survive this is Tequila and a switch. Haha. So here is it how it goes: (if you've made it this far)
IF you train a child YOUNG then you don't have a bratty kid when they're five, Capice? Or better yet, a disrespectful one when they're 12. I was noticing this child in a class recently. The teacher was speaking and directly at the child's table. The child was slouched over the table with her head in her hand and COMPLETELY turned away from the teacher. He was standing practically over her. I actually thought he was going to say something for a minute. It was terribly disrespectful. And I am not calling this girl down. She could have had a stomach ache or her cat could have just died, what do I know? I am not judging it I am just pointing it out as the "even if it is not fair, they have to" example. Too tough? Yeah, well..you do it your way, I'll do it mine.
The point is that it was ALL I COULD DO to not say, Sit up and look at your teacher when he is speaking! I mean, I was close. I probably actually would have if I hadn't asked if we were bothering the class by being there. (we were sitting at a table and listening to his teaching) and the other teacher not teaching answered: Well..... so I left. Lol And stood in the middle of the lobby with Kate. Ha. Someone put a chair in the lobby for us please. I guess I need church drive through. Do not repeat what you read in this blog people. I mean it. :) Though half of you there read this anyway.
Ok, back to Kate. So training her young. First, we are just getting her USED to it. She spotted this dog in the kids room and said" Play with doggie, play with doggie so the teacher who was SO SWEET said come on in...blah blah, and I set Kate down which of course set Kate off. Now I KNOW that people can judge that as spoiled, overprotected or insecure but Ann Marie who was standing there said, totally true to form as my personal encourager, "Aren't you GLAD she's like that?" I could have kissed her. Literally. And the answer is YES. I am glad that she is wary and cautious of others. She is not desensitized to being in large groups of people or kids. She's not "used to it". She takes her time getting used to people. And every one of the girls did. They never did the things the other kids did and they are BEST friends. They don't fight. Yes, you heard me right. They DO NOT FIGHT. Or yell at each other or me...or tell me 'no'. Well, Kate does, but NOT for long.
Her big thing now is No Mommy, not yet....No Mommy...not yet.
Praying, eating, bath time, bed time...No Mommy, not yeeeeeeet. Funny.
Ok, BACK to training. Bored yet? Good. So YES, I let her wander a bit in the Family room because she spends the first 20 minutes crying to leave and go home and bye bye time and doughnut time...and then she holds me and begs to nurse which I normally do but today I realized if ANYONE just glanced back there they would SEE me nursing so then I decided to just-say-no. Uh.....you can imagine how that went. Hey, the nursing room is pretty nice too!
So I let her wander after crying because hey, she is NOT crying and exploring a bit. I point up to Pastor Doug and say: "Pastor Doug" and she says Pastor Dug. And "music" and "praying" and "church" and SIT DOWN. And today she did. She cried, got held, wandered and then SAT DOWN. And that is the beginning, brethren.
Blessed sitting. She looked through her books and when she tried to get me to read them, I said NO. Mommy is reading her bible. And she said "Bible?" Yes, Bible.
And when she tried to narrate her book I said NO. We are in church. NO talking. Shhhh. ON and on this goes, week after week until she can sit quietly and mind completely. Because even if a child does not want to mind, they must. Even if what they are doing is not FAIR, they must.
But Kate is two....and I am not going to insist that she sit the whole time, and not look at a book, color, or play with a stuffy. No...she is TWO people and twos are made for walkin'. (get it? twos are made for walkin'? hahahahaha. I am so funny.)
So this is how we train, with love, discipline, and REALISTIC expectations of their abilities. Nothing worse than little Christian drones.
So...that's Kate training 101 for today. See you next week. Bring me an apple. :)
Well, I made it To and THROUGH church. Lol
I am glad I went. I mean, it makes me feel a little guilty NOT going when there is a whole family room there for us. And though again, I realize it is not just for us...so far we are the only ones using it! It is only the second week after all though...So though I may be a little dry at the moment, I keep trying. I guess I shall try to bring guests each week so I am held accountable to go. Poor Doug. Well, at least I know he knows I love his teaching. Lol It is just sooo hard with Kate. I have to remember it is for a short time. Man I am so impatient! I did it three other times, WHAT is my problem?
The service? Uh...I have no idea. Can you believe it? ME. LOVER of God's Word to the nth degree. Is that how you spell Nth?
Anyway, I have no idea. Am said it was GREAT and that he was AMAZING. So, maybe we could call it the Osmosis Room and pray really hard???
So as SOME of you know (and you know who you are, ;)) I need PURPOSE so I see that instead of feeling alone in a glass cage (remember John Travolta's old Boy in the Bubble movie? Yeah, a little like that) Today when some people walked by they looked in (amazingly last week, no one did) and when they looked in they pointed and smiled, laughed or waved. I just smiled and waved back but in that moment I felt different. I don't know why mankind must conform. I am the ultimate non-conformist. Or so I like to think. But you know, how about some one way tint people? JUST KIDDING. It is totally cool and I totally love it and well, if I am the fish in the fishbowl, than SO BE IT. I keep telling myself....it is worth it in the end.
I love the non-worldliness in the kids....and the maturity at such a young age. No biting comments, no mean spiritedness, no hitting or being hit, etc. etc.
Mainstream Christian teaching is just not for us. Some programs teach as if the kids already come from the world..you know MTV teaching. God is not "cool" or "hip" or "rock and roll". I do not think Calvary teaches this way. I believe that if they teach adult church the way they do, they surely take the kids church pretty seriously. Feel free to fill us in, whomever.
Anyway, God is not fun and games He does not "change with the times" I do not believe you should teach to the culture UGH, I despise that. Let God be God..we don't have to get him in line with the awful CULTURE of the day...He is timeless, the ALPHA AND OMEGA...when did that start getting treated so lightly?
Ok, I am rambling and so am moving on...
MY POINT: Instead I choose to chronicle Kate's training with you. Yes, we're Kate training. Why do I think that is so funny? So what do you think? A blow by blow training of a two year old. All you need to survive this is Tequila and a switch. Haha. So here is it how it goes: (if you've made it this far)
IF you train a child YOUNG then you don't have a bratty kid when they're five, Capice? Or better yet, a disrespectful one when they're 12. I was noticing this child in a class recently. The teacher was speaking and directly at the child's table. The child was slouched over the table with her head in her hand and COMPLETELY turned away from the teacher. He was standing practically over her. I actually thought he was going to say something for a minute. It was terribly disrespectful. And I am not calling this girl down. She could have had a stomach ache or her cat could have just died, what do I know? I am not judging it I am just pointing it out as the "even if it is not fair, they have to" example. Too tough? Yeah, well..you do it your way, I'll do it mine.
The point is that it was ALL I COULD DO to not say, Sit up and look at your teacher when he is speaking! I mean, I was close. I probably actually would have if I hadn't asked if we were bothering the class by being there. (we were sitting at a table and listening to his teaching) and the other teacher not teaching answered: Well..... so I left. Lol And stood in the middle of the lobby with Kate. Ha. Someone put a chair in the lobby for us please. I guess I need church drive through. Do not repeat what you read in this blog people. I mean it. :) Though half of you there read this anyway.
Ok, back to Kate. So training her young. First, we are just getting her USED to it. She spotted this dog in the kids room and said" Play with doggie, play with doggie so the teacher who was SO SWEET said come on in...blah blah, and I set Kate down which of course set Kate off. Now I KNOW that people can judge that as spoiled, overprotected or insecure but Ann Marie who was standing there said, totally true to form as my personal encourager, "Aren't you GLAD she's like that?" I could have kissed her. Literally. And the answer is YES. I am glad that she is wary and cautious of others. She is not desensitized to being in large groups of people or kids. She's not "used to it". She takes her time getting used to people. And every one of the girls did. They never did the things the other kids did and they are BEST friends. They don't fight. Yes, you heard me right. They DO NOT FIGHT. Or yell at each other or me...or tell me 'no'. Well, Kate does, but NOT for long.
Her big thing now is No Mommy, not yet....No Mommy...not yet.
Praying, eating, bath time, bed time...No Mommy, not yeeeeeeet. Funny.
Ok, BACK to training. Bored yet? Good. So YES, I let her wander a bit in the Family room because she spends the first 20 minutes crying to leave and go home and bye bye time and doughnut time...and then she holds me and begs to nurse which I normally do but today I realized if ANYONE just glanced back there they would SEE me nursing so then I decided to just-say-no. Uh.....you can imagine how that went. Hey, the nursing room is pretty nice too!
So I let her wander after crying because hey, she is NOT crying and exploring a bit. I point up to Pastor Doug and say: "Pastor Doug" and she says Pastor Dug. And "music" and "praying" and "church" and SIT DOWN. And today she did. She cried, got held, wandered and then SAT DOWN. And that is the beginning, brethren.
Blessed sitting. She looked through her books and when she tried to get me to read them, I said NO. Mommy is reading her bible. And she said "Bible?" Yes, Bible.
And when she tried to narrate her book I said NO. We are in church. NO talking. Shhhh. ON and on this goes, week after week until she can sit quietly and mind completely. Because even if a child does not want to mind, they must. Even if what they are doing is not FAIR, they must.
But Kate is two....and I am not going to insist that she sit the whole time, and not look at a book, color, or play with a stuffy. No...she is TWO people and twos are made for walkin'. (get it? twos are made for walkin'? hahahahaha. I am so funny.)
So this is how we train, with love, discipline, and REALISTIC expectations of their abilities. Nothing worse than little Christian drones.
So...that's Kate training 101 for today. See you next week. Bring me an apple. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)