A Life of Gratitude

Have you ever heard of leaf litter?  Well, me either. At least, not until our science lessons this week. Dylan, Evan and I had so much fun today. We searched and found leaf litter, gathered some, shook it up, and sorted through it. This was the first of many Exploration Fridays!  For those of you who are just learning about leaf litter, (just like me) it is the accumulation of leaves, twigs, bugs, humus, rocks, sand, dirt, and bark that gathers around trees.  Leaf litter helps to maintain healthy soil and helps plants get the nutrients they need. It is also the food and shelter for many insects.  Dylan really enjoyed sorting through the leaf litter. He loves any chance to use his magnifying glass! He discovered all sorts of neat stuff in that big pile. It was really neat for all of us to see that so much is going on in that pile of seemingly lifeless dirt and leaves. Collecting the leaf litter Shaking it up! What's in there? Taking notes....like every

One of my favorite things about our Christian based homeschool curriculum, "My Father's World" is that its emphasis is all about learning God's Story.  This year we will be writing in a Bible notebook, reading Bible leveled readers, learning about many of God's creations, and studying HIStory. Each day we begin our school time by reading a devotional or studying a Proverb. The devotionals come from a book that came with our curriculum called My Big Book of 5-minute Devotions: Celebrating God's World. It is an adorable book that uses short stories about animals and insects to share truths from God's Word. It also has questions to discuss with children and Bible verses to go along with each story. So far, Dylan has really enjoyed these devotions. He even asks to read more than one per day! Today we read a short story about ladybugs. We learned that ladybugs have strange ways of doing things. They taste with their antennae and they smell with their feet!

When I scrolled through my Facebook news feed today, I noticed that almost everyone I know was dropping off a child at their first day of school. As I sipped my coffee, had my quiet time, took a shower, and slowly got the day started, I couldn't help but be overwhelmingly grateful that I don't have to take my kid to school!  It sounds selfish, I know, but I would have been the Momma hovering and boo-hooing by the door so, its just better for everyone that my kids stay home with me! Plus,  I am grateful to have all these extra moments with my children.  This is just one of the many perks of homeschooling! If you've read my blog before, you probably know that homeschooling wasn't always my dream or even on my radar, for that matter. God totally rearranged my life, changed my mind, and laid homeschooling heavily on my heart. Now, I have fallen in love with homeschooling! Each time I come across a "perk" of homeschooling, I have to laugh to myself because I f

We've been apart of a church wide study called "40 Days in the Word." Each week we're learning a different study method and each day we study one verse and meditate on it through out the day. So far, I've really enjoyed this week's study method of pronouncing the verse. Basically, you read the verse numerous times, emphasizing a different word each time,  and then writing down your thoughts on the verse. I have found that each verse is packed full wonderful truths. I have often rushed right through these verses. I'm not sure why I feel the need to read the Bible as fast as I can but that is how I have often done it. I'm learning through this study that I just need to slow down and really take in what God is saying through His Word, one verse at a time. Today's verse was Philippians 4:19. It says, "My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." As I used the "pronounce it" study method tod

I went to the visitation tonight for a lovely lady from our church that passed away yesterday. As I waited in line I watched the slideshow of pictures that the family shared. James 4:14 kept coming to my mind. It says, "... You are  just  a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." That verse is sort of sad really, but I believe James was wise to include it. If we all remembered the truth of this verse, we would probably live differently. Other than the impact we have on those around us, there is very little about our lives that lasts. So, that means that the impact we have on others must be the most important thing about life. As I watched the slide show tonight and kept thinking of James 4:14, I was also blessed to overhear the impact this precious woman had on the crowds of people there. I think she must have known the significance of the imprint we leave on the lives around us.  When I got in the car after the visitation, the song on the radio wa

Today was Dylan's first day of First Grade! It was a very exciting day in our home! I have to say, I love that my child is so eager to start school. I'll admit, I was excited too. I taught First Grade for one year and actually really liked it so I'm thrilled to teach it again, this time with my son! Since homeschool doesn't have a strict schedule, we took our time eating breakfast and I had my quiet time before we got started with school work. I didn't have to tell Dylan twice. As soon as I said, "we're ready," he was at the kitchen table, ready to learn. The only problem was, Evan was ready too! Thankfully, I was able to get Evan interested in a movie for a few minutes and then later he colored at the table with us. In between playing and singing and climbing, he kept saying, "its cool time, its cool time" which is "its school time" in Evanese. Since it was our first day, Dylan and I spent some time getting acquainted with our n

We had big plans for today. We were supposed to go the Children's Museum and celebrate a friend's birthday but our plans were cancelled because Dylan wasn't feeling well. We were all bummed but since it was a yucky, rainy day we decided to just be lazy.  Dylan requested that we have a family movie day and spend the whole day together so, that's exactly what we did! We watched a couple of movies together, had a picnic lunch in the living room floor, took afternoon naps, made cookies, and did a puzzle together. It was really nice spending the entire day with my guys. I think I love them more everyday! Today I am thankful for a rainy, lazy Saturday. We hadn't planned on spending the day laying around but I think it was just what we all needed. Thankfully, Dylan started feeling better and we were all able to enjoy the day. I am also thankful for my sweet little family. I know I've said it at least a hundred times but these guys are God's greatest blessings

Today has been a much better day. I'm still wearing the temporary spinal cord stimulator and I continue to deal with a lot of pain but, I'm doing better. I actually really like the stimulation and it is helping my "normal" back pain which is awesome! Wearing this stimulator makes doing lots of things somewhat difficult. I've needed quite a bit of help the past few days. Thankfully, I have two little guys who are eager to help! Evan has been climbing everywhere so I don't have to pick him up, picking things up for me, and bringing me the things I need. Dylan has been helping take care of Evan, bringing me drinks, helping with the dishes, and even helping me walk a few times. Tonight I realized that my toenails looked pretty bad and apparently I said something about needing my toenails painted but not being able to bend over to do it.  Suddenly, I had two very excited boys ready to give me a make-shift pedicure! This pedicure involved a lot of tickling and

Whew! The past two days have been really rough for me! Yesterday I had a temporary spinal cord stimulator implanted in my back to see if it would help with my chronic back pain. My doctor thought I would be the perfect candidate for this because I already have a neurostimulator in my head to help with Occipital Neuralgia. It works wonderfully! The idea was to have the temporary stimulator implanted  for one week. I am supposed to try to do all of my normal activities so I can see how much it will help me with my pain. If I like it, I could have a permanent one implanted to help me deal with my pain on an on-going basis. I had a temporary implant with the stimulator in my head and it really wasn't that big of a deal. I honestly thought this temporary implant would be "no big deal" too. I was wrong. I had to be partially awake during the surgery so the doctor could ask me when and where I felt the stimulation. After the first stimulator leads were implanted, I couldn&#

I have to admit, being a homeschooling mom can be a little lonely and scary at times. Last year was fine because I taught Kindergarten in public school for years and I'm 100% comfortable teaching that grade. But as I look toward the future, I am a little intimidated. Its also a little frightening to be the only one of so many of my friends that has chosen to homeschool my children. I recently heard the song that says "Though none go with me, still I will follow, no turning back, no turning back." As I heard those words, I felt like it should be the theme song to the beginning of our homeschooling journey. Sometimes it feels like we're the only ones who've made this choice. We do know a few people that will homeschool in the future but we aren't close to anyone homeschooling currently. Many of Dylan's friends will be going to school this year but he will be staying home and I will be his teacher.  I know, without doubt, that this is the direction God is le

Since Evan got his big boy toddler bed, we have started teaching him to kneel beside his bed to say his bedtime prayers. It is absolutely adorable to watch him fold his little hands and get down on his knees. Tonight, as we were cleaning up and getting the boys ready for bed, Dylan asked if he could say his bedtime prayers with his brother. Well, of course! Anytime my babies want to pray together, I'm gonna let them! So a few minutes later we all huddled beside Evan's toddler bed on our knees. Evan said his "prayers" first and then it was Dylan's turn. It was precious to hear them praying together. It truly warmed this Mommy's heart! Matthew 18:20 says, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." I feel certain that God was with us as Bryan and I gathered by Evan's bedside with our two sons. If listening to these sweet boys pray brought me joy, it must have been enormously pleasing to our Heavenly Father. Today I

Dylan spent the night with his grandparents tonight so Bryan and I got to spend some alone time with our littlest big boy. Its amazing how much fun you can have one on one with a child. Don't get me wrong, I always have fun with both of my boys but there is something extra special about enjoying time alone with each of them. After dinner we let Evan pick what we would do for the evening. So, we watched Thomas the Train for about 5 minutes, played with 4 different puzzles at the same time, watched "Baaaneeee" (barney) for about 7 minutes, tickled his belly again and again and then went to Granny's for a "coo-kkkieee." Evan ate his entire cookie before we could even pay for it! As soon he crammed in the last bite he was already asking for more. Bless his sweet heart! At bedtime, before he crawled into his big boy bed, he asked for lots and lots of tummy kisses and tickles, again. He went to bed 30 minutes late tonight but I was loving our time together so

Bryan's Grandmother, Nana Shaw, came over this afternoon so that I could teach her how to crochet a necklace. She taught me to knit several months ago so I was excited to return the favor. I really enjoyed the conversation we shared. Since both of my grandmothers have passed away, I savor these opportunities to talk with an older, wiser lady. As I listened to Nana Shaw talk, I took a few mental notes. She has many words of wisdom and pieces of advice. Here are a few of the nuggets of wisdom that I hope to never forget.  As we were working on the necklaces, Dylan was nearby playing. He was making all sorts of sounds. He was whooshing, swiiiishing, muahing, and hisssing. I hear those noises all the time. I guess I just sort of tune them out. Nana looked over at me, smiled and said, "Enjoy those little noises while you can." As soon as she said those words I realized that I have totally taken those sweet sounds for granted.  I will miss those sounds when my boys grow up

I saw this picture on Facebook the other day and I've been thinking of it since. Its a simple question really, but its one that most of us need to ask ourselves. I have to say, I don't often thank God for my eyes or for the other millions of things my body does every day that I don't even realize are a blessing. My heart beating, my blood flowing, my ears making sense of the noise around me, my nerves sending signals, my limbs working properly, my digestive system breaking down food, my hormones being balanced, etc. I could go on and on. Our bodies are absolutely amazing and we rarely realize it. My body does so many things that I take for granted on a daily basis. If even one of those things stopped working properly, I would notice it right away. God blesses me abundantly moment by moment by sustaining my body. Why don't I notice that right away? Today I am thankful for my eyes. I am thankful for my ears. I am thankful for all of my senses, all of the systems

Tonight my family had the privilege of babysitting sweet baby Adeline. Some of you may remember my blog about Addie a few months ago. She was born on May 1st, which is also Dylan's birthday. She came into the world 6 weeks early and had to spend a few weeks in the hospital. She is very special to our family, especially to Dylan! He prayed and prayed for Addie! Getting to babysit her tonight was a terrific treat for all of us.  The boys had so much fun taking care of Addie! They took turns holding her, rocking her in her cradle, and singing to her. Evan even shared his monkey, Gilbert, with her. Dylan especially loved feeding her and reading books to her. It was a really fun evening! I truly enjoyed watch my babies babysitting a baby! It makes me look forward to having another baby... in the future. I think I'll have a couple really good helpers! Dylan and Addie Evan loved holding Addie too! Dylan enjoyed reading to Addie. He enjoyed feeding her too! P