Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Reading!
Today Boo read all the way through his first book ever! He read the first reader in the Sing, Spell, Read & Write. I could not be more excited. He is trying to puh ahead, but I don't want him to get burnt out. I am excited because he is really getting the "sound it out" thing and sounding out words he's never seen before. Woohoo Boo!
A Story for Moms
I'd like to share a little story about a boy named Andy and his Mom. Andy's mom had a hard time of it. She was a devout Christian, but her husband didn't approve of her faith. Her wouldn't let her have her children baptised and he didn't approve of her praying all the time and giving to the poor. She persisted in her faith, and although her husband didn't like it, he was secretly impressed.
Growing up in a mixed-faith home tends to have bad results, and as Andy grew up he never really took to his mother's faith, despite her very best efforts. Eventually he turned away from her faith completely and lived a hedonistic lifestyle. His mother's heart was broken. She prayed for him every day as hard as she could without ever giving up.
She received some comfort when her pagan husband converted to Christianity shortly before his death, inspired by her lifelong unwavering faith. But her heart continued to break for her son. She poured it out to God.
Shortly before her death, the Holy Spirit got a hold of Andy, and he gave his life to the Lord. He went on to be baptized and become one of the great writers of the early church. His real name is St. Augustine, and he and his mother lived a happy time together before her death. St. Augustine wrote his Confessions in the aftermath of her death.
As a mother and a wife, I find this story to be deeply inspiring and comforting. My children may reject me and my faith. They may turn away from God. But I will never stop praying for them and I will never give up on them, because prayer does bear fruit. God is good, and he loves our family even more than we do.
Today is the feast day of St. Monica, and tomorrow is the feast day of St. Augustine. Let's all remember today to have faith in God for the health, happiness, safety, and salvation of our children and husbands!
Growing up in a mixed-faith home tends to have bad results, and as Andy grew up he never really took to his mother's faith, despite her very best efforts. Eventually he turned away from her faith completely and lived a hedonistic lifestyle. His mother's heart was broken. She prayed for him every day as hard as she could without ever giving up.
She received some comfort when her pagan husband converted to Christianity shortly before his death, inspired by her lifelong unwavering faith. But her heart continued to break for her son. She poured it out to God.
Shortly before her death, the Holy Spirit got a hold of Andy, and he gave his life to the Lord. He went on to be baptized and become one of the great writers of the early church. His real name is St. Augustine, and he and his mother lived a happy time together before her death. St. Augustine wrote his Confessions in the aftermath of her death.
As a mother and a wife, I find this story to be deeply inspiring and comforting. My children may reject me and my faith. They may turn away from God. But I will never stop praying for them and I will never give up on them, because prayer does bear fruit. God is good, and he loves our family even more than we do.
Today is the feast day of St. Monica, and tomorrow is the feast day of St. Augustine. Let's all remember today to have faith in God for the health, happiness, safety, and salvation of our children and husbands!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Monday
Friday I spent the afternoon with my mom. We have gotten to spend quality time together this summer which is really, really nice. We are going to hang at Nana's once a week this school year. Elijah loves seeing his 'cousins'. We are planning an awesome summer next year, too.
Saturday Lee and I headed over to ITT for his orientation. We dropped the big kids off at Nan's to be watched by my mother-in-law. Julius had to come with - MIL isn't quite ready for the baby yet. She hasn't really held him yet. She is not a baby person. But really, I wanted to take him with anyway.
Julius rode in the wrap at the school. He was very well-behaved. Everybody commented on what a good baby he was. He slept for half the time and just watched the rest of the time. Lee had his picture taken, met various faculty members, received his finalized schedule, and listened to an introduction to his program. The teacher who gave the intro was a Pakistani man (one of Lee's best friends is Pakistani so he liked that). He was funny and personable. He was the yoda of Networking. I am very jealous of Lee's classes - for instance, he will get to take two classes in Linux. How cool is that?! But seriously, I think he is going to have a great time.
In the meantime, my classes have already started. I am a week ahead in my coursework. I am taking all classes that I love.
Today Boo started handwriting, math, and reading work. He is taking to it like a fish to water. Since we are only at the kindergarten level, we are not going to push it to hard. My main goal this year is to keep him fresh in numbers and give him a solid reading foundation. I will be testing Liv through the year to see whether I want to put her on the level with Boo next year, start her in kindergarten next year, or even put everything off another year for her. Anyway, it'll be great.
Speaking of school, Nan is now the #1 fan of homeschooling. A friend of hers was challenging her on the "negatives" of homeschooling, and so now she is the biggest defender. Her friend commented on some kids whose behavior deteriorated when they went to school, and Nan said "Now you know why we don't want ours in school!". It's always good to get the in-laws on your side, you know? Basically, I am just happy to have Nan on my side. It makes life a lot easier.
Today I went back to work. I am going to work a few shifts a week. Though I cried when I had to leave my baby, it wasn't so bad. My customers and my coworkers missed me. I got hugs all around. There are a lot of personnel changes. I am not going to stress about work - I am going to leave it behind when I go home.
When I got home, the house was pretty peaceful. Julius was asleep - he refused to take a bottle, but I won't be gone long enough for that to hurt him at all. He was a little fussy, but Lee handled it just fine. He is such a good and loving father.
Well, not a very interesting post, but hey - I'm now officially a homeschooling mama! :) That's pretty much my life's ambition fulfilled. I thank God for moving Lee's heart to allow me to do it.
Saturday Lee and I headed over to ITT for his orientation. We dropped the big kids off at Nan's to be watched by my mother-in-law. Julius had to come with - MIL isn't quite ready for the baby yet. She hasn't really held him yet. She is not a baby person. But really, I wanted to take him with anyway.
Julius rode in the wrap at the school. He was very well-behaved. Everybody commented on what a good baby he was. He slept for half the time and just watched the rest of the time. Lee had his picture taken, met various faculty members, received his finalized schedule, and listened to an introduction to his program. The teacher who gave the intro was a Pakistani man (one of Lee's best friends is Pakistani so he liked that). He was funny and personable. He was the yoda of Networking. I am very jealous of Lee's classes - for instance, he will get to take two classes in Linux. How cool is that?! But seriously, I think he is going to have a great time.
In the meantime, my classes have already started. I am a week ahead in my coursework. I am taking all classes that I love.
Today Boo started handwriting, math, and reading work. He is taking to it like a fish to water. Since we are only at the kindergarten level, we are not going to push it to hard. My main goal this year is to keep him fresh in numbers and give him a solid reading foundation. I will be testing Liv through the year to see whether I want to put her on the level with Boo next year, start her in kindergarten next year, or even put everything off another year for her. Anyway, it'll be great.
Speaking of school, Nan is now the #1 fan of homeschooling. A friend of hers was challenging her on the "negatives" of homeschooling, and so now she is the biggest defender. Her friend commented on some kids whose behavior deteriorated when they went to school, and Nan said "Now you know why we don't want ours in school!". It's always good to get the in-laws on your side, you know? Basically, I am just happy to have Nan on my side. It makes life a lot easier.
Today I went back to work. I am going to work a few shifts a week. Though I cried when I had to leave my baby, it wasn't so bad. My customers and my coworkers missed me. I got hugs all around. There are a lot of personnel changes. I am not going to stress about work - I am going to leave it behind when I go home.
When I got home, the house was pretty peaceful. Julius was asleep - he refused to take a bottle, but I won't be gone long enough for that to hurt him at all. He was a little fussy, but Lee handled it just fine. He is such a good and loving father.
Well, not a very interesting post, but hey - I'm now officially a homeschooling mama! :) That's pretty much my life's ambition fulfilled. I thank God for moving Lee's heart to allow me to do it.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Going to Sleep
Sometimes Julius is so tired but he doesn't want to go to sleep. I know all moms reading will remember those days. As soon as his eyes start to close, he opens them angrily and cries out in protest. Often it seems that he doesn't want to miss anything long enough to rest. Other times, he cries real tears. It seems like he is afraid to let go.
So we hold him and sing to him. We cuddle him and bounce him. Finally he closes his heavy-lidded eyes and entrusts himself to our care. He always wakes up happy.
When its time for me to finally go to sleep, I hope it will be the same for me - that my Father will take me in His arms, sing to me, and tell me its okay to let go.
When I wake up, I know I will be happy.
So we hold him and sing to him. We cuddle him and bounce him. Finally he closes his heavy-lidded eyes and entrusts himself to our care. He always wakes up happy.
When its time for me to finally go to sleep, I hope it will be the same for me - that my Father will take me in His arms, sing to me, and tell me its okay to let go.
When I wake up, I know I will be happy.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
25 Things That Make Life Worth Living
- Waking up between my husband and our tiny, pudgy son.
- Pinching a penny until it screams
- Photoshop
- Mom! Look at me! Mom! Look at me!
- Planning to plant things and raise things
- Fresh vegetables & fruit
- A clear conscience
- "Our Father, who martin heaven..."
- Clean water
- Holy Water
- Always having clean socks
- Freshly mowed lawn
- Folding diapers
- Clearance aisles
- The start of a semester of school
- Boo counting down to anything (8 more days until school, Mom!)
- 64-boxes of Crayola Crayons
- New Software
- Old Love
- The smell of incense
- Forgiveness
- Smiling at my husband and getting a smile back
- Spending a whole day with my Mom
- Olivia's temper
- Jesus
Friday, August 15, 2008
Out of the Mouth of Boo
Boo: Hey mom!
Me: What?
Boo: I'm happy I'm a boy. I'm happy I'm your first baby. I'm happy I'm me!
Me: Me, too, Boo.
Back to cleaning the dishes...
Me: What?
Boo: I'm happy I'm a boy. I'm happy I'm your first baby. I'm happy I'm me!
Me: Me, too, Boo.
Back to cleaning the dishes...
Monday, August 11, 2008
Monday Thoughts
Saturday was the opening day on the Ren Faire. That was a lot of fun. Julius was pretty good in the wrap all day. Livvy did not listen very well. Boo was fine. The only real problem I had was that none of the seats at the Faire have back support and although I can wear Julius all day, I do need to rest my back a little bit at some point. I was pretty achy by the finale. Jon went along, too, so that was fun for everybody.
On the way home the brakes started screeching that they needed changed. So I was stuck at home all day on Sunday, with no way to get to my usual routine of Mass and then Nan's in the evening. I called Nan and told her we'd be over today (Monday). The kids played in their rooms all day - we have been enforcing some quiet time in the afternoon so the baby can sleep. I felt bad about making them stay in their room at first, but then I realized that they were becoming better playmates by having that time together. When we were kids the four of us played together all the time, and that was why I wanted to have a good sized family. So I like to see that n my kids.
Lee and I stayed up until midnight watching the beginning of the first season of X-files.
This morning Lee got right to work on the brakes. The kids and I played outside to keep him company. There's not much gardening time left in this season so we all just played in the dirt and fantasized about next year.
On the way home the brakes started screeching that they needed changed. So I was stuck at home all day on Sunday, with no way to get to my usual routine of Mass and then Nan's in the evening. I called Nan and told her we'd be over today (Monday). The kids played in their rooms all day - we have been enforcing some quiet time in the afternoon so the baby can sleep. I felt bad about making them stay in their room at first, but then I realized that they were becoming better playmates by having that time together. When we were kids the four of us played together all the time, and that was why I wanted to have a good sized family. So I like to see that n my kids.
Lee and I stayed up until midnight watching the beginning of the first season of X-files.
This morning Lee got right to work on the brakes. The kids and I played outside to keep him company. There's not much gardening time left in this season so we all just played in the dirt and fantasized about next year.
Friday, August 8, 2008
And Now For Something Completely Different
I remember this from Elijah... as soon as he passed out of the newborn crying jags, he started teething. Julius has hardly slept at all today. He chomped on my fingers for about an hour, then I gave him a pacifeeder full of frozen peach slices. Cold sticky goodness. That made him happy. He still won't sleep, but he's nursing now. I think with a nice full belly he will finally pass out. His eyes are heavy-lidded, but he's making little baby noises and alternating between chewing violently on his fingers and nursing. As long as we are laying down together like this, he's happy. He just cooed at me with a "you're my best friend, mom" smile. The dishes are languishing. Lee's at work.
It's about time for school to start, and also for me to get back to work. I'm only going to work three short shifts a week - less than twenty hours - but it still smarts. I don't want to share my kids - selfish, I know. I don't want to be away from them and I don't want them away from me. Three shifts won't hurt homeschooling or housework, and will only slightly affect breastfeeding. But it's still okay to be a little sad, right??
Boo and I are both very terribly excited for our respective schools to start. Boo has his desk set up and a spinner chock full of crayons, markers, pencils, and erasers. We have all the books we need for kindergarten and even writing paper and a nice whiteboard with beginner sized lines on it for writing. That's Boo's favorite toy right now. He is watching the letter factory DVD over and over, copying the alphabet and making it neater and neater. He has already memorized the Lord's prayer and is teaching himself Math facts. He's going to be a great student. Technically we haven't started school yet... haha.
Olivia almost has all her letter sounds down now, and can count to ten. She is going to follow right in her Boo's footsteps. She is also very close to memorizing the Lord's prayer. Olivia is my kinetic learner and entertains me by laying on the floor with her feet in the air "Look, Mommy, I'm the letter L!!".
I'm taking three easy web classes this semester - one on html/CSS/JAVASCRIPT, one on Photoshop (I'm pretty familiar, lol) and one on Flash, Dreamweaver, and something else. Very very, exciting.
And now for something completely different - my dear husband has made the tough decision of not continuing his history degree. He has been in his "cave" all summer, dealing with a lot in his mind and not talking about it. I believe he was dealing with a) being really, really poor, b) the complete misery and dead-endness of his job (which he has been at for almost three years) and c) the possibility that a bachelor's degree in history may not actually solve those problems. Lee has a very good friend who he really hits it off with, and his friend has a bachelor's in Philosophy. They work together. 'Nuff said. So Lee has transferred his HACC credits to ITT in Harrisburg. He is now pursuing a degree in either Computer Networking or Computer Programming, depending on how the first semester goes. It was actually quite sudden for me - on Monday he decided to call ITT, Wednesday he had a meeting with an admissions person and some sort of entrance exam, Thursday he became a an official student.
I've never been a man or a father, but I imagine it is painful to give up your dream degree for one that will support your family - to trade in Indiana Jones for Dilbert. Not that Lee isn't excited about studying computers. He has also spent this summer realizing how much he enjoys computers and how good he is becoming at solving computer problems - believe it or not, I actually defer to him now! But I think my readers will understand what I mean. I hope everyone will understand how exuberantly proud I am of him for this mature and practical decision and not be rude to him about the change, like a certain great-grandmother who shall remain nameless.
The $200/week we will save by him not driving to and from Lancaster every day is also a big plus.
If you think of it, say a prayer for Lee, that God would continues to guide him in wisdom and grow him in strength. And say a prayer for me, that I won't be jealous when Lee takes two whole courses in the Linux operating system.....
p.s. In retrospect, this blog rings a little sad - let me also say how cool it is that Lee pulled this off - I never thought he'd be able to get accepted and transferred so quickly, but he's just amazing! And he's super psyched about taking computer courses. He's having fun poring through the course catalog, etc. This is gonna be really fun for us!
It's about time for school to start, and also for me to get back to work. I'm only going to work three short shifts a week - less than twenty hours - but it still smarts. I don't want to share my kids - selfish, I know. I don't want to be away from them and I don't want them away from me. Three shifts won't hurt homeschooling or housework, and will only slightly affect breastfeeding. But it's still okay to be a little sad, right??
Boo and I are both very terribly excited for our respective schools to start. Boo has his desk set up and a spinner chock full of crayons, markers, pencils, and erasers. We have all the books we need for kindergarten and even writing paper and a nice whiteboard with beginner sized lines on it for writing. That's Boo's favorite toy right now. He is watching the letter factory DVD over and over, copying the alphabet and making it neater and neater. He has already memorized the Lord's prayer and is teaching himself Math facts. He's going to be a great student. Technically we haven't started school yet... haha.
Olivia almost has all her letter sounds down now, and can count to ten. She is going to follow right in her Boo's footsteps. She is also very close to memorizing the Lord's prayer. Olivia is my kinetic learner and entertains me by laying on the floor with her feet in the air "Look, Mommy, I'm the letter L!!".
I'm taking three easy web classes this semester - one on html/CSS/JAVASCRIPT, one on Photoshop (I'm pretty familiar, lol) and one on Flash, Dreamweaver, and something else. Very very, exciting.
And now for something completely different - my dear husband has made the tough decision of not continuing his history degree. He has been in his "cave" all summer, dealing with a lot in his mind and not talking about it. I believe he was dealing with a) being really, really poor, b) the complete misery and dead-endness of his job (which he has been at for almost three years) and c) the possibility that a bachelor's degree in history may not actually solve those problems. Lee has a very good friend who he really hits it off with, and his friend has a bachelor's in Philosophy. They work together. 'Nuff said. So Lee has transferred his HACC credits to ITT in Harrisburg. He is now pursuing a degree in either Computer Networking or Computer Programming, depending on how the first semester goes. It was actually quite sudden for me - on Monday he decided to call ITT, Wednesday he had a meeting with an admissions person and some sort of entrance exam, Thursday he became a an official student.
I've never been a man or a father, but I imagine it is painful to give up your dream degree for one that will support your family - to trade in Indiana Jones for Dilbert. Not that Lee isn't excited about studying computers. He has also spent this summer realizing how much he enjoys computers and how good he is becoming at solving computer problems - believe it or not, I actually defer to him now! But I think my readers will understand what I mean. I hope everyone will understand how exuberantly proud I am of him for this mature and practical decision and not be rude to him about the change, like a certain great-grandmother who shall remain nameless.
The $200/week we will save by him not driving to and from Lancaster every day is also a big plus.
If you think of it, say a prayer for Lee, that God would continues to guide him in wisdom and grow him in strength. And say a prayer for me, that I won't be jealous when Lee takes two whole courses in the Linux operating system.....
p.s. In retrospect, this blog rings a little sad - let me also say how cool it is that Lee pulled this off - I never thought he'd be able to get accepted and transferred so quickly, but he's just amazing! And he's super psyched about taking computer courses. He's having fun poring through the course catalog, etc. This is gonna be really fun for us!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Favorite Thrifty Find Party
Hey! It's a party! Show off your favorite thrifty find.
What can I say? I'm a sucker for things that nobody else wants, especially when you have to fix them up a little to make them work.
Just for the record, I'm talking about my house, not my kids.
What can I say? I'm a sucker for things that nobody else wants, especially when you have to fix them up a little to make them work.
Just for the record, I'm talking about my house, not my kids.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)