This is from 2009- Found it funny to look back at my answers.
25 Random Things About Me
1. I love to clean my house. I know it sounds crazy, but it really is one of the most satisfying things!
2. I don't miss college. I hate that people say that it is the best and they wish they could go back. All I remember is that I studied all the time. I guess if I was smarter I would have liked it better.
3. I live for Monday nights at Zumba- I call it my happy place since the only thing racing through my mind is "where the freak do I put my foot next!"
4. I love pizza for Friday dinner, and I get sad if we don't have it.
5. Bones is my favorite TV show and last night David Boreanaz had his shirt off!!
6. I love to read magazines.
7. When I see a Pepsi vending machine with those big buttons, I love to just push them. I am not sure the fascination, but they are just calling to me..."Push me Jennifer!"
8. I wish I had a private jet so I could travel the world.
9. I love chips and dip too!!! I also never buy them because they would be gone in no time.
10. Hugs from my husband make me a better person.
11. I treat my cat like a child and love her to bits!
12. I love to watch movies; there is just something about escaping life for 2 hours and having everything end happy that just sucks me in.
13. I miss living near a big lake and going on boat rides. Being on the boat is my most cherished pastime and I miss it deeply!
14. Snakes give me the willies, so does seeing a lot of insects in one area- GROSS!!!
15. I'm glad that my relationship with my sister is the healthiest it has ever been and I hope that we continue to grow into good friends.
16. I love a good pair of jeans and comfy sneakers.
17. If I were an instrument, I would want to be an acrostic guitar- I love the way they sound.
18. I love having my hair played with and my scalp rubbed- I hope that is what it feels like to be in heaven because it is the best!
19. I'm a horrible speller and often ask my brighter students how to spell a word I can't.
20. I would love to learn to be a photographer. I just love to enjoy a good photograph and wish I could be artistic like that.
21. I enjoy sports and sporty things more than my husband.
22. My favorite number is 2. I was born 2/22 and was married 10/22. I also favor even numbers over odd numbers.
23. I love juice and really don't like pop (soda for you southerners) except Ginger Ale, which my friend Heather always has so I kill my cravings at her house and don't buy it. (Thanks Heather)
24. Lazy Saturday mornings are the best! I love not having to shower right away and just relaxing.
25. My favorite smell in the whole wide world is that of a campfire! I love going camping and when you come home your pillow and clothes still smells of it. I've always wanted a real fire place, so my house could smell like it. (Yankee Candle has a "campfire" candle but it is not good enough for me).
....................................................
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Here's What We Look Like These Days
To start off summer Grammy and Papa P came down to help out- Olivia and Papa P were excited about movie night
Olivia and Grammy P enjoying the pool on a hot summer day
Here we go!! Off on our road trip back "home" to visit family and friends
Olivia knows how to do this road trip thing
Passing the time with all sorts of crazy fun
Mommy and Lauren
Olivia Bear
And finally Lauren gives in and we all enjoy a break and a quiet car
Playing at Grandma and Grandpa B's, trucks and tractors
Taking Ellie on a trip in the police car- Depute Dishes
Tractor time
Twilight Hayride
Making music together- like the sound of angels singing ;-)
Sisterly Love
Lauren as taught Olivia the joy of rock picking
Skid Steer Loader at the farm - a girl and her machines, life is good
Meeting the cows
More tractors!!!
Off to Grandma and Grandpa H's
Being silly girls in the back yard - always an adventure
A girl and her daddy
Playing trains and reading books
Ice Cream - only my favorite in all the world
Sharing my love with Lauren as she enjoys her first ice cream cone!
Playground time!
WEEEEEE!
Train Museum with Aunt Shauna, Cousin Finn, and Grandpa and Grandma H
Check out these conductors
Back to our house and enjoying the Children's Museum
Super excited to be part of LebCamp 2014!
The long days can sure tucker a girl out
Big surprise, more tractor fun as we passed the days being Gods disciples
Even little girls need a rest, she took a nap 3 of the 5 days at camp- so much fun makes us sleepy
Then back to Grammy and Papa P's to go to Grandma Rose's funeral
1st Stop Cousin Finn's house- lots of goofiness there!
We enjoyed blueberry picking, I think the strawberries and blueberries are just kissable
And where there is a tractor, there is a Lauren...and Olivia too!
Look how big they are!!!
Joe Cool (Snoopy has nothing on her)
Off to pick lots of blueberries and eat even more
To our surprise the church Grandma Rose's funeral was at was all decorated for an ocean/pirate themed VBS- the girls were too excited
This Season of Life - Part 2
With each pregnancy I've had, and that's six now, I've never been good at not letting myself dream. Dream about the possibilities and about the future. When I got pregnant the second time- I was overjoyed. My first pregnancy and miscarriage happened so fast I didn't really have much time to embrace the fact that I was expecting. But with my second I had a little more time before that little one went on up to Jesus, so I had more time to dream. I had gotten a pregnancy calendar and eagerly filled it out. If you've never had one of those it is just an empty calendar where you fill out the dates as it correlates with your pregnancy. There are a bunch of stickers to put on it, like "first craving" and "baby shower" and then you can fill in your own things along the way. I was elated to be pregnant and was dreaming of the milestones as I filled in the colorful pages. Reading the little handy helper tips along the way. My dreaming often begins before Matt or I know for sure the gift of life has been given to us.
Even though I know better and I try and stop myself from filling in my now mental pregnancy calendar (I stopped buying them after the third miscarriage so poor Olivia doesn't have one- only Lauren) but I can't. So when I found out the weekend after Mother's Day that I was due to have another sweet one come at the beginning of the new year- my mind was racing. Names, what he/she would look like, what I would do with the nursery if God blessed us with a boy, when to move Olivia in with Lauren...the list goes one. I found myself doing it even before the positive popped onto the stick- because I knew, I always know before the stick tells me. My life changes, my heart grows, my soul knows when there is a sweet little one inside me. It's hard not to be altered by their presence even when no one but God and I know it.
This time was no different. It would have been another winter baby- if it was another girl, I was set for clothes- if he/she was early then it might be a new years baby- fun stuff! So as I relive those dreams know while I write this, I'm so sad for what might have been but take comfort in what is, what God graced me with.
The ultrasound room at the doctors office brings me such mixed feelings. I always hold my breath while I wait- although I'm often nauseous already it just gets worse. The butterflies in my stomach are going a hundred miles a minute. So on this Tuesday when the doctor came in to verify for the technician that the baby's heartbeat was gone I had no words. I was so devastated it took me a bit to even cry. When they ushered Matt and I into a room and went over the talk about what you will do next I couldn't even cry- and it wasn't until I get into the comfort of my car that I let it out.
The loss of the dream always hurts. When milestones pass, when I would have been in my second or third trimester, when we would have found out the babies gender, when we would have told the girls, when we would have told everyone, and eventually when the due date comes...and goes that is when I feel the loss the most. Sometimes it's when I see a pregnant lady or a sweet newborn. It never goes away. There are six dates that hold a special place in my heart:
March 5th, 2010*
August 14th, 2010*
December 9th, 2010
October 25th, 2012*
February 16th, 2013
January 22nd, 2015*
These are the due dates of all of our children. Each of our babies holds a special place in my heart.
I sometimes have to laugh, it is the best medicine, and I think to myself what I would do with a house full of six crazy kids. I thank God for each one of them. Each one of them has changed my life for the better. Each one of them is a part of who I am and who my family is.
Someday when they are old enough to understand, Lauren and Olivia will hear about their siblings. They will know about how special they are and how God is caring for them up in Heaven and when they themselves take their steps on His streets of gold, they too will get to meet them.
During LebCamp this year this is one of the songs that really spoke to me. It reminded me over and over that God is there always. He's plan is the one I want for me, for my family, for our lives. I didn't ask why- I don't need to know why- I just need to grieve for what could have been. I need to have faith that what is- is what it should be. If I hadn't had lost those two babies before Lauren, I wouldn't have her. If I hadn't lost the baby before Olivia, she would be here. I can't look at those miracles and ask why- God knows why and I can deal with that. I want to show my two girls with me on earth what it means to live in God's arms. What it looks like to give our lives to Him fully- even when it isn't our plan or our way. I pray they see this, not me holding onto something that was never meant to be.
Instead I grow, I give up control, I surrender, I trust, I look forward to new dreams and ask God how I can use His gifts. I give thanks for all that He has given me. I wake up and praise His holy name for all that is and all that be. Because I know my God loves me and gives me strength. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us" Romans 5:1-5. Another song, by Matthew West, also reminds me every time I hear it that I don't have to be strong and I don't have to carry it all.
Philippians 4:13 happened to be the theme of LebCamp this year. The youth advisory committee picked the verse and the theme- but with God's guidance no doubt. Since camp was just a month following the miscarriage it really helped me, as it somehow always does, work through my feelings and helped me move forward. I tell you every year I give camp and those kids all of my energy and love during the week and although I walk away exhausted and in need of lots of sleep- I also walk away with my heart, mind, and soul filled with joy, hope, and love.
God's hand was in each part of my journey and still is. Because he gave me everything I could have needed and more to get me through the grieving process. My mom was able to come down the day we had the ultrasound. She arrived at my house at 3 am but she was there the next morning when Matt and I headed to the hospital. That meant so much to me. Her and my step dad stayed a week before heading back home. Then I busily packed up for an already planned trip back home, where Matt, the girls and I spent ten days visiting with family and being together ourselves as a family. That was so big- having that time to take a few date nights just Matt and I to let the business and noise of the regular day fade away and support each other. To be around those that love us and our kids the most and spoil us with love and affection. I don't know that my heart could have wanted anything else then to be reminded of all the blessings that God surrounds me with daily. Then, if that wasn't enough, we got back from that trip only to turn around four days later and be surrounded by my church family for seven days 10 hours a day. Them loving on the girls and me. It was like God's hand in my recovery was in motion before I even knew I would need it. Isn't He amazing!!! The support and love that has come from this event has just allowed me to see God so vividly and to feel him so tangible that I just took comfort in Him.
I know my words can't do God justice for all He did for me and still does but I just pray that I never forget it. That on those days when my hair is falling out and I just don't have it together that I am reminded of who put that day together in the first place.
And the journey isn't over yet. And neither is my story. So hopefully I'll get to part three soon because there is more. More of how God is great, all the time!
This Season of Life - Part 1
It has been just shy of two months since I last wrote. Well last put my hands to keyboard and wrote. I've been writing in my head for a while and I'm hoping to remember, reflect, and not ramble too much about life these days.
I've been reading a book, Season's of a Mother's Heart by Sally Clarkson, and I have to admit that I didn't fully understand what she meant about 'seasons' until now. Because I certainly feel like my life has been in a season.
In the past two months I've endured the loss of four wonderful people in my life. Some close, friends and family, and others just close to the ones I love. I've endured sickness. I've endured pain. But most of all I've lived the lesson once again that I'm am not in control of my life- but my God is. I've felt His presence so vividly and so warmly in these two months. So I might be in a season of "death" as I've been calling it, but I also feel like I'm in a season of love, as I've felt the hand of God throughout it all.
The memories are already starting to get foggy in my brain as I think back to May and June. This is when I endured my first loss. God took home a wonderful friend- Becky. It was very unexpected and very hard on me. She was an amazing women I met at church. She was so sweet and patient and loving and giving. At her funeral they spoke of her as a Proverbs 31 woman- and indeed she was. Becky taught me to sew and helped me to make the certains that now hang so beautifully in Olivia's nursery (which use to be Lauren's before she moved to her big girl room), as well as other sewing projects. Becky was kind hearted and sweet- always greeting you with a smile. I always enjoyed my afternoon lunches with her, when we finally found a date that worked, she was a busy lady for a women her age! I still have some wonderful, vivid memories that we made together and will always be blessed by her.
Her death was a surprise and hit me like a ton of bricks. It was at this time that I was almost positive I was expecting baby number three, so I was even more emotional and scared. The day after Becky passed, when I had learned of the news, I had a meeting at church that evening and embraced the opportunity to pour out my heart to God- I just subbed at the alter. Praying for his hand on my heart, my soul, and all those who surround me. I was scared for everything and felt so vulnerable. I was struggling with what just happened and what could happen. The weight of it all just brought me to my knees- the thoughts that filled my head scared me to my core. And those raw emotions spilled over onto this new baby- could I handle the loss of another? I was almost afraid to take the test to enter the road I so deeply dreamed and desired to be on- the road of pregnancy.
It wasn't much longer before I indeed took a test and revealed to Matt in the wee hours of the morning that we indeed were expecting another baby. The news excited us and gave us hope. But then just a week or so later the next loss happened. I have a wonderful friend Jenny and at the end of May her husband lost his battle with Cancer, at the age of 29. I watched her endure such an unthinkable loss and as she did it with God's grace and love I was once again reminded of who controls our lives and who sustains us while we are here on this earth. As I mourned another loss, I tried to set my eyes on God and remain positive. But it was hard, and it felt impossible some days. My girls, prayer, and a wonderful husband kept me smiling and the thoughts of adding another little munchkin to the group helped me.
Each moment we have is precious and each day we're given is a gift. I tried hard to remind myself of this daily, hourly as I moved through each day with a heavy heart.
Because of our pregnancy history my doctors office so graciously gives me early ultrasounds- so it wasn't long after the happy positive that we made our way to see our baby. With a small little flicker of a heartbeat on the screen we rejoiced in God's love and gift. We excited announced our news to our parents and close friends. My heart was renewed and I tried to remind myself of the circle of life- The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Then the fun of first trimester nausea set in and I was down for the count. I prep myself every time and every time I just fail miserably at being able to be myself. I have no energy and feel sick most of the day. Matt had to pick up a lot of slack each night as I would just fall over after dinner and be asleep before the girls. He is a wonderful husband and he did it without complaint. But it's hard on both of us- but I reminded myself how wonderful it will be and it will all be worth it- that sweet baby is always worth it!
Then my next ultrasound came just a couple weeks after the first. And with it came my third loss in just a few months. The screen revealed to us our baby without a heartbeat and that our baby was also enjoying our Heavenly Father's love up in heaven with Becky and Tyler.
My heart ached but it was in those moments that I was so tangibly reminded that God provides and God loves. Not only does He love, but his love endures all things and supports us. For that I'm so grateful.
I've been reading a book, Season's of a Mother's Heart by Sally Clarkson, and I have to admit that I didn't fully understand what she meant about 'seasons' until now. Because I certainly feel like my life has been in a season.
In the past two months I've endured the loss of four wonderful people in my life. Some close, friends and family, and others just close to the ones I love. I've endured sickness. I've endured pain. But most of all I've lived the lesson once again that I'm am not in control of my life- but my God is. I've felt His presence so vividly and so warmly in these two months. So I might be in a season of "death" as I've been calling it, but I also feel like I'm in a season of love, as I've felt the hand of God throughout it all.
The memories are already starting to get foggy in my brain as I think back to May and June. This is when I endured my first loss. God took home a wonderful friend- Becky. It was very unexpected and very hard on me. She was an amazing women I met at church. She was so sweet and patient and loving and giving. At her funeral they spoke of her as a Proverbs 31 woman- and indeed she was. Becky taught me to sew and helped me to make the certains that now hang so beautifully in Olivia's nursery (which use to be Lauren's before she moved to her big girl room), as well as other sewing projects. Becky was kind hearted and sweet- always greeting you with a smile. I always enjoyed my afternoon lunches with her, when we finally found a date that worked, she was a busy lady for a women her age! I still have some wonderful, vivid memories that we made together and will always be blessed by her.
Her death was a surprise and hit me like a ton of bricks. It was at this time that I was almost positive I was expecting baby number three, so I was even more emotional and scared. The day after Becky passed, when I had learned of the news, I had a meeting at church that evening and embraced the opportunity to pour out my heart to God- I just subbed at the alter. Praying for his hand on my heart, my soul, and all those who surround me. I was scared for everything and felt so vulnerable. I was struggling with what just happened and what could happen. The weight of it all just brought me to my knees- the thoughts that filled my head scared me to my core. And those raw emotions spilled over onto this new baby- could I handle the loss of another? I was almost afraid to take the test to enter the road I so deeply dreamed and desired to be on- the road of pregnancy.
It wasn't much longer before I indeed took a test and revealed to Matt in the wee hours of the morning that we indeed were expecting another baby. The news excited us and gave us hope. But then just a week or so later the next loss happened. I have a wonderful friend Jenny and at the end of May her husband lost his battle with Cancer, at the age of 29. I watched her endure such an unthinkable loss and as she did it with God's grace and love I was once again reminded of who controls our lives and who sustains us while we are here on this earth. As I mourned another loss, I tried to set my eyes on God and remain positive. But it was hard, and it felt impossible some days. My girls, prayer, and a wonderful husband kept me smiling and the thoughts of adding another little munchkin to the group helped me.
Each moment we have is precious and each day we're given is a gift. I tried hard to remind myself of this daily, hourly as I moved through each day with a heavy heart.
Because of our pregnancy history my doctors office so graciously gives me early ultrasounds- so it wasn't long after the happy positive that we made our way to see our baby. With a small little flicker of a heartbeat on the screen we rejoiced in God's love and gift. We excited announced our news to our parents and close friends. My heart was renewed and I tried to remind myself of the circle of life- The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Then the fun of first trimester nausea set in and I was down for the count. I prep myself every time and every time I just fail miserably at being able to be myself. I have no energy and feel sick most of the day. Matt had to pick up a lot of slack each night as I would just fall over after dinner and be asleep before the girls. He is a wonderful husband and he did it without complaint. But it's hard on both of us- but I reminded myself how wonderful it will be and it will all be worth it- that sweet baby is always worth it!
Then my next ultrasound came just a couple weeks after the first. And with it came my third loss in just a few months. The screen revealed to us our baby without a heartbeat and that our baby was also enjoying our Heavenly Father's love up in heaven with Becky and Tyler.
My heart ached but it was in those moments that I was so tangibly reminded that God provides and God loves. Not only does He love, but his love endures all things and supports us. For that I'm so grateful.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Today was our first time...
visiting our local homeschool convention. And all in all it was a good time.
This is the first time I'm writing publicly about this. About a year or so ago God started prompting me that this might be the path for our little family. At first I kept it to myself, it isn't often I feel the Holy Spirit move me like that and I was nervous. I prayed and continued to feel that tug. So I approached Matt. He was open to homeschooling, but as we talked we both agreed that we will revisit the decision yearly to make sure that we are doing what is best for our family and he was also nervous for the demands it would put on me. His thought were mirroring mine so we talked a lot about it. We decided that for now, yes this is what we should do.
I've worked with Lauren at home for the past two years so this is really nothing 'new' per say but it feels more official since this coming year would/could be her first year in preschool and this is the first time I purchased "curriculum" and got a few books to read up on the whole thing. So I decided to continue my 'investigation' by heading to the convention.
The association that puts on the convention also made an offer I couldn't refuse, if you were a first timer and your oldest kids was under 5 you got in for free! So I signed us up and headed downtown.
Now I had no idea what to expect, so it was hard to prep the kids. Lauren's personality just enjoys having a sense of what lay ahead- the more I prep her, often the smoother a 'new to her' situation can go. I think that is true of lots of personalities, no one really likes the unknown. So she seemed very apprehensive to drive to the city and do ??who knows what?? I did know that there were lots of lecture sessions on a large variety of topics and keynote speakers. I planned to avoid making my 16 month old and 3.5 year old sit through any of that. Then there was the vendor area and the used curriculum area, so those were on my agenda and also just walking around.
We first had to sign in since I had pre-registered and Lauren and Olivia both felt so special that they too received name tags (Olivia didn't figure out how to destroy hers for the better part of the morning, go her, or me?!). Lauren saw the escalators and the whole time asked if we were going to go upstairs- I kept informing her that our double stroller was in no way built for that, and neither was mommy! (I had a horrible flashback of taking the two sweet kids I nannied each summer all through college to the mall and leaving the eldest at the top of an escalator since she hesitated just a little when we were getting on- oh that was frightful, but thankfully there were people around to help!)
We walked around the vendor area for over an hour, stopped to enjoy a small lunch, and then continued to walk around. So much to see. Lauren got out of the stroller for a bit to walk- some of the booths had interesting things for a little girl to look at, like books and such. She often directed where we went. Olivia just enjoyed the view and chilled, like she usually does- oh I wish she got the easygoing, laid back part of her personality from me! We then headed to the used curriculum area- it was like a huge garage sale of educator material. I didn't realize that you needed a ticket to get in and apparently I didn't get one- but a nice lady gave me an extra she had. (Afterwards I realized that was suppose to go in at 3 when it opened up to everyone- yikes, I didn't plan on staying that long so I was very grateful for the lady who helped us out.) I looked in a few sections, mostly the pre-k and didn't see much. It was interesting since things were priced for Friday and then had lower prices for Saturday, and in some cases much lower prices. So next time I know to go Saturday since it will be cheaper? But I'm sure everything is more picked over at that point. Again I wasn't looking for anything really- just browsing.
The only things I paid for was parking (stupid city parking) and a couple hotdogs and a bag of chips. It would have been neat to sit in on a few of the lectures but maybe when the kids are older or when Matt comes too? All in all I'm glad we went and got a feel for everything. There is really so much out there and really lots of people, support, and product. So now I have to go through the huge stack of brochures and such that I took home for thinking about the future.
You see this past year, and still ongoing, we did a letter and a bible story a week. Well theoretically we did a letter/bible story a week I should say. Some weeks we did two letters, some one, some none. Slowly we've made our way through the alphabet. Doing calendar time, weather, learning new bible songs and stories, doing crafts, memorizing bible verses, going on field trips, learning how to write letters and their sound, coloring, and we've read lots of books. So I would call it a success because she has learned a great deal.
For this coming year my goals are a little different. I've picked a curriculum that will allow me to involve Olivia in this time too. I wanted something that was more broad, yet more encompassing. Something that stressed the Bible and character development. But also had a little bit of math, science, and self awareness. I found all of this and more in the Bright Beginnings curriculum. I also see myself being able to use it for multiple years- so even though it was not at all expensive- it might prove to be even more inexpensive if I can use it for multiple years.
One of the parts I struggled with this year was that I made the curriculum for all 26 letters. I pulled from multiple resources, including ABC Jesus Loves Me and 1+1+1=1 blog, and then added my own stuff in there. Well this created A LOT OF WORK for me. And after I got going I really didn't use some of the stuff I worked hard to create. At first it wasn't so bad since I got ahead, but then I caught up to myself and found it hard to find time to keep up with the lesson planning part. I'm still not done, hence why we're still not done with the alphabet quite yet, but we're getting there. We made it to 'T' and we're still going somewhat strong :/ I think.
Another thing that I struggled with was watching Brooke. There were a few times this past 'school year' that I had her regularly for weeks on end and yes she could do some of it, but my whole day flows different when I have her and it just added a different dimension to our activities. With this new curriculum it won't matter if Brooke is here or not, she'll just be able to join right in. Since part of what I'm learning is really the scheduling of the day and routine. Right now, I'm doing it during times when Olivia sleeps and it is Lauren's and my special time and I do naptime a little different when Brooke is here and whatnot. So next year since it will be involving both kids it will be just adding her to the activity I've already got planned.
Just like anything until you do it and work out the kinks I'll never know just how much I'll like it. But I've prayed on this a lot and really like what I see- the short, interesting, easy to do lessons will allow some flexibility and we'll just figure it out as we roll along- 'tis life! Please feel free to leave a comment or email me if you have any questions- not that anyone has ever done that, but hey you never know! So we might be finishing up our letters just in time to start our new curriculum, but thats okay!
"Those who plan what is good, find love and faithfulness." Proverbs 14:22
This is the first time I'm writing publicly about this. About a year or so ago God started prompting me that this might be the path for our little family. At first I kept it to myself, it isn't often I feel the Holy Spirit move me like that and I was nervous. I prayed and continued to feel that tug. So I approached Matt. He was open to homeschooling, but as we talked we both agreed that we will revisit the decision yearly to make sure that we are doing what is best for our family and he was also nervous for the demands it would put on me. His thought were mirroring mine so we talked a lot about it. We decided that for now, yes this is what we should do.
I've worked with Lauren at home for the past two years so this is really nothing 'new' per say but it feels more official since this coming year would/could be her first year in preschool and this is the first time I purchased "curriculum" and got a few books to read up on the whole thing. So I decided to continue my 'investigation' by heading to the convention.
The association that puts on the convention also made an offer I couldn't refuse, if you were a first timer and your oldest kids was under 5 you got in for free! So I signed us up and headed downtown.
Now I had no idea what to expect, so it was hard to prep the kids. Lauren's personality just enjoys having a sense of what lay ahead- the more I prep her, often the smoother a 'new to her' situation can go. I think that is true of lots of personalities, no one really likes the unknown. So she seemed very apprehensive to drive to the city and do ??who knows what?? I did know that there were lots of lecture sessions on a large variety of topics and keynote speakers. I planned to avoid making my 16 month old and 3.5 year old sit through any of that. Then there was the vendor area and the used curriculum area, so those were on my agenda and also just walking around.
We first had to sign in since I had pre-registered and Lauren and Olivia both felt so special that they too received name tags (Olivia didn't figure out how to destroy hers for the better part of the morning, go her, or me?!). Lauren saw the escalators and the whole time asked if we were going to go upstairs- I kept informing her that our double stroller was in no way built for that, and neither was mommy! (I had a horrible flashback of taking the two sweet kids I nannied each summer all through college to the mall and leaving the eldest at the top of an escalator since she hesitated just a little when we were getting on- oh that was frightful, but thankfully there were people around to help!)
We walked around the vendor area for over an hour, stopped to enjoy a small lunch, and then continued to walk around. So much to see. Lauren got out of the stroller for a bit to walk- some of the booths had interesting things for a little girl to look at, like books and such. She often directed where we went. Olivia just enjoyed the view and chilled, like she usually does- oh I wish she got the easygoing, laid back part of her personality from me! We then headed to the used curriculum area- it was like a huge garage sale of educator material. I didn't realize that you needed a ticket to get in and apparently I didn't get one- but a nice lady gave me an extra she had. (Afterwards I realized that was suppose to go in at 3 when it opened up to everyone- yikes, I didn't plan on staying that long so I was very grateful for the lady who helped us out.) I looked in a few sections, mostly the pre-k and didn't see much. It was interesting since things were priced for Friday and then had lower prices for Saturday, and in some cases much lower prices. So next time I know to go Saturday since it will be cheaper? But I'm sure everything is more picked over at that point. Again I wasn't looking for anything really- just browsing.
The only things I paid for was parking (stupid city parking) and a couple hotdogs and a bag of chips. It would have been neat to sit in on a few of the lectures but maybe when the kids are older or when Matt comes too? All in all I'm glad we went and got a feel for everything. There is really so much out there and really lots of people, support, and product. So now I have to go through the huge stack of brochures and such that I took home for thinking about the future.
You see this past year, and still ongoing, we did a letter and a bible story a week. Well theoretically we did a letter/bible story a week I should say. Some weeks we did two letters, some one, some none. Slowly we've made our way through the alphabet. Doing calendar time, weather, learning new bible songs and stories, doing crafts, memorizing bible verses, going on field trips, learning how to write letters and their sound, coloring, and we've read lots of books. So I would call it a success because she has learned a great deal.
For this coming year my goals are a little different. I've picked a curriculum that will allow me to involve Olivia in this time too. I wanted something that was more broad, yet more encompassing. Something that stressed the Bible and character development. But also had a little bit of math, science, and self awareness. I found all of this and more in the Bright Beginnings curriculum. I also see myself being able to use it for multiple years- so even though it was not at all expensive- it might prove to be even more inexpensive if I can use it for multiple years.
One of the parts I struggled with this year was that I made the curriculum for all 26 letters. I pulled from multiple resources, including ABC Jesus Loves Me and 1+1+1=1 blog, and then added my own stuff in there. Well this created A LOT OF WORK for me. And after I got going I really didn't use some of the stuff I worked hard to create. At first it wasn't so bad since I got ahead, but then I caught up to myself and found it hard to find time to keep up with the lesson planning part. I'm still not done, hence why we're still not done with the alphabet quite yet, but we're getting there. We made it to 'T' and we're still going somewhat strong :/ I think.
Another thing that I struggled with was watching Brooke. There were a few times this past 'school year' that I had her regularly for weeks on end and yes she could do some of it, but my whole day flows different when I have her and it just added a different dimension to our activities. With this new curriculum it won't matter if Brooke is here or not, she'll just be able to join right in. Since part of what I'm learning is really the scheduling of the day and routine. Right now, I'm doing it during times when Olivia sleeps and it is Lauren's and my special time and I do naptime a little different when Brooke is here and whatnot. So next year since it will be involving both kids it will be just adding her to the activity I've already got planned.
Just like anything until you do it and work out the kinks I'll never know just how much I'll like it. But I've prayed on this a lot and really like what I see- the short, interesting, easy to do lessons will allow some flexibility and we'll just figure it out as we roll along- 'tis life! Please feel free to leave a comment or email me if you have any questions- not that anyone has ever done that, but hey you never know! So we might be finishing up our letters just in time to start our new curriculum, but thats okay!
"Those who plan what is good, find love and faithfulness." Proverbs 14:22
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
What I've Learned from Lauren...Again
First I have to start with the amazing events that just unfolded before me, which need to be recorded...
I think Olivia is phasing out of two naps a day. She will often need a day or two with both naps but she's doing much better with just one most days- she's getting so old. Matt and I are happy but a little sad for her being the big girl that she is. So anyway- this has created a change in routine around here. Lauren has enjoyed her "alone time" with mommy while Olivia napped in the morning, so as we grow and adjust I'm trying to find some time when her and I still get a little bit of one on one time.
Since this change is very recent I'm still working it all out. So far my plan is to put Olivia down before Lauren, at around 1. She sure isn't going to be able to make it until 2, which was her old afternoon nap time and Lauren's 'nap time' as well. So it worked out rather nicely today. Lauren and I did some school stuff after Olivia went down and then we headed upstairs to play a game of candyland before I let her pick- nap or quiet time. She picked quiet time but wanted to play in her bed. I told her sure. So she found Pictionary Junior under her bed (where I keep all of our board games) and I gave her the gist of what to do and left her with the radio on, windows open and she seemed rather content. I did have to remind her mommy was planning for bible study tonight- so no calling mommy upstairs (this is a reminder that I need to make or quiet time is not very productive for either of us). I set the timer and left the room. When I finished planning and doing a few other little things and I headed upstairs to surprise her since I was done early and excitedly headed up to greet her with a snack and was hoping we could snuggle and read with our extra time. Well I walked into a room with a sleeping girl- in her bed, snuggling her lovey and under the covers as if I had put her down myself. What?!?! Well I don't think this will happen everyday, which is why I wanted to get it down here but she is blowing me away today and yesterday with what a big girl she is becoming. Last night with Matt (I had a LebCamp meeting at church) she picked up the tub without being asked or without any assistance, got herself out of the bath, dried herself off, and started doing lotion while Matt was putting Olivia down to bed. This has never happened before! We have ourselves two sweet girls growing so big before our eyes.
That leads me to my original story....
So Lauren is going through a phase in preschoolhood (I know that is not a word, but you know what I mean) where she wants EVERYTHING and she wants it NOW! She loves Thomas the Train- she has a good stash of the trains from holidays and garage sale finds from her Grandma. She just wants them ALL. She loves the Cars movie and talks about getting this car and that car too. She also enjoys reading and so many of the Clifford, Berenstain Bear, Franklin, and other books have pictures on the back cover showing other books you can get and she would love to have them ALL. So you get my drift- she's got a case of the "Gimmies" as they would say in the Berenstain Bear book. Please understand that I am fully aware that this is normal preschooler behavior and am in no way appalled or upset with her for acting this way- but it is a bit wearing on us, as you will see.
We've been talking for a while now about not being able to have everything we want. How even if we just want "one more" it will never be enough because as soon as we get that "one thing" we'll find just one more thing to want. We've had this conversation over a dozen times. Well this morning it happened again...much to my delight (sorry I know that I'll have to have it two dozen more times and I'm okay with that but sometimes I just wish she get it so we can move on...on to what you ask...the next life lesson I guess, so what's the rush- oh bother, as Winnie the Pooh would say).
The morning starts with her wanting to watch a movie (another struggle right now). I said no we couldn't and that created an immediate temper tantrum and whining- oh the whining. Then we getting ready for breakfast and Matt, completely oblivious to her intentions, tells me that Lauren asked to go to Tractor Supply this weekend and Matt thought it would be fun. I informed her,yes that would be but we would NOT be getting a tractor (which I knew is what her little heart desired). Again with the temper tantrum and whining- have I mentioned how whining is my ultimate pet peeve and I can't stand it at all- scream, fuss, pound your feet- but don't whine!) This begins, again, our conversation about not getting everything we want and how she has two tractor toys and that is plenty. And again, if she's too busy worrying about what she doesn't have she's not enjoying the stuff she does have. Like the two tractors upstairs. And how we can't have it all.
Now it's after breakfast- oh my brain and energy are still recovering from the last two meltdowns of the morning but Lauren has more in store for me. As I'm getting her dressed she informs me she needs a new Mater the tow truck, she needs ALL of them. I'm now envisioning in my head just hitting against a brick wall again and again as I once again start my speal. So I start back at the beginning of my and go at it again but this time add "how would you feel if all of your toys went away and you had no toys?" I told her mommy could take them all away and then she would miss what she had all along and how we need to be grateful for all that we have. Wanting stuff isn't going to make us happy, we're just going to keep wanting MORE and MORE stuff- that's why we need to focus on the things that really matter- love and family and friends.
But it wasn't until lunchtime that this very long, exhausting lesson/conversation/discussion came full circle. I had finished eating my lunch before the girls, which is very normal in our house even though I feed them first. So I got out our Jesus Storybook Bible (great, great book) and read the second chapter to them (we've gone through it multiple times and had started over again- we rotate books and usually get in our devotional time at lunch) about God creating the earth and man. It was after reading it that Lauren asked why God didn't want them to eat from the tree. I said "Well God had created us with free will, or the ability to make choices. He created that tree to be extra special and asked Adam and Eve not to eat from it. He gave them all of the other trees in the world to eat from- all that God created was theirs, except that one tree. And Adam and Eve made the choice to disobey God and have the ONE thing they couldn't. You see Lauren they had everything they could have ever needed or wanted- everything but they wanted that one thing they didn't have just like you. When they ate the fruit they did the one thing God didn't want them to do. That is why we are people who always want ONE MORE THING- that one thing we don't have. When all we really need is the love God can give us and the love our family and friends give us. That is what is really important."
My daughter is a thinker- she may not have understood all of what I was saying but let me tell you she got some of it and so did I. This is a lesson I'm still learning- for sure!! I know I'll be saying it again and again- and I might want to hit my head against that brick wall again, but she will get it one day. I feel so blessed to have this time to teach her, lead her, and instruct her. She'll someday understand that our hearts can NEVER be filled with things but only with LOVE, and most importantly the love our heavenly Father has for us. Oh how she teaches me over and over how I need to live my life. I'll be forever in awe of the wonderful child God gave me because he knew I would need her as much as she needed me!
"God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to me!" - Our school song this week!
I think Olivia is phasing out of two naps a day. She will often need a day or two with both naps but she's doing much better with just one most days- she's getting so old. Matt and I are happy but a little sad for her being the big girl that she is. So anyway- this has created a change in routine around here. Lauren has enjoyed her "alone time" with mommy while Olivia napped in the morning, so as we grow and adjust I'm trying to find some time when her and I still get a little bit of one on one time.
Since this change is very recent I'm still working it all out. So far my plan is to put Olivia down before Lauren, at around 1. She sure isn't going to be able to make it until 2, which was her old afternoon nap time and Lauren's 'nap time' as well. So it worked out rather nicely today. Lauren and I did some school stuff after Olivia went down and then we headed upstairs to play a game of candyland before I let her pick- nap or quiet time. She picked quiet time but wanted to play in her bed. I told her sure. So she found Pictionary Junior under her bed (where I keep all of our board games) and I gave her the gist of what to do and left her with the radio on, windows open and she seemed rather content. I did have to remind her mommy was planning for bible study tonight- so no calling mommy upstairs (this is a reminder that I need to make or quiet time is not very productive for either of us). I set the timer and left the room. When I finished planning and doing a few other little things and I headed upstairs to surprise her since I was done early and excitedly headed up to greet her with a snack and was hoping we could snuggle and read with our extra time. Well I walked into a room with a sleeping girl- in her bed, snuggling her lovey and under the covers as if I had put her down myself. What?!?! Well I don't think this will happen everyday, which is why I wanted to get it down here but she is blowing me away today and yesterday with what a big girl she is becoming. Last night with Matt (I had a LebCamp meeting at church) she picked up the tub without being asked or without any assistance, got herself out of the bath, dried herself off, and started doing lotion while Matt was putting Olivia down to bed. This has never happened before! We have ourselves two sweet girls growing so big before our eyes.
That leads me to my original story....
So Lauren is going through a phase in preschoolhood (I know that is not a word, but you know what I mean) where she wants EVERYTHING and she wants it NOW! She loves Thomas the Train- she has a good stash of the trains from holidays and garage sale finds from her Grandma. She just wants them ALL. She loves the Cars movie and talks about getting this car and that car too. She also enjoys reading and so many of the Clifford, Berenstain Bear, Franklin, and other books have pictures on the back cover showing other books you can get and she would love to have them ALL. So you get my drift- she's got a case of the "Gimmies" as they would say in the Berenstain Bear book. Please understand that I am fully aware that this is normal preschooler behavior and am in no way appalled or upset with her for acting this way- but it is a bit wearing on us, as you will see.
We've been talking for a while now about not being able to have everything we want. How even if we just want "one more" it will never be enough because as soon as we get that "one thing" we'll find just one more thing to want. We've had this conversation over a dozen times. Well this morning it happened again...much to my delight (sorry I know that I'll have to have it two dozen more times and I'm okay with that but sometimes I just wish she get it so we can move on...on to what you ask...the next life lesson I guess, so what's the rush- oh bother, as Winnie the Pooh would say).
The morning starts with her wanting to watch a movie (another struggle right now). I said no we couldn't and that created an immediate temper tantrum and whining- oh the whining. Then we getting ready for breakfast and Matt, completely oblivious to her intentions, tells me that Lauren asked to go to Tractor Supply this weekend and Matt thought it would be fun. I informed her,yes that would be but we would NOT be getting a tractor (which I knew is what her little heart desired). Again with the temper tantrum and whining- have I mentioned how whining is my ultimate pet peeve and I can't stand it at all- scream, fuss, pound your feet- but don't whine!) This begins, again, our conversation about not getting everything we want and how she has two tractor toys and that is plenty. And again, if she's too busy worrying about what she doesn't have she's not enjoying the stuff she does have. Like the two tractors upstairs. And how we can't have it all.
Now it's after breakfast- oh my brain and energy are still recovering from the last two meltdowns of the morning but Lauren has more in store for me. As I'm getting her dressed she informs me she needs a new Mater the tow truck, she needs ALL of them. I'm now envisioning in my head just hitting against a brick wall again and again as I once again start my speal. So I start back at the beginning of my and go at it again but this time add "how would you feel if all of your toys went away and you had no toys?" I told her mommy could take them all away and then she would miss what she had all along and how we need to be grateful for all that we have. Wanting stuff isn't going to make us happy, we're just going to keep wanting MORE and MORE stuff- that's why we need to focus on the things that really matter- love and family and friends.
But it wasn't until lunchtime that this very long, exhausting lesson/conversation/discussion came full circle. I had finished eating my lunch before the girls, which is very normal in our house even though I feed them first. So I got out our Jesus Storybook Bible (great, great book) and read the second chapter to them (we've gone through it multiple times and had started over again- we rotate books and usually get in our devotional time at lunch) about God creating the earth and man. It was after reading it that Lauren asked why God didn't want them to eat from the tree. I said "Well God had created us with free will, or the ability to make choices. He created that tree to be extra special and asked Adam and Eve not to eat from it. He gave them all of the other trees in the world to eat from- all that God created was theirs, except that one tree. And Adam and Eve made the choice to disobey God and have the ONE thing they couldn't. You see Lauren they had everything they could have ever needed or wanted- everything but they wanted that one thing they didn't have just like you. When they ate the fruit they did the one thing God didn't want them to do. That is why we are people who always want ONE MORE THING- that one thing we don't have. When all we really need is the love God can give us and the love our family and friends give us. That is what is really important."
My daughter is a thinker- she may not have understood all of what I was saying but let me tell you she got some of it and so did I. This is a lesson I'm still learning- for sure!! I know I'll be saying it again and again- and I might want to hit my head against that brick wall again, but she will get it one day. I feel so blessed to have this time to teach her, lead her, and instruct her. She'll someday understand that our hearts can NEVER be filled with things but only with LOVE, and most importantly the love our heavenly Father has for us. Oh how she teaches me over and over how I need to live my life. I'll be forever in awe of the wonderful child God gave me because he knew I would need her as much as she needed me!
"God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to me!" - Our school song this week!
Sunday, May 18, 2014
"You're such a mother!"
This is a quote that came right from my sweet husband's mouth tonight as we were getting the girls out of the van at our local frozen yogurt shop (we tend to frequent there since they always have a dairy free option for Olivia). I was quite proud of him saying it, even if I knew it was a bit of a mocking tone behind it. Well you see I'm an over packer, I'll be the first to admit it- I've always been this way. From as far back as I can remember when we would head to dad's house every other weekend, my sister and I would pack up our bags for our overnight adventure. My sister's bag always looked sickly and deflated since it contained only what she needed in it- but not my bag, no sire! My bag was busting at the seams.
So this crazy need to have anything I just might need at a moments notice has spilled over into motherhood. The diaper bag is always over equipped for most trips out of house. There have been times Matt says he doesn't even try and zip it for fear of breaking it. I on the other hand, I never have any problem because it's all about placement- if it's all in the right spot it closes with no problem. Esther recently went diaper bag diving for me when I was mid diaper change- didn't realize I needed some rash cream until after the fact- and she was overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I had in there.
I know, you're thinking- where are you headed Jennifer?!? Okay, I'm getting there...so tonight we headed to the frozen yogurt place and it was in the evening after dinner, sun going down, so I sheepishly snuck some coats in the car without Matt noticing- for fear that he would mock me for bringing them. So it wasn't until we were unloading the girls that he spied my coat stash. He's laughing at my need to always be over prepared and teasing me about it. I do have to say I do this often, getting a chuckle from him every time. But do you know what... tonight IT WAS COLD!!! All three of us girls were nice and cozy in our coats while he was cold. So for that one time when I was saving our girls from freezing to death, I mean we were practically hypodermic here! Okay so not really...but if that makes me 'such a mother' I'll take it!
I won't mention though that yesterday evening when the temperature was a little higher and I had Olivia and I in coats, Matt laughing at us again, and we might have been a bit over bundled- no I didn't just admit to anytime when Matt might be in the right ;-)
Good thing we can laugh at each other and ourselves- and if you ever need anything, ask and I'll just check my bag for you!
"...Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 7:20
So this crazy need to have anything I just might need at a moments notice has spilled over into motherhood. The diaper bag is always over equipped for most trips out of house. There have been times Matt says he doesn't even try and zip it for fear of breaking it. I on the other hand, I never have any problem because it's all about placement- if it's all in the right spot it closes with no problem. Esther recently went diaper bag diving for me when I was mid diaper change- didn't realize I needed some rash cream until after the fact- and she was overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I had in there.
I know, you're thinking- where are you headed Jennifer?!? Okay, I'm getting there...so tonight we headed to the frozen yogurt place and it was in the evening after dinner, sun going down, so I sheepishly snuck some coats in the car without Matt noticing- for fear that he would mock me for bringing them. So it wasn't until we were unloading the girls that he spied my coat stash. He's laughing at my need to always be over prepared and teasing me about it. I do have to say I do this often, getting a chuckle from him every time. But do you know what... tonight IT WAS COLD!!! All three of us girls were nice and cozy in our coats while he was cold. So for that one time when I was saving our girls from freezing to death, I mean we were practically hypodermic here! Okay so not really...but if that makes me 'such a mother' I'll take it!
I won't mention though that yesterday evening when the temperature was a little higher and I had Olivia and I in coats, Matt laughing at us again, and we might have been a bit over bundled- no I didn't just admit to anytime when Matt might be in the right ;-)
Good thing we can laugh at each other and ourselves- and if you ever need anything, ask and I'll just check my bag for you!
"...Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 7:20
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