Our First Gift

February 27, 2010 Leave a Comment

When I woke this morning still snuggling under the flannel sheets, a smile slowly crept onto my face as I pondered the day to come.  “This was the day,” I said quietly as my strong yet sweet husband slumbered next to me.

This was the day, fourteen years ago, that began a new chapter in God’s Great Book of Life.  The chapter that God has laid out for our dear, sweet daughter Catz.  For today is her 14th birthday!

Reflecting on these years the memories are like wispy clouds amid bright sunshine…her birth and adjusting to being a new mommy…her sweetness as a two-year-old when she held her newborn brother…dancing with her daddy at a friend’s wedding…her giggle and sharp wit…the bond between she and I that has grown beautiful and strong just like her.

Amid the laughter and singing that is inevitable on such a special day as this is remembrance.  Scattered amongst the pile of wrapping paper and ribbon is thankfulness.  And hidden between the last crumbs and frosting on the party plates is hope.

Because out of the ashes of a devastating miscarriage, hope was reborn.  Where once there was grief and loss instead emerged the beautiful blessing of a sweet baby girl, resulting in prayers of thankfulness.  And in the everyday snapshots that a mother mentally captures and stores away over these many years are also carried remembrance of the precious, perfect gift she was given. 

One of the many ways God is awesome, don’t you think?

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Praying for Snow

January 8, 2010 Leave a Comment

I know, I know.  Just yesterday I was lauding the fact that here, in Florida, we have been without snow while almost the rest of the nation has been inundated with the stuff.

I have always been content that Florida has remained as God has intended this state to be. Snow-free.

So it might be a surprise to anyone reading this that I now want snow.  Here.  At my house.

{{A surprise to everyone but you, Honey, since you know how often I change my mind. Wink, wink.}}

In fact, I’m so eagar for snow that I’m praying for it.  This is a surprise to me since snow has never been on my prayer list or shown up in my prayer journal.  Not once. 

But as the local weather forecasters have been dangling the idea of snow over my head for a few days now, I am very hopeful — prayerful — that the frozen precipitation will actually arrive at my house this weekend.

Notice that I said “arrive at my house“.  I know full well that any snowflakes in these-here-parts will melt as soon as they hit the ground, if not sooner. C’mon, I was born but not yesterday.

I also have previous experience with Florisnow — my own favorite new label for silly snowflakes that try to fall in the Sunshine state.  When I was a little cutie all of 8-years-old and living in South Florida, we were surprised with a mere shimmering of Florida snow in January.

I was home with the chicken pox and my mom called me to come outside.  As my dad was getting ready to leave for work, we caught sight of little Flori-flakes {hee hee} melting as they landed on his coat.  It was neato!  I’ll never forget that moment.

And so I’d love to share a moment like that with my chicklets and hubby.  We’ll see what God has planned.  Nothing is impossible with Him.  Even snow in Florida.

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More Days of Christmas

December 29, 2009 1 Comment

Yikes, look at the calendar! So I missed posting on each day of Christmas…I can live with that.  I guess I’ll post a recap of the last three days, though it seems like a blur.

Hmmm, we…ate chocolate chip cookies…watched “The Nativity Story”…drank peppermint mocha {just me}…built Legos…watched “The Secret Agent”…baked more cookies…read new books…played on the Xbox…worked on a puzzle…drank peppermint hot cocoa & hot caramel apple cider {Catz & MrC}…worked on insurance stuff {way too long}…drank Virgil’s root beer {yum}…had home church…watched crazy cat rodeos…typed a book review for mentoring {me}…watched “War of the Worlds”…baked and ate monster cookies…went to mentoring group {me}…prayed…ate…slept.

Yeah, I think that covers most of it.  This is the first time that we haven’t been sick during the weeks surrounding Christmas. It’s been a blessing! Well, I’m off to enjoy some more family time while Hubby is on vacation…woo-hoo!  Hope you enjoy the rest of 2009, too!

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A Day-in-the-Life of Our Homeschool

August 28, 2009 Leave a Comment

Here we are taking part in Darcy’s Not Back-to-School Blog Hop with A Day-in-the-Life week. Last year we had a sorta schedule, but we pretty much did what needed doin’ without being rigid. I don’t like rigid too much…it tends to stress me out. Especially if/when something comes up – which it inevitably does – that throws my schedule outta whack.

I like to relax and go with what feels right. “Feel like going for a nature hike instead of handwriting on this beautiful day? Sure, let’s go.” However, I now have two kiddos in middle school with high school looming around the corner {don’t look!}. With that bein’ said, I need to make sure I’m covering all the bases so a schedule is sorta in for this year. Actually, we’re going to use it as a loose base, like a jello framework – semisolid but not too rigid.

My first attempt to capture a snapshot of our day – and put it into words – fell flat. Very funny…but flat. Why? Because I listed what actually happened on that typical day. If I had published that post, I am sure the blog police would have shut down my account for excessive length. If they weren’t already passed out from excessive laughter.

So, in an effort to keep this short & sweet, I’ve summarized what is supposed to happen.  Not hilarious, but pretty accurate.

7:00 – 8:00    Kids wake up and get dressed.  Morning chores.  Breakfast.  Brush teeth.  Fit in a nature walk or fishing if time {Mr.C’s favorite!}.

8:00 – 12:00  Bible, Lang.arts, Math, Music, Art. Alternating between written work and the computer, we cover the following Monday thru Thursday: language arts; math; spanish.  M & W is music appreciation.  T & Th is art appreciation.  Bible is everyday.  Snack/break sometime around 9:30, 10:00.

12:00 – 1:00  Lunch/break.  Nature photo op out back of flowers, birds, etc.{Catz’s favorite!}

1:00 – 2:00   Science.  Using two different curriculums for two different kids.  Challenging.

2:00 – 3:00   History.  Couch time!  Love reading historical fiction together.

So that’s our day in a nutshell.  Do we accomplish this every day?  No.  But the schedule is there to help me get back on track when we go off on a tangent.  However, tangents can be loads of fun, too!  So relax and enjoy the blessing of spending more time with your precious kids.  They’ll learn what they need to know.  And you’ll be blessed beyond measure!

 

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Thankful

December 2, 2008 1 Comment

I know it’s not Thanksgiving anymore, but I found this at Bunny Trails and couldn’t resist. After all, I’m thankful all year long for what and whom is on my list (and not in any order). Enjoy!
1. My man, Spider X (such a great best friend)
2. Catz, my sweet girl
3. Mr C, my funny boy
4. afternoon sun shining in my bedroom window
5. music, preferably played loud
6. my home
7. the scent of a roaring fire
8. Krispy Kreme donuts
9. muffins, cupcakes, and all foods baked
10. our Nikon D70
11. my hubby’s ultimate computer intelligence
12. our quiet neighborhood
13. my mom (my prayer warrior)
14. homeschooling (What a blessing!)
15. Photoshop
16. my lost Ipod (I miss you!)
17. old movies
18. our cat-kids
19. my sisters
20. my brothers
21. memories of Dad
22. memories of my brother Roger
23. 2nd chances
24. the smell of cookies baking (or anything baking for that matter)
25. being sick-free since August
26. spending time with my family
27. Netflix (who knew?!)
28. yummy bread (Swedish coffecake…mmmm!)
29. my 3 oldest nephews and their positive impact on my kids
30. seeing bears walking in my neighborhood
31. traveling with my family
32. camping
33. Christian music
34. my garden
35. brownies (preferably made with Ghiradelli chocolate)
36. healing of Mr C’s former wart colony
37. Baby Blues comic strip
38. Mac & Cheesy (not-enuf) Ham
39. the smell of sweet alyssum
40. playing in the dirt
41. taking fun photos of my kids
42. Family Movie time
43. Rose is Rose comic strip
44. The Peanuts theme song
45. pizza (almost any kind, anytime)
46. baking
47. God, my heavenly Father
48. blogging (It’s fun!)
49. family-friendly movie companies
50. flannel sheets (snuggly warm!)
51. hot chocolate with whipped cream
52. praying in the shower
53. leftovers (I don’t like to eat ‘em, but I like to serve ‘em when I’m busy.)
54. the experience we had raising the squirrels
55. scrapbooking (Gee, I’d like to do that someday…it looks like fun.)
56. reading funny posts that make me LOL
57. crafts
58. JoAnn’s and Michael’s
59. getting nails done with Catz
60. swinging with Mr C (He’s so snuggly but almost too big for my lap!)
61. baking with the kids
62. my sewing machine (what is that racket?)
63. Belgian chocolate shake at Hagen Dazs
64. Spider X’s desire to make me happy
65. sewing
66. being married to my beloved
67. the nice folks at the supermarket (I practically live there)
68. Shoebox Heirlooms
69. cooking shows
70. when my family is happy
71. the Magnum
72. my MIL and FIL (’cause they raised my beloved)
73. buffets (I love a variety!)
74. God’s never-ending grace
75. Spider X’s vast knowledge of everything computer/electronic/gadget
76. wildlife in our yard

 

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