Little Girls Being Little Girls

 

Chloe asked to help me with dinner the other night.   I let her chop the vegetables for the salad. (And I let her use the sharp knife, that's a privilege she's recently graduated to.)

She spent the whole time telling me things that she's been thinking about, her words so excited and coming so quickly that sometimes I had a hard time understanding the whole story.  But I didn't say "what?", because that frustrates her and sometimes she gives up telling the story.

Instead, I just listened very intently.  I could gather the gist of the story and have the correct responses that way.  Sometimes I'm not very good at that.  Sometimes I only halfway listen and miss something that is very important to my girl at that moment.

I'm working very hard to not just be here, but to always be present.

I turned around from the sink to respond to something she said, and I couldn't help but enjoy the combination of roller skates and chopping cucumbers with a sharp knife.  She's a big girl and a little girl.  She's growing and learning important things, but she's doing it with her roller skates on.








(****For those of you who may be concerned:  No little girls were harmed in the making of this blog post. I, being the smart Mommy that I am, would never let a little girl on roller skates carry around a sharp knife. ****)

A Week In Review- The S-L-O-W Week

It's barely 7:00am, and normally this should be a crazy time of day; everyone awaking and the morning things being done.  Normally I would not be on the computer already.  But there is something so peaceful this morning about the little bit of sunshine, the little bit of dark clouds on the other side of the sky, and the loud chorus of birds that have been in hiding the last few days keeping out of the rain. I just had to take some time to sit in the quiet.

Really though, who am I kidding?  This is the first morning this week that I've seen the day before 7:00.  It's been one of those weeks. Everyone has been staying up too late, which makes for very s-l-o-w moving mornings.  But really, if I was going to choose a week to be slow, this was the perfect one.  Since it's been so rainy there hasn't been any garden or yard work happening, and there was very few things on the schedule.  So yes, now that I think about it, I'm not going to feel bad about this being a slow week because we just need those sometimes.

This week.
Lauren:

• mostly finished her Human Body Lapbook.  She has a few review activities and some vocabulary words to add to it, but it's just about ready to put together.  She really did enjoy this lapbook and it kept her interested.  We've done a few lapbooks before, but this is the first one that I purchased as a whole study set and I did like it.  I think the next time I will make sure to have some more supplemental things on hand though.
• kept working on mastering her multiplication tables.  She is almost finished with her math book, but I stopped all new lessons while she just works on the mastery.  This year I used Rod and Staff Math, and while I think the repetition and drill was what she needed and helped her with the math facts this year, I am looking forward to switching to Math U See for the next year.  She sometimes gets confused in the how and why of math, and has a little bit of trouble visualizing how to solve a problem. 
• kept working to complete her US Geography study.  She's a little over half way through and those States and Capitals are getting in her brain.
• finished reading Anne of Greene Gables and is working on a book review.
• continued with her final Bible Reader and workbook.  She has loved this Bible study and she has learned SO much of Bible history and geography this year.

Chloe:

• continued practicing her letters and copywork. 
• is getting better at reading.  She is very diligent at sounding out words she doesn't know, and she told me this week "Mommy, I can read now!"  I thought it was funny considering she's been reading for many months, but she doesn't consider it reading when she's sounding out words.
• is working to recognize numbers up to 100 and be able to write them.  She is also learning the concept of subtraction and she's doing well with it.

Tatum:

• surprises me with her abstract thinking skills.  Daily she amazes me when she can answer questions after our read alouds about cause and effect, "why do you think this happened", and other questions that take mature thought process.  Originally, I intended these questions for Lauren and Chloe, but Tatum likes to get the discussion going (a girl after her Mama's heart), so I definitely don't stop her.
• she is also learning to recognize and write numbers to 100.
• she is practicing all the letter sounds and putting some blends together too.
• would be on the computer all day if I let her.  Especially PBS Kids, and Nick Jr Boost.  I don't let her.  Not all day anyway.

Judah:

• is along for the ride and does whatever we are doing.  Although he is quickly learning that if we get wrapped up in something, he can sometimes swiftly and quietly sneak away to get into things.  He always goes for the same things too; guinea pig cage, entertainment center, shoes in the hallway, art closet, and stairs if the gate is not up.  He'll be walking soon and the girls can't wait!  I can though.  He's the baby ya know.

It's been a pretty basic week.  I also taught the girls how to finger crochet and add beads to it, and we may have a jewelry store in our house soon.  They're working on their inventory right now, it's like, all over the house.

We will be schooling all year, but we will transition to the summer schedule soon and I'm looking forward to it.  More gardening, more swimming, more picnics, more nature, more fun.

His Power Made Perfect

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness".  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

-2 Corinthians 12:9

Many, many, many times God has used this verse to teach me and encourage me. And the things that He has taught me, have taken deep roots and grown inside of me. I believe what He says about grace.

I have learned that His grace is sufficient. I've learned that for each day, each moment, He gives the grace that I need. In situations where I've wondered how we'd make it through, I can testify that each day I trusted Him for grace I was flooded with it.  Any time I wondered just how I would put one foot in front of the other, by some miracle, I would feel myself moving forward.

It's the other part that gets me.  You know, the part about boasting about my weaknesses.  I shudder about my weaknesses, they look so very... weak.  That's the detestable side of me that people just have to put up with until I can finally get it together. It's very certainly nothing to boast about.

Another version says "revel in my weaknesses".  Take joy, great pleasure, delight in my weaknesses?!  I cannot wrap my mind around that!! 

And that is exactly what my Father has been so gently revealing to me.  No, I cannot wrap my mind around that, because it's another element of faith.  When I am weak, then I am strong.   I could have said the words before, but faith believes the words.  Faith has a heartbeat that beats with the truth of who God says He is.

And so now, I believe what He says about weaknesses.  I believe that He can take something fragile,  frail, and broken, and make it strong, healthy, perfect.

So I will be practicing daily, you know, reveling in my weaknesses...
         

Menu Plan Monday.. Finally

Long time, no see my friends. Some things had to go to the wayside while Jeremy was off work, through the Christmas season, and finally getting everything back in order. (well that's not really done, but it's on it's way.) Anywho, I've missed blogging!! So I decided that I would start back this week and what better place to start than Menu Plan Monday!!

Monday-
B- Yogurt/ Homemade Granola
L- Mac & Cheese, Carrot Sticks, Apples
D- Tilapia, Wild Rice, Steamed Broccoli

Tuesday-
B- Cheese Omelets
L- Leftovers
D- Rigatoni, Salad, Garlic Bread

Wednesday-
B- Homemade Waffles, fruit smoothies
L- Oven toasted Turkey Sandwiches, Chips, Veggies
D- Ox Roast, Oven Fries, Green Beans (or since it's by 30TH!! birthday, we may be going out to dinner)

Thursday-
B- Yogurt/ Homemade Granola
L- Homemade Lunchables
D- Chef Salad, Homemade Bread Sticks

Friday-
B- Scrambled Eggs, Toast
L- Peanut Butter and Jelly, Pretzles, Veggies
D- Pizza

Saturday-
B- Cereal (soccer morning)
L- Leftovers
D- Crockpot Chicken, Potatoes, Steamed Veggies

If you want to be inspired by hundreds of menu ideas and recipes, be sure to visit Menu Plan Monday!

Awe

I'm inspired. In awe of our glorious Father. I don't know why more at this moment than the moment before this. I sat down, thought of my Papa, and was overwhelmed with gratefulness.

I know that's the key. To set my thoughts on things above. To tell my soul, my busy, wandering thoughts; remember His goodness. It's not that I forget, or doubt His goodness.. it's that I forget to remember.

But, praise Him, the thoughts of Him have begun to be the consuming thoughts. All of the other things that I need to think about are starting to be filtered by His love, grace, mercy, patience, faithfulness.... His goodness.

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His mercy and loving-kindness endures forever.."