Aubrey's Funny Sayings and Doings

*After getting disciplined..."Daddy is killing my life!"
*When our elf Ivy was hanging from the ceiling fan..."Ivy! You get down from there!"
*She calls watermelon "watermadelyn"
*the way she hops everywhere she goes
*the way she loves finding hidden pictures in the Highlights magazine

My Random List of Thankfulness

*Jim being home this evening. He has been so busy with the electrical work at the house and is rushing to get it done.
*antibiotics--Gracie has strep for the third time this year.
*that the doctor is only a short distance away and not 45 minutes like when we lived in Sahuarita
*books on CD
*the library
*the smell of pies baking in the oven
*a day at home with the girls (except for the part when I was at the doctor with Gracie)
*that we have freedom to homeschool in our country (even if we aren't currently doing it)
*the girls' bedtime
*that I am considering homeschooling again next year (and EpiKardia and how much I love their book lists)
*booklists
*footed pajamas in grown-up sizes
*siding being put on our house
*Jimmy Fallon. He makes me laugh.
*that Jim is trying out "Love" as a nickname for me instead of his usual nicknames (you don't want to know, but if you know Jim, you can imagine)
*Wienie Wednesday (in lieu of Madelyn's idea of Frankie Friday, her clever name for when we have hotdogs for supper, the Angus kind with no nitrates because it makes me feel better)
*starbursts
*m&m's (and that Aubrey calls them dimmy-dims)
*Sanctus Real
*Gilmore Girls
*God and Jesus and the hope of Heaven
*my crockpot
*our church and pastor and his teaching
*that Jim introduced me to R.C. Sproul
*that Gracie repents quicker and is logical and no longer throws massive fits (but Madelyn and Aubrey have taken her place)
*a friend who understands and is real (not real as in the opposite of imaginary, but real as in doesn't pretend to be something other than who she really is)
*pictures of my girls (even if most of them are on my phone these days)
*the way my girls inspire me
*my egg-shaped chapstick

Here We Go Again

While Jim's mind is preoccupied with building our house, my mind has been wondering what we will do to educate our children once we are in our new house. We will be switching districts once again. Do we send Gracie to her fourth public school since beginning kindergarten, or do we consider homeschooling for the third time? My answer--homeschooling. Why? The short answer is because I'm crazy. The long answer, well, keep reading.

I have always loved schools. There is something magical about a place full of books and learning. I especially love driving up to a school on a dark rainy morning and seeing the lights in the classrooms, watching the teachers and kids safe inside. I must have some good memories revolving around my own rainy day school experiences. As a teacher, I always made sure I let plenty of light and fresh air into my classroom, even during the winter months. But once I had Gracie, somehow I became very anti-public school for my own children.

I am very passionate about education and how children learn. But after spending a few years in the public school system as a teacher, I didn't like what I was seeing as far as national policies. So began my relationship with homeschooling. I call it a relationship because like most relationships, it has had its ups and downs. We tried it twice, but it just wasn't working the way I thought it should be. So we took a break. The girls are now working on their second year in public school, and it has been mostly okay. I have even read Going Public , a book about a Christian family and why they chose public schools over homeschooling. It all made sense, but my desire to homeschool is still stronger than ever.

So here we are. Desire still here. A transition coming. As I look at our relationship with homeschooling, I realize I am mostly at fault for it not working in the past. So if  I want my relationship with homeschooling to go better if we try again, I have to change some things. After much reflecting, the main reason it did not work was lack of a schedule and clear expectations. If, as a family, we come up with a schedule, expectations, and a plan of action if things aren't followed, I think we will have a much better experience! It's all about slowing family life down and using the gifts God's given me as I learn alongside my girls!

Before my girls woke up this morning, I was praying about my day. I am planning on going to Madelyn's class this afternoon for Picture Person, so I was praying about that. I asked God to show me which student needed an extra pat on the back, which student needed an encouraging word, which student needed a smile or an ear to listen. I never prayed that when I was teaching. But then it got me thinking, which of my daughters might need one of those things from me?

Once they woke up, it was apparent that the morning was going to be rough. And it was. With all three of them. In the midst of the chaos, I stopped to ask Madelyn if she even cared about pleasing God and me. She just looked confused and shrugged her shoulders.

I have a tendency to just get angry with my girls when they act this way in the morning. So after I felt the need to yell arise, I stopped. As I was talking to Madelyn about love, I realized that I talk the gospel to the girls, but I rarely show it to them when it counts. Like when they are acting most unloving. Like when Gracie is just crying and whining because she doesn't feel well. I wanted to be frustrated with her. And I was. But I tried to act loving instead. I tried to sympathize with her. I need to show love to them so they will have a desire to please me, and therefore, please God.

I also realized something else. I am not encouraging them to seek God on their own. So this morning, I am going to use post-it notes and their Bibles. I want to teach them what I am learning and show them where to find it in their own Bibles. I'm also going to try to remember to give them encouraging notes to build them up and show love to them.

The battle for their souls isn't mine alone. Isaiah 26:12 says, "Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us." You see, God has given these girls to me so that I may point them towards Him, but He ultimately accomplishes the task of their salvation. I pray each of them will "obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." 2 Timothy 2:10.
I feel like Gracie is close to making that decision to live for God and not herself, but the battle is not mine alone. To God be the glory!

Much Needed Favorite Moments List

*watching Aubrey and Madelyn play "horsie" with a jump rope outside on this beautiful day
*the fact that Aubrey says "my mouth tooted" instead of saying burped
*looking at Gracie's zentangle. It looked like an elephant.
*coloring with the girls in the kitchen
*drawing an image for my Chloe story

*thankful for my girls
*thankful for my husband
*thankful we were safe as we were all stuck in heavy rush hour traffic with empty stomachs and full bladders
*thankful that I made an honest effort to use the rush hour traffic to teach lessons on self-control, patience, and thankfulness (it was so hard!)
*thankful I can spend my days with Aubrey
*walking with Aubrey
*preparing activities for Aubrey
*reading teacher blogs
*teaching my children to let their lights shine
*leaning on God as I get a little bored at home

Favorite Moments

*watching the girls' excitement over catching toads
*capturing a caterpillar and watching it turn into a chrysalis
*finding out who the girls' new teachers are going to be
*signing up to help during the girls' library time!
*looking at storytime options for Aubrey and me
*starting a new Mrs. Piggle Wiggle book
*seeing the progress on our house
*thinking about ways to become more "others" focused and teaching the girls to be that way
*listening to Aubrey's long sentences
*watching Gracie do amazing things on the Rainbow Loom. She made two little purses that are very cute.
*praying that tomorrow will go better and the girls will do their morning routine smoothly!

Madelyn's Birthday

*watching her open presents--gel pens, rubber bands, Hello Kitty leap pad game, Rio and Rio 2, days of the week socks (so she doesn't have to wear Gracie's old holey ones), balloons
*eating at McDonald's
*swimming at the indoor pool
*Jim made her an awesome lion cake
*thankful all the grandparents made it over--(Bambi DVD, smashbook, clothes, purse to color)

My most meaningful moment of the day was when Madelyn quietly told me, in a sad way, that she didn't really get any toys for her birthday. I told her that spending time with her family was more important and reminded her of all the nice things she did get. We talked about how God should be first in her heart. She agreed. I think tomorrow I will read the verse about storing up treasures in heaven to her. I keep thinking that I want to approach gift giving a little differently for birthdays and Christmas, but I just haven't thought of how to do that yet. Gracie happily gave Madelyn gel pens, rubber bands, and some of her own money. She loves to give.

We spent a lot of the day trying to convince Aubrey that it wasn't her birthday, too. And when we say November 3rd, she thinks we are saying "we don't remember." :)

Love Your Neighbor

*baking chocolate chip cookies for Sue and Lorraine
*the girls made cards for them
*delivering the cards and cookies and visiting with Lorraine. She showed us her wall of family pictures and her screened in back porch with a swing.
*visiting with Sue for a short time and petting her dog Fritz
*receiving a thank you card in the mail from Sue

Favorite Moment

This morning was one of those magical summer mornings. The girls slept in, and we didn't finish breakfast until after 9. The weather was sunny, cool, no humidity, and perfect! We opened the windows and let in the fresh air. The girls got along, for the most part, and we had nothing to do but enjoy our day. They caught three little white butterflies and a baby toad. I wish every morning could go that well!

Aubrey

"Why does your baby have one hand?"
"Her arm scares me."
"Will it grow in?"
"She can't do anything."

Those are comments we encountered yesterday at the park. We hear them just about everywhere we go. As a mom, those comments hurt me so much. I even find myself getting defensive and want to yell at the kids who have not been taught to be kind.

Yesterday, as we were being bombarded with questions, I made an effort to be honest with those kids, most of them only five or six years old. I told them God made her, and that she can do anything she wants to. One little boy nastily replied, "God doesn't make babies, moms do." I felt sorry for that kid. I realized that he probably hasn't been told about God. Maybe I planted a seed. Maybe he went home and asked his parents about it, and maybe they went to the Bible together and discovered that God does in fact make babies. But most likely that did not happen.

The girl who told me she was afraid of Aubrey's arm and wouldn't come near her is not the first child to act that way. I am getting so teary-eyed just remembering. Aubrey's biggest obstacle is definitely going to be people. She is going to have many encounters just like the one we had yesterday. She is still so innocent and mostly oblivious to what the kids are saying. But there will come a day...

I just want to keep her from all those hurtful comments and questions. That is my first instinct. I know I can't do that, however, so I am trying to teach her now how to handle it properly. She is going through a "me can't" phase. Yesterday, after those kids left, I taught her to say "I can do anything with God's help!" and I gave her lots of high-fives. I still haven't figured out the perfect thing to say to people, but I'm thinking that saying "she is wonderfully made, just like you, and can do anything she puts her mind to" might be a good option.

I hope she always knows how precious she is and that she is a "beautiful wonderful child of God." (I took that phrase from the author of the 4:8 Principle.)

 

*playing hide-and-seek with the girls
*taking a bike ride
*the way the girls love listening to Magic Tree House on CD. Gracie and Madelyn listen to it for long periods of time. Maybe Aubrey will get there someday!
*anticipating going to a writing critique group tonight!
*learning about the Middle Ages
*reading a Miss Pickerell book together at night
*watching Aubrey learn to catch a ball. She's good!
*French braiding the girls hair. I finally taught myself how.
*rejoicing when all three girls are bathed before supper. I never thought sharing one bathroom would be such an issue!
*looking at siding colors. The girls vote for autumn yellow.
*trying to break Aubrey of the "me do that" phase.
*listening to Aubrey talk. She is becoming quite the chatterbox!

Favorite Moments

*I went to The Blend on Monday night. When I got home, Aubrey said, "You left and me was sad. You came home and now me glad!"
*I was leaving for the store last night and Aubrey said, "Don't leave, Snefune!"
*watching the girls make nature artwork
*making Father's Day cards and getting gifts ready

This has been one of our absolute favorite series to read as a family!

*seeing all the end of the year things the girls are bringing home; the DVD from Mrs. H for Madelyn and Gracie's gift from Mrs. Hibbard (The Chocolate Touch and invitation to a summer book club) are my favorites
*spending the rainy afternoon organizing the office with the girls
*dreaming of an organized house with a place for everything and everything in its place!
*no more school lunches to pack!
*the way Aubrey tells me,"Second minute!"

Favorite Moments

*watching Aubrey examine flowers, bugs, and everything in the yard with a magnifying glass
*taking a walk with Aubrey and examining ant hills
*Gracie reading the Christmas story to us from her Bible last night on the way home from our land
*seeing Madelyn's sweet drawings
*Madelyn's excitement over the chicks hatching at school. I can't wait to hear about it!

Favorite Moments

*making a little progress on our land
*seeing the girls in their dance recital costumes
*setting up our summer and fall schedule. Lord-willing, here are some things planned...

Summer
soccer for Madelyn
drawing for Gracie
lots of doctor appointments
building a house
learning to swim
reading our way through the Middle Ages
planning preschool activities for Aubrey for the fall (I'm using some Mother's Day money to buy a lesson plan book. I'm so excited to go to The School House!)

Fall
tap for both girls
library volunteer for me
possible Picture Person
maybe a Bible study
library story time for Aubrey

Library Day

One of my favorite things to do with the girls is go to the library. When we come home, I set up the books on a little table that we have. Maybe I should work in a library someday.

My First Baby

May 12, 2014: Today was a very sad day for our family as we said goodbye to Lily. We have had her for nine years. She was there as we brought three babies home, and she accepted them and loved them. She was there to comfort us on a very sad day in our lives, April 5, 2005. She drove across the country with us as we moved 1700 miles away to Arizona. She loved to chase the lizards there. Then we bought a truck topper just for the sole purpose of having Lily ride back to IL with us when we moved last year. She hated thunderstorms and made the fourth of July miserable for us. She loved playing in the snow this past winter with our girls. She was a part of our family and will be missed. We love you, Lily Mae!

Learning to Rainbow Loom

Mother's Day

Color Me Your Way

The girls and I absolutely love these giant coloring books. They are not just for kids, but adults, too. There are many hidden pictures within the pictures. The lady who created them and illustrates all the pictures herself said that even chemo patients and adults struggling in some way find that coloring her pictures is very calming. Here are some samples. I won't tell you which one is mine!

*taking a long walk with Aubrey. We got to watch the train go by, see tree-trimmers turn branches into woodchips, and watch roofers throwing things into a dumpster. Very exciting time on our street this morning!
*Madelyn reading Biscuit books to Aubrey. I even caught it on video.
*Gracie's love for reading. She is flying through chapter books!

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

I love my children's artwork, especially when it is something they have made specifically for me. Madelyn just handed me this gift, wrapped in orange tissue paper. It is a Tickle Shield. According to Madelyn, I place it on me when I am being tickled and the shield will protect me. How cute is that?

I first found this book when Gracie was little and I have read it to all three girls. We love it!

*playing outside with the girls in the warm sun

*taking pictures of the girls and the flowers blooming in the yard

*creating a new blog

*sending off another query...Chloe Conquers Kindergarten...a story I wrote for Aubrey. I truly hope someone publishes it someday.

*visiting my grandparents

*the Tickle Shield from Madelyn

*the way Gracie and Madelyn keep making rainbow bracelets for Jim to wear