Friday's Five

 1.  I find it very appropriate that we were able to get away for a lunch date on the 1st of the month.  The calendar  looks insane, so it was comforting to know that we've already hit #5 of 15 dates this year.

 2.  Janessa and I spent a lot of time in the kitchen this week.  I can not reiterate how much I will miss her when she is away at school next year.  I've really tried to expand my imaginative play gene recently, as I realize the days won't be filled with her asking me to play dolls or Barbies.  There's sadness and joy intertwined...but we do the kitchen well together.  My little helper.

 3.  We spent some quality time together Sunday.  Frozen yogurt is fun!  I'm not sure why this picture is moving.  But I am cracking up as I sit here writing this because I have no idea what is going on.  I wonder if you will see us being silly when I publish this. . .

 4.  I got a couple cute shirts this week.  The one below has the most awesome definition of homemaker that I have ever read.  The one above serves to remind me to be courageous and kind.  For some reason, those two together just seem to go, like peanut butter and jelly to me.

I've been pondering what to do with myself next year.  I know I want to help in Nessa's classroom.  I know I will co-lead the Moms group at church and hope to grow it.  I will continue with bible study because I'm learning so much!  I know I will continue to teach a couple writing classes.  I have six returning students to consider when I'm scheduling, but beyond that there are big, huge question marks.  I have this burning desire to really dig and ask myself hard questions to see where I belong at this point in the game.  It's become easier to say that I stay home.  I don't need to immediately follow it up with how I taught for 17 years. . .but still!!!

May is here and it will go fast, so I just keep trying to capture regular moments that mean the world to me. I've become this sentimental sap!  I guess I've always been sentimental, but it seems to have gotten more so and I don't feel like that is entirely a bad thing.

We are branching out with other couples again.  My neighbor came over for coffee this weekend, and E took his cup over there.  We went to dinner down the street with them, and another couple.  We are going to watch the fight at a dear friend's house who we don't have the opportunity to see nearly enough.  Another neighbor couple stopped over for an hour or so disgruntled about the teachers parking in front of their house. And we got new neighbors next door in Uncle Dennis' place and they came over today with stuffed huskies for ALL of the kids.  They own 2 miniatures and our kiddos are in love.  It feels good to be home.  "To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition."--Samuel Johnson

That's it. I'm right where I'm supposed to be.

5.  Keep being happy at home. It's contagious.

Dare to Live Your Life

Dare To Life Your Life

"If you long to live a life of excellence,                                                                         

overflowing with love and perpetual happiness,                                                                                                              

do so boldly, bravely and enthusiastically!                                                

Be tenacious in your endeavor.                                                                                

Face down your fears and be set free!                                                                                  

Dare to live your life...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

If you long to live an extraordinary life,       

purposeful, passionate and blessed beyond measure.     

Live selflessly,                                                                                                                     

Love unconditionally.                                                                                                    

Laugh loud and often.                                                                                                                

Learn to see the beauty in the simple things of life.                                              

Dare to live your life...

If you hope to live your life to its fullest potential                                                            

Walk with the Spirit,                                                                                                             

Live by the Word.                                                                                                                             

Be an inspiration!                                                                                                                             

A living example of goodness and gentleness                                                                          

all the days of your life...                                                                                               

Dare to live your Life...              

Dare to love your life...

                            John S.  2014

This poem was written by my dad, your grandpa. Let it always serve as a reminder of how I hope you will live. In raising Kingdom Kids, my prayer is that you will always seek God's will for your life, live it boldly, loudly, wildly and without fear. You were created for such a time as this! Dare to LIVE your life!

Comparison Traps Get You Nowhere

I think we just might have some sort of normal here in this house these days.  It's finally feeling like Fall and our routine is down (for the most parts) and life is moving at warp speed in the best possible of ways.  I've been left with smiles many time this week as I've noticed an awakening in Janessa our almost four-year-old.  She has made our family complete and is finally old enough where I feel like she is getting the routine we've tried to have in place for years but before she couldn't sit still long enough. 

Just the other night, E called a family meeting at the dinner table.  I'd love to tell you these are a part of our weekly rituals, but they're not.  We have them from time to time because there is a need to discuss something--and the title "meeting" seems to make the kids pay attention.  On this particular Sunday, E had missed the second football game of the season.  And church.  He has worked continuously for the past three weeks because there is so much work to be done.  He attempted to explain to the kids that he is working so hard right now because we need to prepare for the fact that I may not work at all next year.  Financially he has a number that needs to happen in order for me to walk away.  I get it.  Completely.  The reality is, once I resign another job is not likely to come along until I'm ready to resume full time status which I know for sure will not be for at least three years.

Anyways, questions were flying.  Statements were being made.  Real life hungry discussion was taking place and it was good. So good. . .but Janessa had enough and she started pulling the book we're currently reading at the dinner table.  She was pounding her little fist saying, "Read this.  Read this."  She didn't care who read it.  She just wanted it read now.  And I couldn't help but be filled with such happiness because for the first time--I realized she knew our family routine.  She was a part of the words being read and looked forward to the grace lessons that were doled out through poems and short stories at the end of each meal.  For a really long time I fought a storm raging inside my own heart.  I craved my man to lead us, to be our spiritual leader and I had a ton of ideas as to what this would look like.

But then a friend sent me this and seriously everything changed.  I began to be thankful for a husband who worked hard for my stay at home mom dream to come true.  I noticed the random times he called a family meeting and how he facilitated it.  I laughed out loud as he read silly poems from our after dinner book.  I noticed that although he didn't spout off bible verses, he usually read bible stories at bed with the younger two.  I discovered he listened to 99.5, a local Christian radio station on his commutes.  I acknowledged the way he willingly let me do what I thought was best in terms of teaching our kids about their faith.  And I stopped comparing him to other dads.  And loved him for who he is to us.

That has made ALL the difference!