Photojournal: Thanksgiving 2015

I've decided that we have a funny understanding of blessings in our American (human?) culture. 

Yes, I have an amazing family. 

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving. 

We played football. 

We ate a delicious meal with no worries about where the next meal was coming from. 

And yes, pumpkin pie. 

But beyond that.

Far beyond those things...

My blessing is found in the blesser. 

HE is my blessing. 

Strip away every so-called blessing and HE still stands. 

HE is why I am thankful this day. 

And everyday.

My big beautiful crazy loud wonderful family...minus three more littles who were napping.
Lord knows you don't mess with napping babies, even for family pictures.

the Monday

It's the Monday after a whirlwind weekend.

It's the Monday where my firstborn moves into the double-digits.
Which means its the Monday where I get all sentimental and look through the baby pictures and wonder what happened to the last decade? Where did my baby go?

I blinked...

It's the Monday where we throw our first ever friends-party for said 10 year old.
It's possibly the Monday where we throw our last ever friends-party. (Time will tell...)

It's the Monday where we look forward to an entire week's break from "school" for Thanksgiving.
It's the Monday where I realize there is only 4 more Mondays until Christmas!

It's gonna be the Monday where this cutie get lots of smoochie-smoochie-kisses, as she likes to call it...

And the Monday where I answer yes to the "Want to draw with me, Mom?!" questions from these three...

It's the Monday where I am going to pull out the Christmas decorations.

It's also the Monday where I've gotta clean the toilets and change the sheets on the bed...but the other stuff is way more fun to write about.

Happy Monday everyone!

tbt: Homeschooling: Keeping it Real

**This tbt hails from 2013: Yet, it rings just as true today. And probably tomorrow. And two years from now.**

Sometimes we skip days.
Sometimes I yell at the kids.
Sometimes (almost all the time) I think "I can't do this."
Sometimes we just wing it.
Sometimes I think my kids aren't that smart.
Sometimes we call trips to the grocery store a field trip.
Sometimes we work on the same thing over and over and over and over because it just doesn't seem to be sinking in.
Sometimes I'm afraid I'm just messing my kids up.
Sometimes I just want to send them all on the magic yellow bus and call it a day.
Sometimes I really hate homeschooling.


And then...

Sometimes we work ahead of schedule.
Sometimes I get to watch a lightbulb go off.
Sometimes I get to snuggle with my kids and read and read and read to them, books that once delighted me as a child.
Sometimes I think "nany-nany-nah-nah" when I see that yellow school bus passing by and I'm still sitting in my pajamas sipping my coffee while my kids are still sleeping.
Sometimes I get to sit and paint with my kids while listening to Chopin and talk about things I am passionate about.
Sometimes we take really cool field trips.
Sometimes I'm overwhelmed at how brilliant my kids are.
Sometimes I really love homeschooling.

I just finished reading Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe (thanks for the loan, Tasha) and was especially convicted at how "together" I can sometimes portray myself to be regarding our homeschool.

I always want to keep it real.

And real means...

We have really really good days.
We have really really bad days.
And sometimes, we just have regular days.


Here's to celebrating the good days, learning from the bad days, and surviving the regular days.

thursday thoughts: just breathe

Jeremiah made it back from Madagascar. We made it back from my moms. Things slowly worked their way back into a routine. The Halloween candy has been dumped. Jeremiah is catching up from the backlog that was October. School is marching on. The holidays are staring me in the face.

Life goes on.

Always going on.

But, sometimes, you are gifted with a little bit of time where you actually take a deep breath.
And you breathe,
let your shoulders relax,
and take account of all that the Lord has done, is doing...will do.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls. 

For my yoke is easy and My burden is light. 

Matthew 11:28-30

The Parenting Files: Dealing with Loss and Pain

Last week, right after a cold snap, we found this butterfly on our front porch.

The frost had settled on his wings and it was obvious he wasn't going to make that long flight south.

Sure enough, a few hours later, despite the suns best efforts to dry off the frost, he had died.

The kids were heart-broken...and there might have been tears, a funeral, and a tiny cross grave marker. There is no such thing as "just a butterfly" to them.

(FTR: There is such a thing as "just a stinkbug" in our household.)

It might just be a butterfly right now, but deeper heartbreak is coming. I hear a lot of  parents talk about wanting to shield their kids from death or loss or experiencing pain...and I get the root of that sentiment. I truly do. No parent wants their child to encounter unhappiness. Yet, the reality is sadness, heartbreak, and distress are inevitable in their lives...either from outside sources or consequences for their own bad choices.

My goal is not to protect them from all pain. My job is to teach them in those heartbroken moments while they are still in my care the beautiful truth that God sees their pain and he is with them.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? 

Yet not one of them falls to the ground outside of your father knowing it. 

Matthew 10:29

You keep track of all my sorrows.

You have collected all my tears in your bottle.

You have recorded each one in your book.

Psalm 56:8

I have realized that if I am living in fear of my child experiencing pain, then I am not trusting in the sovereignty of my God. 

I don't need to jump in and try to fix it, I need to allow them the opportunity to feel their feelings and allow the Great Comforter to become real in their life. 

Because he is real. 

And that is the only thing that will be enough for them as they walk through this wonderful, terrible, joy and pain filled life.