Changing Course, Even When You're On the Right Track

Do you ever feel like your on the right course, headed in the right direction, but for some reason there is something not right?  That's how I've felt since the beginning of the school year.  With a lot of prayer, and a step of faith, I changed a bunch of curriculums this year.  I knew I was doing what God wanted me to, and was so excited to see where He would be taking us.  But along the way I feel like I've had some bumps in the road.

I could never have imagined how hard it would be to complete a homeschool day with a 2 year old and an infant.  It's proving much harder than I imagined.  At some point in the last 4-6 weeks I wondered why I felt like I "had" to do school in the am.  After all, isn't flexibility one of the benefits of homeschooling?  So, for a couple of weeks we tried working in the afternoon when the 2 little ones were sleeping.  That went much smoother but, because of ear infections, etc. I was in desperate need of some cat naps, so we fell back into our old ways. 

More recently, I have one daughter that (I feel) is falling behind.  She's always been a slower learner. (ex: she didn't talk until she was 3)  But I feel like I am unable to give her the extra attention she really needs to catch up.  The other children need my guidance and the two youngest are just too young to take care of themselves.  So, I've really been wondering how to get back on track. 

I've decided to work with the older 2 girls in the am which frees up my 6 year old to play with the 2 year old.  Then in the afternoon when the 2 little ones are sleeping (hopefully they sleep), I'll work with her.  I'm going to give it a couple weeks and see how it works. 

If anyone else does alternate schedules, or something else works for you, I'd love to hear suggestions.

Disappearing Act

I feel as though I've pulled a little bit of a disappearing act lately.  I have thought of hundreds of things to blog about, but when I get to the computer I feel like I don't have the time to do it justice. Then I wonder if anyone else wants to read my thoughts, especially if they're just thrown together.  So I write nothing.  Then I have too many ideas and don't know where to start.  Last week Jenna, over at  Sugar, Spice, and Monkey Tales sent me a message telling me she missed my posts.  I was honestly touched (sometimes I wonder who reads this - lol)

I felt last year that God was leading me to this point.  (I'm trying to listen better).  So, I started to pray about where to go with my blogging.  I know he wants me to use this as a tool to lift up those who need a little help.  Not that I have all the answers, but I feel like I have a story to tell.  We've been blessed with miracles, and we've walked through pain.  But one thing I know for sure is that God has been there every step of the way.   I hope to be able to share some of my experiences in the next few weeks.

I also know that God is doing something in me.  Things have changed and I know when I work through all He is doing in me, I will be a different person.  I'm struggling to get where He wants me.  Not because I don't want to change, but because I want instant results.  Maybe, in the coming days, I'll be able to share what He's been doing.

Blog Award

Last week I received my very first blog award from Jenna over at Sugar, Spice & Monkey Tails.  Thank you so much!  I promise to try harder to blog more often! :) 

Rules for accepting the award:

1. Accept the award. Post it on your blog with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2. Pay it forward to 15 other bloggers that you have newly discovered.

3. Contact those blog owners and let them know they've been chosen.

On that note here is a list of some amazing blogs that I look forward to reading! Enjoy getting to know them.  I haven't been blogging much the past few weeks, or even months for that matter, so I'll see how many I can come up with.
 
A Spoonful of.....
Diddle Daddle Designs
Live, Love, Laugh
The Blessings of Modern Domestication
Training 6 Hearts 4 Him
 
It's not 15, but it will have to do :)
Thanks again, Jenna!
 
~Kristine

Help with Recurring Poison Ivy

I'm searching for someone who can shed some light on my poison ivy issue.  I have recurring poison ivy.  This time it has reoccurred on my wrist (underneath my watch) and 3 dots on my eyelid.  I know for a fact my eyelid and my watch have not been re-exposed. lol.  Those 3 dots on my eye are in the same exact spot as 3 weeks ago.  I threw my old watch away and didn't wear my new one until I was sure the poison ivy had been gone for almost a week.  Both spots are on the same side of my body so I didn't transfer it by touching it. 

My husband has his own tree removal business.  I'm not sure about other times I've had it, but when I got it this time it was because the poison ivy vine around the tree was about 2" in diameter.  He does his own laundry, but all he has to do is look at me and I get it. :).  

I know this may come across as being harsh, but if you're going to comment and tell me I must have come in contact with it again, please save yourself the time. I have searched the internet and there are hundreds of sites with the same advice. (please don't take that personal).  Out of all the searching I've done I only found one site, with a discussion board, of people just like me.  They know for a fact they have not come in contact with it again (its been weeks, months, etc) but yet it has come back in the same exact spot.

This is a picture of my wrist.  I only took it to show that my new watch is much bigger and the spot of poison ivy is the same size as my previous watch.  If it was caused by this watch the diameter would be much wider.

Crochet, Yarn, and a Two Year Old

I live 1/2 hour from the closest craft store, grocery store, warehouse club, etc. Because of the price of gas, I've been trying to consolidate trips into town. Hubby only gets paid every other week, so yesterday and today were shopping days for me (with all 5 girls in the car, I can't do it all in one trip). Yesterday we went to Target and A.C.Moore. Today we were venturing out to finish our shopping for the next two weeks. This is the conversation I had with my girls on the way to the store this morning.

Princess Giggles (5): "Where are we going?" (she already knew, she just likes to ask questions)

Me: "BJ's and Joann's."

Princess Cuddlebug (7): "We just went to A.C.Moore yesterday. What are you getting at Joann's?"

Princess Joy (2): "YARN!"

Needless to say, the entire car busted out laughing. It's pretty sad when my 2 year old knows what we're getting at the craft store.