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.

Daddy's Girl

Recently my computer was shut down wrong and Windows decided to lock me out.  Long story short, after 2 weeks of trying to get back in, we ended up starting from scratch.  We have an external harddrive and were hoping it did its job.  Well, lets just say, we were a little disappointed. We lost quite a few pictures, and about 2 months of business estimates and contracts, for my hubbies business.  Not a tragic loss, but I was disappointed because I lost some really good pics. 


Anyway, in looking through the ones that made it, I found this one. This is my first born daughter, and she is such a daddy's girl!  She thinks the world of him. I love reminiscing, and thought I would share it, seeing as it was Father's Day weekend!

You can find more great pics at Shutter Love Tuesdays

 

Back to Reality

For the first 3 weeks after out little Princess Sunshine was born I was amazed. I couldn't believe how well I was doing keeping up with everything and still having time to do the things I love. I crocheted 2 hats for her and started a couple other projects, I sewed a nursing coverup, I read 2 books....I was amazed! I didn't realize 6 kids would be easier than 5. I was keeping up with laundry, cooking dinner, and my house wasn't any more disorganized than normal (if anything I was getting more done). I really couldn't figure it out, to the point where I kept trying to understand how this was so easy. And then it hit me!

I had decided last summer to start school early with the girls (I homeschool), for the specific reason that I wanted to take a month off when I had the baby. Here I was thinking I had my world under control, when it was all really just because I was saving myself hours worth of school work every day. I knew at that moment that I would not be as in control the following week when we started up assignments again.  So, I decided to do half days the first week so I didn't shock my system. LOL

So far, so good. I don't have a spotless house and I'm not doing 2 loads of laundry every day like I used to, but we're surviving. If I ever do have time to myself again, the first thing I may do is type up the dozen or so crochet patterns that I have created.  For some reason, in those crazy first few weeks, I thought maybe I could type them up while nursing my new baby girl.  Never dawned on me it's a little difficult to type with one hand.  lol  I wouldn't change this time in my life for anything. It goes by so quickly that I want to enjoy every moment before it's gone.

Princess Sunshine

Princess Sunshine

Arrived: Feb. 20

12:42 am

7lbs. 4oz.

22 inches

Princess Smiles turns 8

My baby girl (well, she's not so baby anymore) turns 8 today. I was remembering a conversation I had with her when she was about 4 or 5 years old. She was telling me how her favorite princess was Princess Jasmine (from Aladdin). At the time I cringed. "Great" I thought. "She has to pick the half dressed, rebellious one, to be her favorite". I tried to stay calm, after all she was only about 4, right!?!? I wanted to try to convince her that there were better princesses she could have as her 'role model'. But instead, I asked her, "Why is Jasmine your favorite?" She very plainly exclaimed, "Because she's always smiling!" I hope I never forget that conversation. Her beauty wasn't important, her smile was. It showed me that my little girl saw what was truly important.

As I reflect back on that conversation it makes me think. Can I be like my daughter? Or, can I not see the beauty on the inside because I'm too busy seeing what's on the outside? I have learned a lot from my children. Maybe there was more to this lesson than I first realized all those year ago.

Learning from our Mistakes

I have always believed - and even shared with my children - that "mistakes are ok as long as you learn from them". If you don't learn then why or what needs to change for you to learn from the mistake? It always seemed like a fairly easy lesson to teach my children. Then our youngest entered the picture.

She is a joy, a blessing, and a delight........but sometimes she's far from easy. I'll give you a little background. She's been walking since she was 8 months old and it opened up a whole word of things to get into. I know this sounds normal, but for us it feels a little extreme. All our other children were quiet, compliant, and yes, even easy. I call her "Joy" - that's what she brings with her. Joy also tests my limits. She's a climber.......climbs on couches, up bunk bed ladders, tables, and more. No matter how many times she's told 'no' and removed from the object she's scaling she will jump right back at it in no time flat. Almost 2 weeks ago she was sitting at the kitchen table with one of her older sisters. I thought they were coloring nicely until I heard the bang. She decided to try to reach across the table for something and her foot slipped of the table bench. When she fell she hit the kitchen chair before the floor. She actually broke her collar bone (remember she's only 17 months old). Since that happened 12 days ago (but who's counting) she has fallen from the same bench 3 more times - one of those times actually landing on her bad arm. I'm just wondering when she's going to learn from this? I'm so glad she brings us joy......when she's not climbing of course :).

Memorable Moments in Homeschooling

Last week was a very busy week. I had numerous committments and tried very hard not to let them interfere with our schooling. I think I took multi-tasking to a new level and tried to do "my things" while trying to teach the girls. On one of these particularly crazy days my 1st grader was waiting very patiently - as patiently as a 6 year old can be - for my help. When I came to help her she was sound asleep on her school book. It was at that moment I realized I needed to slow down - and maybe just take a nap with her :). It amazes me how much we can learn from our children - if we are willing to learn.