August school

We had some rough school days this month and some really good ones as well.

She read the whole thing.

Caroline's latest obsession. She loved it and now I have a few Narnia books on hold at the library for her. I loved Narnia so much as a kid, so it makes me happy that she likes it too. ❤ 
The movie also led to our first conversation about world war 2 and she was appalled by my simplified explanation, "But, Mom, why would he want to drop bombs on kids and their moms?!" Very good question, Caroline. 😢
#narnia

Mother's day

Done with diapers

Just a quick post for my records to state the happy fact that we are done buying diapers! Luke has  been staying dry at night for awhile now and officially switched to wearing underwear at night. Yay

Act Natural

This book - wow.

On my heart

I follow a lot of different mom blogs, moms on social media, etc and it is interesting to me how everyone has certain things that are important to them in their parenting. For example, "My kid will be rear facing and in a five point harness till they are 7," or "My kid will never eat sugar," or "No screen time for my kids," and on and on......And of course there is nothing wrong with car seat safety, good nutrition, and guarding what our kids see, BUT I would love to see more parents prioritizing their childrens' souls. Take them to worship every week, have family worship, teach them Bible verses and catechism. There's nothing more important, and I trust that the Lord will bless those kind of priorities!
#onmyheart
#christianparenting
#luke1042
#matthew633

The bee

One of my #primeday purchases. #2018books Oh my, yes! I am dying over this book, but not sure whether to laugh or cry. I've experienced so much of the over the top, trying to look holy, making up your own rules religion they describe. 😢 It will get you thinking, that's for sure! #babylonbee #howtobeaperfectchristian

June school days

So we officially started working on ABeka k5 this month and completed 14 lessons. Overall it is going well. The teacher book was worth every penny! There's lots of fun ideas and games that Caroline loves! Over the month we learned all the short vowel sounds, how to write all the vowels, and numbers 1-8.  She passed her first evaluation with flying colors! Dukie and I are doing about half an hour of ABC Mouse every day together and he is doing pretty well too.

History, but we haven't done the greatest job at keeping up with this.

Objects with short u sound!

Learning about the letter O!

Caroline gets to fill in a box every day that she does her schoolwork with a good attitude. It's ok if she makes a mistake, or doesn't understand, but she doesn't get to be nasty about it! When they are full she gets a special treat. Probably French fries, an ice cream cone, something like that. #wellseehowthisgoes #carolineschool

#mothersday

I feel like I have been in the business of caring for little ones for a long time. It was when I was nine years old that my mom introduced me to "Cephas days" where for the whole day I was responsible for caring for the needs of my baby brother, Cephas. He was the sixth baby, and as the years went on seven more babies were added to the family so I, and my siblings, were quite experienced in childcare before becoming parents ourselves! Later on before marrying I worked for a few years as a mother's helper, and most of my church services as a single woman were spent with a baby on my lap. When I married along with my husband, I got a six year old stepson, and now the Lord has blessed me with two little ones of my own as well. You could say my life has been steeped in child raising and I don't know of anything that grows and stretches you more than this calling! I love the perspective of this post that God knows just what we need even when we don't! He gives what is good.
#momlife #stepmomlife #mothersday
#theLordwillgivewhatisgood

Lovely early mother's day gift from John just like our wedding flowers 😍😍. Blue hydrangeas are my favorite!

Caroline and Duke each gave me a flower.

"For [these children] I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him." 1 Samuel 1:27
#blessedtobeamom
#1samuel127 
#theLordwillgivewhatisgood

Charity

So I'm being a little vulnerable here, but seriously this, in the midst of my normal morning chores, is a opportunity for sanctification for a quiet loving, introverted mom! #momlifeishard #soisstepmomming, but #thelordwillgivewhatisgood. And to be fair probably the the two little shadows can be challenging for him as well! #atleastheisanextrovert. But in all seriousness, it is good for me to recognize these struggles and pray about them, instead of just justifying my feelings to myself. It's made me think of the Matthew Henry quote, "Charity begins at home."
May the Lord help me to be a kind, patient mom today.
#springbreakdays

Mother's prayers

Faithful

I've never been someone to make a lot of resolutions, or choose a word of the year, but seeing a million and one posts on the topic got me thinking. Because I think through everything...at length. It can be exhausting, but also no spur of the moment decisions regrets.Last year I made one resolution which was to read more and I definitely kept it, and enjoyed keeping it .
So after reflection, in 2018 my goal is to be faithful in the  sphere and place God has put me.
To be a faithful Christian, to be diligent in reading and praying. To look for Christ on every page.

To be a good wife to John and prioritize our marriage, and to make our home a comfortable, peaceful place.
To be a good mother, love my kids, be patient with them, give them my time without begrudging it, be firm when called for, but always acting in love.

To be diligent in my homeschooling responsibilities, which happens to be my scariest job .
To not compare myself to other moms, not stress, and to be wise in resting, and planning quiet times.
Most of all to look to the Lord and remember He is always faithful, even when I am sick, and things are hard, when I mess up, that I will remember where to look, and where to find help in my constant needs.

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”  

Hebrews 10:23

Parenting laughs

Need a laugh this morning? This is great!

"If an issue does arise, I patiently guide my children through the caverns of their hearts, helping them explore motives and repent appropriately. Discipline is administered out of a purely benevolent heart.My house is a little utopia. Like Eden, except we’re all wearing clothes."

From Shepherding To Prison Rules: The Three Stages Of Christian Parenting - The Blazing Center

I’ve stated publicly that every author of parenting books should be slapped. Repeatedly. With a blunt object, such as a frozen cod or old Dream Theater CD. Why? Because…

THEBLAZINGCENTER.COM

"I’ve stated publicly that every author of parenting books should be slapped.

Repeatedly.

With a blunt object, such as a frozen cod or old Dream Theater CD.

Why?

Because they all make Christian parenting seem so simple. As if “Step 1 + Thing 2 = Godly, Obedient Children”. Like godly parenting comes down to a holy formula that, if followed correctly, will produce venerable saints on par with Mother Theresa and St. Francis of Assisi.

As every parent of real, human children knows, parenting is muuuuccchhh more complicated. In fact, every day, Christian parents progress through the THREE stages of parenting.

SHEPHERDING A CHILD’S HEART

This stage, which lasts anywhere between 4 minutes and 4 hours, is the Promised Land of Christian parenting. I am cheerful, gentle, and heavenly-minded. My children are wonderfully compliant, and get along with each other like hipsters and insisting you’re not a hipster.

If an issue does arise, I patiently guide my children through the caverns of their hearts, helping them explore motives and repent appropriately. Discipline is administered out of a purely benevolent heart.

My house is a little utopia. Like Eden, except we’re all wearing clothes.

NETFLIXING A CHILD’S HEART*

This stage is birthed from the collapse of STAGE 1. The utopia has shattered and now we are living in a post Berlin Wall fallout.

Peaceful relations start to break down between the parents and children, and the parents begin to get slightly desperate. Panic begins to set as the parents forsee the complete war that is on the horizon. A storm is brewing. Winter is coming.

A buffer is needed. A mediator. Something to temporarily distract the children from the general angst that is beginning to foment in their hearts.

That something is Netflix.

While not quite as biblical as shepherding the hearts of my children, Netflixing the heart of my children is a legitimate option when things begin to go south. If I can’t tame the sinful hearts of my children, perhaps Fluttershy from My Little Pony can (yes, I am a grown man who can name the ponies in My Little Pony).

This stage is the tipping point. At any given moment, peace and order could be restored.

Or all hell could break loose.

PRISON RULING A CHILD’S HEART

At a certain point, usually at bedtime, all bets are off. Anarchy has descended upon the house, and my children are behaving like the girl in The Exorcist. There is no shepherding. There is no Netflixing.

It’s time for prison rules.

You will stay in your bed at all times. You will not talk. You will not joke. You will not make farting noises. You will not smuggle contraband toys under your covers. Anything you say, do, or think, can and will be used against you.

If you break my rules, you will feel my wrath.

After bedtime, I am not to be toyed with.

I am a dictator, and this is my regime.

THE CIRCLE OF PARENTING

Eventually my children will return to stage 1, restarting The Circle of Parenting (patent pending).

Then it all starts again.

Now that I think about it, The Circle of Parenting would be a great book title.

—

* I owe this title to Ted Kluck"