Sunday, September 30, 2012

Weekly Wrap-Up: Trauma

  • In my life this week…The big news this week is that I finally started my new job.  I applied in May, but our hospital has been expanding and I had to wait until the new additions were complete...then I had to wait to train someone new on my old floor before I moved to my new floor.  I actually had a good time training someone, really liked the person, and am now training under someone I really like...8 weeks of not having my own patients... think there will be trouble when I'm on my own again?  ;) It's a big, scary step for me, but something I've wanted to do for a long time.  I'm around people I really like, and who can teach me a lot.  Hopefully the "trauma drama" won't be too much for my emotions.  And above all, hopefully, I'll learn quickly all the new things I have to learn!
  • In our homeschool this week… I'm not sure how I've done it, but since we've started back to school, we've managed to stay on schedule!  It's amazing, and I'm so thankful for all the help I've had from my husband and MIL.  I know without them my precious schedule would have long been long forgotten.  The girls were sick this week, so I did bump their schedule, but with K and 1st, I feel like I can be a lot more flexible.  They had 2 sick days... Mom had 2 "get it together" days!
  • I am inspired by… There are certain people I know at work (and outside of) that are just incredibly intelligent nurses. They can answer almost any question I have, think quickly, and have amazing critical thinking skills.  I wish I could be like that, but my brain is not a sponge...more like a colander! LOL!
  • My favorite thing this week was…  This is silly, but it was a much needed confirmation.... at work one of the respiratory therapists couldn't "place" me.  He knew he knew me, but couldn't figure out where from.  Of course, I told him I transferred, and he figured it out.  He made several comments about how bad it has been on my old floor lately (yeah, I know!).  This really made me think about how glad I was to be moving to a smaller unit with a really tight team.  But the kicker, and quite honestly boost to my confidence, was when I said to the other therapist, "I think I'll be ok down here"....he turned around and said, "Oh yeah, I always thought you would be good down here!"  Ya'll... I really needed to hear that!
  • What’s working/not working for us…  Just a note to say that my goal of making Bible study the most important thing, is being carried out...and that my kids are really enjoying Stick Figuring Through the Bible (Esther) and want to continue with this Bible study.  Amazingly, they love our hymn study and Scripture memory as well! I'm so encouraged.
  • Things I’m working on… The pinterest bug has hit me... about once a year I start feeling crafty and here it is.  I have accomplished a few things I've already shared, and am now working on a few more.  Today my mom and I are getting together for a crafting day.  Hopefully I'll have some pictures of things I can post.  I have a list....wonder how far down I'll make it!
For those of you who are working and homeschooling:  I've truly been amazed at how God has given me the opportunity to prove that He can do all things through me!  My husband always says that sounds "cliche`" but, truly, how else would you explain working 30-50 hours/week and still staying on your schedule?  How else can you explain this being the first year ever to keep up with your schedule and grades in an organized way (thank you soooo much Scholaric!)? How else do you explain the house only being a partial mess, and the kids being fed daily (mostly 6 times/day), and the animals all being alive??? Seriously, to say that it was me would be a lie.  I average 4-6 hours a sleep daily, some days more, some days less, and am barely functioning on any given day... but God is helping me by sending me others, giving me resolve I've not experienced before, and a loving husband who is constantly encouraging me!  I certainly am not the most creative, organized, supermom out there...but I am the most blessed mom in the world!  Even though things aren't the way I imagined them, you know, bon-bons and soap operas (hehe), they are far better....flour fights, crafts, gymnastics, Uno on Sunday mornings...bon-bon eating moms, eat your heart out!

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Epic Fail!!!

Thank God for grace....really.  Today I woke up without any motivation.  I was exhausted....didn't want to wake up kids, and certainly didn't want to take them to the park for school today like I promised. I tried to talk the kids into going on another day, but they declined.... so, I fulfilled my promise.  It took me a while to decide which park, too.  We talked about it, and I was going to try something different from our usual, but I remembered that people from our group sometimes go on Tuesday, and I didn't want everyone, myself included, to be distracted.  So, we packed up, and went to Subway (yeah for $5.00 turkey footlongs!), and then headed to the park...  The entire time I was trying to remember all the things I had to be grateful for, and trying not to remember all the times I was short tempered and barked at my children just this morning...

Enter here our arrival at the park.... I did check the weather before we left.  It was supposed to be a nice day, 10% chance rain, only 60% humidity (which is good for FL!), and sunny.  Well, the sun wasn't to be found. There were clouds everywhere. In fact as we drove over the bridge, I saw rain off in the distance.  I was, well, a little concerned, but hey, I'm a trooper, right?! So, we unpacked, me still extremely grumpy and trying desperately to be thankful and happy.  Trying desperately, but failing miserably! I was so tired that it seemed like work to keep my eyes open.  It was certainly work to keep my voice sounding kind and saying kind things, and was just too hard, and I failed at that over and over.  I did manage to find things to write in our Thankfulness Journals, but it was hard to mean it... I was glad to be able to take the kids to the park, but with the amount of wind we were experiencing, I was immensely frustrated.  We couldn't keep the tablecloth down...even with tying off the ends. We couldn't keep our Bible papers in one place.  I apologized to the kids for the frustration, for my grumpiness, for being mean and ugly, for not practicing self control... oh the list goes on...

That's why today I'm thankful for grace.  I was awful to my children.  I tried to just not talk so I wouldn't blow it again.  When the rain started sprinkling down, I apologized and just told the kids I couldn't do it anymore...while it would probably blow over and not amount to anything, (and I don't think it did) I needed to go home.  They agreed.... on the way home I stopped at DQ and got them ice cream cones as a means of reconciliation.  I went straight to bed...the girls put the food away and Bean Boys finished his school.  But when I was on the way to bed, Little Bit said, "You're the best mom ever, even when you're grumpy!"  I'm sure it was the ice cream talking, but I'm still so thankful for grace.

There were many moments today of which I am not proud.  But, there are even more moments that are memorable in a good way.  The best memory, while humbling, is of the kids forgiving their cranky mommy!  I'm thankful that despite my crankiness they still think I'm a great mom, I disagree, but I'm thankful for their perspective!  I'm thankful that tomorrow is a new day and I can start again trying to speak kind words and lifting my children up instead of tearing them down. I'm thankful that God has promised to forgive me for treating his children poorly. I'm thankful His mercies are new every morning!

Did you know you could do math in a tube? 

You can see the girls' hair blowing like crazy...this was after we moved behind the trees to try to block the wind a little!

It was actually chilly with all the wind...those two snuggled while we had our Bible lesson.  See the blowing hair?
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Friday, September 21, 2012

Weekly Wrap-Up: Grateful for "Normal"

  • In my life this week…  It was a plain, old, normal week!!! Yippeee!!!
  • In our homeschool this week…Let's just say that we've come to the end of the week, and I'm just so thankful that it was NORMAL!!!  I didn't have to share homeschool responsibilities; meaning Hubby nor Grommy were teaching this week, just me and my kids!  Work did not interfere this week!  The last couple of months have not afforded many weeks like this, and I'm just so grateful to have one.  I remember now that I actually like to homeschool, I hate sharing my kids (even with family) and time is so precious and fleeting!  I wish I could make time stand still on our normal days!
       Little Bit started a Jr. Homemaker course.  This semester is cooking.In less than 2 hours they made a 7 layer bean dip, cinnamon/sugar tortillas, and an ambrosia! She did great, and the tacos from our local Mexican restaurant went great with her bean dip.... YUM!I'm excited to have help in the kitchen! (Can you believe I forgot to take pictures?)

       We are working on a review for Math Made Simple, and my son is doing algebra...and likes it!  He is 11 people...oh my word!!! More on this in a couple of weeks.

       We did make it to the park and to a field trip.  Poor Bean Boy did school at the park, and late in the afternoon the next day to keep up!  I'm proud of him.

  • I am inspired by…  Pinterest...I tried, tried, tried so hard to resist... but it got me.  My mom yelled at me for actually doing the things I pinned saying I make everyone else look bad. Well... truth be told, I'll never measure up to those amazing people. Ha!  I'll just stick with gluing fabric on plastic cups, and move on! 
  • Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… Our field trip this week was to see the lego movie Jericho that was written/produced by a homeschool family.  It was hysterical!  AND, very well done!  Impressive! Here is a link so you can sneak a preview...
  • My favorite thing this week was…  as stated above, having a "normal" week.
  • What’s working/not working for us…  Work is not working for me...anyone adopting a homeschool family????  Though, I have to say I'm getting excited/nervous about transferring to the Trauma ICU....this is my last weekend on my current floor!
  • I’m praying for… my friend Angie.  She's a long way from home, and I love her dearly.  Angie, I know your purpose is mighty, and that you are serving the Lord with all your heart!  I love you!

Linking with Kris as usual, and iHomeschool Network
I also love this lady! Rachel always displays a theme of gratitude...something God's teaching me so much about!!!



friday favorite things | finding joy                                                 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Weekly Wrap: First Concert!!!!

So, this is only 3-4 days later than usual!  My work schedule has been very tough to deal with.  In the last 2 weeks, I've probably worked over 90 hours!  I'm very thankful to my husband, mother-in-law, and friends who have helped keep us sane during the crazy....

Despite that, there are a couple of really good memories from the week that I wanted to share.  First, I re-started SOTW in order to "do it right". I had just been putting in the CDs and moving on.  For my son, that's enough...but for Little Bit, with no history foundation in the 3rd SOTW book, it was, well, just not fair to her.  So, I decided to actually listen with them (fortunately I can do 2 things at once!) and do some of the activities... This week's activity involved 10 lbs of flour... I couldn't imagine throwing all that flour away, so I threw it at my kids!  (Yes, we did this outside!)  It is a lesson I have learned...while the fun was hysterical, I STILL have flour on my driveway and car!!!  My husband is going to pay my son to pressure wash the driveway, and eventually, we'll get the car scrubbed... But, it was fun!!! The neighbor came out to get her mail and got a good chuckle while snapping a picture for us!

Baby T did not enjoy this...she got flour in her eyes. 





This is how it started...

The other fantastic memory was of Little Bit's first concert.  She is my music lover, and singer.  Through FB I discovered that Kari Jobe was coming in concert.  Who doesn't love to sing with Kari Jobe? So, we invited a friend for a girls night out, went to Panera, and jammed with Anthony Evans, All Sons and Daughters (bought the album and LOVE it!!!) and of course, Kari Jobe... It was fun to see the girls jumping on the pews, dancing, singing, worshiping!  Every song asking, when is Kari coming out?!  And what a beautiful first concert.  It wasn't huge like some are.  It was low-key...lots of kids at the front on the floor. Little Bit was fascinated with the lights, so I know the bigger concerts will be exciting for her too.  But, my friend was saying that her first concert was Cranberries...remember them?  So, I was glad that Little Bit's first had such a focus on worship... several times Kari was on her knees before the Lord. Hands raised more often than not, and just speaking the name of Jesus....it was lovely!

Breaking  my rules and showing "face"... but, I was shocked at how much she looks like me!

Sorry for the cruddy cell phone pic, but you can get the idea and see the worship in her heart! God is good!
This week should be better as far as being on time with my update!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Have You Forgotten?

Today was an emotional day.  I just finished working about 50 hours in the last 4 days, slept for a little less than 3 hours, and then was ready tackle mommy duty.  As I was driving the kids back home after gymnastics, I almost wrecked the car as my son pointed over and said, "Mom, look! What's that for..." Exhaustion shifted my attention to figure out what he was pointing to rather than what is in front of me. Isn't God good to bring me back to reality?  But, the reality was sobering. Oh so sobering.  How frail life is, how quick it is to be saved, or lost.

Bean Boy was pointing to a flag at half mast.  "Why," he said, "is the flag like that?"  It wasn't long before I remembered why.  He had heard bits and pieces of the story over the years, but never the entire unspeakable truth.  I was too tired and emotional to let the battles of  "they are too young" and "they need to know" play out fully in my mind... so I told them the story.  I told the children, even my 5 year old, about how there are people who hate our beloved country, and freedom.  I told them how they hate us so much, that they planned a horrific attack and rejoiced in our innocent men, women, and children being murdered.  I told them about the first plane hitting the tower.  I told them how clearly it will stick in every American's mind as to where they were and what they were doing when they found out; how Bean Boy was 4 months old; I went to the gym; we got his pictures taken; it was raining.... all the details still there, even in my  fuzzy brain.  I told them how nobody knew what happened.  Was it an accident? A plane out of control? Until.... the 2nd tower was hit.  We, all of America, watched in horror on live TV as the second plane hit the tower.  The mystery was no more! My first words at that moment were, "We are at war."  Have you forgotten?

I told my kids the story of the third plane.  I told them how all day long for several days we were glued to the TV watching the news. Praying. Wondering what else? Then I told them the story of the heroes on the fourth plane; a little bit about Todd Beamer and Let's Roll. At this point, I could no longer contain the tears.  My voice quivered. My sweet, sweet children just couldn't understand.  They won't, until they experience something similar. God forbid.  I told them that the heroes were brave, they had heard about the other 3 planes and decided they would fight, and try to save another building full of people, and that they crashed their own plane.  I told them how firefighters and rescue people ran into the buildings people were running out of, because they wanted to rescue one more person.  I told them how people were jumping out of the towers, plummeting to their death.  Have you forgotten?

Then, these sweet, innocent children of mine, asked me a hard question.  "Mom, can we watch it on youtube?"  Sigh.  We watched about an hour's worth of clips of that 2nd plane, the plumes of smoke, the crying people, the response of the newscasters as the second plane hit, the terror, the awe, the shock, the horror.... it was all there for them to see.  They still could not truly comprehend.  My son was tearful and solemn. The girls were quiet, and concerned about the tears I shed. Each video revealed a memory, a thought, a feeling I have so nicely tucked away in a safe place; all freshly renewed, relived.  Have you forgotten?

I did also tell them, while this was a horrible, horrible act, there was something good that came of it.  Our country was unified. We cried together, prayed together, grieved together, and got angry together.  We stood together to pray during the search and rescue time, and during the time of enduring clean up.  It was surreal.  I distinctly remember hearing that word over and over again....surreal.  Have you forgotten?

In my thankfulness journal today, I would like to record that I am thankful for not having forgotten.  I am thankful for such a grand, amazing country and that God put me here.  I am thankful for freedom.  I am thankful for what we stood for on that day 11 years ago.  I am thankful that I can share this with my children, and that they don't remember it for themselves. I am prayerful that our leaders will preserve our freedoms.  I hope that the memories live on as an inspiration for all of us.  I hope we are inspired to not be complacent, to be on guard for our rights and freedoms, and to be vigilant to protect our country and families always.  This is a fabulous place to be.  We are so blessed.  Have you forgotten? 







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Friday, September 7, 2012

Weekly Wrap Up: Keeping it Real

Well, I didn't meet my goal of at least 2 posts a week, but in my defense, I've been really sick!  As a nurse and mom, I don't do sick very well...though, I must be getting better at it because I got a ton of stuff done!  I did spend much of the day in bed on Tuesday which is the day I'd usually try to write my 2nd post, or 1st, however you want to look at it.

So, this week was our last of our short 2 week break.  :(  Seriously, unschooling sounds like so much fun!  We still had a lesson in saponification!  My mom and her friends came over, gave us a chemistry lesson and we made soap.  We learned about the exothermic reaction the lye makes when placed in water, and that saponification (soap making...and a really cool "big word") started around 2500 BC....I'm curious to know what they did before then?  We made glycerin soaps in the shape of skulls and crossbones and some lye soaps with different scents. I cannot decide on a favorite, honeysuckle, oatmeal and honey, special edition vanilla (different from your usual vanilla) are all at the top of my list, but we made a few more too.  Apparently I have to turn them every day for a couple of weeks, but that side of my kitchen smells really good.  My mom is so excited and wants to start a business with me!  I guess we'll see what happens. Hubby is on board.... I'm growing time on trees, instead of money of course!







This week we also saw my grandparents (2 sets) for lunch, had Hubby away overnight for his internship, had a "kid swap" with a friend so each mom could have time alone, made a trip to the "big library," and accomplished massive amounts of planning and plodding- nay, trudging through cleaning out the school room!  UGH... will it ever be done!?  Today I believe it will... if I finish, I'll add pictures in this post.

I also did one other thing... my mom actually yelled at me saying, "You know, the rest of us just pin stuff on pinterest and let it sit there.  You're making us look bad by doing the things you pin!!!" *Giggle!  That made me feel good...when do I ever get to do things special and extra? This week was full of them!  For the girls, I made "lampshades" out of plastic punch cups by covering them with material I bought at WM.  I then put slits in the bottom, and stuck lights through them.  I hung up one set on their bed, and have to find a place to hang the other set...I think they look pretty good.  


Yes, I snuck in while they were sleeping to take this pic!

Pretty cool, huh?!

My week at home ended with making chocolate chip cookies and going to Moms to use her cricket to complete our new chore chart....let's just say, I'm not a fan of gluing! This morning (Friday) I will finish up the planning and cleaning of the school room.... UGH!  Then, begins my 4 in a row!  Double UGH!!!  But, as the kind lady at the dollar store pointed out, only 6 more paychecks till Christmas!  :)


WARNING! WARNING!  This is where it gets real. IF you want to continue to think I'm the neatest person ever (snicker, snicker), stop reading HERE!

So, as I was eating breakfast, one in which I had to trick the children into thinking they had enough by making silver dollar pancakes because we didn't have enough bisquick, I realized just how awesome I made myself sound in this post... Ha!  That's funny!  I remembered the reason I started this blog wasn't to make myself look good, but to be real!  So, while yes, we did some really cool stuff this week, here is where I failed... I didn't make one homemade dinner! Or lunch! Today was the first breakfast I made all week! This after singing praises about different things I use to help in this area (here)! My school room still looks like it is under construction.  While I started planning and made good progress, I don't have much hope I'll actually finish.  My living room is and has been a disaster since, well, I don't know when.  Below is a picture of my work table in the living room....mind you, this is after most of the planning has been completed and it is about 2/3 smaller than it was before I thought to take a picture...  It had been my goal to get this area cleaned up too, but I'm not extremely hopeful for that either.  I have yelled at my children.  I did not take a shower yesterday.  I am truly real.  I told Hubby, I can do neat/fun things with kids, school, and maintain some order (though not sure where it is) OR fix meals... I can't seem to do both.  I have just decided I want our family relationships to come first.  I never want my kids to feel like a clean house was more important that them.... they should definitely think that!  Please join in my excitement with the fun we've had this week, be encouraged that all the bloggers out there are "real" people and we can't see the whole picture of their lives.  Be encouraged to spend every minute you can building relationships with your chilies and leading them to the Lord, whether it be through meals, cleaning, school, fun projects, or even, saponification! 

See! I'm real, with real messes that last for weeks and weeks...can't remember when I last saw that little table!
I am, as always, eternally grateful for the wonderful times, the mess, and the awesome family God gave me to share all this with!

I hope you all enjoy your weekend!  Blessings!

OK....It's done!!! Woohooo wooohooo!!! See why it is such an accomplishment here.



AND, while I didn't get to clean up my area in the living room, Little Bit straightened it somewhat! Sweet girl!


Linking up with Kris!  Run over to her site and check out this awesome giveaway!
 




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Finding Joy