I guess I’m just too serious all the time. May 18, 2013

HOMESCHOOL

Well, we took our field trip. We’ve had two now that were not very educational, according to my standards. The first one, I forgot all my paperwork for handouts (mostly coloring pages). The second one, well, the pictures say it all….

Let’s just say that two little boys can take a wonderfully historic fort that has existed for centuries and turn it into a giant sandbox. I guess there’s a lesson for me in all of this. I do tend to take things way too seriously, sometimes … a lot of the time. Okay, most of the time. I tend to worry about what is going on that is completely out of my control. Yes, I don’t always know where the money is coming from. Yes, the schedule is a little too tight sometimes. Yes, my child doesn’t take a nap on schedule (like today).

But, once again, I have to realize that it’s the little things you walk past everyday that make life so enjoyable. It’s sharing a smile with a complete stranger, the cool wind on a hot day, the meal that tastes extra good, the coffee that is just perfect, the laughter of a child.

Yeah, there is a lot of history contained within the walls of Fort Pickens. I know they are only three and I thought the canons would be completely fascinating to them. But a friendship was built between the boys and between us moms. Sometimes you just can’t beat that. It was a great day. We relaxed, the kids slept all the way home, and I learned a little something along the way. Let’s chalk another one up to the students being the teachers for a day.

Have a great weekend everyone. Peace and love.

Family Fun. May 16, 2013

HAPPENINGS

Now that we have our own “home”, a lot of things have changed for us. There are still those moments when I wake up at 2 a.m. (like today) and suddenly remember I forgot to clean out the medicine cabinet at the old place. I think of things I need to do tomorrow. I lay awake sometimes wondering where the money is going to come from. I get to the grocery store and realize the list is in the car, or worse, at home. Some things don’t change.

Others have, though. We have made a commitment to keep our family strong. We are making conscious efforts daily to renew our relationship to each other. We are spending lots of quality family time. We communicate more effectively, I hope. Living in a small space definitely puts many things in perspective. And it also makes you love each other a little more. There’s nowhere you can go when you’re mad and slam a door around here.

We do have a lot of fun around here. I can’t cook big meals like I want to, but we get to eat out at a picnic for every meal, if we want to.

We can hang out inside on rainy days and play games, puzzles, watch movies (so long as the wi-fi works). We can still make stove-top popcorn!

I did have to let go of a lot of things. I still miss some of them. Some of them I forgot about until 2 a.m. Some of them needed to go. Minimalism is great for the budget. You can’t just buy random things now, mainly because there is now no place to put any of it. Hm. We’ve finally gotten nearly everything put away around here and it’s looking more like a home. I still have to watch myself in the stores, because I think something would look so grand at home, but then I remember just how small of a space this really is.

It’s good for us, though. We’re closer-knit now. We are laughing more than we used to. We have no choice but to spend more time together.

AROUND THE HOUSE

This is a funny title to me, now. We do have some great things going on. Homeschool is a little harder, since most of his stuff is in storage. Oh well. He gets to spend time doing other things. Yesterday, for instance, Dada was trying to teach him how to skateboard. It was awesome to see the balance that child has! He’s not even 3 and he was picking it right up!

Beanster learning the basics.

He still has a long way to go to reach this point, though:

Hubby realizing he’s still got it!

We may be pushing 40 soon, but we’ve really decided that, hey, it’s time to live life. More field trips, more family days, more spending time enjoying each other’s company. Life is way too short to miss out on all the big and small moments that happen everyday. I had no idea we were going to build such wonderful memories yesterday. Now, we have an inkling of things Beanster might be interested in. Dada got to relive his youth for a little while. Mama got to revel in it all and take about 150 pictures to brag about the moment. Life is grand, ain’t it?

I hope everyone is having a great week, so far. There’s a field trip in just a few hours (if I’m awake) and hopefully that means another blog!

Peace and love, everyone.

Our new life April 28, 2013

Once again, I have to apologize for not writing in so long, but our lives had been turned completely upside down in the last few weeks. I must say that this has been one of the lowest, darkest times in our lives, but in the midst of it, God has shown Himself faithful and has worked in the realm of the miraculous on our behalf.

We ended up having to move quite quickly due to circumstances. God provided us a home that we paid for completely. We found a place to put our new home. We can afford the rent. It has tons of things for Beanster to do. It’s still close enough to our jobs that it does not really affect the fuel bill.

Now, I will say that we have had to learn to love each other just a little bit more than we did. It has called for a little more understanding than we previously had. It has required us to leave our furniture behind, consign several baby items, including the crib we thought we would have forever (4 stage). We put a few things in storage and only brought clothes and food and a few other necessary items with us. Talk about fleeing Egypt!

Needless to say, things have been difficult, especially in the way of creature comforts. Our shower requires us to stand like Irish dancers – arms at our sides. Only one person can go down the hall at a time. However, we are spending tons of quality time together. I am learning to let go of possessions that don’t mean anything. I am having to become a minimalist, which I had always said I was at heart. I am at a point that it is “make it or break it”. I think the move has been hardest on me, because I had the most possessions. Or junk. Call it what you will.

Meanwhile, we have checked off an item on our bucket list. Our home is a 1952 Greyhound bus that has been completely converted into a motorhome on the inside. We are very proud of it. Now we just have to get our CDL licenses and a lesson in 1950′s mechanics!

I hope and pray everyone has been doing well. Peace and love, everyone!

Let’s see. What is today? April? April 1, 2013

HAPPENINGS

Well, time is definitely flying by! Every time I look up, there is another holiday on my doorstep! It’s so funny how I look at calendars every day, yet I can’t seem to get the big picture in my head (no matter how many stores I go in that are littered with holiday knickknacks)!

I’m still working the two jobs and loving every minute of each one. I’m still trying to homeschool Beanster, but it’s harder now that I am so busy. I’ve been finding the laundry backing up a little more, also.

The one thing I’ve quit doing is surviving on my daily dose of social media. I hate to check my inbox, because I know how many e-mails are in it. I only check it once a week. And by not spending that much time on the computer, I’ve been able to spend so much more time with my little Bean!

HOMESCHOOL

A couple of weeks ago, I found a desk that is just right for Beanster! It is a little purple and green desk that has a desktop and a dry-erase side. We found out that the dry erase side makes a perfect easel! That first day, he painted 3 pictures with only 3 colors, but they turned out really well. I took Beanster’s pictures to work and hung them up. He gets so excited every time he sees them.

Beanster at his new easel.

I think the main thing is that now that I’m spending more time with Beanster instead of more time on things for Beanster, I’m beginning to see a new child emerge. He still has his 2.5 year old moments, but I am seeing so much more development in my son. It’s such a joy to watch him grow and learn and get excited over new things.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend. Peace and love, everyone.

Apologies… March 17, 2013

I’m so sorry I haven’t been around much. I’ve been at my new job for 2 weeks now and I am having a BLAST!!! All those useless college classes? Wow. They are coming in handy now! I still have a lot to learn, but it was so nice coming into a job partly knowing how to do most of it!

Other than that…

I’m really having to learn a new schedule. I’ve got 3 days at work, 1 day at another job, plus all the other stuff I’m involved in…plus, I have a bedroom, bathroom, and office to keep clean at the house. PLUS, we’re still potty training. That is actually going very well.

There were days when my patience was at an end and we just went in diapers for the rest of the day. There were a few days, but then you get back in the routine (key word: routine) and just keep at it. We have finally started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are now in the phase of underpants all day (trust me, we have about 25 pair so that we don’t have to wash every other day) and a pull-up at night.

He is so proud of himself. He is also still learning at an incredible rate. I wish I had more time to teach him more things. We’re doing a lot of outside learning now that we’re in the 70′s FINALLY! I love fall; I like winter; I can’t ever wait for spring! There’s just something about being able to not run the heat or the a/c, just a fan. It’s the dragging out of the spring clothes that were packed away in the little, bitty closet. It’s the ability to wear sandals and flip-flops without your feet getting cold, then realizing you have that little bit of toenail polish left that you put on in the middle of winter for some reason…

I’m also looking forward to a great sunny day when I can wash the sheets and hang it all out on the line to dry. There’s almost nothing better than fresh, sun-dried sheets. I love opening up the windows and letting the room air out and cleaning out all the mildew and dust that has built up.

It’s also the fresh produce that we get in the spring and summer, especially the fruit to make a fresh smoothie! It’s the peas and corn and tomatoes and all that other goodness that grows in the warmer months…ah, peaches! I can see the cobblers in my mind…..

It’s the swimming pool and the beach, the outdoor sports, the sunshine, the birds, the flowers, the gardens, the lazy summer days.

And then after 100 degree temps for a few weeks, we’re all ready for fall and winter again…

That’s what I love about the seasons. There’s just enough to make you ready for the next one. Beanster is already looking forward to Christmas, but he doesn’t realize that we have birthdays, and so many other holidays to look forward to, like the 4th of July and all the wonderful, brilliant fireworks. Or the great food at Thanksgiving and all the family that gets together. Or the trip we make to go back home…

It’s the little things in life, the changing of the seasons, the day in and day out, that can either bog us down, or make us appreciate the little things that happen every day. I choose to stop and smell the flowers. Of course, sometimes I look up again and the week has passed me by…

I still like the moments when we can just sit and flip through a magazine (like the hundreds that I have and have not yet read), reading a book with Beanster, studying the wonderful outdoors, or just taking care of business.

I hope everyone has been having a great week. Peace and love, everyone!

Beanster seriously contemplating swimming in the baptistry!

Book Review: Miracle for Jen March 12, 2013

Miracle for Jen, by Linda Barrick (Tyndale Publishing)

To be permanently in the embrace of Jesus… For many Christians, it takes Heaven to make this a reality. But for one young woman, a near-life-ending injury makes it a daily occurrence. The true story of the Barrick family opens your eyes to the miraculous power of persistent prayer and the trials and obstacles that only a stubborn faith and amazing grace can overcome.

This page turning biography will fill you with hope, expectation, and a longing to have God fill your life completely as He did for Jennifer Barrick.

Busy, busy, busy bees. March 4, 2013

HAPPENINGS

Well, for starters, my prayers have been answered and I got a part-time job! I am now working the exact hours that my little Beanster is in daycare…and…I’m only about 2 blocks away from him! The other awesome thing is that all those useless college classes I took are now coming in handy! I’m not using my degree, per se, but I am glad I had to take all those classes! It’s so cool being able to walk into a job and already know how to do half of it! I’m pretty much out there on my own, but all I can say is… THANK GOD FOR e-MAIL!!!! That has been my saving grace and my lifeline to the person who previously had this job.

I still have my other job, but I can take Beanster with me. He has boo-koodles of toys up there, so he should be well occupied. This first job is about 35 minutes away from the house. The new job is about 2.5 minutes!

HOMESCHOOL

We’ve had some great outings lately! Last week, we were able to go back to Pensacola Naval Air Station and see an IMAX film about trains in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. This was our first experience taking Beanster to a theater. Thank God it was a 45 minute film. He never would have made it through a full-length feature film! He actually made it through about 20 minutes or so before he got antsy.

Beanster at the IMAX.

This past weekend we went out to a state park and met up with a family member that is super smart when it comes to the natural world. It’s always very educational being around her. This time she had a child she was tutoring in biology, so there was EXTRA education happening. Beanster had a great time.

Beanster checking out the local flora.

The end of the walk was a great reward!

All in all, it was great fun, but boy was it cold. Winds on the bayou that day were near freezing. We were bundled up really well and Beanster had on his mud boots, but it was still too cold to be out there long. It was great to get some science learned out in the field, literally.

As for homeschooling in the classroom, it’s getting difficult. If we could use glitter on every single project, letter, and number, someone might know the alphabet backward and forward and be able to count to 100 or more! He often says, “Let’s gwitter!” “I wan do something else. Let’s gwitter!” It’s about all I hear as soon as we walk into the office. If it doesn’t involve markers and “gwitter”, he loses interest quickly.

However, I did find “file folder” book for math the other day at a thrift store and a Hooked on Phonics book with a DVD. I haven’t completely looked at the math book, but we did pop in the dvd and he watched it intently for a good 20 minutes. I may just put it in every night and let it all sink in. He still enjoys reading and helps pick out books to read, but his attention span is still quite short. The good thing is that he is really connecting the fact that the non-pictures (words) on the page have something to do with the words I am speaking. He’s memorizing the first three words, at least, and then opening the book again, swirling his finger over the page and saying the few words he knows. It’s pretty interesting to watch the process happen. Some days you think they may never get it, then they surprise you with whole sentences!

It’s so much fun to watch him learn and grow. Right now he’s stretching out like a beanstalk. I put a pair of pajamas on him last night and they looked like yoga pants! He’s getting to be such a big boy. It’s such a joy (and a refresher course) to teach Beanster and watch him grow up before my very eyes. What a blessing!

I hope everyone has had a great week so far! Peace and love!