Small Successes and Thankful Thursday!!!

YAY! It's "hope" day...the day I find hope in something I've done.

1. I took some time out for renewal! I joined my sister and some lovely, amazing women last night at her church for a woman's advent tea. I'm so glad it happened! We need things like this to reflect and remember the upcoming preparations and to slow down some to appreciate them. It made me excited for another one coming up at my church in a few weeks.

2. I did SOME laundry and I used my free hours from the girls earlier this week to catch up on housework (that you now can't see anymore lol). I thought I'd might use that time to just sit down, and enjoy blogging or reading or commenting, but now...attacking the house made me feel more productive that day - but I miss blogging and reading....!!

3. I mustered some energy and did more creative things in homeschooling. The last few weeks I've done basic core work, with a few other activities, but I really felt a need to kick it up some before Thanksgiving break (to earn the break!). We've also done some Thanksgiving crafts and started the crafts for Christmas gifts too!

How goes it?

Thankful Thursday
This week I'm thankful for...

1. God!!!
2. faith!
3. the quiet.
4. the noise.
5. my husband...so incredible!
6. my kids.
7.  that baby Gift loved the first taste of solid foods yesterday.
8. my friends.
9. Good health.
10. food to feed my family.

Blessings!!!

Small Successes - "Get Into Nature" Edition

1. The house is pretty clean!! The guest room is still a storage room off and on, and Valiant's room always is in some sort of mode (she only sleeps there, and I think that is why I've never done "more" with this room. I've always wondered why, when I adore other adorable rooms my friends have! Lovely's room is much better lol!) but I'm happy with the house after a rough week last week. I had to play catch up. I need to do our schoolroom though.

2. This might be more attached to #1, but I got a toy/book organizer. It has helped us create a play area that was VERY needed, and order for that area that was VERY needed. Here is the before and after:

This has helped the kids be neater too and pick up their messes on their own with less hassle from me.

3.  I also took the kids yesterday and we got back into nature. The weather here was hot, even into the fall. TOO hot. Then, as soon as it "became" fall - temps got too cold to play or get out in. We were getting ripped off! But, this week we've had amazing weather. Cool, breezy, sunny....a dream! So, I made sure we got out in it! Glorious!!

It's soul food, baby...soul food. Getting out in nature is simply....amazing.

How was your week??

Thankful Thursday
This week I am thankful for....

1. our homeschooling schedule.
2. My incredible husband!! (feel better soon!)
3. being able to hike 2 days in a row (including today! This time, daughter free).
4. INCREDIBLE weather to embrace.
5. an appreciation for communication skills and the need for tone.
6. the good health of my children.
7. faith.

8. you.

Much love!!!

Wordless Wednesday - "Perfection in Triplicate"

Today was definately for HIS glory...not mine lol!

Ever have one of those days? LOL!


Can I get an AMEN?

Still Stunned

I have been speechless for a day on this, but a dear friend lost her sister yesterday - her young, vibrant sister - and no one can really say why.  She's also a world away from her family and I can't imagine having to do all the work to get her home back to them while grieving and being so far away from it all. JS - I am so, so sorry.

I don't know what else to say, so please pray from the S family. I am just so sorry for your loss. Stay strong, but cling to others and to faith as you can. We are here for you.

peanut gallery

Ugh. I wish well meaning people would just be careful of their comments. I'm trying to find some grace and just ignore, but oooooooh that is hard for me.

I'll just say, I wish I could make my house look so radiant on the inside AND outside, that as we add children to our family, we look like we can "handle it" vs. "it's too much for you."

I tell them, as I tell you - 1) I think my house looks pretty darn good, and my husband gets to the yard when he can and does pretty darn well with it when he can tend to it. and 2) We also choose to delight in time with our kids instead of constant chores - homeschooling, play time, snuggle time, reading time, movies....because this TIME IS SHORT. They will be too old for us one day and not want to delight in us so much. I can have the perfect house and yard then.

That said...I do wish I could make things look better so when we tell people "we're expecting" they are happy too, not doubtful.

UGH! I don't live for the world (or try not to!!!) but their words still affect me so. I'm mad at myself too! I should just ignore....but I can't. So, now I'll write...release....and move on.....

Hey, You, reading this....have a good day!! LOL!

(I also wish I could say "yes" to their offer of help....but it is what is BEHIND their offer of help that leads me to declining. Saying yes would welcome more stress than I need.)

*** NOTE: I'm not expecting. When we told people we were expecting baby Gift, some people were truly unkind in their reactions. We just want more children if we can have them, and we are not surrounded by people who value bigger families. I just don't want to go through that again, and I'm still working on letting go the pain of those reactions from Gift. Now, the comments on my house as I homeschool, and have 3 young children, just get to me too. They offer help, but having them help would cause me more stress. Maybe one day when this blows over....***

Small Successes and Thankful Thursday

1.  I've been keeping up with the laundry this week! I still need to fold, but least clothes are CLEAN and not stacking up. I never really thought homeschooling would get me so behind on household duties (my mom sure has noticed...lol). But, it feels good to do the best I can with it!

2. Our garage has become a storage unit again on my husband's side - instead of for parking. It really got cleaned up the last few days with Hubby. He can't park yet, but it is MUCH better! Soon, very soon, it will be conquered!

3. I made, or put together the Halloween costumes this year. I only really started this last year. It is really fun, but I need to break the procrastination habit. At least I accomplished something. It was much easier than what friends assumed, but it was sooo CUTE!!! So, I admit it, I'm excited! But, it was easy! I loved seeing our kids and neighbors have FUN!!! That's the best part!

How was your week? Tell me!

Thankful Thursday

This week I am most thankful for....

1. NAPS!

2. going to bed EARLY last night - like before 8pm! WOW!

3. my hubby!!!

4. my kids!

5. faith.

6. the upcoming holidays....!!!!

7. rainy weather, cool temps, and fall foods!

Blessings!

Feast of All Souls

Here is St. Rose of Lima and a young Therese Martin (St. Therese of Liseux, the Little Flower) at our co-op's All Saints celebration.

What a FUN weekend with Halloween and All Saints!

A blessed day to you all! Pray for us!

Trick or Treat!!

Valiant as Cindy Lou Who

Lovely as Cat in the Hat

The girls

Gift as Thing 2 (I was Thing 1) and the rest of the Seuss gang!

Daddy was Horton the Elephant, but we missed a pic with him...

Let's see we have Seuss, M-O from Wall-E, 2 cute Cowboys, an Owl,  and a Wii Princess

 - our fabulous hostess and friend was not in the shot...

My dad joins for a pic!

Lovely's Godparents came as Curious George, his Kite (mom), and The Man in the Yellow Hat

Trick or treating with grandma who manned our house for the night.

Lovely's turn.

Gift and Yellow Hat Man - LOL

It was a blast with so many kids! So festive!

SO precious!

That bag was mine when I was her age!

Two Hats together...

More fun with fabulous friends!! On the left is Gift's Godmother with her new baby.

helping my girl!

My favorite cowboy!

Forever friends - love the hand holding :)

Hope your weekend was wonderful!!!!!