Rollercoaster Ride

I don't have much energy to type, but I could use some prayers. One of the reason I have fallen away from blogging is because of home schooling. I have so many things I want to record here! One day I will catch up.

I have two other reasons too. Two things I need prayers over.

1) We lost our house. Those words alone are hard enough to write. I will say it surprised me, and thankfully God worked His best to redeem a situation I still am grieving, but accepting.

2) My husband has fallen ill. He was rushed to the ER Monday, and was in surgery Tuesday. He had an intestinal blockage, LARGE hernia, and it was also discovered the lining INSIDE the abdomen that keeps our organs in formation was damaged beyond repair (from hernia). So, they gave him a pig skin transplant for new lining. They also had to completely redo his stoma. They created a new one on the opposite side of his abdomen, and had to rebuild the previous stoma location, muscle, and use pig skin to rebuild the lining. It was supposed to be a routine 2 hour surgery....that went 4.5 hours. He is still in the hospital. Not sure when he is released - no earlier than this coming Monday.

Thank you for your prayers. I promise you, while I feel many things about our recent trials, I do feel peace. God has been with us every step of the way - from providing a home we could move into to immediately (I learned we lost our house 2 weeks ago today, and was told we had to be out by the following Monday morning. We had a place to immediately go that we can all our own and rebuild from. We had 20 of our friends and family come move us immediately too, provide child care, food, etc) and prayerfully support us with great love and compassion. Hubby got sick AFTER the move. Think of what would have happened if we had to move now, while he was sick? God is Good! Then, right when our community of friends and family thought all was calm after our move, Hubby got sick, and everyone jumped back in - taking our kids again at night so I could be at the hospital, driving them to preschool, feeding them, etc. God's hands and feet personified. I don't know what I can say that can describe the beauty in this rutted period of time.I'm not sure how I can pay everyone back. I know I will be paying this forward....

I'll try to update more as I can. I'm at the hospital a lot, doing the night shift at the hospital with my husband, taking care of the kids during the day and trying to home school, unpack, and create routine for my children to feel safe in. I am tired, no lie. Sometimes I feel resentful I'm in these circumstances (this happens to other people, not me...right?) But, I am positive and saying "Why NOT us." instead of "Why us!".  Plus, I've never seen God so at work in our lives, more miracles, and more redeeming of broken situations. It's pretty amazing actually. When I feel too tired to keep going, simply pondering these things in my heart renews me to keep going.

Bear with me. Pray for me. I know I'll be processing here as I can. I'll update on Hubby's condition as things progress. Thanks for the prayers.

Much Love!

We're Back! and...First Day of SECOND GRADE!!!!!!

Look at my baby....she is a SECOND grader! When did that happen??!!

She picked out her back to school outfit and was ready for our first day of second grade homeschooling and also using parts of the k12 online school program!

 

Hasn't she grown SO much since last year? It is insane! She did it without my permission again! We didn't set any alarms this morning, but we were up by 7am and fed, dressed, and working at 8am. While last year's first day EVER went well, today was superb. She seems to love the combined "Well Trained Mind" and online formats blended together. It went much smoother and faster than last year's start. We were done by lunch (that she prepared).

Valiant and Gift did great. Gift napped most of the morning, and Valiant either hung out with us, or was off playing or being very mischievous lol!

I need to go and do some lesson planning work, but I plan to come back and update here on my home school blog as well as add some summer entries here on this site. I caught some great summer moments on camera! I hope to get around to reading blogs again too! You all always inspire!

Much love and happy "New Year!"

I LOVE headbands!!!!

I LOVE headbands/head scarfs! I also love helping creative people. Here I loving a headband/scarf!

 And now I want to win one!!!

Please check out Cam's giveaway!! But, while you do...let me win...won't you? Thanks! hehe!

HAPPY 4th of July!!!!

Happy Birthday USA!!!

Pics taken during a 4th of July celebration we attended (people standing for our national anthem).

We have spent the 4th with those we love. A great family weekend, fireworks and swimming last night at my sister's, and we're hosting friends and neighbors over tonight for a pot luck BBQ and driveway fireworks. We wish you a fantastic holiday!!

Three? When did THIS happen?

Sweet Girl, Sweet Girl, What do YOU see?

"I see a THREE year old looking at me."


Three year old, Three year old, what do YOU see?

Look carefully at the book she is hugging...

"I see a BROWN BEAR looking at me!!"

Our sweet, "baby", Valiant celebrated her 3rd birthday this past weekend with her favorite book of ALL TIME - Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See? (artwork by Eric Carle). We used the book to center her little party around, and it was so sweet to her delight!! She is our little diva and sweet pixie in one. We are SO blessed to have her!

She loved her cupcakes (name blanked out there below):

It was magical to see her try and blow out her candle sitting in her Pop's lap:

And it was fun to use the colors of all the animals in every place we could - from table cloths, to black utensils, white napkins, colored cups, etc. We also enjoyed figuring out snacks and drinks that matched up some too!

The red bird flew away somehow lol!!

Goldfish and Brown Bears with honey

Yellow Duck Punch

All the colors....

Jello in the shapes/colors of the red bird, green frog, purple cat, and yellow duck

We had such amazing tiny friends over (Lovely asked "Why are all the kids so little?" - She thought the party would have her aged friends..haha!)

The moms of all the above kids believe it or not! We all graduated high school together!

Earlier in the week, we had a  Co-Birthday playdate with our next door neighbor, who also had his birthday this month. More friends could come to that too:

Dearest Valiant - we love you, adore you, and learn from you. You teach us to laugh, and patience (haha!). You are molding us into being better people in trying to be better parents to you. We love you and are so grateful for you. Your smile is our whole world. God Bless you!!!

I see a three year old looking at me....

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

Date Night!!!

Hubby and I were able to escape tonight. We've had some home date nights, but there is nothing like escaping the domestic landscape when one can.

We spent the evening walking around a great local square. Lots of great street music, people watching, unique eateries, historic courthouse, and neat art. The above bronze is a popular attraction - it is called "Valentine" and shows a very content, in love, and sweet old couple together enjoying time together. It's how I want to end up with Hubby.

Of course, Hubby had to have a little fun with the statue:

As you can see...he decided it would be funny to try and steal the woman's purse. Nice...lol

It was so pretty in the main square when the sun set:

While we had an amazing dinner, and enjoyed yogurt "on tap" in the cool breezes, the best part was having precious time with a precious spouse....since we just don't do this enough and really do NEED it. Life just gets stressful, busy, tense, child focused, etc. Tonight...tonight was what the doctor ordered!

And I think our faces showed how good it really was....

Hubby and I with the "Valentines"

I love you dear one. Thank you for everything!

Summer Fun!

We are having a fantastic summer! We have done SO much. We're both busier than I thought or wanted to be, and yet, having so many 'lazy and hazy' days of summer that I feel we are doing a good job of savoring the season too.

Lately we have enjoyed picnics, evening lawn shows, and candy:

 

Some baby yoga....

Some outdoor painting adventures.....

 

...and lots of patio fun with water toys (picture below), chalk, and the swing set!

I have not been blogging enough - but that's because I'm living life with this incredible family I am given. Life is Good, God is good! I pray you are doing well too!!!

Much love!