Let's try this again....

Hello Again...........................
Whoa is about all I can say.  Really? 2 1/2 years? I'm going to try again at this blogging thing.  I did enjoy it when I had the time to do it.  Not sure that I have the time now, but we are going to give it a whirl.  :)

Much has changed! Ok....who am I kidding? Not really! While my husband and I have aged a bit, the kids have grown by leaps and bounds!! We are well into our journey of homeschooling highschool and so far so good. The Oldest Arrow will graduate next year, the Next Oldest Arrow is just getting started (both are doing GREAT).  Our precious Middle Arrow continues to love reading and Legos! Our Next to Youngest Arrow is thriving this year.....this APD (Auditory Processing Disorder) will not hold her down! The Youngest Arrow would much rather play than do school, but he is finally getting excited about reading, so he can read the instructions on the video games! Hey.....at least he has a goal....I'll take it!

So as you can see much has changed, but much has stayed the same.  It's 2 1/2 years since my last post, we are still happily married, still homeschooling, and still very much in love with our kids! So let's give this blog another go and see where it takes us!


Ready?


Here's a couple updated pictures for you too!

Paying Attention???

It's that time of year again......when we start thinking about the holidays, gifts, cards, pictures, family dinners, visiting family, holiday parties, church activities and getting it all done before that holiday arrives.  Whew.....that's exhausting just thinking about it.

 I am pleased to say that I got a jump on pictures this year and we scratched that off the list this week.  Along with the Operation Christmas Child Box packing party.  What a truly blessed event!  This year the 2 little arrows had a better understanding of why we were packing these boxes and they were so thoughtful with each gift they included.  When it came time to fill out the "all about me" coloring page they were thrilled to share about themselves.  The question on why they love Jesus was the one that put a lump in my throat......My lil man answered because Jesus is so super special.

To many that might not seem like much but, to a homeschooling mom that feels like she struggles to "reach" her kids, its a lot!  To me that was affirmation from Christ himself, that He is working in that little guys heart!  All those Bible lessons each day and talks with Mom are getting through, even though he acts like he's not paying attention.  

How often does God think that I am not paying attention to Him?  The mere thought saddens me, but the truth is that I often am act too busy to listen to His leading.  Today I choose Him, today I choose to listen, today I will seek His will.  How about you?

 "Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings. For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool; but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations." Isaiah 51:7
















Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
1 Chronicles 16:34

I'm Back.....

Wow.......its been a long while!  It is now November 2011, months since my last blog post and here I find myself back in the saddle.  So much has happened over the summer and this fall.  I won't even begin to recap.  I'm just going to pick up in the here and now.  

We are in our 8th year of homeschooling and loving every minute of it.  This has been a tough school year as I have my first high-schooler and added a Kindergarten student.  I now have 4 students to teach everyday, along with all the other requirements of a wife and mother.  I wouldn't trade this life for any other one in the world!

We have had some rough roads in the past few months, but God is faithful and answering prayers. His word is living, breathing and alive in our midst! I see my children growing in the word, growing in faith and that is such a wonderful thing.  I am so blessed to see it, day in and day out.  I pray that you all are feeling the love of our Savior as well.

Come back and visit soon.  I hope to blog a few times a week.  I've missed you all!

Blessings!

Blessed Mommy

Where does the time go?

It seems that I can't keep up with this blog anymore.  While it serves as a wonderful outlet for me to connect and reach out, there isn't enough time in my day to allow for it.  What is keeping me so busy you ask?  It could be the potty training 3 yr old boy.....and he is doing well, thank you.  It could be the 15 week old puppy that we rescued several weeks ago that isn't potty trained like the boy! Or the 2 preschoolers that beg me everyday to play with "rice" or "do school."  It could also be those 3 big kids that need me to teach them the ways of our Lord, along with math, language, history, science, spelling, reading, writing, and home economics.  It might also be those long trips we make (an hour one way) to take 2 kids to soccer practices just 3 days a week.  Or the studying that I do for my own spiritual growth, currently studying 1&2 Thessalonians, Grace Based Parenting and also a book on Women's Leadership in the church.  And then there is that other thing called a house I have to keep clean, the laundry that has to be washed and folded, the meals that need cooking, the dishes washed, dogs fed and walked....you know all the joys of being a Wife and Mom!  All those things that I wouldn't trade for all the money in the world! 
I am finding joy in the small things, joy in the trials, and joy in the big things!  I am busy, yes, but busy doing the things that God has called me to do.  And for that I will not complain about lack of blogging time, but I will love those times sharing in studies with my husband, cherish those moments when my kids finally understand a concept, cheer for the goals reached in sports, relish those times playing with "rice," and just enjoy the JOYS that God has given me.......for He has given me much.  How will you spend your time? 
Where does your time go?

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

A Finch Rescue....

 This morning as my adoring children were looking out in to God's creation, my oldest arrow saw a frightening sight!  (Now if you've been following my blog long, you will know how much we love our birds, feed them well and enjoy them through our kitchen window.)  So as they are watching the birds, my oldest arrow saw a Blue Jay attacking a little Yellow Finch!  The poor finch was just sitting in the middle of the yard, scared, shaking and a bit dazed.  I went outside to investigate the situation and as I was walking over I could hear the Blue Jay in the tree mocking the poor thing.  Sqwak....sqwak.....sqwak!  As I approached he flew away.  I'm sure you can imagine what happened next!  LOL

The bird is just looking at me, like help, but don't touch me!  My oldest begged me to "help her."  How do you know its a her?!  Well, her colors were not as bright and pretty as the males, so I guess she was right.  My oldest picked her up, put her in our extra bird cage and took care of her for a few hours, until we thought she was no longer dazed and safe from harm.

She ate some food, sat in the cage shaking for a long time, but by around 1pm she was ready to fly the coop!  She was trying to stick her head through the wire of the cage and we took that as a sign....she needed to get home.  We took the top off and hoped she would fly away...................................................  ahh, but she didn't!  She could not fly, but she could walk and walk she did!  She was gone after an hour and we haven't seen her since.  Now the children are all praying that she finds her way home and her wing heals enough so she can fly again.

It was a good experience for all.  It was so great to see our favorite bird, upclose and personal.  Though she never spoke, as she was scared practically to death, I hope one day as we look out enjoying our finches that she will be among them, singing a little thank you tune. 

Hello again.....

Hello again blog, its me.....your author.  I've neglected you long enough and feel it is time we get reacquainted.  I have missed you so these past few months, but life happened and took me away from you.  I am embarking on a new year and hoping for a new found love to blog again.  Bear with me as I make changes, maybe even changes in the direction of this blog,  I want this to be more of an outlet for me and not just keeping everyone up to date on my family happenings. 

Here is a short recap.  December we had 2 birthdays, my beautiful red headed daughter turned 12 and my vibrant littlest girl turned 5.  Time is slipping away from me as they grow up so fast.  We had friends that came to be with us and stayed through Christmas.  It was a very special Christmas for us this year.  A few of the kids ended up sick with a stomach flu the week before Christmas and then another on Christmas Eve.  I also ended up sick with an ear infection that same night that left me with a perforation in my eardrum.  The next few days are a blur of flying wrapping paper, Motrin, tons of movies, lots of sweet goodies, and napping. 

While having sick kids during this time we had to postpone Christmas with our family until we were healthy. The Tuesday after Christmas my children went to be with grandparents while my husband and I traveled to help a friend that was relocating. We were away from our family for a whole week! I missed them so much, but it was good to be with friends and have some time alone. Upon returning from our trip we had enjoyed some much needed rest as a family and finally celebrated Christmas with our family this past weekend. All the decorations are finally down, things are getting back to "normal," the kids have colds now and the saga continues.

So here are some pictures to catch you up on all that has happened.  Some things will go unsaid and others will tried to be forgotten, but life happens, forgiveness is freely given, and a new year brings new hopes for the next.

This is Christmas Day Snow fun!  Our FIRST White Christmas!  Thankfully everyone was feeling well enough to enjoy a little while in the snow!

This is my middle arrows 10th Birthday!  I can't believe how time has flown by!!  She didn't open a present on her birthday because all she wanted was to go to the movie "Tangled" with her family!  Of course we took her, since we don't go to the movies very often it was a real treat for all of us!

Feeling it...

Feeling the hustle and bustle that seems to always come with December!  Where has the time gone?  Wasn't it just summer??  I haven't felt in control of my schedule for sometime now, but really a whole season has passed me by???!!  I did get to enoy some of the fall beauty during our women's retreat, on an outing with the family to the mountains, and every morning during soccer season, but it passed to quickly.  I feel as though I woke up one day this week and got hit in the face with winter!

Don't get me wrong....Christmas is my favorite time of the year, but also the busiest!!  This is the time of year that I can't say "no" to anyone, I plan too many activities, lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas and wish there were more days in the month to get all my craft projects done.  I guess I can only pray that one day I will learn to plan better and use my time more wisely.  Not today, but someday.  LOL

Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season, focusing on Christ and loving your families!