Longing for Routine....

Ahhhh....I miss my routine.  I miss the fall weather, the smell of cinnamon potpourri, and the sounds of pencils to paper and keys tapping a keyboard. I need routine!  I need school to start back!

I never thought I would see or hear the day when I longed for our summer break to be over or longed for a schedule to follow.  But here I am.....longing and yearning for a regular routine.  The busyness of summer has finally come to a close.  We were blessed to entertain all summer and I do mean all summer.  7 weekends out of the past 8 weekends we had family or friends staying with us.  It was such a Great summer!  A true summer to remember, but I'm ready for routine, ready for school.......ready for a schedule!

I had huge plans this week to get my lesson plans all drawn out, organize the new curriculum, ready the computers and school desks, but a migraine was in store for me instead.  After 2 full days in bed I've had to put off all lesson planning.  Motrin wasn't a help, but my dearest husband called my Dr and got my regular migraine medicine and I'm feeling human again with a bit of after pain in my eye.  So it looks like another day partially in bed, but at least today I can look at the computer screen with sunglasses on.

My oldest arrows have been a HUGE blessing to me these past few days.  Always taking care of me, bringing me anything I needed, and taking care of the little ones.  I am so blessed.  I'm so glad that they had family and friends over recently to just play and be kids.  We've played so many games together this summer and enjoyed each other, like families should, it was a wonderful summer.

But I'm longing for routine.........................

Still Going...

Ahhhh....we've been so busy that I haven't blogged in some time.  Sorry!  As you can see from the ticker above, we are doing well on our "goal" for this year!  2 1/2 weeks into our lifestyle change I have lost 15 pounds.  I'm happy with that and hoping for more loss when I get back into my workout routine.

I recently implemented a schedule for all of us and it is working out wonderfully!!!  I have heard less whinning and groaning from the children, less fighting, more fun times and more extra time as well.  I'm amazed at how much of my time was wasted on little things.  The kids have adjusted quite well to the new schedule, except the teenager of course!!  She doesn't like getting up so early, but she is trucking along with the rest of us and I am so proud of her and the other children.  I knew I was blessed, but with these new endeavors of late they are being real troopers and doing GREAT!

I hope to blog more often and keep my weightloss updated every week.  Some weeks there may not be a change, but that's ok, at least I have somewhere and someone(s) to keep me accountable!  Thanks for the support everyone!

Refreshed.....

Well, we finally started back to school!! Yes!!! Maybe now I can get back to my regular blogging schedule. I have missed the steadiness of our "school schedule" and the order which it brings. This year will be a busy year for us, but a Great year no doubt. We have new classes outside the home this year and extra classes to be taken here and there along the way. I have also already scheduled all of our holidays into the year and I have a firm grip on things now rather than fumbling later.

We started Aug. 24th and had a wonderful first week of school....then that dreaded stomach flu hit the house and all of us got it at the same time! By Tuesday we got a slow start, but we did have fun with History to get everyone in a good mood. Wednesday was a better day for us all and a full day of school again. Now yesterday brought NEW joy to a couple of the girls. My 2 middle arrows had their first science class with nJoyscience and they LOVED IT! They both came home talking of catapults, simple machines, levers, inclined planes and the list goes on. The made a catapult and my middle arrow played with hers for hours yesterday, hurling anything and everything across the room.

It is so refreshing to see ones spirit revived, their love for something return. Don't you think? I see the sparkle return to their eyes, the questions start swirling. How does this work and why does it do that? Or when they have struggled with a new concept and then all of a sudden it clicks and they figure it out. I LOVE to be here and see that and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to teach them myself, so I don't miss those moments.

When I think about the beginning of the school year and that refreshing of their spirits, I think of the Holy Spirit within me. He refreshes me everyday, not just school days. He sustains me through my comings and goings, He intercedes for me....what a comfort He is at all times.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV)

Do you have that freedom? Are you calling upon His Spirit to lead you and refresh you? I encourage you to spend time in prayer today and call upon the Holy Spirit, ask for that freedom and it will be given to you. Have a Blessed Day!!!!!

Unexpected Blessings....

You never know when God is listening....ok, so He is listening always, but I don't always remember that. Anyway, He was listening to me pour my heart out last week and over the weekend. Our schedule has changed drastically and I am conquering, but it's still work for me. I never expected it not to be work, but I also have a sick son in the midst right now. Yesterday a sweet friend blessed me....in more ways than one.
First she tried to plan all this with my dear husband. He told her of our sick son and the impending doctor appointment that interfered with her plan. She quickly changed her plan to not only to bring dinner for my family, but to come early enough to watch all the kids so that I could take little man to doctor without the whole crew. WHAT A BLESSING!!!! I am constantly amazed by this woman....she has an overwhelmingly, busy, full, plate of her own, but she is always showing the love of Christ by helping others. She never complains, she is always looking at how she can be of help to others and so very organized. I am envious, but a good envious, not a sinful envious. (it is more inspiring to me than envy)

So, dear friend, you know who you are.....THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. You showed the love of Christ to me and my family today. We are ever so grateful!! You received crowns today for your wonderful works. My kids had a BLAST with you and wanted to know when you are coming back? Next time you can come here for dinner with the whole family and we can all play, not work, and I will be cooking for you. The fajitas were AWESOME and enjoyed by all!! Thanks for the recipe too...you knew I would be asking for it. Now I just need to recipe for the black bean and corn salsa!!! It is Awesome!!! We had never had it until last night and we all fell in love with it. Anyway, thank you again.

May God Richly Bless You for showing His Love and Kindness to us.
Blessed Mommy and family

So Readers, you never know (ok, ok, so YOU do) when God is looking to send someone your way to bless you. When He does, remember to thank Him and the blesser. :)

Change is a GREAT thing

Yes, you heard correctly.....CHANGE, C-H-A-N-G-E and a lot of it!! Blessed Daddy and I have looked long and hard at our schedule and realized that some serious changes needed to occur. This is day 3 of our changes and we are making GREAT strides. The kids are very excited about a new program called "Accountable Kids" that is in the mail as we speak. I have spoken to the kids about this program and they have a number of friends that already do it. They are so excited, as am I. After many years of yelling, nagging, coaxing, badgering, pleading, on my knees begging....whew...I will no longer have to ask my kids to dress, make beds, brush hair, brush teeth, etc. The new program we are getting gives the responsibility to them. If they don't do their "morning chores" then they do not earn a ticket. :) Super easy for me. We don't even have the program yet, but the past 2 days my youngest girls have been up, dressed, beds made, eaten breakfast, teeth brushed, hair brushed and ready for school. This is a MIRACLE!! I am thrilled. Our days have gone much smoother. We have also taken out everything.....we only go to soccer practice, church and praise team practice. We haven't left the house all week. Here is a NEW typical day in our house...and its working! That's all that matters.

8:30 Wake, eat breakfast, dress, make beds, brush teeth, brush hair.
9:40 Ready for school
All 3 older arrows work on puters to do language, then oldest does puter math and other two on math worksheets. Two youngest arrows get time with mommy, reading, playing, folding laundry, etc.
12 Lunch
1:30 Naps for two youngest arrows
2:00 SWR with Mommy
3:30 Done with school and time for snack, youngest arrows wake from nap and join snack time
4:00 Craft, art, paint, etc.
4:30 Prep for dinner and free time for kids
6:30 Dinner
7:30 Showers for everyone
8:00 Drive through History DVD with Daddy
9:00 Bedtime for kids
11:00 Bedtime for Mommy and Daddy if not sooner

I am amazed at how wonderful this has worked for everyone. I am praying that over time we can add a play date here and there, field trips, but for now we are starting from scratch....only the bare basics. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. They have been felt and heard. Blessings for a wonderful weekend.

Walmart Woes

UGGGGGGGGGGGGG......where is the Walmart Haters Anonymous group??? I would be happy to join the WHA. Our Walmart has recently undergone a "makeover" and I think it is the makeover from Heck!! Everyone is complaining, no one likes it, you can't find anything, just when you think you are on to something they move it again. 2+ hours in Walmart will do anybody in, but especially 1 frazzled Mommy and 5 kids (2 of which were ready for naps before we walked in the store).
We are home now and I am praying that my meal planning paid off this time. I am not one for planning meals and such, but after 2 weeks at the beach, not eating out and figuring we only spent $21 dollars a day per family for 3 meals....I guess meal planning was worth a shot for me here at home. My oldest arrow and I sat down this morning and planned our meals for about 7 days, we wrote down on the list everything we needed for each meal that we didn't already have here and off to Walmart we went. I spent way more than normal for 1 shopping trip, but I feel like I got so much food!! We should have plenty of food for a while. I think the only thing we should have to buy would be bread, milk and eggs when ours runs out. We even planned on nights of eating leftovers. I know some of you are thinking, how in the world does a woman with 5 kids not already plan her meals. Well, I am NOT a schedule kind of gal, I don't like them, there is no room for spontaneous fun. I like to be adventurous, care free, but with an idea of what will come ahead. So now you know my deepest darkest secret, I am not organized, I am not scheduled and I am NOT superMom. Who would have thunk it? :) Hee Hee Not that any of you thought I was SuperMom, but I do like to pretend every now and again.

Blessings to you all!