Birthday

One of the blessings had a birthday today. I used to do the whole birthday thing and then I decided not to do the whole birthday party thing with all the stuff that went along with it. Now, the birthday person gets to choose meals for the day and what kind of cake they want and we usually do some thing special that they want to go do. So, today we went for target practice as a family. Generally, this is a Dad and blessings event but I went along for the birthday special event. ( I do enjoy target practice but rarely take the time to go with)

A good day was had by all.

May the Lord find us faithful.

Summer

I really enjoy summer, the warm weather, walking outside without a coat, the green trees and grass, flowers, being outside riding bikes, the list could go on and on. BUT, I enjoy the slower pace of winter. I am frazzled by the time September rolls around and then in September there is the moose to put in the freezer and school is in full force. We usually follow the school districts and start in August, but I think this year we will gradually fall back into school starting with just a couple of subjects a week. We have already started back with  Character Sketches and regular violin practice.

Swimming is going well, Levi jumped off of the diving board which is a major accomplishment. He is not swimming well yet but he is working on it and hanging in there. Elisabeth is a fish and Judith is doing well in her preschool class.

May the Lord find us faithful.

 

Looking forward

"School" starts soon. Many mothers around the country are counting down until the children are out of the house, that is if the mothers are even in the house! I enjoy my blessings, sure there are the days when I want to scream and run away, but those are few and far in between. Most of us want the "idealist","perfect" home, family and marriage. But, reality is we are all horrible, wretched, sinful, unperfect human beings. It is good to have goals and high ones but we should not lose hope and give up and do nothing just because we cannot reach our goal, which often times is unattainable in the first place. I once heard an evangelist say that if people are not reaching your expectations, then lower your expectations! That statement has had an effect on my life. Instead of getting frustrated at my husband or the blessings, I have to look at what they do well and what they have learned,etc. Also, do I add up to all that I expect others to be?  Not at all.

May the Lord find us faithful.

Now, get me to the school supply aisle, I love school supplies!!!!

Swimming

I finally got the blessings into swimming lessons, I know this is a bit overdue and the oldest will be 8 next week, but life kept happening and I did not make swimming lessons a priority. They all love it though, even the one who is struggling with the whole thing and is the least experienced and least willing to swim, stills loves lessons. I guess he does not realize he is the only one not doing some things. Maybe that is because he has been allowed to move forward at his own pace and not been in constant competition his whole life. I think competition to a degree is good but I remember hating competing as a child. Maybe I allow his to keep on being this way because I remember how I felt in those situations and I had no choice but to be there and endure. Any way, we are in lessons now and he will learn something from it even if it is only to go under the water for a few seconds.

May the Lord find us faithful.

Hospitality

It seems that some times I have blinders on. I often forget the needs of others or think that some one else is taking care of them. One goal for this school year is to work on being hospitable. We should be alert to the needs of others and taking action to help meet those needs. I do not want my blessings to go through life with blinders on or looking in a mirror and not outward at all. What can I do to meet the needs of some one else today........ when does the maid come, my floors need swept, of yeah, that's my job today! May the Lord find us faithful.

Sunday

We have had a full day. Church this morning, then we had a family come out for lunch. Then back to church and home to celebrate a birthday for a dear friend of mine. I made her an Italian Cream Cake, yummy!! I have not made this cake since her birthday two years ago.

We are visiting this evening and enjoying time with good friends.

May the Lord find us faithful.

Thunder and lightening

When we have a thunderstorm in Alaska, it is a doozy!!! Last night we had some LOUD thunder and a good dose of rain. Today has been around 70 degrees and sunny all day, but the black clouds and thunder are rolling in. I am not sure how long this one will last or if we will get any significant rain as I see blue sky and white fluffy clouds also.

I think the blessings are ready to get back into some school work. We should be pretty settled for the remainder of the summer. We have signed up for swimming lessons for the next two weeks, that will be fun. Well, the thunder sounds closer, so I am going to sign off and shut down.

May the Lord find us faithful.

Home, Home, Home

It is so nice to be home.Although I feel as though this is a Monday, it is good to be home. I have taken a slow approach to the day. Catching up will come today. It is a beautiful day. Sunny and very warm, the blessings are out in the back yard playing in the sand box and swinging. I think they are glad to be home and in their own element! I plan on getting my house back to order today and tomorrow, that will be wonderful. Enjoy the day where ever you are. May the Lord find us faithful.

Independence Day

  We are having a lazy day with friends, grilling burgers, brats and dogs. Just the fun stuff! We are thankful for our independence and the freedom to gather with friends.
May the Lord find us faithful!!

Real life

We are getting back into real life as it is for our family. We have had an abundant blessing of visitors to our home this summer. The last batch left last night. It was good to sleep in my own bed(we have been traveling with grandparents). We will begin our Monday morning, although my husband has tomorrow off from work so it will not be a typical Monday, at home and with our usual chores and routine to take care of. Yeah!!!

I have a mountain of laundry to take care of tomorrow but the blessing is that I can take care of it all. I am home and I have the physical ablity to do laundry. So, I am finding joy in the mundane things of life.

May the Lord find us faithful.