Blessed.Grateful.Joyful.Hopeful: May 2013

Friday, May 24, 2013

May 2013 Updates

I love this crew so much. While some days are difficult and we grapple with selfishness and respect for others and cooperative living, those moments are redeemed when I hear Blane say "Gavin, I love you." and Gavin reply, "Me too, you're my best brother." Or when I hear the disappointment in Blane's voice when we break the news to him that he can not marry Ashley. I see Blane rising to the challenge of his biggest brother role in the ways that he loves on and protects his brother and sister. I've witnessed Gavin's heart soften over time as he's exhibiting more self control and more eagerness to step into his role as protector and helper. Both boys often acknowledge my growing belly and are eager to give their youngest brother a good morning belly pat or kiss. The boys enjoy holding the door open "for the girls" and they are quick to notice when my hands are full and they need to bear some of the load (it is quickly becoming a standard rule that a girl, mommy included, should only be carrying something if the boys' hands are full). It certainly isn't easy to have this many little ones, but they make life so rich, they are a blessing from the Lord indeed!

Worm experiments for school!

Yay, ice cream!

A campout!

He loves putting her to bed : )

Leaf litter science experiment

Ashley at baby Zack's shower!

Lunchtime!

Goofball!

We made scrolls for school!

Exercising dominion over their land and livestock!

Daddy took a day off work to take us on a field trip to the Blue Bell factory!

Sunday, May 5, 2013

The End, The Beginning {School}

It was bittersweet to wrap up our first year of homeschooling! I can't believe that we have an entire year's worth of curriculum under our belt! When we made the decision last year to pull the kids out of school and begin this crazy journey the Lord was taking us on - it felt a little like blindly jumping off a cliff. But God is so faithful! More than ever I am convinced that education and discipleship go hand in hand, and I have already seen so much fruit come to bear in our home. Several individuals have questioned whether or not we will continue to home school considering the arrival of Zack this summer; but I am more confident than ever that this is what the Lord has for us. We have chosen this method of education out of joyful obedience, rather than out of convenience or ease.

There's a lot of freedom in this method of education - we can easily schedule school around and in and through where God is already at work in our lives and in our home. We are eagerly anticipating the start of our next "school year" on Monday {Blane's official Kindergarten year!} and we will work up to Zack's arrival in late July. Then we will take our "summer break" late Summer/early Fall to allow for us all to enjoy and get to know our new baby!

Last day of school {2012-2013 Blane's prek year, K curriculum}

First day of school! {Blane's Kindergarten year, MFW 1st curriculum, Gavin's PreK4 year}

I have a kindergartener. He grows too fast. I am soaking up every moment with these three; because they are in my care for such a very, very short time….

Updates! {March-May 2013}

Lots of photos from the past couple of months! The weather has been beautiful and we spend every day, all day outdoors! The kids are growing and changing everyday, I just can't seem to grab ahold of time and make it stand still!

"Mommy, you know how Daddy was in the army and he got the bad guys? Well, you know I want to go in the army too when I grow up, but do you think that Daddy got all the bad guys already or will there still be some for me to get?" - Blane (this of course led to a great conversation surrounding sin and the fallen world in which we live. I was able to reassure him that there would be plenty of bad guys left for him, that is, until Jesus returns!)

"Mommy, do you know why I wear this cross necklace? Because it reminds me that Jesus died for me and I want others to see it and remember too!" - Blane "Yea, and do you know why I wear this sharks tooth necklace? Because it reminds me that God loves sharks too!" Gavin

Several weeks ago we studied Jewels in school. We learned that Jesus is our greatest treasure and He is more precious to us than jewels. So this week the boys made "jewels" by coloring paper with marker in different colors, then crumpling it up. Then my entrepreneurial minded Blane decided he could sell his jewels to kids on our street. So one afternoon he went from house to house, telling neighbors that he made jewels to remember that Jesus is our greatest treasure and would they like to buy one for $.10. The boy sold quite a few!!