A Preschooler, a Brother, and Blue Nail Polish

My hubby and I enjoyed a few quite moments out together this past Friday. On our return home, we were greeted with my oldest (the babysitter) and our four year old standing hand in hand with fear and frustration apparent in their faces. My son was already hiding in his bed. Mind you, we have left our children for this short break many times before. We have five children in our home and have had no issues to speak of – at least until that night.

Two of our older girls asked to do their toenails and I saw no problem as the girls are pretty responsible. They had a blast – different colors on each toe, fun time without a little brother to annoy them, you know – girl stuff.

Now my son and my little one thought that this would great fun for them as well. I am not sure what they were thinking as I am positive that nail polish and polish remover are things that I would not have allowed them to play with unsupervised. My guess – brain freeze.

In any case, they proceeded to have a great time . . . until their big sister found out about it. I am afraid of what all let loose in those moments. She knew Mom would not be happy and she was right.

Now we were gone for 1 ½ hours at most. I returned to messy blue toes. Not so fun. I made my way quickly upstairs to find my son who wisely didn't say much and stayed in his bed. Amazingly upon further investigation we found no damage from the polish remover (1/2 the bottle was gone – we won't go into the damage of breathing all that in – Oh my!)

All in all the evening was more of an annoyance than anything. I hadn't expected giving my little one a bath when I had gotten home.

I imagine in the big scheme of things, blue nail polish is not that big a deal. The evening ended quietly. The polish and remover were placed in safer places. Hugs and kisses exchanged. Lessons learned. Life goes on.

Just Some Thoughts

I love to teach my kids. That is a well known fact. Schooling four this year has brought new challenges. Even half way through the year, I am struggling with schedules, expectations, and curriculum.

Teaching is my passion. My family is my passion. How do I meld the two? I struggle with how much "book work" is to be balanced with "real life" teaching.

Teachable moments are precious. I am slowly learning that it is ok to put the books down and go with the flow of life as God has brought it to me. Schedules are engrained in me. Being flexible is not so easy.

I have been blessed in the last week to have some special time with my children all at different moments. I didn't plan it per se. It just happened. My job, if you want to call it that, is to teach and disciple my children. Life gets very busy and crazy sometimes that my passion and purpose can get lost. Days run into each other and I wonder if anything of worth was accomplished outside of what can be tested or graded. These moments brought things back to balance in my mind.

I am blessed to be able to teach my children. I am thankful for moments to reach deeper than a textbook and touch the heart.

I do not have this all figured out. I will always struggle with the nemesis called balance.

Today, though, I let my kids play in the snow before it melted away. The school books can wait. I will enjoy sitting later with my little one while reading a book. I will choose to not worry that the "to do list" may not get checked off.

Today I am thankful for a little perspective.

Wii Zombies

This Christmas Grandma and Grandpa surprised the kids with a Wii system. Keeping up with the Joneses is not our style, but it has been fun to join the generation of video gamers – at least at this level.

Honestly I grew up devoid of this type of entertainment. This isn't a statement of judgment but rather one of fact. Our media intake was limited, not that there was much beside limited cable and Atari and Pong. Today, our kids have many other media influences available.

My hubby just celebrated a birthday and I treated him to the MarioKart game. I have to say, he's pretty good. I don't think I will ever get out of 12^th place. The kids seem to know every trick in the book. Don't ask me how – maybe reading the manual would help. It seems like sensory overload to me. Judging by these pictures, I believe that the zombie stage is imminent.

As anything in life, balance is a good thing. I see time limits on the horizon.

Thankful Thursday

This week's theme is prayer. "How appropriate," I thought. My pastor has been teaching this afresh from the Lord's prayer in Luke. I am thankful that the God of the universe is so gracious to show me how simple it is to talk to Him about anything. I am thankful that he cares for me, listens to my cries and begging, and chooses to act on my behalf. I am thankful that a situation touching my family's heart is not out of His reach. I am thankful that praying in God's will is the right thing and I can trust His sovereignty. I am thankful for a caring husband who walks with me through this challenge.

For more Thankful Thursdays visit Lori's Reflections, she is hosting for Grace Alone this week.

Inauguration

Tomorrow marks a particularly historical day. Whether or not you agree with our President's philosophies, God has chosen him on purpose to lead our country at this time in history.

I sat down to type up a lesson plan for the day to guide my children in the thought process of this occasion. I was wowed again at the blessed country I live in that has moved through very tenuous and violent racial times to a place where we are today.

I want my children to thank God for the smooth transition of leadership we enjoy. I want them to appreciate the powerful role our country holds in this world and respect the man who holds that power. I want them to acknowledge God who has the ultimate authority to place whom He wants in power throughout the world.

I am challenged to pray for President Obama and his family as they carry a burden of responsibility that none other holds.

God, give me a greater understanding of your sovereignty. Increase my appreciation for the many blessings you have given me in this great country. Give me an attitude of prayer for the leaders you have placed over my life. Thank you that your plan is not dictated by man.

Sweet Reminder

The flu has traveled through three states, six cousins, an aunt and uncle, and two siblings until finally hitting my little one last night at 2:00 a.m. This bug comes quickly with little warning. In our home, thankfully, it does not come with a vengeance or wear out its welcome with any one individual.

I could give many details of the evening which would benefit you none. However, there was a precious reminder in the whole episode. My little one is just that – my little one. So what that she wanted to be with her mommy. So what that she crawled onto my lap with her 40+ pound body. So what that she fell asleep on my lap within a minute and lay peacefully for the duration of the show I was watching.

As she lay close to me, I smiled in remembrance of her as an infant. Being the youngest, she had no lack of loving arms to hold her. Good or bad she received much attention. I enjoyed those precious moments that flew too quickly. Last night was a gift of remembrance of days gone by.

My little one tends to go along with the flow of the family. She enjoys school, learns well, and can communicate well beyond her years. Yet in spite of all this, she is still my little girl and always will be.

Hopefully the flu will finish its run soon without hitting the other four family members. In the meantime, I choose to be blessed with a small reminder of my little one who is growing into a little lady before my eyes.

Not Me Monday

Not that I have not had ample material to fill this blog, I have not taken the time to write it down. So, here goes for this week.

I did not ignorantly comment in public about a friend's new pregnancy not knowing it wasn't public. I have had many pregnancies. You would think that I would know better.

I did not take an almost two hour nap yesterday and, not wanting to face the afternoon chill, lay there for another ½ hour. That would mean that I got virtually nothing accomplished for the day.

I did not use M & M's to illustrate gas molecules versus liquid molecules. I certainly did not eat the whole pile of "molecules" when I was done.

I have not attempted to read a book other than a kid's book many times only to have to move from room to room in order to have a semblance of quiet, reread the same paragraph over multiple times, and finally give in to watch Hannah Montana with my kids. Something's wrong with this picture.

Join the fun of more "Not me" posts at www.mycharmingkids.net/

Really Random

I am trying to read for a change. School takes up a lot of my time, so I find it hard to sit and concentrate on a book that is not meant for elementary school. I plan on developing a lit program for high school so I am attempting to catch up on some of that material. The book of the day is To Kill a Mockingbird. Honestly, I saw the movie, but have never read the book.

This challenge is harder than I anticipated today. My kids have lots of questions and are fussing. I am dealing with a sick kid (he was throwing up this morning, but things have calmed down.) I have been driving kids hither and yon. Thursdays are crazy. Thankfully dinner is in the crock-pot. I just have to make the biscuits when my husband calls and says he'll be home in a half hour with the 3 older kids from a basketball game. I am tired just writing this!

In addition, I have been frustrated with ministry at my church. Choosing to have a good attitude is taxing. I need God's wisdom. I need patience and understanding. Much of me wants to hang it all and let someone else take over. What to do. I often state that my family is my number one ministry. I have 5 kids to disciple. Two of them have yet to ask Christ to be their Savior. I have a husband that God has given me to minister to. My ministry begins when my feet hit the floor every day. How do I balance ministry outside my home with what God has given me in my home? I don't think that we moms are called to opt out with family being the excuse. However, I think that many have opted out of their ministry with their family. Obviously our churches need everyone to participate. It is not meant to be run with only the ones with no families. That is absurd! How then do I balance?

I really don't know who all reads this. If you have any insights as to how you work things in your home, I would love to hear it.

Forgive me for my ranting rambling.

Have School Will Travel

The big girls both had orthodontist appointments. One of them needed to be there for over an hour. Keeping the two younger kids busy and happy in a small waiting room was not my idea of fun. I chose to come prepared and set off for Starbucks across the street.

One of the blessings of schooling at home is having more flexibility in our schedule. I honestly never thought that I would be introducing multiplication concepts to my son in a coffee shop, but I did, and he got it. My little one was catching it too and wanted her own math problems (addition, of course).

We had the treat of meeting new people as well. It is always nice to talk to other moms even if only for a short time. Her son enjoyed the kid conversation and the book that my son read to him.

I sat on the other side of the coffee shop in view of my kids and listened and watched the love between my two little ones. Any mom will tell you of numerous bouts of sibling rivalry and competition. For a brief time, I enjoyed this peaceful moment.

Before too long the phone rang and the big girls were done. Our day was set in motion again.

It Was a Good Day

I woke to my son's alarm welcoming him to his first day of indoor soccer.

I watched as he played well, yet apprehensively.

I sat on the bleachers and was blessed with one daughter squishing closer and closer just to sit with me.

I swelled with pride as I watched my oldest take on more responsibility as a referee this year.

I encouraged one of my charges as she stepped on the court for the first time.

I cheered from the sidelines each step of the way.

I hugged her and said I was proud of her. She smiled.

I listened and smiled as my little one made friends, both young and old, all over the gym.

I rejoiced with my husband that he only had to be at soccer until 5:00 instead of 8:00.

I enjoyed catching up with old friends and making new ones.

I reveled in a day of wearing sweats, a t-shirt, and a baseball cap. I did put on make-up, however.

I smiled at the surprise of a dinner and a movie date night with my husband.

I tried a new restaurant and enjoyed it.

I thanked the Lord for free movie tickets as the price is now almost $10 each for a movie.

I laughed and cried at a movie that was pleasantly pro-family and pro-marriage.

I cringed at the time I have not spent at the gym as I looked at the chocolate cheesecake that my hubby bought for me at Barnes and Noble. Of course I had no trouble finishing the entire piece.

I relaxed with a book if only for 15 minutes at the end of my day.

I smiled at the good day that I was blessed with.

Law Offices of Schroll and Bowman

I continue to praise God for how he has worked in our lives and poured blessings into our family just because He loved us.

Bryan and Bob celebrated a milestone in their lives as they partnered to establish a law firm together. This week was the opening of the official office. Although a delay in their furniture made a work environment a little challenging, we all were thankful for how this has all come together. God has been planning this for awhile and we are all excited to take the next step in that plan.

Our kids have mixed emotions as all but one of them knows no different than having Dad working at home. However, we all know that this is the right time for him to expand his boundaries. I am sure there will be growing pains, but it is a good thing to grow.

The children in both families joined in the move as they had the job of putting together the ten office chairs. They were a great help as the men did not want to take the time from work to do the job. We only had a couple chairs that were put together backwards :) Hopefully by tomorrow afternoon the rest of the furniture will be in place.

I am confident that God will continue to work and bless. He may take us in directions that may take us into uncomfortable territory, or he may take us into really exciting places. Our God is good no matter what. We are taking a step of faith in obedience and trusting God to do the rest.