Gratitude

Today is a good day to focus on gratitude. I need a perspective change. It's Monday. It's raining. We have 4 ½ weeks of school left, so it is hard to keep the kids focused. So . . . here goes.

#11-20

• Green grass is growing in my yard.
  
• There are three kids in my kitchen working together.
  
• Rain held off, so I could garage sale with my two oldest on Saturday.
  
• My church is orderly, God-honoring, friendly, and responsible.
  
• My parents are coming home today from a cruise. They enjoy being together.
  
• I found a bucket of free toys on Saturday. My kids are having a blast designing a roller coaster with Kinex. They have even used the words kinetic and potential
  energy, force, and gravity.
  
• Friends came over for dinner on Saturday. Grilled burgers and mac-and-cheese are always a hit.
  
• I can listen and learn from my husband who teaches Sunday School at our church.
  
• My high school alma mater placed second in a national acapella competition in NYC this past weekend. They presented an awesome, God-honoring performance.
  
• My kids learned a new game and met knew friends at a family game night at Barnes & Noble.

Wordless Wednesday

Gratitude

I happened upon this site that blessed my heart.

Gratitude is an art left sadly undone in my life too often. If practiced regularly, gratitude softens hearts, brightens moments, changes perspective, and alters attitudes. Why then do I focus on the negative and what I don't have?

I have practiced Thankful Thursdays in the past and have been blessed by taking the time to thank. This challenge encourages me to develop over time a gratitude list of 1000 graces
that I can identify in both the
little and big things of life. Be blessed in your life as you purposely list the many ways that God graces your life each day.
Join me and others as we develop this attitude of gratitude.

#1-10

• Messy kitchens = imaginative kids
  
• Cut flowers = my husband thought of me and thinks I am special
  
• My laptop = I don't have to fight with the rest of the family for computer time
  
• Fingerprints on the door frame = my son is active and growing
  
• Yearly physicals = chance to meet a doctor who has also adopted two children
  
• Playgrounds = my little one can play while I talk with a friend
  
• Kid friendly coffee houses = I could read books to my little one while I enjoyed a hot tea
  
• Homeschool friendly Christian school = my kids are welcome
  
• Garage sales = I could bless my kids with some fun "new" clothes
  
• Reliable mechanics = my hubby's car can get fixed quickly and correctly
  

Testing, testing, 1 . . . 2. . . 3. . .

Many schools of thought float in the world of education. Some say that testing is essential to evaluate properly. Others say that testing does not show a true evaluation of what a child has learned. I have a learned a little bit from both schools.

We have chosen to test our kids yearly by using achievement tests taken at a cooperating school. In doing this, my kids' strengths and weaknesses are brought to light. Understanding that testing needs to be taken with a grain of salt, we look at the whole picture and do not make educational decisions based solely on a test result. However, it is extremely helpful to compare from year to year. We have also been able to compare achievement with scholastic ability by use of another testing tool (OLSAT).

There are holes in testing. You will never find a perfect tool that tests directly from what your child has been learning. It would be impossible, as there are so many curriculums available. Testing does take away from teaching time, and it puts your children in a position of comparison to others their age. However, our kids have adapted well and have enjoyed being in the classroom with their peers for the week of testing. (We have a good relationship with the school. The kids are in the traditional classroom for the week. The test results are then sent to me.)

We test regularly at home, but frequently take the time to reteach if a concept needs more time. Testing is often an evaluation of me: how well have I communicated or led my child in learning. Being at home does eliminate testing pressures that may be more evident in the traditional classroom. For one, the time factor is removed. Distractions may be more limited, and a child usually feels more comfortable in their home. That said, my kids have also been prepared well to test in a traditional classroom. (As they enter junior high, they begin taking classes part time in a Christian school.)

I don't believe that many of us love to face a test. Yet, all through life, we are tested. Maybe not on paper or within a 45 minute period. However, we are faced with decisions and tests that we need to pass. Sometimes we get to retest, but often the grade stands and we have to go on. I am challenged to prepare my kids for not only the pencil and paper test but also the tests and pop quizzes that will enter routinely through their life.

What do you think about testing? How has it been used effectively in your home? Are there ways you have overcome the downfalls of testing? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Promise of Refreshment

The challenge in creativity: to write an English sonnet about spring. I don't choose to write poetry regularly, but this caught my eye. Maybe God just wanted me to sit and think and write. As you will see, He has been working on me. Spring couldn't come fast enough.

I had to laugh inwardly. My kids came up with great ideas about purple pansies and blue skies, both of which I adore. Yet, my spring meant something different this year. Read on and you will see.

 

Promise of Refreshment

 

Refreshment. That is what I need today.

Short, winter days and bitter, cold, dark nights

Breed feelings deep within that make faith fray.

God orders time. See Him in the depths and heights.

 

Newness creeps its way in as the day grows.

Birds return to sing their sweet, new refrain.

Tulips, daffodils rise from dark burrows.

Grasses grow where once brown, dry dirt had lain.

 

Winter weighed heavy, cold. Felt tears of loss.

When would God's sun shine to comfort my heart?

Spring came. Intense hues wash days with brighter gloss.

Life renews, shows promise of a fresh start.

 

Emptiness and dark of winter feel cold.

God hands us spring, keeps promises to hold.

 

With fear and trembling, I welcome your comments. I pray that your spring will be a refreshment to you.

Coffee

Or tea. Hot chocolate maybe (with whipped cream, of course.) Let's throw in a huge cookie and a bag of Swedish Fish. My kids and I enjoyed these goodies with a friend of mine and her kids at the Treehouse last week.

I "met" Jodi on a homeschooling site and have kept in touch via Facebook and blogging. At the time, she was in Arkansas, but she has since returned to the wonderful state of New Jersey. She is a self-proclaimed Jersey Girl. As I also have grown up in the Garden State, we became fast friends. She likes to go down the shore, knows what soda is, and is able to maneuver her vehicle around a circle (after she has turned around at the jug handle.)

Jodi is a fellow homeschooler. We have been able to share ideas, vent frustrations, celebrate joys, and pray for one another. She hosts two blogs: one for her family and one specifically for homeschooling ideas. If you want to see well written, informative reviews of educational products, hop over and check out her blog.

We had a great time sharing over a cup of tea. I couldn't believe that three hours had passed so quickly. Of course, that left us both scrambling for dinner - a small price to pay for good fellowship. Our kids are close in age, so they were able to share among themselves. The boys especially enjoyed being together as they are both the lone guy in the midst of a bunch of girls.

It is amazing how blogging has affected our culture. I had never met Jodi or her children in person before last week, yet as we walked into the Treehouse, there was an instant recognition, hugs, and never a lack of conversation. We already knew much about each other. However, we did have to introduce our children by their given names rather than their blog names.

Jodi is a great encouragement. She understands along with me how tough it is sometimes to educate our kids at home. Yet, she also shares the blessings that teaching your kids can bring.

We are doing something new this May. Neither of us has been to a homeschool convention, so we are heading up north a bit to a day of seminars, sales, and sharing with other homeschoolers in New Jersey. I am so looking forward to the time away for the day. Just being able to talk in the car without a little one interrupting is a blessing in itself. I am sure you will hear all about it on our blogs when we return.

I am so thankful for my new friendship with Jodi and her family. It is always a treat to share with other moms. Being able to connect with others who share their love for their Savior is an added blessing.

Heavy Heart

My pop-pop will meet Jesus soon. I am sure he is ready. It just stinks that death rears its ugly, painful head again.

Pop-pop hurts. My head hurts. My heart hurts.

My parents' friend is dying of bone cancer and has been given six months to live. She will meet Jesus too.

I feel for my parents. They are hurting.

I know that death is part of life. Life after death for the believer is glorious. Yet, still I am sad.

I look forward to heaven.

Cousins in the Park

Princess Party

Just a few friends joined my little one to celebrate her 6^th birthday, princess style. (It is fun to shop for princess parties.) The four princesses, dressed in their finest, colored princess pictures, decorated their own crowns, played kiss the frog (think pin the tail on the donkey), searched for gems and made necklaces, ate pink cupcakes, and drank pink lemonade from fancy teacups. The favorite activity, according to my little one, was playing the princess and the pea. The girls had to choose which cushion was hiding the ball underneath. Of course, they had to sit lady like and choose without using their hands. They were all excited to be found true princesses.

I look at my little one and cannot believe that she is growing so quickly. It was fun to celebrate with her this week.

Jumping In

Her toes clung tenaciously to the ledge of the pool. Her legs bent just slightly; her arms spread wide. Would the water be cold? What if Daddy didn't catch her? What if she went under the water? Her hesitancy and apprehension were evident in her tight lips and saucer-like eyes.

I am sure you can picture this scene or one similar to it. Maybe it reminds you of your own childhood, or maybe you have a reluctant child. Taking a leap into the unknown is scary.

I am not jumping into a pool anytime soon. However, our family is taking a leap into the unknown. The water may be cold, and there is a bit of apprehension, but we know who is there to catch us.

As we anticipated Julia's arrival, we were excited to be adding to our family. For reasons beyond my understanding this side of heaven, Julia is not here with us. Birthing another child is not the best choice for me, but we are convinced that God is not done with our family. Adoption is a wonderful option that God has placed in our path to consider.

It is no coincidence that we have a friend who works in the child welfare office of our state. We have watched God use her in helping many families in need. She has fostered many children in emergency situations and has been blessed to mother two daughters who have joined her family. In a conversation during one of the many soccer games our children are in, she shared with me the sad circumstances regarding a family with whom she has close contact. The little voice inside of me spoke softly at first and then knocked on my heart.

For years, we have had a tender heart for adoption. Until now, we have not felt that God wanted that for our family. We always knew that we would have many kids in our home: ours, friends, foster, youth group, whomever. Now seems the time to pursue what God has laid on our hearts years ago.

I spoke hypothetically with my friend at that soccer game; I spoke with a lot of what ifs. Our conversation prompted more prayer and many more conversations. One thing has led to another. Our paper work is completed to date. We have finished our foster/adopt classes in half the time. We have been fingerprinted. A meeting with our resource worker is scheduled soon. After a few more meetings, completion of our reference checks, and a home inspection from the state, we should have our foster/adopt license.

This is not a decision we have taken lightly. Our toes are clinging tenaciously, we are getting ready to jump, apprehension is probably on our faces, yet our arms are wide open. God's fingerprints have been all over our life. It is obvious that God is ready to catch us and help us swim in this pool of uncertainty.

We look forward to seeing God continue to work in our family. Keep posted to see what the days ahead hold.

We're jumping in.