Children are a blessing....

Yesterday I went to Walgreens. As I was checking out I was holding Gracie (she was done wanting to be in the cart and since she can climb out of pretty much any buckle, I was holding her to keep her from falling out of the cart while I was checking out.) Mason was in the back of the cart so I could keep a close eye on him while I was checking out. While I was paying, the cashier was talking to Mason. I made the comment about how he was in his "running around" mood so I placed him in the back of the cart so he wouldn't run off. She then said to him "next time you should stay home with Daddy so Mommy can shop". Then I made the comment "oh, I have one at home already with Daddy". Then she said, "you have four kids?" I said, "yes, I do!" I said it with a smile on my face. I was proud of my 4 kids, I feel completely blessed by my four kids, so I'm sure the way I answered showed that. At least I hoped it did. But then the cashier said the most jaw dropping comment to me. She said, "oh, you poor thing!". I didn't say ANYTHING....my jaw hit the ground I'm sure. Did I hear her right? Yes, I DID hear her right. And the way she said it, she said it with such sympathy. Like someone who just said they were beat up or hurting really bad, not like someone who was blessed with children. I didn't even have a comment to make to her statement. At that moment that is. Now if she were say that to me again, I would have PLENTY to say to her about how much of a blessing my kids are to me. but at that moment she left me speechless. As I was walking away she then shouted out "you are done right? no more kids right?" I just nodded. It wasn't a nod to yes or a nod to no. Just a nod to acknowledge she spoke to me. Then she said, "I hope not, for your sake!" She said all this with a smile and kinda almost laughing. If she was saying this to be funny, I wasn't AT ALL amused. I'm sure she MENT what she said. This is OBVIOUSLY how she felt because why would she say it if you didn't think so?

After I left I felt SO angry towards that woman. How dare she make it out that my kids are a nuisense to me? How dare she act like I would be better off with less kids than what I ALREADY have? I was then so hurt feeling. Do people really view children this way? I have FOUR and each and every one of them are the most precious blessing I could EVER have received. Does that mean they are perfect? NO. Does that mean we don't ever have difficult times? NO. Does that mean I don't ever want to pull my hair out? NO. But those difficult times aren't a reason for me to ever wish I didn't have one of my children. God gave me them. They are a GIFT from HIM. A blessing. I don't understand how ANYONE can view them as anything but that.

I've been told comments by strangers before such as "wow, you have your hands full". That comment isn't QUITE as bad. I have to agree...my hands are full most of the time. But so is my heart. It's full of love for my children. God doensn't give us more than we can handle. Sure, with my own ablity I probably can't "handle" all four kids BUT that is why I rely on God--to help me and to enable me to do what I need to do. I've also been told by others "I hope you don't have any more kids". Seriously? How does that affect them? It hurts more than anything. Especially because we have been told that before we have had the four we already have. So it's like saying they hoped we didn't have our last two children. That BREAKS my heart. They are SUCH a blessing to me and couldn't imagine not having them a part of our lives. As far as the future and more children. Only God truly knows that answer. I'm completely content with our four but if God chooses to bless us again I will be thrilled and if he doesn't I already consider us fully blessed!

I don't want you to think that I think I'm a perfect parent. By no means am I saying that. I am DAILY on my knees asking God to help me with parenting issues. Either asking for forgiveness because I didn't have the patience I should have had or raised my voice when I shouldn't have or I'm asking for his guidence to guide us through raising our kids. I can't do this without God's help.

So maybe those people who make comments like that don't REALLY know what it's like to do this parenting thing with God on their side? Maybe they are doing this truly "on their own". I suppose then kids would be viewed more as a burden rather than a blessing. Maybe when I hear comments like that I need to let them know that with God all things are possible and without HIS help I couldn't do this either. Without God's help (or my husband's help) I would truly be "a poor thing" as that woman at Walgreens said. Maybe that is what this has taught me.


Children are a gift from the Lord;they are a reward from him. Psalm 127:3

Simple Woman's Daybook - Tuesday Nov 16, 2010

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2010

Outside my window...it's dark & dreary and a cold rain is pouring down. Our backyard looks like a mudpit.

I am thinking...that I'm excited for next weekend--we will be decorating our house for christmas!!

I am thankful for...giggling kids.

From the learning rooms...Mya is learning the letter "Ee" and the short "e" sound and she's also learning about healthcare workers. yesterday we learned about dentists and made a FUN snack. (sliced apples with peanut butter on them with mini marshmellows for teeth!)

From the kitchen...honey bran muffins are baking.

I am wearing...cozy pink slippers

I am creating...still creating my crocheted blanket. that has been my craft project for the month. I am getting it done..but still have a LONG way to go. I love crocheting though.

I am going...to the bank and hopefully kohl's later on today.

I am reading...small amounts in numerous books (check out THIS blog post for my current reading selection). Although any day now I should be receiving "Pocketful of Pinecones" in the mail any day now. It's a fictional book about homeschooling a long time ago. I'm excited for a good "fun" book to read!

I am hoping... to make homemade bread soon.

I am hearing...Chloe--our 13 week old yellow lab whinning at the back door--she doesn't like being out in the rain. But I know she would rather run out in the rain then being in her kennel in the house while we do school. She will be getting a bath later on since she has a vet appointment at 3pm.

Around the house...are things here & there that are tossed about. I need to do some picking up before we start school.

One of my favorite things...snuggling with kids at 2am (last night I had 3 of them cuddled on my lap on the rocking chair (one woke up and caused 2 others to wake up)..but it was really peaceful and wouldn't have traded that moment for sleep at all.)

A few plans for the rest of the week: just to continue to get things ready to decorate for christmas this coming weekend.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...


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What books are on YOUR nightstand?

A good friend of mine just posted a blog post (click here to read) about the books she is reading. I went and looked at my own nightstand and found quite a stack so I decided to post a picture.

The favorite of my stack besides the Bible is "One hundrend and One more devotions for homeschool moms". That book is SO easy to read. It's just a page or two a day but has such wisdom and totally speaks to me every day. It has really helped me get thru homeschooling and brought me closer to God. Definetly a must read for any homeschooling mom.

I'm into Essential Oils so I use this book as a reference book to differnet oils. I actually just added it to my nightstand yesterday as I got my orange essential oil in the mail and wanted to look up some uses for it.

The backyard homestead book has EVERYTHING in it for living more self sufficiently and more off the land. My dream is to someday have a small homestead out in the country. I don't read it from front to back...i just look thru it and read stuff I am interested in trying someday.

The puppy book is obvious as to why I read it. We have a new puppy.

I don't have anything real "deep" that I'm reading right now. With winter coming I'll be reading a LOT more and I look forward to it.

There you have it...my nightstand book selection. :)

Quote of the Day

The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days; while she who lets their habits take care of themselves has a weary life of endless friction with the children. — Charlotte Mason

Simple Woman's Daybook - Tuesday Nov 9, 2010

FOR Tuesday November 9, 2010
Outside my window...there is a bright blue sky. It looks so pretty against the yellow leaves on the trees.

I am thinking...about how I miss living in the country.

I am thankful for...my husband who works so hard.

From the learning rooms...nothing extra special planned for today. Just the basic subjects today.

From the kitchen...chilli for dinner tonight. and cornbread.

I am wearing...my pj's still (hey, it's only 9:12am)

I am creating...a blanket. I've been crocheting a blanket for myself. At this rate though...I'll have a nice warm blanket by summer time. lol.

I am going...to the bank and post office today.

I am reading...nothing at the moment but hoping to be reading "Pocketful of Pinecones" early next week. I ordered it on Amazon.

I am hoping...to get my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving.

I am hearing...cartoons that the kids are watching. "Franklin on Noggin".

Around the house...it's a tad bit messy. I need to straighten up before we start school.

One of my favorite things...Gracie's facial expressions

A few plans for the rest of the week: get caught up on laundry, organize the girls room, buy some more yarn and start crocheting some dish cloths.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...


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October in Pictures....

I have been behind with blogging and posting pictures so I thought I'd just make a post with some pictures from the month of October. We had my sister and her family come to visit the first weekend in October. Then we had my mom and nana come October 14th for 5 days. It was a busy month but a good one. There are just a few of my favorite pictures from the month of October.

Homeschool updates....

I have been wanting to write this blog for about a week now. We hit a MAJOR school milestone last week. Mya learned to read! Yes, really reading. Sounding out the words! This was the one thing I was SO nervous about when I decided to homeschool my kids. Jordan already knew how to read since he went to public school for 1 1/2 yrs. Mya though, did not so I would be her teacher when it came to reading. We have been doing the Bob Jones K5 curriculum. We have been truckin away at writing the letters and learning some letter sounds. Then before I knew it we were putting those letters together and making words! granted she only knows a few words. (it, is & in--but she is also learning letters she can use in front of those words to make new words such as sit, hit, tin, sin, etc). Then she has some sight words she is learning which are: here, Mother, the. Believe it or not with those few words she can read a WHOLE book! Of course the book was written for this curriculum. But still, it's a book and she was reading it. Sounding out each word and she got thru each page! Now she can read thru that book like nothing (i'm sure she has it memorized). I know it doesn't seem like THAT big of a deal. But to me it is. I was SO nervous about this and to already have her reading makes me feel so confident that we can REALLY do this.

Jordan has been doing good. The work is STILL pretty easy for him. He is really enjoying his heritage studies. Right now he is finishing up learning about farming in the early days and about to start learning about the "Early Colonies".

Mason is ALL about doing his own school work. He has some workbooks I bought at dollar tree that he uses for his work. Most are WAY too advanced for him (he's not even 3 yet) but he likes to act like he's doing his work. He will ask me what he is suppose to do so i tell him and he writes all over the page. SO CUTE! We have been working really hard on his colors and I found a cute workbook for that.

Gracie...oh Gracie, Gracie, Gracie. She is our...umm...what's the word?? Challenge maybe??? She wants to be right up in the middle of the table while the kids are working. She will grab their pencil boxes and crayons and throw them as hard and far as she can (which surprisingly is really far!)She likes to grab at books and work books and tear pages. She is a MESS!!!! To solve this problem I try to hold her for a little bit while I don't really need my hands. Then the rest of the time I put her in her high chair and give her markers--not crayons..cuz she just eats those. I give her a yellow, washable marker and a piece of paper. It doesn't show up on her skin or clothes as much and she doens't eat it. That keeps her occupied and when that doesn't a small snack usually does. Sometimes she gets SO loud that we just have to take a break so she can get her energy out. Usually a break is needed by all 4 kids so it works out well. Naptime is also a good time to get lots of school work done.

I've thought lots and lots about homeschooling lately (not just because it's what I'm doing). I'm not going to lie. Some days I would ask myself if it's even worth it. My kids are grumbling about what I'm having them do or when I see Jordan having issues with sitting still and staying focused on his work I get SO frustrated with him at times. Sometimes I just want to quit! But then reality sets in and I realize that those times when it's hard do not compare to the amount of JOYFUL times we have homeschooling. Not to mention the one on one attention my kids get. I see the exact area they are struggling in and can change our schedule and curriculum to accomidate what they need, when they need it. I get to expirence HUGE milestones, like watching my child read for the FIRST time. All of that makes it SO worth it. I don't just think of it as a "thing" we decided to do. It's SO much more than that. I feel it's a calling. Yes, I feel God called us to homeschool our kids. What a ministry! I feel SO unequipted to do this but I know God will give me what I need to fullfill his calling on my life. So, when we hit a rough spot and I just want to throw in the towl, I need to remember that God has called me to this and to not give up. I LOVE HOMESCHOOLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So that is a little update on our homeschooling adventure. Gosh, I don't even have a picture to go along with this. that bugs me. lol. I need to get better at taking pics for blogging purposes. Next time.