My Beloved

I didn't think that it was possible to fall in love over and over again, but I do. Have you ever discovered what you love language is? Well I always thought that mine was, Receiving gifts, but as I get older I see that it is Quality time. Every time that Steve spends time with us it makes me love him so much. I am so blessed that he has every Wednesday off and that he is willing to spend time with us instead of doing things around the house. We were so blessed to get to go to Holiday World this week, the kids had a ball. Every time I saw Steve riding a ride, playing with one of the kids, smiling while riding the Voyager, smiling after riding the Voyager, and the silly little looks he gives me when he wants to go ride something; it made we so happy. I will admit a little turned on too!!! I always knew he would bless me as my husband I just didn't know I would be so happy.

Today we celebrated his 42nd Birthday (he was 21 when we started dating, I was 17) and I counted my many blessings. I loved cooking Potato cakes (never made them before and had to get the recipe from my MIL) and Peanut Butter pie because it made him feel special. The potato cakes were pretty good, my MIL said that they were as good as hers.

I thank God everyday for each day that I get to spend married to the man of my dreams (dreams I have had since I was 12). I just pray that my children will feel this way one day.

My Heart is Breaking for Caroline

I have one of the most tender-hearted little girls, who just can't seem to make friends. At this point she really just tries to hard and turns girls off. She has always felt more comfortable with adults. Lately at church she has cried and not wanted to go, she even wants us to go in and introduce her to the teachers so they can introduce her to some kids.

This breaks my heart....I know how she feels. I had trouble making friends as a little girl.

She has now developed some separation anxiety. When she spend the weekend at the lake with my parents and sister (and all my other kids) she cried every night for us. We the kids and I went to the lake a couple of weeks ago without Steve she wanted to stay home with him, because he would be alone. Now we are just about four weeks away from church camp and she doesn't want to go. Steve signed up to be a counselor and that helps, but I don't think that it helps the over all problem.

I am at a loss, any suggestions? Yes, I am talking about this girl, Caroline Grace. She has so much confidence in dance especially recital. Can you tell? She does have dyslexia and they say that interacting socially can be harder for them. LOOKING FOR INSIGHT, ANSWER AND ENCOURAGEMENT.

Our Classroom at Last!!!

The classroom before:

OK here it is the big reveal….our updated, cleaned out, and ORGANIZED classroom!!!! Even Jack said, “I can’t wait for school to start.”
This shows Tyler's desk-we also uncovered the windows. Sunshine is nice.
I also got a grown up chair.. and the big dry erase board.

This shows my reference library and academic library.

Jack and Caroline sit at my desk with me or on it in Jack's case.

My new storage cabinet...it holds all my stuff I'm not using.

The black bookshelf that has all the kids reading books.

I now have so much free stuff to get rid of I should make a list, but I think I will just bring it to co-op in September. It feels so good to be done now for the rest of the house.....maybe later.

A Reluctant Beauty Queen

He was saying,"OK, take it off."

He wasn't to happy with this.

When the girls and their friend asked Evan if he wanted them to put makeup on him I thought they were joking. I guess not. I believe these pictures will comeback to haunt him. Yes, I am that kind of mom.

Trying to Find the JOY

A few days ago I wasn't having such a good day. Not quite sure what was going on...oh, I was cleaning and everyone else was...NOT. Well, I had been cleaning for two day and I'm sure doing it over and over again and I must have been snapping at everyone. Yes, I do snap when I am angry. I am assuming to make me FEEL better Steve handed me a book with a page opened and said "You need to work on this." WHAT I was so frustrated!!!! How dare he judge me. He gets to go to work and I have to stay home with HIS kids!!!! I was justified to be angry right? Well the book he handed me was by Malia Russell called From Chaos to Order: 25 Tools Bring Organization to Your Home. Now I bought this book to read it and implement everything it has to offer, which is a lot. But I guess Steve realized I hadn't done any of it yet.

That was Sunday night and I finally read what he "suggested" to me yesterday and I will say that the wisdom God has given him was right on, it was just his timing that I questioned. Anyway, The chapter was Tool 25: Practice Joyfulness, it is an awesome chapter. She helped me realize that I have chosen to stay home with my children. She translated Habakkuk 3:17-19, a modern day translation, "Though there is no food ready for dinner, and there is no money in the account, though the sickness gets worse, and the pain persists, though my children are out of control, and my spouse does not appreciate me, though I feel like I am buried in never ending work, and I cannot get through a single subject without someone interrupting, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." Awesome job Malia!!!! She helped remind me that I am doing EVERYTHING for the Glory of God not mine. I have to rely on Him and give Him back my Joy.

I am going to work hard on remembering that I have chosen all that I am doing during this season of my life and if I can't find joy in it then maybe it isn't God's plan for me. I will take a moment and make sure that God is in all that I do. I will remember to give Him the Glory and Praise for all that I am doing!!!


From Chaos to Order: 25 Tools Bringing Organization to Your Home by: Malia Russell can be purchased from her website www.homemaking911.com

I Can't Believe How Old I Am!!!!!

~My Bueatiful Family~

~Jack's work~

~Sam's school work, she worked so hard~

~Our display table~ hey, I'm the teacher!!!!

~Our Graduates~

Yesterday was a wonderful day for us...and many other families. Samantha and Jack each graduated. Of course this is just Kindergarten and 5th grade, but graduation none the less. We had a super year of school. We started a co-op this school year and it has taken our school in a whole new direction. I finally figured out, to the kids delight, how to make school fun. It isn't "regular" school and I have to remember that. We don't have to sit at our desks all day. We can have school outside, Jack can sit on my desk, we can play with bugs, and school is about FUN.

I think that the joy on Jack and Samantha's faces shows the fun that we have. This is the best decision I have ever made, Wow, I can't believe I just said that. Usually this time of year I am trying to decide it I should keep them at home. The doubt is gone. Homeschooling is the way to go!!!! If you have ever considered I suggest, "GO FOR IT." Check it out.

My Addictions

I have a new addiction!!! I never dreamed, ever, that I would ever become addicted to something like this. I'm not quite sure just how to handle it...an intervention? My kids are even a little freaked out by it, Steve doesn't usually participate in this kind of activity, and it isn't something that I usually partake in myself, but maybe I should just see what kind of road it leads me down.
"Hi, I'm Dana and I'm addicted to making new friends and hanging out with them."
Do many of you have the same thing going on? I know that I am not the only one doing this.
I have always, or at least for the last 13 years, been the quiet,shy girl who never stepped out of my comfort zone. We have join our HFHG co-op this school year and it has really changed things up. The kids have made lots of friends, well Samantha and Tyler have, Caroline struggles to make friends. I guess she is some what like me.
Over the last few weeks I have gone to get coffee with a friend, to a friends house for a play date, Iroquois Park, Waterfront Park, and to a talent show with our new friends and it has been great! I can't wait to do more things with all of these awesome mom's who are trying to homeschool their kids too. What a difference it makes when you realize that you are not the only one going through this stuff. So I just want to give a shout out to the mom's who have befriended me over the last few months and say "God bless you." Thanks for coming to my rescue and the rescue of my kids.