I was NOT a dream killer!

I had planned on writing this big huge post telling all about the homeschool conference I attended. But you know what I just don't have the brain energy for that right now!! Suffice it to say I LOVED it and think everyone should attend a conference every now and again!

One of the sessions I attended was given by Rebecca Kochenderfer. The thing that really stuck with me about her message was that if we encourage our kids in there goals and help them to achieve them that we will be amazed at what they will go on to do in their lives. She talked about being a “dream killer”..She also talked about turning phrases like “I cant do that.” into “how can I do that?”I think we have all been that person before!

“whats that son? You want to be a cowboy?”   

“Yeah mom I do.”

“Oh honey I’m sorry you cant really be a cowboy.”

I admit I have  been that mom at times! But I was NOT that person the other day and I wanted to share! My kiddos and I went for a nature walk the other day and Isaiah told me that he didn't really know what he wanted to be when he grew up. I assured him that he could be ANYTHING he wanted to be. Now if you know my son you know that he is a fairly pessimistic guy at times. The glass for some reason is just usually half empty! So I was not shocked when He told me that that was not true, he really could not be ANYTHING he wanted to be.

“Why what do you mean Isaiah of course you can!” was my answer.

“I cant be batman. I cant be a superhero mom. No I cant be anything I want!”

Thoughts of the session with Mrs Kochenderfer came to my mind and I asked Isaiah what batman did that he thought would be cool.

“Well mom he stops bank robbers and fights crime.”

I was really excited by his response and told him that he could do all of those things! By the look on his face I could tell he didn't believe me but I just kept going! I told Isaiah that policemen do just that and that detectives solve crimes when they don't know who committed a crime. Just like batman!!

His face lit up as my words sunk in and he declared that he would be a policeman.The rest of the walk was spent discussing the police academy and the things he remembered from a recent fieldtrip to the police department.

Isaiah may not become a policemen. At eight he still has lots of years to change his mind.But that's not the point is it? The point was helping him to realize that he really can achieve his goals and dreams. That he can become anything that he wants. I will never forget what Isaiah said to me later that evening.

“Mom thanks for taking us for a walk today.”

“Your welcome Isaiah.” I said.

“And mom thanks for talking to me on the walk, for helping me figure out about being a policemen.”

Truly a priceless moment for my mommy heart =0) I was not a dream killer!!

Does appearance matter?

Ever since doing the feelin’ feminine challenge I found HERE , appearance has been a topic on my mind. I did the challenge and wore skirts and dresses for a week. You can check out how my week in more feminine dress went HERE.

So this topic of appearance has been on my mind. I know there are people out there with the opinion that Appearance is everything. They have to have name brand.They have to be up with the current styles.They just plain have to look perfect all the time. Then you have the opposite.People who will go out in anything.Sweat pants and holey t-shirts , clothes that are too short,too small or too tight. Kids with mismatched, stained, holey clothes or clothes with rude or disrespectful sayings on them. These people tend to be of the opinion that what one dresses/looks like doesn't matter or shouldn't matter.

I have discovered that I fall in the middle of the two extremes. I don’t think appearance is everything. I know I’m not perfect and so don't feel the need to look perfect and I know that most of the current trends are NOT appropriate forms of dress. On the other hand I do believe that the way we look and dress holds some importance. Let me explain.
The scriptures have a lot to say about our appearance and the way we choose to look on the outside.

1 Timothy 2:9 “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel..” We are told to be modest.

Deuteronomy 22:5 “The women shall not wear that which pertained unto a man..” We are also told to dress femininely.

We are also told in the scriptures that we are to be representatives for Christ. Acting in a way that people might feel the love of Christ through our actions. I know from experience that the way we LOOK can either make people more or less receptive to us and our values and what we may have to share.

People look at other people and immediately make some assumptions and judgments. I think this is normal. Not necessarily right, but normal. I know when I see a teenager with purple spiked hair, a skirt up to her fanny and several pieces of metal sticking out of her face that I make some assumptions. I do not think she is an evil,terrible,bad person. But I also don't necessarily think that she knows Christ. I do assume that She may be a bit rebellious or wayward. I always try to be willing to get past those assumptions and get to know the person for who they truly are. But here is the thing. Sometimes we don't get the chance to get to know people past an appearance.Past a first time meeting. If we are going to stand for Christ and share His love people have to be willing to listen.

So if I am in the grocery store with my children and we are having a conversation about going to church tomorrow what are the people looking at me and hearing me in the checkout line going to think? What if I was dressed like that teenager?Would they listen? Would they take me seriously? I’m not sure that they would.

I know that there are as many opinions on this subject as there are shirts in the mall and that's ok. This just happens to be mine.

Conference musings

I am so happy to be back home with my kid’s after two days away at the homeschool conference. I’ll be typing up a big post about the conference soon. Right now I’m still digesting all that I heard,saw and learned this weekend =0)

God Bless!

How can you afford it?!

When people hear that we have four kids and that I stay home full time we usually are asked “How can you afford it?”

When we tell them my hubby  also doesn't have a second job and we don't have any  credit cards we get another exclamation and lots of dumbfounded looks! =0)  A lot goes into living frugally.Its not just one simple quick fix thing.  I think from time to time I’d like to write a post sharing some of our frugal ways!

One of my favorite money savings tips is shopping at your local thrift stores. You will be amazed at what wonderful things you can find. If you have a large family one thing you can to do keep track of your families clothing needs is make a list of every ones current size for shoes,pants,dresses,etc. and throw it in your purse or diaper bag.Then when you see a totally cute top you wont have to guess whether anyone in the household will actually fit it! You’ll know!

Today we had a successful trip to the thrift store ourselves. See!

I found myself six skirts! I was really in need of them too!I also found  two shirts for each of my boys, they refused to model them for me so I could put up a picture. I also found this cute little dress!

and do you know what it cost me for those  six skirts,four shirts and one cute dress? All said and done it was  $26 dollars! That's right twenty six dollars! That is one of the ways We can “afford it”!

Occupational education

In Washington state occupational education is one of the required subjects. I am so good *wink wink* that even my preschooler is getting it!

=0)

All afternoon Hannah has watched me feed,change and cuddle her baby sister. While watching me  she fed, carried and cuddled her baby. She even clucks her tongue at the baby the same way I cluck my tongue at her sister. I cant imagine what would be if I worked and this precious toddler of mine were in daycare all day.We would miss out on so much!

Spring has sprung

That's right! Spring is in full swing here in our little corner of the world and we are lovin it!! The weather is warm, sunny, breezy and smells like fresh flowers. 

Our school year is winding down. We don’t actually follow the typical school year pattern. We school year round taking breaks whenever it suits us. Right now we are finishing up the plans for the current year.We will be taking June off for a cross country move and then starting the new years work in July.

Today we worked on our human body study by building a skeleton. After printing  off the file I had the boys put it together like a puzzle. We talked about the bones, the similarities in the arms and legs, the parts they though looked funny, and basically how smart God was to make us that way!

After taping our skeleton man together we played a game with naming the bones.  I printed off the names of several of the major bones of the body and put them in a bag. The kids took turns pulling one  out and working together to figure out where they went.

All in all a fun way to learn more about this amazing creation God has made, Us!

Weekly Wrap up

Boy I feel like I have been “away” for a while now! Having my hubby home was so amazingly wonderful and I have to be honest and say I did not miss the computer at all hehehe.

This week has been a good bit of up and down. My hubby had to head back to Iraq this week.That was rough.When we are apart it feels like nothing is right..everything just feels off.If that makes any sense! I am glad that all the kids are handling it well. Isaiah(8) is old enough to understand what's going on and to understand that we just got thru eight months apart and only have four left. That helps him deal with it.Justin(5) is a lot like his dad and doesn't do the emotional thing really. He is pretty quiet about the whole thing. The only thing he has done really is ask when Dad will be back. Hannah(2) has not thrown any huge fits or had any emotional meltdowns which I am thankful for! The other night when we were saying our prayers she said “Father,Daddy home peese Amen.” Breaks my mommy heart for them.But God is good and this is the life He has given us and I KNOW He will get us through.

On the school front we are feeling so “into” school right now! LoL Spring break was much needed!!I think its also nice to know that we are winding down for the year =0) We participate in a book club and are working our way through “The Trumpet of the Swan” and we all drew swans this week after reading a particularly good chapter. For our human body study we talked about the brain and all it does.Learned some neat brain facts.Did you know the average adult brain weighs three pounds, and that Albert Einstein had a SMALLER than average brain weighing somewhere closer to two and a half pounds =0)We also made Brain Hats!

We are trying out a new math curriculum right now since we are considering a switch from Saxon math to Math U See. So far the jury is still out! I like the shorter lessons and slower pace of Math U See but I think the manipulatives may not be the best for Isaiah.He honestly just doesn't like them much! So we are going to try it out for a bit longer!

That's about it for our week here! Slow and steady finishin’ up this years race =0)