Life With Us...

Oh how I dread grocery shopping. It's always been work. Miserable. A necessary thing because… we have to eat. It's less fun with the kids, we never seem to get to the store before their bedtime, no matter how hard we try… and no matter what it seems we always spend a minimum of 100 dollars (every two weeks). There is lots to be thankful for (and I am): we have the $$ to spend, we have grocery stores to go to, the kids usually have pleasant attitudes even though they are always tired when we go… Last night I had a truly bright moment! One of my favorite things to do is file away in my mind something unique that someone wants or is looking for, then if I happen across it while shopping, buy it!!! And give it to them as a gift… Last night at the grocery store God gave me one of those moments. It was the last one on the shelf (so Brad couldn't talk me into waiting to talk to the person and think about it, etc…), and the first one I have seen anywhere in the 7 or 8 years I have...

It is so fun to help my child learn. To see his perspective of the simplest things. To see him try hard, and glow with pride of a job well done. To help him understand the importance of keeping at it even when it's hard because perseverance and enduring are necessary and the more we practice something, the easier it becomes… Even more amazing is to watch and listen as he puts things together on his own with ideas that have been presented to him… like the order of events or how things should go, or spelling out the letters on a sign and knowing that it reads the name of the place ("because Walmart starts with 'W'.") The most amazing part is how much I am learning that teaching is not just a few minutes (right now) or hours each day a few days a week, but it is all day everyday. Like in Deuteronomy 11:19 "and ye shall teach them your children, speaking if them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when th...

So excited. The bits and pieces seem to be coming together quite nicely for a summer adventure… me & my kids-a road trip in California. :) Summer is a little ways off still, but I can at least dream of the sun when I can't see it :). If I get the answer I am hoping for from one more couple… and call Brad's aunt, we should be able to make the whole trip with no hotel stays, and get to see at least 9 friends… Barbara is making great strides in her potty training. Good times… good friends… good memories… I can hardly wait!!!!!!!