Thankful ... Still

It goes without saying that being busy (beyond belief) is a constant state of being for this family. I am coming to realize and finally concede that there is little that I am willing to do to change that.

Sounds crazy to embrace it and oftentimes (like tonight) I would rather give it a swift kick to the shins and curl tightly into a doodle-bug position and wait for the busy to pass on by.

To eliminate busy from our life would mean to bid farewell to so many things that make our life rich with experience ... relationships ... and growth in all sorts of areas.

With a heart that is heavy with the trappings of this world I am hoping to be deliberate in finding gratitude in all of it.

• I am thankful to have a boy who loves to play sports ... not because it's sports but because he loves it.
• I am thankful to have daughters who are busy with classes and activities and friends and jobs ... so busy that I am not here as often as I would like.
• I am thankful for these little babies who keep my time at home hoppin' and while there is little reprieve, it is still a task that I would never want to relinquish and I daily purpose to relish.
• I am thankful for a car (that I live in) that has air & heat and a seat for all my lovely kiddos.
• I am thankful for events that make me rush to the grocery store and rush back and sweat and fume while preparing something edible and pleasing and then being surrounded by people who we love and who love us ... and how the grocery store trips and the dishes never seem to be the things we remember.
• I am thankful that with grace there is forgiveness for all things. Ugly words. Ugly thoughts. Selfish acts. Even ungrateful hearts. I am thankful for this every single day.

I need to post some pictures from our precious Thanksgiving with our family but until then I will leave you with this absolutely delightful and almost-too-much montage of our Ben-Ben ... who has suddenly grown up way too fast.

Almost felt like Fall today ...

We had the hottest summer on record here in Virginia and have only had a sprinkling of mild days the entire month of September. Today was rainy and the temperature was pleasant. The leaves seem to have made up their mind and have started the process of changing.

It was the perfect day for the boys to put on their boots and head outside. I am almost certain Benjamin tried to eat something that was covered in mud. Either way they both had a glorious time ;) So much so, that we didn't even pick up with lessons in the afternoon for Samuel.

School is going well

School is going good

School is going okay

School is going.

Honestly, all added up, we have more above average days than not. It's the moments that don't always deserve the honorable mention.

The running late, overwhelmed, baby screaming, toddler screaming, momma screaming, no dinner cooked, laundry heap, Algebra II makes me twitch, scary car smell (like is something dead in here?), no make-up, NO 6+6 DOES NOT EQUAL 66, are you serious?, you gotta be kidding me!, I'm not gonna tell you again!, Help me Jesus ... moments.

Moments.

I cannot ever recall being more tired in my entire life and newborn babies can't touch this kind of tired. At least then the entire world gives you a reprieve ;) When you homeschool, the entire world gives you the "I told you so" and besides I can't act like this whole shindig is impossible or else they'll be right!

But they are right ... sometimes.

It really is impossible.

And God is all about impossible. You know He has done more miraculous things than help a homeschool mom get through her day ;)

But there are days when it does seem to be a supernatural occurrence when we all make it through the day alive. I started homeschooling three years ago and if I have learned anything at all in that time, it is that this whole process has little to do with academics.

Like I just told Samuel today during our little Wigwam making party that it was all about attitude not about the craft.

I may have said it more like, "WE CAN MAKE 72 OF THESE BLASTED WIGWAMS OR WE CAN FINISH THIS ONE. EITHER WAY, YOU WILL DO IT WITH A GOOD ATTITUDE BECAUSE MAKING WIGWAMS IS FUN! YOU GOT IT?"

See what I mean?

So after the Battle at Little Wigwam we booted up and went outside. All kinds of miraculous things happen when my boys go outside and they are able to "release their wiggles".

It's almost supernatural ;)

Firetrucks ... The Love Affair

A small fire in the woods the behind our neighbor's house brought the local fire department out.

Of course, Benjamin will only remember that it was just the best day of his life.

Changes ...

Every time I come in this room my heart falls into my tummy just a little bit. Benjamin no longer resides in "the nursery".

I love "the nursery".

I especially love the season of life when one of my children live there.

These kind of changes are good in so many ways but they never pass over me without a wave of sadness.

A sweet sadness that somehow manages to both break my heart and fill it at the same time.