Eleven years ago tonight I was tired and a little bit terrified. We had had our rehearsal dinner. My sister, my friend, and I were printing out the last of the programs and putting finishing touches on last minute details. We needed to be up early the next morning to get our hair done and get to the church to get dressed. I was getting married!!

Eleven years later, with the wisdom of hindsight, I’d tell myself to stop worrying, enjoy your day, and get ready for an amazing, crazy, challenging and unexpected life with your best friend.

Sure he might be banished to the couch right now because of his cold, but I love this guy to the moon and back!

So happy early anniversary to my favorite guy in the world. May your couch sleeping be peaceful and may my snoring not wake you up!

Lately I’ve been cranky. I think most of it comes down to the fact that I haven’t gotten much sleep the past week or so. One night the kids had me up throughout the night. Another evening there was a massive windstorm that shook our room and howled past the windows. Another night my mind wouldn’t shut down. As the restless nights have piled on top of each other, my patience level has worn thin. I’ve noticed myself snapping at the kids and being short tempered. I hate that.

This evening the kids wanted to play with me. My gut reaction was to say no, on the basis of my foul mood, but I stopped myself and said yes. I grabbed the dry erase markers and we headed for the board.

Together we sat on the ground and I taught them a few childhood games. They caught on quickly and we really enjoyed our time together.

This evening I got a call from a good friend and we talked for hours (something I hardly ever do!) And it was such a refreshing conversation. What I love so much about this friend is her willingness to tell me things in love and truth. She helps me talk through situations and circumstances. She gives me strong biblical insight and wisdom. When I talk to her I feel refreshed and I hope she feels the same. It’s a blessing to have a friendship like that and I thank God for bringing her into my life years ago! ♥️♥️

I have no idea what this game is called, but we used to play it in school all the time when we were kids.

Playing Pictionary… Clearly this is Starbucks. I even drew a cake pop. 🤤

C drew a city with some pretty impressive forced perspective.

After weeks of feeling like we are ‘behind’ in school, we have finally caught up. Considering everything we’ve been through, we are pretty proud of it. Our curriculum is four days a week, but we have been putting in a little overtime on it and we are finally where we want to be. I’m so grateful for the flexibility of homeschooling and the opportunity we have for school to work seamlessly with our lifestyle.

One of the things we have worked into our schooltime is excessive reading. Since we read our curriculum provided book in one day instead of two and a half weeks, we have been filling the other days with additional books. Yesterday we read “A Lion to Guard Us.” It was 115 pages and the kids were the ones that insisted we keep reading. My voice hurts today, but I loved experiencing their enthusiasm for the story.

By reading the extra stories, the kids are gleaning more about the history we are studying, and hopefully getting a more well rounded education.

A few weeks ago, Big E came rushing up to me to tell me that one of his teeth was loose. Upon closer examination it was confirmed. Sure enough, one of his bottom teeth was wiggly.

One morning last week he had a perplexed look on his face. “Mommy? Didn’t I lose my tooth yesterday? I don’t understand. It’s still there.”

“Maybe you had a dream you lost your tooth.” I replied.

“Yes! I had a dream. I lost my tooth and I showed it to you and you put it in a bag on the counter.”

Since that morning I’ve noticed him playing with his teeth more.

This afternoon he came running into the classroom where I was working. “I lost my tooth!!!” I turned to see him sporting a huge, gapped grin with a streak of blood along his cheek. In his hand was a small tooth. “It only stung a little. I didn’t hurt as bad as I thought it would. I pushed it over too far and it popped.” The words jumbled out in his excitement.

A few minutes later he let me put it in a baggie and label it. This evening he put it under his pillow for the Tooth Fairy to find. (My kids have never believed in the tooth fairy, but I always make a charade of it when they lose a tooth.) I’ve already snuck in and swapped out his tooth for a dollar. The bag is resting now in the drawer beside my bed.

When did my Handsome Pants get so big? How did that happen so quickly? I already miss his perfect baby smile, but I’m happy for him and his exciting new milestone!

Today I had a difficult day with my children. It was one of those days when I couldn’t wait for Tim to walk in the door and I could disappear with a book and a few moments of silence. So imagine my disappointment, as I was sprawled on my bed, book open, mid sentence, when Baby E crawled up next to me and plopped himself down on my pillow. Didn’t he know I just wanted to be alone!

He looked at my book. “Let’s read when Jesus died on the cross.”

“Um… This isn’t the Bible, buddy. This is a different book.” I replied, hoping the conversation would end there, but I wasn’t about to get off that easy.

“Let’s pretend it’s the Bible. Let’s read about Jesus died on the cross.” He pressed his finger on the page and started moving it slowly down the lines. “And Jesus died on the cross. And we love him. And we love him. And… We… Love… Him.”

He paused and looked at me, his big eyes boring conviction right into me. I spent most of my day being annoyed at this child, and in mere seconds it melted away.

“Let’s pray!” He continued and folded his hands in front of him. “Dear God, thank you for this day. Please help Daddy feel all better. Please help GP get stronger. Help him get stronger like Daddy. Help Naona’s body get fixed. The End!”

I sat there speechless. Baby E has a standard mealtime prayer that he will beg to say (and hurry through). It’s always the same, and recited in haste so he can begin to eat. I’ve never heard him volunteer a prayer away from the table, and certainty not one that’s in his own words, asking for help for people he loves.

It reminded me that all of our teaching and trying isn’t in vain. We struggle each day to be imitators of Christ, and we fail so often, and yet God is faithful to grow the seeds we are planting.

My kids don’t need perfect parents. They need broken parents that recognize their weaknesses, acknowledge their failures for what they are, ask for forgiveness when they need to, and repent of their sins. They need parents that are open and honest about their spiritual struggles and don’t try to hide behind a disingenuous faith. They need to see parents that not just read from their Bibles, but live by them and teach by them and love by them. God uses my imperfections and shortcomings to teach my children grace and reconciliation. What an awesome privilege that is.

So I’ll continue teaching as I can. I’ll pray without ceasing and I’ll remember they are watching and learning every day what a Christian life looks like. I’ll trust my Father in heaven to use even my bad days for His glory in my children’s lives. ♥️♥️

Today my parents have been married for 41 years, so Happy Anniversary to two of my favorite people in the whole world!! I know these past few months have been hard, but they’ve been there for each other and supported and loved each other. No life is perfect and no marriage is easy, but they’ve demonstrated and taught me so much, and I am eternally grateful! Love you both!

This morning in church we read my favorite verse.

I’m not sure why this verse in particular had always stuck with be, but it has since the first time I ran across it.

Today was a good, albeit uneventful, day. I actually got two days of school prep done in advance, which never happens. I read for a little while and I ran to the grocery store. I’m sad to see the long weekend end, but I’m looking forward to this next week and all that can be accomplished. The weather was mild today and the kids spent the majority of it outside.

I’ve had several people ask about my dad. He’s doing ok. He’s been dealing with a lot of fatigue since the cyber knife treatments, and there are days he needs a little more cheering up. He’s exercising as he can and resting when he needs to. We would appreciate your continued prayers.

Thank you, sweet friends.

I’m thankful for a perfect day of enjoying my family.

Thanksgiving number two was a success and we ate way more food than seemed humanly possible and all of it was delicious.

My brother and cousin joined us, which rounded out our family gathering perfectly. I especially loved the time we spent together, and it was nice to see everyone laughing and enjoying each other.

❤️❤️❤️

It’s a strange sensation, going ‘home’ when it isn’t home anymore. There’s a joy and a sadness that mingle together, the feeling of being completely comfortable and yet being a bit of an outsider…

Our short trip ‘home’ was nearly perfect. We spent two nights with Tim’s parents. We relaxed, saw family, and ate lots of delicious food.

We were in no huge hurry this morning to leave so we stuck around until after lunch. On our way out of town, we swung by the beach and walked a little while on the sand. The boys begged to take off their shoes to feel the familiar feeling of sand between their toes, but at 29 degrees we had to say no. They played on the pirate ship and I scanned the sand for some sharks teeth. I found 11.

With much disappointment, we loaded the kids in the van and headed home.

Tomorrow we are going to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family.❤️❤️

Of all years, this Thanksgiving is special. When I stop and think over this past year, I am once again in awe of the blessings that have been showered down on me. I’m so very grateful for each new day with my father- to get to be by his side as we travel this road as a family and navigate our unknowns together. I’m thankful for the opportunity we have been given to home school our children, and the chance to spend so much time with them, loving them and growing with them. I’m grateful for my husband, who works so hard and carries so much so that we can make a go at this new life of ours. I’m thankful for a church family that has stood beside us as we’ve gone through an incredibly difficult time. And I’m grateful for the family and friends (new and old) that have prayed for us, reached out to us, challenged us, and encouraged our little family.

As the sun rises each morning, I am reminded of the goodness of God and as it sets each night I am thankful for his great mercies.

Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends!

We got an extremely late start this evening to head to Tim’s parents’ house for Thanksgiving. The kids are asleep and will hopefully make a quiet transition into bed when we get there. I’m am looking forward to spending some much needed time with friends and family over there next few days. ❤️❤️