"Blu what are you doing in there?"
"Wasting toilet paper Mama."
Awesome.....and she was:)
"MJ what would you like for your birthday?"
"Mama, all I want is my very own new skates."
And here they are..she wore them ALL day the other day while we did school. Up and down stairs, sitting at her desk, up eating lunch, going to the bathroom. I think they were on her feet for 6 hours. Don't you love using the gifts you get?
Her her birthday day she asked if I could put her hair in braids and she also requested they be photographed:) For her birthday meals (I cook whatever they ask) she asked for the pizza she gets on her date night. But then she said," No mama, I can't get that because everyone won't be able to have it." OK...I almost wept. She is sacrificing her birthday meal for the needs of her siblings who are on a restricted diet because of their Galactosemia. She doesn't want them to be left out, even on her special day. "When we go to Great Wolf Lodge mama I will save my birthday pizza until then."...Love her.
She loves any kind of chesse.....especially the really old stuff. The stinkier the better.
Yogurt, anything dotty, dotty tights, dotty shirts, dotty skirts, her orange hair and freckles, she loves her dolly sisters, her big brothers, sleepovers she just told me (she has only been with family) loves gymnastics, drawing, crafts, giving, practical jokes! she loves those, climbing on anything and everything, tricks and flips, taking risks and laughing, God and Jesus.... most of all she says...I know she loves her little life and gifts she is given everyday in just being in this family and traveling along this road together...oh, and her new bottom bunk with the dotty sheets ofcourse:)
thanks y'all! I am ok now...lol...and I was before...uh kinda, but sometimes you just have to tell it. It was supposed to be silly. Thanks for all the encouraging....so fun to talk organizing with some of the pros! And I even had one of them come to the house! Nothing like labeling EVERYTHING! and drinking wine. Thanks Stef o' HOly of the Organized:)
I have been seriously whipping it all into shape over here. Like on a new level. The kids have to be able to put things away and the only way they can is to have labels on things. This also helps my little readers and helps me remember where it all goes too. There is nothing like a organized space to turn you on...did I just say that? lol....well then..uh hem....but my perspective helps me...the way am I living like this? As God is a God of order, I want my home to be orderly. I want to pass along, teach, train model for my kids, how to be organized. How to sort through their things. Is it time to give things away? Are you being weighed down with your stuff? Are you hording or idolizing your stuff? so this weekend I went through the buddy's entire room with him and we sorted through everything. Put it all in specific bins...with labels ofcourse and it was a nice to time chat about some of his things. His collections he has safely stored...bottle caps, random keys , rocks, sticks and some unmentionables. I bought him some wee bins to put in his drawers and he organized them. Now when he asked to put something away it all doesn't have to be get thrown into his laundry bin and can go in the right home. Just wondering why I didn't learn this 12 years ago? Maybe because I dind't buy decorating magazines? I have been missing out. Truthfully, there is so much pride that come with accomplishing small tasks, learning a new skill, be able to share it with others and know why they are doing it. My way is not the right way but they way I want our home to honor God..in all that we do. And always a good thing to remind them and myself....people matter, stuff doesn't. This stuff you are organizing doesn't matter at all. The people you share it with does. And if they can't share their things joyfully, and selflessly then they need to rethink the item. Does it have a negative hold on me?
I do have some hoarders in the house. People who get the things and like to just look at them. Not play with it and don't like others to play with it and before they know it the time has gone and they've never played with it. Never shared in the joy with someone else had they used their item. Missed out on the relationship but got the stuff that sits on the shelf..doing absolutely nothing! But it is a journey and part of growing in their character one day at a time.
I just adore this girlies. They were one of the first families we met when we started homeschooling 2 years ago. There are actually 5 kids..the BOTHER of theirs wasn't a girl so he couldn't go in these shots:) But equally adorable. All these girls have the gifts of kindness and selflessness and friendship. Yes, I am know they bicker but to my kids they were as delicious as home-made apple pie. Mmmmm......and I will miss them so much this year.
We;ve been getting back into the grove of school and it is going slowly. Growing pains and such. Mine and the kids. Getting used to a new schedule....ok..who's kidding who......my kids don't listen....but I am not sure if that is not the total issue...I blame myself really. I am not organized enough is usually the reason I tell myself that is why the kids are the way they are....if only I was more organized I'd be the King of the Castle and they'd be the dirty rascals. Each day I start with, well, how am I going to get more organized today? Then I fail and I failed so badly today that I just sat in the girls room and cried. I am officially ridiculous!! I do admit I have no decorating bone in my body and I want my school room to look and be organized and I simply can't make it work. Hot husband has officially fired me from making any more decorating decisions. He is a lovely man to have put up with me trying to figure it out for our entire marriage and I do suppose one does come to their breaking point. He did and I was fired. (Can we say...lime green spong painted living room?)So, let's call it what it is..pride.the sin of all sin (is that right?) Should I just hire a person gifted in organization and pretty room making skills and call it a day and put the rest of us out of our misery? Because right now I am on the verge of another major room change (and if you know me....you know it is getting bad). I've already cut me hair for a quick change and don't want to make that mistake again...HA! ....Lady May was consoling me saying, "Don't worry Mama it will grow back."
So, what is it? I want to make sure that we are operating at the fullest potential of our home. Maximizing our space, making sure it works for everyone's needs. The tricky thing is that with so many people their needs (or my perception of their needs) keeps changing. People grow, offices move in and out of the house, I need a studio then I don't, then we homeschool and in there 2 more babes are born. Lots of musical rooms. Lots of heavy lifting and not so nice words.....I have learned over the years that I am to keep my mouth shut when moving with a man. You can't even tell them they are doing a great job because they are so furious when things are not fitting down the staircase built in the early 1900's when furniture was designed for smurfs and the end of the dresser has pegged them in a very uncomfortable spot. Sometimes I do pipe in ..."You have really big muscles and are so strong and I love seeing you sweat.." I usually get a not so nice remark. So you see, I don't say anything.
So here i am at 12am wishing I now someone who knew anything about design and organization and loves the color brown. Maybe I can post some pics of my dilemma and get some thoughts.
Over and Out!
they love the slip n' slide.but who wouldn't
little BLu just loved this thing....sliding, slipping, driving on it with her bike and her life jacket ofcourse
she got herself set up nicely in "her hot tub".....lovely
sweet little brothers and sweet little cousins...the kids say all the time they want to live closer to these guys...me too!!!!
this photo is of Berry's necklace she bought with some birthday she was given. It is from the Philidelphia Zoo trip we did when we were visiting and she hasn't taken it off once:)
mr. goggle cousin.....
this last photograph is my fav from the pool party afternoon.....
the only negative thing is that the buddy is missing from this shot....everyone else is there...and I like all their expressions too...especially little Blu's, looking slightly grumpy, I know she has no clothes on but the life jacket, refusing to swim but instead she is choosing the direct the others in which way she would like to be going....
I love the constant activity of my family, all the different relationships, all the fun, the laughter....the constant counseling sessions which really never end!!!....but it is true, I am counseling them as to which road to take, decision making skills, life skills, conflict resolution skills (big time!) as there is ALWAYS someone who is unhappy about something so the conflict resolution skills are always being practiced, even though it feels like they have never participated in one class I have held because everyday it is back to the basics..anyway...when you are planting seeds it takes a long time for the plant to grow and even longer to bear fruit so..I continue to plant the seeds and pray they will take root and bear fruit....
Fruit of the Spirit is:
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self-Control
Galations 5:22
