Mind Over Matter

After 3 1/2 weeks of being sick, I finally gave in and went to see a doctor, something Shaun has been telling me to do for two weeks.  The doctor started laughing when she looked in my ears with the ear-thingy.  You don't have pain?!?  Your ears are the color of...of  (looks around the room finally pointing to a bright red on a poster on the way)...that.  You must have a really high pain tolerance.


Everytime someone says this, I'm always thinking to myself I have three children, all from natural child birth.  Once you include that on the pain-rating scale, well...suddenly a double ear infection doesn't seem so awful.  Just sayin'.

Speaking of labor...

Anyway, after getting a breathing treatment on the spot, I walked out with four different prescriptions.  Three for the bronchitis/asthma and one for the ear infections.  I filled two of them....one I felt was more excessive medication than I needed and the other was $150, with a coupon...I'll manage without.  So for $200, I should be feeling better soon.

Funny thing is though, I felt worse today than I have for at least a week and I think it was the power of suggestion.  Everyday I've been telling myself I don't feel that bad, and surely by tomorrow I'll be much better.  Then today, a doctor tells me how very sick I am and how much my ears should hurt and how I shouldn't be breathing and then I spend the day feeling my ears hurt.

So much of our life experiences and what we get out of them is dependent on our thinking.  Everyday I recite with the girls that verse on my blog banner.  This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it.  So many mornings I've had the conversation with Amanda (and myself!) that it is our choice.  We may have woken up in a bad mood, or in fear of what the day will bring, but everyday, no matter our circumstances, we are presented with the opportunity to make a choice.  A choice that says I will rejoice and I will be glad.  Some days its harder than others, but I really believe in the power of talking to ourselves and just making a decision.

Wordless Wednesday

All your salvation wonders are on display in your trophy room. Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer, Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser, Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash, of mobs in noisy riot— Far and wide they'll come to a stop, they'll stare in awe, in wonder. Dawn and dusk take turns calling, "Come and worship."

Psalm 65:2

Dancing in the Minefields

Just found this and love it! Yes, we were young, but Shaun, you are THE man for me. I love you.....forever. You have my promise.

Project 365, Week 39

Such a good week.  We are enjoying each warm day as if its our last (because it could be, anytime).  I spent the week with a very congested head, which at first was annoying, but (I can't believe I'm saying this outloud) it was kinda nice having life at a lower volume.  I would guess I have about 40% of my hearing and for the most part I've enjoyed the quiet. :)

September 19

My niece Alayna had her first birthday party and her parents hosted about 40 people at our house.  Aiden was one of five one-year olds and the only boy!  Alayna was not interested in eating her cake...I've never seen that but it will serve her well in life.  I made her cake based on the Str*wberry Shortcake theme.

September 20

As part of the reading initiative that our pediatrician's office is doing, they had Congressman Joe Courtney come read to the kids.  It opened up a conversation about politics and the girls got a free, hardcover book at the end.  Amanda went to the door to greet the congressman when he walked in.  She said hi to him and handed him a book to read.

Later she said Mr. Courtney called me Little Girl.  My name isn't Little Girl, its Amanda.

September 21

We enjoyed a beautiful sunset in back of us as we were coming home from dance class.

September 22

How many kids can you fit into one stroller?

September 23

Got to spend some time with this little nine day-old.

September 24

At 1:00 Shaun came into my office and said Let's go do something together as a family.  So we packed up and headed out at 3:30 when the kids got up from napping.  Not sure I've ever been to the beach this late in the season.  It was nice!  No crowds, no parking fees, no traffic.

September 25
Just fooling around at home.  Love my girls.

And that's our week.  I'm linking up with Sara this week, who I am looking forward to meeting in a couple days.

Kindergarten!

In talking with people, I've learned that there is a wide-variety of views and opinions of education....what it should look like and how it should be done.  I've also learned that, by and large, those opinions are fairly strong.  My disclaimer here is that this post is not an endorsement for or against homeschooling.

Shaun and I have spent quite a bit of time discussing and praying about the best school scenario for our children.  Our kids are quite different from each other so we're not even sure we're in a one-size-fits-all situation.  For this year, we have chosen to homeschool Avery.

She is familiar with it because her cousins have been doing it for years and she didn't really talk about school a whole lot because...well, she's five and its just not something that comes in conversation with her friends, apparently.  We went and bought new pencils, folders, crayons, etc and she got excited.

I'm approaching the year with low to no expectations.  I know people who are overwhelmed with having a part-time job.  I know people who are overwhelmed with having three small children.  I know people who are overwhelmed with starting up a new business.  Oh, and a husband, house and laundry.  Well, I have all those things going on and more and I love all of it and do occasionally get overwhelmed, so to commit to homeschooling...well, I just didn't want to start out huge and set myself up for failure.

My goal is one hour a day, four days a week.  We're having a great time so far!  It works well to do it in the morning while Aiden is eating breakfast and he and Amanda are watching Sesame Street.  Or, if he gets up earlier and is finished eating by 10 AM, I send the two little ones to play in the girls room.  They are used to playing by themselves and do well with it.  Seemingly better without Avery even.  Sometimes Shaun is even around and will take whoever.

So far we are using "over-the-counter" workbooks that we've gotten as birthday/Christmas gifts.  We are also firm believers that all the education a person could ever need can be gotten from the public library.  A friend gave me a workbook a while back that helps facilitate this philosophy.  It provides recommended readings of children's literature and then it breaks down lessons in most subjects based on that one book.  Its really enough material to last us to two weeks.  There are a million and one resources available, like some incredible blogs, so I'm looking forward to trying different things.

So....three weeks in, and its been a good experience.  Praying that God grants us wisdom for next year.

Here's a peek at what homeschooling looks like around here.....

Avery on her first day of school, the day after Labor Day (WHAT?!?  We have a school-aged child??  When did this happen?)

Sometimes we are in the living room, other times outside

or sitting ON the kitchen table

or at the dining room table.

Train a child in the way he should go, and 

when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6

I Heart Faces ~ Smirk Photo

Its been quite a while since I posted a photo for one of the I Heart Faces photo challenge, but I thought this was the perfect one for the theme of a Smirk Photo.  What is going on in that little head??

Mighty Hunters

The other day Avery excitedly came in to tell me that I HAD to come out and see something.  I followed her out only to find that they'd been digging for worms.  One hundred!  Or thirty!   I must say, it continually surprises me that they are so intrigued with worms, especially Avery.  I do my very best to hide the fact that I would really rather not touch those squirmy, squishy things.

After they'd been digging a little longer, I had to go out again and see that now they had six-twenty-nine! 

Later they called Shaun out because they'd found a really BIG worm...a snake.  They got talking about snakes and the fact that, among other things, they eat bugs.  

Amanda: Do we like snakes?

Shaun: Yes, we like snakes because they eat bugs.

Amanda: Do they eat mosquitoes?

Shaun: They don't eat mosquitoes though because they cannot fly.

Amanda: Well, I saw a snake flying yesterday.

Gotta love the gospel according to a three year-old. :)

Nations will see and be ashamed, 

       deprived of all their power. 

       They will lay their hands on their mouths 

       and their ears will become deaf.

  They will lick dust like a snake, 

       like creatures that crawl on the ground. 

       They will come trembling out of their dens; 

       they will turn in fear to the LORD our God 

       and will be afraid of you.

  Who is a God like you, 

       who pardons sin and forgives the transgression 

       of the remnant of his inheritance? 

       You do not stay angry forever 

       but delight to show mercy.

Micah 7:16-18

Project 365, Week 38

A friend texted me about noon today just to make sure everything was ok since I hadn't posted my usual Sunday's Project 365.  How sweet is that?

Well, all is well here, in case you too were wondering.  I have a slightly better excuse than the usual ones  such as I'm so busy or I haven't been feeling well.  Actually, our internet was down for 36 hours and was just reconnected late this morning after Shaun worked tirelessly on fixing it.  It went down while my office was being put back together (yay!)  I'll post more on that soon.  

And speaking of excuses, can you tell I have no use for them?  Here are several quotes that reflect how I feel on the subject.

Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure.  ~Don Wilder and Bill Rechin

Whoever wants to be a judge of human nature should study people's excuses.  ~Hebbel

We are all manufacturers - some make good, others make trouble, and still others make excuses.  ~Author Unknown

He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.  ~Benjamin Franklin

The person who really wants to do something finds a way; the other person finds an excuse.  ~Author Unknown

So yeah, I don't like excuses...I'm more in the suck it up, make it happen camp.  ANYway...on to my week.  What a fun one!  I felt like a world traveler...Boston on Saturday, New York City on Sunday, Cape Cod on Monday.  Good times (and sore bum! :)

September 12

Shaun and I headed to NYC for an engagement session at Grand Central.  What fun!  The couple was easy to work with and we always enjoy our time in the Big Apple.  I have several favorites, this is among them (more if you click on Dayspring Photography on the sidebar).

September 13

I drove up to Cape Cod to pick up the kids.  Pop and Kiki were staying there for the week and had had a couple fun-filled days with the kids.  I feel like its worth noting that I drove by myself and did not get lost.  If you know me, you will agree that is quite amazing.

September 14

Just having fun being outside, being together.

September 15

I love going to get this little guy up from his naps.

September 16

The kids always have fun visiting with their great-grandpa.  He lives in a two-room apartment so they get creative with things to do.  Avery was using his cane as a microphone to serenade us...

...and Amanda...well, she was cracking us up.

September 17

Hangin' with Daddy while he works outside.

September 18

I spent a good chunk of the day making a cake for my niece's first birthday.  Thankfully, I had a few helpers.

Wicked in Boston

This past weekend I got to spend some time in my favorite city, Boston.  Everytime I'm there I formulate plans in my head to swap houses with a family for a year.  Its too far from our families to live there permanently, but I think it would be a great experience for a year.

We had a beautiful day for walking around the city and we caught a show that we'd had tickets for since there was snow on the ground.  To be honest, I was skeptical going in to Wicked.  First of all, I very much dislike the Wizard of Oz, always have.  Second, I make it a point to not watch or read things with "wicked" in the title.  You know, Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Pr 4:23.  But I went on the recommendation of so many who had seen it and raved about it.   And it was.  So good.  The story line was amazing and so was the music.

It was a great day with great friends.  AND, I get to go back in a couple weeks to meet my friend Sara.