State of the House ~ January

I don't care what people say, I love Januarys and fresh starts and new resolves and blank planners. Maybe because its also my birthday month, I tend to do some soul searching...where am I, where do I want to be, what can I do to affect positive changes in my life, making this vapor of a life count for eternity.

This year I involved the whole family in creating a few goals. We said This Year:

• Want - Something you want to try this year
• Need - Something you need to learn or acquire
• Share - A talent or skill you will share with work, school, community
• Succeed - A specific goal

We also each chose One Word to focus on. K made a beautiful collage so we can have them up as a reminder. We chose:

Brave, Welcoming Heart, Involved, Focus, Content, Try New Foods, Intentional

My word is intentional. As part of that, I want to do more deliberate training with the kids. Character training, of course, but also basic and advanced life skills that they will be able to take with them. I told them the chores I wanted them to "own" and together they hashed out a weekly system that works with everyone's schedules and abilities. I was impressed with their problem-solving skills.

January is usually good for snow, too and these guys know how to enjoy it!

We use our mudroom heavy, too. :)

And basketball. Avery and Amanda play for their school and Avery and Aiden play rec for the town.

More reading than usual as we snuggle up to stay warm.

Someone sent me this photo...I love the kids school and I think 6th graders are so much fun!

We were inside more than usual because much of the month was particularly cold. Which means 30 degrees started to feel warm and we got out walking! :)

Beautiful birthday flowers to remind me that pretty, colorful things are coming!!

Project 365, Week 4

Things still feel at a manageable pace, but we can feel the brunt of tax season sneaking up. It was a quiet week as we settled into our new normal.

January 22

There are games out on the kitchen table nearly everyday during the long, dark winter. Different games, different opponents, different degrees of competition...all so fun! Current favorites: Chess, Rummikub, Sequence, Catan.

January 23

I had work and then a work meeting, so I was out of the house for 12 hours. Avery watched her little cousin and her little brother and left me this checklist. The training is hard, the payoff is worth it. :)

January 24

Aiden hasn't learned to love basketball yet, but sometimes he gets inspired to get better at it.

January 25

Shaun is so good about giving a "yes" answer to the Daddy will you play with me? question.

January 26

I took more pictures at youth group...they have so much fun! :)

January 27

Rare: 1.) a quiet Saturday morning when all the kids are awake and home at the same time. 2.) me allowing them to be on a screen for a purpose other than homework. I love watching the five of them be kids together, laughing at silly Madagascar clips.

Amy and several kids came to watch Aiden play basketball. We love cousin time!!

Maybe its the cold, but there was lots of baking happening at our house (and learning fractions! :)

Project 365, Week 3

I wonder how it would work if our social-media-ready photos were captioned with our struggles. Look at my smiling, clean kids...and I battled pride/anxiety/fear/rejection/addictions/etc. I do make great efforts to keep it real here, which I guess is why I'm bringing it up. I'm thankful for grace and God's abiding presence in my life.

...grace means that we're never alone in our struggle with sin. God doesn't grow discouraged, tired or weary. He never leaves us alone to deal with the temptations and realities of life in a fallen world.

Our gracious Father is resolute in his determination for us to experience the complete spoils of the victory he gained over sin and death through his crucifixion and resurrection. -Paul Tripp

January 15

BC, before cancer, some birthdays it was hard to face the passing of time and getting older. Now I'm 100% settled that I am getting older and I will die and another birthday means another day to live. Its very simple and clear-cut to me now. Thanks for coming, 43! :)

O, Death where is your sting? O, Grave where is your victory?

January 16
Overnight, the stomach bug hit three of the kids. It was fierce and fast.

Funny line from Aiden...I poked my head in the bathroom to check on him and he was standing at the toilet, ready to get sick. He said, "Mom, I can't touch my toes...I guess my legs are too long." ;)

January 17
So enjoy watching the kids play ball.

January 18
Aiden, Amanda and I are nearing the end of our book and its been very intense. Aiden was standing for this night's bedtime story, acting out the sword fight I was reading. If you have kids in the 8-12 range, The Prince Warrior series is awesome!

January 19
I was asked to take photos at youth group, so I got to be a fly on the wall. I'm so thankful for a good place for our kids to be, learning about themselves and God.

January 20
We're making progress...its no longer completely dark on our drive to Saturday night church! :)

January 21

Avery and I snuck away for a fun afternoon together. She's getting so old and she's such a delight to hang out with.

Project 365, Week 2

January means cold, snow, being inside and playing basketball. We definitely had a January theme going on this week.

January 7

Snow much sledding fun! Pop's hill is just the right amount of length and slope; plus, Kiki makes killer hot chocolate from scratch. I included too many because I love seeing kids at play....its a skill we've tried to teach all the kids who have come through our doors.

January 9
Its been so cold for so long, but the show must go on, like fresh air and play time with the dog.

Aiden and Amanda's snowman started out cute but quickly turned creepy.

January 10
My guys. :)

January 11
Hours and hours he spends reading, currently he's in his fresh Christmas stack of Hardy Boys books and his Action Bible.

January 12
Dueling Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. Amanda finished a book in one day...she's trying to beat Aiden and cousin Alayna...not sure they are aware there is a contest going on. ;)

Opening home game!

Grammy and Bobbi were among the bleacher full of fans. :)

Super sweet 6th grade friends and teammates.

January 13
Poor Aiden...he doesn't love basketball yet. He went almost the entire game without touching the ball.

Fun surprise on my phone. Silly Uncle Nathan.

January 14
This boy is completely fascinated by movement. Studying the soap drip in an almost empty bottle of is his idea of a good time.

These two have a sweet relationship. Aiden pretends like he doesn't want hugs from her, but if shes got a game going on her phone, he'll snuggle right up. :)