Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Christmas Trees

As I get older "free" is a word that I really need to think about before I jump at the "free" item because a lot of times it comes with a price. This year Scott's aunt called us and said there was a "pine tree" that need to be removed from his grandma's yard and it is perfect shape for a Christmas tree would we want it. Not only was it free, but we both loved the idea of going to Grandma's to cut it down, so we said we would take it. Well it was a beautiful shaped tree, but very, very large. So after much trimming when we got home and pushing and shoving to get it to the family room it was time to decorate. We took a closer look at the tree, and realized that it wasn't a pine or a spruce but more of a juniper/shrub type and very poky. Well that was okay it was FREE and we can just be careful decorating it. It was beautiful with all the lights and ornaments on, but after about a week we had to be very careful walking near the tree because if you stepped on one of the "needles" it hurt! Then a couple days later we couldn't touch it as it would drop a pile of it's "needles" on the floor. This became increasingly more difficult to put presents under the tree for fear of ending up with a Charlie Brown tree with a week or more to go before Christmas! The tree did make it until yesterday and then we decided to take it down right away today because it was so messy. We had to saw it into pieces in order to get it out with out making too much of a mess. I spent 2 hours or more on the floor trying to pick and vacuum at the same time as all the needles were being buried into the depths of our carpet. I am sure we will be stepping on needles for months and when anyone comes over I will have to put up a warning sign. Morale of the story: There is a reason why pines and spruces are the only kind of Christmas trees in the tree lots.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas

We wish blessings to you and your families today. As my husband read from Luke 1 today about the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth I thought of the things I have been trying to focus on this season which is not just baby Jesus but the faith of others that had to happen in order for there to even be the baby in the manager. The leadings of God and the faith of a young teenage mother who was willing right from the beginning, the strength of the earthly father and the faith that the two of them together shared. With everything falling into place in God's timing and the faith of all of these people here on earth. How often do we struggle with everyday occurrences that take away from our joy? And yet the only thing we need to do is look to the story of Jesus and not overlook the simple faith that those around him had and know that anything that comes our way can be solved through our faith that everything is in HIS hands. Peace to you today.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Why we homeschool

I think it is safe for me to say that I am an average homeschool mom. I pray that everything we do is what is best for our 5 kids, I struggle that they are learning everything they need, and sometimes, ashamedly, lose it when I think one of them aren't where they should be and our peace is gone. Now this doesn't happen every day or every week for that matter, but there are those times. And then there are the days like today; my 8 year old daughter, who has struggled with math all year, went through her entire stack of multiplication cards without a struggle!!!! Then there is my 6 year old youngest son. He informed us a couple of week ago that he would become a mailman when he grows up, when asked why he responded with "because I can stop by the store every morning to get my gallon of chocolate milk and drink it while I am on the job" ! :) Which brings me to this post, this morning we made a "family post office" and Josh will be the official mailman. We got the post office sent up in his room and printed sticker paper with "stamps" we found on the internet (Christmas ones at that!). We have had mailboxes for each one of us for a month now (which we each decorated and hung on our bedroom doors). Now I will have to wait for the question that will come next from him which is "where is my gallon of chocolate milk". I realized that everyday we are learning and every activity can become a subject or lesson. I always am making sure that we have our 180 days done and written in the lesson plan every year, and today I realize that our school is in session 365 days even if it isn't written down! I hope to hold on to this realization and when struggles get us down remember why we do what we do.