Day 10 of 365

My cutie boy....not interested in the normal reading lesson. So we played tic tac toe on the window. Trick is...you have to read the word before you make your mark. Mom can choose all the words and strategically plan so her sweet reader hast to read the challenging words. This game never gets old!

And I took one more out the window a bit later....'cause this is just such a boy photo. That is Nate's fort in the background...the squirrels love it.

day 10 of 365

Day 9 of 365

Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives.

C. S. Lewis

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To my Dear Friends who peek at the blog...

I'm so grateful for you, that you do spy, and that I can peek into your lives. I never grow weary for your enthusiasm for life, your love for others and the whole hearted desire to love life and to be gentle, loving and encouraging to me.

Please do come by more and more, please do share with me your stories, and please, please, let me call on you again when I'm drowning in doubt and need a voice to remind me that today is just a moment in a life time, that my sweet boys are souls to be loved and led, prayed over and hugged while they grow into the men God created them to be.

I am in desperate need of your kind words, and I breathe deeply when I see how you all grab life hard and taste it, smell it, and love all of it and your family. You make me want to enjoy better.

No one should be alone in this parenting gig. We should walk together. You quietly walk into my life and wrap your arm around my shoulder and say, "I know, I know."

We can hold each other up over the miles.

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I have gone through a bit of a blogging crisis in the last few weeks. Not that I'm stumbling over what to write, but that I've been searching out WHY I'm blogging. I have, quiet honestly, had to address my desire to impress others, or to prove myself.

I had to stand back and rethink things, I want my life to be small and quiet, so why am I trying to prove myself to whomever reads my blog?

And I'm steeping in these thoughts and remembering that my goal is to please God not man....and that I need only prove myself to Him.

So then, what? What is my blogging for? I started it as a bit of a photo journal and a way to share stories and photos with family. But today, I'm quite certain none of my family visit the blog so that's not a good purpose.

And this week,

I dumped my heart out a little....and I got this.

Kind, kind words. I was encouraged, laughed with, met and agreed with. And Sweet Hilary even has the perspective to whisper to me what a wonderful little life I have, without even saying it.

Thank you, friends. I know why I'm blogging. I have like-minded friends out here that my heart holds tightly to.

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.
C. S. Lewis

Day 8 of 365 (forgiveness in the shape of brownies)

For some odd reason my camera isn't downloading or uploading or unloading...whatever. At any rate I'll have to wait to share that photo but I should share this one anyhow.

Every.single time I turn my back these days the boys have pulled out Sorry or Chess. They LOVE playing with each other and I love my life. Last weekend Ralph pulled up a chair adn played with the boys. I took a few quick photos and then the opportunity.

I ran upstairs and drew a hot bath, grabbed my book and some chocolate.

This week has been tough, I didn't know I needed that bath to store up patience. When people ask if I like homeschooling I used to feel the need to prove homeschooling. "Oh, I love it!" I'd say. Now, I tell the truth. "Oh, I love it almost every day. Then there are days when I don't. It's like any other job, good parts and bad parts.

Yesterday left me reeling with my newly-changing 9 year old.

He didn't want to do Math.

He didn't think I dealt with his brother appropriately.

He didn't want to do Reading.

He didn't want to sit down.

Oh, good grief.

I didn't do so well with it. It was not a shining moment for me. I grew weary of the whining and snapped at him then sent him to his room before it got worse. Then I crawled up to my room again and prayed for grace and wisdom, peace, peace, peace.

By the end of the evening I had a quick but needed conversation with another mama of 9ish boys and she encouraged me in just the way I needed....9 year olds, they want control but aren't able to follow through yet. They get angry and need time, and comfort to cool down.

They need brownies, sometimes.

I got up and made brownies. I hugged my son 8 times and put him in bed with the usual sloppy kisses. This morning he climbed in my bed and we talked and snuggled and he was the happiest kid on the planet. "Aren't I having a much better day mom?"

It's good to be reminded. Days are rough and attitudes spin us round but so many offenses can be covered with love in the shape of forgiveness, brownies, or hugs.

8 of 365

7 of 365

 

Climbing is for getting to the top.

Day 6 of 365

 

Day 5 of 365

 

What do you have up your sleeve for Valentine's day? I'm wondering what to do myself....

Any inspiration?