Blissfully Domestic: Train them up!

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Okay so you got me. How on earth could I possibly put the words "blissful" and "domestic" together? This is still a process in our household but if we train our children to do things as unto the Lord then pretty much anything can be blissful through His eyes even the domestic stuff.  Yeah, easier said than done right?  It's going to take a lot of prayer and following through that is for sure.  I have learned that being consistent is key.

Since we are in a "home improvement" transition  along with getting rid of things causing clutter, this whole concept is a challenge in our blessed little home. We are learning to be diligent in what we do have because the Lord is getting ready to entrust us with more and we want to be humbly ready. If we can apply this now it will not be so hard when the time does come for us to move on.  Clutter is the ENEMY! Ugh lol

The Lord showed me a system to encourage domestic skills all the while striving to be joyful and yes, blissful.  Life is certainly not perfect and there will be days when the blissful concept will fail but it's all about attitude and how it is approached.  Sure, there are many days I just want to throw the whole concept out the window because I get so frustrated and discouraged but the Lord has gently whispered to me: "Do I give up on you?"  Yikes, that really got my attention!  Let's not give up on our kids even when we are weary, tired, and frustrated. 

"Lord help us to be diligent in raising up our children for your glory. Help us with our attitudes and help us strive to be diligent so all of our life learning experiences can be joyful and blissful. Life is too short and too blessed to be stressed. Thank you Lord amen!"

Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom!

Watching them grow.....

As I sit here outside on my laptop watching my sweet little girls run free in the fresh air,  I realize how quickly they are actually growing and to not take any moment for granted.  Sweet Kelly will be 9 on May 2nd,  Lyssa is 5.5 and will be 6 on Sept. 1st, and Bethany bean is going to be 3 on May 13th!  Where does the time go?

Even in the frustrating times I want to be thankful, happy, and blessed because these are also learning experiences.  Life is too short to become stressed and frustrated on a daily basis.  I am learning to just let them be kids on this new journey.  I have most definitely learned a lot more about myself as a homeschool mom and I continue learning wonderful and amazing things as I come in contact with homeschooling families!  What would I do without them?  You know who you are. =)

As you sit and watch your children grow, capture those memories so sweet.  In a glimpse of an eye they will grow up and have children of their own. (sniff, sniff, tear, tear).    Children are truly a blessing from the Lord!

Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom!

Photo by Emily Haapala Photography

I dream of.......Character Training!

Oh, this momma is ready for her hubby to come home from his business trip.  We have never been apart this long with kids before.  Wow, I have a greater respect for single moms and moms that have husbands who travel a lot.  I know my brother and I grew up watching our father travel a lot and wondering how our mom did it!  I just don't know how some moms do it on their own all the time, (I know that I am learning to lean on God's Word more and more).   My sweet girls missed their daddy so much and of course I missed him too.  The week may have been busy but thankfully, thanks to a dear friend, I was able to get away this morning and spend some quality time with another dear friend.  We took a day off from our schooling so that this could be possible.  Having breakfast on a golf course and enjoying adult conversation on such a beautiful day is just what I needed.  The girls had a great time with the sitter too. =)

Because our week was slightly off, I chose to just do character training throughout the week.  This seemed to fit as we were having issues with behavior's etc.  I made the girls act out skits on how to behave and react to situations the wrong way and then the right way.  Oh they loved this and have been striving to be better little girls.  I also have a red sheet of construction paper that I leave on the book shelf for them to grab and hold up to let me know something is bothering them with one of their sister's.  This is coming along swimmingly and has cut down on screaming, whining, tattling, etc.  If you have girls or are a girl you know how drama filled girls can be, haha!

I am currently researching a variety of character training studies/curriculum's to implement into our curriculum the next homescschool year.  I would like to do character training along with our Bible readings before doing our academics.  I am hoping this will make even a bigger difference.

What do you think of character training?  Do you think it is often overlooked?  Please share your thoughts, feelings, concerns, etc., I would love to hear from you.


Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and a mom

Image: Michelle Meiklejohn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Homeschool and the great outdoors

This morning we did our homeschooling adventures and then look what we did for the rest of the day and yesterday as well =)

                                                     Kelly (8.5) rockin' the monkey bars!

                                                        
                                                    Country Girls!  (My parent's barn)

                                                   Bethany on Smokey (My parent's horse)

                                                                  Kelly on Smokey!

                                                                Lyssa on Smokey!

                                                Bethany on the slide, first time by herself!

Kids in the kitchen

As part of our homeschooling adventures, I love including kitchen and cooking time with the girls.  Recipes are always fun to explore especially when they are involved.  Here are a few fun recipes that we have either tried or will be trying in the future:

• Edible Indian Corn- This one looks like so much fun =)
• Fruit Pizza- So cute!
• Bagel Critters-This one is a hit!
• Fruit Flowers - Can't wait to try this one. So pretty too. =)
• Grapefruit Gals- Perfect for a home with all girls. =)

There are plenty more that we would like to try but thought I would post our favorites for now.  I am hoping to post pics of the end results in a future post.

 Kids are so much fun in the kitchen! It's such a great learning experience for everyone.

Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom!

Story Cubes Review

I just recently did a review on Rory's Story Cubes.  The girls just love the concept and it definitely sparks creativity.  Even little Bethany sits at the table and makes up stories with these little cubes.  She is learning from her sisters, love it =)  Here is the link to my recent Story Cubes review on Homeschooling in Detroit.

http://homeschoolingindetroit.com/2012/03/07/learning-through-story-cubes/

Have a blessed weekend!

Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom!

Keep my mind on higher things

The past few weeks have been well, quite frankly, a battle!  A battle in my mind and just overall emotions.  Christian moms, we will face these things from time to time and have to learn how to renew our minds daily.  Easy for me to say, right?  Hec no.  Depression has been trying to take over me but because of what I have learned growing up, it can't consume me.  The Lord is my strength and my refuge.
Now why on earth would I be battling this.   Something going on in the home? No, it's just things moms tend to face. (If you don't ever face it, please, share with me your secret, I would love to know.) Sure, there have been issues that I have been faced with that contribute to these emotions and so forth but, ugh.  I am just tired of dealing with these emotions.  I know that there are many of you moms out there that can relate.  Some days will be great and then...BOOM, SMACK, blindsided!  Lord, help me to keep my mind on higher things. If this is you just know you aren't the only one feeling these things.

Homeschooling got me down?  Sometimes, but I know it's what I am called to do and with callings sometimes comes attacks.  I understand this.  I guess my heart just needs to focus completely on Jesus.  Sometimes it can be so hard to.  Sometimes I just feel like throwing up my hands and saying, I QUIT! But that's normal sometimes even when you have a happy marriage, life, and family.  I know God won't give up on me.  It's literally a learning process.   I spoke with a few of my homeschooling friends yesterday and it was such a blessing to connect with them and share what we are going through and how the attacks are great.  Tears and hugs were present.  Thank you Lord for the wonderful ladies you have led into my life.

Lord, help us moms today.  No matter what our situations,  we need your help and can't go this journey alone.  The joy of the Lord is our strength! Help us to keep our minds on higher things.  Things of God!

Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom!

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Be gone sickies!

Poor hubby got the case of the sickies this week.  Strep throat, sinus infection, fever, ugh!  Not a fun thing.  Poor guy has been miserable and this mom and wife is praying for quick recovery.  Kelly Belly got hit with a fever and a cough poor girl.  These sickies have got to go and the only way they can or will for that matter is to pray them out and of course disinfect.  Yeah, I have been disinfecting like crazy but it feels good to be rid of those lingering germs.

Lyssa, Bethany, and myself have had no symptoms other than a few sniffles here and there but we are hanging strong taking care of daddy and Kelly.  It's such a pathetic sight seeing those two sacked out in the living room but it's also so stinkin' cute.  I would take a picture but I don't know if they would be too happy about that. I know I would have a fit if someone posted a picture of me when I'm sick, haha!

Anyways, because of the sickies, our homeschool week kind of got thrown off.  I cannot stand it when routines and schedules get out of whack but I have learned very quickly with kids, you just gotta let it go.  It's life so move on lady, (talking to myself lol)

If you and your family are currently struggling with the sickies, let's pray this prayer together:

"Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you that you love us and that you made us.  Because you made us we believe you can rid us of these nasty sickies, they don't have to take residence in our homes and bodies so we say BE GONE sickies in Jesus name.  We thank you for health, strength, and peace.  We love you Father and ask that you give us joy through our recovery.  We love you Lord, in Jesus name, Amen!"


Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom

Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net