Gratitude & Contentment

Some of you have heard my cry for a baby. It was an ache, to be honest, that stemmed so much from discontent and jealousy. I know for many people having a baby is a selfless act, and if God sees that we need a baby or babies in our family, I am more than willing to be a mommy. He has shown me though, at this time, I am to enjoy what He has given me. After 35 years of being completely single, I am married to my best friend, I have four sweet stepkids and a grandson, my darling sister is practically my daughter and my kitty cats are the most babyish & cuddly sweeties I could ask for.  

Wow, am I blessed! I have a lot of problems with trust in many areas, but in the area of me having or adopting a baby, it is in the hands of my sweet Savior and I know without a doubt that nothing is impossible with Him. Resting right now in what I have..Praise Him!!

Linked at The Better Mom, Time Warp Wife, Growing Home, True Aim Education, We Are That Family, Women Living Well, lowercase letters, Passionate and Creative Homemaking, Consider the Lilies, Raising Homemakers, The Wellspring & Good Morning Girls

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An Outdoor Kids' Ministry

Thrilled about the simple outline Jesus has given me for an outdoor children's ministry..so thankful for the book The Idle Parent by Tom Hodgkinson for  direction and for taking the load off my back of being elaborate..follow me at Sweetened Condensed Milk for more detailed notes from The Idle Parent as we are reading this in our book club..

AN OUTDOOR KIDS’ MINISTRY:

collapse the distinction between work and play - bring to it all cheerfulness of interest and charm of freedom..turn ALL into a game..

naughtiness is an attempt to bring autonomy and even dignity into their lives..the child's attempt to resist tyranny.

to set up what you like against what you dislike - this is the disease of the mind and all too much work and money..learn to appreciate variety.. don't ask judgment questions..ie. was it fun? did you like it?

saying no to things is saying yes to humanity and to life..

education is for the purpose of turning out children with wits and guts

reverence human personality, your own as well..think not in terms of good or bad, but rather as free or enslaved..

stay immersed in the NOW & remain connected to NATURE.. babies don't analyze nature, they are one with nature, merely existing in it..

learn to survive in every climate. .

APPLICATION:

nature has enough toys for everyone.. provide glue, tape, crayons, construction paper and recyclables

drench children in picture and chapter books

learn stories from books and movies so well that you can tell them by heart

wassail (sing with gusto) while banging pots and pans with wooden spoons & shaking rocks in containers

wassail (sing with gusto) with motions

play card, dice, marble and active games

linked at  The Better Mom, Time Warp Wife, Growing Home, True Aim Education, We Are That Family, Women Living Well, lowercase letters

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Kiddos & Being an Introvert

I must admit here that creating curriculum, providing a learning environment, & introducing kiddos to new, wholesome ideas and activities are my passion. However, being constantly available to play with kids & listen to the multitude of their jabbering sets the introvert in me on edge. I feel like this girl so much of the time:

And it makes me feel like a bad mommy, but I don't exactly know what to do about it. I love when the kids have friends over or go to friends because I know they are getting to play and jabber to their heart's content. So while I choose prime teaching & sharing times, provide playdates and nurture self-entertaining imagination, I try to offer a haven of home & happiness for my kiddos..

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Happy Birthday, America!!!

One of my favorite songs about the uninhibited-ness of children from the musical, Ragtime

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Bonding Times with Kiddos

 I love finding ways to bond with my kids. 

Chillin' over coffee watching vintage Disney on youtube or driving around blaring Broadway musicals at the top of our lungs is Lissie's, 18, and my idea of fun. And I am excited about hangin' out with her in the college halls, my old stompin' grounds starting in the fall. I am her Disneyland mom. Yep, it's fun being both sissy and "mommy"!

The other day Christopher, 17, and I cooked together. He has become our new Mexican MeatMarket aficionado - choosing and cooking up a variety of fresh, marinated meats. Like his daddy, he loves meat and convinced us of the need to use the Mexican Market as our primary source for meat. I am so glad: it is just slightly more expensive and so much fresher that Wal-mart.


I was laying down for my afternoon siesta this past week and Kaylin, 21, came in and laid down next to me. We watched PBS kids, which is like comfort food to the eyes & ears for me & Kaylin. Shows like Clifford & Arthur are havens of good memories. And according to Kaylin, we learn from these shows, which cracked me up coming from a 21 year old!

Today has been a lazy day, actually fighting an upper respiratory bug. Emily, 13, has spent a lot of time with me and we have been catching up on episodes of Grimm on Hulu. Em loves undivided time with me, and sharing stories and shows with vampires, half human-half animals, ghosts and the like are the fun and spooky bonding we like.

In addition, country music with Kaylin and Emily and movies and swim time with all my kids, these are together times with my kiddos and me!

linked to the better mom& true aim education & passionate and creative homemaking