Boo

It always seems to be a sign of sickness when I leave teabags dripping on the counter.

Unfortunately, today is no exception. The hoarse throat that I was convinced was from "talking too much" (which a gal with 3 little boys is prone to do when among adults all weekend), materialized into a full blown cold. Boo.

The Cold also snagged my two youngest sons. Double boo.

Kleenex, Mighty Machines DVD's, Ibuprofen, and a hot cup of tea have been my best friends today.



On the upside, I did manage to drag all the kids, stuffy noses and all, down to the County Courthouse to argue our vehicle registration taxes. We were so convincing, they waived the fees without much ado.

I also called Express Toll about a vehicle toll bill we received in the mail, saying that our vehicle went through the CO state toll way without paying the fine. Thankfully they understood that for this military family, Colorado was two moves ago and we sure weren't there on 12/30/10 at 3:46:21.

And, since the cold medicine I thought it a good idea to list random accomplishments, today I also had two Jehovah Witness' try to convince me that I wasn't going to heaven. After we discussed this at some length (while I stood in the doorway and froze), they decided to give me their "what the Bible really teaches" book and come back later to further work on this lost Christian woman (i.e. me). I'll be praying for them too, and look forward to the chance of  speaking with them about the real Way, Truth, and Life.

Anyway... I think it's time for another cup of tea. I'll try not to be so random again.

Caught Red Handed

This past week, my 9 month old, Noah, had his well baby check-up at the local Army clinic.

I sort of dread going there. The clinic is almost always a zoo.

 Don't get me wrong, I love my military health care benefit. But I don't always find the place the most accomodating for 3 little boys and their young mother (yes, I still call myself young).

There are too few chairs in the waiting rooms
Too few bathrooms for mild bladdered two year olds
Too few TV screens with cartoons playing
Too few quiet nooks for breastfeeding mothers
And too many minutes spent waiting to see a physician.

The zooishness of the clinic often spills outside the facility's walls and into the parking lot as well:

Too few parking spaces for minivans.

However, when I pulled up to the clinic yesterday, a car was just pulling out

Right. In front. Of the clinic.

Just. As I. Drove by.


SCORE!!!!!!!

AND I didn't have to wait for the single soldier to buckle 3 children in their car seats, load the stroller in the back, pick up the cracker that fell on the floor, while shouting "I'll get you a snack in a minute!" (which is sometimes the case when cars are waiting for my parking spot. But only sometimes, of course. The rest of the time, I snap my fingers and kaa-zam, everyone is smiling cheerfully at me in the rear view mirror).

Anyway. I was jubilant. The perfect parking spot. No walk. No wait. It was just right there waiting for me. I shouted, "WOOHOO!!" to my kids as I pulled in. And continued to marvel out loud at the greatness of this parking spot, and my brilliance in being delayed at the stop light just enough time for this spot to come available.


My 2 year old, Joshua, piped up in the back seat, "Mommy, what are you saying?" In my personal-parking-spot euphoria, I understood his question to mean, what does "YayYayYay!" and "Woohooooooooo!" mean?

So I quickly explained that I was cheering because I was so excited about the great parking spot.

He frowned.

And said with urgency, "But, Mommy! You should say, '"Thank you, Lord!!"'

Caught red handed and guilty as charged.

Nothing like your 2 year old reminding you of God's perfect providence in landing you the perfect parking spot, right? 

Wasn't I just marveling at how I was delayed at the stop light just previous to turning into the parking lot? How the young soldier got into his car without delay? And was pulling out of the parking spot JUST as I drove up?

And did I really think that it was all MY doing?

Nuts.

Forgive me, Lord, for failing to thank you for your sweet providences.

And thank you, Lord, for Joshua! For his uncanny ability to catch me red handed. For the precious reminder of my need for sanctification. And for giving him a heart that is sensitive to You and Your ways.


So yes, I was caught red handed... and I'm thankful for it.

Linked with

Wowsers!

A fun tidbit that I was urged to share:

Isaiah, my 4 year old, can read.

I think he actually started reading when he was 3.

Well.

Not read reading. But "bat" "mat" "pat" reading.  You know, the very very basics. It was exciting to see him sound out letters and ask questions about different words.

But then I started getting worried. Worried that I was teaching him wrong. Worried that he'd learn bad habits, or wouldn't learn to read the right way.

Whatever the right way of reading is.

So I started hunting around for early reading curriculum but could not decide what to choose. Beyond the thousands of options that are out there, I didn't want it to be too complicated (for me to teach!). And I didn't want to spend a ton of money in case we didn't like it, or it wasn't suitable, or I admit, in case I got frustrated and bailed out.


Then a dear friend (I wish I could tag her here, but she's not a blogger) recommended "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons." Clear easy lessons all in one book. Each lesson 20 minutes long. No flashcards. No booklets. No tricky wording. Just 100 easy lessons to reading at a 2nd grade level. And all at the bargain price of $13.95? Wow.

It sounded perfect. Like just what I was looking for. In fact, it sounded too good to be true.

But I trusted this friend, and especially her teaching/homeschooling advice, so I found the book on  Amazon.com (no I was not paid for this endorsement, but maybe someday...) and purchased it.

I was SO excited when it came in the mail. And was SO excited to get started. And so was Isaiah.

But the excitement we felt initially, pales in comparison to how excited I am now. We are half way through the book, and my son is reading like a pro.

Like. A. Pro.

I had really been dragging my feet about this homeschooling business. Convinced I would fail. Certain I wouldn't like it. Assured that it'd be like pulling teeth---for both of us.


Yes, I really felt worried about all those things. And admittedly, I still do. BUT!!!!!! my 4 year old can read! And by God's grace, I taught him!!

Yesterday he read a story that was 9 complete sentences long. Amazing!

I'm so thankful for finally feeling like this is something I can do. Thankful that when I was completely unsure of myself, God sent people, friends, parents, into my life to encourage and support me. And so very thankful that my son can read.

Wordless Wednesday: Deep in thought

My 2 year old, Joshua, should have been in bed. But he came out of his room to ask for a snack, just as I was playing with the monochrome setting on my camera.

 He waited patiently while I snapped pictures.

 I'm sure he was contemplating earning a cheesecake, or at least a few cookies, for sitting through this photo session.

Unfortunately for him, I just sent him back to bed with a hug and a kiss. And some great pictures.

Happy Wordless Wednesday All

Schooling

My husband and I have been talking about schooling our children for years now.

Christian School
Homeschool
Public School


Classical
Traditional
Montessori

But, it was only recently, that we discovered that the above topics were only PART of the school discussion.

Money
Children
Budget
Time
Sanity

Oh, the number of topics that flow from the thoughts of schooling!! How does it all fit in and how does one decide?


How did you decide? Was it a financial decision? A "gut feeling" decision? A sanity decision?


And the BIG question, do you still feel confident about your decision?


I admit that I'm feeling more and more confident about our decision *I think* but I still have moments when I think I'm crazy, that it will never work, and that my children will be idiots.

Sigh.