Little Boys' Camp

Last week, Paul, Carrie and William headed off to church camp.

Every summer, our 4th through 8th graders go about an hour and a half south of here to a wonderful ranch where the kids and adults have gobs of fun. Paul has been going as a camp counselor every year that the kids have been able to go, leaving me and the little boys to do our own thing.

This year, Joshua came up with a pretty good list of things that he wanted to do...go to Grandma's house, have 1/2 price slushies at Sonic, eat McDonald's, go to Walmart, and go to the park.

All of those are pretty do-able activities...except for the park.
Last week, we saw temperatures in the mid 90's.
Yuck!

Josh was really determined to go to the park, so after visiting Grandma and Grandpa, I suggested that we go to Menards to find a pool.
Does your Menards have a wonderful area set up in the garden center full of swings and slides and forts?
Ours does!
It had to be 15 degrees cooler in that little Menards park!

So, after some playing there, we grabbed our pool and $4 slip-and-slide and headed to McDonald's drive-thru.

I told Josh that we would take our McDonald's home and set up the pool in our family room so that we could have a picnic in the pool. I also told him that we would set up the pool and the slip-and-slide the first thing the next morning.

He forgot all about the park!

Here are some pictures of our at-home water park...










Once again, I am reminded at how simple pleasures are oftentimes the most special...and memorable.

Alive and Well

That's right!
Our little tadpole has grown into a funny frog!
I say funny, because he is so much fun to watch!
And because he has little black toes! How cute is that?!

Last Sunday we decided that it was time to move him into an aquarium. I am so thankful for the internet! We found some really good information on African Clawed Frogs and so were able to make some informed decisions about his environment.

Of course, I still worry about him. I have enjoyed having him around so much that I worry that something will happen to him...that I'll accidentally hurt him somehow. I worry that he will be hurt or sick and won't be able to tell me about it.

We've all become pretty attached to him. You should see how Matthew smiles and waves his arms when he sees the aquarium. And how Joshua gets his stool and stands there on it talking to him...and then says, "Mom, make the Zac boice (voice)." And how Carrie and William pass by and check in on him..."Hey, Zac!" I think that even Paul might say "Hi" when he passes by. :)

The past two days, he has been a little sluggish and has spent a lot of time hiding from us. He even swam up into the castle and hid. William and I couldn't find him for a little while! Then, when I saw his little foot hanging out of the castle, I was just sure that he was dead.

But I was wrong.
He's alive and well...as far as I can tell.

I pray for him each time I pass his little home in our kitchen.
I know that God doesn't want me to worry...and that He cares for even a little African Clawed Frog.

Simple Pleasures

It never ceases to amaze me.

Take two boys and a popsicle wrapper...



Cheap entertainment for an entire afternoon.

Wordless Wednesday..."Fun in the Sun!"

Oh the Drama

This is how I found Carrie.

"What on earth are you two doing?"



Left to play alone, this is what a thirteen- and a three-year old choose to play...



"Reckless, Disgruntled Driver Hits Careless Pedestrian"



I hope this pedestrian has learned her lesson.



I don't think this reckless, disgruntled driver has.

Welcome Home!

My camera is back home!



It's as if it never left!



So, if you'll excuse me, my camera and I are off to make up for lost time...

Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart!

June 26, 1993...

 

And 16 years and many shared moments later...

 

If you would have told me on my wedding day where I would be and what I would be doing 16 years later, I would have welcomed my future with open arms!

Thank you, Paul, for 16 very special years as your wife...with many more special years to come.

I love you...always.

Preschool Speermentation

Hmmm...
This tube of toothpaste doesn't have much left in it.
Neither does the other one.
Seems silly to have two tubes that don't have much left in them.
Time for a "speerment!"



I'll just put the rest of this one into that one.



Mental note...



That doesn't really work!



Don't you just love it when you have the camera handy!
You don't have to go racing around to find it when a fun and memorable moment presents itself...it's right there at your fingertips!
That's what happened on this morning.

I've missed my camera very much.
But guess what!
I got the call from the camera repairman yesterday!
My camera is ready to be picked up!
Guess what I'll be doing today...

Wordless Wednesday..."Exhaustion!"

Blame It On Me

"When we obey Him, every path he guides us on is fragrant with His lovingkindness and His truth."
Psalm 25:10 TLB

There was something that my mom used to tell me--from the time I was a little girl until I left home--that comforted me and gave me a great sense of security.

"Blame it on me. Just blame it on me."

If I ever needed for people to stop hounding me for not doing something they thought I should be doing--or not doing, then Mom would say, "Just tell them that it's my fault. Blame it on me."

She knew the meaning of authority. She knew that even though others may not always like the decisions...or even understand the decisions...that were being made on my behalf, they would have to be accepted as the final word, because she was my authority.

She would also remind me of the protection that being under her authority provided. She would assure me that I might not always understand her decisions, but if I would be obedient, then I would be safe...and ultimately blessed.

I find myself today being reminded of those days under my mom's protection as I experience God's protection and guidance.

And just like those days when my mom would say, "Just blame it on me," I am finding myself under God's authority concerning the education of my children.

The thing is, until a few nights ago, I've been trying to come up with the answers all on my own.

"Do you plan on sending Carrie to high school?"
"I can't imagine her not being able to participate in all the fun stuff that high school provides."
"What about science labs?"

Are you really sure that you're teaching everything you should be teaching her to fully prepare her for her future?

I know for sure that these questions and statements come from very well-meaning people who love Carrie and want the very best for her. And I honestly don't mind answering the questions that come from those who are truly trying to figure out exactly what homeschooling is all about and how it works.

It's the questions that come at me like ice balls that get to me.
Those questions and statements that are laced with accusations of "unfair mom," "you don't know what you're doing," and "weirdo."

I find myself beginning to get hot. False guilt and fear start to crowd in, and I'm unable to think straight. My heart starts beating loudly in my ears. I want to cry...or hide...or puke. I start the quiet prayers of "Please help me hold it together, Lord. Help me know what to say."
Then, I start answering the interrogation with statements that really don't matter. Explanations that I really don't feel like I owe to anyone.

Blah, blah, blah.

When really all I want to shout is, "Are you praying for Carrie every single day? Are you praying for our homeschool every single day? Are you praying that I will be a good teacher?"

Or even, "Are you praying that God will make me quit homeschooling so that my kids can go to school and have a "good time"? Are you praying that I'll just follow the crowd...and the lies?"

It's not until later that the peace of God floods my soul when He gently reminds me, "Blame it on me. This wasn't your idea. It was mine, and I know what's best. I know that you didn't start out wanting this. I know that there are days that you think about how nice it might be if the responsibility and the blame were all on someone else's shoulders. I know that some days you feel so drained that you are not even sure you can do it all over again tomorrow. I see how you compare yourself with other homeschool moms and always find yourself falling short. And I know it's on those days that people ask you some of the hardest questions. Questions that make you wonder if you are really qualified."

"I also know how much you love your kids. You love them...and Me...so much that you are willing to be obedient and walk a path that rarely brings approval from the world. I also know how important others' approval is to you."

"But best of all, I know that 'I don't call the equipped, I equip the called,' and that you repeat that to yourself daily. I also know that many people don't really understand this and maybe don't think that it applies to you. But it does."

"Blame it on me."
Four simple words that stop the hounding.
Four simple words that remind me who my ultimate Authority is.
Four simple words that bring protection and blessing.

"Why do you homeschool?"

The whispered answer, "Blame it on Me"

God told me to.

That's all there is to it.
Take it up with God.

Betsie Ten Boom said, "The center of God's will is our only safety."

Ah.
The final word.
Safety.
Relief.
I am free to answer the questions calmly...without taking offense and without feeling that false sense of guilt.
Now I am free to continue doing what God has called me to do...without the fear of others' disapproval...with a heart full of joy.
Obedience.
Blessings.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

What makes a good Daddy?

I think that being a good Daddy is a very careful balancing act.





It takes someone who can be tender...



and tough.
Someone who knows how to work...



and play.



A good Daddy takes good care of his family.
He goes to work every day so that he can give them what they need...and more often than not, what they want.
That's one of the big ways that he shows his love.
By being responsible.
Even when he doesn't feel like being responsible.



And at the end of the day, when he comes home from work, exhausted and beat up, he still takes the time to walk beside his children.





To be their Daddy.





Their irreplaceable Daddy.

 

 

Anyway, that's what I think.

But more importantly, here's what the experts have to say...

"I love how funny Daddy is! He almost always has something hilarious to add!" says Carrie.

"I like to shoot my bow with Dad. I just love hanging out with him," says William.

"I like when Daddy plays with me and gives me a hug," says Joshua.

"Onyongyongyongyongyong!" says Matthew.
(Translation: "I like when Daddy comes home after work and hugs me and says, 'Hey Matty-O' and gives me a tickly kiss," says Matthew.)

We love you!
Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

Who Am I? An Exercise in Getting to Know Myself

Several months ago, I read another blogging mom's profile. I was amazed to see all that she could say about herself...all that self-knowledge really "wowwed" me!

It made me start to wonder...

Do I really know myself that well?
Am I really all that special?
Who am I?

I decided that a good exercise for me...and a challenging one...would be to write down what I do know about myself. I also thought that it might be fun for my kids to read and hang on to.

I have this "thing" lately.
I find myself wondering what kind of legacy I'm leaving.
I wonder how I will be remembered when I'm gone.
I wonder if I'm the kind of person now who will really be missed later on.

Pretty deep for a Saturday morning, huh?

So, here it goes.
These are just a few of the things that I know about myself.



























I am an organization-lover who is not very organized.
I am a home-cooked meal lover who does not like to prepare meals.
I am the daughter and granddaughter of farmers and gardeners who does not have a shade of green anywhere on her body.
I am the granddaughter of a talented seamstress who does not even own a needle.
I am the lover of a clean home who cannot seem to keep her home clean.
I am the admirer of a well-kept, manicured lawn who has her own crop of dandelions.
I am a stay-at-home lover who goes on her daily "guilt trips."
I am the lover of the simple way of life who just seems to have a knack at keeping her life complicated.

I love to homeschool.
I love to bake.
I love to sit down with a good book and a cup of coffee.
I love to mow the yard.
I love to go barefoot all year round. My tough, calloused feet are a witness to that.
I love to feed the birds that frequent my yard.
I love to be silly.
I love to wear over sized sweatshirts and baggy pants (sorry "What Not To Wear!).
I love my family and friends.
I love my dandelions.

Most of all, I love my husband and my children.
I adore being a wife and mother.
I cherish being my kids' teacher.

And you know what else?
I love being the daughter of The King.
I am thankful that I am saved by Grace and forgiven for all the dumb things that I do and say.
I love knowing that God created me just as I am...quirks and all.