Sunday Smores

Sunny Sunday Reading

 

Today was perfection.  After church we enjoyed some delicious snacks and then headed out to our sunny deck while the kids had wild adventures in our wonderful yard.  My handsome hubby now reads almost as much as I do and it is very attractive! 

16.1

 

Crossfit games 16.1

I had to scale b/c I do not have chest to bar pull ups, just regular ones.

20 minutes As Many Reps As Possible (AMRAP)

weighted walking lunges for 25 ft

8 bar-facing burpees

weighted walking lunges for 25 ft

8 jumping pullups

My total- 221 reps 

Play date buddy

 

We had a homeschool play date this morning.  Brielle is our most shy when in public and tends to need a lot of warm-up time when meeting new friends.  So, she stuck pretty close to my side for the first half and then scattered off to play towards the end.  Lots of fun all around though! 

Our Sweet Mathias

 This special boy is nearly 8 years old!  I can hardly believe he made me a mom so long ago.  He is growing into such a nice young man and smart to boot.  Right now he thinks of little else besides science and Legos.  Our kitchen table is consistently covered in all things science.  I think he really enjoys the fact that he can read his books and figure out experiments on his own.  One of the lessons he taught himself today was that salt makes items float.

 He was pretty darn proud of himself.

 It lead to a great discussion on the Dead Sea.  Before he saw this, he had trouble wrapping his head around the idea that a person wouldn't sink in water.  Now he knows!

  Here are just a few examples of his Lego creations.  Here an epic war is ensuing between good and evil.  He had all of his little men in live motion battles, along with tape colored red for injuries. 

 

There were also weapons and men plummeting mid-air into the unforgiving sea below held into place with tape to give the illusion of a real fall.  All his ideas of course.  

 

As his mother and teacher I am encouraged to further his learning so that he is able to apply all of his awesome creativity and skills in ways that will further His kingdom and help others around him.  We sure love that Mathias!

Covered in His Grace.

Some days, like today when the little people have been up since before the dawn and the girls seem to be continuously arguing about everything even though they refuse to play separated and the chore list is longer than I realized despite an entire day of cleaning and training yesterday, I want to lock my bedroom door and submerse myself in my pile of dust collecting books waiting to be read.  

But then the girls come to me needing help sorting out their disagreement to which I attempt to patiently guide them through a biblical approach and send them on their way.  I finish off my coffee and hope to grab a quick bite of breakfast until my path is crossed by our dear son needing answers to his complex science book he is determined to read and practice on his own.  Finally, as I scarf down a handful of turkey bacon I am once again called to mediate yet another argument about who gets which Lego man because their play cannot continue until their roles are sorted out and they have assured me they tried to do it on their own already. 

 Emotions are high and anger ebbs as selfish hearts are revealed and I again pull from my morning devotional about joy and kindness and love.  The littles, with their issues temporarily subdued, scuttle off to mind their play once again and I sit back to reflect on our seemingly unproductive morning.  

No formal school has occurred and our chore list remains untouched.  My earthly mentality takes over and I chastise myself for our lack of worldly productivity.  If I could only wake up earlier or stick to routine better on days like today, we could get more done.  Frustrated, I grab my bible and flick open my phone app for my devotional and start to read hoping to glean insight on how to accomplish more despite my weary bones.

He speaks.

Thank God for his unwavering grace.  Not just for my kids but for me.  And luckily, His grace reminds me that He is all that matters at the end of the day.  Our chore list and even our education, apart from Him is pointless.  I am reminded to have an eternal mindset and that I need to daily (or rather on days like today- hourly) die to my flesh.  Raising my little ones to look to Him in everything, to be grateful no matter what- because they have His love- is the most important work for me.  Being their God's love-revealing mom is my highest call each day while Eric is at work.  It's hard as my flesh desires to fight back.  But I am thankful because His grace applies to my as well. 

So I smile a genuine smile as I realize the magnitude of this role.  I am not crushed by it because it is not suppose to be done in my own strength, but rather in His.  The Lord of all.  And He has great plans for these little people, I need to just be faithful to remind them of that wonderful eternal reality.

And that is more inviting than any book pile or quiet room can ever be.

Swirling hair & Flying Limbs

 This morning we traded in worksheets for swirling hair...

 And math equations for flips...

 Instead of writing our letters...

 We made crazy shapes with flying limbs...

 Because the rain is coming...

 And we needed the fresh air.

 And the giggles...

 And the deep winded breaths...

 And the volume in our hair!

Happy Sweet Home

 

We are getting back into our rhythm of chores, school, corrections, training, baths, bible studies and life here in Tennessee. 

Clay Learning

Undies all around.

I am officially- and finally- calling it!  This little one is an all-day and all-night UNDIE wearing kid!  Definitely a child who does things on her own timing.

New Reads

 

Since I have finished Morning Star, Jeannette sent these home with me to read.  They are so beautiful! 

February Ohio Trip

 

 Road-trippin' photo...  

 

We LOVE Uncle Scott who drove up for Lexi's bday! 

 

Lots of Papa snuggles. 

 

Crafting in pjs with Nana.