let your light shine

Technically, summer is not over.  And in all reality, summer never really ends completely in Florida. Right?!  It seems like just yesterday we were closing our books for  a few months to enjoy summer break. Yet, here we are starting a new school year. How does it always happen so fast? I savor and linger and the days still fly by with lightening speed. This year our children will be in 5th grade, 2nd grade, and pre-K. It is our fourth year homeschooling. I've learned so much from the past three years and made some changes for the year ahead. I feel like there is an ongoing learning process of trial and error as we teach our children.

One thing I seem to forget each year as I am planning our first day back to homeschooling, is that the kids aren't really thrilled to be back to the school routine. And honestly, I can't blame them. We've all had so much fun staying up late,  sleeping in,  swimming, playing, visiting, and doing fun non-routine activities. I think it is really hard for our children (and me) to say goodbye to the carefree days of summer break. After a few days back to homeschooling, we all realize that it is good for us to add some discipline back in our schedule; and there is still plenty of time for playing. This way of life allows much flexibility to our days (like starting at 9:00 or later) and there can be some positive aspects to routine.

Our morning started with a big breakfast, followed by devotional time, and cleaning up the kitchen. When finished, we headed into the school room. This year on our first day we started with a fun activity. Each child answered some questions about themselves and then they shared with each other. We have one child who wants to be a soccer player, another who dreams of map making, and a third who would love to be an animal doctor.  They each shared one thing they were good at and one thing they needed to work on. I loved when our 4 year old said she was good at painting, but needed to work on "attitudes." I love her sweet spirit. Our school day ended with tie dye, which we have done annually since our first year homeschooling. The kids look forward to this every year. We finished just in time to head out the door to soccer practice. All three children are playing soccer this Fall, so we spend a lot of time at the fields.

To be completely real, our first day wasn't as smooth or joyful as I would have hoped. As I mentioned before, everyone wasn't excited to be saying goodbye to summer, and there was some complaining and irritability. There were times during the day that I felt a bit defeated. Before school that morning, I wrote let your light shine on our chalk board. These four words were ones that I wanted to define our new school year. As the day progressed, I didn't see the light; instead, I felt frustrated and impatient.

I have had time to reflect this week. I realized that every year, the first day "back to homeschooling" has been challenging.  Day two is always much easier and we begin to have a much better rhythm and flow. Once again, I was reminded of my need for grace for myself and our children. I need to let go of expectations that I sometimes create for all of us. I need to remember that transition can be hard for adults and kids alike.

As I look back on the day through the images I captured, I see the day with fresh eyes. I see the relationships between our children, I can hear the conversations we shared during the day, and remember memories we made.  I see the light. I see the light of Jesus throughout our home. Sometimes, His light is so subtle, yet it is so beautiful when we really take the time to see it. My prayer for our children is that they will not only let His light shine through them, but that they will take time to see His light every day.

A thousand times I've failed. Still your mercy remains. And should I stumble again. Still I'm caught in your grace Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame. -"Inside Out" Hillsong United

homeschooling. a journey of faith.

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.Let me walk upon the waters. Wherever You would call me.Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander. And my faith will be made stronger. In the presence of my Savior. I will call upon Your name. Keep my eyes above the waves. My soul will rest in Your embrace. I am Yours, and You are mine. -from Hillsong United, Oceans I get emails and comments frequently asking questions about our homeschooling experience. These include everything from our curriculum choices to when I get my "own time" and everything in between.  As we are finishing our third year of homeschooling, I am here to share a bit about our experience. I am not here to say that our way is the right way or that everyone should be homeschooling, but will share with you why we have grown to love this way of life for our family.

“The beauty of home education is that it gives a family more time together–time to solidify relationships, to communicate values, and to focus on each child’s individual needs in a consistent and unhurried atmosphere.” -Kimberly Hahn & Mary Hasson

When my husband and I made the decision in 2011 to home school our children, we were without doubt that God was calling our family to this lifestyle. I say lifestyle because it is so much more than just school.  It is a way of life. It is a way of looking at the world and learning and living together.  Every experience during our day is a learning experience for our children. We have loved the slower pace of life homeschooling has given us. As the quote above says, we  now have more time to focus on family relationships and values.

When we started schooling at home our children were 7, 5 and 2.  We have continued to see the relationships between our children grow in unforeseen ways during these three years.  I am keenly aware that our children are getting to know one another in ways some siblings may never have time for. We are so grateful to continue to see their bonds and love for each other grow. They have learned to play together, regardless of their ages. One question I am often asked is if my children always get along.  Of course not.  They are children after-all, but they do get along most of the time. They have a beautiful relationship that I thank God for.

I love that I have been able to be such an integral part of their education.  This includes helping decide what our children will study and how they will study it. This also includes being a physical part of that learning daily.  This week my son realized he could now read chapter books and he sat down and read an entire book after lunch. As I watched him, I was filled with so much joy, witnessing his confidence and new found love of reading grow.  He started to learn to read in 2011 when we began this journey. During his pre-kindergarten year we used a book called Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I have not pushed him, but let him excel at his own pace. It is such a gift to experience this with him. We had many frustrating days we had to get through to get here, but it is such an example of perseverance and determination for both of us.

“We can best help children learn, not by deciding what we think they should learn and thinking of ingenious ways to teach it to them, but by making the world, as far as we can, accessible to them, paying serious attention to what they do, answering their questions -- if they have any -- and helping them explore the things they are most interested in.”  -John Holt

One of the valuable lessons I have learned during this time is that there isn't a "right" way to homeschool. I have met many families thriving with this lifestyle, yet not one of them are doing it the same way. I love that! As each child is unique, so is each family. We have switched and tweaked different curriculum over the three years. While curriculum is important,I feel like there is so much to be learned outside of it, especially while children are young.

I believe wholeheartedly that children should be given ample freedom in their day to explore without continuous time schedules or planned activities. They seem to thrive when they can spend time doing things that interest them. My oldest daughter loves baking and I have started to give her opportunities to explore this love. My son is fascinated with drawing, maps, and reading facts. My youngest daughter has a love of painting that continues to blossom with each week that passes.  All three of our children play soccer and the older two children attend choir and Awana (a youth program) at our church.  We have limited our outside activities as we want to continue to enjoy this slow pace and not fill our free time with commitments. This has been instrumental for our family. All of us are happier having time to do the things we enjoy outside of a schedule. Some days this means we take school outside and picnic and explore. Others we have play dates and visit with friends or family.   While others we have to attend to errands or other responsibilities that do arise.

This brings up something very important. When you decide to home school, you do give up having those hours of the day free from children. This means that if you are like me, with a husband who travels often, or at work during the day, you will be grocery shopping or doing other errands with kids in tow.  Just two weeks ago, we had to stop school to go to Sears and Home Depot to compare clothes dryers after ours died. Obstacles, doctor appointments, and the such arise. This is a reality. We have been blessed to have a college student to help, one morning a week the past few years. This has been very helpful, but most often, our children are with me when we need to get household errands done. When we began homeschooling, these things seemed to be more challenging, but as the kids have gotten older and I have learned ways to manage these outings best, it is very doable. Time with children passes by quickly and I realize in a few years my oldest will be able to babysit. It seems like just yesterday she was in her pre-school years.  It is so important to remember that each phase of life is just that, a phase. Children change and grow at this crazy rapid rate. In the short three years we have home schooled I have already seen how their ages change our family dynamics in many ways.  My older children, now 10 and 7, are both very helpful. I really try to soak in each of these phases of life.  I feel like our days are filled with ample "alone time" for me, for them, and for me with each of them.  Ultimately, I love the togetherness we share through this way of life. 

I am asked all the time what  a "normal" day looks like.  I am also asked what our youngest child does while the older two are doing their studies. These are great questions and ones I had myself before we began this journey.  First of all, our days vary.  I would like to say a typical day starts at 9:00 am with everyone awake, fed, and in the school room, starting handwriting, but that would be untrue.

Many days our son is up before the girls. On some of these days, I begin to work one on one with him while they sleep. This is very beneficial, because once he is finished for the day, or at a point he needs a break, he can play with our youngest daughter, while I work with our oldest. Our children are 2 1/2 and 3 years apart, which has worked out really well with our schooling. There are subjects we can actually combine for the older children, which is a wonderful advantage; and they can also help their younger sister with learning activities or just play.

Like I said before, our youngest was only 2 when we began schooling at home.  We decided that she would not attend preschool and would be at home learning and playing with us.  I can not imagine our days without her at home. There were times when we first started that we had to wait and do some of our work in the afternoon while she was napping. There were also mornings we had to completely stop school and go outside and play because it was too challenging.  She has always had an interest in art, coloring, cutting, exploring. I have encouraged her from day one to join us at the work table.  This wasn't always "convenient" or quiet, but with persistence she has learned to be a wonderful part of the classroom.  Honestly, our days aren't always perfectly smooth, but I don't expect them to be. I love this time with my children and cherish it in ways I never imagined.

Our learning environment may look like a typical classroom in many ways, but it is also very different. Some days we are in our designated school room while other days our classroom is the back porch.  We have schooled in the kitchen, the park, Mimi's house, etc. There are days when the weather is so beautiful that we leave our studies and head out to explore or play.  I love that we can start our day whenever it works for us and that our weeks are very flexible.  As I mentioned before this is a lifestyle not just a school choice.  The book studies and table work are only a small part of our learning together.

“What is most important and valuable about the home as a base for children's growth into the world is not that it is a better school than the schools, but that it isn't a school at all.” - John Holt

I am often asked how long we will home school.  We don't know what the future holds and continue to pray for God to lead us in parenting our children. I do know that, we cannot imagine another way of life right now.  I have found such peace in this way of life and my heart has been so full. We will seek God first always and see what He asks of our family in all things.

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” -Corrie Ten Boom

Many people, who are unfamiliar with homeschooling, always ask about the socialization of our children. I love how Mary Kay Clark addresses this:

“Don’t worry about socialization. Wherever people congregate, there is going to be interaction, socialization.” Where is it written that it needs to be in schools? -Mary Kay Clark

As I close today, please know you are more than welcome to email me any time with your own questions on homeschooling. I know that the friends and mentors I had as we began this journey continue to be invaluable.

I can share with you over and over again, how this experience has been such a blessing for our family, while others may have had complete opposite experiences. I do not believe this is a way of life for everyone. I share these experiences, so that others who feel they are called to home school their children, can also be encouraged.  I  know that the schools where we live are wonderful and filled with amazing teachers. My husband and I both attended these schools and most of my children's friends attend these schools. I know they have amazing opportunities that we miss, but we feel that the benefits for our family are greater than anything we are giving up. There have been times on this journey that have been challenging, even lonely, but each time we have gone to God in prayer and He has always provided what we needed.  Not only have I grown as a mother through teaching our children, but my faith in Jesus has grown in abundant ways.  This journey has taught me about obedience and living a life that God has asked of me.  That doesn't mean it will always be easy or convenient.

Today in church the guest speaker, Bobby McGraw, spoke after leading our youth for Invasion weekend (a weekend for the youth of our church). He spoke about living in obedience and  living a  life that works.  The first point he made was that our life should be "controlled by the Father's desires."  We often try to compare ourselves on earth to look or be like everyone else, but trying to fit a mold doesn't work. If we are committed as a family to what God wants, we can fully experience the blessings from Him in an amazing way.  I do not mean material blessings, but that He will provide what we need, according to His will.  "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."-Philippians 4:19

We are trying as a family to be obedient to God and pursuing to honor Him in all we do (not just in homeschooling), which translates to being different in today's world. We strive to live and teach our children to be the opposite of what the world teaches. Life is not about self satisfaction or self gratification, life is about sharing God's love with others and learning how He desires to use us for His purpose. This does not mean we will not fail along the way. We most certainly will. We are striving for these things, but we are also learning to live and give grace to ourselves and others.

For our family, this calling is so much more than a choice of how we will educate our children. We are doing more than educating our children by having them home on a daily basis. We are nurturing and investing in them for the sake of Jesus.

As parents, we all have to find what works best for our family. I will forever be grateful that we listened to God's call to change our path three years ago. It was scary and unknown, but it has been filled with many blessings. 

My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control.Consume me from the inside out Lord.Let justice and praise become my embrace. To love You from the inside out. Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame. And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise. From the inside out, O my soul cries out.  -from Hillsong United,  the Inside Out.

a little Christmas break fun

I love Christmas time.   When we began homeschooling I decided we would always take the month of December off of school so we could really slow down and enjoy family time during this month.  We have had lots of fun doing Christmas activities, crafts, and baking the past couple of weeks    Then there are the times in between the Christmas fun where the kids can just play and relax and well, just enjoy being kids.  Yesterday afternoon was one of those.  Love these images of our girls just having fun.

11 on 11 l september

Today I am taking part in a new project for me called 11 on 11. I have enjoyed getting to know this group of ladies the past couple of months and I am thrilled they invited me to join them in this fun project.   11 on 11 is pretty simple-11 images, posted on the 11th of the month. No specific rules, except one... I need to be in atleast 1 of the images.  I really didn't think I'd be able to start another project this year, let alone this month, but then at the very last minute, I decided to challenge myself . I could not narrow our jam packed morning into 11 frames.  Here is a day in the life of us (well, morning to lunchtime-and as you can see, we get a lot done in a short amount of time).  A morning playing on the lake before school, breakfast (mama finally said yes to pop tarts), school time turned painting time, outside shower and play time and lunch time devotions. And yes, if you look really really closely you will find me in the frame.  Many people often ask what our typical day looks like.  It does vary from day to day but one thing I see constant as I look at these images is the connection my children share. It is something special...I won't ever take for granted.

Today, September 11, as I look at these images, I am especially grateful. So many men and women have sacrificed so much for our country so that we can enjoy these freedoms daily.  Being a military family, we have seen first hand the sacrifices it takes to keep our country free.  I am grateful to God for the life He has blessed us with and thankful to live in a place I can really cherish these every day moments with our children.    Hope you enjoy a look into our little world.

Be sure to follow along our circle and see some amazingly talented and beautiful ladies. First up is Lina Jarmond l Raleigh, NC newborn photographer.

cherish this day | august

This  week we began our new school year which marks our third year of homeschooling.   After having done this for the past two years we were all excited to get started again. I have found that as much as I appreciate and LOVE the long, lazy days of summer, I do enjoy the routine of school as well.  And, as I told our children, since we live in Florida and we home school, summer is really not over. We have many more days ahead of playing outdoors and we keep our school schedule very relaxed. I am by no means a homeschooling pro but I will say that I am so much more confident and relaxed in my choices as we start this new year. I have been able to see all the benefits and lovely way of life this choice for schooling offers us.   That is not to say there are not hard or frustrating days, but I am much more at ease in handling them.

This year our children will be in 4th grade, 1st grade, and pre-school.  It will be our third year using Sonlight Curriculum. This curriculum works well for me and our children. I love that the lesson plans are made for you and I can then make changes if I chose.  This will be our second year using Singapore math for our older children.   We are starting a new Science Curriculum which I am loving so far called Nancy Larson Science. I am using one unit and making it work so that all of our children can learn and grow with it.  We are also trying something new this year with our schedule.  This year we will do our Math and Science combined on one day and History and Language arts on another day.  We will repeat this through the week. Then we will do handwriting, Bible study and reading all five days.  For my preschool aged daughter I am working on introducing letters and doing a lot of hands on learning with her. She loves to create things so I am trying to incorporate this into her learning. I will use a very relaxed style of learning with her as I want her to love to learn.  I plan to include her in reading time and other areas as well to expose her to what her brother and sister are learning. I have been reading a book called The Three R's, which I have enjoyed getting ideas from as well.

I really love that through homeschooling parents can pick curriculum and learning tools based on their children's interests and learning styles. I talk to so many other mothers that do things completely different and it works awesome for their family. I love that!

Our first day of school began with homemade waffles and the start of our new Bible Study called...Who is God?  (And Can I really know Him?) After breakfast we worked in the school room for a couple of hours on our daily lessons.   We took a break for lunch and our afternoon reading and quiet time.  Finally, we tie dyed.  This has become an annual first day of school tradition which the kids LOVE.   The day ended with porch play in our pajamas and popsicles.  I'd say it was a wonderful first day.  I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to spend this time with my children daily. Its such a blessing to see them growing together in the Lord daily.

Please be sure to stop by the Cherish this Day Blog and see all of the amazing images from our group.

meeting the needs of today | a mother's heart

"when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I"  -psalm 62:1 my heart becomes so heavy as i think about all of the needs of this world and the people hurting and in pain. my husband recently returned from passion 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia and upon his return we discussed all of the people in human slavery.  it is gut wrenching to hear these awful tragedies.   our church continues to do missions to Guatemala, Brazil and other parts of the world and last summer my husband was able to take part in a mission to Guatemala. the images he shared with me of beautiful little girls searching through a trash dump are still vivid in my head. these delicate souls searching for shoes, food, and comforts we have taken for granted since birth.

i follow photographers whom i admire for their own courage and grace as they have gone abroad to capture those who so desperately need their stories told.  one of those photographers is Deb Schwedhelm and i have been so moved by her work in Tanzania.  she is an amazing photographer and the way she has been able to make a difference inspires me in so many ways.  last week i came across the work of Sarah Robertson who moved me in the images she was able to capture while overseas in Kenya. and another photographer and friend, Breeze of Love Resembles, is currently raising funds for her own trip to Africa and i couldn't be more excited to see her journey in pictures.   i know in my heart that God has given me my gifts to use them for His Glory and purpose and i really believe one day that mission work is a piece of this plan.

some days i get frustrated and even critical of myself because i feel like there is so much to be done and i am doing so little.  but then God gently reminds me that the place i am at is where i am needed today. we still have three young children whom are home with us full time as we home school.  my husband's job keeps him very busy.   i am the constant for my children and am their rock in many ways right now.   there will be a time when their needs will not be as great, but for now i need to remember that i am doing God's work right in my own home.  my husband and i pray that our children will grow up to love others of the world more than themselves and that we can demonstrate servant-hood to them through our own actions daily.  each day servant-hood within my family plays a different role, never one more important than the other.   by loving each other in all we do, we are sharing the love of our Lord.

my husband left on a trip with work a few days ago and my oldest daughter is always very upset when he leaves.  this morning she came up to me and asked me if she could make a recipe "all by herself" from her cupcake book.   this meant that we would need to head to the store and get all the ingredients.  my first reaction was "maybe", thinking she would get busy and forget.  our youngest daughter has been sick and fussy and the last thing i really wanted to do was to take them all to the grocery store again (we'd just been there last night).  but after a few moments, i went and found my daughter and i said yes.  today, serving meant making this happen for her.  she is always such a help to me and though it didn't feel convenient at the time, i knew how much this would mean to her.   servant hood means being present for my children and seeing what is important to them and why.  it was fun to watch her create her tie-dye cupcakes all by herself. she felt independent and special.  but most of all, for a little while her mind was off the pain she felt on a Sunday afternoon not having her daddy home to spend time with.

and let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.  -Galatians 6:9

the illuminated word project l september

Thank you for joining me for one of my favorite projects of the month.  This month I would like to share the following scripture: Proverbs 3: 5-6 NIV:  

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

I found this scripture after reading through my current Bible Study: Nehemiah, A heart that can break.  by Kelly Minter.

This week one of the questions she asked us was: "Is it hard for you to move forward without everyone's support or approval? Why or Why not?"

This really spoke to me as we just began our second year of homeschooling. I've written and spoken to many about God's call for us to home school our children. We prayed a  lot about this and were affirmed in this decision.  And we had the most amazing first year of learning together.  I can say that I am most at peace having our children home and having this quality time together as a family.  All summer I planned and developed a wonderful room for our children to create and learn in and I was super excited for this new year with them.

And then the school year began. It started off wonderfully as our daughter began 3rd grade, our son began his kindergarten year, and the baby of our house continued to follow along with us.    But as the weeks passed,  I was reminded of questions I had been asked from friends and acquaintances.

Questions such as:

How long do you plan to home school your children?  Will you always home school your children? Why did you choose to home school?  When do you have your "own time"?

Followed by statements such as :

That's great that you are doing this, but I don't have the patience to home school my children. My kids are much too social and wouldn't enjoy homeschooling. I don't know how you do it all.  Most home schooled children I know are "different"

Admittedly, I really began to have doubts and questioned God's purpose for our family.  I began to feel like I had to prove to everyone that our kids would turn out "normal" and be successful.  But who defines what is normal?   Following Jesus in today's world isn't normal by many standards.  And how quickly did I forget that my children's success is not measured by today's worldly views, but only in the eyes of our Lord.

I realized that I was letting others voices be heard over God's voice.  No, it is not always easy to move forward when you don't have everyone's approval or support.  But I must remember that when God gives instruction, He will provide the resources, the strength, and the answers.   This road we have followed may always be filled with questions. And I know that each of us may experience lonely days by following God's plan for our lives and not society's plan, but I also know that we will reap many blessings through being obedient to God.

I must remember this verse and not rely on my own understanding, nor that of those around me, but trust in the Lord with all my heart.  I must take faith that "He will make my paths straight."  I hope that these words will also bring you comfort when you are doing something that isn't easy or something that others don't approve or understand.

Please continue to follow our circle and see what my friend Gail Pomare has on her heart this month.

a brand new school year | homeschooling 2012

today we began year 2 of our homeschooling journey.  we now have a 3rd grader, kindergartner, and an almost 3 year old.  i was so excited to get started this year and learned a lot during my first year. i was able to see what worked for us and what didn't in terms of curriculum, school space, our schedule and much more. over the summer i worked very hard on a special project. we have a room in our house that we used for storage since the time we bought the house.  it has a great built in desk, bookshelves, and a full bathroom with access outside to the lake.   after a year of cleaning off my dining table at the end of each day i thought it would be nice to create a school and creative spot for our kiddos. i know we will still school in many places around our house, and even outside of the house, but it is so nice to have a space to go to together to create and learn.   my vision was to create a place that could encourage and inspire our children. i wanted to have a place that would remind them to DREAM, never give up, and create a lot.  i wanted a place to remind them of the love of their heavenly Father.  i wanted to fill the room with reminders of our love for each other and our appreciation and love of life.

the room is almost complete (i have a few more items that i ordered that have not arrived, but for the most part i am finished)...and i thought since it was the first day of our 2012 school year, i would share my project.  i hope you enjoy a sneak peek into our school day. i am so grateful God has given me this time with my children.  i am so blessed to be able to teach them daily and watch them grow in Him.  i will never take these moments for granted.

" i can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"   Philippians 4:13

project 52 l week 6 l letting go of perfect

"the imperfections of a man, his frailties, his faults, are just as important as his virtues.  you can't separate them.  they're wedded"  ~Henry Miller

welcome to week 6 of project 52, with my group of friends at the bloom forum.   i thank you for continuing to follow our fun project.   if you are new this week, please read a little about this idea. we've already done some great themes like homemade, newness, and refreshing.

this week our theme is : letting go of perfect.  i have struggled my whole life with perfectionism.  with wanting others to be happy.  pleasing people.   as i've gotten older i am starting to intentionally let go of some of this.  i want to know perfect isn't something i have or need to be.  it really isn't something God even designed me to be.   we were designed to need God and i need to realize all of my faults and shortcomings, make me the person He created.  

 i love the art of photography, because what may be someone else's mess up, is someone else's art.  its a beautiful thing that way.  i love that as artists we all see things in our own special way. and i cannot wait to see this week how my group each decided to capture this theme.   my pictures evolved as the week went on.  surely there were many things in my life i could do to "let go of perfect."    we were making valentine's day cards and of course before we ever started i had seen many oh, so cute designs on pinterest.   i had ideas flowing through my head.  but somehow things changed.  my children wanted to do something without direction. something that was just theirs.  their own ideas, their own creations.  mom not telling or showing them what they needed to do.  so i let go of my picture perfect ideas...and let them do their own.  it was messy and glitter was just about everywhere.  AND they loved it!!! they were proud of what they created.  i am so glad i did this...

now head on over to my dear friend Gretchen Ceranic's blog Little Life Photography and see how she has captured letting go of perfect...

project 52 l week 4 l homemade

thanks for joining us for another week of project 52.   we are a group of photographers who are all members of the bloom forum.    we will be challenged each week to photograph a new theme.  last week's theme was refreshing.  this week our theme is homemade.   once again, this week we have been enjoying the amazing weather and have spent a lot of time outdoors.  the kids and i were going to make homemade boats and have boat races in the lake.  here's a neat link to making boats i found on Pinterest.  we ended up buying plastic boats and the kids made sand castles along the raceway and dug out a "victory spot"  for their boats to float in after the race. (we will try to make these cute paper boats eventually). hope you enjoy a glimpse into our afternoon..

continue with our blog circle and see what the everso talented Mary Schannen of Melange Photography has this week for homemade...

project 52 l week 3 l refreshing

we are back for another week of project 52 with my friends from the bloom forum.   thank you for continuing to follow our project this year.    we have so many fun themes ahead and it is so  inspiring to see how our circle of  photographers capture the theme each week.   this week our theme is refreshing. refreshing brought many thoughts to mind.  a tall glass of water after a long run, a glass of lemonade on a hot sunny day,  a nice refreshing shower.   so many moments can portray this word so well.  for my pictures this week i captured my two oldest children out on the dock enjoying popsicles, some laughter, and fun.  we did have a few cold days here in florida last week (cold for us in the 40's and 50's) but this week we were back to our nice 70's in the afternoon and the kids were barefoot and carefree once again (and it is super refreshing to feel the humid free air with such a gentle breeze to it).   it truly is such a wonderful time of the year here.   the kids are so enjoying being able to get their school work done early and have the rest of the day to explore and enjoy life.   it is a true blessing.  i also captured one picture of the clouds and sky reflecting off the lake.   i thought it was so gorgeous.  it really is so relaxing to live on the lake. i have been spending most late afternoons just sitting by the water as my three little ones make sand castles and play till their hearts are content...

please continue with our blog circle and see what Clara from Heart Inspired Photography | Adelaide Photographer caputured this week..

project 52 l week 50 l remember & reflect

"be happy for this moment.  this moment is your life."-omar khayyam

this is the last week of project 52 with my current group of friends.   its amazing to think we've been doing  this for 50 weeks together.   and what an awesome time it has been. our group got off to a late start last year, so we are acutally 2 weeks short of a full year.  next week i iwill begin my 2nd year of project 52 with a new group and new themes...i am so excited!!

this final theme was : remember and reflect..what is something you want to do differently in 2012?

as i remember and reflect on 2011....it isn't so much on anything i want to change.   but really, how much i wish i could stay right here in this moment.   i can remember last year this time.   my husband had been deployed four months and we had atleast five months left apart.   we knew we would be moving duty stations, but not sure where the Lord would take us.   we had been praying about homeschooling our children but the answer was not clear.   i can almost feel the uncertainty my life was filled with as i reflect on last year.   and i can tell you, my faith in God grew more and more as i let Him lead us and prayed we would take the right paths in all aspects of our life. 

 now a year later...i am basking in the feeling of having our family complete.  yes, my husband is busy traveling a lot but he is home most of the time.   we have closed on our home in the town my husband and i grew up in and are raising our children with both sets of grandparents and cousins all around them.  we have our children at home daily;  learning together and sharing our days as a family.   life is fairly simple and good and i just thank God for all of this.   as i reflect on 2011 it was certainly a year filled with many decisions and much change.    it was a time of growth for me spiritually and personally.  and my hope for 2012 is to enjoy each and every moment spent with my husband, our children, and our families, because its simply what really matters...

our house now sits on this quiet  lake.  there isn't a day that i don't wake up and look out the windows or sit on the back porch and think how grateful i am to be home.  when i saw the kids playing at the lake  this afternoon, it reminded me of the way i feel right now as the new year begins.   they are so peaceful and so content...

 

 head on over to my friends lucy's blog,  Lucy Jane, Adelaide Photographer and see what she remembers about 2011...

project 52 l week 33 l labor

this week's theme for project 52 is labor:  what labor do you do? what labor does your husband do? what labor are you thankful for? i have been a stay at home mother since the birth of our first child in 2004.  i feel so blessed that God has given me this opportunity to spend this precious time with all of our children. i can say it is the hardest and most important job i have ever had.   it is truly a sacrifice in many ways but really i look at it as a gift. 

this week i also took on another role as teacher.   i will say that i am fully confident we made the right decision to begin homeschooling our children, but it is a huge commitment and not every day will be easy.....but every day ends and i feel so thankful to have this time with our children.  to be able to raise them and instill in them the values we feel are so important.  to watch them grow and learn daily in their academic knowledge and more importantly in their love of the Lord.  what more could i ask for ?  

one day this week we planted flowers together.   i thought about how much it resembles raising our children.   the time, care, and love we give, will help them flourish into something beautiful in the future...

 now head on over the to the blog of the amazingly talented Amy Ames, Holly Springs, NC photographer

our first day of school...

today we started a new chapter in our life as a family.   it was a day i will never forget.   i thought about this day so much the past few years.  i talked with daddy about it. i talked to friends about it.  i prayed about it.    and i am happy to say we made it through and it was so much fun!    it wasn't the "first day of school" we've had in years past.   our pictures are a bit different this year.  there aren't pictures of you in a new smocked sundress or appliqued back to school t-shirt.  no new back pack and lunch box to match.   there isn't a picture with your new teacher and classmates.  no, things are different this year.  in fact, we started the day in pjs and we finished the day in our homemade tie dyed shirts.  

 i saw first hand that days won't always go smooth from start to finish.   my lesson plans may be just that ..plans.  some will be executed and some may not.   but at the end of the day, i saw the three of you laughing and playing make believe together and it made me smile.   before i know it, you will all be grown and this time we have together as a family is so precious.  so no, not every day will be perfect but every day will be a day together to cherish, grow and learn in some way and i am so thankful for that.   i can't wait for all the memories we will make .  i am grateful to have this opportunity to teach you and spend time with you as you learn about the world around you.   and i treasure these years together more than words can say...

our new journey awaits...

tomorrow i will embark on a new journey with my precious babies.   my role as mother and caregiver will expand to full time teacher as well.   after many prayers my husband and i decided last spring this was God's plan for our family.  you can read about our journey to this decision here.    i am so excited to start this journey with our children, but of course i have days where i wonder if i will be able to do this and do it well.   i wonder how i will continue to do all the other roles i have in our house.   i wonder if i will foster enthusiasm and excitement for learning in our children.  the list of questions can go on and on.  BUT deep down i know that i can do this with God's help and that HE will provide all we need to succeed--i just have to remember to ask. 

 i was having one of those days last week where i was asking all these questions to myself and an email came across my inbox.  i wanted to share some of what it said.   i know i have a lot of other homeschooling friends and i thought this provided a source of inspiration for us all on this journey.  it reminded me that this  is such a gift i have been given.   it is a blessing that i  have this opportunity to be with my children daily for these experiences.  mothers were quoted saying the following about their own experiences homeschooling...

If I had known that teaching my children would be so much fun, I would have started homeschooling sooner.

If I had known my children were going to grow as fast as older women said they would, I would have treasured our time together even more.

If I had known that my son was going to become an archeologist and dig in the dirt for a profession, I would have never worried about removing the stains when washing his clothes.

If I had known that all my children would go on to receive college degrees, I would have never second guessed my curriculum choices and teaching abilities.

If I had known how unimportant it was to keep a spotless house, I would have gone to bed on time instead of spending countless hours cleaning, organizing, and tidying up for the next day.

If I had known how living on one income would build a solid faith in God, I would have gladly lived with less without all the complaining.

If I could only experience the thrill of one job to last an entire lifetime, I would  my children all over again.

i believe God truly gives us the encouragement we need just when we need it.   tonight, i go to bed with enthusiasm and excitement.  i can't wait to dive in and not look back....sort of like my son in this picture.  he is always fearless, unlike my oldest daughter. she thinks and contemplates before acting--very much like myself.    i'd love to have that fearlessness my son has in all i do-- to place my trust completely in the Lord and know He will take care of it all!

project 52 l week 31 l back to school

welcome to project 52. the fun project i've been participating in the past 31 weeks with this amazing group of photographers i now know as friends.   we have done some really fun themes that have helped my creativity grow during the year.   this week's theme is back to school: what are some signs in your home that is is time to head back to school? maybe put together a shoot?   i have to say that this week's picture sort of just evolved and i thought it went with this theme FOR US perfectly.  you see, this year is our first year of homeschool.   the local schools will start back to school next week.  i always dreaded the big back to school day, as it meant our family time was going to be so much shorter and we were under the schedule of some one else.    this year is different because we won't be having the "typical" back to school day.  we will start school soon...in another week or two at our house and i am really excited!   this picutre symbolizes so much to me.  i look at it and see my daughter carefree in the days of summer and realize our days will continue to get to have this relaxed feeling--that we can enjoy our summer a tad bit longer. i also see my sweet seven year old still so innocent and carefree, and hope this time spent together can preserve her childhood ust a "wee" bit longer...or at the very least, let us enjoy it more together!!  

for those of you with little and big ones heading off to school; i pray you all have wonderful teachers, classes, and a year of amazing memories!

now head on over to the blog of Kimberlee Edwards Photography, Cary, NC and see what she did for this back to school theme! 

"today was good. today was fun. tomorrow is another one."

i think i could list quotes from this great man all day long. quotes that would make me smile, giggle, and even ponder a bit?  where would childhood reading be without these great stories we have all grown to know and love?  i'd hate to imagine.   my daughter's school celebrates each year with fun days all week long. 

we've celebrated with the fox in the socks, put me in the zoo,  and today is wacky wednesday.  we 'll wrap the week up with oh, the places you'll go and on friday will be the 500 hats of bartholomew cubbins.  i think this is a great way for the students to learn more about dr. seuss and to have a little fun too.

i'd love to hear what your children's schools do?  or what do you do at home?  i know next year we will begin homeschooling and this will for sure be one thing we will continue to celebrate...