Trying to "just" Keep up

Some have asked "how I've been"... you sweet friends!... you've noticed I've been a little absent on the blog:)

We've been great..... I just feel like I"m always trying to just Keep UP with everything that needs to be done... around the house, for the kids, with their school work, with our church/community, trying to keep up with Brian (whose pastoring, working 20+ hrs a week at a local community college & teaching 2 online courses!!!), etc! Added to that is lack of sleep and my body's efforts to keep up with Nate's "milk demand"....

and you've got one tired Momma who can't quite get the thoughts into sentences at the end of the day!

This homeschooling year has been soo much busier that I expected!!! Keeping three kids intellectually simulated, at their own levels, for hours each morning has been very challenging!!

(kids painting- learning about monks artwork in caves in India.... no I didn't pull out the plaster of Paris.... maybe next time)

(Lydia working on her "ad" family words!!)

In fact, I share some of the doubts as Erica that I'm "not doing enough".... but I praise God that He made their minds like little sponges at this age and they are soaking in all in, regardless of my teaching and failures!

In the craziness of the day, I am soo thankful for the helpers I have:)

(Anna helping Lydia with reading)
(Lydia putting on Nate's shoe and Chris teaching Nate about sticks...
Nate's really taking it all in)

And I am going through the challenging process of taking out the things of my day and week that "can wait" because....

I sure DON'T want to be too busy or sleepy to miss these moments:






One of my new goals (which I am totally BREAKING to get this post up) is to go to bed earlier!! Getting just an extra half hour or so of sleep at night has done wonders to my attitude and sleepiness during the day. I appreciated this post by Momopoly about her need to sleep to be a better mom!!

So maybe sneaking to bed at 10 might help me not "just" keep up, but join them on the trampoline while dinner is in the crock-pot and couch is free from "needs to be folded" laundry...

but I'm totally willing to leave the laundry and have breakfast for dinner, too!! LOL!!

Minor "house keeping"... someone asked what curriculum I was using this year with the kiddies... I posted about what we use HERE!! The only changes have been that I have found some "writing"prompt books targeted for pre-k and K that I have added to Chris and Lydia's weekly work. And after Christmas I hope to start all of us memorizing number families.... HOPE is the KEY word there!!

WFMW: Limiting AM Computer Distractions

With all the changes coming in the next week (construction to the house), the beautiful weather beckonging outside and in the upcoming months (preparing for Nate!!!)......

I've decided that STARTING/COMPLETING school more efficiently in the morning has to be more of a priority!!

We are working on getting the kids to complete their chores in a more timely manner... always fun! And getting everyone fed and the kitchen area tided up;)

But even with those areas there was still one area that needed WORK.... it was Momma!! yes, me!! In the mornings, I like to get ready, eat and "compute"!! But I wasn't just spending a few minutes and it wasn't just those few minutes..... all morning I'd "quickly" check email, blogs, etc! But all those minutes of "Momma distractions" add up!

And then the kids started to get distracted while I wasn't FOCUSED on THEM! Or would see the computer being used and beg to play one of their favorite online games (starfall.com or pbskids.org are our favs)!

So for almost 2 weeks now, MY "computing" has changed to reflect this need to be FOCUSED!! I have quickly checked email or linked up my blog while I eat breakfast and then I turn it OFF (or at least on standby with NO sounds coming through)!!!!

I can NOT believe how much this has changed the productivity of our mornings!! I have been sooo excited the amount of work that Anna, Chris and Lydia have been able to do these last two weeks! And I really have had time to work with Lydia and Chris.... versus 10-20 minutes and sending them off to play for a bit. They have used more "stations" and I started doing some handwriting with them:) Lydia LOVES it.... asks when we're starting school and begs for more "letter sheets" or to work in her workbook:)

I've often been in the mental debate of how to balance all my Mommy/wife responsibilities with being on the computer..... that's another blog for another time. But I thought this was a simple solution to focus on the BIG priorities that demand my time right now... in this sweet schooling stage:)

Staying up late to watch the Olympics has given me the late-night opportunities... but now I have to figure out when to get in some "computing" time for Momma when the Olympics are over and as I need the extra rest with Nate coming in a little more than 2 months!!

Check out more Works For Me Wednesday at We are That Family:)

Reminder

In our Sunday School class yesterday we had a great reminder of how we should be practically living our lives, specifically taking an assessment of whether we are truely living by the Spirit as believers in Christ.

Here was the statement that caused me to stop, ponder and assess (paraphrased to talk to me):

"What occupies my mind, how do I spend my time and energy, what do I give myself
to - all are determined by whether I am a person living in the flesh or living
in the Spirit." (paraphrased from Jere Phillips in Life Words, Lifeway Press, fall 2008)

Are my thoughts, actions and energies spent on growing closer to the Lord? Serving my family with a cheerful spirit? Being an encouraging wife**? A loving, available and creative Mom?Attempting to serve the Lord outside my home? Or am I distracted?

I praise You God for this reminder and time of reflection for me. Thank You that it came in moments of stillness and not in the midst of tears or crisis. I praise You for the creative outlets you have given me, but allow me to have the right balance and the right priorities. I praise You for giving me Your Spirit to guide me to be more like You!

**If you are not a regular girltalker.... you've missed something these last few weeks. They've been on the subject "Doing your Husband Good"... check it out this week as some of the reader post creative ideas to "do you husband good"!! I've really been encouraged by their recent posts on homemaking and having home as a priority!