Hello everyone. I feel like I haven't written in a while, so I wanted to say hi. Thanksgiving was great. I am so unbelievably blessed to have a family that I not only love, but also like. I have pretty good in-laws too, so the holiday was great. Good times, with great people, and a really fun game of Cranium
I am exhausted, but for some reason am wide awake. It is almost 1am though, so I really should try to sleep.
Thanks for listening. I want to know what everyone is up to for Christmas. Talk to me people!!
Who writes this stuff?
- Andysbethy
- I try to keep my priorities in order: Jesus, my Andy, our children, everything else. I homeschool our boys, love to read almost all written words and have been challenged by the military life for 18 years. Right now my faulty human body is demanding a lot of attention. One day at a time, learning as much as possible every day and remembering to look for JOY when other things threaten to overwhelm.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Clarification
First of all, I think that it is probably a good idea for me to NEVER blog at 11:30 at night. By that time I am exhausted, and my emotions are a little more sensitive then usual. I feel much better tonight. I have talked to several important people in my life and have been reminded that I DO have a definite calling, and that I am silly to doubt it. Andy hasn't mentioned any of our discussion from last night, so I will just wait for awhile and see where it all goes.
Secondly, it has been pointed out that Melissa does not remember pigs, and I felt called to clarify. I personally never had any contact with pigs. My family merely rented a house on property that was owned by a farmer, and the barns on said property were used for pig "storage". In all honestly, not only did I have nothing to do with the pigs, I don't even actually know what time of day they were fed. I was, and still am, completely terrified of pigs. I think that a combination of watching The Wizard of Oz too many times, and visiting the Marcellino farm as a very young and impressionable five year old worked together to create that fear, and I must admit that I have never fully overcome it. Pigs will eat anything..... way scary thought when you are quite a bit smaller then them. Charlotte's Web is all well and good, but pigs are still scary.
One last note for the evening - Zion has perfected the ability to eat a fork full of food, and with precision, spit out the vegetable that was hidden under the cottage cheese, and behind the macaroni. It is am amazing feat to witness. He has also decided that most food is better when it is chewed on for long amounts of time, then spit out. That trick is reserved mostly for meat, and I can't really fault him for that one, so we are letting it slide. Every day is an adventure!
Secondly, it has been pointed out that Melissa does not remember pigs, and I felt called to clarify. I personally never had any contact with pigs. My family merely rented a house on property that was owned by a farmer, and the barns on said property were used for pig "storage". In all honestly, not only did I have nothing to do with the pigs, I don't even actually know what time of day they were fed. I was, and still am, completely terrified of pigs. I think that a combination of watching The Wizard of Oz too many times, and visiting the Marcellino farm as a very young and impressionable five year old worked together to create that fear, and I must admit that I have never fully overcome it. Pigs will eat anything..... way scary thought when you are quite a bit smaller then them. Charlotte's Web is all well and good, but pigs are still scary.
One last note for the evening - Zion has perfected the ability to eat a fork full of food, and with precision, spit out the vegetable that was hidden under the cottage cheese, and behind the macaroni. It is am amazing feat to witness. He has also decided that most food is better when it is chewed on for long amounts of time, then spit out. That trick is reserved mostly for meat, and I can't really fault him for that one, so we are letting it slide. Every day is an adventure!
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Flabbergasted...
We have gotten involved this week at the church we have been attending here. I have finally found some people to connect with, and that is so exciting. Tonight Andy got out of school early (he had a test, so only had to stay long enough to take it) and we all went to "small group" as a family. At this church they keep the kids at the church, while the grownups go different places for different groups. Our group had a good variety of ages, most with children, one other homeschooler, two ladies that teach at a local Christian school, some prior military guys... good group for us I think. We ended up talking to one of the teachers and Andy was so enthusiastic, and excited to hear about the school. That put my shield up, of course. Not that I have anything against Christian schools...I just knew where it was going.
Of course, on the way home afterward we had a "discussion" (that is code for an almost arguement) about homeschooling, again. I was fussing at him because I have always talked about homeschooling, I thought he was open to it, he has had years to get used to the idea, yada yada yada. He wants me to put Canaan into a Christian school, try to get a job at the same place, and eventually Zion would be there with us too, when he got old enough. I am totally closed to that idea. Possibly when Zion gets old enough for school I would consider it, but not while he is so young. Anyway, I was telling him that he needed to really pray about his attitude, and that he needed to be more open to God's leading, and I realized.... have I ever really prayed about homeschooling? I have always assumed I would teach my kids at home. That has been my dream, my goal, my desire my entire life. But is it God's dream, God's goal, God's desire for my boys? I have to admit that at first glance, I don't see how it could NOT be God's will, but I can't honestly say that I have specifically asked him about it. I KNOW that God called me to be a mother above all else. I have a degree, I am not afraid to use it, but even in college, when people asked what I wanted to do afterward, my answer was "get married, have babies". I even have the t-shirt to prove it. (do you remember that Michelle? I still have mine, by the way) So, being a Mom is God's will for me. I do not doubt that. I can't see how keeping them home would not be part of that plan, but if I am going to ask Andy to seek God about it, I have to be willing to seek him too. There is a chance that his plans are different than my own. That terrifies me. How do you know the answer to a question like that? I suggested that if Canaan can't read by the end of this school year, we could consider sending him somewhere. Andy vetoed that immediately, because quite honestly, Canaan can read now. He doesn't like to work at it, but when he sits down and tries, when he has an interest, he can read several of his little "hooked on phonics" books.
I think that Andy is still way too influenced by his own upbringing, but when it all boils down, so am I. I just think the way I was raised is "right" and his was "wrong", at least as far as schooling goes. How do you help someone over come that? I really haven't anticipated this problem. I didn't plan for it, don't have a ready arguement. Carrie, you just had to talk your husband into it. How do you do that? I thought that Andy has agreed with me for all these years. I have been talking about homeschooling our children since before we ever had one. I just assumed that he was fine with it. I am slightly flabbergasted.
I guess the first step is to take it before God with an open heart, just in case I am wrong, and this is not what I am supposed to do. Pray for me, because I am truly at a loss.
Of course, on the way home afterward we had a "discussion" (that is code for an almost arguement) about homeschooling, again. I was fussing at him because I have always talked about homeschooling, I thought he was open to it, he has had years to get used to the idea, yada yada yada. He wants me to put Canaan into a Christian school, try to get a job at the same place, and eventually Zion would be there with us too, when he got old enough. I am totally closed to that idea. Possibly when Zion gets old enough for school I would consider it, but not while he is so young. Anyway, I was telling him that he needed to really pray about his attitude, and that he needed to be more open to God's leading, and I realized.... have I ever really prayed about homeschooling? I have always assumed I would teach my kids at home. That has been my dream, my goal, my desire my entire life. But is it God's dream, God's goal, God's desire for my boys? I have to admit that at first glance, I don't see how it could NOT be God's will, but I can't honestly say that I have specifically asked him about it. I KNOW that God called me to be a mother above all else. I have a degree, I am not afraid to use it, but even in college, when people asked what I wanted to do afterward, my answer was "get married, have babies". I even have the t-shirt to prove it. (do you remember that Michelle? I still have mine, by the way) So, being a Mom is God's will for me. I do not doubt that. I can't see how keeping them home would not be part of that plan, but if I am going to ask Andy to seek God about it, I have to be willing to seek him too. There is a chance that his plans are different than my own. That terrifies me. How do you know the answer to a question like that? I suggested that if Canaan can't read by the end of this school year, we could consider sending him somewhere. Andy vetoed that immediately, because quite honestly, Canaan can read now. He doesn't like to work at it, but when he sits down and tries, when he has an interest, he can read several of his little "hooked on phonics" books.
I think that Andy is still way too influenced by his own upbringing, but when it all boils down, so am I. I just think the way I was raised is "right" and his was "wrong", at least as far as schooling goes. How do you help someone over come that? I really haven't anticipated this problem. I didn't plan for it, don't have a ready arguement. Carrie, you just had to talk your husband into it. How do you do that? I thought that Andy has agreed with me for all these years. I have been talking about homeschooling our children since before we ever had one. I just assumed that he was fine with it. I am slightly flabbergasted.
I guess the first step is to take it before God with an open heart, just in case I am wrong, and this is not what I am supposed to do. Pray for me, because I am truly at a loss.
The new time...?
I am just wondering if my boys and I are the only ones affected by this time change. I have never really understood why we still do the whole "spring forward and fall back" thing. I lived on a farm, and it really didn't help there either - it is not like the pigs understand and just gleefully accept that they are going to get fed an hour later because the time has changed. (but, by the way, when I lived on a farm it was in rural Indiana, and they don't participate in the time change. Pretty much the entire country does, but not Indiana - those rebels!! (brilliant, if you ask me)) I thought the whole idea behind it was to make access to sunlight easier, since it will get brighter earlier in the day. But it doesn't really help, because now it gets dark really early. It's not like it increases the actual amount of daylight during any given day. Canaan has been up at what he thinks is 7:30 every morning, same as usual. The problem is that now it is 6:30, and since I have stayed up until 11 or 12 new time, which was 12 or 1 old time, I really have no desire to get up.
I must admit though that there are some definite positives though. Since I am up, I get stuff done. I have accomplished more in the mornings this week. This morning we made bacon, eggs and biscuits, set up a train set that covered nearly the entire living room, watched Larry Boy and the Rumor Weed, practiced shapes and colors, Mommy worked out, as well as cleaned up the breakfast mess, made our beds, and Canaan ran the vacuum in his room, all by 11 or so.
It is currently 11:45, I am still in my sweaty work out clothes, and I could happily retire for the day now. Maybe I will feel better after I finally get a shower and clean clothes! I guess I will go work toward that goal.
I must admit though that there are some definite positives though. Since I am up, I get stuff done. I have accomplished more in the mornings this week. This morning we made bacon, eggs and biscuits, set up a train set that covered nearly the entire living room, watched Larry Boy and the Rumor Weed, practiced shapes and colors, Mommy worked out, as well as cleaned up the breakfast mess, made our beds, and Canaan ran the vacuum in his room, all by 11 or so.
It is currently 11:45, I am still in my sweaty work out clothes, and I could happily retire for the day now. Maybe I will feel better after I finally get a shower and clean clothes! I guess I will go work toward that goal.
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