Paralyzed

I realized recently that I have been paralyzed by fear and it has rendered me unable to make decisions! I am trying to figure out what curriculum I am going to use next school year for the kids. (I know it's early, but we have a lot going on, including a major move across the world, which is going to spin things out of control for a while!) Also, I hate waiting for summer to make these kinds of decisions because then I don't get to enjoy my summer. So, I like to try and make decisions early, enjoy my summer and know what I am going to do.

 

Anyway, it hit me that I was letting me fear control me and it had made me unable to decide on anything. Admitting you have a problem is the first step in fixing the problem, right?

 

So, why the fear...

 

Two words that strike terror in any parent...

 

Middle School....

 

Shudder.

 

Yes, I know. Kayla is 6th grade this year, so technically she is middle school. But, when I was growing up, middle school was 7th grade, so that's what I have always considered middle school.

 

So, why now? Well, I feel like it is time to get more serious about her schooling and she needs to take real Science. I will no longer be able to teach her and Elijah together. She needs more serious Science...stuff like Life Science, Physical Science or Earth Science. I shudder again. I hated Science and making a decision about Science alone scared me too.

 

So, once I realized I was letting fear paralyze me, I also realized I needed to get over it and start making some decisions. If I don't, the move will be upon us, I'll still not have any decisions made and it will be summer in a blink and I won't be enjoying my summer and exploring our new country. I will be working on lesson plans. Sigh. I can't let that happen.

 

So, this is what I have figured out and am fairly confident that it won't be changed:

I will do Bible and History with both kids together, like we have always done. I may also do Cracking the Greek Alphabet with them both, as that will be helpful for where we are going to be living. They will both do teaching textbooks, but on their own level. I love this math program because it is completely on the computer, it teaches and grades.

 

I am still researching and trying to figure out a way that I can do more with them together, but for now, this works.

 

"I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4

 

"...Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27b

Reason 1,257 not to make dinner

So, I rarely cook anymore. Today, I decided it would be the day that I cooked dinner...it had been a while and we have food in the freezer and pantry that we need to use up. I decided the main dish would be meatloaf. I was, of course SURE I had all the ingredients, I was SURE that I had bought the few ingredients I didn't have a few weeks ago.

Well, this day is going along, pretty rocky and frustrating at times, but I was determined I was not going to waste that pound of beef I set on the counter to defrost this morning.

I got a bit late start because I had an afternoon doctor's appointment and had to wait at CVS for my medicine to be ready.

I turned the oven on at 4:15 to start it's preheat. I got the beef out, put it in a bowl, grabbed a few more ingredients, only then realizing that I never bought bread crumbs. Sigh. So, I decided I would improvise...the only thing I had comparable was oatmeal...so I used that...only the mixture was too runny and I had to use the last of the oatmeal that I had. It was still a bit more runny than I would have liked when I put it in the oven, but I figured it would soak up the extra moisture.
While it was cooking Elijah said it smelled like chicken nuggets and he wanted chicken nuggets and tator tots for dinner. I have a rule in my house, if I have actually gone through the trouble of cooking a real meal, you are going to eat what I make. If you don't like it, you still have to try it and eat the stuff that you do like.

Well, dinner got done, the meatloaf looked great, tasted good (thankfully!), we had fruits, veggies, shells and cheese, rolls and meatloaf, and Elijah said he was overwhelmed with the food. Sigh. He didn't know what to eat because he didn't want his food to get cold. Just eat and it will all be warm...he never did try the meatloaf and half way through dinner he wanted yogurt. Um, no, eat what's on your plate. He did, but he didn't eat the meatloaf or try it, but by this point I was picking my battles and more than ready for them to finish eating so I could clean up the kitchen.

Kayla liked the meatloaf, ate her dinner without complaint and was fairly happy.

By the time dinner was actually ready, I was warm from cooking and not feeling especially hungry.

When I had finally finished cleaning up the kitchen it was 6:45.

Needless to say, it was a long process, not entirely well received and put everything else late this evening.

Tomorrow night we will be eating dinner out.

Picnic fun

Do you remember when we were kids and played outside all day?? Our parents didn't want us in the house, they expected us to be out...today was one of those days for my kids. I was grumpy because Elijah's soccer games got cancelled because the fields were too wet and the kids didn't want to go anywhere! I didn't want to stay home because I knew they would play too much video games and I would spend the day working. We ran a few errands this morning and then after lunch they went out to play. They invited our neighbors over, which always makes the playtime longer and so much more fun. They decided to have a picnic on the newly built bridge and had a wonderful time playing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Creek fun!

 

 
Playing in the creek!

 

Trying to tie each other to the tree!!

 

 

 
 The boys are asking the girls to tie them up!!!

 

 Sam tying up the boys...laugh and giggles all around.

 

Colby wouldn't stop squirming so Elijah ended up falling, still having a great time!

 

 

I miss carefree days when my biggest worries were what to wear and who to play with. Although, with 3 siblings, I doubt I ever had to worry about having someone to play with. I am thankful that we have good neighbors and the kids have someone to play with. I hope they don't grow up to fast and continue to have more carefree days like today.

 

Under contract

We put our house on the market a week and a half ago and then had a big snow storm...last weekend we ended up with 10 showings, which was pretty wild. On Tuesday a family made an offer!!!! To say that I was blown away by the tornado of interest and quick offer would be an understatement.

We went back and forth with the family until late Thursday evening, where they finally accepted our offer.

I am very thankful for God's hand in this. He knows our family and everyone's personalities, what stresses us and He knows what is best for us. To God be the Glory.

We are set for an April 17th closing and praying for a smooth, uneventful few weeks. We are also praying that they would be a good fit for our neighbors.

Overall, I would have to say that everything is moving very fast, but thankful for God's guiding hand.

Sunday School

This morning in Sunday School class as we were doing prayer requests I realized how much I am going to miss this group of people when we move to Greece. It hit me from out of no where. I don't usually dwell on who or what I am going to miss each time we move, it just makes the move more difficult. I try to take it one day at a time, one moment at a time. I was watching how everyone was interacting and at times cutting up when it hit me. This group of people may only see each other at Church, but they treat each other like family. They way they pick and cut up and how someone usually finds a way to break the tension with a wise crack or well placed jab.

 

When we first started attending the class, Matt and I were a bit overwhelmed. We had never been in a SS class that had almost 40 people. I think it took me almost 6 months before I got comfortable enough to speak up. It's still hard when there is a lot of people, I don't like being the center of attention and it's scary when 40 sets of eyes turn your way! Anyway, I digress.

 

I appreciate the way that it's not one person's responsibility to teach week after week. I like that people are willing to step up and teach. I also appreciate the way it's not expected that everyone take a turn teaching. It's not everyone's gift to be able to teach adults. It's certainly not my gift. I can honestly say that everyone that has taught has done a good job and I appreciate the different teaching styles that each person has. I enjoy our Sunday School class and have learned a lot from the various studies that we have done over the two years that we have been there.

 

Over the two years the class has seen a lot of transition, people coming in and going out, but I truly appreciate the core group and the closeness that they have. I appreciate all of the people who have taken a turn to teach. I appreciate when someone is not afraid to be "real" in class. I am thankful for this group of people who have accepted my family into their group. I may not be real close with everyone in there, but I appreciate the friendships I have made and the support that this group has given me.

 

So, to all those that are in my Sunday School class, I am going to miss you! I hope that you will continue to pray for my family once we move and not just forget us. We will continue to pray for you all and will certainly keep up with you on Facebook :).

Snow fun!!!

Well, we are on day 2 of our winter storm. I can't believe how much snow we have. It has been years since we have had so much snow in Charlotte. We had a huge ice/snow storm in 2002 and I remember because I had just had Kayla a few weeks before. The next snow storm we had was when Kayla was about 18 months old. We left the country when Elijah was 22 months old, and he never saw snow before we left.
I am very thankful for the snow storm we are having. I know it might sound silly and most people are not thrilled with it, but I am truly thankful for it. This is the most snow my kids have ever seen! Kayla doesn't remember the storm of 2002 and the big snow when she was 18 months old, but they will remember this one. When we were in Africa it was too warm to snow and in Singapore it was too hot to snow. They saw fake snow at the Science Centre in Singapore, but that doesn't count. They've seen flurries here and there over the last few years...but this is the first REAL snow that they will remember. And, I am thankful that God gave us this gift before we move to Greece...where we will probably not see much snow! Pictures from today's snow fun....
Can you see the bird sitting in the cul-da-sac in this top two pictures??? I thought it was so funny!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 "This is so much fun!" -Kayla

 

 

"I'm burying myself in the snow!!!!" -Elijah

 

 Retrieving the snowball she left on the chair yesterday...it had frozen to the chair!

 

 

 Shaking the snow off the tree...

 

 The snow is getting harder!

 Love this!!! So happy to just sit in the snow together!!! Love my kiddoes!!!

Serious Cuteness

Life is way too serious. Especially when you become an adult. Sometimes it seems like you have to go out of your way to enjoy life. I am very thankful for my kids for not letting me get or stay too serious. They keep me on my toes, but mostly in a good way. We were at my sister-in-laws house today and the kids decided to play a little dress up...see pictures of them and then two pictures of my handsome nephew, Nathan.

Argh!

 Nathan :)

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17