Tot School

As I’m learning to let go of the big things in life, I’m also learning that I need to have little projects or events that I can have some control over. One of those things I really want to focus on is introducing G to the world around her.

I started to get the idea to do some "home preschool" while we were in Mississippi for Tyson's training. Really, I believe that this will be more beneficial in the respect that the both of us will need the mental stimulation.  (And something for me to have a little control over and PLAN!)

I came across this wonderful site, Tot School. They have tons of printables & other goodies, but what I like most is that it encourages learning through purposeful play. There's also a weekly link up to share with other mom’s who are working with their little ones at home.

This is a perfect tool for me, because being the planner that I am - my original idea for school with G started out much more grand and structured than should be realistic for a 1 year old. (Complete with curriculum & lesson plans. I guess the 7 year old in me still wants to be a 1st grade teacher.)

Now that I've been brought back down to earth, I think we'll start off with purposeful play focusing on colors and go from there.  (Changing themes, and as she requires different stimulation & challenges we'll evolve from there.)

And now that I realize this is something that doesn’t have to require as much planning as I originally thought, we’ll start before the move. It’ll only be a day or two a week for now (it has to fit in between work & packing & enjoying summer activities), but I’m excited to get something started with Miss G.

One

I receive a daily emailed devotional from Proverbs 31 Ministries. It's often amazing how each devotional will touch what is going on with me, or clear what's clouding my head, today. I wonder how many women God speaks to through this one simple email.

Today's devotional was about how it "just takes one". One person, one word, one kind gesture to change the adversities you're going through. It rang so true to me. Just one thing can send ripple effects to so many others.

All it took was some vision loss for my grandpa, a word said to a friend, and a young Mennonite wanting his own farm to come knock on the door. At this moment it seems like we're all scrambling. My mom to find a storage unit and put her belongings in storage while she continues on her journey to find her "Grandma's" house. For Tyson & I to put the majority of our belongings in storage and rush to find an apartment to move into. My grandparents to now decide if they will own houses in NY & FL, or if they will move to FL full time.....they have more decisions than the rest of us combined. Yet the truth of this...is it is all such a good thing. From the moment I heard about the decision to sell the farm, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was Gods work. His name was written all over this.

It has only taken me venting about our moving situation to one coworker for her to inform me of the apartments she lived in, how they're remodeled and they have a lot available right now. (I hope they're as wonderful as she says, cause from what we could see in the pictures, this will be the biggest kitchen I've ever been able to call my own!)

There are some mornings when I wake up and the fire in me is not as bright & loud as it should be. Still there, still burning. But when the piles of things to pack are piling up and the boxes still sit empty, I get overwhelmed. My heart becomes heavy at the thought how much moving & resettling my daughter will go through in the next 2-3 years....it's a task to remind myself that this is all part of His plan. I can worry if I want, but it's really just wasted energy. And I need that energy to pack.

It just takes one.
It's easy to find comfort knowing we're just waiting for the next ONE to jump start our next season of life. We can enjoy today, because that's really the most important thing of all.

Busy Bee

This past weekend was full of lots of fun with extended family.
Unfortunately, I have a HUGE yard sale to get ready for this coming Saturday & Sunday...and I didn't do what I was supposed to do this weekend.

So that means right now I'm up to my eyeballs in yellow sticky price tags and trying to decide if we really need to keep 3 million stuffed animals. (G is only 16 months, how did she get that many already???)


Hopefully I'll be back to myself soon. :)

New Identity

I changed my name.
Well, actually, I changed the name of the blog.
And only in the banner.
But it makes me happy, so that's all that matters, right??

Acutally, I guess it has also changed in my state of mind.
Since becoming a 'mom' I have started obsessing over having a homestead for our family. I desperately want a homestead. And judging by the fact that G, completely unprovoked, carried her pail around the entire backyard "harvesting" black walnut seeds, I am guessing that she shares the same visions.

The one thing I'm learning as I grow with God is to make the most of what I have in front of me. Not to dwell on what I think I'm missing, or what I am waiting on.

Hence, the title change.

Just because simple things stand in my way, like not owning a land or even knowing where I'll be living in 3-5 months time, I should not allow myself to feel like life is on hold. Because it certainly is not.

So I'm starting a new chapter of life. Not waiting & dwelling, but DOING. There are things I can do now to make wherever we lay our heads, our homestead. With the way the next couple years could turn out, I may be really well rehearsed in these aspects of life, so when it finally comes time to LIVE on a homestead, I'll be ready to take on the chickens & the garden.

New name. New outlook. What'dya think??

Berry Picking

One of my favorite things about living at my grandparents' is the black raspberry bushes.

They used to be all over the property, but due to landscaping changes they are now limited to behind the garage, and one bush transplanted to the actual garden.

Many summers my grandma would send my grandpa & I outside with containers to fill. It was my special time with him. Moments I will always hold dear.

This year G was able to participate and she's become quite the pro.

She can pick out berries that are ready, those us "taller" people seem to overlook. (That's a lesson that I believe children could teach adults about most things in life.)

Of course there are some job hazards to berry picking with toddlers...

This memory is extra special, not only because I'm able to share something special with my grandpa & my daughter, but because within the past few weeks an offer has been placed on the farm.

It wasn't even on the market. Health changes for my grandpa had planted the seed of selling in my grandparents' mind, and God provided with a lovely young Mennonite family. Who will return the "farm" to an actual working farm again. It's what we had all hoped would happen. This precious land will be handed over to a family who will care for it & treat it properly.

Now we're all starring at the start of new adventures & experiences. As we all scramble to find a place to live by October 1st. (And not knowing when Tyson will be starting tech school in MS is certainly throwing a wrench into any plans he & I could possibly think up.)

For now though, I will not worry, lay it at God's feet, and enjoy the wonderful berries & memories He has provided.

G's Fourth of July Weekend - In Pictures

I know, that was 2+ weeks ago. Better late than never, right??

...Mom, please don't take a picture of me in this silly hat!

Pride

Patriotism is easy to come by on national holidays, but other days of the years it may not be as natural. Especially given that I don't seem to know one person who isn't disenchanted with the government in one aspect or another. Sometimes with those feelings it's easy to lose site of what a wonderfuly place we live.

Because of the number of family members we have that serve or have served in the military, I am always proud of the men & women who step up and serve this country. From those who made the ultimate sacrifice, to those who prepare food on naval vessels, they're all important!

The road that we live on is a state highway, and a few years ago was officially named The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway of Valor. For 3 years in a row there has been a motorcylce tribute ride for Vietnam Vets.
It a simple thing, but we all really enjoying watching as they ride by. There's really no way of knowing when the bikes will come through. This is a 98 mile ride, and we're about 20-30 miles from their final destination. We worked outside all afternoon waiting for the bikes to go by. (Porch chairs at the ready.)

Our porch was still decorated with red, white & blue from the recent holiday. A friend of the family lost his brother in Vietnam, so my mom & I made a poster board with his name and company information and displayed it along with some small flags stuck in the yard.

This is the first year they were accompanied by planes.

I almost missed them, I thought it was a helicopter flying over head - as that's a sound that we hear more often than you think.

I had just happened to plunk G in her pool right before they arrived, so there was no removing her to get a better look (or better angle for pictures).

She enjoyed waving to them.Occasionally one of the women on the backseats would see her & wave back.

This year the ride brought me to tears. You could see people looking towards the signs we'd made and then they'd honk their horns & wave. All of the bikes had small flags on them, a couple bikes had large flags on them. One rider wore a flag shirt! (Even a pick-up truck or 2 went by with large flags, POW MIA flags and a wheelchair in the bed.)
It seems silly to cry over a motorcyle ride. But it's more than that. Many of these men are veterans themselves, and I'm sure they all left a buddy or 2 over there. Some of these people may have known someone who served, or just felt compeled enough to pay tribute to all those who did.

We may all feel a little less than thrilled with those in our capital, but what makes this country truly amazing is the people that choose to fight for it, and the people who live in it.

Someday, when Tyson & I have another motorcyle, it's a goal of mine to join this tribute ride.
And drive past the porch we used to enjoy watching from.

Dream Interpretation

Sometimes dreams need no interpretation. They are obvious in their meaning. Or just really good representations as to what thoughts consume your mind during the day.

For example, my dream last night:

Ron Weasley (or perhaps Rupert Grint, it was not quite clear in my dream) joined the local Air National Guard unit. And I was somehow with him, every step of the way. Annoyed at his apparent lackadaisical approach to this complete life upheaval.

Yup. That about sums it up.

3 Down, 98 to Go!

Wow, I'm really making some head way on this list.
Of course, I seem to be hitting some of the easiest stuff first. But progress is progress. :)

G's Hair in Pigtails!!!

Seeing that for months this little girl was called "him" or "he" by strangers, even when wearing pink and covered with a pink flowery blanket - this is a very big moment for her Mama!!

2 Down 99 To Go!

Now it's a little sad that I actually had to write "Go 2 Days Without Checking Facebook" on my 101 list. But I guess it had to be done. I know I spend too much time on the computer & internet - and that's at work where I have no choice. My work is on a computer AND the internet.

It was just silly that I would then get home from work and spend another 15-30 minutes on FACEBOOK, not to mention any other website I may then visit.
Yes it's nice to see what my friends & family are up to, play a game or 2 and man it sure is easy to manage a family get together...but it was distracting my from my time with G, or my housework, or my husband or my 10,000 half-finished projects. It just wasn't worth my valuable evening time.

So I went 2 days without checking it - trust me it took a little effort to not just plop down at the computer while dinner was finishing up on the stove. But after the 2 days, I found I liked having that extra time. Not being "tuned in" with the computer and focusing on what's important.

It's forced me to create a new goal to not check it at all during the week. Not even sit down at the computer during the week. It's that likely, no, but 3 or 4 nights out of 5 isn't bad. And I really don't feel like I'm missing much. The glory of Facebook, everything will be there on the weekend when I have a few spare minutes to sit down.