because life is good...

tis the season.

there  are moments when i am simply overwhelmed by how good and blessed my life truly is.

i am always thankful, but it seems sad that this overflowing awe only comes ever so often.

my gratitude is first and foremost always to the God who created it all.

i heard a pastor say once,

that if the only thing we were ever given was salvation...

no family,friends,outward blessings, that alone would be worth all our praise.

how much more should we be thankful for the many blessings we're surrounded by everyday.

i am thankful for the same things i'm sure everyone else is, but let us not make it seem trite by glazing over how truly wonderful each of these gifts are.

thankful

my Lord and Savior.

thankful for my husband.

a husband who loves, provides for, and is an amazing man.

thankful for my children.

kids that bless me with their individual personalities, each purposed for the glory of God .

treasuring each hug,  each funny word, even each 'teachable' moment that i am privileged to be present for. 

thankful for this homeschooling adventure that we're on.

the privilege of getting every day with them.

thankful for health.

so easy to overlook when you have it, and so scary when in doubt.  we've had 2 cancer scares with our kids, some issues with me, my husband's chronic illness.  moments of health are ones to be praised for!

thankful for good friends.

old  friends new.

women who bless me, laugh with me (occasionally at me;)) , pray for me, act stupid with me, share with me and put up with me!

thankful for a warm home, food on the table, beds to rest our heads.

and all the many luxuries that many before us, and around us don't have.

"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty famine injustice in the world when He could do something about it...but I'm afraid He might ask me the same question."-anonymous

i hope you all have a beautiful thanksgiving day...

Blessings,

Mandy

still alive ya'all...

still not up to blogging,

but thought i'd hop on share a picture:

this is mr.buggie boo.

when i hear rocks being crashed upon my dining table i yell

"What the heck are you doing ?!  Why are there rocks on the table?"

looking very irritated he says ,

"MOM, i'm playing rock, paper, scissors."

sheesh.

i should have known that!

:D

Blessings,

Mandy

homeschool mother's journal...

In my life this week…

well, i've cried.

that's big for me since i'm not a crier.

but sometimes a mama just has to go take a bath at 10 am and cry her eyes out.

right?

right?

In our homeschool this week…

well, being the 'new' homeschooler i am, i was totally unprepared for columbus day.

sunday night i looked at the calendar and rushed to pinterest to find craft ideas.

at 10 pm , trying to print out columbusish stuff, i realized my printer was out of ink.

let's just say i'll be paying a lot more attention to the calendar in the future!

we did go on our first field trip!

we headed out to the fire station

(the oldest monkey chose not to go)

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

well, hhmmmmm.

i ran across this article last week. 

apparently it made several people angry, but i felt it was such a heartfelt and honest article, that i took no offense, just absorbed...

here

What’s working/not working for us…

well, my oldest is really fighting me on just about every aspect of school (and life, but that's not for now...)  so i am rethinking our school days.

i maybe switching it all up and having blocks of time for each student, otherwise, he absorbs so much of my time and energy, i have very little for the other kids.

he drags a 20 mintue lesson into hoooouuurrrsss  long.

my thought right now is to tell him "you have between 10-12 for my help.  should you choose to throw a fit, refuse to do your work, etc. your time is up anyways"

any advice?

Questions/thoughts I have…

if i should change history to more of a unit study approach?

I’m cooking...

diet food,

can you please eat a cookie for me?

I’m grateful for…a Heavenly Father who, despite my discouragement, questioning and doubts,

has a plan and a purpose for us that is being weaved to reveal itself.

I’m praying for…

wisdom.

hehe.

and for 10 lbs to be gone next week.

(kidding...kinda)

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

***don't look if you are squemish or from PETA***

blessings,

mandy