when the plan changes

Did I get up early?

Nope.

{I'm going to blame it on my awful shoulder -- which is an old rotator cuff injury (with 2 surgeries) back from highschool.  The pain was almost gone yesterday, and then at 3:45 am I reached behind me to check the time (because my sweet Samuel was waking up) and out went my shoulder. Again.}

Earlier today I was having a hard time managing the pain.

Thankfully, after some heavy duty ibuprofen I'm able to sit still now.  But, it's 11:29 and we've accomplished very little.  Make that no school work yet -- besides Gracie's Saxon Math.

And I'm okay with that.

If I adhered to such a rigorous schedule that wouldn't have grace for days like this I'd drive myself crazy with overwhelm and guilt.  So I've had to learn to be content.  In the good/great days and the middle of the road days and the bad days.  I've discovered the days where I think I'm failing that they can still be redeemed.  They just don't go the way I planned in my head.

{that's the good arm in a pic taken by my Hannah}

The sooner I relinquish my ideal agenda and embrace picking up where I left off the better.  I've had to learn this -- slowly. Sometimes I'm such a black and white gal.  If the day is flopping by 11:32 am (which is now) then I used to throw in the towel.  Now, I'm starting to realize that instead of looking at the day as not measuring up that I now look at the day as having 8-9 valuable hours right in front of me. It's a reversal of thinking.

How will I use those minutes? Lamenting the morning that didn't follow my original plan? Or grateful for the full afternoon that I'm blessed with?

I'm choosing the latter.

So, with my shoulder pain slightly reduced, and my kids happy because they got to watch a movie in the morning, and the light snow falling I press on.  We'll work on our lists, I'll rest, but above all I'm content in our day.

**************************

By the way, do you see this adorable picture of my Gracie dwarfed by that enormous frame?  My daughter Hannah is hosting a giveaway on her blog (an original Organic Bloom frame) and I, of course, had to mention it.  I can't win.  But, maybe one of you can.  I'm working on trying to convince Hannah that the best place for that frame is in my living room.

Go to Hannah's blog

aspire

and enter.  Win for me.  And tell her that it would look perfect in my living room.   Thanks. :)

want to know something??

I did it.

I woke up early.

(I did however rest on our living room couch for just a bit.)

I've had my prayer time.
Coffee.
Blogging -- including reading all of your kind and encouraging comments.
Cleaned a bit.
Started a load of laundry.
Put out our lists for the day.

My family is just now waking.
First Samuel.
Then Caleb.
Now Elijah.
I've built 1 wooden train track
and
I've peeled 3 oranges.
And opened 2 bananas.

Now they're eating breakfast.
In my clean and ready for the day kitchen.

I feel tired.
Yet, ready for the day.
Ahead of my schedule -- not rushing to catch up.

Joyful.
And content.

How long does it take for something to become a habit?
(maybe I should start an accountability thread)
Because I think I could get used to this.

Did you do it as well?  Did you rise early?

(missed yesterday's post on the scenarios?  If so click here)

(5:52 am -- taken August 2010)

i need this new habit

Scenario One

Yesterday, I woke up at 5:43 am because my shoulder was bugging me.  Instead of going back to bed, I stayed awake, prayed, blogged, and tidied the house.  By the time my family was awake I was full of energy and ready to go.

I felt great.  Motivated.  Energized.

Even though my sleep was less.

Scenario Two

Today, I woke up at 7:14 am because I wanted to sleep in.  Instead of getting up, I tried to squeeze those last minutes of sleep out me.  By the time my family woke me up (namely Samuel) I was feeling already behind.

Anxious. Feeling behind.  Tired.

Even though my sleep was more.

******************

You would think that I would want to follow scenario one.  Yet, I quickly fall prey to the idea, the comfort, of sleeping in.  Yet, that 90 minutes extra transforms my day.  I think it's because I'm able to fill my cup -- and then I have energy to fill my family's cups.  Otherwise, it's this great competition of self.

It's interesting to read that other blogging mommas have the same goal.  I wrote this post this morning, but waited to publish till after lunch.  When I came back to blogger (during one of those scheduled break times), I saw that Mandy -- from the blog From the Trenches of Motherhood -- has rising early as her goal as well.  I think I see a theme.....

So, tomorrow, I'm going to try to get up at 6am.  We'll see what happens -- I'm pretty sure my day will follow scenario one.

How about you?  Do you find a difference to your day depending on the time you wake up?

crabby mom versus cheerful mom

These days between Christmas and New Years Day are interesting, aren't they?  You still have Christmas decorations up, the house is a mess (at least parts of mine.  I go to my room or the bathroom for sanctuary.  They're probably the only rooms without new toys somewhere.), the schedule is screwed up, the kids have had way too much sugar, and honestly, there isn't much of a plan.

This can make me crabby.

Like Scrooge crabby.

  

(me probably thinking about where I'm going to put those toys)

I slowly begin to remove the snowmen, and the window clings, the Christmas dishes, and crumpled paper.  The clothes gradually make their way from warm bodies to the dirty basket in the laundry room.  Toys begin to migrate from under the tree to their respected homes in various kids rooms. This will go on until the day where I've decided that I've had enough. Then within hours my home will go from looking like a mild atomic bomb went off to clean.  Very clean. At least very clean standards for a family of nine.

I'm kind of like that.  I can put up with stuff for a while and then all of a sudden I can't handle it anymore. It's a mindset -- right?

Kind of like the day I really decide to potty-train my three year old. Or go switch the summer and winter clothes.  Or purge the closets of toys.  Or clean out the cabinets and fridge.  Or clean the truck. Or deal with those over due library books. Or empty the email inbox flooded with 1024 new emails. 

I'm thinking today or for sure tomorrow is the day when I reclaim my space.  Until then?  I'll live with Legos underfoot, and Woody Dolls in the corner, and a Mario Kart figurine on my computer desk, and the sound of the Wii downstairs.  And I won't be crabby about it.  I won't.

Because I know it's just a couple of days.  And their laughter, their freedom, their  is worth more than my need for order. That's what they'll remember.

Crabby mom vs cheerful mom who doesn't mind tripping over a couple dozen new toys.

Today that's my attitude. And, yes, I'll still be slowly taking down some of those decorations that were so artfully placed throughout my home weeks ago.  And I won't complain. 

we homeschool. And...

...we take most of December off.

For years I've found myself stressed out in December.  The schedule bursts with activities, places to go, and things to create.  Instead of fostering an environment of peace, excitement and even joy -- I let my home become a place of anxiety.  Even simple things, like making cookies, became rushed.  We were moving so fast that we lost Christmas.

Then, in the same breath, I'd be trying to cram in our studies.  We'd work through the day, and due to the high level of activities, academics, and Christmas planning, we'd end our day exhausted and ungrateful.

So I stopped.

Several years ago, I realized that I needed to take most of December off from homeschooling.  In fact, I also realized that it is okay to do this -- it really benefits my family.  We need the time to be a family.  To serve others.  To make cookies -- okay, we don't really need it, but cookies are important. When I overloaded our schedule we lost time to focus on our Savior's birth.  I'd rush through Bible lessons to get to Math to get to Spelling to throw some clothes in the dryer to switch out the cookies to knit a couple rows to shovel the walk to take them to ballet to change a diaper to wrap some presents to help with phonics to.....

It was simply too much.

Now, I plan our year knowing that December will be busy.  I'll tuck extra lessons in here or there, or we'll do some phonics or math, or I'll cross out the repeated lessons.  I don't follow my regular schedule.  And I let it go. Sometimes that's even harder as I'll find myself worrying that we didn't get any academics done.  But, I overlooked all we did do.  Like handwriting when we write out letters of thanks.  Or math as we double (or triple -- hee hee hee) cookie recipes.  Or history when we read Jotham's Journey and discuss nomads, and Israel, and more.  I'm amazed at how much we've learned this month -- I'm simply aware to what questions they ask or where their interest is piqued.

Learning doesn't always need to come with a list to check off.

Learning can come in living life.  

So there.  I've admitted it.  I am one of those homeschoolers who gives her kids a good 3-4 weeks off in December.  And I'll tell you one other thing -- when we get to January my kids are incredibly motivated to do their work. They really are.  And so am I.  We're refreshed from Christmas.  Imagine that?  Refreshed and revived instead of stressed and burnt-out. Oh yeah, and I've also discovered that at the end of the year we're exactly where I need to be -- in both scenarios -- knowing that allows me to really relax for these couple weeks.

December, while still busy, is now a beautiful month of freedom, laughter, and joy.

I call this picture - Me, the less-stressed, Mom. 

(thanks, Hannah, for taking it on our girl's day.)

ballet + toys + schedule = random

Last week, I didn't link up with Miscellany Monday.  That was only the second time since it began.  So this week, I've been determined to write my Miscellany post! You all know how much I love this meme.  It's way to fun to be random!

1) I have one blank day a week on my schedule.  Only one.  And it's Friday.  And, now, it's being threatened with an item to do.

reposting my schedule picture

Sunday isn't filled in yet -- notice after that only

three blank Fridays remain.

2) That item?  Ballet practice for this year's Nutcracker Ballet.  I'm praying that my girls get roles that require a Saturday rehearsal --since I'm already there.

that's Hannah with the kids from the 

Creative Movement Class that she student teaches

3) Why?  I drive to North Ballet Academy everyday of the week except Friday and Sunday.  I think our vehicles know the way to ballet.

4) There's a beautiful back road on the way to ballet.  I've been snapping pictures there for the last year.  In fact, I'm getting ready to write a post titled - the road to ballet - stay tuned. :)

here's one of my pictures

this was taken last spring when the river flooded the road

the road closed 12 hours after this picture was taken

 and was closed for 10 days

5) Hannah goes through pointe shoes every six weeks.  That's painful for the pocketbook.

Hannah's screenshot on her laptop

That's her feet -- in pointe

6) For those of you who know me on facebook, you know that several days ago I confiscated about half of my older sons' toys.  They had been told to be stewards of their rooms, and after several days weeks of walking into a messy room every night I decided to follow through -- I came in and removed the toys that were strewn about.

7) It took them two days to notice the toys were gone.

8) They are much happier without all the toys.  Now they actually play with the toys they have left.

9) I could offset those new pointe shoes by selling the bins of toys in the garage.  Hmmmmm.....

10) And finally, to be completely random, I just wanted you to know that I am sipping my Keurig brewed coffee.  Today's blend?  Donut Shop.  And it is good.

Thanks guys!  Have a great Monday.....excellent Monday...amazing Monday....okay, get through Monday!

And remember to link up to my dear friend Carissa's Miscellany Monday thread. :)

the new groove

I'm figuring it out.

This is the first week back -- back to the fall swing.  The schedule.  The running around.  Homeschooling.

I'll still blog.  

I just need to get my bearings, figure out my schedule, and make it through this week.

Oh yeah, and catch up on some laundry.  Do some yardwork.  Clean.

And watch with joy as my kids learn -- it never gets old.

that's Chloe's hand as she drops an egg into salt water

Brennan, Caleb and Elijah thought it was so cool that it could float

I hope that your week was awesome.  Whether it was the start of a new routine or the continuation of an existing one -- I pray that you are renewed and invigorated.  Fall is my favorite.   How about for you?

And, of course, I'm linking up to my wonderful daughter, Hannah's, Lovely Photo Wednesday.  Check it out -- I think you'll be blessed.  Wait.  I know you'll be blessed.

some honesty & my garage sale finds

I've decided that in order to simplify I need to be honest with myself.  Part of being honest is examining our day, and our structure.  I've come to realize that I'll probably never be the super-scheduled homeschooler.  This pains me a bit to even admit it, but I'm starting to believe it's true.  As much as I crave The Managers of Their Home schedule...with all it's colored labels and charts and planning...when push comes to shove I'm just not that type of gal.  I'm more of a ...I know where you guys need to end up....so I'm going to write it down and you finish that work...but make sure you blog/design/write Hannah, and you cook Chloe, and well...that's just me.

what's the path?

It's kind of hard even talking about not being ultra-schooley (is that even a word?  Let's just pretend it is and move on.)  In fact, I really truly admire my friends that have more rigid routines.  It's hard for me to not compare myself to them. Now, know that I value academics, but I also value flexibility.  As adults we have to learn to adapt to changes in our routines.  Honestly, I think it's important that our children are able to quickly adjust to a routine that isn't normal. Ha...that's probably just my way of making myself feel better about our less-structured routine. That being said, we do have goals.  Hannah and Chloe know that they need to work each day, and accomplish so much in each book.  But, I'm not the let's do math from 9-10am then spelling from 10-10:15 type of mom.

And that still frustrates me.

Somehow I tend to think that I view the ultra-structure as succeeding and the relaxed atmosphere as not...and I'm relaxed!  I've determined that instead of fighting this I need to let-go and embrace the learning style of my home.  My children do outstanding on their tests (it's mandatory here), and yet I still fret if we don't complete everything.  A friend of mine told me that she realized that she made it an idol to complete a book by the end of the school year.  That comment really got me thinking.  Am I putting too much pressure on completing some schoolbooks for the right reason?  If it's so I feel good, then I'm thinking it's not the right reason.  If it takes away from the love of learning and dampens my childrens' spirits then, again, not an appropriate goal.  However, if we've set a goal and we're cheerfully working towards it, that is something to strive towards.

It's got me wondering what other "idols" I've created.  Is a perfectly clean house one?  A green yard?  Appearing to have it all together?  There are so many things that we can focus on which causes us to lose focus on the Lord and His focus for our lives and family.  It had, in fact, become a source of frustration for me to not match up to what I thought the ideal homeschool family looked like.  I compared and then felt I failed.  But, as my homeschooler mentor tells me,

comparison is the death of contentment.

Convicting? It is for me.  So this morning, I woke up and made my kids a treat for breakfast.  Hannah was working on her Algebra, Chloe her math, and Grace was still sleeping.  The boys were playing.  It was calm, and beautiful.  Twenty years from now I know that the memories my kids will take with them will be of waking up and smelling the aroma of breakfast...and seeing me joyful...

breakfast

_____________________________________________

One last thing...I was looking through some pictures on my facebook page and came across this picture taken  of my kids decorating Christmas cookies.  Those moments...those breaks from the normal....the freedom to create...to laugh...and to enjoy each other.... are the moments that I, as their mother, desire to facilitate. Yes, we need to be diligent in our studies, but I also need to be diligent in creating these moments for them.

decorating cookies, making memories

__________________________________

Ok...I had to come back and post my garage sale finds today.  I live in an area with fabulous, and I mean FABULOUS, garage sales.  And I'm the first to get there.  I'll get my Caribou coffee and peruse the deals.  Today I found a bunch of stuff (don't worry...it's not going to clutter my home...it was needed things and I'm having a HUGE sale in a couple of weeks) that I loved.

Here are my two favorites:

only $ 1 -- and I love gardening

cute dance bag for 25 cents

Then I have this amazing friend who gave me two of these chairs.  They're for a kids table (which I'm hunting garage sales for.  I just love them!

new fab chairs

Thanks for enjoying my finds with me!