Monday, September 26, 2011
Play Day
I am on a mission today to do as many fun things with the kids as possible in and around our own house...a full play day. The kids will kind of set the pace and choose the activities. God, please teach me how to do this. At the end of the day, I hope to document many examples of me letting go and having fun with my 2 children. I have decided that since this is Grace's last year before kindergarten, I should use the time wisely. I have no clue how the house will hold up, the food will get fixed, or the laundry will get done but I trust it will. More to follow.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Strawberry Brumfield
Grace has been a Strawberry Shortcake fan by virtue of being my daughter. I liked Stawberry as a little girl and to this day, her show is so sweet and innocent. There is a Strawberry theme song at the beginning of the dvds that Grace watches and a couple years ago, I changed the words to "Strawberry Brumfield" and Grace's face lights up still when I do it. Here are two pictures from this morning of our very own Strawberry, heading out to another day of prek.
The new backpack is as big as she is but it gets the job done!
The new backpack is as big as she is but it gets the job done!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Simplify
Why is it so difficult to simplify? As Shawn would say...it is a conundrum!!! I am still dejunking, decluttering, organizing, and rearranging. I started 2 weeks and 5 days ago. Granted I have taken some breaks since then, but not many! A friend of mine said she did the same thing and then looked around and felt like it needed to be done again 1 week later. That sort of sums up how I feel. I thought I was finished with my closet (after donating 1 huge garbage bag full of clothes) but have worked on it for 2 hours this Sunday morning. I know it sounds CRAZY to spend so much time on this project but if I can ever get it completed, we will spend LESS TIME OVERALL digging, searching, shuffling through "stuff" because organization saves time. Once I finish the sifting and sorting, I will do some "putting in order" of all it. I am probaby 70% of the way there??? I think my stuff is multiplying. CRAZY! How can one family with a goal of simplifying have such a difficult time doing it??? I can't take it! (This part of the post is mostly for me because I need to vent about this!)
Last night, we had our first bonfire and hayride on the farm. We invited the Bruce's (with their 3 children), the Witherspoon's (with their 2 children), and the Hoisington's (with their 2 children). It warmed my heart to watch the kids play and make memories. At the beginning of the evening, Grace's little buddy (Henry) needed a chair to sit in. Grace had put her babydoll (in its carrier) in the chair beside her. Henry picked it up and sat down, then offered (in this really sweet voice) to hold her baby. The two of them go to prek together and met when they were about 6 mos old. They are SO CUTE together and play SO WELL. I watched as Noah John and his little buddy Jake played tractors and monster trucks in the dirt (in the dark, lit barely by the bonfire). They played for a long time and were precious. Their conversations were ADORABLE...at 2 they are close buddies from church and I hope with all my heart they grow up to be Christian buddies forever and ever. Grace played quite a bit with Anna, who is 7. They danced, twirled, played house (Anna was the mom), and goofed off and laughed a lot especially on the hayride. Grace seemed like a big girl and I can't imagine a better, sweeter role model than little Anna. Needless to say the s'mores were delicious and there was not a single marshmallow left at the end of the evening. I think both hearts and bellies were full...friendship is a wonderful thing.
When we got home, it was almost 10 but we all sat down on the porch and talked and petted the dog who has just gotten tame enough to pet this weekend which makes us really happy. The fact that he is part-mastiff and will probably weigh at least 100lbs has made me hesitant to get attached because he has been a very annoying, pushy puppy. While we were on the porch, Noah John pointed out a small tree frog on and we studied it for awhile. It was a vivid, light green color and looked more like a toy than a slimy frog. I think he was especially thrilled because the three bigger boys were searching for frogs in the weeds near the bonfire.
I had hoped to be at church this morning. I truly miss being with my church family on Sunday mornings now. I think one of the things I miss most is fellowshipping with the women in my Sunday School class. We are from different places and walks of life-some married, some single, some with children, some without, some with grown children, some with babies, some widowed, some in college...it gives new meaning to the body of Christ being made up of different parts! Anyway, I missed today because Grace woke up feeling bad and Noah John slept until 10:30! Shawn went on without us because he has security duty this morning. I think Shawn and I are going to attempt an apple cheesecake today (from Southern Living). Other than that, not much else is going on here today. Just the best of all days...a day with my family! The only thing on my agenda besides that cheesecake is to wrap up in blankets and swing on the front porch all while enjoying peace that only comes from God. The blanket in the picture was my mom's mom's (Flossie Bell). That's where Grace Elizabeth-Bell got the long name. I couldn't see naming her Flossie (my memaw didn't like her own name) Alas, I'm off topic. Here is the pic I promised.
Here is one of my country boy, sitting patiently inside the screen door.
Reigning it back in, I want to close on a serious note. I would like to say a few things about September 11, 2001. I recall the day of the attacks vividly, yet my recollections must not even touch those who lost their loved ones on that dreaded day. I would like to take just a minute to recount the day. I was a first year teacher at John Sevier Middle School in beautiful East Tennessee. The school is located very close to Eastman Kodak Chemical Plant. I think because of that, the school was put on lockdown. I was in a room without wondows. I remember telling the students to stay away from the door and get down on the floor. I remember thinking something like...here I am my first year teaching and I must act like I have it together and stay calm. I did remain calm on the outside but on the inside so many thoughts were swirling around. I was confused and I didn't clearly understand what happened. A colleague told me there had been a terror attack on the twin towers. She said an airplane crashed into one of the buildings. She had tears in her eyes as she said it. I was so young and clueless I couldn't even remember what the twin towers were or where they were, despite the fact that I had been there my senior year in high school. Now I'll never forget what they were or what they stood for. Lives were lost. Security was questioned, both homeland and privately. Knees fell to the floor as prayers went up. Tears streamed down faces. Screams echoed. Children asked, "When is daddy coming home?" Phones rang. Mothers legs buckled in grief. Fathers cried out WHY but answers were never good enough. Anger resonated. Grief crippled. Service men and women were heroes. As the next few days transpired, I gave the students an assignment to draw a picture capturing that horrid day. If I can find them, I will scan a few. They are sobering and scary. They are red and angry. They epitomize the 'get back up on your feet' stance that Americans took in the days that followed. I hope I can find them! I have come across them from time to time over the last 10 years and I always stop and stare at them and think back to that day. I believe our country is safer today, which I find comforting. I regret that extremists believe such lies and harbor such hatred that they would kill innocent people and even themselves. In the end, for what? For what eternally? We must pray for their eyes to be opened to truth.
Last night, we had our first bonfire and hayride on the farm. We invited the Bruce's (with their 3 children), the Witherspoon's (with their 2 children), and the Hoisington's (with their 2 children). It warmed my heart to watch the kids play and make memories. At the beginning of the evening, Grace's little buddy (Henry) needed a chair to sit in. Grace had put her babydoll (in its carrier) in the chair beside her. Henry picked it up and sat down, then offered (in this really sweet voice) to hold her baby. The two of them go to prek together and met when they were about 6 mos old. They are SO CUTE together and play SO WELL. I watched as Noah John and his little buddy Jake played tractors and monster trucks in the dirt (in the dark, lit barely by the bonfire). They played for a long time and were precious. Their conversations were ADORABLE...at 2 they are close buddies from church and I hope with all my heart they grow up to be Christian buddies forever and ever. Grace played quite a bit with Anna, who is 7. They danced, twirled, played house (Anna was the mom), and goofed off and laughed a lot especially on the hayride. Grace seemed like a big girl and I can't imagine a better, sweeter role model than little Anna. Needless to say the s'mores were delicious and there was not a single marshmallow left at the end of the evening. I think both hearts and bellies were full...friendship is a wonderful thing.
When we got home, it was almost 10 but we all sat down on the porch and talked and petted the dog who has just gotten tame enough to pet this weekend which makes us really happy. The fact that he is part-mastiff and will probably weigh at least 100lbs has made me hesitant to get attached because he has been a very annoying, pushy puppy. While we were on the porch, Noah John pointed out a small tree frog on and we studied it for awhile. It was a vivid, light green color and looked more like a toy than a slimy frog. I think he was especially thrilled because the three bigger boys were searching for frogs in the weeds near the bonfire.
I had hoped to be at church this morning. I truly miss being with my church family on Sunday mornings now. I think one of the things I miss most is fellowshipping with the women in my Sunday School class. We are from different places and walks of life-some married, some single, some with children, some without, some with grown children, some with babies, some widowed, some in college...it gives new meaning to the body of Christ being made up of different parts! Anyway, I missed today because Grace woke up feeling bad and Noah John slept until 10:30! Shawn went on without us because he has security duty this morning. I think Shawn and I are going to attempt an apple cheesecake today (from Southern Living). Other than that, not much else is going on here today. Just the best of all days...a day with my family! The only thing on my agenda besides that cheesecake is to wrap up in blankets and swing on the front porch all while enjoying peace that only comes from God. The blanket in the picture was my mom's mom's (Flossie Bell). That's where Grace Elizabeth-Bell got the long name. I couldn't see naming her Flossie (my memaw didn't like her own name) Alas, I'm off topic. Here is the pic I promised.
Reigning it back in, I want to close on a serious note. I would like to say a few things about September 11, 2001. I recall the day of the attacks vividly, yet my recollections must not even touch those who lost their loved ones on that dreaded day. I would like to take just a minute to recount the day. I was a first year teacher at John Sevier Middle School in beautiful East Tennessee. The school is located very close to Eastman Kodak Chemical Plant. I think because of that, the school was put on lockdown. I was in a room without wondows. I remember telling the students to stay away from the door and get down on the floor. I remember thinking something like...here I am my first year teaching and I must act like I have it together and stay calm. I did remain calm on the outside but on the inside so many thoughts were swirling around. I was confused and I didn't clearly understand what happened. A colleague told me there had been a terror attack on the twin towers. She said an airplane crashed into one of the buildings. She had tears in her eyes as she said it. I was so young and clueless I couldn't even remember what the twin towers were or where they were, despite the fact that I had been there my senior year in high school. Now I'll never forget what they were or what they stood for. Lives were lost. Security was questioned, both homeland and privately. Knees fell to the floor as prayers went up. Tears streamed down faces. Screams echoed. Children asked, "When is daddy coming home?" Phones rang. Mothers legs buckled in grief. Fathers cried out WHY but answers were never good enough. Anger resonated. Grief crippled. Service men and women were heroes. As the next few days transpired, I gave the students an assignment to draw a picture capturing that horrid day. If I can find them, I will scan a few. They are sobering and scary. They are red and angry. They epitomize the 'get back up on your feet' stance that Americans took in the days that followed. I hope I can find them! I have come across them from time to time over the last 10 years and I always stop and stare at them and think back to that day. I believe our country is safer today, which I find comforting. I regret that extremists believe such lies and harbor such hatred that they would kill innocent people and even themselves. In the end, for what? For what eternally? We must pray for their eyes to be opened to truth.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
See ya Summer :(
I wrote this a few days ago (late August)...figured I better post it before fall is in FULL SWING!
This summer is winding down. It's sad for me think about because next August, Grace will start kindergarten! The things people tell you like, "rock them while you can, they grow up fast" are true to the core. I look back and think...I wish I had played in the floor with the kids more, I wish I hadn't flipped out over that, I wish I didn't spank over that, I wish I didn't or I wish I did ....blaaah. I think it's especially hard to be a stay-at-home mom who chose to be at home but who had some big struggles w' strong-will, tempers, etc (being home is harder than I thought but I wouldn't trade it for anything). I remember when I quit teaching 5 years ago. I thought I was taking the easy path. Little did I know that being home round the clock with my sweet children would sometimes push every button I have. My imperfections have been brought to light :( but the good part is it has given me the opportunity to try to get better in my weak areas. I am thankful I have been able to rock and talk and sing and teach and make messes and play but I'm ashamed of all the times I chose the wrong things as priorities! I understand now why there is a DEGREE in early childhood development and when you stay home, you basically should get that degree by experience! I also understand better why having a daily relationship with God is so important. Who else would I turn to this morning and say, "Please help me to not scream. Amen." And who else would rejoice wholeheartedly when Noah John says, "Pray to the Lord, mommy" before I tuck him in at night? So there are pros and cons to being a full-time mom and wife...but I've decided mostly pros!
The last month has been so nice. We have enjoyed each other, the kids have (most of the time) been easier and fun. It's an answered prayer. Anyway, here is a picture I want to share but I also want to share something from a study I'm in right now. To paraphrase, the author says that sometimes we have to look backward in order to correctly more forward. Does that make sense? So we've been digging into past stuff from our family lineage to understand why we're sometimes prone to make the same mistakes etc. Looking back can be therapeutic as long as you don't stay there...you have to move forward with faith and fun and in my case, hopefully, get better at this parenting stuff... See if you get the connection in this photo :). Happy late summer. Happy early fall. We have had a blessed one. God is the blesser. The giver. Our hope. Our center. He is our beginning and end! Alpha and Omega.
Last but not least, Shawn and I took the kids to Chucky Cheese to bid a final farewell to summer 2011. I don't think the kids will be asking to go back anytime soon. It was ok but mostly we all enjoyed being together. The games were too old for the kids. We had to lift Noah J up to play them and when he rode a ride he wanted off after about 3 seconds because he was so distracted (it reminded me of Vegas for kids!?). Anyway, it was a fun night...just not what we expected. It ended at Outback. We tried Chic Fil A but it was 9 and they were closed to which Grace said, "Ahh...nits and nats!" I don't know where she heard that but it was funny.
He was buckled into this one so he could not get off after 3 seconds!
Next post will be a farm post...between pumpkins, mums, and baking, how can I not!
This summer is winding down. It's sad for me think about because next August, Grace will start kindergarten! The things people tell you like, "rock them while you can, they grow up fast" are true to the core. I look back and think...I wish I had played in the floor with the kids more, I wish I hadn't flipped out over that, I wish I didn't spank over that, I wish I didn't or I wish I did ....blaaah. I think it's especially hard to be a stay-at-home mom who chose to be at home but who had some big struggles w' strong-will, tempers, etc (being home is harder than I thought but I wouldn't trade it for anything). I remember when I quit teaching 5 years ago. I thought I was taking the easy path. Little did I know that being home round the clock with my sweet children would sometimes push every button I have. My imperfections have been brought to light :( but the good part is it has given me the opportunity to try to get better in my weak areas. I am thankful I have been able to rock and talk and sing and teach and make messes and play but I'm ashamed of all the times I chose the wrong things as priorities! I understand now why there is a DEGREE in early childhood development and when you stay home, you basically should get that degree by experience! I also understand better why having a daily relationship with God is so important. Who else would I turn to this morning and say, "Please help me to not scream. Amen." And who else would rejoice wholeheartedly when Noah John says, "Pray to the Lord, mommy" before I tuck him in at night? So there are pros and cons to being a full-time mom and wife...but I've decided mostly pros!
The last month has been so nice. We have enjoyed each other, the kids have (most of the time) been easier and fun. It's an answered prayer. Anyway, here is a picture I want to share but I also want to share something from a study I'm in right now. To paraphrase, the author says that sometimes we have to look backward in order to correctly more forward. Does that make sense? So we've been digging into past stuff from our family lineage to understand why we're sometimes prone to make the same mistakes etc. Looking back can be therapeutic as long as you don't stay there...you have to move forward with faith and fun and in my case, hopefully, get better at this parenting stuff... See if you get the connection in this photo :). Happy late summer. Happy early fall. We have had a blessed one. God is the blesser. The giver. Our hope. Our center. He is our beginning and end! Alpha and Omega.
Last but not least, Shawn and I took the kids to Chucky Cheese to bid a final farewell to summer 2011. I don't think the kids will be asking to go back anytime soon. It was ok but mostly we all enjoyed being together. The games were too old for the kids. We had to lift Noah J up to play them and when he rode a ride he wanted off after about 3 seconds because he was so distracted (it reminded me of Vegas for kids!?). Anyway, it was a fun night...just not what we expected. It ended at Outback. We tried Chic Fil A but it was 9 and they were closed to which Grace said, "Ahh...nits and nats!" I don't know where she heard that but it was funny.
Next post will be a farm post...between pumpkins, mums, and baking, how can I not!
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