Have you ever been so busy with STUFF and LIFE that you just miss the life happening around you?
It’s like being in the middle of winter, and overwhelmed with the fact that it’s cold and nasty and you’ve got snow to shovel (AGAIN)… and failing to see that it’s absolutely beautiful out there, with blue skies and sun shining on the snow.
Do you see where I’m coming from? I can be sort of a complainer sometimes.
I’m over at the Homeschool Post today talking about this very thing. It’s not real pretty, this thing I’m talking about, but it’s me.
One year ago today, I launched The Momma Knows, a fresh start that I gave myself for my 40th birthday.
Today I am 41. I want to review what some of my goals and plans for my 40th year were, and see how I’ve been doing. I started talking about Seasons of Life last year, as the Lord began impressing upon me. My long-time blog’s time had passed, and 5 Kids and a Dog was transformed into what you see here. Some of you have been with me for a very, very long time. I am so thankful.
I really enjoy my blog. I love writing and supporting homeschooling and non-homeschooling families because parenting is just one of those things that challenge everyone who takes it on. I enjoy doing that, here and in person, and I consider myself blessed for the privilege. My online time and my family time are beginning to strike a really good balance these days, which benefits all of us. I love that.
My 41st birthday finds me thinking about my health, my life goals, and my Mom.Yes, my Mom. You see, I lost my mom when I was pregnant with our 18 year old, J. Mom was 43 years old. Much too young, I realize now more than ever. I am only 2 years younger than she was when she died of cancer. I’m over the youthful immortality mindset and recognize my own mortality. I hope that the changes and improvements I have made in my own life will help prevent a too-soon ending. I quit smoking when I was 20. I have started really thinking about and working towards eating a much healthier diet. I exercise. I run. THAT still shocks me… that I enjoy running.
I don’t have everything all figured out, because who does? This I do know:
My blog isn’t going any where. I’m not going to stop writing and doing what God has called me to. But I’m not going to sacrifice my family at the altar of my blog. If your blog has become an altar, you have bigger problems than online time. My friend Lisa recently wrote about the concurrent trends in blogging… the “give it all to the blog” business mentality, and the “give it all to the family, forget the blog” mentality.
I’ll let you in on a little secret though: You can write what the Lord puts on your heart AND give your family your full attention. It is all about prioritizing your time. Even a blog that isn’t a business, per se, should have some limitations and “work times”. BALANCE is the goal.
For me, this looks like not taking on too many online “jobs”. I have my writing spot at The Homeschool Post, which I love, and I have this site. I have cancelled one posting obligation because it was too much for me, and I am considering cancelling another one.
I have a short 5-question survey for you. Would you please take a minute and fill it out when I do? That would help me a lot!
I hadn’t intended not to write, but it just happened that way. Tomorrow I will have a post up, and I’ll be working on things for next week and beyond!
This week I’m getting all of our school things together, easing into subjects, starting some new curricula, and just trying to get my head on again. In other words, I think I needed a vacation from my vacation! (Did you hear about our crazy vacation?) Murphy’s Law ruled the first few days. It was “interesting.”
So for the time being, I guess the only other thing I can do is ask…
We started again last Thursday with the letter A, and my post Aquarium: A Field Trip in Pictures. I’d love it if you would join the fun and link up an A post. I doesn’t have to be a NEW post, just one that is about something that begins with A and is either about or related to homeschooling. Oh, and it can’t have been linked up to a previous season of the ABC’s of Homeschooling.
I am learning what it means to let go and really, truly LET GOD.
In our homeschool this week…
It’s been really weird! We’ve had nice weather, then buckets of rain, then nice weather again… hard to stay focused when lightning is shooting across the sky and thunder is rolling. I’ve felt very scattered but we have actually gotten a lot done so I’m satisfied. I signed the boys up for Time4Learning again. We are going to try it out in light of the recommendations that were made after the boys’ developmental evaluations.
Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…
Despite what certain homeschool experts might say, your kids need to have friends. So do you. Make an effort to connect with others so that your kids can practice their social skills do kid stuff, like play kick ball, go swimming, and play Red Rover. While they are doing that, you can have some adult conversation. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.
I am inspired by…
People finding freedom in Christ, rather than in church. I’m still working through how this looks and feels and functions.
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
This week we have had a definite lack of a certain someone, as my husband has been working out of state. It’s always a bit of a challenge, although I am used to it, but I don’t like it a lot when he’s gone. Being a part time single Momma is tough!
Today we have a potluck lunch with our homeschool co-op (the big one we were part of this year), and then tonight we get to watch one of the girls who grew up in our church’s youth ministry get married! It’s going to be a great day!
My favorite thing this week…
It’s been kind of a tough week, and honestly the most positive thing about it has been how this little book, Jesus Calling, has hit me square between the eyes each day. If you don’t have a daily devotional book, you should really check this one out. The readings are quick, the Scripture readings are deep, and if you’re like me, God will use it to meet you right where you are.
What’s working for us…
After a hard couple of weeks with D1 taking hours and hours to get his math done, this week he’s decided he wants to really focus and get it done. Wednesday he even finished in 45 minutes! He was SO proud of himself (and he got 91%!) I am so happy for him.
Questions/thoughts I have…
How how how do we keep our kids’ hearts both with us, and with Jesus, as they grow up? A couple of our older kids are really struggling right now with their faith, and we don’t want these boys to go through the same thing. What do we do differently?
Things I’m working on…
Seeking God first.
Figuring out how to set up Time4Learning again for the boys. It’s confusing but I remember last time that once I figured it out, it was simple to keep track of for them. Right now, I’m stumped.
Praying about where the Lord is leading us.
The final choosing of carpet, flooring and countertop granite for our kitchen remodel!
De-crapifying our basement/schoolroom. Since we put the boys in separate bedrooms, E’s photo studio was cleared out to make room for a boy. His light boxes and all that stuff is piled up in the school room, along with a lot of I-don’t-know-what. Think Hoarders. That’s how bad it looks. Couches and table piled with 2-3 feet of stuff. No clear pathway to the exterior door (think fire escape route blocked.) Yes, it’s really that bad. How? I have no idea. It’s time to get serious about it, and then teach my kids to clean!
I’m reading…
Still working on Joyce Herzog’s Learning In Spite of Labels, because I haven’t had any time to read lately and so my bookmark has been 2/3 of the way through it for 2 weeks. Also still reading Plan It, Don’t Panic, so I can figure out how to better lay out a meal plan.
I’m cooking…
stuff from scratch, pretty much. Not completely, but I have actually made good dinners all week! They included Spinach Ravioli and salad, and homemade Chicken Noodle Stew. I need to go through my recipes and choose about 24 of my family’s favorites to put into a monthly or bi-monthly meal plan.
I’m grateful for…
good friends, both locally and friends I have made as a result of my blog. Some of those friendships, initiated on blogs, and forged well at the first and second Relevant Conferences, have grown over the past year or two and I just wish I lived close to these ladies!!
I’m praying for…
direction. Please join me.
A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
Tell me once again to who I am to you
Tell me lest I forget who I am to you
I belong to you…
Jason Gray is my new favorite artist. I love, I mean love this man’s music. Don’t give me churchy, give me real.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links which, if you click over and make a purchase, help to pay this site’s maintenance fees.
