Jack and Kate's Thanksgiving Feast

Jack and Kate's school had their Thanksgiving Feast/Celebration this afternoon and it was wonderful!  Kate's class stayed in their room and some wonderful parents brought in Chick-Fil-A nuggets, fruit and cupcakes.  All of Kate's favorites.  Their awesome teachers made shirts for each of them and cute placemats.

Jack's class did more.  They came trotting into the gym in their Thanksgiving shirts and immediately recited their mega verse - Ephesians 6:1-4.  He seemed a bit timid, but started saying it halfway through.  Then they did an awesome dance for us!

He joined us at the table and we enjoyed Chick-Fil-A too.  Then the kids visited with their friends a bit.  It was so cool seeing him in a setting where he is learning so much about God and His world.

Chief Red T-Rex

Sweet boy is thankful for Mommy, Daddy, Annie, Kate and red scissors.  

Kate and Shelby

I am thankful for a school that has fun, includes family and teaches my kids everyday about God and His love.  

Novembering It

It seems as though my posts are getting farther and farther apart, but life keeps getting in the way.  Thankfully, it mostly routine stuff.  We had our Harvest Party a few weeks back and that was a lot of fun.  Some friends and families from our church came out to my parents for chili, desserts, fellowship, a bonfire and a hayride.  It really was great and the kids seemed to have a blast.

My parents got another cow...Blackberry is on the right

Kate on the hayride with cookie remnants

Hayride with BFF, Kayleigh

We also went to the Greek Food Festival a few weeks back with some friends and their 5 year old daughter. The kids got on stage during the break and danced to the Greek music.  They had a blast and Jack has got some mad dancing skills; must get them from Craig.  We had some gyros, baklava and other Greek foods.  Fun thing to do!

Now we are getting ready for Thanksgiving, which is next week!  What?!  Kate fell asleep the other day on the couch.  This picture encompasses what I feel like sometimes.  Paci on the stomach and all.

And, awesome news!  We head to Disney in a few weeks.  I found an idea on Pinterest for a countdown calendar using paint swatches from Home Depot.  We got all 5 kids together and let them decorate with stickers.  16 days and we are ready to see Mickey and the Princesses!  Kate says we are going to "Didney World and see Cinderwewwa".

It's All Good

What have been doing around here?!?!  Lots o' stuff.  Kate has now started 5 days/week at school and I am working all of those days.  Soccer for Jack is over, but we will still be busy, but this is best time of the year.  We have our Harvest Party coming up, more football, Thanksgiving, a trip to Disney, school parties, school events and all leading up to Christmas!  When I think about it, I get a tad overwhelmed, but I am thankful for this time of blessing and God's goodness.  

He is also blessing me spiritually as well.  I am learning and having fun with Visionary Parenting classes and Common Threads sewing group and learning to understand how God has created me and how I can be used.  I took a personality/Biblical comparison test using Monvee.  You have to sign up, but it is really cool.  My learning style is visual, which I knew and my worship style is Pathway.  My biblical counterpart is Jonathan.  Our personalities are similar.  Social, energetic, peacemaker, but I can also deny real issues and not confront problems.  It shows my strengths and weaknesses and how I can grow in Christ.  Satan is using his cunning ways to attack, but he won't win.

The best moment this week was when I was putting Jack to bed, he told me he wanted to recite his verse.  I said sure and he whipped out Ephesians 6:1-4 - Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—  “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”  Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

I almost cried.  So proud of him and what he is learning at school.  

Pumpkin Patch 2011

Year 5 of the Pumpkin Patch.  This year we had a new addition, Miss Reese.  Not too much to say about it as the kids do the same thing every year.  Run around, look at the pumpkins, throw a few around, listen minimally and smile occasionally.  However, we do have great fun and yes, we will go back next year!

Camera Phone Dump

I have been racking up some photos for a few months now, and I wanted to share some from my camera phone.  Technology is pretty cool because if you don't have your regular camera ready, you can just grab your phone and snap a picture!

Matching in Yard Work

Our Wal-Mart routine

 Jack's new big guy bed!

First day of soccer

Kate and her new Caillou doll

Sweet niece Claire

Safety first in my car!

Kate's Harvest Pillowcase Dress

Kimberly's first sewing experience ever!  And, she made ruffle pants - wow!

Time

I feel like life is speeding by, but in a good way!  The kids seem happy and well-adjusted to school.  Jack says his two favorite things are soccer and school and Kate just loves school in general.  They are also learning so much about God and making good choices - it truly is wonderful.

Craig is busy with work, which leaves me as single mom sometimes, but when he is here, he is primary parent which helps me out tons.  I truly feel for single parents and think the only way they could handle it, would be with God.

I am now working 5 half days/week.  It isn't too much, but definite adjustment from working about 8 hours a month from home!  Along with that, I am helping lead our Visionary Parenting class at church on Wednesday nights and every other Thursday, we have a sewing/outreach group at church called Common Threads.  We sew for organizations, fellowship and do a small Bible study.  In the midst of that, I am still doing my photography business and started a new venture called Style and Sew.  Basically, I do the sewing for people and they get to pick the item and the fabrics.  Some customers have me pick the fabrics too.  This is great for yourself, your kids, your house or someone as a gift!  I also ship to non-local customers.  Check it out!

Some friends have been asking, "How do you do it?".  My answer is God is giving me the time.  He is helping me with time management and structure.  God is order and that is only way I can function.  Oddly enough, working helps me do better time management.  I do need to work on spending more alone time with God and housework issues (don't look in my laundry room), but overall it is going pretty well.  My hobbies/businesses were created in a way, that I determine how much I want to work with them.  If I am feeling overwhelmed, I can promote less or say I need a break and I can put those businesses on hold.

Regarding my Common Threads group, last week we made several dresses as a free gift for a $15 donation to Little Dresses for Africa.  This organization distributes pillowcase dresses to African countries.  They have a ton of dresses, but need funds to send those dresses overseas.  Each box of 50 dresses costs $100 to send.  With a $15 donation, you can get a free dress for some little girl you know.  Check them out here.  If you see one you want OR would like to make a donation without a dress purchase, please let me know!  All donations are tax deductible.

Have a great Sunday and be encouraged that God will provide you with all the time you need if you just give it to Him!

Visionary Parenting

Parenting is hard.  I mean, really hard.  I love it, but those kids can drive you crazy and you have to teach them everything and you have to potty train them.  But........it is so worth it.  It truly is amazing and I am so thankful I was chosen with Craig to be Jack and Kate's mom.  Since I don't have all the answers, I am looking for some and I have found out I want to be a Visionary Parent.  Our church started a study a few weeks back reading Rob Rienow's Visionary Parenting.  This book is amazing.  Read it, soak it up and learn from it.  We did just a few weeks and then we were supposed to move on to something else, but I felt God pulling me back to the book and wanting me to continue the book and review it again.  So, for the next 5 Wednesdays, I will be facilitating this group.  I am so excited and Satan knows that too.  He has been on the prowl lately with sickness in our family, angry feelings and me struggling with my "mommyhood".  He won't win; God always does.

I am excited about this group and if you are local and want to join...contact me and come!  I was also pleasantly surprised the book is applicable to all stages of parenthood - from thinking about having kids to having grandchildren.  To read a biblical model of what God desires for the family is quite overwhelming, but exciting to.  Our goal is to get our children "safely home" to Heaven.  That means we make tough decisions, we don't compromise on our faith and we pray, read, worship and grow.  

Proverbs 22:6 - Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Get your book here.