Friends

  I know we are influenced by our friends.  I am for sure.  It hasn't always been the best thing.  But, I am so blessed to have good friends that inspire me to be better.  I'll admit, sometimes it's annoying to be surrounded by such high achieving women.  I think, "Why can't I have some really slouchy friends?  Then I'd feel better about my slacker self."  But alas I don't.  And it is such a blessing to be spurred on to learn more, teach more, gain skills, be healthier, be more prepared, have more faith, basically be a better mom, wife, and friend.  They are wonderful, intelligent, hard working women.  Thanks girls for your friendships!!!  I can't imagine where I'd be without you.

Going Green

Happy St Patty's Day!  In the spirit of Green, I thought I'd share some thoughts on sustainability, self reliance and getting back to a more natural state.  I love all of this.  I want to get rid of toxins in our home and food, use natural, living food as much as possible.  And from local farms.  I want to learn more about sustainable design (this is TY's field, he knows a lot about it).  And wouldn't it be cool if I had the skills and resources to take care of our family if we needed it and not be dependent on Walmart?  The reality of this is something else.  I bought my sustainable shopping bags and keep telling myself I'll use them when I don't have so many kids to tote around.  I loved having my chickens until winter hit and I had to hack away at the iced over water dish.  Not to mention, I don't think it was legal. In theory I'm all over this, in reality I've so much work to do and lots to learn. 

French Immersion Program

Hooray!  It's not official yet, but it looks like MissC is going to be in the French Immersion Program just starting next year for Kindergarteners and 1st graders at our neighborhood school.  I know not everyone is thrilled about this change.  It rocks the boat, but why would you not want to take advantage of a free gift?  We are so excited!  The idea of my daughter being fluent in a second language by the end of her elementary years thrills me.  Of course, our personal fondness and connections with the French language only make it more appealing.  My only wish is that Gman could have gotten in on it.  The principal mentioned to me that there may be possibilities to extend some other language programs to the rest of the student body, so we can all learn along with them.  I hope I can get in on the learning as well.  One more reason I am so grateful we were led to this home.  I really feel like this is a great blessing.

Devotional

We had our first Morning Devotional today.  It was a stark contrast to yesterday morning.  Granted the Monday after Day Light Savings is tough, especially for children.  But it was possibly our ugliest morning to date.  I promised MissC I would in fact send her to school with bad breath, ratty hair and hungry if she so chose.  I was really afraid I would too.  Last night @ FHE we talked to the kids about starting morning devotional.  They were for it.  So Today I put on great music while I gathered the children, we started with a song and read our Core Book, starting with the Gospels.  I thought, I've got to think of something little that they'll like to include with our study.  So I put "who", "what", "where", "when", "why" and "how" on popcicle sticks for them to draw out of a cup.  (They like to draw things out of a cup, even chores)  We then get to try and remember "who" we read about, etc.  Then, prayer.  I asked the kids if they liked Devotional.  Gman would like to add games and MissC would like food, but otherwise I think we did pretty good.

Leadership Education

I am trying to figure out how to keep this post short.  I attended a leadership education conference this weekend.  Yeah!! It was so great.  I listened to lectures and attended classes and completely saturated my brain.  So I always come home fired up, inspired and committed to my own learning, to being a better mom and striving for excellence not mediocrity.  Actually this is mainly for home schoolers (I know home schoolers are weird)  but the thing is, they're not, they just get 1000 times more done in a day and expect way more of themselves and their children.  I am grateful I've had the opportunity to be around these truly amazing people, as I have attended the last three years.  

Frightening

So, we spent the weekend in the hospital with LittleC.  I don't know what to say about this except watching your baby struggle just to breathe is painful and so frightening.  He is doing great now.  What a blessing!  We had a lot of help from neighbors, friends and family with our other children.  Thank you so much!  We are lucky to have a great support system.  Poor LittleC, he tried so hard to be happy.  He smiled and grinned in between tears.  I love him and am so happy he's doing so well.

Snowboarding lesson

My cute brother Sean asked if he could teach Gman to snowboard.  Of course I said yes.  They went out yesterday and he made this GREAT VIDEO.  I'm really proud of G.  He looks great! And who has a cooler uncle?  Click the link.