What's a Mall?

Today before taking the kids on a field trip I had to run to Greenwood Park Mall to get my jewelry inspected. It was so sad that the second I walked in the door I was completely out of my element. When did this happen? I never imagined that there would come a day when I wouldn't feel comfortable in a mall! I used to love shopping. What has happened to me?

I believe that it is has been a accumulation of many things, but three really stick out to me.

1. For the past 6 years I have been avoiding all shopping centers because of the unavoidable frustration that comes with bringing a baby/toddler with you. Come on, you have to admit that trying on clothes with your kids is  definitely not on your fun list.

2. We have gone from a dual income family to a single income one. That really cuts into extra free spending, and we all know that window shopping, all though fun, isn't completely satisfying.

3. It's no longer about me (and I mean that in a good way). Sure there are times when I would like to have a new pair of shoes or just get something when the mood strikes, but that's not what it's about anymore. I am no longer the only one who needs things. I have 3 wonderful children who trust me to provide all their needs.

I am not sure how to end this, because it is just a rambling of my crazy thoughts, so I will end it with this.

Philippians 4:19

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Popcorn Anyone?

In complete Tiger Scout gear

Showing pride in his Pack

We are so excited to have a cub scout in the family. Austin entered 1st grade this year and is now able to join scouting.
Today I got his uniform completely finished. Putting badges on can sure be tricky!
We are also now full swing into our biggest fundraiser of the year. POPCORN! The scouts are doing a popcorn blitz today, and they will be celebrating their success tonight at a pizza party. So...popcorn anyone?

Our First Field Trip

Super Excited for the tour to begin

Today we took a field trip to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. We joined some of our friends from Heritage Builders in a search for animals in art. Austin met up with his friend Andrew and we got the tour started.
The kids were told all about different types of painting and sculpting techniques. Austin and Ariel did a great job sitting and listening to our guide. Eva had a mind of her own :)

This was our first true field trip. So far we have also  done a craft time and bonfire with other home schooling families. We are so blessed to have been able to join this group. Our next event is gym class, and all three kids will be participating in it. So much for being anti-social homeschoolers. :)

Listening to our guide

My pride and joy

I am so proud of the garden that I grew this year. It was hard work getting it in, and at times I have not wanted to weed it. The organic produce that we are getting from it is well worth the effort though. That right, I grew an organic garden this year! When I look at it even today, I am so amazed. I am also very thankful for parents who taught me how to garden while I was growing up. When I think back to the whining and complaining I did about weeding and watering that family plot who knew that I would end up loving it so much. I have come to find garden relaxing despite the work and how tired I feel after it. As a mother of three it is very rare for me to find time alone. My garden is a place where I can do that. I do hope that someday my children will be able to join me in growing food, but for now I find joy in knowing they see the effort I put forth and are eating healthier because of it. The pictures below show what I have been able to can so far. My tomatoes have done so well that I plan on canning some spaghetti sauce next. I am so excited!

Organic Roma Tomatoes

Diced Tomatoes

Home Schooling Update

After much prayer, a home school convention, and discussion with friends Phil and I have decided to home school Austin for 1st grade next year. We are really excited and look forward to all the opportunities that this will give our family. Thank you so much to all of those who prayed for us during our decision making. We know that this is the Lord's will for us, and we are ready to get started!
It is our plan (at this time) to keep Ariel in Pre-K at Westside Christian pre-school  for 2-3 days a week. She loves being there and it will give Austin and I some one-on-one time that we may need. Eva will still be at home.
This morning I spent a hour at an Abeka materials display ordering the rest of his curriculum. We didn't have to worry too much about what curriculum to use this year because he was already using Abeka (for language arts) and Saxon (for math). Both of these are great, and we felt that it would be good to keep going with them.
Thank you all again. We are so blessed to have friends like you!

It's potty time!

For over a week now Eva has been telling me "poop" when she went in her diaper. It didn't matter which she had actually done, and I didn't think a thing of it. Then she started pulling her sister's (and once brother's) underwear on over her clothes. I started to wonder about her interest in potty training, but I still didn't give it a whole lot of thought. Then last night she said it and actually ran toward the bathroom. I decided to give it a try and helped her get on the little potty. She ended up going pee in the potty! I was shocked. Austin and Ariel were 3 before they wanted to potty train, and Eva won't be 2 until August. She got to wear a pair of her sister's princess panties until bedtime :)
Today I decided that dresses and pull-ups are a pain when you are potty training, so she went without either. I am pretty sure that Eva is the smartest child I have ever met (NO, I'm not biased :) Twice today she has run to the bathroom all by herself, sat on the potty and peed! She of course was rewarded with multitudes of praise and (the coveted item) a M n M. She has been wearing (sort of) her training panties all day, and we have had no accidents, only pee in the diaper during nap time. It still seems early to me, but I am very optimistic that I will have no children in diapers by the end of the summer!

Is home schooling for us?

If you had told me 6 months ago that I would someday be seriously considering home schooling I would have told you that you are crazy. The only teaching that I have done is with adults about their health. I have not had any training in how to prepare lesson plans or such, but God has for some reason given me this burden.
A little over a month ago Austin's school (Westside Christian) announced that they will be closing at the end of the year. Phil and I did tons of research to see what other Christian schools are in our area and what their costs were. We were not opposed to sending our kids to public school, but we absolutely LOVED the education that Austin got at Westside. He learned much academically, but his spiritual growth this year was what amazed us the most. Unfortunately none of the other Christian schools compared in price to Westside, and with us being on a one income budget we couldn't afford it. During that time I had been praying that God would reveal to us what He wanted for Austin's schooling. It was then that He gave be the burden of home schooling. I knew for a fact that it wasn't me who wanted to do this, so I prayed (and still do) daily that God would take the burden away if it was not from Him. I visited the public elementary school that Austin would go to, and sat in a first grade class. I really liked what I saw, but was disappointed about the schedule they set for their first graders (arrival at 8am with lunch at 10:20am). From what I know of my son this would not be a good schedule for him. I prayed even harder. I now ask you, my dear friends to pray with me. I am about 90% sure that I will be homeschooling Austin for 1st grade next year. This past week was Austin's Spring break. I used it as a home school "test" week. What I mean by that is, I did lessons with him. Please pray for us that Phil and I would be completely like minded about home schooling. God is good, and I know that He has a perfect plan for our life and Austin's schooling.

25 days of Lent left

There are days that are hard and there are days that are easy. I have been learning I am much more of an emotional eater than I thought I was. On stressful days I find myself walking over to the pantry and looking in to see what I can stuff in my face. I am so thankful for the commitment that I have made, and for God revealing to me what an unhealthy obsession I have with junk food. I am now 4 pounds lighter too!
My devotion time has led me to some really great verses, but my favorite one so far is Psalm 103: 1-5
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

How great is our God!

What is Lent?

Every year I hear about what people are giving up for Lent. I have thought about doing it, but it wasn't until reading my friend Megan's blog http://jandmschmidt.blogspot.com/2011/03/fat-tuesday
just yesterday that I decided this is the year for me. I am going to give up all desserts until Easter. In addition to that I am going to read at least one Guidepost devotional everyday. I have always struggled with devotional time, and this will be a great way to dedicate myself to it for 40 days.
After a conversation with my sister today, as I was excitedly telling her what I was doing for Lent, she asked me a very important question. "What is Lent" My answer.."I don't really know. I think that it's a Catholic holiday". So I did so research, and it case you are wondering just as I was, here it is.

Lent in the Christian tradition, is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. Lent is a time of sacrifice for Jesus. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, repentance, alms giving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
According to the Canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent forty days fasting in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, where he endured temptation by Satan.
This practice is common to much of Christendom, being celebrated by Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Anglicans.

So it isn't just a Catholic observance. Thanks Wikipedia :) I am so glad that my friend shared with me how she was not only giving up something, but also spending more time on God. I had always thought that it was just about self deprivation. I am excited to see how God will transform my life (both physically and spiritual) over the next 40 days.