1st day of school.

thankful for a day full of sweet attitudes, a love of learning, and lots of pencil sharpening. 

gratitude.

-thunderstorms & cooler temperatures.
-our home & having a space of our own.
-the shifting of seasons on the horizon- from the eternal play of summer to the more focused fall-ish schooling.
-quiet secret prayers coming to be, sooner or later.
-vinegar & murphy’s oil soap.
-my prayer scarves.
-old hymns & ancient prayers.
-the hope of today being all it should.

goings on.

praying for rain, inspired by children, teaching littles respect- learning just as much, sweet sunday as a clan, worship in all things, it’s all love-without love i am a clanging cymbal, speaking the truth is not the same as being unloving, pushing back the start of school a week -it’s wrong to do school when it’s over 100 degrees outside, a bit sad summer is coming to a close – but still savoring the last bit, thankful, always thankful: home & family & the Spirit surrounding.

 

The Little darling Spring has run away
The sunshine grew too hot for her to stay
She kissed her sister, Summer,and she said
“When I am gone, you must be queen instead”
Now reigns the Lady Summer, round whose feet
A thousand fairies flock with blossoms sweet.

about organization.

i have been asked by several folks how i “do it all” and wanted to point out that there is much that i don’t get done. right now, there is a game of risk strewn across the living and dining room floors, my kid’s room is the remains of an epic barbie/pet shop animals battle that took place this afternoon, and there is a houseplant sitting in my kitchen sink.

my mom said something the other day that shifted how i view housekeeping and homemaking. i was overwhelmed with how much i had to do, and she said “why don’t you make a list of all you’ve already done”? and i have been thinking of what i’ve accomplished, today and over the course of becoming a mother. i have done a lot!

so, i like lists. i like to write them, and check items off of them. what really helps me keep all i have to do in order is my big fat notebook.

 

i have divided it into several sections, and will discuss a little about each bit

1. homemaking -

first i have our routines written down, we have a morning routine and a bedtime routine for the kids. in addition to that, i have a basic and very flexible daily schedule. there is a  list of tasks that need to be done daily, which would be different for each household. for ours, it’s: the dishes, sweeping and spot mopping the floors, a quick wipe-down of the bathroom, and at least 2 loads of laundry.

i have our chores broken down into a weekly schedule. again, this would need to be customized for someone else’s home. monday is our weekly home blessing in which i clean out the fridge, change and wash all the sheets, take out all trash, sweep/mop all floors, dust, wipe down walls/baseboards, appliances, trash cans, and wash the rugs. the other days of the week i work in a specific room and do a “big” task in there, in addition to normal tidying. i also have printed out a whole mess of these daily dockets. after that is my cleaning checklists from marthastewart.com. there are weekly, monthly, and seasonal lists.

next is the meal planning section, where i have made a list of our most frequently used recipes and the ingredients required. there is also a monthly calender where i write down our dinners for the month.

2. School

in the school section, the first thing i have is the parenting manifesto of joy. then i have a list of our good habits we will be working on, with corresponding memory verses i have put together. then we have the ‘formidable list of attainments for a child of six‘, which we are working towards. after that, i have all the things i need for each subject. and then our school schedule, which was such a blessing as a free resource from an ambleside yahoo group! after the schedule, i have our exam questions for the year.

3. spirit

this is most eclectic portion of my notebook, but also my favorite. first i have about 10-12 of my favorite prayers – my most favorite being ‘the litany of humility.’ after that is a study i did on healing, and about 3 or 4 pages of notes and scriptures about it. and then i have a lot of resources for sozo, an inner healing/deliverance ministry which i feel called to do. after that i have several different e-books and prayer books, and other random things i find helpful in spirituality. (mostly teachings/resources printed from IHOP or mars hill bible church.)

so! there’s that. hopefully it will help or inspire someone! xoxo!

far too long.

and here we are, i did not post on our birthdays or about vacation. nor how we’ve been summering so sweetly. i’ve neglected sharing little anecdotes and funny new words my little’s have invented. (sminch – can either be used to describe a small amount of food, “may i have a sminch of your cookie? or an act of violence between small siblings. “mama!!!! teddy sminched my arm!”.)

and here we are, three weeks from the start of a new school year. a change of season and rhythm and pace for our clan.

our summer has been glorious: birthdays, swimming, long naps, movie-watching, and always the Spirit’s leading and prompting. yes, it’s hot. hotter than usual, but we adapt. and we are thankful for air conditioning and melons and lots of water.

a new adventure: driving! i got my learner’s permit (again, at 25!) and have been practicing. i will take the driving test in the middle of august, and then i will be a traveling gypsy. my parent’s have generously and graciously blessed me (and brady+my brothers all!) with a new car. my pretty purple minivan needs a name. suggestions?

the children are well. emma is into drawing, big projects, and ‘farming’ at the moment. violette, her pet shop animals and writing. theodore is a ball of energy, a “take-off”, as we have labelled him, as it’s never too long before he takes off running. they are excited about school, even theodore. this year, emma says she wants to learn spanish and chinese. violette is excited about reading and writing.

i am still overwhelmed with gratitude, thankful for so much. always learning, always wanting to know more. always in the secret place with the Divine, co-conspiring on how to bring JOY and all other good things to earth.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!

emma’s 6th birthday!

a brief history of emma’s birthdays:

                                            2005

                                                          2006

2007

                                                                              2008

                                   2009

                                                   2010

                                   2011

thanks.

+apples and oranges, the perfect snacks.

+garage sale goodies: antique quilts and little tables.

+knowing that i am safe in the center of the Divine.

+waiting patiently for things to work out, to see what gigantic, creative miracle is in store.

+clouds.

+healthy, happy and non-vomiting children.

+our lovely home, and the work involved in keeping it in order.

+healthy communication, and forgiveness when toxicity creeps in.

+the joyful parenting manifesto.

today’s fleeting thoughts.

i need to mop. thinking about the effects of earthquakes and tsunamis, praying for peace and comfort. the sun is shining through the curtains, it makes me happy. the kids are having an adventure on the high seas in their bedroom. i am thinking about the koan ‘wash your bowl‘ and wondering if everything can be reduced to that kind of simplicity. we had 3 pairs of fingernail clippers at our old house, apparently none of them made the trip with us.  loving the rhythm of making bread weekly. curious about what the Divine is up to with tonite…i know we’re meant to do this,  but feel a bit apprehensive at the same time. (yet, if it’s just me and brady and the holy spirit… it’ll be a good time.) feeling the need to make something pretty, something tangible, something revolutionary.

thankful thursday

-a good nite’s sleep & calcium/magnesium

-the mother’s hours

-grace, & not being bound by forms of religion & rules & restrictions

-that my lifestyle affords a leisurely breakfast – today: omelette, toast and an orange with peppermint tea

-charlotte mason’s books (obviously, a bit antiquated in some regards)

-harry potter movie/book marathons, getting lovey on board bit by bit

-prayers from the heart, prayers from the spirit

-anticipation & excitement – wondering how our shabbat evenings will go…

some things i love this morning.

+ the weather right now! having the windows open and the curtains swaying in the breeze, delightful.

+ me and teddy’s morning cuddles and giggles before anyone else is up. how he says ‘mommmm’ and crawls in my lap, kisses my cheek, makes silly noises and giggles his head off.

+ joy! and music that releases joy and laughter

+ me and my brother’s x-files marathon

+ that i’m finally off of coffee and on tea.

+ funny dreams that have me laughing when i wake up.

+ pots & pans as drums, and the boisterous concerts the littles have been putting on.

+ google reader and all the inspiration from the blogs i follow.

+ establishing our housekeeping routine & waking up to a tidy house!

+ every new day, every new mercy.