Weekend Reflection # 16

Lots going on this week! It seems I've been saying that for the past few weeks! I guess it's mostly because we have alot of construction going on around our house and whenever that happens, we have lots of messes to clean up!

Around the House: Ahhhhh, where do I start! The deck is coming along nicely. My FIL and BIL have been doing little things every spare moment they can. They wired in a few receptacles this week and are putting up our storm door today. It's alot of work and I am very appreciative for their diligence to help get it done. Jeff and I were able to screen in a portion of the porch one night when he got in from work.

The ants are still dominating my kitchen. I have no desire to cook or even be in there right now! This happens every spring/summer and I am always crabby until they are gone. It's so hot this year that I'm afraid they won't go away as quickly. We are hoping to spray around the perimeter of the house this evening to kill some of the little buggers! If they don't go away soon, I think I'll have a breakdown!

The girls and I planted some poppies, zinnias, and some carnations in the garden this week. The zinnias are already popping up and that's very exciting. We also noticed that our okra, cucumbers, carrots, onions, and marigolds are sprouting. This is very exciting to the girls! Planting a garden was such a good idea for several reasons but the biggest joy I'm getting from it right now is the look on their faces every morning when they run out to check out what's popping up! I'll be posting about the whole experience a little later this week. The girls even taped some video to share with y'all soon!

Homeschooling: Caroline finished her phonics workbook and her spelling book this week! Yay! We'll be concentrating hard on math now. She had a little trouble with a few things so we slowed way down so that she could learn at her pace. I didn't want to risk going too quickly and her missing some things. She generally masters concepts pretty well but for some reason, she likes to jet through math. Because of that, she has failed to master several simple concepts. That's ok though...we use Saxon Math and everyone who homeschools knows about Saxon. It's very repetitive! Just ask our oldest, Logan. She can tell you all about how much she loves her Saxon Math!

As for Logan, she continues to work on finishing her Switched On Schoolhouse. She seems to like this curriculum and I have no objections since it's all computer based. It's much easier to keep up with her books (because she doesn't have any!) and her assignments. We will continue to use Saxon Math so she will have those books from here until she finishes school. Right now I have Logan focusing on writing. I'm not happy with her writing skills. She is an avid reader and reads good literature. We expect her writing to reflect the good qualities of the things she has read and that's not been happening. She writes like she talks. There are only so many times I like to see a sentence start that way. She is doing better though and I've tried to work with her before she starts writing assignments and that has seemed to help.

Extra Curricular Activities: On Thursday, I took Caroline to the arts center a little early so that she could meet with a music teacher before her ballet class. We know that Caroline has musical ability but so far, she has chosen to express herself through ballet. Since Jeff expects both girls to at least try some musical instrument, we felt like this was the perfect opportunity to see what Caroline seemed interested in. I dropped her off and when I came back an hour later to pick her up, she and the music teacher took me aside and Caroline played me a simple song on the piano. I was thrilled! So, it looks as though she will add piano lessons to her weekly schedule.

Logan has expressed an interest in learning to play guitar. I was already very excited from Caroline's piano playing so I came straight home and asked Jeff to please start giving Logan guitar lessons. He gave her a lesson that night and she seems to like it. She is learning chords right now and as soon as she learns those, he'll teach her a few songs. This is very exciting because Logan is generally a very shy kid. She isn't much for being involved in extra curricular things. She has been practicing every chance she has and I am thrilled!

Today, Jeff, Caroline, and myself enjoyed going to a festival in a neighboring town. Jeff and the band he plays with were opening the festival. We always enjoy going with him and we had a great time. After the festival, the band treated us all to lunch at Bella's. They have awesome pizza and I enjoyed two big slices! Yum-O! Logan stayed home to help my FIL and BIL do some things on the deck. She was their supervisor! LOL! Here's a picture of the band marching down the street. You can't miss Jeff! He's the one with blue bug eyes! Can I just say that I hate his sunglasses and yes, he knows it! It makes his eyes look like giant bee eyes!

Everything Else: I had the pleasure of being sick for two or three days this week. Seasonal allergies are a real killer for me! When they hit, I just have to go to bed. That's precisely what happened this week. I spent almost an entire day in bed and was in and out of bed two others. I still sound like Kermit the Frog but I'm getting better. I'm looking forward to worship tomorrow and the refreshment I always get from God's Word.

Jenny and Kasi bailed on our Bible study this week but we've rescheduled for this Friday! We'll see if they come through for me! LOL! I'm just giving you a hard time girls! I really just want them to come over so we can do our study and then spend some quality girl time together with our kiddos! I have my scrapbooking table set up and I'm ready to start cropping so they'd better get ready! We're hoping to do things like that after we complete our study.

I'm Thankful For: So many things but I'll name a few at the top of my list:

• God's Word. I've been learning alot during my studies about my role as a wife. God is so clear about our job as wife and mother. I hope that I will take what I'm learning and apply it so that I may better bless my husband and daughters.
• Wonderful pastors. What wonderful pastors we have. I am so thankful for each of them and their families. They each bless me in different ways and I know I am eternally benefiting from their teaching.
• My husband and daughters. They love me unconditionally and I love that! I have so many flaws but they love me in spite of all of those. I don't tell them on a daily basis but I love being a part of their lives. They are each so unique and special to me. They bring so much enjoyment to my life and I thank them for that.
• God's provision. He meets our needs in every way and we want for nothing.
• Annie and Jenny. I have learned so much about Annie through her blog and I really feel like I know her. She is such an inspiration to me. She carries such a heavy load but you'd never know it. She does it with grace and love and I don't think I've ever noticed any complaints. I cannot tell you how much this blesses me. Jenny is my RL friend and has always inspired me. From the days when our kids were in public school together, to homeschooling co-op together, to the loss of her fourth-born, Sam, and then the loss of her fifth-born, Gus, Jenny has been my friend. I don't think I've met a stronger person. She isn't afraid to cry and express her sadness at the loss of her children but she is always quick to speak of the blessings God has brought to her through these losses. Honestly, I pray that if I ever experience the hardships that she has, that God will strengthen me as He has her. She is the kind of person that you just want to be around. She's funny, she's wacky (my favorite quality about her), she's spiritually minded, and you can see how God has worked in her life. It's so very evident. Thanks to both of these gals for being so "out there" with things so personal to them. It really teaches so much about compassion, strength, and trust in the Lord.

I hope all of you have had a wonderful week! I hope you that when you worship God tomorrow, you'll remember all of the wonderful things He has done for you and given you and that you will remember to be thankful to Him. I'll leave you with this question and answer from the Heidelberg Catechism:

Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?

A. That I belong, body and soul, in life and in death, not to myself but to my faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of His own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil; that He protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; Indeed, that everything must fit His purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him. Thanks be to God.