March has a tendency to speed right along, almost as if it’s anticipating spring as much as the rest of us are. It’s been a super fun-filled month so far. Exactly three weeks until race day, the trail has seen a lot of my old sneakers. Between miles there has been much chocolate, a medieval feast with friends (we are studying that period of history together), an Ikea trip with my sister and nieces, furniture painting, cute kids, field trips and birthday celebrations with friends. There is much between the lines, many memories and blessings. Lots of words are flying about in my brain, unsettled as of yet; waiting for the unseen breeze to stop their spinning. 
But right now, today, thirty-four is shaping up to be fabulous.
homeschool
End of February Highlights
There is no such thing as an empty week in this household. Snow forts, lots of books, and fun with friends were just some of the highlights.
The girls are often dressing up… here are a few shots of Elsie twirling. Her dream is to take ballet soon.
The ice-caked trees never cease to amaze me with their beauty. Entombed in glass, one day soon they will come back to life.
Betty loves to help shovel snow. Trouble is, there are no shovels her size. My garden trowel is a good substitute for now.
Jack had a small run-in with a shovel one night.
School sometimes includes looking through the dictionary. It’s not hard to believe how funny they found the word “underpants”.
This week we also began nature journals. I love how most of them spoke of spring, while drawing snowflakes.
Betty enjoys playing the little games I find online.
The highlight of my week happened on Monday when my dear sweet friend, Sarah (who lives in England), showed up at my front door. She and I spent a few hours together in the city. We’ve known each other for over half of our lives. It’s a beautiful thing when entire continents and years can’t stop friendship from growing.
School of Snow
We recently wrapped up our study on Ancient Rome by going to a Roman feast, hosted by our friends. The kids lounged on the floor on blankets and pillows and ate barbarian-style. It was fabulous. Except for the authentic pear and cumin custard pie… rotisserie chicken suits us just fine.
After our homeschool co-op this past week, the kids all went sledding. It was the perfect way to start our Christmas holiday.
Where Opossums Sleep and Cars Melt
I love to write. Today, however, is best left unwritten. This Veteran’s Day, I fought my own battles and waged my own war, along with my small army of five. We came out victorious in the end, but sometimes the process is painful at best. The past weekend was rough. I woke up with a blazing fever on Saturday morning, tried my best to mother from bed, while the kids brought me water, cool cloths, and warm rice bags for my freezing cold feet. Matthew was gone, and it was a sad and strange weekend. Both sets of grandparents were gracious to lend their hands to help with the kids so I could sweat and sleep in quiet. Thank you, guys… words aren’t enough.
Sickness, an opossum in the trashcan, and ornery computers all fall into my “No thank you” category of life.
When I focus on the misspellings, the bickering, the grime, and the general imperfectness of life… I end up just like a little wet rain cloud. It’s not cute. This is why I must write, because when I write, I remember. I remember: I love you, Mom, scrawled across the chalkboard… when it felt like the opposite was true. Someone finally nailing multiplication tables. Five wild munchkins voluntarily starting a game of hide-and-go-seek at the magic hour of hunger, while I finish cooking supper. A surprise cleaning of the bathroom without being asked. An entire day of clean bedrooms. Supper altogether.
In our one-room-school-house, learning doesn’t always involve the books. After the boys presented a reasonable-sounding argument as to why I should allow them to melt a few “useless” cars with the heat gun, I obliged. They showed care and it kept them busy for almost an hour.
While the boys melted cars, the girls enjoyed playing with shapes. I love what a dollar can buy in a thrift store!
My favorite thing last week in school had to be Jack’s letter he wrote to our friend in basic training. I knew in his mind he was thinking: Thank you for defending our country, but he wrote: Thank you for saving our city. I absolutely love it. He even told me today that he loves to write.
Those words made my heart soar, because loving to write isn’t forced, it’s born. Every once in a while, I get to witness the miracle of new discoveries being born in the hearts and minds of our children. It’s worth all the labor and gives me fresh perspective to press on for another day.
Wednesday Painted Blue
Today is Wednesday. Which is usually my Monday, as far as feelings, attitudes,and energy, goes. The sound of temper tantrums filled our home, too many times to count, making its small-ish size feel extra tight. I never knew sound could fill up space, but apparently it does. That sent me to pulling things out of clothes bins and into white trash bags. A word of warning from this mama: If you have more sweaters than fit into your 13×13 bin, then I will purge them from you. That goes for your pants, shirts, and shoes too. I have never once experienced anyone “wishing” they had something I gave away because I never saw them wear or enjoy it. I have pack-rat tendencies, so when I sense the urge to hoard coming on in me or my kids, I go a little purge-crazy. We have strict laws here as far as holding onto stuff. One small filing cabinet drawer easily fits all the papers we need for 7 people for the past 12 years. I am working very hard at making sure everything has a place, and if that thing doesn’t fit in its place, it goes bye-bye. I digress.
So, after my crazy clothing rampage, school began in earnest. There were tears and tantrums twice during one hour. The bathroom, being the only door that locks around here, is my favorite place to hide when the tears need to flow and I need the sunshine to wash my face. I also make important phone calls to the principal in there, and tell God how I don’t think I can do this anymore. Wednesday blues.
Then we had to do errands, complete with tears. I wonder at the source, and how it never runs dry. Three hours later, we came home. I was not met with the delicious smell I anticipated when walking in the door. My crock-pot dinner, which I worked so hard to be ready so at least ONE thing would go right… was cold. Some little fingers unplugged it for the toaster’s place, just before we left, and I never was the wiser.
Spills, blood, bites, stabs, falls, bangs and bruises have all been painted a different shade of blue across my day. But there was also an incredible sky painted today, which I love how Jack noticed all on his own. Clouds like stretched cotton, with a few three-dimensional puffs thrown in for good measure. There are also rainbows of trees, some burning, some glowing, some merely pronouncing God’s handiwork. They touch the blue and instantly cold and warm colors collide into a torrent of glory.
For the first time in fifteen hours, I only hear the clock ticking, with faint sounds of children playing. I used to have so much quiet in my life. Now my quiet is usually accompanied by sleep. Sitting on the sun-streaked bathroom floor, I was reminded not to constantly seek escape from my life, but rather embrace it. Straight on, hands open, arms wide, head up: embrace the noise, the questions, the messes, the tears. Take breaks, but don’t run away. There is one inch of tea left in this glorious break. My soul, only painted blue, is starting to burn a little bit of warm. I am starting to feel like those trees on fire, and I’m ready to add some color to Mon-nes-day, and call it Wednesday.
Everything New Today, or ENT
As usual, this week has passed about as quickly as the wind that whips my hair through the open windows of the car. This phone dump is a smattering of what has blown through this week:
My life, in our van, is always noisy. I admit, I’m jealous of folks who say their kids get sleepy in the car. Ours tend to go a bit wild. They tell jokes, do anything and everything to annoy their neighbor, cry, sing, tattle, and do whatever it takes to not fall asleep. I experienced an almost-flat tire last Saturday. When I drove into the gas station to check it out, I hadn’t even gotten out of the car yet when a very nice man started to pump up my visibly flat tire. Turns out there was a screw in there, and was easily fixed later.
A city date with friends did my claustrophobic mommy-heart good. There are some days when the walls of home and car seem very tight, and the expanse of the city line eases the life-is-closing-in-feeling. We ate at an Ethiopian restaurant which served stellar samosas, delicious dinner and the most amazing coffee I’ve ever had. It was so good, that I tried my hand at cooking it at home, with great success and happiness.
Another highlight was our 10-10 at 10:10 date to get Elsie’s cast off her arm! With a clean bill of health, she is back to speeding across monkey bars.
This week it was an honor seeing my 4th and 5th grade teacher from when I lived in Africa. When time telescopes like this, I shake my head in wonder at how I have such clear memories of when I was as old as two of my children.
Other highlights include the fact that I need reading glasses.
Yesterday, two of my accessory-loving children got into my closet. It was a much-needed diversion from school.
Then somehow the outfit helped Jack get through the rest of his work a little easier.
Cooking is on an upswing for me, after a long bout in non-inspiration land.
Matthew visited the ENT this week and found out he has a yeast infection in his throat, so he’s on medicine for that now. His voice continues to be hoarse and he’s trying to rest it as much as possible. Otherwise, he feels well. In the next couple of weeks he needs to meet up with the plastic surgeon who did the surgery on his eyes a couple of years ago. We will need to set up a long-term game plan for possible future reconstructive surgery of his sinus area. The bridge of his nose is collapsing, and before a situation might become emergent, we need to figure out some possible courses of action. We would love to stop the medical dates, trips to the pharmacy, and be immune to disease. Yet, we know Jesus more through trial than through ease. We grow when the weight is heavy, not light. This temporary home loses much of its charm when it’s full of trouble, and our heavenly home grows more beautiful. Knowing every situation is allowed by God who knows and loves us more deeply than we’ll ever understand, gives comfort and peace beyond explanation. One day ENT will have a new meaning for us: that day when Jesus makes everything new. Everything New Today… might be today!
Mangoes, Heartbeats, & IV’s
School is always in session, even when it’s not. Take for instance last night when Elsie looked at me while drinking from a little milk container, straw stuck in her mouth while she talked: Mom? Am I drinking a cow’s pee? I then had to explain the anatomy of a cow. Fun stuff, really.
We almost managed to avoid visiting any doctors for an entire week. My wrist has been acting up (has a lot in the past) and I thought it was finally time to get an x-ray. At the urgent care, I was told it was nothing but a ganglion cyst. Ganglion is one of those words I really don’t like saying. I don’t mind the word “gang”, it’s kind of cool-sounding, really. A lion is so strong and majestic. Put them together, and ganglion is just plain awful. It feels dreadful too. Thankfully I didn’t need an x-ray, but Elsie is bummed we won’t have matching casts. I’m amazed at how she has had zero complaints about her pink cast. She rides her bike, jumps on the trampoline, plays on the playground, and has a personal assault weapon on her at all times. 
We had a fun time with Matthew’s family last night. Jack learned how to use chopsticks. He loves China, including its food. Notice the concentration:
This week, Matthew was able to bring Elijah to work with him one day. He had an excellent report from the boss, and was a big help!
Besides being good with the drill, he is also a handy taste-tester. What’s an African girl to do when she has a few mangoes on her hands? Make mango sauce, of course! That, right there, is a small taste of my childhood in a bowl. I’m always happy when I can share a piece of Africa with my kids on this side of the planet.
Nadine’s love tank is always full whenever she can hold a heartbeat with fur on it.
She has also been incredibly helpful watching Betty each day for slots of time so I can write, cook, and do school with the short crowd.
Today marks the second and last Rituxan treatment for Matthew. Since I couldn’t be with him, I bugged him for pictures. I know he wouldn’t post them himself… but… I would, because I love him so very much! His voice is still weak, and sometimes he still is a bit tight, but he “feels” good. We continue to pray for strength and healing! I am so incredibly thankful for a man who never sits around (except if there’s an IV pumping through him!) and is never lazy. He simply follows Jesus in his attitude, actions, and mindset. I’m not married to a perfect man by any means, but he is a real man. There is nothing remotely fantasy-related in his life. He is all real-life and hard-core. Grow old with me, my love!
Not Giving In To Wimpy
Elijah is my resident chef. He likes to help me cook and can make pizza dough all by himself now. Yesterday he made banana bread while I oversaw. Once it was in the oven I reminded him that he also had to clean everything up from cooking. He likes to “experiment” and had left a lot of egg shells and such in various places on the counter and table. Then there was the butter, the dishes and the measuring utensils to wash. As I directed him, in the background there were a few arguments that needed refereeing, a bottom that needed wiped, and the usual questions that needed answered. It was an hour and a half after everyone else had eaten lunch before I finally sat down to my peanut butter and banana toast. He must have noticed my weariness because he looked at me and said, You know, I guess that card is right: motherhood is not for wimps! You see, a few weeks ago a friend sent me a marvelous card with that saying on it. I didn’t even know he had read it, but Elijah pays attention to details when I least expect it. I just laughed. He always knows how to make me laugh.
There are plenty of days I want to give in to wimpy. I don’t like to be strong and hold it together all the time. Yet once I give in to those feelings, my life unwinds like a ball of yarn and tangles me up so. Like last week, when the oh-too-familiar “I really got hurt this time” cry met my ears from the front porch. Elsie held on to her arm and refused to let it go. An hour later, I dropped the other four kids off at my wonderful parents’ house and drove to the ER. Again. Elsie and I are becoming ER buddies. Turns out she has a buckle fracture in her wrist. After getting it splinted at the hospital she said, Everyone will be amazed! The next day we went to the orthopedic doctor where we discovered she needs a cute pink cast on it for four weeks. She described it as being: Cozy and comfortable but it hurts too. That’s how it feels. Elijah said, Elsie really looks good in a cast! You know, it really suits her!
On Sunday, Matthew and I were blessed to have an out-of-hospital date in the city! We ate at an incredible restaurant with some delightful friends. The view of Philadelphia was unbelievable. It almost felt like we were in an airplane. Even the elevator ride was fun!
Sprinkled throughout our week have been unintended haircuts, library trips, doctor visits, school, funny finds, purple peppers in the garden, and crock pot dinners.
The latest compilation of hilarious sleeping positions:
Last night was a hard one for Matthew. His throat has been stable, but was pretty tight again. This makes for little sleep for us both, and leaves a lot of room for trust. The water is rocky, but our Jesus is in the boat and He’s not going anywhere. Soon we will be able to rest. For now, there is no room for being wimpy.
Our One Room Schoolhouse
Our first week of school flew by at top speed. I have barely had time to sleep, and my head is spinning with Ancient Rome history and what sound “A” makes. We are steadily getting into a routine, and for that I am grateful.
Here is a tour of our school room! My mother-in-law rescued the chalk board from the school where she works, and it fits perfectly on my Life is Beautiful wall. We use it all the time! The desks are made from two Ikea table tops, which Matthew reinforced underneath with metal plates. The top is screwed into the four filing cabinets. The four oldest kids each have their own set of six drawers. We are still getting used to having so much extra space, and we’re trying to keep one subject per drawer, then filing papers straight into our portfolios at the end of each week. Along the window wall is an old Ikea coffee table (again, which my mother-in-law rescued). I wondered if maybe we sawed it in half, if it would make a better window seat. Voila! My live-in-carpenter/handsome hubby did just that! Betty’s puzzles, little toys, blocks, train set, etc. go in the baskets for easy access. On the far left corner, under the red “W” is our reading corner. You can not see the wooden library box which I keep heavily stocked with both books of their choice and along the same lines as what we’re studying in Science and History.
The red lockers contain my school supplies (top 3 cubbies), shared school supplies (next 3 cubbies), kids’ personal lockers for their own projects or collections (next 6 cubbies) and finally the last 3 cubbies are math manipulatives and Betty’s shapes and stacker-type toys.
We have our first morning board calendar, which everyone loves getting a turn at doing. None of these ideas are my own original. What a blessing the internet is sometimes!
Finally, each child has their own school and chore chart, held together with a jump ring. I got this idea from Homeschool Creations. Certain children LOVE their lists, others are more forgetful. We’re all still learning! If it works as it is intended, each person has the ability to earn sixty cents a day. However, if I end up having to do their chores because of ceaseless reminding or bad attitudes, they pay me. Each day there are six (easy) chores required because they are a part of our family, and three (slightly harder) chores for which they can earn money.
Further on in their charts are the school days, with velcro tabs in each of the sixteen boxes. I printed out many many possible school and life things to do. These get stuck in the order which I would like them done.
Once completed, that child can remove the square and put it in their top drawer.
Here you see Nadine has four things done, and a few more yet to do. We are flexible here, and constantly tweaking, but it gives them a good idea of what is expected of them. It takes me about five minutes the night before to set it up for the next day.
So, there is a brief show and tell of our first week of school! I hope you have enjoyed it! There are a lot more things going on behind the scenes. The bright pink cast on Elsie’s arm and the very short bangs are only a slight indication of the excitement which goes on outside the doors of school. But that is for another day. Right now this teacher must hit the hay… which rhymes with… yay.
Third Annual Kids’ Day
It was a beautiful sight when the kids got home from being at Grandma’s after Matthew was released from the hospital. It was impossible to fully capture the joy, hugs and squeals.
Two days later, we declared it to be our third annual kids day! This is something we started three years ago, and each August we celebrate our fabulous kids with surprises and fun! Jack and Matthew went to the store early in the morning and bought little gifts for everyone. Next, we had waffles and ice-cream for breakfast before setting off on a bowling expedition. The kids had never been bowling before. It was a nice excuse to use the bumpers for us older folks who haven’t bowled since my belly looked like a bowling ball ten years ago!
The second place we went was the dollar movie theatre, which turned out to be a great memory as well! We ended our day with a pop-in at some friends’ and then a visit at Grandma’s to see my brother and his family. Kids’ day was a success, and we are so thankful for our amazing children who bring us so much joy. They challenge and inspire us and constantly keep us seeking God.
Yesterday, Elsie was wearing ALL yellow, and Betty was wearing much pink. Elsie looked at Betty and commented: She’s so cute! She’s so pink! I’m so yellow!
When I went to pick up Jack from a friend’s house, it was just about dark as we got ready to drive away. He remembered he left his jackknife in the grass. He ran up the driveway and started to kick the ground around a large area of grass. Five seconds later, he ran back to the car, knife in hand. I looked at him in awe. This is the kid who claims he is not a good “looker” and can’t seem to find something in a well-lit room, let alone a huge lawn in the dark. I asked him how he found it so quickly. His reply? My feet know where everything is. Of course! Next time I will ask his feet to do the finding.
On our drive home we got talking about heaven. He thought for a bit and then said, When everyone on earth is in heaven, this world is going to be left in sadness. Wow.
Elsie, in mother-like fashion was trying to help out an older sibling who was having a bit of rivalry with another sibling. Her advice astounded me and reminded me that I guess they really are listening! This is what she said:
Well, maybe you should work it out. Nope, that wasn’t an option.
Well, maybe you should apologize. Not trying that either.
Well, maybe you should just walk away. Good girl!
I do love overhearing different conversations in the car between the back-seat dwellers. Jack and Elijah were discussing broken bones. He asked Elijah: Have I broken anything?
No, Elijah said.
How do you know?
I’ve been here all your life. Enough said.
Today they were having a “gentleman tea party”, complete with lego “newspapers”. Elijah thinks the raw sugar we use is “camping sugar” and Jack commented about the whole experience: We’re like men. I LOVE that my boys think drinking tea is manly. One conversation during this gentlemanly time went like this:
Elijah: Jack, I was thinking. If the age of driving was about the age of seven, there would be a lot of dead people in the world… No offense.
Nadine was able to start horseback riding lessons again this week. There is a very real hole in her heart that gets filled when she’s around horses. She even jokes that her name is perfect: They call me neighhhhh-deen because I love horses!
Betty is a little walky-talky, except for when she’s sitting in her special little chair… which she brings everywhere. Yesterday while we were driving, she saw some geese. She matter-of-factly said, I love birds. Elsie loves birds. Mommy loves birds. When Jack got home from his friend’s house, she ran up to him, gave him a huge hug and exclaimed: I LOVE you, Jack! She knows how much I love to hear her say, Yes ma’am, so she says it a lot. It sounds a lot like, Yes, man.
Tomorrow, we officially start school. Our school room is ready to go, and teacher is a bit trembling in her gut, but excited. I’m excited to see if our new approach will work smoother than last year, and I’m pumped to share how we do things, after we have settled in a bit. Speaking of, I need to get back to planning!
Grow Old With Me 