A Busy Bee

As I sit at my computer on this way too cold saturday morning and drink my coffee, I am subconsciously putting off the inevitable. I would love nothing more than to stay in my warm little red house and enjoy the weekend but alas, life has a different plan for me!

1) Craft store for more cute decorative organizing folders

2) Topiary Styrofoam molds

3) Eye doctor for me Yippie time for new glasses =)))

4) Emmas first eye doctor appt. She is praying for glasses...

5) Warehouse store to buy loads of milk and eggs and bananas.

6) Buy the rest of the items needed for Bananas bday party!

In the meantime:

1) The 2 older girls will be coming back from (a very drama filled) sleepover

2) Molly will be getting ready to go to a birthday party (which she is just thrilled about)

3) My sweet, handsome, muah muah muah Gapboy will be assembling my new bookshelf that I finally bought!

and then by the afternoon we will all be reunited again where I can work on some super cute birthday favors and decorations and indulge in a delicious chicken Marsala dinner made by me!

Now if only the temperatures were warmer so I would not freeze, but don't be happy my northern friends... our temps go back up to the 50's by next week. Praise The LORD! God is GOOD!

4 instead of 2

Right before the holidays I had some houseguests stay with us for about 2 weeks while they job hunted and prepared for relocation. They were actually more than guests, they were my cousins! We so enjoyed them being a part of our home for that brief period of time. The house actually felt empty when they left!

A few days before they packed up their car for the 10 hour ride home, they handed me a box. In it was something so exquisite I squealed with joy.

Out came this shiny stainless 4 slice toaster. It was beautiful!

It was a simple thank you for opening my home to them... or they just got so sick and tired of holding down the button to my old, white cheap 2 slice toaster . (come to think of it, the old one was a gift as well. Another thank you from my sister-in-law for letting her live with us. Hmm I see a pattern here...)

Perhaps most women would not be so happy to get such an appliance as a gift. For me, its perfect! Just what we need to make our morning breakfast go a little bit faster.

The funny thing is, we are all still in amazement that 4 slices of bread can be toasted at once. Is that bad? Ha ha ha

Be Still My Heart

There is a give-away over at THIS blog. Oh my and its RED! Ya'll just know I LUUVVV me some red. Oh pretty please pick me ;)

XoxoGapGirl

Do You Think?

On the phone one day with one of my dear friends back in Ny, the question came up... "Do you think Everyone should homeschool?"

How absurd I thought that question was. "Of coarse not." I blurted out. I prided myself in always saying that each decision to homeschool/raise children is unique and altered based on their own families and relationships with the Lord. I sounded good! I had the answers and I was convincing.

As days go by (and months in this particular case) and I reflect on how our lives have changed since that decision over 2 years ago, I have noticed a big change in thinking. I often putter around my kitchen and see how the relationship has changed between my Emma and I. During her 5th grade school year I saw the gap grow between us. I tried so hard to stop it but I couldn't. All the stereotypical tween tendencies were showing. Our family was divided more than I wanted to. The babies had their favorites and the older girls had their "chosen one." Breakfast conversations were replaced by yells to get out of bed, throw all belongings in the car and drop them off for someone else to tend to. By the time I had them home again, dinner was bubbling over on the stove and I was tired!! Homework, hubby time, chores and more homework took the place of casual kitchen chatter.

I could not find the time for my own precious children. How could I train them up in the ways of the Lord when I couldn't even find the time to help her with her strange homework assignments?

As we are entering in our 1.5 years of homeschooling in my little red house, I can no longer identify that horrible home environment I once had. Our family is whole. We laugh at the events of the day over dinner instead of playing catch up. I no longer feel like an outsider as my kids retell the life they live without me all day.

Our home has no favorites now. We are united. The younger kids look up to the older kids and the older kids have more patience with them. Life living among the littles is normal.

My Molly read her first word yesterday and its because I taught her. She writes her name because I taught her. When she has questions about life, she comes to me and I answer.

The south is under a cold spell with possible snow tomorrow night. We have been in hibernation for days. Quick runs to the mailbox are braved by one of us. Today my 12.5 year old told me that she loves being "trapped" in the house. That warmed my heart. Most kids her age would just die if they spent all week in the same house as their family. Not my kids. Thats normal, thats welcomed and even asked for.

I can't imagine our life any other way. I can't imagine not having them around me. Of coarse, if you happen to peek in my windows, you might catch me (gulp) yelling, losing my patience, and surrounded by a quite messy home . Under no circumstances do we spend days holding hands and singing kombaya. We are real. Down to the core! We have our good days, bad days and days in between. But never a moment of regret.

I don't know what I would do without them scurrying around, having 3 projects going on at once. I know that day will come one day... sooner than I hope for. But when that day does come, I will know in my heart I have loved them and trained them and spent as much time as possible with them. I will have no regrets ( ok maybe a few less days frazzled...)

Perhaps my answer to my friend was a PC answer? Perhaps thats not how I really think? I don't understand any other way. For me, it just doesn't make sense BUT to homeschool. I want all families to be like ours. I think the world would be a better place. Most problems in the world can be solved by just fixing the family.

Im sure many people disagree. And thats fine I guess... But for me and my precious ones that live in MY little Red House... I think Homeschooling is the only way!

Quick Update

Here is a quick update on day #5 of keeping my New Years Resolution.

1) walked the neighborhood today in hopes of having the weight lost somewhere... didn't work!

2) My closets are staying neat and tidy. I have not bought anything yet due to lack of funds but will get started soon! In the meantime, my list grows and the cleaning continues...

3) I Love my hubby... need I say more?

4) Im still letting go as hard as that is and more pregnancies are announced. Im so happy for them but can't seem to help the stabbing that I feel in my heart. But God is good and grants me peace when I need it the most. Time to be strong and no time for saddness!

6) Oh boy, do I have a long list of things I want to do to my home. Can't wait!! ;)


5) I have kept up with the bible reading. My older girls joined me and its a great time together. Hannah reads half aloud to practice her reading. She struggles a bit, this is a perfect opportunity to have her practice while we are reading God's word. It reminds me of all the men and women of yesteryear who did the same thing by candlelight many years ago. They didn't have libraries or bookstores and their main goal was learning to read so they can read the word of God! I LOVE being able to help and teach her during our bible hour together.
Emma is joining along as well, but since she is such a bookworm, she usually gets it done way before us! She listens along. Molly, if she is around, carries her own little bible and pretends to read. Its so precious. But most of the time you can catch her "preaching" to the other littles. Thats Molly for ya!

As I have been reading day by day, I have kept the people who took the 90 day challenge close to my heart. I can't imagine the sacrifice and self discipline it must take to stay on task. I have been following one bloggers journey as her and her older kids read thru. I have not looked into the day to day schematics of it all but my heart is being tugged stronger and stronger each day. Perhaps that will be my next goal. Until then, I will pray that they endure to the end! I will look forward to hearing about their progress and admire them to the fullest!!! You go!!

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho. Its off To Gap I Go...

This morning my inbox greeted me with wonderful news. Gap is having a fabu sale. An additional 20% off of sale items. PLUS I have a 20% off coupon to be used on a non-sale item. Time to go in my closet, put on my Gap jeans and shirt, spray some of my Gap perfume and shop! I can't wait!

Yes, I know... there are more important things happening in this world but Im a girl, 'Nough said! =)

XoxoGapGirl

Its Party Time!

Its that time of year in our home! Birthday time! My banana turns 11 in just about 2 weeks and plans for her birthday are underway. Last year we had a HSM party and we all remember how that ended. Aunt Cindy got control of the Wii sing-it and off she went. It was hysterical.

This year the theme is a bit different! Candy bars are in order. I have a whole notepad of cool cute ideas that will be put to the test over the coarse of the next week. I already predict late nights watching my tv shows while I make tons of tissue paper topiaries and flower balls. Not to mention, Ice cream cone cakes, Snow drops, Cotton candy cupcakes, color co-ordinating m&m's and pink punch!!!

All done up in my favorite colors...PINK AND GREEN! With blue of coarse because its Hannah's birthday and she calls the shots (sort of)

I love the fact that my banana is still such a girly-girl and loves all things sweet. My shopping list is long and comprised of about 4 items in all various colors. Sprinkles, chocolate ,ice cream and candy. Healthy huh?

Well, we only live once and since sweets are limited, we will indulge on this one day!

Im so excited. I can't wait to begin. I can't wait to tackle the craft stores and most of all I can't wait to be surrounded by all the P-I-N-K!!!

NOT ME!

I did NOT spend a lot of our Christmas vacation in pj's and my kids did NOT stay in theirs most of the day!

I am NOT counting the days till spring.

I am NOT already planning my spring garden and summer birthday parties.

I am NOT frozen to the core and ready to move to the equator because of this cold spell in the south. (after all I am a NY'er)

I did NOT change the color of my foyer (yet again) simply because I can't decide...

These are all the things I am busy NOT doing.

Happy Monday =)

Is It Spring Yet?

Im sure this is just one of many hopeful posts to come. As I sit in my living room watching the 30 degree winds breeze past my window, my heart yearns for spring.

I have taken out my little plant care cards and reviewed all the beautiful perennials I planted last year. Some planning and research took place to ensure beautiful growth for this spring and I am slowly picking out new flowers I want to purchase. I still have a long way to go with my little red house. Many more plants and many more years are needed to make it a flower-filled covered cottage but Im patient. I can wait.... maybe ;)

Tonight will be in the low teens. A rarity in my neck of the woods. I will hibernate in my warm house. My flannel sheets are freshly washed. After the kids go to bed, I will settle in my room and read. I will hear the wind howl outside my big bedroom windows but in my heart, I will be planning for spring. Yippie!

Happy New Year

Last night we welcomed in a new year along with a new decade. For the first time ever, my Hannah Banana actually stayed up (barely) to watch Dick Clarks Rockin-New Years Eve ball drop in Times Square. For years past my poor 2nd born would fall asleep on the couch just minutes before the big moment. We would try and wake her but to no avail, she was exhausted.

Before that big moment, We all had our favorite dinner (tacos) decorated the house with streamers and hats and headed out the door. After sparklers, blow horns and echoing screams, the littles went to bed and the 4 of us had some great family time together.

Now that the first day of the New Year has almost come to a close, I will formally list my resolutions. These are things I have been thinking about alot the last week. Some are silly and pretty cliche, others are dear to my heart and I share them with you as another motivational tool to make them happen.

1) Lose those annoying last 10 pounds that have been following me all thru the town!

2) Sift thru my home and organize to the fullest. Not just clean. I have the deepest desire to go beyond normal day to day clearing and really make sure every little thing has its perfect place. I want to go beyond plastic storage bins and invest in decorative boxes, baskets, fabric bins and even a custom label maker. Hobby Lobby will be my newest and dearest bestie. Coordinating correspondence stationary with matching push pins, photo holder, letter opener, note pad, folders weekly calendar and mouse pad. (some of which I already have) My dearest hubby bought me more shelves for the garage and a nice 4 drawer filing cabinet. I can't wait!! Every closet, every corner, every cabinet will have a make-eovr. I already started in the kitchen and the downstairs LV room closet. What a difference that has made!

3) Every year my church publishes a bible reading plan book. If done according to the calendar and their scriptures, I would have read the entire bible in one year!! Every year I try and every year I fail. This will not be another year I let it slip away from me. With my organization resolution and with new order and scheduling taking place in my home, I am determined to read each and every day. I look forward to the wonderful plans God has in store for me thru this new goal.

4) Continue to be an even better help-meet to my husband and loving mother to my children. My 2 favorite books will remain on my nightstand and will be picked up often when I need encouragement and ideas. Understanding our full roles that God gave us enriches our lives more than we will ever know.

5) Let go and let God.

For my faithful readers, you all know the struggles I have had the past 2 years trying to conceive and keeping my pregnancies. It has not been an easy road... especially when friends and acquaintances have come and gone along the pregnancy road. They welcome their babies with such ease. Its hard to remain hopeful sometimes. Its hard to accept reality. Its just plain hard.

I want to leave all that behind. Its such bondage. It takes effort to feel that way and sucks the smile right off of my face. I hope and pray that this year will change. Not just in a successful pregnancy but in just an overall attitude. Gapboy and I will leave our family planning up to God. We don't use any forms of prevention but are well versed in ourselves to know when is good and when is bad.

I pray I can leave all emotions at Jesus's feet and be completely satisfied with His provisions...whatever they may be. I pray I can wait in faith. Peacefully. I pray that no matter the outcome, my heart will be healed. I pray for God to completely handle this situation.100%. I can't handle it on my own. I don't even know what to pray for anymore... its time to hand it over. It won't be easy but thats why its a resolution. It might take all year to accomplish but I will give it my all.

6) FINALLY finish decorating my beloved Little Red House... but then again... are we ever done decorating ;) I hope not!

My list is not long but it is meaningful. A year that will not be wasted. A year that will not find me wondering where the time went. Every moment is precious and every moment needs to be used for good. I pray I can make that happen, even when I have bad days, a messy house and unruly children. Tomorrow is a new day and order can always be restored.!

XoxoGapGirl