My God is doing a brand nu thang
But since time began, He remains the same
Faithful, forever to His Word
Solid, a cornerstone unstirred
Two weeks ago today, I received Jory’s Math-U-See curriculum. At first, I couldn’t think of anything that I had ordered that would be coming to me, then it dawned on me what it was. It hit me when I placed the order at CHEA that I was homeschooling, but to hold the box in my hand that contained curriculum that I would be teaching to my baby boy was taking it to the next level.
And now I’m getting a money order so I can purchase his Sonlight curriculum from a woman who privately emailed me saying she had what I was looking for for a reasonable price including shipping. It was actually more than what I needed or wanted, but it was a great deal. So soon I will hold in my hands his reading and writing curriculum, with some history and science thrown in as a bonus.
God is so faithful, yet I wondered how I was going to pay for everything. I looked at the bills that laid before me: school enrollment, membership fees for CHEA (Christian Home Educators Association of California) and HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association). Where was this money coming from? But as always God provides, I was told I could apply for a discount for my HSLDA membership fee. Last night, I received in the mail my CHEA membership card. I didn’t understand that when I paid to my entrance fee to get into the CHEA convention, I also was paying for a year’s membership. And even when it came to the CHEA convention, a few days before I was set to go I received an email that said the first fifty people to email CHEA back would get a discount on their CHEA ticket and I, by the grace of God, was one of those people. The school that I want to enroll Jory into gave me a discounted price without me even asking.
Earlier this summer, I went to a bbq and met a woman, who was recommended by a friend, who was interested in babysitting Jory for the school year. This woman was on fire for God and her children were well-mannered and friendly. But being a resident of the greatest city in the world, it would take me a half hour each way to get to her house from my job, which was only five miles away. How could I do this every morning, particularly with dropping the girls off at school first? Even though I really liked her, I busted my brain trying to figure out I could make this work but nothing was coming to me. I searched for other people, but others were either too far or out of my price range or weren’t Christians. And then SCORE! It came to me I had a friend who lived blocks away from my job who might be willing to drop Jory off at his babysitter’s house for a minimum fee. God is always working.
I am stepping out on complete faith with this homeschooling thing and every step of the way He is providing. So it seems like our adventure is about to begin. Jory and I, with God as our merciful leader, will soon start this rollercoaster called school - - homeschool. Pray for us.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Fun mornings
God laid it on my heart to show mercy as He shows me mercy so the kids got a reprieve and got to go swimming at school and by swimming I mean play in the water.
They were excited to hear that news since they hadn't so far been able to do that yet at school. So I took it another step forward and told them if they got dressed without me having to remind them to do stuff and in the allotted time they could have a treat. They did it and so I played Jory's seemingly new favorite song, Drift Away. He sang along to Give me the beat boy. I played the Uncle Kracker version. What happened to Uncle Kracker?
After that song played to a rousing crowd, I checked out what was going on on Perez and got a treat of my own. There was a clip of the New Kids on the Block/Backstreet Boys tour in Boston. Now normally I wouldn't have given that a second look, but then they brought out BBD. SCORE! The men dressed alike per usual, more groups need to bring that back, sang parts of Do Me and Poison. The guys who taught me to never trust a big butt and a smile.
I was bouncing around, singing along.
"Mommy, why are you so happy?" Jory asked. "Is it because we got ready on time?"
"Mommy, are you happy because that's your favorite song?" Rowan asked.
"Yes, Mommy is happy that you got ready on time and yes, Mommy really likes this song."
When you hear those opening notes and "Poison/PPPPpoison" you can't help but smile and move.
And to end the note on a great note, we were able to sing correctly all four verses of Amazing Grace in the car before we parked at school.
Some mornings just ROCK!
They were excited to hear that news since they hadn't so far been able to do that yet at school. So I took it another step forward and told them if they got dressed without me having to remind them to do stuff and in the allotted time they could have a treat. They did it and so I played Jory's seemingly new favorite song, Drift Away. He sang along to Give me the beat boy. I played the Uncle Kracker version. What happened to Uncle Kracker?
After that song played to a rousing crowd, I checked out what was going on on Perez and got a treat of my own. There was a clip of the New Kids on the Block/Backstreet Boys tour in Boston. Now normally I wouldn't have given that a second look, but then they brought out BBD. SCORE! The men dressed alike per usual, more groups need to bring that back, sang parts of Do Me and Poison. The guys who taught me to never trust a big butt and a smile.
I was bouncing around, singing along.
"Mommy, why are you so happy?" Jory asked. "Is it because we got ready on time?"
"Mommy, are you happy because that's your favorite song?" Rowan asked.
"Yes, Mommy is happy that you got ready on time and yes, Mommy really likes this song."
When you hear those opening notes and "Poison/PPPPpoison" you can't help but smile and move.
And to end the note on a great note, we were able to sing correctly all four verses of Amazing Grace in the car before we parked at school.
Some mornings just ROCK!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Blogging by Steph
I write really fabulous blogs in my head...usually while driving down the road. Then I get home and don't have time to bring them to the rest of the world.
My friend, Steph, is a genius and sums out the problem with blogging for the woman with children beautifully.
My friend, Steph, is a genius and sums out the problem with blogging for the woman with children beautifully.
Wandering minds want to know
“Mommy, why is the baby white?” Rowan asked me as I was drying the baby off after bath time.
Where did that question come from? Jory never asked questions about skin color not at four and still not at six. Girls, why must they be different? “She’s not white.”
“But her skin looks white,” she continued.
“You want to know why the baby is fairer than you?”
The four-year-old nodded her head.
“Because God made her that way.” I stuck my arm out near hers. “Do you see how you’re fairer than me? And how Jory and Oma are different shades too?”
She nodded again.
“God made us all that way.”
“God made us that way?” she questioned cautiously.
“Yes, He did”
“Well her bottom looks white,” she countered, pointing to her sister’s pale looking bottom.
“It looks white, but it’s not.”
“Oh, okay.”
And scene. Questions just come up from anywhere, at anytime, about anything.
Where did that question come from? Jory never asked questions about skin color not at four and still not at six. Girls, why must they be different? “She’s not white.”
“But her skin looks white,” she continued.
“You want to know why the baby is fairer than you?”
The four-year-old nodded her head.
“Because God made her that way.” I stuck my arm out near hers. “Do you see how you’re fairer than me? And how Jory and Oma are different shades too?”
She nodded again.
“God made us all that way.”
“God made us that way?” she questioned cautiously.
“Yes, He did”
“Well her bottom looks white,” she countered, pointing to her sister’s pale looking bottom.
“It looks white, but it’s not.”
“Oh, okay.”
And scene. Questions just come up from anywhere, at anytime, about anything.
Summer days
After running errands for my mom and myself, I came over to my Aunt Lavonia’s house. I made the kids lunch, then took them outside in the backyard to swim while my aunts and friends had a yard sale in the front.
Jory swam while the girls splashed. Then when he was over that he remembered his aunt turning an exercise mat into a float for the pool so he dragged it in. He got on it and floated around, while the girls showed me the neat tricks they could do in the water, which was pretty much them lowering themselves into the water about two inches and then pretending to jump up and as they slowly rose out of the water.
As they played, I did something I hadn’t done in forever- - read. I read a book. I read a book! Do you know how amazing that it is? What is the one thing I missed most that I lost when I became a mother? Yep, reading. I loved reading. I loved that my babies are old enough to play in the water while I read.
With one eye on them and one in my book, Rowan grabbed my attention.
“What’s wrong?” I asked her.
“I’m scared to go lower,” she said.
“Rowan, you’re a big girl. It’ll be fine. You’re tall enough to step down to the third stair and you can walk along the long stair and hold onto the side of the pool while you walk, if you get scared.”
She seemed to like my answer and took that first step. I was proud of her and didn’t have to watch her too closely because I knew exactly where the step was because it was the same step I played on when I was a kid.
We had come full circle, decades ago I played in the same pool. I even had my first “birthday” pool party in that pool with all my friends from Redeemer. I had to pat myself on the back for always wanting to rear my kids not just in the greatest city in the world, the city of angels, but rearing them with family, near family, and in the same places I grew up in.
TTT enjoyed the summer weather in the pool, I read poolside- - Winning!
Jory swam while the girls splashed. Then when he was over that he remembered his aunt turning an exercise mat into a float for the pool so he dragged it in. He got on it and floated around, while the girls showed me the neat tricks they could do in the water, which was pretty much them lowering themselves into the water about two inches and then pretending to jump up and as they slowly rose out of the water.
As they played, I did something I hadn’t done in forever- - read. I read a book. I read a book! Do you know how amazing that it is? What is the one thing I missed most that I lost when I became a mother? Yep, reading. I loved reading. I loved that my babies are old enough to play in the water while I read.
With one eye on them and one in my book, Rowan grabbed my attention.
“What’s wrong?” I asked her.
“I’m scared to go lower,” she said.
“Rowan, you’re a big girl. It’ll be fine. You’re tall enough to step down to the third stair and you can walk along the long stair and hold onto the side of the pool while you walk, if you get scared.”
She seemed to like my answer and took that first step. I was proud of her and didn’t have to watch her too closely because I knew exactly where the step was because it was the same step I played on when I was a kid.
We had come full circle, decades ago I played in the same pool. I even had my first “birthday” pool party in that pool with all my friends from Redeemer. I had to pat myself on the back for always wanting to rear my kids not just in the greatest city in the world, the city of angels, but rearing them with family, near family, and in the same places I grew up in.
TTT enjoyed the summer weather in the pool, I read poolside- - Winning!
Laundry mats
Week two without a washer and dryer and another trip to the laundry mat is required. How do people live like this? How?!?!?!
A big shout out and God bless you to the women who have to use the laundry mat and take the kids with them! It is not easy making sure the washers are cleaned before you dump your separated-at-home-clothes, trying to be efficient and quick so all the washers can stop at around the same time, so they can all go into the dryers together, but making sure you don’t put too many clothes in one dryer because those 15 minutes the dryer goes goes quickly, all while making sure the kids are behaving and not running amok and staying off the dirty looking floor, then making sure they don’t “help” too much when you’re folding clothes because God forbid the clothes fall on the ground and really you just are so over the place you want to go home, and praying all the clothes come clean because you can’t rewash them at will.
A big shout out and God bless you to the women who have to use the laundry mat and take the kids with them! It is not easy making sure the washers are cleaned before you dump your separated-at-home-clothes, trying to be efficient and quick so all the washers can stop at around the same time, so they can all go into the dryers together, but making sure you don’t put too many clothes in one dryer because those 15 minutes the dryer goes goes quickly, all while making sure the kids are behaving and not running amok and staying off the dirty looking floor, then making sure they don’t “help” too much when you’re folding clothes because God forbid the clothes fall on the ground and really you just are so over the place you want to go home, and praying all the clothes come clean because you can’t rewash them at will.
Friday, July 29, 2011
I'm so blessed
Hand in hand, Jory and I walk out of the Target in Culver City, the Old one not the new one or the mall Target. He happily carried the bag and was chatting away about something. I looked at him in disbelief and adoration. Out of all the kids God could have given me He blessed me with this wonderfully funny, intelligent, loving, considerate, boys boy that I call Jory.
How much does God love me that He blessed me with this little boy? Since the moment He began this thing we call “time” He knew Jory would be mine and I would be his. And I thank Him for giving me not what I wanted, which was a girl after having three nephews, but what I needed, a baby boy.
Once upon a time, when I was a little girl playing house at Redeemer, I always wanted a son first so he could be a big brother and look out for his younger siblings. I definitely got that in spades.
As we walked in the moonlight and he tried to convince me that he needed Burger King for dinner, I thought I am truly, madly deeply in love with this little person.
How much does God love me that He blessed me with this little boy? Since the moment He began this thing we call “time” He knew Jory would be mine and I would be his. And I thank Him for giving me not what I wanted, which was a girl after having three nephews, but what I needed, a baby boy.
Once upon a time, when I was a little girl playing house at Redeemer, I always wanted a son first so he could be a big brother and look out for his younger siblings. I definitely got that in spades.
As we walked in the moonlight and he tried to convince me that he needed Burger King for dinner, I thought I am truly, madly deeply in love with this little person.
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