Hatching #2

Hard to see but this one came out of his cocoon a few minutes ago, right after the first.
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Hatching #1

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The Starting Line: Our Garden

We have three boxes already down.  Two 4X 4 boxes and one 4X8 box.  So far, we have potatoes, onions, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, lettuce and carrots down.  Last year, carrots andn lettuces did quite well in the cool temperatures.  So, we got them down early.  Here was the beginning :

 This bloom came out just a few days ago-it's a Roma.

A Very Blessed Mother

This is one of the most recent pictures I have of my Mom and me. I just love her soo much. She is such a beautiful person, inside and out. She has raised three girls alone and done so with much grace, dignity, and perseverance. I've only been a single mom for one year (deployment of my husband) and I cannot even imagine how she did it alone for so many years. She is just so precious to me. And as I've grown and have a family of my own now, our relationship has matured into a beautiful thing. There is soo much I could just go on and on about but I will just say that I am very blessed to have her !!

I had a wonderful Mother's Day, as well. My husband and children treated me sooo well. So well, in fact, that my scale is still recovering from the impact! I didn't cook at all on Mother's Day and one of my favorite things is the handmade cards. Those are truly treasures that I look forward to having, and cherish them each year. I have to confess, though, to being a little intimidated by how much I have to "up" my hubby when Father's Day rolls around.

My Top 5

                                                    

Each new day that we are given from the Lord holds fresh promise.  We are given the same number of hours each day.  We are living in the same skin as we were the day before; yet, we have something new.  Another chance. Freshly revived.  Another round. A do-over.  A repeat.  Renewed.  What will we do with it?

I have been getting lots of planning ideas from here, but I find the need to keep my top priorities at the top, first.  Then, I am free to go into the other areas.

Here are mine:

1. Pray with/for children, Bible reading, character training
2. Look into the eyes of my family, listen.  Support/help in relationships.
3.  Daily physical needs: meals/clothing/cleanliness/exercise
4.  Educational requirements
5.  Household management (errands/bills/appointments)

When those things are achieved, then my day has been successful.  Not all of them get done every day. Some days it takes all day long just to get those priorities done.  But, if they do get done, I am free to move into other areas: personal pursuits, hobbies, social pursuits, business related efforts, extracurriculars in any area. 

Also, if I notice an area that a particular child needs some special attention in, I will make a note to myself to attend to that.  The little things are important.  But I'm not SuperMom, so I have to write myself notes.   It doesn't matter if it's extra review with their flashcards or if their fish died and they need a little extra TLC.  It's worth it to me.

What are your Top 5 for your days?

Math with Little Ones

Here is one way to get some review and fun in the same lesson. I have foam blocks with numbers on them. The little one rolls the block and calls out the numbers she has rolled. The older (1st grade) child writes them and has to add or subtract the numbers. Easy! And they both think it's fun - and I do allow a smidgen of goofiness :).
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Military No Longer.....for now

The last day on hubby's contract came and went.  With no offers for full-time from the jobs he applied for, his time lapsed.  That doesn't mean there's not a chance in the future.  But this contract has expired. 
It's very bittersweet after being military for most of our married life save about 1.5 yrs.
The rest of this story lies in God's hands.  We'll see where (if at all)  He takes us.