Day 3 of Home Schooling or “Mummy’s Rubbish Sheep”

So here we are. Day 3 of home schooling is in the bag. I have to admit it is pretty fun. I feared the schedule, however, the schedule has actually become my friend. I include activities Ivy would normally do and use material from her school website. We adapt as we go along. It’s nice to have a guideline and the kids seem to like knowing what we’re doing next. I try to leave a lot of space for play, especially for Albert who has not yet been to school.

Today Ivy was leading our art time, a master class in junk modelling. Albert and I were encouraged to make whatever we wanted with our egg cartons, oat bar boxes, tape, glue, feathers. Albert opted for a dinosaur with a paper towel roll neck. His name is “Norman.” Ivy designed her dream soft play place with her egg carton, pipe cleaners, and cotton balls. I grabbed the cotton balls too which I glued all over half an egg carton to make a sheep. I thought it was clever and a little cute. Ivy said very casually, “It’s rubbish.” I was stunned! I guess we can’t all be master sculptors.

While Ivy gets full marks for honesty, we will need to work on her sensitivity to others! Tomorrow Albert is going to lead our music time. I sure hope he likes my singing. Gulp!

“A cheerful heart is good medicine…” Proverbs 17:22a (NLT)

Ivy’s soft play, my “rubbish” sheep, and Albert’s dinosaur, Norman.

Day 1 of Social Distancing or God I Need Patience and a lot of Glitter Glue

Hello. It is the end of our first day of social distancing. It was so sunny and beautiful outside. Springtime is here and unaware of our collective plight. Yesterday was Ivy’s last day of school and really our last day of normal. Albert our youngest keeps asking when we are going to meet somebody or when he will have play group. We’ve talked about germs and sickness and really tried to explain the out break on a 2 and 4 year old level. I had somewhat of a plan for today: painting rainbows, cartoons, and making Rice Krispie treats. (The treats were a disaster as I had to leave the stove to break up a fight between the kids.) But I am getting ahead of myself.

Thursday I stocked up on paints and art supplies as I want to keep Ivy and Albert busy during this unusual amount of time at home. Within hours of bringing in my shopping, most of the glitter glue was gone! Ivy made good bye notes for a few of her school friends and Albert followed along creating art! I thought to myself that this is going to be a long haul. 

Today started so beautifully with breakfast and giggles and colourful paint brushes (all water washable.) We played outside in the sun with Daddy in a park. We also helped our Church Sunday Club by dropping off flowers on doorsteps. And some church goers were home and said hello at a distance. (Tomorrow is Mother’s Day in England.) The kids loved making deliveries. Naps were hard to achieve and the afternoon/early evening were wrought with meltdowns and bickering. So we did yoga stretches while I cooked an easy nugget and pasta with frozen veggies for their dinner. And breathe.

Tonight, I had my own mini meltdown as I looked at Ivy’s class page for home learning. The reality of all that has been happening over the past few weeks came crashing down on me. I have to teach my child and come up with lessons and entertain the younger child. I can’t get back to America if my parents or family members get sick or need me. We have to stay in and avoid contact with you know everyone! Not to mention people are so sick and dying. Many are overworked while others have lost their jobs.  Look, God I need You big time!!

”For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

I share all this to say we are in this together all in the same place. How oddly unifying?! And Christ is with us too. God is here extending His mighty hand to us. Lord, I grab ahold of You. Please help! Help us to pray for each other and lift each other up.

Today held many high highs and low lows. It is the first of many days like this one.  While I have no idea where to begin as Mommy/Teacher, I will keep looking up and focusing on the highs. All things considered, we are very blessed.

I won’t bore anyone with our day by day hour by hour home dramas! But I will try to blog some encouragement from time to time. Please comment or leave a prayer request. Good night and God bless.

 

Happy Pancake Day

Let the pancake frying begin!

I feel really full of pancakes right now. As Ivy and Albert drift off to sleep, my heart feels full as well. This is truly a special time. As we begin the Lent season, I try to focus on what these six weeks are all about. Sacrifice. Preparation. Contemplation. And teaching my children about Jesus. I have decided to give up desserts this year. It’s a broad category including cakes, sweets, and my tired mummy stash of dark chocolate for daily emergencies! It will be a good practice in self control but a small gesture when compared to the ultimate sacrifice Christ made for us. I came across this verse the other day as I was reading. “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) It made me think about the spiritual discipline that I need. Am I harbouring negative thoughts? Or regrets that may be holding me back? What’s in my heart that I need to give up? I hope to dive into these issues and more with the Lord over the next 40 days. Will you join me? Are you observing Lent this year? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. And excuse me as I go eat my last bit of chocolate for the next six weeks!

Embrace the Grace

Art work by Ivy Grace

My original title for this piece was “Embrace the Chaos,” but I think this is the wrong idea. Last week, chaos came in the form of noses bleeds, a flushed iPhone, and one bag with wallet left in a hospital restroom! I am trying to model stability and set a good example for my little humans. Not only is it exhausting but I often feel like I am missing the mark. I don’t know where my idea that family life is supposed to run smoothly comes from, but it’s there in the back of my mind, laughing at me. 

Then in my morning verses I find, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8) Something inside me says, “Ahhh.” I feel a little more relaxed. While I know that I am not sufficient in all things myself, God gives me the grace to do what I need to do. His grace, if I accept it, will keep me calm. My bag, by the way, was safely returned to us and my phone seems to be working. (Praise God!)

Although the kids will bonk heads and get nose bleeds (Albert is okay, bless him) and I will continue to lose things, we will make it through the day. Life will continue to throw some chaos my way, but I don’t have to let it wreck me. I can stand strong in the grace of God. It is very reassuring to this mama to know that the weight of my role doesn’t rest solely on my shoulders.

 So, if your day turns unexpectedly or your having a rough time, try to embrace the grace. That is my prayer today. Dear Lord, please help me to embrace your loving grace. Amen.

 

Beginnings

 

And just like that the Christmas tree is down and the decorations have been packed away. I feel a little sad. We have had a non-stop month of nativities and parties; activities and feasting! Memories to cherish. There will never be another Christmas when our little ones will be 2 and 4 again. It was special.

While I love nothing more than sitting by the glow of our cozy Christmas tree, it feels good to march into a new year and this time a new decade. I realise everything isn’t rosy and we all have challenges to face, but I can’t help having hope for the year ahead.
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 ESV

I just hope that I am up to snuff and ready to grab hold of the new thing for 2020. Because I know God is! He is faithful and keeps His promises. My prayer is that I can perceive what God wants me to do and that I am brave enough to do it.

A Litany of Thank Yous

Our only Thanksgiving picture, Pumpkin butter pie!

As I lay in bed having just had a nice hot shower, both children are asleep, and my husband tunes the Christmas radio station, I am thankful. I am thankful that we had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal last night with dear friends. I am thankful to God for helping me through a busy week of school runs, speech and doctor appointments, play group and activities. I am so grateful for the nurse practitioner for seeing my youngest who has a little ear infection and me today.  I am grateful for health care and medicine. I am also thankful that said nurse practitioner had good tips for supplements and boosts for the stay-at-home mummy trenches. He reminded me that I need to take care of myself too.

I have so many things to be grateful for that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Husband, kids, family, friends, faith, church family, able body, warm house, food, hot running water, a good car, good school and community for our kids. I could go on and on. God is amazing, good and true. I am so grateful to God.

There is room for all of us in God’s kingdom. Take that in a minute. All ( and I do mean all people) are loved  and wanted by God. No race is more important than another to God. No nation is more important than another. No sex is of greater value. We don’t need to pay for His love or earn it.  We couldn’t afford God’s love anyway! His love is infinite and freely given. I thank God for Jesus, the embodiment of His love. Christmas is coming! I am thankful.

”For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

 

Daily Treasures

One of my favourite moments of today was when my two year old son said, “Want me to play a little song everyone?” as he held his sister’s toy violin. His smile and song stole my heart anew.  There are a lot of things that I could be down about right now, but you know what I am not going to do that tonight. I watched my 4 year old daughter wail with despair (and tiredness) at dinner to then completely light up with happiness again when I gave her an orange gummy vitamin. It was amazing to behold. But it got me thinking about the little things in life that bring me joy.  So I am going to count my orange gummy vitamins!

My kids are my biggest blessings. My mission is to support and encourage these two little human beings into happy healthy grown ups. That is my greatest joy.  And in the tough moments I will relish my other orange gummy vitamins: family, friends, belly-laughs with tears, strong coffee, a good book, Autumn leaves and you know carrot cake. The point of my ramblings is really that life is good. Super tough. But good.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I will say rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

CAN YOU FEEL THAT BEATING HEART IN YOUR CHEST? YOU’RE MEANT TO BE HERE!

A smile, a hug, maybe even eye contact, all simple gestures but to someone struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts it may become a life line. Please read Godly Chic Diaries’ encouraging blog. You can make a difference.

The Godly Chic Diaries

I am a well-known and thoroughly-documented introvert. It takes me forever to make friends, and up until last year, I could count the number of friends I knew well on zero-fingers. But, I’m almost up to needing two hands for my hyper-local crew now, so it seems I may have turned a corner! Let’s file this post under “I can do it, anyone can do it”😊

Can I share something with you: Today, one of my friends told me she is planning a “celebration of life” on the anniversary of her suicide attempt. And she wanted to invite ALL those who have made an impact in her life, including me. It almost made me cry because it’s moments like these that I cherish, it’s moments like these that I am reminded of the impact I can make in someone’s life.

I know many of us think about those who we…

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The End of the Summer

And so, just like that, it is the end of the summer. Normally, I would be thrilled. I am an Autumn person. (Changing leaves, chilly air, cardigans and pumpkin spice everything…) But this year is different. I’m not ready for the summer to end. It has been a special sweet time for our little family. Our daughter Ivy Grace, turned 4. I turned 40. Albert (age 2) is so chatty and finally old enough to play with Ivy. We’ve had many adventures to the park, library, play grounds, and splash parks. We’ve had picnics and crafting and dress up. We’ve gone to cinema, festivals and birthday parties. We baked cakes and bread and have had many treats. It has been a memorable summer.

Ivy starts reception class in a week and is quickly progressing to full days of school! I just don’t know how our time together has passed by so quickly. I am going to miss her when she goes to school. It’s the strangest feeling. I’m so proud of Ivy. She loves school. I’m excited for her to learn and grow but I am sad to see our pre-school era end. Albert will miss Ivy too I’m sure. It will be good to give him extra one-on-one time. My heart! Mothering is tough stuff. As these little ones get bigger, I need to figure out what I want to do too. I am starting a new decade and era of my own. Life. The longer I live the more and more I think that time is our most precious possession. And yet no one knows how much of it we really have. “My times are in your hands…” Psalm 31:15  My prayer is to use it wisely.

And so, we head off to the beach tomorrow to soak up as much time with Ivy and Albert as possible.

Messy Toddlerhood

I like to call this afternoon “messy game gone wrong.” It seemed like a good idea at the time. You put flour in a tin pan and let the little ones make tracks with cars and toys. This worked for about two minutes until the one year old decided to dump all his flour out onto the floor. The three year old thought this was hilarious and began tossing fist fulls of powder. All I can say is at least I kept it contained to the kitchen.

This is just one of a series of questionable sleep-deprived mommy decisions I made today. But all worth the giggles and squeals of delight from my babies. They seemed to relish in the freedom of making a big ole mess! One splashy bath and Disney film later; the floor was clean again and dinner nearly finished.

What’s life without a bit of mess? A bit of fun?  I have to set so many boundaries for my toddlers that these moments are refreshing. My prayer tonight is that we make more of these memories. I want to delight in Ivy and Albert instead of just raising them. They give me so much joy. My goal tomorrow is to laugh with them even more.