Savor: March

Since this post was sitting in my drafts folder, I will go ahead and post this reflection of what I savored in March. Once again, it was mostly about relationships (with a big accomplishment thrown in). 

Friendship.

I am a friendship sort of person.  Some people don't seem to need many friends, but I do.  I thoroughly enjoy my people, and this month I got to savor some special moments with special people.

Dear friends John and Amber and their children spent a weekend with us.

My friend Misti made a pitstop on her way from Delaware to Montana.  We were both so excited to spend the evening together that we couldn't even look like semi-normal people!

"Make new friends, but keep the old.  One is silver and the other gold."

John and Amber and Misti have been friends for many years.  But I am also savoring the development of newer friendships.  Tami, left above, is a new friend and I am treasuring our growing friendship.

I pulled together a few other couples and we did one of those nights where an artist walked us step-by-step through painting a picture.  It was an absolute blast!

 Neither Alan nor I have a gift for painting, but we had a lot of fun and I treasure this memory.  The "lovebirds" hang above the sink in my kitchen.

A night out with the kids to eat sushi.  

A rare Sunday afternoon with just my big kids.  We slipped out to watch London Has Fallen, a one-guy-takes-on-100-and-wins sort of action flick.  These two are busy living their own lives, which is as it should be, but I savor the moments they share with Mom.

And finally, I treasured Kiana's excitement this month as she joyfully announced that she just read this story in a Highlights magazine ALL BY HERSELF!  Learning to read has been challenging for her, but she didn't give up, and this was her first experience with the joy of reading. I had to snap a picture as I savored this moment with tears in my eyes.

Savor: February

February was a great month to practice "my one word": SAVOR.

I think Destry is beginning to realize he won't be living here much longer, and he is being more deliberate in spending time with his younger siblings.  I treasure the moments I see him spending purposeful time with them reading books. . .

or playing card games.

My children can be the best of friends, but they can also push one another's buttons without mercy.  I savor the times I see sibling love:

Big sissy Kiana chose the girls' outfits for the day. . .

 Easton and Tyrell played happily with airplanes. . .

Easton, Kiana, and Tyell played "picnic".

A stomach virus hit our family in February, and while I can't say I appreciated it, it did remind me to appreciate our general health.  I also just had to grin that even when Mom is sick on the couch, she is still the best place for a sick boy to lie, and the preferred place for a wiggly almost-two-year-old to perch.

I am delighting in this man and in our marriage.  We got to go on the Love Like You Mean It cruise again in February (maybe I will get around to posting about it someday. . .) and my very favorite part of it was the relaxed time spent with him.

We also got to enjoy time on the cruise with these dear friends--John and Wendy and Troy and Caren.  Friendship is ever so precious to me!

I love to dwell on the relationship my two big kids have.  While Briana was visiting one day, she regaled Destry with stories from her two jobs and I sat watching them, dwelling on their laughter and joy.

 As residents of Iowa in the year of a presidential election, we enjoyed getting to caucus for the first time.

This son of mine is so weird and crazy and fun and loving. . .I'm savoring these moments of spontaneous, neck-choking hugs before he goes off into this big, wide world.

And this spunky, ornery, delightful not-such-a-baby-anymore. . .

And finally, I "tasted and enjoyed completely" an evening at Johnny's Steakhouse to celebrate the 20th birthday of my daughter in the wonderful company of my mom, sister, sister-in-law, and daughter.

The word savor is just perfect for this year!

Flying True

In the spirit of recording "stones of remembrance", I am going to preserve this story so I can review it on days I'm tempted to become weary on this parenting journey or to doubt that anything I'm trying to teach is getting through.  The last several months have been rather challenging for me in this arrow-launching season, as I've alluded to, and this experience my daughter recounted for me as she grows in and lives out her faith just seemed an affirmation for this weary mama's heart.

Briana wanted to make a trip to her old employer, Jaarsma, for some donuts
when she came over to celebrate her birthday last night.

Briana, who turned 20 years old today, is "out on her own" now, renting an apartment, working as a clerk for a representative at the state capitol Monday through Thursday, and also as a CNA for a hospital Friday and Saturday.  She is thoroughly loving this season of life and enjoys both of her jobs very much.

All the kids were more than happy to oblige her request.

While working at the capitol a couple weeks ago, however, she had an interesting conversation with a lady whose desk is near hers--a 50-something, female, Democrat representative.  Briana got to know her last year and found her likable and servant-oriented even while observing that the two of them had drastically different worldviews and thus political ideologies.  I will insert here that while this woman seems to like Briana, she also doesn't seem to understand her or our family and our choices.  When we met her, I felt rather like an odd specimen under a microscope in her gaze.

Their conversation started with the representative's statement that she thinks prostitution should be legalized. As they discussed it, Briana noted that she feared legalizing prostitution would look as though they, the government, condoned the practice while the representative contended that women were willing participants, no one was hurt by their trade, and it was just filling up the jails.  Briana rebutted that many of these women have been trafficked initially, are victims of childhood abuse, and asked "what about the wives of the men who hire them?"

As their discussion continued, they agreed that the government can't legislate morality.  Briana summarized that those involved in government can be tempted to think they can use laws to try to make people do what is right, but "really the law can't do that, only Jesus can."

To which the representative added "or whatever religion you believe in."  She then proceeded to detail her thoughts on how all religions are basically the same, all are good, and as long as you believe in something, that's all that matters and that makes you a good person.  She gave the example of a fellow representative who is Muslim and does many good things in government that help people.  Briana listened to her, realizing that she was a religious pluralist (Briana's assessment, chuckle), and tried to figure out where this woman was coming from and how she had developed this belief.

Finally Briana asked a pointed (and in my opinion, brilliant) question:  "I'm confused.  You're saying it doesn't matter which religion you believe in.  Do you mean in this life, or after you die?"

"Oh, in this life," the representative immediately and confidently asserted.  "I have no idea what happens after we die."

Briana told me later that this is when she had her lightbulb understanding of this woman's worldview.  She continued listening patiently and kindly to the representative who continued explaining her thoughts that as long as people believe in a higher power of some kind it will prompt them to live a good life and serve others, which is all that matters.

When she was finished, Briana gently but firmly stated:  "I hear what you are saying, but I want to make sure you understand that I don't agree.  Jesus said in the Bible 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No man comes to the Father but by me' and that's what I believe."

They ended the discussion amicably, but a couple days later the representative approached Briana.

"I really enjoyed our conversation the other day," she said.  "You know what, you've inspired me to read the New Testament."

As Briana finished her story, she said "So, I'm praying for her, Mom.  You can pray for her too if you want.  I'm trusting that the word of God will not return void."

This girl and her bold but gentle faith!  I'm telling you, I would have been intimidated by this older, accomplished, feminist woman--especially at the tender age of almost-20.  I'm certain I would not have handled this conversation so well. I am both challenged and encouraged by this daughter of mine as her faith is being honed and growing.

Created and Called

Created and Called: A Journey to and Through Nursing by Chelsia Harris

I read this book because we got it for Briana upon her completion of her advanced certified nurse's aide training and I can't resist reading a book! She is thoroughly enjoying it, and I can understand why. The author focuses on how she lives out her faith in Jesus Christ through serving others through nursing. She shares various fields of nursing, different levels of education in nursing, and other practical matters, but the bulk of the book focuses on the character traits needed to be a good nurse: compassion, humility, integrity, organization, patience, perseverance. I can see that it would be a very good book to read for anyone considering the field of nursing and it would also be encouraging for an active nurse.

A few quotes:

"A nurse is a helper, a servant, a leader, an advocate, an educator, a comforter, an encourager, a prayer warrior, and a team player" (15).

"I thought to myself, 'This is someone's daughter. Someone's mother. Someone's sister. Someone's wife. She was created by God in His image'" (35).

"The patients entrusted to our care are in some of the most fragile and vulnerable states that they will ever experience. They allow us intimate views of their hearts if we will simply create a sacred place for them to do so. It is our obligation to provide patients with professional, ethically sound care. It is our honor and privilege, and should be our desire, to regard them as highly valuable and to tenderly and compassionately love them through it all" (39).

A New School Year

It's that time of year again, time for school to begin.  This year Briana is a nursing student, Destry is a senior, Easton is in third grade, Kiana is in second, Tyrell is in kindergarten, and Aryana is "into everything".

I knew it was going to be a busy (read:  challenging) year, so I've been doing all I could think of to get ready and set us up for a successful year.  In addition to lesson planning, I made schedules for everyone and hung them on the wall, created a list of quick and easy lunch ideas, and even cooked up some hamburger, pork roast, and chicken breasts ahead of time.

Most importantly, I stocked up on Pepsi! ha!  Really, cubes were on an amazing sale (how timely, don't you think?).

I have some incredibly cute students this year, if I do say so myself.  One of the many reasons I enjoy homeschooling is because of the relationships it fosters.  My children get to learn how to work things out with one another and really are best friends (and some days, best enemies, but we won't get into that right now).

Easton has been very excited to study Spanish and he is catching on very well.  I finally invested in Rosetta Stone for him and for Destry to get his second year's credit.  Easton loves computers, so I'm not always sure if he loves Spanish itself, or the opportunity to work on the computer--and to wear the cool headphones!

Tyrell is loving learning how to read and melted my heart on our second day of school as he exuberantly cried "Mama, I LIKE learning!" at the conclusion of our day's reading lesson.  Oh how I hope I can nurture that love for learning throughout his childhood!

Briana, with her servant's heart and love for science, has discovered her niche in the nursing field.  She has completed her first CNA class (she plans to take the advanced course next month) and loved every minute of it.  I giggled at her final score of 99% as I remembered her disappointment the day she missed two questions on a test.

Destry has a full but interesting year planned with classes like anatomy and physiology, psychology, pre-calculus and of course the ubiquitous literature and music.  He has been invited as a guest speaker  in October for the 100th anniversary celebration at a congregation we used to meet with in Missouri, so he also has that to prepare.

Aryana is just as cute as she can be in her piggy tails these days, even as she is a force to be reckoned with.  Above she's pictured on our first day of school with the bag of brand new pencils.  She had a grand ole time using her teeth to pull the eraser out of every pencil and spit them on the floor.

Please excuse the screenshot above, but a friend texted me this picture of Easton with his friend at their Lego Robotics meeting and I didn't know how to remove the trappings of the screenshot.  (Hey, I only recently learned how to TAKE a screenshot--and I was QUITE pleased that I figured out how to cover my name and phone number.  Technology is not my gift!)  I'm still not 100% sure what this Lego Robotics thing is all about--Alan is taking him--but I do know that Easton is loving it.  Something about building robots with Legos, computer programming, and problem solving--right up his alley.

Kiana is SUPER excited for her homeschool tumbling class to start next Thursday.  Until then, we continue working on our other subjects.  I must insert here that I am happy that the Dianne Craft sightword cards are helping her with her reading.  I will never cease being amazed at the ways our brains work.  She is a right-brain learner and thus can "take a picture" of the card and store it in her brain.  I tried this for myself, but I see nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  It's not the way I learn, but I am grateful for others who have figured out ways to accommodate different learning styles to pave this path before us.

We now have eight days of school under our belts.  Six of them have gone well/as I planned.  The other two were pretty rough (and necessitated some editing of the schedules and perhaps a mama-retreat to the bathroom for prayer and a few tears).  But overall, we're off to a good start.  Full speed learning ahead!

My Daughter, My Sister, My Friend

I was invited to write a guest post for my friend Kaylene's blog series on raising daughters.  Since I am in this arrow-releasing season with my firstborn, I chose to write about a few things I've been learning these last few months.  You're invited to go see what we've been learning!

As my firstborn daughter has both graduated and turned 19 within the last year, I find our relationship--and my role in it--changing.  For years I have tried to bring her up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, but in this season my job is evolving.  She is not only my daughter, but ultimately my sister and my friend.

Navigating this season with our daughters is rife with challenges.  I don't want to treat her as a friend too soon when she needs me to be her authority.  But neither do I want to breed either rebellion or dependence by holding onto control too long. . .

Continue reading at Kaylene's blog

Involved in Working and Serving

Briana's dream job is coming to an end in less than a month.  She has been working in the state capitol for a representative during this legislative session, and she has been loving every minute of it.

Last week was "Homeschool Day at the Capitol" and our family got to go see Briana at her work, in "Briana's capitol", as the younger children call it.  She brought us into the house chambers and we got to see her desk, meet her boss, and meet several other representatives she interacts with daily.

While there, we also got a picture of our entire family with our local representative, who Briana inspired us all to help with his re-election this past year.

I am very proud of Briana for her work ethic, for setting this goal to get this clerking position and attaining it, and for the reputation she has developed with her co-workers.

I am also very proud of her for the way she has jumped in and contributed in ways beyond just doing her job.  The capitol workers sponsored a drive to raise supplies for a safehouse for victims of domestic abuse.  In her few hours at home, Briana made two quilts, one for a baby and one for a young child, to donate to this safehouse (I wish I had taken a picture of them, but I didn't think of it then).  She also volunteered to be in a choir which is performing at a memorial for a state representative this coming week.

It just pleases me so much to see her jumping in and getting involved, to see her doing more than the minimum, to see her doing what she can to help and serve others without any expectation of a reward or payment for herself.

She is also getting to know several other people, including these clerks with whom she got to experience a trip up into the very top tip of the capitol dome.  This was just one of many highlights of her experience, and I've loved watching her grow and spread her wings these past few months.

It's What You Do

What are you doing these days?  I decided to have fun with a meme I saw on Stephanie's blog (instead of writing the guest post I should be writing--because it's not due until April 15 and why would I do anything early?!).

AS FOR ME, I'M:

realizing Briana and Destry will be out on their own before I know it.  More and more often, we have just four children with us when we go places.  Wondering if we've made the best use of the time we've had.

checking the calendar multiple times a day.  April is always full of opportunities, and I have to keep checking what dates are available while deciding what all we can handle.

remembering why I'm doing what I do.  It's easy to get caught up in the day-in and day-out of homeschooling, but we had a Moms' Night Out meeting of homeschooling moms last week and I was reminded that it's all about pointing my children to their Savior and keeping their hearts.  Academics are important, I'm not saying they aren't, but they aren't the MOST important.

reading several books at once, as usual.  I'm reading Great Expectations with Destry for literature, Unwind on the recommendation of a couple friends, and trying to finish Raising Real Men.  We also have one week left on our book study of The Prodigal God.

anticipating homeschool conference season.  I'm a homeschool conference junkie!  Alan and I are going to one in Kansas City the end of this month, and then a good friend and I are going to the conference in Des Moines.  Two is always better than one!

watching Aryana learn something new each day.  She stands up in the middle of the floor, but has yet to take her first steps.  She'll be one next week!

trying to write in my subject journal at least 3-4 times a week.  A good friend shared her Bible study journal which is divided into subjects, and I couldn't resist pulling one together for myself.  I think it's the neatest idea, to study a subject off and on and build my understanding "line upon line, precept upon precept".

cooking has been scarce of late.  I have been using several freezer meals lately, but Briana and I just worked up a new menu plan and went grocery shopping.  Some tasty meals in our near future will include Cranberry Mushroom Brisket and Lamb Roast with Plum Sauce.  I'm actually ready to cook something yummy again, and a plan always makes me feel better.

eating at Bonefish Grill with my husband and our friends, the Knights, this weekend because we got coupons! Yummy!

looking at colleges.  Destry has visited UMKC (Kansas City, MO) and Drake University (Des Moines, IA) He still wants to check out the University of Iowa (Iowa City) and Indiana University (Indianapolis).  He's interested in music, music, music (what else?!).

Destry dominated the teen boy races last year, hat and all

Kiana's softball throw last year

planning our upcoming Homeschool Track and Field Day. It's always lots of fun for the kids and most of our local homeschool community participates, which makes it a fun end-of-the year wrap up.

Tyrell's race (he's to the right)

sharing my home.  Freezer cooking, hosting a party to welcome new friends, hosting the book study of The Prodigal God, hosting a planning meeting for the Track and Field Day.  I tell the kids to pick things up and they immediately ask "Who's coming over?"  That's what our home is for, right?  (and it does help keep things picked up!)