I am grateful for little things! I have fallen out of the habit of writing here, trying to balance so many hats, jobs, responsibilities. I am grateful for each one, and won't trade any of them, just trying to find the balance in it all! I am thankful to be a Mom! Wow, I can't imagine life without each member of my family. A friend once advised that we should read 30 minutes a day in our field to stay aware and further educating ourselves to be better. I am grateful for libraries of books I love and for new ones to open and learn from! I am also grateful for the scriptures! I am grateful to read together as a family daily, and to study on my own sometime each day! I know the Book of Mormon was written for our day, and when we don't open the pages, we are turning off revelation intended for us. Somewhere recently I read that if you're seeking an angel of the Lord to come direct you, all he is going to do is quote scripture, so open the book and read it yourself! I am grateful to know that! I am grateful to have read it hundreds of times and I will finish it again twice this year - as a family and personally - soon!:) I know the power of goals, and of setting out to accomplish great things. At the Eagle Reception, an amazing man Richard Jones came and spoke about setting goals, and working towards them. He has constantly set a goal, and worked towards it, and has accomplished amazing things! This is just as Eagle projects or Personal Progress goals are! I believe it is a heavenly principal we are supposed to learn here. It is not to say, "Oh, I did that" and be done, but rather to reach heavenward, and accomplish new, unchartered paths! I am grateful for this example from my parents and their parents!
This morning I was thinking about my Farmor. I would so love to have a blog of hers to read. I wonder how she felt, what she worried about, how she tackled every day. I remember her lists by her telephone in the kitchen. I think the only thing I have written by her is her testimony in the Relief Society Magazine. I am grateful I have that! I want to preserve my experiences, my goals and aspirations.
Today I just finished four (yes 4) reading lessons with Brinley. She wants to earn soccer cleats, and she and I decided when she had done 15 reading lessons and learned two duets on the piano I will buy them for her. She is reading from the scriptures with us every morning, and is really doing well! Samuel is reading 2nd - 3rd grade reader books and chapter books with me. He wants to earn a new wagon - what a good kid he is! He and I recently agreed when he reads 200 books/chapters he can have a new one. I think he has about 50 already! He is doing great! Samuel is nine, and I haven't pushed him to read early. I want him to love reading. When he wants it, it comes easily! Sara is so ready for her turn. I am grateful to be at home with my Jr team, and to spend every day with them. I am grateful for the opportunity to homeschool, and for the time it gives us to grow and learn together. Life is so short, I can't imagine sending my little ones out the door every morning. I am grateful to stand beside them as we learn, study, read, cry, and try new things! Grateful for time together!
C is taking classes at Dixie College again this semister. First Aid, Music 1010, Dixie Forum, and Mountain Biking will start shortly (this one is on the block schedule). He has seminary at the High school every other day. He usually rides in with Brad to the college, and then rides his bike around town between the college and high school, and then home. He has private piano lessons at the college from a music student, who has inspired him to continue with the piano. He has flown from my reach, and is flying to new heights for which I am grateful. He struggled (got a C)on his first test in First Aid, and has discovered that he has to read carefully to prepare for tests. He is also taking two computer classes in High-Tech High online, which he works between classes on his new laptop he earned from them. It is an amazing little tiny machine that he loves! I love that he can carry it with him, and do his work where ever he is! I love that he earned it by excelling in his classes, and it has encouraged him to work harder so other good things can come to him!
L and I have had great times this year! She is an amazing young lady! I am so grateful to be good friends! She calls and checks in between classes, but she is gone most days. This semester she is taking Biology 1610 (a hard class for college students :) but she got a 92 on her last test :)) This class requires a lab which is all morning on Wednesdays. She is also taking English 1010, and Fundamentals of Conducting this semister. She has seminary every other afternoon at the high school with C. They go at the same time, to different classes. Teachers at the seminary say if all their students were like these two it would be wrong for them to take a pay check. C and L often stay after class visiting with other teachers, learning from them. I am grateful they feel at home there, and welcome. Thank you Dixie High Seminary for being outstanding mentors! L decided she didn't want to jump through the games of the school district for a high school diploma. She is on track to earn her Associate Degree from Dixie by December of next year. She should be a Junior in High School next year :). She has a graduation plan to get an Bachelors with a double major in computers and music so she can continue to take her favorite classes in the music department at the college. She is driven, and independent! This weekend was Valentines day. She had ridden her bike around town to gather gifts for her brothers and sisters, carrying them home in her backpack to have a gift to surprise them! What a great sister she is! I love time we have together! On the off days of seminary, she comes home by 1:00 to work on her High-Tech High Classes, etc. She is fabulous! She loves to read. She loves her horses, and is teaching a couple of kids private horseback riding lessons weekly this semester. I am grateful for a beautiful young lady in my home! I love tucking each of these young people in at night, leaving their lights on (both C and L) as they read the Book of Mormon personally every night! I know J does this nightly as well. I am so grateful for their power, testimony, desire to receive revelation and guidance in their lives! They are amazing!
Who am I kidding, I am so enamored with each of these young people. I record these thoughts, details so we will remember.
Off to make the most of today, gather the kids from the backyard, and read... "Because of Winn Dixie" today. Fun! :)
Oh, J's mission papers go in tonight! His Bishop has completed his part, and he has a meeting with the Stake President at 5:00 Virginia time. He is anxious to get them on their way. New unchartered waters... diving in!
This morning I was thinking about my Farmor. I would so love to have a blog of hers to read. I wonder how she felt, what she worried about, how she tackled every day. I remember her lists by her telephone in the kitchen. I think the only thing I have written by her is her testimony in the Relief Society Magazine. I am grateful I have that! I want to preserve my experiences, my goals and aspirations.
Today I just finished four (yes 4) reading lessons with Brinley. She wants to earn soccer cleats, and she and I decided when she had done 15 reading lessons and learned two duets on the piano I will buy them for her. She is reading from the scriptures with us every morning, and is really doing well! Samuel is reading 2nd - 3rd grade reader books and chapter books with me. He wants to earn a new wagon - what a good kid he is! He and I recently agreed when he reads 200 books/chapters he can have a new one. I think he has about 50 already! He is doing great! Samuel is nine, and I haven't pushed him to read early. I want him to love reading. When he wants it, it comes easily! Sara is so ready for her turn. I am grateful to be at home with my Jr team, and to spend every day with them. I am grateful for the opportunity to homeschool, and for the time it gives us to grow and learn together. Life is so short, I can't imagine sending my little ones out the door every morning. I am grateful to stand beside them as we learn, study, read, cry, and try new things! Grateful for time together!
C is taking classes at Dixie College again this semister. First Aid, Music 1010, Dixie Forum, and Mountain Biking will start shortly (this one is on the block schedule). He has seminary at the High school every other day. He usually rides in with Brad to the college, and then rides his bike around town between the college and high school, and then home. He has private piano lessons at the college from a music student, who has inspired him to continue with the piano. He has flown from my reach, and is flying to new heights for which I am grateful. He struggled (got a C)on his first test in First Aid, and has discovered that he has to read carefully to prepare for tests. He is also taking two computer classes in High-Tech High online, which he works between classes on his new laptop he earned from them. It is an amazing little tiny machine that he loves! I love that he can carry it with him, and do his work where ever he is! I love that he earned it by excelling in his classes, and it has encouraged him to work harder so other good things can come to him!
L and I have had great times this year! She is an amazing young lady! I am so grateful to be good friends! She calls and checks in between classes, but she is gone most days. This semester she is taking Biology 1610 (a hard class for college students :) but she got a 92 on her last test :)) This class requires a lab which is all morning on Wednesdays. She is also taking English 1010, and Fundamentals of Conducting this semister. She has seminary every other afternoon at the high school with C. They go at the same time, to different classes. Teachers at the seminary say if all their students were like these two it would be wrong for them to take a pay check. C and L often stay after class visiting with other teachers, learning from them. I am grateful they feel at home there, and welcome. Thank you Dixie High Seminary for being outstanding mentors! L decided she didn't want to jump through the games of the school district for a high school diploma. She is on track to earn her Associate Degree from Dixie by December of next year. She should be a Junior in High School next year :). She has a graduation plan to get an Bachelors with a double major in computers and music so she can continue to take her favorite classes in the music department at the college. She is driven, and independent! This weekend was Valentines day. She had ridden her bike around town to gather gifts for her brothers and sisters, carrying them home in her backpack to have a gift to surprise them! What a great sister she is! I love time we have together! On the off days of seminary, she comes home by 1:00 to work on her High-Tech High Classes, etc. She is fabulous! She loves to read. She loves her horses, and is teaching a couple of kids private horseback riding lessons weekly this semester. I am grateful for a beautiful young lady in my home! I love tucking each of these young people in at night, leaving their lights on (both C and L) as they read the Book of Mormon personally every night! I know J does this nightly as well. I am so grateful for their power, testimony, desire to receive revelation and guidance in their lives! They are amazing!
Who am I kidding, I am so enamored with each of these young people. I record these thoughts, details so we will remember.
Off to make the most of today, gather the kids from the backyard, and read... "Because of Winn Dixie" today. Fun! :)
Oh, J's mission papers go in tonight! His Bishop has completed his part, and he has a meeting with the Stake President at 5:00 Virginia time. He is anxious to get them on their way. New unchartered waters... diving in!