Family Art Show

I pulled out the most pitiful paint sets on one of our snow days last week...they were probably from Ryan and Lauren in kindergarten...however, they work and the kids didn't complain too much. Jordan painted the top pic...it's taped to our bedroom door now. On Tuesday night she elected to stay home and have a night with me while Cam and Sheridan went to a ballgame with Erin. This is a big deal...to be separated from the other kids and be OK with it. We played Uno and painted together. Then she took a long bath. We washed and styled her hair, and then watched some Olympics. It was a very normal family night, and when I saw her painting (below) I knew it was all OK.

Snow Days

Saturday fun with Dad...I have a great pic of ALL the kids and the snowman...but still can't post their pictures. This particular snowman was made with all the snow in the front yard and was their FIRST EVER. Thankfully the snow caused no problems for the weekend or church.

 

Swim season

It's 20 degrees outside, we've had over 6 snow days but yes, it's still swim season! Erin has broken some school records. She and another girl trade great times and it keeps them competitive. She is one of the captains of the team, and I love hearing her encourage her teammates.

ANOTHER STEP

 

Another great song from Steven Curtis Chapman's album Glorious Unfolding. This is just a portion of this song, but Sheridan and I have been singing it over and over. What an encouragement Christian music has been to us.

Chorus:
Take another step, take another step
When the road ahead is dark
And you don’t know where to go
Take another step, take another step
Trust God and take another step
And another step and another step
Take another step and another step and another step

We walk by faith and not by sight we know it’s true
We say it and sing it and love the way it sounds
But none of us can even begin to truly understand
What it really means ‘til all the lights go out
And there we are nothing to hold on to
But the promises God’s made to me and you

Take another step, take another step
When the road ahead is dark
And you don’t know where to go
Take another step, take another step
Trust God and take another step

If there’s an ocean in front of you
You know what you’ve gotta do
Take another step and another step
Maybe He’ll turn the water into land
And maybe He’ll take your hand and say
Let’s take a walk on the waves
Will you trust Me either way
And take another step
Take another step

ANOTHER snow day

7am: Curious George

Breakfast

Uno

Painting

Puzzles

Set up Tent

Play School

Movie

Uno

Lunch

Time Alone

Coloring

Wii

Swimming Pool

Dinner

Baths

Movie

Bedtime for Cam

Uno

Reading Time

Bedtime for girls

9:20pm Mom ~ Exhausted!

 

Day 2:

7:00am Curious George

Breakfast

Make Beds

Coloring

Uno

New Superheroes

Wii - Erin and Jordan to CHS

11:00 Terri comes over plays Sorry, reads books, colors and makes snow ice cream with kids

(God bless my friend)

1:00 go to Russellville - CFA with Lauren

3:30 swimming

5:00 dinner and dressed

6:00 church

7:00 pjs and downtime

8:00 bedtime for Cam

Uno

Reading Time

AWANA

9:00 bedtime for the girls

MOM ~ survives another day on the Lane

 

School Days

I have a new appreciation for our teachers. Not only do they have the responsibility to educate our children and make them ready for promotion into the world,  but for the first time I realize they also have the burden of parenting character into children. I want to think the world is still a wonderful place, full of people loving Jesus, loving their children and working hard at their parenting. However, it's just not true for the majority. OF COURSE, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS.

So, these teachers...trying to make math facts interesting and valuable...are trying to talk kids into doing their work, and get things signed, and not get into fights or talk about things that aren't appropriate, all day, everyday. I can see the stress that would cause a teacher. And I am thinking of them a lot today because I am in a new place...I need them. I need my kids to be in school because they are doing well there. Their teachers are teaching, loving, and encouraging. My kids are loving music, art, PE, and the library. They have good days at school and it's good for all of us to have that structure in place.

SO THANKFUL for my kids' teachers.

New Normal?

Tonight we went to our friends' house to watch the Super Bowl. Well, the Super Bowl was on, but the snacks, conversation and laughter are what I enjoyed. It was almost normal, and I am thankful for the moments when real friends ask how we are, and mean it. Things are so much better than two weeks ago, and although we have slip ups (or downs) we seem to be still heading in the right direction.

It's supposed to snow A LOT here this week. Richard will be out of town for 4 days. I'm really having to work on my attitude. I've never been a big grumbler about the weather, hot or cold, but I've had a bad attitude all day about the possibility of snow days. I've got to give God credit for all He is doing in our lives. For the laughter, for the peaceful moments, for the games played, for the friends who have set their phone alarms to pray for us every day, for the cokes from Sonic, for hugs from Erin and for safety for us all. What comes with the weather should not make me anxious, He holds all things together.