We've been out of school for almost two weeks. it got off to a rocky start wight he kids claiming boredom the second day of summer vacation. Ack! I can't handle it. Definitely going to be an adjustment. It's a bit tough right now because we are operating with one car, and we can't do a ton of stuff. Plus it got hot, really fast, several days as high as 100 with the super humidity that comes with living in the south. Yikes.
But things are looking up a bit. This last week, we had several water balloon fights. Caleb informed me that the fun part of the water balloon fight is filling up the balloons. That made me happy because I don't have to do anything. On Saturday Rob got to participate in it and he got soaked!
Lots of video games, and television shows. Beth is reading a lot again (makes this book lover happy.) And the kids are staying up late, late, late. and they are sleeping in pretty late too. It's so quiet in the mornings. And super noisy at night. Beth's been loving the thunderstorms that are rolling in every night. She told me she missed hearing the thunder.
This summer I'm focusing more on the independence of my kids. I want them to fix more of their snacks, do a few more chores. Basically to become more independent then they currently are.
Case in point: Beth wanted a snack last night after dinner. I told her she was free to make herself one. This was the conversation that followed.
Beth: You know that thing we have to read a lot at church. The one that says you need to nurture your children.
Me: Yes.
Beth: I'm pretty sure that nurture means that you need to feed me.
Me: It means that I teach you how to take care of yourself.
Beth: I think it means that you need to feed me.
It made me laugh, and at least she's getting something out of the all of the discussions on the Proclamation to the Family.
My mom's coming to visit the next week, so we should have some more adventures and fun. Hope you all are enjoying your summer and having fun!
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Friday, June 19, 2015
A Bit of My Testimony
The last few months I've been worrying about this and about that. General life worries, things that I felt like I didn't have much control over, or that I should have more control over. I have been praying for guidance, for peace about things and for the strength to get through. I woke up in the middle of the night (as I tend to do when I'm worried) and the words of a hymn popped in my mind. And I knew without a doubt that this was the Lord's way of whispering peace into my heart and mind. My favorite part of this experience is that the words were not a chorus or a first verse, but the third verse of How Firm a Foundation:
Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
And I've had no troubles sleeping since that happened. I just felt like I needed to share with others and recognize God's love in my life, and that he does answer our prayers and watch out for us.