TWO PARENTING WINS ON THURSDAY

I don't see Silas much these days, so I asked to come along for the ride while he ran errands. He bought me a churro. Parenting win! 

For balance, I'll also mention that I was in tears at another point in the day because ... well, I'm human and live with other humans. Family life has highs and lows, for sure, and sometimes you hit them both within an hour.

While playing with the sibs, Tyler recently broke something of his that he'll need to pay to replace. Devon, who was part of the situation, handed him some rolled up cash to help defray the cost of replacement. It's a small percentage of the total cost, which is fine because Tyler's ultimately the one responsible, but the gesture made my day.

In a season of parenting where I feel like I keep repeating the same things over and over and over to all the little Ws, it was encouraging to see one of them do something honorable, showing integrity by taking the initiative to make amends for something that wasn't technically their fault, but which they were a part of.

Sometimes raising kids feels like an exercise in futility (just like trying to please me can feel to them), so documenting these parenting wins reminds me that all is not lost just because I'm weary at a particular point in time.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for a fridge, freezers, and cabinet space that allow us to shop in a way that uses our time and grocery budget efficiently. What's something that you're thankful for?

3/11/19 - WORTH REPEATING

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Obstacles ought to set us singing. The wind finds voice, not when rushing across the open sea, but when hindered by the outstretched arms of the pine trees, or broken by the fine strings of an Aeolian harp. Then it has songs of power and beauty. Set your freed soul sweeping across the obstacles of life, through grim forests of pain, against even the tiny hindrances and frets that love uses, and it, too, will find its singing voice.

~ Streams in the Desert, written by Mrs. Charles A. Cowman


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Clutter is the physical manifestation of unmade decisions fueled by procrastination.

~ Christina Scalise, as quoted in a Facebook post from Modern Money Mommas

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Create in me clean, clean heart / Create in me a work of art / Create in me a miracle / Something real and something beautiful

~ Rend Collective in Create in Me on The Art of Celebration


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Sometimes in life we become so focused on the finish line that we fail to enjoy the journey.

~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf


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See, getting married doesn’t mean that the search for love is over. The search for the person to love is over. The search for how to love that person is only beginning.

~ Kristina Kuzmic in a post on her Facebook page

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SONLIGHT GUEST BLOGGER: JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2019

In January and February I shared on the Sonlight blog about various challenges homeschooling families may face. I addressed some practical issues - organizing all your books or helping a kid who struggles to read - as well as some matters of the heart - scriptures to encourage you in hard seasons and having gratitude for the opportunity to homeschool.

When Homeschooling is Hard: Two Bible Verses to Anchor Your Heart
So Many Books: How to Organize Your Homeschool Library
2 Keys for Homeschooling a Delayed or Struggling Reader
Loving the Gift of Homeschooling No Matter How You Receive It

Does one of those topics apply to your life more than the others? Any verses or tips of your own that are relevant to those situations?

Disclosure - I was invited to be a guest blogger with Sonlight for one year in exchange for some free curriculum. All post topics and opinions are my own. If you are a first time Sonlight customer, click this link and use referral code BW20197051 to get $5.00 off your purchase of $50.00 or more. That referral code is totally separate from my role as a guest blogger and will give me credit toward my own purchases. The referral code can also be found on the sidebar of my blog.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for gift cards. What's one thing that you're thankful for?

HOMETOWN REUNION

Last week I discovered via Facebook that my neighbors from middle and high school have sat twenty feet away from me in church for the last four years. Greeting them yesterday morning led to the discovery that the couple who sits in front of them is also from my hometown. One grew up there, the other moved into town after I was gone. I love small world moments, people from my past showing up in my present, and Facebook!

THE ROADSHOW - 2019

Tim planned a surprise date for us last night. We grabbed a quick bite to eat at Hawaiian Time, then headed off to The Roadshow for a few hours of music. 

Seeing Michael W. Smith was a bucket list event for Tim, who's always loved his music. Finding out Smith's favorite album of all time is Thriller was just icing on the cake. 

Next up was Matt Maher.

Tenth Avenue North, whose music I love, was also there.

As was Matthew West.

Leanna Crawford also took the stage, but we didn't get a picture of her.

It was a (mostly) fun evening. More than two decades together doesn't mean we aren't still refining how to get the most enjoyment from our time together, so there was a little bit of preventable tension at the start, but all's well that ends well. Right? I'm really glad we were able to have a date night and that I'm married to a man who makes spending time together a priority.