Saturday, January 21, 2012
A girl and her dollhouse
Some of the best gifts in life are those handed down to us from friends. Anna received this dollhouse from her friend who was moving to Africa, it was too big to move out of the country and needed a home- so to our home it came. Anna has spent many hours playing with it. Anna is not a girl who loves to play with dolls, barbies or anything of the like but she will play with this dollhouse and I love watching her play with it.
Don't you love the lego furniture!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Coon Bluff at the Salt River
We found another beautiful spot right here in AZ not even 30 minutes from our house! Love this place and we certainly plan on going back.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Discouragement and pressing on...
I find it interesting that this post is back to back with my post on James 4:17. Again, my theme verse for 2012 is penetrating deep. Knowing the good I ought to be doing, and doing it!
So where to begin... Discouragement has been in full force this week along with frustration and feeling overwhelmed. My amazing, smart, funny, hard working, full of life almost 11 year old son struggles with learning. He has severe dyslexia and dysgraphia which makes him have to work harder than most kids to read and to write. In October of 2010, we got many of our questions answered and met an amazing educator who teaches parents how to work with their struggling learners. Her name is Dianne Craft and she is amazing! She has been nothing short of a lifesaver. As Camden's homeschool teacher, I have the priviledge of working with him every week day on reading and writing, along with math and all the other subjects. We saw tremendous progress during the 2010-2011 school year but towards the end of 2011 we seemed to get caught in a rut and things seemed to have come to a hault. I began seeing letter reversals again in Camden's writing and reading wasn't as easy as it had been which left both Camden and I frustrated. So this last week I had a conference call with Dianne. We decided to make some changes with Camden's lesson plans in homeschool, change up his diet, and also start some new supplements. All this left me feeling overwhelmed.
First up was going dairy free. Dianne is also a nutritionist and there are studies out there showing that kids with dairy allergies can be affected academicaly in the areas Camden is struggling with. So we went dairy free 4 days ago and I have to say, it's going very well! My prayer has been that as we incorporate these changes with Camden that we will be rewarded for our efforts and see big changes right way. Last night Camden ate 4 tacos for dinner, that has never happened before. And then this morning for breakfast he ate 2 gluten free/dairy free french toasts. I like to think that his gut is super happy and he is feeling good to eat more than he ever has. Thank you Jesus!
We are also working on his supplement regimine and hope to get that squared away this next week. I'm getting another opinion to make sure we are heading in the right direction with that.
And lastly and probably the most overwhelming is making changes with Camden's daily lesson plans. I've had to order some new readers (which my amazing mom helped me with), change up his spelling program and writing program and we are also having to incorporate back in some therapies to Camden's school day that he HATES. That part I'm most not looking forward to but I know it's what will help him in the long run.
As I was crying out to God this week, I was telling Him how I wished Camden could just be taught and learn the "normal" way and that it wouldn't take so much effort on his part or my part. However, I am reminded that while we are here on earth we are not called to an "easy" life. It's through the hard things in life and through our trials that we become the people God wants us to be. I know that God has an AMAZING plan for Camden's life. I know he will be successful and make a difference in this world. I am so excited as his mother to see God's plan unfold for Camden's life. I honestly believe that through Camden's toughest days as he battles it out with a book or with his pencil and paper that God is at work teaching him lessons that will last a lifetime. And one day, I will get to sit back, take a deep breath, and say without a doubt that all our hard work in homeschool paid off.
Until then, I will keep pressing on.
Philippians 3:12-14
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
So where to begin... Discouragement has been in full force this week along with frustration and feeling overwhelmed. My amazing, smart, funny, hard working, full of life almost 11 year old son struggles with learning. He has severe dyslexia and dysgraphia which makes him have to work harder than most kids to read and to write. In October of 2010, we got many of our questions answered and met an amazing educator who teaches parents how to work with their struggling learners. Her name is Dianne Craft and she is amazing! She has been nothing short of a lifesaver. As Camden's homeschool teacher, I have the priviledge of working with him every week day on reading and writing, along with math and all the other subjects. We saw tremendous progress during the 2010-2011 school year but towards the end of 2011 we seemed to get caught in a rut and things seemed to have come to a hault. I began seeing letter reversals again in Camden's writing and reading wasn't as easy as it had been which left both Camden and I frustrated. So this last week I had a conference call with Dianne. We decided to make some changes with Camden's lesson plans in homeschool, change up his diet, and also start some new supplements. All this left me feeling overwhelmed.
First up was going dairy free. Dianne is also a nutritionist and there are studies out there showing that kids with dairy allergies can be affected academicaly in the areas Camden is struggling with. So we went dairy free 4 days ago and I have to say, it's going very well! My prayer has been that as we incorporate these changes with Camden that we will be rewarded for our efforts and see big changes right way. Last night Camden ate 4 tacos for dinner, that has never happened before. And then this morning for breakfast he ate 2 gluten free/dairy free french toasts. I like to think that his gut is super happy and he is feeling good to eat more than he ever has. Thank you Jesus!
We are also working on his supplement regimine and hope to get that squared away this next week. I'm getting another opinion to make sure we are heading in the right direction with that.
And lastly and probably the most overwhelming is making changes with Camden's daily lesson plans. I've had to order some new readers (which my amazing mom helped me with), change up his spelling program and writing program and we are also having to incorporate back in some therapies to Camden's school day that he HATES. That part I'm most not looking forward to but I know it's what will help him in the long run.
As I was crying out to God this week, I was telling Him how I wished Camden could just be taught and learn the "normal" way and that it wouldn't take so much effort on his part or my part. However, I am reminded that while we are here on earth we are not called to an "easy" life. It's through the hard things in life and through our trials that we become the people God wants us to be. I know that God has an AMAZING plan for Camden's life. I know he will be successful and make a difference in this world. I am so excited as his mother to see God's plan unfold for Camden's life. I honestly believe that through Camden's toughest days as he battles it out with a book or with his pencil and paper that God is at work teaching him lessons that will last a lifetime. And one day, I will get to sit back, take a deep breath, and say without a doubt that all our hard work in homeschool paid off.
Until then, I will keep pressing on.
Philippians 3:12-14
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
James 4:17-bring it on 2012!
"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them."
I sure love how God works! Towards the end of 2011, I stumbled upon this verse towards the end of James and even though I've read it many times, it really jumped off the page and brought new meaning. Mostly it brought conviction into my life on so many different levels. There were (are) things in my life that I know I need to be doing, or doing differently, or avoiding altogether, and even though they are not considered sinful things, they were a sin to me because I knew the good I needed to be doing and I wasn't doing it.
For example, I was addicted to soda. Everyday my body craved a coke. Around lunchtime it was just a given that I needed one to get through my day and I would do whatever it took to get my drink. I would plan my errands around where I would get my soda from that day. I knew that if I continued to drink soda day in and day out it would be sinful for me. I knew water was what I needed to be drinking so after several weeks of fighting with myself about giving up soda, James 4:17 confronted me and I broke up with soda and started to date water. It wasn't long before I fell in love with water again and it was bringing a smile to my face instead of the soda. I have to say that surprisingly, it wasn't that hard to give it up, probably because I've given up soda before so my body knew it would make it without having it daily.
Something else I was convicted about was my lack of exercise. I knew I needed to be doing some form of exercise. If I continued not to do anything, I would be sinning. So I started working out and boy does it feel good! I'm on my second month of working out and my body is adjusting just fine. I run/walk about every other day for 2 miles. I don't always feel like doing it but I'm always thankful when I do and have more energy to get through my day.
And one more area I will share with you is I was feeling convicted about not being in God's word daily. After writing my Bible study on the Old Testament book of Zechariah which took me most of 2011, I took a hiatus so to speak from being in God's word on a daily basis. After studying Zechariah in depth, I needed a break! It's silly now that I read that, but I'm just being honest. The idea to write this study came towards the end of 2010 after reading through the entire Bible in one year, something I had never done before. I so enjoyed the Bible reading plan and felt so grounded in God's word in 2010. 2011 was all about Zechariah so that left me wondering what I should read in my Bible in 2012. I'm the kind of girl that operates better on a plan, but at the same time I know I need to leave room for God's promptings as well. Since I read to Anna every night at bedtime, I thought it might be fun to read the Bible (outloud) but this time read it in chronological order. So on Jan. 1st, Anna and I started the reading plan. I borrowed the Bible from my dad because he has a chronological Bible laid out by the day starting with Jan. 1st and ending on December 31st. Anna and I are 14 days into reading it and it has been fabulous. There is something about reading the Bible out loud and being able to view God's word through the eyes of a child. I love the comments Anna makes and the questions she asks. There really is such simplicity in God's word, us adults sometimes make things so darn complicated. I so look forward to this time every night at 8:00, it's my time to soak in God's word and then talk with my daughter about what we have read. I think how amazing it will be for her to have heard God's word in it's entirety at the age of 7!
I'm finding that James 4:17 is going to be how I operate in 2012. When God shows me the good I ought to do, I will do it out of obedience to my Savior. I know it won't always be easy, I know my feet may drag a bit (or a lot) and I might even pout now and then, but I also know I will grow in my relationship with Christ and that God will be my strength and my help as I go about my day to day life. So far, in just 14 short days, I'm finding this verse making it's way through every area of my life. So what about you? Is there something in your life that you know you ought to be doing but for some reason you're not? Why don't you read James 4:17 and see how God leads you.
"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them."
I sure love how God works! Towards the end of 2011, I stumbled upon this verse towards the end of James and even though I've read it many times, it really jumped off the page and brought new meaning. Mostly it brought conviction into my life on so many different levels. There were (are) things in my life that I know I need to be doing, or doing differently, or avoiding altogether, and even though they are not considered sinful things, they were a sin to me because I knew the good I needed to be doing and I wasn't doing it.
For example, I was addicted to soda. Everyday my body craved a coke. Around lunchtime it was just a given that I needed one to get through my day and I would do whatever it took to get my drink. I would plan my errands around where I would get my soda from that day. I knew that if I continued to drink soda day in and day out it would be sinful for me. I knew water was what I needed to be drinking so after several weeks of fighting with myself about giving up soda, James 4:17 confronted me and I broke up with soda and started to date water. It wasn't long before I fell in love with water again and it was bringing a smile to my face instead of the soda. I have to say that surprisingly, it wasn't that hard to give it up, probably because I've given up soda before so my body knew it would make it without having it daily.
Something else I was convicted about was my lack of exercise. I knew I needed to be doing some form of exercise. If I continued not to do anything, I would be sinning. So I started working out and boy does it feel good! I'm on my second month of working out and my body is adjusting just fine. I run/walk about every other day for 2 miles. I don't always feel like doing it but I'm always thankful when I do and have more energy to get through my day.
And one more area I will share with you is I was feeling convicted about not being in God's word daily. After writing my Bible study on the Old Testament book of Zechariah which took me most of 2011, I took a hiatus so to speak from being in God's word on a daily basis. After studying Zechariah in depth, I needed a break! It's silly now that I read that, but I'm just being honest. The idea to write this study came towards the end of 2010 after reading through the entire Bible in one year, something I had never done before. I so enjoyed the Bible reading plan and felt so grounded in God's word in 2010. 2011 was all about Zechariah so that left me wondering what I should read in my Bible in 2012. I'm the kind of girl that operates better on a plan, but at the same time I know I need to leave room for God's promptings as well. Since I read to Anna every night at bedtime, I thought it might be fun to read the Bible (outloud) but this time read it in chronological order. So on Jan. 1st, Anna and I started the reading plan. I borrowed the Bible from my dad because he has a chronological Bible laid out by the day starting with Jan. 1st and ending on December 31st. Anna and I are 14 days into reading it and it has been fabulous. There is something about reading the Bible out loud and being able to view God's word through the eyes of a child. I love the comments Anna makes and the questions she asks. There really is such simplicity in God's word, us adults sometimes make things so darn complicated. I so look forward to this time every night at 8:00, it's my time to soak in God's word and then talk with my daughter about what we have read. I think how amazing it will be for her to have heard God's word in it's entirety at the age of 7!
I'm finding that James 4:17 is going to be how I operate in 2012. When God shows me the good I ought to do, I will do it out of obedience to my Savior. I know it won't always be easy, I know my feet may drag a bit (or a lot) and I might even pout now and then, but I also know I will grow in my relationship with Christ and that God will be my strength and my help as I go about my day to day life. So far, in just 14 short days, I'm finding this verse making it's way through every area of my life. So what about you? Is there something in your life that you know you ought to be doing but for some reason you're not? Why don't you read James 4:17 and see how God leads you.
"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them."
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
A marriage proposal, Camden style
I'm not sure why our 10 year old is concerned about how he will propose to his wife but as he told us how he plans on doing it, I almost choked on my mouthfull of food because I was laughing so hard. I love this kid! This is how he plans to do it:
His proposal involves McDonalds and the employees singing to his future wife, and a motorcycle drive through an orange grove and then crashing his motorcycle into his girlfriends house where he will say, "I'll pay for the
damage if you say yes."
Oh my! I will have to remember this in 10 + years when he actually may be thinking about marriage. I'm sure we will get a good laugh out of this some day.
His proposal involves McDonalds and the employees singing to his future wife, and a motorcycle drive through an orange grove and then crashing his motorcycle into his girlfriends house where he will say, "I'll pay for the
damage if you say yes."
Oh my! I will have to remember this in 10 + years when he actually may be thinking about marriage. I'm sure we will get a good laugh out of this some day.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
It's a wrap...2011
Just a few more pictures left to share from 2011, I want to make sure these make it into our blog book which will go to print on January 10th (that is if I get it all edited by then-fingers crossed), I can't wait! First up, New Years Eve. My parents joined us and we had a fun time.
Next up, soccer. Anna has been enjoying playing soccer in our front yard.
And that's a wrap, welcome 2012!
Last post of 2011...
I've been busy working on my blog book for 2011 and need one last post, so here we go. We had an amazing 2 week Christmas break. We sure had a lot of fun! I think the hightlight for me (besides Christmas) was our day spent at the Botanical Gardens. It was a perfect weather day, we couldn't have asked for better weather. We brought a picnic lunch and ate in the herb garden, enjoyed walking all over the place, and took in the beautiful scenery.
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