Letting Others Teach

The main reason that we decided to homeschool our children is that we want to be the ones teaching them. We want our kids to look to us first (after God, of course) as their examples in life. I want to know what they are learning, what they are being exposed to and be the first one to answer their questions when they don't understand something that they see in the World. God called our family to this for these reasons.

However, I find it completely wonderful that we have a church where I can trust that my kids are learning straight from the Bible. They are making wonderful friends there and have absolutely LOVED their Sunday School and church time teachers. I feel like what we are teaching them at home is being reinforced when they are with these teachers. One of my favorite things is when one of my kids comes home from church and says something like, "mommy, we learned about the same story that daddy told us last night!" Wow...how awesome God is.

If you don't have a church like that, I highly recommend finding one. If you are in the Rochester area, come check out ours sometime (Perinton Community Church) or find us on facebook here.

Okay...enough of the promo for my church...that isn't what this was supposed to be about.

This week was Vacation Bible School at another nearby church. It is the church where we are a part of a co-op for home schooling and also a church that in the past has done a lot of activities with our church. To hear my children recite their memory verses each day and be so excited for what they are learning is awesome. What a great way to spend a week of summer "break".

Keira participated last year. This year, Libby was old enough to join her in the fun. Some great truths were reinforced for my kids in fun ways this week at the "International Spy Academy"!

Last night, we were able to go and watch their classes sing some of the songs they learned....Keira was in the back row so we could barely see her, but they were so excited!

 It was really strange not having my older two at home and I realized how much help they are to me with the little ones. Without even trying they are a source of entertainment and at 6 and 4 years old, they naturally take things away from Levi that they know he shouldn't have.

I am so glad for what they have learned this week...but can't wait to have them home with me again each morning....errrr....next week starts swimming lessons....oh well.

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Convenience

Moving has shown me something about myself that I guess I always knew but now it has been confirmed. Convenience is the key to my life. haha.

In all seriousness though, when things are convenient for me, I am so much more prone to be successful.

As I have been unpacking boxes and trying to find the right place to put things, I have found things that I LOVE but haven't used in a really long time. It's because they weren't in a place where they were conveniently located for me to use. There are other things that I have nearby at all times and never touch.

If I keep cleaning supplies in both bathrooms....I will clean them BOTH more often.

If I keep garbage bags near the diaper genie, it gets changed out much more often (worst. job. ever.)

If I keep healthy food in the fridge and easily accessible, I am more likely to eat that than junk

If I keep my Bible out next to my bed, I am reminded to read it every night (I know, I know...I should start the day this way...but, that just doesn't work for me right now)

Convnience is key!

And what made me realize this? A broom. I spent $3 at Big Lots and bought a second broom to keep upstairs in our new home.

That way, instead of thinking, "Wow...I really need to bring the broom up and sweep these floors!"....I can just sweep them.

Have a wonderful day!

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Oh the moving we do!

We moved...again! haha. Although I am sure that most of you know that already, it did happen kind of suddenly. I kind of feel like my head is spinning. On May 31st, we decided we would look for a place close to Tom's new job. On June 2nd we looked at a place. He started the job on June 9th and we moved last Friday, June 27th. CRAZY! Moving with four kids is really not that much fun but we made it work. So far, our new place seems great. Our landlord seems really nice and on top of things and we are psyched to be close enough to walk to area parks, stores and the library. Best of all, Tom's commute is literally a  6 minute stroll in the park. Yep....he walks!

I just ordered him galoshes. HA!

I think I have moving down to a science although it always comes with expenses that are unexpected. We hired movers for the first time ever and it was amazing not having to move any of the heavy stuff ourselves. But....their estimate was way off and it cost twice as much as the estimate they gave us. BLAH! Then, there are always things like window coverings and shower curtains (our last place had a shower door) and we needed an air conditioner or the third floor playroom would have been useless! haha. We've pretty much blown any chance at affording a date night for the next few months but it's all good. Thankfully, Tom and I are pretty good at spending time together at home :) When we dated, we used to do puzzles and listen to Sermons.....soooo...back to that!

Once it is organized, this will be my favorite place....there is enough room for a whole section to be dedicated to my crafting stuff!! wahooo!!!!

We have been enjoying village living and being able to walk to the park, the pool, the store and the library!

And this is the first time I have even gotten my laptop out in over a week. So....I have a million more things to write about moving. Ideas, Organizational things I've learned (and am trying to use) among many other things so hopefully I will write again soon!!

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Pretty Please with a Cherry on Top!

"Pretty please with a cherry on top" is a phrase that we hear VERY often in our house. Today, it was Libby. She asked for us to please get a pool and also buy her a pink tail so she could learn to be a mermaid and go live in the sea.

Yep.

It is SOOOO incredibly hard to deny those big brown eyes anything and it is especially hard not to crack up at her when she is being serious!

BUT...that is not actually what I wanted to ask. My plea today is for me. I have dreams for this blog. Big dreams actually. I am not completely sure where God is going to take me with it or how far I will get but I know that right now, I am trying to be obedient and share my heart publicly.

On that note, I would love this blog to become a second source of income for our family. I AM NOT ASKING ANYONE FOR MONEY SO PLEASE KEEP READING.

It is important that I can gain readers. I know that there are currently 100 or more hits to this page every day which is great. What would REALLY help me out is if you could take one minute of your time and head over to my right hand column.

You can follow me on twitter, instagram, RSS feed, e-mail, google+ or "Like" the facebook page. The more you can do the better!

If you are already consistently reading, it will not change your life other than to give you a heads up that I have posted something.

Also, if there is ever anything that I write that you particularly like, you can always use one of the share buttons on the bottom of the post to share it with your friends.

Gaining known readers will help me to be able to reach out to advertisers and sponsors.

So...Pretty, pretty please with chocolate and whip cream and a cherry on top will you do this for me and for our family????

Also leaving comments below my posts is always a great thing. I love feedback!

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