Ponderings In The Field of Grace

…with us.

The Knight leaves for Atlanta tomorrow, but I’m hoping the kids will be busy enough that they won’t be crying too much missing him. (Last time each one of them came to me at different times looking really sad missing their dad.)

We have OT tomorrow, and my mom is going to watch the kids so The Professor and I can get groceries while we’re already in town. I also have to place the order for The Professor’s s school books so they will be ready for pick up Thursday.

Wednesday we will be doing school, and probably try to do a few things around here that I have had on the back burner. Also, I need to finish organizing all of my TOG stuff so I can start it next week. Then, of course, I also need to get my shopping list for the book fair coming up next week as well.

Thursday we’re heading to Bob Jones University to pick up the order I placed and also a couple of books I didn’t realize I was missing the last time I was there.  We should be home before The Knight returns.

Friday is a holiday (Thank you, Jesus!). We’re going to be working around the house straightening things up, and then hopefully have a cookout with my Mom and Daddy and shoot a few small fireworks.

Saturday some of our friends are coming over for a cookout and party. I’m looking forward to it, but it is definitely going to be busy around here. Hopefully we’ll all find some time to relax soon.  Here’s hoping anyway!…

Today we took Lily to the vet. For those of you who don’t know, Lily is a stray dog that showed up at our house the week before Christmas. She’s a beagle, and she’s sweet as can be. We took her this morning to get her up to date on her shots, and get her ready to be spayed. We take her back in two weeks for that and to get her booster shots.

The kids are so happy to know she is finally “ours”.

Today was our first full day of school.

Yesterday the two littles did one or two things before we went to Carowinds, but today was the day everybody had something to do.

We are finishing up on those books we didn’t quite make it to the end of, but I’ve also mixed in enough of the shiny new books to keep them interested.

This year is going to be a big adjustment for me since I will be schooling all of the kids because today my baby started kindergarten. Wow! Time flies so quickly. I can’t believe it’s time for him to start.

Well, I finished the schoolroom, and have everything on a shelf that needs to be. I  rearranged the room, and we actually have more room now. Amazing what can happen when you throw away two and a half trash bags full of stuff, and move a couple of pieces of furniture around!

Now I have to catch up on my laundry and dishes. Ugh! Can’t seem to get it all together. Maybe one day.

Well, today we’re supposed to get together with a friend of mine and her kids. We might go back to Carowinds or the state park. We can’t seem to decide right now. Either way I am sure the kids are going to have a great time. Plus, I think it will do me some good to hang out with my friends. I need it as much (if not more) than the kids do! If we go to the park I’ll try and take the camera and get some pictures.

I actually heard this phrase the most on a blog from Steven Curtis Chapman. (In case you didn’t know, their youngest daughter was killed in a tragic accident last month.)  Now, my experiences are no where near on the same level as theirs, but in my own way I have been having to do the same thing. As I mentioned in my “Security blankets” post, things have changed a great deal for me in the last few months. Now adding to all of those other things, I’m looking at The Knight being out of town on business roughly 12 days or so out of the next three weeks! I don’t do well with changes in my schedule, and this is a major change for me.  I have always been blessed that The Knight likes to stay home, and has not had to travel much, so I guess I have just gotten a little too comfortable and dependent on him.

So as he embarks on these traveling adventures, I am going to try and do the same thing…look at this as adventure. As he gets pushed out of his comfort zone to go new places and have more responsibilities, I will try and do the same.

Don’t get me wrong, in today’s economy I am just thankful that he has a job which provides for us. I am thankful for the opportunity they are giving him, as he is getting to learn a new skill through this. I am just not good with change, but I will adjust and things will be just fine.

In the meantime, while he is gallivanting around under the guise of work (j/k) I will be embarking on a new year of school. This time with four children instead of 2 or 3. I have a feeling it’s going to take me a while to get my sea legs because right now the waters look a little choppy. But, I know it will settle down.

So off I go adjusting to the new normal. Yes it may be hard at times, and it will be a huge challenge, but if I keep at it, one day maybe soon it will be…normal again.

Security blankets, everybody’s got one. Those things that you just come to depend on. They are always there, and when things get a little tough they are what you reach for.

Over the last three years, God has slowly been pulling the blankets off of me, and trying to teach me He is the only one that is constant. In these last few years, I’ve been on mission trips to Russia, watched my grandmother die, seen my church family fall apart, and watched as my closest friends have pulled back from me for whatever reason.

And now, those who have been the most consistent ones I have depended on are being pulled away. I think God is really trying to show me that I need Him to be first in my life.

I am trying to get everything ready so we can start school in 2 weeks. Right now I have several things on my to do list:

• Clean off the table, desk, and counter. 6/25
• Pack away last year’s books. Done 6/25
• Box up portfolios of work for each of the kids.   Done 6/24
• Organize my TOG notebook.
• Order BJU Grade 6 hard drive.
• Order Greek workbooks and reading resources for TOG.
• Fill out applications for support and accountability groups.
• Plan out school year calendar.
• Schedule field trips.

Think I can get it all done this week? We’ll see. Take a deep breath, cause I’m diving in…

What happened to Sunday being a day of rest? It is probably one of my busiest days of the week! Even though I stayed home from church today, I still feel like I ran a marathon. Have you ever had days like that?

I fixed dinner and straightened up the kitchen before I left to go grocery shopping. We only went to two stores, but I saved a good bit of money. I have really been trying to find the most bang for my buck. I like our local grocery store. I have been trying to keep my eyes open for good deals there, and only buy things from Wal-Mart that I absolutely need. Have I mentioned before how much I hate Wal-Mart’s customer service when it comes to check outs? Truth be told I like most of Wal-Mart. The one thing I absolutely can not stand are the check outs. I feel like everyone is being sent down a cattle shoot, and there aren’t enough of them! It never fails 24 checkout lanes and only 6 cashiers on the whole front end! (And that’s counting the two who run the self-check lines!)

I told you I didn’t like the place.

Anyway, I think I did better this week. I stuck to my list, and I still have a little left over to go to Sam’s Club for milk and hamburger. I think I will actually stay within my budget for the first time in weeks. I sure hope so anyway!

Ever just want to get a nice tall glass of tea, sit on the porch, and watch the world? I do.  It’s not too hot, not too cool. There’s a slight breeze, and it’s just a nice summer afternoon.

I can think of a million and one things to do-some necessary, some not.

These are the kind of afternoons I love.

No running around. No stressing out. Just some time to escape.  A time to daydream. A time to relax. Hope you get one soon…

Well, I looked at my calendar, and we should be starting school this coming week, but I just don’t think we will.

Even though we have been finished with school, we really haven’t had much of a break. So we are pushing back school for a few more weeks. We need a vacation.

We’ve been to Carowinds, shopping, and the state park this week. Tomorrow we’re going back to Carowinds, but this time we get to do this with The Knight! He’s going to meet us there when he gets off work. I’m really looking forward to it!

Then next week we’re going back to Carowinds with my friend L. This time all of her kids will be with her, so I think it’ll be even more fun. We might even try another state park if we get a chance. I’d also like to go by and see a friend of mine if the kids are being good. We’ll see. I’ve been wanting to go see him for a long time now, and if I don’t plan it, I won’t ever get over there.

Well guess I better get going.  Sportsguy and Lil Princess have friends staying with us tonight, and I need to get supper going.