Was today Monday??

Today started out feeling like a Monday. The boys weren't very focused on getting their schoolwork done. I wanted to get it done so I could get things done around the house that have been waiting for me for a long time. Laundry has been on the floor in the living room for a few days now waiting to get folded, books waiting to get organized in the family room, dishes in the dishwasher ready to be unloaded and reloaded, same with the washer and dryer, etc...the list goes on. I had a slight fever when I went to bed last night and had a hard time getting to sleep. I woke up feeling under the weather...was nauseous most of the day....three out of the four kids had emotional meltdowns a good chunk of the morning. It was one of those days. I don't normally spend time blogging about days like these, but just thought I should make sure people understood I have these days just like everyone else. I just don't spend alot of time writing about them. My intention on my blog was to focus on the positives in my life, so when I have days like today, I can go back and read about the smoother days and remind myself why I do what I do. Homeschooling isn't for the faint of heart...nor is motherhood. Being able to look back on special times together or sweet things the kids have said or done, keep me plugging along.

I hope one day to get my blog printed out in a scrapbook form for each of the kids, kind of a little journal for each of them. I intended to write them each their own journal, but four kids later, I just haven't done it. I thought this was a better option for me. I want them to be able to read about this time I had at home with them and know how much I loved it. They will know it wasn't easy. They will know there were days I didn't think I could keep going. They know I get frustrated and I try to remember to apologize when I do. But most of all, I want them to know how much I wanted them, how much I always wanted to be a mom, and how fortunate I am and how thankful I am for them and their Daddy. I want them to be able to look back and read about times the Lord spoke to them. I want them to be able to look at all the fun time we had together.

God is good, all the time....on wonderful days, and not so smooth days. I prayed for strength all throughout the day, and he granted that. I got the laundry folded, dishes finished, books organized, meals done, homeschool done, Chiropractor apt done, Soccer practice done, Picnic outside for the kids at dinner, showers for the kids, kiddos to bed, workout on the treadmill done, blog almost completed, and then I'll be off to balance the checkbook. It's my typical day whether I feel good or not. The best thing I can do is focus on the good days and be thankful to have made it through the rest of them. The best thing is that no matter how the day goes or how I feel, I can put the kids to bed with laughter and joy and thankful for another day with them.

I'm a blessed mommy

Today was one of those days....it was lovely! The kids and I slept in a bit and started the day taking our time getting things started for school. I got a call from the company that installed our furnace wanting to check how things were going and they had a cancellation and wanted to know if they could come in an hour...so I said sure. I had to rush to get ready and it put my school plans on hold a bit but the kids went off and played Lego's together while I got ready and then while the guy was here checking on things. I thought what a blessing it was that I could be so flexible and take care of that today.

The kids and I had another great school day. They are doing so well. All the kids have moved on to next years Language Arts curriculum, Bradley is about 5 chapters away from being done with math, Tyler is on his last chapter and Ryan is 2/3 done with next years math. They blow me away with their love of learning.

We had a moment today when I was talking about something in regards to classroom expectations if they went to school at some point and Bradley said, "Mommy, I don't want to stop homeschooling and go to school". I told him I wasn't meaning we were going to stop homeschooling. I told him the only reason we'd send him to school is if we felt the Lord wanted us to but at this point I feel very sure He wants us to keep doing it as we are. I was curious why he said that, thinking it would be for reasons like he wouldn't have time to do things he gets to do now when his work is done. I asked him why he didn't want to go to school and he said, "Because you are a better teacher and I like homeschooling". Talk about warm this Mommy's heart! I'm so thankful he enjoys it as much as I do. It's such a joy to get to teach him. I love how the Lord brings things into our day to use in our schooling and I just can't imagine it being any different. I feel so blessed!

I heard of a situation today of a little girl who was told some REALLY hurtful things at school by a classmate. It frustrates me to know how mean kids can be. If only they truly understood how important our words to one another are. I used this as an opportunity to talk to the kids about the importance of being an encourager. We don't know what kind of things kids are being told...whether it be from friends, siblings, parents, etc..and God could put them in their path for the purpose of needing to hear something positive about themselves. I'm challenging them and us as a family to be that for people. I read a great parenting book in dealing with alot of these issues and I talked to them about this example. Imagine you have a board...every time you say something hurtful to someone you have to pound a nail in that board. You can ask forgiveness and take that nail out...but what is still there?? Ryan said, "the hole". That's exactly right. Words DO hurt and even if you say you are sorry, it's hard for us to forget things that were said about us or to us. How much better would it be to be one who says nice things about one another for them to remember about themselves. Let's lead by example by using our words with our children and encourage them and show them how God wants us to treat one another. And lets not just write it off as normal 'sibling behavior' and allow them to be rude to one another. Let's encourage them to love one another and be each others biggest cheerleader. One of the biggest joys for me is to see one of my kids encouraging one of their siblings. I tell them often that God gave them a precious gift....they each have three buddies in their life that they need to take very good care of...they can be each others biggest supporters in life. Our pastor asked on Sunday if we have at least two people who would stand beside us no matter what and what a blessing if that could start now for them. I'm thankful to have more than two that I know I could count on no matter what...those who truly understand my heart and my passions and share them with me. That is a precious gift!

I also should say...when I heard about this situation with the young girl at school...I really felt a nudging from the Lord that I needed to have a talk with the kids about these type of situations and remind them of the importance of being kind. I thought about it all day trying to decide what I was going to say and what Scripture to use in regards to it. Well at bedtime I got out the current devotional I've been doing with the kids and opened it up and todays devotion was based on Philippians 2:3-4 "Think of others as better than yourselves....Look out for the good of others" These are the moments I know without a doubt, God made lesson plans FOR me AGAIN. He's SO good at that. He often brings situations throughout our day to use in our schooling and am reminded how thankful I am to have the kids home to teach not only academics but more importantly, character. There will always be opportunity for that...and I learn right with them!

Flowers

The kids and I had a fun evening taking dinner to mom tonight. It was a beautiful day. We enjoyed having our sandwiches outside in their backyard. The boys climbed trees and flew airplanes and it makes me very excited for summer.

As we were leaving, the kids picked some flowers. Hallie got her bunch picked and said, "I'm going to save these for my husband." One of the boys said, "Hallie, they won't last THAT long.". She said very confidently, "I was going to put them in WATER!" =) Oh I love my kids!

Our family

Easter spent with dear friends....

Spelling Test...

I had the most fun today giving Ryan and Tyler their spelling test. Normally I give it to them at the same time. I have them each go to a different dry erase board and I give them the words to spell. Well today one was finishing up math so I went ahead and gave it separately today. One of their words was "what". It was so funny....when that word came up for both of them (at totally different times)they had just got done telling me something after writing the previous spelling word and I said, "what" and they kept repeating what they had told me...then I said "what" again and we went back and forth and back and forth until they finally realized it was their spelling word, not a question. We all had a good laugh. Poor Bradley was trying to work on a Math Test and couldn't concentrate cuz he was cracking up too. =) I sure love these kids....laughing is so good for the soul!!

I love my kids!!

Bradley's thoughts....

Today Bradley asked me if lonely was really a word. My first reaction was to panic and think...I can't believe my 3rd grader is asking me this question. My reply to him was, "Of course it's a word." He said, "Well it just doesn't make sense." I said, "Why? Haven't you ever been lonely?" He said, "No, how could I ever be lonely if Jesus is always with me?" Wow...melted my heart. I tell ya....I wish I had his mind!! If I ever think I'm lonely....I will remember this conversation for sure!

During school today he told me that God keeps telling him that he's going to be a preacher one day. My thought....he already is....in our home! I learn so much from him and am SO thankful for his tender heart toward Jesus!

Cute Hallie

Last week Hallie asked me if eating was exercise since you move your mouth when you chew. =) She's the cutest! Of course I told her YES!!

Another Birthday....

I can't believe another year has passed. It seems like we JUST celebrated Ryan and Tyler's 6th birthday. They are growing up SO fast! Friday was a very special day...they turned SEVEN years old! It really is hard to fathom they can be this old already. I had a friend ask me a couple weeks ago how hold they were turning and I told her 7 and she seemed so surprised that I started doubting myself too. I ended up asking one of the twins how old they were going to be...just to make sure. HA! It's getting harder and harder to keep track. =)

It's funny how both of these pictures make Tyler look SO much taller than Ryan. He IS taller, but just by a little bit...Ryan just seems to be standing silly in both pictures. =)

Friday Tom and I both had the day off of work so we had the whole day free to do something special. We initially planned to take them to the dollar theater and then to Chuck E Cheese, but when Friday came they were having so much fun just playing at home they wanted to just hang out in their jammies and play with their brother and sister. Tyler wanted his favorite muffins that I make and Ryan wanted my pancakes and eggs so I made them each what they wanted for breakfast and we just enjoyed a really nice relaxing day at home together. It was wonderful!

Friday evening Bradley had a friends birthday party to go to and Hallie was invited to go to her friends house for a pajama party for the evening...her first time away from home without her brothers. Tom and I were so very blessed to get the chance to take Ryan and Tyler out on a date...just the four of us. It was such a treat! The last time we had just the four of us together was in the hospital when they were born. Ryan had won a free pizza at "Monday School" and so we took them out for pizza and we had coupons for a free Cold Stone Ice Cream for each of them for their birthday so we took them there too. They had received some birthday money and so we took them to the mall for a while too to look around. It was such a fun time...just went way to fast. We headed back to pick up Bradley and Hallie and ended the evening together as a family. It was a very special day!

When Tom and I were out with the twins on their birthday, I began to think about the fact that 7 years ago at that time...I was sound asleep...missing the first two days of their life. It was emotional to think about. I started to wonder how they ate and what they did that first two days without me. I'm So thankful the Lord brought me through that and allowed me to enjoy these past 7 years with them. What a blessing! I remember I wrote about that event around their birthday last year and found that post....

http://kirklandadventures.blogspot.com/2009/03/birthday-boys.html

I also found some of my favorite picture of them their first year. I LOVED taking pictures of them sleeping...they were always so cute to see turned in the exact same positions etc. Those pictures can be seen here:

http://kirklandadventures.blogspot.com/2009/03/awwprecious-babies.html

I'm so thankful for four precious kiddos. God has blessed us so much!

Tyler's song....

I was just finishing up a spelling test with Bradley and saw Tyler sitting at his desk writing. I went over to peek and this is what I found.... He said he was writing a song.These are moments I will treasure FOREVER! So proud of him...

This is what it says:

I want to be with you in heaven. Yea God.
I want to be with you. Yea.
You can go to heaven if you are obeying God.
You will be in heaven.
You want to be in heaven.
You want to be in heaven.
You want to be in heaven.

By Tyler Jadon Kirkland age 6

Today...

Today was a very emotional day. I don't think I've cried this much in a long time. We attended the Memorial Service of the mother of two of my dear friends. It was a beautiful service celebrating her life. She was a dear dear lady who suffered for years and years with MS and cancer. She was an amazing lady....she always had a smile on her face whenever I saw her. It really isn't often that you see someone go through all that she did and still be smiling and loving life and treasuring her husband, kids and grand kids. I've been blessed to know their family for as long as I can remember...I was in grade school when we met. Her oldest daughter was my big sister in school and we've reconnected since we've been attending the same church and she has become one of my dearest dearest friends. And her 2nd daughter I have had the privilege of reconnecting with also and get to see her weekly when our kiddos do schooling together. She is a dear dear friend too. What a joy to be blessed with both of their friendships. They have the same beautiful smile their mom always had and it's such a blessing to have them in my life. I've learned so much from them being given the legacy they have been given by their parents. Things I hope to pass down to my kids. They showed a very precious slide show at the end of the service and it also included some video from their childhood and I realized watching it that I had never seen their mom walk...until seeing the videos....something we easily take for granted. It's neat to know that she's walking again with Jesus totally healed. I can't imagine the loss I know they feel and being there and hearing everyone share their wonderful memories of a wonderful lady sure makes you rethink everything and just want to make the most of the time we have with those dear to us. Life is so short....

Hallie blessed me tonight as I was tucking her in bed...she said she had to tell me a secret...she whispered in my ear..."I love you so much"....then later she whispered..."I love you more than candy". =) Oh how I love that girl. I'm SO very thankful the Lord blessed me with a wonderful loving husband and four precious kids. I AM living my dream of being a stay at home mom and hope I am making the most of our time together. I am So thankful for each day that we have the opportunity to be together. Today also reminds me of how thankful I am the kids are still home and that I get to have so much time with them. I know I will blink and they will be married and starting families of their own and I will look back and be SO thankful we had this precious time together. I feel very blessed....

Wonderful Day....

Today was another one of those days that I will treasure forever! I LOVE family days. It's been so nice having Tom home and I'm really not looking forward to Monday. This is exactly what our family has needed!!

We took the kids to the free Children's Performing Arts Show at the Community College nearby. It was a puppet show. The kids enjoyed it. They'll have a different performance every other Saturday for the next few months. We have attended these for several years and are always glad we went.

We headed to Springfield afterwards and went to our favorite place to eat, Baja Fresh. Then we headed to our favorite grocery store, Trader Joes and stocked up on some needed items and some goodies to take with us to the next stop....the dollar theater. This is our usual Saturday outing at least once a month or so. We had a great time, as always.

Tonight we were watching an old Cosby Show Episode. The kids have never seen one and Tom and I both remember enjoying that show. We had found a video with some of the first episodes on it on clearance at the Christian Bookstore today and decided to pick it up. We had a good laugh watching one of our favorite episodes. Well after it was over Bradley said, "Are the parents married in that show?" I said, "Yes, they are married....we'll not in real life....but on the show yes." He said, "Well if she's not his real wife, why did he just kiss her? That doesn't seem like a good thing. That's not being very good to his wife." Wow....I love that kid. I love his sensitive heart. I love the way he thinks and I love that he asks US. It opened up a WONDERFUL conversation between he and Tom and I. I'm just so proud of my little guy. I love that he desires to serve the Lord. I told him he was exactly right. That when Mommy and Daddy got married we were committed to each other and that we treasure that. I told him that I had just read an article in a Focus on the Family magazine about an interview with Kirk Cameron....who was in Fireproof. There was a wonderful article about how he said that when he got married, he was committed to his wife and only his wife and that meant he would never kiss another woman..no matter what. He said he would never play a part in a show or movie that would require it. He said it's not true that it's 'only acting' when people kiss on TV or movies...it's something to be protected and shared only with your spouse. So much so, that at the end of the Fireproof movie, there's a scene where he was to kiss his actress "wife". So for that scene they were outside and it was kind of dark...you could really just see them like a shadow almost and his real life wife dressed up as his 'acting' wife and she played that role in that last scene and he kissed his real life wife...not the actress. I had heard about that when we saw the movie but reading this article still just made me cry. I just LOVE that there are actors out there that will stand up for their convictions. I told Bradley that this was a perfect example that no matter what God calls him to do, he can always hold to his convictions and beliefs and God will bless him indeed. What a great reminder that we all need to keep ourselves in check....are we compromising our convictions in any way?

I'm so thankful for these moments with my children. I LOVE hearing their heart and just love seeing who they are becoming. I'm so thankful I get to be home with them and be blessed with such special times as these....

A great day.....

Today was one of those days I wanted to last forever. I'm starting to feel a little more like myself. I still have a ways to go on the recovery...still quite sore and still VERY tired most of the time. I should really be asleep right now...but like I said...it's been one of those days. Outside of the whole surgery and being sick for quite some time before hand...the one thing I have loved these past few weeks is having EVERYONE home!! Tom took Christmas until New Years off like he usually does and then because of my unplanned surgery, he's still home taking care of me and the kids. I don't ever want to have to go through surgery again, but I DO love having my hubby home. I've been thinking over the past few years since he took on the 2nd job...we haven't seen alot of each other. It's been hard on all of us and it's shown these past few weeks how much it means to ALL of us to have him home so much. It's not exactly been like a vacation because of the circumstances, but still...it's been wonderful in many ways. I think there's an extra twinkle in all our eyes.

Today it was fun to watch Daddy help me with homeschooling....our first day back since Christmas. I LOVED watching him work with the kids on their math. You could see the kids so proud to get to show Daddy how smart they are. He knows they are but to get this much time with him has been extra special. I was laughing...which at this moment hurts to laugh....as I watched him work with Tyler on his math. Tyler is our silly boy. He intentionally tells you the wrong answer with a HUGE grin on his face...just to be our little ham. It was funny to watch Tom work with him wanting to laugh right along with him. It made me realize...no wonder I'm so tired all the time...this takes alot of work to homeschool. =) It's funny alot of the time, but sometimes you just want to get the work done. Tyler puts a smile on my face every day and I'm SO thankful for his fun personality.

One day this week Tom brought home a balloon for all the kids and today somehow Bradley's popped. He was bummed about it. Next thing I knew the other three kids came in the living room with their whithered up balloons and I asked them what happened. They told me they felt bad that Bradley didn't have a balloon to play with so they all popped theirs. Oh how I love these kids. I'm sure on another day they'd be fighting over the balloons but today has just been 'one of those days'. I'm SO grateful!!

Tonight Tom went to work at his 2nd job...my first time being solo since surgery. I was a little nervous because I've been so worn out. But, when Tom left, he asked Bradley how he felt about being the 'man of the house' while Daddy was at work tonight. Bradleys eye's got really big....he was ready for the responsibility. As soon as Tom left, Bradley came over to me and said, "Mommy, I'm taking care of dinner tonight". So, off he went and made ham and cheese sandwiches for everyone. He's such a sweet kid. I'm very blessed. Later tonight I was laying on the couch and was opening something and he was so attentive and came up and said, "Mommy, can I throw that away for you?". Such a little gentleman. Later tonight the kids were in our room watching a little movie and I heard Bradley say, "Ryan don't forget to flush and wash your hands" Then next thing I heard was the toilet flushing and the sink running. It was too cute. Thankfully Bradley's always been his brothers and sisters biggest cheerleader so nights like tonight turn out to be a very positive thing...it wasn't taken as he was bossing anyone around. Tonight before bed he vacuumed the living room for me too. When the kids were brushing their teeth tonight Ryan said, "Bradley are you like in charge tonight?" I said, "Well no, Mommy's still in charge...but he's being my really big helper". Bradley said, "I'm kind of like the Vice President for tonight". It was so cute. Got the kiddos tucked in bed and not long after Bradley came out to the living room and said he was having a hard time...that Satan was trying to tell him bad things and he wanted to know if he could read his Bible for a while. So, of course I told him it was fine. So he and the boys got their Bibles out and read for about an hour. I just love listening to them doing that. Bradley has always had such a tender heart and I'm always amazed at things he tells me. We've had a few times where he's come out to talk to us in absolute tears knowing that thoughts that were going on his his head were not things God was telling him and it broke his heart. So the very first time I told him to start praying or say verses or read his Bible and I"m so thankful it's something he's always remembered and then in turn is also showing his siblings how to handle it. He always comes back to me so excited saying..."Mommy...it worked....it worked!!"

Oh how I love my family....I'm SO not ready for Tom to have to go back to work but am very grateful that he can....

Recovering....

Thanks to all who have been praying for me through my surgery. I'm home recovering and thankful my wonderful hubby has been home taking care of the kids so I can take it easy. I'm quite sore and it sure took away all my energy. I miss being able to just jump up and go help whenever needed but I know this is temporary. I'm glad the actual surgery is behind me. It was a drag to spend the holiday's sick but I'm looking forward to the New Year and hoping to feel better than I have felt in a long time.

It's amazing to look back and see how quickly everything happened. I mean, I'd been sick quite some time but as soon as I got in to the doctor...things kind of rolled from there. I had an ER visit over a weekend and then that Monday followed up with my doctor. She ordered an ultrasound and the hospital had an opening first thing the next morning for me and their next opening for an ultrasound wasn't until January. Talk about perfect timing. When that came back negative..the doctor ordered me a HIDA scan and it didn't take long for me to get in to do that. It took a few days for the results and once they came in they got me right in to meet with the surgeon. We met with the surgeon on Wednesday and he had an opening the next morning for me to come in for surgery so that's what we did. We literally just made it in...the last day of the year...which is what we were hoping for since financially it was better for us for me to have it done before the new years deductible started. I love being able to find God's blessings through some of the harder times....He's always blessing us no matter what we are going through.

I'm blessed with great friends who have taken such good care of us. Thank you for your phone calls, words of encouragment, help with the kiddos and meals. I am so thankful for you!!