Monday, May 28, 2012

Gone

Well, this weekend has been interesting.  My niece that was living with us ran away on Friday.  She took the car, my daughters cell phone, and some money.  She left while I took the others to school and she was supposed to be doing her homeschooling work.  We had no idea that she was plotting to leave.  She went to stay with a guy that she knows (we don't know how she knows him or if she had ever seen him before Friday) and he lives three hours away.  We did find his address and went and picked up the car, but at 17 we can't make her come back home.  She legally can live where she wants.

I am still upset.  We feel betrayed and used.  We gave her things and tried to let her live a life of love and compassion.  Then I have to remember that she is 17 and doesn't understand about sacrifice and being hurt by loved ones, she is only interested in the moment.  She can't see that her future was going to be bright here, with schooling, and friends, and the things that a teen needs and wants.  She can only see that she wants to be with someone else right now.

I was telling Steven the other night that I felt like the last 6 weeks that she has been here has been a waste.  That we wasted all of our time, energy and money on her and she just runs off and steals from us, and then I said no it wasn't.  The bible says that his word will not return void.  I shared scripture with her daily and we had discussions about how God wants us to live as Christians.  We took her to church, youth group, and to the Rush weekend at rock ranch.  We showed her the love of a Christian family and what that love can mean.  I believe that one day she will turn to that word and remember what we talked about.  She will want in her life what we have here.  I will be there to show her how to come to the Lord when she wants it.  We will always love her, even if we don't love her actions.  We can show the love of Christ through us.  We don't have to let her exploit us again, but we can help her get the help she needs and to fully engage in Christ.  He is the one who can heal her.  He is already healing our family from this.

On a positive note, we are going swimming today if the weather cooperates and we are cooking our with family.  My parents are at the beach, but we invited my sister and her family and Steven's brother and his family over to cook out and churn ice cream.  We are going to continue to have fun and make family memories and just pray for the lost that they would one day return.  Have a blessed memorial day and remember the sacrifice that our forefathers made so that we could have the freedoms that we have here.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Summer Routine

I am trying to map out a summer routine for my kids.  I don't want anything too structured, but I also don't want everyone laying around doing nothing all summer.  I don't want to waist a bunch of time, but I also want them to have plenty of free time to do what they want.  Here is what I have come up with for this summer.

9:00 Breakfast - if someone is hungry before they can eat, but I want everyone up and eating by this time.

9:30  Clean up Kitchen, get dressed, make beds, clean up rooms, morning chores.

10:30  Those still homeschooling will work on schoolwork, others will have time to journal and read books from the library.

11:15 - 12:30  Free time, work on project of choosing, legos, free play time, (no computer or tv) finish up school work.

12:30 Lunch

1:00 Clean up lunch, put away laundry, clean up from free time.

1:30-4:00  Summer fun time.  During this time we will go swimming, go to the river, go to the museum, go to the library, etc.  If it is poor weather or we have more to do at home we may watch a movie or we might do some crafts or have game time. 

4:30-6:00  Dinner prep - one child will help with that every night, free time, computer time, tv time.

6:00 dinner, family bible time at table.

6:30 clean up table, clean up other messes

7:00 - 8:30  Family time - work in garden, swim at river, go for walks, play outside, etc.

9:00 - 10:00 Bed

I think this is structured but loose at the same time.  I am not tight with the schedule, but just want our days to flow nicely.

We will take some days and go to a state park, water park, have friends over, etc.  We will also have appointments and such so this is loose, but just something to strive for.


Sunday, May 20, 2012

Tye Dye Cake

Brianna asked for a tye dye cake for her birthday.  I normally make my kid's cakes and we spend lots of time looking for the right one and trying to make it.  I think this one turned out really well.


The good thing was that it tasted good and we had fun making it.  Happy Birthday Brianna!

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Happy Mothers Day

This year the make up of my family has changed.  Change can be good and this definitely has been a good one.  He is our family this year on mothers day:


I received some wonderful heartfelt cards and notes, and the kids didn't let me lift a finger today.  We went and visited my mom and we went out for ice cream.  Yummy and fun!  I don't want to ever forget my first mothers day with my new child.  She has come a long way and is turning into a wonderful young lady.  I hope she along with all of my kids will reach her full potential and just love the Lord and her family.  You don't have to birth kids for them to take up space in your heart!

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Adjusting

We are adjusting to having an extra kid in the house.  Brianna is working hard on her math, and trying to finish it before the end of the school year.  School will be out in two weeks, and then what?  I hope I don't have to entertain everyone this summer.  I have a feeling that it will be a summer full of having friends over, swimming, beach, church activities and fun.  It will be a new summer of fun for my two new kids (yes, Brianna's brother is moving in next month.  Oh, it will be interesting,  but I am looking forward to it.

We are closing in our garage to make another bedroom.  We don't want the kids to feel crowded.  Luckily we have a large living room where we can all be together.  We have never been crazy about kids spending time by themselves in their room.  We think everyone should spend as much time together as possible.

I went to town and went grocery shopping.  I spent $30 at Publix (best meat), $80 at Sams (cheese and meds) and $80 at Aldi (everything else.)  I still have to get some bulk macaroni from Ingles but they were out.  All of the cheese I got will last the month and most of the meds I got will last a year.  Sams has super cheap over the counter meds.  My grocery bill is growing, but so is my family and my heart.  I just have to remember that.

Well, I need to go get ready for bed.  Mothers day is tomorrow.  I love my own mother so much, and I love my mother in law even though she is not in love with us right now.  I keep praying for some reconciliation, but it hasn't happened yet.  She doesn't want us to come see her for mothers day.  It stings to hear that, but in a way it is a relief.  I don't really want to deal with all of our emotions tomorrow.  I want it to be a happy day.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Affording more than four

I think that I am going to have to change the name of my blog.  My niece has come to live with us.  She is almost 17 and we are enjoying each other.  Right now she is home schooling for the rest of the school year, but we went today to get her into school for next year.  She is looking forward to high school.  She has been at this school before and she says that she knows alot of the kids.  I also think that I found her a babysitting job for the summer.  Watching three older kids four hours a day.  She likes kids so it is all working out perfectly.

Well, since we have been so busy with moving in a teen, baseball, babysitting, and general stuff I have not been bargain or coupon shopping and it has shown.  I am going to Publix tomorrow with my coupons after baseball and I will let you know how is goes.  I have got to get back into saving money.  We sure don't have any extra to burn at this time.

I am going to eat lunch with Emma and let Brianna work on her school work.  Geometry, Yuck!