Preschooler, Toddlers and Homeschooling, OH MY!!

That is what I feel like lately!  Oh my goodness there have been some rough days around our house!  Dealing with two straight weeks of sickness, and then stress, and then rainy weather, its enough to make this momma go batty!

To start out the baby was sick, then I got sick and then the older boys got sick!  That lasted a total of TWO weeks!!  Then we had a week of all of all of us feeling better and now the baby is sick AGAIN!!  Then we had about two weeks of cool, and rainy weather, then it warmed up (which is possibly why we had all the sickness), and now its warming up again but also a bit rainy.  OK enough of my little rants about sickness!

What have we been up to... well lets see, since the baby has stopped napping in the morning that leaves us with a new challenge in our schooling.  I am having to find things to keep him busy while we "try" to focus on some education!  This is not easy for a very active little boy!!  He gets into everything and if he is bored he starts to cry.  (But as I am writing this he is very quietly sitting and playing with a toy, go figure!)  Anyway, although it is nice that he takes a good nap in the afternoon, I kinda liked that morning nap as well.

 I have been scouring the internet looking for ideas to keep a little toddler busy, but since he is still so young (only 14 months), its hard to find age appropriate things.  I have found some great ideas though, that hopefully given the next few months of training he will be able to do.  Like putting pipe cleaning through a colander, using crayons to color, bean scooping, and other things like that.  I also found a great recipe for edible finger paint, I can not wait to try that!!  Yesterday I was reading another blog, Sprittibee, that was touching on this very topic!  She had a TON of fantastic ideas that I look forward to trying.  She also links to a ton of other bloggers who also have a bazillion ideas!

Suffering Through Trials

Yesterday was an all out pity party kinda day!  Through out the entire day I felt stressed and down because of things that I couldn't do.  I was really tired and didn't feel like making lunch for my kiddos, we needed to run errands anyway and I thought it would be just as easy to hit the drive thru.  Unfortunately our budget doesn't allow for those spontaneous trips to the drive thru.  That got me thinking about how our summer was so blah!  I wasn't able to do things with my kids that I normally would get to, like take them to the zoo or the pool.  

Then last night we began a new small group in our new church, we went for the first meeting and we were the only ones that brought our kids!  Everyone else had babysitters or something.  We unfortunately do not have a babysitter nor can we afford a babysitter!  UGGHHH!!  

Then today I was reminded about Paul in prison writing to the church at Colossae, he is rejoicing in his suffering!  WOW!  Talk about perspective!  I know that my family has much more than most of the world, for that I am so grateful and feel so blessed!  I feel blessed that I can freely homeschool my children, I can freely worship my God without fear of persecution, unlike the Christians back in the day!  So after all of that pity-ness yesterday, I am feeling refreshed today, with a whole new perspective!

Yes I am still frustrated with our financial situation, and yes I am still frustrated at not being able to go and do things with my children that they are asking to do.  BUT I am so blessed to know that this is not the end and that I have so many blessings in my life!  

Colossians 1:24

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church

Colossians 1:27

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

James 1:2-4

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete in nothing.

1 Peter 4:12-13

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.