What's Up

We are here living this busy life with four kids trying to make sure to keep the main thing the main thing... it's a challenge! 

With the addition of fall sports, this season has seemed more FULL then previous falls. Haven't yet squeezed in the yearly trip to pick apples, pumpkins, or take a trip to harvest festivals. Our downstairs painting and minor renovations have kept Daddy busy around the clock. He's very thorough and diligent. So far the change in paint color has made my downstairs feel so much more peaceful (even with the less then peaceful kids! Amazing!) Can't wait to get to the end of the project and have things back in order. (almost driving me completely crazy...)

Here are some snapshots of life this fall:

 Last trip to see the butterflies at the botanical garden before the exhibit was moved. 

The kids have two Grandpa's born the same year exactly seven days apart. We were able to celebrate belatedly with my dad and send birthday wishes to my father-in-law through the phone and mail. 

 Life being spectators at soccer games... Oh dear.  

One minute they are calm and the next minute poor Luke was tackled by his brothers. 

Highly distracting for the serious spectators! Good grief. 

Years ago, we were avid Music Together fans. The boys all participated when they were under 5. Aaron has been on a kick listening to all the old cd's and we have heard them ad nauseum. Last week during rest time, he moved his desk closer to the cd player so he could control the songs easily while playing with play dough. I love that they are making him happy and love listening to him sing along.

 A Sunday afternoon bike ride with the family

The bike helmets came in handy when we took a break to swing on the rope swing. 

 Irina had no interest in the rope swing this time and was happy on the sidelines.

 Our strongman clearing the bike trail

After the annoyance of an eye infection and resulting trip to the eye doctor last weekend, I was not thrilled to wake up with a fever early this week. No substitute teachers here. I stayed in my pi's until lunch and we still worked on school. So thankful the fever was short lived. Life goes on...

This sight below was SO encouraging to see after breakfast! 

Cooperative workers! It's the little things...

We are making choices and thinking about our priorities. 

I don't prefer life feeling so full and frantic. 

Some tough decisions ahead.

Fall Soccer

After lots of rain interruptions, we are ready to get fall soccer going!

Aaron is playing his first season. He's loving it and learning a lot. 

On Saturday, after the coach kept calling him Andrew I couldn't keep my mouth shut. Apparently, the coach has been calling him Andrew since the season started in September and Aaron never said a word. Funny boy!

Irina is playing her second season, and finally had her first game on Saturday. (rain, rain, go away!) During the second half, she volunteered to play goalie and is fearless when girls are charging at her. I didn't get pictures of that because I get so distracted watching the action (and holding my breath!)

Two soccer game Saturdays are keeping the day full, but I love watching them play. I've been told that I'm a bit too loud during games cheering on the team. My excitement just comes out of my mouth and I can't hold it in. I'm working on it though. ;)

Clouds to Sunshine

    
The sunshine and warmth today make me thankful. I didn't realize until this weekend how much the days (and days and days...) of rain had an affect on our family and ME. 

Today I am choosing to be thankful for little things. 

* boys voices that are still easily soprano (LOVE hearing them still enjoying the CD I bought from the Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus concert. Aaron's sweet high pitched voice singing choral music...ahhh! music to my ears.)

* SUNSHINE, blue skies, birds chirping, kids collecting caterpillars and running around in the grass

* hummus and vegetables (I accidentally left a big tub of hummus in the back of the van a week ago and it spoiled. boo hiss!! So glad to finally get to the store and buy more. yummy!)

* a running dishwasher and a husband who can fix ANY appliance, seriously. He is not for hire. ;)  (We had to wait almost a week for the $20 part, but it was much better then paying $100+ for a serviceman.)

* friends near and far (never want to take them for granted! they are so dear to me!)

* imaginations (Darin has been reading the Narnia books with the kids when he is not traveling. They are loving re-enacting scenes from the book. Luke is Peter, Irina is Susan, Ethan is Edmund, and Aaron is willing to be little Lucy. This is how they spent their free time during all the rainy days. Love it!)

* freedom to change my mind (The lists I posted about HERE majorly backfired this past weekend. As in, I was followed around all day by someone asking me what he/she could do on the list and how he/she should do it. Incessant talking. Incessant questions. Nothing satisfied. We were both anxious within a couple hours. The relief it created the first weekend turned into stress all around. But I realized, I don't have to keep doing it. I can change my mind! Ahh! That feels like a huge deal to realize that and it makes me thankful. )

Hobbies?

A wise woman has challenged me recently to think about my personal interests, hobbies, and self-care. In the midst of parenting, home schooling, and a busy life I haven't figured out how to make time for hobbies. Maybe I've even lost a little bit of me? I've actually wondered if it is self-indulgent to make time for hobbies when my family has so many needs. I haven't figured out the right way to think about it. I'm praying and trying to discover what that looks like in a healthy way.

As I sat to make a list of hobbies that re-energize me I wasn't surprised to learn that they are all individual and more introverted. Reading, sewing, knitting (would love to re-learn this! who wants to teach me?), blogging, singing/music, running, flower arranging, some kind of artistic endeavors...

A couple weeks ago, I indulged myself. I put aside my other tasks and chores (as well as a decent bedtime) and did a little sewing. It was such good therapy. The colors, the textures, the cooperative sewing machine, the joy of gift giving... Thank you, Lord, for this sewing time in the middle of a busy week and a traveling husband.

 A ribbon blanket for a sweet baby boy! His delight over the tags made me smile. 

What are your hobbies? How do you make time for them? 

Risks, Stunts, and Creativity

Now that we are back in the school routine and the weather is cooler, we are spending more time in the backyard. (When it is not raining like it has been this week!) The middle school work load has increased appropriately for Luke, so we have less time in the afternoons for exciting outings. (Especially now that we have sport practices a couple times a week.)

What that means is two boys have gotten VERY creative in their backyard play in order to keep things more interesting. Do you see the red shirt high above in the picture below? I'm sure you can guess who that is. Note: that tree is NOT in our yard, but in the neighbors yard. ugh!

Can you see three-quarters of the way up, the body still climbing? He went HIGHER, but I did not take a picture... I instead yelled wildly for him to get down. He was SHAKING the tree and swinging back and forth. When he returned to lower ground, he reported what was going on in the neighborhood. He, of course, had a bird's eye view.

The configurations they come up with on the swings never cease to amaze me. 

And bare feet... always dirty bare feet....

They were swinging for a while upside down last Thursday. Makes my head hurt. ;)

It's much better then the whips they made with ropes and sticks the day before!

Oh the talents of my children! Are they in training for Cirque du Soleil?

In case you are wondering what Irina was doing during these photos... 

she was either swinging nearby or building cities in the sandbox. 

That satisfies her sensory needs and keeps her happy!

God's Love Brings Joy

During this season of life, I am prone to struggle and wallow. I don't like it one bit. I want it fixed and over and nobody can do that for me. I'm thinking a lot about inner joy. Where does it come from? Can I manufacture it? If I ask God, will He just give it to me when I least expect it? Is there a checklist I can follow to make it come? Maybe I overcomplicate things by thinking too hard and analyzing everything? I am not a surface kind of gal. I dislike small talk and people being phony. Feeling things deeply is what I do...and therefore my relationship with life and with my Lord is thought about intently and passionately. (hmmm...I know a little boy in my house who is following in my footsteps. oh no!) I'm probably a little too "heart on my sleeve" and open/honest for some people's taste. Not too mention that I'm at that age (ahem!) that hormones are going batty. Sorry if I scare you. ;)

As I search scriptures, listen to sermons, and talk with friends this is what sticks out. I'm writing it here so I can come back to it and maybe, just maybe, it will encourage you? 

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. ...you being rooted and established in love, may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:16-19

"God's love is beyond human love in that it rises beyond our sphere, surpassing our domain on the ground. More important than the greatness of God's love is the quality: God's love is no emotion or experience. ...He is faithful. Which means He doesn't go back on his Word. He does not tire of us, find us boring, or grow disgusted with our stench or our surliness. God does not love as we love." Christopher Esget

"The source of my joy is that God has bigger goal for me than I do for myself and that God is 'all in' for me. Jesus is interceding on my behalf right now." Steve Shelby

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20

"The secret to being content in any and every situation is knowing that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." paraphrase Philippians 4:12-13

"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption." Psalm 130:5, 7

List

I've mentioned before that Saturdays are especially hard for Irina. In between soccer games, we view Saturdays as work days. I have a list of things I want to accomplish... sometimes alone. Darin always has a list of household projects he wants to tackle. (Now including the repainting of our family room/kitchen/and foyer. It is a big job! More on that later.) The boys are so happy to run in and out of the house playing together or with neighbors. Irina can get overwhelmed with the free time and lack of schedule. It is hard for her to stay engaged with one type of play for very long, which means she asks repeatedly, "What can I do?"

Knowing our soccer games would likely get rained out, I decided to try something new this weekend.  Thanks to inspiration from a friend, I printed out a list for each kid of things they should accomplish on Saturday (jobs and fun!) I made sure to include some activities for Irina that were alongside me, which thrills her. I'm excited to say it was a success! Next weekend, I need to add a few more ideas, but Irina loved her list and carried it around with her. It gave her purpose. Hallelujah!