Thankful

I am thankful that my life has been too busy to sit and update our family storybook.  This means that I am blessed with busyness by my little loves in my life and the big love of my life.  I had a moment this afternoon while I was doing my Bible study (currently Children of the Day by Beth Moore) that hit me like a sucker punch in the left eye.  The kids were napping so I took the time to really dive as far as I could into His word and soak up every ounce of clarity that Beth provides.  At the end of today's lesson she was talking about her Aunt Jewell and that she had this recipe that when she was 18 she loved (Squash Pickles) but now can't seem to really remember why she wrote the recipe down or why she once thought they were good.  Then she says, "It's so clear to me all these years later: she was the recipe I wanted."  You see, Aunt Jewell left a legacy in Beth's eyes and it was her she was after ... not her cooking.  Immediately in my notes I put that I want to be the recipe my children long to have and know.  I want to leave something with them besides hollering at them to stop hollering at each other.  Or something besides remembering that they got spanked for hitting.  Or to yell for them across the house to quit yelling for me when I am in the other room.  Catching my drift?  They imitate me already .... I want them to be imitators of someone I want imitated!

So September came and went ...

days are quickly turning into months, and I am afraid before I know it, months will be years.  All.  too.  quickly.  People always told me as I was growing up how quickly time flies, but my-lanta.  The other night CR was looking through my 2013 flip book of pictures and showing Patton; we both could not believe that it was last year.  Crazy.  Hug your loved ones close.  Cherish every migraine, every tear, and every joy.  They will all be gone and quiet walls will fill your home before you know it.

So to recap our September for our memory book and my followers, hang on tight.  Just like everyone else in this world, things are busy.  Life happens amongst "the plans" and makes it all the more memorable, and usually enjoyable.

The first week brought us to a new adventure.  Kirby started in a home school coop called Classical Conversations.  This is something we are just dabbling with for this year, because technically she is too young for their program.  I wanted to get to see in person what this really looked like.  It amazes me what children at this age can contain in their little brains.  Not only do the soak up every morsel of information, they hold onto it like their favorite night time teddy bear.  We miss some Tuesdays, but try to keep up with what we can at home.  She does still do Mother's Day Out twice a week, so that is what makes it hard to keep up with the school side of things.  To me, though, every extra bit she gets is all for her benefit for years to come.

 This is actually what Kirby built at home.  She came and got me and told me that she built our cousin Amanda's house, and that the spot where there are 2 blue blocks is where her frog tank is.

First day of MDO!  Aunt Katherine is her teacher again. ;)

 Two of Kirby's dearest friends moved to College Station .... we miss them but are so excited for their adventures!

 Kirby also started gymnastics this fall.  

 The dishwasher flooded the kitchen, so Kirby thought she could be of assistance to daddy.

 Daily reminders.  Last year in Bible study we were encouraged to get a flip note card book to write verses on for us to meditate on and keep in our purses to remind us through the day.  So thankful for this discipline.  You should try it.  If you do, let me know how it helps you.  

 The pictures uploaded out of order for some reason on here, and they are too much work to move around, so this isn't exactly chronological.  We braved a trip to the State Fair.  Ever since Kirby saw the movie Charlotte's Web she has wanted to ride a "Paris wheel".  We told her we would wait up and take her to the best (and probably the safest) one we knew of.  She has been talking about it for months.  I scheduled a photo shoot (that ended up getting rained out) for the evening so that we could make sense of it all (you know us Patricks).  This was an adventure.  I think that Patton was a little young, because there was not much for him to do except the petting zoo and sleep in the stroller.  We were there by 8:45 .... nothing opens till 10 and the "Paris wheel" did not start till 12!  We got in a pig show and lots of petting zoo time.  Memories I will cherish forever, and I am pretty sure Kirby Rose will too.

Patton was zonked in the stroller, so just Kirby and I got in front of Big Tex.

Daddy is her hero.  I am scared to death of heights, and especially Ferris wheels.  I do not like how they stop you at the very top and you move around.  No thank you.  I would have done it for her, but daddy loves them so this was his memory to make.  So thankful for these two gems.

Is it just me or does he look 5?!

 Was reminded of "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:24 when I saw this guy.  

 How we do home school at home.   Chalkboard rested on the top oven sill, map on the counter and notebook in my hand.   She can name about half of that map ... super impressed with the curriculum and the way in which it is introduced.  That is what Tuesday's are for.  The tutor presents the new material and reviews the old; then we come home and go over the new and old.  Or we are supposed to.  We get in some work on Thursdays when Patton goes to school.  But we mainly have fun with it this year.  

 Paw came for a visit and of course brought goodies for each of us!

 Our view.  Breathe and take it in ...

 "May the favor of the Lord be upon you ..."  Psalm 90:17 I pray this for each of you, each morning.  

 She wanted to help with dinner ...

 When it was her turn to review, she had to wink while saying the material.  And she wanted to go to the head of the class.

 This move right here was the one that got him into MDO.  I have the kitchen table pushed against the wall with the chairs behind it so he can't climb up while I run to the restroom for 30 seconds.  Well, he figured it out, so to school twice a week he goes.  Ha!

  No words.  He is just the cutest little Aggie button I have ever seen.  And boy, is he boy.  He is almost 20 months and has had 3 busted lips ... one in which he chipped a tooth.  He is gaining on Kirby in size.  27 pounds and 33".  Slow down, before long that coach is going to be putting him in and momma is going to be a nervous wreck!

I am so thankful for this life that I had never even imagined.  It is so much more than I could have ever dreamed of.  It's funny, because depending on who you talk to, they have this crazy notion about farmers.  Either they are extremely wealthy, or devastatingly poor.  I remember after we got engaged, a friend of mine's mom said, "so he is a farmer and you are a teacher, what, are y'all going to live off of love?"  You betcha.  It doesn't matter if we are having a great year or a terrible year, we have love. We have joy.  We have blessings that remind us why we were put on this earth.  To be Jesus to them.  To show them who He is.  My prayer each morning lately before my feet hit the ground is, "Lord, you made me Lauren.  You gave me Kirby, Patton, and CR knowing what they need.  I pray today that I would be all you need me to be; nothing more and nothing less."  It is hardly ever roses and cream puffs, more like pig poop and field dust, but I love it and would not trade it for the world.  

From Beth Moore's Esther study: "I had to accept that I was not called to an easy life.  I was called to a purposeful life."  

Momma's, this is us.  It is never easy (it may be fun but I have yet to call a day easy), but man oh man, what a purpose we have before us.  Even if you are not a momma (yet or ever), God has a purposeful life for you, too.  I pray with all my heart you have found it or are on the journey to what He has called for you, dear friend.  

"And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"  Esther 4:14

He is the good Shepherd

This was a reminder from my daddy in my inbox this morning.

"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.  He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep, and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.  He flees because he is a hireling, and is not concerned about the sheep."  John 10:11-13

Oh how the words from these verses comforted me tonight.  Last night as I turned out the kitchen light to go fall into bed, I caught myself tearing up as I flipped the switch.  I had just caught a glimpse of the counter top that held two backpacks ready for the next day.  You read that right ... two.  How can I be sending my little man to a little school?  An entire day out of my care and not in his comfortable home with his snug little crib?

Well, this decision did not come lightly.  It has filled my past season of prayer completely.  CR and I decided in June we would give a homeschool curriculum called Classical Conversations a try with Kirby.  I say "give it a try" because technically she is not old enough for the program yet.  I came across it after researching information on the classical approach that I had heard through our church's new Christian Academy.  I wish with all my heart it would work out for us to send Kirby there, but the logistics of driving that much in a day for school just doesn't make sense.  So I thought I would attempt to bring what they are doing there home.  I have a few friends who are a part of the group in different states, so their words brought comfort to my boggled mind.  We joined a group in Corpus who meets once a week on Tuesday mornings and are praying for clarity each passing day for when we have to make the ultimate decision come Kindergarten.  With this group, you as the parent meet with the children and tutors ... you participate, help guide, and if needed are there for discipline.  This led to needing to finding a sitter for Patton.  I prayed and tried every avenue I could think of besides putting him somewhere.  Once there was not an answer for an in home sitter, I began to finely comb through all of the day care/mother's day out programs in our area.  After researching four, we finally came to one we thought was just right for him.  I am not sure why, but this has been so much harder on me than when we put Kirby in MDO.  He is only 2 months younger than Kirby was when I put her in.  I am not sure if it is because I spent a whole 8 months leaving her at home everyday, so going to 2 days a week was such an upgrade, or if it is because this is my little man.

This morning came and went in the blink of an eye.  I got a glimpse of our not too distant future trying to get 2 kids ready for school and a husband out the door to the tractor.  I am thankful that it is only one day a week right now that they will have school on the same day.  And much to my dismay, this boy had an amazing first day.  I think I secretly wanted them to call me half way through class this morning and say I needed to come get him.  His teacher said, "He acted as if he grew up here since birth."  Thank you gracious Father for those ladies and that school.

 I promise, this was not posed.  Patton actually went and sat down in the rocking chair and smiled for the camera.  I about died.

Kirby had so much fun at her Classical Conversations group this morning.  I very much enjoyed seeing her eyes light up as things clicked.  I loved watching how proud she was at the review time when she could go up to the map of the United States of America and point out Rhode Island.  I am not sure where this road will end up, but I do love the journey it is looking like it will take us on for this year.  

Please join this sister in prayer for clarity on education for her children.  I do not want to get in to the reasons I do not agree with some of the public school systems right now ... remember, I am a former teacher with my Masters in Education for CI and a principal certificate.  I know the material.  I know the research and the ups, downs, ins and outs and I truly believe deep down in public schools as a general rule.  I know what goes on behind closed doors, I know what should be in front of our children in school and I know what I believe that Christ laid as the foundations.  All of that is clear, but where my kids are to learn is foggier than a New England morning right now.  We have public schools within 15-20 miles of us, we have a handful of private school options, and then we have home school.  Kirby is a very young one for her age bracket.  If she had been born when she was due then when to start Kindergarten would not even be a question .... she would not be able to start for 2 more years.  She is bright and mature, but she is a squirt in size.  I hear from some "oh my child soared even though she was the youngest in her class" and then I hear from friends who were that youngest kid and hated it.  CR thinks somehow if we hold her back she will end up getting to show pigs more years than if she starts "on time".  Priorities here.   

She will still do MDO as she has the past two years.  She loves it there and so do we.  If Patton were old enough, he would join her there.  So, today was CC and tomorrow is MDO.  We will soak it all in while we are young and gumby!

"O great Shepherd, have mercy on the lives of my children (that you have graciously bestowed upon us).  Help me as a parent to be mindful of whom I ask to watch them.  Give me a discerning heart.  Open my eyes to make sure those I enlist to assist are trustworthy and brave.  If they are found lacking, give me the courage to dismiss them and the wisdom to find others more worthy to help.  In Jesus' might name, Amen."

A prayer from A Look at Life from a Deer Stand.

4 years ago

was my last first day of school as a teacher.  I did not know it at the time, but the Lord plans our steps.  I can not believe how quickly these years have flown by.   The days from time to time are longer than ever, but the weeks, months, and years seem like a flash of light.

I remember very clearly at lunch time that day thinking something was going on, but telling myself I was a hypochondriac first time pregnant lady and all was fine; probably more excitement to meet the rest of your class periods.  I waited until 8th period when I met all my students to finally step out and call the doctor to let them know what I was feeling.  They told me to get right in.  4 hours and a C-section later, I was holding our precious little Kirby Rose.  I will never forget each of those moments for as long as I live.  God is so good, he's so good to me.

If you have ever met Kirby, you know she is a smile and eyes you will never forget.  Her heart is always spunky and her mind is always racing.  She is so much of her daddy and so much of me all in one bundle of joy.  Thank you Lord, for this precious child that we prayed for.  She is beyond anything I ever could have imagined.  You are so good, so good to me.

This year we decided to keep her celebration small ... just to family, because that is big enough.  I want Kirby to grow up knowing we celebrate her life for sure, but that it is not about the presents or the hoopla, it is about the people who love you in your life.  The relationships that Christ has laid before you and what each of them mean to you.

A friend of mine made these adorable cookies.  The pictures do not do them justice because I left them in the sealed bags.  The top series of pictures is of Kirby holding up the Olaf body parts.  How cute is that?  They got to build their own snowman in August!  

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward."

Psalm 127:3