If you know me well, you know I live for a schedule, and routine. It is what helped me during those postpartum months, and saves me when things are in limbo. I love a schedule so much that I have gone so far as to map out my day hour by hour, sometimes even by the half hour. I sat down yesterday to type up the new schedule for this school year, and I felt the frustration coming. I don't like having my days mapped out to be that ridged. The problem is, if I get off the schedule somewhere, or just don't feel like doing something, my day is ruined and I feel like a failure. There are plenty of other things that are worth getting your day ruined over like when you buy a 32oz. Diet Coke and your sweet 6 year old spills it right after you get it home, but that's another issue. I think I'm hard enough on myself without some piece of paper making me feel worse.
So, here is my solution. Our mornings are pretty structured, we start with Scriptures at 7:15, then instead of being driven by the clock its more of an order of things that come next. We have Job meeting, breakfast, devotional, and I make the daily school list. I am going to have certain benchmarks, that keep us going throughout the day, or help get us back on task if we stray a little (I'm all for being open to where a new thought will take us, who know what we might learn along the way, and I don't want to stifle any learning). So, we have jobs and school in the morning, then I start Lunch at 12:00, followed by finishing up school. I start Dinner at 5:00, bedtime is 8:00. I have our big calendar in kitchen that has the times of lessons and appointments, and I can glance at that throughout the day so I don't forget anything important.
I feel a weight has been lifted. I don't need every hour of my day planned in order to be productive! I have my school log that I fill in each day, so that I make sure all the really important stuff happens. Its more important that it happens, then what time it happens. I'm still finding my way down this home-school path, and it has only taken me a year to figure this part out. If I am stressed about a schedule all day, I'm not creating the learning environment for my children that I want. This is huge for me!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
20 Years ago tag
Tiff just did this on her blog, and it was so fun so I thought I would do it too, plus I've never done a tag before. If you want to, consider yourself tagged.
20 years ago...
1. I spent the summer playing night games with my neighbors, and a guy I worshiped(like a big brother) that was getting ready to go on a mission.
2. My best friends in the world(they were twin sisters) moved.
3. I watched Greg Louganis hit his head on the diving board during the Olympics.
4. I volunteered as a Candy Striper at what was then Jordan Valley Holy Cross Hospital
10 Years ago...
1. I was figuring out what it meant to be a mother to my almost 10 month old Shelby. I experienced levels of worry and anxiety that I didn't know existed.
2. We lived in Midshore Manor Apartments in Midvale, and worked as the on-site managers. Darren was going to school, working nights at RC Willey, and was the Elders quorum President. Life was stressful.
3. I was babysitting my sister-in-law's nephew.
4. We went to Garth's family cabin in Schofield for the first time and loved it!
5 Years ago...
1. I went to girls camp, and had some of the most spiritual experiences of my life.
2. In September I was called as the Primary President of our huge primary, something like 90 kids in nursery.
3. My sweet Shelby started kindergarten.
4. Sarah was making us giggle all the time (I guess she still is).
3 Years ago...
1. I lost 84 pounds!
2. I was called as the 1st Counselor in the Stake Primary, and got to work with the most awesome women I know.
3. Shelby was about to turn 8 Years old, and Sarah was 3, and I was reminded that its not the 2's that are terrible its 3 year olds.
4. I realized that no matter what I was staying with Darren forever. I don't know why I decided this so late in the game, but I realized how much all the really hard years together meant to me, and how those years had shaped what we had now.
1 Year ago...
1. Darren and I decided to homeschool our kids. Crazy? Yes. Absolutely right for our family.
2. Keno joined our family, and I discovered that I love a little lap dog.
3. Darren and I went on a cruise to the Caribbean. When we came home we wondered why no one made our bed when we left the room.
4. I went to Pennsylvania to visit my brother (actually, Liz and Madeline) with my sister and my girls. We had a great time visiting Kirtland OH, and Palmyra, NY, and Niagara Falls. On the way home we spent a day stuck in Denver, trying to get a flight home, only to drive the rest of the way. I had dreams for months about being stranded somewhere with Tiffanie and our kids.
So far this year...
1. I have been released and recalled as the 1st counselor in the Stake Primary, and continue to work with the most awesome women I know.
2. I have gained and lost more weight than I know how to count.
3. I started this blog, which gives me a place to talk about whatever is on my mind. I love that!
4. We are sticking with homeschool, and marvel at the things that are happening in our home.
Yesterday...
1. I took a nap at 10am, because I stayed up too late the night before while Mike worked on the room in our basement.
2. I wondered for the millionth time if 10 years old is too young for a girl to hit puberty as I watched Shelby's mood swings.
3. I went shopping with Tiffanie, my best shopping buddy. She bought the cutest trench, and I can't wait till she lives here so I can borrow it!
4. I started reading "Ender's Game".
Today...
1. I slept in until 7:30 when Keno jumped on me, and wanted to burrow under the covers.
2. I checked some ebay auctions I'm watching.
3. I read some of "Enders Game"
4. Praised Shelby for organizing the pile of books by her bed, using a cute thing she got from the Hello Kitty store.
Tomorrow I will...
1. Go to Church.
2. Go to Pres. Draper's fireside for 11 year olds.
3. Take a nap.
4. Enjoy my Sunday.
Over the next year...
1. I will be 20 pounds lighter.
2. Finish Shelby's quilt, and my eye spy quilt (hopefully before the end of the year)
3. Welcome Mike & Tiff & Carter, along with their dogs to our home, and as our neighbors!
4. Watch things grow; my testimony, my children, my love for my family, and hopefully the trees in my yard!
20 years ago...
1. I spent the summer playing night games with my neighbors, and a guy I worshiped(like a big brother) that was getting ready to go on a mission.
2. My best friends in the world(they were twin sisters) moved.
3. I watched Greg Louganis hit his head on the diving board during the Olympics.
4. I volunteered as a Candy Striper at what was then Jordan Valley Holy Cross Hospital
10 Years ago...
1. I was figuring out what it meant to be a mother to my almost 10 month old Shelby. I experienced levels of worry and anxiety that I didn't know existed.
2. We lived in Midshore Manor Apartments in Midvale, and worked as the on-site managers. Darren was going to school, working nights at RC Willey, and was the Elders quorum President. Life was stressful.
3. I was babysitting my sister-in-law's nephew.
4. We went to Garth's family cabin in Schofield for the first time and loved it!
5 Years ago...
1. I went to girls camp, and had some of the most spiritual experiences of my life.
2. In September I was called as the Primary President of our huge primary, something like 90 kids in nursery.
3. My sweet Shelby started kindergarten.
4. Sarah was making us giggle all the time (I guess she still is).
3 Years ago...
1. I lost 84 pounds!
2. I was called as the 1st Counselor in the Stake Primary, and got to work with the most awesome women I know.
3. Shelby was about to turn 8 Years old, and Sarah was 3, and I was reminded that its not the 2's that are terrible its 3 year olds.
4. I realized that no matter what I was staying with Darren forever. I don't know why I decided this so late in the game, but I realized how much all the really hard years together meant to me, and how those years had shaped what we had now.
1 Year ago...
1. Darren and I decided to homeschool our kids. Crazy? Yes. Absolutely right for our family.
2. Keno joined our family, and I discovered that I love a little lap dog.
3. Darren and I went on a cruise to the Caribbean. When we came home we wondered why no one made our bed when we left the room.
4. I went to Pennsylvania to visit my brother (actually, Liz and Madeline) with my sister and my girls. We had a great time visiting Kirtland OH, and Palmyra, NY, and Niagara Falls. On the way home we spent a day stuck in Denver, trying to get a flight home, only to drive the rest of the way. I had dreams for months about being stranded somewhere with Tiffanie and our kids.
So far this year...
1. I have been released and recalled as the 1st counselor in the Stake Primary, and continue to work with the most awesome women I know.
2. I have gained and lost more weight than I know how to count.
3. I started this blog, which gives me a place to talk about whatever is on my mind. I love that!
4. We are sticking with homeschool, and marvel at the things that are happening in our home.
Yesterday...
1. I took a nap at 10am, because I stayed up too late the night before while Mike worked on the room in our basement.
2. I wondered for the millionth time if 10 years old is too young for a girl to hit puberty as I watched Shelby's mood swings.
3. I went shopping with Tiffanie, my best shopping buddy. She bought the cutest trench, and I can't wait till she lives here so I can borrow it!
4. I started reading "Ender's Game".
Today...
1. I slept in until 7:30 when Keno jumped on me, and wanted to burrow under the covers.
2. I checked some ebay auctions I'm watching.
3. I read some of "Enders Game"
4. Praised Shelby for organizing the pile of books by her bed, using a cute thing she got from the Hello Kitty store.
Tomorrow I will...
1. Go to Church.
2. Go to Pres. Draper's fireside for 11 year olds.
3. Take a nap.
4. Enjoy my Sunday.
Over the next year...
1. I will be 20 pounds lighter.
2. Finish Shelby's quilt, and my eye spy quilt (hopefully before the end of the year)
3. Welcome Mike & Tiff & Carter, along with their dogs to our home, and as our neighbors!
4. Watch things grow; my testimony, my children, my love for my family, and hopefully the trees in my yard!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
My quilt update
I have finally finished piecing all of my quilt blocks together! I was still feeling unsure of how the whole thing would look all put together so I layed the blocks out on the floor. This is what it looked like. I was pleased with that look.
Then, still being worried about how it would look with the fabric I've chosen to go in between the pieced blocks, my sister suggested laying the blocks on top of the other fabric. This is what it looked like. I thing it has just the look I'm going for. It will be great in Shelby's room. Perfect for a 10 year old, still pink, but a little grown up too. What do you think?
My grandma always liked to have a quilt up for conference, and with the pace that I am going I think I will be ready to have this quilt on frames for conference. If some how I get this done earlier, then I am going to finish my "eye spy" quilt I started with my Harward family on Thanksgiving about 4 years ago. I will have to share that quilt with you all as well. Either way I will have a quilt up for conference! What do you think should I really quilt this pink and black quilt or should I just tie it? I can see both in my head so I'm not sure what I want to do. It is really fun to see this start to come together!
Then, still being worried about how it would look with the fabric I've chosen to go in between the pieced blocks, my sister suggested laying the blocks on top of the other fabric. This is what it looked like. I thing it has just the look I'm going for. It will be great in Shelby's room. Perfect for a 10 year old, still pink, but a little grown up too. What do you think?
My grandma always liked to have a quilt up for conference, and with the pace that I am going I think I will be ready to have this quilt on frames for conference. If some how I get this done earlier, then I am going to finish my "eye spy" quilt I started with my Harward family on Thanksgiving about 4 years ago. I will have to share that quilt with you all as well. Either way I will have a quilt up for conference! What do you think should I really quilt this pink and black quilt or should I just tie it? I can see both in my head so I'm not sure what I want to do. It is really fun to see this start to come together!
Friday, August 8, 2008
This is how I feel somedays
There are days I just feel so empty inside, she said, that the only cure is buying stuff I don't need from WalMart. The best thing, she added, is that it all breaks after a couple of weeks, so I can throw it out & start all over again.
This describes my feeling today. I want to go shopping. The purse store is calling me, maybe a new restaurant I haven't been to, instead I am wasting time on the computer, waiting for my sister to call and tell me she can play. Hehe. This thought from the story people also describes how I feel about Walmart-it makes me crazy.
This describes my feeling today. I want to go shopping. The purse store is calling me, maybe a new restaurant I haven't been to, instead I am wasting time on the computer, waiting for my sister to call and tell me she can play. Hehe. This thought from the story people also describes how I feel about Walmart-it makes me crazy.
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