Muvver's Day

Had a nice "Muvver's Day" yesterday as it was called by the younger ones around here.....I felt honored in many ways. It is truly a privilege to be a mom - I think I realize that more with each passing year. Too bad sometimes I think young mom's are so wrapped up in the daily aspect of things they cannot enjoy the younger years of their kids' lives fully until they have passed. I think I WAS one of those young moms - but have crossed into the "older mom" category. Not all bad I am figuring out, as wisdom is helpful.

These four beauties pictured below are a blessing and without them where would I be? I pray that women all over felt honored yesterday. Mother's Day has an effect on many women - I hope those longing with their hearts to be moms were encouraged and not overlooked, those who have heroically placed their children into the arms of other parents to raise were recognized and not forgotten. I pray that daughters committed themselves to appreciate their moms more and spend more time with their grandmothers. And hopefully, those who are mother's currently in the trenches were inspired to dig even deeper and benefit from the windfall of mothering....

My treasures:

joy

I don't know how else to describe it: friendships that are just comfortable and natural = joy. Transparency, honesty, time, and care is required.....but it is worth it! We are blessed to have many friendships like this - but it is always a bonus when it is family. My cousin Duane and his family of five have been visiting from Colorado the last few days and we have so thoroughly enjoyed it. Our children just click - regardless of the fact that sometimes a year or more goes by without seeing each other. We have done lots of eating and playing!

Yesterday we hiked at Papago Park with the intention of getting really hot and then heading over to the Tempe Town Lake Splash park to cool off. Unfortunately I misread the website and didn't realize it wasn't open until this weekend......so the kids were disappointed when we arrived and saw maintenance men in the splash area instead of other children and water!

We were determined however to think of some sort of alternative - so the kids brainstormed and decided to run through the sprinkler and play shaving cream baseball.......I had no idea what shaving cream baseball was - but Madison and Ryan did and told me all we needed was trash bags, duct tape, and dollar store shaving cream. I can do that.

The kids made a "slip n slide" with the bags for the slide into home......and they all worked together on it....set it up and the rest is history. Sorry there are so many pictures - just couldn't narrow it down!

Assembly

Applying the shaving cream

Studying the shaving cream

Totally

Fun!

Blissful Boy

I love how the kids just play forever - working together and making lego creations, or playing board games, or sitting and eating popsicles and chatting.....

It is a big effort for their family to make the two day drive here. But I think relationships are worth it - visits with Granny and other extended family - and encouragement of one another for the parents and kids. Priceless.

versatility

Versatility......I think it sounds much more grand and mature than flexibility - or adaptability. If one were to take a college course for it maybe it would be called "Versatility Studies 101". Is there a university that offers anything like that? Maybe mine did but since at the age of 18-21 I knew all there was to know I overlooked it. In actuality I think most of us are fairly compromising when we don't have a spouse or kids - whatever is good for ME goes. So maybe a college course on this topic wouldn't fly.

It seems to me however, there are a lot of character lessons I am learning in the latter part of life that really would have been easier to learn at a younger age. It has also become evident that one of the primary lessons learned in a homeschool is, in fact.....flexibility. I realize this lesson can be learned elsewhere - our homeschool is clearly the place I am learning the art of adaptability.

Those of us who have a high need to write everything down and know the plan are particularly susceptible to difficulty in this area. We are prime for a complete meltdown when the agenda needs to be altered.

Today was such a situation. I had this week all planned out - at least my target goals, you know. The only problem was......I didn't pencil in around 4 hours for taking the dog to 3 different vets - with all the kids in tow! I won't torture anyone with the story - it really isn't that interesting and in fact I didn't even throw a fit like normal!

Why? I am trying to practice joy in all circumstances you see.....testing 1,2,3. Wow, and guess what? Since I didn't have a cow, neither did the kids. They were unbelievably patient - almost impossibly. Thank goodness for McDonald's ice cream cones at the end of the long haul!

After returning home I could not seem to reel everyone in for school time.......therefore, plan B was put into motion. Today we studied flexibility.......Definition: ready and able to change so as to adapt to different circumstances. Suggested response: positive attitude - raised voices not recommended. Line of defense: Be ready to launch another plan.

There are other "arts" I'd rather study than that of versatility.....or having joy in unforseen circumstances.....but it is evident those were not on the syllabus today. That's ok.......God is still GOOD.....and I am still learning!

Dirty-dog delay

There are various issues which might cause a delay when one attends a public or private school away from the home, right? Maybe it is snow, rain, fog, power outage....these don't occur often here in Arizona. When one attends a homeschool however, there are an array of different situations which might arise that could delay school. We have experienced many...... laundry, dirty dishes, diapers, broken dishes, or discipline to name a few.

Today we experienced a delay I am not sure has transpired before......but there is a first for everything! We were all up early and had a great breakfast, did our chores, and assembled in the living room for our history reading. It was lovely - one of those mornings homeschooling people like to make you think happen every day...... when really it is only about once a month!

It was the normal routine.....older kids get their coloring books and pencils/crayons....Jonathan get settled with a quiet toy on the floor......Aslan decide where he is going to park himself in the middle of everything. Shortly after he positioned himself we all began to smell a nasty waft of air that was not pleasing to the nostrils! For several ... almost 20 minutes we tried to ignore it.....but then grasped the reality that we could no longer avoid this distraction. The teacher could not read nor could the students concentrate! School could not continue in the living room until the dog was bathed! Great guns, you've got to be kidding me!

So, the children were dismissed to work on other individual work while the dog received a quick shower.....luckily he accepts these baths contentedly. There you have it - a first maybe in all of homeschools - a "dirty-dog delay".

Aslan drying out in a lawn chair in the backyard......

On the road......and home again

We were on the road last week for a short trip to New Mexico and have returned rejuvenated and encouraged! We left at 6am in the morning and the desert was simply beautiful as we drove out of town......

Shortly after arriving in Albuquerque we went to visit cousin Archer and play at the park.......

Sweet boy

Archer and momma Sarah

Peek a boo!

Then we indulged in one of our favorite treats: Dion's pizza and salad......

The next three days the kids enjoyed playing with Grandma and Grandpa Miller and family while I worked at the IEW (Excellence in Writing) booth at the New Mexico Homeschool Convention and Merl attended talks and shopped for curriculum.......more on that another post.

It was a busy and quick trip - but great family time together enjoying the New Mexico weather, family, school planning, etc.

It's always a welcome sight as we pull into the last 30 minutes home......

Saying good-bye

Even when someone dies at 97 years old.....it is hard to say goodbye.....my Grandpa Spence, who passed away a few weeks ago would have been 98 on May 19, 2010! My Grandma Robison died at the age of 96 a little over one year ago, and her husband, my Grandpa Robison died just short of his 99th birthday a few months ago. Regardless of their advanced ages, their deaths seemed premature. Grandma and Grandpa Robison lived out of state, but up until about 10 years ago lived within visiting distance of me.

Grandpa Spence was a big part of our lives here in Arizona. He loved hearing about what the rest of us were doing - and always had something to add to the conversation. I am thankful that I visited with my grandparents as often as I did the past 40 years they have been a part of my life. Sometimes I would try and ask Grandpa about when he was younger and listen to his stories about life.

This past weekend as my family gathered to remember him I was wishing we had brought out the old pictures, journals, and writings by him BEFORE he'd died so I could converse with him about them. Too bad they were packed away in boxes instead of out where I would have been prompted to talk to him about them. How many times do we gather as families and talk about the weather, sports, or ourselves instead of asking about our heritage?

I am thankful for the way my extended family (and Merl's family for that matter) works to stay connected. It is A LOT of work and effort - and at times we even get irritated with one another. But it is worth it - our time here on this side of eternity is short. Relationships ARE worth it - and letting my own self-centeredness or absorption get in the way is a waste! Visiting with cousins and relatives, I realized it is worth it to make time for an extra email, phone call, or even road trip.

As I reflected on how much I miss Grandpa I felt at peace that I had done the best I could to love him. I may not have always talked as much as I could have to him, but I tried to connect with him. My family has always felt it is important to express our love to one another each time we talk. People might think it is silly, but I cannot remember ONE time in my whole life I have left my parents or grandparents house and they did not stand in the driveway and wave goodbye.

I recalled the last time I saw Grandpa before he died....... I was thankful that even though I had done it maybe one hundred times before......I walked him out to the car and gave him a kiss good-bye. We don't always know when it is the last......

Grandpa Spence as a youngster

Grandma and Grandpa Spence were married 73 years!

After both lost their first spouses, Grandma and Grandpa Robison were married and celebrated 59 years of marriage

soccer days

In March Madison and Ryan began their second soccer season......we have enjoyed a church soccer league that is right down the street for the past 4 or 5 years.....close by, good schedule, and easy to be with friends. This year we decided to work it so they would play on the same team. We did not enjoy running back and forth between games last time and thought it would be a good experience for them to be involved in an activity where they would work together with the opportunity to be an encouragement to one another.

Can I just say that I LOVE watching the kids play sports? LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! Doesn't matter that it is not track which is my first passion - doesn't matter if it is baseball, swimming, basketball, football, or soccer - I have delighted in them all! I am trying not to be too vocal on the sideline.....but I have to admit I feel better when I yell -(encouragement of course!). I would so enjoy competing with them! I am attempting to put my energy into taking good pictures and video......at least when I video I am motivated not to yell so I don't have to hear my annoying voice on the recording!

Madison we have discovered is quite the goal keeper!!!! She is is aggressive with coming to the front of the box and picking up the ball when she can - and then quick kicking it down the field - and boy can she kick! The first game after I told her how impressed I was with her kick she replied with a smile, "You can thank Ryan for that - all those days in the backyard he wanted me to punt the football to him so he could run it back - he had to teach me how to kick it."

Some kicking action - but her drop kick is the real impressive one.....

She saves it!

Madison still plays mid-field once in a while - but the coach has discovered that forward is the place for Ryan who is ALWAYS looking for a chance at the ball and an opportunity to dribble downfield for a score! So fun to watch his intensity.....

Here he is JUST before he scores his 1st of 2 goals in this game!

I have to acknowledge that the "non-competitiveness" of the league is testing my patience. This ambitious mom just loves the thrill of a faster paced game! And I don't feel any need to live out "unachieved" dreams of my own through the kids - I was blessed to be able to play college sports......I guess I am just fanatical about seeing our kids have fun, work hard, and compete. Love it......