Project peace started out okay today, but ended up a dismal failure. Homework trauma.
I guess we'll try again tomorrow.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Up late
The house is quiet, and I can't quite bring myself to go to bed. These peaceful moments are few and far between. I don't have a book to read right at the moment. I finished the first Fable Haven this morning and have to wait for my husband to finish the 2nd one before I can start it. It's very imaginative, and I recommend it to people who like fantasy books. Children's literature that an adult can also enjoy.
You know what I wish for? Peace. Peace among my children. Internal peace even amid the pressures of work, etc. I accompanied my friend kristen as she sang in church today, and the words of the hymn really spoke to me.
Be still my soul
The Lord is on thy side
With patience bear, thy cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God to order and provide
In every change, he faithful will remain
Be still my soul, thy best, thy heavenly friend
Thru thorny ways, leads to a joyful end
Be still my soul, Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake
All now mysterious, shall be bright at last
Be still my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
The melody to this hymn is absolutely gorgeous, as are the harmonies, and so I think that most of the time when I sing or hear this hymn, I pay more attention to the music, but today I was really listening to the words. The poetry is lovely, but beyond that, isn't it comforting to think of the Lord as close by to "order and provide?" That he is nearby to "guide the future as he has the past." I wish I had thought more about this last week as I was agonizing over the school decision. I think sometimes I take things a little toooo seriously, when I should employ more trust.
I have a plan for trying to bring more peace into our home. First, I'm going to pray for it daily, and ask for this to be included in family prayers as well. I'm going to talk this all over with Trevor, too, and ask him to help me with this goal. Second, I"m going to search the scriptures for references to peace. Third, I'm going to consciously try to compliment everyone in my family at least twice a day. 4th, I'm going to handle discipline items more quickly and calmly before the explosions surface. 5th, We can center family home evening discussions on respect, love, and obedience within our family. 6th--when problems have already occurred, I want to help the kids learn remorse and repentance, sincerely. I'll be praying over exactly how to do this--besides obviously by example. I'm hoping that these efforts will help to change feelings and that we can all learn how to peacefully resolve conflicts and work through frustrations. The sibling rivalry has been really heavy lately. And everyone has been feeling stressed out, including the kids.
Be still my soul
The Lord is on thy side
l
You know what I wish for? Peace. Peace among my children. Internal peace even amid the pressures of work, etc. I accompanied my friend kristen as she sang in church today, and the words of the hymn really spoke to me.
Be still my soul
The Lord is on thy side
With patience bear, thy cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God to order and provide
In every change, he faithful will remain
Be still my soul, thy best, thy heavenly friend
Thru thorny ways, leads to a joyful end
Be still my soul, Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake
All now mysterious, shall be bright at last
Be still my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
The melody to this hymn is absolutely gorgeous, as are the harmonies, and so I think that most of the time when I sing or hear this hymn, I pay more attention to the music, but today I was really listening to the words. The poetry is lovely, but beyond that, isn't it comforting to think of the Lord as close by to "order and provide?" That he is nearby to "guide the future as he has the past." I wish I had thought more about this last week as I was agonizing over the school decision. I think sometimes I take things a little toooo seriously, when I should employ more trust.
I have a plan for trying to bring more peace into our home. First, I'm going to pray for it daily, and ask for this to be included in family prayers as well. I'm going to talk this all over with Trevor, too, and ask him to help me with this goal. Second, I"m going to search the scriptures for references to peace. Third, I'm going to consciously try to compliment everyone in my family at least twice a day. 4th, I'm going to handle discipline items more quickly and calmly before the explosions surface. 5th, We can center family home evening discussions on respect, love, and obedience within our family. 6th--when problems have already occurred, I want to help the kids learn remorse and repentance, sincerely. I'll be praying over exactly how to do this--besides obviously by example. I'm hoping that these efforts will help to change feelings and that we can all learn how to peacefully resolve conflicts and work through frustrations. The sibling rivalry has been really heavy lately. And everyone has been feeling stressed out, including the kids.
Be still my soul
The Lord is on thy side
l
Friday, August 24, 2007
finally a blog entry
Haven't updated blog in ages because of the complete chaos in our lives. This summer has been sooooooo stressful, but we're getting through it. Trevor is finishing the last of the school instruments this week and then he will be able to catch up a bit. I shouldn't have to work as many hours in the shop after this week, and will try to catch up on the accounting. Trevor has averaged 70 hour work weeks, and I've worked 20-30 hours each week as well, relying on grandparents, Emily, and friends to help with the kids. I don't know how full-time working parents keep up?! I'm really looking forward to a more normal family life. I'll probably take some students this fall, but am hoping to not take toooooo many because I want to be able to help my own kids after school. It's a lot of work to keep up with 3 kids' homework, practicing, etc.
3 kids in school! Sam started school this week and is so excited about it. He loves it so much, and asks me several times each morning if it is time to go to school yet. We did enroll all 3 kids at the charter school--there has been some drama about that decision, but I'm way too tired to write about it. Sam comes home and gets right to his homework, and has told me several times that he is "smart," and his teacher likes him. I have a few concerns about this school for him, but so far he seems really happy. Max is struggling the most. It was like this for the first month or so in Missouri, too, but then he seemed to settle in. I think he'll be fine after a little more time. Emily has started to mention a few kids by name, so i hope she's starting to make a few friends. I personally am feeling bad because the start of school is usually such a big event, especially the first day of a kindergartener, and I feel like it has really taken a back seat to the stress of the business. I hope they can forgive me for not being fully "mom" at an important time.
We did settle in on a house. It is right down the street from tutu and Papasan's house, and less than a mile from my Dad's place. 4 bedrooms, office, large family room, 3 bathrooms, enclosed yard, laundry room. Reasonable rent. So it should be a nice place for awhile.
Sam celebrated his 6th birthday on Monday. He was so excited to be 6 at last! He asked me if he would be 6 tomorrow, too. I took him out to Mcdonald's for lunch, and we had a family party with grandparents in the evening. He felt special, and it was fun. We're having cake and ice cream with some of his friends at the park this afternoon to finish the celebration. That was as much of a birthday party as I could come up with right now.
Well, the house is a mess, the kids need attention, and there is more work awaiting me than I have time to do, so I better get going.
Maybe one of these days I'll have time to post a few pictures.
But probably not until after we move next Saturday.
3 kids in school! Sam started school this week and is so excited about it. He loves it so much, and asks me several times each morning if it is time to go to school yet. We did enroll all 3 kids at the charter school--there has been some drama about that decision, but I'm way too tired to write about it. Sam comes home and gets right to his homework, and has told me several times that he is "smart," and his teacher likes him. I have a few concerns about this school for him, but so far he seems really happy. Max is struggling the most. It was like this for the first month or so in Missouri, too, but then he seemed to settle in. I think he'll be fine after a little more time. Emily has started to mention a few kids by name, so i hope she's starting to make a few friends. I personally am feeling bad because the start of school is usually such a big event, especially the first day of a kindergartener, and I feel like it has really taken a back seat to the stress of the business. I hope they can forgive me for not being fully "mom" at an important time.
We did settle in on a house. It is right down the street from tutu and Papasan's house, and less than a mile from my Dad's place. 4 bedrooms, office, large family room, 3 bathrooms, enclosed yard, laundry room. Reasonable rent. So it should be a nice place for awhile.
Sam celebrated his 6th birthday on Monday. He was so excited to be 6 at last! He asked me if he would be 6 tomorrow, too. I took him out to Mcdonald's for lunch, and we had a family party with grandparents in the evening. He felt special, and it was fun. We're having cake and ice cream with some of his friends at the park this afternoon to finish the celebration. That was as much of a birthday party as I could come up with right now.
Well, the house is a mess, the kids need attention, and there is more work awaiting me than I have time to do, so I better get going.
Maybe one of these days I'll have time to post a few pictures.
But probably not until after we move next Saturday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
