Three on Thursday: Hostess Gifts!

Happy Thursday! Some thoughtful traditions and gestures seem to slip through the cracks as time goes on, so lets talk hostess gifts today! Up until a couple of years ago, I have to admit, I was NOT always the best at remembering to bring a little something to a holiday get-together. Here are some of my favorite simple (read: cheap) things to give and receive as the holiday party season comes into full swing!

Family Gathering!

My mother in law bought me two sets of these gorgeous Queen's China Thanksgiving mugs last year and I couldn't have loved them more! As a matter of fact, I'm drinking some chamomile tea out of one right now! Everybody drinks SOMETHING, so you can never go wrong with a mug! I usually tuck in a single serve pouch of cocoa, or a small bag of coffee, also. The best part of a mug gift is that, when you really know someone like you know your own family, it's not difficult to find the PERFECT mug for their personality!

Girls Night In This is my #1 go to gift for girls nights, birthdays, etc, and I think it would be the PERFECT hostess gift for your holiday events! Xo, G wine is a tube of four individual glasses of wine. It's packaged to gift on it's own, and...bonus - it's inexpensive, and available at Walmart! 

Neighborhood Gatherings Neighbors are like extended family around here, and I LOVE them all. The problem? There are a lot of them, and we all like to get together now and again, which means that hostess gifts could add up FAST. You just can't go wrong with some baked goods! I love this recipe, because cranberries are appropriate for the entire Thanksgiving and Christmas season, AND this recipe can be baked in small loaf pans, popped in the freezer, and gift-giving ready as the need arises! There just isn't anything better than a made-from-scratch gift, is there? 

What is your go-to hostess gift? See you on Monday!

Three on Thursday: Life Verses

So I've heard so much talk about "life verses" lately that I thought I would share a few of mine. The thing that bothers me about this whole idea, however, is that as long as God is my LIFE, then all of the verses should be my life verses, right? But for fun, here are the three verses I tend to reference more than others, and a little bit about why I love them - my "This-Season-in-My-Life Verses", if you will. These are not the verses I turn to when I need direction in parenting or when I feel I have missed the mark. These are the verses that feed my soul when the weight of motherhood seems to much to bear, the verses I privately repeat to myself before I fall deep into believing that "I" should fix something. These verses are written on my heart right now, in this chaotic, beautiful, self-denying season that is motherhood:

1. Ecclesiastes 8:15
This is by far my go-to verse for this season. I read through Ecclesiastes last summer and it about had me clapping in my kitchen a few times. This verse means so much to me. It means that when I feel like I'm not doing enough, or that I'm not challenged enough, or when homeschooling is TOO MUCH, or when the sight of yet another load of dishes or laundry has me feeling unseen or lonely...well, this is the one I repeat to myself.

2. Psalm 143:8
I love all of Psalm 143, but this verse in particular reminds me of the refreshing love that God is. Like a beautiful sunrise, His love is consistent and unfailing and I can trust in Him to be there with each bad-mommy moment, each day that I am "too busy", and each new morning, now and forever. My typical "quiet time" is right before the sun rises, and because of that, I usually catch the sun rise while I'm thinking or praying over what I've read. My house is still quiet, my kids are asleep, and it's just me and God. I've always felt like the sunrise is a special little moment between God and I, and so this verse holds a deep meaning.

3. 1 John 3:1
I have always identified with this verse, and love the power it holds to remind me of who I am - a child of God. However, now with children of my own, I understand the first part of this verse, and how DEEP a love it truly is. This verse is one my heart sings in the GOOD moments. When I see my kids across the room and I am beaming with joy, I remind myself that I have that love because I am filled with the one who loved ME that way first.

What verses do you find yourself turning to most often? If you have questions or need a listening ear, please contact me through the sidebar.

See ya Monday :)

Three on Thursday: Chores (and Printable Rewards)

Chores, yeah, they SHOULD be helpful, but sometimes they're just MORE work for me! I would honestly prefer to just do it all myself rather than spend twice the time supervising the efforts of young children, but you know what? That would get us all nowhere fast! I have, over time, probably used every last chore system available. Until our current system, nothing has really ever worked out. Here are three little tidbits I've picked up along the way!

1. Choose Rewards Wisely

I could reward my six and four year olds with money, but then they would only end up with "stuff". I could reward them with treats, but then they would learn that food is a reward, which goes against everything I believe in! So what works out for us? Privileges! In the video at the bottom, you will see a clear privilege system, which my kids REALLY enjoy working towards - iPad time, bringing a toy to the school table, skipping a chore, etc. All rewards cost me no money, time, or effort, and are things that they would not otherwise get to enjoy M-F.

2. Consistency and Feedback are Key

It took about three weeks this summer before I really saw our chore system working, but the moment I realized that I was actually receiving HELP (instead of having to put forth more effort) was one of the best moments of my mommy life! It takes about two times longer (three if the toddler decides to "help") to complete a simple task when I'm training a child to do so than if I were to just do it myself. Thinking like this has gotten me nowhere besides burnt out with a clean floor. At the end of the summer I really buckled down and devoted the hour after dinner (my husband works late so I had the free time) to come alongside my kiddos and help them with their chores. Just having them tear a paper towel off of the roll without causing more mess was making my brain turn in circles, but I kept it positive, upbeat, and thanked them for their efforts. Within a few weeks, it finally dawned on me that, not only could they spray and wipe down the dinner table, but they were doing it without prompting, complaining, or leaving a second mess behind. Can I get an amen?! You know what this helped me understand? Kids love the feedback and rewards, but mostly, kids just love to play a part, be a helpful buddy, and feel like grown ups!

3. What's Really Helpful?

We call our chores "contributions", because we really want our kids to understand that they're not doing something to help mommy, they're doing something to help out the whole family. Of course, they have their traditional "make your bed, brush your teeth" type of chores, but in the afternoons, their contributions can range anywhere from "gather trash around the house" to "put away any shoes you see". Notice that wasn't "gather YOUR trash" or "pick up YOUR shoes", but rather a task to complete for the benefit of the entire household. That being said, what is REALLY helpful and necessary? Is it necessary in your home that the bathrooms be cleaned every day? Is it beneficial for the windows to be wiped on a daily basis? Most chores in our home aren't needed every single day, with the exception of the "pet" chores. If I were to assign each kid a standing list of chores, some things would be completed repetitively for no reason. Therefore, we rotate. I have a basket of about 25 different tasks (put away silverware, vacuum under beds, put away shoes, etc.) and the kids pull about 3-4 each morning to complete. I do the toddler's chores, but he tags along with me, and helps where he can, and my kids each have their chores physically clipped to them (see video). Because there are 3 kids doing 3-4 chores each every day, we complete 9-12 chores per day, which means that we rotate through our chore list about every 2-3 days, meaning that nothing really slips through the cracks, and nobody wasted their time repeating something that was just done the day prior.




Here's a free copy of our blue ribbon points, just right click and choose "print"!

So chime in - what do chores look like in your home? I am always looking for advice in this area!

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Three on Thursday: Snacks

We're big on snacks around here, and with school starting for us this upcoming week, I though a snacks post would be appropriate! Here's what we do to keep our kids on a healthy track with homeschooling and snack access:

1. Fruit and Veggies - this is obvious, right? I pre-portion fruits and veggies and do not limit their intake. They know that at any given moment they may take a banana or a bag of carrots and I won't say no. This has never caused us issue, and they always eat their dinner. It's a major bonus that my kids like bell peppers and raw veggies, but the extra fruit sugar has never caused any tummy upsets.

2. Kids snack jar - in the summer I barely regulated the kids jar. They know the rules, one (maybe two) per day. Once school is in swing, I allow them to grab a mid morning snack from the jar and I don't tell them what they can have. Generally the snacks aren't "bad" (bags of pretzels, popcorn, etc.) but every now and then I'll throw some (non food dye) fruit snacks or bags of sweets in the jar and they're happy campers. If I limit them, they'll only want it more, and once a day seems just fine.

3. Adult/kids granola bars - I have two granola bar jars - one for them, one for us. The difference? Cost! My husband and I really like granola bars that aren't necessarily the cheapest! It bothers me when they grab one and throw it away half eaten. I fill their jar with Z Bars and Annie's granola and they're either going to finish it, or let a sibling finish it. Granola bars are their pre-breakfast (if I'm having a lazy morning) or a bedtime snack. They could eat one every day if I let them and never complain!

What do you do in your home when it comes to snacking? It's taken us awhile to get into a good swing here. Personally, I could snack all day every day, and they're just the same!

In case you missed it, check out the new fall posting schedule HERE

Three on Thursday: Family Friendly Re-Runs

I love a mid-afternoon TV show, but with my kids home ALL day, it's hard to watch most anything with them within ear shot. Here are my favorite shows to watch with or around them.

1. Full House - It doesn't get any more family friendly than this. My kids LOVE this show as much as I did at their age.

2. Reba - I am forever and always a "Reba" fan. My mom and I used to talk about it all week long while we waited for a new episode! I'm pretty sure this was the first "grown up" show I watched with her. We were both also devastated when it ended! I own all of the DVDs and know almost every line. I'll never forget my daughter at two years old talking about Barbara Jean like she was a real person in our lives! My sister and I always die laughing when we discuss the characters resembling our personalities perfectly, and let me just say, I cannot fully celebrate a holiday until I have watched the coordinating "Reba" episode! Haha

3. Jon and Kate Plus 8 - My kids LOVE this show! I love that as we watch old episodes, they're paying attention to the kids, and I'm paying attention to the adults. It's a win-win!

One more day until the weekend!!!

Three on Thursday: Nutrition

I could ramble on about this for days, but it is SO important to us that we pay attention to what we're putting in our bodies. We have educated ourselves to the point of tears over what's in our food, and once you know, there's just NO turning back. A few years ago I was struggling with some inflammation in my joints, and it took months to figure out the root of the problem. When my doctor got test results back, he told me that rather than putting me on medication in my 20's, I should try to eat as clean of a diet as I could manage, and see if that helps. Um...has it EVER! That started us on a track of no return, and we are almost thankful for the "problem" I have as it has encouraged us along a healthier path. Here are three things I have learned along the way:

1. Diet vs. Lifestyle - I am not going to sit here and tell you EXACTLY what or how to eat. That is a personal preference. Everyone has an idea of what works and doesn't work for their family. Allergies, tastes, and region affect all of that. Subsequently, we don't diet, we eat "clean" in our home. We followed the "100 Days of Real Food" plan starting in 2011 about two and a half times over until we felt prepared to lead the lifestyle on our own. Do we eat fat, sugar, and carbs? You bet. But we use whole and unprocessed ingredients (Except for boxed mix brownies. I am a sucker for those babies.) and make 99% (yes, honestly) of our food in our home as "whole" as we can. Need flour? Mill wheat. Need cool whip? Grab the whipping cream. It has taken us years and years and years to get comfortable making these changes and it doesn't all happen at once, but it is all about the end goal: make this about a lifestyle and not a quick diet stint. Do I have a dieters body? No, but that is irrelevant to how my body functions. See, I may not be model material, but I know when I run and feel good, or when I make it through that 3 o'clock slump without feeling tired, or when I can keep up with my kids' energy levels, that my body is functioning at it's best, not because I restricted food and replaced real ingredients with artificial ones, but because I am living a lifestyle that promotes fueling my body with the most natural form of energy that God has made available to us, and that is something that we can keep up with for the rest of our lives. No supplements required. 

2. Plan, Budget, and Prioritize - When you're smart about nutrition, it's not hard to fit your needs into a good solid budget. I was spending about $250 a week on groceries before I had a sit down with my husband and said "this isn't good". We figured out our priorities, planned our meals out ahead, and worked on a realistic goal, and now I spend on average $175/week, or at least that's the goal. We work with "goals" rather than strict budgets because in general, we just wont know what's in season or available until we get somewhere. Our local grocery store does a great job at stocking organic produce, but as of late, SAMs Club has been doing a great job, too. So if I were to say I only have $50 to spend on fresh produce just to find out I could spend $80 at SAMs in bulk AND have more to freeze for next week, then the short term budget would have ruined a long term benefit. I hope that is making sense. In any budgeting situation, it is always best to set priorities. We will not compromise on meat or dairy products. From there, it is our second priority to only eat clean produce, but if budget doesn't allow, then we focus on avoiding the dirty dozen, and choosing the clean fifteen. Our last area of concern is processed foods from the aisles. We don't stress about buying organic in those areas, because in general, it's all terrible for you (because organic or not, your body doesn't recognize processed dead food) so we avoid making purchases in that area in the first place. Each family is different, and priorities are different. Maybe your family is all about wheat alternatives (which can be expensive) and therefore it is a top priority, and dairy alternatives aren't. Maybe you have access to farm fresh meat, so buying it at the grocery store isn't as risky or difficult as finding real honey in your area. It's all about what works for YOUR family and YOUR future. Paleo, gluten free, high protein, low carb, non-GMO, whole foods, dairy free, clean, unprocessed, low glycemic, there are as many different lifestyles (notice I didn't include any "diets") as there are people on this planet, so do what works for YOU and make that your starting point.

3. Treat Yourself - This should be my #1 this week. Do not restrict yourself to the point of giving up. You need to be able to eat out here and there and miss cooking a meal, or be willing to accept a treat from a friend. As long as you are making the right choices at home, there's really no reason to say "no" to a warm slice of pie at a friend's house, because you don't have access to it every single day. However if your workplace cafeteria offers you pie every day...then maybe you should say "no" haha! What I'm saying is this: lifestyle, lifestyle, lifestyle. Don't live your life feeling like you are missing out on a good time because you "shouldn't" eat something. So long as the majority of your home life is about good nutritional choices, a once a month plate of nachos on a date (I'm speaking to myself here, haha) won't kill you. My weaknesses come in liquid form... coffee creamer, sweet tea, and soda! I KNOW it's not real. None of it. But I just don't like these treats in "real" form. So I''ll avoid a bowl of ice cream with my kids at night knowing that I will have a nice creamy coffee when I wake up in the morning. Or if we're out, I'll drink water at dinner and get a sweet tea or soda in my to-go cup (if I've paid, of course) as we leave as a little sweet treat. I could stare at a three layer cake on my counter for DAYS without being tempted, but put a soda or coffee mate in my fridge, and I never win! But it's balance and self control that makes everything doable, including a life-long good relationship with food. It took me awhile to recognize that coffee creamer was truly a treat and not a given, so now that I view it as my "treat for the day" it is much easier to skip a muffin later, knowing that I've already had my daily fill of "junk". In the same light, if I know that I am going out to dinner that night, I'll have some good 'ol fashioned almond milk in my coffee so that I can grab myself a soda pop that evening. And you know what? There ain't no guilt in sight :)

Three on Thursday: Fitness

This week is all about fitness, next week I will address nutrition. I would LOVE for you to share ideas in the comments. This may be the longest Three on Thursday I ever post, as even though I am no bodybuilder (by a longshot) I will always always be a huge lover of a healthy and fit lifestyle. 

Before I begin, let me start by saying that a great foundation to a lifetime of healthy habits begins with parents who value and create a "fit" environment. We each have the opportunity to instill healthy habits in our children just by showing them what a healthy lifestyle looks like.

When I was nine years old, I caught the athletic bug. I wasn't necessarily ever "good" at soccer or gymnastics, but enjoyed sports nonetheless. But it was through watching my father's passion for marathon training that really got me. One evening, he was headed out on a run, and I told my mom and dad that I would like to run with him. They assumed I meant that I would like to run sometime in the future. I meant I wanted to run at that very moment. Not understanding why my dad didn't wait for me before starting a run, I threw on a pair of denim cutoffs and chased him through the Florida Redlands until I caught up with him a few blocks later. I may have slowed him down twofold, but he patiently waited with me and we ran three miles together. That run started it all for me. A passion for running carried me through middle and high school, until I eventually traded running with my dad for  running with my high school teams - eventually earning 7 varsity letters at a school I didn't even attend, and competing at a state level twice. Now I squeeze in a run between nursing a toddler and homeschooling two others, but it has motivated me to keep on truckin no matter what the setting or speed. And most importantly, I still run with my dad!

I usually work out Monday thru Friday, if I miss a day I MAY do a weekend workout, but it's not likely. More than anything, I resolve to keep on keeping on next week, and I don't sweat it. A healthy lifestyle has to first and foremost be that - a LIFESTYLE. Getting worked up or worried about what you cannot change (such as missing a workout) will get you nowhere but disappointed, fast! Creating a healthy lifestyle is all about moving forward and looking for opportunities that will fit your life and will continue to fit as you and your situation changes.

All that being said, I don't always have time to run, but since fitness has been a part of my life practically from the start, I work it in five days a week in different forms. Here are my three favorite ways to keep fitness a priority in the trenches of motherhood...

1. Gym - do I need to say more? Childcare, TVs, classes, and free coffee? I fall asleep dreaming about my next gym day! My favorite way to beat the boring gym blues is to constantly change my cardio machine. I will do 15 minutes on one machine, 10 on another, and 5 on another just to meet thirty minutes without feeling like a hamster on a wheel.

2. Outside - Obviously based on my story above, I love love love to run, whether it's trail running, running my neighborhood streets, or chasing behind training wheels, I grab whatever chance I can take to run. Other than that, the best way to get a workout in is to not even consider something a workout. For example, my kids love the beach. I use beach time to run, play, dig, and move. That's a workout. Kids like to swim? Tread water, baby! Enjoy a scenic bike ride with the little guys, go on a nature walk, walk to the corner store. It all counts!

3. Inside - sometimes the weather just doesn't cooperate and there aren't any local affodable gyms. What's a mama to do? Youtube! I personally love anything Jillian Michaels (and I do her six week six pack video at LEAST once a week) or Denise Austin, but just a general "kickboxing" search can yield thousands of results, and you can work out with youtube every day for a year without repeating the same workout. I also like to throw on a homeschool vlog or Francis Chan sermon around 30 minutes long and just work out in place, changing my workout every thirty seconds (spider push ups, then burpees, then kicks, then crunches, and on and on...). It never gets boring with a show or a workout DVD!

I am not expert, so don't begin anything without first consulting a professional. I would love to hear what your routines look like! See you next week for Three on Thursday: Nutrition!

Three on Thursday: Rising Early

I am, by nature, an early riser. I am not, by MOTHERHOOD, an early riser. Pre-kids I loved a 5am alarm, hitting the road running (literally) and catching the daybreak with a workout already under my belt. Unfortunately, once I had two kids, I slept until the baby alarm woke me up, stumbled around for what seemed like an hour before I was ready to even say a word, and always sort of started my day on a rough note. In January 2013 I decided that enough was enough, and I was going to start waking up with my husband, which is 4am. I was tired of waking up after he was gone, tired of not seeing him until 9 at night, and tired of being super tired in general. I will go ahead and claim that this was the best decision in my mom life, so here's what I have to share about rising early:

 1. Time Management - I used to wait until the kids went to bed to start chores, which would turn into watching a show while I folded laundry, which would turn into either forgetting about laundry and binge watching a show, OR falling asleep on the couch, which just isn't a good habit. I also struggle with the thought of a "run on day" - aka, the cycle of waking up and heading to bed with my kids, which leaves NO time to clear my mind between "shifts". Now, when I wake up at 4, I only have about two or two and a half hours before the kids get up. That is plenty of time to catch up on housework, OR time enough to "veg out" on tv, blogs, or reading, but with the knowledge that it has to eventually stop so the day can start in comparison to limitless hours in the evening.

2. Health - I have always been a big advocate of a balanced lifestyle and exercise. From the moment I stepped foot on a running trail with my dad at nine years old, I was never the same (more on that next Thursday!). Motherhood has the potential to completely rob me of that "part" of my life. There just aren't enough hours in the day to homeschool, clean, cook, manage, AND go on a run. Waking up early to run, hit the gym, or do a workout DVD not only helps me maintain energy levels comparable to my kids', but also keeps me from being too exhausted at the end of the night. I also believe that a morning workout is more likely to keep me eating clean as to not "ruin" the work I put in that morning. Plus, there is just NO better feeling than a workout, shower, and fresh start to the day.

3. Beauty of the Morning - There is something so incredibly beautiful about watching the day begin. I can't tell you how many mornings I have watched the birds in my back yard chirp and wake up the rest of the little creatures. To witness God "waking up creation" is something that NEVER grows old, and we all have the opportunity to catch that out of our own windows. There is a quiet peaceful tone to everything around me. My kids sleeping peacefully, my dog finally resting after a night of standing guard, the smell of fresh coffee, the sweet sound of birds, and the hustle and bustle of neighbor's cars coming and going as they, too, prepare to start a new day. The morning light breaking in the sky always feels like a personal "God kiss" no matter where I am as I witness it, and it is generally the time I choose to sit and read or pray before my day's responsibility begins. I am truly SAD when I sleep past daybreak, knowing that I won't get to see it again for another 24 hours. Rather than waking up in a rush as my kids demand breakfast, I much prefer to feel peaceful and ready for them to rise after having spent time admiring creation with Jesus. 

And lets be honest, sometimes...I just wake up for the coffee...

Three on Thursday: Why We Homeschool

I am in the thick of homeschool planning for next year, so it's time for this year's "Why We Homeschool" post. Before I begin, let me say that I believe every family is called to make their own "right" decision. I greatly enjoyed my time in the public school system and agree that it was right for me. I believe in and enjoy watching my nephew in a wonderful private school. We believe God has provided us the opportunity to homeschool. There is no single right choice.

Most homeschooler's have a school "name", how they identify their home education program if they're not under an umbrella school. Two years ago my husband and I settled on the name "Foundation Christian Academy", focusing on three "Foundations". In order, our homeschool priorities are to teach:

1. Foundation in Christ - Ultimately, whether my kiddos grow up to be veterinarians, teachers, stay-at-home parents, or wanderers, the ONLY prayer we have is that they know WHO they are in Christ, that they love their Jesus, and that they walk with Him as their life. That is one hundred percent NUMBER ONE in our homeschool plan. If we don't so much as open a math book because we are focusing together on working through a struggle, then so be it. We were created to be loved and to love and to experience life with Christ. That is what we pray our kids will take away as their foundation.
   
   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
   Ephesians 1:3-10
   
    According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
   1 Corinthians 3:10-11
   
   The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
   John 10:10
   
   I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me and gave himself for me.
   Galatians 2:20
2. Focus on Foundation of Country - My husband and I strongly believe in the passion our founding fathers had. We believe in raising patriots in a nation that is quickly losing the motivation to do so. We believe in educating our children on the greatness of our nation. We believe in teaching that we are one nation under God. 
   
   
   "...that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government."
   -From the Declaration of Independence (seriously consider THAT level of passion)
   
   
   Every child in America should be acquainted with his own country. He should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice. As soon as he opens his lips, he should rehearse the history of his own country.
   -Noah Webster, On the Education of Youth in America, 1788
   
   To sit back hoping that someday, some way, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last -- but eat you he will.-Ronald Reagan 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   
3. Foundation of lifelong learning - When we really sit and think about all of life's curveballs that have gotten us to where we are today, we find that most often it is the ability to accept and learn from life's lessons that keeps us going. I want my kids to know HOW to learn. I don't know, in this moment, if they will ever need to know botany. I wont know 5 years from now for whom calculus or trigonometry will be most useful. I could spend hours each day teaching a child about the English language only to turn around and find that child living in South America, never needing to speak English again. But what I DO know now is that every day of their lives, information will be useful. The attitude and ability to accept the need for new information and the desire to grow in knowledge and wisdom day by day is what we create for our children as educators. Do our children need to know how to label the parts of a butterfly? Maybe not. But they are learning to ask questions, seek answers, search for the "more" that is all around them. THAT is what they will need every day of their lives starting the moment they realize they don't always have to do something because Mom and Dad said so. The goal of our homeschool is not to train our children to be "educated" to the same level as their peers in a variety of subjects, but rather to learn how to learn so that they can excel in whatever it is that God calls them to, whether they discover what that is at 18 or 38. 

 "Why we homeschool" archives:

2013

2012

Three on Thursday: Date Night!

I LOVE date night! It's the one night a week that I get to be "just" a wife. We were advised early on in our marriage to set a standard date night, and I will forever be thankful to the couple who made sure to see it through. Here's my Three on Thursday: Date Night edition

1. Budget (time AND money) - this is the #1 question or response I get in regards to a weekly date night. Sitters run about ten an hour around here, and so it can quickly add up. We budget dates in as if it were a bill, because lets face it...if you don't pay the electric bill, you don't have power. If you don't pay the water bill, you don't have water. If you don't pay the date night bill...all hell breaks loose :) Dates don't have to be a $200 deal. We generally spend about three hours out, go to our favorite little hole in the wall for dinner and music, and come home feeling refreshed having paid less than $75. There are some nights that we book a sitter for TWO hours, get ice cream, and come in under $30. Thirty dollars is about the cost of the average family drive-through lunch. We never let a sitter leave without having our next date planned. Securing a sitter before the following date night helps us stay accountable (since we now owe someone money and have reserved their time) and intentional (so we don't assume we will "get around" to planning a date later). We happen to have a weeknight that works for us every week, although in years past, my husband's job was less predictable, so it always helped to have the next date planned. It is also way less upsetting to come home when you have the next week's date to look forward to. Sometimes even WITH preparation, we end up with sick kids or a cancelled sitter. On those nights we use our time and budget to order in and rent a movie - something that we wouldn't normally pay for, but was planned ahead for, so is more likely to happen. Kids go to bed, we drink some coffee (because falling asleep on a couch is our weakness) and we stick with the plan to be intentional and spend time together.
   
   
2. Stay in your comfort zone - There is just nothing worse than being uncomfortable. My husband and I realized ages ago that we just aren't fine dining people. Don't get me wrong, we LOVE a good dinner, understand food quality, and enjoy being dressed up on occasion, but a fine dining atmosphere just doesn't bring out the best in us. However, bring out a plate of nachos and a Kentucky basketball game, and now you're talking! Understand where you're comfortable as a couple. Realize that date nights aren't for impressive Facebook posts or coffee talk with girlfriends but rather for the health of your marriage. Plan ahead where you will be and what you will do. ENJOY yourselves. Relax. Have fun. Let your brain go, and remember who you are as a couple and why you are a couple. Just because Susan went to Fancy McGee's for dinner and Jane went to a Broadway show doesn't mean that you can't have just as good a time driving around with to-go chicken wings and rocking out to 90's country radio (haha that's totally my husband and my favorite thing).
   
   
3. Not a business meeting - The worst thing we've ever done on a date is waste our time talking shop. One day we decided that there would be NO house, kids, money, or calendar talk on our dates. These dates are our only few uninterruped hours for the entire WEEK. That's 3 out of 168 hours we have alone. There is plenty other time to figure out what to pay who, but not enough time to just be alone with your spouse and remember who you are without responsibilities. If you don't forget about the "business" for a little while and have a "oh yeah this is who I am sans kids" time, then you'll hit that classic "we're two different people" wall. Not that dates should be made out of fear, but rather, out of the realization that time together is the only way to prevent complacency and becoming calloused. If I didn't take a few hours each week to stop the mom train and meet my husband, I could easily become so consumed by personal goals or needs that it could be months before I realize the need for a heart to heart with my best friend. We live in such a distracted day in age, that unless you set aside a time for romance, life becomes too consuming. 

See you tomorrow - it'll be a good one :)