jack thoughts.

jack: does everyone have kids?
me: no. isn't that sad?
jack: yes.
me: i love being a mommy!
jack: especially to me!

yep. that's right sweet boy!

happy wednesday.
alicia

you must be so patient.

gave up facebook a few months ago.
not planning on going back.
really been meaning to head back on over to the blog.
and seriously been stifled by the fact that too many wonderful things have happened.
unsure of where to start...just wanting to start back.
even if i am only talking to myself it really is therapy for me.
have missed it so.
thankful for so much right now.
the little things.
time
every
single
day
with my children
tops the list.
mornings with my husband.
time with friends.
great conversations.
good books.
no coffee. and then coffee. [this is a whole other post]
h.o.m.e.s.c.h.o.o.l.i.n.g....yes homeschooling.
we are in our 10th year.
yikes! 10 years!
the oh so selfish side of me would be fit as a fiddle.
meeting my friends at the local starbucks.
[so thankful that my friends bring the starbucks and caribou to me. wink. wink.]
but the side of me that God has so deeply immersed in His will
just
can't
imagine
even
one day
without
these monkeys.
yes, they drive me nuts.
yes, they are loud at times.
yes, yes, they are messy.
but they are my muses.
i love laughing with them.
crying with them.
hugging them.
kissing them.
talking about them.
living daily moments with them.
learning from them.
and it is all made possible by Him.
so yes, i will take the trials. the rough stuff.
and yes, sometimes my body will suffer.
and yes, i will not stay on track with our curriculum every day.
but when it is all said and done.
i answer to Him.
and He makes this a reality for me.
and for that i am so truly thankful.
funny thing.....after 10 years of doing this you'd think that the comments would have changed, but I still get
that.
comment.
the one that goes like this.
you
must
be
so
patient.
to which i have to giggle and under my breath am saying
are
you
serious?
i don't homeschool because i am patient.
i am learning to be patient BECAUSE of homeschooling.
and because i can not have a blog post without a picture.
here it is.

happy monday.
happy to be back.
alicia

jack and Jesus.

lately we've been talking about easter.
he is familiar with a video on you tube with derwin gray (ex-pro football player turned pastor in charlotte).
where derwin says something like....it's not funny, because it's not about the bunny! it's about Jesus!
(fast forward to our conversation today)
me: what did you learn at church last week?
jack: i remember my bible verse.
me: what is it?
jack: i am with you always.
me: who is with you always?
jack: Jesus....and who wants to be my friend forever? (miss kasey from church will be so happy to know that he has heard her say this)....he starts with a j mommy.
me: you tell me.
jack: he starts with a j mommy.
me: do you mean....Jesus!
jack: YES!! (big smiles)

good stuff. love these little moments with him....and love that he knows Jesus wants to be his friend forever. does not get better than that.

happy monday.
happy easter.

alicia

only daddy.

jack: i don't suppose you would like to eat my bewwy [belly] would you?
me: oh yes, i would!
jack: [screaming]....no! no! no! only daddy eats my bewwy!!!!

well daddy, i suppose you need to come home....short work day for you....the boy wants you to eat his bewwy!

happy to be back blogging!
happy wednesday.

alicia

dear jeff.

i'm sorry you went to all the trouble to blow us away this weekend.
we are back.
and waiting for you when you get home.

with love,
the leaves

happy wednesday.

the challenge.

looking through my pictures a bit tonight.
and really had to laugh at this one.

we don't do halloween.
we have done it in the past.
and it went just fine.
we just decided it wasn't what we wanted to do anymore.
the kids feeling a little bummed.
even though they know we just don't do halloween.
bummed.
about the candy?
no [amazingly not]
bummed
because
they
like
to dress up.

so with that bit of information we challenged them
to create a costume in 15 minutes.
lauren was the only one who took us up on the challenge.
15 minutes later she came downstairs
with the sweetest costume.
she was an angel.
i asked her, "what do we usually say on halloween?"
to which she answered, "trick or treat?"
to which i promptly handed her 3 small bags of m&m's.

now.......

if you want to watch a teenage girl move at the speed of light....
try giving her little sister 3 small bags of m&m's.

no kidding.....

i have not seen megan move like that in years.
all the while i'm thinking they just told me it wasn't about the candy.
hmmmmm?
so, jack and jeff retreated to the upstairs to look for a costume for him as well.

jeff: jack, what do you want to be?
jack: a ghost!
jeff: [putting white pillowcase over his head] will this work?
jack: yeth!

megan and jack came downstairs to claim their prize.
a well earned.
very much enjoyed.
small bag of m&m's.
megan: lauren got 3!!!
me: yes, and lauren showed initiative even when she thought it wasn't for candy.
megan: hmmmm?

i was super impressed with what they came up with.....
a hippie chick
a ghost
an angel

love these 3 monkeys.
they definitely keep us on our toes.
and by the way, when they say it's not about the candy
you
really
have
to
wonder.

happy monday.
alicia

what came first?

the chicken

or the egg!

kat [jack's chicken] has proven to be the hen in charge.
she has laid one egg a day for the last 3 days.
we are very excited
but
unsure
as to whether
we should eat them.
we know we can
but
still need to come to terms with it.
i know it will come to this....
no store bought eggs in the fridge
on a happy saturday morning
and
the kids
will want
pancakes
and into the batter will go one of these eggs
and
we will
be off
but at this point just getting a little surprise in the box
every day
has
been
enough for us.

happy monday.
alicia

point of view.

i'm not sure if i can do it.
can i really do a post without a picture?
really?
here it goes.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/2010/09/education-and-point-of-view/

love this article.
enjoy!

happy monday.
alicia

noticing a few things.

1. i don't think i have ever done a post without a picture.
does that mean i am a visual learner?

2. i have never had a tea party with my boy.

3. never knew how quickly a tea party could be over.
boys don't like to hang out and chat.
they sort of eat and go.

4. conversations with jack are therapy for me.

[giving jack his brownie and milk]
jack: can i have more than this?
me: well, what does God say about that?
jack: hmm....[no response]
me: he asks you to be thankful for what you have.
[1 minute later...done with his brownie]
jack: can i have more brownie?
me: i think you need to be thankful for what you have.
jack: mama, what does God ask you to do?
me: you tell me.
jack: he tells you to give me more.

i get it sweet boy!
more! more! more! don't we always just want more!
Lord, help me to be thankful for what i have
and
lovingly
show
that
to
my
children.

Lord, i pray today that you are enough.

happy monday!
alicia

florida.

love you hayes family.
love you johnsen family.
love you mom.
had so so so much fun with you.
glad that the sickies didn't last too long.
to the beach.
in the water.
in the sand.
to the zoo.
on the train.
to the avenues.
out for dinner.
loved not having much of a plan for the week.
just allowing things to sort of happen.














lis, here's the picture.
i knew i had it in my stash somewhere.
not sure if this is the same deer
but
this
is
the same
exact
spot.
this sweet deer gave us lots and lots of kisses.
and notice there are quite a few more kids.
we've doubled our kid count!

happy monday.
alicia

overrated.

i say the first day of school is way overrated.
too much pressure.
i say we just skip right to the second day of school.




















today jack drew a story.
this ones a keeper.
this is an octopus
who has a teddy bear [down in the right hand corner]
who has a bed that fits him perfectly
and he likes to watch the stars
in his bedroom
when he falls asleep.

i share this not with the notion that my son is a genius [even though i think he's pretty close].
i share it with a heart that is so full of love
for every single
moment
i get to spend
with these kids.
yesterday was simply awful [not going to hide that one].
and because of today.
a new day.
i know that the Lord has mercy and grace beyond
anything i can possibly imagine.
He loves me like i love this boy.
He loves me like i love these kids.
and if i take the time and sit with Him and listen [like i did with my boy]
He really will tell me the story.
my story.

and i know that my story never has to have another first day of school ever ever again.
big smile.

happy second day of school.
alicia

what does 13 look like?

she is officially 13.
but when we did this photo shoot she was not.
love the sign that we found.
had a moment on friday.
her actual birthday.
kind of like the moment i had when she rode her bike for the first time.
and
kind of like the moment i know i will have when she goes to college.
i am feeling that tug on my heart.
that little tap on my shoulder
telling me
that time keeps moving
and
she
will not
be with us forever.
taking advantage of every moment i have with her.
a blessing to this house.
to this family.
thanking the Lord so much for every moment
the good and the not so good
everything
has lead me to this moment
loving her as she is
with all my heart.

happy sunday.
alicia

day 2.

so jack and i had a little talk about miss megan before his lesson.
we talked about how miss megan wanted to teach him to swim without his big bulky vest.
she also needed him to listen to what she asked him to do.
and we also talked about how little boys who listen are sometimes rewarded at the end of their lessons with candy.
jack: okay mama, i will listen!

he listened extremely well.
and she was able to teach him how to kick with straight legs.
she taught him how to float on his back.
this one was a little more tough.
she would count to 3 for him to hold his breath
and
every
time
she got to 3
he would grab her really tight.
pretty sure he thought something was going to happen....
i think he had this "she's going to drop me and i'm going to have to swim
and i don't know how to swim" feeling.
back and forth.
back and forth across the pool.
he did fabulous!

on the way home from his lesson....
me: how was miss megan today?
jack: she was awwwwsome! [with yellow starburst juice dripping down his chin]

happy tuesday!
alicia

the other megan.

first swim lesson with miss megan today.
in the car after the 1/2 hour lesson was over.

jack: megan, i don't like the other megan.
me: hey bud, what did you think of your first swim lesson?
jack: i was just a little frightened of miss megan.
me: why?
jack: i didn't like miss megan....she asked me to kick....so i didn't kick.
[brief pause]
jack: mama, can you show me a picture of miss megan and me?
me: i thought you didn't like her?
jack: i do! i do! i do! i do mama!
me: you changed your mind?
jack: yah, i changed my mind....but i just don't like miss megan the most!

ah the mind of a 4 year old.
so fickle.
and yet so truthful.

just to note: miss megan is an absolutely precious young lady.
she tried desperately to bribe the boy with gummy bears....
so very well intentioned and tried so hard to help him calm down and breathe.
he just wasn't havin' it.

we'll see how it goes tomorrow!

happy monday.
alicia

how?

my sweet precious megan.
how did the time slip by so so quickly?
how is it that i just turned around and you are almost 13?
how did God know that you were perfect for me?
He just did.

Ephesians 3:20-21

²⁰Now to Him Who, by the power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]--

²¹To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

how grateful i am to Him. He has superabundantly blessed this family with you!

i love you sweet girl!

happy late friday.

alicia

check.

adorable. check.
charming. check.
cheerful. check. check.
sweet. check.
God's girl. check.
joyful. check.
funny. check.
middle piddle. check.
helpful. check.
thoughtful. check.
clever. check.
curious. check.
brave. check.
capable of riding her bike back and forth
and back
and forth
check. check. check.

love you sweet little middle piddle.
so proud of you.

happy saturday.
alicia

U R.

fun.
sweet.
loving.
kind.
cooky.
goofy.
bright.
joyful.
mischievous.
silly.
quiet.
loud.
cheerful.
steady.
smart.
giving.
good.
independent.
cute.
cool.
crazy.
confident.
courteous.
careful.
clever.
helpful.
eager.
witty.
loved.
mine.

love spending time with my boy.
love that he loves spending time with me.
i love you sweet boy.
thank you for spending a special day
in your bright boots
with
me.

happy thursday.
alicia

winner.

her name is sarah.
she is the one i chose to win a photo shoot with me.
but
this
story
is
not
over.

i read all the comments many many many times.
there are many reasons why this one stood out to me.
maybe because she is a mommy.
maybe because she is pregnant.
maybe it was because of things she didn't say.
it was very simple.
and sweet.

i began my email to becky higgins to let her know the winner's name.
i was just about to push send
and
i
thought
maybe i should pick a name out of a hat.
or
write numbers from 1-18 [there were actually 19 comments but one was a complaint that i'm guessing should have gone to becky]
and then pick them out of a hat.

i decided to write the numbers.
i prayed before picking....
"Lord, you know who I am picking, and I would love to know that you back me on this one."
swished the numbers around really good.
picked up my tiny little piece of crumpled up paper.
slowly opened it
and reading the number 3
truly
took
my
breath
away.
it was clear.
she is the winner.
and even more so
i
am
too.

thank you Lord for making things abundantly clear.

[needless to say i quickly pressed send on my email to becky]

happy monday.
alicia

big photo giveaway.

about a month ago becky higgins put a call out to any/all photographer's who would love to give a photo shoot away to a deserving family in their area.

read all about it here.

here is my blog that talks all about my part in this.

here is becky's post from today that mentions me.

i am ready to do this. can't wait to meet the winner in my area.

very exciting.

happy saturday.
alicia

sold.

for as long as i have known him [19 years] i have understood him to be very mindful of any/all decisions.
carefully weighing the choices.
how is this going to affect my family? my financial situation?
his decision to begin purchasing and fixing up homes was not his
but
definitely
Gods!
for the past year and a half i have watched the uphill/downhill roller coaster of the buying and the fixing up and the selling of a home.
this to me looks too complicated.
too chaotic.
too unpredictable.

but to him

it is heaven on earth.
his bent.
his niche.
his thing.

and i am so thankful to be on the roller coaster of life with this man.
completely unafraid of what life has in store for him.
completely resting in God's awesome provision.
relying on the work God has done in his soul.
in his heart.
he is humble.
he is thankful.
and he has just sold his very first house.
all the while giving glory to the one true God that placed him exactly where he needed to be
at
exactly
the right
time.

he paid a little for the house.
he put a little into the house.
he earned a little from the house.

priceless!









happy new path!
alicia