Doing the Next Thing

Chocolate-dipped S'mores. I made these for youth group snacks and they were a big hit! (though it was kind of tedious, made a big mess i still haven't cleaned up, and didn't turn out AT ALL like what i pictured in my mind. but i think the teens felt loved, and that's all that matters.)

In a little over a month, she'll be a teenager. Every now and then I get a glimpse of that. It happened in a blink!

Homework (about 90 seconds before a battle royale erupted with nerf darts and paper airplanes)

If you're like me, navigating the ever-growing ocean of technology can be a daunting task. Computers, smart phones, ipods, oh my! Especially when it comes to setting boundaries for ourselves and our children regarding social media and gaming. Technology itself is not only not inherently evil, it can be a tremendous blessing -- who hasn't searched google for a last-minute recipe, reconnected with a long lost friend on facebook, shared photos with family online, or simplified Christmas by shopping websites? It would be foolish to scorn these blessings by avoiding technology altogether. And as the Socialnomics video below points out ... whether you like it or not, you *can't* avoid it. Technology is part of our world and we can't escape it. My dear friend Wendy has shared her family's new Technology Policy as a guest post on Daily On My Way to Heaven. As Wendy says, we do our children a disservice by sheltering them from technology, rather than train them to th...

Celebrated two birthdays this week: C (left) turned 15 and got his learner's permit; and my firstborn, S, (right) turned 17. Hard to believe he'll be voting in the next presidential election!

I have four men in my life. With three sons and a dh, that adds up to a lot of ironing. Two of my sons are man-sized with the shirts to prove it. Admittedly, my hubby does a lot of his own ironing -- he enjoys it and actually does a better job. But I still end up with a revolving pile of wrinkles that must be tamed. In truth, however, I don't mind the task. Perhaps it's because I'm usually alone in the laundry room, with the hum of the dryer masking the chatter of a busy family elsewhere in the house. A small oasis alone with my thoughts for a few precious minutes. Many years ago, I heard my hero-in-the-faith Elisabeth Elliot say on her radio program that we should spend the moments we're doing menial household tasks (like ironing, washing dishes, or scrubbing a tub) praying . I began doing just that when my man-sized boys were more pint-sized, and it's been one of the most soulful times of prayer this busy mama gets to have. I especially try to pray for the person ...

thrift store finds: all this for around $54 ! 16yo oldest son attending TeenPact next week and needed some appropriate clothes

Firehole River, Yellowstone National Park I took this pic on our Make-A-Wish trip last summer. I think it's my fave landscape photo from Yellowstone. I love the contrast of the cool flowing river with the hot springs right next to it. Plus, the dead tree in the foreground reminds me of the cypress in Starry Night . "I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me." Funny huh? My Dad sent that, and a dozen or so other puns in an email, but this one made me laugh the hardest. Then I realized it's a good metaphor for my life this week. The baseball represents the humble realization that my teenagers, much to my horror and suprise -haha, lack the ability to self-parent. self-parent . And yes it did hit me - squarely in the face. Our too-distracted lifestyle over the last few months has taken a toll and it's time for me to circle the wagons, radically protect my schedule and my family time, and remember that teenage boys need mothering, too. I'm...

The boys' tutorial ended this week, and I can't even TELL you what a relief it is to have our last assignment sheets for Veritas behind us! Mind you, it's a wonderful program, and their Daddy and I have been very pleased with what they've learned, with the amazing teachers, and with the great group of kids they've made friends with. It's just that it's a lot of work - for them and for me - and we're glad to be able to put it behind us. I say almost finished, because everyone still has math to work on over the summer, and the boys need to finish their science curricula for the year. But we're taking the rest of this week off (except for summer reading) and enjoying being free. Daddy offered to take the kids out last night and let me have some 'alone time' at the house. But I really wanted - no, needed - a run, so we all went to the park together. We grabbed $5 pizzas and had a goofy dinner together, then he watched them on the playground whi...

my firstborn, S (15) i don't know how we got here so fast... because i still remember this like it was yesterday!

#2 son. 13. on his way to becoming a man, but still very much a kid.

C (13) reading a story to a little cousin

If you were a fly on the wall in the Next Thing house this week, you might have heard... "Can I do yogos on the map, Mom? Can't I? 3yo K asking to do yoga on the mat one morning. I had to stop laughing to say "yes." She tends to end all questions with a sweet little, lilting "can't I?" What - does she think that makes her hard to resist? She's right! K's Dictionary shaps ships -- chap stick sssip sslops -- flip flops precious -- princess Blessed Jesus to Your Name -- title of her favorite song, "Blessed Be Your Name" "I think 21 Gu*ns is the best song ever. It makes me cry." 12-going-on-13 yo C, commenting on music by Gre*en D*ay "Mom, K had to go potty at 5am and I took her." 10 yo M being a sweet big sister. She's done a good job with the middle-of-the-night potty breaks and hugs now that K has a big girl bed and shares M's room. That's some of the chatter happening around here. Go visit Mary's ...

(I see A (4) rolling the pizza cutter all over the open dishwasher instead of doing his chore: unloading silverware) Me : A, you need to quit playing around and finish your chores. A : Well, I want to, but my brain is just making me silly! Me : Your brain is going to get your bottom in trouble, so you need to put that away and get finished! A : Oh, I'm remembering how to do my chores now! "Hey, Mom! I did 43 jumps in a row using the crutch as a pogo stick!" 14yo S, who along with 12yo C has been inventing new uses for old crutches. pogo stick and stilts top the list. I just close the door to their basement room and pretend I know nothing. :) Go visit Mary for more Tiny Talk Tuesday

"Mom - Kisses can dry off!" 4yo A. announced out of the blue last Saturday morning. I think he was explaining why he needed another one. "Wait - is this a cautionary tale?" 12yo C said with a smile while I was reading Storytime with the Millers the other day at lunch. I almost couldn't continue reading because I was laughing so hard. "Mommy, can I have a nutcracker?" 2yo K asking for her favorite morning snack - a graham cracker. "See, mama! See?! She hurt she-self!" K trying to show me the owie on her dolly's leg. For some reason, "she" is her all-purpose pronoun these days. "Hey, Mom - I think we can safely say I have the biggest feet in the house!" 12yo C's recent proclamation, which happens to be true. "Sometimes I just need to get out of the house!" 14yo S, after an especially difficult time babysitting The Littles. This is why he'll be spending some time interning with his Dad at work next yea...

"Better known as Soon-Dead and Gonna Bite-It" 12 C., renaming Eli's 2 wicked sons, after reading in I Samuel where God says they will die for their sins. "I'm not making a mess - I'm making art! " 4yo A., when I told him to be careful with glue, paper, scissors, and a hole punch. "Mom, when I have a job and I'm earning my own money... if the family budget is still tight, I'll give you some." 14yo S, showing a little bit of maturity. Awww. "When I get up in the morning, I'm gonna make a mocha." S again. Somebody tell that boy to stop growing up! "I be careful -- I be careful, Daddy." 2yo K's announcement as she walked into the room carrying the empty silverware basket. Such a helpful girl. " And I thought your eggs weren't going to be good!" 9yo M, pleasantly surprised that the breakfast she made me was actually quite delicious. That girl loves to cook and is happiest in the kitchen. It's...

For those who are interested, I'm going to post my curriculum plans in several stages, to make it easier on both the writer and the reader. If you are not interested in curriculum in the least, I won't be offended if you skip this post altogether! I'm still ironing out much of this and expect a few things will change (other than math & science) through the year. Budget has been a big issue in planning this year, so I'm hoping to add some things second semester that I just couldn't afford right now. First up, Big Brother, S (almost 14): 8th Grade Bible - finishing Old Testament Survey from Logos School Materials Catechism - memorizing Shorter Catechism Spelling - Apples 2 Grammar - S is still finishing some random lessons we missed in A Beka's Grammar and Comp. I from 7th grade. He's doing this because 1. I want him to focus more on writing than grammar this semester; and 2. I'm still thinking about/saving $$ for grammar for him. I'm considerin...

"When I grow up, I want to be a Barbarian! " - 4yo A. announced one day at dinner. We all laughed and told him he pretty much already is . "Mom, I want to know all the things about electricity and wires. Can you tell me about wires?" - A showing his insatiable curiosity about the world around him "oh, no! wah happen?" (tr. what happened?) a favorite exclamation of 2yo K, heard many times a day. " No Dahdoo!" another phrase uttered many times a day by little K, screaming her brother's name in her own wild animal voice "kugga kugga KYOO KYOO!" (tr. chugga chugga choo choo)- 2yo K, playing with the Thomas Trains. "That sure is one pretty governor!" - not-quite-12 yo C, while watching Sarah Palin at the RNC. "Yes, I am a fairy princess." 9yo M, adorned in gossamer wings and a cape, while playing with The Littles -with just enough pre-teen irony in her voice to be sure no one thought she was enjoying it too much. ...

I love that I have kids old enough to do chores and actually be helpful. (Yes, chore post is in the works and coming shortly, I promise.) What a blessing that my son, S, can sort and start my laundry every day! But I learned the hard way that a 13 yo boy just doesn't "get" what can go into the dryer and what can't. (For that matter, even sweet husbands have a hard time discerning that.) Yesterday he asked about a pillowcase and dried my favorite chocolate-brown linen pants without a thought!! ugh! So -- I'm very proud of my boy for his mastery in the laundry room, but I think from now on, I'll govern the dryer!