So They Say...

10 years ago, I was a simple, quiet, much smaller (but we won't go there...), 20 year old nursing school student, who was preparing to marry the love of her life. Yep! We were one of those couples who found each other young, got married young...young love, they say.
Looking back now, I don't think I had a clue what was coming (if I had to guess, nor did he). Not in a bad way, I love it. I love life. I love this life that he and I have together, but I have to admit, I had no idea! 10 years ago we decided we would begin writing our together story, our married life story. 5 years of dating and we were ready to seal the deal! I have to admit, it's been amazing. We are both now in our 30's, we have spent 15 years together, we have three wonderful children, and we love...we love a lot.
Growing up, I didn't even know this kind of love existed! I didn't even know it was possible, but it is. I have spent the last week thinking and reflecting on all the things people tell you when you prepare to start life, when you have children and now, more than ever, I get it. There's a lot of wisdom in some of the old cliches. There's lessons. There's truth.

In the days leading up to our wedding, I heard many times, "put God first". I would like to consider myself a faithful/spiritual person, even as a girl. God has always been a constant. A strong place for this weak, sensitive woman. But wow, how poingeint these words are. I may be young, but I've pretty much figured out, He is why I'm here. If He isn't in the equation, then the equation doesn't work. He's not done with me yet. God is always extending His grace and forgiveness. His direction. And I'm here to tell you, in marriage and child rearing, He extends grace and forgiveness and direction on a minute by minute basis, and I surely don't want to know what it would be like without Him in it! So yes, do that! Put God first.
They say, "Time flies"...well, it does. It really does. I look around and wonder how we got here, but flying is about the only way to put it. We flew through buying houses, cars, graduating nursing school, having babies, starting a business, beginning homeschooling. We flew. So, yes, time flies.
Some people would say, "just wait, you will love them more everyday". Yes. Yes you will. I don't know what I did right and I don't how I possibly deserve such a man, but we do. We love each other more everyday. Sure! We have our days when we really don't like each other much, but love? Yes! And it's more than that. It's a deep appreciation for who he is. I appreciate and admire him for being who he is. And the same goes for children. You love them from the moment you know they exists, but believe it or not, you actually love them more and more every day after that.
They say, "life is short". At 30, it might seem ridiculous to agree with this one, but all I can think about is how fast it's gone. And if it continues to go this fast, then it's true...life IS short. Before you know it, one chapter ends and another begins, ready or not!

They say, "pick your battles". I heard this many times before marriage and still many times with children. Yep! Gotta agree with this, too! Sometimes we focus on petty, insignificant things. Sometimes we are just too dramatic. At times, I think people's expectations get in the way of life. Sometimes that "stuff" just doesn't matter and certainly isn't worth being miserable over. Sure, bigger issues can get camouflaged in the small ones, I get that, but you gotta decide what's worth fighting over and most things just aren't! I could go back and name some of the stuff I thought was a big deal a decade ago, but we won't go there... ;) We live and learn! 

They say, "don't compare yourself to others". Comparison can be fatal. If you are always looking at other peoples possessions or life, I think you fail to see the wonder and goodness right in front of you. Chris and I are both the content type. We like order, simplicity, and being content. So for us, we don't compare/fit with most people our age. We probably are considered weird when it comes to parenting, but when I look around at the world, if weird means being different from that, then we will be weird. You can't compare your journey of faith to the world around you. God calls us all to do something different, and because of that, our journey doesn't compare to others. 

"Life is short, live each day like your last" or "you only get one life to live", those are old ones. I get that we won't be here forever. Today, tomorrow, they aren't guaranteed and they are such a precious gift. I see my children growing and I want to teach them everything they need to know to make it! I want them to be kind and loving. I want them to do good. I want to remember every giggle, every hug and kiss, every conversation! I see my husband and I want him to know how happy he's made me. I want him to know that he is the best man I have ever known. He is my person. He makes me a better person.

Some cliches are silly and ridiculous, but I have tried not to throw them all away. Some of them have a way of revealing a tad bit of wisdom, so they say...

Life is not perfect, life is not flawless, but it's our life and it's perfect for us! It's our one chance. And I couldn't be more amazed at the journey over the last 10 years. I have no idea where the next 10 will take us or how our life might change, but if it's even half as wonderful as the first 10, it will be incredible. Happy anniversary, to the love of my life! I am so grateful! Every single day! 10 years down and a lifetime to go!

We Made It!

Last Friday, we finished school for the year! It's a relief for all of us and we are beginning to enjoy our hard earned few weeks off. As I said before, we did My Father's World Kindergarten for Ada with no add ins and My Father's World First for Grayson with added art class, science class and monthly zoo classes! It was a great school year! Grayson has gotten to where he can read fluently and slowly but surely writing is coming together. Ada is also a fluent reader and has remarkable phonetic awareness...not really taught, just one of those God given things...kind of like Grayson's math ability. ;) It's been very different teaching her and fun to see the differences in girl vs. boy and how different personality types learn best. Aside from the academics, we have all three had the privilege to dig into The Bible. It's a sweet sight to see your children actually learning to read from the Bible. Every year...the whole two years I homeschooled...I am so amazed and overwhelmed with the opportunities...the time! I am so grateful for the time we have. More than anything. Time. We have our days when bedtime can't come soon enough, but way more often than not, they are wonderful!
We enjoyed our little last day celebration at home with our little family! They have accomplished so much and learned so much and it was fun to celebrate this!

I absolutely love My Father's World curriculum, but have in recent days felt very heavily that we should take the next year to 18 months and explore books and then return to My Father's World! So we ordered Five In a Row curriculum, and we are going to go for it! I'm very excited and as the children look through it, they are too! It simply takes a children's book and for five days you read and study that book and do a unit study on the topics. I will still supplement with the math and phonics/language as suggested by My Father's World, but we are all looking forward to a little change! My big kids are still young enough to enjoy these books and really get a lot from it, so I want to use the opportunity before it flies by! Most of their work will be joint, so that will be fun too! We also plan to alter our school schedule a little. We will begin in late July and do 6 weeks on and 1 week off. One thing I learned this year, schooling two, I need an occasional time out. Time to catch up, pre-plan and chill out...and maybe document/blog about it! So hoping this will help!

I am so very grateful for this wonderful year and I pray for many to come! So, that's a wrap on this year and here's to next! ;)