Doing GREAT in School!

We are moving right along! It is going so well!! We have taken J-man out of the learning center. His behavior was getting out of control. We have had him home all day for 2 weeks now and he is doing fabulous! He is reading, writing a little bit, cutting, counting, doing his chores,  and playing. PLAYING, that is a big one! He has focused less on the tv, and more on getting stuff out to play with (he is actually making messes!!)  Thats great for me, who really can't stand having that darn tv on in the first place! I've counted him getting a toy or dragging some of his projects from school out to work on over the weekend 6 or 7 times. Thats wonderful for a kiddo that wasn't interested in anything really before last week. God sure is working in these boys' lives!

Oliver (our 6 month old puppy)

He is a NUT! We call him Ollie most of the time unless he is in trouble then of course he gets his full name (so come to think of it maybe we call him Oliver most of the time haha.) Our computer desk is behind the couch and he lays this way and watches me while I'm online. Yes he is HUGE, he is part Poodle and part Mastiff. We were actually looking to get a puppy, and on our way home from the dairy farm one afternoon, there he was....with all NINE of his brothers and sisters. They were free and I fell in love imediately! He really is a very sweet doggie!

This ONE quote has inspired me so much today!

"If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would astonish ourselves." -Thomas Edison

I refuse to feel sorry for myself...or him

As I sat this morning holding J-man through another meltdown, we talked, prayed , and just sat. They are geting better, but this  morning he did hit, and scream as loud as he could, and as I turned my head so I wouldn't get hit in the head with his head. I looked out the window at the snow covered yard and street and it all looked so still ans so calm. Things started creeping in my head, like WHY do we need to go through this? How many other mothers out there have to deal with this? How many other children have go through each day not sure how to react to something as simple as changing a channel, or music, or someone walking in the door at a different time than normal? The tears started to come, but as quickly as those thoughts (lies) started to creep in, I felt HIM, my Father, my Savior whisper to me, "don't let this get to you, I am your resting place" Within 2 minutes the melt down was done, he was his normal self and has been all morning. He has helped with chores, done his school work, got TWO toys out and played with them AND cleaned them up (this has never happend in my sweet 8 yr old's life) He has talked all morning, he has been singing, and happy. He has his moments, but they aren't the same, they aren't full of rage and they don't last hours at a time. God is providing as long as we give it to Him. He is there just like He promised. We don't dwell on it, we move on and live out the rest of our day. He has it all taken care of, and for that I am so thankful!

Its only a season

That's what my husband always says. Thats the truth too, it is.  Things are starting to settle down around here and it feels so nice. The boys are working really very hard, every single day. I love having them home, they are lovely to be around. I really don't feel as stressed anymore or you know that dreading feeling you get when something is coming up you're just not reay for? Its not there. I used to DREAD Monday mornings. Sometimes they were a happy relief to get back to school, but most of the times not. I REALLY enjoy our boys.  I used to take Tibby to Mother's Day Out on Tues and Thurs. and even dreaded that half the time (part of that was dreading the tired and grumpy attitude he had after a long day) I love summer, Christmas, and spring breaks....or even the unexpected snow days.  It secretly bothers me when I hear people who wonder what in the world their going to do with their kids these extra days. Not every day is just great, but at the end of the day, its only a season. Its only a season can be for the good and hard times. If its a hard season...its only a season. If its a great season, its only a season (and THAT is the hard part) the season will end. The days whe J-man bugs me about the tv will end. The days he wants to sit in my lap will end. The days Tibby wants to pretend to be a server and serve our food will end. The days B will be so tired that he climbs in my lap and falls right to sleep will end. Even the days they whine because they don't want to go to bed, get out of bed for a drink, snack, to potty, or to just try and think of something just so they can come talk to us will end.

Please don't take your seasons for granted. Yes a new one will come (and maybe thats what you're hoping for) but in the end, the little seasons are what makes us who we are. There will never be another season quite like the one you're in.

Updates

OK here we go... I have been BUSY. The post about AUTISM and our very hard day...well that day pretty much lasted all week long. It was a long week. On top of that, my friend's grandpa had a stroke and they moved him to hospice, so I kept their two boys (with our 3) on Friday, Sunday, Monday, Tues. Friday morning and again Monday. 5 boys (one with special needs and the rest under 5) was CRAZY! I really am glad I could help, but it was a lot of work! =]

Now, onto my challenges. NO spending month is ending this weekend and it didn't kill us! I do admit we spent a little. After last week my hubby took us to eat at Chilis for a nice afternoon lunch (which was a nice treat, I wasn't willing to argue with) As the end of the month nears, I am so thrilled at how much we have realized we don't need, and how much we waste. We have saved a REALLY good amount of money this month. Now.....hmmm...what can I go spend it on? HA, JUST kidding.

The Bible reading challenge: I am behind :(. BUT, I am still loving it and still going right along (on my own pace) but I will FINISH! Thats all that matters. I will say, when I tried in the past to read the bible in a year by reading 10 minutes worth a day, I had always given up by now. This time I'm enjoying it so very much and feel so blessed (even if I don't finish the challenge on time). FINISHING is my ultimate goal. So I will let you know in April, June, August WHEN I'm finished.

Totally unrelated to anything really. It is sunny and 55 degrees out right now. Really very nice. This evening - in the 20's, winter stom coming, & 8 inches of snow. They say it will snow all day tomorrow. I am NOT a fan of snow, but I really don't have to go anywhere tomorrow, so we will stay cozied up in the casa and LET IT SNOW!

Family Time

We are big family night people. Every Friday night we have a movie night. We either watch one we already own, grab one at Redbox, or sometimes go buy one. Our boys look forward to it ALL week and part of our homeschooling on Fridays is cooking.. so we all get together in the kitchen and bake cookies or some sort of treat together for the movie. The boys run to the playroom and each grab a beanbag (or the RED Mickey Mouse chair, depending on who's week it is to have it) and they pile on their chairs as hubby and I cozy up on the couch. It is such a fun night. The boys are SO excited they can hardly stand it. Sitting there this past Friday I sat there in amazement of how incredible it felt to be a part of this and as my husband sat beside me, I watched as he looked around the room at those boys and knew he felt the same way too. 

I am a BIG time family person. I love my friends, church, and social functions, but really my heart is pored into our family. I love to be around them, I love spending time with each of them, I love to create a safe and enjoyable home for them to actually WANT to be at.  I really don't like to feel too busy to just spend time with them. Thats my love language I guess: TIME.