Homeschooling with Candra: Podcast Episode 13

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It’s been a year. Literally and figuratively. 

I catch you up on my life from Georgia to Mississippi and back to Georgia. I talk about our schedule last year, mom friends, how we did dinners, husbands long hours, Classical Conversations, how we finished up our year with a 5th grader, 3rd grader, and a 1st grader.

Then our summer and how we’ve transitioned to this new year doing school with a 6th grader, 4th grader, and 2nd grader. Did I mention a preschooler running around writing on the walls? Also discussing starting Essentials at CC for the first time (AKA maybe I will learn grammar finally). 

If nothing else you will walk away feeling more normal, less crazy, and think you're a better mom than me. For real though, I hope you are encouraged, learn something, laugh, and enjoyed this while you folded laundry.

Your Destiny Is In Your Family

Recently I went to hear Kris Vallotton speak at Bethel Atlanta Church and he told a story [which I'm sure to do no justice to] about a difficult season in his life when many things including finances were lacking.

[which coincidentally has described the last few months of our lives]

The story goes something like...one day he came home early from work to find the whole house completely dark and found three little tents set up in the living room that his kids were playing in. When he found his wife she explained that for months she has been shutting off the heat [and lights I believe] to save money while they were home during the day. She was just trying to do whatever she could to ease the burden as she knew how hard he was trying to rectify their financial crisis.

He said everyone should have a three little tents moment in their life.

A moment where you realize what it really feels like to be in covenant with someone. Not in convenient with someone, but in covenant. 

You know... those people in your life who do things like that. People who sacrifice, and lay their lives down for you, for better or for worse. Believe in you. Stand by you. 

Find those people. Be that person.

He posed the question--- "Who are your people?"

As a mom [and so are many of my readers] my "people" are my husband and my kids. It's not super glamourous. I'm not married to the president or running a ministry with thousands of employees. But the five people he's given me to--- they are my tribe. They are my people.

He encouraged us in a day where fame and position are portrayed as the ultimate mark of success to not end up... forsaking your family.

GO HOME TO YOUR FAMILY he insisted.

Have your house in order first. Serve those in your house first. Make sure your little disciples [kiddos!] are getting the best of you and not the left overs. Lay down your life for your spouse. Fight for them. 

He walked us through the deep friendships of Jonathan and David and Ruth and Naomi. Which I will encourage you to dig deep into study yourself, but man, it was a good word. I hope it's a good reminder for you too.

I can say that we've spent a lot of the last 10 years of our relationship walking this out. Fighting for each other and our kids when it would have been very easy to walk away or pass a pill. We've had more three tent moments that I would care to remember, but it's covenant. 

He loves us this way.

Actually--- much more.

"Where you go, I go; and where you live, I’ll live. 

Your people are my people, your God is my god..." Ruth 1:16

Inlaws

 my inlaws visited us from Oregon, so we grabbed a few shots together

13 Resolutions for 2013

I literally just exhaled starting this post. I'm exiting a difficult year and entering a new year with great hope and anticipation. [And a female offspring!] Last year wasn't a year to really focus on my hobbies like photography, blogging, and scrapbooking. It was a year to focus on my marriage and carrying for our new child [both in womb and then outside]. Marriage restoration is on the upswing and my little piece Heaven is already 3 months old.

Looking back over my new years resolutions of 2011 and 2012, there really is little reason to make a new list because those lists still encompass my "To-Be" list. It's hard for someone like me who is such a "To-Do" lister to pause and remember it's not just about doing, but it's about being. Once again I reach for those things that I know would bring glory to God this year. One of those not being grammar. Sorry, maybe when I start teaching that such stuff to Nation I will learn how to properly form sentences and spell words...until then, apologizes for another year of blog posts driving you crazy.

1. One Year Bible with my husband [I love the OYB and have done several times, but this year for the first time I'll be doing with my husband!]

2. Prioritize hearing God's voice [listen more!]

3. Be generous [I want to be known as a generous person in time & money---I want to truly enjoy giving more than receiving]

4. Champion a cause that echos God's heart [I have always been fond of the works of Passion, but love their heart for ending slavery for the 27 million still in it]

5. Try 13 new restaurants [in the greater Atlanta area with my husband on date nights]

6. Hug, hold, play and speak encouragement into my kids [even more...look for ways!]

7. Lose 50 pounds [first part of the year I'm focusing on exercise until Heaven is nursing less, then Weight Watchers again]

8. Learn how to use my camera more [I have some books, videos, and online resources I want to make more use of]

9. Blog again [that's right, not just post photos or late Thankful Thursdays, but actually write---encouraging moms hopefully world wide]

10. Family & Friends get saved [Pray & be available...I want to see some of those lost in my life come to know Jesus!]

11. Learn to sew? [this is a stretch, but maybe now that I have a girl it's about time!]

12. Conquer meal planning & cooking [For the zillionth year in a row I desire to cook more regularly...this may be more of a stretch that sewing]

13. Read more [12 books a year turned out to be 6 last year, not too shabby, trying for 12 books again]

What are you resolutions?

Thankful Thursday #102

Thankful This Week For...
[the Florida edition]

what they do

what I do

"how I roll" [literally]
note: row of moms who came to beach without kids in background
[we've made sure to fling sand on them a few times to punish them]

swimming with papaw

what happens to kids after a day like this [at dinner]

1. the pool
2. the beach
3. free breakfast 7 days a week
4. free dinner 4 days a week
5. maid service
6. very few square feet to clean up
7. GA reminders like--- Publix, Costco, Starbucks, Target, and Chickfila
8. thinking to pack--- box fans, legos, dvd player, wii, and toddler mattress
9. free wifi & cable [and all other utilities for that matter]
10. hotel room darkening shades--- my kids keep sleeping like till 8-9am

What are you thankful for this week?
Link up below
Read & Comment #makenewfriends

Daytona -Favorites-

Daytona Day Three

nation & I

Katie & Moses

Digging holes & making drip castels

Bocce Ball & playing in the shade

no he's not drowning, Moses likes to go under for long periods of time

Solomon swimming

My brother nate with pink sunglasses & a headband?????? #kidsthesedays

Daytona Day Two

digging holes all-day-long!

solomon turned out to be the bocce ball boy

even better than me!

jim wearing his sunglasses & reading glasses

first ice cream truck experience for all of them

two sponge bobs & a superman

snack time [again]

oh and again

someone has to nap

still napping 3 hours later on the beach

nation made a little pool for...

...all his fishes

nation giving his version of "the peace sign" before "surfing"

riding the waves

for charles ; )

Daytona Day One

Just yesterday I was planning on a normal week. Until...my parents at the beach realized beachtime without grandkids isn't as fun. Well that, and I might have invited myself. Either way. A few hours later I find myself leaving Atlanta at 5:30 AM headed out for a 8 hour drive to this...

our hotel

my view from our chairs

my step dad, bros, and my 3 boys

nation

solomon

moses

me

my stand-in-husband [babysitter katie]

moses caught a fish barehanded

a little note to Charles who is at home working