catch up

I have been a serious blogger slacker.  Something about having three kids and homeschooling and training and trying to spend less time on the computer, etc.  The more children I have, the more my little world dwindles down to home and those four other people I live with.  Everything is about them: how I serve them, how I love them, how I feed them, how I clean for them, how I teach them.  Of course, it's all ultimately about Christ and how I can do absolutely nothing apart from HIM.  That truth is so poignant, lately.  I am in desperate need of His love and grace in my every day faithfulness to serve and love my family well.

While my life is far from glamorous, there have been a few fun/noteworthy items as of late.  We'll start with the kiddos:

Bella is doing well.  I can see that she is growing up and it is very encouraging.  For the most part, she has a good attitude and is willing to be helpful.  She is as inquisitive, as ever, and loves doing schoolwork.  We were butting heads a bit over reading (which surprised me), so we took a few weeks off of reading and began anew this last week.  I aimed to be way more encouraging and more consistent with just a little bit every day.  It has seemed to help and we always end our lesson with reading a few chapters of our read-aloud book, which is currently Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

The girl LOVES dancing (ballet in particular).  She gets books from the library on ballet and studies them constantly.  Whenever she hears music, she begins twirling and leaping and literally is probably dancing 85% of the day.  I'm okay with it, as long as it's not in public spaces.  She's been known to kick innocent passerbys.  She BEGSSSSSS to do ballet.  We've told her that she must prove to us that she's responsible and well-mannered and respectful to adults before she may take ballet.  Annnd... we've noticed much improvement in those areas recently.  The girl's got grit, I tell ya...

Summer ... oh, what to say about Summer.  We've hit a hard streak with this sweet one.  Is it because 3 is around the corner?  Not sure why exactly, but she struggles constantly (it seems) with controlling that little temper of hers.  She is sweet and compliant, until you pass her will and BOOM! that girl is NOT happy.  We really try and nip the tantrums in the bud, so instead she seethes and will respond with a void of emotions and lack of words.  Trav and I feel like we're new parents again.  Often, I just send her to her room to calm down and then go chat with her in a bit.  It usually helps, and we just keep bringing the problem before the Lord, asking for a change of heart within her.  O, these young years... they're so tough!!

And little Rhett.  Well, he had a rough two weeks, where he was waking all throughout the night and crying lots during the day.  It completely wore me out.  Of course, Trav was gone during one of those weeks and when he returned home, I felt pummeled.  Fortunately, Rhett's sleep has improved almost to where he was previously and we're all happier on this end.  He has terribly sensitive skin and I'm not sure what to attribute it to.  Last night, I gave him a bath and put some Aveeno lotion on his eczema-like skin. This morning he awoke with a rash all over his tummy and arms and neck and legs.  Ugh.  I'm not sure where I'm going wrong, or if it has to do with my diet or his lotion or clothes???  Seriously, parenting is TOUGH!!  And such a guessing game.

As for Trav, he is finishing up his LAST MASTERS class EVER this Thursday!!!!!!!!!  This has been such a difficult season for us both to put up with.  He began in 2009 and took one class at a time, with a few breaks in there.  The Air Force pretty much forces you to get a higher education degree if you want to promote.  It's incredibly stupid, as these guys already have a college degree and a degree in flying, but another one is necessary.  Trav is not a school kind-of-guy, so it's been challenging to remain motivated and consistent, to say the least.  ANYways, he's nearly done and we're both oh-so-glad.  Our last weekend with homework getting in the way.  Praise the Lord!!

As for me, I feel that I am finally beginning to warm up to this place as "home."  The weather is cooling a bit (but not nearly as cool as the rest of the U.S.), and we are actually able to be outside once more.  I am involved in a women's Bible study once a week, along with our Missional Community (small group of sorts, through church) once a week.  I go to a co-op for Bella's homeschool once a week, too, so my social life is building, though not overwhelming.  Like I said earlier, though, my life is very much at home and with my children.  It's simple and very basic, but what I firmly feel I'm called to do.  Even though it's mundane, I take joy in the fact that I feel needed and useful and fulfilled in what I do.

On the side, my dad and I are taking an online photography class together.  It's good for me to get out and shoot throughout the week.  I so enjoy that part of life and hope to keep learning more.  I also actually put a book on hold at the library - a reading-for-pleasure type of book!  I don't believe I've read for pleasure in.... well, a very long time.  Let's see if I actually get to enjoy this one!

That's it for now.  Thanks for reading, lovelies... I'll try and check in soon!