The kids and I did homeschool this morning and history too. They love Story of the World. During read aloud time I read part of a Saint story and a story from our children's Bible. Then everyone started on their individual subjects. Thankfully little Moses took a good morning nap and I was able to do reading with Felicity. She is doing so well! She has started math and loves it.
After school we eat lunch. Today we had roasted chicken, bread, and apple slices. I had a big salad and a leftover fried burger. Then we do our after lunch chores. Eleanor still had some school to finish so she was excused from chores. But Athanasius switched the laundry and tidied the shoes and then helped with Moses. He is so good with him! Felicity and Boaz always sort the laundry in the living room. Usually Eleanor does the lunch dishes but her wrist is broken. :( I did them today while Athanasius was with Moses. She will have the brace on for at least 4 weeks. I gave the kids leftover vanilla cake I baked yesterday, they were so happy! Boaz and Felicity opted for gingerbread cookies we baked Sautrday while Daddy was in KC. They smell amazing! Around 12.30 I feed Moses for his second nap. Then the kids and I have our own alone times and rest time. I set the timer for 45 minutes and everyone has to be on their beds with books. When the timer goes off they can play together until 2:30 or 3:00. I LOVE rest time, from 1 to 3, it is so nice to be alone for a bit and recharge. I thought I would read but instead I fell asleep. I guess I needed it! Moses woke around 2:15 and I nursed him back to sleep and held him while I read. I love holding him while he's asleep. I still can't believe he's ours. I love him so much. He is so happy and sweet. He brings so much joy to our home. After rest time I told the kids to help put the clean dishes away and take all the meat off a chicken I roasted earlier and then we could pop some pop corn and watch Bonanza. It was so fun! They are such a blessing to me and help me with such cheerful attitudes. Clay got home a little before 5 and did some paper work in his car in the drive way. Dinner was roast chicken (I cooked 2 chickens one for today and one for soup later in the week) sweet potatoes with butter and fresh pineapple. After dinner we cleaned up and then went down to the church to give it a clean. It was fun to be working together! It is always a blessing to be at the church. I'm so grateful we get to live here. We got home around 7:30. Clay did family worship with the kids while I got Moses to bed. The kids had a club meeting with their best friends via video call. They are hilarious. Said our evening prayers. Ate a piece of cake myself, yum. :) Clay is beside me reading for his Saint Macrina course. Our ordinary days are some of the best days. We don't have to fill our days running here or there for them to be interesting. We should be faithful in the small things. I love being at home with my family. Home is such a refuge from the world. I'm so grateful I get to stay home with our children and I'm so grateful for the encouragement and support I get from my husband.
P. S. I almost forgot...Felicity got a post card in the mail from S. D. Smith today!! She had written him awhile back.
Monday, September 9, 2019
Saturday, September 7, 2019
We are Country Mice
Since my last post, we have moved to the country. We have been living in and caring for a friend's home while they are at seminary. The home is on a half-acre lot and just seconds from our church. We love it. We love the country life so much more than we thought we would. I mean, we hoped we would like it, but it has been more than that. This move has brought so much peace to our family life and my personal life. The kids can play outside without me watching them like a hawk, like I had to in town. Being close to the church and our priest is comforting and life-giving. For living in the country we have a lot in our little town, two restaurants, grocery store, library, antique store, dentist office, post office, doctor's office, and a beautiful park and pool. I can run several errands and be home in less than an hour. And with amazon prime shipping it has never been more convenient to live in the country. We are definitely country mice. True, when we do go into town it takes longer but we don't have the desire to do so even on a monthly basis.
My husband has been an RN for a couple years now and it is truly one of the greatest earthly blessings for our family. We actually have some disposable income to save and have fun with, insurance, paid time off and sick time -- whoever heard of such a thing? : ) We have also had another baby, a beautiful baby boy, and Clay was able to stay home for two weeks and care for us. It was truly amazing and so peaceful.
The kids have grown so much. Eleanor is 12, Athanasius 10, Boaz is about to turn 8, Felicity is 5.5, and Moses is almost 4 months old. I still can't believe we have 5 kids. It all goes by so fast, I wish sometimes they could stay young and sheltered forever. These really are the best times, even in the midst of the exhaustion I am not going to let them pass me by. I will enjoy these years and love our kids to the best of my ability. The world screams and grabs at us with lies that our kids need more, more, more. More things, more activities outside the home, cell phones, video games, sports, etc. I will not give in to those lies. I will do the simple and ordinary life tasks with our children and I think that will be more lasting and memorable than being on a traveling baseball team spending money we don't have and being away from the home. These kids of ours are truly amazing, I think we learn more from them than they do from us.
My husband is studying to be a deacon in the Orthodox church. I don't know what that will look like practically, but I'm thankful he desires to serve the church and leads us to Christ as well. He is so consistent in his habits, I have learned so much from him in the 13 years we have been married.
We are looking to buy a home in our small town, but the market is not in our favor right now. I pray every day for a home that will meet our needs. I know He will provide something because He loves us. It's hard to wait but it has been a good lesson for me in patience and trusting Him. I would live in a mobile home or camper if it meant we could be debt-free. Even if we had a small mortgage that would change our lives so greatly.
It has been a while and I wanted to pop in and say hello and what we have been up too. There's so much more to say...but it's late so goodnight and God bless!
My husband has been an RN for a couple years now and it is truly one of the greatest earthly blessings for our family. We actually have some disposable income to save and have fun with, insurance, paid time off and sick time -- whoever heard of such a thing? : ) We have also had another baby, a beautiful baby boy, and Clay was able to stay home for two weeks and care for us. It was truly amazing and so peaceful.
The kids have grown so much. Eleanor is 12, Athanasius 10, Boaz is about to turn 8, Felicity is 5.5, and Moses is almost 4 months old. I still can't believe we have 5 kids. It all goes by so fast, I wish sometimes they could stay young and sheltered forever. These really are the best times, even in the midst of the exhaustion I am not going to let them pass me by. I will enjoy these years and love our kids to the best of my ability. The world screams and grabs at us with lies that our kids need more, more, more. More things, more activities outside the home, cell phones, video games, sports, etc. I will not give in to those lies. I will do the simple and ordinary life tasks with our children and I think that will be more lasting and memorable than being on a traveling baseball team spending money we don't have and being away from the home. These kids of ours are truly amazing, I think we learn more from them than they do from us.
My husband is studying to be a deacon in the Orthodox church. I don't know what that will look like practically, but I'm thankful he desires to serve the church and leads us to Christ as well. He is so consistent in his habits, I have learned so much from him in the 13 years we have been married.
We are looking to buy a home in our small town, but the market is not in our favor right now. I pray every day for a home that will meet our needs. I know He will provide something because He loves us. It's hard to wait but it has been a good lesson for me in patience and trusting Him. I would live in a mobile home or camper if it meant we could be debt-free. Even if we had a small mortgage that would change our lives so greatly.
It has been a while and I wanted to pop in and say hello and what we have been up too. There's so much more to say...but it's late so goodnight and God bless!
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