a reminder for heather:

for the times I need to just RELAX

Do good weeks always end in bad days? Friday's are rough here at the Bush house. We have started AWANA's on Wednesday nights. Tyler's class ends at "8:30" getting us out the door and home (thank goodness it's a 6 minute drive!) and to bed at 9:30. The kids bladder's get them up promptly at 7:14 every morning, even when they ought to sleep later. So Thursday gets a little rough and I've been putting Grace to bed earlier on that day for her nap. Then we have our Bible Study here (which I love and is going really well!) which ends at 8... but by the time we visit and chat it's usually 9:30 by the time everyone goes home and we get the kids into bed. So when 7:15 came this morning none of the 4 of us left at home were really "ready" to get up, but get up we did. Crabby crabby crabby! Myself included! When they are used to going to bed at 8 or 8:30 and they get two nights of 9:30 it's just rough! I'm beyond glad we home school so that we can start when they are ready and do our learning when they are at their best. I love that flexibility. I love that on days when they will lay in their beds and rest, we can get up at 8:14 instead of 7:14 and we are not late to get anyplace. I don't love screaming tantrums, spilled milk and multiple wardrobe changes, but it's also not the end of the world. I feel like it is in the moment, but when a child in tears asks to just cuddle on the couch with a book, we just throw the clothes and the towels in the washer and hope for the best. There's always half price day's at Goodwill. I'm so thankful to be able to give my kids the gift of my time, and my love and my attention. I appreciate the work Gary does more than he'll ever know. Friday's are a definite time of refocus around here! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some cuddling to do!

Rough Housing with daddy

AHHHHHH!!! with so much fun to be had who wants to sit down a write a blog?! Especially when you have no pictures to post!??!

First of a HUGE congratulations to our dear friends the Stauffers on the birth and adoption of their little guy Zack! We're so thrilled that God has blessed their family again! We love you guys!

Second, Happy Birthday to Tyler and Grace's dear friend Alceo! He's 5 now and starting Kindergarten. He's being home schooled and I will publicly say that having a friend who home schools along with you is wonderful! I hope we can encourage and motivate each other as the year continues.

Tyler has been "doing school" all summer with a few small breaks. Beginning August first we started trying to it at least 4 days per week for several hours (3-5) and I began documenting things more. We're working right now on the Sonlight Preschool curriculum which they love. It's heavy in Read Aloud which is perfect for Grace. I supplement quite a bit for Tyler and some for Grace. She's already showing improvement in many areas and Tyler is, as always, learning quickly. We've ordered the Sonlight K program and will be starting that later this month. There are TOO many online lesson plans for teachers and home schoolers that it's overwhelming! When I want to expand on something and do extra, I certainly can, but I"m glad to have a base curriculum to teach from.

The mighty Queen Esther is standing like a pro! She pulls herself up on everything she can and lets go now! I caught her standing a good foot away from the chair last night and then BAM! She just falls back down on her bottom. Sometimes she falls off balance and ends up laying down on her belly after rolling over. She just looks up, laughs, rolls back over and up she goes! She loves being read to and chasing her siblings and she's obsessed with the wireless mouse and keyboard. So much so that this has taken quite a lot of time and many more 'NO!'s to compose!

Last week we began hosing a Bible Study at our home. We're showing the video series "God Provides" and we really enjoyed our time last week. We truly hope to make more connections with the young couples and families in our church and we decided this was the best way. I love that we're not teaching- just hosting! :) It's good motivation to have the house picked up and swept once a week too.

The kids began the Awana's program at a local church last night. They both loved it and have talked about little else all day. Tyler has one boy in his class he knows from our home church and I'm sure he'll make more friends. I thought Grace might be leary, and she had a moment of uncertainty as I left, but when I went back to secretly check on her, she was fine! She too is very excited about it and glad to have her own verses she can learn.

We celebrated my birthday this week. Ah, 31 is not near as exciting as 30. I will say my 30th year was a big one- I had a baby, bought a house, moved, committed to home schooling, acquired TWO sisters-in-law and a niece! I think this year we'll avoid major life changes and just seek to enjoy life! :) We do love our lives and are so thankful for God's many blessings. I think I sound like a broken record saying that, but it's true. I don't take for granted Gary's job, our home, or our health. We are far from perfect and we have struggles, but we recognize the many ways God chooses to bless us even as he challenges and strengthens us.

We've been enjoying our garden with a few peppers and tomatoes here and there as well as our yard. I do hope we fence it in next year since we'll have three little ones running around like monkeys! I was disgusted with the fact that we went to the fair last week and froze. It's supposed to be HOT at the fair! Here it is September and we're digging out pants and slippers and blankets already! I hate being cold and often times I view Fall as Pre-Winter. I know it's most people's favorite time of year but I'd prefer if we went from 70's to snow on Christmas morning straight back to 70's. We've had a beautiful summer and I suppose it's time to move on.

If you aren't keeping up with the Neely's be sure you check out Jen's blog where she's continuing to be super woman and mom creating all sorts of beautiful things, loving on her newborn and homeschooling. Please also continue to pray for Brooke as she continues her journey and her mom chronicles it.

Have a blessed Thursday!