Life Recap

I have noticed something weird about blogging. The longer it is between posts, the harder it is to come up with something "blogworthy". And nothing in my life seems blogworthy right now. So here is what we have been doing to catch anyone up who still happens to be checking this thing (Mom).

It is that time of year again where I am looking at curriculum to order for next year. I have my list pretty well set, but I still have many books to add to wish lists so it will be easy to order when the time comes. Just my history and literature book list is 314 books long. It's a lot of books but really it isn't that many considering each kid reads at least 2 books a week for school. And the younger grades read more books since they are shorter. Beyond that, my list has math, grammar and grammar, spelling, handwriting, writing, science, music theory, and art. I am thankful that we can work with a school that helps us with purchasing our curriculum. We are able to get quality curriculum without worrying too much about cost. I still am not able to get everything on my wish list, but I can get the basics, and that's all that matters.

The kids are in their last month of Awana until the fall. They are working hard to learn the rest of their verses so they can finish their books in time. The grand finale for Awana is the pinewood derby race so the kids have been working on cars along with school and Awana verses.

And the last thing that we have been doing is dealing with spring issues. Cleaning the yard up. Taking plastic off windows. And I have been thinking about repainting and redecorating some rooms. The snow is almost all gone (for now) and it has rained for the last couple days so we should be getting some beautiful green grass soon.

That's our life in a nutshell. Not too exciting, but that's how we like it!

Back to Life... Back to Reality

We are now back into the routine of life... well, if you can consider our controlled chaos routine anyway. I have to admit that it does feel great!

Most of the Christmas gifts are now out of the boxes. We have used the quasedilla maker a couple times, I have cleaned the juicer nearly every day, and today I loaded pictures into the digital frame.

I even tried out the Wii Fit (stupid video game called me overweight, just cause I was standing on it! HUMPH!!!)

We had a great Christmas with the families. It's always nice to spend time with those we love but don't get much time with. I do wish we could see them more, but already my calendar is filling up. I even have something written in Feb already. I guess there is no rest for the weary!

If you are looking for me, I am basking in the fact that we are back to school and work.

Ahhh, routine.

Even Though....

Even though...

...there are dishes in the sink...

...there is laundry ALWAYS waiting to be done...

...the kids rooms are not as clean as I would like...

...there is always paperwork to do or file...

...someone could make a dust castle in my house...

...my windows go unwashed...

...my kids may fight at times...

...there is constant noise, and I prefer quiet...

...convenience is traded for health in many meals...

...we have the rules posted, they do not get followed at times...

...we have the chores posted, they do not get done at times...

...I live in a state that stays below freezing WAY too long...

...this is still just another day in paradise.

In my mothers eyes.

I have this nasty habit of over analyzing everything in my life. Why do I do the things I do? Why do I feel the way I feel? What is really important to me? Is it really? Does my life and actions show the importance of that? Is this what I was meant for in life? Am I doing the things I am doing for the right reasons? The right motivation? Am I succeeding at what I want to be accomplishing or am I failing?

Get the picture?

I have always wondered where I get this self analyzing trait. Today I found out.

I am considering going to school. Not teaching my kids, but becoming a student again. But the questions start. What would I be good at? Would I enjoy it, or would it just be something I am capable of? Would I feel content in that field? What happens if I find I don't like the field?

So to get perspective, I talked to both of my parents today. First I went to my dad's house. I talked to him about different fields that I am considering. He is always pro-education so I didn't get anything but positive remarks about me going. I did get insight into the fields I am considering. I think he eliminated one completely.

Then I called my mom. Her first question was "what is going on in your life that makes you feel that you need to do this at this point in your life?" She's not meaning it in a negative way at all, just analyzing. Then she told me to write a book. Yeah, right! I don't think so.

She has just recently (last Thursday)retired for the moment. This woman never sits still, she'll be working again soon. She is at that place where she is wondering what the next chapter in her life should be. What does she want to be when she grows up. We talked about being in a crossroads in life, new chapters, personalities, etc. She is as analyzing as I am.

This is where I get a lot of my personality. I saw myself today in my mother. Some would see themselves being like their mother as a bad thing. I don't. I just never have made the connection to how I process my life and she processes hers.