On a much lighter note... Week 10 - my favorite jewelry...

From the time I was born, jewelry was a part of my life. My mother and father both worked at jewelry stores when they met, and well, both made sure that I was aware of the value of a jewel. I have several pieces that I love, and several that mean so much to me. For me each piece of jewelry I own is a connection to the person and moment I received it. As a mom to all boys, I realize that there is no one to pass my jewelry on to that will appreciate that sentiment. So for now I love it, recognizing it is only a thing, and not an actual part of me. 

I have a few pieces I will talk about... 

There is a box of jewels my husband gave me. He knows how much I love them, and he picked out this beautiful box for these treasures. It isn't large, but it holds a lot. Probably one of the two things I would grab in a fire! 

The problem is I am so afraid of losing these jewels that I hardly wear them! My wedding bands and my mothers necklace are most often what I wear. I find it hard to wear jewelry when playing with kids and being a mom to three absolutely energetic boys. So I don't wear it often! 

These two are special. The boys birthstones, and a silhouette with my birthdate which belonged to my grandmother. This one was lost for ten years! I was cleaning out an old purse before donating it and found this in the pocket, the lining of the pocket! I am so glad I found it because I have very little from my grandmother. 

My mothers necklace is probably the most precious. Each stone represents a part of me that walks around outside of my body! 

Caleb is the sapphire, and he fits that stone quite well, he is bold, and strong and stands out in a crowd!

Logan is the diamond, and that fits him as well. He is strong, but clear, and you can see through his emotions to his heart.

Aaron is citrine, and that fits him as well. He is a light and a ray of sunshine to all around him! 

So my mothers necklace is probably the one I hold most dear. It represent a these beautiful humans I love so much! 

~~~~~~~

Join the fun! 

And check out Chelley over at http://www.aisforadelaide.com 

Knowledge is power...

My boys love books, books about all things, and of every level. Caleb will read through with a voracious appetite for content. What we noticed about all of the boys though is that reading was starting to not be fun anymore, we couldn't figure out why. We ordered book order from school, went to the book store. They pick the books they wanted to read. So then came report card time. Their reading levels came in and I thought "good, they both moved up" what I didn't realize was that although they moved up, the books they were reading were not appropriate for them. They were reading way above or way below their reading level, depending on the child.

I was now on a mission. We tore through the book shelves, reorganized the books, placed them by level and content and made it so that they could easily access the just right for them books, and would know how to ask for help with the others. This has been a step, but it isn't enough. When I was driving to Cambridge yesterday I had asked Steve to read me questions from my abnormal psychology workbook in preparation for my exam last night. He had trouble with a few of the words because they were technical, and he didn't know them. He said sorry, he didn't understand the words spelling to phonics. My response was "you shouldn't! If you haven't heard a word while you see it you wouldn't know how to say it." Lightbulb!

When the boys were babies, I read to them every night. Books of all shapes and sizes and over and over we would read the same books. I realized that as they learned to read, I stopped reading to them. I can own this misstep, but now, how to fix it?

I stopped at the bookstore today, and I purchased a new book for each of the boys, not one they asked for, not one they can read themselves, but a book that I would like to read to them. And so, I now begin a quest to read to them daily. It may not be too late, and to be honest with school work and volunteer commitments, I very often do not read enough myself.

Here's to happy reading!

When life gets in the way, you live it!

A lot has happened since my last post, and I have to say, none of it has necessarily been expected, and none of it has been without great appreciation, and all of it has humbled me. 

Prayers are answered in many ways...at a meeting earlier this year, an opportunity arose that I am so excited to share. I will be working this summer. I know, me working? Well, I actually work a lot, but never talk about it. Well, I want to scream this work from the mountains! I will be the craft person at Camp Canonicus this summer. So what? S,this means a summer of sharing God's word and his spirit with children and teenagers from all over and deeming my own faith. It means my children will meet new people, and have experiences we could only have hoped for, and it means that I will get a chance to be in a place I grew up loving...Camp. 

There is something about spending time with nature that just makes me feel alive. I have energy, passion, and a love for being at one with all around me. The camp theme from our camp song is "to sense my belonging with all God has made" and I tell you, the experience is just that, grounding and mountaintop, and everywhere in between. 

I also have been asked to serve on a team for our denominations state chapter, and I have discovered a renewed love of outreach to the younger generations. I feel that I want my children to grow up to be strong grounded men, and full of the love and compassion of Christ.

So, if I am missing, If I am distant, if I do not wish you a happy birthday, please forgive me as I will be helping young hearts and minds to remember and/or know Christ.

What a blessing...

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Spring has sprung!

I can not tell you how happy I am!
There is this ball of fire in the sky, and it has decided to come out and play!
Even though I have been feeling very under the weather, the last few days we have been able to venture outside, clean the garden, take some time sitting, we taught Aaron to ride a bike, experienced Logan on a bike since his last arm break and watched Caleb reunite with his homeschooled friend across the street!

All in all, much joy has been had outside. There was actually arguments from the boys about coming in to sleep, but they slept so well!

I feel like this year is going to be an amazing year. The boys are taking swim lessons, remembering how to ride scooters and bikes, and they are enjoying each other more.

I have found that very often, if I interject, they quarrel. However, if I gently redirect, they find a way to work as a team. Brotherhood is truly amazing, and I feel so blessed to be able to witness it!


I have posted a few photos of them on their bikes, I did not post swim pictures, due to other children in them. Enjoy your day, and your spring!

When the dad is away, the boys will play...

I want to start off by saying that I am not at all upset that my husband has a job, nor am I upset that this job causes him to need to travel. I understand that sacrifices need to be made in order for a family to survive in the current economy. This is just a tired momma telling her story....

Ok, daddy is in Miami right now. He left today and he returns tomorrow. A normal Wednesday is daddy wakes up early, goes to swim, and then to work. The boys may see him after work, but he has been at a bible study the last few weeks, so, it is not improbable that there would be a day where he wasn't home. Well, daddy thought it was good to tell our boys that he was going away for a day. While I appreciate his honesty, here is the problem: he says " I will be back on Thursday morning" and the boys hear " cool, dad won't be home, so we can do whatever we want!" And I hear " hey boys, I know your mom loves it when you completely do the opposite of what she says, it makes her filled with joy, so do that for the next day or so. Ok?"

Lost in translation

That is what I will blame it on. We are lost somewhere between here and there. I am with my boys most moments when they are not at school. I am the wallpaper to them. I exist, but it doesn't mean much. So, even with me sitting at the table, dinner becomes screaming, throwing food/utensils, and all out mayhem. So, due to that, tonight was the night that the boys broke mom. It is official, and that is ok. So after I screamed for a moment, I put them to bed, read the bible verse for today (interesting, Jesus in the temple kicking out the merchants. The prayer lesson was on asking God to help us overcome our anger...ok, I hear you God) I kissed them and told them something positive about the today, and then, I took a shower. Seriously, a five minute shower, and three times a child was in the bathroom with a "problem". The glue had not finished drying on my cracks, and I came unglued again. I talked them and me down, and they went to bed.

A trip outside to the yard with the dog revealed the sky, and I broke down in prayer...I need to find my center, and I needed that bible verse tonight to remind me that my own anger can be overwhelming at times for myself, so I need to remember, to stay calm and trust in God.

The oral of this is, the next time daddy goes away, instead of telling the boys he won't be home, maybe he can just kiss them a second longer, and say see you after work. It wouldn't be a lie...

Wow...whew

Apparently, I have up writing for lent, because I have been pretty silent lately! I think I am doing so much writing for school that I am just out of fresh ideas.

I think a lot of neat stuff has happened. Caleb is doing so well with piano that he will be playing in Church on Sunday. He is playing an excerpt from Beethoven's ninth symphony. He is so excited, and a natural at playing. Logan is learning to live piano, he loves playing, but he struggles a bit with posture and patience (like his mom) so he is growing. Aaron has been reading books, not really reading, but showing some pre-reading skills, and it is so sweet. School for me has been busy, but all my midterm grades were A's so I must be doing ok. ;) Steve has been so busy at work, but is still able to manage to be a supportive husband, and loving father and he has no idea how much that means. Otherwise, we have had a few medical issues with father, that has added some stress, but, family is family, and you do what you have to to make things ok. Prayers for him would be appreciated greatly!

Many blessings to you and yours today!

Friends like these.

So. Last weekend we were hit with a really big snow storm. This weekend, not a huge storm, but adding 3-4 inches meant a parking ban in our city, which means no church. Note the picture of how we spent our morning at home. We do not have our own parking lot. We have to park on the street, and thanks to the kindness of our neighbor across the street, many members of the church park there, but it is a grocery store, so we have to be mindful of their customers.
I miss church. A lot of my friends are there, my children gain their few hours with their friends who are godly children, and it is a place where we as parents can recharge while our children are safe with others.
I have been wrestling with how much private school costs, and with how far away they are from us.
It is on my heart, and in my prayers. I wish that I had no reservations about it, but I do, and so I will wait.
See? Even when it is about the snow, it is about not being in quite the right place right now. I want for my children to have friends every day like the ones they have on Sunday, and with two Sundays away, miss those friendships.

Breaking the brat, even when it hurts.

So, I have a confession to make,
Ready?

My children are brats.

Oh wait, what, that wasn't a secret? Well, let me explain.

When you want nothing more in life than to become a mom, and you get that gift, you are so excited, and thankful, and you want everything for that child, so, you give it to them. Then somewhere along the line, you realize that you can't stop. You give to stop the whining, or to ease a hurt, or to mend a heart, or to make up for not being there. Then there are birthdays, holidays, and book orders...it never ends.

Well, I am stuck in this rut, of giving out of guilt, saying I will make them learn the value of a dollar, and then not following through, and this is truly on me, not on them.

I am finished. I will not give in, I will not buy just because, and I will not do for them anymore. Aaron seriously threw a thirty minute fit all the way home from target, because I would not get him gummies ( fruit snacks) at the checkout. It was 10 a.m., and just because it says fruit does not mean it is healthy. So, I said no, and he cried and screamed, and we both got upset with each other, but I did not give in, I made him realize I meant it.

I said no!

I know no big deal, but to me, it was a baby step in a long line of steps.

I will not give in, I will not back down, I am a mom, and I will change how my children act by using my actions, not just expect change from them.

Therefore, I will break the brat. I will raise children to do for themselves, and earn their keep, I am just so sorry that it took me this long to see it.

It kills me to know that I have hurt them. I do say no, but apparently, I need to teach them better how to behave, and how to do for themselves, because I love them.

Trying my best...

I love living in New England. I love that we get snow, and falling leaves, and hot summers, and flower filled springs. I get tired of the cold though, and wish the boys could go outside more.

Well, this year we have used the time inside to get some things done. First we cleaned our bedroom, this means I dug into the closet, pulled everything out, and we organized. I would add a picture, but really, who wants anyone to see the inside of their closet? Trust me on this one, it is much better!

We also changed the boys rooms around. The before was Logan and Aaron in the yellow bedroom, and Caleb in the grey bedroom. Well, they are boys, and they play hard, and they need space to play. So, we put them all in one bedroom (the grey one) and made the yellow room their playroom.

They love it! They have space to go play, and they have a darker bedroom so they are sleeping better. I love it! Here are some pictures of their rooms...

The other thing we have been working on is organizing our hearts. Those that know me know that I have a big faith, but I know I do not always let that faith show. Well, I have decided instead of being dragged down by social media, that I will use it to surround myself with positivity, and faith. I discovered a group called the MOB society (short for moms of boys) and it has been wonderful to receive daily inspiration and support from a group of women who are raising boys to be men of God. They have a dad site as well, and just today launched a new site about health and fitness.
You can find the mob society at: www.themobsociety.com
the health website is: www.raisingheartyboys.com
and the dad site is www.boydads.com

I feel so blessed to know that there is help and inspiration out there for all of us. Head on over to their website, they are doing their monthly blog link up. Many moms will share their tips, stories and inspiration, or something just plain silly! Enjoy!

Here I am!

So, it has been a long time, but here I am. A lot has changed.
The boys are all doing really well. Aaron has been discharged from most of his specialists, and Caleb and Logan are doing really well in school. Someone else is doing really well in school....ME! I started back last spring, and I have really enjoyed it! I am going to community college for special education, and I plan to transfer to the University of Rhode Island to earn my Bachelor's in communicative disorders, and then my Master's in Speech and Language Pathology.
The boys have grown a lot. They are learning to play chess, and loving. To build with their Lego's.

Steve has been super supportive and accommodating while I am doing my school work, and I could not be happier about that. He also has joined the church choir. I know, shocker right?

All in all things are good, and I plan to post more.

Here are some pictures of the past few months. Disneyland, legoland, school, Halloween, and Christmas included