Farm Tour 2014

We look forward to the Farm Tour every year. It's a blast! Today, we visited five farms: a beekeeping/honey farm, a small fruits farm, a tree  nursery, a livestock/vegetable farm, and the tree farm we visit every year (that's where the picnic takes place afterward)

As usual, we had an awesome time. I'm exhausted and so is Ella. But I figured I would just put up a few pictures to show you all how awesome farms are :)

Rambling update!

Because, really, do I ever write updates that are not rambling? (the answer is no).

Ella started third grade today. I am officially the mother of a 3rd grader. Which of course means I am also the mother of a should-be 4th grader. Riley Grace would be going into 4th grade. Sometimes, I wonder what it would be like to have two little book-end girls going to (home)school together.

This morning, I woke up early and went to read my devotions in the living room. I tiptoed out of our bedroom and past a grouchy cat, and then it hit me. Life seems to go so much more smoothly when I take the time to converse with God first thing in the morning.

Today, I asked God for patience as my daughter begins another school year.
I asked Him to make me the mother and teacher she needs.
I asked Him not to let me neglect my duties as a homemaker and wife, in the wake of this school year.
I asked Him to bring me closer to where He needs me to be.
To gather me into His will.

For the most part, school went smoothly. I'm just not ready to be the mom of a 3rd grader. I'm not ready for time to steal my little girl from me.

Lessons Learned the Hard Way: On Parenting

This week has been ROUGH, let me tell ya.

From Ella still recovering from this cold/sinus/whatever to me not feeling well to our weather going completely insane here in the great state of North Carolina...

it's been one of those hard-to-homeschool, whiny-kid, snappy-mom weeks.

It all led to me sitting at the kitchen table last night, Bible in hand, thinking, "I am a horrible parent. I suck as a mom." I prayed about it. Asked God to make me better.

This morning, as I left for work, I promised myself..."Today will be different. Today, I will smile instead of snapping. Today, I will listen instead of talking. Today will be better."

When I returned from work, we set right to work on her lessons. My attitude toward Ella today was different than yesterday. Today, I didn't get exasperated. Today, I smiled a lot and didn't snap.

Today, school flew by.

Today, whining was nonexistent.

After school, we went to the library, and read a book about snails. We found out that snails are either "left handed" or "right handed", depending on which way the opening of the shell turns. Most snails, like most people, are right handed. A few snails are left-handed.

We went to the river, and found a (left handed) snail shell. We talked, and reconnected.

Ella told me she loves spending time with me.

Will there be days when I snap? Probably.

Will there ever be a day when I don't love this kid?

Never.

Parenthood is so hard sometimes. For both the parent and the child.

As long as you keep your relationship grounded in the Lord and keep in the Bible (we read a nightly devotional together from here) , it will be much easier when things get rough.