Living Seasonally
Since it’s already July I guess I should go ahead and post this!
Giving Thanks
1. For friends and water sprinklers on a hot day.
2. For babies who sleep 6-7 hours a night at one month old!
3. For breaks in heat waves.
4. For surprise brownie deliveries.
5. For more friends and steaks on a cool night.
Thinking Deeply
Uhhhh, something should go here right?
Turning Pages
I’m enjoying my Summer reading list. Some I’m still working on from the Fall. Some new books I’ve picked up. I did put down The House of Hawthorne though. Sounded great and started out that way but something about the writing just bugged me so I didn’t make it too far in. I actually enjoyed just reading the Wikipedia entries on the lives of Nathaniel and Sophia Hawthorne much better. Sad for me you can be now. I’m not sure why I have a hard time reading Fiction now but I am looking forward to getting into House of Living Stones by the sweet Katie Schuermann. Other must reads of hers are Pew Sisters and He Remembers the Barren. You should get those.
Not pictured are a couple other books I’m reading, Simplicity Parenting and The Well-Behaved Child. I love that John Rosemond. He don’t mess around. I’m planning to tighten up my Discipline Ship around here now that I’m feeling stronger.
Establishing Rhythm
Rhythm calms and secures children, grounding them in the earth of family so they can branch out and grow. The implication of rhythms is that there is an author behind how we do things as a family. Parental authority is strengthened by rhythms; an authority is established that is gentle and understandable. “This is what we do” also says, “There is order here, and safety.”
– Kim John Payne, Simplicity Parenting
Summer and post new baby is inevitably the time of life when Rhythm and Schedules are loosened but with lots of littles in a family I can’t go too long without some kind of established rhythm. I make a schedule for each season and though I don’t stick right with it, in fact most days we don’t stick to it at all, it does give me direction to days that feel very aimless…in a bad way sometimes.
This Summer we:
8-8:30 – Breakfast – Bible Time, memory verse, prayer, catechism
9:00 – 9:45 chore time and mama workout
9:45-11:00 – Reading, Outside or Table Time (10:15 – Snack)
11 – 11:30 – Lunch Prep
11:30 Lunch
12- 1:00- Tidy Time 1, Free Play
1:00-3:30 – Quiet Time
1-1:30 – Little Kids blanket time, Big Kids – Read Together Time
1:30-2:00 – Big Kids Alone Time Little kids Show
2:00-3:30 – Show All
3:30 – Snack Play outside
4:00 – Tidy Time 2
4:30-5:00 – Prep Supper
6:00 – Supper
6:30 – Piano practice Time
6:30 – 7:30 Bath and Bible Time, Reading Time
7:30- 8:00 Bedtime
8:30 – 9:00. Lights out
Cultivating Simplicity
Wake, feed kids, sweep floor, wash dishes, wash clothes, read The Little Re Hen, go to bed, repeat.
Creating Beauty
Thanks for making beauty Sarah!
Nurturing Hearts
A lovely baptismal gift for Jos from a church member.
Cards from the kids in Texas to us at home,
Nurturing Minds
Phil started to teach the big girls Greek before they left for Texas!
Esther doesn’t learn Greek but still makes us proud.
Nurturing Hands
I put these babies to work in the kitchen!
Nurturing Senses
Making play dough.
Nurturing Bodies
I’m really kinda sorta trying to ship shape my old broken body. I have walked twice on the Dread Mill since baby and I’m eating rice cakes. So, I’m pretty much almost there!
Capturing Time
Reminder to Aubri: YOU ARE A GREAT MAMA!!!!!
Your babies are loved, well-fed, and know Jesus. Way to go!