- Craziness.
- What's the plan? Well, the first thing we did was to go through my list of what we need people to do to see if it's even possible for us to do Symptometry without hired help. We weeded through to figure out what we can no longer make, what we need to buy, what we need to mark off, what to shift around... Then, we came up with a new game plan and new meal plan. So, here's a short version of our new plan of how we are proceeding without hiring someone. A local Christian cleaning company comes every other week. A symbiotic relationship emerged with our neighbor girl coming over on Mondays to help prepare dinner, while I teach her how to cook easy, simple meals :) Then on Tuesdays, I had several friends volunteer so each person only comes to help once-a-month (and no one gets burned out!). Ricky is in charge of dinner on Wednesdays and Thursdays (they're simpler pasta meals). I had another friend offer to come help every other Friday, and she will get all the other random stuff ;)
- Two weeks ago: cleaning company and neighbor girl came for the first time (both went well), friends helped two other days, some friends and their kids came over for dinner and games, a friend came to do some art, family movie night, church...
- Last week: Labor Day was pretty relaxing -- the kids and I waited in the car for two hours while Ricky donated blood, we went to the grocery store, and our friend came to visit for a couple days. Ricky then took a sick day, and we went to get our annual blood work from the nearest Symptometrist while our friend babysat the kids for us ;) Then, another friend came to visit with us for a few days :) We had a low-key visit complete with art, games, cooking, and movies. With a holiday and two guests all week, I decided to have a no-school week for us (and the kids enjoyed that). We babysat our neighbor's kids one entire day. We visited a local Hmong church (the one we visited last year) and so enjoyed seeing that Body again. Then, we went to our small group.
- This week has been our first week implementing the new schedule. Even with a normal week, we have had 19 different people (11 adults) in our home this week. Seriously, our home is always open to friends and neighbors!
- Aolani's antics: she and Micaiah "played t.v." for our friend by setting up pillows for a frame and acting behind the hole (obviously, we do not have cable since my kids play t.v. versus watch it!); called our friend Aunt Miss Teresa; first -- "When I grow up, I want to be a singer, a dancer, and a mommy"; is really into coloring right now; ties little reeds together to make a duster; is seriously reading books we own that I would read to them and even reads aloud to Micaiah!; says math is her favorite subject; still loves anything I call an activity; is beginning to help me more and more in the kitchen; and, funniest story ever -- I was having trouble understanding myself on an audio recorder, so I asked her what Mommy was saying. Of course, she got it right off. She is my interpreter and passed Ricky in repeating for me several months ago, but now, she interprets me for me!! Hilarious ;)
- Micaiah's mishaps: called sneezes "bless-yous"; during a prayer of his, he started singing one of Aolani's Bible verse songs -- All have sinned... it was so cute!; in response to having us talk about having Jesus live inside of us, he matter-of-factly told us, "We must eat God" (his take on communion?!); wanted a paintbrush in order to pet his pet alligator; ties string to the end of a little reed to make a fishing pole; loves doing his preschool and feeling big; made a diving board for his stuffed animals by sticking a flat toy pillow off of the top bunk; still really enjoys art and food (especially playing with Aolani in their play kitchen); is really into animals and dinosaurs; and asked me, "How do tigers eat? By ripping your head off your face!" [He is going through that age/phase where he says so many cute, illogical things! I cannot begin to keep track, but I remember when Aolani did this :)]
- Whenever Ricky comes home from anywhere,; the kids race out the front door hollering, "Daddy!!!!!"
with baby Judah
Collaborative painted tree branches (with pom-poms!)
Soldier
Gorgeous!
walking Woofie
homemade animal/doll swing ;) -- I just love their creativity!
- School verse: Isaiah 43:1 ~ F -- "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine."
- Verse I memorized last week: Psalm 46:10 ~ Be still and know that I am God.
- Verse to memorize this week: Psalm 73:25-6 ~ Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
