Never Give Up Hope

While I've spent years saying I'd easily fit into a hermit lifestyle if my family vanished suddenly -- that's my introverted side poking out -- in recent years, I've learned the blessing of friendships beyond my family.

This morning, I was reminded why the Lord gives us community and friendships. 

One of my dear friends from New England called me first thing this morning while I was still cozily (and lazily) laying in my bed.  The house was quiet.  C had already gone to work and the kids were still in their beds.  Her timing for a more-than-five-minute phone call was perfect.  Truly. 

Will Spring Break Ever End?

So, I'm starting to ask myself when I stop calling our unintentionally long break from regular school our "Spring Break," and when I should start calling it "Summer Vacation"? I have been so caught up in so many things since -- well, let's face it -- forever, that proactively teaching the younger four kids in our family has nearly become a distant memory.

We have really been on our spring break for about four weeks now.  It started when things got really busy around here and a lot of plans were being made for graduation and everything else.  But this week, as I continue recovering from our two-party weekend, I am verging on actual laziness, I think.

Speaking of Graduation

We've been very graduation-focused lately and it's had me reflecting a lot on my own high school graduation (and C's) waaaaaay back in 1991.

Yep, that's me at 17 with my Dad and Mom.  This was probably my favorite year for my hair when I look at these old photos of me as I was growing up.  The "bob" just suited me back then.  Back when I was cute.  Haha.

On Faith, Trust and Dating

Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque, NM

In recent months, our daughter, S, has been forging a very good friendship with a young man her age.  They are at a point where they are holding hands now and then (so cute) and when I ask them to pose for a picture, they instinctively lean together and sometimes he puts his arm around her (even though for a long time, photos of the two of them might lead people to think they were complete strangers who happened to end up in the same shot).

Graduation, Anniversary, Birthday Party and the Zoo

In an effort to quickly recap our very busy weekend (and Monday), I'm combining three big events and a trip to the zoo into one post.  Sad, I know, but it's this or wait a long time because I still have makeup posts to do from months ago (it seems).

1.  Graduation

The day we've been waiting for finally arrived.  First of all, let me just say that without my husband, my extended family and my very helpful and kind friends, this day would have been a disaster in the making!  First of all, some public thank you's ...

"Hey Mom... Breathe."

The title encapsulates the most recent reminder our son, Z, said to me moments ago as I sighed heavily and plopped into my chair at the computer.  I have about ten things I need to do while sitting here and I just barely walked in the door from the last thing I accomplished on the to-do list today.

On Monday (was that only yesterday?!), Z was having a rough morning and so I spent some time talking to him about stuff and then I enlisted his help. 

One Week To Go

One week from today, we will be graduating our daughter, S, from high school.  I am still in shock over this.

There's a lot to do this week, too.  The house needs to be readied for the celebration, we'll be picking up my mom at the airport Thursday, making lists and schedules to be sure it all comes together as well as possible.  We definitely don't want to be late to the ceremony!

It's all very challenging.  I'm also on a last minute cram to finish up transcripts for her and my, oh my, what will we give her as a graduation gift?!

Good God Stuff

So the past couple days have been really exciting for me (aside from the window fiasco, of course).  I feel so blessed and I'm anxious to share.

1. While I have not yet heard back about the writer's position on the other blog, as I mentioned, I am feeling confident about that situation.  Maybe I won't be chosen, but I still feel like it was the right direction to put myself out there and try.  Usually by now I'm second-guessing myself, but I still think I did what I was supposed to.  I'm at peace with the whole thing.  Those of you who are praying for me about this, thank you so much.  I can tell.

They're Coming to Take Me Away

I've frequently quoted the phrase, "Sanity is way overrated," in response to how I deal with my life at times.  Today, was another testament to why that philosophy is a good one. 

Z was having some trouble and I was getting frustrated.  He'd already bitten a brother (yes, he's still 11) and made the other kids pretty upset and so I sent him outside to play.  I did go out and talk to him a couple times to try to get him to calm down, but nothing was really working.

My friend, KF stopped by (for a quick three-hour visit ... I do like her for sure!) and she helped me cope with my frustration over Z's building temper.  He doesn't like to be forced to be outside even though he's my most outdoorsy kid.  But sometimes, I feel like it's better to put a door between he and I when he's acting up -- Mama needs some time out, too.

Stepping Out

Hello Readers and Friends.

You all know how much it means to me to be able to share our lives with you here at Mama Flock and I hope to continue to do so for as long as the Lord directs and inspires me to do so.

But today, I am stepping out in faith.  I submitted an application to be a contributing writer for another blog that is specifically homeschool related. 

This does not mean I will no longer share details of our homeschooling life here at Mama Flock.  No! Of course not.  If my application is selected among the many the blog originator has received already and I am blessed with the opportunity to stretch my writing abilities elsewhere, it will all be in addition to what I am doing here at Mama Flock.

I ask that if you have a moment today or in the next few days that you will pray for God's will for me in this endeavor.  I love to write because of Him.  I am able to write only because of Him.  I will only be able to take on the extra writing work with and for Him. 

So although it was my hand that submitted such an application, it is up to Him to give me the strength to do all that is necessary to accomplish the tasks set before me if my application is accepted and well-received.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my blog and to be a special part of my life.

I'd Be Remiss...

Not to mention here that it's C's 40th birthday today.

Happy Birthday, Husband.  You know how wonderful I think you are and since I'm pressed for time -- posting like crazy till you get home with the sushi you wanted us to have tonight -- I think I'll just leave it at that.  I love you!

---

P.S. When I made the above graphic for Instagram today, I could not tell (on my iPhone) that there was a watermark there.  I swear I searched for a free graphic and I thought I was getting one.  So my apologies to the maker of this sparkler graphic ... it is lovely and I give you credit for it.  I am making no claims of the sparkler graphic, only to the overall Instanote graphic.

Lent, Finishing Up

So technically, I've already blogged about 42 days of thankfulness during Lent -- under my way of counting the days -- so maybe you didn't expect to see the other four days on this blog.  But even though life is busy, I feel incomplete not sharing my thankful thoughts as they led all the way up to Easter Sunday.

Here we go.  (Good thing I have lots of reminders like my Instagram pictures and my calendar or I'd never remember!)

Counting Down to Life

I've always been a big fan of countdowns.  I love anticipation even more than the actual thing or day we are counting down towards.  I enjoy Christmas Eve (the pinnacle of anticipation) better than Christmas Day.  But lately, our life has been overflowing with countdowns and I feel like I'm in this constant state of anticipation without much focus on the actual reveals.