L.M.M Reading Challenge

     It's that time of the year again.  Time for Reading To Know's Lucy Maud Montgomery January reading challenge.  7 years...how long this even has been in existence.  I've decided that this year I am going to introduce my older two to Anne girl.  My favorite literary character ever.  Anne and I go back some 23years.  She is an old friend.  I've been anxious to introduce her to my children and while the littles are too young, the older crew is old enough.  
If you're interested in joining the fun, visit the link above. 

Coming Home

     I've been away for such a long time.  I have long missed writing and though repeatedly about coming back.  Writing is a way of release for me.  NO matter how much I have wanted to come back I've hesitated.  What would it matter?  Who might I touch? Would anyone start reading?  What do I have to offer?  Does it matter?  Writing on a former blog was a way to keep in touch with family when at 9 months pregnant and with an 10 month old on my hip, my husband and I moved across the country.  I'm near my family again so that reason/purpose is non existent. 
It matters to me though.  A place to slow down, recharge, share crafting ideas, gardening ideas, schooling ideas.  A place to connect with others. 
     With that said, I say hello to my old friend.  Words.  There is much I want to share.  Changes we've made in life.  Changes to the way I school.  New members of our family.  The loss of another member that I hope to remember here.  If you've read this, welcome.  Welcome to my little nook. 

Deliberate

For a few years the "word of the year" has gone around.  Having a "word" to focus on during the course of the year has caused me to ponder.  A lot.  Like ponder for 3 years.  It's not that it has taken me 3 years to think of an area in my life that I'd like to improve. 

This year I would like to be deliberate. 

The first place I go is to the dictionary (and then the thesaurus because I always loved the word "thesaurus") to begin studying a word or concept.

Dictionary.com gives these definitions:
Deliberate:
          adj:
               carefully weighed or considered; studied; intentional
               characterized by deliberation; careful or slow in deciding
          verb:
               to think carefully or attentively; reflect
          syn: purposeful

Purposeful!  I love it.  In so much that I do, I just do it.   I am a rushed kind of person.  Procrastinator extraordinaire. 
This year I would like to become more deliberate in all that I do.  Areas that will get specific attention are:
     Bible study
     how I use my time
     what I feed my family
     what I do with my body
     what I teach my children
     what I volunteer for
     what I spend moola on
     spend more time with our church family
     blogging

Since having a baby this last year time in the Word has really gone to the wayside.  I can not begin to express the sadness/shame that I feel about this.  What we eat has also become somewhat laughable.  I am VERY quick to grab takeout.  I would like to focus on what I put into my families mouths.  We need to nourish the body not just get calories in.
It has been a couple of years since I last blogged.  Sad.   This year the blog will become my journal again.  A place to check in.  A place to keep an account of our lives.
I saw a quote on Facebook that said, "Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book.  Write a good one."  Love it.  We are a few days into this new year.  The first couple of pages were filled with the flu and all things that go with it.  Day 3.  A new day.  A beautiful day.  The beginning of a deliberate/purposeful day and year. 

Breathing

The photo above really has nothing to do with life at the moment.  This is a picture however of my Bess and one of her triplets back in 2005.  We haven't had sheep since late 2005.  I miss them.  Terribly.  I long for them.  My poor husband does not.  Right now, and every year about this time, I begin to think about the sheep.  Their warm wool.  It's the time of the year to think about knitting sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves, and wool socks.  One day we will have sheep again. 
The last two weeks have been a bit rough around these parts.  Last week I was drained emotionally.  Just wiping the table brought on tears.  Towards the end of last week the little ones came down with colds.  I became a bit proud over the fact that I hadn't gotten a cold the last few times they've had them.  Well, pride goeth before a fall.  Sunday morning I awoke to a very sore throat.  By Sunday afternoon I was horribly congested and it just seemed to get worse on Monday and Tuesday.  Today is much better.  Now we're looking forward to a visit from a dear one and this Momma is looking forward to getting back on track with school.  We need structure.

Rethinking Math

I need to rethink math and my approach with my littlest.  Her brother gets numbers very easily.  It's how his brain works.  He "gets" letters and reads well however he dislikes writing them nicely.  The little one however just goes blank with numbers.  Letters...she's all over them.  Numbers...nope.  She seems to understand patterns/sequence with objects.  Put a number on a piece of paper and she looks/feels lost.