The Graduate

 

It only seemed like yesterday I was preparing her for Kindergarten.  She was excited, I was nervous!  I knew and trusted her teachers… we all went to the same church… she was at the church!  That first year of her education was great for her,but, I always knew we would eventually homeschool

I will treasure all the moments, good and bad, I had with my daughter.  All those times, when I wanted to pull my hair out due to frustration.  All those times we rejoiced together when she got that tuff math problem finally right.    Homeschooling is one thing our family has never regretted.  Yes, there have been lean financial times, when we had to make sacrifices for school work… but it was all worth it.

 

I find myself wondering… Did I do everything right?  Did I prepare her enough for the world?  Then I pray!  I pray that she would remember what I taught her.  I think that is one of the fears some of us as homeschoolers face.  Did we do everything we could to prepare our children for the world?

For me, myself, and I…. I see the young woman she has become.  I see her gentle spirit.  I see her desire to help the elderly when they need it.  I see her desire to serve the Lord in where ever He has for her.  All that tells me, if I didn’t do one thing right… I did that right!  She knows her LORD… and she has a desire to serve HIM in any area that HE needs her in!   To me that is all that matters first and for most!   Yes, she needs her education… she needs the skills to go out and get a job, etc.… and she does! 

But for me that Scripture rings true…. and it has been my theme verse all these years as I have been on been on this adventure called homeschooling…..

Deut. 6: 5-9

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: ⁷And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.⁸ And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

⁹ And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

I have taught her to Love the Lord, listen to His voice, and to know HIM!  I have written it upon the door posts of her life!  And now she can go out and do what God has called her to do.

Destressing the Holidays

 

 

Holidays can always become very stressful for us moms.

 

We find ourselves with a list of party invites, family gatherings, our shopping lists and  don't forget the Christmas play practices, and the Church Christmas party.

 

All this is added to what we already have on our busy plates.

 

Sometimes we find ourselves just overwhelmed with it all..

 

While I may not be able to help you with your lists, I do have a

few tips that can help you in the school department.

 

How to have a stress free Holiday School Season:

 

Lighten the load...

 

I have found that a lighter load of official school work.. is the key to a stress free month.  Who said that you have to do every subject

every day of every week of every month!

 

Lighten your load this month, you can always catch up later!

 

 

Enjoyable projects...

 

Find things that your child and you enjoy and do them...

My girls love to help me bake, so doing December, we spend a whole lot of time baking... getting ready for all those parties!

 

 

Or you can...

 

Take this  month off

 

I know may homeschooling families that just take the month of December off!  A winter vacation if you will..

 

 

 

Happy December!

 

Shelby

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Trimiversary To ME!

I can not believe a year has passed since I began Trim Healthy Mamma.

As I looked at the pictures of me, I can not believe the change.

This Picture was me a few months before I started… Wow!

 

I remember the feeling at a loss of what to do?  I knew I needed to do something to loose weight, and gain my health back. I remember asking my husband if we could afford Weight Watchers…I did not know if I could do it really. 

I had tried other things to loose weight, but I would get frustrated after a few weeks and give up.

When I saw a facebook post from a friend talking about Trim Healthy Mamma, I knew I needed to see what It was about.

I can tell you this, buying THM was money well spent!  It has paid for itself over and over again.

 

This journey to becoming a healthier me has been fun!

 

I love the way I am feeling these days… Yesterday I walked two miles without realizing it! A year ago, I would not have

been able to walk a half of mile without my legs cramping and my body hurting… or running out of breath.

 

 

I love that I can now squeeze myself in a small booth while eating out with the family.

 

I love that I get to shop for new clothing  every few months!

 

I love that I have energy! 

 

I love that I feel Healthier!

 

I love the THM food! I love to try all the new recipes that show up in the THM Support group on Facebook.

 

I love that I am never bored with the choices of food  I have to choose from… what am I going to eat today.. its always new and exciting!

 

(picture of me this morning!)

Most of all… I love that I have lost 69 lbs with THM!  (that last pound to 70 is being so stubborn!)

 

I started out as a size 20 – 22 Woman’s… now I am in a Misses size 12!

 

 

I still have a few more pounds to loose to get to my weight goal…. but this has been so much fun, I know I will reach it before long!

 

 

Thanks for letting me share my excitement with you this morning… ok, this picture is kind of of funny looking but all well! LOL

 

Shelby

 

 

 

 

Taking care of MOM

Taking care of MOM

Being a homeschool mom can take a toll on you. Let’s be honest here… we are not just teacher but mom, house keeper, chafer, cook,…. And the list can go on and on and on.

I find that some days I am just burned out! I am tired, stressed at the thought of just thinking about school. I have come to realize that I have to take care of me…MOM. If I don’t than the whole house suffers.

How do I take care of ME? Let’s face it, I am a busy wife, mother, and a home daycare provider.

The most important thing is my Devotional time with the Lord. If I don’t start my day in prayer than, My day will not be very productive.

I take time out for myself during the day. Usually I “kick” all the children outside for about an hour. I can keep an eye on them while I am sitting in my chair relaxing. I may read a book, cut out a pattern, or just sit and listen to a quiet house. Mom’s just need some quiet time if you know what I mean.

Some times I just fill the need to get out of the house. I leave the girls with my husband and I may just run to the post office or the store. You don’t know how just a few minutes out can help you fill refreshed.

I have come up with a list to help take care of ME:

Prayer and devotional time
Spend time during the day for me…. Sitting and relaxing
A day out once a month without the children… hubby is invited to tag along.
Pamper myself a little… buy me something nice, maybe a bubble bath…

I have come to the conclusion that if I do simple and little things to make sure that I am taken care of than the rest of the family will be more happy and productive….

Like that old saying goes: If mamma isn’t happy than nobodies happy!
Mom’s are important so let’s not overlook ourselves!