School: Week 3

I don't even know if anyone reads this. But I'll put this out there anyway.

Well, we are in week 3 of school and if you asked me just last week, I would have told you that I didn't want anything to do with the PACES ever again! I mean, I was done. And that was only week 2.

BUT! Now that we have a new system in place. I'm in like again.

We have her doing 2 1/2 subjects a day. So, yesterday she did Math, English, and half of Word Building. And then today she did the rest of Word Building, Science, and Social Studies. She got done so much quicker yesterday and today I was amazed! And she was really excited!

Things have been nice here with her and I not constantly at each other's throats. Sigh. I think I'm going to like this homeschooling thing.

Homechooling Adventures.....DAY ONE!

Well, day one in homeschooling has been both interesting and enlightening.

The interesting parts:

Well, Joanna is not NEARLY as excited about school as she thought she'd be. As a matter of fact, she'd rather never do school again. And we're only on day one. This isn't looking good.

Kyle LOVES school to a bad extent. He wants to do everything and learn nothing. He's all about getting his papers done faster than Joanna. And he's been succeeding thus far. The problem is he's not retaining ANYTHING!

Alexander is not interested in sitting at his desk. Coloring for more than 5 minutes. Or being quiet. I don't think I need to say much more on that.

Emilee has not enjoyed this school transition either. She is not enjoying the lack of attention. From me. OR Joanna!

The enlightening parts:

I have very little patience. I've kind of always known that about myself, but I really saw it today. It's something I'm going to work diligently on. My kids deserve better than that.

Unfortunately It doesn't seem like I'll be mastering that any time real soon. Please keep me in your prayers.

Joanna really, REALLY know's how to play dumb when she wants. And for some reason, that's really surprising to me.

Kyle would be fabulous as an only child. If I could give him my undivided attention, he's FLY!

Alex isn't very good at playing on his own. He doesn't seem to know what to do without Joanna and Kyle.

Emilee is a spoiled little baby girl! That being said, I wouldn't have it any other way! :)

I don't really know that homechooling is for us. But with that being said, I am so glad to have my children home with me. To know that I'm influencing every part of their lives with what I think is important. To build their character. So, I guess for now, homeschooling is for us. And we'll just have to take it one day at a time.

Please continue to keep me and the kids in your prayers. For only one day, this is far more challenging that I could have ever imagined.

One day at a time.....

Playing in the rain....does it get any better?

Today I let the kids play in the rain.....they had fun. ♥

One day at a time.....

Well, life has been crazy lately.

We have someone living with us. Things have been going pretty good. Just taking everything one day at a time.

We found out the Jon and I are going to be an aunt and uncle. A new baby is a blessing, but there's a long road for our family. Please keep us in your prayers. It's going to be a challenging road for all that's involved.

Okay, that's all my crazy news. Now for fun stuff.

Joanna, Kyle, Alexander, and Emilee are wonderful. Kyle and Alex are really pushing limits lately, but that's okay. That's what parenting is all about. Joanna has been really hard to deal with in school, but I think we're getting somewhere. One day at a time. Emilee is starting to smile, giggle, and coo. It has been a BLAST! I love that she's responding to me all the time.

Things are well between Jon and I. We'e in the middle of planning a big family vacation to the Smokey's. I can hardly wait! We're going with his parents and siblings too. I've never been there and I'm so excited!!

Well, that's all from the Barnes family for now. I'm hoping that after summer I'll be blogging more often.

Oh how I miss you.....

Life has been so crazy lately that I miss blogging terribly. I'm so tired at night and barely have a second during the day. WHAT IS GOING ON? you ask. EVERYTHING!!!! Anyway. I wanted to post this so that everyone knows I'm not forgetting about blogging. I just need life to settle down a bit before I can get back into the blogging hard core :)

Life....

**not a huge fan of this picture of her**

It's been crazy here in the Barnes household. My oh my! I'll start with the kids. They are growing and changing SO fast. I can barely keep up. They have been so much fun though. Emilee is starting to make cooing noises and is smiling so much easier. Alex is getting more ornery. I guess that means more discipline. (hehe) Kyle has been getting into imaginary play quite a bit with Joanna. It's been fun watching them. Joanna is doing wonderful in school and is excelling.

We have been praying and seriously considering homeschooling next year. It's something we've been tossing around for a while. And the Lord seems to be pushing us in that direction. Prayers would be greatly appreciated. Joanna is really excited about the idea so I think that will help with the transition. I think it will be Kyle and Joanna even though Kyle isn't kindergarten age yet. I think we'll go through kindergarten with him and then do it again. So kind of like a pre-k thing. I'm go between being really excited and over-joyed to wondering what in the WORLD am I thinking. I personally hated school, but I think I'll do okay teaching my kids if I have the right curriculum. Any advise is more than welcomed.

On top of thinking and praying about that decision, we have a house guest. A young lady and her brand new baby is staying with us for a while. It's been pretty good so far, I think. It's been fun watching her with her new babe and thinking back to those beginning days. Emilee still seems small, even next to the new baby, which makes me really happy. And it also makes me really grateful for the stage she's at. I forgot how un-schedulelike (if you will) new babies can be. I'm so thankful for our schedule. I would also covet your prayers while she's here. For us to be a shining light of God and to help her through the early phases of motherhood.

I think that's about all. Highly abbreviated! :) I am so thankful and so blessed with this life the Lord has given me. I need to stop complaining and just enjoy the ride. Even when I'm overly stressed, tired, and annoyed, I need to keep my eyes focused on the Lord and be thankful!

Happy Easter!

What a lovely weekend! First, I just praise the Lord for the sacrifice. I mean, think about it. Really think about it. Jesus dies on the cross just for me! So that I don't have to burn up in hell forever! It's so amazing. I don't deserve it, but He loves me that much. I'm just so amazed. I heard this song, and I keep singing the chorus in my head because it says it pretty well. Here are the lyrics:

Jesus Messiah

By: Chris Tomlin

He became sin
Who knew no sin
That we might become His Righteousness
He humbled himself and carried the cross

Love so amazing
Love so amazing

Chorus:
Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

His body the bread
His blood the wine
Broken and poured out all for love
The whole earth trembled
And the veil was torn

Chorus:
Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

All I hope is in You
All I hope is in You
All the glory to You, God
The light of the world

Chorus:
Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

I just thought this song was amazing!

Anyway....the kids had a fabulous weekend too. We kept trying to explain the importance and I think Joanna got it somewhat, but the boys just looked at us with blank stares. That's okay though, we'll just keep telling them and Lord willing, one of these days, it'll click!