It has been awhile since my last post but we have been jam packed with projects. Some tiring and some fun and enjoyable. A typical day for us goes something like this…

Between 5:30AM and 6:30AM (sometimes 7 or so depending on how the night went) I will get up, grab a small snack; often toast or something similar and my coffee. I’ll go back to my room and open up my bible for some quiet reading time…next thing I hear is…”Im awake!” Josiah’s head pops in the door with a big grin. The next words out of his mouth are as follows (like clockwork), “is the ‘thhhoesht (aka toast)?” He then proceeds to sneak over and climb up in my lap and grab a bite of toast, a sip of coffee and then he is ready to “read” with me. In reality, he picks out the ‘W’s’ while I try to stay focused and read my devotions.

Pretty soon, Madison starts playing in her bed and bouncing up and down and giggling. She is very content with playing quietly which is nice because it gives me a minute to get up and ready before all the noise and demands of the day occur.

Nicole is the one that sleeps in and will sleep through all the noises from the other two. Once everyone is up and moving we move on to breakfast and morning chores. Breakfast can be noisy and rushed so I try to give the kids an activity like coloring or something to entertain them while I make a quick breakfast. By around 8:00AM I try to get breakfast finished and cleaned up so we can start school around 8:30AM. This is flexible, especially now that we have goats. Most of the time Gabe will go over and check them, feed and water them and make sure everything looks good. However, it is fun for the kids to do that during the week sometimes as well.

Homeschooling is new for us. I was homeschooled and have tutored others before but when it is your own child and you are the teacher it’s different. I chose a curriculum that has helped a lot in planning out lessons. Each morning, when we get to school time I will grab that days lesson plan and worksheet or book that goes with it. Its realistically 9AM now and Madison will go down for a short morning nap while Josiah works on his “projects”. I have a PJ Mask rug and a couple wiggly seats that he uses. I try to get him building, coloring or looking at books during school time, although his favorite is cutting paper with his beginner scissors.

Nicole is Preschool age but we started her in Kindergarten and she is doing great. We do Bible first every day, then reading, and math after lunch. Her other subjects that she will do periodically throughout the week are drawing/art of some sort, charts which cover an assortment of information as well as some history or science. Science often involves reptiles, which, realistically, we do everyday, to some degree, since we have several reptiles.

Around 11:30AM we will either go out and do errands, put away groceries (if its grocery day), help with farm chores or projects at a rent house with dad or eat lunch. I say or eat lunch, obviously, we eat lunch every day but the time fluctuates depending on what is needing to be done. Honestly, sometimes lunch is on the go.

After lunch and clean up I get the kids down for a nap (at least the younger two). Sometimes Nicole stays up and does homework in my room. During nap time is my project time with less interruptions which includes laundry, dishes, office work (for three companies and personal), helping Nicole with homework or if it has been a super rough day, a nap. It’s a packed two hours for sure.

Between 3-4PM is when I try to get the kids up and we will either finish chores, errands or go help Gabe on his projects if it permits kids to help. The goal each day is to get stuff done around 4-5PM so we can move on to dinner and evening routine. This includes TV some days, play time (yes my kids get to play as well. It is mixed in all the cracks of our daily responsibilities), chores or playing with the dogs outside. Bedtime is usually between 7:30PM and 8PM. We usually have the kids do some reading or something after getting ready for bed. Diffusers on and lights out around 8PM and then I go finish all the little things I couldn’t do before. Usually, cleaning the kitchen, reading, office work, etc.

This may just seem like a rigid schedule that doesn’t seem complicated or anything. Some days are pretty rigid and most have this routine in the day somewhere. The above description is true, but what is not something you can always include in words or writing are the things that happen or are said during the day that make it real life. Kids fight, scream, disobey, throw food, etc. Parents are tired, impatient, snappy, overwhelmed, etc. But kids also obey, are sweet and caring, play well together, eat what they are served, and speak with kindness and respect. Parents have motivation and get rest (sometimes), display grace in teaching and accomplish all kinds of goals.

A day in our life is never perfect. It is messy, fun, energetic, grumpy, exciting, adventurous and so much more. In between all those times on the clock and subjects in school and errands is the stuff you can’t make up. I want to share life and encourage other young parents and anyone who will listen to not be fooled by what looks like perfection or feel like they can’t get it together, but rather to keep moving forward, to choose to have a good heart attitude about circumstances and to use each moment (good or bad) to grow, learn and appreciate the only day we are promised…Today!

I am tired and worn out every day but I am honored to be tired and worn out because I am doing the job God called me to do. It’s often that we say “I can’t” or “there isn’t enough time” or something along those lines. I was and somedays am still that person. But something I have learned is to just do it. Work hard, accomplish what you can in a day and don’t give up because something is hard. So if you are afraid to try something because you might not have enough time or energy or whatever the ‘roadblock’ may be, just try it anyway. I have WAY to much to do ALL the time but we enjoy the adventures it brings and we all learn so much while we do it.

Rigid can be good and necessary for you and/or your family, however, being spontaneous and fitting other fun or new things into all those cracks during your daily routine can open lots of fun and growing experiences. Try it!