Time for homework, time for books, time for teacher's TERRIFIED looks!

To say that homeschooling a rambunctious preschooler while caring for two breastfeeding infants last school year was difficult would be the understatement of the year. I honestly don't know how we managed, but for the grace of God.
As the time draws near for class bells to ring once again, my emotions rise and fall faster than that last roller coaster ride we hope to get in at Dutch Wonderland before summer ends. There are days when I feel the leading of the Holy Spirit filling me with ideas for lessons, crafts, and organization and feel as if I can hardly wait to begin.
Then there are days like today. Days when I realize that I am struggling to accomplish even half of my to do list even now during summer "break." I am wrought with the knowledge that as difficult as last school year was, this one promises to be harder. The twins are no longer satisfied with bouncy seats and baby swings. They want to do what big brother does. Exactly what big brother does. Everything big brother does. And though I plan to include them as much as possible, and even incorporate a separate class just for them, I know that Kaleb will need some undivided attention, and undivided attention is hard to come by in this house! Today was a day when the prospect of continuing to home school had me so overwhelmed that I was ready to quit before we even begin.
Then IT happened. I sat down to fill out the application for our curriculum, and had to include a letter explaining why I wanted to use this particular program. In detailing how that in public school Kaleb would have to repeat preschool because of his October birthday, I began to list some of what he'd accomplished last year.
He learned to read and write, basic addition and subtraction, patterns, calenders, telling time, U.S. Presidents, fire safety, seasons, weather, using the telephone, and completed a "good manners" course. Additionally, he completed several scientific experiments, bible study crafts, and art projects.
As I listed each accomplishment, my mind drifted back to the moment when I realized he'd "gotten it" about each subject. Some things took a little longer than others, but I always knew. I could take one look at the expression on his face and see when it had really set in.
I am so thankful for that time we had together. Having two newborns in the house is a lot of work. It is easy for an independent, then - three year old to get pushed to the side. I will forever be grateful for that nudging of the Heavenly Father, guiding us away from the ever enticing temptation to have sent him away to preschool.
Is it the Lord's will for kaleb to get all of his elementary education at home? For all of our boys throughout their academic careers? That is a question that can only be answered in time. We will continue to pray, and observe, access and reassess as time goes on, as we strive to obtain what is best for our family in the eyes of the one we will one day give account to.
This year, we will be homeschooling. It will not be easy. It will take patience, laughter, tears, and a lot of prayer. Count it all joy, I say!
In the meantime, there is still much summer "break" to be enjoyed. We have pool parties, vacation bible schools, theme parks, and play dates in the park still left on that seemingly never empty calender.
To watch my children frolic and play in the summer, to have the ability to stay home and teach them, to have opportunities many mothers do not, to have survived last school year with only a few gray hairs to speak of, Lord I am truly thankful. I have been blessed beyond measure!

Same Difference

She's intellectually mesmerizing with an academic record that would blow your mind. She is well cultured, well bred, and an absolute joy to be around.
Aside from our dark hair and shared birth year, we are polar opposites.
How then do two (relatively) young women with so little in common have hearts that are knit so closely with one another?
We share the same Father. An amazing Father, who's love and compassion for us stretches clear across the globe. This is a fact that we have learned through the research we like to call our friendship. Whether Beth is suffering homesickness while studying abroad in Scotland, or I am suffering sick-of-homeness while being a soccer mom in the same little town we grew up in, our compared notes show His mercy shinning down in our lives.
What a joy to share stories of those little ways that our Father shows us His concern for our daily lives!
There are many prayers requests shared between the two of us, with the unspoken understanding that the other one could never possibly understand what we are experiencing. That is perfectly okay with us though, because we each know that the other will bring those requests before the Father who created each of us with all of our individual quirks and challenges, a Father who knows and understands far beyond what we can even understand about our situation our self.
The thought of such a friendship brings a smile of delight to my face, as I truly am blessed beyond measure.

Then we'll just have to do it ourselves...

After much internal debate, I came to the conclusion that it was indeed not a wise decision to take the boys to church this morning, thus exposing others to their ever -dripping noses and only sporadically tissue covered coughing fits.

To say that it becomes challenging to teach two one year old toddlers and a rambunctious preschooler the virtues of sitting quietly through a church services by myself while their dad must work Sundays would be the understatement of the year. (Especially living in a culture wrought with nurseries and children's church at every available spiritual community)

It is for this reason I am so unwilling to miss a service. Because, frankly, in my flesh is is always a struggle to go. The choice not to go this week serves only to make provision for the flesh so that we will continue to miss week after week.

How do I protect the general public from my germy little men, while still instilling in them the values of self-discipline, family worship, and the life altering power that comes from the word of God, and from communicating with the Savior in prayer?

Well, we have church. Sure, we may not have been able to go to church this morning, but there certainly wasn't anything stopping us from having church!

We donned our Sunday best, and retreated to the living room. There we prayed, praised, and studied. We learned that with God, all things are possible. Just as the impossible became reality for David when he slew Goliath. Praise the Lord for a Sunday that has been blessed beyond measure!

(Everyone sits to listen as mom reads from the bible)

(Same story, this time in sticker book the boys get to decorate)

(mazes and coloring pages)

Because sometimes you just need a break

I awoke this morning with high aspirations for a much needed day of rest. We had a week full of play dates, puppet shows, and pool parties that kept us hoping each day, followed by an exciting vacation bible school that extended way past bedtime each evening.

(pool party at Aunt Patty's. Ethan, Kaleb, Ian, cousin Ryan, cousin Stevie)
(Ian and Ethan at VBS)
The boys however, had other plans. Each tired and cranky, yet none willing to spend the day sitting back to relax. So off we go on an adventure to our front porch, where mud and dirt await.

(Boys will be boys: Ian and Kaleb in green, Ethan in blue all playing in the flower bed )
Once the boys were thoroughly filthy, it was time for us to retreat to the deck out back, where we could rinse off muddy hands and feet before going into the house. One thing lead to another, and the before I knew it, our plans had changed drastically. We were all dripping wet, running around laughing and giggling at the silliness of playing with the hose water in our regular clothes instead of the typical swim gear. How amazing that something so simple could ease the tension of exhaustion that previously plagued my little darlings!

It is the little moments like these that help me face each day with a smile in my heart, knowing that I truly am blessed beyond measure.

The king and I

Being an only child really wasn't all that bad. I was never forced to share all my toys, never had to split a happy meal, and of course, I had all of mom and dad's attention!

Watching my boys however, I witness relationships with varied emotions like I've never experienced. I see relationships with one another (as the three of them together, as "the twins" or each of the younger ones with their big brother) the shear depth of which amazes me.
Take for instances this little gem I had the pleasure of trying to understand just the other day.
It was hot and muggy out, just the perfect weather to sit out by the pool eating an ice pop. Ethan drops his on the ground (throws it actually) and walks away. Seeing this, Ian gladly picks it up. Now Ian has two ice pops, and is happily eating both his and his brothers'. Ethan suddenly realizes that Ian has his ice pop and burst into tears. I know it was his to begin with, so I tell Ian that we much share, as I hand Ethan back the pop he was originally enjoying. Ethan smiles down at the ice pop that is now in his hand, and immediately puts it back into Ian's mouth. He wanted to have control over what happened to his treat, but his love for his brother lead him to avoid depriving him of what had seen him enjoying so much!
Countless are such stories amongst the Lewis boys. They are best friends, worst enemies, and in all together through thick and thin. And I get to watch it all happen! Praise the Lord!

Mommy and Me

Cherished are the memories from my childhood of moments stolen

away with just one of my parents and I. No extravagance necessary. It could be a trip to the bank with my dad, followed by a McDonald's breakfast. Or maybe it was singing along to the gospel hymns playing in the tape deck of mom's car, as we drove to the supermarket on a Saturday.

The occasion mattered not, but the shear togetherness, coupled with the conversations we had during those times, etched values into my heart that have shaped who I am today.

Finding ways to provide such memories for my own children proves daunting. Life is going so fast, often seeming to spin out of control.

So when Kaleb Begin talking about "his favorite restaurant" every time we'd pass the local Cracker Barrel (despite the fact that he'd only eaten their once, over a year ago) I jumped at the chance.

We planned it as a celebration for ending the school year. After all, I have been astonished at the leaps and bounds in which he grew academically since September. He had earned a special treat, we both had. Seeing as how Kaleb spent the school year learning how to read and write over the wails and endless attention seeking of his twin brothers, it was only right that this special outing be reserved for him and him alone.

We ate, played, shopped, and took pictures. Most importantly though, we talked. It didn't matter what was said. It mattered that I was undistracted. Able to look into his eyes and truly listen as he described in great detail how the evil Dr. Octavius's vicious plan to take over the world was foiled by the amazing Spider-man.

I hope to have many more such days. Days where I can focus my undivided attention on each individual child. The demands of the world (and especially their brothers!) disappearing into the background so my entire universe can revolve around each boy, at least for a few precious moments in time.

The smile on his face in the picture above says it all, I am truly blessed above measure!

Big Bang my Foot!

Those of you who follow regularly will be pleased to note that this blogs lack of updates recently has not been due to a lack of life lessons, but rather due to a lack of quality time between my computer and I.
Tuesday was a day that forever burned even deeper into my mind and heart a fact that I have always believed.
This world has a creator. A designer capable of grandeur no human could conjure.
The day began with a trip to the zoo. Amidst all the chaos of keeping the fingers of my three little guys and their friends out of the reach of the animals mouth (a task much more difficult than one would believe) was a lesson in this great artist whom created our world. The intricate patterns of the giraffe and lynx are amazing! So many different animals, so many different colors, shapes and sizes! Each with his own purpose and plan. They did not 'just happen" to "evolve" that way: They were created unique and intentionally. My Father made them all!

Our next stop involved taking all five boys to McDonald's for lunch. Talk about an adventure! My mind went into panic overdrive, grasping desperately at any game I could think of to keep them all quiet and occupied while we awaited the food to arrive.
My fear, of course, was that we would disturb other diners. However, I was surprised once again (as I often am) by the amount of folks who find such joy in listening to the laughter of little boys. Several elderly people took time to smile and converse with them, no doubt reminiscing about the wonders of youthfulness. Youthful energy that brings joy to those who no longer have quite as much, something created (at least in part) for that very purpose.

The real lesson for me though came a bit later. The long drive home had lulled the children into a deep slumber, thus we took a bit of detour to allow them a few extra minutes.

I pulled the minivan into the parking lot of the little old country church where I gave my heart to the Lord so many years ago. Staring out at the three crosses where I had prayed so many times, my line of sight was drawn to the sky, where I became awestruck at the beauty of such a majestic creation. No picture could capture the infinite wisdom I was mesmerized by, feeling as though I were seeing into the very heart of God. It was as if I could reach out and grab a handful of clouds. Never had I saw a greener green in the fields, or a bluer blue in the sky. This did not happen by accident. What amazed me so much was the realization that the master of the universe who created all of this wonder, also created my heart. He knows me. Good, bad, or indifferent.

There is a burden on my heart these days that may not be spoken about freely. Giving it to the Lord at that spot made me realize that He already knows exactly what is in my heart, because He is the one who put it there! He has a plan and a purpose for me, just as He does for all of His glorious creation. PRAISE THE LORD!

The big bang theory? Evolution? If you ask me, its just a bunch of:

Duck, Duck, Goose!

We spent the day yesterday day playing at the duck pond. While there are many wonderful lessons to be learned at such a mystic location, the most surprising to me came from something as common and simple as a leaf. It was unique and beautiful. Created purposefully, just as each one of these beautiful boys. What a delight to my heart as I gave each one a little squeeze, looking into his eyes and saying "If God cared enough about this little leaf to make it so special, how much more does he care about a little boy like you? God created you special, and He has a very special plan and purpose for your life." I can't be sure, but I think my little guys walked around holding their heads just a little higher after that!

feeding the ducks

Pine Sol Poll answer revealed!

It was a humid summer weekday, years before the twins were even a glimmer in their daddy's eye. We had the pleasure of spending a couple of days visiting Grandma and Pop Pop Lewis in the peaceful little town of Warsaw VA.

Heping out a little, we had Grandma write us out a shopping list, and headed to the nearest Wal*Mart. How excited Kaleb was to pick out a brand new chew toy for Red, Pop Pop's friendly little beagle!

We returned to the house with all the groceries, and just enough time to get them put away and dinner started before Pop Pop was due to return from work. I realize that we've forgotten the chew toy in the car, and run out to get it, closing the door behind me to keep the air conditioned air inside.

As I return to the door, not 30seconds later, I hear the frantic screams of my beloved husband and Mother in law. They are panicked, and I know Kaleb is hurt, but cannot hear him making any noise.

The door is locked. I begin banging, pounding at the door and begging someone to open it, or at the very least "tell me what happened!"

While I'm sure it was less than a minute until David got to the door to let me in, it felt as if hours had passed. I didn't even take the time to ask what was wrong before I had the phone and had dialed 911.

Turns out, sweet young little Kaleb had seen the brand new bottle of pine sol on the table. Thinking it was apple juice, he opened the cap and took a big swig! Thankfully, he did not ingest much, and was no worse for the wear.

What a scary day for mom and day, though! He is still alive and well, suffering no adverse effects from the incident years later. It is for reasons like this that I can say, we are truly blessed beyond measure!

Holiday at the Hemi's

What a blessing loving grandparents are in a boys life! We had the pleasure of spending some time yesterday in the the oasis of fun and adventure that is endearingly known as Pop Pop and Grandma's house.

Ian convinces Pop Pop that he will be safe going down the slide

Ethan still manges to have a good time...

even though he felt badly most of the day

Super Kaleb swings into action on the swing

Praise the Lord for a wonderful day!