Grace Day #1

We have recently started trying something new with our homeschooling.  This great idea came from a wonderful little book that I am reading with some amazing women.  The idea is to have one day, "Grace Day"  where the kids get to choose what they would like to learn about for that day.  The only requirement is that it has to be something educational in nature.  I wasn't sure how this was going to play out and to be honest I really thought that they would make request like...build Legos. However, since beginning this strategy I have realized that I can take even those types of requests and make them educational.  This has been so much fun for not only the kids but for me as well.  There is so much excitement  when I gather them up and say, "OK it's Grace Day, what do you want to learn about."  

I thought I would share our first Grace Day with you so you could see just how much fun we had.
So...what did they pick for Grace Day #1?  Well, I have to say my little ones surprised me somewhat. With great enthusiasm one shouted out, "I want to learn about nature", another, "animals", and someone wanted to write a story.  After the selections were made I sent them off to complete there morning chores and I began to print off some lessons in their chosen areas.

And here's where the fun began......

First we studied about plants and photosynthesis....

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/science/plant-parts.pdf

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/reading-comp/4th-photosynthesis.pdf

And then we learnded about an unique animal called an Okapi.

We had a great time walking  like an Okapi!

And then we measured our tongues and compared them to the Okapi's tongue

The Okapi's tongue can be up to 18 inches, our's were around 1-2 1/2 inches.

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/reading-comp/3rd-okapi.pdf


We even took a break to have a race outside!

We then regrouped inside for some story writing and then used our Out of This World Math Game for some review time.

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/writing-storypics.html

I  have to say that I really like "Grace Day" as much as my little ones.  No one complains about any of their work and we all laugh....a lot.  I am pretty sure that "Grace Day" is here to stay!

The Pumpkin Patch Monster

The Pumpkin Patch!!

I don't mind to admit that this is one of my favorite fall events that we do as a family, however med school hasn't allowed for it for the past two years.  So you can imagine how excited we....OK.... I ....was to finally be able to go back this year.  I wanted it to be perfect!  The sun was shining the temperature was amazing, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect setting.

And then obsessive compulsive mommy joined the party....

I was so busy trying to dress everyone in the perfect fall outfits and get them excited for the event....that I drove everyone crazy.   It would be safe to say that I started to suck the fun right out of the day before it even took place.  

My husband understanding my need to recreate this perfect image that had been building for the past two years, just silently stood by and allowed my tirade.  I am blessed with an amazing man that calmly reminded me of all of 
the reasons that I had had for going on this outing in the first place, none of which had anything to do with clothing or shoes.  

 Despite my initial attitude we managed to have a wonderful family day filled with great memories.  I guess even Mamas are entitled to temper tantrums every now and then...right!

My lesson.... 
To relax and just let things happen.  Today I learned what perfection really looks like, and to my surprise it has nothing to do with outward appearances. 



 My children managed to have an amazing time even though they weren't wearing the outfits that I had envisioned for them....  And I managed to have a wonderful day with my family, even though my girls weren't wearing perfectly matched hair bows!  

Thankfully I transformed from the Pumpkin Patch Monster back into the mommy that my kids love,  in plenty of time for us all to really enjoy the true beauty of the day!

Weekend At Camp

We had a great time last weekend at camp with our family.

There was fishing, fishing, and more fishing....as well as a train ride.
We saw some amazing fall colors and made wonderful memories.  We are so blessed to have such an amazing family and we love getting to spend time with them.

Peace Sweet, Sweet, Peace

I have a secret......

Our whole life could quite possibly be uprooted and completely and utterly changed in the course of the next several months....Again..... and I am not concerned in the least.

Seriously, not in the least!

 I am not the same woman that I was before I gave God control, I have learned and grown so much.  I have seen something made out of nothing on multiple occasions.  I have experienced true joy in the middle of hardships and seen light emerge out of complete darkness.  I should be scared and worried but instead I am excited.... 
                     excited to see what He has for us next.

This kind of peace can only come from knowing that the one that created the sun and gave source to it's light is the same amazing provider that is in control of our journey.  That doesn't mean that we aren't about to be faced with some pretty difficult stuff, it just means that we will still have joy in the midst of it all.  

Todd will begin his interviews soon and the process will begin all over again, waiting to see where God will move us or if He will keep us here.  We are once again solely dependent on prayer, asking God to close the doors that aren't part of His plan.  I know that no matter what God chooses for us He will be provide us with all that we need to not only survive but thrive.  His plan is far better than anything that we can imagine for ourselves, so if He says go then we will joyfully go and if He says stay than we will do so enthusiastically.  

It is so freeing to know that this burden isn't mine, God is the one working this all out while I tend to the duties that He has assigned to me.  This is His concern and I have no need to worry or fear....what a wonderful feeling  it is to be free of these heavy burdens.  

If there was one thing that I could give to everyone it would be....Peace!  I have lived both with and without it and there is no comparison, I wouldn't go back to that life for anything.

But let me clarify....Having peace doesn't mean that you don't have things to worry about, it just means you choose to let the creator of the universe deal with them instead.

OK God, the Bramlee Family is ready when you are!

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Colors of Fall

Today as I sat and watched the beautiful shades of orange, red, and yellow fall around me I was reminded of why I love this State.  This is a gorgeous time to live in West Virginia and I am so thankful for the beauty that surrounds me.

This is one of those times that you wait all year for and when it finally gets here it seems to pass by so quickly.  These beautiful colors on the trees aren't here for very long and if I don't take a few moments and take them all in then I might miss what I have been waiting so long to see.

It is so hard to sometimes take the time to just look up.... but WOW what an eyeful I get when I finally do.

This seems to be a reoccurring theme in my life....look forward and wait for something....and then watch it pass by in a flash.  I look back at so many celebrations and events in our lives only to wish that I had enjoyed them more.  I want to learn to relish in every moment not longingly looking back or anxiously looking forward, but to live in the glory of today.

Seasons in our lives pass so quickly and with every new one comes new adventures and celebration, all worthy of my full attention in that moment.  

I am going to try to look up more and not get bogged down with everyday stuff, because if I am not careful I just might wait to long to look up and realize that although I accomplished a lot of routine things I missed the true beauty that was with me all along.

So today......

I am thankful for the cool gentle breeze, the floating array of colors, the laughter I hear through my window, and the tiny drumming of infant toys.  Tomorrow will have it's own joys to discover but for now I am going to focus on the beauty of today.

An Unwanted Visitor!

We have had an unwanted guest come to live in our home and quite frankly I am not happy about it!

I am not even sure when he came to stay with us but it is high time he hit the road.

It is one thing to have a pleasant guest but it is completely another thing when that guest repeatedly leaves messes everywhere and has no regard for other people or their things.

I can't say that I ever see him do these things but my children must, for they seem to know him better than I do and see him perform his mischievous deeds.  Whenever I wrongly suggest that one of them may have left a mess they are quick to inform me that Mr. Not'me was at it again.

So to you Mr. Not'me, you have worn out your welcome and need to pack your things and be on your way.