Failed Plans

I am a planner.  I'm not a spur of the moment "let's do this" type of girl.  I plan out a weekly menu (except during these first months of pregnancy when the thought of food makes me want to .... well you understand!), I do weekly lesson plans for school, I even have a schedule with what chores get done on what day (although this has taken a back seat during these not feeling so good pregnancy days!).  So, other than the "survival mode" I'm in during the beginning of pregnancy, I like my planned days and I don't want anything to mess them up.  God is teaching me that my plans are not always HIS plans.  He taught me this in a very big, difficult way last week.

In my last post I wrote about my plans for our homeschool conference getaway.  What I wasn't planning for was one of my children waking up sick the morning we were suppose to leave.  Bright and early on Thursday morning I woke up to "my tummy hurts, mommy."  At first I thought, "Oh, you're just excited about going to Grandma and Grandpa's."  NOPE ... I was wrong ... she was sick!!!  I was crushed.  I struggle so much when my children are sick.  It has by far been my hardest struggle as a mom.  I can't stand it.  I feel so bad for them and yes, to the surprise of many, I worry.  I also was heartbroken that the weekend plans my hubby and I had been counting down to for so many weeks (since January) were thrown out the window.  I was so sad (my husband and mom can attest to this!).

I prayed that God would help me through this time, and of course HE did.  He even gave me some glimpses of what good can come out of something bad.  First of all, the love and support of my husband was amazing.  He kept things in perspective and had lots of encouraging words throughout the weekend.  He also was brave enough to take our sick child to the clinic, bucket in hands and all, as she had the constant feeling of needing that bucket for hours and hours and hours (did I mention for hours!).   The poor girl was sick!!!  He ran to the store for popsicles, soup, applesauce, and all those other "must haves."  Secondly, my oldest child was very sympathetic with her sister and never laid any blame on her for "messing" up the weekend plans.  She was very sad but very understanding.  She also was quick to color some pictures and write a get well note to her sister.  Very sweet.  Finally, my mom was so willing to help out, sick kid and all.  My husband and I decided we couldn't leave our sick child, but my mom had offered to still care for the children so we could go.  Amazing!  There's not too many people who are willing to jump at the chance to care for sick children.  My mom taught me a lot through her example last weekend.

My daughter felt much better on Friday afternoon ... Praise the Lord!  My mom came up Friday evening.  My husband and I left at 5a.m. Saturday morning, drove 3 hours, attended one day of the homeschool conference, and drove home the same night.  It was a long day but it was a blessing to be able to attend at all.  We didn't get our three nights in a hotel, we didn't get to eat many meals out, we didn't have a lot of relaxing time to talk, but we did enjoy the one day we had.   I will always be a planner, but I am trying to hold loosely to my plans and trust HIS plans for me!

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."  ~Jeremiah 29:11

Homeschool Conference Getaway

This weekend my hubby and I are going to a homeschool conference in MN.  This will be the 5th year that we have attended this conference and we always enjoy it so much.  There is so much I'm looking forward to.

I love seeing the excitement of my children as they await their sleep-over at Grandma and Grandpa's.  They are going to Grandma and Grandpa's house on Thursday, but they started packing on Monday!!!!  Yes, I would call that excitement!!! 

I love the long, peaceful drive to our destination.  This year the conference is about three hours away, so my hubby and I will have much time to "catch up" on the things we want to talk about.  We will be able to talk and talk, without any interruptions.  Over the last month we've said several times, "We'll have to talk about that during our weekend conference."  I know we won't have time to talk about everything we want to, but we will make good use of the time we have.

I love the conference itself.  I love being in a room full of about five thousand homeschooling parents.  It is so encouraging and refreshing to look around the convention center and see that we are not in this alone.  Of course, we have never been in this adventure alone.  God led us to it five years ago (before my oldest was school age) and He has been guiding us all along.   We have leaned on Him every step of the way.

I love the workshops and have such a hard time deciding on which ones to attend.  There are over 50 workshops offered.  Right now I have 24 marked that I want to go to, but there is only enough time to attend six workshops!!! 

I love the exhibitor hall and the used book sale.  There are over 100 curriculum booths in the exhibitor hall. This is so helpful because we get to talk with the publishers about the curriculum one on one.  This year we have been using the "My Fathers World" curriculum (http://www.mfwbooks.com/), and have loved it.  Our plan is to buy the next grade levels for next year (1st grade and 3rd grade).  We do need to research different math curriculums, as we are ready to try something new for math. We always leave the exhibitor hall and the used book sale with a backpack full of books, and our arms full of books too!!!!  We all love books in this house!!!!

I love how my husband and I both get encouraged and  refreshed.  We have always left these conferences with a hundred different things to try.  There are so many homeschool professionals at the conference that can answer any question and lead you to whatever you are looking for.  It is always so, so refreshing.

I love eating meals out for a few days and being "off duty."  I don't have to buy groceries, make the meals, and do the dishes for several meals.  Don't get me wrong, I love this part of homemaking (well, maybe not the dishes!) but it is always relaxing to have a break from it.

I love catching up with homeschooling friends, some that we only see once a year at this conference.  We are having dinner on Friday with some of our dear friends.  They recently had a baby so we will get to meet their little guy too!!!  My dear, dear friend from high school usually attends too, but isn't this year.  I'll miss you Monica!

Finally, I love that at the end of the day, I'm holding my hubby's hand, and it's just him and I.  We have a few moments to just spend with each other.  To talk about our day, what we learned, what we want to do differently in our homeschooling, what we want to keep doing the same.  It is a blessing to give each other our undivided attention.  No interruptions. We try to make our marriage a priority, no matter how busy homeschooling life with little children is.

Introducing A Life Full of Gifts

Greetings!  I am so excited about starting this blog.  Over the last three years, I have been encouraged in my walk as a Christian, wife, mom, and homeschooler through some like-minded blogs. So, with my husbands support and encouragement, I've decided to start my own blog.

Why "A Life Full of Gifts?"  I have been  blessed with so many GIFTS in my life.  I have the GIFT of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  This is the most important GIFT.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." ~ Romans 6:23 

I have been blessed with the GIFT of my amazing husband.  He is the love of my life and my very best friend.  We just celebrated our 12 year anniversary,  and we're more in love today than the day we said "I do."
"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." ~Ephesians 5:31

God has blessed our marriage with the GIFT of children.  We have four beautiful daughters and they each have such a special place in our hearts.  They bring us so much joy. We also have been given the GIFT of new life!!!   That's right, we are expecting our fifth child this Fall!!!  What an amazing GIFT to experience life growing inside me again. 
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." ~Psalm 127:3

Thanks for stopping by and sharing in the beginning of my blog and also in our exciting news!!!