Things are great around here. Really great. Not to say daily life isn't hard and that we don't live in a broken world, but life is good. Life is only good for one reason, Jesus. He is the love of our hearts. If we don't place Him first, nothing else satisfies. Nothing. No good thing.
There are some changes coming next year.
1. First off, I told my husband I am ready to have my middle schooler home with me. I miss her during the days. I am homeschooling her next year and have already purchased curriculum and can't wait. She will do homeschooling with the littles and I. More below...
My oldest girl is going to high school. I can't believe it. (Both she and our son know--- any trouble, of any kind, ---you are back home. Our son knows this and we haven't had any problems). He is such a hard worker, always volunteering on drums at church, working out, playing football, helping with chores, or doing schoolwork. He also started driving. Crazy. He helps his parents with errands now and we are so glad to have some driving help, since this is a big chore for us daily living down valley.
Anyways, my girl is covered in prayer and I'm sure she will thrive at her school. She is very smart and hardworking, loves to sing, and is an artist. She also is a great interior decorator and computer designer.
----- My 7th grader will be homeschooled. Next year, I get my baby home. I am ecstatic. She has thrived in her Christian school and it has been so wonderful. Now, a new season is birthing, and she will be back. Jeremy and I feel she needs us, being stuck as the middle child, more. Any issues we are dealing with will be best for her with us at home. She is a great girl and loves Jesus. The Lord just whispered,--- more time, more pouring into her. More daily time. So, we are listening. She will be with her younger siblings during the days and her Mama.
I have an amazing curriculum plan I'll post later.... Charlotte Mason, Classical, Bible-rich, and Literature/Project based. Unschooling projects she has completed as extras and we will grow into more-- homemade antibiotics with herbal tinctures (we have oregano antibiotic on hand) soap making (it's been fun and easy with melt and pour goats milk base, gf bread making, cooking, gardening, sewing, cake making, knitting, painting, pottery, and life-skills.
3. We will have another child next year. What!!!!??? Seriously, she is 18 and lives in Tanzania. She is an international host student at our kids Christian High School. We have officially accepted the offer and she has been told the news. She is so happy to join our family all of next year and to have so many siblings to love on.
She is also excited to attend our church. Her dad is a pastor in Tanzania, Africa, and is sponsored by churches there at times to come to the USA. Boy--- our country needs it! We need missionaries here. Our country is no longer Christian. I will not hold or support our country's agendas that go against the Bible in any way, shape, or form.
Anyways, she will be a senior and get to graduate next year. She will be playing sports (so we will have a lot of kids in tow at games and outings. Our son will help drive when legally able). I plan on being a mama to her, since her mama is so far away. The same with Jer as a step in dad, while her dad is so far away. We plan to have fun as a family with all our kids, go on adventures, and explore.
My husband and I are taking the basement level of our home to have a floor to ourself with our littles.
They are always right next to me at nights. This way, we have a TV area and a whole living area for our own privacy.
4. We are building an apartment in our garage with a separate entry-its own building . This will host family and guests. This is a work in progress. In the future, we might AirBnB this apartment out for extra income.
5. My husband and I are on the same page on so many levels now. The Lord has worked beautifully in our marriage. I support and come under him in his ministry and we share ministries together. Our house has peace. Such peace. I have learned that the best place a wife can be is under the shelter and protection of her husband. Anywhere else is dangerous. If that man loves Jesus, despite the trials, things to iron out, etc. a 3 cord strand is not easily broken. We are both at joy in daily life and our personal calling from the Lord in our household- minding our own lives. A big thing that has helped our marriage is my husband being able to work at times from home. This has blessed our marriage and life.
A couple is meant to cleave together and serve Jesus. Our earthly tent is most blessed when we all work together in the days of life- After all God placed Adam and Eve in a garden to tend. Its a blessing to work with animals, your land, and offspring. Seeing my husband's heart to be with me and the kids more at home has brought such peace on so many levels and God has provided. And, yes, he is still a pilot! His days are managed well, working all the time either way- home or abroad. More importantly, he helps me with the house, with the kids, and spends time with our kids. No person or influence can replace their earthly daddy or their earthly mama.
6. A beach getaway. We are driving with all our kiddos in a minivan to the ocean. Oh boy! We have a really nice air bnb house in the mountains on the coast, and we plan to go to beaches, exploring, and have some family time away with our kids.
A reason I am excited to homeschool my younger bunch, is that we get to travel more. I want to travel more with our kids and explore this beautiful country together . My kids high school supports abroad learning if we go somewhere, so they don't miss class. Not all the time, but just some fun planned vacations for a week or so at times throughout the year. Its important to have fun together when everyday is filled with so many chores, such routine, and work (which is a blessing). I plan to continue to travel with my children, see them, visit them, and have adventures serving Jesus with them as they are out of the house and older- however God provides.
My dream list of USA places/ states to visit: Holmes County, Ohio-fell in love with amish country years ago and want to go back...North Carolina, Smoky Mtns. Tennessee, Maine, Great Lakes around Michigan, and Alaska ...
7. What else? The Dogs are doing well. We are always busy cleaning this blessing of a house of ours, doing creative projects, remodeling, improving etc.
Cleanup after winter is a real deal. Spring cleaning for mountain towns. We are in the processing of shampooing carpets, donating to the thrift stores, cleaning cars, and will be doing lots of yard cleanup.
Bri
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