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Observant – Five Minute Friday

I am back to do a Five Minute Friday post again! I love these posts, and I love that I am setting aside time to do them again.

This week, the word is Observant. So, here we go, five minutes, no planning, no editing, just writing!

Observant

This is a tough word. There are many other words that could be so much easier for the first time back. 

Over the last year, I have become observant of a lot of things.

I am observant of how my kids are dealing with changes, even though we have homeschooled from the beginning, they are still missing out on things and friends. 

I am observant of my husband and his health. Things have changed, and I need to know what they are and what happened to possibly cause the changes.

I am observant of my time with my family. I want them to know that I am fully present to be with them when they need me the most. 

Finally, I am observant of myself. I have learned that I need to care for myself if I am going to be caring for everyone else. If I am staying up too late, not drinking enough water, or eating crap food, this won’t help me care for everyone else who needs me.

Being observant, in my mind, is making sure that I am quiet and watching. Sometimes asking questions as they come up, but mostly paying attention.

How have you been observant lately?

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Progress ~ Five Minute Friday

I am back for another Five Minute Friday. I am enjoying this time to just write. Not about homeschooling or reviews in particular, just writing. If you haven’t heard, Five Minute Friday is when we get a writing prompt. We have five minutes to write with that prompt. No planning, no editing, just writing. This week the prompt is progress. Oh, what a word! And here I go…

Progress is a forward or onward movement. This does not mean you achieve the end result, you just keep moving forward. This is what I live daily. I just keep moving forward.

When times get tough, I just keep focusing on my progress. I have come so far, I have endured so much, I just keep on my progress.

My progress is not the same as others. I want to make sure that my progress includes opening and reading my bible daily. Even on the tough days, the days when progress feels like it is so far away. Keeping a journal of my blessings and troubles allows me to see the progress I have made over the years. From when we first learned of my husband’s health issues until today when all progress seems to have failed us. I can look back on those journal entries and see how far forward we have moved.

Progress is us moving forward no matter the circumstances, just keep moving forward. We are not looking for perfect, we are looking for progress at all times.

So what does progress mean for you? Does it mean just putting one foot in front of the other, or does it mean something else, something more? Please share what the word progress means to you, I would love to hear in the comments!

Find more posts on progress and Five Minute Friday right here.

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Respect ~ Five Minute Friday

I am back with another Five Minute Friday. Five Minute Friday is when we get a word prompt and spend just five minutes writing. No planning, no editing, just writing.

This week the word is Respect. What do I have to say about respect in just five minutes? Here we go…

Respect, I have grown up learning to respect my elders. But what does that mean?

Dictonary.com defines respect as : esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability or to show regard or consideration for.

Respect to me is a two-way street. If anyone wants respect, they must give it. But who is to start? Do you have to wait for someone to give respect to you before you give respect to them? What if they are waiting for the same thing from you?

Did Jesus wait for people to show respect to him? Or, did he give respect to those who came to him before they gave any to him? From my understanding, he freely gave respect to many. He didn’t expect it in return.

So, respect should be given. It should not be expected in return. We should respect all those around us, whether we agree with them or not. I think during these trying times, we should look back into the bible and see how things, how respect was given. We need to take notes and apply them to our daily lives.

If you want to read more about what others thought of the word respect for Five Minute Friday, check it out right here.

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Smile ~ Five Minute Friday

I am back again for another Five Minute Friday post. One word, five minutes. There is no planning, no editing, just writing what comes to mind.

This week the word is Smile. Here I go…

What does the word smile mean to me?

When I hear the word smile I think of my kids. I love to see them smile. Knowing that their smile is gold to me.

I love to smile when I think of them learning in our homeschool. Knowing that I am the one teaching them and that they are learning about God and using the bible as our history spine.

I smile when I know that my kids will grow up knowing and loving God. At least I pray they do. I will give them a strong foundation, one they can lean on when the world is trying to change their mind.

I love seeing them smile as they reach a goal, finish something hard, and just get through a day sometimes.

I love seeing the smiles at church. I miss seeing those as we have not gone back yet. My husband is very immunocompromised, so we are extra careful. Not fearful, just careful.

I love that when you smile, you can see it on your whole face, not just your lips. Your eyes light up and smile. Your whole face is a smile.

I love that giving smiles is free. Smiles are contagious. You can pass a smile and see great results.

One smile can change someone’s life.

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Endure ~ Five Minute Friday

I am posting a day late for the Five-Minute Friday, but I am blaming my internet for that one! It was funky for me all night. But that can lead me to my word for this post…endure.

To Endure is a thing for me. I have endured a lot. From many life changes to trying new things. But I would not trade what I have learned for anything. I do not mind having to endure when I come out on the other end with more knowledge than when I started.

But one thing that I have also learned, I could not endure without my faith in God and my time spent learning from the Bible. If I had not found my current church family, learned what I have learned from them, and taken my learning of my bible into my own hands, I would not be able to endure the trials we have gone through.

With my faith and understanding of the Lord, I would be lost during this time. However, I know that everyone has had to endure before they meet God. Everyone has had to endure before the glory is given to them.

When we are called to endure, we must remember that this can bring us closer to God. All we need to do is open our bible and read of those who have endured before us. By opening your bible, you can find many who have endured before you. This will give you courage, no matter what you must endure.

What is your favorite bible verse about enduring?

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Worth – Five Minute Friday

It is Friday again. That means it is time for me to spend five minutes writing about one word. This week the word it Worth…wow…this will be tough!

For me, my worth is a lot. I want to be worthy of my children. I want to be the mom they need. I wonder and worry everyday if it is enough for them.

I want to be worthy of my husband. I want to be the wife he deserves. I want to honor and respect him and be worthy for him.

But most of all, I want to be worthy of God. I want to be the child of His. I want to show that He means so much to me. I want my worth to be in God most of all.

When people think of me, I want them to say, she is a child of God. She loves her husband and children, but most of all God.

The month of July, I am taking the time I need to show myself the worth that I have in me. I plan to focus on my kids, my husband, my relationship with God, and our homeschool. I want my kids to know God like I know Him so they can find their worth in Him as much as I strive to.

So, when it comes down to my worth, I hope that I can show that my worth is in God and is passed on to my family.

Check out more Five Minute Friday posts on Worth right here:

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How – Five Minute Friday

I am getting myself back into blogging. I know, I said this before, but I am serious this time! I want to keep sharing with everyone about our journey, homeschool and live in general! So, what better way then the Five Minute Friday blog to help me out!

This week the word is How. I have five minutes to write, no planning, no nothing…just write. So, here I go…

How…

Wow, what a word…one that I ask myself everyday. How do I make it through the day? With homeschooling, working from home, taking care of a disabled husband, taking care of myself. How do I do it?

Not only that, but I have others ask me, How do you do it? I don’t know. I don’t think about it. I just do it. But when I do think about it, I do know How.

The only way on How I do what I do, is because of my faith in God. I rely on Him for my strength, my willpower, my everything. I could not do what I do without Him.

I love what I do, I love my family, and I would never stop homeschooling or stop helping my husband. They are my why, so when people ask me How, I guess I am surprised. I don’t worry about the How, I know that will be taken care of by God. If He didn’t want me to be in this life, He would not have put me in this life.

I have to remind myself, when I ask myself How, when others ask me How, I need to give the glory to Him for giving me the strength to do what needs to be done!

Do you want to find others who took the time to write about How for five minutes? You can find them here.

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Five Minute Friday – Direction

FMF Direction

It has been a long time since I did a Five Minute Friday. These are one-word writing prompts that you spend five minutes writing about, create an image, link up here on Kate’s post, and encourage your link neighbor.

Today’s prompt is Direction.

I sit back and wonder about the direction that I am going most days. I feel like I get up and go. I don’t have time to think. I have many things on my list, time with God, being a wife to a husband with many health issues, homeschooling  3 of our 4 kids, taking care of the house, and trying to fit in time to work and blog. My direction is changing every day.

One direction that I want to be in control of, is my direction to focus on God. Focus is my word for the year, with an emphasis on focus on God. No matter what direction I go, I pray that I go to Him. I want to be close to Him in all I do.

My directions are changing every day. I have a lot on my plate. But, with my focus on God, my direction will be guided by Him. That calms my mind in the busiest of times. Knowing that He will guide me if I listen.

Whether my direction is up, down, left, right, or any other way, I pray that God will guide me. I pray that my direction will be guarded by Him. I pray that my direction will delight and please Him.

FMF Direction

Wow. My Five Minute Friday is short this week! I know that if I keep doing this, I will be able to focus more. Keep watching for more of my Five Minute Friday posts!

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Create – Write 31 Days

I am late with today’s post! But I am getting it done! Today the word it Create!

In our homeschool we love to create, anything! We can be building, drawing, painting, using LEGOs or just pipe cleaners. Creating is something that the kids just need to do.

Sometimes I don’t know what to do with the kids when they want to create. I want them to have structure, but I was never the one to create much, other than writing, when I was growing up.

This is when I love to use my membership to SchoolhouseTeachers.com and take a look at their art courses! These courses are great to fit into our homeschool day and allow the children to create when and how they want. This takes the stress off of me and allows them to learn!

Everyday Easels is a great course that works for all kids! We love to learn about different pieces of work. Not only that, but there are different activities for the different ages in your homeschool. These are a great way to allow your child to create, without you needing to plan and figure out what to do.

When I want Moe Man to be able to create, I look at Studio Art for Teens. This is a great way for him to get things off his chest through drawing. This is a great art course for high school, and it equals a full credit if you are looking at high school credits!

Just because we homeschool, and I am not one to create in a way my kids want to, does not mean they are not able to create. I just have to find a great resource like SchoolhouseTeachers.com to help in the areas that I am lacking.

How do you allow your children to create in your homeschool day?

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Tell – Write 31 Days

Day number 2 in the Blogging through October. Today the word it Tell…so let me tell you a little about what we are going through…

Back in February, Daddy went through something I would not wish upon my worst enemy. He had his spine cut open to drain a buildup of spinal fluid. We are now in October and Daddy is still home, he is still suffering. He is still trying to heal, with no real signs of healing happening.

We were told that we should see some signs of getting better by now, but we haven’t. Daddy is still suffering, every day. While he doesn’t always say it. While he gets out and does things with the kids to see their smiles. Daddy is still in the middle of healing. He is still in the middle of pain, every day!

When you mess with the spinal cord, and all the nerves that run through there, you mess with a lot! I would never want to be a doctor who has to open a spinal cord up and decide what to do next. There is so much that could go wrong, but when you are wanting the best for your patient, you will do anything you think you can to help them.

Let me tell you a little more…

Daddy is still in pain. Every day. Daddy deals with not being able to sleep, or he sleeps for days on end. Both of these suck. Both of these drain a person. We don’t know what is happening. Now is the hurry up and wait time. We are in-between scans. We know what we see, what he feels, but we have to stop and wait for the doctor.

We pace the house. We pray all night and day, We try something new and jump when it helps, yet cry when it doesn’t, or when it stops.

Let me tell you, if you have a bad day, it is not that bad. If you have a small pain, it is not life threatening. If you have one night where you can’t sleep, it is not 5. Be thankful. You could be worse. Remember that if you can get up and move, you are having a better day than others. Thank God for that day. If you slept the night before, you have done better than others, thank God for that.

Let me tell you, if you are able to thank God for something, please pray for those who want to thank God for the same things you just did!

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