Family Blessings Tree

                        

This November our little family was blessed with an empty calendar and a heart to make this season intentional.

Though Levi is still little, he is grasping concepts and the world around him at a crazy pace.

So this November, each morning I would ask Levi what he was thankful for.

Out of construction paper I simply cut out a brown trunk and some leaves out of yellow, red and orange paper.

                                

Hearing what Levi was thankful for made me smile each morning. His little personality shone through. Like being thankful for "Baby Bear" and "Elmo".

Mr. Free and I also contributed when we remembered.

The tree has been up on a door in our dining room and it has been a blessing to see it each day and be reminded of just how good God has been to us.

                                      

I've really enjoyed doing this activity with Levi and I think it's helped put our hearts in a great place to begin advent. I pray that my son can grow with a heart of gratitude.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving full of quality time with the ones you love.

DIY magnetic train board

                          

Levi is currently LOVING playing with his "toot toot". (Thats what he calls his train set he got last year).

I love seeing him creatively play with it. It is adorable.

The one thing I don't like? How the pieces come apart and he screams in frustration because he's not quite old enough to piece the track together. Frustration for all.

I love the many train tables that are available for kids, but they are pretty pricey and take up a LOT of room. Room we don't have. Plus, I don't know how long he will be in his "toot toot" phase.

So I had seeen on Pinterest ideas for train boards. Basically taking plywood, painting it and then screwing the train tracks onto the board. The great part? It can just slide under the couch for storage.

The part I didn't like? The fact Levi wouldn't be able to move the tracks and items around when he gets a bit older.

I had also seen on Pinterest the idea of buying a giant Oil Drip Pan from the automotive section at Wal Mart and using it as a magnet board.

So I just merged the ideas together!

So here's how I did it;

                     

You can buy the drip pan for around $12 at WalMart. An amazing price considering its size,

Layout your train set and make sure it will fit the way youd like it to be set up.

                    

I then hot glued magnets to the bottom of the tracks.

No, it isn't a permanent way to keep the tracks together, but it does help and I want Levi to be able to recongifure it (rumor on the street is his grandma is getting him some more train pieces...)

                    

So I hot glued magnets on all the pieces and also numbered them in the order of putting the set together. I don't know why I didn't do that sooner....makes it MUCH MUCH easier!

                   

I then took all the pieces off and spray painted the drip pan a fun green.

I wanted it green to look like grass, but not a dark green. I wanted it fun and cheery.

Here is the spray paint I used

                    

It was like $4 at Wal Mart.

My next step was making accessories for his landscape.

I used some odds and ends I had in my craft stash.

I took blue foam and cut the shape of lakes and ponds, then hot glued magnets to the back.

I also cut out bushes from green foam and stiff felt. Attached magnets and glued some colorful buttons on a few to look like flowers.

                       

It was still missing something.

So I headed to Hobby Lobby to find some buildings and trees to add some dimension.

I forgot to take a picture, but I got 2 already painted trees. A 6 pack of wooden unpainted pine trees I painted and a 4 pack of unpainted wood houses I painted as well.

                      

I hot glued the trees and houses to some foam and then hot glued magnets to the foam.

They stood up! I was a little nervous about that!

                        

I think it looks much better with the trees and houses. And I know Levi will love arranging them!

                            

The hard part is going to be waiting til Christmas to give to him! It's hidden under our couch until Santa brings it to him next month.

I can't wait!!!

Home Preschool

For the time being, our family has decided to "home preschool".

Granted, our child is one.

But since Levi doesn't go to a daycare center and is with me most of the day, I knew I needed to start working on some of his academic skills.

And, I know I'm his Mama and I'm supposed to say this, but.... this kid has some smarts.

Must take after his daddy.

So after lots of research, we dove into the school year with our own little version of preschool.

Right now, at 20 months old, Levi's goals are:

Learning his colors

Learning shapes

Begin counting (he can count to 5!)

Begin identifying letters

Lots of reading together

Expand his vocabulary

LOTS of creative play

In our family room, I carved out a little area for his preschool things:

The key being that I wanted his items accessible, but organized.

Clearly labeled so that he can help in putting things back where they belong.

How I've structured our time is that we do mini-units every 2 weeks (give or take).

So for now, we are on "Fall".

We are still working on his general concepts (shapes, colors, etc.)

But through structured play that corresponds to the theme.

I've gathered a billion ideas from Pinterest, and organized them into a little binder so I can keep it all together.

 A fabulous blog to check out is 1 + 1+ 1= 1.

It is filled with everything you'd need to start Tot School inclduing free printables!

You can also follow my Preschool Pinterest board for ideas!

 Each week, on our book shelf is 3 baskets. 

Each basket has an activity or toy that goes with the theme.

They may be homemade stick puppets that go along with a book, blocks, toy animals, leaves, etc.

This helps keep toys fresh and interesting.

At Levi's age, with the attention span of an active one year old boy, we only do preschool for 20-30 minutes. Much of the time is lead by him. 

We usually have time for him to explore the activities in his basket, we then read a book that goes with the theme, then usually some type of art project.

Really? You can make it what works best for you and your little one.

This is meant to be intentional, fun learning.

To get started....here's items I recommend.

Laminator 

 I got this one at Target for $25.

You can get refill pouches for cheap on Amazon.

Definitely recommend this.

Velcro Dots

Work great when making puzzles or labels

Binder rings

For making your own books

Bookcase

So items are organized and accessible for little ones

Baskets

Lots and lots of baskets. Organization is key.

Kid size work space

A little table and chair are great for them to do reading or art

Magnet Board

Great for kids to manipulate items and practice storytelling

Paint Dot Markers

These are washable and fabulous for little hands!

And to help you get started, just right-click and download these labels I made in organizing your own preschool area!

Just print, laminate and attach to your baskets!

And for us, teaching Levi the Gospel is the center of our day.

I pray and strive to show Christ-like patience and love to him.

We look at the wonders outside and how our Creator made them.

We practice saying sorry and forgiving.

We read Bible stories and try to recall the characters.

We pray for those around us.

God has entrusted Levi's precious mind and soul to me to mold and shape and I pray daily for His wisdom.

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Is anyone else a "home preschooler"?

Have any great tips or resources?

Thankful

Today is Pregnancy & Baby Loss Remembrance Day.

A day I wish didn't exist.

I wish every positive pregnancy test ensured a healthy baby.

That pregnancy would be full of joy and anticipation.

That all baby's are born healthy and get to live a happy life.

But many of us know the cruel reality.

The dropping HCG levels.

The silent face of the technician during a sonogram.

The many heavy decisions to make.

The calls of telling loved ones the terrible news.

The sleepless night sobbing and wondering what could've been.

The feeling of helplessness.

The disappointment in your own body.

The surgeries.

The doctor's appointments.

The tucking away of cute baby things that bring too much sorrow to look at.

I also know we have a loving God. A Father who loves us.

That we do not know the plans He has for us. And for our children as well.

The year that we lost 3 pregnancies and underwent infertility testing and treatments were the darkest months I have yet to encounter.

I felt so alone. So isolated.

I felt incredible sorrow and jealousy.

I felt doubt and confusion.

But through it all...though I did not understand, I knew God was good and He had a plan.

That was my rock that kept me going.

It's been nearly 3 years since that very dark time.

The Lord has since blessed me with my sweet little boy.

I am thankful each and every day to have experienced a healthy pregnancy and getting to mother my son.

Motherhood is the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

It has grown me in so many ways.

I am not the same woman I was prior.

But I am thankful.

I am thankful that no matter where my life would be now,

whether I would still have empty arms and a broken heart,

or a home full of children.

My God is good.

And for that I am thankful.

I'm still here.

I'm alive. I promise.

We sold my laptop at the beginning of the summer, and that's where I did all my blogging (we are hoping to get an updated laptop this fall!). Plus, I was just enjoying spending time with my little family.

So I hadn't updated.

But hoping to get back in the habit.

So, here is a recap of the last 2 months in pictures.

It has been an absolutely amazing summer.

I have cherished the time I have had with my husband and wild little boy.

We had way too much fun and tried to cram in as much as we could into 2 months.

Tomorrow is the first day of school and Levi and I are beginning "Tot School" in the mornings when I'm home.

We did a little trial run this past week when I went back for teacher meetings.

I plan to do several blog posts about "Tot School" and what is and isn't working for us.

(The briefest summary: tot school is learning through active, intentional play)

I've also been making Busy Bags to help increase his learning of colors, shapes, animals and Bible stories.

I'll have several posts and those as well.

Here's to a great school year!!!

striving to live a simple, intentional & joyful life.

 So God is definitely working in my heart.

For the past several months, I have felt a need for simplicity in our lives.

The fast-paced world in which we live is just too much.

I've seen as a new-ish mama, how fast babies really do grow.

And I don't want to miss a second of my precious boys life.

A couple of months ago, God began working in my heart about living simpler.

And at that time, I thought it meant about "stuff".

Clear the clutter, buy less things.

I've made improvements in that area, but the last few days God has shown me there is so much more.

I've been reading some fantastic books lately about motherhood and simple living.

The latest book I've been reading has really opened my eyes...not to things I didn't know, but things I closed my eyes to.

Everyone needs to read this book.

It had been on my "to read" list for awhile, and I found it in the $5 bin at Mardel and scooped it up.

The premis of the book, is Jen, a pastor's wife, takes 7 months to focus on the excess in her life.

Each month has a focus (food, clothes, stress, etc.) and fasts from those items in some form.

(Only eat 7 foods for a month, give away 7 items a day, etc.)

It is written like a journal and you see her journey as she learns to let go and live much, much simpler.

Now, her measures are a bit extreme.

(Lord willing, I'm not going to just eat 7 foods for the rest of my life).

Her message is clear though.

As Christians, we should release our desire for stuff.

(clothes, a beautiful big home, dinners out)

And we should focus on those that don't have any.

I  had heard statistics before.

I know many, many children die of hunger each day.

I know some students that I have that may not get a decent meal over the weekend.

But I continue to live my indulgent life.

Starbucks, shopping, decorating, etc.

All while complaining about how poor I am.

*hangs head in shame*

You see, we live in a small-ish house.

We live in a lesser desired suburb.

We drive used cars.

Compared to many others in our family and social circle, I felt poor.

We had to scrimp and save to go out to dinner.

I would find loose change in my car in order to drive through Starbucks before work.

But I am oh-so blessed.

I have a home.

A home with plenty of space and that we can afford.

We live in an area that needs Christ.

God has placed us here for a reason.

We have reliable, paid for transportation.

We have 2 refrigerators full of food (2!)

We have clean water, indoor plumbing and medicine.

Though I selfishly feel poor for not having my every want and desire met, I am in fact in the top 1% of wealth in the entire world.

So here I am, one of the richest people in the world, praying to get richer while children die of hunger.

Gah, I make myself sick.

So here is my scripture mediation.

God has really shown me how blessed I am in so many ways.

And it's time for me to be grateful for that.

To say "enough is enough" to wanting more, and bless others.

I've already purged a lot of our things to donate to those who need it.

I am trying to use every scrap of food we have, instead of throwing old food away, simply because I "didn't want it".

I'm trying to slow down and enjoy each-and-every blessing.

Levi's giggles.

Fireflies at night.

Air conditioning.

Fresh-baked cookies.

This is going to be a journey my friends, and I hope to keep you updated as I go.

One of my new steps is that with each sale from my Etsy shop, I will donate a portion to the World Hunger Fund.

100% of the proceeds go to feeding the hungry around the world.

And through this vital task- thousands of people are seeing the love of Christ and accepting Him as their Lord.

So, here is my heart.

This is how God is leading me.

Pray for me as I try to live intentionally and simply and find the joy in each and every blessing.