Field Trip to Zoo...

Had a fun filled day with Taylor's school at the zoo. They are so fun at this age.

Thinking of my family from back home... miss you guys. There is nothing like having a great mom and sister. I think the greatest gift my parents gave me was creating the relationship I have with God and teaching me that family is always there for each other. I thank my family for always being there for us through thick and thin. What a great message it passes on to Taylor and Aiden. Love you guys!

Education is not about filling the pail it is about lighting the fire...

(don't forget to turn down my volume on the playlist on the bottom)

Yes, you may think I am crazy... I know, sometimes I think I'm crazy! Someone once said to me, "Your conscious is God's way of talking to you". We have felt this pull for over a year and feel we need to try out this avenue for the time being. I still live by that verse Jeremiah 29:11, "For I have plans for you"...

One of the things I have been praying about for the last year is something I can't believe I am going to be doing (most likely) with Taylor in fall. Homeschooling... something I have been learning so much about in the last year. I know a lot of people feel that kids that are home schooled are not socialized and are missing out. I may have been one of those people once upon a time. I was so ignorant as to what homeschooling is really about.

I have been learning about this exciting way of education for the last year and a half. 1.5 million kids are doing homeschooling now. So why am I choosing this option? Well, my daughter Taylor has been begging me to do this for the last year. What do you do with a kid that everything is way to easy? She goes to private school and I spoke with the principal several times about how the curriculum was to easy for her what could they do? She told me, "We can't teach to one student" and that eventually Taylor will just drop back with the rest of the kids. Why would I want her to "drop back" ? I don't want her to lose her love for learning. Obviously, I know that they can't teach to one student but why not give extra work for her on the side? Well, long story short I kept her there this year (I looked at other schools as well) and we have been supplementing her at home this whole year. I have had to hear everyday how easy school is and how she is "hating" it now. I can't blame her, when I have looked at her Math it is what she was doing last year in Kindergarten!

Taylor has always had a love of learning and slowly has been losing it this year. I feel like I dropped the ball and should have done something earlier. We looked at several other schools but felt she would be in the same boat. I wish I would have had that "gifted" problem in school, I was on the other end of the spectrum in those early years. I struggled. I guess that is what drew me into special education, so I could help others... not knowing it would be my own kids!

Chad and I attended a meeting with other home schoolers and the dads spoke about why homeschooling is working for them. Mostly said, being able to create an education that was tailored for their kids needs and flexibility being a military family was also very big. It was such a positive experience that Chad has been on me to homeschool, I have been the one dragging my feet. I would have never thought in a million years Chad would be pushing me to do it. I guess when you see your kid so unhappy with school after she loved it last year, it made us think.

Going to school for teaching other kids was great - but why am I afraid to teach my own? I guess the thought of having so much influence on my children has scared me to death. Then I heard a speaker talk about she said, "No one cares about your kids more then you, so why not do all you can for them"... and I thought that was so true.

I went to the St. Louis Homeschool Expo for three days. Let me tell you, even if you aren't into homeschooling the seminars I attended where just so uplifting. I heard Steve Demme (MATH U SEE) and Jeannie Fulbright (APOLOGIA) speak - they were wonderful. Great advice on parenting and all different subjects. I can't wait to go to another expo, it was just so informative. It was really neat to see what type of people homeschool. So many professional people just wanting the best education for their kids. It was great to hear what was working for them and what wasn't.

Do I think I will homeschool forever? No, I will take one day at a time - hopefully a year at a time but I am not going to put anything in a box and throw away the key. Would I feel like a failure if it doesn't work? I don't think of life as failing, I think I would be failing if I didn't try something she really wanted me to do and is so passionate about learning. If something isn't working I won't be afraid to change it. That is the great thing with homeschooling there is no right or wrong way. I have been looking at all the curriculum and probably could give a speech on that as well! So this will be our new adventure this year.

It is interesting hearing from people or seeing their reaction when we say we are going to do this. Like are we crazy? Trust me, we didn't go into this not understanding or researching it. On Fridays, there is a coop that meets and Taylor will be able to take classes. They have anything from language, history , Math to robotics. There is a school where she could go one day a week for Fine Arts, she will have piano, swimming and soccer and of course church. So I think she will be just fine. My big thing is will I be fine? ha ha. It will be a change having her at home all the time. She is my "Type A" daughter, but I love her to death. I am going to be working with Aiden as well but let him continue where he is so he gets the help he needs right now. Then in November Sun Fen hopefully will be joining our family and Taylor will have a partner in crime.

So anyways, now that you all probably think I have lost my mind... that is what is new with us. Keep us in your prayers as it has not been an easy decision at all. I do thank God for all the people he has put in my way that I have been able to see and learn from them. So please keep us in your prayers as we journey out into this new thing. I would appreciate positive thoughts and not the negative as well. Trust me we are quite aware of what those negative thoughts are and just don't want to go down that road. One thing I have done this year, is really try to open myself up to new things and it is amazing how great I feel! Life is hard enough and we are about living the best life for our family. I will be starting another blog for our journey we are about to begin.

I thought this was a funny video..

Visits, Soccer etc...

Thought I would share these pictures of Aidens first soccer games and my parents visit over Easter. We had such a great time together. Busy, busy, busy but it was so fun. Life out here in the great Midwest is not going too bad. I have the attitude I need to make the best of wherever we end up for the time being. It took me awhile to get there but I am there. We have a great support out here and good friends. We have been busy with soccer, softball, church and brownies! I love all the activities for the kids, and they are loving it to. Ready for school to be over May 21st, that is for sure. Ready to start the new venture of our lives coming up...

What a great performance...

(don't forget to turn down my volume on the playlist on the bottom)

Someone shared this with me and thought I would pass it on. What a great message in this song. I have been so thankful for the peace that God has given me in the last few months about certain issues going on in our lives. I guess I shouldn't say "issues" but something that has been on our hearts for about 9 months, to do or not to do? Someone once told me that our thoughts are God's way of talking to us. I guess maybe I should start listening? I will share more about that later...

still waiting...

Good times

We are having a great time with my mom and dad! 80 degree weather here...

Waiting Anxiously...

My friend Maggie is over in China right now getting her newest daughter today. I so wish I could be there... here is her blog. She is going to post pictures later today. Her beautiful family is something to see. She has 6 daughters now, and let me tell you her home is pretty organized to say the least... I sure wish it were me traveling right now too..

http://toriecomeshome.blogspot.com/

I was just thinking how fast time is flying since we moved out here to Illinois. We almost have one year in - 2 more to go! I know it sounds like I am looking at this in a negative way, not at all. I actually have adjusted to the slower life out here and have kept us busy with things. Yes, of course I still miss the East coast, but in the meantime I am going to enjoy wherever I am - even if there is no water around (lol). I think the key is to stay busy and enjoy my kids to the fullest. I look at Taylor and can't believe that she will be 8. Where did time go? I never want to look back at life and be like, "I wish I would have done that"... Right now, I am trying to get together a unit study on dinosaurs she is so into that. Anyone have any good sites they would like to share?

I am slowly but surely getting back into my creative mode. I am trying to brush up on my photoshop and photography things. I have found a friend out here who is very creative - I can't wait to do some things with her... I will post more later on that.

Still working on the paperwork for my adoption, it seems like a never ending process. I have put it in God's hands and when it will be it will be. At this rate I am thinking October till we travel. In the meantime, I have been lucky enough to send some clothing and letters over to her. I am still trying to decide what to name Sun Fen. We will keep her Chinese name but also give her an American name. Chad likes the name "Mia", not bad but I don't feel it is that unusual either. I always like names with meaning, I guess we will see! We flipped a coin for Taylors name because we couldn't agree and who do you think won - Chad! I like the names, Avery, Tia, Tian, Autumn, Mahlia... who knows. I just can't wait to get her home.

updating once again..

Once again, I have been slacking in my blogging... I promise I will get better. I am so thankful that the sun is shining and it is getting warmer out. I thought I would share with you the latest picture I got from Sun Fen... it is so precious. Yes, we are still trying to adopt her, it just seems like this state makes adoption much harder then NJ was. Something that took us 4 months to complete in NJ is now on 8 months here... So please keep us in your prayers. Taylor is still so happy to be getting a sister. We are thinking at this rate it could be September until we travel.

The kids are doing great. Aiden just started soccer - he is so cute. He is like the "Little Engine That Could"... he is one of the smallest out there but he loves it. He always wants to be doing what Taylor is doing. Taylor also is in soccer right now, it is cool to see how far she has come in the last 2 years... she is still my little heart and soul.

I am trying to get back into my side business adventures... I really need to! I feel like I am just getting into the groove of living out here. I have met some great ladies and that has helped, it is just different in the Midwest.... I miss the water, friends and family.

I am just adding a few pictures of the kiddos... I am thinking of creating a new blog so stay tuned. Hope you are all doing well!

P.S. This is what Sun Fens drawing translated to -

Jan 20,2010 (she wrote 2001)
Dear Daddy, Mommy, little brother and sister,
Hello! I kiss you all from China far away from you. I have dreamed several times that I flew to you and be with you all. I am doing very well here. Dad and mom, don’t worry about me. I expect, expect come to you soon.
Your daughter, Xia Sun Fen