Yesterday I was a bit discouraged. We were trying to do bible study and I'm not kidding, it's like instantly I have things to battle against. Usually I battle right through it but this time I just walked out. The kids were getting along until I said bible study and it's like the atmosphere changed. This is almost a daily issue. They LIKE bible study time. I don't know what it is. Well, I guess I DO. It's spiritual. This time I just walked out. I was done and I didn't want to battle it again. I didn't even work with them on their homeschool or chores. I went in my room with my babies and stayed in there for an hour. Then I quietly just starting doing my chores around the house. It's easy peasy doing chores without homeschool to worry about. Without enforcing chores with the kids. I didn't sin with my words at all but the kids could see I was sad. The more quiet I was the more things they tried to do to see me smile again. It was actually kinda cute. Ryan made me food as a gift. Ashley walked up to me and played a song on her harmonica. The rest started doing their chores on their own. It was actually really sweet.
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| View of boys through my kitchen window |
While I was doing the dishes I looked out my window and saw some workers digging with shovels in the empty field next to my house. The church nearby is trying to convert it into a park for kids to play. I knew it was hot out and thought maybe there was a good life lesson in helping for my boys to learn. I called the boys over and let them see out the window. I didn't want to force it because then it wouldn't be true volunteering. I explained what I've always explained about J.O.Y = Jesus first, Others second, and yourself last. This was a good chance to help out even though it wasn't easy work. My boys happily got their shoes on and went over. They asked them, "what can we do to help?" They were each given shovels. I was a happy mommy seeing them through my window as they helped do some hard work.
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| Ryan and Kyle waiting for camera on right. :) |
Almost an hour later a news crew showed up. The boys came running back to our house because they needed permission to be in the video. I was like, HUH? They said they were running a piece about the project that was to be happening there. Of course I was okay with it and thought it would be such a neat experience for them to see behind the scenes video work. They worked awhile longer unloading stuff from a truck. Eventually more kids showed up. I guess they had planned on some kids doing a painting project and wanted to show kids painting together. Then they had my kids working in the garden beds that have been planted out there and then interviewed Ryan about some peppers that were grown there. The kids went from going over there for maybe just an hour or two to six hours! They had such a fun day. What made me so happy is they had such a right attitude about work with no reward, but somehow ended up being rewarded through some really fun experiences that are exciting and new for them. :) I went from being a sad mama to a proud mama pretty quick.
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| Kyle painting a message on a stepping stone |
The girls even got to run over and paint after the camera crew left. They were like PAINTING! YES! I'm not a big fan of painting which is why I hardly can stand to paint the walls in my house. Argh!
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| Ivy |
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| Ashley |
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