Going through Holden’s papers from school tonight, I spotted the word “Mom”…
I found 2 treasures:
1. This feather for the Thanksgiving turkey with what he was thankful for.
2. This paragraph.
My mom Heather
Heather, my mom, is my best friend and is a great person.
My mom plays with me. She feeds me and she has blue eyes. She loves popcorn and most important she loves God and is a Christian.
Posted in Holden, Memories, My children
Tonight, Jessica, Jimmy, uncle Tim & Andy came over for our post-Thanksgiving gathering. And Bella started tossing a soccer ball to me while we chatted… and that gradually turned into all of us kids & grown ups playing catch.
So I threw out to questions to answer as you caught the ball.
First, what was the best part of your week?
Then, what are you hoping to do this next year?
Holden’s answers were awesome and I think very revealing about him.
1st catch: ‘To be a pastor’
2nd catch: ‘To see a shooting star, and wish upon it that I will get super powers to set things on fire with my eyes.’
Of course, with Andy Von Kanel in the room, this 2nd statement was followed by a flurry of ‘super power’ related plans… from Andy, Jimmy, Tim & Holden!
Then I asked ‘but what are some non-superpower related plans for this year?’:
7th catch: ‘To start a club to pass out tickets at school to any kids who don’t know about Jesus & want to go to church.’
8th catch: ‘To learn about God and memorize the rest of the Bible verses.’
This game was not serious, influencing Holden’s answers. Everyone else was giving silly answers, more in line with his super hero plans.
I am amazed how my sweet Holden is such a balance of serious & silly.
His heart is so sincere in seeking God.
At the same time, he is 6 years old.
I love it.
I love him!
Posted in Holden, My children
Last summer, Holden & I tagged along on Jessica’s family’s yearly trip to Camp Riverview on the Frio River. It was a blast. Holden is a little river rat and a flexible, laidback camper. I promised him we would be back!
After a busy June & July, our summer winded down in August. And my birthday was the 3rd & Holden’s is the 23rd…
So off we go to celebrate with our freshly-labeled ’2nd annual Mother-Son Frio trip’. We are going back to Camp Riverview, just down the road from Garner State Park. We are tent camping with just the basics. We are gonna shop together on the way to pick out our meal. We brought our bikes so when we aren’t floating we can explore. We are staying 3 days-2 nights. Can you tell I’m excited?
The bonus: on the way, we are going to the original Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels with Jessica, Jimmy and Marian, Jimmy’s mom!
The only drawback: Arabella heard the planning chatter, and started asking to come. I really felt sad, and made plans for a mini-trip to Galveston for her birthday.
I know I have done lots of one-on-one with her… And I really want to set apart special time with each kid… But it’s hard to not feel like you’re excluding the others.
Well, off to Schlitterbahn!
Posted in Arabella, Holden, My children, Parenting, Training/traditions
Holden and I just finished our first camping trip together. We arrived
@ noon on Monday, and immediately jumped in the Frio for 2+ hour
float.
Holden is an awesome River Rat, swimming in and out of his tube, not
even getting scared when we flipped on the rapids, and acting like a
little motor to pull me and Jessica alone.
Yesterday Holden spent from 10a-5p in the section of river by our
campsite. As we laid on the air mattress for a little rest, he said,
"when are we gonna swim again?"
After I replied, "not for awhile." he laid his head down crashed.
I loved camping with him. We enjoy the same things.
This might have to be our annual Mother-Son trip!
Posted in Holden, Memories, My children
So, Holden and I get to go camping on the Frio River this week
Monday-Thursday. I am so excited for 1-on-1 time with him. Plus I love
tubing!
God has laid it on my heart to homeschool Arabella and Holden next year.
It’s kinda weird because, when I felt like homeschooling might be my only option for Holden (at Christmas time), I didn’t want to do it. Then we found Veritas Christian Academy for Holden, and I started talking with them about Arabella attending there.
I remember feeling like I’d be devastated if Veritas didn’t let Arabella attend there.
Then Arabella started her 3 visitation days at Veritas. And I began to realize that I wanted the privilege I was trying to convince them they wanted – to teach my angel. And I realized that I am looking forward to spending lots of time with Bella as best girls in the post-school years… And I don’t want to get there and find her life has been wasted and she has been hurt.
Then I started getting excited. I almost didn’t send her to her 3rd visit to Veritas, except that I hadn’t worked out logistics.
So when last Monday Veritas told me they did not think they are a good fit for Arabella, I said, “I agree!”
SIMPLIFY
I’ve been wanting to simplify my life for awhile, mainly, so I can be better at the important things:
While I think I will be busy homeschooling, I will not be fitting training the children into the last 3, tired, hours of the day.
Posted in Arabella, Education, Holden, Homeschool, My roles
