skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Long time readers of my blog will know that I have struggled with finding a routine for the past four years. I am beginning to realize that routine is probably lost forever. I do not imagine that I can sit down and write out one schedule and tell you that that is the way each day goes. Routine is difficult first of all because my husband works shift work. Monday he was at work during our school day. Tuesday he got off shortly before we finished and today he didn't have to work until 5 p.m. But here is a glimpse of our first few days:
On Monday we began with PE - a brisk walk around the neighborhood. Then we had our back to homeschool breakfast. After that, Holly did some typing practice while I took a shower. Next we dove into the academics; History, Science and Language Arts. We are still waiting on our math program to arrive - one more obstacle in my quest for routine.
Tuesday was basically the same minus the back to school breakfast. (I cook breakfast approximately two or three times a year, give or take.) Holly was working on her independent work when we had to dive under the table and pray for our own safety during the earthquake. More on that here.
Today John was off and he was a sweetheart and made us some French toast. He accompanied us on our walk and then we came home and enjoyed that treat. While we were eating he asked if we wanted to go out to lunch. Who turns down going out to lunch? Besides, he missed our back to homeschool breakfast so I thought a back to homeschool lunch with Dad was a good idea. Maybe it should be a new tradition too! So we did History and Science and then got ready to go out. (Still no math program) We also went shopping for some emergency supplies should Irene decide to pay us a visit. Not to mention I'm still a bit rattled over the quake from yesterday. (Why don't we name earthquakes?) We returned home and skipped Language Arts. Holly did her independent work and that was the end of day three.
John begins midnights this week so he will be in bed during our school hours. I'm assuming that Thursday and Friday will go much like the other three days. Next Monday we will add homeschool band to our schedule and in mid September Holly will take art and a literature and composition class at a local co-op. I suppose if I could sum up a day in our life in one sentence (and probably a run-on) it would be, "Trying to homeschool on most weekdays yet adding some flexibility to our schedule to mesh with John's along with some surprises that life throws in."
John worked a 13 1/2 hour shift. He came home shortly after 1 PM. Tired. Hungry. I warmed up a plate of leftover spaghetti for him and he relaxed a bit in front of the TV. Seemed to be a typical scenario in our home. His job as State Trooper is stressful. Police work always is because you never know who it is you are stopping for a simple speeding ticket. On top of that, he works long hours; taking every overtime assignment available to help pay for college.
It was close to 1:45 when he went to lie down. "Sweetheart, would you come rub my back a bit before I sleep?" He talked briefly about his day as I rubbed his shoulders. Then we heard a noise. A rumbling. It sounded like a huge truck coming down the street. "What is that?" I asked. It became louder. The floor was shaking. Earthquake! I ran down the hallway, through the living room. Our small house never seemed so long. I entered the den where Holly had been doing her school work. She was under the table. I joined her. Together we felt the house sway back and forth like a swing - or a strange ride at King's Dominion might be a more accurate description. No seat belts. No safety bars. Only a simple prayer for God to keep us safe. I don't know how long it lasted. John wasn't far behind but the danger was over before he got to us. He checked things outside. Everything seemed fine. Life was back to normal, even if my insides were still shaking.
Each and every day I can find something to be thankful for. Some days these blessings, these gifts are more obvious. Today I am thankful for:
- water coming out of my faucet
- electricity coming through the wires of my home
- phone coming from . . . somewhere
- food in my pantry
- and refrigerator
- safety in an earthquake
- my little girl who remembered what to do when I wasn't in the room when danger loomed
- technology
- facebook to connect with family and say we are fine
- friends who care
- the promise of Christ's soon return
- a successful first day of school
- my sweet girl working diligently
- new school books
- a cooler summer day
- wisdom
- a multitude of counselors "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety." Proverbs 11:14
- God Who knows me by name
- and loves me
- every moment that God is watching over me and I don't even think about it
What are you thankful for? You can share your blessings at Ann's
Holly is still away at camp. This year they have a new program where they can choose from several "classes" like archery and hiking. I heard from one of the other kid's mom that ALL of our group chose to do arts and crafts in order to escape the heat! Who can blame them in this oppressive suffocating weather. It's supposed to be 96 there today with a heat index of 105.
Today John is going on his own adventure. He is going with a good friend of his to Pensacola to visit with Gabriel and Hannah. I know that many of you think that I am CRAZY not to go and see my kids but let me explain. First of all, I have my own trip planned to fly down in October. Second, on short trips like this, it's easier to not take the whole family. John will be able to spend more individual time with them. Plus there is a major factor that some John's days off are while Holly is still at camp. Finally, and might I add mainly, it's JULY. I do not want to be walking around the college campus in this scorching heat. I melt. I get raging headaches. It wouldn't be an enjoyable time. So I am staying home. I enjoy these rare moments when I have some time to myself. I have a lengthy to-do list and hope to get a portion of it accomplished before Holly arrives at home tomorrow night. What do you do when you're home alone?
John's graduation from the Virginia State Police academy is this Friday!! Excitement is in the air at the Woodward house. We have several families coming from Rochester, NY - John's two brothers and a high school friend. We have so much cleaning and shopping to do. John and I were talking about plans for the party afterward. I am already starting to get emotional. For those of you who do not know me in real life, I cry easily and frequently. I cry on both joyful and sorrowful occasions. And I just can't help it. I have read romance books where a woman bites her lip to keep herself from crying. It just doesn't work for me. When the tears want to come, they do and I can't stop them. Emotional occasions such as the one coming up on Friday are the perfect opportunity too. It reminds me of my wedding day. A day when I was sure it would be Niagara Falls. But something else happened. I was up on stage in front of everyone, facing John, when something struck me as funny. I don't know what. Perhaps it was just nerves. But I started laughing. It wasn't an out loud guffaw as seen on you tube of late. But I was afraid it would end up like that. I couldn't even look at John. I looked over his shoulder and said my vows while trying not to bust out laughing. I actually pulled a muscle in my side in my attempt to hold the laughter in. I tried to think of something sad but couldn't'. Then I looked at my older brother and he had a tear coming down his cheek. Awww!! His love and care for me did the trick and I was able to make it through the rest of the ceremony. But what will I do on Friday? I am not ashamed to allow a few tears of joy to run down my face. But I don't want to be there boo-hooing buckets either. And I certainly don't want to laugh! I think I need to watch a really sad movie and get all the tears out of my system. Meanwhile, I think I'll get a good night's sleep. Any suggestions for a good tear jerker?
I was a school teacher in 1987 when I married John. He was a Richmond City police officer. Everyone who knew John acknowledged the fact that he was in the right profession. Police work was in his blood. He loved what he did. He became a Virginia State Trooper in 1988 and I never saw a change in our future. I imagined living life in that one city; stable, secure, certain. Little did I know that God had a different plan when He called John into the ministry just four years after we were married. Since that time, John has worked at a rescue mission, gotten a BS degree in Biblical Studies while he worked full time and finally we went to Romania as missionaries. All the while, I was raising babies, youngsters and then teens. I was learning to be frugal on a slim budget and doing my best to teach them at home. Our life has rarely been stable or certain as I had imagined it would be; chaotic and sporadic are the adjectives that pop into my head. But throughout these many years, God has taught us that He is faithful and true. He is the Rock that we can stand on when the storms of life are raging all around us. He alone is steadfast and unchanging. He alone knows the next step of our journey. I am learning that He knows all about my tomorrows and I am learning to trust Him for each day.
The above paragraph was written on March 16, 2007, the day after we returned from Romania. We had absolutely no clue as to where our life would end up. At that point we never dreamed that God's path would lead us back to Virginia and the State Police. Never did we imagine that after giving up our life in 1992 that God would give it all back. My heart is full and I have many more things to say about this subject. But for now, I just want to say that God is good. All the time. Praise the name of the LORD.
I really want to, need to start blogging again. Facebook is fun but my thoughts are "here today, gone tomorrow." I need a more permanent place to record our daily happenings. So I figured that I would begin again today, the end of the year, rather than waiting for January first.
Today is a rainy, drizzly day. It seems an appropriate end to this year where John and I have spent more days apart than together. In some ways, it has flown by like Time seems to do. But in other ways, it has been long and dreary and I am ready to see 2009 come to an end. After today, John has only five academy days left plus graduation day. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter!
Have a Happy and Blessed New Year!
