Our Family Circus

Last night, we celebrated the birth of Miss B, 4 years ago. She was beyond exhausted and had trouble calming down to rest. Through her tears, she asked if I would rock her. I had pulled the rocking chair out of her room to give them more play room but now, it was being requested. I pulled the rocking chair back into her room and snuggled up with Miss B in her fuzzy robe, "night hat" on, and blankie in hand. (She wears a hat her Nana made her when she gets out of the warm bathtub and sleeps in it.) I would have never dreamed I would be back in the rocking chair with a 4 year old. As I rocked and Baby Praise played, I was able to once again reflect on all that God has taught me in the seat of that rocking chair. My heart became filled with the honor of rocking a child to sleep, the smell of clean baby shampoo fresh from her little hat wearing head and the responsibility I have to her-to protect her, grow her, and lead her. It leaves me humbled that God would entrust us with suc...

This is what Miss B looked like on a Friday when we went on a field trip. She and Dolly enjoyed trying on the pioneer type clothing from the Civil War era. Dolly likes the Little House picture books so this was right up her alley! (note the outlet in the background!) The following Saturday, the 2 oldest children and I were preparing for a trip out of state to attend my niece's high school graduation. I knew the event would be too much for Miss B and we agreed that she and daddy (who had to work) would stay home. In the busyness of packing suitcases and doing chores at the house, I was doing laundry. The large capacity washer and dryer can hold a lot of little clothes and those were the ones I was washing. I folded them all in the basement and headed upstairs to find these out on the bathroom counter... a wastepaper basket pulled out with shiny, long, red deposits in it and this little face, Proud as Peacock! This is picture was taken after she was informed that cutting her own h...

Too often bedtime is a mess! If I get started later then scheduled, it is a rushed process. In the rush, the little ladies have a hard time falling asleep. My impatience carries right over to them! It seems most likely to happen when the day has been long for both My Dear and I or when My Dear is away at bedtime. It eventually comes down to the girls needing a back rub, an extra million hugs, a song, or for Miss B. to be rocked. I know it would take about 10 or 15 minutes but I am still too anxious to do it. But when I put the me aside, I climb to the top bunk to whisper sweets into Dolly's ear and give her those extra squeezes. It is like medicine for her she goes to sleep feeling calm and loved. Miss B. grabs her bb and is ready to "wock." She even makes a request of what song she wants me to sing. On those nights, in the dark of the girls' bedroom, with the sound of a squeaky glider, the warmth of a sleepy toddler against me, and the sound of sweet voices, I enter ...

We usually leave our shoes at the door when we get home. All three of the children, as toddlers,made note of this and would ask us where we were going if we had our shoes on. I recall them telling My Dear to take his shoes off as soon as he got home to insure he would not be leaving. With cooler temperatures, the tile was cool yesterday and I wore flip flops in the house. As I was seated with my flip flops on, Miss B. sat at my feet and asked me to take my shoes off. She has been a bit needy and I knew she wanted me to stay put. She was so needy in fact that she had hauled her precious blanket around all day. The blanket is small and was pink, once upon a time. She calls it B.B. It is the essential tool for boo-boos, hurt feelings, and for a sleepy little girl. I explained to her that the floor was cold on my feet and I would continue to wear my shoes. She again asked me to take my shoes off. I repeated why I had my shoes on. She then took her precious BB and laid it at my feet and sai...

Before I homeschooled , I wondered how it worked-what does it look like? Now, I wonder from year to year, what it will look like with Miss B. in tow! So here is a shot from the first day! She wanted to be like the big kids. So she has her own journal, stickers, markers and a shelf of activities that are just for her. Yesterday she learned that, she has to put one thing away before she can get another out. (I hope that information transfers to her room and the rest of our home.) As I looked her journal, she also taught herself same and different. She placed colored smiley face stickers in her journal-yellow with yellow, blue with blue and red with red. I am glad I stepped out of her way so she could show me what she is learning. Today when Dolly finished part of her work, she helped B. with this activity to add to what she did yesterday. It was so easy and kept this little one busy. Both big kids wanted to work with her as well. Dolly chose a sticker for B. B. took the stick...