My Artist/Jedi

I have not gone into a lot about my kids, probably due to the fact that most of my life revolves around them and it was kinda a nice change of pace. However my mother pointed out that I could print out my post as a journal of sorts and I am sure one day I will want to look back and remember cute things they did or said. So today I am going to give a short blog on Gideyon. Gideyon is our 4 1/2 year old son, who is all boy! If boys do it, Gideyon has or does it-runs everywhere, talks at abnormally loud decibels, makes messes everywhere he goes, constantly looks like Pigpen from Charlie Brown etc. However he is his fathers child which makes me smile just by looking at him!

For the last couple months he has been slightly obsessed with Star Wars, he tends to phase through stuff but this one has been more fun for us due to his father's lifelong goal of being a jedi:) So with Gideyon as the Padawan learner and Steve as the Jedi Master we have learned to control the galaxy at the Goodman house. Except for when Mom goes to the Dark side and has to bring everyone back to earth:) No really, Gideyon knows enough about Star Wars to play trivial pursuit in a competition which makes Steve the proudest dad ever! So today my little Jedi sits at the table and colors picture after picture of his favorite Star Wars "figgers" as he calls them. So above I have shown you what I consider the best likeness of Yoda ever. I will also give you my favorite Gideyon Star Wars quote to date: "Mom how do you spell R2D2?" If that doesn't strike you as funny try saying it outloud!:)

Yeah It's Monday!

I am probably one of the few people in the world who's favorite day is Monday. I love Mondays they allow me to get back on track, to right all the chaos the weekend has wrecked. I feel ready to tackle most weeks after spending Monday morning with my kids readying our house and setting up our schedule. I print out new chore charts and plan my kids school lessons. I don't do menus because that is on Thursdays but that's a whole separate blog:) I love how every Monday I get the chance to start fresh, last week may have been hectic or messy but this week I get another go. So happy Monday to everyone, I hope yours is off to as fresh a start as mine!

One Car Countdown

So if you have read my previous post you will note that our family is currently down to one vehicle. I do acknowledge that plenty of people manage to get along fine with one car, and some with no car! However our family has had two cars since forever so we are a little spoiled. Add to that the fact that I jam packed my schedule so the kids and I would have plenty to distract us after Steve deployed and then they postponed his date 6 weeks! So my very full calendar and his work schedule have required some serious juggling. In the spirit though of my never ending quest for contentment, I have come up with what I consider the top 5 benefits to sharing a vehicle.
1)More family time! Every time DH needs dropped off or picked up the kids and I drop what we are doing, grab our stuff and spend 15 extra minutes with Dad we would have otherwise missed.
2)Evaluate Schedule-Do I really have to run that errand? Can I combine any of our trips on and off posts. Can I schedule that appt for another day? All the things that I once just closed my eyes and planned I now think through a little more objectively.
3) Save Gas! Oddly enough we seem to be saving gasoline. I am guessing that all those days that he keeps the van and I am grounded at home are days I would have normally run around town (probably for no good reason!)
4) Better Schedule- Since we have to drop Steve off most mornings, we are getting in the routine of all getting up a little earlier, getting dressed, having breakfast as a family and heading out the door. As soon as the kids and I get back, we start right in on our daily schedule since we are already dressed and ready for the day!
5)More time at home- This kinda goes with number 2, but I just have been amazed at how freeing it is to be home bound. On the days Steve keeps the van, I know that I can really spend time that day on housework, the kids schooling, or even baking without fear that I will have to hurry to make it to the next deadline event. Why this week alone the kids and I have done school every day (which honestly since they are in kindergarten and preschool is alot!), I have baked an apple pie to surprise my honey, I organized a couple of closets and cabinets, and rearranged and spruced up Gillyan's room.
OK, so that is like my longest post to date but who doesn't like a countdown!

No place like home

Today I hosted a home show at woman's house whom I just covet! And after I got home I was in a little bit of a funk from being the green eyed monster. But you know what I decided? My home reflects me and yes there are a lot of things I would like to change or add if I had the funds, however I am sure that will always be the case. It isn't always clean and we don't eat as many meals as I would like there. However it is where my children want to be whenever we are away for a significant amount of time, it is where I get to sit and relax with my husband,it is where we do sit at a table and share meals, it is where I teach my children schooling, social graces, and biblical values, and most of all it is what God gave me. Now don't get me wrong plenty of yelling and fighting and messes go on in our home, but overall my house gives me a sense of satisfaction. So in my continuing effort to be content, I looked at my home through other eyes. And guess what.... There is No Place like My Home!

Bye Bye George

So for today's saga....
No really last week was hard and this week was peachy in comparison, however today did prove trying. Last week one of our hardships was that my husband truly got in an "accident" with our little Geo Metro. If you know us very well you know that "George" was more a pet than a car, so it was a little hard to take. So here we are this week adjusting to being a one car family and mourning the loss of George, when today our new van gets hit! If you are thinking you would like details, well so would I! It was a hit and run, I am guessing in the parking lot of Wal-mart(maybe there is a lesson there about to much Wal-mart) and I only noticed the damage once I was home and unloading. Needless to say I have made the claim and we are awaiting further word. I think maybe I am supposed to be learning something about staying at home more, but I am SLOW learner;0

What I Need

So I never cease to be amazed at how God knows what I need, even when I don't have a clue.
For those that don't know last week was one of the hardest weeks I have had in probably years. I won't spell out my sob story, but suffice it to say if it could go wrong it did! So that brings me to how God is so good. I am taking a Bible study on post called "Calm my Anxious Heart" and I have to be honest I signed up because I am somewhat of a control freak and because a friend that I just adore is teaching it. However when I actually got into that study I was astounded because it is talking about Contentment! Well that has been an area I have struggled with for years, and I just know God is going to use this book to teach me a few things about not always thinking the "grass is greener". We had our first class today and I took such a feeling of peace away with me today. I also was convicted that I need to pray for a "battle buddy" someone here in my area that can connect with me in only the way another Army wife can while Steve is gone. So please add that to your prayer request.

Everybody is Doing it!

Ok so I have to be honest I must be subject to peer pressure, because once I found out my Aunt, my sister, and most of my friends had blogs I had to do one too! Now mine is sure not to be as witty as my aunt's or as eloquent as my sister's, but I thought it would be fun anyways. Oh and to warn you I guarantee there will be grammar and spelling mistakes galore, so NO grades please!
Unfortunately I don't have a lot to put in tonight as it took me the computer genius an hour to set up my blog and profile. But hopefully I will having something more fun to report soon:)