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You are here: Home / HomeMaking / Habits / Keep Your Eyes Wide Open

December 9, 2011 by: Hodgepodgemom

Keep Your Eyes Wide Open

A peaceful spot. The boys examining a slug while listening to the birds.

Keep calm and count on. Encouragement posted above my coffee pot. You may remember, earlier in the week, I had a refocus? This has been the week for everything. Every possible event (and still going). But, they are each and every one – blessings. Midweek I said some weary words to Nana. She said, “I know it’s a full week. But keep your eyes wide open. Soak it all in. It passes all too quickly.” I’m so glad she continues to remind me of that. Because it would be so easy to hang my head in busy weariness.

So, this week, the Helpful Habit I’m sharing is: a reminder to keep your eyes wide open to all the gifts around you. Also, my friend, Melanie, posted a powerful post, asking Where is Your Identity Found? It’s worth a read in the midst of your busy as well. Includes a poem to print out. I’ll be back next week with a helpful habit for some mid-year homeschool planning.

image via A Holy Experience, pinned, printed and hanging where I will see it most.

Guess what else? My children need not hear any complaints from me. I am their cheerleader! And why shouldn’t I be? A cheerleader for the daily, lengthy practices. The dedication. The talent! And just look! Look at the happy!

Look! Ring the Bells, Sing Noel! Six-year-old’s choir.

Look! Middle Girl with her choir. She sang a duet!

Look! A Drama Troupe performance! O Holy Knight (set in medieval times just like our Tapestry of Grace studies – Middle Girl playing a scullery maid, above).

Look! Our Drama Troupe with 37 homeschool children and countless parent volunteers. These photos don’t reflect the additional routines performed: dowels, sign language, dance, ribbons and short skits.

Look! A skit, as well – A Christmas Carol – with a gospel message. (My eldest, above, as Belle, Scrooge’s former girlfriend)

Look! I love this photo of my eldest.

A quick phone photo look! 1. Making our favorite, easy, chocolate chip cake. Just because | 2. Christmas tree cheese! | 3. Felt friends | 4. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever | 5. New haircuts for 3 girls – an afternoon at the Beauty Parlor! | 6. My favorite drama production spectators – Nana and Littlest Girl | 7. Millipede interrupts math making for spontaneous nature study | 8. red and green math patterns | 9. a backyard wagon ride on a warm afternoon |10. 7th grader’s Teaching Textbooks math

Basically, our homeschool week was enjoying all the productions and celebrations. We managed to mix in a little math, a dab of spontaneous nature study, a dash of human body science lesson plus a good amount of cooking fun.

Bonus! Easy, last minute gift ideas your children can make! Don’t miss the girls (above), complete with chef hat and aprons, at $5 Dinners mixing up some hot chocolate gifts. Or for the bird lover, an easy, three-ingredient, homemade feeder.

Many thanks to our Friday hostesses…Camera Phone Friday hostess Dawn Camp @ My Home Sweet Home and…

Weekly Wrap-Up hostess Kris at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

 

That’s our week. Remember, we took December off? Ha!

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About Hodgepodgemom

Tricia faces a daily dose of chaos homeschooling five children. The biggest lesson she’s learned? At the end of the day – when the dishes are put away and the children are tucked in bed – truly what matters is each child’s relationship with the Lord. Raising children is a God-given privilege and, folks, the time is short.

The Art of Thank You Notes
Reindeer Mix a.k.a. White Christmas Snack

Comments

  1. Barb-Harmony Art Mom says

    December 9, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    Love the first photo…shows a lot about your children and how they have come to appreciate creation.
    As far as the “keep your eyes wide open”….been doing that since last year when I realized the days of homeschooling are winding down quickly.
    Thanks for the reminders.

    Reply
    • Hodgepodgemom says

      December 9, 2011 at 11:05 AM

      I knew you’d appreciate that top photo Barb! Nothing like a little quiet over a slug – while listening to the birds. Yes, you have taught us there is so much to notice – even heading into winter months. And I sure have enjoyed your ‘noticing’ on your blogs.

      Reply
  2. Angie says

    December 9, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    Well, another week full of memories and grateful moments for you and your family. As always it is a joy to peek into your life!!

    Reply
  3. Jessy at Our Side of the Mountain says

    December 10, 2011 at 9:01 AM

    Love the saying! I guess it’s more than a saying though, right? I need to remember that when I’m overwhelmed and frustrated! (I couldn’t get it to print out though!)

    Reply
  4. Lora @ my blessed life says

    December 10, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    What a wonderful week! I so enjoyed the photos of your family in their special productions. Looks like you have a great homeschool group!

    Drop by if you can, I’m giving away a membership to Math Blaster this week:)

    Reply
  5. Giggly Girls says

    December 10, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    How sweet they were. We had our Christmas programs this week too.

    Popping in from the Wrap-up.

    Reply
  6. Sarah says

    December 13, 2011 at 8:20 AM

    Sounds really busy but how good to be in a community with enough home educators to put on productions.

    Reply
  7. Phyllis at All Things Beautiful says

    December 13, 2011 at 10:06 AM

    You are lucky to have such a wise Nana.

    Reply
  8. Angel Collins says

    December 16, 2011 at 2:43 AM

    I always believe that we should appreciate what we have and don’t ignore small things in our life. 🙂 The top photo is so candid and expressing brotherly love. I look forward to seeing more of your posts. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

    Reply

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