Kristen Blog

Sanibel, Florida Day One WOW!  Traveling with 6 is definitely not for wimps!  We got up at 6 am...an early start for the O’Haras, who prefer to wake up closer to noon.  We all had a carry-on bag plus a personal item bag.  I had the stroller with Evan in it, and Matt carried his car seat.  We practiced before-hand, but that did not prepare us for the packed airplane we were about to meet.  Fortunately, DELTA pleaded twice for “volunteers” to check their carry-on bags.   “Yes and AMEN!”  By the second call, we offered to step in as tribute.  And THANK GOD we did.  I don’t know how we expected to make it with so many bags and all these kids. Dillon sat by the window.  He did GREAT!...they all did.  Eden gave up the window to Dillon, and Xander gave up her iPhone to Evan and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse…which the whole airplane got to appreciate during our taxi to take-off. We got early board...

I tend to be drawn to the tough kids.  The ones who never participate and have total attitude problems.  I don't know what it is, except I have this overwhelming ability to see the beauty in everyone.  (I'm pretty sure I was the only one in the theater who came out of Star Wars: The Last Jedi feeling sorry for Kylo Ren.  But...did literally NO ONE else see the look in his eyes when Rey walked out?!!!) I can't help but see beauty in people.  Even the least of us have beauty - strengths and gifts and vulnerability.  I am beautiful.  I have energy and love and empathy.  My heart is so full it could burst.  That is beautiful. The best of us have ulginess, too.  Sometimes I am ugly.  Sometimes I make the wrong choice.  I do stupid things and make a total mess. Today is a great example.  I was running barely on time for a school.  I got in my car and saw the gas gauge: 19 miles to empty.  I looked at my GPS: 1...

It has been a long winter for me. I was sick for quite awhile during and after my pregnancy. I ended up in the hospital just two weeks after Evan was born. I had been having gall bladder attacks, though I did not know what they were, during the pregnancy. (Terrible pain!!) By the time I had it removed, it was full of stones. I had a complication during surgery, and I ended up developing pancreatitis. (Even more painful!!) I had to stay in the hospital for a week, and I was in pain for two weeks. During that time, I honestly thought I might never get better. I am so grateful to be pain free and healthy today! Unfortunately, I have suffered some pretty severe depression in the aftermath. I think it was a mixture of postpartum, seasonal affect, and a natural response to a year-long series of chaotic and challenging circumstances.  I am trying to give myself grace right now and treat this illness like I treated my pregnancy and my other illness. I am taking a l...

I want to take a moment to encourage all of you moms who are raising a strong-willed child (or two).  This is MY Xander.  She is my first child…the daughter I desperately hoped for. Everything about her beginnings was easy.  Easy pregnancy.  Easy labor - though, long.  EASY baby – she slept 5 hours straight the first night we brought her home.  And then, she became a toddler. Oh dear. What a toddler! Intense.  Passionate.  One friend described her, “Xander just LOVES life.”  Busy.  Active.  Hyper.  Within 5 seconds of her 3-year-old appointment, her doctor asked me if I’d ever considered ADHD  (but that whole story is for another day).  Let’s just say I have a number of living confirmations that she was more than a handful. I was in over my head.  I was afraid.  I didn’t know what I was doing.  I was frustrated...often...and I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO RAISE THIS CHILD! ...

Closing a Chapter: Evan is Born November 24, 2013 I had really resigned myself to never being pregnant again. We had such a difficult time getting the three children we had, and Matt was hard set against trying for a fourth. Our four miscarriages were rough on us both, and he particularly couldn't stand to watch me go through the emotional pain of losing a child. A person's a person, no matter how small ! - Dr. Seuss "Horton Hears a Who" (Interpret the story how you want...I like to consider it in the light of miscarriage.) It was a little painful for me. I had dreamed of becoming pregnant and having a child since I was very young, and my first experience had satisfied ALL of my desires. It was a surprise pregnancy in the first year of our marriage. Everything went well. I felt better than I had ever felt in my life. I was out raking leaves on our hilly yard only 2 weeks before our due date. (Of course, that is only because Matt was recover...

Homeschool Math Help - Adding Decimals October 2, 2012 Xander was struggling in her math book this year.  She had been using Spectrum and Evan Moor.  This year, we switched to Bob Jones University Press.  I saw that the “appropriate” grade level 5 was going to be challenging, but I offered her the choice of 4th and 5th.  She chose the challenge. Whew! We started out with some intense place value…including high value (billions, etc.) and DECIMALS!!!!!  Fortunately, I found some math help aids online at http://www.math-aids.com/ .  I added about 5 pages to the two in her book on place value.  She still struggled with certain aspects of the concept, which was evident in her final test, but after a few weeks of pounding the same topic, she needed to move on. AND…we moved on right into the hands of addition with random place values!   So, she needs to be able to recognize place value to organize the ...

We are back in the swing of things, as of mid-July.  In fact, the girls have managed to complete 200 credits already this homeschool year! I felt led to get an early start this year, so that we don’t feel pressured or forced on any particular day.  I assume that allows us to be more flexible to the spirit.  There are days when someone has need, and if I feel pressured to complete hours, I might be tempted to choose homeschool over our mission from God.  That is a continual worldly pull…number and credits and proof, quantity over quality, etc.  I am making a point to fight that, but it is sometimes a fine line.  I do want my children to receive a good education, AND I want them to be focused on God’s work.  The only way to meet both needs is to focus on God Himself and allow Him to guide me step by step and day by day. So far, I’m pretty thrilled with our curriculum for the year.  I noticed that I tend to neglect a few ...