Praying for my Son when He’s gone

September 3, 2011 Leave a Comment

Last night was a first.  As I left my son at the middle school lock-in at my church, I thought about how many times I had walked away from him. Not walking down the hall or simply walking into another room.  I pondered about walking away from his dependence.

Sure, TechDaddy and I had left MrC overnight before with family. When he was little, he and his sister had stayed with one of my sister’s and her crew while hubby and I enjoyed an anniversary cruise.  But this was different.

In a nutshell, after almost five years of going to the same church, we are now getting involved in the youth ministry {both middle and high school}.  So when this lock-in popped up, MrC said yes purely for the opportunity to meet new friends.

So last night rolls around and my hubby and I bring our boy.  Staying to help with dinner setup and clean up for about 50 kids {pizza!}, TechDaddy and I hung around for a couple of hours.  {Don’t worry, we were in adult-mode but totally staying clear of our son.  You know, the “free-space from parents” mode.}

Then, after the kids had moved on to another activity and we had cleaned up, TechDaddy and I began our walk to the door.  Me, being a total mom, slipped over to MrC who was resting from a game of beachball volleyball.  After v e r y   q u i e t l y exchanging some “I love you”s and slipping him a buck for candy, I joined TD by the door.

And then I walked away from my son.

I didn’t feel it until later, after we got home and were spending time with Catz.  But the emptiness was thick. In my home his absence was real and heavy.  No jokes or funny quips abounded.  The sound of MrC jumping onto the stair landings was missing. And in my heart the ache was visceral.

Then this morning I woke with the reminder that my son is not in my home.  And while the rest of my family slept, I walked upstairs to his room, curled up on his bed, and prayed.

My prayers covered his heart, like the ones I spoke to Papa days and weeks and months and years before today. Prayers that begged for protection, both physical and emotional.  Prayers requesting my boy be happy and safe in his new environment.  Prayers that God would guide my son through every step and stage of his life.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.    Jeremiah 29:11

But my prayers also covered me.  That my Father would shore up my heart against the ache that comes when learning to give way to my boy’s growing independence.  The ache that hurts longer and deeper than those birth pains from over 13 years ago.

My boy is home now, happily snacking and laughing with the rest of us as we watch a movie all huddled up on one couch. And though I feel a twinge of what is to come as I continue to hand over more and more independence, I feel content in knowing that my Father’s hand is guiding my precious son and that all of my prayers are heard and stored away in the heart of the One who loves my boy more than I ever could.

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A Day-in-the-Life of Our Homeschool

August 28, 2009 Leave a Comment

Here we are taking part in Darcy’s Not Back-to-School Blog Hop with A Day-in-the-Life week. Last year we had a sorta schedule, but we pretty much did what needed doin’ without being rigid. I don’t like rigid too much…it tends to stress me out. Especially if/when something comes up – which it inevitably does – that throws my schedule outta whack.

I like to relax and go with what feels right. “Feel like going for a nature hike instead of handwriting on this beautiful day? Sure, let’s go.” However, I now have two kiddos in middle school with high school looming around the corner {don’t look!}. With that bein’ said, I need to make sure I’m covering all the bases so a schedule is sorta in for this year. Actually, we’re going to use it as a loose base, like a jello framework – semisolid but not too rigid.

My first attempt to capture a snapshot of our day – and put it into words – fell flat. Very funny…but flat. Why? Because I listed what actually happened on that typical day. If I had published that post, I am sure the blog police would have shut down my account for excessive length. If they weren’t already passed out from excessive laughter.

So, in an effort to keep this short & sweet, I’ve summarized what is supposed to happen.  Not hilarious, but pretty accurate.

7:00 – 8:00    Kids wake up and get dressed.  Morning chores.  Breakfast.  Brush teeth.  Fit in a nature walk or fishing if time {Mr.C’s favorite!}.

8:00 – 12:00  Bible, Lang.arts, Math, Music, Art. Alternating between written work and the computer, we cover the following Monday thru Thursday: language arts; math; spanish.  M & W is music appreciation.  T & Th is art appreciation.  Bible is everyday.  Snack/break sometime around 9:30, 10:00.

12:00 – 1:00  Lunch/break.  Nature photo op out back of flowers, birds, etc.{Catz’s favorite!}

1:00 – 2:00   Science.  Using two different curriculums for two different kids.  Challenging.

2:00 – 3:00   History.  Couch time!  Love reading historical fiction together.

So that’s our day in a nutshell.  Do we accomplish this every day?  No.  But the schedule is there to help me get back on track when we go off on a tangent.  However, tangents can be loads of fun, too!  So relax and enjoy the blessing of spending more time with your precious kids.  They’ll learn what they need to know.  And you’ll be blessed beyond measure!

 

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Taking Shots

January 16, 2010 3 Comments

I did it.  I said I would and I finally did it.  What, exactly, did I do?  I took a photgraphy class.

To some that may sound hum-drum and as interesting as paint drying.  But for me…this is BIG. 

I’ve been snapping pictures since I was a young’un, specifically with my own Kodak when I was 8-years-old.  My pix then consisted mainly of family and my animals.  As I type they’re yellowed from time in small, 70′s-style albums.

Over the years I’ve owned a variety of cameras: DISC; Polaroid; and Canon EOS {which I’m trying to sell}, just to name a few.  Then, my hubby and I got our first DSLR, a beautiful Nikon D70, later followed by a Nikkor 55-200mm zoom lens.  I was in heaven, or so I thought.

Even though I had this fancy new camera, I shot everything on Auto.  It wasn’t until I saw other peoples’ FAR SUPERIOR photos did I realize my shots could be better.  So I paid some attention to what others said or did, but I still felt lost when folks would talk about “noise” or “aperture” or practically any big-camera-word.

So I bought a couple of books, but I really wanted the info to just dance off the page and into my brain in a way that I would understand.  I did pick up info, but it was a struggle for me.  Due to this, I kept trying to work my camera and continued to be frustrated.

One thing I haven’t mentioned so far is my camera’s manual.  That’s because I never read it.  Well, I did read pieces of it, but I never sat down and actually learned about my camera from the manual.  I really never wanted to.  Until now.

Last night I took my very first, official photography class!  It was an online webinar given by Tracy through her Mommytography group.  It was great!  She was funny and engaging and had so much information to share that she could not do it all in 4 hours.  Soooo, the class now gets to download her curriculum which she taught from and learn from Tracy’s notes.  How great is that?!

Not being a complete novice, I knew a lot of the info already.  But having her explain specifics like ISO and lighting made a world of difference for me.

And do you know what’s the best part?  I get to keep learning from Tracy and all the other Mommytographers who have taken her classes over the years.  How?  Tracy set up a special website just for us!  Plus, she has regular assignments to keep us challenged and learning.  Can you tell I’m excited?!!!

And what perfect timing!  My family is on the cusp of selling our house and traveling around the continent for a year or two.  All the opportunities to capture our adventure will be ready and waiting for my camera and new knowledge.

This is just another opportunity to get moving on tasks I’m no longer putting off or saying “later” to.  God has been tugging on my heart for the longest time to be intentional in my actions and relationships.  So here I go!

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Magnets are Cool!

November 16, 2008 1 Comment
So in my efforts to give each of my chicklets some science that will suit them as individuals, I devised a plan to teach separately this year. When they were younger I taught them the same science topics. It was easy and fun. But now that they’re 10 and 12, we’re trying a different avenue. Two actually.Mr C is learning about magnets via the TOPS Magnetism program. It’s simple to prepare for and straightforward. One of the best parts for me is that most of the supplies are all found in a neat little box from Sonlight Curriculum. I bought the TOPS book and kit from SL as part of a bundle a year or two ago. (At the time we were in the midst of doing Jeannie Fulbright’s Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day. We ended up extending our wonderful bird study longer so here we are now finally with magnets.)Another great plus to this program is the “Discover and Do” dvd. Every lesson from the magnetism book (and others) is explained and shown by a friendly and funny young man. This way we can do the experiment ourselves and then watch to see how he did it, or we can watch, pause, and do right along with him. Mr C loves the dvd, but is just totally enthralled with doing each experiment himself.

Here on the left he is getting ready for the invisible gears lesson, and the pic on the right shows the culmination.

“Mommy, this is so cool!”

Aahhh. Music to a homeschool mom’s ears!

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Are You Transformed?

March 1, 2011 Leave a Comment
I love t-shirts with a good message.  They can be funny. Cute.  Romantic.  Deeply meaningful.  Any way you slice it, t-shirts are like walking billboards.  They convey a lot about the person inside.
Take me for example.  I have tees that express my fondness of baking, my dabbling in photography, and how great I find my husband.  But my faves?  Those would be my shirts from Wild Olive Tees.
I just discovered them last year but they quickly became my go-to source for awesome shirts for women…with a message.  And that message?  That we are precious and loved by our Savior.
Actually, I’m not the only one in my household who adores Wild Olive Tees.  My 15 year old daughter, Catz, is a huge fan as well.  Between us we have 9 of their tees!  I posted about them before and cannot say enough of this amazing company and their beautiful shirts.
The fit and style of each shirt is perfect with a nice long length.  I can sit and bend over without worrying that my shirt will ride up and play peek-a-boo with my back.  The fabric is light yet enduring – perfect in this steamy-hot Florida weather!
And you know what’s the best part of all?  The design and message on each shirt.  With verses from Matthew, Romans, Isaiah, and more AND gorgeous designs I feel blessed and thankful that I get to wear my beliefs like a billboard.
Right now Wild Olive Tees is having a giveaway for their limited-run hoodie, “Transform Your Mind”.  Check out this post for all the details and go enter!
And remember…be transformed!

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About Me

September 4, 2011 Leave a Comment

Hey there, I’m Susan.  I began this blog in 2008 on a whim and started writing occasional snippets about everyday things.  My favorite posts from back then were those that made my family laugh.

Speaking of my family, those astoundingly awesome people include:

  • TechDaddy, my husband  {I love him so, and not just for his cool ninja computer skills}
  • Catz, my 15 year old daughter  {She’s all wit and style rolled into one beautiful young lady.}
  • MrC, my 13 year old son   {He’s got the tech world covered with his razor-sharp video gaming abilities.}

My family is made up of the three most amazing people on the planet. I adore my husband and kids with every ounce of my being and will go to the ends of the earth for them.  Spending time with my crew is my ultimate relaxation technique.

So, who are you?

In a nutshell, I’m a wife & mom.  Refer to me as “Little Susie Homemaker” or “just a SAHM” and watch my face light up a room.  This is a role I was made for.  That doesn’t mean I skip around with a grin every moment of every day, making cookies and dusting the chandelier.  To be honest, I’m on a first-name basis with all of the dust bunnies and cobwebs hiding out in my home, and I don’t even have a chandelier. Not that I’d dust it if I did.  But I do make cookies, so if we become friends I’ll keep you supplied with some of the best recipes you’ll ever find.

Which leads me to another one of my roles: baker.  In reality, the baking is really a means to an end since I truly love eating the stuff I bake more than the actual baking itself.  I’ve also been known to search out a bakery ahead of time when planning a trip with the family just so I can try out some new muffins and cupcakes.  True story.  It’s then that I whip out my camera to get some shots of our visit {to everyone’s chagrin}.

Because I love photography, too.  And have been accused of being a bit, er, overzealous in my camera snapping.  Being an amateur I use the excuse of “learning” to spend too much time framing a shot or having a family member pose for the same shot four times in a row.  But they love me and ooh and ahh when once in a while I pull something pretty cool out of my Nikon.  Yeah, they’re neat like that.

I also homeschool my kids and have ever since they were tiny.  Not to say that everyone should homeschool because you have to do what works for your own family.  But it works for us and I love it.

But not as much as I love Jesus Christ.  He is my Rock, my Savior, and my all-around go-to Guy.  He rescued me from myself when I was lost and broken and self-destructive, and He continues to rescue me still.  I’m not perfect.  Far from it, in fact.  But His love knows no bounds in pulling me into His warm embrace time after time.  And for this He will always be #1 in my life.

What do you write about?

It depends, but I generally stick to the following:

  • family    {raising teens}
  • baking    {recipes, bakery reviews}
  • homeschooling    {our curriculum, teaching high school}
  • Florida    {fun places like Disney}
  • marriage    {making it thrive}
  • faith    {my stumble to the cross}
  • travel    {roadtrips, geocaching}
  • photography    {apps, workshops}
  • mercy & mission work    {Compassion International, Mercy House, Operation Christmas Child}

Where did you come up with the blog name Once Upon a Muffin?

I love how children’s stories often begin with “Once Upon a Time…”  It’s often a precursor to something wonderful and thrilling! It’s a phrase that says “Sit down, get comfy, and prepare for something incredible.”

I love that.  Whether it’s a story or a recipe or a photograph, I want to produce for my family something incredible, that inspires and motivates them to make their own piece of something amazing in this world.

How in the world did you get the nickname Lilbear?

Hmm, that’s a sweet and funny story, actually.  When my oldest child was just a baby, and TechDaddy and I were exhausted from the joys of parenting, we’d lay on the floor of our apartment making a triangle shape with our bodies and the tv stand.  Catz would sit in between us and we three would watch Little Bear on a kids’ cable channel {until we bought every single VHS, and later DVD, of that series}.  As the years went by and Catz grew and MrC came along, Little Bear had become a sweet staple in our family.  So when my hubby one day introduced me to email and the internet, we knew what my handle had to be: Lilbear.

Why do you use fake names for your family? How come I can’t find any pictures of your kids on your blog?

My husband and I want to protect our family, just like any other parent.  One way we feel led to do this is to not use our kids’ real names online.  You will also never find a photo of my kids’ faces online.  While we totally respect that parents have a variety of ways to keep their kids protected in regards to internet safety, this is just how we roll.

Is there anything else you can tell me about yourself?

Yes, lots!  But I’ll let you learn more about me through my posts.

I’m so glad you stopped by for a visit!  I hope you’ll come back to see me soon.  To make sure you get my most recent sparkling and witty posts, be sure to subscribe here!

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