Five Minute Friday: Learn

Wednesday seems as good a day as any to write and post a Five Minute Friday blogpost.

Five Minute Friday: LEARN

A new school year is on the horizon, not just for my kids, but for me, too. I never set out to be a #studentmom. I thought for sure my two years of a "Secretarial Program" (now it's called Office Administration) would get me through life just fine. And after seven years of various office jobs, I was ready to come home, stay home, and be a mom.

However, two things happened...

One, I suddenly started learning again. It's crazy how my kids teach me more than I am teaching them. Every day (even when I don't realize it) I am learning from them, through the situations we face, through the growing process. My kids are some of the most grueling educators I know...

I also discovered that I wasn't done with formal book learning. And 15 years after I hung up my pencils, papers, and textbooks, I started up again. This time for a BA in Communications/writing. To be honest, these on-campus classes freak me out a little bit. My brain isn't as fresh as it used to be. I have a lot more responsibilities and distractions than I did out of high school. And because I am a people pleaser, I always wonder how the young "whippersnappers" I'm in class with, will take to the middle aged MOM in their class.

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I've discovered something in the last three years of continuing education... Experience goes a long way, and brings a new element to the learning process. Experience is a valuable teacher.

I never set out to be a lifelong learner, but it turns out that is what God wants of each one of us--even if it's not in the classroom setting!

Never stop learning! (Tweet This)

Project 52 -- Back to School

The Project 52 theme this week is Back to School.

Now, if you follow my blog more than just on Saturdays for my photography prowess (haha), you will already know that I did NOT sent my kids back to school this week. So I had to get creative with my photography in anticipation for when they will actually go back to school. I won't bore you with the story again, just go here to read it.

and enjoy my posed pictures...

 Four brand new pairs of sneakers... courtesy of Grandma!! :)

and backpacks (not all new)

previous Project 52 posts

Endless Summer
Heat
Ice
Summer Favorites
Sunshine

Change of Plans... Again

big adventures are coming... eventually

My kids were supposed to start school on August 29. I feel like my life is on hold while waiting for my kids to go back to school.

... I will get on a schedule, once my kids go back to school. I will maybe start exercising, once my kids go back to school. I will clean my house better, once my kids go back to school. I will meal plan, once my kids go back to school. I will invest more time in my class and writing, once my kids go back to school. I will improve my blog, once my kids go back to school. I will work on my cards and crafts, once my kids go back to school.

Only my kids aren't going back to school yet!  School got delayed one week because the electric wasn't turned on yet. and I adjusted, found some help with childcare during my class time and enjoyed an extra afternoon at the park, and had a pajama day, and stay up late and slept in.

... and then school was delayed another 10 days (while they wait for the occupancy permit)! ... and I panicked, and I cried, and I sent the kids to their rooms for quiet time so I could try to think ... Oh and I called a friend, and called my husband, and panicked some more, BUT I forgot to pray.

I forgot that God is in control and what happens to me doesn't surprise Him one bit. (tweet that) That He has my best interests in mind ... and my kids and the elementary teachers ... and all the other families that are affected by this. That ultimately it's about bringing glory to His name.

So while I don't understand and while I'm still a little stressed about the details of the next two weeks, I can rest in Him and the grace He will give me for each day and each situation. And I will plan another trip to the library, maybe a trip to the park, and possibly another pajama day.

And I will continue to give thanks...

2 Samuel 22:50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

1 Chronicles 16:8 Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

Psalm 75:1   Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.

Psalm 92:1   It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever.  in the Psalms multiple times

Colossians 3:17   And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

1 Thessalonians 5:18    In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

I will give thanks...

thanks that I'm not working full time outside the home; thanks that my husband's job has some flexibility and he can take lunch during my class time to watch the kids; thanks that I have friends to encourage me; thanks that I don't have to start making school lunches yet; thanks that we do have this new building for the kids to use... eventually; thanks that their teachers are phenomenal and will make up for lost time; thanks that God is still on the throne!  I just give thanks!

and for community, I will link up to some of my bloggy friends...

Funki Planet --frequent flier

Just A Thought --What's up Wednesday

New Life Steward --WIP Wednesday

and it took me more than 5 minutes, but it fits with Five Minute Friday--Change



Got any ideas of what I should do with this extra 10 days of summer with my kids?!?!?!  Share in the comments!

Back to School Wreath

I am having just a little too much fun making wreaths to decorate my Red Door... And Pinterest makes it soo easy!  I am almost done making one wreath for every month of the year... what will I do then?

Some that I've already blogged about are
Spring Green Rag Wreath
Five minute $5 Wreath
Patriotic Wreath
FlipFlop Wreath

and Now... A Back to School Wreath 

  Here's the original pin...A Ruler Wreath

I got these wooden rulers for 25 CENTS each!!! (hurray for back to school sales) I should have bought more, I'm sure I could find another project for rulers!! :)

SUPPLIES:

12-14 rulers (I used 12)
6 inch embroidery hoop
hot glue gun
red ribbon
Accents ... small school supplies, scrapbooking stickers, apples or flowers!

So if you are handy, you get a saw and cut the rulers in half (or if you are like me, you sweet talk your husband in to cutting them for you)! Then you lay out half of them on a protected surface like your kids' placemats. (Sidenote: My craft table is so covered with stuff that I can't use it for projects like this... I'm working on it)

Then you carefully glue 12 ruler halves, evenly spaced, to the embroidery hoop (outside ring only)

After it dries (or sooner if you're impatient like me) flip it over and glue the second set to the first set, filling in all the gaps.

take the inner hoop, cut a slit in the inner hoop, measure it to fit inside the rulers and cut off the excess. then hot glue it to the inside for a more finished look. (this step was hard... I tried it 3 times before I got it to fit and look right)

Find a pretty red ribbon... I like polka dots! And loop it around, tie a bow, and have a pretty hanger.

Then accent it with flowers, apples, school themed stuff!!

The felt apples on mini clothespins were a Michael's score!!  They make me happy!

 And now your door is decorated and ready for September!!

Linking this up to The CSI Project for Pinterest Inspired Week...

And to MomminItUp for PinFTW!!

and Joining Jen with Tatertots and Jello

 

Hurray for copied creativity!!