Summer is upon us!

Summer is coming up quick!  That means weekend trips and summer vacations!  I absolutely love to travel! Even if it's just a weekend trip to a new place I haven't been. I love seeing new sights and exploring new places.

Probably the hardest part about traveling, whether you are going for a week or a few days, is packing!

I used to be an over packer!  I thought, "Well, just throw it in just in case"   But since checking bags at the airport has gotten quite expensive...I've become a "carry on only" kinda packer.  Even if you aren't traveling by plane but enjoying a road trip..there are several things to do to take less stuff.

Things I've learned about packing:

Space bags are amazing!   You can buy those ones that you can roll the air out of and they work great!

I usually pull everything out that I think I want to take and then go through everything at least a few days before leaving.  I usually end up putting half of it back!

Try to coordinate your outfits to one or two color palettes.  Take more tops than bottoms.  And the hardest part....shoes!   Try to limit to 2-3 pairs.  If you will wear it only once then don't take it!  Mix and match! Scarves are a great accessory to take.  They are light and versatile and can make a plain outfit look completely different.

Now traveling with kids is a whole other thing!  But the same things can still apply.  Coordinate outfits, take more tops than bottoms.  If you need something buy it there instead. A few favorite toys and books and you should be good to go.

I've been overseas a few times now and I've gotten down to taking only one backpack and one small carry on!  It's so much easier to travel with less stuff!

My favorite go tos for ideas and inspiration:  

Rick Steves!

The Savvy Backpacker

Well happy travels!  Take lots of pictures and journal too!  

What really matters

I know this is going to be a bit controversial. But there's something that just bugs me to no end.

Homeschoolers.

Not necessarily the kids.  But the parents.  I want you to know where I'm coming from.  We homeschooled our 2 oldest the whole time, and our youngest one most of the way.

Why do the parents who have taken their kids out of school, or never had them in there to begin with, want to do everything at home the exact way they do it at school?

Don't they realize the freedom there is in homeschooling?  We don't have to do anything like they do in the public school!  We can tailor everything to each individual.  If one of our kids excels at math then BOOM -- math of all kinds.  We don't have to stay in the box of 1st grade math, 9th grade math etc.  Let the child lead. If the kid doesn't like workbooks, then ditch 'em!  Find out what the child's learning style is and use that!  Do they learn by hearing, doing, writing, touching stuff? Use that!  My daughter walked circles around the table while we were doing math stuff...drove me crazy!  I asked her to sit down and she said "Mom, if I sit down, I can't think!"  Who knew?  So I let her walk around and get up and down all the time.  It helped her concentrate more.  My way of "doing school" was to do page 1, then page 2, then ...stand back...page 3!  Her way of doing school was open the book and look through it and see what pages looked exciting and then do those!  What??  But to her it worked well.  It kept her interest.  And if I'd known more back then, I would ditch the books entirely! We'd use real life situations and go to the library and play games to learn stuff.

That brings me to the part that drives me crazy.

Most people do this when their kids are little because they enjoy playing and learning.  But when their homeschooled kids get to be in "high school"  they automatically shift to "do everything like the public school" mode.  High school credits, papers, graduation at 18 years old etc.   Why not continue the train of thought that the learning can be tailored to the individual?  Are they ready to be "done" when they are 15? Then be done! Just because I'm "done" with school doesn't mean I quit learning.  Do they really need to have credits? Do they really need to learn chemistry or calculus?  Maybe..it depends on what they will be going into.

There is freedom, folks!  That's why we bring our kids home!  Don't worry about them keeping up with their "grade level" (what is that anyway--do all 30 year olds know the same information?)

Teach them to love learning!  Teach them to learn how to learn!  Teach them to be FREE!

Why do we move so much???

Since I've been married...coming up on 25 years now... we have moved a total of 13 times!  That's a lot of moving!  It's always been for different reasons.  Sometimes a job leads us here or there.  Sometimes we need a change of scenery.   Sometimes we need a bigger house.  This last time we were ready to downsize and move closer to Larry's work.

I grew up in 2 houses.  One house till I was 5, then we moved and I lived there till I got married when I was 18.  I didn't grow up moving around.  My husband grew up in the same house all is life.  Maybe that's why we move so much.  I really don't know.

Moving around a lot does have it's advantages.  We don't keep a lot of stuff.  We de-clutter quite frequently. I've learned not to grow too attached to my things.  It's just furniture.  It's just stuff.  

It's interesting to see my kids and how they are affected by all the moving.  Some are still nomads.  Traveling here and there.  On to the next adventure!  But I have one that wants to settle down and have roots.  He wants to buy land and stay there awhile.  I get that.  I admire that.  

I'm grateful for all the places we've lived.  We've had lots of great experiences in every state and house. We've gotten to see and experience the culture in many different places.  We've made life long friends all across America. One funny memory was when we were up in Pittsburgh and Larry was trying to order something through the McDonald's drive-thru.  He says in his thick Texas twang, "I'd like to buy some chicken mac bites."  (it's hard to describe how this sounds...just exaggerate all the "i's" to really long sounding "i's").  The girl in the drive thru says "What?"  He repeats again, even thicker and slower.  She says, "Um, sir,  I have no idea what you are talking about!"  Too funny!

I don't think I could live in one place too long (shhh...don't tell my nomadic husband!)  I look forward to the curves up in the road ahead.  Although I don't enjoy the actual physical part of boxing, moving, lifting, sorting... yuck.. I do enjoy new adventures.

What about you?  Have you moved alot?  Would you like to?

New Chapters

I went to the park for lunch today.  The only table that was in the sun was next to the playground.  I ate my lunch and sat there watching the mamas and daddies and all the little punkin' heads running around.  On the one hand, it seems like just a few moments ago that I was one of those mamas chasing around three little ones.  Pushing them on the swings, sliding down the slides with them, toting them around in the strollers.  On the other hand, it seems like ages and ages ago.

My youngest will turn 18 in a few months!  I have 3 young adults now.  My oldest is married!  What?  Time sure does fly when you're having fun.   I'm actually loving this stage right now.  I know it's only a few moments till grand kids come along (I can't wait!)  But for now, I'm really diggin' this time of life.

Stuff I love about having older kids:

• They can take care of themselves (physically, sometimes they still need me emotionally)
• They can have great conversations!  Sometimes they hold me to the fire!
• I love to see them growing in their relationship to God and in their relationships to others.
• They are a lot of fun!  They go camping, hiking, bike riding with us and it's tough to keep up with them! Plus, they put up the tents etc! Bonus!
• My honey and I have lots of "date" times together now.
• I love to see their lives spread out before them and choices they make and the paths they choose.

Probably the biggest regret I've had is that we didn't have more kids.  But I am thankful for what the Lord has blessed us with.  I'm thankful for the person that they've made me.  I'm glad for the lessons they've taught me.  I am super blessed to have an amazing family!

Hoop Love

So I discovered hula hooping about 8 months ago.  I've since fallen in love with it.  Who knew there were so many things you could do with a hula hoop!  I've been going to class now fairly regularly.  I love going there. There are so many people there of all ages and stages.  Some youngsters.  Some oldersters.  Men and Women!  I've learned hooping can be an incredible workout!  It can work your arms, legs, core...everything! I can work up a pretty good sweat hooping for an hour!  I've learned that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!  I didn't think I could learn new things but, it turns out,  I can!  I've learned to embrace the dancing that comes with the hoop.  I love that!  

 I take my hoop everywhere.  Going to the park?  Get the hoop! Going shopping?    

Get the hoop!  Going camping?  Get the hoop!  Going on a cruise?  Don't forget the hoop!  

It's slowly becoming my security blanket.  

I can't wait to see what the next year brings in my hooping.

Meeting new friends.  Going new places.  Learning new stuff.  Getting more active.

Come join me and learn to love the hoop!

Here's where I  take my classes if you are in the DFW area.

Lists, Experience, Wisdom

Everyone's into lists these days.  The top 10 things not to do before you eat.  The top 103 things to do when you raise kids.  The worst 5 things to say.

I like to read them.  They are quick and easy.  I like checklists.  I can scan them really fast.

So I was thinking the other day about what my lists would be.

I guess to make a list you need to feel like somewhat of an expert.  I don't really feel like an expert in anything.  But I have had experience.

I was getting my hair cut the other day when the girl started telling me about how she was moving in with her boyfriend.  I asked her if she was going to get married.  She wanted to but wasn't sure when.  She wanted to go to college first. I answered "You can go to college when you are married". She didn't think she had enough money.  I answered " It's more about the marriage than the ceremony anyway."  She thought she was too young.  I told her how I'd gotten married at 18 and this year will be my 25th wedding anniversary!  I told her it hasn't been easy but anything worth keeping was worth working on. Commitment is key.

Then I was getting my eyebrows waxed and the lady there was telling me how she was so nervous because they were supposed to hear from their Realtor because they had just put a bid on a house! She was so worried.  But I told her not to worry.  There will be plenty of houses.  You can make a home anywhere.  It's more important to make a home than worry about what kind of house you will get.  I told her how we've moved 14 times in the last 25 years and just recently moved back into an apartment!  She couldn't believe it!

I hope to bring words of encouragement to people. I'm not an expert.  But I've had experience and life and the Lord have taught me many lessons.

So I guess one of my lists could be Lessons Learned:

• Take time to play with your kids.  They will soon leave and your phone and housecleaning will still be there.  They won't be.
• Don't let certain boxes you've made for yourself hold you back from things.  Get out of that box and try something new!  Travel!  Hula Hoop!  Try new foods!
• Most things in life don't matter.  A few do.  Those are the things to focus on.
• Don't try to make other people fit in your box.  They like their boxes too.  
• Laugh more! Be silly!
• Don't ever think "I can't do that because what would people think" ...Who cares! Life's too short to worry what others think.  They will probably think "Why didn't I do that!"
• The marriage is WAY more important than the 10 min ceremony. Invest in the marriage.
• Spend your money wisely. But have fun too.  Spend it on fun things that you enjoy!

Well I'm sure there are many more.  I'm still learning a lot.

What are some things you have learned?  Words of Wisdom?  What would your list be?

Thankful

I know it isn't Thanksgiving yet...(didn't we just celebrate that?)  But I'm feeling thankful today.  I am thankful for:

• new opportunities
• grown children
• spending more time with my honey
• the sun shining
• spring around the corner
• Saturdays off!
• vacations in the works
• bonuses
• friends and dominoes
• meeting new people
• technology
• quiet
• being able to see the Lord moving

What are you thankful for today?