Feeling Sad

So I just found out a friend of mine is moving to NC. Soon. Like Sunday soon. It is sad for me because the past few weeks and months were sort of spent in a whirlwind, and I was supposed to go over to her house for a visit, and I kept thinking "I'll do that when things settle down". Well, now I won't get the chance. So it is sad. It is a life lesson really. "Why put off for tomorrow what can be done today," as they say. Anyway, God knows his plans for all of us.

So, I refuse to change my blog background yet. I like it, and quite frankly, have not seen enough of it, made very obvious by my lack of posts. Anyhoo. It has been quite a busy time for us...as per usual for the holidays. Now that we are getting back into the swing of things, I thought I would throw a post together. A few points...

• I need to get back to menu planning. I am lost without it. I hate it. It just takes a bit of energy and then you don't have to think of it for a week...or dare I dream, a MONTH!!!! GASP!!!(okay, so while I would love to have a month to month menu plan, I find it unrealistic in the foreseeable future.)
• I have had a severe lack of motivation for homeschooling. We have been plugging away, but I just feel like I need something to spice things up. I have been looking into K12 for next year but I have a few hesitations...it would mean I would lose a level of flexibility that I have come to appreciate about homeschooling. I would be at the mercy of the state's curriculum AND schedule. (I really like the fact that I can start early if I know I will be having a baby that year, or take 2 weeks off if I need to for baby and go later in the year...with this you pretty much have to be on a public school schedule.) I will lose the control over curriculum and method choice I now currently enjoy. I also am worried that all of our hard work in Phonics with Anna this year will be undermined by a new (albeit, probably good) phonics curriculum. The things I "LIKE" about the K12 Curriculum are: The planning is ALL DONE FOR ME!!! For the children that have to be reported on to the state(over 8 years old) there is nothing to be done. There is teacher support. Oh, and a MAJOR benefit, it is FREE!!! Well, as free as our school taxes are. :P Anyway, you get everything, including supplies sent to your house! It is a major draw for me. So, we'll see about this....
• Hmmm....what else. It is crazy for me to see my baby getting into the toddler stage. And boy, does she "GET INTO" things. She is by far, my busiest child. She is CONSTANTLY into cabinets and up stairs, and pulling barriers down and away. She crawls away laughing when you call her name, she loves being chased, and actually understands how NOT to be caught. Today she just screamed "Mom, Mom, Mom, MOOOM" for me to come get her from her nap. She is a funny girl. She was high-maintenance as a baby, and is high maintenance as a toddler...all hope is lost for her pre-teen years. LOL. Other than that, she is a cuddle bug. She loves hugs and kisses, and is tender and loving when her siblings are sad or hurt. She makes us laugh with her funny faces, and loves to "read" books, she loves playing her musical instruments, and riding her "car".
• My oldest, we just found out, will indeed, be making her First Penance and First Holy Communion this year. We are all aflutter with the preparations for her first Penance which will come at the end of February. She is very happy she gets to receive her Sacraments this year. I was brought to tears thinking about what a special time this is for her. I am praying daily that we, as parents, may properly prepare her, and that she would know the gravity of what is about to take place. She will be receiving her 1st Communion in mid April. As a "gift" she was told she could get her ears pierced beforehand. She has been anxiously anticipating that too!
• I watch my children get bigger and older everyday. I notice my 5 year old, is not quite as snuggly as he once was. He has started caring a little more about what people think. It is sad for me a little bit. I enjoy seeing the boy he is turning into, but I am sad knowing my baby boy is growing up. My 3 year old is becoming a big girl. She is losing that "toddler" feeling. She is communicating more fully as a big girl, and less as a baby. I notice she is understanding her own feelings alot more, a sure sign she is growing up. She makes truly funny jokes, she "gets" things. It is really neat to be able to hold a meaningful conversation with her.
• There really is a lot to pray for right now. Please keep these things in your prayers: Haiti and the earthquake victims; a friend's friend who took his own life--Tony(pray for his soul) left a wife and four kids; a friend having a crisis of faith; my SIL and BIL praying an offer is accepted on their first house; my friend who is moving to NC on Sunday;

I guess that is all the major news right now. I really do love blogging and reading blogs. Feels good to put my thoughts down.