Missionary Kids

 We were so excited to have some of our favorite missionaries come through our church, the Cormier family! When I first began blogging, when we were on deputation to go to the mission field of the French West Indies, my path crossed online with Jessie.  She has been a wonderful friend ever since and their family is so dear to us!

When we first started Victory Springs we took on four missionaries. The Cormiers was at the top of my list that I thought we should take on. And we did!

It has been fun to keep up with them from a distance and then to finally meet them in person several years  ago when they were last on furlough. Our kids hit it off back then when they were little. We were excited to know their next furlough was coming around and we wanted to make sure they came by! I love seeing how our kids all play together and the encouragement they get from one another.

It was pretty neat after church watching the missionary kids play together. At one point I looked up and there were 14 missionary kids playing together and what do missionary kids do when they hang out? They do sword drills 🙂 They laughed and had so much fun that I couldn't help sit there being so thankful for godly friends for my kiddos.

 We are already hoping they will come through again sometime soon. So thankful for good friends and Godly examples!

19 Bunnies

 Silas and Micah's little bunny business has really taken off. We now have 19 bunnies on Storybook Farms!
 

Each one is so adorable! It's so hard not to keep them all!

Sweetness is a blessing!

My Micah is a sweet kid. I'm not just saying that because I'm his Momma, he honestly is just a compassionate, sensitive kid.

While he and I were out running errands one day, I sent him in to McDonald's to buy us some ice cream cones. He came out with two of the biggest ice cream cones I've ever seen!

He said he was amazed when the guy brought them out because they were so big! And then he let him have them for free! Micah couldn't figure it out. But I could. Micah is just so sweet, his sweetness paid off!

 

 

Bingsu?

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I love having adventures with my girls. Callie and I spent the day in Jacksonville looking at thrift stores, having out in the library and then trying something new for the first time....Bingsu.  Have you tried it?

It's sort of like a snow cone, but made with milk and topped with fruit and cream. We ordered Mango. 

 So what did we think? Amazing, Incredible, My new favorite!!!

Monkey Bread Recipe

 I posted about the yummy Monkey Bread that I made with my precious grands.  It is something that I used to make with my Mom!  Someone has asked for the recipe.  Honestly, it is something we just wing, but I will share what I know! :o)

Butter a Bundt pan very very well.  Then take biscuit dough (Or I have used bread dough before) and roll it in balls.  Then, roll those balls in a sugar/brown sugar/cinnamon mix.  After rolling in the sugar mix, then put in the bundt pan.  Melt 1 stick of butter and add the remaining sugar mix and pour over the top of the dough.  Bake in the oven until done.  I know that is pretty vague, but you really can't go wrong with dough, sugar and butter! :o)

Monkey Bread

I made it with my Mom. And now I make it with my grandkids. Monkey Bread!!

It was so sweet and delicious! We love the process and we love the eating too🙂

 

Dear Homeschooling Momma,

 Dear Homeschooling Momma,

They say, "The days are long, but the years are short."  That can be true sometimes in a homeschooling family, can't it?  As the kids are little you spend your time working with them hoping they will learn that "A says aaaa as in apple.  A says aaa aaa aaa."  Soon enough they learn their letters, numbers and even put them all together!  You go to bed exhausted physically and dream of an uninterrupted nap. Believe it or not,  I miss those days.

  I now have a middle schooler and two high schoolers.  There is a lot of talk about raising teenagers and don't even think about homeschooling them!  But, I want to encourage you...the years really are short, so enjoy those moments. But also know that the moments ahead can be some of the best!  Having teenagers is mentally exhausting, but incredibly rewarding, too.

 As I looked around my table this morning, while we worked on an Elections Unit, I realized that there really is hope for our next generation.  We often hear the negatives about Generation Z and Generation Alpha.  But, don't fall for that trap.  Just as our generation (and our parent's generation) wasn't entirely lazy and unmotivated, this new generation isn't either.  If we stop and listen and look them in the eye, we can realize that they are people with great ideas, interesting thoughts and are a joy to be around.

But to realize that you have to be:

~Willing to listen to them and their ideas.  Our adult minds can often want to interject all that could go wrong with their line of thinking.  But, sometimes they can think through a process out loud and come to a great conlusion on their own.

~Recognize they won't listen to us if we don't have their hearts.  We, as Mommas, work hard at many things.  We keep our home running smoothly (or try to), we do laundry and dishes.  We arrange car pooling and schedules, and lessons and sports.  We can work hard at doing all those things, but we often forget to work hard at winning our children's hearts.  You can speak sweetly.  You can listen to them, even if it's not your favorite topic.  You can do what they like to do.  It is possible!  But it does take work.

~Flexible.  As we sat around the table this morning discussing voting Democratic, Republican, Independent or any other party....my mind was trying to worry about how much time we were taking that wasn't supposed to be on politics!  I was thinking about dishes to be done, math needing to be completed, and outside chores.  But, I had to take a deep breath and recognize how much they were learning in this moment.  They were so interested in discussing that they want to make sure and find out their Dad's viewpoint during lunch!  They were intrigued and their minds were working....and I had to be flexible to allow that to happen.

~Remember that you won't always have a perfect schoolday.  (or maybe ever!)  We are always readjusting our schedule and our subjects to fit each kiddos needs.  And mine, too.  We will make mistakes right along with our kids.  Be willing to forgive, adjust, and move forward.

~Cherish the moment. The clock is ticking in the Gimenez Household.  My kids are growing up.  I am cherishing this time with them.  

The days can be long.  They can be tiring and exhausting.  But let me encourage you, the time you invest in your children really is worth it!

My helper

I love serving in the ministry.  And serving with my family is a true delight.  I've had my hubby and kids by my side as we've served our Lord together.  Blessed.  So blessed.

Now, I am enjoying serving with my grandchildren!  I am so proud of the lady that Liberty is becoming.  She has a quiet, cheerful meekness and wants to help me however she can.  

Recently, I needed to be behind the scenes and organize a meal for after a funeral.  Liberty was my helper.  She did so much!  Her Momma has been training her right!

Asa on the other hand may need a little more work. :o)  Although someone has to be the cookie tester, right?