back to school and be nice, monday

this past week marked one of the many 'firsts' we will be experiencing this year...

numero uno...

first day of school 


this is also the first year that i will be homeschooling all four consistently.
let's just say that pre-k had an abrupt ending last year.
no worries, we're ready now.  i think.
here are shots of the kids on their first day.

eleanor 

my right hand girl

madelyn 
the activity director

jack 

the gentle one

henry 

the spirited one 

after a stressful and very last minute shopping day, we bought all of our supplies{cute ones, of course}.

who wants to do school in plain notebooks?  ;) 

jack set up his little 'office' with the goodwill post it note desk organizer he found.

yes. instead of toys, this kid loves office supplies and organizational tools.

he scored this for $1.00 and paid for it with his own money from grandma{that was only to be used to buy school supplies}.

true, the little tape dispenser refill thingy cost me $4 at hobby lobby, but it was so worth it to see his face light up.

as you can see, he is very organized{and already trying to do less pages in his school books}.

i said he had to do the assigned amount without any complaints for at least two weeks. ;) 

i loooove vintage maps.  not only are they decorative, but very useful, too.

we have this one hung in our hallway and i just spotted a vintage world map{that stills rolls up} at a local consignment shop.

it would be awesome to have a world map, too, but i have to start saving my pennies, first!

i hope that you are all having a wonderful monday.

i have already locked myself in my room once and we had to call the principal{AKA my husband} twice.

yes, we have issues.

especially mondays.

whenever i purpose in my heart to be patient, loving, kind, helpful, compassionate and to let the Lord control my day, the deceiver tries to wreck it.  

seriously.

it's like this major spiritual battle occurring and i am watching it unfold.

attitudes.

tempers.

spills.

arguments.

headaches. 

where did all that come from?

Jesus already has given me the victory over all of this.

just. claim. it, mary.

i must remember Who is really in control{not me}and graciously hand the reigns back over to Him.

not that i ever had them in my grasp anyway.

sigh.

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psalm 18:2

ahhh yes,  HIGH TOWER{running there now}.

be nice, monday, and Lord, help us to be nice to each other, too.

xo,