The people who influence us most are not those who buttonhole us and
talk to us, but those who live their lives like the stars in heaven and
the lilies in the field, perfectly simply and unaffectedly. Those are
the lives that mould us. ~Oswald Chambers
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.
I am attending the CAPE convention this weekend (Christian Association of Parent Educators). It is surprisingly inspiring and uplifting to be surrounded by so many like minded families. I take great joy in seeing well rounded, wholesome, and polite teenagers walking around helping as volunteers. It reminds me that we aren't necessarily leading our children down a road of being socially awkward and strange. There are so many talented, wonderful children out there. I left the convention last night feeling exceedingly blessed to be able to school our children at home.
Here is another video - this is Aria from birth to six years old (today). As most of you know, Aria came into the world in a dramatic way, and by God's grace a potential tragedy was transformed into our beautiful daughter and a healthy happy Mommy. This slideshow attempts to show things in chronological order, but I'm an absent minded Daddy and cannot always tell which version of my little blonde girl is which age :)
Well it's hard to believe but we are already at the end of January of the new year. How time flies when you're having fun! We have had a great month at the Johnson household.
Brendan gets home from work a little before 5:00 almost every week night. After greeting the girls and I and giving him time to decompress for a few minutes, it's usually my goal to have dinner on the table between 5:30 and 6:00... So, if nothing goes wrong, here's the what the Johnson household will be having:
We had a great first semester of kindergarten! I am still trying really hard to make sure we are doing the right curriculum and it seems like I daily second guess myself. Aria is learning primary math and reading (thanks in many ways to my mom in helping me with the reading) She is also doing: history, English, timeline (see below), Latin, bible, geography, science (we just completed the human body (It was literally like a mini college course on anatomy!!), music (theory and tin whistle and yes I hate teaching this part and pretty much rely on our group and Brendan for help with it!) We dance around the kitchen constantly and do lots of wiggling in hopes of getting our jitters out. She continues to study dance and is currently taking ballet and jazz. We wanted to share just a little bit of what she is learning with those that we love.
This is just a quick update to say how much I love my girls. Sarah and Aria are beyond sweet. Even when they're irritable they're sweet :) They truly balance me out... I hope I can be what they need as well.
This is just a random picture I have here at work of Aria. I'll put one up of Sarah when I get home. They're both sick right now, and it's so sad. Too bad that means I have to do twice as much stuff around the house. OR I could just put it all off until Sarah feels better :)
Well, Aria has just recovered from a cold, and Sarah was hit firmly in the head with the flu yesterday. Which means Aria will get that too. And I will slowly fight it for a week or two and then succumb. Yeesh.
We ate at the Pacific Pearl yesterday. Nice but overpriced. Very good wait staff, very slow kitchen. I got the dish called Evil Jungle Prince Curry just because the name was so cool. The waitress just smiled and nodded when I told her that. I think I've lost my boyish charm at some point along the way. Anyway it was just yellow Thai curry.
Well, not only have I been learning how to be a daddy to a newborn, but work has been nuts (not in a very positive way) so no entries for three months. Aria is amazing. Every parent says that I guess. It's amazing to see a little Sarah with my blue eyes! She grows so quickly;lifting her little bobbing head to peer about and making little chirps when she's struck by something which only babies care about.
Sarah has settled into being a mother so easily; she is a natural mother and is fiercely in love with Ari (we call her Ari to save a syllable).
RSS
Brendan gets home from work a little before 5:00 almost every week night. After greeting the girls and I and giving him time to decompress for a few minutes, it's usually my goal to have dinner on the table between 5:30 and 6:00... So, if nothing goes wrong, here's the what the Johnson household will be having:
Wow, from 3 months to 2 years. I was afraid that would happen - I blinked!