Month: April 2016

Abe speaking. A lot of good things going on in the Darais home these days.

Work has been a big struggle for me lately. I’m in a role that is a major stretch for me to try to fulfill and my learning and growth has been extensive. It is hard to not feel good at what I’m doing, but day by day I feel like I’m learning things and in my minds eye, I can see down the road to a time when I proficient and excelling again, like I did in my former roles.

On the home front, we have been enjoying amazing weather and also Lily has been feeling greatly inspired about her vision of home-life and even potentially home-schooling. She has been reading many books that have given her a vision of home-education, family dinner, the importance of outside play and other important topics. All her research and prayer has culminated in routines and structure to her day with the children that have been extremely rewarded. Lily has commented to me that she feels so good at the end of the day these days because of all that was accomplished towards the children’s development.  I’m so grateful for her and the love, work, inspiration and sacrifice she pours into our children. It’s also been very fun to watch her receive inspiration from God on how to guide this family, especially in the department of raising our children.

So, I guess you could say that Lily and I are both in a learning phase where we are restructuring, strategizing and laying a foundation for what future daily ins-and-outs will be like both at work and at home.  We feel like we are being led, and we are so grateful to have a relationship with God that allows us to enjoy the blessing of His guidance.  Here are some pictures!

 

 

Yesterday Arielle introduced us to South Fork Park in Provo. It’s a beautiful little meadow hidden in Provo Canyon. There’s a stream and forested hills where the children could explore. Yesterday also happened to be the first truly gorgeous day of the season. We had a wonderful time, except that my hands were so full of Ammon that I didn’t get any good pictures of the park. I have a feeling we will be going there all the time, so I’ll get one next time.

Oh, and I have been really low on milk lately. I ran out at the park and Ammon was starving. Arielle tried to breastfeed him–and he latched!!! I could not believe my eyes. I might try to breastfeed him today. Wouldn’t it be amazing if he started again?

Today I had my first cavity filling ever. I asked for the happy gas, and that was a nice, new experience. Afterward I went to the library and checked out a bunch of books on homeschooling and parenting. Meanwhile, my poor baby was home bawling because I had forgotten to tell the babysitter where the milk was. Oh, the irony.

Then I spent all evening lying on the couch reading about how to socialize my children while my children had a play date with the neighbors. Abe slaved away all evening cleaning and tending children while I read up on how to parent. I’m starting to think irony inserted itself throughout the day.

Here is a picture of Abe parenting. I took it from the couch while reading books on how to parent.

The Harbucks’ visit was a catalyst to my recent decision to try home schooling. Seeing and hearing what Preethi is doing with her kids was the straw that broke the camel’s back. She has a really beautiful routine and I could tell her kids had benefitted so much from her efforts.

Yesterday and today I have tried to implement more of a schedule into our day, and I feel so happy with experiment so far. It feels good and happy. We’re only forty-eight hours in, so I guess that could all change, but for the moment it feel right!

Here’s a picture of Mary telling me a story about how she helped a homeless ghost by giving him strawberries and donuts. I was delighted with the narrative (and the child overall).

 

We were heartbroken to say goodbye to the Harbucks this morning. Their visit was inspiring, spiritually rejuvenating, and so fun. Abe asked me plaintively if we could keep them forever. I am in mourning that we are not neighbors.

But we had a great visit, so at least we have that! I have pictures Morgan took of the Penn reunion from Saturday. He does a great job taking pictures.

Last night our dear friends, the Harbucks, arrived. We were so excited to have them stay with us for a night. The grown-ups stayed up until midnight visiting, and Dan and Preethi got some pizza from Slab Pizza for all of us to try. It was delightful to see them and visit.

In the morning, Lydia was so excited to meet their kids. She ran down to the kids’ room and invited herself into their playing. Afterward she exclaimed to me, “Mommy! The girl and boy are both the same. They play so nicely together.” And they do, too.

I feel sad I don’t have more pictures, but I am resolved to take more Saturday when we see the Harbucks again. I am particularly disappointed I didn’t get pictures of Toone and Kina. They are the most beautiful children you ever saw. Pictures coming soon.

I do have one picture of Lydia and Nat talking about dinosaurs. They were studying the incredible dinosaur book the Harbucks sent us in the fall.