tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73850942235705197632024-03-14T08:58:41.861-05:00Coffee for the Journeycrystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-92005683686872267402015-07-30T19:17:00.000-05:002015-08-01T16:56:24.147-05:00Summer's Winding DownThe heat may not be winding down, but summer vacation is slowly drawing to a close. I looked at the calendar and realized we are only three weeks away from starting school. I knew it was getting closer, but looking at the calendar really made it hit close to home.
We have been out of school for almost three months. What a blessing this time has been. I was so burned out at the end of the year. crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-15857724892258678582015-02-14T14:17:00.000-06:002015-02-14T14:18:04.782-06:00It's a CallingSometimes I just need to write. It may not be a groundbreaking article that will change how you view everything. It may be a rehash of the same struggles other mom's face. No matter, I just need to write.
Homeschooling is a calling. I don't say that flippantly. It is not easy. It is not for everyone. It is not the best choice for every child or every family. It is a decision made with much crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-81715568836704743372015-01-03T14:26:00.001-06:002015-01-03T14:26:52.867-06:00Meal Plan Monday
It's Meal Plan Monday, except for me it's meal plan Saturday. Saturday just doesn't have the same ring to it.
We'll stick with Meal Plan "Monday" for literary, rhythmic purposes.
I dread meal planning. It used to be all fun and games those first few weeks of marriage.
Those were the days when it still felt like I was playing house and pretending to be a grownup.
Every week I relished crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-75173168652184646262015-01-01T23:48:00.001-06:002015-01-03T14:19:27.462-06:00Traveling With Kids
Yes, this is my children crashing at Miami International airport at around 2 in the morning. Yes, they are sleeping on trash bags. The cleaning crew took pity on us and graciously lent us these "sleeping bags" for the night.
Traveling is not easy. It's never predictable. Throw in little ones and you have the recipe for....well let's just say it can get a little crazy.
I love traveling, and crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-7114214715211516592014-12-30T07:24:00.002-06:002014-12-30T07:28:43.963-06:00A Year in Review
It's 5 a.m. and I'm on the road. If you had asked me where I would be at this time last New Year's Eve, this would not have crossed my mind. This is life, down to one 10 year old car, back in the workforce, unexpected pregnancy, unexpected miscarriage, and trusting God for every dollar to make ends meet.
We often don't see our pride in self sufficiency. It's a sneaky little sin that is hard tocrystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-65645628412840242072014-12-10T10:28:00.002-06:002014-12-10T10:28:51.299-06:00The "M" Word Part 1.I was 20 years old standing in the bathroom staring in utter disbelief at the two pink lines glaring back at me.
How could this happen? I had life so carefully planned. I was 20 for goodness sakes, in the middle of college and working at Starbucks. This was not the life I had planned. I knew it could have been worse. I was married so I didn't have to wonder who the father was or worry about crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-21954565383312807402014-05-23T09:37:00.000-05:002014-08-01T22:09:09.033-05:00Looking back. Moving ForwardToday we will write the last lines of the last chapter for the 2013-2014 homeschool year.
You would think that with three years under my belt I would be more sure of myself. I end the year with gratefulness and much fear and trembling. The weight of the responsibility God has put upon me to educate my children is sometimes quite heavy. Of course I swiftly realize this heaviness is my own doing, crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-70948325141693284542013-12-24T14:24:00.001-06:002013-12-24T14:24:48.537-06:00Culmination of Anticipation
Am I the only one with a twinge of sadness on Christmas Eve? I'm excited, but it all ends so quickly. Really the anticipation started for me near the end of September and early October. Not that I really start a countdown to Christmas. It's more that autumn ushers in a time of many traditions and purposeful family togetherness that all culminate in the celebration of Christmas.
As we slide crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-87830859479182573632013-11-30T19:25:00.000-06:002013-11-30T19:25:14.594-06:00A Time to ReflectThe season of advent is upon us. I cannot quench the childlike expectancy that begins to rise in my heart as we enter the season of joy, family, and togetherness, I don't pretend to believe Jesus was born in December. I understand so many rituals have pagan origins. Yet I am grateful, because He was born we have redemption. The invasion of our Saviour to our humble world is worth celebrating crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-51608585626798607532013-07-16T17:12:00.001-05:002013-07-16T19:03:27.131-05:00A Home For the Medranos
After many painstaking months walking through the process of praying, selling, praying, packing, moving, praying, house hunting, and of course some more prayer sprinkled in for good measure, we found our house!!!! The initial contract was signed almost two weeks ago, and we began the inspection process this past week. We were excited, but a little hesitant to get too excited. The first crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-86644402650386439982013-06-02T10:28:00.001-05:002013-11-30T18:59:19.787-06:00Why Labor?Two years ago when I gave birth to my son Isaac, I had no idea of the lasting impact that choosing a drug free birth would have on my life. The lessons I learned from labor recently hit me like a ton of bricks as we started our move over a week ago. I'm a generally not fond of big changes. It's not that I like to stay stagnant, but I tend to enjoy putting down some roots and letting changes crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-87034897659004718922013-04-26T11:00:00.000-05:002013-04-26T11:10:28.407-05:00Are You Done Yet?When I was pregnant with my 3rd child everyone felt the need to ask the loaded question, "so are you done yet?" Seriously, at a critical, emotional juncture in my life you feel the need to jump into my personal life and demand an answer about something that is frankly none of your business.
Ok, ok, I know that is a little harsh, and for most people this is an innocent question used to spur on crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-20355719893885480752013-04-10T11:13:00.001-05:002013-04-11T20:30:17.887-05:00and it's WednesdayDo you ever feel like your failing miserable at this mom thing? I know I can google and find many mommy bloggers who all feel overwhelmed, tired, at their wits end. Of course as much as we try to relate there is something deeply personal about this experience. It is a walk that even though billions of mothers will walk you must walk yourself. It will be slightly different. You will have to crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-67487748219504129862013-04-01T21:56:00.000-05:002013-04-01T21:56:02.522-05:00Watch Out World, This Little Man is About to Be Two!
Almost exactly two years ago to the hour I began to labor my dearest Isaac into this world. He barely missed being an April Fools baby by a mere hour and 40 minutes. Since the moment he was pulled from the water and laid in my arms he has been stealing my heart every day. I have grown as a mother in so many new ways. His strong willed spirit challenges me to dig deeper in God, and his crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-67862862509155280572013-02-28T23:40:00.000-06:002013-02-28T23:40:47.494-06:00Lessons on Parenting from My Own Rebellious HeartIt's official, those terrible twos are kicking in with my sweet, little Isaac. He has been unfortunate/fortunate, to gain a very strong stubborn streak that runs in my family. I have been party to some very intense screaming fits as of late. Patience with children does not come naturally to me. These little tantrums become even more difficult to deal with as I try to teach Kaylie and keep Micah crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-71374224026958165592013-02-11T08:26:00.000-06:002013-02-11T08:26:30.897-06:00Selling a House and Other Fun Stuff
We took the plunge. After close to 7 years of living in our home we finally made the final decision to sell our townhome. We have mulled over this for years as our family has grown, but the time was never right. The year 2012 was a year of personal transition for us, and by the end of the year we knew it was time. On January 27th we put it up for sale by owner. I've heard home selling cancrystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-10941458418154115872013-02-01T23:47:00.001-06:002013-02-11T08:26:44.880-06:00Can I Borrow Some Change and See How it Works Out?I want change and I hate change. It is the conundrum of my life. I stand at the foot of the mountain and the sheer enormity overwhelms me. Have I always been this way? Is it something that has come with age?
I sit here confused tonight. It's nights like this I miss being a child.
crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-86451989165259324462012-11-07T21:20:00.001-06:002012-11-07T21:22:33.468-06:00Little GlimpsesDay to day life has it's own way of clouding our vision. The vision that looks upward to a home that will one day be forever. Ever once in awhile the heavens open and we are given another glimpse of what is really there all the time.
Late Friday night I received the call I had been expecting for days. My grandpa Walt had died after a long, full life on this earth, 88 years to be exact. I have crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-31605380254483998682012-10-28T09:34:00.000-05:002013-02-11T08:43:40.421-06:00BeThou My Vision
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-19682021747210312442012-10-19T16:36:00.000-05:002012-10-19T16:36:14.633-05:00Beauty
There really is so much beauty in the world. Oh I could go on about suffering and injustice. Yes these things are very real. They are heartbreaking, and too often overlooked so that we feel more comfortable.
Still I look out and there is beauty. Little reminders left by our Creator to ignite something in our soul, to awaken our spirits and remind us there is more. Yes there is more of this crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-27116379971293174812012-10-17T12:18:00.000-05:002012-10-17T12:18:30.039-05:00Formerly Known as the Rhinovirus BluesFour whole days, yes that's right, four whole days without any children. I would be lying if I said I didn't shed some tears preparing my children for grandma's house. For all the fussing, time, and drama that comes with three kiddos, I really do love those little guys (and girl). Nevertheless it is completely foolish to pass up an opportunity to get away with your spouse with the opportunity crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-9506071149030316092012-10-07T09:52:00.002-05:002012-10-07T09:53:54.734-05:00Curriculum ReviewsI've talked a little bit about our homeschooling endeavors but I have never really gone into depth regarding the curriculum we use. I thought I'd post a little review for those out there who may be curious about homeschooling, or looking for materials. I found that reviews from other parents were so helpful in making our decisions.
A little about our family:
This is my second full year to crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-86967530734821627432012-09-16T14:59:00.002-05:002012-09-16T15:03:12.636-05:00A Mind Blowing Truth
You may want to take a seat, this may blow your mind. Are you sitting? Ok take a deep breath. I'm not sure how to break this to you so I'm going to just come out and say it.
Jesus is not a democrat OR a republican. * insert crickets chirping
Does this change the truth of who He is? Absolutely not! Does this mean we do not vote or live our lives according to truth crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-42146269391403281192012-09-14T12:49:00.001-05:002012-09-14T14:44:37.946-05:00Happy Birthday GrandmaToday would have been my grandmother's birthday. It's been over a year since she went on to her reward, but who she was continues to be ingrained into the fabric of my life today. I know I have mentioned at least once if not more my greatest memory of her. That will always be her smiling face waiting for me at the breakfast table. As a child you never really think about the life that was before crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385094223570519763.post-26248378977019047002012-09-05T17:23:00.000-05:002013-02-01T23:57:43.205-06:00Feeling FrazzledMaybe it's just a hitch in my routine, I'm not entirely sure, but today has me feeling frazzled. We had an appointment with the Dr. this morning to get some yearly check ups done for the two oldest. Micah needed some booster vaccinations. Yes I have chosen to allow most vaccinations for my children, but I support those who make the decision not to. I always dread office visits. I appreciate the crystalmedranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08375639102808064280noreply@blogger.com0