This is My life

Or, if you want family updates, head on over to our family blog

HERE IN INDONESIA

Doing a Little Rearranging

I started this blog three and a half years ago. It has seen me through a lot -- the birth of my third and fourth child, my entrance into the digi scrapping world, the beginning of my time as a designer, my new website, and much more.  I have posted from six different houses that I have lived in.  It chronicles a huge part of my life.  And although I haven't been posting much over this past year, I haven't wanted to let it go. It means too much to me.

I have decided that now,  for various reasons, I am going to stop posting to this blog. Remember though:

"When one door closes, another one opens."

And in this case, two doors will open. 

Before we left the States I put together a family/friends blog to document our life here in Indonesia.  I think I posted to it all but three or four times.  I just didn't really know how to separate it from my own personal blog. But now I am blowing off the virtual dust and reopening that blog.

In addition, I am taking me and my mama-to-four, craft loving, scrapping obsessed, diary-like thoughts to a new home.  You can find it HERE at www.thewellroundedmama.com This new blog will be what THIS IS MY LIFE used to be -- but even more.  I want to share more craft and activity ideas, more parenting stuff, and be an open book on our first year of homeschooling. It will be very mom and craft focused and although my kids will be a huge part of (they ARE my life!) it won't be about them specifically.

Clear as mud?  Here it is simply:

For family and friends who want to know about Jason, Janet, Alaina, Caleb, Levi and Katelynn and about our life and ministry here in Indonesia, visit:

HERE IN INDONESIA (posts will most likely be weekly and include recent family photos)

For those who want to know about what the kids and I do to keep ourselves busy, want fun craft and recipe ideas, want to know my ramblings on life, marriage, and mothering, and want to watch up close what a new homeschooling family looks like, visit:

THE WELL ROUNDED MAMA (posts will be multiple times a week and include anything on my mind at the time)

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Thank you to EVERYONE who has visited and commented over the last three and a half years. It has been an amazing journey and I hope you will follow me over to my new spaces. This blog, although not updated, will remain up so that you can read archives.

Six Little Monkeys Snuggling on a Bed

Luckily no one fell off and bumped their head...

Just Being Together

I often get frustrated listening to/reading about/watching moms who are so busy planning play dates, vacations, and signing their kids up for all sorts of clubs and activities that they don't actually just spend time with their kids.  A while back I was reading about a mom who usually runs 100 miles an hour and is always planning all sorts of stuff for herself and her kids.  When she asked her kids what was most important to them this summer, they said, "We just want you to play with us."  It was a sobering comment, and I hope that mom put down her pad of paper of lists of summer activities and realized that kids just want to be together.

As much as I believe in just being with the kids, I fail. Sometimes I forget that things don't have to be planned and perfect.  Things don't have to be "better than so and so."  And {gasp}, not everything has to be immortalized on [digital] film. As moms, we sometimes just need to be in the moment, go with wherever imagination takes us, and just soak up the relationship we have with these little people. They just want to be together.

So after snapping this picture, feeling convicted that even a simple time on the swing wasn't safe from my camera, I set the camera down and breathed deep and soaked in all the sunshine and giggles and simple delights of being 16 months old.  We just need to be together.

Family Pizza Night

Proof that fun family time can be fast, easy, and fun.

A few weeks back we purchased six small pizza pans for about $1 each. Return on the investment...priceless.

You can do it too...

• pizza dough (use premade if you want -- family fun doesn't have to take forever or need the name Martha Stewart)
• pizza sauce
• grated cheese
• some toppings
• and about 30 minutes.

A few paper plates with your family pizza logo and you are good to go.

Another Spring Birthday

Most people who know us know that all six of us have birthdays in a three month span.  Alaina's birthday starts the ball rolling on January 30 and Caleb brings up the rear on May first.  Katelynn (March 6), me (April 3), Jason (April 6), and Levi (April 17) are smooshed in the middle.  We love it, though it does make for a busy few months filled with LOTS of cake and presents.  That's a good thing, right?

Well...we found out today that we are going to be adding in another spring birthday!  That's right...another April baby... but unlike my other babies, who were all very bald, this new little one will fill a dream in my heart of having a baby with lots of hair. 

Let me introduce you to the newest member of the Phillips Family...Miss Maggie (April 1).

Isn't she DARLING??

Ever since we found out we were moving to this new house, we have talked about getting a dog.  We've always wanted one, but we wanted to be living in a place that had lots of room to run and play (us and the dog!) So when we found out we were moving, a dog was definitely on our list of things to buy!

We've been keeping our eyes open for a Golden Retriever in some of the local pet stores.  My family has a history with Goldens (my parents and younger sister currently have them) and they are just so great with little kids. Today, Jason and I were out running errands and we went to one of the malls to grab some pizza for lunch.  Out of habit, we stopped in the pet store and there she was.  We haven't seen any goldens for a few months so after eating some yummy food we decided to just jump in and do it.  And we are so thrilled!  She is a little over three months old and just as sweet as can be!

It was so neat that we got to do it when the kids weren't with us (we almost NEVER go out without the kids).  We were truly able to surprise them.  When we got home we made them stand by the garage while Jason got her out.  Then she popped her little head out...

Katie was super excited until she got knocked over.  She hasn't quite warmed up to her again.

The kids love her...can you tell??

And i love seeing my kids be kids...running around, dirty feet, chasing a dog, enjoying everything that life has to give them.  These pictures just say childhood to me.

and thanks to Photobooth on my Mac...here are me and my newest little lady...taken about 45 seconds ago. She thinks my lap is her place to sit.

No, I haven't died

From my lack of blogging, it might appear as if I died.  I assure you,  I haven't.  I have, however...

gone to the beach for week
seen sea turtles lay eggs
potty trained a kid
played in massive waves
cooked yummy food
kept up with my business
gone to a water park
packed my house
moved to a new house
hosted a 4th of July party
tried new recipes
read lots of books (to the kids, not for myself)
bought lots of fabric
had comforters made for all the kids
painted my kitchen cabinets
gone lamp shopping
made a goodbye gift for my friend
got new beds and nightstands for the whole family
watching my little kitty try to get pregnant :)
put together my new office/craft room
received and organized all my homeschool materials
updated my photo a day album
watched old episodes of the Gilmore Girls
gone puppy shopping
bought flower and strawberry plants
hired new house help
spray painted furniture

...and so much more

So, I may not be blogging but I am enjoying my summer...

School is OUT!!!!

Summer is here and I couldn't be happier!  Well, I take that back. Jason has to work one more day and then he is done too -- I will be happier then.  BUT, the kids are done and we are in summer mode and I am loving it.  The school year has been so, so good but summer will be even better.  Lazy days, beach vacations, hanging out with friends, lots of time for snuggles and good books and grilled chicken and just being together.  I am SO excited!

It has been a busy few weeks around here!  The last weeks of any school are full of all sorts of field trips, programs, and special events.  We have had our fair share.  After the staff banquet tonight, our commitments are officially done.  Yea!

Of the many events we have had lately, the most special was -- of course -- kindergarten graduation.  Alaina finished kindergarten and it was so fun to see her get so excited for her big day! The program was really, really well done -- complete with songs, skits, and more.  I loved having a night to really celebrate her and her class and all that they have learned this year (especially learning to read!)  What a year it has been!

Here is a picture right before leaving for the ceremony

And here are some from the evening...

10 Little Reasons I Love My Family

Last weekend I had some time while my family was away for a few hours and I whipped up this little mini album.  I ADORE making mini albums! I love how fast and easy they are and how fun they are to look at.  I keep a basket of them on our entry way table and love to pass by them.  Guests also love to see them!

This one took me just a little over an hour -- about half the time to do the digi part and half the time to cut and assemble.  I started with a template set which always makes things go much faster.  I paired each page of the template with a photo representing that "reason."  Print, attach to cardstock, punch holes, a little ribbon and glitter glue and DONE!

If you are a scrapper and want to make one, you can pick up the template set HERE.

A Year Ago this Week...

A year ago this week we were anxiously waiting to find out where God would be having us go.  We had been in process with Faith Academy (Manila, Philippines) for about six weeks but we also had a whirlwind application process with Bandung Alliance International School (Bandung, Indonesia). We were waiting, praying, and waiting some more.  And then on one day, we got accepted to both schools.  Without hesitation, we chose to move to Indonesia.  It was really an amazing story.

And here we are, one year later.  And what a year it has been!  It was not a move we were planning or expected but it was a move that has been far better than anything we could have imagined.  Jason has had a wonderful year and LOVES his job.  I have loved being at home with the kids, doing my scrapping stuff, and actually having time for the first time in my adult life to have friends, do stuff with other people, invite people over, and just hang out with the kiddos.  I know I have had a good year when I look forward to waking up and starting each new day!

It is just one of those situations where trusting God has proved to be ultimately important.  Last spring was a scary time.  However, we trusted God in all things.  We knew that HE was up to something (although He allowed people to be a part of it) and what they meant for evil, God truly meant for good.  If we hadn't trusted in His goodness, in His faithfulness, in His abiding love for us we might have missed it.  We might have missed a move that has been so incredibly good for us.  I can't even begin to list the ways that each of us has benefited from being here! But we did trust God.  We didn't care what other people thought of us.  We kept our eyes on Him and followed.  And the song that was so important to us last year still makes my heart beat a little faster...

If You say go, we will go
If You say wait, we will wait
If You say step out on the water
And they say it can't be done
We'll fix our eyes on you and we will come

Your ways are higher than our ways
And the plans that You have laid
Are good and true
If You call us to the fire
You will not withdraw Your hand
We'll gaze into the flames and look for You

__________

So here we are, one year later, totally happy, and totally looking forward to summer!  School finishes up next week and then we have NINE weeks to be together as a family!  A few days after school gets out we are headed to the beach for TEN DAYS!  The first few days we are going with a group to go see some sea turtles laying their eggs:

Giant marine turtles laying eggs at Ujung Genteng.
At the southern-most tip of the bay lies the nature reserve Ujung Genteng where most nights of the year giant marine turtles, often over 100 kgs, come to lay eggs. After dusk, these animals come ashore, drag themselves up the beach, dig a hole and lay up to 150 eggs. They cover it up, turn around and return to sea in a ritual that can take 21/2 hours, and can be watched at close quarters. Viewing this primitive ritual is a truly inspiring

After that the rest of our group is heading back and we are staying at the beach for a week.  It is amazing that we can stay in a 3 bedroom A/C bungalow (complete with a house boy that cleans up and goes to the market to buy -- and then cook -- fresh seafood everyday) for just under $300 for the whole week!  We are really excited for this trip and the amazing amount of family time!

After we return home we are going to be busy, because we are moving!  We weren't really planning on looking too hard for a new house but we kept our eyes and ears open in case something turned up.  We have LOVED our house this year but for some reasons (keep reading) it was going to be a bit tight next year (and no, I am not pregnant : )  After we had decided to just go ahead and stay in our house an AMAZING place just kind of fell in our laps! The house is out of our development and in town and has the MOST AMAZING YARD.  Yards are hard to come by here (and pretty much impossible where we are living now) and I want my kids to be able to run and play and chase a dog and get dirty and use their imaginations and just be KIDS. The house we found has a kids dream lawn including gorgeous plants, fruit trees, rabbit cages (in the back), a club house, swing set, tire swing, rope swing, zip line, and two hills perfect for some slip and slidin'!

Just so you can see a little perspective on the size of the yard -- really hard to show how big it is!

In this next picture I am only standing at about the halfway point of the lawn

This one was taken from the upstairs balcony

In addition to that, it has MY dream covered front porch!  And while we didn't choose the house for the house itself, the house is great!  It is about twice the square footage of our current house (and about the same price!) and it just opens itself up to lots of possibilities!  There is a lot of work to be done but we are so exited to get in and make it ours.  We really want to make it a place we all love to be because the kids and I are going to be spending a LOT of time there.  Because...

We are going to be homeschooling the kids next year!  This decision, made many months ago and long before the house situation came up, has nothing to do with the school where they are.  The kids have LOVED and THRIVED in school this year.  The teachers are wonderful (my hubby is one of them!) and we have been very blessed.  However, I am just coming to grips more and more that these little kids are only little once and I want to be with them as much as I can.  I want the bulk of their day to revolve around HOME and FAMILY.  I want to be the one who gets to explore the world with them and discover great books with them.  I also want them to be able to have time to just be kids instead of spending 7+ hours a day in a classroom.  While this will be yet another adjustment for all of us, I am really looking forward to it.  And, we will take it one year at a time and one child at a time.  We will reevaluate as necessary. But for this year, my kids are going to be home again. And that is a good thing!

So there you have it -- another year and another set of changes.  But with each passing day God's goodness is more evident in my life and I am more thankful for the blessings -- many unasked for -- that He has poured out on our family.  Jason and I were talking the other night and discussing how good our kids are.  They are four amazing little people with big personalities and they are going to go far in this world.  I want each of them to live up to THEIR fullest potential and pursue God with reckless abandon.  It doesn't matter what the world thinks -- follow Him and you can't go wrong. It may look like you don't know what you are doing and people may think you have failed (Noah, Abraham, Paul to name a few!) but only what God thinks is important.  We live for an audience of One!