FINISHING the house. We have until April 8th to get this house project finished up. We feel like we are so close, yet so far away. Still a lot of effort needs to be put in, both from our builder and by ourselves.
Each week though, more is being checked off of the house to-do list. And we are now able to eat at our table, with the top finished. Still need to make the base for it – but that will be after the construction loan is closed out!
CELEBRATING our middle son. {I} had his golden birthday this month, and he requested to invite a few friends over to the house for some fun and pizza.
He is such a sweet boy, with a thirst for knowledge. Always coming up with a new contraption or invention. Always willing to help out with siblings or a task that needs to be done. We all love him so much!
PARTICIPATING in winter activities. Both at home, and through school, we have been very busy this month. The older two boys finished up their basketball season. Both have improved so much!
The girls were able to cheer with a group at one of the games, and had an absolute ball!
{D} had a wonderful orchestra concert at the middle school. It is so fun to see them all play as a group to make beautiful music.
At home, the kids have been having fun both indoors and out. We are really starting to love our home the more we spend time here and realize how well it works for our family.
SADDENED. An early morning fire in our historic downtown area devastated the area, causing multiple businesses to be displaced and many other buildings to suffer smoke damage. It was a huge loss for our community.
This photo provided by Douglas County (Minn.) Emergency Management in Alexandria, Minn., shows firefighters fighting a fire Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 that destroyed several buildings in downtown Alexandria. (Julie Anderson/Douglas County Emergency Management via AP)
Thankfully there were no casualties, and all of the fire personnel were kept safe. Knowing first hand the risks that these people walk into when battling a blaze, we thankful, at least, for that happy ending.
This is just a glimpse at what our family has been up to. If you’d like a closer look, be sure to check out our weekly ‘mini vlogs’ on our family YouTube channel ARROW HILL FAMILY. Be well everyone!
LABORING. On, you guessed it…the house! The completion of one project seems to lead into another, in a seemingly never-ending cycle.
We are narrowing down to a firm final construction date, when we need to close our loan. With that date in mind, we are realizing that staying on task is going to be very important if we are going to get everything done in time!
SHOVELING a lot of snow. It just keeps coming down, and we are running out of places to put it.
At least the temperatures haven’t been super cold. And, having an attached garage has been amazing. So we aren’t complaining too much!
ENJOYING school activities. The boys are continuing their basketball season. Their teams play well together and both boys are both improving so much!
The kids are also coming home with a bunch of really cute art projects.
CELEBRATING the Lunar New Year. We kept things really low key this year, during all the hustle and bustle. Taking the family out to eat at the local Chinese Buffet was the perfect fit.
Of course, {M} knew exactly what she wanted to dig into first. The girl loves her noodles!
This is just a glimpse at what our family has been up to. If you’d like a closer look, be sure to check out our weekly ‘mini vlogs’ on our family YouTube channel ARROW HILL FAMILY. Be well everyone!
As part of our journey to simplify life, my husband and I have been trying very hard to be intentional about the time we spend with our family. In this post, I share how we have been implementing screen free family day as part of our transition to a more peaceful household.
At the beginning of the year, we had the idea to dedicate one day each month as intentional family time. In order to be fully present, we also decided that we would be turning off all screens for that day. This includes watching television, visiting social media channels, or checking our phones.
Now that we have successfully completed screen free family day three months in a row, I want to share with you the insights that we have noticed.
OUR FAMILY DYNAMIC
First, if you are new here, a little background on our family. We would be considered a large family by today’s standard, with five children. Our oldest son is 12, and our youngest, a daughter, is 5. All of our children are exposed to technology on a regular basis, and have been taught to use it safely.
We have been careful to teach them that technology should be used as a tool and not a crutch. They also have been told that though it can be enjoyable, it is also an easy thing to abuse and consume too much of. As such, we are careful to monitor their activity and limit their time in front of screens. By doing so, we hope to help them become responsible technology users.
WHY SCREEN FREE?
Craig and I had begun to notice that we were being more and more lenient with screen time, and found some negative side effects. Our youngest son, for example, was beginning to exhibit poor behavior and attitude. Our girls would argue about which tv show to watch together. We felt these changes were directly related to the amount of time spent in front of the screen.
Knowing that it was our job, as their parents, to do some redirecting – we had an idea. We would start a screen free family day. Our first goal for this is to have a screen free day once per month. Ultimately, it would be wonderful to have one day per week as a reset day.
INCORPORATING A SCREEN FREE FAMILY DAY
When we first brought up the idea to the kids, they were skeptical. They saw it as a punishment instead of something that could be beneficial. But once we insisted that the entire family would be involved, including us as parents, they were excited.
As a family, we sat down and wrote out ideas of things to do together. We decided that family day, though different each time, would include the following categories:
CHORE
Knowing the value of hard work, we wanted to incorporate a chore that we could all do together. We try to find a chore that will benefit us as a family. On the list are ideas such as raking leaves, chopping firewood, deep cleaning a room inside, and planting a garden.
MEAL PREPARATION
Our kids all enjoy spending time in the kitchen. I will admit though, that at times when they ask to help I turn them down. Mainly, I justify that cooking the meals will be faster and less of a hassle if I do it on my own. However, as part of screen free family day, we are opening up the kitchen and getting everyone involved. We have been rotating through the kids, asking them for meal suggestions each month.
We have seen some interesting suggestions already, such as a chili hamburger meal.
DEVOTION
As a Christian family, we find that it is very important to stay in God’s word. We try to tailor our devotion to topics we are dealing with as a family. This is a great time for us to all discuss, and maybe resolve some pressing issues. We find that even our youngest children are capable expressing their feelings and emotions in a group setting.
QUIET TIME
On screen free family day, we make it a point to reserve a bit of time for the house to be still. This is a great opportunity to take a nap, write a letter to a friend, or read a book. I have really come to look forward to quiet time and the peace it brings. It feels wonderful to allow our brains to rest from any chaos or commotion we may be facing.
FUN ACTIVITY
Of all the categories, this has been the most fun for the kids to sink their teeth into. We have quite the list of activities they want us to do together. Hiking, water fights, bowling, playing at a park, and going out for ice cream are a few examples.
WHAT DOES A SCREEN FREE FAMILY DAY LOOK LIKE?
During a recent family day, we made a screen exception so that I could film with my camera. Take a glimpse at a ‘day in the life’ of our family on a screen free family day.
THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED SO FAR
Through our first three months of implementing screen free family day, we have learned so much. We are quickly finding out what works best for us, and what we need to avoid.
KIDS ARE HAPPIER IN OUR PRESENCE
We have definitely noticed that our kids enjoy the company of their parents. Of course, we have always known that, but the fact that they have our full attention, without distractions, has been really special.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED
We think it is very important to make sure everyone is involved in all aspects of family day. Though some of the kids may moan a bit about having to take out the garbage or help with a meal, we make sure that they participate. By making sure everyone is involved, we are instilling in our children that as a family we can work through the good times, as well as the bad. The easy, as well as the difficult. We are in this together.
IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE FANCY
Knowing that we can just lounge around in our PJ’s all day is just exciting for the kids as telling them we are going out for dinner. Sometimes the most simple moments are the cherished ones.
LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF SCHEDULING
Though it is good to have a general idea of how the day will play out, we are acknowledging that we also need to leave room for spontaneity. The element of ‘anything can happen’ is very exciting for kids. One of the best memories we have made so far during screen free family day was an impromptu sledding trip. The kids asked if we could go, and we had no reason to say no – so we did! It was a blast!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR A SCREEN FREE FAMILY DAY
Check out these additional blog posts for tips on how to effectively go screen free.
I hope that this information has been helpful for you, especially if you are considering a screen free family day of your own. Pin these ideas for future reference!
REMINISCING on an entire year with {K}. We met in China in April 2017, and spent two weeks in country before returning home. It is really hard to believe that we have had a full year of adventures with this sweet girl already!
{K} home one full year!
Days after meeting {K} in China – April 2017
Throughout the year, Angela has interviewed {K} – asking her about her favorite things. It is amazing to look back on these videos and realize how much easier it is for her to communicate with us now. Her looks have changed quite a bit also! If you are interested in the videos you can see them here: 4 months home, 9 months home, and 1 year home.
Easter, April 1st, was the very last holiday that we had yet to spend as a complete family of 7. We had a wonderful celebration.
WATCHING the snow melt. Spring weather has finally reached the Midwest! Though the last snowstorm created a muddy mess of things, we couldn’t be more excited to be outside after such a long, cold winter.
RELAXING on our days off. With the warmer weather of Spring, the after school activities and sport camps are beginning to fill the calendar. The days we have to just snuggle up at home are precious. The kids always seem to find new and fun ideas to explore.
CELEBRATING Craig as he retires from the Fire Department. He has been a volunteer fire fighter for eleven years. We are so proud of him for the selfless sacrifice that he has made through those years. He finished off his duties by coordinating a beautiful memorial service for the firefighters who passed away this past year in the state of Minnesota. It was an incredibly touching program that included a vocal solo from {D}. We found it symbolic that {D} was just a newborn when Craig got accepted into the department and that he was able to help his dad to end his service.
We are absolutely overjoyed that we will be able to spend more time with this incredible man. Wonderful memories are yet to be made!
This is just a glimpse at what our family has been up to. If you’d like a closer look, be sure to check out our weekly ‘mini vlogs’ on our YouTube channel ARROW HILL FAMILY. Be well everyone!
CELEBRATING {I} and his 9th birthday! It seems like just yesterday this little man entered our lives. He is a kind, gentle and committed friend, a brother who is always willing to lend a helping hand. He is our little inventor and has a very mechanical mind – spending large amounts of time taking things apart and putting them back together.
We love watching the story that God is writing in his life!
ENJOYING what will hopefully be the last portion of winter. We finally got a big snowfall at the end of the month. Those 11 or so inches gave us more accumulation than we have seen all winter long! The kids are now able to do a bit of sledding and snow fort building, and they are thrilled.
WORKING hard at school. In February, the kids celebrated their 100th day with some fun activities. They continue to bring home colorful art projects, and good grades. We have parent / teacher conferences soon and are excited to hear how they each have grown academically over the school year. It’s hard to believe that there are only about 12 weeks left until summer vacation!
FINISHING up the basketball season. It has been a lot of fun to watch {D} progress through the games. He has gone from looking confused on the court, to taking initiative and making plays. He really shines on defense and is able to out-hustle his opponents regularly. When the weather warms up this spring and summer, I am sure we will see him and his brothers honing their skills with the garage basketball hoop.
DESIGNING Arrow Hill Cottage, our future house. We made a big jump this month and began talking to a banker about loan options and visiting with a contractor about pricing. We are getting the house design buttoned up so that we can get some accurate cost estimates and see if it is at all possible to break ground this spring! We have been thinking all along that we would build the spring of 2019, so this would get us into our new house a year earlier than planned if it all works out. We are excited about that prospect, but are also willing to be patient another year if the timing (and pricing) isn’t right. You can follow along with our home design here.
This is just a glimpse at what our family has been up to. If you’d like a closer look, be sure to check out our weekly ‘mini vlogs’ on our YouTube channel ARROW HILL FAMILY. Be well everyone!
WATCHING the change of the seasons. The weather the last few weeks has been absolutely gorgeous. Fall in the Midwest is one of the most beautiful scenes to behold. The leaves slowly turned bright colors, then fell to the ground. The temps are now dipping and we experienced our first bit of snowfall, although it melted quickly.
LEARNING new things. The older two boys and Craig have started taking Greek lessons, and are enjoying the challenge. Even though they need to wake up early on Wednesday mornings for their class, they are not deterred.
{K} and {L} are both working on their reading skills. It has been fun to see their grasp of vocabulary blossom. {L} has even taken to writing books of his own!
{M} is getting into the groove of preschool, and has been bringing home plenty of art projects that showcase the fun she has been having! She has made some new little friends, which has been wonderful.
PLAYING outside. As the weather cools down we are taking advantage of every spare moment we can before the deep freeze sets in. The girls really got a kick out of the fallen leaves, and labored over making them into piles that they could jump into.
There is also plenty of dune buggy riding going on. Craig even gets in on that action!
Even though the football season is now officially over, {D} continues to show his dedication to kicking and can be seen in our yard most days practice his form.
DRESSING up for Halloween! We went with a minion theme this year, which was pretty fitting. Many times Craig and I feel over-run by the chaos these little people exude, but we are so blessed by them!
DECORATING for the season. Angela has had a lot of fun this season getting the house festive. She has been pulling bits from nature to make decorative table centerpieces.
This is just a glimpse of what our family has been up to. If you’d like a closer look, be sure to check out our weekly ‘mini vlogs’ on our YouTube channel ARROW HILL FAMILY.
Every night as I tuck {K} into bed, she says to me ‘You say good morning’- not so much a question as a statement. A fact. I am quick to answer ‘Yes. I will say ‘good morning!’ It is a little way that she reminds herself that even though she is closing her eyes now, when she opens them her family will STILL be there. Precious words from a child newly home and still learning what family is all about.
This past week found us in many waiting rooms. Waiting to see specialists who would begin evaluations for what will be years of care. She has already been through so much, and will continue to be faced with many challenges. More on that tomorrow.
After the appointments we were able to meet up with some very special people who knew our daughter long before we did. The incredible family who fostered her while she was living in China (and coincidentally live only a couple hours away from us now!) and the sweet doctor from Shanghai who lobbied to get {K} the care she needed, the care she deserved. These people are so, so special to us and there will never be enough thank you’s to properly acknowledge how grateful we are that they stepped up for our girl, saw her worth, and were willing to fight for her. The fact that we were able to break bread together and see everything come full circle is nothing short of an orchestration by God Himself. We are so blessed.
We were a bit worried though, that seeing these people from her past may set her back a bit – confuse her. Worried that all of the doctor’s appointments might scare her and cause her to lose trust in us. But God showed us, once again, that he is making beauty from ashes. Through it all {K} held strong, she looked to us for reassurance, she leaned on us for comfort, and really seemed to understand that we were going through it all WITH her, FOR her. She understood that at the end of the day we were going to bring her home and back into that same bed in the evening, where we would tuck her in and she could once again say ‘You say good morning’. Our bond is getting stronger.
A reminder, if you ever want to catch up on what our family is up to – you can check out our family YouTube channel!
I just have to say that this past week I have been so proud of our boys and how they protect and encourage their little sisters. Most days we spend time at the parks and playgrounds, and because it is summer and our town sees a lot of tourists during this season, the playgrounds are typically filled to the brim with kids.
I have heard our boys proudly declaring that {M} and {K} are their sisters. I have seen them lend a helping hand if one of them is struggling with a piece of equipment. They have been thrown the curious questions from other kids – tough things like ‘What is wrong with her legs?’ and ‘They don’t look like you… how are they your sisters?’ ‘Can you even understand them?’ – and answered them with dignity and grace. They jump to action if they see someone picking on or making fun of one of their sisters and are always including the girls in their conversations and games.
They are their sisters biggest fans, allies and protectors. They are wonderful big brothers and we are so proud of the young men they are becoming!
Here is a glimpse into our past week. It was a simple one spent at home.
This post was a LONG time in the making, and we are so excited to share with all of you!
Each week, we will be posting a video timeline sharing our family’s ‘week in review’. The goal is to get the video up and shared via YouTube each Monday morning, showing a quick (around 2 minute) glimpse into our family life. We are excited about this fun and simple way to document our lives, and look forward to looking back on them through time to relive all the memories!
I likely won’t be making a blog post about each and every timeline, so you will want to check out our YouTube channel each Monday if you’re interested. You can find our family channel HERE (hit subscribe if you want to be notified when a new video is available!) or click on the little ‘play button’ on the home page of our website for a direct link to Arrow Hill Cottage’s YouTube channel.
We are giving the first installation some special attention today… here is WEEK #1 of our family recap!
