It may be that because we're homeschooling I have more time to notice, or maybe they've reached an age where their senses of humor are more developed...either way, my kids have been cracking me up lately. Just when I thought I couldn't love 'em anymore - they turn out to be really funny! And not just in the typical "kids are funny" untimely gas passing, tripping over themselves, silly kind of way. They're witty, they've got a great handle on language, and they find clever ways to bring out humor in the most mundane situation. I love to laugh, so I sincerely wouldn't be any happier if we'd just discovered a hidden musical or athletic gifting. If they're this funny now, I can only imagine the laughs we'll have as they learn more about the world around them and further develop their comedic skills. There are so many things I plan to teach them, but "real" funny has to come from within, ya know? So I am one happy mom, 'cause my kids are funny!
Stealing this post idea.
Unwinding after a long day.
Wishing it wasn't too late for coffee.
Forgiving my children for the milkshake incident at Chick-Fil-A.
Researching art projects for my classes.
Laughing at this video.
Thawing a roast for dinner tomorrow - we've had sandwiches 2 nights in a row.
Looking forward to our first field trip next week.
Praying for my husband.
Going to bed and hopefully...
Sleeping in tomorrow!
Unwinding after a long day.
Wishing it wasn't too late for coffee.
Forgiving my children for the milkshake incident at Chick-Fil-A.
Researching art projects for my classes.
Laughing at this video.
Thawing a roast for dinner tomorrow - we've had sandwiches 2 nights in a row.
Looking forward to our first field trip next week.
Praying for my husband.
Going to bed and hopefully...
Sleeping in tomorrow!
I've been on the go-go-go lately (another story for another day!) and while out and about, I've been asked more times than I can count, How's homeschooling? I don't mind being asked at all, in fact, I'm genuinely touched at how many people are inquiring about our transition, rooting us on, and offering encouragement. But the fact that I've been asked this question so many times in the past week got me to thinking...maybe some of you on the other side of this blog that haven't had a chance to ask are wondering the same.
Homeschooling is great. We certainly don't have it down to a perfect science and every day looks a little different, but it's working for us. Some days, as we gather our materials and sit around the dining room table, we're like a Norman Rockwell painting...other days we're so dysfunctional that even Fox wouldn't air our reality show. But that's life, right? Homeschooling has proven to be a piece of our life puzzle that fits into place beautifully. Even if the puzzle is far from complete, this piece fits perfectly in it's place. It fits our personalities and lifestyle so well, and Lily and Luke being so close in age is an undeniable benefit -it's as if they were literally born for homeschooling. This was a "big picture" solution for us, not a quick fix for any one particular problem, but a lifestyle change that we hoped would bring widespread balance - and so far, it's working.
Obviously, there is a lot this post doesn't include - so many things we haven't figured out about our life as a homeschool family. But all those things would make this a very long answer to a short question, so for now, I'll just stick with: We love homeschooling!
Homeschooling is great. We certainly don't have it down to a perfect science and every day looks a little different, but it's working for us. Some days, as we gather our materials and sit around the dining room table, we're like a Norman Rockwell painting...other days we're so dysfunctional that even Fox wouldn't air our reality show. But that's life, right? Homeschooling has proven to be a piece of our life puzzle that fits into place beautifully. Even if the puzzle is far from complete, this piece fits perfectly in it's place. It fits our personalities and lifestyle so well, and Lily and Luke being so close in age is an undeniable benefit -it's as if they were literally born for homeschooling. This was a "big picture" solution for us, not a quick fix for any one particular problem, but a lifestyle change that we hoped would bring widespread balance - and so far, it's working.
Obviously, there is a lot this post doesn't include - so many things we haven't figured out about our life as a homeschool family. But all those things would make this a very long answer to a short question, so for now, I'll just stick with: We love homeschooling!
...Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-12
Last month I read the words "expectation destroys appreciation" on a friend's blog. I really chewed on that statement, so poignant in the writer's context of failing to appreciate the simple pleasures in life, like time with family, because we tend to have expectations of perfection. That same expression came to mind as I mediated on the above scriptures. I've found myself returning to them daily, reading them over and over...wondering. In all the noise of life, with all the chaos of a young, busy family - clouded further by my own expectations - am I missing His gentle whisper? Am I expecting God to show up in one way and failing to appreciate, or missing all together, when He moves in a different way? The question hits me like a punch to the gut, because I am certain of the answer. Yes.
It would be easy to allow myself to spend time wrecked over the gentle whispers I am sure I have missed, the glimpses of God I have overlooked, the interventions I have failed to appreciate. But today my prayer is, rather than perhaps miss Him again while looking back, I'll open my eyes, I'll quiet myself, I'll watch and listen. Then I'll acknowledge and appreciate the ways He shows up today. And in doing so, I'll teach my children to do the same.
Last month I read the words "expectation destroys appreciation" on a friend's blog. I really chewed on that statement, so poignant in the writer's context of failing to appreciate the simple pleasures in life, like time with family, because we tend to have expectations of perfection. That same expression came to mind as I mediated on the above scriptures. I've found myself returning to them daily, reading them over and over...wondering. In all the noise of life, with all the chaos of a young, busy family - clouded further by my own expectations - am I missing His gentle whisper? Am I expecting God to show up in one way and failing to appreciate, or missing all together, when He moves in a different way? The question hits me like a punch to the gut, because I am certain of the answer. Yes.
It would be easy to allow myself to spend time wrecked over the gentle whispers I am sure I have missed, the glimpses of God I have overlooked, the interventions I have failed to appreciate. But today my prayer is, rather than perhaps miss Him again while looking back, I'll open my eyes, I'll quiet myself, I'll watch and listen. Then I'll acknowledge and appreciate the ways He shows up today. And in doing so, I'll teach my children to do the same.
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