What if our world did not revolve around our kids?
I've spent years in defense of kids who's parents seemed too busy or caught up in their own lives to pay attention to what they are doing and who they are growing up to be, and I maintain that stance.
I'm also of the belief that coddling a child, spoiling a child, babying a child is often a well-intended way to parent, which also happens to yield the opposite of desired results.
And don't I just love my children to pieces! They are such a complete joy and I am in awe of them everyday.
But sometimes I wonder if the fine line between affirming children, and showing we value them, is smudged by making them such high priority.
Assuredly, they are our responsibility, and a great responsibility at that.
But what I'm talking about is when we allow the care and raising of our children to wedge between us and our relationship with God.
And perhaps our relationships with other.
I have to do a self check sometimes. I delight in my daughters so dearly, and I am so passionate about raising them well, that I have to stop and ask: Is my focus more on them than God? By world's standards this is just plain crazy talk. But Jesus did say, "If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison--your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple." That almost sounds crazy, too. Who is more pro-family than the Lord? But I take this to mean if you put anything before your devotion to God, even family, then that is idol worship. And you cannot both love God with all your heart and worship idols, whatever form that takes.
What does this look like? A parent who cannot seem to let go of their grown children, who stands in the way of God's plans for them. A parent unwilling to do what is right in order to spare their child hardship. When a parent relies on their children or spouse, or any other, to fulfill them when only God is able to do that.
Pray for your children, yes. Be the best stewards of these precious talents God has entrusted you with, yes. Let NOTHING compare with your relationship and love for God, please yes.
As mothers, I think we can become tempted when we have these small beings so reliant on us. I've caught myself in the past, when they were babies, especially, I cherished those times when they "needed" me, and mourned when they grew to rely on others as well. Even now, I relish, perhaps too much, I wonder, the esteem they hold me in. I need to pray for humility here.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Living Without Pretense
I feel a fresh understanding of something I often considered, but needed to be challenged in, wash over.
Forgiving others as we are forgiven.
I believe wholeheartedly that this is not a command given to us by God as a "suggestion" to help us gain peace.
To those who have been given much, much is expected.
Consider others better than yourself.
Love one another.
Turn the other cheek.
This is what sets us apart from unbelievers.
Our love and our willingness to forgive.
Our willingness to do unto others as we would have them do, regardless of what they have done.
But do we really do this?
Do we take the the ugly criminal of a grudge, fueled by self righteousness, and do we battle it head on, not relenting till it is completely defeated?
Or do we beat it till we grow tired and then brush it under the carpet, it is weak for a time, but grows stronger, yet out of sight, subtly.
Do we put others before ourselves when it conveniences us?
Or perhaps when we are faced with our own sin and desire a quick feeling of restitution that soothes our wounded spirit?
What if we were able to let go of all pretense, humble ourselves, and swallow our prides, and offer the cup of true forgiveness?
I struggle to know what that even looks like? It doesn't say "I forgive" yet harbor unspoken resentment. It doesn't "forget" the sin until something else happens and then it is remembered with fierce recollection.
Its to go to that person who rubs you the wrong way, who makes your life difficult, who is abrasive, obnoxious, smug. It is to take the basin of water and wrap your cloak around you and kneel and remove their sandals and wash their feet.
Oh, that I would know this level of humility. It feels like a discipline, a depth of holiness, that I am far from grasping. But I desire it, I know in my heart it is worthy of seeking.
Forgive, as you have been forgiven.
Forgiving others as we are forgiven.
I believe wholeheartedly that this is not a command given to us by God as a "suggestion" to help us gain peace.
To those who have been given much, much is expected.
Consider others better than yourself.
Love one another.
Turn the other cheek.
This is what sets us apart from unbelievers.
Our love and our willingness to forgive.
Our willingness to do unto others as we would have them do, regardless of what they have done.
But do we really do this?
Do we take the the ugly criminal of a grudge, fueled by self righteousness, and do we battle it head on, not relenting till it is completely defeated?
Or do we beat it till we grow tired and then brush it under the carpet, it is weak for a time, but grows stronger, yet out of sight, subtly.
Do we put others before ourselves when it conveniences us?
Or perhaps when we are faced with our own sin and desire a quick feeling of restitution that soothes our wounded spirit?
What if we were able to let go of all pretense, humble ourselves, and swallow our prides, and offer the cup of true forgiveness?
I struggle to know what that even looks like? It doesn't say "I forgive" yet harbor unspoken resentment. It doesn't "forget" the sin until something else happens and then it is remembered with fierce recollection.
Its to go to that person who rubs you the wrong way, who makes your life difficult, who is abrasive, obnoxious, smug. It is to take the basin of water and wrap your cloak around you and kneel and remove their sandals and wash their feet.
Oh, that I would know this level of humility. It feels like a discipline, a depth of holiness, that I am far from grasping. But I desire it, I know in my heart it is worthy of seeking.
Forgive, as you have been forgiven.
If God Seems Far Away, Who Moved? 10/23
How great is our God?
How just is He?!
How merciful His hand in my life?!
Who am I that He is mindful of me?
I am but a human.
Nothing, apart from my Creator.
Yet He pours Himself out in me.
He knits my life's moments and experiences.
And sinful is my nature.
Except His nature is in me, so it is not.
How beyond my understanding are His ways?
Yet they are worked together for my gain.
Life is but a blip.
And my life is but a mist.
And my purpose is to glorify Him.
How shamefully I fail.
My prayer can only be for His presence to complete me.
Oh God, how you complete me!
I am a grain of sand, with You there is an endless desert of it.
I am a drop of water, with You there is an endless sea.
In my weakness, He is made strong!
And so, how strong He is made!
For my weakness is great, His strength is greater!
Be magnified, O Lord!
May the whole earth sing of Your praises!
May every breath grant You glory!
May every word utter of Your great love!
How just is He?!
How merciful His hand in my life?!
Who am I that He is mindful of me?
I am but a human.
Nothing, apart from my Creator.
Yet He pours Himself out in me.
He knits my life's moments and experiences.
And sinful is my nature.
Except His nature is in me, so it is not.
How beyond my understanding are His ways?
Yet they are worked together for my gain.
Life is but a blip.
And my life is but a mist.
And my purpose is to glorify Him.
How shamefully I fail.
My prayer can only be for His presence to complete me.
Oh God, how you complete me!
I am a grain of sand, with You there is an endless desert of it.
I am a drop of water, with You there is an endless sea.
In my weakness, He is made strong!
And so, how strong He is made!
For my weakness is great, His strength is greater!
Be magnified, O Lord!
May the whole earth sing of Your praises!
May every breath grant You glory!
May every word utter of Your great love!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
"Christian" -ish
Sadly, I find it hard to label myself as a "Christian" anymore.
I always want to clarify, "Yes I am a Christian- but not like you might be thinking. I mean, a serious one, Bible-believing, firmly rooted, conservative, repentant, still-a-sinner but work-in-progress."
"No. I mean, yes, I do go to church every week, but its more than that..."
"Yes, Wednesday's too.... (cringe) well, the sinner's prayer, yes, but its more than that..."
"Its not religion, its a relationship...."
"Yes, I talk to Him... no, its not weird... He does answer... well, no, not audibly like you or me..."
"Baptism by emersion..."
"Yes, I actually read my Bible."
"...Well, no, not everyday, but almost."
"No, I'm not judging you, I care, I want you to be blessed, I want you to know so that you'll know, you know?"
I'm fully aware that the title "Christian" has been so watered down it doesn't even register as being credible to most people. I can't even express how much this breaks my heart, frustrates me, and gets my stomach all twisted up.
What I want people to see is that almost all of the heartache they feel and the burdens they carry can be eliminated when they put their full faith in Jesus Christ. To do that is more than a 3 step prayer process, it is a constant continual surrender of ones' self; it is the saturation of one's life with God's Word and prayer, not just reading it, "...and so deceiving yourselves, do what it says;" it is in letting go of the trappings of this world and living relationally instead. In relationship to God, and in relationship to others.
Oh how I wish I could plead with people to get it.
This means less focus on busy things that occupy time and space but lack eternal value. The mom stays home with her children, the dad works less, the kids scale way back on extra-curricular activities, over-achievers achieve less, singles don't bury their singleness in work.
We live on less money. We let go of toys and excess, even the excess we've deceived ourselves into believing is necessity. We let go of bigger houses, fancier cars, exuberant vacations, fads and gadgets. We turn off the TV. We power down the computer. We get over the awkwardness of not knowing how to fill our time without these things. We "strain towards the prize for which we have been called."
Everyday, I see people. I watch them walking on the road, working behind the counter, in line at the store. Their faces, their demeanor, its like I can almost see the big gaping whole in their souls, the cancer in their hearts. Would you like to be healed? My Father is a great physician!
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest."
I always want to clarify, "Yes I am a Christian- but not like you might be thinking. I mean, a serious one, Bible-believing, firmly rooted, conservative, repentant, still-a-sinner but work-in-progress."
"No. I mean, yes, I do go to church every week, but its more than that..."
"Yes, Wednesday's too.... (cringe) well, the sinner's prayer, yes, but its more than that..."
"Its not religion, its a relationship...."
"Yes, I talk to Him... no, its not weird... He does answer... well, no, not audibly like you or me..."
"Baptism by emersion..."
"Yes, I actually read my Bible."
"...Well, no, not everyday, but almost."
"No, I'm not judging you, I care, I want you to be blessed, I want you to know so that you'll know, you know?"
I'm fully aware that the title "Christian" has been so watered down it doesn't even register as being credible to most people. I can't even express how much this breaks my heart, frustrates me, and gets my stomach all twisted up.
What I want people to see is that almost all of the heartache they feel and the burdens they carry can be eliminated when they put their full faith in Jesus Christ. To do that is more than a 3 step prayer process, it is a constant continual surrender of ones' self; it is the saturation of one's life with God's Word and prayer, not just reading it, "...and so deceiving yourselves, do what it says;" it is in letting go of the trappings of this world and living relationally instead. In relationship to God, and in relationship to others.
Oh how I wish I could plead with people to get it.
This means less focus on busy things that occupy time and space but lack eternal value. The mom stays home with her children, the dad works less, the kids scale way back on extra-curricular activities, over-achievers achieve less, singles don't bury their singleness in work.
We live on less money. We let go of toys and excess, even the excess we've deceived ourselves into believing is necessity. We let go of bigger houses, fancier cars, exuberant vacations, fads and gadgets. We turn off the TV. We power down the computer. We get over the awkwardness of not knowing how to fill our time without these things. We "strain towards the prize for which we have been called."
Everyday, I see people. I watch them walking on the road, working behind the counter, in line at the store. Their faces, their demeanor, its like I can almost see the big gaping whole in their souls, the cancer in their hearts. Would you like to be healed? My Father is a great physician!
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest."
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Hallelujah Moment!!
I'm very excited to reflect on a wonderful "Hallelujah" moment we experienced tonight!
For several weeks we have been working our way through a book called Window on the World, every evening reading about a different country or people group and praying over the specific physical and spiritual needs of those people. We have been taking turns, the girls and I, in closing prayer. One night I'll pray, the next M, the next J.
However, when it comes too L we have been hitting quite a roadblock. It behooves me why anyone, let alone a child, would struggle to talk to God. But if you know L, it makes a little more sense, not because it is God, but because it is an open ended task without clear and set boundaries as to how it should be done. In times past, she has gone so far as to have meltdowns when I've tried to explain that you can tell God anything, crying and sobbing out loud. I encourage, but it has come down to me saying, "Ok, repeat after me."
Can you guess what hurdle we cleared tonight? After reading about the homeless and street children around the world, leading to discussions on adoption and appreciation for having loving parents and families, our time for prayer came and since everyone seemed to have something to say, I asked, "Who would like to pray?" M & J volunteered immediately. And I hear this teeny tiny voice next to me chime in, "I think I know what I can pray, mama."
So we let L go first and took turns all praying. My heart could burst listening to her intercession for the children living in sewers and families broken over alchoholism. Lord, thank you! Let their hearts beat for You, let their compassion manifest Your love through their lives!
Something else I found interesting, was the way each child got something unique and different from what we read. Hearing their prayers, and in light of having quizzed them that afternoon to gain insight into their learning styles, I was struck how three children could hear the same information, and have completely different impressions left on their hearts. I mentioned L's take, M prayed against child abuse and for those who helped minister to the children, and J prayed she would always have a heart for adoption and that she would always remember how lucky she is to be loved.
Scripture talks about the church, like a body, having many parts that contribute many different functions. Our family is a beautiful example of five unique individuals, with their own attributes, gifts, and talents, working together as one. For God's glorification, I pray.
For several weeks we have been working our way through a book called Window on the World, every evening reading about a different country or people group and praying over the specific physical and spiritual needs of those people. We have been taking turns, the girls and I, in closing prayer. One night I'll pray, the next M, the next J.
However, when it comes too L we have been hitting quite a roadblock. It behooves me why anyone, let alone a child, would struggle to talk to God. But if you know L, it makes a little more sense, not because it is God, but because it is an open ended task without clear and set boundaries as to how it should be done. In times past, she has gone so far as to have meltdowns when I've tried to explain that you can tell God anything, crying and sobbing out loud. I encourage, but it has come down to me saying, "Ok, repeat after me."
Can you guess what hurdle we cleared tonight? After reading about the homeless and street children around the world, leading to discussions on adoption and appreciation for having loving parents and families, our time for prayer came and since everyone seemed to have something to say, I asked, "Who would like to pray?" M & J volunteered immediately. And I hear this teeny tiny voice next to me chime in, "I think I know what I can pray, mama."
So we let L go first and took turns all praying. My heart could burst listening to her intercession for the children living in sewers and families broken over alchoholism. Lord, thank you! Let their hearts beat for You, let their compassion manifest Your love through their lives!
Something else I found interesting, was the way each child got something unique and different from what we read. Hearing their prayers, and in light of having quizzed them that afternoon to gain insight into their learning styles, I was struck how three children could hear the same information, and have completely different impressions left on their hearts. I mentioned L's take, M prayed against child abuse and for those who helped minister to the children, and J prayed she would always have a heart for adoption and that she would always remember how lucky she is to be loved.
Scripture talks about the church, like a body, having many parts that contribute many different functions. Our family is a beautiful example of five unique individuals, with their own attributes, gifts, and talents, working together as one. For God's glorification, I pray.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Give Me Eyes
God has been faithful to answer this prayer. I wander this world and nearly every person my eyes fall upon, I think, "Do you know Him?"
Follow my gaze. I pull behind a truck at a red light.
Smoke billows out the driver's window.
A woman is squished in the back, forced to turn her body sideways for leg room.
The edge of a carseat pokes out of the top of the passenger side seat.
In the bed of the truck there is a folded up wheelchair.
My hearts asks, "Do you know Him?"
My heart is learning the discipline to not just wonder, but to surrender to the one who knows.
"Lord, reveal Yourself to this little family. I pray for people in their lives to draw them to You. If they know You, Lord, let them be strengthened in You."
The woman in the parking lot, with the fancy hat and the crazy shoes. She's riding in one of those motorized shopping carts. Her offbeat style makes me smile. She's crossing the parking lot and you can see in her facial expression she is willing the cart to go faster. She glances up at me apologetically. I smile. Lord, does she know You?
Driving home, I take the back way. Light rain spatters on my windshield. Debris from the windy rainy day covers the roads. Light branches, sticks, pine needles, nothing that would stop traffic. The wind, I thought, hadn't been extreme by any means. Still, it managed to thin out some trees of what had evidently died enough, becoming detached from its source of nutrients.
Suddenly, Jesus words come to mind about how the Lord cuts off any branches of the vine that do not bear fruit. Always, I had pictured a farmer, clippers in hand, snapping off dead branches. Truthfully, it was more like when a gardener trims back roses or bushes, that will grow back healthier. That is what visually came to mind, though I realize now the error of it. But always I imagined an intentional cut, never picturing (until today) that the Farmer could use alternative methods, should He desire. Perhaps He often does. A light storm is so effective. A test of strength. A brush with adversity. Who will be left standing? Only the ones connected to a True source of strength. Isn't that how our God works? Like seed that has been scattered and taken root. For some the roots were shallow, therefore, easily removed. But others reach deep, their roots are strong from nutrient rich soil. These shall endure, persevere, and bear fruit.
Lord, guide me in your ways, that I might stand firm through life's storms, having endured what life throws at me. And when I have done so, and others wonder how I was able to not be uprooted, Lord, I will tell them of You, my source of strength, my ever present Help in times of need. May You receive all glory and honor!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Today I...
Isn't Pinterest a beautiful thing?!
I love websites where I can go and type a topic into a search engine and am almost guaranteed to get the content I was looking for! Or even better, to "browse" and find what I didn't even realize I had been looking for!
Today was a very rare and very lovely relaxed day. I was actually the first one awake (that never happens!), had nothing pressing to do, and thanks to some hospitable friend who invited us over for dinner, I didn't even have to worry about cooking!
So, what did I do to fill my time? Well, I still managed to find errands that needed running, including taking M to spend her birthday money, but I tinkered around on the above mentioned addiction :) too! I consider it only a waste of time if you don't apply what you are pinning to your real life.
This morning I:
Cleaned out my washing machine with vinegar and bleach.
Cleaned my dishwasher out with Lemon flavored kool-aid packet.
Cleaned my clothes iron base with a fabric softener sheet.
Cleaned the inside of my oven glass with baking soda/water combo.
Cleaned my stainless oven racks in my tub!
This of course, put me in the "zone" and had me detail cleaning my kitchen entirely!
And for good fun, I learned how to make newspaper pirate hats-easiest thing in the world, but I've just never known till now! :)
I love websites where I can go and type a topic into a search engine and am almost guaranteed to get the content I was looking for! Or even better, to "browse" and find what I didn't even realize I had been looking for!
Today was a very rare and very lovely relaxed day. I was actually the first one awake (that never happens!), had nothing pressing to do, and thanks to some hospitable friend who invited us over for dinner, I didn't even have to worry about cooking!
So, what did I do to fill my time? Well, I still managed to find errands that needed running, including taking M to spend her birthday money, but I tinkered around on the above mentioned addiction :) too! I consider it only a waste of time if you don't apply what you are pinning to your real life.
This morning I:
Cleaned out my washing machine with vinegar and bleach.
Cleaned my dishwasher out with Lemon flavored kool-aid packet.
Cleaned my clothes iron base with a fabric softener sheet.
Cleaned the inside of my oven glass with baking soda/water combo.
Cleaned my stainless oven racks in my tub!
This of course, put me in the "zone" and had me detail cleaning my kitchen entirely!
And for good fun, I learned how to make newspaper pirate hats-easiest thing in the world, but I've just never known till now! :)
Thursday, October 6, 2011
I'm feeling very mindful towards the overwhelming options when it comes to homeschooling.
I'm aware of the enormity of the undertaking and I'm up for it, truly.
I know deep down that I'm plenty equipped to thrive through this journey.
I also know that I will NEED consistent and continual renewing of my spirit to press on through it.
I also know that I will NEED support and a network of women to spur one another on.
Thankfully, I've already found some such women, and it makes my heart glad.
I don't JUST want to homeschool, and this may sound vain, but I want to homeschool with CLASS.
Perhaps my dreams for this are a bit idealistic, and that sometimes worries me.
Like when I imagine having these wonderful conversations w/ my girls & attempt to only to have them fall flat.
I dream of being waist deep alongside them, exploring, and drinking in the knowledge of whatever subject.
Perhaps it will be me knee deep and excited, and begging them to remove their foreheads from the tabletop.
But there have been so many times when I'm not trying so hard when knee deep exploring happened naturally.
Here's where my faith comes in.
I have surrendered this matter in prayer, and I have felt, beyond doubt, this is God's will.
And I have experienced enough times, how God has faithfully and eagerly responded to the desires of my heart.
The relationship I have with my daughters thus far has been every bit the ideal I dreamed of years ago.
So why couldn't it continue?
It won't likely happen at first.
And there were always be times of questioning, frustration, testing.
But ultimately I believe this falls under the Scripture, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you as well."
I believe this also falls under the Scripture, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it."
I believe that is my objective in homeschooling, to train them in the way they should go.
If these were the promises God provided in His word, then I must put aside doubts, and ignore the naysayers, and refrain from second guessing myself, and strain on towards the goal God has placed on my heart.
My weaknesses are many.
But this is where Christ will be glorified.
And my methods won't be too methodical, my structure might be significantly frayed.
My friend states, "I would be so worried that I would not be able to give them what they need because of the way I am built."
But God has given me these children, knowing how I'm built, and my tendency is to wonder if that is because I am exactly what they need.
Intellectual, I am not.
Though there is a definite place for this, it is not the only place.
My famed Type B personality is not a defect, however.
And I mustn't belittle what I have to offer.
A willingness to get waste deep and to share that experience alongside my littles.
And they could very likely grow to be Type B's also.
But this would not be a defect, this would be were they should go.
And perhaps they'll still come out the other end of childhood, against all odds, structured.
But they will be familiar, and I hope, appreciative, of the laid back which is often frowned upon.
The Lord equips us all differently.
Thank heavens there's no wrong personality type in His eyes. :)
I'm aware of the enormity of the undertaking and I'm up for it, truly.
I know deep down that I'm plenty equipped to thrive through this journey.
I also know that I will NEED consistent and continual renewing of my spirit to press on through it.
I also know that I will NEED support and a network of women to spur one another on.
Thankfully, I've already found some such women, and it makes my heart glad.
I don't JUST want to homeschool, and this may sound vain, but I want to homeschool with CLASS.
Perhaps my dreams for this are a bit idealistic, and that sometimes worries me.
Like when I imagine having these wonderful conversations w/ my girls & attempt to only to have them fall flat.
I dream of being waist deep alongside them, exploring, and drinking in the knowledge of whatever subject.
Perhaps it will be me knee deep and excited, and begging them to remove their foreheads from the tabletop.
But there have been so many times when I'm not trying so hard when knee deep exploring happened naturally.
Here's where my faith comes in.
I have surrendered this matter in prayer, and I have felt, beyond doubt, this is God's will.
And I have experienced enough times, how God has faithfully and eagerly responded to the desires of my heart.
The relationship I have with my daughters thus far has been every bit the ideal I dreamed of years ago.
So why couldn't it continue?
It won't likely happen at first.
And there were always be times of questioning, frustration, testing.
But ultimately I believe this falls under the Scripture, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you as well."
I believe this also falls under the Scripture, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it."
I believe that is my objective in homeschooling, to train them in the way they should go.
If these were the promises God provided in His word, then I must put aside doubts, and ignore the naysayers, and refrain from second guessing myself, and strain on towards the goal God has placed on my heart.
My weaknesses are many.
But this is where Christ will be glorified.
And my methods won't be too methodical, my structure might be significantly frayed.
My friend states, "I would be so worried that I would not be able to give them what they need because of the way I am built."
But God has given me these children, knowing how I'm built, and my tendency is to wonder if that is because I am exactly what they need.
Intellectual, I am not.
Though there is a definite place for this, it is not the only place.
My famed Type B personality is not a defect, however.
And I mustn't belittle what I have to offer.
A willingness to get waste deep and to share that experience alongside my littles.
And they could very likely grow to be Type B's also.
But this would not be a defect, this would be were they should go.
And perhaps they'll still come out the other end of childhood, against all odds, structured.
But they will be familiar, and I hope, appreciative, of the laid back which is often frowned upon.
The Lord equips us all differently.
Thank heavens there's no wrong personality type in His eyes. :)
Monday, October 3, 2011
Home's Cool
I'm excited and ready to embark on this new journey with my precious jewels! Homeschooling!
I'll be unenrolling the children after this school year at the latest, but I'm prayerfully hoping before Christmas break.
At this point, I'm leaning mostly towards the "unschooling" method, but I have a Bible study book I'm going to have us work through, a co-op to consider, probably in math we'll follow at least a workbook with supplemental exercises on the computer. I can't wait to explore History through field trips, classical literature, and documentaries! Next year I'm going to look into music lessons, and at some point I'd love to have us all learn a foreign language through Rosetta Stone or something. I believe this is called "Eclectic Homeschooling" which makes total sense if you know me at all!
I get tickled at the thought that this is actually going to happen! My first notions of homeschooling was a stereotype I had little respect for, and kids I thought were weird and out of touch with reality. Amazing how 15 years and 3 children will change your perspective, not to mention an growing knowledge and experience with the Lord! When I announce my intentions I keep expecting people to laugh, but mostly I have heard, "I can see you doing that." and "You would be great at that."
I think this is largely because I just LOVE my kids so stinkin' much, and I TRULY ENJOY spending time with them and raising them up! As far as book knowledge, I'm tragically ill-equipped. But a love for learning I do not lack!
Here's a list of a few other reasons I'm so sold on this wild and crazy new adventure:
1) My biggest goal: Provide the girls with a Biblical Foundation encouraging a growing knowledge and relationship with the Lord, and a Christian Worldview! I want to raise world changers, not channel changers!
2) My kids won't be held back by the limits that a public education, even at its best, is succumbed to. All my girls have remained at the top of their class, always making honor roll, and often find themselves bored waiting for their next assignment! Homeschooling means we can just keep going to their hearts content!
3) Individualized learning! One-on-one attention means my child won't be looked over because her teacher is one person stretched over 25-30 kids. I have studied my children since their births. I know how they tick, and I can customize a plan that will maximize their learning potential.
4) To foster a passion for learning! I hope to never stop growing as a person, and my prayer is that this will rub off, as it seems to already have, on my offspring! Lets grow, explore, ask questions, analyze, hypothesize, create, consider from many angles, and not be prone to the apathetic response "I just don't want to have to think about it."
5) Flexible schedule: when someone is sick, we can adjust w/o fear of missing lessons. when we want to go out of town or up to visit grandma's- no big! no tension as we rush through getting ready in the morning and out the door.
6) More controlled sphere of influence. God, in his great mercy, has largely shielded the girls from a lot of the perversion and ridiculousness that occurs right under their noses. This, to me, is miraculous and i praise Him for it, but time is nearing where their little ears are burning from whats going on around them. As my oldest faces junior high next year, my throat tightens. There is no need for such an unnecessary premature introduction to the disrespectful, oversexed, underestimated disadvantaged realities so many of our culture's poor children carry around. No sex ed, no evolution, no bomb threats. How's that for a mantra?
7) Less Useless Information! Woot!!! Less mindless memorization, more meaningful life-application! As useful as I've found the logarithms of calculus in my daily life (please read: THICK sarcasm), I just believe our energies would be better spent on more practical learning. Real life. And if I've done my job encouraging a passion for learning, and a particular child develops a passion for advanced mathematics in the meantime, then go, girl, go! But she will also know how to balance a checkbook and divide a recipe. She can memorize dates of famous wars, or she can learn the culture around the war, expolore through biographies of its contemporaries, experience reinactments, and weigh the costs in her own mind and heart.
8) No worries about the teachers! The girls have been fairly blessed, thus far, in their education, but each year, I hold my breath at open house, waiting for the poison apple that will frustrate my child's learning, and bring miserable stress and tension into their lives. Last year we had a teacher who didn't challenge, due to having a difficult class, her focus was on the other students who needed her extra attention, and my daughter struggled to thrive. I remember one child's kindergarten teacher, every single time I had an encounter with her, I remember walking away thinking, "You are a kindergarten teacher and I'm pretty sure you don't even LIKE children."
9) No uniforms!!!!!! Call me a non-conformist, but I hated this for the girls! I understand why, but I'm excited to put that money towards tasteful clothes they actually enjoy! And no more having to buy 800 expo markers or 6 boxes of crayons! No more RIDICULOUS fundraisers! And boring PTA meetings! From now on our PTA meetings will translate to Date Night with the husband!
10) More time!! Half the day is spent in lines, arms crossed, mouths shut. Waiting for the bathroom, waiting for lunch, waiting for their dinky 20 minute recess! Oh, the freedom!! No homework... err... sort of...
There are many more reasons, but those are a few to start with!
I know we'll enjoy it, I know we'll thrive, and I can't wait to say
"We homeschool, because home's cool!" :)
I'll be unenrolling the children after this school year at the latest, but I'm prayerfully hoping before Christmas break.
At this point, I'm leaning mostly towards the "unschooling" method, but I have a Bible study book I'm going to have us work through, a co-op to consider, probably in math we'll follow at least a workbook with supplemental exercises on the computer. I can't wait to explore History through field trips, classical literature, and documentaries! Next year I'm going to look into music lessons, and at some point I'd love to have us all learn a foreign language through Rosetta Stone or something. I believe this is called "Eclectic Homeschooling" which makes total sense if you know me at all!
I get tickled at the thought that this is actually going to happen! My first notions of homeschooling was a stereotype I had little respect for, and kids I thought were weird and out of touch with reality. Amazing how 15 years and 3 children will change your perspective, not to mention an growing knowledge and experience with the Lord! When I announce my intentions I keep expecting people to laugh, but mostly I have heard, "I can see you doing that." and "You would be great at that."
I think this is largely because I just LOVE my kids so stinkin' much, and I TRULY ENJOY spending time with them and raising them up! As far as book knowledge, I'm tragically ill-equipped. But a love for learning I do not lack!
Here's a list of a few other reasons I'm so sold on this wild and crazy new adventure:
1) My biggest goal: Provide the girls with a Biblical Foundation encouraging a growing knowledge and relationship with the Lord, and a Christian Worldview! I want to raise world changers, not channel changers!
2) My kids won't be held back by the limits that a public education, even at its best, is succumbed to. All my girls have remained at the top of their class, always making honor roll, and often find themselves bored waiting for their next assignment! Homeschooling means we can just keep going to their hearts content!
3) Individualized learning! One-on-one attention means my child won't be looked over because her teacher is one person stretched over 25-30 kids. I have studied my children since their births. I know how they tick, and I can customize a plan that will maximize their learning potential.
4) To foster a passion for learning! I hope to never stop growing as a person, and my prayer is that this will rub off, as it seems to already have, on my offspring! Lets grow, explore, ask questions, analyze, hypothesize, create, consider from many angles, and not be prone to the apathetic response "I just don't want to have to think about it."
5) Flexible schedule: when someone is sick, we can adjust w/o fear of missing lessons. when we want to go out of town or up to visit grandma's- no big! no tension as we rush through getting ready in the morning and out the door.
6) More controlled sphere of influence. God, in his great mercy, has largely shielded the girls from a lot of the perversion and ridiculousness that occurs right under their noses. This, to me, is miraculous and i praise Him for it, but time is nearing where their little ears are burning from whats going on around them. As my oldest faces junior high next year, my throat tightens. There is no need for such an unnecessary premature introduction to the disrespectful, oversexed, underestimated disadvantaged realities so many of our culture's poor children carry around. No sex ed, no evolution, no bomb threats. How's that for a mantra?
7) Less Useless Information! Woot!!! Less mindless memorization, more meaningful life-application! As useful as I've found the logarithms of calculus in my daily life (please read: THICK sarcasm), I just believe our energies would be better spent on more practical learning. Real life. And if I've done my job encouraging a passion for learning, and a particular child develops a passion for advanced mathematics in the meantime, then go, girl, go! But she will also know how to balance a checkbook and divide a recipe. She can memorize dates of famous wars, or she can learn the culture around the war, expolore through biographies of its contemporaries, experience reinactments, and weigh the costs in her own mind and heart.
8) No worries about the teachers! The girls have been fairly blessed, thus far, in their education, but each year, I hold my breath at open house, waiting for the poison apple that will frustrate my child's learning, and bring miserable stress and tension into their lives. Last year we had a teacher who didn't challenge, due to having a difficult class, her focus was on the other students who needed her extra attention, and my daughter struggled to thrive. I remember one child's kindergarten teacher, every single time I had an encounter with her, I remember walking away thinking, "You are a kindergarten teacher and I'm pretty sure you don't even LIKE children."
9) No uniforms!!!!!! Call me a non-conformist, but I hated this for the girls! I understand why, but I'm excited to put that money towards tasteful clothes they actually enjoy! And no more having to buy 800 expo markers or 6 boxes of crayons! No more RIDICULOUS fundraisers! And boring PTA meetings! From now on our PTA meetings will translate to Date Night with the husband!
10) More time!! Half the day is spent in lines, arms crossed, mouths shut. Waiting for the bathroom, waiting for lunch, waiting for their dinky 20 minute recess! Oh, the freedom!! No homework... err... sort of...
There are many more reasons, but those are a few to start with!
I know we'll enjoy it, I know we'll thrive, and I can't wait to say
"We homeschool, because home's cool!" :)
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