Coming down from the clouds

It all started one day when H was home. He is sometimes off of work in the middle of the week. It started on one of those days. You know one of those days where no one wants to be at the table schooling because the light of our family, the fun one, is home. He stays busy, he joins the schooling, he mows the lawn, he comes back to see how his family is doing. It is not pretty. Frustration, exasperation, mind numbing lecturing blah, blah, blah.... like I said, not pretty.

"There has to be a better way." Six little words that have the potential to rock my world.

I have been homeschooling for 8 years, I have read countless books, and in the last few years I have actually developed an "educational philosophy"! I know why we do what we do, I know what I am hoping to accomplish, I see the vision, I HAVE PLANS, BIG PLANS! (sigh) To my knowledge H has read one book on homeschooling and I don't think he finished it.

"Is it always like this?" more questions, to shake me.

Honestly I had to say it was often this way.

Again, gently, "There has to be a better way."

At this point I get to choose. I can choose to wield the ax of "what have YOU read?", "what is YOUR educational philosophy?", "how long have YOU been doing this?" or I can look at this man who has loved me and these children well and look for the truth in his words. I could have chopped him up into little pieces and asserted my rule of the homeschooling kingdom. I could have but he was right. There has to be a better way.

I am a little undone at this point but this much I know. God has made him the leader of this home and he does not have to have read 20 books on homeschooling to see that what was happening that day was not going to produce good fruit. I on the other hand had been in this "just keep swimming" mentality for so long that I could not see we were drowning. The peace that comes with submitting to one that loves you swept over me. Hope was renewed. Breathe.


So we explored several options, counted the cost and H put his money where his mouth was.. We ended up buying Switched On Schoolhouse. We will try it for a year. Then WE will evaluate. Notice the number of times I said we? We are a we now in homeschooling. Glorious day.

I will let you know how it goes. I have to give up the laptop now, time for school.

High above

Somewhere about 11,000 feet I start getting very refective on the things of God. Could be floating above the earth make me aware of how fragile life is or maybe I am just a bit closer. Today looking out I was struck at how emence this world is. And it is still just a speck compared to the rest of the galaxy which is a speck in the universe. So either this is so big that their couldn't possibly be a creator or the creator is so big we can only stand on the edge of understanding and pray for revelation.

When I look at the order and beauty of it all I clearly see the answer. I pray I never forget or try to stuff this big God into my small box of understanding.

Aiming to Please Part 2

I could retype all of my last post and insert Vi holding a fish instead of Mimi in her jammies but I think the picture is enough.

If you don't know her is the the Princess of squeamish. I don't know how he convinced her to try it but it is now her joy to make her Daddy proud with pictures like this. By the time I came to this scene she was showing me the cut on her thumb where the fish "bit" her. Apparently they have teeth in there! That's my girl!

Teletubbies or Aiming to Please

I promise this is not some Tinky Winky debate. Anyway I have a strict "don't ask don't tell" policy with imaginary creatures.

Some how in our home zip up feety pajamas have become known as "Teletubbies". I think it happened on time years ago when they all had them on. Something about brightly colored fleece from head to toe made them jump around the house spewing monosyllabic babble. Years later the name has stuck. Fortunately the only one still wearing them is Mimi.

Tonight she came out of her room at top speed announcing that she had on her Teletubbies. The untrained eye might have thought she was letting us all know but I knew, it was all for Daddy. H loves those things and Mimi loves her Papa. She will do anything to please him including wearing head to toe fleece jammies on a hot night in South Texas! Well it worked, his face lights up, she laughs and runs and jumps up on his lap to receive her snugly reward.

I want to be like that. I want to be willing to do anything to please my Heavenly Father. To run to Him excited to please Him. I want not to think about how uncomfortable it might make me or how hot the situation might get, I just want to please Him.

I know that He is like that. A loving Father who is ready to reward a child so eager to please. Even if the act of pleasing is a little misguided. (did I mention the hot S Texas nights???) I am glad He chooses to look for the good in what we do and not criticize every detail. I am glad that He is read to lavish is love on those who run to Him. I am glad He gives me little glimpses in to His character in the everyday.

Phone bloggin'.

Isn't technology grand?

nature walk lesson

While walking through the park with some friends we came upon this tree. My son pointed out that this tree though it looked like a fallen tree was firmly rooted in to the ground. It seemed to have just grown up sideways.

Grown up sideways? My dear friend took the time to explain to my son that at some point in this trees young life it fell and the fall was never corrected. This tree was bent and left to grow that way. No training, no correction, no discipline. See where this is going? Good. So did my son.

This is what happens when a child is not trained up in the way that he should go. A child that is never told that sin is sin, or is left to deal with all the evil it sees (too much of) around himself and is never taught to see it in the context of biblical truth. This tree was still alive and as of last year was still sprouting leaves. But this spring the leaves did not return and the dying has begun. It was a vivid picture for all 3 of us. I pray that we are giving training up of our children the importance it deserves, requires. May they grow to be strong, healthy fruitful trees standing tall in the Son. Thanks Jules for the reminder.

hand sewing lessons book

http://chestofbooks.com/crafts/needlework/Hand-Sewing-Lessons/

So much to blog so little time

I have been cheating on blogger... with facebook. I feel so ashamed. Blogger is deep, thought provoking insights from people all over the world. Facebook is full of twitter like posts, silly comments and general silliness with a peppering of real conversation. But I have to admit I like it. I like looking at pictures of my childhood friends and their families. I like updates from my pastor on what he is studying right now. I like general silliness and I am OK with that :) But I'll be back!

A Simple Womans Daybook

For Today...

Outside my window... beautiful blue South Texas sky...we hadn't seen the sun for days until yesterday afternoon

I am thinking... How thankful I am to have gone to serve the women of Calvary North San Antonio and what a blessing they are to me.

From the learning rooms... things are quiet today for us, moms tired and nature walk was a no go this am so we did LOTS of reading this am. We finished "Teddy's Buttons", read a chapter of "Elsie Dinsmore" and a few chapters of "The Heir of Mistmantle".

I am thankful for... the way my husband made it possible for me to bless others this week...thanks Babe

From the kitchen... Brown rice is cooking on the stove, stir fry tonight.

I am reading... in 1 Peter as I do my women's bible study homework

I am creating... a cozy place for H to come home to

I am hearing... Twitter (our bird) sing or screech it is all a matter of perspective

Around the house...there is laundry to wash and fold and stuff to put away, off I go!

One my favorite things... vocal harmony

A few plans for the rest of the week... Tell a few friends how much they mean to me

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... I'll have to upload that later...see the around the house entry, off I go...

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY: Monday March 1, 2009...

Outside My Window... It is quiet and safe. I am thankful.

I am thinking...of felt projects that can teach my little girl basic sewing and embroidery skills

I am thankful for... friends that I can count on to be exactly who God has called them to be. It allows me to be exactly who God has called me to be.

From the learning rooms...we are getting back in to the swing of things after a week off with Papa.

This week's dinners: Will be healthier than last weeks...

I am wearing... Jeans and a sweater, no shoes, and one of the new shirts my dh just ordered for me from Sierra Trading Post. He is a nice guy.

I am creating...a lesson plan for the rest of this week.

I am reading... The One Thing You Can't do in Heaven by Mark Cahill

I am hoping... that I go deeper with God this week.

I am hearing... Pastor Skip Heitzig teaching online.

One of my favorite things... getting packages delivered by the men in brown

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: meeting some friends at the park tomorrow, and hanging with some friends on Sunday.

Picture Thought:

This guy sat through 2.5 hours of braiding, twisting and pulling he was so patient! He has been growing his hair out since October! Now we wait for the braids to loc...more waiting! God's lessons come in all shapes and sizes.

Twitter

Twitter-- no it is not a web based social service to keep my network of friends and family up to date on the ins and outs of my life in real time...it's a bird. Apparently it's our bird.

This AM we found a bird in the front yard. How homeschooly, how nature loving. How odd, because it was a parakeet. Actually my neighbor found it in her front yard first, but couldn't catch it and the bird flew away. Several hours later it showed up in our yard and I caught it, we lost it and caught it again. I did pray. I asked the Lord help us catch this bird if he wanted us to help the bird. This bird did not want to be caught. But since the mean streets of South Texas are no place for a house bird we persisted and the Lord helped.

FTR I do not like birds. At all...really. I was traumatized by a several little afro loving canaries as a child. <<>> But there was something endearing about this little guy. It was most likely it's need to be rescued. That and I remembered that God actually cared about this little bird and would not let it's falling to the ground go unnoticed. So I should care too.

So may I introduce you to the newest member of our little family...Twitter this this is everybody...Everybody this is Twitter.

He's got a little bit of an attitude doesn't he? Well wouldn't you if someone called you Twitter?

glam in the dentist chair

Glamour Girl here had a dental mishap this am. Somehow her bed managed to give her an uppercut to the jaw and knocked 2 adult teeth loose. They are fine, no apple eating for a few days but they should tighten back up. While she was in the chair she had her first tooth filled too. She did great! No squirming, no screaming, no narcotics. She's a trooper, and she ROCKED the granny shades! Good job sweetie!

Homeschool Freebie of the Day

If you haven't heard of them already the folks at www.wholesomechildhood.com would like you to check out their Homeschool freebie of the day blog. Each day there is a free resource available for download. They post audio (mp3) files, e-books or a collection of helpful links that will bless you in your homeschooling journey. Go check them out here

come ye sinners

all important things 2

#1 To Improve the Character of the Work

J Oswald Sanders says on this subject "The leader must discover which departments are functioning below standards and remedy the defect."

So much has been said about character training in home school circles that I am hesitant to even mention it. But Gods word is clear training up the character of a child in the ways of the Lord is the chief duty of all parents. So whether it is character or academic we need to systematically discover the areas that need improvement in children's lives and work hard towards a solution. I love the idea from Simply Charlotte Mason's Sonia Schaffer of making a calendar and based on the needs of each child. You work on several habit or a character training issues over the course of the year. For more information see "Laying Down the Rails" at www.simplycharlottemason.com. Academically it has been helpful for me to begin each year with a goals sheet for each child. To write down where I would like to see each child by the end of the the year in each subject was a simple but valuable thing for me.

I was reminded of my own need for habit training a few weeks ago. Speaking of Philippians 4:8 (one of my favorites) Pastor Joe called the contents of this verse the habit of right thinking. Since habit training has been on my mind it really caught my attention. It reads:

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

The Lord was speaking to me of my own need for habit training. The habit of right thinking. It applies everywhere in my life. Knowing that God sees me through the blood of Christ and not as a stinking rotten sinner, I think he must look at me this way. He looks for the true and the noble and the just, the pure, the lovely, and the things of good report. If he can find any virtue in me or anything praiseworthy this is what he thinks on. Since the word says his thoughts toward me are more than the sands of the sea He is thinking about me all the time! Wow. I want to think of others that way, especially my own children. What a habit to cultivate.

So we are to identify areas that need improvement and work to remedy those while at the same time meditating on the good that is already there. I think that is the balance that must be struck to improve the character of any work.

all important things

I am reading a great book right now, two great books actually but one applies to this post the other will have to remain a mystery for now :) "Spiritual Leadership" by J. Oswald Sanders is a great book. Every week I read this book and discuss it with a couple of friends and every week I want to become a better woman because of it. Ahhh, but here is the rub. It can go in one ear and right out the other. I need to meditate on what I have read, in God's Word and in great books written to edify.

In the same book there is a quote "Reading maketh a full man; speaking, a ready man, writing and exact man." - Bacon Silly name aside, that is a quote full of truth. So I blog. Here is what struck me this week, and what I will be writing about in the next few posts.

From "Spiritual Leadership" by J. Oswald Sanders

"Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission...(wrote) in a letter dated 1879 to the secretary of the mission, Taylor said:

'The all important thing to do is to
1. Improve the character of the work
2. Deepen the piety, devotion and success of the workers
3. Remove stones of stumbling, if possible
4. Oil the wheels where they stick
5. Amend whatever is defective
6. Supplement, as far as may be, what is lacking ' "

Sanders then expanded on these quotes in relation to improving leadership in one's own life or ministry. He, of course did a wonderful job and my copy of the book is all marked up with green pen, underlining, stars, and exclamation points.

As I was reading Taylor's original list I was struck by the parallels I see to the homeschooling journey. (go ahead and click on a more interesting blog...now) Ok you still with me? You must be a homeschooler... Anyhoo, with great apology to Taylor and Sanders I would like to expand on this list in a fresh way. So if you will indulge me over the next few posts I intend to do just that. See ya soon.

A lesson from Ralph and Sam

One of these guys is Ralph and one is Sam. Ralph is the coyote his job is to try to eat the sheep, Sam is the sheepdog and his job is to protect the sheep. In the morning they show up for "work" greet each other cordially and get down to business, at the end of the day they clock out say good night and head home.

Thanks to Julie, I no longer see Ralph and Sam here. I see Kids and Mom. See I am the sheepdog, (is that better than a cow?) my kids are the coyote. Every morning we come to work, they do what they do, I do what I do. They test the boundaries and the rules I enforce the boundaries and the rules. It is my job. But at the end of the day we can all love one another, hugs and kiss and goodnight. Tomorrow we will do it all again. Why? Because God's mercies are new every morning and Mom's should be to.

I do wish I could take credit for this analogy, but alas I cannot. Julie shared it with me and she heard it from some wise person I am sure :) I like it, not because it is a perfect analogy, I am not at war with my kids all the time, they do take some time off to play, but because it reminds me that it is my job to discipline and correct my kids when they are going in the wrong direction. Even though it is NOT their job to test and disobey, it is in their nature. Coyote eat sheep when they can get their hands on one and a child will eat a peanut butter cookie if it is just sitting there, with nobody guarding it... If it were not in the nature of the coyote to attack the sheep there would be no need for sheep dogs and if it were not in the nature of a child to test and disobey Moms would be optional. I LOVE being needed and I am NOT optional.

FTR (for the record) I do not condone head bashing, pipe smoking or the use of dynamite by all you other sheepdogs out there, I just thought this was funny...

One Year Bible

First of all Happy New Year! That is a little late but so are my Christmas Cards, ha!

Taking my que from Lanie over at Mishmash Maggie, I have started the New Year off reading the One Year Bible. If you follow the plan it will take you through the Bible in, yeah you guessed it, a year. It is pretty cool, you read a selection from the Old and New Testements, a Psalm and a bit of Proverbs. Shofar so good (little OT humor for ya there).

H has been reading through the Bible this way for years now. He has a handy little book I printed for him that he keeps in his bible. I tried that but I kept losing the little book. This way is better for me, it is all right there, nothing to lose.

So thanks to Ana, I have the Christmas gift that keeps on giving, His Word.

what happened 2

My right hand has been mummified. It is not some study of the ancient world or some gift wrapping accident, it is a protective covering over a nasty burn. So typing is not the fastest way to communicate at the moment. (did you know fastest is typed entirely with your left hand? It is my new favorite word). So I have not blogged for a while.

I am not going to go into great detail but here is the gist of it. I was cooking dinner for 7 children, four of whom are not mine, when I let the pan get too hot. I added oil to this too hot pan and saw how hot it really was...smokin' hot. So I tried to put the meat in to the pan to cool that smokin pan down when the still half frozen meat hit the pan with a thunk. That thunk sent the oil in the pan towards my hand like a flaming hot liquid missile, splashing my pinky and ring finger and about half the hand, then up my forearm. It will be a lovely reminder that moms make stupid mistakes too. Right there on my spanking hand. lol.


Where's the grace? None of the children were in the kitchen at the time, I had just shooed them out. It was my hand and not my face. The meat though on fire for a short period of time still made a tasty spaghetti sauce. H was able to drop everything and come to my rescue. My dear friend Jules was there for me the next day to care for me and my family making us lunch and dinner and would have, if I had not stopped her, done my laundry. Can you BE a better friend than that? I submit you cannot. (H did the laundry FTR) More grace, there has not been much pain, little blistering and the doc says it looks good so far.

So there you have it. That is what happened to my hand.

Unity

It was a sweet weekend. We had great fellowship in harmony at the Christmas Choir practice, we were together as a family and we had a great teaching on Sunday am. As it usually is where were are in the Word is where I am at in my walk with the Lord and he has had a lot to say to me lately about unity.

We started our first choir practice talking about it and saw (heard) it in action at the second. It was lovely but what was beautiful about it for me was the picture God was giving me of how he wants us to be in the body of Christ. Everyone taking their part, some a little different than others but all in agreement with the music, representing in this case the Word of God. Before practice I had asked a few people to take up leadership roles with in the choir, they did so with all seriousness and it was such an encouragement to watch! They went over and over the music with the others until they got it right. I could not be everywhere, but they were right were I had placed them. It is just like that in the body our Pastors can't be everywhere so they place leaders over ministries while the Pastor sets the direction and makes corrections.

I am sure I am preaching to to choir here (awww come on I had to..) but though I know all this well the Lord was pressing it in to my heart. So on Saturday pm I was trying to figure out whay the Lord was telling me all of this and on Sunday am during the teaching it all came together.

Lately I have been pulling my hair out over my kids lack of unity with each other. The Lord was showing me that they need me to lead the team in a better way. I try so hard to get them to stop fighting but I don't practice working together with me as the "director". We together all day and I am a one woman show around here sending them off on their little tasks alone as it benifits me. They want to work with me, not for me. We are a team not a dictatorship. As we read on Sunday...

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel Philippians 1:27

Don't get me wrong, they are good kids, and they love each other but lack of peace hinders our ability as a family to accomplish so much, even the furtherence of the gospel. May it not be so of us.