homeschooling no more

Well, life has definitely changed in the our household. Just 1 month ago, I would have told you that my kids would be graduating from homeschool with the Christian homeschooling community where we were members. Well, I guess God had completely different plans.

I truly, truly have been relying on my God and KNOWING without a doubt that He seriously works ALL things together for my good and HIS GLORY (Romans 8:28). I was also encouraged to remember that like in the life of Joseph (in the bible! Genesis 50:20), sometimes what MAN intends for evil, God intends for good.

SO STINKIN' TRUE!!!

Unfortunately, my family was involved in a hurtful situation that proved to be un-biblical in the way it was handled. It was emotional for all of us...lots of tears were involved, especially by me. I mean, seriously, I thought I HAD EVERYTHING FIGURED OUT before this happened. I knew exactly how my boys would be educated and thought it was the ONLY way for our family.

Well, after said event occurred, I couldn't sleep for days. I was confused and crying out to God for help and wisdom and comfort and peace and direction. Honestly, I just didn't know how to pray. So, in the middle of the night, with just my bible and journal in hand, I began to pray for the Holy Spirit to please intercede on my behalf (Romans 8:26-27). I felt His comfort and peace and ended that praying/crying time with the Lord with some direction. I slept after this...in His peace.

Later that morning, we had a family meeting with my awesome husband taking the lead. (Through this all, he was my protector and my family's hero...I fell even more deeply in love with him.  I am so blessed!) We prayed together. We cried together. The older two boys went to their rooms to listen to God and ask Him for direction.

Together, with God's leading and guidance, we decided that the boys would start public school. WOW! Seriously...4 days before this I never thought this would even be an option in our lives.  Well, never say never!

Honestly, it has almost been one month, and I finally feel like I am at a place where I can write about it.  This was hard...very, very hard.  However, I must tell you that I am doing great.  Seriously, I cannot tell you how good I feel.  I didn't realize how totally stressed-out, overwhelmed, stressed-out, uptight, un-fun, stretched, and on edge I had become. I was spiritually, emotionally, and physically drained...tapped...spent and DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT!  

Now, I am relaxed.  I laugh A LOT!!  I laugh so hard I cry over ridiculous things like exploding cookies during an Apples to Apples game.  (You had to be there!!)  I seriously don't remember laughing like that in a very, very long time.  I am so much more joyful.  I like me.  It is good.  HE IS GOOD!!!

He seriously allowed me to go through an unwanted, horrible, and hurtful situation because He knew that was the ONLY way that our family would switch its course.

Even better than all that is the fact that I have fallen in love with my sweet 5-year-old Ian again.  He has been my hardest child, by far.   Now, we have some time together every day where he is the "oldest" and we play and laugh and have fun!!!  I actually enjoy him.  I also have the necessary time to discipline him correctly and diligently.  It is good.  GOD IS GOOD!!! 

And in case you're wondering, my boys love school.  Nate is having a harder time adjusting, but he loves it.

God is good!!!!  WOOOOHOOOOO!!!

Classical Conversations

We are part of a new homeschool community this year called Classical Conversations (CC).  It is teaching children by using the "classical method."  Here is a GREAT article about this method of education if you would like to read about it further!  It has been AMAZING to see what my little guys can learn!

One part of the program is learning a history timeline from creation to now.  What I LOVE about this method of education is that it is truly, truly God-centered.  Instead of learning ancient world history as one subject and bible as another subject, it completely integrates the two into one subject!  So, instead of just learning about Moses and the plagues, we also learn what was going on in Egypt when that actually happened!! It's awesome!

Anyway, we start our CC day with an opening ceremony where we pray, say the Pledge of Allegiance, have a family presentation, and recite the timeline as a group.  On Monday, our family led the timeline part of the ceremony, and I just HAD to share it with you.  It is recorded and then put on our community blog so that families can work on it at home.  Anyway, Kyle and Ian were trying to help me by holding up the timeline cards.  Well, as you will see in the video, that didn't go as planned and they actually provided some comedy relief!!  Nate helped with the motions while Caden just stood there like a statue!!  It was awesome!!  Here it is...


I love these boys!!

craziness

Today, our homeschool co-op had P.E. We have a YMCA instructor who comes and does the class. I have heard NOTHING but good things about it.

We missed the first time she came because of illness. Last Friday I did not attempt to go because my boys did not want to go. Weird. My very athletic, energetic boys should love P.E.

So when today came, I just told the boys that we had homeschool gym time and get ready to go. We drove out to the church where it is hosted, and my boys ran inside all excited. Their excitement stopped in the lobby. They WOULD NOT go inside the gym and line up with the other HAPPY kids.

Why? Why? Why?

Nate, my 7-year-old, actually was sitting on a chair CRYING. What in the world is going on?? So, then 5-year-old starts crying because he saw the jump ropes and says he doesn't know how to jump rope. I said, something about that is why she is TEACHING P.E....she will help you learn! He proceeds to start CRYING, also. OH THE FRUSTRATION!!!

So, what do I do?? I say, "WE'RE LEAVING!" The crying turned into WAILING, seriously...LOUD WAILING. Fun times. At this point, we are right by the church offices. I just start walking to the van with 3 of the 4 wailing. Of course, they wanted to stay at that point. There was no way I was going to allow them to stay...NO WAY.

I am very sad to say that I completely lost my cool and raised my voice at them in the van. I hate to say it, but I was embarrassed. I mean, shouldn't my kids be perfect? I mean really. Shouldn't we all just be perfect?? The perfect little family with kids that never act out?? Well, that just isn't going to happen, ever.

We are all fine now...I have asked for forgiveness from them and from my heavenly Father. I HATE when I lose my cool with them. I have written often about my short fuse, but God really, really has been doing a work in that area of my life. The fuse is growing, for sure...I have been much better at applying "a gentle answer turns away wrath." I love these boys SO MUCH.

I have told them that 100 times since this morning...I pray that they remember me as a loving, fun mom. I am resting in God's grace for sure.

My uncle Mike just reminded me via Facebook that my love for them is UNCONDITIONAL. Thanks for that reminder...he also wrote that one day they will be afraid of ME embarrassing them...smile.

a good Monday, for the most part

Today was a good day! Except for some crazy mommy moments that involved me and my screaming Ian, it was good. Oh, and Kyle fell off his top bunk TWICE; that wasn't good. Actually, he was JUMPING down both times and his pants (the first time) and his shorts (the second time) got caught on the protective railing on the side, and he tumbled to the floor. The second time his head caught the shelf of the bottom bunk's headboard. OUCH! He's okay...he says his head just hurts.

We did have school today! I talked to them about Martin Luther King, Jr. and what he did for our country. It's amazing what empathy little kids can have! Anyway, I was going to print off some coloring sheets for them to color while I talked about MLK, but I forgot to get our black ink cartridge refilled. No ink = no coloring sheets!

Here are some pictures of Nate's castle that he made using his Math U See blocks. I got the blocks out to start math time and then got side tracked because of the screaming 3-year-old. When I got back, he was in the middle of building this. Pretty creative!

my little Indian

Since Thanksgiving is next week, we have been doing lots of art projects during our school days! Here is one example...

goofy Kyle

less goofy Kyle

I also plan on posting pictures of Nate's pilgrims...it has turned into a big project, literally!!

a perk of homeschooling...

...an impromptu game of indoor tag in the middle of the school day where we all end up in a pile on the floor from laughing so hard and running so fast that we are totally out-of- breath...all that followed by a tickle-fest...you just can't beat it!!!

I love moments like this where fun, laughter, and joy reign in our house! I think that is all just part of God's joy and living an abundant life in Him!! I truly enjoy my boys and am blessed to be their mom!

Kyle funnies

Today we had pajama day at school (yes, that means we were in pajamas all day during home school). The older two showered and then asked if we could have pajama day. I thought, what the heck? We had nowhere to go today...sounds like fun! (I was actually wearing work-out clothes, which was a good thing b/c the doorbell did ring today!)

So, tonight before dinner, Kyle was telling Mike about our pajama today.

Then, Kyle says, "Can tomorrow be underwear day? AAAHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHA (laughing VERY hard)"

That kid cracks me up, seriously! Love him!!

BTW, if you want to see a family picture we had taken on Saturday...head on over to LE Portraits blog, and scroll down a little and there we will all be! I am excited to see the rest of the pictures!

What's going on around here....

We started our second year of homeschool yesterday! Nate is officially in 1st grade and Kyle is in kindergarten. I am excited for a new school year!! It's funny how I was most worried about keeping the younger two occupied, but they have been wonderful! The older two, on the other hand...oh well, let's just say that day 2 was better than day 1. It's probably good that I didn't blog yesterday; it may not have been HAPPY! In pictures.... (By the way, I know that captions are supposed to go UNDER pictures, but it just looks funny for some reason. Therefore, in my blog world, they are going ABOVE the picture!)

Nate writing on the white board...he wasn't pleased with his letters and has basically refused to write since this picture...HE IS SO HARD ON HIMSELF! I am praying for wisdom in this area and am trusting that God will give it to me, as promised in James 1:5!!

Watching our Math U See DVD on the computer and playing with the manipulatives. I LOVED that Kyle put on his swimming goggles...it just gave me joy, made me smile, and made me so excited to homeschool...to be able to witness them learning in their own, comfortable, goggles-on environment! Let's just say I was very glad that we did math last! At least the day ended well and with me smiling!

I wanted to include this picture because of Ian...he didn't take that backpack off ALL DAY! As soon as I said we were starting school-time, on went the "packpack" ...again, finding joy in my children...thank you Jesus!

School time, day two. Today, our preferred classroom was the living room floor!

And here is Ian again with the "packpack." It stayed on all day...what a goof!! He is so sweet when he wants to be! He and Caden colored a lot today, and in this picture he was showing off his work from a Christmas coloring book...go figure!

And in the kitchen, I am currently making my very first chicken stock, using the bones from the whole chicken I cooked yesterday! I put it on before 8am and it will be cooking ALL DAY! It smells yummy!

And also in my kitchen today, is my second attempt at homemade yogurt. I am trying to make a thicker batch using non-instant organic dry milk as a thickener!! Underneath that towel is a little ice chest with HOT water in it and 2 quart-sized jars of yogurt! Hopefully, around 9:30 tonight I will have thicker yogurt! I'll let you know!! (I used a combination of this recipe and this recipe.)

That, in a nutshell, is what's going on around here today!!

one month

Okay, so I know that it has been one whole month since I have written anything. What can I say? NOTHING has been going on in our family and lives...I am SO kidding. We purposely got rid of our television about 6 0r 7 weeks ago, so that has drastically changed our household for the better! However, that does mean that I don't have as much free time. I am sad to say that I must have been using that television as a baby sitter more than I realized! My life is now filled to the max with playing, building forts, reading TONS of books to the boys, being read to by two of the boys, pushing kids on the swings, going on bike rides, swimming at the neighborhood pool and YMCA, working out at the YMCA (free child watch...my only ME time!), going to the library, playing UNO, playing Sorry, putting together puzzle after puzzle after puzzle, tickling boys, and laughing a whole lot....this OF COURSE, is in addition to all the laundry, dishes, finding pee smells, laundry, dishes, and other household mommy-type chores. This week was actually very much marked my an abundance of well, ummmm, how can I say this nicely???....ummm, fecal matter...yes POOP! I had a poopy week...literally!!! I won't go into any details except to tell you that Mike and I now have new pillows, pillow cases, and sheets. We probably need all new bedding but that won't happen for a while. Maybe next years tax return. Oh, I feel like I must clarify that the poop that was all over our bed did come from a child and not from an adult... in case you were wondering at all!!

We actually have been very busy. The last weekend of May I went to a homeschool convention in Wichita, KS, that was AWESOME. One of the keynote speakers, Ginger Plowman, was incredible and spoke about reaching the heart of your child. Seriously, God really used this woman to teach me some very practical ways to bring the Bible into every day situations in our house. It was also just a fun weekend away with some great ladies from my church and homeschool group.

I also had my super fun Uncle Joe visit from Washington. I took TONS of pictures with every intention to post them on this blog, but it never happened!

We also hosted my grandmother's 80th birthday party at my house. It was a surprise and it was a GREAT time! My brother Bill and nephew Bryce were able to come up from Houston. I hadn't seen my brother since October, so it was really great to see him! My other brother Keith and his wife Bridgette were here also as well as some extended family...it was truly a blessed weekend!

On a low note, my closest friend here in Oklahoma was put in the hospital on bed rest for some pregnancy complications. She has been there for 3 weeks now and is just now 27 weeks along. She has a long road ahead of her. I have been blessed with the opportunity to help out her family, which really is awesome. God always blessed me so much in Maine with friends who were like family and I am excited that I now have the chance to be family to her. It's a long story and I don't even know if that made any sense...let's just say my friend Lisette is like a sister to me, just like a few of my friends in Maine were (and still are) like sisters to me.

Okay, that's enough for now. I am going to try to write more often, even if it's just a sentence or two. God has been SO good to us lately and I just give Him all glory, praise, and honor for all that He has done for us and in us. What a mighty, holy, awesome, faithful, and amazing God we serve!!