Time Revealed

Today, as many of you know, is a special day to me. Not only is it the day that I entered this world, it is also the beginning of the end of winter. Sharing my birthday with the rebirth of the Earth after a long cold winter has alway seemed to escape my attention. I have known for quite some time that winter is my least favorite season, eventhough I do respect and ackowledge it's importance in our ecosystem. But this year, I feel like my eyes and heart have been opened to experience this day from a fresh perspective. For the past year, I have noticed all of the signs that time has been catching up to me physically (i.e., laugh lines, sprinkled gray hair, general aches and pains). This has been a gradual process, but it seems like this year I have taken more notice (and offense) at the accumulated affect. But today I am reminded that while I am one year older, like the Earth, I am also one year closer to experiencing perfection. Our Earth is also experiencing the accumulated affects of age, wrecklessness and selfishness. Every winter, the Earth attempts to renew itself, but falls just a little bit short year after year. But there will come a time when the Earth and everyone who believes in Jesus Christ will be renewed to their God-created, perfect state. On this day, I believe that, while my body may be growing older, my heart has inflated infinitely by the Holy Spirit. The short time I will spend in my earthly body does not compare to eternity as a heavenly vessel. My birthday prayer is that God would renew your spirit and grant you a glimpse of perfection today, as he has done for me.

God's Blessings

For the past 6 months I have been wrestling with some very big issues. It is amazing how God brings about the answers in His time, and it all happened in ONE week! I feel so excited about the future that I can't hold it in!

First of all, I have been trying to decide if I was going to be able to pull off homeschooling Seth in Kindergarten, when I know nothing about educating early grades. (Plus keep Lukah and Alayna busy so we could work!) In the past two weeks, God has shown me that He has given me the ability and confidence to work with Seth and Lukah and Alayna. Itall started when I bought the Leap Frog learning video collection (Letter Factory, Talking Words Factory, et.). Within 2 weeks, all three of them are reciting the sounds and names of all of the letters. Seth has also been working with Headsprout for a few months. Just recently I've see it all come together as he has started reading and writing words all over the place! I also picked up a math curriculum, and since doing just 2 lessons AND watching the Leap Frog Math Circus, he is doing addition and patterns easily. I don't mean to boast my accomplishments at all. On the contrary, we could not have done anything without God's help. But it hasn't just been Seth's progress that has given me confidence. I set up a "school" table in the dining room, and since then, Lukah and Alayna have been "working" right along with Seth. Lukah doesn't like to be helped or taught, but he listens all the time and catches everything that I do with Seth. He has been cutting out all kinds of shapes, writing his name, sounding out letters, drawing pictures of people and houses (which he wasn't doing before) and doing math with Seth. Alayna sits and colors with us or cuts out "pictures", but she is picking things up too. All of this to say that I am confident that this is what God wants for us.

Secondly, ever since Zach and Dylan "switched" so they could be with their dad during the week and go to school in Marion, I have prayed that God would give the situation direction, and that I would follow His will. For 3 years now, they have gone to school in Marion, but they have decided they would like to switch the situation back, so they could go to school here again. I'm glad they had the time with their dad, because I think that is so important, especially for boys, to bond with their dad. But I won't lie, I missed them like crazy all week! It will be an adjustment for everyone to get used to busy weeks, and missed rec time on the weekend, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Finally, God opened the door to financial opportunities that have allowed us to relieve some burden from our lives. Granted, these are burdens we have brought on ourselves, but God has shown endless grace in helping us remove these burdens once again. Knowing that I will be able to stay home through next year in order to provide the education my children deserve is beyond thrilling to me!

I hope God is also showing his endless mercy and grace in your life as well. It is so hard to accept sometimes, because I am so undeserving! Have a blessed week!

Life at Home

It has been quite a while since I've posted updates. I have been watching for a moment that would inspire me to write, but I think life has been flying by so fast that I haven't caught any moments lately!

The past couple of weeks I have been putting in extra hours with Tiffin, closing out one term and getting another one ready to go. I have to admit, eventhough it accentuates my nerdiness, I LOVE it! I love being able to combine my love of teaching, with my technological skills and my need to be home right now.

I have also been working with Seth, Lukah and Alayna on some simple preschool activities. I need to see if I can do this steadily for the next couple of months before I make a commitment to homeschool Seth next year. So far it is going well. Seth is doing an online reading program called Headsprout (www.headsprout.org), where he is learning how to read quickly! I also found an entire Hooked on Math curriculum set at a Once Upon a Child for $24! I initially bought it for my Sister in Law, who is homeschooling her son Noah. But Seth saw it on the table and insisted we do it. I sat down with him, Lukah and Alayna one morning and before long, all three of them were picking up math facts. (Lukah did very well because a large part is set to music, which he picks up very easily.)

So between working from home, preschooling, carting kids around the state and trying to keep the house somewhat clean, I stay pretty busy. But I have to say, this is one of the best times of my life. I'm truly enjoying my time with the kids and my ability to work my brain at the same time. God has truly blessed me!