Wordless Wednesday {Back to school supplies}

All we need at this house! :-)

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

...the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
Psalm 19:1-4

Speaking of homeschooling, this scripture has been one that we have talked about over and over this year during our school day. Especially as we have studied science. And that is another reason that I love doing this. We can talk about God's glory all day long in every subject without hindrance. We have even started to memorize this passgae thanks to this great CD that comes with our Core curriculum, Sonlight.

This year for science we have been using Apologia's Exploring Creation through Astronomy and it has been wonderful. It is SO much more than just learning about the solar system in general like I remember doing in school. It is very detailed and just totally points to God's amazing intelligent design and creation of the universe. Even things we think we know about, like our earth for instance, it has blown us away when we look at every detail and see how everything from the earth's size and distance from the sun, to its atmosphere and tilt, to its rotation and magnetospere and many other details- if even one of those things were just slightly off or different, life would not be able to exist here. I find myself constantly praising God for these details that I rarely if ever have considered- now that's a good curriculum in my opinion!

We usually take a few weeks to study about each planet in depth and then do a small experiment at the end of the two weeks. A few weeks ago we finished studying about Pluto and the Kuiper Belt and ended our time by shaking up our own ice-cream (learning about chemical reactions and how they can lower the freezing point of something- even a planet). The next day we took Grandma along on a field trip to our local Planetarium and watched a special program about whether or not Pluto is a planet and how the scientists came up with the conclusion that it wasn't a true planet. It was awesome to be sitting next to the boys as they kept nudging me everytime the program would talk about something we had just learned about in science and to see their excitement about learning. That week they had all 3 written out a hypothesis on whether or not Pluto was a planet and then had to state the evidence on why they thought that. (In case you were wondering, 2 out of 3 believe that it should still be classified as a planet, but we will all know much more once the spacecraft New Horizons reaches Pluto in 2015.) After we walked out of the planetarium, there were some local astronomers set up outside with these gigantic telescopes and of course we couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a look! It was amazing! Even in the middle of the day we were able to look directly at the firey sun through one telescope and at the moon through another! We got some info about when and where these local astronomers will be set up on different evenings all throughout the summer, so that we can catch a glimpse of a little more of God's amazing creation.

The best part about that day though was later that evening after we had dinner, the boys had the idea that we should go look at the stars. We don't exactly live in the country, but it is not totally the city either so we drove over the hill a little ways and parked and all piled into the back of the truck to lay down and star gaze! After our time at the planetarium, the boys thought they knew where some of the planets and constellations were so they were having fun trying to find it all in the night sky. It didn't last very long because it was cold and Elliana needed to get to bed, but it was fun just to be able to do something spontaneous like that and watch how excited they were about learning. We are marking our calendar for the next few meteor showers and they have already told me that a telescope will be on their Christmas wish list- too funny.

And this is why I wanted to share all of that with you. Several years ago, Randy and I began teaching our boys some of the shorter catechism questions and answers using the book Training Hearts, Teaching Minds. We never got through the book, in fact I don't even think we got half way through the book! BUT we will never ever forget the very first question of the catechism- which is: "What is man's primary purpose?" (or another way of asking it is "what is the chief end of man?") And the boys would answer "Man's primary purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." That short, simple, yet profound truth is ingrained in their minds and hearts because we took the time when they were young to teach it to them. And now everytime we open up our school books I remind them that not only is that man's primary purpose, but that even the HEAVENS and all of creation are declaring the glory of God! As we stare up into the sky and as we study the marvels of the universe our natural response is to worship the Creator even more! And we can call it "school!" Don't you love that? And guess what? You can do that too. Don't let another day pass without pointing out the wonders of God's creation to your children and praising Him for it. You don't need some curriculum or devotional book to do that either!

I want to encourage every parent that is reading this: you are teaching your children at home whether you realize it or not. You may not be a typical "homeschooler" in the sense that I am, but you are a teacher none the less. Education is discipleship. Simple as that. And if you are a follower of Christ and have children in your home- you are called to disciple them. In other words: educate them. And I believe that the goal, function, and very purpose of education is changed hearts. No, I am not the one who changes their hearts. And no I absolutely do not think that by homeschooling that somehow my children are guaranteed to have changed hearts. (Remember my last post about homeschooling?!) There is only One who is capable of that transformation of the heart of a person.

One of my favorite quotes that I look to quite often for encouragement in parenting is from R.C. Sproul Jr in his book: When You Rise Up. I pray that wherever you are in your parenting journey- that you would find encouragement and renewed purpose in it too.

"May we remember as parents that we are his children, and that he is about the business of changing our hearts, of repairing our ruins, of remaking us. And though he has not finished with us, he has placed in our care his children. May he in his grace keep our hearts aflame for these children. May he give us minds like steel traps that we would never be distracted, that we would not foraske our calling. May he, the great Steward, make us faithful stewards of our children, the most precious gifts, of which is the kingdom of God."

We have made so many mistakes in the 13+ years that we have been parents. I wish I could somehow go back and erase all of the mistakes. I try not to think about all that I did wrong and sometimes feel the guilt coming back to haunt me. But of course that is when knowing and hiding God's word in your heart comes in handy- the Holy Spirit assuring me that I am a new creation, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, and that He will use each and every one of those things for HIS GLORY! I love that and rest in those promises. It all points back to Him!

What God is teaching me as I teach my children...

I have realized that I really don't say much about homeschooling on this blog. Not really sure why that is. I obviously talk a lot about orphans and adoption, sometimes about missions, and definitely about photography- all things that I am passionate about. But not a whole lot about our homeschooling journey, although it is a HUGE part of my life. Huge, as in most of my day, everyday, 5 days a week, 36 weeks/ year, plus all of the planning and preparing during the summer, all of it revolves around teaching my children at home for the past 7 years. Yeah, I guess it must be fairly significant to take up that much of my life. And I guess after spending most of my day teaching and whatever else I'm doing, when I finally get the time to sit down to write about something- homeschooling is not my first choice!



Well, that is mostly true.



But maybe not the only reason.



Definitely not the only reason.



I think it's about time for another honest post. Don't you?



Here we go.




Don't say I didn't warn you!

The reality is that I LOVE to blog and talk about and mobilize others to grasp God's heart for the orphan and the lost and the unreached. Those of you who know me IRL (in real life!) know that to be true and we have most likely had discussions about it all (and you are so sick of me by now I am sure!) It is truly so easy to bring up and share both our adoption story and our testimony of God's faithfulness in our lives with others that I hardly think twice about jumping into some kind of conversation about it. And I know that it is only by His grace alone that I am even here, let alone have the words to talk about these things.
And almost everytime it ends up being a great conversation about the things of God and both parties leave encouraged and even inspired to make a difference for the kingdom of God.



BUT when the conversation turns to where my children go to school or how homeschooling is going... believe it or not, I get a little tongue-tied. And sometimes want to run in the other direction!



For a long time I couldn't seem to put my finger on why I always felt like that. Actually when I'm around all of my homeschooling friends I feel somewhat comfortable and it's wonderful to have park days and meetings and discuss curriculum and talk about some of the struggles and joys that we face each day. I thank God for these women that I am so blessed to know. They have all taught me so much through the years.



No, I realized I seem to get that sick feeling when it is someone other than a homeschooling family who asks me about it. You know, when you are having somewhat of a not too deep conversation and someone non-chalantly asks "so where do your children go to school?" And I usually respond "um... they're homeschooled." And the first response out of 90% of the moms I talk to say something like "OH WOOOWWW... I COULD NEVER DO THAT. MY KIDS DRIVE ME CRAZY. THAT ONE OVER THERE IS MR. SOCIAL- HE WOULD HATE TO HAVE ME AS A TEACHER EVERYDAY. I AM NOT QUALIFIED. YOUR KIDS MUST LOVE YOU. YOU MUST BE SOOOO PATIENT!"



Hmmm. Now do you see why I don't blog about it? Talk about pressure!



So what is my response?



And here's where the brutal honesty comes in.



Ready for it?



I CAN'T DO IT EITHER! I HAVE THE SAME SOCIAL CHILDREN THAT MANY TIMES DRIVE ME CRAZY WHO DON'T WANT ME AS THEIR TEACHER AND HAVE ALL 3 TOLD ME THEY HATE ME AT SOME POINT OR ANOTHER, I AM TOTALLY UNQUALIFIED AS A TEACHER AND AM THE MOST IMPATIENT PERSON I KNOW!



Ahhh. There. I got it out! Phew- I finally said it!



Seriously, you want reality? I am the farthest person in the world from being the most qualified or patient or organized to teach my kids at home. I barely graduated from high school, have no teaching experience except maybe a few dance and Sunday school classes, am very impatient about SO many things, completley disorganized, and most of the time just downright lazy. Now that you know that- who wants me to teach their kids?!



Of course you don't!
And that is exactly what my arguement was with God when He was first calling me to homeschool our oldest son. I would look at those "perfect" moms who stayed home to teach their children and I'd say well she is the perfect type to homeschool- so wise and patient and gentle with her children. I will NEVER do or be like that! Nope. Homeschooling is for those super-moms and that is definitely not me. So I'm off the hook. I was SO ready to send my son to school and have a little break for a few hours. You know, to focus on the other boys and ministry and stuff.


And we think the Lord doesn't have a sense of humor?! :-)

Soon after I made that vow, we went through some pretty difficult times with our Austin. We had known from the time he was very little that he had some unique tendencies and some trouble learning. But it wasn't until he went to kindergarten that it really became magnified. After a rough kindergarten year and a terrible two months of first grade, we pulled him out. Now of course it was not without a lot of kicking and screaming from yours truly. We talked to the teachers, principal, tried to switch schools and even districts just to be able to keep him "in school" and of course it was all in vain. God had a plan and it was not to be thwarted!

When I look back at that year all I can remember was a feeling of hoplessness. I felt so alone even though I knew a few others that homeschooled. I just knew I was never going to be that super-mom for him and I felt like all of my plans had just been thrown out the window. We spent endless hours and thousands of dollars on evaluations and therapies and specialists and I was exhausted from the responsibility of it all.
I felt so guilty and responsible that I had a first, then second, then third grader who STILL after 3 years of homeschooling could not read. I was only homeschooling him out of an obligation I felt. Although it was God's calling, sadly I didn't realize it until much later and I missed out on so much of my boys' childhood because I was so focused on what I was missing and being overwhelmed with the responsibility that I did have. And as we began the journey to discovering more about Austin and his special learning needs, something AMAZING started to happen. No, my circumstances didn't change. No, Austin didn't miraculously get cured even though I had prayed that so many times. No, he never went back to school.
But something even better happened.

God changed ME.

Not sure quite when it happened and I am pretty sure He is not finished yet, but over these past 7 years, my heart has had a dramatic change.

Over time, I found myself actually loving and WANTING to be with my children. Cuddling up on the couch with them while we read wonderful living books, going on nature walks, discussing theology with them, and pointing out how God reveals His glory to us in everyday life.
WANTING to spend the absolute most time I could with them each day and making the most of those days. WANTING to find a curriculum that is mission focused and God-centered and seeing school as SO much more than just reading, writing, and 'rithmetic. WANTING to keep finding answers and solutions to help Austin as he gets older instead of just giving up and giving into the culture of him becoming a teenager.
In other words...

WANTING to homeschool them!

Yes, I think I may have figured it out.

Now when people ask me about homeschooling, I don't need to be nervous at all. I don't have to have a comeback when they try to argue and make a point about socialization or even the fact that I have a child that is below grade level. And I most certainly don't need to pretend like I have it all together.

Nope. All I think God wants me to say is the truth.

I don't homeschool because I'm some super-mom. Or because I'm organized or patient or diligent. Or because I want my kids to be little protege's. Or because I want to shelter my kids from the world. Or even because I think its better than public school.

I homeschool because I am a complete wreck that God is in the process of refining and making into something beautiful for His good purposes and will. (Romans 8)

I homeschool because God is showing me that DISCIPLING my children is the part of the Great Comission just as much as going to the ends of the earth is (Matthew 28:18-20) and that I can't do that unless I spend time with them.

I homeschool because He is revealing to me where my treasures lie and I confess they were here on earth and not in heaven. (Matthew 6)

I homeschool because of Deuteronomy 6:1-9.

I homeschool because God has called me to follow Him at all costs and for our family right now, this means teaching my children at home.

I homeschool because while I want my children to be salt and light in a dark world, God has shown me that they need the battle gear on long before they go out into a warzone. (Ephesians 6)

And last I homeschool because I know that I will not have to do it in my own strength. In fact I CANNOT do anything in my own strength, but only through Christ who strengthens me. (Phillipians 4:13)

And because of 2 Corinthians 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you; My power is made perfect in your weakness."

And oh do I still have such a long way to go!

Sweet relief

It's Friday!

And for the past five weeks, for me that meant rushing around trying to finish up the last minute things I needed to do to prepare to teach our homeschool group.

But not today.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE our homeschool group. In fact I have mentioned how much I love it and all of the families in it several times on this blog. There are so many wonderful things that I love about our time every Friday. The boys have friends their age that they interact, learn and play with every week. I get to talk and fellowship with other moms who understand me and are so encouraging. And each mom takes turns teaching for 5 weeks out of the year, so the kids get lessons from people who are different and teach differently than me- which is GOOD. But of course the downside is when it is your turn to teach, the majority of us have waited until the last minute and end up neglecting other things so we can get the lesson done. Like actually teaching our children at home and making dinner for our families. (ok, so I confess the dinner thing is probably just me, but for the past several weeks I have been a little pre-occupied on Thursday nights!)

So, while I absolutely LOVED teaching those 5 weeks... I am feeling the sweet relief that it is Friday and I finished school with the boys, cleaned up the house, and I am blogging all before it is time to leave!!!

So of course I have a hard time blogging without posting pictures, so here are a few of the past five weeks of me teaching in the younger class (K- 3rd grade). We are studying missions and missionary heroes... and as you already know, it is my biggest passion- so I totally lucked out!!!

I was teaching about some of the things I have learned in Perspectives and how missions is the golden thread that connects the entire Bible together. It might have been a little over their heads, but I got a lot out of preparing to teach this lesson!

After reading about Eric Liddell (who was an olympic runner who chose to not run on Sunday and a missionary to China) we had our own olympics outside complete with torches to pass during the relay and medals for the winners.

Gladys Alyward is one of my favorite missionary heroes. After reading her story we spent time learning about China, drew pictures and prayed for persecuted Chirstians in prison, and ending with a celebration of Chinese New Year.

Last week I ended with George Muller who is one of the most wonderful examples of a man of faith that I can think of. We prayed for the street children and orphans around the world and talked about true faith. Here are the kids acting out the breakfast scene. The baker is giving George fresh rolls for the orphans to eat.


(In case you don't know what I'm talking about, in his lifetime George Muller helped over 10,000 orphans in England. After becoming a believer, for the rest of his life he lived by what most would call extreme faith. He never asked for a dime, but trusted that God would provide. One story in particular is just an example of this kind of faith. He sat down with about 300 orphans for breakfast one morning, only there wasn't any food to eat. Nothing. He prayed with the children and thanked God for the food that He would provide for them to eat. And there was a knock on the door. It was a baker who had woke up in the night and thought about the orphans not having anything to eat, so he brought them fresh bread. And then another knock. It was the milkman whose truck had broken down and he needed somewhere to unload the milk. He gave it to the orphange for free. It is only one example of a whole lifetime of living by faith that George Muller was/ is known by. That is the breakfast scene that the kids were acting out.)

The Milk(lady)

A few of the "orphans"

Everyone eating their snack of bread and milk

Happy Friday to you... have a great weekend!!!

Where we've been...

It has been awhile!

Not much time for blogging these days, but here's a glimpse of what our days have been filled with:

Soccer with 3 boys

School of course

And a little field trip to the Hillcrest pumpkin patch

Hope to post more soon :-)

Seize the Day!

It seems every year around this time, there is a common observation that many parents share. And it is that our kids grow up way too fast.

I think it must have something to do with the time of year, you know back to school which means back to schedules and routines, after a 2 1/2 month summer break from it all. We tend to get into a mode of planning and goal setting and making long to-do lists. And as you are shopping for those new backpacks and pencil boxes and clothes a size bigger than last year, all of a sudden you realize that your "babies" aren't babies anymore. In fact, they are now going into 6th grade (or jr. high or high-school)! Where did the time go? we lament, and then sigh as we realize all of the things we were going to do with them or teach them last year never actually happened and we hope that the time won't pass as quickly this year as it did before!

Does this sound familiar?

I have been thinking about this lately as I have had a chance to reflect on some recent conversations I've had with my neighbors.

Last week when we had that wonderful drop in temperature, everyone came out of the woodwork and the entire neighborhood gathered to chat and watch the kids play. We know all of our neighbors and especially enjoy being out in the Spring and Fall, but we hadn't seen much of eachother most of the summer, because it was too hot to play outside unless you were in someone's pool, so everyone just kept to themselves. So it was fun to have a few nights to hang out before school started. The common theme of the conversation was obviously about school starting and who had what teacher and everything else related. But it was this lament of our kids growing up too fast that had me in sort of a confusion.

Here's why...

You see at the very beginning of Summer (I think the 1st Monday or Tuesday of vacation) we were all sitting out there chatting as usual, this time about school being out and plans for the next few months. I remember one mom wondering what in the world she was going to "do" with her children all summer because it was only the 2nd day of vacation and the kids were driving her crazy! Now fast forward 2 months to our converstaion last week, and it seems like quite a contradiction right?

What is wrong with this picture???

Why do we spend half of our lives wishing our children would grow up or be independent or reach the next milestone.... and the other half of our lives wishing they were young again, reminicsing and wondering where the time has gone?

Have you ever heard the saying: Carpe Diem? It's Latin for SEIZE THE DAY!

I want to challenge you to live in the day God has given you. Stop and enjoy the wonders of creation today and praise Him for all of it. Every part of your day should reflect God's grace and mercy in your life. He has given you this moment. Now use it to glorify Him- there should be no regrets. That doesn't mean you are to "live it up" as some people would say as they use that to justify their sin, but rather "Choose this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." And to "offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God..." Also read the book of Ecclesiastes if you want more encouragement to seize the day!

Many people have asked me about homeschooling over the years and while I am most certainly still learning with each year that goes by, I can honestly say that I have no regrets. I believe that the Lord brought us on this journey to teach me far more than I ever would have learned had I not chosen to answer this call. It has been a difficult road at times as I have had to learn to fall on my knees daily and yield to the Master plan which goes much further and deeper than how many math facts my children learn that day.

It is this kind of "seizing" that our Father will help us to do throughout our day- whether it's taking the time to listen to a story from one child, or serving one of "the least of these" together or praying and restoring relationships with another after they have sinned, or laughing at a silly joke, or just "being there" when they have a question- it is not our first nature to stop doing what we have on our "to-do" list for a minute and live in the moment.

So, while I have done better some days than others, I can honestly say that I have no regrets. That doesn't mean I don't mess up- no, I am pretty good at that most every day- but it means that I have learned to enjoy each precious day that God has given me with my boys and husband and delight in being there to watch them grow and learn. For those that don't homeschool, you have an even bigger challenge- make sure you seize those few precious hours after school and on the weekends, and by all means- take the time to teach and disciple and love your kids... you are still the most important teacher they'll ever have!

Carpe Diem!!!

A few pictures of us seizing the last days of summer:

And here is Nathan right after we received our big box of curriculum- he had found his readers and organized them right away. He was so excited to have his own set of books to read this year. Let's see if he still has that much enthusiasm after this first week of school! Pray for us as we start a new school year and our last one without our Little Sister!