I don't know about you, or any other homeschooling parent, but I totally struggle with not feeling like I am giving my kids the best. The best attitude, the best birthday cake, the best clothes, the best shoes, the best energy, the best books, the best dinners, etc, etc. In this season of life, I rarely feel like I am really doing much "up to par" because things are so busy and full. Between homeschooling, household management, discipline needs, college, and pregnancy, my day is packed, so squeezing in those special moments with the kids does not happen nearly as often as I would like. Thankfully, this is an area that God is helping to bring to light so that I can give it more attention. But, during times like this, Ecclesiastes 3 comes to my mind: "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...." I know that my schooling will not last forever, and in only a handful of months I will finish my degree and this additional load will be removed...hallelujah! In addition, shortly thereafter I will give birth to baby #5, which will of course bring its own load of new beginnings and adjustments. But, you know, I am okay with that. Even though right now is not the right season for the extras in life, it is a great season for each of us to get down the basics and really learn to enjoy the simple things. For this, I am thankful.
God continues to sharpen and put fire my to faith in this season, as all my flaws and weaknesses are brought right to the front. But, I know this is why He has called me to homeschool and bear more children, so that I can grow to become even more like Him each and every day. There is certainly no escaping my need for Him now! And there is also no turning away from the need to give exercise to my beliefs and true spiritual condition on a daily basis. I must face my weak areas, because now I am greatly affecting not only my own life, but the next generation! I just love seeing how God works! Not only do we have the opportunity to teach our children all good things, including the humility needed to apologize for the same sin done over and over again as it is worked on, but we also get to work on our own fleshly nature and learn to practice self-control, etc. It is the neatest exchange, though not easy in the slightest. I look forward to the day when the lessons I am learning now are solid as a rock. That I am sure will be a welcome time of peace! But, I and confident in this, "that he who began a good work in [me] will carry it onto completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). To this, I most definitely say "AMEN!"
Monday, September 26, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Faith Comes By Hearing...
"Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." ~ Romans 10:17
So, we have resumed our homeschooling efforts officially by beginning our "school year" in the beginning of August. I am pleased to say that things are going great. My focus is Bible, Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic (3 Rs), so it keeps things simple and easy. I need to work on the "Reading" part, but Nadya is still getting just the fundamentals of it, so I am hesitant to really start prodding for more until she is solid in the basics. Lily is moving forward with reading, yay!
The reason for this post, though, is to talk about something I happened to stumble upon that has been a huge blessing in our life, plus an additional resource for solid homeschool material. I downloaded a free Bible MP3 (New Testament) on my Ipod a few years ago that pretty much got little to no use until recently. I read another blog that talked about how they would put the bible on for the kids to listen to when playing or going to sleep, etc, and that it really helped to re-enforce the concepts and lessons that were being taught throughout the day in the house. We are not really in today's world blessed with the luxury to just sit and read the bible out loud for hours a day, so having an audio reading provides a beneficial source for this listening training. In the words of Kim Brenneman (author of "Large Family Logistics), I am putting to use one of my servants (i.e. my Ipod and sound system) for reading the bible out loud to the children (don't you just love that analogy!)
Well, when I first read about this idea, I thought that it sounded great, but I did not know if the kids would really go for it. I mean, I know tons of families who listen to audio books on CD all the time and the kids love them, but my kids may or may not really give them any attention and they are certainly not really the preferred listening material. So, I was pleasantly surprised that when I initially began to play the bible while riding in the car, the kids all listened intently while the gospels were read and Jesus spoke. In fact, as the days went on, I would receive requests from each one (even Anaya, our almost 3 year old!), which really shocked me. They loved hearing the words of Jesus and would ask all kinds of great questions. We listened to Acts, some of the epistles, Revelation, etc, and they loved them. They are completely absorbed by them, and I am one happy mama! Now, I always have my Ipod with me to have this option available whenever we have the occasion. It is funny, too, because even when we have a really short ride (say 5 minutes max to a store down the street) I will still be asked to turn on the bible. The blessings that this simple little tool has brought into our household have already been significant, and I look forward to the many more to come.
To download your own free bible MP3 (New Testament, NT), go to http://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/ambassador/free-audio-bible-download. When I did my download, I did not receive a complete NT, but had a few chapters here and there missing (I do not know why), but the information now says the entire NT, so hopefully you will not get missing chapters. Even if you do, though, at least you have a great resource while you save some money to buy a complete set. Enjoy and be blessed!
So, we have resumed our homeschooling efforts officially by beginning our "school year" in the beginning of August. I am pleased to say that things are going great. My focus is Bible, Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic (3 Rs), so it keeps things simple and easy. I need to work on the "Reading" part, but Nadya is still getting just the fundamentals of it, so I am hesitant to really start prodding for more until she is solid in the basics. Lily is moving forward with reading, yay!
The reason for this post, though, is to talk about something I happened to stumble upon that has been a huge blessing in our life, plus an additional resource for solid homeschool material. I downloaded a free Bible MP3 (New Testament) on my Ipod a few years ago that pretty much got little to no use until recently. I read another blog that talked about how they would put the bible on for the kids to listen to when playing or going to sleep, etc, and that it really helped to re-enforce the concepts and lessons that were being taught throughout the day in the house. We are not really in today's world blessed with the luxury to just sit and read the bible out loud for hours a day, so having an audio reading provides a beneficial source for this listening training. In the words of Kim Brenneman (author of "Large Family Logistics), I am putting to use one of my servants (i.e. my Ipod and sound system) for reading the bible out loud to the children (don't you just love that analogy!)
Well, when I first read about this idea, I thought that it sounded great, but I did not know if the kids would really go for it. I mean, I know tons of families who listen to audio books on CD all the time and the kids love them, but my kids may or may not really give them any attention and they are certainly not really the preferred listening material. So, I was pleasantly surprised that when I initially began to play the bible while riding in the car, the kids all listened intently while the gospels were read and Jesus spoke. In fact, as the days went on, I would receive requests from each one (even Anaya, our almost 3 year old!), which really shocked me. They loved hearing the words of Jesus and would ask all kinds of great questions. We listened to Acts, some of the epistles, Revelation, etc, and they loved them. They are completely absorbed by them, and I am one happy mama! Now, I always have my Ipod with me to have this option available whenever we have the occasion. It is funny, too, because even when we have a really short ride (say 5 minutes max to a store down the street) I will still be asked to turn on the bible. The blessings that this simple little tool has brought into our household have already been significant, and I look forward to the many more to come.
To download your own free bible MP3 (New Testament, NT), go to http://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/ambassador/free-audio-bible-download. When I did my download, I did not receive a complete NT, but had a few chapters here and there missing (I do not know why), but the information now says the entire NT, so hopefully you will not get missing chapters. Even if you do, though, at least you have a great resource while you save some money to buy a complete set. Enjoy and be blessed!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
You'll get it eventually...
I don't know about other homeschooling moms, but I certainly feel less than adequate more often than not. Oddly, it seems that majority of people I talk to assume that because I have chosen to homeschool I must have "the patience of a saint" or super-human abilities to keep peace and order. If you have ever been to my house or spent time with my family, you will know that neither of these are true...at all! I have yet to achieve the level of patience that I wholly desire, and our house is nowhere near the peaceful, orderly place that I envision it to become, but I work hard to remember that "he who has begun a good work in you will carry it onto completion until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).
There are many good works that are being worked out in our household. One is the actual academics part of homeschooling. Every day both my kids and I must learn to submit to God instead of self in keeping this household functioning well. We all must learn to deal with our own bad attitudes, as well as the bad attitude of someone around us. We must learn to share our time and our possessions. We must learn to work diligently and with a good attitude in all things, no matter how unpleasant it is. We must learn to be humble when we mess up or sin against another, repenting of our poor choices and persistently working to change them in ourselves. We must remain in step with the bible's guidelines for living if we are to stay on path of goodness, and in lieu of this often accept course corrections when we make a wrong turn. We must practice the focus of removing our own planks instead of always seeing the speck in someone else's eye. And, we daily get ample practice to learn the action of love (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-8). God has been great (when I finally call out to Him for help instead of trying to figure it out for myself) to help remind me of the fact that change and learning take time. He helped me to see that even though I am not 100% successful with my emotional control, etc, that He is always encouraging me, telling me, "You'll get there, just keep working on it." And this is something I can say to my children, no matter what mess they have created for themselves. "Kiddo, you'll get there! Just keep working on it!"
I wish I could say that I am a shining example of all of these things for my children, but I would be lying if I did. The reality is, I am learning so many of these lessons right alongside of them. Having to face these inner challenges every single day instead of escaping them really makes me utterly aware of my brokenness and weak areas. But, I am hopeful that after 20+ years of this journey, I will come out the other end a more mature and experienced Christian, which is the best gift I could receive from it all. This journey is not easy, of course, but it is so worth it.
There are many good works that are being worked out in our household. One is the actual academics part of homeschooling. Every day both my kids and I must learn to submit to God instead of self in keeping this household functioning well. We all must learn to deal with our own bad attitudes, as well as the bad attitude of someone around us. We must learn to share our time and our possessions. We must learn to work diligently and with a good attitude in all things, no matter how unpleasant it is. We must learn to be humble when we mess up or sin against another, repenting of our poor choices and persistently working to change them in ourselves. We must remain in step with the bible's guidelines for living if we are to stay on path of goodness, and in lieu of this often accept course corrections when we make a wrong turn. We must practice the focus of removing our own planks instead of always seeing the speck in someone else's eye. And, we daily get ample practice to learn the action of love (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-8). God has been great (when I finally call out to Him for help instead of trying to figure it out for myself) to help remind me of the fact that change and learning take time. He helped me to see that even though I am not 100% successful with my emotional control, etc, that He is always encouraging me, telling me, "You'll get there, just keep working on it." And this is something I can say to my children, no matter what mess they have created for themselves. "Kiddo, you'll get there! Just keep working on it!"
I wish I could say that I am a shining example of all of these things for my children, but I would be lying if I did. The reality is, I am learning so many of these lessons right alongside of them. Having to face these inner challenges every single day instead of escaping them really makes me utterly aware of my brokenness and weak areas. But, I am hopeful that after 20+ years of this journey, I will come out the other end a more mature and experienced Christian, which is the best gift I could receive from it all. This journey is not easy, of course, but it is so worth it.
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