Homeschool - Week One....We made it!!!

Well, week one is over and we are all still alive! It was a surprisingly good week! Gaby and Lauren just eased right into our new routine. We all do a Bible Story together and it is the highlight for all four of the kids. Matthew and Gaby have a little harder time sitting still but they'll get the hang of it. Grace loves being homeschooled and she gladly shares with anyone who asks, where she goes to school and that homeschool is fun. Grace and I are still getting our groove as far as what time we need to get up and how long it takes us to get things done. Each day is quite different so it is making it hard to determine a good schedule but we are doing our best.

I still cannot believe that my little Grace is in K4 already and we are learning to read and write TOGETHER!! I am so grateful for the many things that the Lord is already teaching me and our journey is only a week old. The greatest lesson I have learned this week is that my attitude sets the tone. I must consciously make an effort, regardless of my feelings or emotions that day, to use a calm, uplifting voice all day long. This lesson was tested when Grace had a bit of a struggle with writing and we both got a bit frustrated. I felt myself losing my cool so we both took a quick break. That's all it took for me to regain my focus and finish our lesson. I apologized to Grace for getting a little frustrated and told her how incredibly proud I was of her for working so hard. It was a great feeling for us both to work out that little kink in our day. I know I'm not perfect and I know that we will face many more ups and downs this year but I am so encouraged by a wonderful beginning. What an insighful week! I can't imagine what God is going to do in and through me during an entire school year. I am so blessed that I have this opportunity with her and I pray everyday that I never take it for granted. God has called me for just a time as this and there is nothing in this world that is more important than being mommy, wife and teacher.

Headed for Homeschool

In just a few short days we will begin our very first day of homeschool. Just as I did when I was a first grade teacher, I have set up the "classroom", organized cabinets, completed all the lesson plans and the pencils are sharpened and ready to go! This has been so exciting for me because my teacher side has missed the classroom so very much. I am both excited and nervous that my classroom will consist of the one little angel that I love more than life itself...my precious Grace!

Not only will I be homeschooling Grace but I will also be the caregiver for our dear little friend, Lauren. I will also continue to keep my friend's little angel, Gaby, several days a week. Our house will be hopping!! These sweet girls are going to add so much to our homeschooling year and I can't wait to see how this adventure unfolds!

I'm so grateful that God has given me such a high calling and I beg Him everyday to equip me with all that I need to guide Grace both spiritually and academically. I pray for the wisdom, patience and strength to juggle all of the tasks He has placed before me. I count it a privilege to be a part of something so special. I don't know what this year holds but I know WHO holds our year! My plan is to be WAY better at updating this blog as we muddle through the beginning stages of homeschooling. I am looking forward to loving, learning and growing right along with my sweet little "class". Alright...here we go!!

The Juggling Act

Wow!! As you can tell by the fact that I haven't blogged in weeks, our life has been BUSY!! We just wouldn't know life any other way. Grace and Matthew are super busy loving life and keeping mommy on her toes. James is working so hard to keep me a stay at home mommy and doing a fabulous job showing everyone what a dedicated, hard working man he is. I am busy starting my new Mary Kay business and planning for our very first year of homeschooling.

I just can't believe all of the amazing ways God is blessing our sweet family. I'm looking forward to both of these amazing adventures and all that I am going to learn through them. I have been in my element and I'm loving every minute of it but boy does it feel like a juggling act sometimes. I have really begun to prioritize my busy life and I started by reading a book called, Homeschool Super Mom...NOT! by Susan Kemmerer. This book has revolutionized who I am as a mom. I originally began to read it to give me ideas on how to juggle all of these new things in my life but it opened my eyes to so much more. I am beginning to watch what I say to the children, how I say it and most importantly I'm putting my life into prospective. I understand that life will always be a juggling act, but I'm learning that I can only toss around so many things at one time. Sometimes, I need to lay something down and come back to it later and other times I need to put something away for good. The two things I will never put down and will ALWAYS be of utmost importance are...GOD and my family. When these things are in line, the rest will fall into place.

I'm so grateful that the Lord sends these little golden nuggets to keep my life on track. I am "Jesus with clothes on" for my children. They will see and feel His love in the way I live my life. I don't want to ever get so busy and stressed that I miss the greatest opportunity that I have ever been given and that is to raise my precious babies in "they way they should go". Anything that may come in the way of this will just have to wait. Thank you, Jesus, for thinking enough of me to bless me with such an amazing responsiblity.

Lineage of Grace

Today we concluded our five week Bible Study, Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers. This study impacted me more than many and for what reason, I'm still not sure. It could be that in each story, although very familiar to me, a different lesson gripped my heart. In Tarmar, I learned that we can overcome our circumstances. In Rahab, I learned that the faith of my parents is not enough. I need my own, God given faith that I must seek and find alone. In Ruth, I learned about loving others and putting their needs before my own. In Bathsheeba, I learned about God's redeeming Grace. No matter what my downfalls may be, God is always there to pick me up and forgive me as long as I come to Him with a humble heart.

But out of all the stories, Mary's story touched my heart the most. We've all heard the story of Jesus but to hear it from Mary's point of view was so overwhelming. I thought about what it would be like to mother the Son of God. To know that the child you bore would one day save the world! What a feeling! We all are blessed by the children God gives us and they have so many great purposes to fulfill, but none as great as the one Jesus was sent to complete. I was reminded of a very important lesson through the story of Mary as well. The children that God gives us are not ours. God entrusted Jesus to Mary and Joseph, just as He entrusts us with our special gifts, to grow and nurture until the day He would fulfill His calling. As Grace and Matthew's mother, I find myself worrying about their spiritul lives and the huge task set before me to lead them on the right path. Rather than worry, I have been called to spend my days loving them, teaching them the ways of Christ and modeling a godly life. After that, I must let go and let God. I pray everyday for them but just as Mary could not worry about her precious Son, I too must put my faith in the One who gave me my preicous babies. They belong to Him and if I am faithful to do my part, He will be faithful to do His.

Where Does the Time Go?

I was riding in the car with my sister last night and she played this song for me.  It reminded me how quickly the time with our children goes.  As a mom who feels like there is never enough time in the day, I felt challenged to focus on my children rather than the things that will always be there.  Sure there are things that need to be done...laundry, meals prepared and an occaisional wipe down of germy surfaces...but why must I continue to stress about things that don't really matter?  This is the time of my life where I will have toys all over the floor, a continual flow of laundry and dishes that NEVER seem to stop and dust on my furniture.  I pray that the Lord will help me to look past these things and concentrate on playing with my children, loving on my them and teaching them to be the godly children that God has called them to be.  I thank the Lord for little reminders, such as this song, that keep me focused on His calling and purpose for me at this time in my life.  So, I'm off to build some towers out of blocks and dress up like a princess!!

Ecclesiastes 3:1
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."

Ready, Set, Here I Go!

Well, I have decided to become a blogger.  I have been thinking about all of the many new things that I am taking on in my life and I decided that this would be the best way to record it all.  I used to do so well recording our family happenings in a scrapbook but since becoming the mommy of two I have quickly let that fall by the wayside.  Not to mention, my memory is fading fast and I thought this would be a nice, quick, easy way to record all of the amazing adventures that God is leading us on.  So welcome to our crazy, busy, blessed life!  I hope we make you laugh and encourage you on this journey we call life!  Ready, set, here I go!