I really enjoyed and appreciated The Homeschool Minute I read today on the Midwinter Blues.  Winter is not my favorite season for a variety of reasons, and I tend to experience it with a "if I can just get through until March and the days are longer and the grass is greener..."  But I really think each one of the contributors had wonderful things to say on the subject, and I hope everyone reads their Homeschool Minute.

We have been blessed these past few days with warmer weather and I have enjoyed walking around our property, soaking up some fresh air and sunshine and having the opportunity to clear my mind and pray.  The other thing I am trying to do is come up with a schedule for this semester's studies and activities, and to get re-invigorated and get my children re-invigorated with the joy of learning.  One thing I have found is that usually if I am enthusiastic about learning and working with my children, they are enthusiastic as well.  It seems if there is a goal to work toward or something to hope for and something to get excitied about, it really helps.  Of course we all need to be able to push through drudgery when there are things to do that we don't want to do, but if there is a goal and there is hope in the end, it makes the drudgery bearable.

Amanda, my oldest child, who has been homeschooled all of her life, will be turning 18 on January 23rd.  It is hard to believe that she is that first little baby of mine who introduced me to pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood so many years ago!  I have to say that she is a "mother's helper dream" and God really knew what He was doing when He allowed me 3 and 1/2 years between Amanda and Rachel, my precious and delightful second-born.  I say He knew what He was doing because the next couple of babies were 17 months to 2 years apart, and having an older helper was indispensible to me.  Now I sometimes see her typing away at the kitchen table on her screenplay and sometimes she has little Ben (18 months)in her lap who seems content just to look at the screen and be in her lap.  Other times Beth (3)will crawl up in the chair beside her and start scribbling on some paper, happy to feel grown-up (as long as she is not scribbling on Amanda's notes!)  Once in a while, if Amanda has temporarily abandoned her post, little David (5) might have a seat and type an IM message to one of her friends.  She told me the other day that he has done that, when I mentioned how sweet it was that Rachel was showing David how to do something on the computer.   "Yes, he is cute, but I don't like it when he IM's my friends!"  She was laughing when she said that, and I had no idea he could do that.  David can actually read and write quite a bit for a little fellow who is just starting formal phonics.  He knows a lot of math facts already, but that is because he hangs out with the other children when they are doing math drills.  He really likes numbers.

I have told Amanda sometimes that she reminds me of John-boy Walton, in those episodes when all he wanted to do was get some privacy from the bustling household and interruptions of siblings so he could write.  She doesn't really complain, though, she just keeps writing and keeps at her projects, and keeps at her courses, and keeps loving her brothers and sisters, and keeps helping me.  I told her that if she can write in the midst of this household, she would certainly be able to write as a wife and mother, should that time come.  I have to say when she is painting as well, she often has a little child by her side, painting on his or her own little pallet.  The little ones just love to be with her, and she is patient enough to allow them the priviledge of her company.

So I have bragged a little on Amanda, and I think in other blogs, the Lord willing, I will brag on the rest of my children.  They truly are blessings, and I am truly thankful for each and every one of them.

May you be blessed as you spend time with your children teaching them and inspiring them and may we all learn of Jesus and lead our little ones to Him, over and over!

Chris