Feb. 20, 2008 - Wish Granted: Freecycle -- How It Works and What You Should Do About It!
Wish Granted! -- Freecycle
How It Works and What You Should Do About It!
Do you know about Freecycle??? I joined about two weeks ago, and immediately posted my first offer per the instructions. I offered up a pair of new shoes that had been cluttering up my closet for 3 or 4 years; and they were gone within one day... Voila! After I had posted my first offer, I was now allowed to post my first wanted item. But, I haven't gotten to that yet. A couple days after I posted, another Mom posted with this offer: Homeschool Books, Send me your list and I will see what I have. I was thrilled! You see, for the first time, at the beginning of this school year I purposed to stay within my homeschool budget as set by myself and my husband during our monthly budget meetings. It is so hard to keep that promise! I am tempted often by the latest blowing of the wind in this regard. However, as I have striven to keep my promise, God has honored my attempts with blessings. I made a list of each of the homeschool items I needed and as God provides these items for free or at substantially reduced cost; I mark them off. I am always so excited to see how God is going to provide. So when I saw this offer; I was just sure that this Mom was going to be a "homeschool Mom just like me" and have lots of things on my list! I sent her the list of needs and a bit of my story, and sure enough within a couple days I got this reply. "I am so sorry Amy, I don't have anything on your list." I was so dissappointed! However, taking a chance, I responded -- "Thanks for looking! I have been amazed so far at what God has provided, so I am not worried :) I did think of a couple of books on my wish list, but not a need. If others need them; I have them on my paperbackswap wish list and I can wait :)". Yeah! One of the items on my impromptu wish list, she had. And, when I arrived at her home to pick up my "wish" she invited me in to look at her bookshelves and take any other "Mom" type books I wanted. I found two other "wishes" that I hadn't even had time to list in that haphazard moment! As I was walking toward the door with Pocketful of Pinecones, and Educating the WholeHearted Child; she said, "Hey, is there any chance you could use these? And handed me 20 titles in the series Childhood of Famous Americans. Any chance? My voracious readers will be well supplied with Living History Books... How amazing, How Amazing is our God! Here he is; honoring my choice to stay within budget by even providing things I could never have hoped to afford -- my wishes. So, today, I posted my first Wanted. On my loop, it is Wanted Wednesday, which means we can post up to three items we want and see if anyone has them. How exciting... I asked if anyone had used Math U See Gamma or Delta books. No response yet, but you never know! I don't mind them being used, because my son typically only needs one page from each lesson. I am even more excited to read all the Wanted posts and see if I can provide a need for someone else. What a fun way to clean out your closet and watch God provide for needs, yours and others! Wish Granted. I think I will go find my Needs list with all the items marked off, and post it here so that you can all see how much God has provided in the last year! In the meantime, sign up for the Freecycle in your area; and start giving!
We have a local freecycle group near us too! I love it and have gotten some great things from there that we needed. Like a walker for the little girl I childmind when she started wanting to be on her feet. They use them for so short a time it didn't seem worth buying a new one when she is only here a few days a week! We have also managed to find a new home for a bed we had to replace with bunks for the foster kids! Freecycle is great! Praise the Lord for the encourageing books he provided for you too!
The bottom line is; We try not to insist on parent-led learning or gravitate toward child-led learning. We try instead to focus on God-led learning and ask for His input and perspective on every aspect of our home school. That way, when others fuss about what Dan and I are doing and make me second guess our decisions -- I can go back to our decision process and find God's fingerprints, reminding me that this is His way.
