Intro: Plop, plop, Fizz, fizz; Oh, What a Relief It Is! (Marketing Credit: Alka Seltzer)

Assignment: This would be a good week to tell about your worst struggles with a lifestyle of homeschooling. Tell about something you’ve struggled with and how God’s mercies gave us the strength to get past it.

Also, share any curriculum/homeschool methods that have been a relief to you, i.e., a particular Teacher’s Manual or Homeschooling method that’s been easier for your family. Talk about how you felt when the burden was lifted and Oh, What a Relief it is!

Homeschooling with 8 children, 2 of which are special needs isn't easy. I have struggled with balancing everything together. Sometimes it's making sure everything is in order. I have a 5 month old son to take care, a 22 month old son with a metabolic disease who needs g tube fed every few hours.

Some friends and family may say that I have bitten off more than I can chew and why don't I make things easy and send the kids to "real school"

When we first started I knew very little about homeschooling, except that I had seen others do it growing up and I wanted to do it as well because of all I went through when I attended public school. I knew that I didn't want my children to go through that.

I struggle with organization. I know most people are born organized. I am not one of those people. I know how I want something organized but lack the attention span to get it carried out. Homeschooling has helped me to be more organized. I have a file folder system that helps me know where things go although at times I still struggle with paper. What to keep and what to throw out.

I have also struggled with time. Sometimes the day just gets away from you. So I started a good schedule which has really worked out well for me. I try to stick to it as much as I can but I am flexible. I let the children work on the subjects that they are stronger at in the afternoon when I don't have as much time to monitor things. Then I have the mornings for the more intense subjects such as Science, Art, and History. Where they can have my full and undivided attention. I struggled in the beginning with finding activities for the younger children to do while I taught. But this has become easier as we have gone along. 

I print off simple activities from First School for my 5 year old son so he can work on his ABC's. I find activities for everyone so that my attention can be on the subject at hand but also most of the time I just have them sit in on the lesson. You'd be amazed at what they learn! It's so much fun!!

Our homeschooling life is a journey, but one that will have ups and downs. It is a rewarding journey and one that I am very happy to be on with my children.  

This picture is old but it's of my children building a water purifier. I thought we would never get this assignment done. But we did and I was amazed at what they learned from it.

The scripture verse I cling to when I homeschool is