The Dash of Life

May. 7, 2008 - Don't Be That Person

Wow! I just found a verse (Heb 6:4-6) that speaks of the Christian that was once experiencing the goodness of the word of God and His power, shared in the Holy Spirit, and had at one time been enlightened. This person once loved and obeyed God, was not a babe in Christ (prior verses). If this type of person falls or drifts away from God, he is said to be "crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace".

Crucifying the Son of God all over again!! Can't possibly get any stronger than that! I don't recall ever hearing, reading, or paying any attention to that verse before. I will never forget that verse now!

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Apr. 16, 2008 - Can You Hear Me Now?

Posted in Parenting

The other day, I realized that my children have a problem with me that they don't even realize they have! They have to say things to me a minimum of two times before I "hear" them and make a response. They don't complain about it. They've never said anything about it.

I'm not sure why I started to notice it or even why I haven't noticed it sooner. How terrible! We expect first time obedience from our kids and we expect them to answer us when we ask them a question. So, what kind of behavior am I modeling?! And not only that, am I modeling love when I don't stop to listen? I mean really listen?!

Certainly there are legitimate excuses for why I didn't hear them the first time they spoke to me. They have their own faults - mumbling, yelling from a distance, interrupting, etc. These are all things they need to work on if they want to be heard by me the first time they ask or say something. But as for me, I'm not a successful multi-tasker so it may take a little extra talking to break me out of the concentration of my current "task". But I am also aware that a lot of times I just simply have the kids "tuned out" while lost in my own world of thoughts.

There are other times that I do hear them and make a response. But I am guilty of not being an active listener. My response communicates to them that I didn't really hear them or it is a quick brush-off to satisfy them so they will "be on their way".

I want my children to know that what they have to say and the questions they have to ask are as important as what I have to say. It's one of the ways I will let them know I love them. I resolve to be more alert to my kids and an active listener. I am going to attempt to train myself to hear my kids - really hear and listen! I don't think this is going to be easy! I'll let you know.

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Mar. 27, 2008 - Feeling Overwhelmed

Posted in Inside Our School Room

I hit an emotional crisis a couple weeks ago. The mounting pressures started causing me to cave. Maybe you know the feeling. I was feeling so overwhelmed! I just didn't think I could take another day. So what's the solution? Enroll the kids in school? No way! I feel so strongly that homeschooling is what God wants me to do. But adjustments definitely needed to be made. I'm feeling much better today!

What did I do about it?

Well, first of all, my wise husband has insisted that I withdraw from all the things I am serving in at church. I am serving in several areas, all of which are run along with the "school year". So, they will all be coming to an end in a couple of months. What relief and joy I feel to know that I will simply be transporting the kids to and from the "church" activities next year (AWANA, choir, VBS, etc) instead of working in them. With 1 homeschooler and 3 pre-schoolers in the house, they suffer some neglect when I'm needing so much time preparing for church commitments. Plus, the stress of having to find a substitute when I have a sick child keeping me home or to take them along anyway - uuggghh!Maybe after next year I will be able to get back into serving in church ministries.

I know a lot of my stress is self-induced. It's hard for me to let go of a super clean, super organized home. I've learned to let so many things go. But I haven't been able to learn to be content with it. So it's not so much a time stealer anymore as it is a joy stealer. I've got to figure out how to fix that! Any suggestions?

I'm a very routine, schedule oriented person. So a schedule is not necessarily what I need - I already have one! But what I am doing is starting my schedule all over from hour one, task one. I'm not done, yet. What I have accomlished so far is to write down everything I feel the kids and I need to get done each day, including sleep. Guess what? It totals up to more than 24 hours! God intends that the needful things be done in only 24 hours. He's not going to change the number of hours in a day. So, therefore, I have more to shed from my list of "to-do's". This is not so easily done and is going to require some prayer because I feel it is all so crucial to be done!

Could some of the overwhelming feeling be attributed to the winter dragging on and on? Where's the warmer weather! We are sick of being inside!

I also leaned on a friend for encouragement.

I also just read Christine Field's book, Help for the Harried Homeschooler. Harried I am! The book was encouraging and put a breath of spring, fresh air into my homeschooling.

So, what have you done to de-stress yourself?

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Mar. 24, 2008 - Easter Family Picture

Posted in Pictures

Here's a new family picture taken Easter Sunday!