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It' has been a while, a long while, since I've blogged. I can't fill in all of the missed episodes of our journey right now, but the summer is almost here, and I will definitely blog my memories. Well, let's see...I am a full stay at home, homeschooling mom now. I worked part-time at the YMCA for four years, but my dh wanted me home |
. Now, it wasn't like I was working all the time. I had a flexible schedule. I only worked one day a week for six hours, but now I'm home. For you moms who just really enjoy the whole aspect of being home, this will probably not be what you want to read right now. I enjoyed working, especially at the YMCA. Oh my gosh, I grieved big time
. I couldn't believe that this was happening. This was my time out of the house. My time away from the children, a little bit. Yes, I love my children with all of my heart. I have been homeschooling for eight years. They get all of me, but sometimes I want to keep all of me, at least for a day. Well, about a couple of weeks ago, I decided that I needed to work. I needed to get out of the house, so what did I do...I started working for a childcare center Monday thru Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm...How long did it last? Let's just say I didn't go back on that first Friday. My children called my job on the very first day that I was there. My oldest dd, had an overnight to go to, and my husband needed me to run some errands...not to meantion, that this daycare needed serious help. What was I thinking? Working everyday, even though it was for a few hours. Well, now I am home and have decided to be content. I have tried to open doors myself, and the Lord just keep closing them. I don't know how many times I've called the YMCA to get my job back, and suddenly there are no openings. I am home for a reason and I must accept this. The summer is approaching and I am excited. We are going to take a break from formal "schooling", which I've really never formally schooled, but we're taking a break and I'm going to enjoy visiting all of the parks here in TN. Well, it's good to be back to the blogging world again. This will be my escape. Won't you please join me!|
OK! I was tagged and asked to list seven weird things about myself. This is going to be very challenging, considering that I think I'm very normal...my normal that is 1. I don't like for my feet to touch the ground without shoes or socks. 2. I have to brush my teeth before I eat. 3. This may be personal, but I like to fold my tissue paper neatly before wiping 4. I only think about things after I do them. (I don't know how many businesses I'm in. Your guess is as good as mine.) 5. I became a "Secret Shopper", but have not secretly shopped anywhere! (Please refer back to # 4) 6. I arrange all of my book from smallest to biggest. I have no idea why? 7. I ground my children and forget that I grounded them. So, I don't know if these things are weird...but to me, I'm normal. LOL (I've only been blogging for a few months, so at this time I don't have any blogging friends, except for 40winkzzz.) It's ok...really. |
. So, here is my list:
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Hello Everyone! I have missed being here. Things have been crazy |
in the "Liberty" house hold. What's so funny is that I haven't allowed any "liberty" at all, so therefore that means that peace was lost. I had to quickly go back to what made us "Liberty House" in the first place and do that. Isn't it funny how we can get so worked up over things...I mean, we can quickly look at other fellow homeschoolers and compare ourselves and our children to them, then all of a sudden here we go trying to do what we were not called to do in our family
! The important thing is that I have returned to our first love, living and learning. Taking their interests and going with the flow. We are not without structure, but we are not bound by the textbooks. The Lord gave us the name "Liberty House" for a reason|
Today was our first day back to "schooling". (I really wish I could call it something else, "schooling" sound so...schoolish To those of you who are new to homeschooling, please remember to let God show You what to teach and how to teach and instill the love of learning into your kids. Homeschooling should be more about "home" than "school". Many of us have brought our children out of school for many different reasons...for me, it was the call of God, but nevertheless, make your home a place of refuge for your dear ones. Let them see you read and learn. If something isn't working, set it aside for later. Trust me, they will know what they need to know before they leave home. God is a God of order. His order, not ours. Receive guidance and instruction from Him concerning his children. Let your home be full of love. Yes, you will have trying times, but ride the wave, see where it will take you. If you feel like you and your child are getting frustrated...take a moment and do something relaxing together, then try again later. Home is so important. With so much anger, bitterness, wrath, and junk in the world, home should be the one place that we feel comfortable, loved, and accepted. We should not have some unrealistic expectation because we fear man and care about what they think. Take time with your child. If they need more time in learning phonics, so be it, go slow. If they need more time learning multiplication facts, so be it, give them time to memorize them. We live in a fast paced world, and we miss out on great things because we want it now. Try to slow down, take it bit by bit, ( I believe the Word says: "precept upon precept"), and let the Lord lead you. Then before you know it you will be a "Pro" at "home" "schooling". Be blessed! |
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Isn't it easy to be in our bubble and let everything be about us and our family? I mean we can definitely get caught up in the house, our children, our spouses...our lives, but we, as parents, as children of God, need to remember that part of our ministry is reaching out to those who are in need of solutions to their problems. We can't always solve everyone's problems, but we can be an avenue to point them to Christ and to give them some biblical solutions. As homeschooling parents, when we see a mom struggling with her child, who is in school, we can give them great ideas and point them to the Lord, who blessed them with that "blessing of joy" in the first place. Everyone is led in different ways. I can't say that everyone should homeschool, that would be very evasive of me. But, I can say..."Hey, try this method or that method." I can calm that mom's heart and let her know that God is in control, and that He will meet the need of her child or children. Homeschooling is a sacrifice, and a very worthy one. But, unfortunately, everyone can't partake in it for various reasons. So, be a light in the dark world. Be a light and give great ideas to those whose children are in school. Be a light to those who are considering homeschooling. Let them know that with prayer, God will show them exactly what to do and how to do it, and that He will lead them in the way that they should go. Remember to reach out, because there are many people looking for comfort and help. Be blessed! |
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Have you ever had one of those days where you said, "OK, I am going to make a change. I will be more patient, and kind, and loving", but then you fall right on your face. That was my day yesterday. I started off on the right foot, you know I spent time with the Lord and prayed and said, "Lord, only you can change me." But, shortly thereafter, I lost patience with my daughter |
. I mean, she really didn't do anything at all, except she didn't understand her math work. "Lord, help me", did not come out of my mouth until afterwards. Why do we do this? Could it be that we have such high expectations for our children, that when they fall short, we get upset because it reflects us? Or could it be that we want to control, yes control, every expect of our lives and our children lives, and when we see that we can't, we become irritated and upset? Well, after giving her a "talking to", I went downstairs and started cleaning the kitchen. ( I find that God talks to me clearer when I'm washing the dishes.) I began scrubbing the counters and the stove. Then suddenly, (you know those suddenlys|
We started homeschooling about seven years ago. It was an unexpected event that happened. I was minding my own business, my children, who at the time were in Kindergarten and first grade, were on summer vacation. They were attending a Montossorie school. This school had also decided to open a preschool, which my two year old at the time, had been accepted. Finally, all of my children would be in school. I would have a little peace and quiet, not to mention, be able to do those things I've been thinking of dreaming to do...such as, taking a bath without interruption, reading a great novel, or just going shopping alone. (Remember, this is my thinking.) Well, God had something else in mind. Like I said, I was minding my own business... when suddenly...an inward voice, that I knew to be the Lord, spoke to me. "You will be homeschooling your children." Now, that could not be the Lord |
I couldn't believe it. How could this be? "Lord, I don't want to do this"|
Expectations? All of us have expectations of some kind. As we embark upon the New Year, what are yours? Why not look back and see what you didn't accomplish. Whatever it is that you didn't do, it's not too late to do it. Is it business? A curriculum you bought, but didn't really try? Losing weight? It's not too late. Start now! You don't have to wait until the ball drops on New Year's Eve, start today. Set your goal. Make steps toward your goals and don't give up. Remember to give yourself realistic goals. That way you don't fall short and beat yourself up if you don't accomplish it. Start with your smallest goal first. It will give you determination to reach the next. For me, I want to lose weight... about 20 pounds. But instead of saying I'm going to lose 20 pounds, I'm going to start with 5 pounds, and as I reach that goal, I'm going to start with the next 5 pounds. I realize that if I take small steps toward a big goal, it is more attainable. In homeschooling, I want to read outloud more to my children. So I will start with reading, during breakfast. It is easier, because we will all be sitting at the table to eat. So, I encourage all of you to accomplish the goals you desire. Remember that " nothing is impossible to those who believe, who are the called according to Christ Jesus." Be blessed in the New Year. |
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Merry Christmas everyone. This Christmas Eve is a bittersweet one because we lost our beloved hamster, Spotta, tonight. Earlier this morning she was not breathing right. She had a huge knot on her back that she had never had. We shook her cage and she would just stretch out her small hands a little bit. I knew that she was going to pass away. I believe I took it harder than anyone else. Spotta was a gift to my daughter two years ago for her birthday. We did the research about hamsters before we got her and we all knew that this day would come, but I guess you can never be prepared for death, no matter who or what it is. I just want to share one Spotta story...When we first got her, I was very leery. I mean...I am not an animal kind of girl, especially when it comes to the rodent family |
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Wow! Today was a challenging day for me. It seemed as if strife was knocking on every door. Stubborness wanted to hold on to me, or maybe I wanted to hold on to stubborness. The road less traveled on this path is love. It is so easy to get angry, upset, discouraged, stubborn, and the like, but when we feel ourselves heading down that destructive path, we come to a crossroad and we have to make a decision of which way do we need to go. I say "need to go", because sometimes we "want" to stay in the negative and dwell on the situations that has caused us to become irritated, but what we need to do, me included, is walk in love. Walking in love is hard on the flesh. But, once we decide to do it, we are then glad that we did. Love produces very good results, even when we don't see the results right away. Anger, brawling, stubborness, whatever it is that's trying to steal your joy, takes you into depression, hatred, and bitterness, all of which I want to stay away from. This season, Christmas, is always challenging. For those of us who are on a budget, we find ourselves getting upset because we don't have what we want, so we begin to get depressed. We can begin to lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas, who is Christ Jesus. So, as I sit here tonight, I want to challenge everyone who is reading this to walk in love today...even if it hurts. You may begin to shake and tremble, because you have to deal with in-laws and relatives, who are questioning why you decided to home-school your children, but wait and walk in love. You may have to deal with long lines, over-crowded stores, and grumpy men and women, who are just as stressed as you are, but I challenge you to walk in love. Love is the key that opens up the doorway to joy, and having that key in your hand will set you free from the negatives that will come against you. Use that key every chance you get. Be blessed. And have a Merry Christmas. |
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Tonight, the children and I made homemade christmas tree ornaments. It was great. It was such a big mess |
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Wow! We have been homeschooling for seven years now. As I look back, I wonder where has the time gone. It just seems as if my children were in diapers, but now as I look at them they are growing up to be such wonderful and awesome young women and men. I guess I speak as if they are out of the house, no, they are ages 14, 12, 9, and 5. Time certainly does fly by, doesn't it? I am glad that I have spent that time, and still continue to spend time with them. I can definitely say that homeschooling keeps a family close and together. I am glad to have followed the Lord in this calling of mine. It's so funny...in the first year of homeschooling, I bought a school bell (you know so I could keep order |
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It is 1:03 a.m and I can not sleep. It's probably because of the chocolate I had before bed. It's equivalent to the cup of coffee I didn't have today. As I lay here I am reminded that this is a new day. "Old things have passed away." It's awesome how God gives us a new beginning. He gives us so much grace and so much mercy. Even when we think things are going wrong, or in other words...not going our way, He is there with us, pulling us through...and even carrying us through. Yesterday may not have been so good, but today I am still standing and can confess that "This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." It's hard sometimes to say that, especially when it doesn't seem as if my four children aren't learning what I want them to learn, or I'm having a battle in my mind about staying home vs going to work, or if I can't see ends meeting. But I am reminded to "Trust in the Lord with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding, in all of my ways acknowledge Him and He will direct my path." I believe staying up this late or being up this early, however you want to look at it, has it's benefits...I can surely hear the Lord clearly. I want to encourage everyone who is reading this to remember that Today is a new day. God, the Father gave us that for a reason. That reason being that He loves us and wants us to not look at the past, but to focus on right now. Right now my children are learning what they're suppose to learn. Right now we have food in the pantry and in the refrigerator. Right now all of our needs are met. Today, even though I may only get a few hours of sleep, is a great day! Today is a new day. A gift from the Father. Be blessed friends! |