Feb. 26, 2006
Life's ups and downs
How different life seems when big changes are about to take place. I feel like I'm in no man's land when life is on hold. My husband is waiting to hear whether he will be offered a job in the city 2.5 hours away. It's a dream job for him that would get him out of the turmoil of forestry and increase his salary significantly. Life feels like it's on the verge of being turned upside down. We just moved into our current house 5 months ago and what a blessing it is. We are renting a 2 acre avocado orchard in Omokoroa, NZ. The 4 bedroom house in the country is just perfect for us and our parrots and rabbits and chickens and exactly what we can afford. The city is way more expensive and would not tolerate the pets.
My friend's mother from England surprised us with a visit over the weekend. I was telling them all the things that are going on in my life at this moment and how I couldn't see how God would want us to move away from the church we are involved in. She mentioned about the Israelites in the wilderness sometimes had 2 months in one place and in Numbers 9, it says they sometimes had one day before the cloud was lifted! I was blown away by this! Well, I guess I have to wonder if God is punishing me like the Israelites! My husband says they were in training to obey God. I'm not sure how to take this?
On another note, my poor friend who has just started homeschooling is really stressing about "having a curriculum" and although I understand her fear of not having everything planned out and set to go, I cannot seem to make her relax. I know I was the same for years. When I hear myself and other homeschoolers tell her to just take it one day at a time and to "relax", I know she just wants to punch someone!! It almost sounds like we don't educate our children! Any thoughts on how to direct her. I told her to trust God and yet it sounds so cliche. I want to give her resources but she seems to want to hear it from the experts. I don't know what to say?
My friend's mother from England surprised us with a visit over the weekend. I was telling them all the things that are going on in my life at this moment and how I couldn't see how God would want us to move away from the church we are involved in. She mentioned about the Israelites in the wilderness sometimes had 2 months in one place and in Numbers 9, it says they sometimes had one day before the cloud was lifted! I was blown away by this! Well, I guess I have to wonder if God is punishing me like the Israelites! My husband says they were in training to obey God. I'm not sure how to take this?
On another note, my poor friend who has just started homeschooling is really stressing about "having a curriculum" and although I understand her fear of not having everything planned out and set to go, I cannot seem to make her relax. I know I was the same for years. When I hear myself and other homeschoolers tell her to just take it one day at a time and to "relax", I know she just wants to punch someone!! It almost sounds like we don't educate our children! Any thoughts on how to direct her. I told her to trust God and yet it sounds so cliche. I want to give her resources but she seems to want to hear it from the experts. I don't know what to say?
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Jan. 11, 2006
Prayer works!
Day 2 started out in prayer and what a difference it made!! I am always amazed when God takes time for me, to hear my prayer and answer. I am so thankful that my empty well is filling up again. The father of one of the children who came to play yesterday, stayed for a cup of coffee. He goes to our church but I didn't know him that well. It turns out that he has a master's degree in Education, is retired now, and is also thinking about homeschooling!! Wow!! He and his wife were both professors in teacher training. They had their son, Michael, later in life. They have two grown children also. Anyway, he and I got talking about the public school system and all the changes that are about to happen in the local school where their son goes. Once again, God is putting my doubts to rest about homeschooling. The local school is bringing in "Enquiry Based Learning" and his concerns are that the children will become guinea pigs.
Every year, I ask myself the question; Should I put them in school? It's amazing how God answers prayer!
Every year, I ask myself the question; Should I put them in school? It's amazing how God answers prayer!
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Jan. 9, 2006
Friends
I am so thankful for the friend God has given me in New Zealand. She is a committed Catholic Christian. I have been challenged by her devotion to God through her life, her family, her prayer life and going to mass regularly. She has, on numerous occasions, invited me to special meetings at the Catholic church so I am awakened to this new faith. She has also blessed me with her time and hospitality. Her home is always open to my family and for that I am immensely grateful.
Having people to connect with is such an important part of the homeschool journey. Despite family worries, my kids are very social and constantly invited for play dates, birthday parties, etc. But for myself, the homeschooling well has become dry and I desperately need to source inspiration for the coming year. Perhaps God is hearing my cry, as my Catholic friend is considering the task of homeschooling her children this year. It would be a delight to share my resources with her, as well as have someone to pray with, cry with, rejoice with, and be accountable to.
We started school today which in all honesty resulted in a few tears of frustration, but I guess that is to be expected when we start in the afternoon when everyone is tired. My goal is to make learning fun and exciting. What's the point if I make it a chore? I should know better than to start after they've had a full day of play. We started with reading our novel, which has been on the go for a long time, but two chapters in, we regained the momentum and drew out some great vocabulary words to look up. Next, we drew a picture to go with the story. Followed that up with a review of our Greek lessons, and then a reading of 2nd Samuel chapter 2. We are starting a study of David the King which the boys are very excited about. So that was our day in a nutshell.
Tomorrow's goals:
1. Grammar posters
2. Spelling Diagnostic Test
3. Journals "Summer in NZ"
4. Geography (study our new map of Canada, review continents, bodies of water)
5. Read 2 more chapters in our novel and add new vocabulary words
6. Lesson 1 on David the King
7. Silent reading
I am always open to suggestions and ideas. If anyone has any, inspire me!!!
Having people to connect with is such an important part of the homeschool journey. Despite family worries, my kids are very social and constantly invited for play dates, birthday parties, etc. But for myself, the homeschooling well has become dry and I desperately need to source inspiration for the coming year. Perhaps God is hearing my cry, as my Catholic friend is considering the task of homeschooling her children this year. It would be a delight to share my resources with her, as well as have someone to pray with, cry with, rejoice with, and be accountable to.
We started school today which in all honesty resulted in a few tears of frustration, but I guess that is to be expected when we start in the afternoon when everyone is tired. My goal is to make learning fun and exciting. What's the point if I make it a chore? I should know better than to start after they've had a full day of play. We started with reading our novel, which has been on the go for a long time, but two chapters in, we regained the momentum and drew out some great vocabulary words to look up. Next, we drew a picture to go with the story. Followed that up with a review of our Greek lessons, and then a reading of 2nd Samuel chapter 2. We are starting a study of David the King which the boys are very excited about. So that was our day in a nutshell.
Tomorrow's goals:
1. Grammar posters
2. Spelling Diagnostic Test
3. Journals "Summer in NZ"
4. Geography (study our new map of Canada, review continents, bodies of water)
5. Read 2 more chapters in our novel and add new vocabulary words
6. Lesson 1 on David the King
7. Silent reading
I am always open to suggestions and ideas. If anyone has any, inspire me!!!
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Jan. 8, 2006
Starting a new Year!
Hello homeschool friends. It's good to find a blogspot where I can find people with similar issues, interests, hopes, aspirations, and especially a commitment to homeschooling! Thankyou, Janice, for mentioning this on your other blog as I would never have found it.
It is summer holidays here in New Zealand and I have decided to continue school on Monday as we had a solid month off in November when the Grandparents were visiting. Some of my friends feel sorry for my kids because everyone is still off for a month but the kids are eagerly anticipating the undivided attention I give them when we study together. I enjoy the structure school brings to our day, especially time in the Word before we begin. I feel truly at peace when I teach them. I am more than their mother, their friend, their confidante... I am their teacher! I am grateful for this opportunity and must get on with the planning!
I like the goal setting that my friend, Janice, put on her blog. Hmmm...
7 Goals for this week:
1. Finish history book
2. Do 2 Art lessons
3. Go on 3 Bike rides, each one longer than the last
4. Set new morning schedule/chores for the kids
5. Make birthday cards for Ryan
6. Set educational goals and new mission statement
7. Visit an elderly person in our community - Marge
It is summer holidays here in New Zealand and I have decided to continue school on Monday as we had a solid month off in November when the Grandparents were visiting. Some of my friends feel sorry for my kids because everyone is still off for a month but the kids are eagerly anticipating the undivided attention I give them when we study together. I enjoy the structure school brings to our day, especially time in the Word before we begin. I feel truly at peace when I teach them. I am more than their mother, their friend, their confidante... I am their teacher! I am grateful for this opportunity and must get on with the planning!
I like the goal setting that my friend, Janice, put on her blog. Hmmm...
7 Goals for this week:
1. Finish history book
2. Do 2 Art lessons
3. Go on 3 Bike rides, each one longer than the last
4. Set new morning schedule/chores for the kids
5. Make birthday cards for Ryan
6. Set educational goals and new mission statement
7. Visit an elderly person in our community - Marge