homeschooling through chaos and joy

My latest article...

We are having some problems getting our Magazine out this time, but I wanted to share this with you all anyhow...

Keeping the Impact of Easter Fresh in Our Hearts

Jesus died for our sins, we know that. We know he rose again. And we’ve even read that this living God is inside of us. Yet, we get caught up in life and somehow in our rush to get here and there and making sure our list of things to do gets done, we lose the opportunities to connect with those we come in contact with in the way God intends.

Today you can run into the grocery store grab the milk and few other items needed, run through the self-check out and never speak a word or crack a smile at anyone. It’s like we are too busy to share the Prince of Peace along the way. Yeah, I’m the one that is striking up conversations with those in line around me. Few get annoyed, but usually I can have a light conversation with a stranger and wish them a good day when done. Even if I don’t mention Jesus, I share Him. I think that people get caught up in sharing Jesus means giving "chapter and verse" in a superior voice. Certainly, there are times and places for "chapter and verse." We need scripture.

There are also times that our casual words can be encouragement to help lift a person’s spirits, and we don’t even know what we said or how it impacts others.

I use a homeschool forum regularly. Once I posted a comment, and then said to myself, "Why did I say that – that sounded dumb." The person whom I was responding to said it left her crying and it comforted her in the Lord - and reminded her that He really was in charge. We really just don’t know how our words can lift another’s spirits. I couldn’t homeschool my kids if I didn’t have access to the words of encouragement I can get at any time from my forum friends. We all need to see the Resurrected Christ in our lives to be encouraged and to build our faith. Endurance in our daily lives comes from hope that we can make it. We are blessed when other reach out to us. We bless others when we reach out to them.

My challenge to you is to look around while you are out. Wherever your path leads you, look for those opportunities God has waiting for you at every stop. Smile when you hand over the payment for your gas or prescriptions. Comment with "have a blessed day" Follow the leading of the living God inside of you and allow Him to live through you. Three days was long enough for Him to be shut up. Let him out of the grave and out of your mouth.

God's timing...

Truely has no rhyme, but I believe it does have reason.

Yesterday I was at a bread thrift store. I go there fairly often as the only bread I can buy that is corn/dairy free for my 2yo cost $2.99 at the grocery store and 1.95 at the thrift store....I do have coupons I was blessed with that bring it down to $1/loaf. I went to the counter thinking I would be using 2 coupons, but didn't have that much bread in my cart. (One coupon is good for 50% off up to a $10 order.)

Anyway....the woman that was behind the counter, I know is a Christian from our talks. So, this young couple (as in 2 teenagers) come in with 2 kids in tow...The clerk tells me that this little gal is pregnant and earns money from a relative and brings it there to buy bread. I heard the girl tell her neice and nephew if there was any money left over that they could buy a treat.  

I told her to ring up their bread with mine - she asked me a few times are you sure? This will go over the coupon amount - I replied "Just ring it up" at first the girl didn't really realize what I was doing eventhough she handed over one of the loaves to be scanned...The guy caught on and thanked me and she joined in. I told them it was a gift from the Lord and that Jesus sometimes likes to do little things that let us know he loves us. And some day, they will be able to do for others in little ways for Jesus...They wholehearedly agreed :)

This morning a friend from church showed up with a gift card for a local grocery store for $10. He had it since Christmas time, but we hadn't connected - so of all days, he decided to stop by with it...today. I think God is laughing out of joy and humor.

sickness abounded

What does it look like when a single mom has pnemonia and 3 of her kids are on antibiotics? It isn't pretty. Then add to that dcf (dear children's, father showing up) and you get a real mess.

Well, I did get a few days rest and decluttered! and am moving forward again. I've also gotten my second article done for Looking up Magazine. I'll be busy editing this week, but hope to post more this week :)

Some days are just unschooling days...

No disrespect for any unschooler reading this. As a matter of fact, If I had to classify my schooling experiences with only one category, I'd probably have to call myself an unschooler.

Anyway, I'm not feeling the best today. Yesterday, I found a brand new art book at the Salvation Army thrift store. Kids "did" art today. All 4 (including the 2 yo) were piled in my oldest's room, 2 on his bed, 2 on the floor with drawing papers and pencils in hand. I wish I had a digital camera that I could have shared the moment.  I've been getting handed animal pictures all day long. Some of which have found their way onto my wall.

I got to thinking that my dc needed art pencils (at least the oldest). My complex had a school supplies fundraiser at the begining of the year, so I called to ask if they had any left to see if I could buy them. Well, I guess noone knew what they really were and she had about 40 left...she said please just come get them out of my office. We got blessed again

My interesting day yesterday...

First, when I got up and was trying to find a diaper for Daniel, I opened the cupboard upstairs (empty) and said, out loud "Lord, I need a miracle." I went downstairs, got one of the few pullups I got off of freecycle out of downstairs bathroom and changed Daniel.

about.....maybe 15 minutes later....I go to check email...then another email comes in....I got a surprise $50   I was able to get diapers and the cardboard project thingys my kids needed for an upcoming homeschool association project.

Then I get a call from a lady that I met from the magazine, asking what I needed...she threw me off guard. She said they were going to be moving and had 13 years of clutter to get rid of.

I mentioned shoes. Then, she is really into couponing, she spent about 20 minutes trying to offer foods that I couldn't use because of Daniel's allergies and explained that was why I told her when I met her that, it's not that I don't do coupons, mostly I *can't* do coupons. (she does coupons for cancer)

I got off the phone and I felt God was laying on my heart - why DON'T you have a list of things you need/could use...

My TV is dying and I felt that I needed to tell her that and thought some more -I wrestled with the tv idea because that isn't something you think of people just giving away.....anyway, I said ok, I need a TV, a bigger Bread machine (I have a very small one that makes a loaf that gets eaten in one sitting around here- I have to make our bread because the only store bought breads that my corn allergic child can eat are quite expensive) and I thought of something else that I can't even think of right now.

In the evening, a dear teen that babysits for me and her mom come over for her geometry lesson and her mom says, "Could you use a bread machine?" well, I need a bigger bread machine.... yep that's what she has - she said the "baking pan" is  probably 2x as big as mine - it's the same round loaf which we don't mind....I'll get it next geometry lesson

Of New Beginings and Snake Skins

I started working for a small Christian inspirational magazine this month as an assistant editor. I submitted an article and the Editor-in-chief turned it into the feature article. This is a huge change/breakthrough for me!

At this time, I volunteer my editing services -which is great for all involved. I am gaining experience and hooking with a magazine with great growth potential. I get to see my work in print. I am getting cash for finding subscriptions for the magazine.

I've avoided my blog long enough- it is time to do here what I have intended to do all along! I want to share my story, I want to encourage woman in simular circumstances and give other women the tools needed to help someone living in abuse. In a way, this is part of my new beginings...

The magazine web site is www.lookingupmagazine.com (think evilgrin smilie here) in case you want to subscribe, there is a code listed on the site for a referral from Jennie.

Ok, so here is my article.

All Rights reserved.

My journey began

A little over 2 years ago (Dec 2003) I put my "dh" (hereafter referred to as dcf - or dc's father. He is not technically my "ex" and I can't say dh and have the "d" stand for something that does not glorify God.) in jail. Then I packed my dc in the stationwagon along with out cat (Sugar), clothes, school books, a few toys, fewer Cmas gifts (dcf was and is a Cmas Eve shopper) and our computer. I left our home traveling across 3 states to my mom's home. That began an incredible outpouring of blessings from the Lord that I will, hopefully share here with you.

just to start

This is my 7th year homeschooling, my 2nd as a single parent. Homeschooling is all my children know. I have 4 blessings from the Lord...Isaac, Alisha, Isaiah and Daniel. Why am I blogging? Partly because I wanted a place to share God's blessings and my trials with those who care about me and my family; Partly because I like to talk; partly I hope to minister to those who are also single parent homeschoolers and/or those who find themselves needing to escape abuse, but wonder if they can still do what they are called to do-- for me, that is homeschool my 4 dc;and partly because of some recent events at my favorite homeschool forum, I was hoping not to loose contact with my friends there. Welcome to my life :)