Homeschooling in the spring..... Ah, aren't we glad we homeschool? This is the time for parks and field trips and sports and gardening and playgrounds and worms, and June bugs (well, we get them in April here!). This is the time for reading--outside! For bike rides and long walks and country drives. For Easter celebrations and Mother's Day plans. For enjoying the Azalea Trail...or maybe the zoo...or maybe just lying on a quilt in the yard with your children and looking at the clouds.

But, Alas and Alack!!! This is not what most homeschooling families do with the spring. We shut ourselves up in our homes agonizing over the fact that we are 6 weeks behind in math, or 9 units behind in spelling. We get obsessed with test scores and the high place of "completion" (who designed those pesky textbooks anyhow?) We get depressed and think we can never do this! Can never teach our children. May not even try again next year. Boo hoo. Poor us!

What a waste!!! I want to encourage you to wake up and smell the roses (which, by the way, will be blooming at the Tyler Rose Garden in just a few more weeks!). Yes, academics are important. But *life* is the most important thing! Live it! Teach your children that spring is a beautiful picture of the Resurrection and the free gift of eternal life in Jesus. Look at the trees budding out, peek into a nest at the new little eggs, watch a butterfly come out of the cocoon, observe the sweet little seedlings coming up in your garden (you *did* plant a little garden, didn't you??). Enjoy this very special time of year, learning with your child, fellowshipping, sharing God's creation.

Spring is *glorious*. All too soon it will be in the 90s with high humidity and we'll all be wilting and hanging out in the air conditioning. Then you can play catch up if you need to. But for now--look around!! Look with the eyes of your child! Spring has sprung!! Get out there with your child and enjoy LIFE! And thank God, we have the freedom to do so!