Sep. 22, 2007 - Why an SWR Blog
As my family has begun school for the 2007-2008 year, and as our SWR lesson plans have been put together, I have been thinking that it might be helpful for SWR users to get a peak into how we use SWR in our home. As an Endorsed Trainer for Spell to Write and Read and as a Moderator on the SWR Yahoo Group, some of the most frequent questions I hear include: "What do the lessons look like?" "How do I get started?" "How long does this take each day?" Therefore, my plan is to journal here how our lessons are progressing, what we do each day, and how/why I make the decisions I do for my specific students' progress in SWR. My hope is that my readers will gain an understanding into how the instructions in the SWR and WISE Guide books are actually doable in the average homeschool, regardless of where they are in the program.
There is, of course, an ulterior motive for my sharing with SWR users what we do in our homeschool. By reading my journal, you will help hold me accountable. You see, although I hold the honored position of an Endorsed SWR Trainer, one who assists others in getting started with and working their way through the materials, I have not been consistent with my own children in this area. The energy I should have been spending over the past several years teaching my own children has instead been directed toward answering other people's questions on the Support Group, fielding email questions about the program, building a web site, addressing my health issues, and other valuable tasks. As a result of my divided interests, my own children's training with SWR has been severely lacking and infrequent at best.
The Lord has been impressing a passage on my heart as I've planned and prepared for our new school year: "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:21) "
I believe the Lord is calling me to be faithful with the few things He has given me to do, the most important of which are to:
1. Seek Jesus with my whole heart each and every day. (Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33)
2. Serve my husband by running his home efficiently so He is freed up to be the man God wants him to be. (Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:11-12)
3. Serve my children by schooling them and "bring[ing] them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).
Coming to grips with my misuse of time, and reordering the various responsibilities of my life into the proper priorities has been a daunting task. I have come to understand that I can make excellent plans, but I am depserately weak when it comes to the follow-through. Hence, my overall goal for the year is to be faithful -- throughout the year -- with these three priorities. Naturally, my ministry with SWR will be lessened while my ministry to my family will be increased. Perhaps by keeping a journal of our SWR progress, I will be able to keep our lessons on track while at the same time offering insight and assistance to SWR users. Pray for me that this works and is profitable for my family as well as others'.
Right from the beginning I need to clarify that our schooling will have to come first. If I run out of time, I'll not be able to do the journaling, but so as not to fall too far behind, I'll try to keep my posts short and to the point. If I fall behind in our lessons, I'll post that; remember, I'm using this to help me keep accountable. Drop me a line if you don't see something here for a while. Feel free to encourage me to continue and not grow weary. (Do not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galations 6:9) Words of encouragement go a long way with me!
In His mercy,
Liz
Comments
Sep. 25, 2007 - What an inspriration to us all!
Posted by MorningStarLearning
Dear Liz,
Thank you so much for starting up this blog. What a wonderful, inspiring, true to the core post you made! It is always a tricky balance for us trainers between helping others and being there for our families. Thank you for your honesty! May the Lord richly bless your home this year! I know your blog will be a light to many!
Truly,
Britta
Edited by MorningStarLearning on Sep. 25, 2007 at 9:31 AM
Sep. 25, 2007 - Have you peeked into my life and written my story?
Posted by HSandScrapbookMOM
WOW! I could have written the same post that you have written, minus the SWR trainer part. I too am great at making plans, but lousy at follow thru. At least God has helped us by pointing this out in our lives. I will pray for you and I ask you to pray for me as well as all the others that are in the same situations. Your priorities are the same that I have been making but have not quite gotten to the point of specifically writing them down. I am ashamed to say, that I stated my goals as homeschool first then all else, because it has been so low on my priority list. I now see I need to seek God first and then my husband and then school. It will be amazing to see how God works in our lives in this way as we honor him and our families. Blessings my sister in Christ!!
Donna in Ohio
Newbie to SWR since July
Sep. 29, 2007 - Honesty & Humbleness
Posted by Anonymous
Thank you for sharing your heart about needing to redirect your life for God's glory. I am finding myself in the same position of needing to separate the "good" from the "best" and any reminder from one in a position seemingly above mine, that has the same struggles, is so encouraging. You have given me the boost to set what I need to do straight, for my husband, children and most of all my Lord! (And all of this without even beginning to read your lesson plans!)
Oct. 16, 2007 - Thank You
Posted by Anonymous
Liz,
Thank you for doing this blog! I am discouraged with SWR and it has been the one thing to lose out this year in our remodeling busyness. It is helpful to read a typical day in your life and hopefully now I can get my enthusiasm back to tackle SWR.
Jul. 11, 2008 - Time and Accountability
Posted by Rachel Flachman
Liz, I so appreciate your post today and want to thank you for all the wonderful things you have added to the SWR site. I am mostly a lurker on the site, but occasionally, I also post something if I think I have something to add.
I think it is easy for those of us who receive (often without you even knowing who we are) to take for granted those who pour themselves into what they are doing. So, thank you for all you've done.
That said, I respect any decision you make to put your own family's needs ahead of those who post. You are right to do so and you honor your commitment to God's calling on your life when you do. Bless you. Thanks for your wisdoms and help.
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