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Wow, Here we are again in June. I am feeling really tired but it is expected to be like that this time of year. End of 2nd and all 3rd term are when I feel it the most. I seem to be up to date on most things which is unusual for me. Of course there is always more things that could/ should be done :). We are planning a trip tp the US after 12years. I am amazed and will believe it when I am on the plane. I am so excited for the children. I am excited they will see my family for the 1st time as well as where I grew up. This opens up a whole new box of learning opportunities for the children and I am debating on which way to seize them. I osilate between letting them see or having some information. I suppose I should remember that I regret that I did not learn more about what was in Europe before I went rather than after. So I guess I will be doing unit studies for most of 3rd term. We have an American student staying with us at the moment and the children love it. They ask constantly where he is and what he doing. They are learning so much form each other.
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When I started homeschooling something that inspired me often and still does was reading what a day in the life of other homeschooers was like. Nancy Lande's A Patchwork of Days was a God send. I was able to learn through reading these entries just how I wanted to create my own homeschool. Of course like all things it changes often. So when Susan at HomeGrownKids asked to write what my homeschool day is like here http://kerugma.net/blog/ I thought I might finally have enough experience to write a day. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< So let me see. The school year for us has started way back in January on the 15th as in February we has our annual homeschooling camp at Lorne Vic and we also had a 4 day trip to QLD. We stayed at Burleigh Heads. It was nice but this week has been slow to get back into the routine. Today.... 5.50 Daddy gets up and goes to do his morning routine. 7.00am He comes in and kisses me goodbye. I roll over and think about my day. 7.30 am-Joshua comes in and asks if he can turn on the computer. 9.00am- Samuel came in and asked for his turn on the computer. I get up and have a shower. The children have made their beds and are dressed. We decide to make breakfast. I make some semolina as it is cold this morning. The children get bowls of cereal. Joshua makes some toast.I sit down with them as they eat and read from Leading Little Ones to God. We say a prayer for our school day. 9.50am -Dh calls to say have a good day. 10.00am - the children opt to start their schoolwork at 10.30 instead of starting right away. I call a friend and cancel coming to the bible study at her house this afternoon as I am truely exhausted from the week. I need to go out this evening to a Gooc party and thought with how tired I am it is either one or the other. I put on a load of washing and check emails. 10.35am- I call the children to their Math. Samuel and Sierra work rapidly to complete theirs with me being called away for the computer a few times to answer questions. I am really trying to get them to work independantly as Joshua had me all the time with him and does not like to work on his own. I often need to sit with him to complete work even though he is quite capable to do it himself. Samuel starts on the kitchen bench them moves to sit neat me at the computer. Joshua is in the loungeroom sitting at the coffee table. Sierra starts in the playroom and then moves to the computer room floor behind me. Samuel and Sierra finish and Joshua is still going. They get a few minute break as I clean up from breakfast. 11.30-I then start their LLATL. I ask them to start writing some sentences as I look through a book on Grammar. 12.00-They finish this as Joshua finishes his Math Saxon 5/4. I give Joshua a few minutes break and then call him over to look at his Math and then start his LLATL. He has to write a paragraph and we have a discussion on choosing to write as little as possible and doing as the lesson asks. He chooses to write the minimum on the paragraph :(. I then dictate the whole literature passage to him instead of part as I had planned. 1.30pm -Time for lunch. I make sandwiches for myself and Sierra. Maccaroni and Cheese for Samuel and a meat Pie for Joshua. I read aloud from Julie of the Wolves. Only a few pages today as the kids lose interest. I like reading it and remember it being read aloud to me at school. 2.30pm- I give them another break and check emails. They decide on their own to get out drawing paper and drawing books and start drawing. Before they get too far into it I ask them to get the map work out for STOW 3 and the coloring pages and get them to start that as I sweep the floor around them. When I am done I read the mapwork instructions. 3.15pm-they have free time the rest of the afternoon. They are doing watercolour painting. And now drawing on the chalkboard practicing their names in cursive. Tonight -when daddy comes home they will practise their speeches for speech club next week. They are more like book reports really for their ages. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
I have found this year to achieve my goals I am needing to be home more. I was out three afternoons a week but feel that two is enough this year. I have left my job as a Coles check out chick and that is a blessing. How much time and energy did that take. Getting ready to go on holiday was so stress free as I had all the time in the world. No nights away from home. I am still the co-ordinator of our group but that just means being at a meeting once a month and setting up a few annual events. The group has gotten pretty big and we are finding it easier to meet on an individual family basis than as a huge group. We had our 5th homeschooling camp and it was great to see how much the children had grown since our 1st one. This is our Mums' with only a few not there, we have 80 children between us!!!
Wow it has been a while since I wrote and I am glad I did.
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I was reading blogging basics from the team at tos and could not resist coming here and writing a blog. I was also thinking about some of the things they said about blogging and found myself nodding and agreeing. I was agreeing especially to the thought that a blog can be a gift from someone. I so many times have had a browse around here on the site and found someones thoughts and feeling made an impact of my life and gave me ideas on just how I can make this journey better I was thinking this morning the last few years at this time I have been exhausted and weary. This year has been different as I am not weary. I am very reflective and thinking about next year but that can wait until after New Years. I think that I have cutting back on engagements and not working has made it so much nicer. Thank God for his blessings especially DH who goes out to work for us. I finally feel I have a little bit of experience behind me. I know how to buy curriculum and I know how to set a program and go with the waves that come and try and knock you off your schedule. I also know that things will change but I am just happy that I have come to this point. I think I have the basics down. Now I need to fine tune and make goals for each child for the year. I love that I can see these things now. Again experience in parenting and homeschooling I think. I am so happy and blessed with friends and fellow women of God who are trusting Him for their journeys. If you are reading this that includes you. I know I have not blogged much this year but it is so nice to know I can come here and be in a place with others like me. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and I hope to write more in 2008 |
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We are doing lots of spring things (read that outdoors) these days and it is so nice as the children are older. We went to the Tulip festival and The Murray River and Mission Aviation Day in Coldstream Victoria .We love going there as the children get to go on joy flights and their Dad who loves flying get to go too. http://www.maf.org.au/ Here is a photo or two !!! Tulip Festival Silvan Vic
MAF Plane
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Again another Month has gone by... I had a busy July with school holidays and organising a weekend away with our Homeschooling Mums.If you haven't ever done it I recommend it. We are all from different denominations and back grounds but the one common thread among us is Our love of God and homeschooling. We went to a place called Kinglake homestead. It was really good and I had such a lovely time. When you are among a group of women it is always amazing. We are such emotional creatures. The theme was "Don't have too" you did not have to do anything you did not want to . Just recharge and refresh as you felt lead. I found my self standing at the kitchen sink alot doing the dishes and was duelly teased about it. I love to talk but I guess I also need to have down time. Being at the sink made it so I could rest but still hear what was being talked about . Anyways. We had an awsome Sunday devotion. I was going to plan somehting but decided to see what would happen.. God comes thru everytime. Someone asked to start it and it turned into a brilliant praise and worship that turned into a prayer laying on hands session (keeo in minds all the different denominations.) I have had an intimated experience with all these women but some barely know each other... Ahhh... The question was asked we had any wonderous examples of God working in our life. I said "No" then said "that God always put a Chrisitan in my life whenever I needed someone." During our prayers session we were all convited how God can talk to usa thru nature. A friend mentioned how a rose bush that was given to her bloomed on her mothers 1st birthday after she dies. I thought wow I have never had an experience like that. Well the day after I got home had a very bad day with the children. I screamed at them and then asked why I was still doing this even thought God had reminded me on the weekend that he had convicted both dh and I to do this homeschool journey. Here is the good part. I went for a walk with Samuel my youngest boy. We passes a place where some lorikeets live and on the road. I looked and felt sad to see one lying on the road. They often swoop down to the grass on the other side of the road and get hit by cars. I supposed this one had been too. I went to move it out of the road and to my surprise it grabbed the stick.. It was alive when I thought it was dead... Amazing then I thought what am I going to do. I walked the rest of the way home with it .. I kept thinging it was going to die. When we got home I called a friend who rescues animals and she said that he might just be stunned. It was true ... the bird got better within a couple of house and flew away. God had spoken to me thru nature... awesome  |
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Is it really June??? I was wandering around visiting other peoples blogs tonight and I thought hey I am actually in the mood to update mine :). I still must try and learn to add pictures. Maybe next time I come up for breath. Where have I been?? I suppose alot of time has been spent with my homeschool group. Since we have not been organising for our craft group we have had lots more time to socialize. I am enjoying that. There has been a period of transition in the group as some members have left and new people have joined leaving some of the ones that have been around for a long time wondering where they will fit in . A few people that have joined our group are natural learners and it had set a fire in our group. A wind of change might be more like it. I have been enjoying it and often think of the phrase "Seasons" in our homeschooling journey lately (Thanks Susan) . I have always been the odd one out because I am so eclectic in my hs. Until now cyberspace has been where I communicate with people who are like minded. Now with a few new members it has all changed. An answer to prayer I might add. It has caused a bit of concern though for people who are not lead to learn this way. I guess as long as people are honest things will be good. I myself am learning many things!! I attended the NHED conference and just loved hearing Eleanor Sparks, Beverly Paine and of course John Taylor Gatto. I missed the Christian feel though. As someone else mentioned I missed being edified and uplifted by the fact I was sittting with others that felt God had called them to hs. There were a few people but not alot. I was happy to see Muslims there too. I hope that there will be a Big Picture Conference in the near future...I will definatly attend...I was talking to someone here about a hs camp here in Vic that would be good. I appreciated that my children were able to be out and about the HEN winter camp while we attended the conference. My dh was rapt to be able to hear John Gatto almost uninterupted. Anyway, obviously things are going well. I don't think I could completely natural learn but I am not going to such a slave to the curriculum. If I get to Bible, Math and LA that is enough for a day if I get to more great. The rest of the day can be dedicated to their interests and mine too..which is another revelation..
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Well, It has been a while since I have felt like blogging. I guess getting into the year so far has been pretty time consuming. I haven't changed much from last year, but was trying to tie up loose ends. We started back on the 15th of January which suits us very well actually. It is enough time off to catch our breath and then time to work our way back into it just as everyone else is going back :). We will take a break at the end of Feb when we go to homeschooling camp and then take the week off afterwards. I, of course, am really looking forward to it. A week at the beach yay!!. The 1st few weeks have been very productive though especially the 1st week or so. Every day something was happening which made me think o.k. we have progressed since last year. Someone said to me once that they need time to process things and it is so true. I was was worried at the end of 2006 that Joshua was not writing enough...The 1st week of this school I found a piece of paper which he had typed printed and handed out to his siblings. It was a National Anthem to his imaginary country called Natureland. By Joshua (starting Grade 3) Ya ye ta to us and we are like a stone of life and we love our God. Let's forget bad things and let's Remember good things. We Have big hearts and souls we love our God. Let's make a strong nation and A good place. Let's be fair and good to others. Let's make good things. Let's make ships,planes and trains. This is every ones nation. Nature land Ya ye ta I am just so proud that he wrote this from his own heart. It shows he is listening and learning from us is so many ways. He is in fact very proud I wanted to put this here. Samuel and Sierra are working hard at their reading and doing so well. I just can't present phonics to them fast enough. I have finally started to use copywork in an everyday way and I am so glad. It works out well for them all. I am struggling however to add Latin, Art, and Music in a scheduled way. I do have the intention.. That is the joy of this you can add one thing at a time. Hubby and I are feeling better spiritually and are going to activly seek a new church soon. I am praying for it to be sooner rather than later. Our homeschooling friends have sustained us though thank goodness for fellowship |
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Wow, Here we are. A brand new year and a clean slate. It has been a nice few weeks and I am getting eager to move forward. The children have settled down to exploring things and I so love to watch them. They had paints and playdough out :). Samuel 7 even helped me last night preparing in the kitchen and he did'nt need me the whole time. How great is that!!!! What is the next step??? I have had my nose in all manner of books and sometimes it make my head spin. I wish the government had told us what they will expect from us. I suppose the easiest way is to go on a normal until otherwise. I have taken on being contact person for our homeschool group. I think that will not be hard but I think I must try harder to not ruffle peoples feathers and to include all and not take things so personally. Of course those are the things i will be praying for. It is always so exciting to start a new year. I got a great sleep this afternoon. Still praying for rain .... The rain we had over Christmas was such a blessing most of the firefighters got to be home for Christmas!!!! Well off I go,the children were up late last night Midnight a 1st and they will need to be off to bed early.
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Sierra just came in and said" I love Christmas". I smiled and said "Why". She said "because of the presents". Then I said " Why do we celebrate Christmas?". She said " The birth of Jesus." In these past few years I have been so convicted about how I go about celebrating Christmas . I have been trying to remember Jesus is the Reason for the Season. No matter how much I tried to put that in they (the children) are still fascinated by the lights decorations and presents. These things have sentimental value to me and I just could not bring myself to not have them. It must be because they bring such great memories of my childhood( good ones at that). This year I tried to scale things down but my precious daughter remembers everything lol. So out most of it came :). I guess these memories will be what they remember too I have been reading the Da VInci Code and have had lots of thoughts on it. Especially now at this season when I pull out every decoration knowing that the origin of most of those things has pagan roots. I was afraid of that but as my hubby pointed out about the Da Vinci code,God and the Holy Spirit are what has been passed on thru the ages. I can feel that and see that in my everyday life and that is why I have Faith as did those before us. My Muslim Pakistani neighbour 13 is facsinated by Christmas too. I guess it is a human things to see lovely things and lights huh. He told me that with the money he got for Eeid he bought a Christmas tree and his sister bought decorations. I felt funny but sould not resist I said to him."Do you want some lights ",as half of my set from last year had stopped working. He got excited. I told him to go home and ask his mother if he could have them. I said if she says no do not argue bring them back and that is the end of it . She let him have them.... Now how would God see that I wonder???? I spoke to his mother and she did'nt seem to think that it was an insult what they believe as long as they stick to the laws. I am so enjoying having this week to relax and catch up. I was worried about the children because the 1st few days they had total freedom to do what they wanted they fought???. I guess they were tired but I see the holidays as let the natural learning begin. These last few days have been better. I have so many things I want to do that I don't know where to start... The house is always a good place. Filing the children's work is next which I love because you can see where they have come from. I am praying for: Rain to bucket down on Melbourne and all Australia and for it to surprise everyone!!!! For the firefighters. I am praying for "Lorrie's" family and especially her husband. For us a new church family one that I can be with forever if God wills it. I am also thanking him for the lessons I have learned and the friendships I have made this year. To all who read this: I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed 2007 remembering : Jesus is The Reason For the Season
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Praise the Lord for LIFE. Thank you for every feeling and emotion I have and will experience in my lifetime. How can I not read this blog www.homeschoolblogger.com/grisoniranch and feel thankful for all the things we have in life good in bad. I know I have life and I know after my life I will be in heaven. How can I not be overjoyed for that. Lord please forgive me for not wanting just to be happy with all you provide and and being grateful for that. Let me remember and live everyday enjoying every detail. Let me be as Lorrie was. Let me leave this earth as she has "without fear or regret". I was going to write about Thanksgiving Day with my family and I will. I had a lovely day and I was so full of joy to see the children be excited that it was Thanksgiving Day and that they as I have done for all my life looked forward to the day of family. I was quite worried about how I was going to complete my school year this year but have been thankful that I was able to remember advise that I obtained last year about this same time and just assess things and see what can be done and start again next year. I wish I could remember that before the melt down :). If God wills me to be here next year I hope I can look back and say I did it differently than the last few years:).
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I was reading on another blogg about it being only about 12 weeks till Christmas and my thought was wow can't wait.... Just need to finish up a few things before then lol. I was thinking I feel quite a lot more confident this year than last although the 3rd term tiredness has returned at least I am not depressed... I just feel that i wish that I could do other things in my life better justice. Keeping up with friends and Godly things. I still wish as I often do that I could do this without feeling that I am behind and have to keep up todate just in case.... Then I would be even more confident but to think that I have been doing this for three years now. I have learned so much about scheduling this year and I am pleased and blessed. I know what to do now... I know I know just wait a minute and it might change but isn't that the character changing part of this journey... I few more friends are sending their children off to school this next year mainly people with 15 year old children and I kind of think that is a good age to send them off if one must. I just can't see myself doing it but I would never say never especially for high school. I still think I need to cut back on some more things for next year I am such a homebody and really want to do more at home because the children love doing things together and being home. Our craft group overwhelmed me again this year and I was meant to be just coming along and helping but last term I couldn't help myself but volunteer because everyone decided my friend should do a majority of the days and I did not think it was fair for her to do it herself... but I have learned my lesson. I will find it more joyful to do these things at home for now. No pressure and only charcter challenging to myself personally between me and God.. I get so angry because nor everyone puts in and only a few of us teach. I am not a crafty person but I want my children to see I give it a go and it is hard for me. My friend said I get angry my expectations of the group are not being met, maybe a break will be good then. I just want every one to help. Oh well enough of that I am glad for the weather getting warmer but 36 in Oct... I will pray for rain...someone said it is great to ask God for rain but maybe a better prayer is to ask to reveal what we have done to make it not rain... mmmm ... Only 6 days till my baby sister who I have not laid eyes on for 11 years will be in Australia .. I am so excited to show here what life is like in this beautifyl country..and to show her why I live here...
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Wow it has been two months since I wrote that last blog. I feel much better about things and have been able to put it in perspective. Thanks to some good advise I wrote that on my 40th birthday. I was more excited to celebrate having met the love of my life on the 3rd of June 1986 rather than remembering that I am 20 years older now lol. I cannot believe how fast it has all gone especially with children. A friend of mine asked me what I wanted to be doing in ten years and that really stumped me. I know I have spoken about what I want to do after homeschooling but it made it glaringly obvious that I have no goals for the near future for myself. Of course there are the goals for the children... August 26 2006 OK I wrote this before and never posted it!!! Ahh where does the time go. I really want to write how I was really down then and now I am happier and feel like I had to get over that to get on. I went down because I realised I didn't have goals for my hubby and I and didn't know where to start. I have no idea.... I just needed to seek guidance and realise that I maybe not able to do everything now cause the kids are still young but I can lay a foundation for the next ten years that can make a better adjustment for me when the kids are done schooling at home. A friend of mine who has been homeschooling for a longtime was looking back and saying that maybe she had been way to idealistic about the whole thing and that maybe it had'nt worked out as she had wanted. That floored me.... I have some other friends who have homeschooled for about 7 years with a group of friends and there was some changes in the group and one by one they have all gone back to school.. They did it so easily and even look back and think maybe they should have never done it... They stopped homeschooling because the others were not any more. I was thinking how could they do that just becuase the others weren't ..Wouldn't you look for others who were doing it??? If you were that commited .. That and a piece by Reb Bradley called Solving the Crisis in Homeschooling made me think twice. It made me take a step back and examine why I am doing this. The answer came back that I want to still do this and just need to examine it closely and often so that I won't look back and regret it. I suppose you do that in life anyway so you can't regret things. Also of course by laying it before God and seeking his guidance. I was starting to get the mid year jitters about how I was behind and all that but I know from last years experience there are things I can do to alleviate that and come out ok.. Thanks again to more experienced peoplewho gave me advise. Well finally I guess I better go but I am happy to write a happy thoughtful blog this time. It is all like a cirlce working your way around or even more like a tide coming in and out... |
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I was reading an article by Reb Bradley on one of my lists and I have been thinking about it alot. It was discusssing how being a homeschooling parent you can have lots of expectations about how your children will turn out because you have chosen this path and it had happened that thing don't turn out as you had hoped. I suppose that could be the key to it. Turn out the way you had hoped. Does that mean that you were not asking for God's guidance along the way or were you not listening to him. I suppose it would be good not to have to many expectations. I know some other people who have come to the end of their journey with some of their children and they seem so let down. I am not sure why yet have to ask more questions I guess it is good to remember your goals in this case and why you do what you do so that you can look back and know why you made the decisions. It often occurs to me that what I am doing can look to others like a "fundamentalist" thing and I feel strange at that thought. I am not meant to be mainstream but what if like a friend of mine said ( I know that I might have a sultie(sp) to these words that must be broken as it still sits with me and she said it years ago in her own frustration and fear but anyway.) She said "Is this a social experiment gone wrong???" Well what can you say to that when we are all parents and most of us havn't done it before. I must bind up that fear huh. I so don't want this to have a negative affect on my children but sending them to school I know in my heart will have a bigger impact. I can't help but wonder but thankfully I can fall into the arms of my saviour and take comfort in him when I am in doubt. Will it ever go away though?
I have had a situation with a friend who has three children who I have known since they were born. We were in Mums group together. We have always believed differently about raising children. She believes what she is doing is right by hers and who is to say she is not. We recently came to an inpass because she does not feel the need to discipline her children and sees me as a strict Mum who is taking my childrens childhood away because I am. It happened to be at my children's bday party and it was not fun for me or my husband because of their behaviour. This woman knew we were upset on the day, I just chose not to speak to her and advised a few close firends of both of ours that I had had enough and admittedly used some stong words to describe her children. Vandals was the word I used because they were trying to kick down some signs at the nature park we were at. Of course the Mum never saw it but we did a few times that day. The mum found out and was upset that I didnt tell her myself. I probably should have. I just felt I could not be around her anymore. I could not be around the negative vibs and energy her children create and I just stopped calling. I homeschool because I don't want my children to have to deal with children like hers yet. I just did not think it was fair to tell her because I was judging her for the way she was raising her children I think the way she goes about it is wrong but telling her that would not change things so why bother and I know that what I do may not be right but for now it works. Well of course, she found out why I hadn't spoken to her and came to confront me. I just said we had come to a crossroad and it was time to leave it because we don't see it the same way. She left the ball in my court to come and see her and her children. I haven't. I have prayed about it and still don't know what to do. Is there a time being a Christian that you have to let go or am I being Un Christian for feeling I dont want my kids around this??? I love this mother and if we didnt have the children issue we would remain friends. I suppose people are in your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime and this could be the end of a season I just can't seem to let it go. Maybe just being in her life will be a witness to her but at what expense... Well enough of emptying my brain. I love so much to do this hear.. can you tell I have had time to think. My prayers have been answered and I am working only two nights a week at the moment so have more time to think things thru I pray it stays that way. The holidays are good for that too.
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Well, I thought I would try again after the other night. It is the end of the school term here and I am so happy to be taking the time off. It has been a long term although for a while with all the holiday breaks it seemed at one stage that we were never going to get our heads down. I wish I could say that I was half way thru everything like I should be, but I am not. t I can say though that I am close to or have completed some things so that is great. I am also looking forward to giving the children time to proccess all the things they have been learning. So overall I feel good I still feel I must try and break things up a little though I just can't bring myself to try and go a few weeks on and then have a break because we catch up with so many people during the school holidays I find it hard to work thru. It makes me just want to do natural learning. I have really trying to focus on the children and speanding time with them other than schooling and it is nice. It makes many things work for the better. Anyways off to finish the day.
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I spent about an hour writing a blog about J going to sovereign hill in Ballarat over the last week and when I tried to put a picture here I lost it all... Let's suffice it to say that it is 1am and I am not able to or in the mood to write it all again and maybe it just was not meant to be read... To much pride maybe or info. Must work out putting a photo here. It was good to write haven't felt motivated till today... Always food for thought on my friends bloggs though. I'll come back soon. K |
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I just love to have freetime to read other peoples blogs. I feel sometimes that I am so abnormal for being convicted to educate my children at home. Others peoples homschooling blogs let me know that here I am normal. There are other people who want some of the same experiences and lessons for their children as I want for mine and it is a relief to come here after a hard day in the "world". It is a relief to know God has called others and not only me!!! I also love the questions people ask and ponder which gives me food for thought and helps me recognise things I need to work on.
Things seem to be going well right now. I am really enjoying seeing the children reinforce what they have learned even in conversation between themselves.
We went on an excursion today and were wanting to join in on a tour of old relics that were stored at the back. The man taking the names took one look at the six children between my friend and I, and he immmediately tried to tell us all the reasons why we should not go. I was a little bit annoyed because all the reasons he gave were not even applicable to our children. He said it might be long and it might not keep their interest and there was no easy way out if we wanted to leave. I confidently said to him they will be well behaved and enjoy it. Amazing what bands of unruly school kids and undisiplined chilldren can do to a person. it was fantastic and I was so proud of my three children 8 and 2x 6 as well as our friends. Nathan who is 4 was so wonderful. So much more going on in my head but I will leave it for another day. K
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I suppose I haven't written much lately because not much seems to be happening. That is a great thing!!! I am awestruck that it is already April though how time flies. I have been thinking these last few days about how God has answered so many prayers for me lately.. I was doing a lesson on prayer with J in LLATL and it was so great to show my journal where I write my prayers. I was even able to show him the ones I had had answered. One was about some friends who I had prayed for for years and just recently came to find that it had been answered. Maybe not so good for them in the way it happened but a prayer answered non the less.
Hubby and I have been having a renewed sense of freedom recently it is so amazing. We had a night out at a party and left the kids with my sil. How great is that to be able to leave all three of them and feel that the person watching them could handle it. It was so hard when the babies were young. I mean it is hard enough for one person to watch one baby let alone two and a two year old lol. I am just glad that we are up to this stage and my relationship with my hubby is still there. 8yrs is a long time and one could easily forget why one married another person in that time and not even know each other or want to be together. I am so glad we know so many Christian people who feel the same way we do and have long lasting relationships.
I have been pondering what was written on one of my boards to about homeschooling and connecting with them outside of homeschooling. I by my own admission am guilty of sending them of to play while I try and complete something once the school work is done. I know it is ok sometimes but I should really try harder to immerse my self in them individually. I think a special time. Just play with them. They are so good and try so hard. I know it still will get easier as I go along because they will pursue their own interests. So I should appreciate it now huh. I do love seeing their personalities as they are 8 and 6 respectivly as of the end of this week. I love seeing S and S especially. I suppose working part time really take sit out of me too. If only I could get that time back if not for the money:(. As much as I hate to say it is the job that lets us not feel the pinch and let us do extras. I am so much better off than other people at work who have to work so much more. I am blesssed as the Lord has provided just the right amount of wage and hourse so I can do both. Anyway must get to bed K
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I went away for a few days and haven't come back to my Blogg since. I actually did write one when I came home for a swap of clothes but for some reason it didnt post. I was in a hurry. It was nice to have a break away next time I will stay away for the whole week it was disconcerting coming back into real life and then leaving again. We went to the Victorian Goldfield towns of Castlemaine and Maldon. DH and I went for a weekend away in Maldon last year for his 40th and the children wanted to see what it is like. It was interesting mainly spent time exploring the Botanical Gardens and the like and saw a few mining sites in Caslemaine. We took Maldon in a few hours and just rested. I love the 2nd hand book stores up there!! So many my favourite one was not open when I arrived :(. Next time.... That was one of the best bits about this holiday. We actually were able to go into the book stores with the kids. The training is paying off. They actually enjoyed looking in the childrens section while hubby and I browsed. How great is that!!! We drove home through a place called Daylesford a wonderful place with a great lake side 2nd handbookstore. I admit we havent been to it for a few years and I was saying how great it was the shop has been there so long when we noticed the for sale sign. the owner was the same on as when I arrived in the country in 1989. I told the owner I was glad I got to see him before he moved on. He said that he was looking to simplify his life as all the children had left home. He said he was moving to a nearby town. I said to him simplify your life this looks like the best life to me!! a secondhand book shop in a tourist town near a beautiful lake... He said he meant he wanted to not have the responsibility of the shop everyday business. I guess that could be true after 15 to 20 years of making a living at that you might want to do something different. He also said the shop and property was his superannuation which makes sense. Wow to be in his position. I suppose the grass can look greener We came home dealt with some mil and fil stuff. They are in their 80's and needing a bit more attention. I need to prayerfully ask for patience though as they are quite willing to let us do everything even thought they still can do quite a bit not realising that I still need to school the children as well. I have tried to implement some things to help them out but they just see it as negative. Now we just need to find them a safer place to be. We then went to our 3rd annual homeschooling group camp. Is is so much fun just to be out and near the beach in Lorne. One of my favourite places in the world. This we trying to get back to it even though school holidays are on already because the Commonwealth games are on here in Melbourne. I plan to work at least some of it because I think a six week term is way to shortl and that a 15 week term for 2nd term is way to long. |
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Well I havent written for a while and now tonight I seem to be full of words. I guess I was being so tempted to spend so much time here and visiting people that I was feeling it might be beginning to be detrimental to all I want to achieve but I missed the feeling of belonging I have here and the confidence it represents when I have spare moments to ponder what I am actually doing rather than trying to stay above water. only an analogy as I think it is going pretty well and better than I thought . God is good and answers us!!! What is on my mind??? 1. Changes to our homeschooling laws in the state of Vic. There was a forum yesterday which many people felt convicted to attend. It showed the true colors of how goverment works and I was sad to see that homeschooling is actually a very small minority. Well I know that but it really showed. The education office set up the forum but failed to mention it was not about the legislation to be passed there will be a debate in the lower house in two weeks but what kind of regulations to put in when it is paased. 5 times people asked about why the laws needed to be changed and the representative would not answer just went to the next question. Finally they handed out a piece of paper that said why. How come they couldnt have just said that. The rep might have been ignorant about what was actually on the paper I guess. These are the people who will decide how my children will be educated??? Maybe that is why I am doing this in the 1st place??? I couldnt trust them to do it. 2. Missy Heartschooling Praying for her family and DH for peace and comfort 3. Candace Joy- I am so glad to see she is up and about. What a beautiful thing. A beautiful testimony to God's grace. 4. Commonwealth games 5. Enjoying the fact that for some reason this year the house is cleaner and less cluttered could it be all those little hands and the training??? 6. Looking back at last year and how I was so burnt out. I really don't want to go there again 7. Working on getting in shape before my 40th birthday. Hubby was saying that I am changing maybe becoming me again... |
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Dear friends, I got a note about this on my Blogg from my friend Janne http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Janne/ post 11/ 02/ 06 Please pray for her and her family. Love K
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