A Day in the Life

Today I got my camera out to capture this photo:

To me, this picture seemed to capture in a moment why we homeschool. K is doing her school, and took it upon herself to teach her baby brother what she was doing. I love how intent he was on what she was telling him. Also love our doggy in the background.

So, after this, I was ambushed by K and I wanting to take pictures with the camera. What resulted was "A Day in the Life". (edited) There were lots of pictures. Seriously. It took me a long time to delete the extras, but here's the best of the best!

Seriously, this may be the first picture of me in awhile.

J hanging on while I teach G.

K, captured by her brother. Guessing she waited awhile for this picture to be taken!

K with our art in the background. That's right, we did art! (because if there's one subject that slips around here, seriously, that would be it!) And I'm okay with that. Really. I am. I don't ever fall into the trap of thinking I can homeschool my kids perfectly. Seriously. I don't. Okay, maybe sometimes....

I, up close and personal.

K posing and cheesing, for what was a really looong time for a 3 year old. We were working on patience, see?

Teaching cursive to G with a baby on my lap. (Good thing he's a good baby!)

Said baby getting sleepy. Or maybe he was thinking, "Help me!"

K's desk. She's done for the day!Spaghetti-o's for lunch! So fancy and healthy!

And finally, G studiously working away while I make lunch!

So, there you have it, all the GOOD parts of a homeschooling day! What, did you think I was going to document the bad parts???

Used

Confession: Sometimes I feel used. My kids, ages 5, 3 and 1 like to use me to be their maid, servant, etc. As I handed my 5 year old daughter a snack she had requested yesterday, she said, "Mom, that's not what I ordered." Hmmm, I wonder why I feel so used sometimes?

Truth: That's the point, isn't it? To be used? Jesus became the servant of all when he humbled himself to arrive as a baby on earth, only to later have our every sin cast on him as he was crucified. I want to strive to be like him, right? Not that I want my children to take me for granted, but I can lead them to be servants as well, by providing an example, and requiring the same from them. And the Bible confirms it for me in Romans 12:1 where it says, "Therefore, I urge you, dear brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship."

School Days

Confession: I have been overwhelmed with anxiety due to my daughter starting kindergarten. Fear is overtaking me that she will be hurt, that she will decide Jesus isn't so great, that she might hear things her 5 year old ears are not ready to hear, that someone might say something that would break her spirit and self-worth, that her teacher will not see what an amazing, caring, loving, funny, endearing child she is, that she will become bored with school and swear off learning forever.

Truth: My God is big enough to handle it. He is in control. Thank God we know the Truth and are teaching it to her. I should be spending my time praying to him to intercede on her behalf. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts." Psalm 139:23 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6 And my favorite, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6:27 & Luke 12:25

Life is good

Confession: After skimming through my last few blog entries I've realized they were all a little whiny and complaining. Life is good, but yet I complain. My husband asks me to proofread his resume, I complain. My daughter asks me for a cup of juice, I complain. My son asks me to turn on the moonwalk downstairs for him for the 100th time today, I complain. The baby cries after I put her to bed for the night, I complain. What is up?

Truth: I should be so grateful to have a husband that is present and loves me and wants to work. I should be thankful that my daughter is a thriving, healthy 5 year old who wants to eat and drink healthy things. I should be appreciative that we can afford such luxuries as a basement and a moonwalk for the kids to play in. And my God, forgive me, for not being thankful for the baby that you gave to me that depends on me for food, comfort, sleep and love.

Sick Day

Confession: When my husband is sick (which he is right now), it drives me up the wall that he is practically on his death bed from the flu. I mean, really, as the mom, do we ever get to just lay in bed all day when we're sick? I am so jealous of his ability to shirk all household responsibility and just hole up in the bedroom for going on 36 hours now!

Truth: I know that my jealousy is rooted in selfishness. I selfishly want it all. I want to be able to lay in bed sick for a day, but more than that, I want to be able to say with pride that I didn't, and that I don't ever get to. If I were truly loving my husband, I would be concerned for him and wishing the best for him. In fact, maybe if I started treating him with more care when he's sick, he might actually want to come out of the bedroom!

Call me overprotective

Confession: My daughter, who will be 5 years old next month had her first sleepover last night and I cried when I drove away. Anytime I leave one of my children somewhere, I have this overwhelming "mother hen" feeling like I just want to gather up all of my chicks and take them home. And I know that this is only the beginning of letting go - someday, God-willing, I will actually drive this child to college, leave her in a dorm (or a den of wolves, as it seems), and drive away (or even fly away) from her for weeks on end. How in the world will I ever do that? It is an absolute overwhelming feeling of dread for me.

Truth: I want my children to be all that God intends for them to be, and they cannot be that in the security and protection of my home forever. At some point they have to become independent, and my job is to make that transition the best that it can be for them and to prepare them to make wise decisions for themselves. In order to make wise decisions on their own someday, I must start by allowing them the room today to make their own decisions, and make mistakes, while they still have the safety of us to fall back on. God, I pray that my overprotectiveness does not ever impede on your plan for my children, I pray that you give me the strength to trust in you with their future, because you are a much greater planmaker than I ever could be.

This Life is Hard

Confession: I have slipped from reading the Bible everyday like I was in the habit of doing previously. I started back up this week and can't believe all that I have missed since I haven't taken the time to read His Word daily. Why is it so hard? Why does reading the Bible seem like such a chore. It gets put on a to-do list, but always at the bottom - the task I never get to. But yet, if I just get the Bible opened, and read the first line, I am so glad I did. Okay, 99% of the time so glad I did - when the reading is cumbersome, sometimes it's a line by line prayer for God to keep me focused so I can get something out of it. But that's not the norm, the norm is it is so amazing to read living, God-breathed Scripture. Why is it so hard?

Truth: The truth is, this life is hard. Choosing Jesus is hard. Why do I think it should be easy? That's what makes the prospect of entering heaven so amazing. I can look forward to heaven, where there are no distractions to worshiping the one true God. What an amazing eternal life that will be.