So what am I learning in homeschool these days??

It is one of the best parts of my homeschooling experience that I get to learn right along with my kids. I am the first to admit that I was a poor student in my school years. I really didn't care much about studying, or about what I was learning about. Now, as an adult, I am fascinated by the things we are learning, and so excited that I get to learn these things again, or for the first time, as is sometimes the case!

My boys have been really enjoying our unit on the Medieval times. There is lots of war, bloodshed and armor, battles and fallen cities, so what more could a boy want? I am praying for them every day that the history we are learning will mold them into wise men who can learn where we came from, and make choices for where they are going accordingly!

I personally have known very little about the middle ages, so as we have been studying, I have been learning a lot about some really amazing men. One of these men was Pope Gregory I, (pictured above). He was a man who in his lifetime went from humble beginnings to becoming the head of the Christian world during the late 500's. Yet his greatest desire was to have less wealth, live a simple life, and travel from Rome to Britain to help the Angles know the Lord Jesus. God's plans for him went in different directions, however, and he had to learn to submit joyfully to the will of his Lord, rather than complaining and missing out on what God had for him.

Something he said really stuck in my mind yesterday, and I pray, in the minds of my boys as well. He said, "Every preacher's deeds should speak louder than his words. He should, by his good life, make footsteps for men to follow." Now, I know we are not preachers, but I think he meant all Christian people who claim to be followers of Christ as well.

This statement was ordained by God for me to hear yesterday! I have been memorizing 1Cor. 13, and the first verse says "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging symbol." This verse has really stuck out to me. I occasionally sing in front of my church. I use "the tongues of angels" by singing praises to the Lord in front of the whole congregation. But I wonder, would my kids say I am characterized by love? Would they say that my speech to them is loving? Am I patient? Am I kind? If I am not loving to my kids, then will my getting up in front of the church to sing, using the "tongues of angels", just sound like a clanging symbol or a noisy gong to them? What about to my husband?

But back to Pope Gregory, I wonder, what sort of steps am I leaving for my kids to follow in? Lord willing, they may be parents one day, too. What sort of path am I carving out for them to walk in as fathers? What sort of path am I leaving as the route for my daughter to follow when she becomes a mother some day? Are my words loving? Do I build them up? Will they do the same for their kids?

These are sobering thoughts. I am so thankful that God promises never to leave me or forsake me. On my own, I just can't do this parenting thing very well. But God daily gives me the strength to put down my anger if I choose to. To lay aside my grumpiness if I will. To choose to love my husband and children with the love God shows me.

I love homeschooling! It is challenging and tiring, but man, I am learning a lot!! I just pray my kids are enjoying it as much as I am!!!

One of those days

Today has been a less than banner day at the homestead. Tempers have been lost, sore throats, toothaches, and grumpy attitudes. And that was just me!!!

But, as they say, the mother is the thermostat of the family, setting her family's hearts to a warm glow, or an icy frigidity! Today, I was far too frosty for our own good. I reaped what I sewed today, and I have a lot to make up for in the grumpy mommy department.

However, in the midst of this, God provided some memorable moments that we won't soon forget. One occurred in the testing fire of potty training. My little 2 year old son is doing a grand job at potty training. Really, really a great job. Today, we had the inevitable accident, just much funnier than any I have ever seen with my other kids.

He was sitting on the potty today, and announced that he was done. So I said, "Did you go potty?" His reply was, "Yes, on my legs." I was somewhat alarmed, so I replied "You went potty on your legs on the toilet?" Sweet, innocent blue eyes gazed up at me as he said, "No, on the floor." Of course this sounded like "floe-wa" in toddler-speak. Now I was alarmed, so I replied, "Where did you potty on the floor?" Thus ensued an Abbott and Costello-esque conversation that I will never forget.

DS--"Um, on my legs."

Me--"Yes, but where did you potty on your legs?"

DS--"On the floe-wa." Big blue eyes, innocent and sweet.

Me--"Okay, but where on the floor?" And I am not kidding, he replied...

DS--"On my legs."

So, I try a different path. "Where in the house did you pee on your legs?"

DS--"On the floe-wa."

Needless to say, I gave up at this point, and stepped out of the bathroom for some air. At which time I landed in damp, urinated-on carpet. Oh, well. At least I found it!

Now that school is over and dinner is almost ready, and I have taken my aching head to the couch for a moment, I can laugh about this. One of God's greatest mercies to a mom of young children is the laughter in the midst of the stress! My toddler is a challenge on the best of days, in his toddlerhood, but he also brings me more laughter than anyone I know!

So, my "who's on first, what's on second" conversations are behind me, our house is filled with the yummy smell of mexican food in the oven, and tomorrow my husband will be home the whole day. All is well! Hopefully I can be lead my family into warm, comfy coziness tonight, rather than my Antarctic grumpiness. I'm praying to be a more effective thermostat tomorrow!

School Daze, Boyz and Diaperz

My summer disappeared in the blink of an eye. We saw all cousins on both sides of the family except one, we swam, we played in the yard, all the typical summer activities. Of course, here I am using the word "we" very liberally, because I was not terribly involved in much of these activities. The cousin visiting, yes! Otherwise, I was a feeding machine all summer.

I spent the summer getting to know my little girl through 6-8 feedings a day, 6-8 diaper changes a day, and several bedtimes a day. I learned some things, too. So, this self-described "mom'o'boys" will now rattle off the many things I have discovered about being a "mom'o'girl".

First, I have learned that there is never, I repeat, never an outfit that is too casual for a big fluffy hair bow or headband. It seems that the headband is a moral imperative if we are going to be anywhere that a non-family member might see her!

Second, I have learned that girls are, by nature, softer than boys. Her skin is softer, her hair is softer, and her daddy's heart is softer when he is holding her!

Also, I have become much more comfortable with matching up clothes that didn't come in an outfit. I was afraid that I had lost my ability to dress a girl baby years ago, and that I would be like a fish out of water. What I discovered is that I actually still AM a girl, and that dressing my baby girl is as inate as baking cookies or using a curling iron! I love to dress my little peanut, but she is much more fun than a baby doll ever was because she LOVES to have her clothes changed. She giggles and smiles as soon as I start pulling her arm out of her sleeve.

Lastly, I have learned that there is a difference in the way you feel about your daughter. As my husband says a friend told him once, with your sons you can imagine them a short distance into the future, like when they are 11 or 12, but with your daughter, you immediately see yourself dancing with her at her wedding. Now, while I don't imagine I'll dance much with her at her wedding, I do imagine getting her an American Girl doll, shopping for clothes, talking to her about boys, and eventually helping her pick out her wedding dress. This is enough to place a huge lump firmly in my throat. (I'll swallow that down, now!)

So what did I learn about my sons this summer? Well, they are as soft hearted toward their sister as their daddy is. They love to kiss her and hold her and generally love on her at every opportunity. They have their daddy's tender heart.

I am particularly learning a lot about my eldest son, who will be 11 in a few months. But this is another post for another day! Suffice it to say, he is a great kid. Like all others, he brings his own challenges, and these are exponentially manifested during our school days, which began 3 weeks ago. My learning days with him are just beginning, and I am praying that I will be the mom/teacher he needs me to be.

So, off I go to teach my 3 oldest boys! Yet another school day is underway. The Lord is good! Hopefully I will reflect some of that as I parent and teach.