Ugh. Where does the time go? I can't believe I haven't posted here in almost a year! It's not because I haven't had a lot to say, or that things aren't happening, it's just life. It tends to get in the way of all my really great plans. I don't know how it happens, but, there it is. What can I do?
We are at a real interesting time in our homeschool. Alicia is between 9th and 10th grade, Bailey is between 7th and 8th grade, and Christopher is plugging away in 5th grade in most subjects, but, is flying through 7th grade math. How do I keep up? I don't really know!
Right now I'm learning Chemistry, Latin, and Geometry. I'm reading classic literature I either haven't read before, or I haven't read in a long, long time. I'm re-learning Algebra and Physical Science. I'm putting together a science curriculum for a little boy who is super-science and math oriented. I'm making transcripts for kids who already know where they want to go to college, which helps a lot because then I can make sure we are hitting the things that need to be done for admissions. I can't believe I'm thinking about college, but, here it is, staring me in the face. My babies will be leaving before I know it and then what?
I often talk to friends who worry about what will happen to me when I face the empty nest. It seems that they are concerned that I will just be lost. Like all I am is a mom and a home schooler and what will I do when that is through?
Well, I have a few ideas! Will I be sad? Yup! Will I be a little lonely for my kids? Absolutely! But, I still have all the goals and dreams I had before I had kids. God-willing, I will still be a wife to a really terrific husband! I will be able to pursue things that I have a passion for. I am passionate about so much and I am so blessed that right now I am purusuing one of those passions--raising and discipling my kids! I have a sneaking suspicion that motherhood doesn't end the minute they reach 18. I still talk to my mom and ask her advice about things. I know that our relationship will change, but, I'm looking forward to seeing the people they are becoming come to life! It will be a blessing!!!
So, I'm growing, changing, and experiencing so many new things right now. And, if I'm lucky, I'll never stop.
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Why Do I Do What I Do?
I want to thank Tracy in KY at the Well Trained Mind boards who wrote this. It's beautiful! And it's how I feel about being a mom, home educator, and woman of God.
I am training my children in the way they should go. I am teaching them when I rise up and when I lay down and when I walk. I am teaching them that everything they do must be honorable to God and to His glory. I am training them to think biblically and to memorize scripture and to analyze culture in the light of scripture. I am teaching them that they must prefer God, and that taking the gospel to the nations is glorifying to God. I am teaching them that the glory of God is the point of the universe.
I teach them that they must master grammar because language is the medium through which God gave us His word. If they are to correctly understand the Word of God, they must understand grammar. The Word of God is comprised of words and phrases and clauses and nouns and verbs and indirect objects and past tense verbs and present tense verbs and modifiers. They must master this so that they know what God has said. Further, in order to take the gospel to others we must be able to articulate it in the language we are speaking. Grammar exists for God. I teach them that they must become good spellers so that they can communicate the gospel clearly when writing. Spelling exists for God.
I teach them Greek so that they can read God's word in the language He communicated it so that they do not have to rely on other people to tell them what it says. I want them to read it for themselves in the original language, understanding all the subtle and not-so-subtle nuances in syntax and grammar and word meaning and logic so that they know what it says for themselves, because they have seen it for themselves in the language given by God. Therefore they can worship over God s Word and communicate clearly and with confidence to others what God has said. Greek exists for God.
I teach them history as God's working out of his plan in the universe, to His glory and for His purposes, thereby teaching them about their awesome God who frustrates the plans of the nations and sets up kings and deposes kings and wages war and determines history. My children are being taught that God rules sovereignly over history that nothing in history happens apart from the sovereign rule and purpose of God. As they see their God more clearly, they love Him more dearly and become jealous to see His name proclaimed among the nations. History exists for God.
I teach them logic as God's design for correct thinking and reasoning, so they can think clearly and reason well. If they are trained in correct thinking and reasoning then they can see better the beauty of the mind of their God as it is revealed in scripture. And then, as they take the gospel to others, they will not be mislead by false doctrine. They will see through the humanistic mechanisms of our culture. They will understand better how to explain the truth of God in the face of the depraved and distorted thinking that so characterizes the world we live in. By teaching them logic, I am teaching them to protect themselves AND to better reason with those who are deceived. Logic exists for the glory of God.
I teach them science and math so that they can see the hand of God in the order and precision by which He has created the universe. The heavens proclaim the glory of God, but it is so easily suppressed. Naturalistic thinking pervades even the Christian church and God is ignored. By teaching science and math as a glorious picture of the stunning capability of the mind of God, His glory stands forth to my children. We rejoice over our God, and they are thereby more bold in proclaiming his name to their friends and family. This is glorifying to God. Science and Math cannot be correctly understood apart from their relationship to God. Science and math exist for God.
I teach them Bible. We read the Bible, we ask questions of the Bible, we memorize Bible, we write about Bible--outlining, dictation, etc., we read commentaries and look at maps and check atlases of Bible lands and compare scripture with scripture and interpret our lessons through the Bible. We learn about missionaries and other countries and understand why we need to take the gospel to the nations. We apply Bible to our own culture and try to understand our culture in the light of scripture. The Bible is the backbone of what we do. Children who are biblically saturated are salt and light. Bible exists for the glory of God.
I teach them literature--lots of different stories, biographies, missionary stories, fantasies, etc. Much of this is secular in nature. Why is this important? Because they need to be able to filter everything through the lens of scripture. We take the books that don't mention God, and point out God's absence in the book. This is so crucial God is absent in our culture. This is one of the major sins of Romans 1--they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer. He is simply pushed aside from virtually all television, radio, movies, books, cartoons, children's books, our schools, the work place--He is absent. And this is horrifying and God-belittling and is the epitome of sin. But most people hardly realize it. I want my children to see it and thereby be inoculated against it. I want them to acknowledge God. So, we look at God's absence and talk about it, and we bring God into it. Take Pippi Longstocking--God is absent in Pippi-Longstocking. I do not want my daughter thinking that it is ever okay to conceive of God being absent anywhere, so we bring scriptural truths to bear on stories about Pippi-Longstocking, for example. Literature exists for God.
The Bible tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus. We are to look at what is not seen. I want to train my children to look at Jesus--all the time. I want to train them to see God, to be passionate for His glory, and to permeate their lives with Christ and His truths. Children who prefer God are salt and light. Children who prefer God are beacons testifying to His glory. So that is what I am doing to cause my children to be salt and light to a dark world. I want them to be articulate, God-centered, Bible-saturated, Christ-minded, Spirit-led, highly-educated people who are willing to go to the hardest places on earth and lay down their lives for the nations who have not heard. I want them to treasure Christ more than they treasure their own lives, and in doing so bring glory to God as the world looks on and considers Jesus as valuable because they see my children preferring Him over life itself. And I am pouring out my life to that end--in raising and training the children that God has entrusted to me, for His glory. I will answer to Him for my stewardship of the children He has given me. More than anything I want Him to say, Well done.
I am training my children in the way they should go. I am teaching them when I rise up and when I lay down and when I walk. I am teaching them that everything they do must be honorable to God and to His glory. I am training them to think biblically and to memorize scripture and to analyze culture in the light of scripture. I am teaching them that they must prefer God, and that taking the gospel to the nations is glorifying to God. I am teaching them that the glory of God is the point of the universe.
I teach them that they must master grammar because language is the medium through which God gave us His word. If they are to correctly understand the Word of God, they must understand grammar. The Word of God is comprised of words and phrases and clauses and nouns and verbs and indirect objects and past tense verbs and present tense verbs and modifiers. They must master this so that they know what God has said. Further, in order to take the gospel to others we must be able to articulate it in the language we are speaking. Grammar exists for God. I teach them that they must become good spellers so that they can communicate the gospel clearly when writing. Spelling exists for God.
I teach them Greek so that they can read God's word in the language He communicated it so that they do not have to rely on other people to tell them what it says. I want them to read it for themselves in the original language, understanding all the subtle and not-so-subtle nuances in syntax and grammar and word meaning and logic so that they know what it says for themselves, because they have seen it for themselves in the language given by God. Therefore they can worship over God s Word and communicate clearly and with confidence to others what God has said. Greek exists for God.
I teach them history as God's working out of his plan in the universe, to His glory and for His purposes, thereby teaching them about their awesome God who frustrates the plans of the nations and sets up kings and deposes kings and wages war and determines history. My children are being taught that God rules sovereignly over history that nothing in history happens apart from the sovereign rule and purpose of God. As they see their God more clearly, they love Him more dearly and become jealous to see His name proclaimed among the nations. History exists for God.
I teach them logic as God's design for correct thinking and reasoning, so they can think clearly and reason well. If they are trained in correct thinking and reasoning then they can see better the beauty of the mind of their God as it is revealed in scripture. And then, as they take the gospel to others, they will not be mislead by false doctrine. They will see through the humanistic mechanisms of our culture. They will understand better how to explain the truth of God in the face of the depraved and distorted thinking that so characterizes the world we live in. By teaching them logic, I am teaching them to protect themselves AND to better reason with those who are deceived. Logic exists for the glory of God.
I teach them science and math so that they can see the hand of God in the order and precision by which He has created the universe. The heavens proclaim the glory of God, but it is so easily suppressed. Naturalistic thinking pervades even the Christian church and God is ignored. By teaching science and math as a glorious picture of the stunning capability of the mind of God, His glory stands forth to my children. We rejoice over our God, and they are thereby more bold in proclaiming his name to their friends and family. This is glorifying to God. Science and Math cannot be correctly understood apart from their relationship to God. Science and math exist for God.
I teach them Bible. We read the Bible, we ask questions of the Bible, we memorize Bible, we write about Bible--outlining, dictation, etc., we read commentaries and look at maps and check atlases of Bible lands and compare scripture with scripture and interpret our lessons through the Bible. We learn about missionaries and other countries and understand why we need to take the gospel to the nations. We apply Bible to our own culture and try to understand our culture in the light of scripture. The Bible is the backbone of what we do. Children who are biblically saturated are salt and light. Bible exists for the glory of God.
I teach them literature--lots of different stories, biographies, missionary stories, fantasies, etc. Much of this is secular in nature. Why is this important? Because they need to be able to filter everything through the lens of scripture. We take the books that don't mention God, and point out God's absence in the book. This is so crucial God is absent in our culture. This is one of the major sins of Romans 1--they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer. He is simply pushed aside from virtually all television, radio, movies, books, cartoons, children's books, our schools, the work place--He is absent. And this is horrifying and God-belittling and is the epitome of sin. But most people hardly realize it. I want my children to see it and thereby be inoculated against it. I want them to acknowledge God. So, we look at God's absence and talk about it, and we bring God into it. Take Pippi Longstocking--God is absent in Pippi-Longstocking. I do not want my daughter thinking that it is ever okay to conceive of God being absent anywhere, so we bring scriptural truths to bear on stories about Pippi-Longstocking, for example. Literature exists for God.
The Bible tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus. We are to look at what is not seen. I want to train my children to look at Jesus--all the time. I want to train them to see God, to be passionate for His glory, and to permeate their lives with Christ and His truths. Children who prefer God are salt and light. Children who prefer God are beacons testifying to His glory. So that is what I am doing to cause my children to be salt and light to a dark world. I want them to be articulate, God-centered, Bible-saturated, Christ-minded, Spirit-led, highly-educated people who are willing to go to the hardest places on earth and lay down their lives for the nations who have not heard. I want them to treasure Christ more than they treasure their own lives, and in doing so bring glory to God as the world looks on and considers Jesus as valuable because they see my children preferring Him over life itself. And I am pouring out my life to that end--in raising and training the children that God has entrusted to me, for His glory. I will answer to Him for my stewardship of the children He has given me. More than anything I want Him to say, Well done.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Good Things Are Happening
There has been significant progress in my son's ability to do language arts, which is a minor miracle. I have noticed that he has really clicked with it in the past few weeks, but, on Tuesday, there was a breakthrough. We were doing his lesson in LLATL about quotations. He stopped and said, "Mom! They made a mistake in this book and left off the quotation marks at the beginning of this quote and the comma at the end of the quote." I looked, and sure enough, they had! It wasn't intentional, it was an error in the book. I was so happy!
He's also making amazing progress in math. He has tested into Saxon 6/5 and been doing super with it!
Times like this, I feel as though it's all worth it!
He's also making amazing progress in math. He has tested into Saxon 6/5 and been doing super with it!
Times like this, I feel as though it's all worth it!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Happy Birthday America!!!!
Anyone who knows me at all knows that I'm extremely patriotic. It's normal to see me cry any time I hear our national anthem, or to break up when trying to sing any patriotic song, or even when I'm reading aloud to my kids something about our country's history. I love my country. I'm so blessed to be an American.
I want to take the time to thank any and all who have sacrificed to make our country what it is. I'm so grateful! Thank you for making it the best place for a person to accomplish their dreams. I love that I can tell my kids, "You can do whatever you want to do. You are citizens of a country that gives you so much opportunity." It's so true!
So, today, God bless America. May we be worthy of that blessing!
I want to take the time to thank any and all who have sacrificed to make our country what it is. I'm so grateful! Thank you for making it the best place for a person to accomplish their dreams. I love that I can tell my kids, "You can do whatever you want to do. You are citizens of a country that gives you so much opportunity." It's so true!
So, today, God bless America. May we be worthy of that blessing!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Time Management
I've noticed lately the need for a lot of attention to time management. I kept track, one day, of all that needed to be done and I have to say, I'm not sure how I did it. There aren't enough hours in the day! For example, just today, this was my schedule so far (it's now 11 am):
6 am wake up and have quiet time
7 am left for the gym
8:15 am returned from the gym
8:30 am showered and got ready for the day
9 am started school, did science, history, algebra, and spelling by 11 am also, baked a banana cake for my family for desert tonight (try to do that 2 times a week)
Now, I have to make lunch, finish the laundry, take the kids swimming, make dinner, finish language arts with ds9, do more reading for tomorrow's classes, and spend time reading for myself (I'm working through all of the Jane Austen books again).
I think as moms, we do more before lunch than even the army does all day!!!! It's overwhelming. At first, I want to see what can go from my schedule, but, there isn't anything. I would love to get rid of the gym! But, because I have a heart murmur and I need to loose weight, that can't happen (I want to live to see my grandchildren!). Besides, why is it that we always assume that whatever we, as women, do for us is automatically open to cutting out of the schedule? Well, that's not going to happen! Not in my world!
One thing I've done is take a book I need to read to the gym to read while I'm on the treadmill (I call it the torture device from satan's lair, but, I'm informed that the proper term is treadmill) and that saves me time and helps the miles melt quicker. I also utilize the time at the pool or horseback riding for lesson planning or reading (for me or for school).
I know that one thing that gets put aside is the rest time, the mental downtime I need as a wife, mom, and minister. I really need to make sure that I can fit it in. It's super important! I need to prioritize that and maximize it.
Meals are also something I can't just set aside. My family gets hungry regularly! One thing that has helped me is menu planning (I'll try to post an example) and trying to cook as much ahead as I can. When I buy the hamburger, I brown what I'll need for the week for different recipes and put it in the freezer in labeled containers for the different meals. I also try to clean all the veggies and fruit as soon as I bring them home. I grate up the cheeses I need and put them in labeled containers as well. I precook my chicken and prep as much as I can on Saturdays. During the week, I just have to throw it all together and cook it. I also make sure I make up at least one large pot of soup, stew, or chili to keep in the fridge for when I don't have time to cook for lunches.
There are other things I can do as well. I'm working on maximizing my time so that I can do everything I need to do as well as having time to enjoy my family and have time for myself.
6 am wake up and have quiet time
7 am left for the gym
8:15 am returned from the gym
8:30 am showered and got ready for the day
9 am started school, did science, history, algebra, and spelling by 11 am also, baked a banana cake for my family for desert tonight (try to do that 2 times a week)
Now, I have to make lunch, finish the laundry, take the kids swimming, make dinner, finish language arts with ds9, do more reading for tomorrow's classes, and spend time reading for myself (I'm working through all of the Jane Austen books again).
I think as moms, we do more before lunch than even the army does all day!!!! It's overwhelming. At first, I want to see what can go from my schedule, but, there isn't anything. I would love to get rid of the gym! But, because I have a heart murmur and I need to loose weight, that can't happen (I want to live to see my grandchildren!). Besides, why is it that we always assume that whatever we, as women, do for us is automatically open to cutting out of the schedule? Well, that's not going to happen! Not in my world!
One thing I've done is take a book I need to read to the gym to read while I'm on the treadmill (I call it the torture device from satan's lair, but, I'm informed that the proper term is treadmill) and that saves me time and helps the miles melt quicker. I also utilize the time at the pool or horseback riding for lesson planning or reading (for me or for school).
I know that one thing that gets put aside is the rest time, the mental downtime I need as a wife, mom, and minister. I really need to make sure that I can fit it in. It's super important! I need to prioritize that and maximize it.
Meals are also something I can't just set aside. My family gets hungry regularly! One thing that has helped me is menu planning (I'll try to post an example) and trying to cook as much ahead as I can. When I buy the hamburger, I brown what I'll need for the week for different recipes and put it in the freezer in labeled containers for the different meals. I also try to clean all the veggies and fruit as soon as I bring them home. I grate up the cheeses I need and put them in labeled containers as well. I precook my chicken and prep as much as I can on Saturdays. During the week, I just have to throw it all together and cook it. I also make sure I make up at least one large pot of soup, stew, or chili to keep in the fridge for when I don't have time to cook for lunches.
There are other things I can do as well. I'm working on maximizing my time so that I can do everything I need to do as well as having time to enjoy my family and have time for myself.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Happenings here!
Well, we finally made it back from our first break in 2 and a half years! Minnesota was beautiful, but, I have to say, very very cold. And to top it off, the car someone let us use didn't have heat! God has a sense of humor, doesn't he? Needless to say, we are very glad to get back to sunny, warm Guatemala. It was a good trip, and we accomplished much, but, I'll be glad to get back into the swing of things here again.
During our trip, we didn't do much schooling. We brought some books in the event that we had some time to do some school, but, it just didn't happen. We did visit the Science Museum in St. Paul, and did some fun educational activities including visiting the co-op I helped to start several years ago. Boy, do I miss the friendships and support I had back then.
Good things are happening here. We have 2 new families moving in close to us who are home schoolers! That's an answer to prayer for me and my dc, we don't know many here to home school, most send their kids to the missionary school in the City. It's expensive for us, and, I just love home schooling!!!! I'm meeting with one of the families tomorrow to talk to them about how to go about it and help them with some curriculum. I'm looking forward to it.
While we were home, I made our final curriculum choices. We are going to go with everything except Singapore Math. I've decided to do Developmental Math with my ds who is an extremely visual learner and loves hands-on things. It will be a supplement to what I already have and I think with the two together, it will work really well.
I am now endeavoring to piece together my history things and see what else I might need in way of supplements, but, I think I'm doing okay with all of that as well.
Tomorrow we get back to it. I'm overwhelmed by what needs to be done in the next several months, but, I know it will all come together and I constantly remind myself that public schools do not finish their curriculum by the end of the year, so I don't need to worry so much about that. I do want to get to a good stopping point for my dc so that they don't have holes, though, and I'm going to spend the next few weeks going through everything and determining the good stopping point. Whew! I'm going to be busy.
I hope to start posting our weekly report to keep myself accountable as to what we are accomplishing and doing. Also, I want to start processing through writing my thoughts about Charlotte Mason and her methods. I need to be inspired again to keep on the track we started so long ago!
During our trip, we didn't do much schooling. We brought some books in the event that we had some time to do some school, but, it just didn't happen. We did visit the Science Museum in St. Paul, and did some fun educational activities including visiting the co-op I helped to start several years ago. Boy, do I miss the friendships and support I had back then.
Good things are happening here. We have 2 new families moving in close to us who are home schoolers! That's an answer to prayer for me and my dc, we don't know many here to home school, most send their kids to the missionary school in the City. It's expensive for us, and, I just love home schooling!!!! I'm meeting with one of the families tomorrow to talk to them about how to go about it and help them with some curriculum. I'm looking forward to it.
While we were home, I made our final curriculum choices. We are going to go with everything except Singapore Math. I've decided to do Developmental Math with my ds who is an extremely visual learner and loves hands-on things. It will be a supplement to what I already have and I think with the two together, it will work really well.
I am now endeavoring to piece together my history things and see what else I might need in way of supplements, but, I think I'm doing okay with all of that as well.
Tomorrow we get back to it. I'm overwhelmed by what needs to be done in the next several months, but, I know it will all come together and I constantly remind myself that public schools do not finish their curriculum by the end of the year, so I don't need to worry so much about that. I do want to get to a good stopping point for my dc so that they don't have holes, though, and I'm going to spend the next few weeks going through everything and determining the good stopping point. Whew! I'm going to be busy.
I hope to start posting our weekly report to keep myself accountable as to what we are accomplishing and doing. Also, I want to start processing through writing my thoughts about Charlotte Mason and her methods. I need to be inspired again to keep on the track we started so long ago!
Friday, February 22, 2008
February
Well, we've been in Minnesota visiting family and friends, and I have to say, it's been really cold. I've learned a lot about myself this month, and I want to blog it so I can look back and remember what God has done in my life.
1. Antigua, Guatemala is my home. Home for me is where my family is and where I've made it personally mine.
It used to be Minnesota, now it's Guatemala. I have to say, it's an eye-openener to me. I really didn't realize
how much I've been able to feel at home.
2. My mind-set has really changed. It's amazing to me how much things that were so important in the past just
aren't as important anymore. Things like: what will we eat for dinner, what is the newest thing for kids, how
much I want a different house, just aren't something I really consider much anymore. For some reason, I'm
so content with my life and what God has provided.
3. I'm done with gossiping and sharing "my concerns" and listening to others doing the same. I've realized, we
are all on a journey and some take different paths, and it's not my job to share and be concerned about their
progresss as I see it. That's God's business. It became increasingly clear to me, how much time and energy
we waste on other people's life when we haven't been asked to be involved or when it really doesn't effect us.
I'm so thankful for this time here and what God is doing. I'm thankful to watch my children grow and see how much they've grown and changed. I love that we are truly aware of the fact that Guatemala is now "home". It took us coming to Minnesota to realize that.
1. Antigua, Guatemala is my home. Home for me is where my family is and where I've made it personally mine.
It used to be Minnesota, now it's Guatemala. I have to say, it's an eye-openener to me. I really didn't realize
how much I've been able to feel at home.
2. My mind-set has really changed. It's amazing to me how much things that were so important in the past just
aren't as important anymore. Things like: what will we eat for dinner, what is the newest thing for kids, how
much I want a different house, just aren't something I really consider much anymore. For some reason, I'm
so content with my life and what God has provided.
3. I'm done with gossiping and sharing "my concerns" and listening to others doing the same. I've realized, we
are all on a journey and some take different paths, and it's not my job to share and be concerned about their
progresss as I see it. That's God's business. It became increasingly clear to me, how much time and energy
we waste on other people's life when we haven't been asked to be involved or when it really doesn't effect us.
I'm so thankful for this time here and what God is doing. I'm thankful to watch my children grow and see how much they've grown and changed. I love that we are truly aware of the fact that Guatemala is now "home". It took us coming to Minnesota to realize that.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Where We Are Now
We are currently visiting our family and friends in Minnesota after being gone for the last 2 and a half years! I have to say, it's super cold!!!
It's a great time seeing people who we've missed for so long. It's fun talking to friends I began home schooling with so many years ago and seeing where they are and what they are using and how it's going for them. I love it! I miss it!
In Guatemala, I don't have that. The support is non-exsistent. It's refreshing being with other moms who share the same passions and values I do for my kids. There has been a flow of ideas and support that is wonderful!
Anyway, we aren't getting much schooling done this week, but, we are enjoying our time. We will do school next week--at least math and language arts.
It's a great time seeing people who we've missed for so long. It's fun talking to friends I began home schooling with so many years ago and seeing where they are and what they are using and how it's going for them. I love it! I miss it!
In Guatemala, I don't have that. The support is non-exsistent. It's refreshing being with other moms who share the same passions and values I do for my kids. There has been a flow of ideas and support that is wonderful!
Anyway, we aren't getting much schooling done this week, but, we are enjoying our time. We will do school next week--at least math and language arts.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Introduction
Well, I've been feeling the urge to blog about our home schooling adventures for some time now, and, I feel like I finally have enough time, knowledge, and heart to do it.
About 2 years ago, we felt God calling our family to leave Minnesota and move to Antigua, Guatemala to joing Youth With A Mission to work at beginning a base here. If you are interested in our work here you can here: www.ywamantigua.com. We are currently committed to work here until 2010. After that, where ever we are directed, we will go.
But, this blog isn't about our ministry, it's about what I do. I have been home schooling my 3dc: A, B, and C for 8 years now, and, I have to say, it's been one of the most beautifully frustrating things I've attempted to this date in my life! I love it, but, there are times I feel so inadequate that I wonder at God's wisdom in calling me to this. But, do it I will because I'm am a very determined and driven person! It's a challenge, and I will rise to it with His help because within myself, I have nothing I need to accomplish this task.
A little background on my 3:
A: The typical oldest child who, at 13, is coming into her own. I love watching her grow and become someone who is struggling to find out who she is, and yet, there are times she is still such a little girl. She loves music, art, writing, and photography. She dislikes math, dairy products (can you imagine?), and people who can't make up their mind. She is compassionate and a natural teacher. Currently, she is teaching a bi-lingual group of girls at our church here on Sunday mornings. What that means is, she prepares her lessons in Spanish and English and teaches in both languages. I have to say, it comes real easy to her to be bi-lingual. I'm a little jealous of that!
B: She is my 11 year old horse-crazy, shy, creative girl. She has been blessed by a friend of our family's with horse back riding lessons which has been the dream of her life! I marvel at her courage as she jumps the horse she rides over really incredible jumps. There are times, I can't watch!! She loves knitting, crocheting, cross stitch, music, and art. She taught herself how to knit and crochet because, unfortunately for her, she has a craft-challenged mom! She dislikes people who think she's younger than her younger brother, bread (another thing I can't understand), and bugs. Her Spanish skills are also about to surpass those of mine, but, I'm thankful that she's trying so I don't get too upset. She's incredibly shy and we are working on that!
C: He is my typical 9 year old boy. He's all boy. When I was pregnant with him I remember thinking how much fun I would be to have a little boy who acted and thought like Calvin in the Calvin and Hobbes comics (I love those). Well, be careful what you wish for! He embodies the spirit of Calvin like nobodies business. He is completely outgoing which has helped his Spanish. He is fluent now in Spanish because of his determination not to be left out by the neighborhood kids. He is learning soccer in a soccer league here in Antigua. He likes computers, science, and video games. He dislikes almost nothing because his curiosity drives him and he tries things and finds he likes them. He does have one weakness, he's a mama's boy. I know, I know, what am I doing to him? I am ruining him for his future wife! Well, too bad, I only get him for a few years and she has the rest of her life to change it all! Good luck, right?
Anyway, this is getting long. Obviously I have a lot to say, and this is why the blog has officially begun!
About 2 years ago, we felt God calling our family to leave Minnesota and move to Antigua, Guatemala to joing Youth With A Mission to work at beginning a base here. If you are interested in our work here you can here: www.ywamantigua.com. We are currently committed to work here until 2010. After that, where ever we are directed, we will go.
But, this blog isn't about our ministry, it's about what I do. I have been home schooling my 3dc: A, B, and C for 8 years now, and, I have to say, it's been one of the most beautifully frustrating things I've attempted to this date in my life! I love it, but, there are times I feel so inadequate that I wonder at God's wisdom in calling me to this. But, do it I will because I'm am a very determined and driven person! It's a challenge, and I will rise to it with His help because within myself, I have nothing I need to accomplish this task.
A little background on my 3:
A: The typical oldest child who, at 13, is coming into her own. I love watching her grow and become someone who is struggling to find out who she is, and yet, there are times she is still such a little girl. She loves music, art, writing, and photography. She dislikes math, dairy products (can you imagine?), and people who can't make up their mind. She is compassionate and a natural teacher. Currently, she is teaching a bi-lingual group of girls at our church here on Sunday mornings. What that means is, she prepares her lessons in Spanish and English and teaches in both languages. I have to say, it comes real easy to her to be bi-lingual. I'm a little jealous of that!
B: She is my 11 year old horse-crazy, shy, creative girl. She has been blessed by a friend of our family's with horse back riding lessons which has been the dream of her life! I marvel at her courage as she jumps the horse she rides over really incredible jumps. There are times, I can't watch!! She loves knitting, crocheting, cross stitch, music, and art. She taught herself how to knit and crochet because, unfortunately for her, she has a craft-challenged mom! She dislikes people who think she's younger than her younger brother, bread (another thing I can't understand), and bugs. Her Spanish skills are also about to surpass those of mine, but, I'm thankful that she's trying so I don't get too upset. She's incredibly shy and we are working on that!
C: He is my typical 9 year old boy. He's all boy. When I was pregnant with him I remember thinking how much fun I would be to have a little boy who acted and thought like Calvin in the Calvin and Hobbes comics (I love those). Well, be careful what you wish for! He embodies the spirit of Calvin like nobodies business. He is completely outgoing which has helped his Spanish. He is fluent now in Spanish because of his determination not to be left out by the neighborhood kids. He is learning soccer in a soccer league here in Antigua. He likes computers, science, and video games. He dislikes almost nothing because his curiosity drives him and he tries things and finds he likes them. He does have one weakness, he's a mama's boy. I know, I know, what am I doing to him? I am ruining him for his future wife! Well, too bad, I only get him for a few years and she has the rest of her life to change it all! Good luck, right?
Anyway, this is getting long. Obviously I have a lot to say, and this is why the blog has officially begun!
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