I am sitting here on a beautiful, sunny, May afternoon enjoying a few precious quiet moments alone with my thoughts, my God, my memories replaying through my head of the past year. Even in just the past six months God has done a lot in and through Ken and I, but I most especially smile at the things Hannah (and Mikayla...in her own get-into-everything-discover-the-world-hands-on way) has learned and discovered over the past year as we near the conclusion of her Kindergarten year, and our first year of homeschooling.
Like I said in my previous post, I so wish that I would have done a better job at posting periodically some of the goings-on, the fun, and the struggles that have accompanied our homeschool journey over the past year. I am in awe as I read some of the blogs out there in which a homeschooling mom has 20-some kids (I'm exaggerating just a *little* bit here), has some kind of job on the side, and can still have time to manage 5 different blogs! I don't know where they are able to squeeze that many hours out of the day; it is difficult enough for me with a 6 year old and 1 1/2 year old to get the things done we need to during the day, and make sure that our quality time together is not squeezed out by the laundry or dishes or anything else that might seem "important" at the time. Perhaps maybe the lack of blog postings is indicative of the fact that looking back, I see a very full, rounded, fun, satisfying year of learning and discovering with my kids. Not that it was perfect; yes, I probably messed around on Facebook too much. Yes, I probably was more concerned about getting the laundry folded and put away instead of sitting down with my toddler to read her a book. Yes, I probably (and did) find myself frustruated with Hannah when she wouldn't remember how to write the letter that for the past two days she had mastered. But, overall, I find joy in the fact that we had so many enjoyable times together and made some incredible memories. Ant farms, field trips to a stage coach stop, going on nature walks, learning about Creation, watching caterpillars transform into beautiful butterflies, playdates with other homeschool friends....I could go on and on and on.
I know that I cannot take the credit for getting through this past year. There were a few times (on those frustruating days) where Ken would arrive home from work and I'd tell him "okay, that's it. When the girls go to bed, we need to talk about sending Hannah to public school because I don't think I can handle this anymore!" During those emotional meltdowns, the thing that I'd often forget, and what Ken and the Holy Spirit would remind me, is that homeschooling Hannah is something that God has called me to do. I remember back to the internal battle that raged the year before I started doing school with Hannah thinking there is no way I would be able to have what it takes to do it!!
I didn't have what it takes to do it. Only God was able to supply me the strength and wisdom for each day. I learned not only was I teaching my daughter academically, but I was acting out my calling also in ministering to my children, and teaching them of God's greatness and never-ending love and acceptance for them. He was also teaching me a thing or two as well. I was reminded daily to ask the Holy Spirit to instill within me the wisdom and knowledge for this day. I understood how through my weakness that He is my strength, my source, my supply. I learned how to stay prepared to engage in spiritual warfare on behalf of my children, and to teach them how to pray likewise.
We have already purchased the curriculum for Hannah's first grade year! The planning side of me wants to take a few weeks off after doing Kindergarten, and jump into planning out the next school year. But God is now asking me to wait, which is SO hard for me to do!! God has got big plans for our family, many of which Ken and I together are being told to "wait" so that we can understand what needs to happen before those things fall into place. So for the summer, I am going to sit back, relax with my kids, and enjoy unplanned days of playground visits, swimming pool times, library activities, and most of all, continuing to live out a life of faith in front of my kids. I think the ultimate example of obedience in their life will be how we walk out obedience to what God has in store for Ken and I.
Here are a few pictures from the past year...enjoy!!
At Shatto Dairy Farm
Toddler school :)
Studying dinosaurs
Pretending to be a DJ on a radio station field trip
Rainy day + homeschool = fort building
Enjoying school outside on a nice day.
Learning how moon craters are formed via a plate full of flour and dropping a rubber ball into it.
Holding her award for completing her first book in Awana
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