A Different Approach

School will be different at our home this year.  I have committed my heart to this.  My children's hearts and character are what I'm after first and foremost.  Erik and I were privileged recently to sit down with a Godly lady who has taught school at all levels from elementary to university for over forty years.  The first thing she challenged us to do is to attempt not to look at our children from a 5 or 6 foot perspective, but rather from a much higher perspective ~ to attempt to see them as God does.  She, also, reminded us that any weaknesses we saw in our children are there to be used by Him in some way.  She encouraged us that strengths often cause us to be prideful and self-sufficient where weaknesses humble us and teach us to depend on Him.  She reminded us of all the weakness of the great men of God in the Bible.  She encouraged us to look at our children through the eyes of God Who can use their weaknesses to glorify Him.

Through our time spent with her and through many, many other ways God has brought me to a place where I realize that my children's hearts, their character, and their souls are more important than the academics I teach.  I am an overachiever who tirelessly pushed myself all of my academic career.  I wanted to excel, and I was determined to do it.  I pushed myself. Hard. And, I can see how I have let some of this bleed over into my homeschooling. But, the beauty of homeschooling is that you don't have to push.  You can rest and trust.  You can teach, and if they don't get it the first time, or the second time, or the third time ~ there is no looming test on Friday.  There is no deadline.  No pressure. Unless you choose to create it.  And, I confess at times I have done this.  But, not this year.

This year we are backing up, slowing down, and building confidence, character, and trust in the greatest Teacher ever to walk the earth.  This year is about encouraging one another and building strong family relationships.  It is about giving back, loving big, and living life to the fullest, everyday.  It is about not worrying and learning to rest and trust.  It is about filling them up until they overflow.  It is my prayer that our home will be fertile soil for growing strong, beautiful souls that will rise up one day, leave our little nest, and glorify Him.

Summer.

It is summer.  And, we are trying to soak up these days full of freedom!  Actually, this summer has been so busy with sports camps and activities that I am kind of missing the calm quiet days of school!  :-)  So much is going on here, but I'm not quite ready to talk about all of it yet!  Our lives are changing so much this summer, and I can't wait to tell why, but that is not for today!

  

One quick thing before I dive into pictures.  I am praying about making my blog private.  Several things have bothered me about having a public blog for some time now.  I keep ignoring them, but they come back up.  So, I have decided to truly pray about it and ask the Lord to guide me. Occasionally, I write something and some of you comment, who I do not know, and say that what I wrote meant something to you, that you needed it that day.  This is the only reason that I have kept my blog public for as many years as I have.  If any of you have any advice or thoughts, I'd love to hear them.  Thanks!

Okay, summer so far....  

She is such a joy to us...

Baseball, it has been a baseball kind of summer 'round here....

Homemade Yankee uniforms...

Sweetnes....

Craziness...

Just shootin' the breeze....

Basketball camp...

Loved this VBS craft...

Sonic ice ~ starting 'em young...

Just a swingin'....

Happy Days!