Monday, March 15, 2010

school at home






I homeschool our 6th grader.  
Most days we are uber-organized and have hours and hours of uninterruped class-time.
Just kidding.
We do have 2-yr. old sister to "teach," as well.  What brother is doing, she also must do, in some form or fashion.  During school, toys mean very little, her play kitchen stands alone, and she can hardly pull herself away from the "classroom" for a moment.

Having those structured hours is very important, though.  We function much more effectively when our days are orderly and when an hourly schedule is maintained.

However, many of our school days feel chaotic and anything BUT orderly.  
Then, especially, my inadequacies shine like headlights at night that come speeding toward you. 
The headlights on "bright" that the driver forgot to dim. 

Algebraic expressions.  Chemical compounds.  Latin vocabulary words.  I want them all to go away, be someone else's responsibility to teach.  
I become easily convinced that I am "messin' up my son." 
The two of us butt heads, become exasperated with one another.  While trying to encourage him to control his attitude, I find that I am in stark need of an adjustment in my own demeanor.  A broken-down car in need of a tow-truck-trip to the mechanic.

I've been stretched way out of my comfort zone.  
But if I was not, I would not learn how to be pliable.

I've come face-to-face with areas in my own life that need to be dealt with.  
But if I was not, I would not learn how to turn and face the Father.

I've been on an uncommon and often unpopular journey.  
But if I was not, I would have a lesser awareness of what it means to follow God's path.

I homeschool Eli.  And he teaches me.


2 Peter 1:3  "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness."









Wednesday, March 10, 2010

the visit



She arrived with the dawn, being ushered in even as we slept.  It had been long months since we had been graced by her beauty, her loveliness.


She stayed long enough to tickle us with her warmth. Melodies rose from her lips through soft and gentle breezes.  The trees themselves, standing bare of leaves, seemed to stretch yet taller, reaching their hungry limbs ever higher, begging her to stay.


Like dominoes, her aura spread from one place to the next.  The whole earth appeared to be more alive.  Children's laughter could be heard at every turn.  Dogs barked in unison and squirrels clamored about playfully as if they, too, were caught up in the sheer excitement surrounding her appearance.


The sky shone brighter and bluer, and the fluffy, white clouds  waltzed silently about on their dance floor.  Mysterious and beautiful shadows played on the ground, the water, as her light beamed down from above.  Remnants of giant snowmen and giant-er snow piles shrank and melted down to nothing.  


She was such a tease.


For, even while we were still reveling in her glory, she stole quietly away, leaving almost no traces that she had even been here.


Farewell for now, Spring. Please come back soon, to stay.











Friday, March 5, 2010

a little silly




Just "poking
my Ahna's head in here" to say that I'm working on being back, regularly!  I am certainly as slow. as. molasses. 



In the meantime, (not that anyone is actually waiting to see more from me): have a happy, silly weekend!!  Or at least a relaxing one!


P.S. Do you download photos from a computer folder straight to your blog?  Or use Flickr or...  I am trying to figure out the most time-efficient method.  



Monday, March 1, 2010

naptime

Or not.


What I found in Ahna's room INSTEAD of a napping girl, today:


IMG_7707


IMG_7691


IMG_7692


IMG_7694


Ummm... clearly, it's time for a big-girl bed.  


(Did I mention that one of her favorite books is Five Little Monkies Jumping on the Bed?)