Celebrate!

It is so important in life to celebrate! 

Celebrate the sunrise!

Celebrate two straight days of rain!

To celebrate something is to show happiness that something good or special has happened and every day brings good and special moments!  Some days those moments are easier to find, but every day they are there.

So today we celebrated my second born girly!  She took an important standardized test, the PSAT, and survived. We had her favorite lunch and dessert waiting for her when she got home!

She loves her some starch!!  Yummy pesto pasta and garlic bread :)

And of course her favorite dessert of red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting!!

And her little sisters made a sign celebrating PSAT Day!!

So make a decision that tomorrow, you are going to find something to celebrate!

Life is too short not to.

A New Way To Home School

The books have been purchased and are lined up on the shelf.  School supplies are in bags stored in the closet waiting for that incredible first day!  Field trips are planned, worksheets are printed, schedules are made and pencils are sharpened!

It's almost here!

Back-Pack Fairy 2012

How awesome is it to look outside on the porch for days in a row and see boxes from Amazon out there, knowing that new books and new curriculum are there waiting for you??!!  TOTALLY!!  Anyone else feel that way?

I love the first day of school.  Always have and I think I always will!

I remember not being able to sleep the night before those grey, metal doors opened to the world of learning!

Now I have the same problem, but it is because I am so excited for my girls to begin their new school year. 

This year we have a problem though. 

It hit me today when I finalized our schedule and prepared it to be printed.  I had to delete a column. 

You see, my oldest daughter, Brianna, is getting ready to leave for college in two weeks.  Yes, 14 days! And I needed to delete her column in our school schedule.

When we started down this homeschooling road, we decided to take it year by year.  Each year we would re-evaluate and decide if we would be homeschooling again.  We did.  We were.

This year we begin our school year four days before she leaves.  This is good because it means that the backpack fairy will be able to visit her the night before and leave her school supplies and a few surprises!  It is also good because I suspect we will appreciate being in a routine when it hits us all that she is not coming back for a while.

Our goal has always been to give the girls a good education and provide it in the way the Lord leads.  We have made an effort to close no doors for them and to have them prepared for whatever He might call them to do.

She is ready.  She is ready spiritually, emotionally, physically and educationally. 

She will miss us for a time, but she will learn a new normal and she will thrive.  I know this not because of anything we have done, but because the Lord has called her and led her down this new path.

But we are not ready.  Her sisters will break down and cry at moments that remind them of what is to come.  I choke back tears when I realize that we sat next to each other in church for the last time for a while. 

Things are going to be different.  We will never be able to live this part of our lives again.  All four sisters together with mom and dad, educating together, living together, going through life together.  I know that we are closing that chapter.

But I hold on to what will not be different.  The love our family has for each other.  The love we all have for learning!  The love we have for the Lord.

The thing that helps me hold the tears back is knowing that God will provide for us just as much as He is going to provide for her.  We might not feel it now, but He will give us the strength to find a new normal and to thrive.

So as you begin this new school year, whether you homeschool or not, slow down and take the time to appreciate it.  Life goes by so quickly.  The noise that annoys you today, you will miss tomorrow.

Take time the first day to really look at your child.  See who they are.  Hear who they think they are.  Dream of who they will become. 

Let the Lord fill you with the joy of parenting!  And then wait for Him to fill you will the joy in letting go and watching them soar!!

I M.E.T. Him on Monday - Me??!! Director of a Home School Co-p

About 5 1/2 years ago, we were members of a fantastic home school co-op of around 80 families.  The director had done a great job for many years but had decided that it was time for her to move on to other things, so the search for a new director began.

I happen to have just been asked to serve on the board, so I began to pray, along with everyone else, that God would provide the right person for the job.  As I started to pray, I started to feel a slight nudging and hear whispers saying that I should volunteer.

Well....let me give you a little background info....I am NOT a leader!!  Never have been and never will be.  I am a great follower and worker, but definitely not leader material.  I am completely unable to see the "big picture" and heck, I can barely keep myself on task when I just have one thing to do!

Then add to this the fact that the year before, the Lord had been teaching me that the world does not revolve around me :)  I know, it was a shocker for me too!!  I had come to realize that I am selfish and prideful and was about at the bottom of the pit regarding this lesson.

And finally....there was no way in the world that I would volunteer myself!  I mean, how pompous would I look to imply that I could actually do the job!!  Nope!  No way!!

Time passes...tick-tock, tick-tock....and the whisper gets louder and the nudging turns into pushing!  I realize very clearly that the Lord wants me to volunteer.  So I am driving in my car taking a meal to a family with a new baby and I am praying.  I get a bit angry at the Lord for asking me to do this and I verbally said...."God, why would you ask me to do this when You spent the last year showing me how inadequate I am?"  and God said clear as a bell to me...."Because now you will know that it is Me doing it, not you." 

Well, I started bawling in the car!!!  I mean the total ugly cry!!  I dropped off the meal and went home and called the appropriate people and volunteered for the job.

All of this to say that a few months later I was serving as director of an 80 family home school co-op!!  And boy was the Lord right when He said I would know it was Him, because it was all Him!!

I did not have an easy time from the get go.  I don't deal with conflict well and I despise confrontation!!  But He got me through it. 

I served for 2 1/2 years and I can tell you that it was one of the most tumultuous times of my life.  It seems like during my term everything that could go wrong did!  But the Lord was swift to provide joy and peace, a great support system, and a tangible presence in it all. 

Looking back, I have to say that I am sooo glad that learning experience is over, but I also must say that I would not trade it or change it.  During that 2 1/2 years the Lord changed me and changed my heart.  It was a whole lot of lessons in a little bit of time!  Plus, I met some fantastic people!!

Just another example to teach me that though His ways don't always match up with my ways, His will always be the best way!!  :)

Home School Graduation - Planning Is Over and Party Begins!!!

Continuing on with our last post about our home school graduation.....

We decided to hold our graduation outside due to the fact that we have wayyyy more space outside than inside!!  We set up the ceremony space on the west side of our home, facing east. This allowed the sun to be behind our sweet guests and not bother their eyes.

We set 75 chairs up divided into two with an aisle down the middle.  You will also see in the picture above the tv screen that we brought out to play the slide show on.  It was soooo windy that we ended up having to strap it down!!

So the ceremony began and my baby came down the aisle dressed in her graduation cap and gown. 

I can't even begin to express the love that exuded from all of her family and friends at that moment.  It really was almost tangible.  Her home schooling journey would not have been nearly as fulfilling had she not had the love and support of everyone around her.

After a couple of speeches from some old foggies (her Daddy and I :)), we opened the floor up to give our guests an opportunity to share.

Then BAM!!  Before we knew it, it was over and she was a high school graduate!!!  Woohoo  girly!!

In my opinion, one of the most special parts of the ceremony was when everyone came up and prayed over her and the journey that she is embarking on.

Inside the house, we had set up a photo line with various photos from her life as well as a graduate table where she displayed and shared some of her life with everyone.

After all of that was done, we partied down!!  We ate fajitas, ate tons of desserts and had a great time visiting!!  Because of the wind we were unable to light the bonfire and cook s'mores, but that's okay!  It just left more time to visit.

Having never planned or attended an individual home school graduation, we did not really know what to expect.  But this celebration of my daughter and her leaving this one journey and heading onto a new one was, for us, the perfect way to close this adventure!

Home School Graduation

Howdy blogger friends!!  Sorry for the silence last week, but we were recovering from our oldest daughter's graduation and then we went head first into fence building!!

I know that many of you have never been to a home school graduation before, so let me start by giving you a bit of background info.  There are as many different types of home school graduations as there are home schools, so no two are the same!  The biggest decision that my daughter had to make was whether or not she wanted to graduate with a group or as an individual.  She decided that she wanted a more intimate graduation with her family and friends.

 

This is one of her senior pictures

So then the work began....how in the world do you plan a home school graduation??  What is it supposed to look like? 

We began with the basis of a party!  She knew that she wanted a large celebration involving the many people that have played a part in her schooling be it through church, co-op, life skills, etc.  After deciding on a celebration involving dinner, we moved to the guest list. 

Our plan was to have approximately 100 people celebrate with us on this day.  Well....with that many people our food options were limited.  We either cater it out (which was wayyyy too expensive!), or we find a food that can be mostly prepped beforehand.  My stepmother suggested fajitas and we thought that was a brilliant idea so we went with it!!

Then we moved on to the actual schedule.  We live about an hour from most of our family and friends, so we decided to begin with about an hour set aside for fellowship and hors d'oeuvres.  This would allow extra travel time for those who might underestimate the drive time as well as allow extra time for traffic.

After that we went into the actual graduation ceremony.  I allowed about 45 minutes for the ceremony and in the end, that seemed to be a good estimate.  The ceremony was followed by dinner and an hour after dinner we opened up the dessert bar!!  To end it all, we planned on lighting a bonfire once the sun went down and bringing out the S'mores material!!

Schedule complete!  Now on to planning the ceremony.  I found several ideas online, but this is what we ended up going with:

Prelude:  One Thing Remains by Passion - we asked her to choose a song that summed up her mindset as she goes forward in her life
Welcome and Prayer:  Farmer Willie - this was a time to thank everyone for coming to celebrate with us as well as open us in prayer
Processional:  Pomp and Circumstance
Our Homeschooling Journey:  Me :) - here I gave a little background info regarding our homeschooling experience as well as a few lessons that I have learned along the way
Shared Words From Family and Friends - during this time we asked if any of her family or friends in the audience would like to share anything with her or about her
A Pictorial Transcript:  Created by her sister!! - this was outstanding!  Her sister took photos from birth up to her graduation pictures and make a beautiful slide show set to music.  I still tear up when I watch it!!
Charge to the Graduate:  Farmer Willie - for this, her Daddy took time to share a few words of advice and to express our confidence in the fact that she is well prepared to go and do what the Lord has called her to do!
Reflections from the Valedictorian:  The graduate herself!! - mostly she thanked people for the part they have played in her life and expressed their importance to her
Presentation of the Diploma:  Farmer Willie and I - we  found a beautiful diploma template online so we made the necessary changes and printed it on beautiful paper for her
Closing Prayer and Blessing:  All attendees led by Farmer Willie - to close it up, we asked everyone to come and lay hands on her as her Daddy led everyone in a prayer of blessing

We printed the schedule for the afternoon/evening as well as the ceremony on some cardstock and DD#2 cute-i-fied them!!

With the scheduling and planning now complete, we moved on to carrying out the logistics!!  We sent out invitations, ordered chairs from a local party company, borrowed several tables, went shopping at a local Sam's Club, got the house all picked up and were ready to go.

We had the invites printed at Walgreens.  Obviously I blurred out her name and our address :)  It was not like that on the actual invites!!!

Oops!!  Then I realized that I forgot to order her cap and gown!!!  In the end, finding a gown was easy, but we were down to the wire on the cap!!  We finally found one about an hour away and Farmer Willie walked in to pick it up 15 minutes before they closed!!  Whew!!

Getting ready to graduate!!

My fabulous sis-in-law and her sweet family came a day early to help get everything ready as well as volunteer her services for making an outstanding graduation cake!!

 I will give you more pictures and details tomorrow!!

This Too Shall Pass...

My baby girl graduates from high school on Sunday.

My baby girl graduates from high school on Sunday.

My baby girl graduates from high school on Sunday.

Nope, it doesn't get any easier to say it!!  And I still can't believe it!!

Eighteen years ago I remember looking upon that chubby face and covering it with mommy kisses.  I promised myself and her that I would absorb every day, every minute of my time with her.

Fast forward a few weeks and after three weeks of nursing her every two hours, several bouts of mastitis, and complete sleep deprivation, I started to wonder if I might be absorbing too much!  I mean a sponge can only hold so much water!!  Ya know what I mean??!!

But a wise friend gave me some advice for the parenting journey that was just beginning....This too shall pass. 

She told me to remember that when the nights are short and I feel like I can't go on another minute..This too shall pass.  She also told me to remember it when things were going great and I thought my kid was the smartest, most talented, bestest kiddo on the planet!!

As that sweet baby grew older, our days went from ones of constant nursing and no sleep to days of grabbing sticks of butter off of the table (while we had company over of course!!) and eating it!!  Her favorite word was "NO!" and if I said go left, she would look up at me with that beautiful smile and turn right!!

So I remembered.  I remembered that This too shall pass.  I tried to appreciate every day I had with her, even when I was pulling my hair out by the end of it!!  Now, don't get me wrong, some days were easier than others and some days I totally sucked at the appreciating every day thing....but we tried.

Then it stopped!  As quickly as her defiant stage started, it stopped!!  Oh how wonderful my child was.  Obviously I was a fantastic parent to have raised such a joy to be around. 

Oops!  I had forgotten the wise advice...This too shall pass!  Because then we brought in a baby sister!!

Well, my first baby girl was not too pleased to share her life with my second baby girl.  She became a whining, complaining mess!!  I tried to remember that this was a huge adjustment for her little self, but on the days when I was sleep deprived...again...it was a bit hard.  But my wise friend reminded me again...This too shall pass!

When my baby girl was around six years old, they thought that she had a tumor on her thyroid.  We went through one week of test after test and scan after scan.  I was terrified that something was wrong with her.  What if the Lord took her from me?

It was during this time that the Lord really taught me about the frailty of life and how we only have today.  He taught me about making each day count for the kingdom and as a parent, that also equates to making each day count in the life of my children.

As the years went on, we had our good months and our not so good months.  But I kept in mind that This too shall pass. 

I remember thinking that twelve years old was soooo far away.  I could not imagine her ever being that old.  Then POOF....she was!

I remember thinking that it would take forever for her to turn 16.  Then POOF...she was!!

Now POOF...she is 18, graduating from high school and leaving for college in a few months!!

Now, when I think of the saying...This too shall pass...it means something different to me.  I don't think about it as often as a way to help me get through a tough day, or a way to keep me grounded.

No, I think of it as a reminder that I only have three months left to instill in my baby girl all that she needs to know to be ready to head into the college world. 

I only have three months left to make sure that she is thoroughly grounded in the Word before she is surrounded by the world.

I only have three months left to look at her sweet face every morning while she is sleeping and watch the rise and fall of her chest as she breathes. 

I only have three months left to listen from a different room to her laugh with her sisters.

Then she will go away.  I know that her journey is only temporary and she will be home during school breaks and summers.  But you and I both know that it won't be the same.  She will leave our home in three months as a child, but she will return to me a young woman.

I have known for 18 years that This too shall pass.  That childhood would pass for my daughters and they would enter adulthood.  I just did not think it would come so fast!!

Now, don't get me wrong, I KNOW that the Lord is in control and that she is walking in His plan.  I also know that if we missed teaching or instilling anything in her, the Lord will provide another way!!  But my mommy heart hurts.

So for all of my friends out there who have young children.  Those who are exhausted and frustrated...remember that This too shall pass.

For my friends who have teenagers who might be causing a ruckus right now...remember This too shall pass.

And for my fellow moms of children who area about to graduate and their hearts are excited for their children, yet are a bit broken for what is changing...remember This too shall pass!  And from what I hear...the next journey is awesome!

Homeschool Co-ops: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!!

Ahhh....the ancient home schooling question...Should we join a co-op?

Okay, so maybe the question is not ancient, but it is a good one that comes up at least once in most home schooling families!!

I had never planned on joining a co-op until a good friend of mine joined one and invited us to join as well when my oldest was in 6th grade.  It sounded like fun, so we jumped right on in!!

(Oh, by the way, I can't believe that I have so many picture of peoples backs!!  I did not want to show the faces of anyone except my girls in order to protect the privacy of my friends and I thought it would be wayyy hard!!  I am amazed by the number of "back only" pics I found!!)

This was taken when we were at our first co-op!

We loved our co-op!  It was nice to have incredible teachers instruct the girls, as they got older, in the advanced maths and sciences that I felt inadequate to teach at that point in my life.  Friends were made by both mom and daughters!  I would definitely call it a success!  There were so many opportunities for a wide variety of classes!

We spent five years at this first co-op and really enjoyed it.  I was blessed to serve as director for some of the time and this really allowed me to get an inside look at how these co-ops work.  Trust me, it is wayyy more complicated than you would think!!  Managing 80 families takes some work!!

Ballet class getting ready to perform!

Little House on the Prairie class demonstration.

After a great experience in a large co-op, we began to have a need for a smaller one geared toward our curriculum, Tapestry of Grace (TOG). 

This particular curriculum is built on a weekly climax of group discussions for the middle school and high school group.  We were blessed, yet again, to find a few families working on the same curriculum and thus started our TOG co-op. 

This one was much smaller, having on average only five families, and more specific as far as what needs it met.  We were mainly there to hold weekly discussions around our readings in literature and history/worldviews. 

We also added a few extra classes such as writing, art, and science classes for the younger set!!

Science for elementary!!

High school writing peer reviews.

 

This co-op has been a great experience as well!  We love the families that we meet with and have all been together long enough that we know what to expect from each child, etc. 

So coming from someone who has had experience with no co-op, a large co-op and a small co-op I have learned some lessons.

1.  A great co-op will work for a great family only as long as it fills a need.  What that need is varies from family to family.  Some people use it to fill a social need, some an educational need and others an accountability need.  When the need has been met and is gone, the co-op just becomes another item on the long to-do list of a home schooling mom.

2.  If you choose to participate in a co-op, get involved!  Remember, you are still the primary teacher for your children and the one ultimately responsible for making sure they are provided a well-rounded education. 

Sometimes parents have the tendency to mentally "check out" of co-op classes assuming that the teacher will take on the responsibility.  You must remember that most of the time, the teachers are other home schooling parents with their own families to educate and they are volunteering their time and gift. 

3.  If you are part of a large or small co-op, make a point to meet other parents.  One of the benefits of co-ops is the fact that you form a support group!!

4.  If you are part of a co-op, make sure you stay committed whether you are teaching a class or cleaning up afterwards.  You might have great reasons for needing to change plans, but just keep in mind it will effect the others. 

5.  The biggest lesson that I have learned from participating in co-ops is that I CAN do this!!  I CAN teach this!  With all of the support that is now available, there is no high school subject that I can't teach if I choose to.  Now, it will take a lot of work, and sometimes we are at chapters in our lives where we must co-op or hire subjects out, but know that you don't have to. 

Yes, I taught a chemistry lab!!!

6.  I have met hundreds of home schooling families and have encountered hundreds of schooling styles.  Everyone has their own way that works best for them.  But co-op or no co-op, the most important thing is to stay focused on the Lord and what He has planned for you.  Sometimes that might not look like the path that makes the most sense to You, but His is ALWAYS better!!

This coming year we will be with our small co-op for the third year.  I absolutely LOVE the families that we are with.  I have worked mostly with the teens and I can tell you, this up and coming generation will knock your socks off!!!

We considered all going our separate ways for various reasons, one being that I have moved over an hour and a half away from where we were meeting.  But after a lot of prayer, we have decided to carry on another year!!

We have no idea where we are going to meet, or who all we will add to our core families, but we know we are walking down the Lord's path.  And right now, at this point in time, that is all we need to know!! 

A Day in the Life....

Some have asked what our day looks like.  Well... for the most part, no day is the same!!  But this is what we strive for :)

4:45 - I am up and doing work on the computer.  Usually finishing up a blog post, paying bills, etc.  I  also put on a load of laundry.
5:30 - Time with the Lord.  I begin by reading the Word for a while.  Then I write in my journal and spend  some time praying and listening.

6:00 - The girls get up.  We get dressed, make beds and pick up rooms.
6:30 - We all have a Bible reading and time in prayer.  Right now we are reading through the book of Daniel.
7:00 - Short hike together.
7:30 - Prepare and eat breakfast followed by clean up..
8:15 - Girls work on various subjects while I flutter in and out helping whomever needs help. 
11:30 - I prepare lunch while girls continue to work.
12:00 - Eat lunch and clean up.
12:45 - Quiet time for everyone!!  During this time I read or check email.  DD #2 usually grabs a quick nap, while the other girls read or play quietly.  Our rules for this time is that whatever you do must be done quietly and alone.  Everyone needs some alone time, but in a family of six, that is sometimes hard to come by, so we schedule it in :)
1:45 - Most schoolwork is done before lunch.  In the afternoon the two older girls work on anything they did not finish or they work on their team policy debate.  Most of the time it is debate :)  The two younger girls and I work on some type of project together, be it baking, something outside, errands, etc.
3:45 - Family project!  This just depends on what needs done around here.  Sometimes it is gardening, painting the shed, burning brush form the burn pile, weeding the flower beds and so on. 
5:00 - One of the girls and I prepare dinner while the others have a bit of free time.
5:30 - Dinner!!
6:00 - Girls clean kitchen while Farmer Willie and I take some time to visit after his arrival home :)
6:30 - Family time!!  This can be taking a hike together, sitting and worshipping outside by the fire pit, watching American Idol (this is the one show that we watch on our antenna tv!  Love me some  Idol!!), reading a book aloud or something of that sort.  We all really enjoy this time together!!  The other night we had graham crackers and milk and played a card game called Liar!!

7:30 - Evening chores and pick up.
8:00 - The younger two girls get bathed and ready for bed while the older two have a bit of free time.
8:30 - My youngest goes to bed while her older sisters have a little bit of quiet/calm free time.
9:00 - DD #3 goes to bed while her older sisters start bed prep.
10:00 - Everyone is in bed and conked out!!

Like I said, we very rarely achieve our ideal day, but this is how we try to structure our day.

Beginning To Close Out The School Year...

Our homeschooling year is drawing to a close.  We should be done by the end of April!  We usually begin earlier in the summer so that we can finish a month early and enjoy the spring weather before summer hits full force!! 

As the year closes, we begin to look forward and plan for the new year coming.  Next year will be different in many ways.  We are working to have a simpler lifestyle and this will have an impact on our schooling.  Due to the move, we have new opportunities such as 4H, farm sciences, etc.  And the biggest difference is that our oldest daughter will go off to college.

As a homeschooling mom, seeing her succeed by not only getting into all of her colleges of choice, but getting many scholarships, makes my heart happy.  I am happy for her, that she is entering a new stage in her life!  And I must admit that I feel a bit of happy relief for myself!  No!  Not relief she is going away, but relief in our homeschooling success.

As a homeschooling mom, my goal has always been to equip my girls for whatever the Lord has planned for them.  For some of them, that will include college.  For others it might be marriage, vocational school, starting their own business, mission work....who knows??!!  But I did not want to limit them because of choices I made such as laziness on my part, not enough research, slacking off, over using the computer, etc. 

Though my husband and I have known that we were educating in the manner that the Lord called us to, there was always that thought in the back of my mind wondering if I could be messing it up....messing her education up.

Now, I don't need the SAT or a college admittance officer to tell me that my child is adequately educated, but it is still nice to hear it!! 

So as I look back over the last year, I am pleased with the outcome and all that we have learned.  I am also trying to absorb every second of it knowing that next year will be so very different.

Looking toward next year, I can rest in the fact that my oldest daughter will be doing what the Lord called her to and that her daddy and I did our job to prepare her.  I can also rest in the fact that we will be walking down the Lord's path with our three daughters still schooling at home. 

But...who is going to prepare me for having my baby girl leave the nest?  I know that the Lord will be there to guide me and lead me on this new journey, but I have to admit, I am in no hurry to get there!!!