Tell me again - Why do I homeschool?

I had one of those weeks that started out with my son moaning and complaining about completing his math lessons. This happens each and every Monday morning except on weeks where there is a holiday on Monday; then it happens on Tuesdays.

He always recovers the following day. He's just never been good at making transitions - Not even as a toddler. But; by the time Tuesday rolls around, he has caused enough stress in the household to make me look into private education tuition. I once had bookmarked on my computer all the private schools in our area just to remind me that I cannot afford to send him to one, so I best get creative at problem solving and creating the homeschool I envisioned when I began.

So, tell me again - Why do I homeschool?

For starters, I wanted to homeschool from before children were even a part of my life. When I heard of this option for schooling my children, I immediately knew this was the style of education for me.

I love the freedom and flexibility that homeschooling brings. I love that I can teach and work around life, rather than the other way around. I love that we can sleep in if we want to. I love that we can do all our math lessons on one day and free up the remaining days for experiments or walks in the park or other styles of discovery. With a self-employed husband, our schedule is often offbeat from the norm. So, I love how we can start school after daddy leaves for work and allow time with daddy when hes home.

I love how I can present subjects to my children while explaining how it relates to our faith. I know that one day they will need to select the course of their own faith. But, in the meantime, I will explain subjects such as how the world began and why people die, etc. in relation to our faith.

I love how my children don't have to learn how to stand in line or sit quietly at a desk instead of learning the subject of importance. In fact, they may read in a rocking chair or they can wiggle on an exercise ball to get their wiggles out to free up their minds to learn.

I love how we are free during off hours at busy places like museums. We are free to enjoy ourselves without facing crowds since most children are inside a building at a school all day.

There are many other reasons why I homeschool. But; on days like I had this week, I need to remind myself of the benefits and why I chose homeschooling in the first place.

What a wonderful surprise snow!

Yesterday, we looked out the window and it looked as though we were inside a snow globe that someone had just shook.

The flakes were coming down. They were so large a local weatherman called them "hamster-sized" flakes.

What a pleasant surprise. Now, next time we hope to have some sledding PE credits.

Vote for this homeschooler to win scholarship!

My husband began teaching guitar a few years ago. When he did, he had a little boy who was very eager to learn. As this boy began learning guitar, he had difficulty but kept plugging away. Soon, his adoptive mom came to my husband and told him they had discovered he had a physical condition they did not know he had. His eyes were as if he were looking through blinds or coke bottles. He had to overcome this to do everything.

This little boy has overcome and is now a high school homeschooled senior. He has written a book and won the Discus Awards and is seeking your vote to obtain a scholarship.

Please vote for Mark - You can vote once a day!

Vote for Mark!

Want to help Haiti? Every right answer sends free rice to end world hunger

Want to help Haiti but feel like your hands are tied?

I ran across this website. And, while I don't agree with a lot that the UN stands for, I do agree with this. It's a website with all sorts of learning subjects and questions. For every answer you get correct, they send rice to help end world hunger.

The rice will go to various locations, but Haiti is among those.

Here's the fun website:

Send rice to end world hunger

Funny song lyrics

My 3 year old does not yet say the letter "S" when it precedes a word. Yesterday, she was singing with all her gusto: "The itsy bitsy Pie-der went up the water Pout!"

Things like this make me smile & want to remember these moments forever. I wish there was a freeze-frame on some moments in my life.

For Chrstmas we got her a little elephant. When you press his foot, he sings "Sugar Pie Honey, I can't help myself, I love you and no body else." To this, my 3 year old has begun to sing:

"Sugar Pie Honey, I can't help you find jail!"

I can't wait to see what comes out her mouth next. I hope that ultimately, however, the words she chooses during her lifetime are words of praise to her maker and words of encouragement to those surrounding her.

Turn tragedy into Triumph by helping Samaritan's Purse help Haiti eartquake Victims

The recent tragic news out of Haiti with the earthquake on January 12, 2010 has left many of us feeling powerless and helpless. While; it's not advised that everyone jump on a plane or boat and head over to Haiti, nor would it be feasible or productive, there is something you can do right now in the convenience and comfort of your warm house.

If you are an AT&T customer and have texting, you can simply text HAITI (90999) into your phone and instantly you will be able to donate $10 to help Haiti. It's that easy.

If you are like me, however, and not only want to help the physical need but feed their spiritual emptiness as well, you'll want to seek out a different kind of donating.

Personally, because of 3 tragedies turned triumph in my life in the form of babies that would begin their development inside my womb but never be born to live outside of it - And, then God blessing me abundantly with a healthy little girl, I now give half of the money I make on Ebay sales - in her name - to Samaritan's Purse Clean Water Project. Right now, Samaritan's Purse is among some of the first responders. They are already in action helping to serve.

If you would like to donate to Haiti victims, please consider Samaritan's Purse.

A snow day for a homeschooler is simply PE at its finest

It's snowing! We got our first official snowfall of the year in my town. Schools and activities are canceled across the board. But, not for homeschoolers. What'a snow day to a homeschooling family? It's simply another day of learning. But, our learning today turned into Two fun-filled hours of PE (Physical Education).

We have a nice hill in our backyard that's perfect for sledding fun without having to travel somewhere in a vehicle to sled. I'm very grateful for this. It was very cold & the snow was blowing causing the illusion that it was still snowing, or that snow globe effect.

I'm never quite sure if my children truly enjoy sledding and snow fun, or if they do it for the hot cocoa reward at the end of the day!

Why'd you run into my car? God wanted us to meet!

Saturday, I picked up my daughter from dance like I do every Saturday afternoon. Every Saturday afternoon for sometime now, I have successfully maneuvered my vehicle in and out of this dance studio's parking lot. Until last Saturday!

Last Saturday, I was running late picking up my daughter. But, I wasn't rushing when I backed out, looked to see if it was clear, and heard the most awful sound a person can hear when driving a new vehicle - CRUNCH! Yikes - I thought, "what!?!" I had looked, it was clear, how could I be making contact with another vehicle?

I stepped out of the car to see another mother stepping out of her car. She is the mother of a friend of my daughter's. Both of us were embarassed and had no idea how our car's bumpers had made contact. Both of us had looked before proceeding. Neither of us has ever been the driver during an accident, unless you count a very minor tap at a stop sign 20 years ago.

I have driven this many years with no accident until Saturday!

But, the sweetest part of the entire ordeal is this: The other mother responded by saying how our children have been involved in the same activities for years. Our children attend the same AWANAs, the same dance studio, the same churches for years yet we have never met. Her response?

"Maybe God wanted us to meet, so he had us literally bump into each other in the parking lot!"

What a sweet way to look at it. Anyway, it made me laugh. And, honestly, I hope there's some truth in it. I'm anxious to see how this new relationship with the mother of my children's friends blossoms into.

Don't Drive Into the Water, Just Plant me near it!

Recently I've been having dreams that my husband is driving and we are all in the van with him. Before my dreams end, he has driven us into or near dangerous water.

In my first dream, we were driving in a park near Chicago. It was a beautiful tree-lined park with patches of concrete street. People were bicycling and walking. My husband kept commenting how beautiful it was as I watched the water become more and more evident as we drove over patches of street as well as patches of water. We finally came to the end where it was obvious that if we continued we would drive into water over our heads.

I woke up to wonder what this was about. Being the kind-hearted, loving wife that I am, I immediately assumed it meant that my husband was somehow leading the entire family into danger.

Last night I had another dream that my husband was driving toward an ocean. As we approached the beach, he turned and drove alongside the waves. Again, I was terrified and woke up to think it must reflect negatively on my husband somehow as he was insistent on driving alongside this ocean in my dream.

Then, I opened up God's word this morning and read:

"They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season without fail.
Their leaves never wither,
and in all they do, they prosper."

Psalm 1:3

Well, well, well! Could it be that what I thought was a negative reflection on my husband's desire to drive near this water is, in fact, a positive one? Perhaps he is not leading his family into danger, but into blessings instead. He has been feeling too old to attain his life-long dreams as they are seemingly plucked from him and given to those much younger in recent decisions beyond his control. But, he is really simply in another season of his life. The Psalms says that each season will bear fruit without fail - Even as we approach the season of growing older, old age or winter.

Regardless of whether there is any merit to this dream, I am choosing to believe God's words in Psalms. I believe that the trees in my first dream are those spoken of in Psalms. I want my husband, I and and my children to be those trees this year that bear fruit of love, compassion, kindness and praise. I want our leaves to never wither with despair, depression and hopelessness stealing our joy; as we watch prosperity come into our household to be used and overflowing to disperse to others who feel as though they are driving toward danger.

Welcome 2010! May it be the beginning of Gods joy, praise and prosperity in our lives. May this be the start of the ability to not merely consume what comes our way but to use and give to build others up as well.