It's a Circus Around Here

   

 I remember one year when Mary Taylor and Brady were little that the circus came to town.  We were so excited!  We were going to take them to see a REAL circus!   Elephants, tight rope walkers, acrobats, jugglers, lion tamers--the works.  The day arrived and we headed to our seats.  But somehow the circus looked quite different than I had imagined.  The glitter wasn't quite so glittery and the animals looked old.  The highlight of the entire thing was when one of the acrobats accidentally slammed into the wall of the arena and yelled a cuss word all the way around the auditorium.  End of show.

    Sometimes life happens this way as well.  When we are young, we think of adult life kind of like we did when we were anticipating the circus.  We look at it through rose-colored glasses, only considering those most wonderful parts.  From that view and perspective we really can't understand the challenges and struggles. We can not imagine, as children, that being an adult sometimes feels like the juggler at the circus.  Is it just me or do you ever go through seasons where you are juggling responsibilities like balls up in the air?  I have found myself feeling like one of the balls is going to drop at any minute. This is not the way I was meant to live.

   As I sat before the Lord this morning I read this:

"I keep asking that the God of our lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, 

may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know 

the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 

and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working 

of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead 

and seated him at His right hand in the heavenly realms..."

     As I considered these verses and thought realistically about the week, my perspective changed. The "eyes of my heart became enlightened" as I realized all the times that God has given me the wisdom I needed right when I needed it.  I sat down to write a lesson (that I did not need until next week) and God had a friend call that very minute who reminded me I didn't need it yet.  I regrouped and worked on something that was current.  I did not waste one minute.  I had an appointment and God reminded me of it in just enough time to get to the place on time.  I really did forget an appointment last week, but it had gotten cancelled due to snow--I just didn't know it.  But I see the pattern, God did know.  He knows better than I do.  

     I noticed this morning that as I was having my quiet time, thoughts would fly at me about this thing or that responsibility.  I would begin to feel anxious and nervous that I was going to forget or not get something done.  The fruit from those thoughts was anxiety and that is not a fruit of the Spirit.  It hit me (like a ball dropping) that maybe the enemy was at the root of this anxiety (duh).  And I realized as I recalled the week that God really is in control of this wild and crazy life (duh again).   My job is just to listen and to do the next thing I am supposed to do.  If I will just trust Him, and listen, then I do not have to be swayed by those anxious feelings.  God knows which of those balls needs to keep being juggled and which ones can drop.  

     It is not His best option that I live stressed.  He told Joshua to "be strong and courageous" right before he took the reins of leading all of the Israelites into the Promised Land.  I can not imagine how much pressure he felt knowing that he was going to have to follow one of the most faithful leaders ever,  Moses.  In addition to that job, Joshua was going to have to lead his people--who were not warriors--to conquer some established fortified cities.  And they did it!  Not only did they conquer the enemy but God did it in such way that everyone knew that it was only God who could have been responsible.

     So if we are feeling like a clown at the circus today,  we need to be encouraged!  God is with us and He desires to help us.  We are not alone and we do not have to carry burdens we were not meant to bear.  He can show us which balls to let drop.  And he promises that his "load is easy and his burden is light" so that whatever is left will be exactly the right amount.

     The truth is that our life in Christ is to be greater than any circus.  It is the real deal and we can rejoice that our part in the big picture is valuable and worthwhile.  But we are not meant to play every part and we have a Ringmaster who knows just which part we should play.  If we will keep our eyes on him and follow His direction then the whole show will be far better than we could have ever imagined.

Snow Days

I have always loved the snow! Some of my best childhood memories have to do with the snow. But what I have realized is my relationship with the snow has changed.

Snow for me as a kid...put on layers and layers of clothes and go out until completely soaked through and frozen nearly solid. Come back in the house and strip down to undies dumping all wet clothes in the foyer of the house. Put on fresh clothes. Warm up while making hot cocoa and leave all the mess on the counter (we will be back to do it again anyway) and when fingers start tingling because they are warming up, rush back out with all new clothes and do it all over again.

 

Snow for me as an adult...Get little kids all dressed in layers and layers of clothes. Get self dressed too. Go outside with the kiddos and have big fun making snowman. The older kids show up and start having big fun and by that time the little ones are wet and cold. The layers and layers of wet clothes are now in my hall waiting for their turn in the dryer. The kitchen is piled high with mugs from wassail.

In spite of the mess, I still love the snow. People come together during the snow. Work is often canceled and people get to take time to have fun together. It is a mess. There is a pile of work to be done in the laundry room as well as the kitchen. I have already been cooking more than usual. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. These are the best days ever and if our children are anything like us they will remember these days for years to come!!

Superman--Absolutely!

           Our younger two children, Shepherd and Elizabeth Jane have amped up their prayer life in the last few weeks.  After learning about several people we know and love who have different illnesses and diseases they began to daily lift these people up in prayer.  The list has grown significantly.  But the really cool thing is that they are seeing God answer their prayers.  One man had a small hernia that is now gone.  Another man had serious heart problems as was planning major heart surgery that is now been taken off the plans because he is doing so much better.  A baby who wasn't sleeping is now

sleeping.  And this list names just a few.  Even though there are still requests that are being prayed with no change seen yet, their faith has increased exponentially.

     I was reminded of a story this morning.  It took me back to just before Halloween several years ago.  Shepherd was particularly adamant about getting a very specific super hero costume.  He started a few weeks before asking for us to get it.  Because this was not my first rodeo I knew costumes bought are not made very well, I was reluctant to agree to get it too early.  And finally I gave in that window where I knew folks had started buying costumes and they might run out of his size, and the not too too early to bring it home and get it torn before the holiday.  That boy was elated.  He was so proud. We got home just in time for me to make supper and all my motherly defenses were down.  He started begging to wear it and I just need to get the food in the oven.  I agreed.  He disappeared and was cheering all the way.  I hear jumping and running and more jumping.  This goes on for quite some time.  And then, walks in the kitchen, one extremely sad Superman.  I asked him why he was so sad.  With long face and head hung low he said to me in his little fellow voice, "I am not a superhero.

I can't even fly."  It had not crossed my mind that part of the reason he was so excited about getting his outfit included the ability to fly.  I could see why he would have been so excited and why it was so hard to wait.

    As I was considering this story today I began to formulate a conversation for bedtime tonight.  At 10 years old, the idea that a costume could make you fly would seem absurd to him.  But I am certain that inside his boy (going to be a man) body there is a place that longs to be a superhero.  I am considering how I am going to tell him that HE IS!  A superhero is "a heroic character possessing extraordinary talents, supernatural phenomena, or super powers and is dedicated to a moral goal or protecting the public." (according to wikipedia)  Now he still can't fly and probably won't unless he goes to flight school.  And I don't imagine he will "leap tall buildings in a single bound", although he is really, really fast.  But Shepherd's life is making a superhero type of difference.  As he storms the gates of hell and takes his prayers up to Jesus the victorious king, changes are happening.  Lives are better as a result of his (their) prayers.  

     And I don't know about you, but this makes me want to get serious about praying as well.  Would those people have gotten better anyway? I don't know for sure, but the doctors report about the hernia is that it would not get better on its on.  I believe all of our prayers make a difference...when we take time to pray them.  It's not "oh, I guess we can JUST pray." Prayer makes a difference!  We are told to "pray continually" in 1 Thess. 5:17.  This is a gift and a high calling to intercede on behalf of one another.  Maybe we should put our best superhero outfits (figuratively of course) and run, jump or fly to our prayer closets to begin taking more ground for the kingdom.  I wonder if I still have those Wonder Woman Underoos...

Fervent is a Blessing!

     Taylor and I went to see the movie War Room a few days ago. I knew from the previews that I had to see this movie.  I was so encouraged by it that when a friend sent me a picture of the book Pricilla Shirer (leading lady as well as Christian speaker/minister) had written to go with the movie,  I went the next day to purchase it. The name of her book is Fervent.  If you haven't seen the movie yet RUN RUN RUN to the theatre and stop by the bookstore for the book on the way home.  The movie is excellent and the book is life-changing.  If you notice, I had to hold down the cover because the book is already so used the cover is bent.

    I am going to step out on a limb here and publish the first prayer I wrote in response to Shirer's "Strategy 1" chapter.  It was so encouraging to me to write this prayer and pray it out loud that I want to share it with you in hopes that it may be a blessing to you as well.  May your passion be fueled by this prayer as mine was.

 Dear Father, 
     I thank you that your lovingkindness will never cease and your compassions never fail-in fact they are new every morning! Great is your faithfulness.  I am so grateful that we get to start fresh and new, continually.  You truly are our good Father.  You not only love us and care for us but you have gone ahead of us and hove made the victory sure and certain.  We already know the winner and we get to be apart of the wining team. 
     
     God I ask you to forgive me for the places where I have failed to trust you.  I repent for loosing sight of the point and for placing anything at all before you, in my life.  May I desire nothing but those things that are important to you.  My life is your Lord.

     Thank you, God, that you give me a heart to know you.  You are my Lord and and I am yours.  You are my God and I give you my whole heart.  Thank you that you listen to me.  Thank you that I get to know and find you when I seek for you with all my heart (the heart that you gave me).  Cut those things off that aren't of you.  I give you all of my heart, soul, and strength.  You are the greatest of all treasures available, Lord--may I always know and believe that with all that I am.  Thank you for a new heart and a new Spirit.  Thank you that you don't leave me where I was and that even now you are giving me the much more abundant life.  Fill me from head to foot with a renewed passion and fervor for the things of you!  Amen
     

Curriculum Review of Trail Guide to Learning

          Trailguide to Learning was a win for our family!  Burned out from all the things I had been teaching,  I knew that I needed something new when I went to the curriculum fair.  I was looking for something that had a quality selection of books with a teacher's guide that was easy to use.

          When I came to the booth for Trail Guide I was immediately intrigued.  Their stuff looks great!  But was the inside as good as the outside?  I started with their book selection.  Our homeschool centers around reading great books.  A poor choice of books was a deal breaker.  Immediately I was blown away!  I already loved several of their books and the books I was not familiar with were books I would like to read.  The books looked like ones that would spike the interest of both my boys and my girls.  (That was also something I was looking for so that I could re-use the curriculum in the future.)  As I began to go through the curriculum to see how user friendly it was I was astonished!
Everything made perfect sense to me.  It was laid out day by day with almost everything I needed for that day, in the same place.   We decided to take the plunge and bought the set.  We choose their set called "Paths of Exploration." And honestly the price was quite reasonable.

        Thankfully I was not disappointed.  True to first impressions,  this curriculum is wonderful.
We used it for two of our children that year.   Brady was in 5th grade and Mary Taylor in 7th (we used the middle school supplement for her).  But it is very appropriate for 4th grade as well. If you use this curriculum for a middle schooler you may need to bump it up a notch or two in order to add to their learning experience. My suggestion would be to use it for elementary grades.

       The curriculum includes the Handbook of Nature Study,  North American Wildlife Guide and the 1911 Boy Scout Handbook as a references books.  These books are used well and they will be useful books to have in the future as well.  These are not the only books but I could go on and on about how well I liked all the books.  With very few exceptions I will keep these for years.

      The CD ROM is also great. The worksheets worked well for us. There are a lot of sheets to print out, but we liked them and they were easy to use.  It is also nice to know that when I reuse this curriculum in the future, with the other children, I will already have everything I need.  We will not have to try to find the right workbook to go with our edition.

      All of the curriculum is divided into parts that help you know what to do with your younger, middle and older students.  It includes 3 levels of learning in each lesson and they help you identify which level would be best for your student.  Included in the curriculum are copy work/dictation, readers, read-aloud, discussion, word study, science, geography, and writing.  It all comes from a history perspective so that is included throughout the entire curriculum.  Art, speaking, and  enrichment lessons are included, but not daily.  We all enjoyed the art and drawing as well as the enrichment ideas that included cooking from different cultures.  There are some fun learning games too.

     Our children came away from this curriculum having learned a great deal about those who went before us to blaze a path for our country.  Columbus, Jamestown, and the Pilgrims are covered in the first half.  Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark, and Trails West are the topics for the second half.  As a teacher, I learned as much as they did!

     This curriculum is literature-based curriculum that takes all the guesswork out of preparation. It is heavy on history and provides a great base in history for children.  As well as all of those aspects,  it also is an easy curriculum to use for multiple elementary school grades at once.

     Blessing on you as you choose your curriculum.  May God light a path before you to show you just the right ones for your family and for your needs.  Enjoy what you do. You are a shining light and a trailblazer for your family!  You are making a difference!

   

 

How We Began This Journey

     Homeschooling is something that came as a bit of a surprise to us.  We never ever dreamed that we would be doing this.  It really was not until we were standing face to face with enrolling our oldest (Mary Taylor)  into public school did homeschooling actually come on our radar.  The school we were zoned for had been "left behind" two years in a row.  That school was not an option.  We briefly tossed around private school options but decided that was not the best idea for us either.  A dear friend asked if I would like to meet with her daughter, who had been homeschooling her children, to see if it might be something we were interested in doing.

      And here we are 11 years later.  This year our youngest, Elizabeth Jane, begins Kindergarten.  Shepherd is in 4th grade,  Brady is in 8th and Mary Taylor is in 10th.  Just typing this I am realizing I have two in elementary school, one middle schooler and a high schooler.  HOW DID I GET HERE?  It is only by the grace of God.

        Thinking back now I remember our first year of kindergarten I remember putting my head down on the desk, during school, and crying out to God. That day I said, "God if you do not show up I can not do this." He did show up and  I still depend on Him this much every single day. Some days are easy and some days are downright hard. But it has been an awesome journey that I would not trade.  The great days far outweigh the hard.

     I am going to be posting articles about how God pulls this crazy thing, we call school, together.  There will be posts sharing curriculum that we have used in the past. These post will share how they worked (or didn't work) for us.  I am also going to be sharing what curriculum we are using this year and how the preparations have gone with the new curriculum.  I am also going to posting updates about how it is going with these choices throughout the year.  This is going to be an exciting adventure!  I pray that these posts will be a help to you as you teach your peeps!