Keeping it All in Perspective

Well, friends, we are almost done with school for the year. ALMOST. But not quite.

Son has finished his Healthy Choices/Healthy Living class and Science. He's almost done with Math- only 5 lessons left. He has a few more History/Geography lessons left in the book. Then we will be focusing on writing for the summer for him. Prayers would be appreciated.

Daughter is done with Science, Healthy Choices/Healthy Living, Wordly Wise, Writing, Botany, and Ancient History. She's got 20 lessons or so left in her current math curriculum and will be doing another entire year of math this summer so that she can take Physics class next year.  Again, prayers would be appreciated.

So, in rereading what I wrote in the first sentence, I think I may have been lying.

In the grand timeline of childhood, we're almost done with schooling. But considering the fact that learning is life-long, education is never-ending, and my motto is that it's a wasted day if you don't learn something new, schooling is a blip. A necessary blip, but a blip nonetheless.

But it's not the main thing to focus on. Love, kindness, compassion, serving others, hard work- those are things that I really want the kids to remember and learn. I desire that they keep the Main Thing the Main Thing. 

I deeply desire that they grow to love the Lord and develop a heart to follow hard after Him and what He wants from them for their lives. He will make a way for them. He IS faithful. He IS all-powerful. He IS so worthy of all our love, adoration, praise, and worship. He IS the only one who IS.

So, yes, schooling is necessary. But it's not all there is to childhood, or teenager-hood, or adulthood, for that matter. 

Can I get an amen?!

Whoopie (pies)! Election Day!

This school year I've been teaching an American Government class at the co-op to which we belong. For the past 8 weeks, we've focused on, what else? The Presidential Election. I've taught on the history of the electoral process, the reasons behind it, and the inherent faults that it has. (I'm not a teacher by design, just by heart.) By the grace of God, I have had a number of parents come up to me and tell me how excited their child was to watch the debates, or how their child wanted to talk about politics at the kitchen table. I have been humbled and encouraged by the kids and their willingness to learn something that was previously dry and boring to me. 

Today-November 6, 2012- is the day we've been waiting and watching for. Election Day. The kids filled out Voter Registration forms. They have studied candidate mailings to look for the hidden and sometimes obscure messages. They have been receptive to the idea that a scare-tacit isn't usually a recipe for truth or honesty. The class culminates in a mock vote complete with polling stations, stickers for voting, proof of identification, and cookies. 

In honor of the day, I made Whoopie Pies. As in, "Whoopie! Voting Day is here!" Or "Whoopie!! Voting Day is almost over with!!" Take your pick.

 Making Whoopie Pies is a process- no doubt about it. But they are oh, so worth, that process... just look at those delightful little nuggets of brownie/chocolate cake/cookies that are filled with a light and airy vanilla/powdered sugar goodness!!! 

Whoooopppppieeeee!!!!

 

Chocolatey blobs!

 Cooked chocolatey blobs!

Ahhhh.....delicious (don't forget the big glass of milk!)

Getting Started...Again.

We were called away on a sudden trip to Northern Maine two weeks ago. I know, I know: it's a rough life, but someone has to live it! We had been planning a trip to visit my husband's family this fall, but sometimes life, or in this case, death, can make us change plans very quickly. We were able to vacation our way home by way of the Maine Coast, which made it fun for the kids! We all were ready to come home after 12 days, but we could have stayed there forever! :)

 Mt Katahdin from Rt 11 outside of Patten, Maine

all the way to Bailey Island! 

Then it was time to head home to real life and responsibilities...boo hoo.

We had started our school year on Monday, August 6, just to get a jump on it. Then the call came. And two days after we started school, we had to leave. For two weeks. And now, it'll be the first day all over again. I had hoped to get some review work and some schedules set before our trip...but no.

We did make some serious changes to our routines this year. First of all, I split the kids up from one common table to two desks back to back. I'm hoping that our daughter will find that space to allow her to go forward on her own work, at her own pace, versus waiting for her brother. They aren't the same children. They aren't in the same grade. And they don't learn in the same ways. So...separate desks might encourage them. It will certainly help me. :)

Second, we actually wrote out the school schedule for each week. I am NOT a planner. I am a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants (or skirt) kind of mom. This will be the biggest challenge for me- sticking to it. But, our daughter wants her assignments written out so that she can check mark them off. Our son, on the other hand, could care less. He just goes with the flow. As long as the flow isn't too fast :)

Third, we have added some extra curricular activities that involve friends (Yay!!) into their learning this year. A fantastic Christian homeschool co-op where they can develop friendships and learn about American Government (taught my moi) and PE is on the schedule for Tuesdays. Teen Bible Study classes (with a lot of the same kids from the co-op) on Thursdays. And last, but not least, a group Spanish 'class' that will be held in a friend's home on Mondays.

I think this will be a good year!