First Week Of Homeschool!

Our very first day of homeshool

I am sooooo blessed to be able to homeschool my sweet babies. I've heard all kinds of comments "WHY would you do that?" "Are you crazy?" "What pocessed you?" "Of course you are..." and things like "you are going to be awesome" "I wish I could do that" and many many more encouraging phrases from friends and family. But I would like to answer the question WHY?!

God has given each of us different gifts and talents we are to use for His glory. Although I tried and tried to deny it, my God-given gift is teaching (all ages and all things) As far back as I can remember I wanted to coach and teach. I thought I would ALWAYS be coaching. What I didn't realize is that coaching is just teaching with enthusiam and passion. Ever since Isaac was in my womb I wanted to teach him. I saw him in every 7th grade Texas History student I had, every little 8th grade volleyball player...I just new I wanted to be the encourager, passionate teacher in his life. I didn't necessarily want to homeschool...I just wanted to be his teacher. So God has given me 13 years of experience of teaching and coaching...it ONLY makes sense :)

kids at the Science and History Museum

When I sent Isaac off to kindergarten I cried like a baby for the first 2 weeks. And off and on through out that entire year. It was hard to be with him all day-- everyday to all of a sudden gone 7.5 hours away from me and in who knows what kind of influences. But I trudged on. Then First grade came. He had a great year and he LOVED school...but I missed him! We were yelling to beat the clock from sun up and racing to get some kind of "family" time in at sun down. Our lives were so crazy I hated it. I wanted to pull him out half way so I could just simply be with him. I couldn't bear going thru that with my Rhea and eventually Abby! I wanted to put the time and energy I was putting in other students into MY VERY OWN children!

we made astronomy notebooks for all the cool things they will do this year

It's only been a week--but as I told a friend today, if this is any indication of how this year is going to be then I can't wait! I LOVE knowing EVERYTHING they are learning (how many times have you asked you son/daughter what they learned...and all you get is 'i dunno'). Now we can expand, discuss and grow as a family! I love the fact that they will learn reading, writing, history, science and everything using God's word. For example, for Rhea's writing assignment she was to dictate a verse. She's learning penmanship and scripture at the same time! Above is our first Science project. We are studying Astronomy...from the perspective of Genesis 1:14-19. We get to praise God on a daily basis for His creation! Abby is even learning what the planets are named. Her favorite Venus because we chose a pink balloon to represent it!

I am not naive to think that every week is going to be so exciting. I am worried that I want to cram in EVERYTHING and do EVERYTHING so fast. I am leary of fatigue, bickering (which has occured a lot), and frustration. I have experienced many 'I don't want-to's' and "this is borings" and have seen behavior that would NEVER be tolerated in a public school. I know the enemy HATES the fact I am spending loving, quality time with my kids and raising them to fear an Awesome God. I'm prepared for attacks....

I am also expecting blessings, tender moments, and a chance to know my kids better than ever before. Why am I homeschooling? Because I am suppose to....not because the public school stinks (it really doesn't at all!) not because I'm anti-social or think my kids will be influenced badly, not because everyone else is doing it....I am homeschooling because God made me a teacher and I have a house full of students that will get me 24 hrs a day! I am blessed :)

Yes there are nine(eight if you don't count pluto) planets and a sun. They are poportionate in size according to their actual size. and the orange wierd one is Saturn with it's rings :)