Category Archives: homeschooling

SNOW DAYS…Dance And…..

Christianity, homeschooling, mom, motherhood, Parenting, Uncategorized, , , , , ,

animated_dancing_girl

Another Snow Day?  We dance!

What’s a mom to do???  Cabin fever has set in and the kids are burning up! 

As a one time public school teacher, I sometimes participated in the…gulp…”Snow dance” and then wished I hadn’t when the first day of June rolled around and we were still in school!  And as a one time home schooling mom, we were always looking for things to do after we completed our school work.

We really didn’t take “snow days” as homeschoolers, as we had other days that we took as “off school” days.  But when the snow did come around, we wanted to do some things that were special.  So we did.  I thought it might be a good idea to make a list of possible suggestions to repel that cabin fever.  These were tried and true in this house, especially when going out was not an option because of the temperatures. And quite honestly, it was just easier to plan these activities so I didn’t have to referee so many arguements!

1.   Collages- Kids like to glue.  I prefer glue sticks, based on my recent experiences in the public school with little ones!  But if you have magazines, or other “junk”, let them glue it on paper.  Come up with a theme, or allow them to make up a story from their “collage”.  With younger kids, simply cut out some items and have them available.  We always had some creative pictures.

2.  Make a movie.  My boys always liked filming themselves. Most of the time I let them do the creating, and that never seemed to be a problem! We have dozens of “movies” of them singing, acting.  Let’s just put it this way…at this point in their lives, I could probably bribe them!  Today with cell phones making it so easy to video, you might just have a masterpiece on your hands!

3.  Forts.  Need I say more?

4.  Let them write.  Don’t worry about spelling or even if it makes sense!  Give them paper, staple in pages for writing and drawing…and let them go for it.  I can guarantee you they will be able to “read” their story to you at bedtime!

5.  In an effort to leave the television off most of the time (we had set hours only), we DANCED!  That’s right, WE danced.  Burn off that energy!!  I even let my kiddos at school dance when I saw they were getting bored or too energy packed!!  And I ALWAYS danced with them.  It was good for me, good for them to see me dancing and having fun!  DISCLAIMER* You might want to make sure the video camera is turned off if your children are as capable of posting to a social media site as I think they could be!*

6.   Read a Bible story.  If it always seems like you don’t have time to read to them, do it today.  Let them pick the story and the place in which to read it.  Let them act it out, write about it, make a picture about it…if it is about David, you could even DANCE!!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:  a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,  a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance….”   

Dance means “raqad”.. to skip about, to dance, leap, to make to skip. (Strong’s)

So….more snow means more dancing!!!!  And yep, my husband and I just completed a three song set in the kitchen a little while ago!! 

Blessings dear ones,

IN CHRIST ALONE
Isaiah 55:8-9

*Strongs Concordance*

*Google image animation*

What MOM Can REST?!?

Christianity, Contemporary Christian Music, homeschooling, mom, Spiritual Encouragement, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , ,

photo-116

Wait, they are Asleep!! Rest…Wait, Who can REST??….There is Too much to do!!

I have just written a post on “resting in Christ” on my other blog, and thought of motherhood.  How on earth do you rest, let alone “rest in Christ” when you are a busy mother of a toddler, a baby, teenagers?  Not to mention if you have a  job outside your home,  homeschooling duties, ministry opportunities …well you get the picture and I am sure you are asking yourself that question.  

My desire is to give practical advice. Just  STOP!

 Now don’t get too excited.  I did not mean to stop, hop on a plane and head to St. Thomas (although that does sound inviting…hmmmm).  But there are certain things as Moms we just have to do.  We run the household in one way or another.  In this household I taught the boys as soon as they were able to learn how to cook, clean and do their own laundry.  Did it make my life easier?…Well not really, it took some time to teach them… But it did teach  skills that they most certainly have appreciated later in life.

However you choose take care of the household, you are still ultimately responsible.  It is easy to get into that “guilt and condemnation” rut that spews at you…”You never spend time with God, how can you possibly be a good________ (fill in the blank).  Friends, that is not from the Father.  You may not do a personal in depth Bible study daily, but don’t let that stop you from seeking Him everyday!  Never give up!  

I remember that every single day I had on Contemporary Christian music. (You can access http://www.wbvn.org from the internet or google CCM)  I became very consistent in that fact after I caught my eldest at the age of 3 acting out a soap opera that I was just sure he was not paying attention to!  Oh my, that was eye opening!

I tried to always read Bible stories to the kids daily and we believed that spending time on the truth was the most important thing we could do as parents. Although  I didn’t always seem to find the time to personally study or concentrate on God myself, these times with the kids would always minister to me in some way. And “out of the mouths of babes” never became more true!  Some of the discussions we would engage in as they got older will forever be etched in my memory.

Christian Music played a major part in our daily lives as well.   It was either based on scripture, or was scripture.  A three minute song could minister to me as a young mother like nothing else I did. And catching the boys singing a tune without their own awareness spoke volumes!  I could listen while folding laundry or changing a diaper.  They heard it as they played.  Either way I was involved in the spiritual and it affected the climate of our home.  

As I have already said a number of times, my boys are adults.  They actually remember songs that they heard when they were smaller.  I know that scripture has come to their mind many times through a song they sang along with.  As a teacher, I know that many facts can be taught in musical form.  What a better way to teach, and to REST ourselves!

So, take it easy on yourself Mom.  Your heart is in the right place.  There will be a day when they are gone (trust me on this) and you will have all the time in the world.  These seasons of life the Father provides many ways….you just have to be creative in how you access His word daily. 

And when they are down for that nap….take one yourself, or read a verse of scripture…the dishes can wait!!

“Matthew 11:28-30  Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Be blessed dear ones,

IN CHRIST ALONE
Isaiah 55:8-9

Both Sides of the Coin

Christianity, homeschooling, Love one another, mom, Spiritual Encouragement, teachers, , , , , , , , , , ,

coins

Have you ever been on “both sides of the coin?”  

Most of us have been at one time or another.  An employee/employer.  Child/Parent.  That is one of my favorites.  You know, when you get around your parents and they make you feel like a twelve year old again?  Or at my age when you get around your boys and they like to tease and make you feel like a very old woman!!  Mine enjoy that for some strange reason!

At any rate, I have been…in chronological order….a student, a brand new public school teacher, a brand new mom, a homeschooling mom, a mom of public/private school teenagers, and a public school teacher again.  So, as you can see I have been on both sides of the coin.  In fact, I have been on both sides of several coins! Sometimes I was shiny, other times very dull and pretty scratched up!

I believe that the Father can use all the experiences in this life to help others; and most often times He helps us.  As I held all these roles I have learned many things.  The most recent role as a public school special education teacher taught me many lessons.  God allowed all these experiences (plus many others) to make me the teacher and the person I knew He wanted me to be. Of course, I am still a work in progress, trust me!!

Once a parent, I became a better teacher.  That was my personal experience.  I no longer acted like I knew everything there was to know about teaching and parenting.  I realized that when someone was sitting across the table from you discussing your child, you took it personally if something was said that was condescending toward your child in any way.  I met parents in a different manner as a result of this experience.

I became a better teacher when I had children of my own because I finally understood unconditional love.  I will never forget looking into my sons’ eyes….and understanding that I would lay down my life for each of them…anytime, anyway. I felt like I “mothered” my students, and taught them as if they were my very own flesh and blood.

I have watched with horror over the last few years as some of our schools have become targets of senseless shootings.  But I have been filled with complete understanding as I have heard some of these teachers say “they are my kids when they are here at school and I will protect them the best I can.” Every teacher I have worked with has had that same attitude.

 I became a better teacher because I homeschooled my own children.  I was forced to put all I learned into practice about children having different learning styles, how God had indeed created them differently;  that each child had a purpose.  I honestly got to teach as I saw fit for each child.  This helped me see all the special qualities of my students. 

As a student, I can honestly say teachers were my heroes.  My parents divorced when I was in junior high and three teachers took time to talk to me and help me through this difficult time.  I always knew I would be a teacher.  It indeed was my calling.

Yes, I recently quit teaching.  The season changed.  It is not the same world I grew up in…and teachers aren’t given the respect that they once were given.  It is a very difficult job right now.  My hats are off to all of them.  They teach responsibility, respect, safety, morals; not to mention Math, Reading, Science, etc. Trust me when I say that there is not enough time in the day.  Education seems to be blamed for everything right now. I believe there are many reasons, but it is not for this time. Teaching had literally affected my spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health. It was time to be healed.

So maybe being on “both sides of the coin” can make us more compassionate towards others.  Maybe we can treat one another with more respect.  Maybe we can realize that we don’t understand everyone else’s circumstances. Maybe we can ask each other questions without being condescending towards one another. Maybe we can use our experiences to love on people as the Father would have us love on others. Maybe we can encourage one another…whether student, parent, teacher or homeschooling mom!!

Coins can have a shiny appearance, or be very dull and full of scratches.  Which are you?  Oh, how I pray my side can be shiny to all I meet and come in contact with these days!

“A new command I give you.  Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another. By this you will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

Blessings dear ones…

IN CHRIST ALONE
Isaiah 55:8-9