Tag Archives: homeschooling mom

SNOW DAYS…Dance And…..

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

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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, , , , , , , , , , ,

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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

Hello? Who? “Homeschooling Calling”??

Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

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Hello?  What?  Who?  Me?  Excuse Me?!

That is pretty much how it started.  Seriously.  I needed a direct call from God to convince me that I needed to homeschool.  Or at least a hit on the head by a two by four!

Be careful what you pray for.  

I had been a teacher in the public schools.  What would people think of me?  Would I ruin my kids’ lives?  They will be social outcasts, gulp, forever!! There was a lot to consider here.  In 1992 it wasn’t exactly a “popular” thing to do.  We were bordering on the edge of weirdness. 

A lot of my friends thought we were crossing a line.  It was okay to “talk” to God, and even “hear” from Him, but this was a pretty major situation.  I remember one friend even told me…..“You will never get a job in the public school system because it is an insult!  And what about sports, how will your boys ever compete?  I am worried about this Tammy.”

Oh well, wouldn’t be the first time I did something “weird,” it was just be the first time it had an effect on my children.  So back to the praying.  And never tell me God does not have a sense of humor.  

I had delivered some cookies to someone I did not know too well at the time.  She told me as I was leaving that she had felt led to homeschool her daughter.  Remember I did not know her that well?  I told her that my husband had wanted me to pray about it, but that I needed a “two by four” to hit me across the head.  She knew he would.  And he did.

Disclaimer***this is not my suggested way to look for answers from God***

I was crying when I arrived home.  I needed the quietest place in the house.  (Did I mention I had two boys, 6 and 4?)  I think I ended up in the shed or the end of our street, or somewhere like that!   I had my Bible in hand and I begged God to show me what to do.  

I knew the answer already, but I was bucking up against it big time!  I had to retain my reputation in the town!  I had always wanted to teach in my hometown. The boys?  I cannot mess them up Lord!!! What was I doing?  Lord, nooooooooooo!

Wait for it…..WHAM….the two by four.  I opened the Bible to 

Isaiah 54:4-13  “Do not be afraid, you will not suffer shame.  Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.  You will forget the shame of your youth.”  OK.  First whack!!

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken.”  Second Whack!….

“Both your sons will be taught by the Lord and great will be your children’s peace.”WHAM, WHACK, WOW.  

So you see the picture.(Literally…weren’t they cute?)  I had no choice.  I had my confirmation.  Pretty clear to me.  More weeping ensued…throughout the years I might add…not an easy job! But more on that in later blogs.

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We started fall of 1992.  The eldest was homeschooled until his junior year of high school.  He then attended a private high school.  Our other son was homeschooled through seventh grade, eighth in private Christian school and attended a public high school. Both graduated with high school diplomas….and college diplomas…and the youngest received his master’s degree last year.  

I don’t think we ruined their lives.  We accepted the call, and I would do it all over again.  They both said that they are glad we homeschooled them, and they totally enjoyed telling students in their college courses they were homeschooled…just to get a reaction.  Yep, they picked up someone’s sense of humor in school!! Those kids pick up so much from their peers in school…..teehee

Everyone has a different story.  It is a calling, I truly believe.  And I hope I can encourage you in your journey. 

P.S.  I got a job in the public school system in my hometown 10 years ago.  I told you God has a sense of humor!

Blessings,

IN CHRIST ALONE
Isaiah 55:8-9

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