A shipment from Granma arrived from Amazon.com today, addressed to Michaela. Wasn't she intrigued to see that?! It's one thing to get mail addressed to her in HANDWRITING. Evidently, it was quite another to see it printed in block letters by a machine, by a company. ;-)
Inside, we relished going through all the new readers. Well. Mama did. We read one book, and because she didn't want to read anymore, she was done. She did enjoy looking through a couple of them, for the pictures.
I'm so grateful for my mother. Finding the funds to homeschool this coming year has been a challenge. The bulk of our cost is curriculum. It's enough that it creates a huge strain on the homeschool budget (i.e., it's not there) for the other things I want to include for her (such as science and arts & crafts).
Now, our first day of school is still a bit away. But... the learning's already begun. And.. I'm the student. See, God is the Teacher.
Mother's gotten us these delightful readers. Seven of them! Another 4 readers, and 4 science books are on their way from her. I got budget clearance to buy a few supplemental books for our homeschool, and when I went to do so, I found out that I had a long-forgotten $15.00 gift certificate sitting there, just waiting to be used! It's completely within the realm of *my* faith to consider that since the Spirit brings all things to our remembrance, perhaps He's at work removing some things, too; for if I'd ever spent that $15.00 before, it wouldn't have been available to me now when I needed it most!
Another item on my Homeschool Wishlist was a class calendar. I'd found them online, of course... but depending on their quality, they were $10-$35. I decided the $10 one would do - but gosh, wouldn't that ten bucks be better spent on something else?
I am a member of our local Freecycle and, sadly, I'm usually a day late to get any of the goodies that catch my eye. This morning, on a lark, I opened the digest I received of all the new listings. The very top of the list described a "Preschool/Homeschool Calendar", so I checked it out.
It's exactly what I wanted in a calendar for our classroom! Well, it's got a frog theme, not the adorable 'apple' design I'd been eyeballing, but here was a calendar that suited our needs, and FOR FREE! I responded to the ad immediately, and blessedly, so did the poster... it was still available, and we are picking it up today!
The remaining thing on my heart was what we were going to use for a Bible curriculum. I've looked around, and a lot of what I found was just still.. more money we couldn't afford. The one I'd wanted was a full-on curriculum - and over $200 by itself!!! Even the less expensive ones were more than we can really spare, financially. I just couldn't find what I need. I hated to piecemeal a bible curriculum together, but it looked like I was going to have to.
... Until I was going through some books to ready the schoolroom. Here was this book that my husband had bought, years ago, to use with his first child. He'd brought it to my attention 2 years ago, probably; I admit I barely glanced at a page and decided Michaela was 'too young for this right now'. I have never looked again at the book. Until 2 days ago. I opened it up... and found our bible curriculum! It's a book I'd seen in other homeschoolers blogs and also in used curriculum sales. I recognized the title from there, and opened it up. This book is amazing! I truly almost started to cry! It's everything and more that I want to teach my daughter about our Father, and it was bought and paid for, and sitting in my hands!
I don't know about you, but I see God's blessed provision all over us lately. He knows the desires of my heart for teaching my daughter, and He knows my financial limitations. I'm learning to trust Him & His goodness. And, look! I begin to fret less, and trust Him more... and here comes Granma with a heart full of supplemental readers and science books. Here's the calendar I need.. free! And here is the PERFECT book to guide me through tenderly teaching my precious daughter about our precious Father!
No, we aren't yet 'ready for school'. We still have to purchase the curricula (which I *just* decided upon), and *WHEW!!!* don't get me started on the condition of the bed/schoolroom. A schedule? HA! A schedule, are you serious?
But we are getting there. Slowly. Steadily. I'm learning this lesson. I'm gradually learning to let go, and trust God with this. And already, it's become evident: Slow & Steady Wins the Grace.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Here She Goes Again!
After more than a decade of infertility, my no-longer-prayed-for miracle arrived. Just like that, I was pregnant!
Certainly, I began my pregnancy just like most mothers in America today - doctors, ultrasounds, and I planned a 'normal' hospital birth.
But the days wore on, and as I prepared myself for birth, I started reading about midwives and natural birth. The short version is that I ended up laboring in a warm bath, and giving birth to my child into the hands of a loving and capable midwife.
What followed were several other child-rearing decisions that didn't particularly sit well with most of my family, and even some friends - we co-slept, baby-wore, and I not only breast-fed, but ended up doing so for 3 years.
I've stayed home with my daughter the entire time, which included a period of plenty, (making my staying home economically easy) ... and a longer (and more current) period of want, (which makes the idea of my staying home seem ludicrous to some).
Like many of my parenting choices before, I've got another 'radical' one planned. I'm going to homeschool my daughter.
Five years ago, that precious creature was laid at my breast. Soon, we 'officially' begin our homeschool journey. How can this day be so rapidly approaching?
I'm such a 'good Mama', that before she was even 1 year old, I started researching homeschooling. I'd get overwhelmed and stop. Complain to a few homeschooling friends. Put it away, since, like, they all told me, "You have plenty of time!" This has happened many times over the last five years. Finally, I *did* leave it alone. I had plenty of time. No worries.
Hakuna matada!!!
Well. Ahem. Now, it's here. The time has come. For the last two months (or more), I've been researching. Researching what? Mostly, curriculum. But also... just the experiences of other homeschooling families. I've fried my brain with reading and reading and reading. Then I realized -
"What we seek outside ourselves, can often be found within us."
So, I've decided to start this blog. It will document what we are doing.. for me.. for my daughter (one day, if she cares to read it).. and for those family members who are more concerned that we will turn out like that *one* homeschool-horror story they know or heard of. Additionally, most of our family is "away", and so can't *see* what we are doing, or how well she is being taught. So, this blog will also serve to be a link to them, so they can see and read about what we are doing, why we're doing it, and where we are on this wonderful journey.
Hopefully, they will come to agree that the journey is wonderful, indeed!
... and, mayhap, you'll find a small part of it informative & inspirational. If so, then the blessing spreads, like the ripples in a pond.
And thus begins my homeschooling blog.
Certainly, I began my pregnancy just like most mothers in America today - doctors, ultrasounds, and I planned a 'normal' hospital birth.
But the days wore on, and as I prepared myself for birth, I started reading about midwives and natural birth. The short version is that I ended up laboring in a warm bath, and giving birth to my child into the hands of a loving and capable midwife.
What followed were several other child-rearing decisions that didn't particularly sit well with most of my family, and even some friends - we co-slept, baby-wore, and I not only breast-fed, but ended up doing so for 3 years.
I've stayed home with my daughter the entire time, which included a period of plenty, (making my staying home economically easy) ... and a longer (and more current) period of want, (which makes the idea of my staying home seem ludicrous to some).
Like many of my parenting choices before, I've got another 'radical' one planned. I'm going to homeschool my daughter.
Five years ago, that precious creature was laid at my breast. Soon, we 'officially' begin our homeschool journey. How can this day be so rapidly approaching?
I'm such a 'good Mama', that before she was even 1 year old, I started researching homeschooling. I'd get overwhelmed and stop. Complain to a few homeschooling friends. Put it away, since, like, they all told me, "You have plenty of time!" This has happened many times over the last five years. Finally, I *did* leave it alone. I had plenty of time. No worries.
Hakuna matada!!!
Well. Ahem. Now, it's here. The time has come. For the last two months (or more), I've been researching. Researching what? Mostly, curriculum. But also... just the experiences of other homeschooling families. I've fried my brain with reading and reading and reading. Then I realized -
"What we seek outside ourselves, can often be found within us."
So, I've decided to start this blog. It will document what we are doing.. for me.. for my daughter (one day, if she cares to read it).. and for those family members who are more concerned that we will turn out like that *one* homeschool-horror story they know or heard of. Additionally, most of our family is "away", and so can't *see* what we are doing, or how well she is being taught. So, this blog will also serve to be a link to them, so they can see and read about what we are doing, why we're doing it, and where we are on this wonderful journey.
Hopefully, they will come to agree that the journey is wonderful, indeed!
... and, mayhap, you'll find a small part of it informative & inspirational. If so, then the blessing spreads, like the ripples in a pond.
And thus begins my homeschooling blog.
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