I'm Dreaming of a Permanent Vacation...

Every morning, these past 10 days, as I slowly come out of slumber I struggle to figure out what day it is. When I realize it's another day of Christmas break I smile, roll over and usually go back to sleep dreaming of permanent vacation!

What a concept. No work, no school, no chores. Just play!

Coming home from our vacation in SoCal was wonderful, but a bit depressing. I have so much to be thankful for. Work, house, clothes, food. I must remind myself of this when I spend an entire day just catching up on office work, and the 2+ days it is taking to get the laundry done, and too many $'s later our kitchen is re-stocked.

I've been thinking about next week's dive into homeschooling. I've realized that my personality could use the organized curricula with all it's worksheets and schedules I could check off each day. Unfortunately this isn't about me. Trevor is like me when it comes to organization and list checking, but his learning is not best done by worksheets. Bummer.

I went to Costco yesterday and it hit me again what so many people start out their New Year hoping for: A thinner, healthier body, and organization in their lives. Thus, all of the workout equipment and plastic boxes of various sizes, shelving, and other organizational tools.

This week I thought I'd be all about organization. Purging the office of 2009 documents (which involves a trip to Staples and I LOVE that store), laying out a lesson plan for school, and going through the kids' rooms. Now I'm not feeling so ambitious. I'd love to sit with my kids and watch movies while cuddled under blankets.

No complaints about my life. It is a wonderful one :) I'm thankful to God for every new day He gives me and all that it brings.

Hot Cocoa & Peppermint Sticks

A quiet moment, one-on-one with my kids doesn't happen often. Now that I am home schooling, Trevor & I will have plenty of opportunities for this.

Over a cup of hot cocoa & a chocolate peppermint stick we discussed my plan for math. It wasn't the math conversation that was so momentous. Needless to say he really doesn't like my plan at all, but we both enjoyed our treat together. Just us. That is what we'll remember. Once we started working on math the moment was gone :)

This phrase popped in my head during our studies today. I need to post it as a reminder to pick my battles wisely:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference!

Snow Day!

Wouldn't you know it? Day #2 and our public schools are closed due to negative temps and power outages! I'm sorry, but I for one can not focus on such a new program with everyone home! So home schooling went out the window today.
It made me agitated this morning to not keep on the schedule I had planned, but I sat with my cup of coffee in front of the fire, staring at my beautiful Christmas tree and relaxed. That lasted about 10 minutes, and I hit the ground running.
Birthday shopping, errands, lunch with 2 of my kids. Then I got to spend some time with a wonderful friend getting ready to have her first baby. Literally. Unfortunately the contractions I timed for 1 1/2 hours at 3 minutes apart didn't last once she got to the hospital.
This day didn't turn out like we thought for either of us. Our days aren't predictable, and that is o.k.! Well, maybe not for my very pregnant friend at this moment, but I had an unexpectedly wonderful day.

Wear Love

I know that this is going to be a challenge. A test of my character among other things. One of the parts of our homeschooling day will be doing devotions together. I look forward to this because I know it is my responsibility to model this to him so in the future he will desire to do it on his own. Today's reading was a great blessing to me and had such a good nugget of truth in it for him as well:

Colossians 3:12-14
"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with 2nd place, quick to forgive and offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

3:20 Children, do what your parents tell you. This delights the Master to no end.

The morning went well. We're going to be figuring this out for awhile, but I did put a lesson plan together for the week. Well done me ;)

Taking the leap

Tomorrow is the big day. At least it is for Trevor and me. Life remains normal for the 3 siblings remaining in school, and for the most part for my husband also.

Trevor is relieved to try something different. I appreciate his enthusiasm he has shown so far. I'm not naive to the fact that we will have a lot of hard days. I know this because we've had so many hard nights struggling through homework.

Since there is only 2 weeks until Christmas Break we are going to tread lightly for now. I'm not going to overwhelm him with information. He's going to work at a level that will help him feel successful.

I will be learning to balance his instruction with keeping up in the office for our construction company, which thankfully is here at home. I also need my time at the gym, time to volunteer at the school, time to stay involved in a parent group in our community. Oh, and the shopping, cleaning (I may be calling in reinforcement from time-to-time!), and all of the other household duties!

I'm excited, and feel blessed that God has chosen me to walk this road with my son. I know we will look back and see His hand in it all!

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13