"You're Homeschooling!?"

(You might want to scroll down and pause the music playlist on the side bar before you read this post.)

Lately I've heard many different responses from people who learn that we are going to home school our children. I've heard positive and encouraging comments which are always welcome, especially to someone who can feel overwhelmed looking at the road ahead. I've also had people respond nicely, but it's very obvious from their facial expressions that they're thinking, "Oh wow, you're gonna deprive your children of a normal school experience!? They're gonna turn out weird!" I've even had people come right out and say, "Oh, I could never do that!"

I can honestly say I've had my own fears, doubts, and stereotypes when it comes to homeschooling. I'm also sorry to say that when I used to think of homeschooling, images of women in floor length floral jumpers with stringy hair and no makeup and of 6 year olds that knew the pythagorean theorem but didn't know what a cartoon was, came to mind. LOL Shame on me. I know, horrible of me right! Um, something like this:



OK, give me a minute, I'm still laughing...

(By the way, this is all in good fun and was done by a Christian comedian and homeschooling dad, Tim Hawkins.) Hilarious guy!

Seriously though, I was unsure and overwhelmed when years ago I started hearing the Lord's call to me about homeschooling my children. Even just as recently as a month ago, I wasn't sure what we were going to do with Hannah and was flip flopping regarding what to do about 1st grade. But we have since made up our minds to obey the Lord's calling and have jumped into the journey of homeschooling. It hasn't been easy. (There are times I've wanted to pull my hair out, and run screaming from the house in frustration! Yes, I'm being real here.) Usually this is because of my own failings and unreasonable expectations vs. goals. (More on that subject later.) I can already say that after two weeks, the joys and blessings far outweigh the difficult times.

Philip and I had to come to terms with what we were really feeling about what the Lord was laying on our hearts. The doubts and uncertainty were more on our own part.
Can we really do this?
I don't know how to teach geometry or trigonometry!
I don't have a degree in Education!
What about physics, and socialization, and chemistry, and, and ,and...?

But it always came back to are we going to base our decisions on what society or our culture says about what we should do with our children, or are we going to yield to His calling for our lives and look to His Word for guidance? We cling to these verses!

"I can Do all things through Christ who strengthens me. " Philippians 4:13

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

"And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” Isaiah 54:13

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7

I have found so many resource websites and blogs on the subject of home schooling that it is mind boggling. But I have come across some wonderful moms that write candidly about what it means to them to home school their children. I can honestly say that they have rocked my world. Their straight forward advice and convictions, backed with scripture, have totally shaken my thoughts and views on motherhood and raising children. I can't tell you how many times I've read something and have called to Philip, "You've got to read this!" Sometimes all we can do is look at each other and say wow! Oh, how we have been challenged! I'm blessed by these blogs with their humor, their love for their children, their love for God, and their practical advice that makes me think, "I CAN do this!" I will be sharing some links in the future because some is just too good not to share!

I also understand that many do not share my same thoughts on raising children and home schooling. You might even think we're absolutely cuh-razy! And that is okay. I'm not judging or forcing my opinions on others. I know that there are many people in different situations and with different beliefs. So please don't misunderstand me when I post about our decisions for our family. We try to look up as much as we can on this road of life, and not from side to side. We try to keep our eyes on Christ.

So with that, I plead with each of us that profess faith in Christ. Each of us needs to search the Scriptures, pray diligently, and evaluate ALL the choices we are making in the light of His Word! I only hope that we all will start to realize that we need to make our lifestyle choices based on the Word of God, not on self-serving interests or cultural expectations. Easier said than done! Right! (It's hard to focus on Him when there's so much outside noise.)

So that's it! This is the beginning of our home schooling journey. Check back again with us crazy Shababys. I will occasionally post more in the future sharing about our fun, our triumphs, our failures, and generally what's working for us. First thing I'd like to share is this link:
Motherhood Is a Calling (And Where Your Children Rank)

Motherhood is definitely a calling and a sacrifice, but look at these faces! I love my calling!

The fog has lifted! I'm back!

(Disclaimer: Please excuse any grammar mistakes! My brain is still sluggish as I get back into the swing of writing again. I think I might need to get an English major or someone to proofread for me. Hopefully I'll improve as time goes on.) =)

It's been over a year since I've blogged last. But, I finally feel like I'm coming out of a fog and my brain is working again. Why, do you ask? Well, we have a new addition to our family! Luke was born March 22nd of this year. I found out I was pregnant a few days before Santa left to return to Latvia. (By the way, she has since been hosted again by a family who loves her and has offered her adoption! We are praying for her as she makes her decision. Yes, she does have a choice. And we are praying for a positive answer. We will always have a special place in our hearts for Santa!) We trust that God has her future in His hands.

So, right after she left I was suffering from morning sickness, and I also had to take hormones to prevent a miscarriage. I have had to take them before. They made me feel AWFUL! I groaned every time I had to take a pill, but knew I'd do anything to help protect my baby. These hormones also have a side affect of lowering blood pressure too. Which for me is not so good since my blood pressure is usually already low. 90/60 My blood pressure would drop to 80/50 or even lower and I would almost pass out. I pretty much stayed at home a lot those first few months because I was terrified that I would have a dizzy spell and faint while I was driving. Thank the Lord we all made it through! And, I now have a precious baby boy to love!

We also had a scary time as a family. I was 6 weeks pregnant, we hadn't even told anyone yet, when Philip became ill. At first we thought he was just having a migraine. I get them from time to time, and they are horrible, but Philip has never had one before. But this horrible headache that was incapacitating my husband did not go away. I will tell you that watching my usually healthy happy husband writhing in agony from the pain was almost more than I could bear. We went to an urgent care clinic. When the word meningitis was mentioned the bottom of my stomach dropped out. They suggested that we go immediately to an ER to get a true diagnosis. Now, I will tell you there have only been a couple of times when I've wanted to shake some sense into my husband, and this was one. He wanted to go home and take a nap first! (Now, I know he was tired and in pain and didn't understand the severity of what the doctor was saying.) I'm sure I must have looked at the Dr. with a look of horror that said." Do something!" Because he said, "Sure you can go home and go to sleep first, but you might not wake up." I'm glad he said that because I would have physically dragged Philip to the ER if I'd had to. (Isn't that just like a man? "Oh, I'll be alright. Just let me sleep it off." *Sigh*) After spending hours and hours in the ER and after doing a spinal tap they determined it was Viral Meningitis. Whew! We were so concerned it would be Bacterial Meningitis which can be fatal. I was also concerned that being exposed to this would endanger the unborn baby. But God was with us, Philip's strength gradually returned and I never became sick either. Those were some uncertain and scary days, but I can honestly say that I never felt panicked. I felt God's peace and presence through it all. God is so good and so faithful to carry you through the storm.

This past year was full of so many memories and I thank God for His many blessings. Adding a new baby can be an adjustment. But I can now say that after having 3 babies, it does get easier. I've pretty much figured out the baby stage of mothering. (Until they, just to keep things interesting, throw you for a loop and decide to change things up just as soon as you've figured them out. That's just part of it!) The hardest part is the lack of sleep at the end of my pregnancy and the during first couple of months after he was born. But, I'm proud to say that my mental faculties are now working again... sort of. Well, as best as they can now with a baby and two little girls running circles around me! I'm thankful for my life as a wife and mother. Motherhood is definitely a calling and a life lived in constant sacrifice to others. But, I wouldn't have it any other way. May God be glorified through it all.

Here are a few pictures to catch you up on the past year.