Refreshed in perspective

Hi everyone!

I know, it's been awhile since I've said hi.
Let me just fill you in a little bit...

A few weeks ago, I went though (what I now know as) my yearly freakout. I realize now that every time we start school up again I start thinking maybe, just maybe I'm not doing what I should be. I freakout, then I pray. God is always so faithful to bring a fresh perspective on our schooling.

In this case I came again to the yahoo group. I'm so thankful for this group!! I wish I had others around me who were using the SOW curriculum (or even friends within my church that would homeschool for that matter!) But, that's not the case. So, I am very very grateful for the ability to talk things out with like minded people online. Anyway...

After a few posts, Merle the author of the SOW curriculum wrote to me. Let me just repeat that, she wrote to me. Then, she took time out of her day to give me a call. And oh my! The wisdom this woman has is incredible!! I'm so so thankful for that conversation. I just wish I could have recorded the conversation so that I could go back over all that was said. I was doing all I could to take in every word. She reminded me once again that it's not just about the education of our children, it's the nurturing of every part of them. She gave me a wealth of ideas and encouragement, then she prayed for me. God is soo good!!

So, since then I've been reordering my life a bit here and there in different ways. I am very excited about this school year.

First of all, I need to say that we are really struggling financially. I have picked one of the most inexpensive curriculums there are out there, yet at this point we aren't able to get those things to make it work. It's really going to be ok. I have narrowed it down to the very basics - phonics, math, and a few small things. I think the total is somewhere around $100. So, it shouldn't be too long of a wait until we can really begin. In the meantime I'm doing the best I can. ;o) I promise I'm not complaining - God has provided in amazing ways!!!!!! He is always always always always faithful and He knows what He is doing. I trust that His plan is best.

Anyway, in the meantime I'm taking time to get organized. Made a schedule, organizing the bookshelf, oh and I made little mini notebooks for each of the subjects (language arts/prayer/daily studies/english).

Here's the new schedule we'll be implementing as soon as we can.

Daily Schedule

Get Ready
(Get Dressed, Clean Room)

Sing song
Praise God

Pray:
Personal Requests
(option to share yesterday's journal)
Prayer Box
(people around us)
For Country
(new one each week)
Pray over children

Go for a walk

Eat Breakfast

Thankful Journal
Manners book
Prayer Journals

Share Yesterday's Work
(Discussion Questions)

Language arts/Devotional
(see weekly schedule)

Daily Studies
(Sci/Hist/Geo/Writing/Electives)

Outside play

Lunch

Independent Study
(Phonics/Math)

Free-play

Chores
(see list)

Daddy Home!!

This schedule is much different than we've ever done before. I like that we actually get out of the house in the morning. I like that we're putting the important stuff first. I like that my afternoons are totally free, yet everything is getting done that needs to be done. (school, chores, playtime) In the morning we'll all be working together. I think this will strengthen our school time together. Before it was a little bit hit and miss when we'd get together. This seems to flow very naturally. The most fun out of all of this is I've decided to bring in my Little Bear to SOW with us. She is VERY excited. It's going to add such a neat dynamic to our school. What's funny is she will have almost the same work as Superkid, but it will be on her level and she will work more with me versus independently.

Right now we have been doing a mini table time for school. After breakfast we do the following: sing, pray (together, over kids and for the country of the week), thankful list, manners book and then we just read a chapter from the new testament. Eventually we will just start into our SOW at that point.

Anyway, that's the latest in our home.
Check back later for more updates...