One month in.

WE ARE ALIVE!
WE STILL LIKE EACH OTHER!

These were two of my worries starting this homeschooling journey. Amazingly we have had success.
This month has been so busy. Its actually not that much different than other months. I think there is always something to keep us busy and we tend to shift one thing over for another.

Truth:
No matter who we are or what stage in life we are in we are always facing a challenge.
Home schooling Olivia has really fit right into our day to day life. Its nice to have a schedule. I love schedules! I really do. I will be honest and say that my goal to be dressed and ready for the day before we start school has not been met yet. I mean I have clothes on just not anything I would want to be seen in. So what, I'm the teacher in her PJ'S. I am working on this though. Its been noticed. Someone little told me recently I look like Fancy Nancy's momma. "Oh wow" I thought she must be really pretty. lol
forgetting what she looked like in the book. She's pretty but we both have the same MOMMA Look. Work out Clothes (cause then maybe people will think "oh she just came from the gym") pony tail and no makeup. This pretty much sums up my uniform. I am trying to get out of this rut! Lord knows I need  help. I guess it comes down to not really caring about yourself and being to tired taking care of all the other things around me. Its the typical momma thing always taking care of everyone and everything around you but not YOU. Needless to say I see this and I know I have changes to make.

Classroom Love:
I love having a classroom. I love having a kindergartener. She is so excited about everything we talk about. She hates sitting still and doing quiet work. She challenges me and reminds me daily that I am loved! This month the highlights have been watching her read a book to me. I am seeing how she learns best anything hands on and she is a go. We have been so blessed by this sweet time together.
Yes there are days were I think there is no way I can do this today or I want to scream SIT DOWN AND SHUT IT! But, even in those times i remind myself I cant be the only one screaming that in my head. there are other teachers other homeschooling momma's and papa's thinking the same thing.

So all in all I am happy with our first month. We are still alive and we still like each other. Maybe that doesn't seem like that much of a success. I'll take it. lol
Next month maybe I get out of my uniform and blowdry my hair. Goals are a good thing!

Bless you sweet friends for reading my post. May the Lord shine brightly upon you today! You are Loved!

Day 3

Just finished up day 3!
I am really learning how Olivia learns. I am asking that the Lord open my eyes to see how to teach her in the best way for her. She is loving the schedule and knowing that the school room doors open at 8:45am and class starts at 9. So far she is awake by 6:30 am asking is it time yet? So grateful for the adventure we are on.
I am finding it to be challenging during some moments mainly the ones which require her to do things she is not interested in. Oh you know like sitting still and reading! So, I am already seeing how we can change things from day to day to fit our needs.
I honestly am so focused on the schooling right now that my house has taken a back seat, like the last seat in a greyhound bus near the bathroom! I am giving myself this first week to focus on the schooling only and just let the chips fall where they may. Praying for Balance.

How do you handle it?
How do you handle the balance between babies and homeschooling your older children?

Here is my moment of realness... My goal was to be up and dressed (hair done, make up on) and ready for the day before we started school. 1out of 3 isn't bad! try again tomorrow. The funniest thing to me is that Olivia thinks having a picture in your outfit before school is apart of the daily schooling process. She doesn't think its only for the first and last day. At least we don't have to a student-teacher picture daily! Especially on the days I am still in my PJs.

Be Blessed!

Here We Go!

For the past four or so years I have felt that the Lord was directing us to homeschool. I had no idea about homeschooling. In fact I didn't know a single person who was a homeschooling family at that time. None the less I stored it away in my heart and thought I've got plenty of time before I even have to think about that.
Fast forward four years and today was our very first day of homeschooling!
I cant really believe we are here and Olivia is already in Kindergarten. I mean DO WHAT!
But, we are and she is. Over the last year we have been gathering our materials and I have been searching and praying about whether this was the right path. Only to find that every time I thought no, she is going to public school the Lord would send someone my way who was homeschooling to encourage me. So, after about three of these said encounters I submitted and obeyed. I allowed the Lord  to show me what HE wanted for this year. I am following what HE wants for her. We are not afraid of public school, we are not fearful or over protective we are merely submitted to the Lord for what he would want for HIS child. We are taking it one grade at a time. One year, One step at a time. Seeking the Lord and waiting for HIS leading.
I struggled with wanting the "normal". Wanting the same experience as the majority. To "FIT IN". But,  I realized that I am not the "NORMAL". I am unique, fearfully and wonderfully made. My life, my families life is not going to fit in a box! Its not going to look like every one else's. Not every thing is the same for everybody.
All that to say HOMESCHOOLING here we go!

Today was our first day.
I was awaken by Olivia's nose touching mine.
"Mommy, is it time for school?"
"Hold on baby, Let me check the time, uh NO its 6:15 am. School isn't until 9am"
So, my plan to rise early and have an hour to my self didn't work out. Oh well! So began the morning routine. After breakfast and Pictures the doors to room were open and we began the first day of our new adventure!
I was surprised how quickly the school work was done. I had to remind myself that its Kindergarten not 11th grade. Olivia loved every minute, honestly I did too. I had this sense of "I was created to do this". I loved seeing her realize something she didn't know before. I enjoyed watching her be creative and being the one who got to see that first hand. What an awesome Blessing to be given.
I am grateful to the Lord for this year. For this new adventure.

Here are some pictures of our school room and Olivia's first day.

Thanks for reading and stoping by! Ill see you tomorrow.

Quiet!What the heck is that?

I am sat in my room and its overwhelmingly quiet. Baby Boo is taking a nap and Daddy took Liv to swim.
I am shocked at how strange quiet is to me. How odd it feels. In fact, I am finding my self searching for the sound of a cry or whine for that matter. Quiet is like a long lost friend who takes a few minutes to reconnect, but then when you finally do you think to yourself "why don't we hang out more together?"

We are on the cusp of some major changes in this household. HOMESCHOOLING! Yes Livi Loo is starting K in August and The Lord has made it clear that we are to homeschool this year. Some days I am completely overwhelmed with the thought let alone actually doing it! How will I get it done and keep everything else afloat. Will I ever take a shower again? Will my house ever feel clean? Will the clean laundry ever find its way to the closet or will the chair be its home forever? Will we still like each other?

BREATHE. Relax. Trust. Rely. Repeat.

Its funny how easy it is to look around and think to myself. "Oh man those people have it together, if only I was like that person, If only I had that or could do this." I forget how much HE has placed in me! I forget all that HE has trusted me with. I forget that HE is IN me TO  do HIS will! HE makes a way for me. HE does the work HE paid the price. HE (JESUS) is why I live and move and have my being!

Just typing that I am filled with a sense of strength, a knowing that I can do all things through HIM who strengthens me.

Homeschooling is no "Goliath" Homeschooling is an adventure!

Honestly I have no idea what this year will be like. I do know that He has gone before me and made a way. I know that HE has equipped me and that I will have a lot to write about I am sure!

So, I will soak in all this quiet and let it cover me like a warm bath! Knowing how hard it is to come by. I am drinking it up.