Homeschooling

I belong to a group of women known as homeschool moms. I have yet to figure out what all that entails, but I'm committed to what I feel God has called me to do. Most days I love it, but some days are hard, not because of the actual school part, but because I have two other little tots who require lots of attention when I'd like to be able to give all of it to Levi during school time. Oh well, it's the great juggle of life.

I am having fun and learning right alongside Levi. As I teach him phonics and he begins reading, I am actually learning rules that I didn't know or had completely forgotten about. It's amazing that anyone learns how to read at all with all the exceptions to the rule there are out there! But Levi is learning! And it is such a thrill to watch him "get it." He has just started to read short sentences and watching him sound them out is similar to playing Mad Gab. Levi sounds out the words slowly and is actually saying the word, but doesn't hear it until he's said it a few times, getting faster and faster each time. But when he "gets it" and realizes that he has just read a whole complete thought, he gets the biggest smile on his face and is so excited. I think the big hit on Friday was,"Bill drives a red van." He probably said the sentence 5 or 6 times before he truly realized what he was saying and then he looked up at me and said it all together with a big grin, dimples and all. It is moments like that when God affirms His call on me to keep my kids home and brings encouragement through their little faces.

Let the Good Times Roll!

Oh how I love, love, love this time of year! Cookies to bake, ornaments to make, crafts to complete, and memories to make! And all in anticipation of Jesus's birthday! It is a time of year when it it very obvious why Jesus said "Let the little children come to me,...for such is the kingdom of heaven." They are so excited about every little thing from the lights on the tree, to the advent calendar that marks the days until Christmas! I enjoy watching their faces light up over the simplest things. We headed down to the Fayetteville square Friday night and they were so excited about all the lights. As if the thousands of lights were not enough, there were camel rides (that's right-I said camel) and little ponies, and horse drawn carriages! To a 5 year old that's about as thrilling as it gets!

We have been very busy doing all the fun things that come with this time of year ( I wish there was a way to spread some of it out throughout the year). We've made paper snowflakes and decorated them - with glitter of course. We've made edible (yummy, yummy) sugar cone Christmas trees. We've made cookies, and ornaments, and colored pictures, and felt snowflakes, and drank hot cider, and told lots of stories about the true meaning of Christmas. There is just something so special about the family togetherness that we enjoy this time of year. I hope that my kids will remember all the fun things that we do and someday pass those on to their children.