Education is life with intentional joy!

"All schools both here and in America should teach far fewer subjects far better."

- C.S. Lewis

Motherhood is such a unique occupation.  Taxi driver, cook, counselor, teacher, coach, heart specialist and the list goes on and on.

I've always believed that one cannot give what one does not have. 

As a mom, this plays out daily as I see my children's weaknesses as a reflection of my own.  I shine in the area of one that needs HELP to finish tasks as I look to my left and notice I've begun sweeping the floor but left the math test I was correcting sitting on the counter while I listen to dad tell me why he likes Angel Soft toilet paper better than Scott because he needs...you know where that's going.

But, we are ALL ON A JOURNEY.  Daily, my Bible tells me, I'm being conformed to the image of my Father in heaven.  That encourages me to believe that as I'm learning to submit to His voice and follow Him, I, in turn, will direct my kids down the path to freedom.

Today, being MONDAY, and as my dad is home from the hospital and I have a 'slightly' weightier workload on my shoulders, I got up even earlier to talk to Daddy and read His Word.  I have been asking Him to give me HIS eyes for the boys education. 

The 'schedule/routine' of a "Traditional School Day" is, to be quite honest, out the window. 

I know that. 

If I strive with having to have things the way everyone around me does, I'll pull out my hair, give up and put 'em in school.  (I did tell them yesterday that unless they decide they really want to be home and learn, they are going to school.  But that was to somehow convey that I do not have to put up with their stinkin' thinkin' that they shouldn't have to work...)

...and I believe they knew I meant business.

This morning, when I asked Daddy to open my eyes to HIS leading, I sensed peace.  The boys got up, went straight to eat, took care of their hens and then, just like usual, they climbed in bed with me to warm up.  But today, Caleb walked in with his Bible and began reading the Proverb of the day. 
Now God had my attention.  My prayers were beginning to manifest.  Wow.  THEY proceeded to bring me what they needed my help with...

One of my new duties is to take mom to dialysis three days a week, a job I'd not really needed to tend to since my folk's initially moved to TX and I had to show them around town.   So, I took Caleb with me so he can get the wheelchair in and out of the car for me.  As he helped his gramma into her chair, it hit me...this is learning.  This is why I'm doing what I'm doing.  Watching him hold her hand, wheel her in and care for her so tenderly and then run back in because he thought she'd called him back, reminded me that He is in this whole ordeal.  I just need my thinking changed about what my expectations are and then to listen daily, actually moment by moment.
As we stood in line at the grocery store after dropping mom off, the cashier asked Caleb if he was off today and he, helping her load the groceries in the bags, told her he was homeschooled.  Again, it hit me..here we are, he's learning about comparison shopping, serving the cashier and communicating with a stranger in a positive

Hope is rising.

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I really want them to be able to speak publicly, so I grabbed the Communication book I have (it's gotta be from the 80's, which always brings lots of laughs) and on the way home, Caleb was reading the assignment and orally answering the questions about 'being self aware'.  

Question:  "What is the one thing you like least about your gender and also about the opposite gender?"

His answer:  The one thing I like least about the male gender is that they won't shutup and ask for directions...and the thing I dislike most about women is that THEY WON'T LEAVE THE MAN ALONE!"

Perhaps it's just the way he said it or maybe his perception about genders, but I could not stop laughing and the tears were making it difficult to see the road!

I post this to remind myself that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  Though things don't 'look' like the traditional way of learning, I'm seeing things much more clearly today!

Vacation time away...

The boys and I were given an opportunity to get away with a friend to a beautiful home along the Guadalupe river for a few days this past week and the time away was such a respite for us all.

The first day there, the ducks greeted us on the dock!  I'm sure they just wanted food!   It was a wonderful welcome!

There was fishing...

 A huge hammock to chill out in...

...and that was just the first day.

Tuesday morning, when I got up, there was a cloud over the river:

and frost...amazing!

There were lizards to catch, a quiet neighborhood to ride their bikes,  
lots of snacks to munch on, and of course they just HAD TO JUMP IN THE FREEZING COLD RIVER JUST ONCE!  That's all it took to wake them up...their comment:  "Boy, that was stupid!"

For the first time in their lives, they each learned how to sail a kayak.  Actually, we all learned! 

Isaac learned to canoe first and because he was in it with two others, he bragged that he was stronger than Caleb because he was in the front of the canoe and 'pulling three people!'

I didn't get into the kayak until the last day...I wasn't so sure I wanted to end up in the freezing water!  But I told myself to relax and just enjoy the journey.  After I talked to myself for a while, I began to enjoy the scenery. 

It was such a spectacular time making memories and enjoying God's creation.  I spied lots of different birds out there and captured a few...

I will always treasure moments like these. 

I saw a side of the boys that I haven't seen since we lived in the country: being free to enjoy nature and each other out-of-doors, playing pranks on mom and being tired out at the end of the day from rowing! 

I am so thankful to Daddy for His extravagant  love to us this past week while my Love is in Florida.  We all made memories!

Defining moments: They come in a swoosh of time!

He shoots...

HE SCORES!!!

Now, that was a defining moment in our son, Caleb's, life!

Sure, the other team players shoot and score and it's no big deal because they've been playing for years on a team and they play as though the game is all about them (they only pass the ball to someone they know or are sure they might score...this isn't a criticism, just the way it is at this level, especially if the coach isn't interested in anything other than winning.)

But for Caleb, he told us the ONE thing he wanted more than anything was to be able to score! He put his faith to work and got out there and scored!!!

Now, Isaac had his moment, as well.  He has sat on the sidelines most of every game because of fear and because he says basketball isn't 'his' thing.  But this was the last game.  And despite the coach not taking a risk and giving him much time on the court, he did go out for about five minutes and he did assist a guy in scoring.  That thrilled him as well, but not enough for him to ever want to play the game again.  At least not on a team.

These two young men are marvelous and wonderfully made.  Each has his strengths and weaknesses, as we all do.  My job description is to keep looking heavenward, standing in the place of prayer for them and cheering them on with words of Life and kindness that encourage them to press forward.

This morning was a perfect example.  It was time for me to give a spelling test to one of them and I specifically said I wanted the words "Unit 4, Test" written on the top line with the date in the corner.  Well, he began an elaborate drawing of the letters in block form...(which is really no big deal, but the lesson he needed to learn was submission.)  When I repeated that I didn't want 'those' kinds of letters, but just plain letters, he began to get offended and everything unraveled for him...his countenance changed, his attitude began to get hard! I, on the other hand, immediately saw this opportunity as a teachable moment. 

We'd just read two days ago about how Jesus did what the Father told him to do and said what the Father wanted him to, the WAY HE WANTED HIM TO SAY IT ! John 12: 44-50

⁴⁴ Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. ⁴⁵ For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. ⁴⁷ I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. ⁴⁸ But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.⁴⁹  I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it.⁵⁰ And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”

It was an anointed moment to explain that he was under authority and that if his Savior, who is our example, could submit to His Father's will by obediently submitting his will for us (him) all the way to the cross, then he nor I have any excuses not to submit and that I was the parent, not him and he had to obey my authority because God gave me that authority for his good.  I reminded him that perhaps writing his letters a certain way isn't a big deal, but what is a big deal is his response to my authority.  That mattered more to God than spelling and that, fortunately for him, I love him.  Someday, I told him, he'd have at least one boss that won't care whether he lives or dies.  Because I love him, I'm persevering to train him to obey God in order that when he does have an ungodly boss, that no matter what he tells him to do or how he treats him, because he's learned submission, obedience and trust in God, he will be able to be a blessing to that man/woman and God will honor him.

HE GOT IT!  I mean he really got it. 

When that happens, words cannot describe the joy a mother feels when she sacrifices her days for the next generation. 
It's in those moments that I remember the WHY of home education.  And it's also a reminder of how important it is for me to be abiding in His love and praying for each one of my five children.  Each one is in their own game! 

...one never knows when a teachable moment will happen...

Moms, we must be ready to be poured out. 

Are you aiming your children toward the bullseye? 

Are your thoughts about your children being renewed or are you missing the shot? 

This game is too short, don't waste any shots you're given!

My movie makers/pajama men...

Once again, they've made me laugh and used their 'imaganation'...as put in the credits!
...Enjoy!


I had no idea they left the house in their p.j.'s!  Thankfully, this was on a Sat. morn and they only went around the corner to the church playground! 
Boys, twin boys..one just never knows what they'll do!
(We definitely have to work on spelling!!!)

My Twinners~

Words aren't enough sometimes to describe how much I love these two boys.  How they, in their own way, crack me up and stretch me beyond what I would have imagined!
Two nights ago, I went in to kiss them goodnite and since I hadn't seen them go outside to put the hens up, I asked if they'd done that...Isaac was already asleep, but Caleb sat up and mumbled something I did not understand.  So, I asked him again, thinking he was dreaming and didn't hear me...he then turned towards me and in the gruffest tone of voice I'd ever heard, he said something (which I could not interpret)....so I asked him one more time and he said, in a very very gruff-like voice and even louder, 'YES I DID, DO I NEED TO SAY IT AGAIN?'  I couldn't stop giggling because he sounded like a bear growling at me!  And the funniest thing is that he was asleep when he said it, or at least half asleep!
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I've told them that we're going to walk at 6:45-7 every morning and everyday up until today, I've gone in to remind them.  Today, Daddy told me to begin with 'reality consequences' for their choices to give them the opportunity to grow up and own their education, etc, and so when I went in their today, I said I was leaving in 'five' and that they could decide to go or stay, but I also reminded them that there were consequences to every choice they made and that they really wouldn't like the consequences of their choice if they stayed in bed...one twin began giving me all the reasons why he wanted to stay in bed and guess what I did?  I walked out of the room to get my shoes and he understood I wasn't going to change my mind...they were ready when I left and we had a good talk about choices, consequences, and law!  I reminded them that there is NO law for us when we choose to do things God's way!

The other twin, sitting at his desk a while ago, doing math, says, 'Mom, this is our sin...and this is what Jesus does to it...' He'd taken a CD cover, a dry erase marker and completely colored the plastic part of the disc and then took the eraser and cleaned it off!  "Get back to Math, dear!  That's very true and I agree with you, but it's distracting you from completing your work!"  Sigh and giggle under my breath!!!

Then there are those moments when it's all I can do but take a deep breath and NOT open my mouth and just wait...wait for them to get the hint that their actions are either wrong or they need to be quiet and listen to my words...
Oh, yes...the times, and oh how many, when they just HAVE to tell me something when they should be quietly working!  I told twin A that he is a slave to his thoughts if he doesn't control what he lets out of his mouth as a result of not controlling what he's thinking about...and that he has control of his mind, because Jesus has given him the power to take his thoughts captive in obedience to the Word...

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The other morning I woke up from a nightmare in which both twins and their little friend, Jordan, were in life jackets and yet one of the twins was drowning and so was Jordan, and the other twin was trying to save both of them and he, too, was drowning in the ocean...and I was screaming for someone to jump in and help them...I woke with such a jolt and rebuked the dream and continued to take those thoughts captive to the Truth, but then I asked Daddy about it.  He reminded me that training is vital to survival as well as in helping others.  I thought about the Boy Scouts and the training boys get in survival skills as well as the military constantly training before they actually have to use their skills. 
Those kinds of dreams, although very vivid and disturbing, only serve to remind me how important it is for me to stay focused on 'eating His words for myself first and listening carefully to them' (Ezek. 3:10) and THEN to tell them the words of the Lord...and to take seriously my task today...

...for one day, they, too, will fly away!  But for today, I will hold them close to my heart and treasure these moments!

I called, He answered!

Well, after an entire summer of seeking, listening, and crying out, He answered.

I am excited for His answer.

Excited to be able to come alongside these two amazing young men and assist them in their journey to adulthood.

They're here, we're together and God is on His throne! 

Last nite, Love and I sat on the couch, after everyone was in bed, discussing the 'why' behind this year's 'at home adventure' and we both agree that for them to succeed, we need to continue grounding them in Truth.  Then we brought our hearts before His heart and laid this year at His feet. 

It's going to be a great adventure.

A repost for obvious reasons...

I posted this on my Freedom blog, but it's worth posting here because of the bravery of my son...enjoy!

There are times when, as a woman approaching her fifties, I sense that time is running short to do all the 'fun' things that should be done before I hit the pearly gates!
So, today, I was persuaded to bike ride with twin twelve, soon to be thirteen year old, boys...and mind you, bike riding should be something that's done daily, at least that's what Caleb thinks, and I told him we could do that...

It all began when Isaac came to me and with a Middle Eastern accent, told me that they'd filled my tire (and not blew it up!) and wanted me to take a spin with them...and holding my hand, he drew me away from a letter I was writing...(sometimes these two just amaze me with their wooing skills!)
I told dad I was going to take a ride with the boys to which he responded, "You should take a ride with the boys! Do you have a horn or can you say honk, honk?" I honked and he gave his approval...off we went! (He's been in a really goofy mood lately, very witty and just a hoot!)

Coming around the corner of a street named, 'Anaconda' (that should have been my first clue), a dog came running out of a house when a woman opened her door and a man carrying his little girl walked in. Immediately the dog began barking at us as we rode by and I heard the woman yell the dog's name, but she didn't seem to care and closed her door.
The dog kept pace with us, barking, hair raised on its back and would wander into a front yard and then come back barking...I thought to myself, 'all bark, no bite' just as this dog came into the street and BIT ME!
Immediately, Caleb dropped his bike and went after the dog! I mean literally went for the dog...I was concerned he'd get bit, but instead the dog wandered back into a yard. With great aim, Caleb took off his helmet and threw it at him, hitting the thing square in its back (broke his helmet!!!)! The dog began whimpering, and wandered back toward it's house, which is where I was also headed!

I felt so honored by my son's chivalry that I'd do it all over again just to see the man in him rise up to protect his mother! That's my boy~

This was a big dog, not a little yipey thing, either! I knocked on the woman's door and when I told her, she asked if I was ok, and I told her, "NO, your dog just bit me!" She apologized profusely, but I told her to keep her dog in her yard...I was too overcome to even think of saying all the things I'd thought of on my way to her house!!!! That was a good thing. One never knows if maybe one is going to the same church or worse...I see her in a situation where she'd need ministry and I was the ranting woman she'd had at her front door!!!

Well, my nerves have somewhat settled and I checked my leg...no open flesh! But I just drove to get the address and when I made a report so no one else gets bitten, the man said she'll get between two and six tickets! Wow! Very painful lesson!

Who would have thought that today would have turned out like it has so far? Yet, I did what I set out to do: GET MY HEART RATE UP!

Have a great weekend. Won't be around again until after we get back from the Coast...with tons of pictures, too!!!