Fall brings change!!!

It's the beginning of a school year!! There is much excitement in the air. Everyone is hustling and bustling, purchasing school supplies and new clothes, discussing their new teacher. I remember every year absolutely LOVING the fall. To this day it is still my favorite time of year.

This year we have decided to educate our children at home. It's been a difficult decision and there are many days I wonder why in the world. After so many years of diapers, I'm on the cusp of freedom. I remember my daydreams when my kids were preschoolers...daydreams of putting them all on the big yellow bus and waving goodbye. Daydreams of meeting friends for lunch. Daydreams of actually accomplishing all the projects that flood my mind. Daydreams of again pursuing a career.

However, the reality is those daydreams have been replaced with a new dream. A dream of family togetherness....where Mondays are no longer a day to dread, but a day to discover. My husband is off on Mondays, so we all get to be together. It's almost like a family vacation every week!!! Our decision to homeschool just works for us this year.

Now, even as I type these words I again wonder if I am crazy. I remember meeting homeschool families when my children were younger and thinking "I could never do that...nor would I even want to do that." Who am I kidding I remember meeting homeschool families three years ago and thinking "I could never to that".

Yet, here I sit...all my children at home. There are days that I still think...."I can't do this". It is an arduous task. It is time consuming. It is expensive. It is 24/7. Really it is like anything in life. You have to take the good with the bad. The good is that I am getting to know my children. They are learning to get along (they still fight though....we don't live in Perfectville people). I am learning so much (wondering if I slept through school). And, I love the flexibility and freedom!!!

I'm thankful for this season and all that it will teach me. I have become a pretty self-reliant grown-up. I have forgotten what it means to truly depend on Jesus. Boy is this a vivid reminder that "apart from Him, I can do nothing."

This blog is a record of what is happening in our lives. We are committed to sharing our lives with friends and family. For many of you...you might be thinking we have gone completely off our rocker. I hope you will still love us anyway. We recognize that we can't do this alone and we are thankful for our community of family and friends.

Quote of the Day

For science the big kids are studying about oceans. In an effort to include Elijah I printed some coloring pages for him. He worked really hard on his project. When he was finished, he proudly displayed his artwork to the whole family and said...."Do you like my OctoPIS?" So, for the last 24 hours he's used the word repeatedly and I must admit it makes me laugh every single time. I don't have the heart to correct him, because he is SOOO cute. And, he makes me LAUGH SO HARD!!!