Wednesday, September 29, 2010

*cuddling with Madelyn

*outside time with Madelyn and taking pictures

*planning activities for Gracie...and seeing the delight in her eyes when she was able to do them

*snuggling and reading to Gracie

*Language Lessons at the kitchen table with Gracie while Madelyn colored

*the sweet way Gracie watched over a baby at the library

Friday, September 24, 2010

*dancing with Gracie and talkig about what she'll be when she grows up. She said she wants to drive the fastest plane!

*spending the morning with the girls painting and listening to music

*mulling over an idea

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Why is it that everytime I get it clear in my mind that I have to give up on homeschooling someone comes along and gets me all fired up about it again? A neighbor, who I did not expect would be homeschooling, is seriously thinking about it. And she told me about another friend whose little boy just started Kindergarten at our local public school and is learning swear words on the bus! God help me! I just might go crazy soon.

Compromise

I want to homeschool. Jim is still hesitant to say yes. So where does that leave us? Well, unless Jim changes his mind, we're left with compromise.

Gracie is now doing really well at preschool. I can see all the wonderful ways it is helping her. After dropping her off at preschool yesterday, I heard her say sweetly to a little girl named Ava, "Will you play with me?" Gracie is such a great friend and is developing skills that I have not seen her develop at home.

On the way to preschool, she always wants to say five prayers! I don't know why she has to say five, but it is teaching her to see God at work in her life. We are able to talk about whether or not God answered her prayers, see how he has protected her that day, and talk about the good friends and teachers God has given her.

Gracie enjoys having a place all her own. Next Friday is Open House at her school. She is SO excited to show Jim everything. They are also learning songs to sing to the parents.

These are all very positive things. My head is telling me I have to keep sending her to school, but my heart won't give up on homeschooling. And then it dawned on me. I don't have to give up. Jim still wants me to teach them at home. So, along with making sure they have as much outside time and free-play as they need, I will still be researching all my favorite homeschooling blogs and magazines for ways to enrich their lives and learning when they are home.

I have started brainstorming ways to stay involved in their schooling. Volunteering in the classroom, joining the PTA, starting a Moms-in-Touch prayer group. Continuing this newfound passion for photography and using it to do projects in the classroom and possibly even raise money.

But that is way down the road...

For now, the biggest lessons I am learning from all of this are submission to my husband and trust in God to keep my kids safe. A great friend read this verse to me the other day and it was just what I needed to hear...

"...They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear."
1 Peter 3:5-6

Monday, September 20, 2010

*the girls getting free balloons at the grocery store...hours of fun!

*homemade bread

*Madelyn putting her ducks on the "time-out square"

*Madelyn always asking, "I go with you?"

Thursday, September 16, 2010

*watching Madelyn happily jump on the trampoline with bouncy Tigger

*the cool morning air...and time to play outside in it without rushing off somewhere

*snacktime with the girls and watching Gracie make letters with her pretzel sticks

*doing a color experiment with Gracie

*watching the girls paly and clean in the big bathtub while I cleaned the bathroom

Sunday, September 12, 2010

*the way Madelyn says Snow Wipe (Snow White) and swimming soup (swimming suit)

*Gracie's excitement over playing "hotel" before bed. It involves a flashlight and eating cakes and drinking tea.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

*seeing the girls looking at a costume magazine on the couch together on the couch

*two preschool mornings with no crying beforehand

*watching Gracie run into her classroom, find her name, and put it in the pocketchart

*singing to Madelyn on the couch

*the fact that Gracie wanted me to say 4 prayers for her on the way to preschool

*Madelyn has a favorite baby doll named Lucy. Gracie has one just like it named Caroline. Instead of calling her Caroline, Madelyn calls her "Gracie's Lucy". It is so cute.