Homeschool

We had our first day of homeschool! Nothing against any of you homeschoolers out there…but homeschooling was one thing I (Tina) NEVER thought I would do! I am very right brained…more scattered with my thoughts…not someone who sits down every night and plans out lesson plans and new ways to intrigue the brain of my eight year old! But guess what? I am actually enjoying it! I am learning SO much. Who would have thought re-learning about vertebrates and invertebrates would be so fascinating? Arika and I joke about how we are going to be geniuses when we get back…we really should get ourselves onto a game show of some sort. :o) Clayton is doing great at picking up the material. We start our day every day with coffee (hot chocolate for Clay) and devotions then onto schoolwork. The first two days he had all his workbook pages done before I even had a chance to go through all the fun material I had planned! I had to give clearer instructions that he had to wait until I could explain the subject so at least I could “feel” like I was teaching. And there have been many reminders since that first day that I am the teacher and HE is the student. On Sunday night (the night before we were to start homeschool and I was just starting to do my planning for the week) he asked me what I was working on. When I told him I was planning out his week he was so disappointed. He thought that with homeschool he would be the one to pick out all the subjects and units and plan his day accordingly. I told him this homeschool situation would not work out well if he didn’t allow me to be the teacher. There have been many times this week where I have gotten frustrated with him because he clearly “knew” better than me.

On one of those days..a day I was feeling frustrated..I read my “Jesus Calling” devotional and God so calmly and quietly reminded me that I do the exact same thing him ALL the time. I forget that He is the teacher and I am the student. I try to get all my “workbook pages” done without consulting Him first. Thank you Lord for that reminder. Here is the excerpt from “Jesus Calling” (written in first person as God speaking…)

“They forget that I am sovereign and that My ways are higher than theirs. Underneath their driven service, they may secretly resent Me as a harsh taskmaster. Their worship of Me is lukewarm, because I am no longer their first love. My invitation never changes: Come to Me, all you who are weary, and I will give you rest. Worship Me by resting peacefully in My presence.”

1 Timothy 6 verse 15 reminds us that “God will bring about in his own time – God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.”

Enjoy these photos of the first days of school! The cool thing about homeschooling is you get to do “other things” too….ummm…mom don’t look at the motorcycle pic. :o)

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6 thoughts on “Homeschool

  1. Clayton,
    The 4th grade class at Moline Christian School prayed just for you today because they knew it was your first week of school and that you will be doing some 4th grade work. I loved the pictures and will share them. Keep teaching Mom new stuff! Then teach Dad about the importance of helmets.
    Maybe I can share with you some of the things we are doing in 4th grade. I could use your help with Math. I love you sooooo much! Grandma DK

  2. God bless you, Tina!! Clayton is so adorable. May your teaching go well with you and Arika and may God continue to bless.
    isn’t it amazing how “Jesus Calling” speaks to us so much of the time? I really look forward to reading it each day and now that I know you are reading it, too, it will be extra special!
    I love the pics!!
    Blessings and peace from Donnie Waterhouse
    P.S. I am anxious to discover who my sponser child will be! Your dear Mom gave me a shirt just like Clayton’s and I treasure it!

    • Thank you so much for your constant encouragement to arika and I. We so appreciate it! And I’m so excited you are sponsoring a child! The director of GEMS just emailed the list of sponsors to us today and we are going to match up the students over the weekend. Blessings! Tina

      Sent from my iPad

  3. I loved your post Tina! I too; think that I could NEVER be a teacher! It’s amazing what God can do! I can’t wait for your first session on invertebrates; it sounds fascinating! Haha! 🙂 Many prayers to all of you!

  4. I love it Tina. Everytime I get a new post, it is such a inspiration. Tell Kevin he gets good on that motorcycle I let him try my Harley Davidson soft-tail : )
    Love & Prayers, Aunt Cindy (TN)

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