Homeschooling with Two: First Day

Jenny

We survived. (the end)

I kid. It was actually pretty fun!

If you had told me two years ago that I would be (1) homeschooling (2) with both kids, and (3) that the first day would involve sand and dirt in my house, I would have either cried, laughed hysterically in disbelief, curled up in my bed and gone back to sleep, or all of the above.

It may not seen huge to you, but this was a picture of the Lord’s progress in me, for me.

But let me start at the beginning of the day, because I adore structure and stories that have a chronological order.

We started out our day – May 1, 2015 – with the Experiencing God portion from Mother Goose Time. The theme this month is “God is Wise” and focuses on the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8. Jordan helped me create the display so we could keep everything together as we focus on the Parable of the Sower all month.

Surprisingly the kids stayed somewhat quiet and still while Daddy read the story, and then Peterman examined all the picture cards.

We also played one of the cute activity games they suggest where you throw balls into a bucket, and talk about how are hearts need to be open to God’s truth (like the bucket) so that it can be planted in our hearts.
After Daddy left for work, we had our circle time in the office. This is my fun little board that is going to help us learn some of our daily basics (date, day of the week, weather, letters/numbers of the month). Peter is constantly drawn to the letter flaps, which is great since he is still learning to identify letters.

The Octopus is currently his favorite.

Then we transitioned into the kitchen to start Day 1: Soil (What can we find in the soil?) I had decided to go with some sand and dirt bins to give the kids a hands-on approach, and to faciltiate some of the activities the Little Goose planner had for Peter (Little Goose helps kids from 18-30 months until they are able to join in on the main Mother Goose Time activities).

The sand and dirt bins were the biggest hit. They actually had so much fun that they asked to play with them outside after we finished the daily work, and then again that evening after dinner.

The kids also enjoyed ‘exploring the garden’ with their magnifying glasses.

(This is our monthly board, which has our Experiencing God display on the back)

Overall, the day was a success (success being defined as we accomplished the daily tasks, only had one little angry outburst, and the kids had A LOT of fun, which I think goes hand in hand with learning).

So I’ll leave you with this fun image. I’m pretty sure my child would live in this bin if he fit and we allowed him to stay there. I’m guessing Peter will like the beach.

Come (There’s always an upgrade with Him)

Jenny

Recently, while trying to get together a meaningful gift for a friend, I ran across the Greek word for come: deute. This term is used specifically in Matthew 11:28 when Jesus says,

“Come, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

I loved the idea that Jesus tells us to come to Him. Sometimes it’s an invitation. Other times, a command. According to Strong’s Concordance, this specific instance it was used imperatively. Come!

I was reminded of all of this earlier this morning, as my daughter was in the kitchen. I had just printed out a grocery scavenger hunt page to hopefully keep her occupied on our weekly trip to Aldi.

I had placed the scavenger hunt sheet on a clipboard and put it next to my purse so I hopefully wouldn’t forget it (and my purse) on the way out the door. Because with two little ones, it’s a little crazy around these parts, especially when we try to actually leave the house.

Disclaimer: I am not nearly this creative or intentional most days. So if you are a tired mama that is just trying to get through the day (or hour), please don’t see this as yet another way you may not be doing ‘what you should be doing.’ I am not trying to ‘should’ on you. Occasionally when I have had a good time with the Lord in the mornings – which again, does not always happen – He will provide ideas like this for me and inspire me in the work that He has placed in my hands. I believe it’s part of the way that He reveals His goodness to me and the promise of “Seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” As I try to seek Him first, He directs my steps. Sometimes in more general ways, sometimes in specifics that help lighten a load (like grocery shopping with two restless kiddos). So my motivation is to just share a neat idea that the Lord gave me today, in case you can benefit from it or it will inspire another good idea that can help you with a less-than-fun activity with your kidlets. And also in an effort to keep it real here, I will add that I went grocery shopping in my bleach & paint stained yoga pants today. So nothing to see here, folks. Please keep tracking with me.

So, back to the story:
My daughter was curious and was already trying to investigate the next activity, and inadvertently tore the sheet in the process.

“Uh oh, mom. I tore it.”
“Bring it here, hun.”
Silence.
“Natalie, just bring it here. I’ll fix it.”
“I can do it.” (more tearing)
“Natalie, bring it here. It’s okay. Just bring it here.”

That’s when the Holy Spirit started speaking to me.

“Just come to Me. I’ll fix it. Don’t try to do it yourself. It doesn’t need to be fixed before you give it back. Just bring it to me. I’ll take it like it is. I can fix it.”

And how often have I sat there fumbling, putting off His invitation, still rifling around with the pages of my life, trying to get them back in order and all together again, looking for tape or glue or whatever else I think will get it back like it’s supposed to be.

Just come! Deute!
It speaks of an urgency.

And what does He offer for the exchange? A reprimand? A punishment? A shameful scolding?
Nope.

“Come, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Rest.

That’s one of His magnificent exchanges.

There’s always an upgrade with Him.

Lord, I pray that you would continue to reveal the deception that is in my heart, when I am wrestling and striving to fix or perfect before I bring You what You are asking for. Whether it’s my service or myself, I pray that I would respond quickly when you call, trust that You love me and my efforts as they are, and that really You are the only one capable of transforming what is in my hands and in my heart. I was never supposed to do it. It was always supposed to be offered to You. Thank you for continually speaking and revealing Yourself. Please continue to give me eyes to see and ears to hear.
In Jesus’ Powerful Name, Amen.

Thanks for letting me share!

Come As You Are – Crowder

General Air of Dependency

Jenny

I am surrounded by immense need. Not even including myself – and boy am I a dousy – but my kids. Needy. Little balls of neediness.

As I am filling the request for cheese toast, I’m also being asked to ‘find something in her ear’ (thanks, Papa John, for finding quarters one day so that now that each day holds a new promise for more riches), and also to play with her. Really? I’m still trying to get the first thing you asked for.

Geez Louise. It can be exhausting.

And frustrating. I wish I could say that I’m not frustrated – that I can stay in an objective emotional state and recognize that they are just kids, little dependents that I’m called to take care of. But I don’t stay in that cozy little viewpoint of understanding and realistic expectations. I somehow seem to find myself most days – okay, all days – on the sidelines of realistic expectations – finding myself wanting them to see that mommy is trying to do the best she can, that she is getting my cheese toast so I’m going to wait patiently while she does that and then I’m going to be considerate enough to let her finish her coffee before I ask for anything else.

HA! I know, right?

Well, it occurred to me today, as I’m being bombarded with requests and the general air of dependency, that my God is SO unlike me. Thankfully, He is not overwhelmed or put off by my kids’ neediness, or mine. He is not frustrated when I come to Him, asking for peace and provision, and while He’s at it, I’d love some extra rest today with a side of resolution in this relational issue over here. And while You’re up, taking care of those things, could you also love me and affirm me of Your love today in a special way. Thanks.

Yep – He is not frustrated by my extreme desperation one bit. In fact, He delights in the fact that I bring it to Him. I don’t always – sometimes I get caught up in the delusion that I can manage myself (again, another big HA) or the deception that He doesn’t want to hear from me again today, so I need to figure out another solution (LIE).

He is not overwhelmed or put off by me. Whether I’m being demanding and less than grateful (which He addresses in me) or I’m asking continuously because I’m struggling in doubt and the silence of waiting. He does not have unrealistic expectations of me. He knows me. He created me. He is intimately acquainted with all my ways. Yours, too. Check it out.

As my daughter comes back up to me, asking for another piece of cheese toast, she’s grinning and excited and telling me how yummy the first piece was. And I think that God wants that from me, too. For me to know that He’s not put off by my requests, and that He loves it when I come back to Him, asking for more and exclaiming how much I enjoyed what He has already given.

Thanks for letting me share!

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6-7