Another week done.... and hypocrisy (or liking bad habits)....

I can't believe we're already 3 weeks into home schooling for 2010 already! Where has the time gone?

Jeremiah's managed to read a couple of books now- it's sooooo exciting to see. It makes me feel like we've actually done something. I think the lights are finally starting to go on for him with the whole reading thing (although there is a LOT of work that needs to be done)- and it isn't as much of a battle anymore. At least not lately! ;-)

I've also been able to get some momentum with math. Elijah is learning addition strategies- and thinks it quite humourous that I'm telling him that I'm teaching him how to 'cheat' at math. Basically I think it's like the math we learned when we were younger (at least I did)- no counting on your fingers and using patterns to get the answers. When we worked on his math homework last year it was so painful to watch him sit there and count with his fingers- only to loose track/mis-count and end up with the wrong answer. Now, out of 90 questions he gets 88 right (would be 100% if he didn't have the odd careless mistake that you wonder what they were thinking....)

Probably the neatest part of the year so far is our KONOS: Obedience curriculum. We've finally started our Kings & Queens section and we're all pretty excited about having our medieval feast. I found 2 really cool books at the library about 10 of some of the most influencial King & Queens (one is the ladies and the other is the men). What has been an interesting side-note is the fact that King David & Queen Esther were both included. This provided an unique teaching opportunity since the books are not written from a religious point of view and they make certain (incorrect) assumptions and promote some erroneously held beliefs. We've been able to then go to the bible (where the author says he got his information) and see what God had to say about them.

A definite bonus in all this reading is that the younger kids, for the most part, are hanging around and listening to it all. Although this can also be very frustrating, as Noah really doesn't seem to understand the concept of playing/listening QUIETLY- so that the old boys can hear what's being read. But really, these biographies are just intro's anyway. The discussions we have about them: who they were, what they did/didn't do and how they ruled (good or bad)- is probably the bigger part of what they'll remember.

Personally, I've been finding it hard to get myself 'calmed down' lately. We really haven't been doing 'reno chaos' since Christmas- but I'm still feeling strung up. Other things have also just gotten in like a burr under a saddle- and while I manage to once and a while reign in my thoughts/actions/words, it sees that more often than not I don't.

I guess it comes down to what a friend said earlier this week- we don't overcome those 'vices' in our lives because, deep down, we enjoy them. Hogwash, you might say! But think about it- if it really was that bad, we'd stop doing it!?! If we really wanted to overcome those bad/annoying habits in our lives- we'd do EVERYTHING in our power (and then some) to overcome, wouldn't we? Instead, we make excuses and whine to God about wanting HIM to change us. We throw out the 'spirit is willing but the flesh is weak' thing- and thereby throw up our hands in defeat.

I think deep down what we really aren't willing to admit is that the vice is less inconvenient than the consequences and there is still enough enjoyment to make it worthwhile to continue in.

But what kind of example am I then to my children, if I'm teaching them to obey God and us as their parents- when I'm not being obedient myself? I have anger issues. I have food issues. I have jealously issues. I seriously lack most of the fruits of the spirit (to name but a few issues). All of these things are dealt with in the bible- yet I'm not working on changing things in my life. Oh we can make all the excuses in the world, but the reality is is that God has said how He feels about these things and I must be transformed to HIS likeness- failure to do so is disobedience.

I Cor. 15:57 says that I can do ALL THINGS- how? THROUGH CHRIST! But God will NEVER force those changes upon anyone. I, we all, need to CHOOSE to appropriate that power and decide that we want Him more than we want to stay where we are in our sins!

Hard, harsh word? Maybe. But I really think it's truth- and sometimes it's hard or harsh to hear the truth. I'm thinking I really need to make some decisions about whether or not I want to be an honest example to my kids- of someone working out their sanctification/faith with fear and trembling or if I'm going to continue living like a hypocrite, making excuses about why I don't obey ALL of God's instructions.

Well, my brain feels fried and I'm up too late, yet again, and the kitchen is a pig sty still because I've been on the computer (also, yet again). Ah well, His mercies are new every morning- now to get some sleep so I can appreciate that tomorrow. ;-)

Loosing steam... and reaping what you sow...

Last week was a really great 'get back at it' kind of home school week. This week, not so much.

The boys go to a resource centre through our school on Tuesday mornings, and the rest of the week just fell apart after that (like who seriously starts their Friday's home school at 3pm and thinks that their kids are going to be overjoyed at doing a spelling test?). Oh, especially when you say that on Saturday we're going to make up for mommy not getting her act together and sleeping through the alarm?!??!

It's great that we're doing these awesome bible lessons everyday that we get around to home schooling- but I'm wondering about the other days as well as the actual working out, character wise, of what we're learning. I want them to think that DAILY time with God is just something that you do- always- not just on certain days or when you feel like it/get around to it.

Probably the biggest hindrance is me and my attitude- it's been really bad lately. My oldest was giving me attitude this afternoon and I responded with the 'if you give me grief you're going to have a REALLY miserable day tomorrow', to which he replied 'isn't there something in the bible about revenge?'

Talk about reaping what you sow.

So really, what is my problem? I keep telling the kids that it doesn't matter how tired or sick you are or what anyone did to you- you still have a choice of how you're going to react. I guess I need to start practicing more of what I preach ;-( It's been said that 'if momma ain't happy, ain't nobody gonna be happy', yet I like how someone changed it: if momma ain't happy then momma needs to change her attitude! But how do I change my attitude?

I have so much to be grateful for, yet I get peeved about the stupidest things. I'm jealous of how good I think other people are doing and/or what they have that I don't and as a result I am ungrateful for the many, many, many blessings that I do have. And then I wonder why my kids are whiny and ungrateful to each other and myself. I'm reaping what I'm sowing.

But it's not all bad- child #2 managed to read 'Go, Dog, Go' almost all by himself this week. And the conversations that we've had about God and life- would never have happened if we weren't on this journey.

My very first week back in September was really bad. This one was almost as bad for my sucky attitude. I got over it last time- I just have to pray and work at getting over it again. I want to reap a harvest of righteousness- so I better get sowing seed of righteousness...

Oh Dear- I've been one of 'those' kinds of bloggers!

Okay, I have to admit that I've been one of 'those' kinds of bloggers. By that I mean one of those people who has a blog and then doesn't post anything new for a really long time- in this case, 3 months. Not good. The only upside is that nobody reads this stuff yet anyway- so there is nobody to get mad at me. I couldn't even remember my password to get back on my blog to write something! Now that's bad!

Well, needless to say that past 3 mths have been absolutely CRAZY!!!!! The computer had died, then we all got sick (except for my hubby, as usual!), after which we started a major reno in our house (that 2 mths later STILL isn't finished), oh and yeah- I had another baby, this time by c-section that ended up getting infected prompting a week long stay in hospital (that makes for 5 kids).

I really was hoping to get more schooling done- but honestly, I knew that with a baby coming things were up for grabs. Hey, I'm still 2 mths behind on my weekly reports. Oops ;-)

Anyway, I've switched to the new curriculum I'd mentioned earlier- and I'm totally excited about it. The kids are somewhat getting into it, but after 2 - 3 mths of sloughing off- it's hard to get back into the swing of things for them and get to work.

The major blessing from the reno is that I now have a 'home school' room- right off the kitchen (before that it was crammed in downstairs with the playroom)! We're still dealing with some toys around to distract the kids- but so far it's been pretty good. Numbers 3 & 4 have been hanging around and listening to the older kids' lessons and #5 is kind of co-operating and sleeping pretty well so that I don't have to teach over her screaming.

But I am still struggling with trying to make things fun/interesting- but I have to remind myself that I'm here to build character not entertain them.

For example- my oldest came to the table yesterday looking all dejected and I wanted to know why. At first he refused to tell me (not a good sign when you're working on a unit entitled 'Obedience'), but eventually opened up. He said that he felt stupid. Talk about a teachable moment! Thankfully I was able to pray with him and share some verses with him- and it was very cool that once we started our 'official' bible lesson for the day that it talked about some of the same things/scriptures that I'd just shared with him. Gotta love it when God shows up! ;-)

It was such a blessing to see the weight lift off his shoulders by the end of the morning. I would hate to think of what kind of day he would have had if he'd been at public school with those thoughts pounding through his mind.... That's what it's all about and I'm glad that I have the privilege of being a part of his life and this process.