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. ;-)