Finishing Strong

Today starts week 32 in our homeschooling year! Only 8 more to go and than on to finish planning for a 1st grader and pre-ker! WOW did I just say..... 1st grader! Almost 2 years of homeschooling down already. Thank you Lord for seeing us through this far!

The past few months have been a little bit of a hard time for me, the weather has started getting nicer and I'm sure like most teachers by this time of year it's difficult to stay focused on what we need to cover. Along with the weather being a distraction, we have had many appts. lately to keep us just as busy. Not to mention the normal everyday needs of a family have taken a toll on me.

Saturday night Matt and I decided we were actually going to sit down and watch a movie together, seems like something most people do at least a few times a week. Us on the other hand, we don't watch much TV and if we do it mostly with the children as a treat for them. The movie Matt picked out was called Indoctrination a film by Joaquin Fernandez and The Gunn Brothers.

God lead us to this movie by a EBay purchase for our Weaver Interlock pre-k curriculum. The wonderful woman we were blessed to purchase this curriculum from was Joaquin's wife, we got a chance to email each other about homeschooling and she shared about the movie and it's website with our family. After purchasing a Backstage Pass to help support the movie we honestly didn't think much about it, only had a chance to visit the website a few times. With the backstage pass we were also told when the movie came out we would receive a copy which we got last year sometime and have had on the shelf for months now waiting for a chance to watch it.

Again God always has perfect timing... Just in the middle of my dry season He delivered this amazing video to bring on the rain and grow a new understand and love for this calling in my life. I would completely recommend this movie to any Christian parents out there, it truly will change your heart and make you consider your schooling opinions.

Not only has this movie helped me grow it also has brought back a desire to do my best and give my whole self in training our children for the Lord. I am so thankful to the filmmakers for this DVD and thank you so much Monica for leading me to this website and sharing your love for homeschooling with our family! God Bless your family!

http://www.indoctrinationmovie.com/

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Family Trip

Spring and summer are right around the corner now, is your family planning any special trips or vacations? With any kind of family trip there is always TONS of preparation and planning to do. With children these preparations are even more crucial. It would be horrible to forget to pack something you will need or more importantly to actually forget one of your family members!!!

Now I am going to let you in on an amazing adventure or journey that I am on and where I am planning on going! It's super exciting so you don't want to miss out on all the details PLUS anyone is welcome to come along with me if you would like. So do I have your attention?!?!

First step in planning a trip is deciding where you are going to go, I chose this destination when I was 13 years old. I set off on my way at the time I didn't know much about the location or even how to pack my luggage. Throughout the past almost 15 years I have gotten guides and learned more about my choice. While traveling I have been down many roads to get this far, most have been smooth, some bumpy and some planned out, others have been detours along the way. As any trip I have done alot of planning and preparation for many little things but some turns up major highways like getting married and wanting to start a family along the way.

Now my solo trip has turned into a family affair. I no longer am just responsible for keeping myself on the right road, I have a family to make sure I guide and direct along the way. I must lead by example, show them how I pack my luggage and handle the detours that show up unplanned. I must share with them that even though it is a journey that takes time and is sometimes difficult it is worth it that way when they are older my children will make the decision for themselves to continue on towards this destination.

Most I'm sure have figured out my chosen final destination : Heaven. At 13 I gave my life to Christ, knowing He came as a baby, grew to be a sinless man, died on a cross to pay the price for my sins, rose again on the 3rd day and is now preparing a place for me in Heaven! I'm not sure when my time will come to reach Heaven, but I know once I get there all of my luggage I have packed long the way will be unloaded. It will be examined by fire, whatever I have packed is all I will have, there is no going back for something else. This is why I ask God each day to help me live each day as if it's my last, to love as Christ loved. To help me teach my children His ways and be used for His glory.

I have put much time in planning this trip and sometimes things go just as I have planned other times God knows a little detour is just what I need to keep me on track and keep my focus on Him. Throughout these detours I have grown and trusted God more, realizing He really does know best. Before having children I never could have pictured myself a stay at home mother, let alone a mother that homeschools her children. Thankfully God has helped me along the way knowing just what things are worthwhile packing in my luggage. Spending the time molding and teaching our children is one of these things.

God blessing us with a beautiful little girl with Down Syndrome has also been a road I never thought I would have to go down. Looking back now I am so thankful He closed one road to open up the chance for us to experience something so much more special and wonderful than all of our planning could have ever brought about. Through Katelyn God has opened my eyes to even more things that are worthwhile like raising funds for the Down Syndrome Buddy Walk to raise awareness for DS. That way other people can see how wonderful these gifts truly are. We have decided to have a public auction and a candle fundraiser to help raise money for this cause, more information to come about these later on and how you can help and be involved in this part of our journey.

For now though we will continue down this family adventure together, hand in hand, trusting God along the way and welcoming any detours He sees fit. Serving Him with joy until we reach our final destination.