The problem with hammering a square peg into a round hole is not that the hammering is such hard work...it's that you're destroying the peg."
Author unknown

Of all the reasons I could list to explain why I home school, the quote above probably does the best job of saying it for me.There are other paths I could have chosen. There are probably easier ways to get my children "educated." Anyone who has ever home schooled knows its not the easiest job in the world. Sadly, I must admit, I've done much "hammering of square pegs." Some hammering was done in ignorance, some in frustration. Thankfully, I'm always reminded (although not always gently) that my purpose is not to drive my "square" children into round holes, but to guide them down the path God designed for them. Everything I see as a defect, He sees as potential. Everything I see as an insurmountable challenge, He sees as an opportunity to excel. What looks to lack to me is abundance to Him....and He grants me the privilege of helping to guide these wonderful gifts out of my children.

I know that as a wife, mom, teacher, cook, laundry lady, and all the other hats you wear, its easy to feel discouraged and overwhelmed. Its easy to look at those square pegs of yours and wish they would just fit right into whatever hole is the closest. On those days, I'd like to encourage you to call another mom who will lift you up with encouraging words. I'd also like to ask you to grab my hammer from my hands when you see me standing next to the wrong hole wielding it with wild eyes :)

Wordless Wednesday

Faith Steps...

Hosted here this week.


"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."
~Martin Luther King Jr.

Being a visual learner, stepping out in faith has always been a struggle for me. Even though I know in my heart that God has always provided everything I need, my head gets scared very easy when I can't "see" where everything is going.

Homeschooling is like this for me. I have three "wild cards" so to speak. I trust that they are learning and that God is helping me in all the areas I lack. I can see progress as we go, but not being able to "see" the finished product is a bit frightening.

Questions like "what if I forget something?"or "what if they forget everything I teach them?" plague me at times. Odds are, I probably will forget something, but it will be OK. I've forgotten things I learned in school..is all hope lost? No, I go look up what I need to know.

Its all going to work out because I do trust God. I step out of my fear into my faith in him. He holds my hand as I climb that staircase and I'm looking forward to seeing just what is at the top.

Manic Monday 01/26/09

~What gives you hope?
*My faith. If there were no knowledge of the one true God who loves me enough to pay the price for all my sins, I don't know how I would ever make it.

~How often do you get your haircut? Describe your worst haircut.
*Not very often. My worst haircuts are when a person won't listen to me about my wacky curls and cuts all my bangs off..I usually don't even get them cut for that very reason...

~What's your most treasured piece of jewelry? Why?
* My wedding rings. Because Jeff gave them to me and they remind me how much he loves me.

homeschooling in TX...

Just when you think your life can't get any closer to a stereotype, you look out your kitchen window and see how wrong you are. I'm giving them points for the safety equipment but I may deduct a few for toting the school desk outside. On second thought, it does show problem solving skills...I guess they can keep the points. :0)

The Nativity...

 

Mary, a Wiseman, and the Angel...look a lot like Princess K, Prince E and Princess A...

Thankful Thursday-To hard to be Thankful?

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! ~ Psalm 30:11-12 (ESV)

There are days when my mourning seems too overwhelming to be thankful about anything. I'm having one of those weeks. I find though, that rather than focus on the sadness and the trials, my spirit is lifted when I focus on the things (no matter how simple) I can be thankful for. I miss my mother terribly..much more than I can possibly express to anyone who hasn't lost a parent....but sadness was never in her plans for me, as it's not in my plans for my children. So today, I'm thankful, even though it's hard.

1. I am thankful for a God who invites me to dance, and who provides the music entice me to join him.

2. I am thankful He chose to give me a mother who spent my youth encouraging me to trust Him.

3. I am thankful for Him allowing me to see my daughter overcome her fears, stand up in front of strangers and sing!

4. I am thankful He put encouraging women in my life who make me laugh when all I want to do is cry.

5. I am thankful for trial that push me closer to Him.

6. I am thankful for a husband that loves me in spite of all the "craziness" I seem to attract.

7. I am thankful for hugs from my children. I hope they never get "too big".

8. I am thankful for kitties who know just when I need a snuggle.

9. I am thankful for fuzzy socks that keep my cold toes warm.

10. I am thankful that God provides my needs, all of them, even the ones that seem "too small".