Weekly Homeschool Wrap-up–May 4, 2009

If you want to participate in this meme, please visit Carol at ThreeLittleLadies, and be sure to link your post to her Mr. Linky so that we can all see what life has in store for you.   From where I sat this past week,

As an individual, I…

am struggling with an age-old struggle for me regarding purpose, balance, and the fight to be a good steward of my talents and coins while not frustrating myself with being superwoman.    The Lord has given me so many talents, and I don’t want to be guilty of being slothful with what’s been given me.   I consider myself busy, and my plate is full—at least I think so, but have I placed some things in the ground?   So many questions I have, and I want most for my God to smile when He sees me and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”    So as I sort all through my feelings, I repented for allowing two opportunities to lay dormant in my inbox for days, and I worked hard to take the next steps forward.   I keep bringing my five fish and two loaves…    

As a wife and homemaker, I…

don’t take for granted that I actually miss my husband while he’s away training for his job.    My niece will be married in a number of months with all the pomp and circumstance of a destination wedding.   I pray for her that, once the blue water and sandy beaches are a memory, the relationship will stand strong.   I’ve seen so many relationships center around the wedding and dissolve over the marriage.    I see other marriages, some long-standing, that are fraught with issues of trust, rejection, or just a plain lack of communication.    It takes a lot of thought and energy to not become one of those couples that, over time, are just two people who share a home.

 I also have to keep perspective on the changes and repairs that need to happen around our home as we continue to stand upright again after the hurricane.   Just because it’s not the latest item on the news doesn’t mean it’s over.   I’m believing God for a repaired roof that is in our budget.   I also want new wallpaper border for the kitchen, and silk curtains for the great room.

As a mom and homeschooling parent, I…

am excited about beginning Code Talkers by Joseph Bruchac this week.  Our son asked just the other day, “What happened to the Indians?”  referring to the fact that most history curriculum cease to mention Native Americans after Thanksgiving Day.    I’m thrilled that we found a place to share more of their story, although we could never completely cover the history of each tribe.   The kids are studying post-WWII history and moving towards the Civil Rights movement and the beginning of the Cold War.   We are still in the Great Depression in our read-alouds.  As the year closes in on us, I grow more concerned, as usual, about what we did and did not do.   This year has been horrendous overall and I definitely want to take a mental break beginning on Memorial Day weekend.    They will still have work to do, and I’ll continue to work with the 5-year-old on math and phonics.   We just began the two-vowel rule this past week, and it would be a shame to lose all of that over the summer break.      

As a business owner, I…

unfortunately did not get a lot done this week.   I wrote an article for a magazine and researched some great websites that will fit in well with the Harlem Renaissance unit study.    However, as I listed above, I repented for the opportunity that might have gotten past me when I didn’t jump on it right away.    I received the sweetest note from an encourager this week, saying she couldn’t wait until her kids were old enough for her to buy my curriculum.     How welcome are the feet (and the fingers!) that bring good news.

God bless you, too.