We are off to a late start, but as of today we are officially homeschoolers! Woo Hoo! We got off to a late start because I could not find an acceptable "deal" on the curriculum Jason and I had picked out back in May at the homeschool book fair. After months of searching and MANY Ebay losses, I was referred to a great little shop called The Book Cover which sells used homeschool curriculum. On Saturday, my mom, Raylen and I stopped at the shop as an afterthought on our way home from a day full of garage sale-ing. I didn't plan on finding much and was dissappointed to learn that they didn't have the books I was looking for. But, the ladies were so friendly and pointed me in another direction that enabled me to get virtually the same thing I was going to get in a little different format for 1/5 of what I was going to spend! I LOVE a bargain! I stayed up until midnight last night doing my lesson plans for the fall and woke up bright and early (4:45 am!) to get our supplies together. We had a great day of learning: Math-counting to twelve and learning about a dozen; Virtues-Sharing while making blown bubble paint art; Seasons-Celebrating Fall and Families with a handprint family tree and singing songs and doing finger plays about starting school. It was such a fun day!
A couple of neat things to share: At the store the other day, I told the ladies there that my mom had homeschooled us. They immediately wanted to know the years that we were in school. I found out that day that homeschooling had been illegal in Texas until 1982 and had cases still pending in Arlington during the years we started, 1989. It was such a fun memory to have my mom and teacher there with me to get my curriculum to start teaching my young daughter. Back in those days of homeschooling, it wasn't always pretty, but I am grateful for mom/teacher heros like mine who plowed through anyway, making the way easier for me and Raylen.
Also, I want to publically praise God for the miraculous ways He has worked in our home preparing our lives and hearts to homeschool Raylen. He has taught me invaluable lessons on praying and waiting on Him while speaking directly to Jason instructing him to lead us in this direction. I marvel at the transitions our family has gone through in the last couple of years and the truly miraculous growth in the last year. I can say with confidence that God never leaves us or forgets the tiniest of our heart's desires.
Enjoy photos from today!
Snack Time! Apple Slices....yum!
Counting to twelve and learning about a dozen-This was a BIG hit!
Learning to share-Raylen takes a turn blowing the bubble paint while Ella holds the paper to catch the bubbles.
Raylen colors her handprints on her Fall Family Tree
Every now and again I get a moment of clarity. A moment that defines all others and brings everything else into perspective. I had one of those moments today.
As you know, I wrecked my car last week and while we've been waiting to go buy a new car, I have been driving a borrowed early model Dodge truck. It has a pseudo back seat, but Ray's car seat doesn't fit back there, so she rides next to me in the front. It's been kind of fun because she likes holding my hand and we sing songs and she talks...alot. This morning on the way to church was no different. For whatever reason, during one of her stories she said "Mommy, you are my mommy and nobody else's right?" I said "yes, just yours." Then she said, "And you're always going to be my mommy and not leave and be someone else's mommy?" I wanted to cry! I told her no, I would never leave her and I would always be her mommy and that God had given her to me and me to her and no one can undo what God has done. She was satisfied and went on to talk about one of her friends from church, but I was left thinking.
From time to time, things like this come up in conversation with Raylen. I call her my Forever Girl during the day and she smiles. She deals with emotions that most children don't. She remembers the day that we became a forever family. She knows that she didn't always live with us or that she didn't grow in my tummy. As much as we celebrate those things, her questions today reminded me that there is a flip side to her emotions that leave her unsure of what comes next given the shakiness of her start in life. Thinking about my four year old daughter's deep well of emotions left me feeling even more grateful and proud to be her mommy. I honestly can't think of a greater privelage in this world than to be able to look at a child and promise them that you will always be their parent and being able to literally see security fill their eyes.
As usual, I drifted off thinking of all the children not as fortunate as Raylen who still wait day after day praying for a forever family. They don't have anyone to reassure them that their forever is secure. May I take another opportunity to ask you to turn their future around? You have the privelage and the responsibility of giving these little lives security. I know it's scary and difficult and you may not even know where to start. But, think right now about where you would be without the person or people in your life that gave you your future. Can and would you deny that same blessing to these that beg for it in their hearts? As I've said before, PLEASE pray and consider your role in adoption! EVERYONE has a part! Parents, financers, prayer partners and supporters all have equal roles to fill. I can tell you from personal experience that there is NOTHING in my life that has ever measured up to Jason and I laying down our pride and fears and opening our hearts to Raylen. We were imperfect before her and are imperfect even now, but a miracle happened to us the moment we met her and I am convinced that you can experience that miracle too. You can be somebody's forever.
If you know anything about our daughter you know that she LOVES playing dress up. Most nights, we are entertained by her in a princess gown doing some sort of performance. Tonight was no different. Enjoy this peek into our little world. I tell her all the time that she is the joy of my heart...I think you can see why.
It has been a rough week at our house. After getting a late start on the week due to the holiday, Jason got noticed late Tuesday night that he was to leave for Louisiana with his job early Wednesday morning to help with the clean up there. They told him not to expect to come home for seven days. Being without him was very hard-we take each other for granted a lot I think, but Raylen and I were making due.
Saturday, Raylen and I went to my mom's to help out with some things at her house, but I left her there in the afternoon so I could get to church to take care of the kids for Saturday night services. On my way to the church I stopped for a coke and while pulling out of the parking lot, a car hit me on my front driver's side. It was a pretty hard crash and my car is really messed up, but thankfully, all I got was a bump on the head and the teens in the other car are weren't hurt at all. The battle now begins with insurance companies, etc. but I am so grateful for God's protection and that Raylen was not with me. Jason got special permission to come home to take care of the situation, so we were so happy to see him pull in the driveway today at noon.
Today in church, I was reminded of something that happened the first night Jason was gone. Raylen got to sleep with me (a treat for her, but good company for me) and we both had a tough time falling asleep with Daddy gone. She asked me to sing to her and so I sang Jesus Loves Me with all the verses. One of the verses says "Jesus loves me He who died..." After I finished that verse Raylen started crying and said "I don't want Jesus to be dead!" I consoled her telling her that it was okay...Jesus didn't stay dead-He's alive!!! That helped for a minute, but she soon started crying for Daddy too.
Since that night, Raylen has asked me several times about Jesus being dead and alive again. I have had the privelage to share with her quick snippets of the amazing thing that Jesus did for us and His miraculous ressurection. Today, as we sang "Stronger" I was overcome with joy that I have a Saviour who isn't dead that I can introduce my daughter too. Think about this: Every other faith in our world is built around a deity that was either once alive or was created by a human. When children of those faiths ask their parents about their gods being dead or alive, there is no hope that the parents can give to the child because death was the final scene for the deity. My faith is different-Jesus wasn't confined to death and burial and certainly wasn't created by human hands. He is God in flesh and by the power of the living God, He rose from that grave and we now have an eternal hope in Him. I have the extreme pleasure of sharing this hope with my daughter-what an exciting gift!
Here are the words we sang today. I hope that it inspires you to gratitude as well for the hope we have that can only be found in the LIVING Christ.
There is Love That came for us Humbled to A sinners cross You broke my shame and sinfulness You rose again victorious
Faithfulness None can deny Through the storm And through the fire There is truth that sets me free Jesus Christ who lives in me
You are stronger You are stronger Sin is broken You have saved me It is written Christ is risen Jesus You are Lord of all
No beginning And no end You’re my hope and my defence You came to seek and save the lost You paid it all upon the cross
Let Your Name be lifted higher Be lifted higher Be lifted higher
Counting to twelve and learning about a dozen-This was a BIG hit!
