An Open Letter to Myself (School Year 2012-2013)

Dear Mendi,

I want you to read this letter every time you are weary, pouty, or just plain ready to give up.  There is no doubt that you will feel this way at least once over the course of the next 9 months.

Pray!  Pray, pray, pray.  You know that things always work out better when you have your attention and mind stayed upon the Lord.  Seek him!  Homeschooling is an excellent example of your dependence upon God.

Things can't go perfectly, just in case you forgot.  You are a sinful human raising sinful little humans.  You can be prideful and hardheaded and so can your students.  There will be times when you feel like screaming, and there will be times when you do.  It's in these times that you need to remember that every day isn't like this. Repent to God and ask your children's forgiveness.  That really teaches them a lot.

Remember that you are teaching children.  Let them be kids.  Remember you are teaching children while caring for a 9 month old and running a family business.  Go with the flow.

You are doing a fine job,  the fact that she's getting a one on one education tailored to her style of learning is a good indication that she's going to turn out just fine.

There are going to be bad days, get over it.  When that dark cloud hovers over your little schoolroom remember that tomorrow will always be better.  Remember that the Lord gives us trials to turn our hearts and prayers to him.

Don't forget why you are doing this.  You can give them every tool in the world to be a genius, get into what ever college or university they'd dream of, but if they know not Christ, it's all a waste.  It's for naught.  When they need math, first give them Jesus.  Show them the grace of Christ that was shown to you.  When they falter in their handwriting, give them Jesus.  They may never know how to spell idiosyncrasy, but if they can spell mercy and understand the word propitiation personally because that is who Christ is for them, they have it all.  Remember why you taught Dylan to read, so that she would have the power of God's word at her fingertips.  Don't ever forget that.  Your effort is in vain if it is not for a Gospel mission.  Show them grace in your dealings with them.  Remember how much long suffering the Lord has displayed and bestowed upon you, and give them that all the more.

Be a blessing to your children, they most certainly bless you.  Be an example to others and be not a burden to your husband.  Let his heart trust you in raising and educating his children.

Read this often.  You will forget these things all too quickly.

Pray. Pray. Pray.  Read your bible and apply it to your life- all of it.

Sincerely,
Mendi

The Pilgrims

I started teaching on the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving today with Dylan.  We went through some lessons regarding them last year, but hey, she's 5 and it's been a whole year since we talked about them,  I was impressed that she remembered anything at all, but she surprisingly remembered quite a bit.  I asked her what she remembered from our readings last year and she said, "I remember they used fish to plant corn." The Native American's taught the Pilgrims to bury fish beneath their crops to provide excellent fertlizer for their corn crops. Then she went on to tell me what she remembered about the Mayflower hardships, "They had to eat bread with worms in it and had dirty water." Beer was the main drink for all, including the children, because the water they had brought became contaminated and unsafe to drink. What food and beer that was left towards the end of the journey became inedible causing much hunger.

May we lay everything on the line and be willing to give it all up to rightly worship and serve the living God.