The Bottom Line

What's your bottom line for your children's education?

If I asked you "what are the top three things you want your child(ren) to take away from their initial education" (I'm talking K-12), what would they be? Independence? Free thinker? A good citizen? Excellent grades? A certain religious/ethical outlook? An athlete on scholarship?

I've thought a lot about it...particularly since we're struggled between our local public school district, school of choice options, and homeschooling to find the right fit for our family.

Fortunately, I've relied on my husband's input, prayer and trusted my "momma gut" and we are completely thrilled with Flicka's school where she completed kindergarten and will soon complete first grade.

However, as usual, I'm going against the flow and the decision of nearly all my fellow momma friends who chose our neighborhood schools. So, I get asked ALOT to explain over and over and over again the choice we made. Plus, I think my teacher training and experience makes me a little different type of "consumer" when it came to what I was looking for from an educational system.

Most of the time, I've felt defensive when questioned. Mostly because I couldn't really put my emotions, concerns, and "momma gut" into words that made it understandable to someone else.

But, finally, it dawned on me the other day when I was talking with a mom who was very concerned about the way her district went about doing their standardized testing at the lower elementary grades. That district, according to her, tests the kids immediately upon returning from summer vacation, re-tests second semester, and then touts their excellent improvements.

Doesn't seem like a particularly fair assessment to me - and it didn't seem that way to her either. And, I mentioned that (particularly with conferences last week) I really appreciated how Flicka's school seems to rely on smaller, more frequent assessments more for her teacher to see where they are and where to go next as opposed to focusing on standardized testing and its results.

And, the clouds parted and the angels sang! LOL

It occurred to me and my little rebel brain...I DON'T CARE HOW FLICKA DOES IN STANDARDIZED TESTING! *gasp*

While it's wonderful to see improvement through her teacher's assessments and Flicka's work from one quarter to the next, I DON'T CARE IF SHE'S AT GRADE LEVEL AT THIS POINT! *double gasp*

The overall reason I wanted a different situation for Flicka was that I was looking for someone who would work with me to create a LIFELONG LEARNER, not a good test taker.

While I was a good test taker, my comprehension and retention often weren't the best thanks to my ADD. Meanwhile, Mike never has found test-taking particularly easy or worthwhile but because he's crazy smart and eternally curious, he can blow the doors off just about any challenge he tackles.

I want Flicka to LOVE LEARNING because it feels AWESOME to learn something new and hit that A-HA moment! I want THAT type of magic and innocence to last as long as possible before the testing becomes necessary.

Thankfully, Flicka's teacher agrees with me wholeheartedly.

"Beth, we don't 'teach' kids to speak. They're immersed in it. They try, they fail, they adjust, they figure it out. Reading is much the same way. Keep her immersed in reading and writing and her reading skills will increase in leaps and bounds."

That's MY bottom line. So, what is YOURS?

Have you thanked a teacher lately?

I've been doing research for a gift for Flicka's kindergarten teacher this week because Teacher Appreciation week starts next Monday.

I've always been jealous how elementary teachers seem to benefit more from this than us poor, neglected secondary teachers. LOL But, I also remember vividly how much work teaching is and I want Mrs. S to know how much Flicka and her parents appreciate all the work she does.

I've come across so many cute ideas, I made a list of links to share:

Family Fun magazine has craft links for gifts.

Here's a list of thank you's using food and cute sayings (like giving Pop Rocks and saying "You ROCK!" That kind of thing.)

About.com had an article about how to do a small little gift all 5 days next week.

This site is WAY beyond my crafty level but the ideas are really cute.

I like this long list of frugal gifts at betterbudgeting.com too.

And, here are some random suggestions from actual teachers.

Finally, here is a list of suggestions from the NEA - the national teachers' organization

Changing Personalities

Something's been bugging me lately. I seem to have gone from an extrovert to more of an introvert.

Everyone has been taking those Myers Briggs personality tests lately on Facebook. I'm not saying that those particular ones are the most reliable tests around but those that I've taken recently seem to suggest that I'm now scoring at the opposite end of the spectrum than I used to.

I don't know why this bugs me so much. I first noticed after DaHubby and I got married. I used to be the one at every party talking loud, making a scene, and gathering attention. But, now I'm mostly uncomfortable in situations like that. I'm more aware now through my reading and research about my ADD social awkwardness and tendency to blurt out whatever is rattling around in my head at the time. But, I'm more than happy now to stay outta the limelight and let DaHubby be the social butterfly. And, oddly enough, nowadays I'm more direct and more comfortable being up-front yet have more trouble making friends than I used to.

I've worked in customer service/civil service type jobs most of my life - today the thought of returning to those situations stresses me out to no end. Too much conflict, negotiating, distractions, etc. Sometimes it's hard for me to imagine I ever worked in law enforcement. LOL

I'm pretty much still self-centered and get self-absorbed dealing with my distractions and work each day...well, I'm just bein' real. But, the skills I've garnered in the last 10 years seem to have completely changed how I am scored in those personality tests.

One constant - though I'm not surprised - is my teaching. Every gifting evaluation, every test, every quiz points to my love of teaching. I've consistently scored in that area/skill set since I was young and can remember saying obnoxiously "there's NO WAY I'll EVER be a teacher!" LOL

So, is this just the maturation process? The self-awareness process? It worries me that I may have been "acting" all those years. Was THAT the "real me" or is THIS the "real me"?

While I'm working my tail off harder than I EVER imagined I would be raising the Vikings, I'm happier and more content and feel more myself now than ever.

That's a good sign, right? LOL

Kindergarten prep Viking style

This is a post which makes me feel very conflicted. I had every intention of homeschooling Flicka for the first few years of elementary level schooling. However, due to the shakeup around here due to DaHubby's full time work with full time schooling, and due to his occasionally cut back hours which made us feel I might be going back to work this fall, I reluctantly enrolled Flicka in kindergarten.

I deliberately picked a kindergarten via Michigan's school-of-choice outside our current district. While our district is ranked in the top fifty districts in Michigan, we just didn't feel it was a good fit for us or for Flicka at this time.

That all being said - I still want Flicka as prepared as possible just like any other mom would. So, with a little research and with pulling out some homeschooling resources, we're having a mini-preK skills review the next three weeks.

I made up a calendar for myslef with the countdown and a list of skills. I also made a countdown device (which I'll share tomorrow for my Tuesday Tip Jar) and each day we will review a skill as was recommended on a handful of sites.

Yesterday, it was counting and numbers. We had Flicka counting everything we could find. For example, while we were waiting in line to eat after church, she counted the clean trays at the deli - up to 16 without assistance.

Today, it's practicing her name - knowing the letters, their sounds, and forming them. So, I typed out her full name in Comic Sans, blew it up to about 60 pt font, centered it, and copy/pasted it 6 times on a sheet of paper.

So, much of it is self-driven or opportunistic learning but the more the better to prepare for the big change of formal, structured, government school learning. LOL

Happy Earth Day

What a lovely coincidence - look what we found today!

Happy Earth Day!

Our new chore chart

We started a modified "Managers of Their Homes" schedule this week as everyone but me headed "back to school"! LOL

DaHubby is gone three nights and one morning a week for his college classes. And, the Vikings and I are "chore training" and getting in the swing of things with homeschooling for this year.

So...since I have 2 pre-readers in the house, I made chore charts with pictures and clip art.

Each Viking has a few things to do in the morning (the sun side) and in the evening (the moon side). For example, Flicka's morning chores are teeth brushing, getting dressed, picking up shoes/clothes/books in her room, making her bed and checking the dishwasher for clean silverware that she can put away. And, in the evenings, Pojke gets to pick up the books/toys/cars in his room and empty any washed silverware from the dishwasher.

And, I have been amazed at how enthusiastic the kids have been about their chores!

It's been wonderful and the house hasn't been this clean in I don't know HOW long! LOL

Resolutions

Kelly at Pass the Torch has been asking moms to consider what their school year resolutions are for the 07-08 calendar. As a rookie, first-time homeschooler, the list of things to keep track of and/or accomplish between now and next summer seems exhausting. But, I'm submitting the following seven for Kelly's carnival.

1. To remember that this is a win-win situation! At this level, it is inexpensive; and how bad can I screw it up since she'll still learn her letters, colors, and numbers whether we do this or not (LOL); and we get to try this out to see if it'll work for us in the long term before any state requirements, scope and sequence, curriculum, lesson plans, etc become "required".

2. That I want her to LIKE school (or better yet to like learning) whether under my direction or someone else's.

3. To remember that I am blessed that God led me (and I eventually, finally followed) to become a certified teacher which gives me more confidence (and more reasons) to stand up for our decision to homeschool.

4. That we'll increase "school time" from 1-2 hrs/week to 4-6 hrs/week by spring.

5. That she'll engrave God's word on her heart through our memorization.

6. That our "girls only" school time will build a stronger bond between us.

7. To remember that the journey is the point and not how much of the lesson plan gets done or not.

Stop by Kelly's carnival and see what other things various moms will be accomplishing this year!

My "Three on Thursday" grammar review

Someone suggested last week that I consider doing this as a regular type of thing. Thanks, Kelly! I'm flattered. So, since it was a Thursday, I figured “Three on Thursday” had a ring to it.

Also, let me say this ahead of time…while I have taught middle school language arts, I am by no means an expert. And, I do NOT always use the proper format in my writing here. Ellipses and dashes incorrectly overused? Guilty as charged!

However, I just wanted to focus on some of the basics so make all of us look a little more professional in the mommy blogosphere! LOL We want people to pay attention to what we’re saying not be distracted by mistakes that are simple to correct! :)

So, remember to think like a seventh grader and here are my “Three on Thursday” for this week:

THEIR, THERE, and THEY’RE
THEY’RE is a contraction of “they” and “are” and it is only to be used in that circumstance.

THERE is a reference to a place – as in “take it over there.” A way to remember this is that the word “here” which also refers to a place is the majority part of the word! LOL

THEIR is a possessive that means it refers to something belonging to a group of people as in “Their house is on Silvery Lane.”

BREATH/BREATHE
The first rhymes with “death” and it is a noun (a person, place or thing). “It’s so cold you can see your breath.”

The second rhymes with “seethe” and it is a verb (an “action” word) that refers to the process of air going in and out of our bodies.

“Catch your breath and just breathe in and out.”

WHO/WHOM
OK, here’s the deal. This actually is WAY easier than you think. You know how you can use both “he” and “him” to refer to a male in a sentence? One is used for the subject of the sentence (the one doing the verb) and the other is generally the object or the receiver of the action. For example, “he is throwing the ball to him.”

Well, “who” and “whom” is the same. One is meant to be the subject of the sentence and the other to be the object.

Examples: “Who sent this package to me?” or “The flowers were received by whom?”

OK! So, hopefully without sounding too stuffy or obnoxious, those are my “Three on Thursday”! Class dismissed! LOL

Grammar Usage Refresher! LOL

OK, folks...I know this is a pet peeve that for most people is unimportant and bugs only me! LOL But, I figured I'd put my English teacher degree to good use today! LOL For those you are remotely interested, here's a short explanation of some frequently troubling grammar mistakes. Keep in mind I taught middle school so *quick* think like a seventh grader! LOL

YOU'RE vs. YOUR
YOUR is a pronoun indicating ownership as in "this is YOUR house." It is not to be used like this: "...in that case your coming too!" The correct version of that sentence might look more like the following paragraph.

YOU'RE is a contraction for "you are" and IS to be used in sentences like "in that case, YOU'RE coming too!" LOL

And, speaking of "too"...

TOO, TWO, or TO?
In general...TOO is used in these circumstances... Like when you have TOO much of something ("too much" means you need the extra o's...get it? LOL) and when you will be doing that TOO (as in more than one activity so more than one "o" again! LOL)

TWO is the easiest...that's the number.

As for TO, it's pretty much for all the other times you hear or see it...like as a preposition ("We are going TO the store.") or as part of a verb/adverb phrase ("TO be or not TO be..." or "I'm going TO need an aspirin!"). All of its uses are listed here if interested.

Finally, I'm remind by using "its" in the last sentence...

ITS vs. IT'S
IT'S is a contraction of "it" and "is" like in the sentence "It's 50 degrees again here today." The use of an apostrophe generally means it is taking place of some "missing" letters for a contraction or it is indicating possession like in "Beth's house" or "Lisa's blog."

ITS is (awkwardly enough after the last explanation) a possessive without an apostrophe! LOL Think of it like this: his, hers, its. They indicate that something belongs to someone - a he, a she, or an it. Get it? LOL

There - that wasn't so painful, was it? No violent flashbacks to junior high English, I hope! LOL So, now you are ready to go "multiply and be fruitful" in your blog writings! *wink*

picture credit: http://www.glarkware.com/securestore/c181845p16737905.2.html

2006 11 03 And, it's about 52 days 'til Christmas

Not like heaping my "wood" on my already overloaded fire! LOL

Looking forward to the holidays is so much different when you have small kids. I'm amazed by the "consciouness" I have of creating a particular feeling, sense of history, of tradition now that I have little ones. Since I had very little sense of "history" and tradition growing up, not to mention very little church-going, I'm already thinking about ways to instill some of that Christ-centered specialness about Thanksgiving and Christmas in my little Vikings.

Also, I am still pain-free two weeks after God healed my back! (See previous post.) Praise Him! All the glory is His!!

Things are much the same around here...busy, busy, busy. I'm halfway through teaching my part of a college-level "preachin' and teachin'" course at our local Bible school. Two weeks down, two weeks to go. Been disappointed by some of the students not finishing assignments but I suppose that could be for a number of reasons.

Also, I'm halfway through taking my sociology course which will renew my State of Michigan teaching certification. I got 98 out of 100 on my second test. Yippee!! And, there's something odd about taking a college class like this so many years after my first time through nearly 20 years ago. Having WAY more problems with the liberal college mindset and soiciology texts telling me about "conservatives" are intolerant and discriminate against women and that all cultures, religions, and beliefs are just as "right" as all the others.*sigh* Hard to study this information when it makes me so uneasy.

My little Vikings are doing well too. Both still fighting the change-of-season sniffles. This is the fourth cold in 8 weeks. *sigh* But, nothing too major. It seems to bother me more than them! LOL Viking #1 wants Da Daddy to teach her how to ice skate once the snow comes for good (Egads! She's only 2 1/2!). Potty training is going well with some struggles still in the "solids" department. Meanwhile, number #2 is pulling himself up and getting into everything even more. He'll be 10 months tomorrow. Where has this year gone? I can't believe I'll be done nursing him in about 8 weeks! It can't be time already! *sniff,sniff*

So, that's how things are here. Anxious to get caught up with everyone here. Number #1 is at Grandma's today and Number #2 is napping so I'm off to read blogs! Hugs to all! Have a great weekend!

2006 10 04 And as if yesterday wasn't stressful enough...

First of all, let me say...praise God that everything has turned out fine but look at what I woke up to this morning...

*sigh* Da Daddy watched the kids last night so I could go to Bible school to observe one of the other faculty members that I'm co-teaching my class with this semester. Was gone two hours. And, I came home to Viking #1's eye being a little puffy. Daddy has no idea how it happened. Obviously, it got worse over the night.

We've been to the pediatrician's office already who has determined it isn't a bug bite and it isn't from getting bumped in the eye...it's probably a scratch that got something in it. So, we've also been to Walgreens for antibiotics already as well.

Had a funny momma moment in the parking lot at Walgreens though...came out to the van after getting the script filled. I'm standing in the parking lot with nearly every door on the van open, Viking #1 is peeing on her "kiddie pot" in the back while I change a poopy diaper on Viking #2, then mix a quicky bottle to get #2 home and then dose #1 with the antibiotic and let her sip MY drink to rinse the nasty taste from her mouth. You can tell which women have had little kids because as they walked by...they all laughed! LOL Isn't it amazing the things you NEVER thought or could imagine you'd be doing before you had kids!

So it's 10am and I already need a nap...Lord, give me strength to make it through this day.

2006 09 14 Transition to Fall

I don't handle change very well! LOL My kids have taught me flexibility but changes in my schedule tend to throw me for a while until I'm able to regroup. So I've been on "survival mode" and my blog entries have suffered. So my apologies to those of my blog-friends I've "ignored" the last few weeks.

First - the kids are fine. Amazingly big. Incredibly beautiful. Astonishingly brilliant. (I'm a little partial, can ya tell?) My girl stuns me every day with all she's learning and picking up in her daily adventures. My boy is becoming mobile and can miraculously charm any stranger with his easy-going, smiling, flirting self.

Da Hubby's 7-day trip to Minnesota went well. He came home fairly well rested (the drive home was a pain) plus we got three days of lying around the house playing, talking, snuggling, and eating together.

My college course has started. Luckily, it's a study-at-home course where I go to the campus every 4 weeks for a unit test so I can schedule "study time" whenever the kids' and my schedule allow. And, after meeting with the dean of the Bible college where I'm now on staff, we agreed that I would teach the "teaching tactics" portion of their current class about preaching and teaching. I will be doing that once a week through October and part of November.

So, I'm busy with those things as well as all things that keep this house running plus I'm also in the midst of planning Pastor Appreciation Month activities for October! Oh, and as of my most recent weight loss meeting last Monday, I've lost a total of 19 pounds! Nothing like jumping in with both feet into the deep end! LOL

Had a random "ah-ha" moment last Saturday I wanted to share...Da Hubby and I attended our church's leadership meeting at our pastors' request. Da Hubby is sharing praise and worship duties while I started at the Bible school. As part of Pastor Don’s teaching on building relationship between leadership and those we guide, he had us do an activity to illustrate how we need to take time and become open and interested in learning the small details about each other. He sent us around to find two people who we don’t already know a lot about and ask them one question: “what are you passionate about"?

As I scrambled to think of what I would answer should someone ask, I made my way across the room to find someone to talk to. I stunned myself with my first-impulse answer: homemaking. After getting married at 33 yrs old and 15 yrs of single career life, I’m entirely focused and obsessed with homemaking! LOL Who’da’ve thunk? Following God’s plan (finally) has brought me to a place right now where I’m completely comfortable (OK, mostly comfortable) with putting aside all my experiences, training, and career desires to follow His “nudge” into my new stay-at-home-mom life.

Well, I hear my big girl trying to climb into the crib with the baby...so I'm off to referee another day of toddler-baby big time wrestling! God blessings to you all!

2006 08 24 An...tic...i.................pa...tion!

Well, I wrote last month that changes were on the horizons for me this fall. I tend to handle change with resistance. My patterns, habits, and schedules give my poor ADD brain something to organize around and be at peace with occasionally. As a result, I regularly have a lot of anxiety about these kinds of things. And, I deal with stress by shutting down for a time to re-group and by eating everything that isn't locked down! LOL

Da Hubby leaves for a week-long guys-only canoe trip with a couple of other Christian men in northern Minnesota a week from today. So, I'm home alone with my two babies for the subsequent 10 days. A little scary to say the least! LOL No breaks. No day-to-day (esp. at bedtime) help. While he's gone, I have orientation for the college class I have to take this fall to reinstate my teaching certifcation. Then, a week after he returns, I start teaching at our local Bible college. *sigh* On top of all this, I have to maintain the kids' schedules to some point of normal and stay on my diet! LOL Yea, RIGHT!

I used to so look forward to this time of year! It was like a new lease on life and a clean slate at the beginning of each school year...must be why I became a teacher! LOL But, when I have a second to actually reflect on that statement, I remember that the only "new lease of life" or "clean slate" that means anything is being saved and knowing the Lord. And, it is on Him I will depend!

Psalm 3.5: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding

2006 08 14 Praise God

God is good! All the time! All the time! God is good!

I posted about two weeks ago about needing a way out of a situation where I lose my state teaching credentials. I am one class and/or three credits short from a renewal that will take me until the kids are in school. The first option provided was a lengthy graduate level class with multiple commitments, the need for child care, possible travel to another city, and a $1400 price tag.

However, after two hours of rig-a-ma-role of dragging both kids in the double stroller between the two campuses (they're on the same property), the problems were solved!
Having to deal with LONG back-to-school lines...there were none.

Having to drive a 2 hr round trip to get "guest student status" approval from my main campus...waived!

Didn't have any of my paperwork with me (no school ID, transcripts, nothing!)...no problem! The counselor accept my half-completed application and told me to fax her my info when I got home!

Child care? Won't need it! It's a videotaped class. I buy the book and rent the tapes to watch at home. I only have to go to campus 4 times to take tests!

Having to drive out-of-town weekly for class? Nope! The local campus is 10 minutes from home.

Instead of owing $1400 to the big university I attend, the community college's total bill? $330!
Wa-hoo!

2006 08 02 An update...

As I sit here with both kids playing around my chair, I only have a minute. But, I wanted to keep y'all up to date.

First the update...I've been on Weight Watchers for two weeks now. It hasn't been nearly as bad as I thought it would be! LOL And, so far, I've lost a total of 9 pounds! That's simply with using portion control through their points system and the regular activity level of a summer filled with hauling kids to activites and walking more. Over this time, however, it's become abundantly apparent how much emotional eating I was doing to cope with stress and anxiety. So, please continue to pray for strength and guidance for those areas.

Then, I will notify the dean of our Bible school this evening at midweek service that I would happy, proud, and blessed to be a new instructor for fall semester! I don't even know what I'll be teaching. Don't know any details other than I'm feeling what I call a "nudge" that this is something I need to be part of. Please pray for this area as well.

Finally, one new request...I've been struggling to find a way to complete 3 more graduate credits during the fall term to keep my Michigan teaching certifcation current during thetime I'm home with my babies. Since one class at the college I'm currently connected with would be over $1400, I have been looking for an alternative that will meet the college's and the state's requirements for a more reasonable and "do-able" price. My advisor has provided 3-4 possibilities. Please pray that I not only find a solution but that it would be the one God would have for me to use.

That's the update from here...thank you ladies! God bless!

2006 06 18 Another change

Be careful what you ask for - you might just get it! Or be careful what you pray for...
It's funny how God decides to resolve a problem! LOL Back in April, I was talking about and praying about what might be coming next in my life after so many changes in the last few years. One thing that I figured would remain constant would be teaching.

I swore I’d never be a teacher. I come from a family of teachers. And, before I learned about God, His gifts to me and using them to His glory, I swore I would do ANYTHING but teach just so I could be different. So I spent nearly 8 years after high school trying every other thing that sounded interesting. Eventually, I started thinking back to what I really enjoyed and what I’d really like to do with my life and ended up back in school to be certified to teach. I graduated from that program when I was 26. I had had 3 careers before I was 30! Looking back, my teaching really defined me in my mind most.

Then, as I’ve explained before, I met my husband and my life did a 180! LOL Everything in my life underwent a major and immediate overhaul. In the six years, I transformed into a stay at home wife, then a stay at home mom of one, then two beautiful little Vikings. Changed faiths to a Pentecostal congregation and grew exponentially under the direction, guidance, and shepherding of two amazing pastors. However, during this time, my school teaching was put on hold. To feed my need, I taught adult Sunday school at my church – one session on “The Bait of Satan” by John Bevere and “Too Busy Not To Pray” by Bill Hybels.

I always assumed I would keep my certification current. We were (and still are) kicking around homeschooling. I figured my certification would help with that. And, if the kids did go to an out-of-the-home school situation, I could always go back to work. Plus, what if something happened to Da Hubby? Lay off? Injury? Worse? I needed something to fall back on to support the kids. I thought my certification expired in June 2007. I’d been putting off checking because I was so sure.

In the meantime, the middle of last month, our church’s Bible school president presented completion certificates before a morning service for those students who finished another semester’s worth of classes. Afterwards, I stopped to talk to the president to ask her how her week had gone and to ask if she was glad this semester was over. As we chatted, I mentioned how much I missed teaching. She then explained that she had been praying for God to send her more people with teaching training and experience to expand the staff. She asked if I would prayerfully consider joining her instructional staff!

I was so flattered, promised I would talk to Da Hubby about it, pray about it, and would get back to her. I wanted to double check my certification expiration date so that I wouldn’t get over-obligated trying to teach for her while trying to complete a grad school class while balancing the two kids. So, the other day while digging through the final boxes before our garage sale this past weekend, I stumbled onto my files for my grad school work and credentials. I was stunned to discover my certification expired in less than two weeks.

I was devastated. I am a “teacher” but who would hire me now? What kind of job could I get now? What if something happened and Da Hubby went home to Heaven? I needed to be able to support the kids. I overcame huge obstacles to complete that certification. I was distraught at the thought of losing it. Maybe the offer to teach at the Bible school was an indication it is time to let the certification (my last connection to my pre-saved, pre-married life) go and let God take the wheel, so to speak.

I momentarily fell apart and a huge hormonal crying fit in the driveway (Da Hubby was out cleaning the garage for the garage sale) as soon as I put the kids to bed. Well, another advantage to being saved, these moments of crisis don’t often last long because He puts everything in perspective. I not a “teacher” only – I’m a child of God first!

The next day I called the university and spoke with the women in charge of certification. I had prayed that there was some unknown or unheard of secret clause in the State of Michigan “teacher code” that would allow a loophole for a teacher basically on “maternity leave” for a few years. Well, I got one. Long phone call short? My certificate will “go to sleep” (that’s an odd choice of phrasing, if you ask me! LOL) while I have either summer or fall term to get one more class. That will put me at 15 grad credits, which is enough to apply for my professional certification. Yippee!

Meanwhile, I still need to make a decision about the request to teach at Bible school. Thus, the request for prayer in my last post. I haven’t felt a leading one way or another yet. Maybe I need to follow through with checking into finishing that three credits of grad work first. As usual, waiting on God’s timing, grace, and wisdom. So, I will let you all know how it turns out. I’m hoping that things will transpire so I can give the school’s president an answer this week so she can begin to prepare for fall term. So, again, I ask for prayer for wisdom, discernment, and guidance. This started with a prayer for God to reveal what’s next in His plan for me. I was out of His will for so long, I don’t want to do it again. So, I want to “end” it relying on prayer as well.

2006 04 01 The Glory of This Season?

1 Corinthians 10.31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Changing diapers to the glory of God? Washing my hubby’s underwear to the glory of God? Scraping last night’s dinner off this morning plates to the glory of God? Hmmm…

I’m enjoying being home full-time. Don’t get me wrong. But, I’ve been having a couple of days this past week where the regular workin’ world is looking mighty good! Ya know it’s bad when teaching a classroom full of 30+ hormonal middle schoolers about grammar and Shakespeare sounds better than being home for one more day with two babies under 25 months old! LOL

1 Thessalonians 4.10-11…But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,

As I described in my previous post, my life’s been transformed the last few years into one that was meant to be quiet, circumspect, and hands-on. However, as any other mom with babies will tell you, there are definitely things about my life that are increasing more and more…more diapers, more laundry, more dishes, more craziness, more mess. My life is rarely quiet! And, I have no problem minding my own business since I rarely get to be out of the house long enough to have any in-depth conversations with fellow adults! And, working with my hands includes pulling Play-doh out of my daughter’s hair and washing “eye boogers” off my son’s face.

Heb 13.16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

These sacrifices that are being made…whose glory are they for? Mine? My husband’s? Or, God’s? Who am I most worried about being well pleased? Me? Hubby? The kids? Or, God?

As God has promised, if I will focus on Him, grow in Him, and listen to Him, all the other craziness will fall into place or fall away. I have to once again step off the proverbial cliff, take another leap of faith, and believe in His will and direction for my life. This is where He wants me right now. What I’m doing right now at this time is urgently important for His plan to unfold.

And, as the mature Christian ladies at church tell me…”This is a season of your life. Only a season. And it will pass like all seasons do. When it’s gone, you will miss it so enjoy it for what it is while it is here and live everyday to His glory.”

God help me to do that, to see my everyday “stuff” from Your point of view. Or, if you can’t share that vision with me yet, help me to have faith in Your will. I want You to be proud of me.