New Normal: Our week in Review

Our first full week back after Christmas break.  I knew by lunchtime on Monday that we had reached a new stage as a homeschool family... I knew it was coming but I was hoping I had a few more months...

When we finished for Christmas break, we had a great routine that had been established since September.  Marcus napped all or most of the morning and we were able to work uninterrupted on most days.  The times that he was awake he would sit in his bouncer or in my lap contentedly...

well, GONE are those days!  I now have a crawling- pulling-himself-up- getting-into-everything-not content-to-sit-and-watch-without-getting-involved-6 month old! And BOY does that change things!

Amidst finding this new normal, we did manage to accomplish a great deal.  We were even visited by a local news reporter who is doing a story on homeschooling in Bermuda... and it wasn't total chaos while she was here!! The story which is actually part 2 of a series is to air during the evening news at some point soon so the kids are looking forward to our 30 seconds of fame!

We spend the bulk of our mornings working through math, spelling, reading, handwriting etc.  We broke up the routine one morning and headed off to the library to do our math.  At first the boys were a bit distracted but we did manage to get though the lesson for that day.  Eli is gaining more confidence each day with reading and it has become the subject I most enjoy doing with him.  I like to see the light come on in his eyes when he sounds out a word and realizes what it is.

Micaiah continues to enjoy history as we go through The Story of the World Vol 1.  I must say that I am learning so much myself!  This week we were introduced to Hammurabi, the sixth Babylonian King.

We spent lots of time outside this week, taking advantage of the good days when we could. 

Eden and her friend Josiah on their way to gymnastics

Until next week,

#B90Days: One week Down!

So my first week of the 90 day Bible reading challenge is complete and I was able to stay on task.

It is a lot of reading each day but it has been so rewarding. I loved reading through Genesis and Exodus.  Reading at this pace has allowed me to appreciate the continuity of the story, to see God's love, sovereignty, absolute power and control woven throughout.  

There were so many things God showed me through the week... I'll just highlight a couple:

First while reading about Noah and the flood chapter 7 verse 24 said that "The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days".

150 days... stuck with a boat load of animals... no escape... Noah must have been wondering if it would ever end!  I start to go crazy when I am stuck in the house with 4 kids on one rainy day!! 

But then chapter 8 starts out with 4 beautiful words...

           "But God remembered Noah..."

those words just leaped off the page at me.

Even during hard times, when there seems like there is no end, God remembers us.

He will not forget me even if he allows hard times to persist for awhile.


What trial does God have you in right now?   But God remembered {insert your name}!


Secondly, in Exodus chapter 23 when God was telling the Israelites that he will drive the enemy nations out of the land that they were to inherit,  verses 29 and 30 say:

   But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate

   and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before

   you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.

God prepares us for the blessings he has for us... he doesn't give us something we are not ready for.  He will grow us in wisdom and maturity in order to be able to handle the blessings and the work that he has for us.  God's timing is perfect and I praise him for that.  I am learning to be content where he has me at this moment in time, preparing me for the next place he wants to take me.


So 7 days down... 83 to go!  For all of you reading along with me, be encouraged and stay at it!  See insights others are sharing at Mom's Toolbox.

Week in Review: Back to School

One of the things I have really come to love about homeschooling is the flexibility of our schedule and our calendar.

When we finished up for Christmas break on December 17th I had planned to start again on January 4th but on Christmas Eve Joe told me that he was off work until January 6th... that immediately entitled him to "Husband of the Year" award!!  It has been awhile since he has had that much time off so it was not  a problem for me to postpone the start of our new term.  The kids had a great time with their daddy being off.

On the last day of vacation we took a family outing to Dockyard.  We took the bus and the ferry, visited the glassblowing studio, explored the playground, enjoyed lunch at Frog & Onion Restaurant...  it was a great end to a wonderful Christmas holiday!

We spent Thursday and Friday easing back into somewhat of a schedule... The kids wrote about their day in Dockyard, we made pattern block creations, did jig saw puzzles, read books and made a simple snowflake craft... nothing strenuous as clearly I had gotten used to lazy days!

Next week is back to our full schedule... and as much as I have enjoyed the break, I am looking forward to getting back to our normal routine... and I think the kids are too!

Picture of the Week

I'm hoping to get back to taking more pictures of the kids and their every day moments. I won't commit to a picture a day like I did in 2009 for Project 365, but I am going to try and post a picture of the week. SO,  without further ado... here is this week's picture of the week:

A 90 day journey

About a month ago I was reading this post by Jolanthe of Homeschool Creations where she joined a 90 Bible reading challenge hosted by Amy from MomsToolbox. I have been wanting to be more intentional with my bible reading and in October I began the Essential 100 Challenge through You Version. Since this was scheduled to end on Dec 31,  I thought it would be a great idea plan on joining the next 90 day challenge. I felt God was leading me to this and continued to make it a matter of prayer.  

 

SO here I am..

                Day one of this ninety day journey!

As I read I will be journaling the things I am trusting the Holy Spirit to reveal to me. I will be using the "SOAP" method to organize my thoughts. I found this outline on Moms' Toolbox.

S: Scripture-Write the ONE scripture that I feel God is using to speak to me in today’s reading

O: Observation-What might He be telling me with that scripture?

A: Application-How can I apply it to my life?

P: Prayer-What is my prayer to ask God in helping me to make that application?

To say that I will blog about this journey with any sort of regularity will be over ambitious. I want to be sure that my time and focus remain on learning the things God has for me in His Word. I will however check in here from time to time with my progress.

Mom's toolbox has accountability built into the challenge in the form of a weekly check in and encourages participants to blog if they desire so I will link any of my progress reports to the check in post of that week.


If you are interested in learning more about the Bible reading challenge, you can read more about it at Mom’s Toolbox. You can also download your own printable reading bookmark if you want to join along in the challenge.


Off I go...
                            to read God's Word...

                                    cover to...

cover!

On setting Resolutions...

 Wow!  It is 2011!  Happy New Year!!  So another year brings...

New.Year. Resolutions

...at the end of each year, I resolve NOT to set them for the next year.  Why?  Are you like me?  Do you get to January 15 only to realize that you have already fallen off the wagon and get frustrated and give up completely!

BUT then...

 there is always  something about a fresh start that always brings me back to setting goals and getting excited about starting over or starting something new on January 1st.

So what's the problem with resolutions? How can we avoid the pitfall of not accomplishing our goal...finishing the thing what we are so excited to begin?

The problem with resolutions are that they are usually something WE have resolved to do... in our own strength.  They may be great goals but half the battle will be won if we start out by asking God what he would have for us to do.  It is about living our lives with purpose, allowing our Almighty Heavenly Father to guide our steps.

Your word is like a lamp for my feet

and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 9(NCV)

We have to spend meaningful time with our Saviour and allow Him to direct us.

 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
      He delights in every detail of their lives. Psalm 37:23 (NLT)

The rest of the battle can be won by daily surrendering and submitting to God, trusting Him to accomplish in you what he as given you to do... allowing Him to mold and shape us.

..being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6 (NIV)

Will it be easy?  NO!  It will take discipline and hard work, but God will be faithful to bring forth fruit in our lives when we commit it to Him.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Gal 6:9 (NIV)

So why not start this year by asking God to show you the goals HE wants to you strive toward and then trust him for the power made available when we are weak.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2Cor 12:9 (ESV)

Are you wondering if the Creator of this universe actually loves you and cares enough want a daily relationship with you?  The answer is YES and this relationship can be found in Jesus Christ.

Here is what I believe.   I would love the opportunity to share with you how Christ can make a difference in your life... please email me at rusheika {at} gmail {dot} com.