The Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week…It was a roller-coaster kind of week, and not for the reasons you would expect this time of year. Sure, we had your normal Christmas season kind of busyness going on, but we also have a situation in our life that is causing us to feel emotionally drained. This has sent us on the kind of roller-coaster ride that you can't wait to get off. Jump off. While screaming. While poking Satan's eyes out. Is that too much of a visual for a homeschool mother's journal? Maybe. But that is truth.

In our homeschool this week…Officially, we have been on Christmas break this week. We have crafted, baked and decorated a cake and done a lot of reading together. We wrapped up a study of Daniel early in the week and read some great, inspirational books during our evening worship time. It has been a great week in this regard!

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…Plan breaks in your school year, and don't fret over being a few assignments "behind" (who defines that anyway?) and borrow days from your break. FYI: You can't borrow days from a break. That's called not taking a break. I realize that it is always nice to not be behind, but, at the same time, your kids need the break for their brains to catch up with all that is expected from them academically. We realized a few years ago that, more than anyone, I needed a three week break at Christmas. It allows me to fully enjoy the season and to be able to participate in various Christmas activities without feeling stressed-out(well, less stressed-out at least). This 3 week break is not negotiable in our house. We are always ready for it, and we always enjoy it to the fullest! School starts again in our house on January 3rd. We'll be ready to hit the books hard!

I am inspired by…My husband who is showing incredible strength, grace and integrity in the midst of a very, very difficult situation.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…This evening, we had a blast at a party for our Sunday School class. Tomorrow, we'll be home most of the day except for a rehearsal I have for a little while in the afternoon. Sunday afternoon will be spent with my folks, and we're going to another Christmas party on Sunday evening at our dear friends, the Killianys. We are all super excited about it! It'll be a busy weekend, but it'll be a fantastic weekend too!

My favorite thing this week was…shopping with Eric. We needed that afternoon and evening together so desperately. We began our afternoon by using Starbucks giftcards that Eric received at work. We were there for quite a while reading our Bibles, journaling (me, not him), sipping coffee and chatting about what God was showing us. These are the most important moments in life.

Questions/thoughts I have…What do you do when someone you thought loved you actually hurt you and your family so deeply that the repercussions could be detrimental to everyone involved for a very, very long time?

Things I’m working on…Trusting the Lord. Remembering that He is good and just and unfailing.

I’m cooking…I'm BAKING tomorrow with the whole family. We're doing sugar cookie cut-outs, oatmeal cinnamon chip bars, chocolate fudge, Russian tea cakes, thumbprints, and peanut butter cookies. I realize that's a tall order for one day of baking, but we'll knock as much out as we can in one day. We all look forward to this day every year!

I’m grateful for…The amazing, incredible, kind, caring, outstanding people God has put into our lives. We are facing a very high-stress situation in our lives, the highest stress we have ever faced, but we are surrounded with friends and family who are loving and praying us through it. How amazing is it to know that intimate friends and family in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and California are all praying for every single detail of our situation? Isn't that amazing? And others who don't know the details are praying as well from even more states than that. God rocks, and these people who know us are believing and praying for God's protection and provision for our family in this season. I can't say enough. God. Is. Amazing. And these people of His? They're pretty cool too.

I’m praying for…truth, protection, deliverance, provision.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…"For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love." Psalm 33:4-5

Click on the graphic at the beginning of this post to see what other homeschooling moms have been up to this week!