Natural Home Learning

my motherhood journey

    My journey into motherhood began eight and a half years ago.  It has been the most transformational thing in my life in addition to my marriage.  I have been trying to figure out how to write about this journey. I am not a linear thinker so I will just share what God puts on my heartand over the weeks and months to come the story will unfold here in bits and pieces.  I am just now moving into a new season of my mothering.  I finally am feeling more comfortable and confident in my own skin as I care for my family.  I am finally beginning to trust that God will lead me in a unique way as I parent.  In a way that is tailor made for me and not one that is written out for me in a book written by "parenting experts".  After Isaiah was born, I accumulated a large stack of parenting books that I dove into in hopes of finding the "answers" I so desperately needed to become a good mother.  I knew how important my new role was and I did not want to fail.  I prayed and asked for God's help but I did not believe that I was able to receive all that I needed from Him to be the mom that Isaiah needed.  I put my hope in the "experts" and I became so confused with all of the conflicting information.  This created inconsistency and lack of confidence in me as I parented Isaiah.  I also became frustrated and angry when my "methods" weren't working and he was not fitting into the mold that the "experts" had created.  When Isaiah did not cooperate with immediate obedience then that meant that I was failing in my implementation of these methods and I was failing as a mother.  I became so discouraged and depressed at times. I wanted to be the best mother I could be for Isaiah and I was always coming up short.  I know that Isaiah felt my frustration and I think he may have internalized this, feeling like he could never please me and that my love for him was dependent on his "good behavior".  In my own walk with God I am realizing that the more I relax and cease striving, the more I experience the Lord's grace and love.  The more I relax about parenting and actually trust God to lead us on this journey, the more peaceful and cooperative my children are.  God's extravagent grace and love is there for me when I mess up each day. When I am able to receive God's grace and cease striving for perfection, then my children will learn how to receive God's love and grace also.  They see our walk with God and if it brings us freedom and joy then they will be drawn into a personal relationship with God also. 

    Now for the best part!  I have made many mistakes, especially with my oldest, BUT with Jesus there is redemption and restoration available right now.  Jesus payed the price for all of our mess-ups and the Holy Spirit is with us to make something even more beautiful out of our mistakes as He shows us how to pray and receive His truth and the power to make that truth a reality in our lives.  I realized recently that I had been believing one of Satan's lies that it would take years for Isaiah to find healing and freedom from the wounds caused by my dysfunctional parenting.  I can already see resurrection power at work that is so far beyond anything that I could do in Isaiah's life. The Holy Spirit is now free to work in him in a greater way and this is far better than anything I could accomplish on my own (even on the best parenting day).  Christ in us the hope of glory!

 

my story

    I have been amazed lately as I have been looking back over my life and realizing how God has been at work weaving together this awesome story.  Why do we love a good book or a great movie?  I think it is because our hearts are longing to find our place in the greatest epic of all time.  God has been writing a story from the beginning and we are a part of that and we were born into this time and place in history for a significant purpose. 

    Yesterday at church God moved in such a way as to bring us back to that place of faith and wonder in His glorious plans.  I know that John and I are exactly where God wants us to be and this journey is about to get wild and exciting as we hear God's voice together and live out this amazing story together as a family.  We moved here to Pennsylvania 6 years ago. On our last day at our church in Texas my dear friend Ann encouraged me by saying that God had impressed upon her as she prayed that we have been called to a significant ministry and that a big part of that would be writing. She told me that as a mom it would be challenging because I would be tired, but that I just need to write because the writing will be important for the foundation of the ministry and that this writing will be important in the future of that ministry.  I have been paralyzed ever since and unable to write. That is until yesterday. I know that the time is now. I know that I am simply to begin writing about my story, my life.  I am excited for everyone to know about this amazing story that God has been writing.  I hope it will inspire others to see the awesome story that God is writing in their own lives.

"And who knows but that you have come to royal postition for such a time as this?"  Esther 4:15

 

 

why the title natural home learning?

    Today I am going to think out loud here or rather think as I write. The title "natural home learning" just came to me one day as I was contemplating what our homeschool is about.  During the past couple of years I have been plagued with feelings of inadequacy when it comes to teaching my children at home. I have considered quitting on numerous occasions and even made plans to send Isaiah to public school this past fall.  Every time I try to quit this arduous path, the Lord reconfirms this call that he has on our lives as a family.

 

    I believe that God dropped this title into my spirit in order to begin a transformation of my view of educating my children at home. I just felt like these words were given to me to describe the philosophy of homeschooling that is right for our family. God wanted to have me shift my thinking from the ideal of having "school" at home to a more holistic view of education where we are learning at home together in the midst of natural daily life. My approach towards teaching my kids has been simplified in very dramatic ways. I was soooo overwhelmed by finding the "right" curriculum and wanting to find the "perfect" method to teach each child at their level that I was becoming burned out before I even started. Isaiah is only a first grader and I knew that I could not keep up with the huge endeavor of recreating the school environment here at home. God has been removing the huge weight off of my shoulders that I must be teaching using the methods and the pace at which the school down the street teaches. There is a lot of learning taking place as we spend our days together playing, reading, cooking, cleaning, fighting over toys, desperately searching for clean clothes to wear and all of the other messy moments of real life in this house. Last year I felt like God said "use what you have" for educational materials. You see, I had spent several years acquiring educational materials as I was preparing to start teaching Isaiah in Kindergarten. So we use a hodge podge of materials for reading, writing, and math. We even use some workbooks which some ecclectic homeschoolers look down upon. We are using what we have and asking for God's wisdom along the way. We read a lot of books together.  I have tried to go by booklists like the Ambleside online Charlotte Mason curriculum lists but have found it to be overwhelming to try to read all of the books on the same schedule prescribed by them.  So, I am becoming more at peace with just approaching life in a slower-paced and less pressured way and as I do this I have noticed that my children are actually learning more. I am taking more time just watching my kids to see how they approach learning new skills. I am paying attention to what they are saying and just talking to them about what interests them. I am just learning a lot about who they are as individuals. I believe that this is an important season where they are actually teaching me how to be their teacher. I am amazed by these little people God has given to us. I am learning so much.

 

      We have hopes to spend a lot of time in the natural world hiking and exploring.  I believe that God has much to teach us through His creation. I also love using natural learning materials that are beautiful and inspiring to work with.  My husband John enjoys using his hands to make things and we hope to grow in our abilities to make toys and learning materials. We have dreams to live more simply and to reduce the "stuff" in our lives and pull back on how much we consume and dispose of. I am trying to think more about using what we have before we decide to go buy something new.  I also have an interest in eating more natural whole foods and eliminating the nutrient depleted processed foods in our lives.  So I can see how this title "natural home learning" encompasses more than just an educational approach but a way of life.  I am realizing more and more that real learning occurs during the simple natural moments of our daily lives.  So here we are as a family at the beginning of our "natural home learning" journey.  I wonder where the journey will lead???

 

why am I blogging (or avoiding blogging)???

    
Today I am asking myself why I started a blog and why do I intend to write but then end up not actually writing at all??? Well, this is always a good thing to evaluate now and then. Why are we doing the things we are doing? Why are we not doing the things we want to be doing?

    There are several reasons that I started this blog and intend to write here. The first one is to document our homeschool journey in an informal and creative way. The second reason is to inspire myself to press on and use my creativity when we are learning together at home and to involve the kids in recording what we have been doing here. But, probably the biggest reason is to just think out loud in words about what God is teaching me as I spend my days with my kids in all of the messy and beautiful moments of real life. I hope to write in order to gain perspective about what really matters.

    So then, why have I avoided writing??

1. What if people read what I write and they don't agree with me or they think I am ignorant etc.......???

2. I just can't seem to figure out some of the technical aspects of making this blog work while having the visual appeal that I want it to have.

3. A dear friend in Texas shared with me, before I moved, that during her quiet time with the Lord, He impressed upon her heart that I am to write and it will be an important part of the calling He has on my life. This was one of the most life-giving words I have ever received!!! But, there has been resistance and opposition to this writing endeavor ever since then.

Ultimately it comes down to paralysis stemming from FEAR! 

Fear of failure, fear of what people will think of my words which come from my heart, fear of rejection, fear of moving forward in the purposes God has for my life using the Gifts that God has given me......

So today I take the first step towards pulling down the stronghold of fear in my life. I just begin writing. One word at a time becoming one line becoming one blog post becoming a LIFE. This life I am talking about is the abundant life that Jesus came to give us. The Greek word for this kind of life is Zoe which is Arwen's middle name. So, I put one foot forward on this path of writing for God's glory. Today I give this blog to You Jesus. My words written and my life lived for You alone.

beginning a list

    Today I begin blogging again. I can't think of a better way to begin than recording the list that I have just begun in my head during my many hours of nursing during the last 6 weeks. Reading Ann Voskamp's blog has been life changing for me. She has inspired me to begin my own list of the gifts God is bestowing upon me daily. These are the gifts that don't require a purchase from Amazon. These are the gifts that are already here in my life if I just have the eyes to see them. My goal is to write down a list of 1000 gifts that God has given me. I will record them daily and then share them here on this blog every Monday along with so many others in the "Gratitude Community". You can read Ann's own words about beginning a list here. Consider joining me on this journey. I know it is sure to be life changing.

Tips about joining the gratitude community and starting your own list are here.

 

 

1. My good friend Melisa was here to take me to the hospital when my husband was out of town and my water broke.

2. My mother-in-law who cares for the kids to give me a break every week

3. my wonderful "kindred spirit" Deb was visiting from Hawaii and was able to be an important part of Arwen's birth story

4. a beautiful and peaceful birth of a healthy baby girl

5. joining with my husband in speaking words of life to our L&D nurse following the birth (there was a reason God allowed the labor to last so long -- a divine appointment)

6. words from God to me during the quiet time before Arwen's birth -- Ask, Seek, Knock...

7. fresh vision and purpose during these weeks following the birth of our daughter

8. my boys doting on their little sister

9. my husband speaking loving words to our daughter

10. the precious 2 weeks we had together as a family before John had to return to work

11. my amazing and talented friend Becca who gifted us with pregnancy belly pics and newborn photos of Arwen -- truly amazing!

12. all of the friends who have shared food and support during this time of transition

13. quiet times with Arwen in the middle of the night

14. the breaks I must take through out the day to nurse my babe

15. a new appreciation for the life and energy of my little boys

16. the expanding dialog and conversations I am having with my 2 year old

17. getting to spend every day with my boys since we home school

18. Isaiah's incredible intellect and the way he can remember so much of what is read to him

19. Isaiah's increasing motivation to learn to read by himself

20. Jadon read his first 2 Bob books on his own

 
 
 
 

Okay, I gave up on blogging months ago but I have been inspired lately to return and give this blogging thing a chance. My husband might even stop in regularly to write. We are making the transition as a family to embrace the new life in our midst. Arwen Zoe was born on 10-8-10! We are so very excited to bring a little girl into our family. Our boys are loving their little sister. God is soooo good to us.

the beginning of a new year...

Here we are. The beginning of a new year. The beginning of a new decade. I am feeling excited about the new year ahead. I have many hopes, dreams and aspirations. I do believe that this year holds the fulfillment of some dreams and promises God has given me throughout my journey with Him. Maybe not complete fulfillment but the dawning of a new thing in the life of my family and a breaking out of my cocoon so to speak. I hope to document the journey here. Maybe I will have the courage to invite friends and family to join me here this year. This blog is a place to document our life of learning together as a homeschooling family and our entire life and experience is part of that learning. Education is not limited to the three R's and workbooks and textbooks. Our journey towards healing is part of our life of learning. So this year join me as I share what we are learning as a family -- the simple and practical things, the foundational things, and the spiritual things too. I am excited about all God is going to do this year and may this little space bring Him honor and glory.
I love the pic of our neighbor talking to the kids on our block on New Year's Eve. She invited them in and baked cookies with them. I pray that I can learn from her loving and welcoming spirit.
Jesus said "and whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." Matthew 18:5

laying strong foundations

 

After looking at my recent posts, I realized that we are working on securing strong foundations in our home so that our life of learning together will be grounded in solid, secure essentials rather than bouncing to and fro with every whim and idea out there. There is a freedom that comes with learning at home as the Lord leads our family (which will look differently than how the Lord is leading others). There is a freedom to embrace the season we find ourselves in and learn what we can from it without guilt (slowing down during pregnancy and newborn days, teaching older kids how to play with and lead toddlers, follow the seasons in nature through exploring the outdoors, involving the kids in packing, moving and organizing etc…). It is okay that our family is taking the time to lay strong foundations instead of being a slave to curriculums during these early years. I am using some curriculum materials but I am prioritizing our personal goals that will uphold our life of learning. The layers of our foundation that we are addressing right now are:

1.    simplifying and bringing order to our home

2.    preparing healthy menu plans that make use of whole foods while cutting out the processed junk that our grocery stores are filled with

3.    managing our schedule in a way that makes sure we get adequate sleep

I am reading a great little e-book right now that is basically a collection of Stephanie’s best blog posts during these past 2 years over at Keeper of the Home: Naturally Inspired Living for the Christian Homemaker. There is a great wealth of information over at her site to inspire us to create healthy homes. This week she is having her 2 year blogiversary and there are some great give-aways! Today there are some stainless steel food storage items up for grabs. I have been trying to cut down on plastic food storage materials and I think I have found the jack-pot over at The Tickle Trunk. Go over to Stephanie’s blog and enter to win today’s give-away. I hope one of us will win J.

 I am also interested in following some of Stephanie’s baby-steps towards healthy, natural living. If you would like to join me in trying to implement some of these baby steps in the year 2010, then drop me a comment and I will see if there is enough interest to create a little community to encourage one another in this endeavor. I thought we could post regularly about the baby-steps we are trying to take and the struggles and triumphs that go along with this life-style transformation. Off I go now to do a little foundation laying – sorting through boxes of craft supplies and homeschool materials in our attic and purging some while organizing the rest. Have a blessed day laying the foundations the Lord is leading you in during this season of your life.

By the way, I am having a horrible time formatting this post -- the fonts are irregular, inconsistent. Oh well, no more time to waste. I'm going to post it anyway :)

 

we embraced the warm fall day

Today my older 2 boys spent the day with grandma hiking and exploring. I had the chance to have Thaddeus all to myself. He didn't have to face screams of terror "He's knocking it down!! He's chewing on it!!" It was a relatively peaceful day. But, that boy can EAT! He loved the frozen blueberries as you can see. Thaddeus helped me do some housework today -- I put a few diapers in the bag, he took a few out, I put a few more back in etc... I loaded laundry into the washer and he pulled some of the dirty clothes back out of the washer. I put the kid's cups and plates into a bottom drawer in our kitchen and Thaddeus loves to pull them out and throw them on the floor. Some days this really drives me crazy. But, today I stepped back and looked at this pattern and thought about how it must be for God as we come and undo some of the work he has done in people's lives. We get in the way so much I am sure. Thankfully there is an abundant amount of grace to cover our mistakes and our relationships. We are all on a journey. Thank you Jesus for being so patient with me. Please help me be patient with my children, husband, and all of the people in my life.
 

unplanned learning

Today my “planned” home learning lesson included drawing shapes and writing letters in shaving cream. Well this is how the “lesson” developed.  It was more about a sensory experience than forming letters! The joys of learning at home where you can just stick them in the tub for water play after the “lessons” for the day. This was actually a stretching activity for my six year old, Isaiah, who cringed at the thought of putting his fingers in shaving cream yesterday. So I set this activity up for Jadon who started out using silverware to touch it. Well you can see that they finally warmed up to the idea. Isaiah is my hypersensitive kid. He doesn’t like tags in his clothes, seams in his socks etc…. This experience allowed him to engage in a messy activity on his own terms and at his own pace while following the lead of his younger brother. Lots of learning going on here even though it didn’t go exactly how I planned. After we cleaned up, I found Isaiah in his room with a pencil in hand copying the titles of books into his little notebook. He did get a handwriting lesson after all! I am learning that many times “natural home learning” is unplanned.