Learning Contentment

Recently I read a couple of posts that really resonated with me. Both of these posts hit on something I think about all the time in my blogging, my desire to be authentic. While most of you who read this are dear friends, obviously one has to be cautious before airing her dirty laundry. At

However, I also have no desire to lead you all to believe that I'm always happy, optimistic, carefree and content. If you've spent any time with me at all you might be chuckling right now because I am just not always these things. I want to be real.

The truth is that like most people that are made of skin, heart, bones and soul I have my good days and bad ones, good attitudes and rotten ones.

So today I'll share a little of the rotten-ness.

Discontentment.

I'm really struggling with it. It seems to be a theme in my life that God is addressing, and when it shows up in more than two places in my life ie; conversations, Bible Study, in my book , and in my brain and heart, I know well enough by now to look up at the One who made me and ask for help.

What are you doing in me God? Can you fix this...like, tomorrow? (speaking of discontent...)

So the deal is this; I'm discontent with the size of our house. I KNOW, I know, we have a 2000 square foot house, the most house we've ever had! And I could go on and on about how small it gets when we're all at home, which is all the time (I home school and Ralph works from home) but I'll just mention it and go on. I don' t want to make excuses.

Let me tell you too that I LOVE our home. It's beautiful. I LOVE our neighborhood. I have canyon access and run there, our neighbors are friendly. My kitchen works well for me, I love the tile in my bathroom, I love the windows in our home, I am pretty content to school right at my kitchen table which is the most logical place. I love my family so much, and I love it that we all stay home together. All that being said, I'm somehow discontent.

(I'm not even going to tell you have miserably yucky I feel about being discontent about the size of my home in a day when others around me are foreclosing and trying desperately to sell their homes. We just won't go there. Needless to say, I feel pathetic.)



But I'm not wanting to talk about all that. I'll get over this discontent, eventually. I want to address the discontentment in general.

Phillipians 4:11
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

I'm not there. I want to be.

Ironically, the Bible Study we started last week at church is on the very subject. So I already know God is wanting to do a new thing in me. Maybe I'll even update you along this path with me.

Phillipians 4:12
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Notice in both of the scriptures I quoted, it speaks of "learning to be content." This concept makes me very, very happy. It makes me happy because I know that contentment isn't a built in character trait that only some have. It's something to be attained. Truthfully, I have only met one person in my lifetime that appeared to have learned contentment. So, we have hope friends! (unless of course you're perfectly content)

1 Timothy 6:8
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

God has clearly mapped out for us what it is to be content, and what the benefits are. So now, I just have to get on the bus. I think the beginning of that journey for me looks like a whole lot of thankfulness, and pursuiting my identity in Christ.

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Knowing that our gracious, loving God cares for us and intends to meet each of our needs in ways we can't even fathom is essential. If we don't KNOW our God, know how much He wants to be all we need, we just can't attain contentment. And I have a great hope, a great promise...

Jeremiah 29:11 says;
I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

Contentment
John Adams Elder
c. 1880s
Oil on canvas
Virginia Historical Society

Home school Links

I wanted to compile (for your use and mine) some useful sites for schooling and fun. If you have some suggestions, please share!! This is a work in progress

Spelling
Spelling City
Fun Brain

Lapbooks ~ credit goes to Jenny, thanks!
Home School Share
Lapbook Ladies This is a good place to start, good explanation.
Lapbook Lessons
Lapbook Squidoo


Charlotte Mason (Living Books)
Simply Charlotte Mason
Ambleside Online

Writers Block
Daily Writing Prompts


Book Nook
Guys Read
Reading Schedules ~ how to
Veritas Press ~book suggestions
Sonlight ~ more book ideas
Ambleside Online ~ yet more
Five in A Row ~ books
Total Language Plus


Field Trips
Field Trip Log


Mom Stuff
Masterly Inactivity~ Print off a free ebook
Education Is~ A free ebook

Welcome Baby Boy

My sweet, dear friend had her first baby last night.

What a sweet, sweet baby...isn't he amazing? I can almost smell that sweet baby smell and feel those soft little cheeks.

Great job, God! You always make such beautiful babies!

Monica, you're going to make the most tender and loving mother...and I know Aaron will be a fun and wise father. You guys are blessed!

Congratulations!! Welcome, baby boy!

I didn't have permission to share this info so I left his name out. :)

High Desert Fun~ a forgotten post

Reminiscent

Your Turn!!

Now, you know I would love to hear from my fellow homeschooling mamas, what do your days, weeks, months look like? Post it on your blog and let me know, I'll link you up to share YOUR experience too. This is an incredible wealth for us to share...don't hold back!!

A Year in the Life

I know a lot of my friends are entertaining the idea of schooling their kiddos at home. I've been getting a lot of questions about our schooling lately. I thought I'd give you a little picture of what our school days are like.


An Average Perko School Day

7-9 am~ Boys up, get dressed, make beds, teeth and breakfast.
9-10am~ School for all the boys, mostly the smaller two preschoolers.
10-noonish~ The younger boys play, color, cut, paint, play with toys at the table, playdoh or sometimes watch Sesame Street while I school with Scooter.

Noonish~ lunch
Afternoon~ I do household chores, run errands prep dinner while the boys play around the house.
Some days I run after Ralph finishes work


Thoughts on schooling;

Every day is different. Some days we do afternoon school, always on Tuesday when I have am Bible Study.

Some days the kids are more anxious to get going and start without me before breakfast, especially if they know there is a play date or activity coming. Some days I have to do a lot of motivating.

I try to stay home at least 2-3 days a week in order to get household stuff done.

Each year I get excited about organizing and scheduling. I write up the ideal schedule and then I amend it about three weeks in to the year, if not sooner. The days need to be reevaluated every couple months, weather and holidays given allowance.

We usually school at the kitchen table, but it's not set in stone. Sometimes Scoot takes his work to his room if he's distracted. He's much more productive down at the table with me though.

Sometimes when things are quiet I crochet or read while I sit with the boys. They are ALWAYS more productive if I'm present. I always have a cup of tea, they often do too.




The mess is part of schooling. I usually let the papers, pencils, scraps, toys, whatever- just be while we school. Afterward I clean up, I need to have the boys do it more too.

We work at the kitchen table. I try and organize my school stuff but that is still something I'm trying to perfect. I would love to have that homeschool room, but it's our dining area that has posters and seeds, charts and markers everywhere. It's our life, so I don't mind (as much as I used to. ) I'm still pulling for that house with a school room- but then again, there is something cozy about the kids working on math while I fix dinner or empty the dishwasher. Maybe I'll be content. :)

Our home never looks quite like the family that has three boys that go to school 6 hours a day. We live, eat, school and play here so the house looks accordingly. I'm finding ways to employ the boys more and more, Critter made lunch for us all the other day. Kids can help out with chores- a lot.

All days look different. A school home is still a home that deals with illness, bad days, sleepy days. Some days I sleep in a bit, some days we nap. Some days we do less work, some days we're on a roll and do extra. I do have the kids all do something each school day, education is a discipline*.

Most of this is idyllic. Our days aren't perfect, I get grumpy and impatient and uninspired. I get tired of the mess and frustrated with our space in Winter. I work hard at staying inspired and motivated to make this learning fun for not only the boys but myself. I never, however, am sorry to have a full, noisy, messy house. I never regret having more rather than less time with our boys. This job is so, so worthwhile. I'll take a fingerprinted home over the magazine model any day...


An Average School Week:

Extracurricular activities are a big part of our weeks. None of us are homebodies, so we like getting out. Our regular outings include;

• library
• Bible study
• grocery shopping
• friend visits
• music class
• sports
• reader's theatre
  
• field trips occasionally
• park dates
• nature hikes

All of these outings can be learning.




Craft & Science Projects

These two areas are some of the areas that the average mom dreads or avoids the most. I'm speaking from experience...my own and that of what I have observed. I have finally found peace in this area. It's been a compromise.

Hands-on experience is vital to learning. Especially in the early years, kids take in so much from getting their hands on or watching real life projects happen. Obviously, I need these things to happen...but I don't want to do them all the time.

Some days I don't get out the paints and brushes and all that because I know I just don't want to deal with the mess. Some days I don't mind a bit, am happy to leave the room and let the kids paint everything but the dog, knowing that I can have it all cleaned up in a 1/2 an hour.

Then there are discipline days. (Didn't I say 'education is a discipline?') Moms have them too. When you're studying weather and it's time to make your own anemometer you just have to pull out all the stuff and do this so that your little one can understand how this stuff works...hands on.




Games....GREAT hands on.

Read a great reminder article about hands on schooling here at my TeachAble blog.


Some other thoughts on schooling at home;

One big concern for lots of parent teachers is "Will I be able to teach everything my child needs?" I struggled with this a lot, finding grade appropriate lists making sure I could check off everything I was teaching. "What if I miss something?"

A kind teacher-friend told me a wonderful secret that released me from this fear.

Teachers miss things. NO teacher is perfect and hits everything on the curriculum.

I will say that I breathed a sigh of relief when I was handed a complete curriculum, and I think that will be the best route for me for some time. I LOVE not worrying about whether we're getting all the bases hit, and knowing that I can just add what I want (books, books, Bible and books).

Another thing I've learned is that learning can really be an upward spiral. If you talk about the human body in 1st grade science, it's likely that you'll hit it again in say, 3rd and 4th and 5th grade science...just in a more detailed manner. Missing small things here and there just isn't the end of the world. You'll get a chance to redeem that missed topic in a month, six months or a year. No sweat.

I know that not all folks care about whether they hit all these milestones. If you lean more toward unschooling it's the last thing you're thinking of. I also know that a lot of my friends are thinking of these things.

Whatever you're headed for in the next year I hope that you have a great adventure in learning ahead for your kiddos. Schooling never looks the same around here year to year. Expect that there will be change and learning for you as well as for the kids.



*Charlotte Mason

Quest

This month,

*I will print this post out for a personal reminder and hang it where I can read everyday these ideals I want to implement into my daily life.*

In my quest for peace;

i will keep the media off a little more
i will play a little longer with the boys
i will linger over tea and conversation with my man
i will go for more walks, slow down
i will leave myself wide margins, not planning too much in a day, week or month

In my quest for joy;

i will laugh out loud at three year old knock knock jokes, again
i will look through old photos and remember that I have all worth treasuring
i will play more games with my kids
i will spend more time with friends who help me laugh and spur me into happyness

In my quest for wisdom;

i will read the bible each day
i will meditate on what i read
i will listen to others I respect
i will do some research on good books for kids so we can get some more for spring, summer, next fall

In my quest for order;

i will make a trip to goodwill
i will clean out the linen closet and organize, maybe the pantry too- spring clean
put photos on snapfish and order a few to put in frames for the boys
write up some info needed for AGC
i will continue to work on forms for school next year
i will be careful about time spent on the computer, not how much really, but when

In my quest for beauty;

i will keep the surfaces in the kitchen decluttered and pretty, even only a bowl of fruit
i am washing all our bedding- it looks and smells so fresh
i am slowly scouring our walls and baseboards, so much work and so worthwhile

In my quest for nature;

i will run a couple times this week
i will try and get out (even in the cold) and work on planting plans for our spring (in June)
i will try and get those birdies closer to our house so we can see them
we will look for signs of spring- everyday

In my quest for health;

i will drink lots of water,
i will excersize,
i will eat only when I'm hunger,
i will snack on fruit,
i will cook up more veggies, more often
i will travel with good snacks

In my quest for contentment;

i will thank God daily for all the good things I have
i will take notice of all the little good thing in my day: flowers, the sky, the wind, giggles, favorite books and blankets and people
i will give more, think of what I want less

Psalm 37:3

Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the Lord
and he will give you the desires of your heart.