Breaking The Wall

Oh how I wish homeschooling were a sprint. I could train, prepare, and generally psych myself up for the challenge. Then, in one fell swoop it would be over and I could rest. But homeschooling is most definitely NOT a sprint. It's more a marathon...NO...it's one of those super long endurance runs that cross continents. A run that at times feels great, like we've hit our stride perfectly, and at other times feels like we are crawling along searching for the next aid station. A run that seems to have no finish line and no medals handed out along the way.

Now, I've never run an actual marathon (though I would like to someday) but I've heard others speak of THE WALL. The 'I cannot take another step or I will die' stage of the run where you just. can't. go. on. Recently a friend told me that most homeschoolers hit a similar burnout era at around 7/8 years.

The proverbial wall.

Well...I'm there. Or, truth be told, I should say that I have been there for the last year. That's right. A YEAR. A year of muddling through our days. A year of tearful phone calls to my husband. A year of others (and my own thoughts) telling me that my life would be so much easier if I would just put the kids in school...any school. A year of crying out to God for an answer, begging for relief.

The shocker? There is no quick fix. No easy answer.

But, since this blog is for my personal reflection here are some things that are helping me currently:

• Continued prayer even if I don't 'see' the answer.
• A loooooong break. Months, not weeks.
• A vacation. We camped in the mountains for two weeks. Very restorative.
• A sweet husband who says enough is enough and takes action where needed.
• Taking time to focus on my health. Eating right, exercising, and taking vitamins.
• Authentic relationships. Friendships where it's safe to say I'm having a terrible day.
• Taking it back to basics. Focusing on getting the basics accomplished. Only the basics and that is ok.
• Adjusting expectations.
• Park Days.
• Having a friday Co-Op again.
• Taking a break from 'homeschool' reading. (You know, the magazines with the perfect families on the cover)
• Focusing on the strengths of my individual children instead of comparing them to...anything.
• Letting go of the perceived expectations of well-meaning others.
• Finding a good support group where I can go to laugh, be inspired, and know that I am not alone in what I am going through.

We truly feel like God has called us to homeschool our children for the long haul. Yes, it has been fun at times, but it is most definitely not easy. It takes perseverance, endurance, patience, and apparently I needed to grow ABUNDANTLY in these areas because here I am. At the wall. And while I can honestly say that I don't think this wall is broken, some bricks have fallen and I can now see through it.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

(Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)

Today

So, I figured out why I am blogging more this week than say...the last year. Ben bought me a nifty little netbook that is ALL MINE. That's right. Mine. Kids cannot even breathe on it. That said, here is today:

Sonora and Quinn pooled their creative juices and made a note delivery service. Your note will be printed and delivered via paper airplane for the low low price of 1 cent.

I requested a note to be sent to Ben letting him know that I love him. Here is the finished product.

Judah is not quite used to our new school schedule and he was worn out today. He was getting REALLY cranky so we put him on the closest thing we could find for blanket time. This is how we found him a few minutes later. School is tough.

Finally, I busted these out tonight for the first time in about 4 years.

Excited to start a new tap class tonight. Classes started in August so I'm hoping that I can catch up. Haven't tapped in years, so I'm looking forward to it. Fun + Exercise. What a deal :)

New Shoes?

You would think I would know this lesson. I mean, goodness...I've been a mom for 12 years. Apparently not. Lesson: Never leave a toddler with scissors unattended.

Desks, Lockers, and Cabinets Oh My!

About a week ago, Ben's job had an auction to get rid of all the stuff they didn't need after their move to a new building. We scored: 6 rolling chairs, 5 'desks' (probably more like printer tables), a locking storage cabinet, and a set of 18 lockers (the small 1 foot square ones) for $65. I was impressed with the price, but the kids have been SO excited because today was the first day of our entire homeschooling life that the kids have had their own desks. We have always schooled at long tables or the kitchen table and I gotta say...I LOVE THESE DESKS and the kids have spent quite a bit of time personalizing everything. Guess it's contagious, because I'm excited for them! We also moved the schoolroom downstairs (to be closer to laundry and cooking...sigh...) and our bedroom upstairs so I'm hoping that this will work great this year.

Oh, and to throw in a random bit from today...our yard is swarming with these little guys. The boys are loving it. Me, not so much. Although, he looks like he's smiling at me :)

H~s 9th

Happy Birthday to my beautiful 9 year old Harper! And, since I am in a picture kind of mood, here is a collage of H's Yellowstone trip. You know what I noticed most about H in all the vacation pictures? She is always smiling. I know that there were times in our trip where she was frustrated or cranky, but she always tried to smile for the pictures. I love that about her :)




(I had to add the following because it really shows her heart)

He has a six shooter, shooting EVERYTHING.

Her name is Harper.

AND, this...this, is the cutest video EVER.








(Just to make sure it's heard...his first words are "I shoot a mountain lion, Harper.")

She's such a good big sister. LOVE you H!

(Wow...2 blog posts in 2 days. A record. :)

2011 Vacation Slideshow

I had SUCH a great time making this. We had a wonderful trip and made many memories. I've done my best here to put them in the order they occurred. It is my hope that this video captures a small fraction of what I have stored in my heart.


(Don't expand because I saved this video in an easy to upload format because it was so long :)

Lego Love

The kids heard that my little jewelery box was breaking so Quinn and Harper took action. Quinn designed the fancy little box and Harper fashioned a ring tree. Love, Love, LOVE them!