Home school reality.... the Truth

 Last week I snapped these three quick photos of Lia, Zeke and Ellie doing their home school work while Gwen and Anna were off at preschool.  There is so much reality in these photos!  First Lia...

Yes, this is pretty much how most 7th graders feel about school work.  Actually, she was not happy that I was taking her picture.  Most of her work is done independently with only a few subjects with mom.  I watched her go through her check list and complete each assignment.  

Ellie also does her work by herself.  She does have some of her work on the computer and while listening to her lessons, she usually does jigsaw puzzles.  I am amazed at how much she retains being able to listen while also keeping her hands busy.  On this day, I actually helped her find her new book to read (listen to) from the on line library and managed to get it set up for her.  I have to tell you this was a real accomplishment for me! 

Because Zeke is only in second grade, he needs a bit more help to complete his work.  So there were directions to explain and some sorting out of exactly which pages needed completion.  

Here is the "reality" of home school!  Zeke is doing his work on the floor.  Ellie is laying on the couch covered with a quilt.  Lia is sitting at the counter.  And this is just one day's reality..  The point is, they can be totally comfortable working at their own pace.  Lia pushes through her work and is often waiting for Ellie to finish her work, so that she can use the computer to do math.  Zeke has less work than his sisters and is glad for more play time.  I was thinking about all that happened during the four hours that Gwen and Anna were out of the house.  And I call this a win for home school. 

First of all, the kids were all up and dressed and had breakfast before Gwen left.  They all started their school work immediately (since nothing else happens until their school is done).  Zeke finished his work and then completed his chore for the day.  His job was to clean the loft and put away all the toys.  He then played for a good hour in his room.  Lia finished her school work and then cleaned the bathroom.  Ellie had to finish a book she was reading before the start of co-op the next day,  practiced piano and put away all of her "stuff" from downstairs. Lia helped me put away some of the folded laundry and we started new loads in the washer/dryer.  We all had lunch and cleaned up before Gwen and Anna got home.  During that time, I also got to have some eye-opening conversations with the kids.  

This week included one of those dates that will always cause you to stop and think.  It was September 11th.   The seventeenth anniversary of the destruction of the twin towers in New York, the plane crash in Pennsylvania, and the damage to the Pentagon.....the terrorist attacks on United States soil.  Given that Lia is 12, Ellie is 9 and Zeke is 7, I knew that they might not really have much information about the significance of the date.  Lia remembered hearing about the event during the past years.  Ellie and Zeke didn't know anything about it.  I gave some very general information about the attacks.  My thoughts were on all of the families who had been so effected by this tragedy.  Thankfully, we had no one close to us that was lost on that day.   I was thankful that our conversation about  9/11 took place at home.  

There are so many thoughts about home school versus public school.  This week brought me to yet another positive about home school for my family.  I am so thankful when hard topics come up, they can hear the truth from their family. 

I love that Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me".  Our culture can be very confusing.  There seems to be a lot of "facts" that just are NOT the truth.   I am so thankful that my children and grandchildren know WHO is the truth.  And that Jesus is the only truth you can always believe and trust.  There is so much in that one little Bible verse.  You could spend hours just meditating on that verse (which is John 14:16 by the way).  And this is just another reminder to me how blessed we are to have easy access to the TRUTH - to the Bible and to Jesus. This is a great place to be when you are remembering just how shaken we were, seventeen years ago, when we faced terrorism in our own land. 

Jesus, thank you for reminding me that you ARE the truth and you have left us with the Bible to lead and guide us.  Thank you for the freedom that we have here in the United States to educate our children freely and to have the Bible in our hands.  Holy Spirit, touch those that are still suffering from the effects of that attack seventeen years ago.  Give us all compassion for those that grieve.  Amen

A couple of reasons that we needed to be home early!

Well, unfortunately, Ken is feeling a bit "puny" (as he would say).  Yes, he is under the weather.  He had a slight fever and some tummy troubles and just wants to lie on the couch and rest.  So the immediate thought I had was "Thank goodness we are not trying to travel today, or sitting in a hotel somewhere!"   I was just so thankful to be home.  And I know that Ken was thankful also.  It's not so good to feel icky, but it is really bad to feel icky and be away. 

So while Ken was resting, I decided to proceed with my scrapbooking.  I was happily sitting at my scrapbook table, when my cell phone rang, with an out of area number.  It was a shocking call, and another reason why we had to be home.  Our credit card number was lifted in Canada and there were fraudulent charges made in the last couple of days.  Needless to say the card was canceled.  But now I have the tedious job of going over every charge on the account.  And because this was the only card we used in Canada, there are lots of charges.  To complicate the situation, now that the card is canceled, I can't access the account on line.  So I will have to go to the bank and get a paper copy of all of the charges.  They recommended that I wait until Monday to be sure that all charges have posted.  This is very upsetting!  The interesting thing about this is, that Ken and I talked about credit card fraud a lot while we were in Canada.  Our first charges in Canada required assistance.  They actually bring out a small credit card machine and YOU slide the card and input the charges.  And then you add on the tip and process the transaction yourself.  Then, on the last day we were at Niagara Falls, we were at a small street café.  They took my card inside to process the transaction.  It was the only time in Canada that this happened.  Ken and I talked about it as it happened!  And it was apparently exactly what we feared....the chance for our number to be lifted.  We are hopeful that we will not have any charges associated with this event.  But it is not the way I would like to spend my time.  It is making me really a bit nervous about using a card ANYWHERE!  And here is another reason in this whole thing to be very happy to be home.  When we were in Canada, we did NOT have our phones.  So had they tried to call us, we would not have gotten the call. 

Boy, does something like this change the way you think about safety, security and fraud. I am so thankful for the credit card companies that monitor things like this.  All of the people that I dealt with today on the phone, were so kind and helpful.  They made a tough situation, so much easier.   But it is a picture of our world today.  There are things that we have to contend with, since we live in this fallen world.  But as we contend with the trials and troubles, we can use the discernment, power, and insight of the Holy Spirit.  I will be carefully checking all of our cards for any unusual activity.  But I refuse to "give in" to the fear of using a credit card.  It's just like the terrorism thing.  If we become so fearful and walk in that fear and live in that fear, the terrorist have already won.  Even without any direct violence.  

I know that Jesus is a God of peace and health and joy!  So, in spite of these unsettling things, in spite of a vacation cut short, in spite of small illnesses, I will chose to take a deep breath, close my eyes and rest in the joy and peace of Jesus.  I know that is what Jesus would do. 

Jesus, thank you for who you are!  Thank you for being my peace and joy.  Holy Spirit, thank you for your discernment and wisdom as we walk through life.  Give us courage instead of fear, peace instead of unrest, and joy instead of sorrow.  Bless all those who work to prevent fraud and terrorism.  Thank you for your provision and your plans for us.   Amen

PS  I finally finished my 2012 scrapbooks! So now, on to 2013!