Simplicity...

There's too much rolling around in my brain these days. I can't seem to find the time to blog it all down. The majority of my time has been spent wrapping up the school year. 4 kids+private school=super busy. I HATE BUSY. I really do. I even hate the sound of that word. I heard a great acronym for that word a few weeks ago: Being Under Satan's Yoke. That could pretty much sum it up I suppose. Next year is all about getting back to one of my VERY FAVORITE WORDS OF ALL TIME:

SIMPLICITY...

Doesn't that have a nice ring to it? It sounds so dreamy doesn't it?

I was going through a bunch of old pictures last night and I came across a time in our lives that we all agree was a family favorite. We were living in a rental home while our current home was being built and we were homeschooling. I know that word (homeschool) makes some people shiver in their boots, but it really isn't rocket Science. I have come back to the realiztion that it may be the ticket to the simpler life, especially for those of us with lots of kiddos. I have done it a couple of times and have always been ready when we put our kids back in "real school", but this time I am pretty sure it's the only way to restake the claim on my family time and how we spend our money and what's priority and what isn't. I am tired of spinning my wheels over the non-essentials when there is so much real work to be done. I see the value in every single educational option though. Seriously, if you are seeking after God's desire for your family, He will lead you. Homeschooling isn't the only way and I get so irritated with people who have only homeschooled their kids and believe that it is the only way to raise up your kids for His kingdom. I know I sound a bit angry when I say that, but the amount of people who believe that is just shocking and it annoys me. God is so much bigger than that. He is everywhere. The scripture that He so clearly gave to me when we were praying about putting our kids in the big bad public school system was 1 John 1:4, "...because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." What do we have to fear? The schools aren't responsible for raising our children anyway. We are. No matter where we choose to put our kids for school, we recognize that we are their teachers and we desire to pour into them. We must be intentional. We must be involved. We must share the gospel with our children. They will not get it by osmosis. Sitting in church every once in a while won't do it either. We must live it, eat it, sleep it, breathe it. We must lead by example. If they see it alive in us, they will want it too. Not always a guarantee, but God's in control, not us. All I'm responsible for is planting the seeds. God will bring forth the fruit.

Enough soap box! I know you don't come here for my lectures. Remember that this is just me venting. Thanks for putting up with me! :)

So I started  my goal to simplicity by decluttering our play closet. Out went all of the non-essentials.

We are also switching up the bedrooms this summer. Alex and Aidan will be sharing the big bedroom that the girls have been sharing, Ansley and Ashlyn will be sharing the middle bedroom (Aidan's room), and Averleigh gets her own big-girl bedroom (Alex's room). The boys will have the smaller closet and their own bathroom. The girls get the bigger closets and the Jack-and-Jill bathroom. It just makes more sense. I found really inexpensive, yet good quality bunk-beds at www.kidsfurniturewarehouse.com that will be going in 2 of the 3 bedrooms. Av will get Aidan's comfy queen sized bed, which will double as our guest bed.

We are also fixing up the loft upstairs for our homeschool room again and I found these killer desks at Ikea for $120.00! swivel chairs for $25.00!

We are trying to keep it cheap.

Any suggestions?

Curriculum?

I am looking at A Beka, BJU Press, Easy Grammar, and K-12 online for Math only. There's also a great website by Amanda Bennett on unit studies that looks great. We may give it a go this summer just to see how we like them.

We are still waiting on our log-in date from CCCWA. Please pray that it comes soon. We are getting so anxious to meet miss Ashlyn. Averleigh asks daily when we are going to China and then she'll say, "Nomember?" and I'll say, "Yes! That's right! You are so smart!" And then she'll say, "You go get her?" And I'll say, "Yes, but it is 5 months away." And then we count to five on her little piggies. 

Lots to do in the meantime. I'm so excited!

We are praying for clarity and direction for what to do about Alex's schooling next year. To homeschool or not to homeschool. That is the question. It's a tough decision, but I am sure God will show us the way. He always does. If you would please pray for this decision. It's a really tough one. Thanks.

Blessings,
Rebecca