Homeschooling

My husband and I have been considering homeschooling our children even before we had children, but it's only been the last six months or so that I've seriously begun researching it. I have spent much time this year on the internet and checking out books from the library about homeschooling. Around about April I started to feel panicky and overwhelmed and thinking there was no way I could do it. I even began checking on the private and charter schools in our area. As it turns out, none of the charter schools available to us are something we would consider sending our kids to, and the private schools prices were so very high that it seemed out of our financial reach.

I began praying even more about our educational options and seeking God's guidance, and then a neat thing happened. Beginning in May I was forced to spend two hours per day doing close-up work with my son to help him with a vision problem we discovered he had (amblyopia). Ryan has known his phonics for over a year and had been wanting to put them together to read, but the way I had been trying to show him wasn't clicking with him. So I checked out a book from the library called "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons," and we spent part of his two hours per day learning to read. Ryan ate it up, and I discovered something very valuable too: I LOVED teaching him! I realized I didn't want to give this joy to someone else.

I know the Lord has answered my prayers and given me peace about homeschooling at last. He even has lead me to the curriculum I believe I am going to use, but more on that later...

The Glory of God

Friday we took a drive to Washington to see what's been going on with Mt. St. Helens. It's been quite active since September of last year when it erupted again after being silent for years. We wanted to see it for ourselves. It's a beautiful drive up there, but I was concerned we wouldn't actually get to see the crater since there was a significant cloud layer. Sure enough, when we got there it was like looking at a fog bank, but I said a prayer that we would get to see it before we left. So we viewed the movie and looked through the exhibits and then went outside to listen to the Forest Ranger talked about the mountain. As he was talking we started to see blue sky, and before he was done we were looking into the crater. God is so faithful to hear even our little prayers!

There is a brand new peak inside the crater (the tooth-like protrusion you see in the picture). The volcano is currently pushing 30 cubic yards of magma to the surface every five seconds. That's like a very large dump truck load. If it continues at its current rate, it is estimated that the mountain will be rebuilt in 40 to 50 years. Although the Ranger told us that it took 55,000 years for Mt. St. Helens to form, it seems clear to me that their scientists didn't figure God into the equation. Even at its current rate the mountain could have been formed in significantly less time than 55,000.

I left the volcano with a renewed respect and awe for God's creative power. The mountain is covered with trees (thanks to Weyerhauser's monumental efforts) where 25 years ago there was devastation, . Spirit Lake isn't stocked but once again has fish thriving in it though everything was killed in the lake at the time of the blast. We saw plenty of wildlife, from ground squirrels to deer. God is in the business of rebuilding things, from people to mountains!

"For since the creation of the world Hs invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." Romans 1:20

Birthday Musings

Could it be possible that I turned 39 yesterday? I actually put my info into a life expectancy calculator yesterday and found out that I can expect to live to 98...or to 102 if I lose 50 pounds! That number just stunned me. 102! I've never really contemplated living that long, and it is sobering to think about. What will I do with the next 63 years, should God grant me that much time here on earth?

My prayer today has been that I will not waste the remaining years of my life, but that I will use them in the service of God, my family, and others God puts in my path. Since we never know if this might be the last day we will ever live or if we have decades left, it's so important to be who God has called us to be and do what He has called us to do.

"Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-17

Why Blog?

I was inspired to begin blogging after enjoying my sister-in-law's blogs that she made for her daughters. It's been a great way to stay informed and feel a part of their lives, even though we live 1,ooo miles apart. I wanted to do the same for our friends and family who are spread out from Oregon to Florida, California to New York and many places in between.