Life as a homeschool mom

Day in the life of a Bradford

2010-09-15T06:53:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a busy week so far. I took my van in Monday to be repaired from the accident I had on Labor Day, the week before. I got a rental, a Crysler Town & Country. I don't think I'll want to take it back it is so nice. Jessica said, "wow!, Mommy it is so clean!" Well of course it is it only has 855 miles on it. Our van was clean when it only has 855 miles on it. LOL
I have to say I left the house at 8am. I was gone until 10:30am. The kids did their school work while I was gone. I am so proud of them! I thank God everyday for trustworthy, obedient kids. They have there days like most. But Monday they did great!!!
Tuesday was our run around day. Jess started out with piano at 2pm. She did great. I am so blessed to be able to provide this opportunity for her. I would have loved to have taken piano as a kid, but the fund just weren't there. So I am grateful, that we can. Then we she finished piano we came home for a snack and rest for 45 min. Then I took her to an art class at First Baptist. Her teacher is a homeschool mom too! Awesome! Jess loved the class and can't wait till the next one. While I waited for her, I walked/ran the perimeter of the church 4 times, a total of 1.30 mi. I used my time wisely. Finally, after her art class she had soccer practice, luckily at the church so we didn't have to drive far. I had planned on going home to fix dinner while she practiced, but her art teacher came out and we started talking about homeschooling.
It is a blessing to meet other homeschoolers who understand the time and energy it takes to homeschool. Every year, I think, this is it, I am not doing this any more. Everyday I fear that I am not doing enough. Are they getting it? Do they miss public school? Well they can't miss what they never had, right? They have never been in a public school setting. I worry that they won't succeed. Don't all parents worry about that? I would worry what they were exposed to if I sent them away. I would worry about whose bullying them. I would worry whether they are understanding what is being taught and what if they get left behind. Parenting can be a life of worrying.
I will trust in God. Who has called me to homeschool my children for a reason. We want to provide a customized curriculum based on their individual needs. We want to provide for them a safe learning environment. We want to provide for them opportunities to learn as fast or as slow as they need to, without competition. We want to provide for them opportunities to dig in God's word without fear of being ridiculed for their faith. We want to watch our kids faces and they learn new exciting things daily. It is a blessing. It is a sacrifice. It is a calling.
I love being at home with my kids. Andy says I will have the worse empty nest syndrome because I am never alone. I'm sure I will. I will never regret the choices we have made. Gods plan will prevail regardless of where my kids are taught. I just want to do my best while they are with me.

Acts 2:25-28

2010-09-07T11:04:00.000-07:00

I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore,my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. My body will also live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life, you will fill me with joy in your presence.

Let this verse soak in. Isn't it beautiful? The Lord is at my right hand. What does this mean? I am no theologian. But to me, it means he is close enough to feel. You know, when you are walking with your hubby or child you can reach out and grab their hand, and feel secure, safe. Then because God is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. There is nothing I can't do without God knowing about it.
Therefore I will rejoice with my words and actions. I have a hope that God will not abandon me when I think all else is lost. He is still there hand out stretched. He knows what lies ahead for me, and I will be filled knowing as long as I follow him, I will not be MOVED!

Choose to live in the world, but not of it.

What to say?

2010-08-30T09:02:00.001-07:00

A new week is ahead of us. A week of school, work, cooking, cleaning and so forth. Last week, went very well for us. A new week always brings new experiences. Whether you are outside the home or inside the home we all can count on a new something. A new concept to teach/learn in school, a new job assignment, a new recipe, a new scent in cleaning products. Okay I know I'm pushing it now. LOL
Did you know God renews us every day? In Isaiah 40:29, He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

I love this. Yes, a new week is upon us and all the things I mentioned aren't new. They are the same things we do every week. Sometimes we tire of them. I know I get tired of cooking. When you have all the kids home you tend to cook 3 meals a day. It gets tiring! But God reminds me that in my weariness, he renews my strength. He lifts me up. He is my rock.
I thank God today for renewing me. Make me new Lord so that I can live life for YOU.

Day 2 of my blogging adventures

2010-08-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

Well, today has been an eventful day.
First, I got up at 5:40am to take Justin to water polo. Ahh the things we do for our kids. Normally, wake up time for the school year here is 6:15am for me, 7am for the kids. This is so I can get a workout in. So today was early for me!!!
Okay so I dropped off Justin than went to the gym to walk the treadmill. I decided to do the cardio program. I was on an incline of 11.4 for atleast 10 min, than it alternated between 10.9, going up and down. I felt as if I was walking up and down a very steep hill. No biggie. Right? Wrong! When I finished my workout, I came home showered and went to pick up Justin. This is when I noticed a pain in my lower back. At first, I thought maybe I slept wrong. Then I thought maybe this is a side effect from my meds. When I leaned over to give Justin a hug and he wrapped his arm around my lower back, pain radiated, and I decided to call the DR. to make sure this was not med related.
Well with the back pain, dry lips, eyes and nose. I am not all peachy keen jellybean, if you know what I mean. I am short with the kids and I just want to lie on the couch, but I can't because I have to keep my chin up and keep pushing on. Isn't that what mothers do?
Dr. called back and the back pain must be from my workout. She said she had never heard anyone experience back pain from the meds. She said take an advil, cold compact, and epson bath if it doesn't get better. Also, she reminded me to not additional vitamins at this time. Any extra Vitamin A will make my side effects worse. Dully noted!(don't know if I spelled dully, right, but you get the point)
I pray that my back pain goes away. The meds have minimal side effects and that the kids and I get used to getting up earlier than usual.
God Bless you and have an awesome day!! By the way I started this at 11am. It took 1 hr with 100 interruptions in between.

Blogging vs journaling?

2010-08-23T07:41:00.000-07:00

I have tried journaling for years and failed. I was cleaning out my office recently and found 3 "journals" that were started and yes, never finished. I always have good intentions, but can't seem to follow through.
One area in my life I have followed through with is the well fair of my family. WELL Thank goodness for that.....ehh.
I've written in a journal now for 5 straight days. Yeah I always do that, so it's really no big day. It's sticking with it after those 5 days, that's the challenge! I thought well I'll take it to a higher level, blogging. Which if you noticed I started a long time ago and haven't been back in months. So I am going to try. You can read along if you like, but I'm really not all that exciting. LOL
Home schooling is a part of my life so I'll obviously be talking alot about that. Hope that's ok.
It's a new school week for us. We started school last week, just a few subjects, but we started. This week we are in FULL SWING, ALL SUBJECTS ARE A GO! (Except REACH subjects, those start tomorrow after tonights meeting when I will get their books)
Today also signifies DAY 7 of Accutane meds. I've actually taken 6 doses. I noticed yesterday that my lips are a little drier than normal, but other than that I am A-OK. I also have a few new nodules on my face, but I'm used to that. I continue to pray for minimal side effects and maximum results.
Finally, I would like to share with you the Bible verse that spoke volumes to me today. It is found in Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all you soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey Him. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to the by oath.

Love Letters

2010-05-19T06:34:00.000-07:00

You see our pastors wife once told me that she asked for a love letter every once in a while and I thought okay I'll try it and see what my hubby does.
The first time I asked his eyebrows went up as they do, when he is surprised or interested in something. Then he said ok. Wow, that was it. He's going to write me a love letter. Sweet!
Then when I read it I melted. He poured his heart out on paper just for me. It was the sweetest note ever.
You know Mother's Day was just a few weeks ago and I asked Andy for a love letter. This time he typed it and read it to me and the kids. Of course, I melted again and thought how special it was to have him read this in front of the kids. The kids know how much we care for each other and run to the other room if we show affection in front of them. But, here they heard from their dad's heart how he felt about me. I was fully satisfied. There isn't a gift in the world that could give me what Andy gave me that day. It was "priceless". Cards don't come close to what he really feels. His words not words of a stranger.
Now look at this from a Biblical point of view. God's word is a love letter. In His word he reminds us how much he loves us, cares for us, and wants us to have the best. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He wants to be a intimate part of our lives. We can read his love letter every day and learn more about Him. We grow closer to him when we spend time with him.
I teach Jr high girls Bible Study. We tell them how God uses relationships as a picture of his love. My marriage is a picture of God's love for me. Andy loves me, but God loves me more.

Uh-oh

2009-11-09T10:10:00.000-08:00

Well my kids are great to sort and start their laundry. I am so proud. But today the good deed claimed one of them. Yep! Justin washed and dried our house/his phone.
He prayed over it and it vibrated! He continued praying, but the vibrating ceased and now the phone has passed on to where most electronics go, "the trash".
So now we are in need of a phone. Mostly for the house. Justin is home most days, and only takes it out if he knows we will be great distances apart, like church. LOL
He is so upset. Oh the little things in life that make us sad.

Why so serious?

2009-11-04T09:46:00.000-08:00

Busy, Busy as usual. You know why do we make our lives so busy. I laugh when I hear parents say, we had a basketball game 4 nights in a row. They have practice 6 days a week. We haven't been home all week because Suzie has this or Bob has that. Etc. Etc. We have no family time.
We'll just like life is full of choices. You must chose what is important to your family. Spending endless hours in the car, running little Johnny to here and there, sitting at sport activities or making sure your family spends quality time together.
Who am I to talk? I spend so much quality time with my kids I sometimes find myself needing a little less. LOL Yet, I know the time I spend with them will change them forever.
I sometimes wonder what life would be like if my kids were in school. Well, one thing for sure we'd have less family time. I desire for my kids to be influenced by the Holy Spirit and guided by Andy and I , rather than the schools and sports schedules. I often find grounded in the faith families, choose sports over church activities. Yeah, sports can help a child get into a college if they are good enough, but some parents push their children into being something they aren't. When we choose God over all the other "stuff", we must have faith that God will provide for us because of our faithfulness.
I hope I haven't stepped on any toes, these are just the opinions of me. :)

So how long is too long

2009-10-22T07:22:00.000-07:00

Our family has been homeschooling for 8 years now. Justin is in 8th grade, Jared is in 6th and Jessica is in 4th. How long is too long?
You know I have honestly asked myself this very question many times. Every year around the same time, the end of the school year. I wonder all the time if I am doing what I am supposed to do. I guess you could say I am keeping myself in check. I don't want to homeschool because everyone else is doing it. (well they're not) I don't want to homeschool because I don't want my kids in public school. I don't want to homeschool because my kids need me. I want to homeschool because God called me to it. It will be until I feel God calling me out of homeschooling, I will stop.
Homeschooling has taught me so much. I am not talking just academically. Yes, I have relearned and understood so much more since I began homeschooling, but I KNOW my kids better than anyone else. I know how they learn, what makes them tick, what makes them excited, what makes them learn, better than any teacher ever could.
It makes my day to hear and see the excitement on my kids faces when they have mastered a concept. I taught my kids how to read, write, add, subtract, divide, and so much more. They can communicate with adults and play with a variety of different aged of children.
One day Andy and I were cooking supper together and he mentioned how nice it was to hear the kids playing together. He said by the time he was Justin's age, 13, he and his sister rarely communicated. He loved hearing our kids not only communicating, but playing and still using their imaginations together. Yes, they still argue. Do you know of any siblings who don't? But for the most part they love being together.
We all need a break every now and then. Yet, I miss them all the more. Andy said I will probably have a harder time with the "Empty nest syndrome" than most. We'll see. I say no way. LOL
All I can say as like any human I get tired of it all. Yet, I love my kids and will do my best as long as I have the support of my family, but most importantly my God.
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6

Ohhh my head

2009-10-21T14:27:00.000-07:00

Okay so I've never blogged, but I've tried for years to keep a journal and failed miserably. So here is my first blog. Enjoy!
Well, Monday night I was tucking in the kiddo's as usual. After praying and laughing with Jared, I smacked my head on the top bunk of his bed. I literally saw stars. Everything went black and I saw stars. Now I have hit my head plenty of times to know, but I wasn't paying attention yet again!
I collapsed to the floor and told Jared to go and get Andy. (thank God he was home) I am lying on the floor in excruciating pain, and can not open my eyes. I lie there for what seems like forever, crying, while Andy tries to assess the injury. After several minutes, He asks if I can move to our bed. I don't think I can, but I am willing to try. When he moved me to a sitting position, a wave of pain came rushing in my head, eyes, BODY. I collapse again and I tell Andy to just let me lie there. He is worried that I may have a concussion and calls an ambulance.

The kids start crying for fear that something could be seriously wrong with me. I am trying to control my own sobs to ease their worry, but I too am scared. I continue to lie on the floor and tell Andy to just let me lie there and go to sleep. I was feeling soooo tired. I just wanted to sleep, thinking that if I could sleep the pain would cease. Andy kept talking to me and telling me not to fall asleep. Just leave me here, I'll be fine, I would say. The paramedics arrived and asked what happened, how I felt, if I could move. I said yes, but preferred to stay where I was. They said no I needed to get in the bed. (they were assessing whether or not I could stand) So I reluctantly sat up and of course the wave of pain came upon me again and I urged them to just let me lie down, where I was. Then they stood me to my feet. I was crying and calling Andy to tell them to just leave me alone. They kept telling me I needed to get to a bed. After what felt like hours of pain and painstakingly walking to my bed, clinging to the paramedic and feeling weaker and weaker, I made it. The paramedics then proceeded to explain to Andy that if I had been vomiting than I would immediately need to go to the ER. They also advised him to take me if I couldn't wake up. DUH! After they left Andy gave me IBP and a bag of frozen veggies was place on my head.
Tues. was a sluggish day. I was dragging and any loud noise, sent pain through my head. So I took it easy. My mom came over to help me help the kids with school, cook, clean and the such. I was very grateful.
Today was even better. I still have pain, but it is more local, rather than my whole head.
All I have to say is thank you to my family. I love them so much and it saddens me that I made them upset. I am grateful that I have such a hard head and that I didn't have to go to the ER.