Wednesday, September 17, 2008

First Day of Kindergarten

This was our first official week of kindergarten. Ashleigh was so excited. When the missing workbooks arrived last friday, she wanted to start then. It was so hard for her to have to wait all weekend! So Monday we started. I didn't feel fully prepared, but knew I couldn't hold her off any longer. All in all, I think it went very well. She only had to be reminded twice to stop talking when I was trying to.

Logan had high-chair time. I tried getting him used to it a little bit at a time the week before. But he still wasn't completely thrilled.
I had several different activities hidden away for him. Things he had never seen or played with before. Magnetic farm animals & board. New crayons & paper. Large beads & yarn. Some little toy dinosours. I only let him play with one activity at a time, for about 15 minutes (unless his interest waned before then). And then I would trade it for something different.

Ashleigh loved math. In fact, she didn't want to stop after just one lesson. So we did two! I love that she loves learning. I am excited to learn about her as we get further into this. Seeing how she learns best. Seeing what interests her, and how she applies herself to different things.

Monday, as I was helping her write something on the chalkboard; I felt a tug at my heartstrings.

......And I knew.

THIS is what I have always dreamed of doing!

As a homeschooled child & teen, I knew I wanted to homeschool my kids someday. Then so many years went by, plans don't happen like you dream, I finally met my prince, we started a family. And I wondered & questioned my desire to teach my own kids. We decided to try it and take it one year at a time.

Then to get that reassuring tug...that feeling of warmth & amazement. It was sort of a deja vu' feeling, to when I used to play pretend school & I was the bossy teacher for my little sister and nieces.

What a blessing it is to be able to do this. I am so honored to be my children's mother and teacher.

"Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside you. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night. Inscribe them on the doorposts and gates of your cities so that you'll live a long time, and your children with you, on the soil that God promised to give your ancestors for as long as there is a sky over the Earth." Deuteronomy 11:19 (The Message)

What higher calling could there be?? Then to love & teach our children about God. To raise them on purpose, for a purpose.

What an adventure it is going to be!!!!!