Revelations

This Christmas season was filled with revelations. I wish that I would have written more of them down, there were THAT many. But here is one I thankfully caught a photo of... So we had a friend over the other night. We were catching up and she was filling us in. She had left her very successful job making plenty of money and even enjoyed her work very much, to fill a place at her church. She is making over half less then what she was making before and has had to dramatically change her lifestyle because of it... (she has done so with nothing but joy as you can see it all over her face) as she explained her daily tasks of getting up early daily to pray over others to have devotions and time in the word daily. I was very happy for her, and also wanted that for myself, but since I choose to become a mother THAT was the season that I was in. Not mothering over other children. So I felt a bit sad in my heart that I couldn't be doing that too! Just like God, a few days later I finally had time and a desire to sit down and figure out Paisley's new and official home school curriculum. I locked myself in my room and was in there for over 8hrs! After I put all the binders together (which was NO small task) next I began learning how to understand  the daily lessons. How to read them how to prepare to teach them and how to teach them. Next I had to learn so that I could teach it to Paisley! Well after I was a few hours into it... I laughed out loud when I had a revelation. I heard the Lords voice ask me "What are YOU doing RIGHT now... is this not exactly what you were wanting?" As I looked around I had two Bibles out (two different versions for very clear understanding for ALL of the questions I know Paisley will be asking.) I had Bible lessons and every other lesson that all come directly out of scripture! I wasn't getting paid in monetary values but I am surely storing up my blessing IN heaven! I began this whole time of preparation on my knees in prayer, (this is personal but I am documenting it for my benefit for the future as I will be preparing these lessons EACH day and not just this once) I prayed out loud with my hands cupped open to the Lord, as a symbol of me giving myself and all my short comings to Him. It was also a symbol of me being open to accept all that I was going to need from Him to carry out this task successfully. Then Throughout the prayer the Holy Spirit came over me, and I began singing, I don't know what I sang, it was a new song. NOT one that I had heard before, but one the Holy Spirit put in me. As I finished singing the song I can't explain how I felt physically, emotionally and mentally. But full and at peace touch the surface! So Lord I want to thank you for being my everything. For using me to teach love and serve the two precious gifts you so specifically placed in our care. I thank you for the revelations, I hold them dear to my heart. I document them as a reminder in the hard times. When I am feeling inadequate to teach my daughter, and not good enough to selflessly love and serve my family. God YOU are enough. You are my portion. I am your daughter. I am special. I am important. You have called me to a purpose and in your strength, through your guidance I will march firmly ahead. Carry me when I need it. Fill me when I am empty. Wipe my tears when I cry and please oh please pick me up when I fall! I thank you Lord for your provisions. For your blessings and for your miracles. Thank you for the desire to leave MY highly successful job to stay at home and raise Paisley and Kaiser. Thank you for providing so abundantly along the way. Thank you for always making a way, even when there seemed to be no way. Praise you Lord for all that you have brought me through over the last 6 years. I started SO low, SO depressed and even more lonely. But I praise you God that I always have YOU. You are all I need, you will supply the rest, overly and abundantly because that is how much you love me. Jesus I love you. Thank you for loving me so deeply. Amen.

It is Official

We are going to homeschool Paisley beginning this fall.
The Lord put it on my heart for a few months... and I ignored it. It was the last thing I wanted to add to my plate. For about a month now the Lord has been showing me different and new angles that have totally changed my heart about it. This is my season to pour into my children God blessed ME with, so why not make the most of it. After praying about it, researching curriculum online and talking with other homeschooling Moms/families I respect and admired, I narrowed it down to one. Plus we are adding LOTS of our own as well.
Who: Paisley Liv
What: Sonlight P3/4 curriculum http://www.sonlight.com/newcomer-p34.html
In addition we have a schedule that will include: homemaking, art, crafts(seasonal and holiday), games, literature, music, cooking/baking, serving others and field trips. For keeping her socialized we are part of two different MOMS groups with plenty of peers for her to play and be around, until she gets to the 1st grade level. At that point we will join or create a co-op that will offer science and PE on a level we can not offer her along with peer interaction.
When: starting this fall when all the other kids go back to school
Where: At home of course
WHY: This is a BIG one... so here it goes.
(Here are our reasons and not in any particular order)
-To keep Christ the center of our home.
-To teach Paisley to seek God's kingdom above everything else.
-Raise her with a Godly heart for the world.
-To nurture Paisley's enthusiasm to learn and a desire to discover.
-To teach her to listen well to others.
-Teach her that listening to other views won't destroy her faith.
-We as her parents, want to be the primary influence in her life.
-We will be able to keep up with Paisley and a pace that will continue to challenge her.
-We will have more freedom to control her curriculum and give her everything she needs and not have to sacrifice due to budget cuts.

Thank you for taking the time to read all of this. We are very passionate about this, and the Lord has continued to bless us with tools and resources and we trust He will continue to through the years as we follow His guidance on this matter. We are looking forward to showing her progress and all she is learning. If you have any questions or comments on the matter feel free to ask! It has been and will always be a learning curve for Jason and I, so prayers are more thank appreciated. Specifically wisdom patience and guidance along with opportunities to further His kingdom together as a family.
PS here is the desk we bought and are refinishing to be her special spot. She wakes up every morning and goes straight there drawing smiley faces, stick figures and LOTS and lots of the letter P! Gotta love it.