Where have I been....

2015 seemed to be one of the hardest years thus far for me but it ended with an amazing gift from God. My sweet Alyssa Jade was born December 4th.

She is now almost 3months. So life got a little crazy for our family. Homeschooling has been a little crazy as well but we are getting to what we can. We actually took the month of December off so I could get adjusted. It took a little longer for me to recover this time around than with my other children.

 

The children are absolute in love with their baby sister. She was a gift for us all.

Motherhood is one of the greatest gifts from the Father and I am so thankful.

End of our school year....

Our school year started so much better than I had expected....I was so happy with all the energy and preparations that were actually used through out the year. I don't know about you but I tend to not follow through with all my plans....I somehow just like the idea that they are out there somewhere..LOL! So this year was a real treat :)

So with that in mind, I decided for this year to be more relaxed and focus more on my organization. I didn't try to mass produce lesson plans before the year started. I decided to have lesson planning Sunday's. I would plan out my lessons for each week on Sunday afternoon while the children played outside. It would take me maybe an hour to plan for 2 children (my third child just did the next page in her text book and I would read to her and my youngest). I put each lesson and child in a time slot. If you are wondering what I mean by that the book "Managers of the home" by Steve and Teri Maxwell gave me this idea. You can find there products at www.titus2.com .

I also set up a specific chore time and big clean up/declutter time. Which was a big improvement from last year. In the previous years, I would get so frustrated and stressed when I woke up to a huge mess of a house that school would be the last thing on my list to do. The cycle of that led me to feeling so guilty and like a failure that I would further slip away from school work and later try to push to finish the year without over working the kids. Which left me a very frustrated mama. I thought, "If God is calling me to this...there has to be a better way." And there was. Though I am still tweaking it all....I have realized that being a wife and mother to four kids organization is a major key. And while my house is not as neatly organized as I would like for it to be; we have clean and clear spaces to actually live in. 


And on another note :)



Guitar lessons have come along beautifully and he is still really enjoying it. We also decided to do American Heritage Girls for my Indya and she really enjoyed it, as well. She learned a lot and developed new friendships. We discovered that she really is a servant. When given the opportunity; she opened up.


........more to come on how we schooled this year..........

"You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you." 

Isaiah 26:3

Finding beauty in motherhood....

Sitting in my rocker, looking around at the many toys, shoes, and books that can't seem to make it's way back to where it belongs; I realize how sincerely  blessed I am. 

Yes, my littles can make just about any room look like a tornado has spun through it ........

..........and I'm grateful.

 My house could be nice and well-organized

(which I could stand to work on just a little bit more :)),

clean...without a toy in sight or books like "Guess how much I love you", just lying around.

My quiver is full and hopefully still growing. 

No, mothering four children is not easy and can be down right crazy in just about any grocery store, 

but the joy that comes with mothering super cedes every obstacle. The love of the Father poured out through my home is mind boggling. I wouldn't change a thing. Raising and nurturing them in the word is a gift from the Lord to this sometimes weary mama. Knowing that this is but my first round of discipleship. The rewards will exceed my lifetime. The hope is never ending. Oh, the privilege I have in watching these beautiful beings grow into the image of our Savior; and becoming the young men and women God purposed them to be.

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11

More Birthday fun...

I can remember the cool Saturday morning I began having contractions. A few hours later my precious little Indy-girl was born. Happy Birthday Indya Nicole, mommy loves you very much. I hope you have a wonderful day filled with lots of love and kindness:)

Birthday wishes...

I have been so blessed to be called mommy by this little sweet heart! I wanted to give a very special Happy Birthday to her. I love you my sweet Israel Makayla! You are a very special little girl with lots of love. 

"Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word."

Psalm 103:20

And it begins.....

God is orchestrating such a sweet change this school year. He is turning my focus back to the heart of "why" He desires for me to homeschool and let me say, it has been amazing. There is a much more relaxed environment. Don't misunderstand, we are still completing our school work(schedule and all,LOL) but we are coming about it in a much more loving and patient way. More Encouragement than must do's.  My kids have been totally receptive and they love this "new way". Which is the way God planned from the beginning. 


We are all learning.....we are all becoming more christian( looking more like Christ) everyday we embrace him. Everyday we allow him to shape and mold us. Everyday we commit to walking with him. Everyday choosing to sit at HIS feet, gleaning from HIS fields and on occasion sitting in HIS lap.


God has such a way of using everything we encounter to shape us and draw us to himself. And I am so thankful for that.


I say all that to say, we had a great first week of school. Our kick off day was Wednesday August 10; and it ended with a special milkshake/slushy treat from Sonic. They really enjoyed that. Our schedule was easy to begin implementing since we did it a little the second half of last school year. Though we had some discipline issues to weed through they were still over joyed at beginning school. 


Here is our curriculum:

For my 5th grader-

Abeka 5 Language arts

Abeka 5 Arithmetic

Abeka 5 Spelling
Abeka 5 reading program
Simply music guitar DVD program
Bible:Proverbs People, Abeka 5 bible memorization
Homemade handwriting curriculum
Abeka 5 science, health and history


For my 1st Grader-

Abeka 1 Language arts/Phonics
Abeka 1 Arithmetic
Abeka 1 Spelling
Abeka 1 reading program
Simply music piano DVD program
Bible:Abeka 1 bible memorization
Abeka 1 handwriting with phonics
Abeka 1 community helpers


For my K4 child-

Abeka ABC-123 letter/number recognition
Abeka k4 writing with phonics


We have field trips and at home projects to keep us good and busy through this first half of the the year :)

...................And the journey begins.........................






"It should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, 
which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:4

  

Excitement Rings.....

Oh, the joy in beginning a new school year.I know the type of school was in question just a few short weeks ago, but oh how sweet it is in knowing that I have the opportunity to pour the love of Jesus into my children through school. And allow "the peace of God which surpasses all understanding" to resonant in my inner most being. Don't get me wrong, this is not an easy task. And most days are just down right hard but," Don't grow weary in well doing, for in due time you will receive your reward". But then there are other days, just grace filled days, when you can see a glimpse into the sweet rewards of teaching your children at home.

So we have been scurrying around the house cleaning and organizing for the first day kick off (I like to make it big and exciting for my little ones, to get them all giddy inside). 

Of course we started with the homeschool cabinet. This is where I keep all of my teacher books and there workbooks. Just everything school here.

I plan to post our curriculum for 5th, 1st, and k4 in the coming days :)

Along with some of the kick off field trips. 

So exciting........

Then we moved to cleaning and clearing out their bedrooms. This will make it easier to do their morning chores.

"Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you" 

~Psalm 17:7~

New adventures....

We are having so many exciting things going on in the Southerland family, lately :) I have been absolutely over joyed! I will be posting more on this subject in the coming weeks but here is a sneak peak at one of them. My 10 year old just got his brand new guitar in the mail. He is so excited to begin taking guitar lessons. The next step is to, of course, find an instructor that we can afford. Though he has been practices a lot from what he can remember of the Simply music guitar DVD. Maybe i will just find a dvd series for him.....hmmm

sounds like a good thought :))

"Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart." ~Psalm 37:4~

Update...

As you read in the previous post, I decided to choose peace rather continue to argue about what was in the best interest of our family concerning homeschooling. Prayer, prayer and more prayer :) ! In that moment of total surrender I began to feel the peace and rest I so desired from the LORD. So after a couple of days I approached my hubby and this topic again with a different attitude. We discussed our differences, though he did not change his  mind he still feels strongly about the structure of a school system; but, we did decided since i have already purchased all the materials for this upcoming school year we would carry on with homeschool for this next year and look at it again for the next year. 


I realized what had affected me so deeply with our first conversation.....I saw it as a direct threat to my abilities. He had, in my mind, affirmed what I had already toiled with and that is...." I'm failing them". Some way some how I was not measuring up. All the things i had tried was not changing my children's behavior. 


I will continue to pray and petition the Father for wisdom and a right spirit in and through all of this. HE WILL affirm me. 

"For I know the thoughts that i think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." ~Jeremiah 29:11-12~

homeschool or public school?

I have so enjoyed homeschooling for the past 4 years. It has been such a blessing to see and know God as I have during this time.But the question has arouse yet again in discussion with my hubby; whether to continue homeschooling or send them to a nearby public school, as we cannot afford a private christian school. 

He strongly desires for them to go to school. His reasons are noble and understanding. My heart literally is breaking even as I am typing. I long to shape my children's world and guide their filtering processes through the word and personhood of God the Father. But I cannot ignore a very real desire of my husband's. So, as painfully as this is for me; I am going to wave my white flag.

So, Please be in prayer and intercession for me and my family as we step into a journey that deeply breaks my heart. Though this is but one element of motherhood and homemaking; it is a very rooted area for me.

~"Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you."~ 2 Corinthians 13:11


~"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."~Ecclesiastes 3:1


~"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; And lean not on your own understanding...."~Proverbs 3:5


~"So there is HOPE for your future, declares the LORD. Your children will return to their own land."~ Jeremiah 31:17

Indya's Kindergarten Graduation

My precious Indy-girl just finished kindergarten. She accomplished so much. I am so proud of her.

Indya and Eden

Indya in her cute cap and gown.

                                                           

                   

"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that wehn He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."

1 John 3:2

Mother's Day

 These are the joys of motherhood.

 The little blessings they bring to my life each day.

 The love of the Father, God, for my life and theirs simply over take

me.

 Blessed beyond measure!

And a special thanks and Super Happy Mother's Day to my mother and my mother-n-law! I have been so blessed to know and be taught  by these wonderful ladies.

"By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me." Psalm 42:8

“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward”

 (Psalms 127:3)

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Spring Fling Gymnastics show

 Indya standing outside the building.

Striking a pose

I am so proud of my Indy girl. She has learned a lot of interesting techniques through Balance Point Gymnastics. She was finally able to show her family some of it at the show. 

My darlings

I came across this picture and it took me back to the beautiful summer days. How they can play and have school outside and time just kinda drags along. I love it. They love it. It just seems so much less stressful. The long days and warm nights, kids playing in the neighborhood. The sounds of a basketball game down the road and kids riding the bikes laughing and playing. I am so awed at God's perfect timing. We all need those days. We all enjoy those days and lean an everlasting ear to it.