What home schooling has taught me

Have you ever really made a mess of things? I have, too many times to count. My selfishness and pride have caused so many problems with the people I love. I like to have things done my way, because that is the only right way. Of course, there are five other people in our house who think their way is the one that is correct. I have had to learn to let go of my expectations and accept other ways of thinking. Usually, the other way is as good as mine. And sometimes it is even better.

Homeschooling gives me many opportunities to lay down my ways - often after a battle. Of our children, the youngest is the most different from me, and the most headstrong. Pretty much every day, I have the chance to face my selfishness and pride as we learn to live and work together. I am not the person I would have been if we had chosen a different path to educate our children. I am much better for it. I cherish the relationships that have been forged in the last eight years and the ways God has used our children to change my heart.


We have just begun a year of "lasts". Jen will graduate from high school next spring. I anticipate a lot of tears (of sadness and joy) as we move into a new season of life. God has blessed us greatly as we have raised our family and I look forward to the way our relationships will continue to change and grow as our children move out on their own.

Enter His gates...

When we were in Lancaster last weekend, I saw a framed print of a gate with Psalm 100:4 on it. It made me think of some pictures of gates I have taken in Williamsburg.

 This one was too elaborate for my purposes.

 This just didn't evoke the right feelings.













This one was perfect.

Now to upload it to Zazzle and wait for a sale.

Everything in the Kitchen Sink

Many times in the last month, I have gotten frustrated by the never ending sink full of dirty dishes. It seems that by the time the dishwasher has been run and emptied, we have filled the sink and it starts again. I have actually been annoyed often in the last 20 plus years by the fact that vacuuming, dusting, laundry, dishes, etc. are never really finished. As a full time homemaker, mom, and homeschool "teacher", I rarely get to enjoy the fruit of my labors. The shining sink will be full of dirty dishes. The hamper will be full again. The cleaning will need to be done again next week. Lessons need to be planned and taught.

I have realized that I sometimes often have the wrong attitude about the things I do each day. Caring for my home and family full time is what God has called me to for now and I am grateful for the opportunity to pour myself into my husband's and children's lives. It can be a chore when I forget that  whatever I do should be done for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). I am reminded too of a verse about oxen in Proverbs (14:4). Here is my paraphrase for moms -Where there are no children, the kitchen is clean, but from the presence of family comes an abundance of joy. The needs of a family, especially when our children are young, can be overwhelming.

Day to day I don't see how the things I do make a difference, but as I look at our nearly grown children now, I see how my investment is bearing fruit. You may be discouraged today by an attitude, a cranky baby, tantrums, teenagers testing every limit, but you CAN do this. Don't stop working, investing, praying. We are so blessed that our children are becoming our friends. And I have almost worked myself out of a job - but that is another post for another day.

2 Cor 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Banana Walnut Bread (w/ Chocolate Chips)

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There are two extremes in our house when it comes to bananas. Either they are gone before they really are ripe, or they sit until they are too speckled with brown for anyone to want them. Today, there were three bananas that needed to be used, so I made muffins. The recipe I adapted is from the Batty Crocker cookbook my mom gave me when I moved into my first apartment. I got 23 muffins out of the recipe. Because it is a loose batter and doesn't have a lot of fat, it is probably better as bread, but that would have meant having the oven on for an hour instead of about half that time. I baked the muffins for 17 minutes.

Banana Walnut Bread (w/ Chocolate Chips)

1 cup chopped walnuts

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

3 ½ teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional

½ cup sugar

½ cup packed brown sugar

¼ cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup milk

1 1/2 cup mashed bananas

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chocolate chips, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place walnuts on a cookie sheet and toast in oven for 5-10 minutes. Allow the nuts to cool while you prepare the batter. Grease the bottoms only of two 8 ½ x 4 ½ x 2 ½ inch loaf pans. (Or use a vegetable oil spray. If you coat the sides too, the bread won’t rise as much, but it tastes the same.) In a small bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Set aside. In a large bowl mix the sugars, oil, milk, banana, and egg. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients. (By adding about a quarter at a time, you get fewer lumps.) When the flour is almost completely mixed in fold in the chocolate chips and nuts. Divide evenly between the prepared pans. Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before loosening sides of loaves and turning out onto a cooling rack. Allow to cool completely before slicing.

Who Am I Trying to Please?

Have you ever listened to the way birds sing their hearts out. They just do what God made them to do. It reminds me to do the same. 

I have a tendency to want to please people. I don’t feel valuable unless I have had my efforts validated by those I care about.  Is that just human nature? We want to feel loved and accepted unconditionally. I was in my thirties before I began to understand that what people think about me isn’t important. Here is part of a devotion on who we should want to please:

“Someday soon this earthly life is all going to be over! And what will matter then?
    How smart, capable, or successful we were? How loved, appreciated, or applauded we were? How much we possessed? How much we achieved? How much we accomplished?
    Will it matter whether we were attractive or ugly, smart or dumb, sick or poor, known or unknown?
    No!
    When this earthly life is over, when all is said and done, none of these things - which now seem so important – will matter.
    Only one thing will matter on “that day”… the only thing that will matter is that you and I have glorified [God] on earth and have finished the work that He has given us to do individually.”
Kay Arthur, His Imprint My Expression

    You see, in this life as in the next, we will only find unconditional love and acceptance from God. When I am failing at pleasing people, I tend to think I need to be more like those I look up to in order for God to use me. When I still can’t please those I care about, I withdraw and wallow in self-pity. In that condition, I’m of no use to anyone.

Last week I came across some letters dear friends have written. When I read them, I realized God made me exactly the person I am supposed to be. I have the strengths and weaknesses, the gifts and talents, and the personality traits I need for the circumstances I will encounter and for the ministry God has planned for me. If I will focus on Him and be myself, I will bless the lives of those around me. I still won’t please everyone, but I will bring glory to my God and will please myself.

Along with that realization last week came something I have prayed for over several years. Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit, but it was missing from my life. When I saw that I am good enough for God there was freedom – and joy.

It is time to stop hiding from the world, rejoice in who I am, and just shine. I will need to make sure I spend time listening for God to show me the way to go. I can’t please God if I don’t know what He wants me to do. It will be hard to make that time, but I intend to cherish every moment.

Taco Salad

The weather today makes me think of salads. Unfortunately, That's not what we'll be eating tonight. This one is quick to throw together and has been a family favorite since I was a teenager. (Too many years ago to think about!) Change it up to suit your families tastes. Maybe shredded chicken and black beans, or leave out the olives, add green pepper or  jalapeño.

Taco Salad  

1 pound lean ground beef
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 15 oz. Can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
4 oz. Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 6 oz. Can small black olives, drained (optional)
2 small heads Romaine lettuce, washed and torn
8 oz. vinaigrette style Caesar salad dressing
7 oz. Bag Nacho Cheese flavored tortilla chips, broken
2 medium tomatoes, sliced

Brown and drain ground beef.  Add the taco seasoning mix and the water the package calls for. Cook over low heat until most of the liquid is gone. Allow to cool while assembling salad.  Place all ingredients except tomatoes in large salad bowl.  Toss well.  Top with tomatoes and serve.
(If you anticipate having leftovers, serve dressing and chips on the side instead of mixing them with the salad.  Soggy chips and limp lettuce do not make a good lunch the next day.)

6-8 servings

Welcome

I've spent weeks agonizing over what to write here. I don't want to write for the sake of writing. If no one benefits from my words, then I should be using my time to accomplish other things. Ultimately, I believe that each of us has a story to share. God didn't create us who we are or give us the experiences we have only for our own benefit. We are created to live in community and share our lives. My struggle today may serve as an encouragement to someone in a similar situation or as a warning to one who is at a decision point. So I will prayerfully put my thoughts into words and trust God for the fruit they will bear.