From Stressed out Maniac to Satisfied Soul Mama, All in a Week's Work...

How the first few week have been going...
     I have had many people ask how our first few weeks of home school have gone, especially those who know that I have dramatically switched things up this year. I left the "system" I have relied on for the past 7 years, to "change it up". (Read blog post from July 23rd, 2014) This year we are focusing on Scripture, memorizing it, living it, and loving it.
     The first few weeks are always SUPER FUN. Getting kids back in the habit of waking up earlier, and getting to work. We have had maybe two mornings so far where we started on time. We are starting our day, every day, with Bible time together. I purchased composition books for all the kids to use as Bible/prayer journals. Each day, we write what we have read, and some important thoughts about it, or verses to memorize. We have enjoyed drawing some fun pictures, like Jesus and Peter walking on the water. We have had some great discussions during this time. It's awesome to have a high schooler, all the way down to preschoolers in the room, and hear the comments. My 4 year old raises her hand each day with what we have dubbed "Deep Thoughts with Khloe". They are hilarious. It's usually something like, "I am going to make up a Bible verse." The other kids tell her that she can't. She then says, "It will say that God loves us and He loves us very much." Love it.
     We are working on memorizing the Lord's Prayer from Matthew 6, in an effort to learn to pray more effectively. I made this poster on my Heritage Maker's site to help us.

 We have traced our hands, and we are learning this visual with our fingers to help us learn the prayer, and how to pray.

     The rest of our "schooling" is progressing. It's tough getting used to sitting and concentrating. The biggest challenge we face is the 2 year old. She is a HOT MESS!  She is either standing ON the school table, drawing all over herself with marker or eating glue sticks, or she is climbing on my back as I bend over to help someone with math. If she is not right there, we need to be afraid, VERY AFRAID. Here are some example from the last 2 weeks:

Yes, she covered the kitchen with soapy water, had some fun with chocolate syrup, painted my bathroom mirror using my make up brushes with toothpaste, colored with markers all over the floor, cut her shirt to pieces with scissors, and broke ALL of the eggs in the fridge. So fun. Good thing she is so dang cute.

     But on the flip side, THIS HAPPENED: My three big kids got baptized! Oh, how my soul sings!

 In the last few weeks of more deep conversations of faith and prayer, three of them decided it was time to make a public proclamation of their faith. It has all been worth it already. Fruit is showing. So midst the hard days, I can remember that His mercies are NEW EVERY MORNING! Praise the Lord!