Just lazin'.........kinda

Been a pretty good day. I have Crissy's playlist going while we are working on school. We are starting a new unit study on space today, and I am reading through the material. It is so interesting. Did you know that all of the planets can fit into Jupiter many times over? And that if Earth were the size of a mini-van, Jupiter would be the size of the earth? Hard to wrap my mind around it. We are planning a trip to the Huntsville Space Center sometime this summer while me and Frank are working less. (I refuse to say unemployed teachers, haha.)

I went through a funk in the winter where I did NOT want to homeschool again. Thus, we did not get a lot done and I got very discouraged: why am I doing this? I am no good at this. I have no motivation. I am not smart enough. blah. blah. blah. Looking back, I attribute this attitude to a couple of things.

1. It was my first winter back home after living 2 winters in the land of eternal sunshine and very little rain, a.k.a. southern California.

2. Crissy said it's called the "february funk". And every homeschool parent goes through it at some point or another.

So for awhile we talked about public and christian school alternatives. But I think we are back to the homeschool groove. Frank is not going back to his teaching job next year, and is thinking of getting a part time job (Starbucks is at the top of the list b/c they offer benefits for part-timers), and going back to work on another degree part time. Thus, he would like to be more involved with the boys' education. Which is totally good with me. Also, something else I think will help us is to keep doing school for part of the summer (yes we will still take a break, don't worry!). But summer is so laid back for us b/c neither of us are working, and we can get more done, i.e. cool field trips and unit studies. Frankie asked me the other day when are we done with school, b/c he was tired of reading. I made a snap decision and told him we would be reading every day of the year and would never take a break from it! Nor would he ever take a break from it for the rest of his life. Thankfully now, he's starting to really enjoy reading and his growth in that area is taking off exponentially.

I have this tendency to underestimate my children, you know, like thinking they aren't smart enough to learn this or that yet...know what I mean? But the more I teach and interact with children (such as in music lessons), I realize how smart my own two are. I mean they aren't necessarily genius material or anything, but I'm beginning to think they will definitely be able to hold their own in the world. We started both of the boys taking piano and I am delighted at their progress and level of understanding. No, I am not teaching my own children piano. I do that all day every day, so my sister is teaching them, and doing a marvelous job.

Speaking of piano, I have really been wanting to brush up on my own piano skills. Yes, I can actually play (took for 5 years), just have a huge complex about playing in front of other people. I know, you would probably never know it based on my singing, haha! Singing just comes easy for me, but playing takes a lot more work and I never felt very good at it. But that is about to change. With Kim H. leaving, I'd very much like to pick up the students she left behind. They are all folks I know, and I would enjoy teaching them tremendously. Since this summer is sorta free for me, I've been wanting to just take this time to get going again with piano. I have a friend who will give me lessons over the summer--she is amazing, having played every day of her life since about the age of 4. The only thing standing in my way is that I need a real piano--not a 61-key keyboard, which I have already. I began praying for a piano, as being unemployed, we have no money to buy one. Low and behold, it only took a week! My sister-in-law's mother has a piano she wants to find a good home for!!!! It belongs to my sister-in-law, so I would actually be borrowing it, but since they live in CA right now, I can probably use it for awhile. Yay. God provides.

I know you are probably thinking, what is she going to do if Disney offers her a job? I've been thinking about that too. I don't know if they will call or not--but I can't put life on hold, b/c what if they don't call? We have to keep living life regardless, so I am not counting on anything. If they do call, yes, I will take the job. But if they don't, I won't be crushed. We are happy here and would be fine staying in AL. I think the Lord is mainly teaching me how to trust and be content wherever I am.

I love our church. We get the gospel intravenously fed to us. It is the central focus for every sermon, every song, every announcement, every act of love. I've never been to any other church that combines life and Christ so well. You know, when I was growing up, church was about separation of life and church--almost like separation of church and state. You had your times of dressing up to go to church, times of soul-winning and evangelizing, and times of youth gatherings and bible studies. And these things are not bad. But Community is the only place I've been where the gospel is lived, breathed, and interwoven into every aspect of your life. I am learning how to live and breathe the gospel every day. Not just for church day, etc.

Goodbye to Kim and Quinn and Fam. I am ok though, b/c having been there done that, I know it is not forever. We had a good-bye party for them on Sunday at the church. I tend to not get real emotional until it's over, after they've been gone awhile. Like, I'll start missing her in about 3 weeks, when I can't just call and come over. sigh. But, looking on the bright side, nothing lasts forever, and Lord-willing, they'll be back. I know Kim too, and she will make some good friends while she is there--friends that God provides that she'll need and that will need her. Chris and Crissy are with them in MS helping get them set up. Yet another example of the gospel. Speaking of which, we are still getting together on Friday night, though not at Crissy's. Just come to my place. Kim Poston and I will be there--come on over and be here to welcome the Sharps when they get back home. Then we can hear the low-down about Kim and Quinn's new house and how they are settling in. See ya there!