I am in Love

'The Masterwork of a Painting Elephant' has captured my heart!

Is there anything better than finding a book you don't want to end?  I don't want to finish this delightful little book. I want to live with it, and in it as long as I can.

This is a story of a boy and an elephant.  More importantly, it is a story of love. 

The little boy was abandoned by his parents and now lives with the elephant, and in Chapter 4 he says:

"The only other thing I ever dreamed was that I could hear my mama crying softly in the next room, but when I woke, the only sound was Birch's (the elephant) breathing.  Can you even imagine that?  Missing someone so much you would give anything just to hear her cry again?"

I believe everyone who has ever loved, can imagine that.  I am so glad I can imagine that deep longing, that driven desire, and the miraculous blessing of love.

I love that this book, which I am reading to the kids, reaches into my heart and reminds me how lucky I am to love.

Our School Work ... a Poem by Adam

Notice Me 

 by Adam Overman

When you walk by

Don’t you see me?

I hear your voice

and it feels so mean.

It hurts my heart

to feel so bad.

When you walk by

just notice me.

When you walk by

stop to be a friend.

When you walk by

won’t you love me.

Now I know 

only God will see.

Only You, God,

will notice me.

Our Public School

I had to call our elementary school today.  Most likely, Lexa will go to the local public school next year, and will need emotional and behavioral support.  As I was talking to the school counselor, she asked if the boys would be coming back.

I said no, they will not.  This was the first time I voiced the reality of homeschooling again next year.  We want to keep doing this.  We see so many wonderful benefits, and wonder why more people don't do it? 

It is the hardest job I have had, and, by far, the most rewarding.  The rewards include:

• The tremendous relationship I have with the boys
• The tremendous relationship that has developed between the boys
• The ability to be in charge of our schedule
• Controlling the curriculum, such as, starting the boys in next year's work now
• The purpose to our days
• The constant, and sometimes overwhelming, opportunities to become a better Mom/Teacher
• The field trips
• Yes, I love sheltering them from all the negative peer interactions
• The joy of watching them learn and work hard
• The joy of watching them learn new material
• The joy of re-learning history, science, art and even a little grammar

Thanks to Adam for asking to be home schooled a year ago.  It was a great idea, and one we plan to stick with for a little while longer.

A quick pose before we destroyed our Christmas Gingerbread House.  Not surprisingly, Andrew said it tasted like cardboard!

p.s.  We wish we could bring Lexa home.  Hopefully, one day, her emotional issues will heal and we can enjoy a much deeper and mutual relationship.  For now, we fight daily to help her heal from Reactive Attachment Disorder.  We pray for a miracle for our little girl.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

One of the many reasons they love home school.

On 'nice' days they get to play on the shed for recess.

Eight

Friday was a great day!! 

The boys celebrated at Chuck E. Cheese.

Wow, what good friends they have become!!

The favorite toy:  wrestling Kung Fun Panda!!

We love you SO much!!!