Life Decisions

Thoughts about homeschooling. A response to a post in one of the LDS homeschool group.

I homeschool because of a prompting. I was in the temple minding my own business and was told I needed to homeschool my kids. Umm, what?!? I had heard of homeschooling but didn't know anything about it. I have four kids. Three of them were attending a charter school that seemed like a good fit for our family at the time. My youngest was going to be starting kindergarten there - having done 2 years of preschool elsewhere. 
I started that fall with kids in K, 2nd, 6th, and 7th grades. The only thing that kept me going was that I knew it was inspired. I've asked since and all I get is - 'You know my answer.'. My kids are now 13, 15, 18, and 20. They are great kids and doing well in their endeavors. I've had quite a few people tell me how great they are - so much for not being socialized...or whatever. 
It's true. It's a sacrifice. I realized about a month ago that I have no idea what it's like to have all of my kids out of the house on a school day. Well, I do. But, it's only because we're on an outing or with other homeschool families...together. Our schedule is a little more flexible now that there are only two of them. (They'll be 8th grade and a sophomore this year.) 
It's been tricky at times. But, I know our family is closer because of it. It worked out perfect for when we were dealing with my husband's cancer. The kids had a chance to spend more time with him before he died. I'm grateful they all remember their dad. 
At the time I received the revelation I wasn't looking for...I had no idea what a blessing it would be for our family. Looking back - it's obvious 'someone' knew more than I did. And yes, I would do it all again.

Viewing Icebergs

I had a thought regarding icebergs the other day. It was about how we only see the tip of the iceberg and the majority of it is below the water. It is the same with people. We see only a small portion of what they choose to show us. We don't know about what lies deeper until the person lets us get close enough to show us what is underneath the 'public' view.

Face to Face

I went to live stream the Face to Face that is happening this morning. They have it available in 12 different languages. How cool is that? I love being part of a worldwide church.
I also love experiences like this. I just had to participate while the kids had their own experience with the youth of our stake.
I just finished listening and watching. I chose the ASL version to watch. Fantastic. I loved the questions, the messages, the music, and what I felt. I know it was worth the more than hour and a half of time it took out of my day. I have several things on my 'to do' list today. This was worth it. I've even thought of some things to work on - for myself and with my kids.

Something To Say

The last while I've felt a need to share some things...to have a voice. There are topics that I want and need to say something about. I'm not sure where the thoughts are coming from - but, they just keep coming. Most of the thoughts and ideas are about topics that I might have a unique perspective on or that I feel more needs to be said. I feel like part of it is that I'm being inspired to share my voice. Maybe I have things to say that need to be said in a certain way in order for others to understand. There are things that I want to tell people about - things I feel that just need to be said. I'm hoping that some of that can come about here on this blog. This is meant more for thoughts and ideas than some of my other blogs are right now.
I have a few things started. I just need to finish up and edit a few posts. It seems that some thoughts have come quickly and others have taken awhile to take shape. In all of that - I have several posts worth of keywords and phrases just so I could get things down while I figured out what and how I really wanted to say things.

New Blog

I decided to start a new blog for sharing what I've been doing to focus on Christ each day. You can find it here. It's called Christ Daily. I realized I wanted to have this blog focus on other things.

12 Steps to Change

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has a program they share online to help people get through times when they struggle. This is one of several stories that has a powerful message. I know Christ can help us change. I know He wants to help us change. We just need to ask and then work on taking the necessary steps to make the change happen in our lives. The biggest thing is letting Him help us through each part of the path.

Primary Sharing Time 2016

I skimmed through this section today. I wanted to get an idea of what the annual curriculum will be in church this year. This is for the children (ages 3-11). There is an annual theme (2016: I Know the Scriptures are True) and then monthly sub themes that are broken up into weeks of study/teaching. This is the one for this month. I skimmed because I wanted to look for things that specifically mentioned Christ. I paid special attention to the week about the scriptures being His word. I also noticed the idea they had for keeping track of your own progress in personal scripture study. It would be fun to figure out something for the kids and I. So, here's the link for January's Sharing Time.

Today's Music

I shared to 'Work of Christmas' poem with the kids tonight. It was a great jumping off point for some thoughts about Christ, His birth, and the coming of a new year. I love that we're able to continue focusing on Christ - even when the celebrations might be over.
I also played some songs from my Michael McClean Songbook that I've had for years.

One is called, Together Forever Someday. (I just did the link because I wasn't able to pull it up from YouTube. Odd.)

The other two were Stay With Me and Be That Friend. (I just watched this one too. It won't let me post it either. It was put on YouTube about five years ago. Things have changed since then. Technology is different. I'm not sure I'm not sure what's going on with the pink arrows in this one. Maybe you can just close your eyes and listen to the song.)

Here's 'Stay With Me'. It's the only one that was there. (I'm not a fan of the extra quotes.) I attempted to sing this while I was playing it today. I got choked up at the part...'I'll have him back again, I'll still be lonely until then...'. I forgot that was in there. I think I cried even more watching it just now.

Sabbath Day

So, today I did several things that helped me to focus on Christ. Our family went to church and I participated in the Sacrament. I also did some other things too.

I read part of an Ensign article about The New and Everlasting Covenant, watched a video clip about a story that President Monson shared on the topic of prayer, and watched a YouTube video for the Amazing Grace. If you want links - you can go here. It's my Christ Daily Facebook page.
#ChristDaily2016

More of Day Two

I had an opportunity to attend a workshop in the morning. I was about finding your mission in life. I certainly want my mission to include serving the Lord and helping others feel His love.

As part of my 'Christ Daily' efforts, I also played 'This is My Beloved Son' on the piano from the Children's Songbook.

#ChristDaily2016

Day Two: Christ Daily

Today I read the last chapter, The Christ Child, in this book.

A Christ-Centered Christmas
Seven Traditions to Lead Us Closer to the Savior
Emily Belle Freeman

This poem is part of the that chapter.

The Work of Christmas

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To fine the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.

Howard Thurman
(The Mood of Christmas and Other Celebrations, pg. 23)

The beginning of a new year is a great time to start the 'work of Christmas'.

#ChristDaily2016

Birth Date of Christ

I will be doing something to think about Christ each day this year. Obviously, it will just be a few minutes at a time. I noticed someone asked about this as I was scrolling down my Facebook feed this morning. So, this is my attempt to have some documentation and learn something for myself as well as getting another person's question answered. It's an article about the birth date of Christ. I have read part of it and it's pretty informative. I just wanted to make sure I had it saved somewhere. I think it's going to count for my #ChristDaily.

Christ in 2016

I've decided to do something daily that has to do with Christ in the upcoming year. It will be something I read, watch, listen to...maybe an act of service or some other action that brings me closer to Him. I did 25 Days of Christ for December and think I will do it again next year. I thought I would continue with a full year of 'Days of Christ'. We'll see how it goes. I'm not exactly sure where I will record what I do. It might be here, another blog, or possibly on other social media. I might just write in my journal about it. Or, I might have some days where I don't write anything at all. Here's to a new adventure.

Full of Guidance

I just watched this. It was just what I needed. I'm sure I will be watching it again. It's a BYU Devotional by Elder F. Enzio Busche. I love the German accent. I remember meeting him and his wife when they came to visit our mission. (Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission) They are great. I decided then that besides being inspired...he and his wife both have a great sense of humor.

Power of the Priesthood

I was singing to the girls tonight. I sang the song that has part of the lyrics - 'mine is a home where every hour is blessed by the strength of Priesthood power...'. I thought about that and was glad that even though we don't have the authority of the Melkezedek Priesthood in our home right now, we do have the Aaronic Priesthood. I also realized that even if we didn't have the authority of the priesthood in our home, we would still have the power of the priesthood here. All of us have made covenants and because of that we have the power of the priesthood to work with in our family. I'm so grateful to know there is a difference between the power of the priesthood and the authority of the priesthood. They both play their roles. I'm so thankful for both in our lives.

Always A Lesson

I had issues with my cell phone today. We also had a couple of people helping with our broken sprinklers (fixing pipe). I'm feeling a bit flustered. I feel like there are so many things going on right now that I really can't handle anything else. And then, more issues come up. I don't know why. I feel like someone somewhere is continuing to add to the pile of concerns just to see when I'll break. Maybe it's to see when I'll ask for more help. (Although, I'm not sure what I would ask others to do that I haven't already.) I feel like I'm being tested somehow. Let's see what really will be the last straw - just as an entertaining experiment. That's what I feel like someone is saying right now. I wonder if Heavenly Father truly thinks I can manage everything effectively right now. I'm not. So, why give me more?
I'm sure there's a lesson or an analogy in there somewhere. I'm just so busy wondering what's going on and what will happen next that I'm not even sure I can come up with anything right now. Maybe I'll wait to post this until I can state a purpose.

More Coming

I have quite a few drafts that still need to be published. I guess I better get on that. I've been writing down ideas...now I just need to expound and edit. Maybe one of these days there will actually be a few things to read when one comes to this blog.

Section 11

Doctrine and Covenants 11:12, 13-14

I opened up my scriptures today and verses thirteen and fourteen caught my eye. I read verse 12 after that and was touched. It was what I needed in the moment. The Spirit can do so much for us. It has felt like a hard time lately and I needed a reminder that The Spirit can do so many great things. I need to rely more on the Lord and remember that Heavenly Father hasn't forgotten me.

From lds.org:
(v. 11 added just for fun)

11 For, behold, it is I that speak; behold, I am the light which shineth in darkness, and by my power I give these words unto thee.

12 And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in thatSpirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.

13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;

14 And then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things ofrighteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive.

Good Reminder

Isaiah 41:10

 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

I read this last week and felt like there really is help out there. I have felt overwhelmed...as if life were just one thing after another. I wasn't sure how everything was going to get done. I'm still not sure everything is going to get done. I just know I was grateful for the reminder that God is there to help and strengthen. When He is with us we don't need to be afraid.

On Being Articulate

June 15, 2014

I wrote this when I was thinking about things that are in currently in the media. There are so many pieces to the puzzle that I'm not sure where to start or how things fit together. I just want people to be able to feel like they have a voice. I want respectful dialogue. Wouldn't that be nice? It sounds like the beauty queen giving the answer that she'd like world peace when asked about her goals.

I feel like there's so much to say about some of the current things happening. I'm not sure how to voice my opinions. Sometimes I'm not sure because I haven't clarified them enough to put into words. Other times, I feel like I don't want to say something that would be offensive. I'm not saying I don't want to have a different point of view - I'm saying I want to make sure I articulate things in a way that my views are clear and yet not be rude or sound hateful.