The View from Baltic Drive

I know that I don't mention homeschooling much these days. I will sadly say that this year hasn't been nearly as organized as kindergarten was last year. Lately, we have been playing catch up, and today was one of those days. After listening to a great deal of whining, I calmly informed one of my angelic offspring that I could have awoken her an hour earlier this morning and sent her off to Nana's school. She could had sat in a different room from her sister all day, and sat quietly at a desk with breaks for bathroom, lunch recess and PE. And then, she would still bring work home to do over the weekend. It is as if they don't quite believe that school is like that. I definetly feel blessed to homeschool. There are days that I wish that I had them away at school, with the responsibility to make them smarter belonging to someone other than myself. But I know that I actually love that we are learning together. We are learning Bible verses and stories. They are getting to be better and better readers each day. It is also becoming easier to work within each girls' strengths and weaknesses so that we don't waste time. It is a challenge and a privilege to homeschool. It is probably not for everybody, but for those who choose it, I am sure that there are no regrets.

I have two great kids, and it is a blessing from the Lord. Yesterday, we had the tragedy of tragedys (at least for Peyton). Her beloved Baby Doll got left at Grammy's overnight. At least we were able to narrow down where she was left, so there was no need to put out a Missing Baby Doll Report. I am sure that it would have been a critical APB. If you have ever heard a sleepy Peyton wail, you would see what I mean. This is only the second night she has spent with out Baby Doll since she was 18 months old. Incidentally, the last time the doll was at Grammy's house, too. Trying to comfort that child was getting on my last nerve. So I ended up putting her on the couch and giving Benadryl (yes, she does have a bit of a runny nose). I carried her to (my) bed when she was dead weight asleep. I know this because when I carried her to bed, her silky pajamas kept making her want to slide down me, and she wasn't helping a bit. Oh, well, I am not complaining (at least not today), the time with those two is precious and I wouldn't give up a moment of it.

While last night's not-so-fun bedtime is a new challenge for me, since I am now alone with the kids most nights, I still know that I am blessed have been chosen by God to be their mother. I know that each roll of my life is not an accident. God chose for me to have the friends that I have, the parents and family that I have, the church family that I have, and also the husband that I have. It is a tiny bit easier to hold loved ones in open, outstreched hands Godward, when you remember that nothing happens in your life, or the lives of those around you, that He doesn't allow, and for the greater good. I will try to remember that for at least a few minutes of each day.

I was upstairs today, and I glanced over at a wall hanging that had been cross-stitched when the girls were babies. There is a matching one for each of them, with the same verse wrapped around each of their names. It is the verse that I claimed before they were born, and when they were in the hospital. It is still a great verse to claim: Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.