Wow... What a year!

As we near the end of the school year, I am amazed! December found my child very unhappy, angry, unable to read at his grade level and just not the kid I once knew. Something had to change! As I've blogged before, that change happened in the form of home school via Connections Academy. What a difference this made in my life, and the life of my child. He is happy, we are closer than ever, he is reading at grade level, he's making great grades! (All A's, with 1 B by one point). We laugh, we play, we experiment. I give credit to so many people for this success! First and foremost, My God and Savior for allowing me the opportunity to share this incredible experience with my son. Second, my family and friends for supporting our endeavor and working with us when we needed help with scheduling issues with Caleb, etc... Third, Christopher had one of the most amazing teachers EVER this year, Mrs. Ashley Dickert. She has coached him, encouraged him, joked with him, pushed him, and has just been someone he could count on to see that he got to the next level! We love you Mrs. Dickert! Joy Adams, who volunteered and took on the task of tutoring Christopher in reading. What a saint she is. He literally fusses every week when it's time to go, but then comes out saying "mom that was so much fun, I love Ms. Joy". I love Ms.Joy too! I thank my son for being open enough to try this. It was a change that was necessary, but one that impacted our lives forever. Will he be going back to a public brick and mortar school next year you ask? NO! We will continue at Connections Academy and continue with the success we have begun. My daddy always told me "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Well, there isn't a thing to fix here! Wow, What a year we had! We are done with Science and Social Studies for the year (provided we don't get the opportunity to do an extra credit project to bring that B in Science up to an A). Just Language Arts, Math, and Art. Less than a month to go. We are ready for the break, but you can rest assured we will be ready for a new year come August. 3rd Grade, here we come!!! Picture below: Christopher & Mrs. Dickert when they met at Park day!

Week 1 SUCCESS!

So.... We started week 1 on a Thursday (Jan. 12)... We ended today (the 20th) with a much different perspective of homeschool! Do we like it? WE LOVE IT! I have listened to so many people ask questions: (What kind of curriculum do they use? Will he have any social skills? Will he be able to keep up with other kids his age (i.e. the same level of work).) Are you kidding me? This curriculum is amazing and heads and tails above what he has been doing at his local public school. He had his very first spelling test this week. WHAT, you say? That's right. My child who is in 2nd grade, had never had a spelling test. I'm pleased to say he did very well. His 3 science words this week were adapt, annual, and nutrients. Well, adapt was a very easy word to explain. We did it all week long. Christopher adapted to me being mom and teacher. Caleb adapted to not being the center of the universe anymore. He went with Nonna and spent the night on Wed. night, so Christopher and I could have some extra time to do school (he was such a big boy). Fred adjusted to not having my undivided attention at night (well maybe not so much a stretch for that one, LOL). Christopher started really learning phonics this week. He learned that when you add and e on the end of hid, it made the short sound of i, long. Imagine that, it makes reading so much easier when you understand the rules. He learned, 00 and u can have the same sound and not say pool or you. They can say push and cook. He is excited to be reading new words. I am excited to ride down the road and him just blurt out words he reads on signs. It's like a whole new world has opened up to us. We practiced his math (geometry is our subject right now) while cutting his sandwich for lunch. "What shape is your sandwich?". "If we cut it in half this way, what shape is it?". "How can we cut two lines and make 4 triangles". We also completed a weather chart, and a science project on condensation and evaporation. He received a 97-A on his first portfolio submission and a 100-a on his first two quizzes. He is a NEW CHILD! He is positive about school. He is happy. Our home is peaceful. What a difference a week makes. We went on our first field trip with the local Connections Academy group today and had a blast. We went to Earthfare and had a yummy lunch and then got a tour of the store...and just for you people out there who ask..."Will he be social...."
I THINK SO!!!!!! What fun these kids were... Looking forward to hanging out with them much more!

The Adventure Begins!

Pardon the fuzzy pic, it was taken with my cell phone. I received a big box via UPS today. Inside was a plethera of goodies. I almost squealed with delight! Everything I need to help Christopher be successful as a student. He of course, is outside enjoying one of his last days before school starts, so he hasn't seen them yet, but I know he is going to be so excited. He loves science and the science kit is so cool! He loves art, and as you can see from the picture, they sent so many neat things for him to use. He may just drool over the headset alone, just to talk online to his teacher. Once again, I marvel at God's goodness at allowing me the opportunity to be able to do this with my son. I never thought in a million years, I would be teaching my son, but hopefully you can tell from my post, I am super excited. I hope one day, he will appreciate just how much this means to me! And so.... The adventure begins!!!!

A new adventure!

Two more days and a new adventure begins for our family! HOME SCHOOL! Out of necessity and for many reasons we have prayerfully and thoughtfully made the decision to homeschool Christopher for the rest of 2nd grade. I'm not sure who is more excited... Christopher or myself? It's a step we almost took after Kindergarten, but then he had such a great teacher in first grade, we were glad we waited. Then came 2nd grade. Shew, I was determined to make the best of a bad situation, but my sweet natured, independent, self-confident child was somehow changing and I did not like the changes. I wanted him back! Meeting after meeting with his teacher and other school officials brought no change. He was sliding further and further behind, but not enough for them to reach out and help him. (don't get me wrong, there are some great educators at his old school and I love them). We were at a crossroads. I prayed all night and day one complete day and the only thing that came to me was HOME SCHOOL! I finally went to Fred and said "I think I am going to home school Christopher". I did all the research and found out which program I wanted to use. Fred listened and said "let's pray about it". We did and agreed, this was our best choice. Then we worried how our little social Dragonfly would take it! He was thrilled. His last day at his public "brick and mortar" school, he literally heaved a sigh of relief and smiled when we left. I didn't realize how much my son was holding in. Over Christmas break, he told me more and more that made me realize what a good decision I had made. One night, on a quiet ride home, it was just he and I in the car. Christopher looked at me, he said "mom, you are my best friend". I said "Why is that Christopher". His response brought tears to my eyes. "Because you always believed in me and never gave up on me, I love you mom!". What a validation to my decision! One thing I know for sure.... We will have challenges, there will be days when I wonder, "Why did I think I could do this" and then there will be days when he just "gets it" and I get to be the one to see it "click". That will make it all worth it! I am so ready for this adventure!!!!!!!! We got this Christopher... I love you!

The Great Big Year End Celebration

amandabuechlerphotographyblog.com

This is an AMAZING giveaway for photographers. Go to the link above and follow the instructions! What a way to end the year! All photographers could use this stuff! It's a plethera of good stuff!

Good luck, but hope I win!! :) LOTS OF LOVE! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

God has led us through His word!

Following vacation, you would say I should be relaxed, but I wasn't. Things still weren't normal! We still were "floundering"... We just didn't know what we were supposed to do about church, and what God's will was. Well He showed up, and showed out! We went back to the church Christopher was insisting on, and it was again, GREAT! However, my question was "how do I make a decision, when my husband can't go to church with me?" How do we do this. My answer came in the form of an "old" friend. She attends the church and is leaving this Sunday to go on a Mission Trip to Guana. (SN: please be in prayer for the Guana Mission Team). She came up to me just bubbling over and insisted that Fred and I must visit her small group on Tuesday night. Ok, let me just say, this was not a step I was ready to take. NO, NO, NO! I said yes on the outside, but my insides screamed "NO! I can't do this! I can't do it, I don't want to!". Reluctantly I talked to Fred about it and he said "let's try it". It was on a night he was off and at the Pastor's house, so it was a way he could find out about the church and meet the pastor, etc.... Well.... all I can say is WOW! What a blessing we received. The small group was exactly what we were looking for. The people there were uplifting, godly, understanding, above all strong Christians who wanted us to join with them and grow the kingdom of God! We were overwhelmed at some of the issues we had dealt with in the past at other churches and in general that were brought up and discussed and how the leader of the group led us back to the Bible and ultimately back to God each time. I left with a smile from the inside out! Fred was equally happy! We never felt like when we went through such a horrible situation at our past church that God would lead us here. We knew He had a plan, we just didn't know He would reveal it so quickly. He lead us 1. Through a terrible situation (because He knows the plans He has for us Jeremiah 29:11). 2. Through our child, and us being sensitive to his needs (and a little child shall lead them Isaiah11:6). 3. Through our godly steadfast friends (because, but there is a friend who sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 18 verse 24). Ultimately, he led us through His word! We are so excited to see what happens next! God is AWESOME all the time! And by the way, I'm relaxed now!!!

Where I'm at (or where am I?)

I seem to be floundering... partly in due to a debilitating headache for the past 3 days. I've lost my sense of "what i'm doing", but in honesty, I think it's the calmness of life! The drama is gone, the craziness and hectic parts of my last 6 years has passed and i'm kind of at a loss for what's next. I know God has a purpose and a plan. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Christopher is pushing hard for us to go to one specific new church. Should I listen to him? That's what my parents did and it was the best decision for me. I on the other hand, want to visit one more. BUT.... Is it for selfish reasons???? Am I trying to get back what I feel I lost? I really didn't lose anything, I gained tons. I gained my family's respect, I gained time with my family, I gained an awareness of what ministry is and what it is not! Christopher has truly excelled away from the madness and drama of what where I was turned me into. He has had a very impressive summer with basketball
camp, and landing two solos in music camp next month. We leave for the beach with friends and family this weekend. Life is good, so why am I so torn. I need to turn back to the Word and let God lead the way. I think I've gone back to trying to figure things on my own, and I've already proved that doesn't work! That's my rambling for the night. I'm going to go to bed and lay it at the foot of the Cross. God knows.... He knows! Peace is what I need, and He is the only one who can give it to me!!!! Thankful for my blog and my blog buddies who always direct me back on the right path. I don't feel so conflicted any more. Somehow writing it all out gives me a much clearer picture of what I'm here for and why! My God, My family, and my friends! That's it! That's where I'm at!