BACK TO SCHOOL

First question of the first day back to school:

Why do we homeschool?

Answer:

Because the Bible says.

"Hear therefore...and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in our house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Deuteronomy 6:3,5-7

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."

Psalm 1:1-3

"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."
Proverbs 13:20

"My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways."
Proverbs 23:26

More than anything, as we set about a new year of homeschooling, and in light of much of what the world is demonstrating culturally, I want my children to understand why we homeschool. So we began our year in the Word.

We also rummaged through materials and reminisced as we looked through and organized binders.

We enjoyed out yearly tradition of self portraits and reading logs.

And of course, we took photos of the finished products!

(Thanks, Aida, for the mom photos!)

And oh, these are the days...

And I'll always remember them with dear fondness in my heart.

I always tell my kids that there has never been even one minute of one day or even one fleeting thought of desiring to put them in traditional school because I love my time with them and cherish these years...and because the Bible says.

I'm deeply thankful for these precious gifts from the Lord to me and the privilege it is to have the

freedom to homeschool them all and I just know it's going to be another great year as we head back to school!!

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."

Ephesians 5:15-16

HOMESCHOOL HELPER

God has given Aida the gift of organization and I'm so blessed to have her as my homeschool helper!

"But all things should be done decently and in order."

1 Corinthians 14:40

She labels and files and orders and prints and stocks and I am so thankful for her.

It's really sweet to see my homeschool graduate on the other side now as a giver and I love being able to teach her a little more about homeschooling, this time from a mother's perspective, and I pray it serves her well when she homeschools her own children one day.

It's a blessing to share in this season of her life as she enters into adulthood and it's a gift to continue to nurture her heart here at home as she learns more about what it is to give. Thank you, Aida, for helping alongside me as we prepare to start another homeschool year!

"Give and it will be given to you."

Luke 6:38

MATTHEW 7:24

Thanks for the craft time, Nova!!

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them

will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

Matthew 7:24

BFFs

...one of the sweetest blessings of homeschool!

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works."

Hebrews 10:24

HOMESCHOOLING BY THE SEA

Some of our beach finds...lately:

Horn Shark

Eel

Valella

aka: "sea raft, by-the-wind sailor, purple sail, little sail"

Garibaldi - California State Fish

Though sadly, we have found these sea creatures after their death, it has been an opportunity to experience their beauty up close in a way we might otherwise not be able to. On the other hand, we are always observing the vivid life of the many sea creatures that swarm and swim and jump and dive all over the ocean daily...one of my favorite parts of homeschooling by the sea.

"So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good."

Genesis 1:21

HOMESCHOOL HELPERS

This year, Aida has had a sweet opportunity with a dear friend.

She gets to be a helper in a nature/art class offered to homeschoolers in our community.

And Elka, Olia, and Brodie have gotten to be part of it occasionally too.

From tide pool exploring, to hikes, to paper making, bird watching, arts and crafts in nature...

I've enjoyed watching my homeschoolers become homeschool helpers.

"For everything created by God is good."

1 Timothy 4:4

LITTLEST HOMESCHOOLER

Our little Precious tries so hard to be like all the big kids.

She's so smart and wanting to read and write already.

We love our littlest homeschooler.

"For the Lord gives wisdom."

Proverbs 2:6

MATH + MONEY

+ Proverbs

a.k.a. Godonomics

. . . . . .

righteousness

wisdom

understanding

the fear of the Lord

quiet/peace

a good name

...just some of what Proverbs says matters more than money.

"How much better to get wisdom than gold!

To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver."

Proverbs 16:16

CATCH OF THE DAY - TURTLE!

Look what was washed up with the latest storm!

Alive and well...and an opportunity to study the behavior of a yellow-bellied slider.

"And God made...everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind.
And God saw that it was good."
Genesis 1:25

HOMESCHOOL...LATELY

(binder self portraits)

And our little honorary homeschooler...

(Willow loves her "school" too.)

It's tradition.

Everyone is doing so well, learning and exploring.

Although Aida is graduated now, she has a special opportunity to do some homeschool with our little friend.

(It's sweet to see her come full circle.)

Little ones are growing and olders are honing in on their special skills.

What a joy it is to give them the gift of time.

What a privilege it is to homeschool!

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

Psalm 90:12