New ideas

On Tuesday, September 6th we officially began our 6th year as a homeschooling family!  This year I have 3 full time students (6th, 4th and 1st grades) and a toddler.  I knew some changes needed to be made to our curriculum and schedule.  My two older children needed to become more independent learners so that I could focus on my 6 year old and toddler.  Up until now, I have taught every subject.  This had to change because teaching 3 different grades with a quickly approaching 2 year old terror sweetheart was just not going to happen!  I did extensive research and solicited advice from other moms of many.  After much discussion with my wonderful husband we chose to go with CLE or Christian Light Education for Language Arts, Bible, and Reading.  We will continue using Math U See and Gods Design Science.  We also recently began Mystery of History and we are enjoying it.
CLE is a Mennonite based curriculum.  We scoured the website to make sure the Biblical teachings would not contradict our beliefs and we also consulted out Pastor.  Fortunately, Mennonites have many similar beliefs as we do and the areas that we differ in are not reflected in the curriculum.  This is an independent workbook type curriculum.  I was originally very against the idea of workbooks and more traditional "school" type teaching but have realized that in this season it is exactly what our family needs.  I wanted to be well established in this curriculum before bringing another child into our family sometime next year.
We also implemented another new idea this year.  Work boxes!  Just type that in to Google and you will be overwhelmed with different blogs and websites detailing this new homeschool system.  After much research we came up with our own, very modified version.  With multiple moves and a bigger than average family it was just not feasible to implement this system the way it was originally intended.  
(Note: I am still a bit blogging challenged so I have yet to figure out how to type "go here" and have it link directly to a page so I do recommend that you google work boxes and go the original site to see how this system is supposed to work.)  
Our first week using our modified system was a HUGE success!  Now, I am still working out some kinks but for the most part it was awesome.  My 2 favorite things:  I stayed consistent in getting everything done every day last week and my children wake up each morning begging to start their boxes!!!  So, stay tuned for a post detailing our version of this amazing system!
(Another side note:  I am a HUGE procrastinator so don't be surprised if it takes me another two weeks to get the work box post up!)

Now what?

Now that the tears have subsided and the emotions have calmed down I am ready to blog about adoption again.  Some of you may be asking, "Now what?" 

Simple.  We move forward.  God has called us to this journey.  Our home study will be completed shortly and then sent off to our placing agency.  Once this happens we will go on a waiting list to be matched with our little girl.  We will not have to go through the committee process if we are matched with a child.  The committee process only happens when you chose a child from the public photo listing on Holt's website.  We have decided that we will wait for our match.  The Lord has a sweet child out there waiting for us and He will bring her to us in HIS time.

In the meantime, we will be home schooling, exploring this little slice of paradise we live in, staying active in our church, PRAYING, and learning all about Korea...the language, the culture, the food! 

Psalm 27:14  Wait on the LORD:  be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart:  wait, I say, on the LORD.
Romans 12:12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer
 
So we wait...

Wordless Wednesday

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

Alfred Lord Tennyson


At 8:45 this morning our agency called to let us know our family was not chosen to be the forever family of baby girl.  They felt she was just too close in age to our youngest.

Our family loved this little girl very much.  After hearing the news we realized the Lord didn't bring her into our life to be in our family but He brought her into our life to be in our hearts.  This precious little soul needed prayer and through our family she received NUMEROUS prayers.  Today she was given a family and today a family was blessed with a gift from the Lord.

I don't know or understand why God chooses to do things they way He does but what I do know is this:  "...that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to HIS purpose."  Romans 8:28

Our little girl is out there waiting for us and in the Lord's timing she will be home with us.  We continue this amazing and humbling journey with the Lord guiding us every step of the way.

Thank you so much to our amazing friends, near and far, who have prayed for us and this whole situation.  Thanks to all of you our family is at peace and an orphan has a forever home.  Tears were shed but they are dried and we journey on.  We have loved and lost today but our hearts are full.  Glory be to God!