This past week began well. Monday was a lovely and productive day! But Tuesday brought many interruptions to our day and we began Wednesday half a day behind our planned lessons. In spite of some mother/daughter clashes that tainted the remainder of the week, My Only Sunshine finished the week with all of her lessons completed, leaving only vocabulary words accumulated during the week's readings to look up.
Now a few words about those afore mentioned mother/daughter clashes...My Only Sunshine and I have been doing this off and on for a couple of years now, but with increasing frequency and intensity in the last few months. I know she's a teenager now, but I had always hoped that her teen years would not be like this. I had visions that she would always willingly comply with my requests and instructions, smiling sweetly all the while. Well, that's not the way things work most days. Instead she is often argumentative, complaining, and sassy. I sadly realize that my reaction to this is not what it should be, and that contributes to the conflict.
I want us to regain the peaceful relationship that we have had in the past. I am praying for an improvement in my attitude. I am striving to treat her more respectfully in general (Eph. 4:32) and respond to her "teenage" attitudes with more self-control. Responding more calmly & less argumentatively to her will hopefully have a positive influence on her behavior.
The following passage was spoken to the unfaithful Isrealites, but the lesson it teaches is still valid. "And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." Isaiah 32:17-18
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Ready to Resume Schooling
I have planned lesson for the next 2 weeks and we will resume tomorrow. We had a mostly restful week this first week of New Year's and I am now mentally ready to get back into our routine. My Only Sunshine seems ready too. She commented yesterday that this past week had seemed so "slow". I smiled and replied that it was good for us to have some slow time now and then. :-) It has been nice to do routine household things without always feeling rushed.
With the new year we will begin hymn studies for the first time this year. We have always enjoyed it in the past, but it has gotten pushed by the wayside thus far this year. We will be reading through a wonderful book I found back in the fall, called A Song is Born, by Robert J. Taylor. It has a wonderful "living" style, and includes the written music for each hymn as well. I plan to use the author index in the back to study all of the included hymns by each author together, rather than follow the book in the order in which it is laid out.
We will also begin again doing map study every day. Somewhere during the fall it was laid aside. We will begin with a review of the countries of Europe for the first few days, then begin adding capitals and new countries. Once that is mastered, we will do a more detailed study of Italy & Greece in preparation for an educational trip there that My Only Sunshine and I will be taking the end of May.
Yesterday was My Only Sunshine's first 2008 basketball game. This is her fourth year to play and she enjoys it very much. She has improved so much since that first season! While she does not naturally excel at athletics, she has a tremendous drive to succeed in sports. That desire has served her well in softball and basketball.
My prayer tonight is that we will rest well and be excited tomorrow morning for what the day will hold!
With the new year we will begin hymn studies for the first time this year. We have always enjoyed it in the past, but it has gotten pushed by the wayside thus far this year. We will be reading through a wonderful book I found back in the fall, called A Song is Born, by Robert J. Taylor. It has a wonderful "living" style, and includes the written music for each hymn as well. I plan to use the author index in the back to study all of the included hymns by each author together, rather than follow the book in the order in which it is laid out.
We will also begin again doing map study every day. Somewhere during the fall it was laid aside. We will begin with a review of the countries of Europe for the first few days, then begin adding capitals and new countries. Once that is mastered, we will do a more detailed study of Italy & Greece in preparation for an educational trip there that My Only Sunshine and I will be taking the end of May.
Yesterday was My Only Sunshine's first 2008 basketball game. This is her fourth year to play and she enjoys it very much. She has improved so much since that first season! While she does not naturally excel at athletics, she has a tremendous drive to succeed in sports. That desire has served her well in softball and basketball.
My prayer tonight is that we will rest well and be excited tomorrow morning for what the day will hold!
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
A New Year Ahead
I'm embarassed that it has been so long since I've posted to this blog. I have lots of excuses and no good reasons. But with the dawn of a new year, I'm resolving to post here more often. :-)
While I don't always make formal resolutions for the new year, I usually do a self-evaluation and set some goals for myself to work on the coming year. I also encourage My Only Sunshine to do the same. I will share some of my thoughts for 2008.
Spiritually, I will work to:
1) continue my habit of daily Bible reading/study,
2) set aside a time in my daily routine for prayer,
3) spend more time in preparation for the children's Bible class I teach.
To use my tongue more wisely, I will work to:
1) be more encouraging with more encouraging with my spoken words,
2) speak more kindly to others, especially The Referee & My Only Sunshine,
3) eliminate some euphemisms from my vocabulary.
As keeper of our home, my goals are to:
1) use my time more wisely,
2) decrease the clutter in our home.
In my "temple building" work, my goals are to:
1) continue training My Only Sunshine in homemaking skills,
2) be sure that high school studies continue to be enjoyable yet challenging,
3) spend special mother-daughter time with My Only Sunshine on a regular basis.
For my physical body, I will work to:
1) control portion size,
2) eat more fruits & vegies,
3) add some physical activity activity to each day.
While this list is far from all that I need to work on in my life, it will give me some guidance as I attempt to grow as a person in the coming year.
While I don't always make formal resolutions for the new year, I usually do a self-evaluation and set some goals for myself to work on the coming year. I also encourage My Only Sunshine to do the same. I will share some of my thoughts for 2008.
Spiritually, I will work to:
1) continue my habit of daily Bible reading/study,
2) set aside a time in my daily routine for prayer,
3) spend more time in preparation for the children's Bible class I teach.
To use my tongue more wisely, I will work to:
1) be more encouraging with more encouraging with my spoken words,
2) speak more kindly to others, especially The Referee & My Only Sunshine,
3) eliminate some euphemisms from my vocabulary.
As keeper of our home, my goals are to:
1) use my time more wisely,
2) decrease the clutter in our home.
In my "temple building" work, my goals are to:
1) continue training My Only Sunshine in homemaking skills,
2) be sure that high school studies continue to be enjoyable yet challenging,
3) spend special mother-daughter time with My Only Sunshine on a regular basis.
For my physical body, I will work to:
1) control portion size,
2) eat more fruits & vegies,
3) add some physical activity activity to each day.
While this list is far from all that I need to work on in my life, it will give me some guidance as I attempt to grow as a person in the coming year.
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