tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562326053379517826.post557325835561098077..comments2023-05-17T19:13:37.345+08:00Comments on Equip Academy: Dreaming within my meansSharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13071911265430519926noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562326053379517826.post-77996244408385645102008-10-09T12:45:00.000+08:002008-10-09T12:45:00.000+08:00Hi Sharon, I really appreciated your honesty in t...Hi Sharon, <BR/><BR/>I really appreciated your honesty in this post, and I'm really encouraged by your example in how you are submitting to your husband in this decision. It sounds like it has been a hard one! <BR/><BR/>This year, with sending Jacob off to school, I've realised that I hadn't been trusting God enough with the lives of my kids. It's been a painful lesson, but one I'm grateful for! It's encouraging to hear I'm not the only one who might struggle with this issue : )Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01290984903696839862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562326053379517826.post-86700372714178209652008-10-07T17:10:00.000+08:002008-10-07T17:10:00.000+08:00Hi SharonTotally happy for you to link to my post....Hi Sharon<BR/><BR/>Totally happy for you to link to my post... thanks!<BR/><BR/>My two eldest boys are currently in their room making dinosaurs out of lego after seeing Joshua's model on your blog!<BR/><BR/>Ruth xxRuthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06404247098958587687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562326053379517826.post-72262787390332707232008-10-06T11:29:00.000+08:002008-10-06T11:29:00.000+08:00Whoa - not the post I was expecting to read after ...Whoa - not the post I was expecting to read after my recess from the bloggy world!<BR/>However, I am so glad that you have decided to be so transparent on your decision making process and your thoughts in this matter. I know that I will help others in similar situations. One of the things that I've learned about planning our kids' education is that we are always to go to God first and to stay flexible. He does not have the same path laid out for every family or for every child! Therefore, if you are obeying God's leading in your choice, then you anf Jeff are doing the right thing.<BR/><BR/>I understand that it is a hard choice though. I can feel your emotion come across in your words. Especially as believers that children are a heritage from the Lord, we want to be the best stewards of them that we can. And I want to encourage you that I'm sure that this is just what you and Jeff are doing! <BR/><BR/>I'll be reading to see how things go as you prepare him for away-school. I'm sure that he'll be excited and you will all adjust well. Pray without ceasing and be thankful that God is in control! :-D<BR/><BR/>Blessings upon blessings,<BR/>AndreaAndreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10515461667570309152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562326053379517826.post-5000404630007013802008-10-06T07:15:00.000+08:002008-10-06T07:15:00.000+08:00You're exactly right Kellie. God is sovereign and ...You're exactly right Kellie. God is sovereign and His will is for the good of all whom He calls - I just pray that I might remember that at all times! I do need to act on the presumpton that homeschooling isn't in our future though, because otherwise I would always be second-guessing away-schooling, trying to rack up a list of enough baddie points to convince my husband to let me homeschool again. And that's not exactly what is meant by respectful submission to one's husband!<BR/><BR/>Here in Australia our school year starts at the end of January. So Joshua will begin Year 1 shortly before his sixth birthday next year. Here in Western Australia the law states that children must be educated from the beginning of the year they turn six-and-a-half.<BR/><BR/>We've still go a term left of his "Pre-Primary" (K5) year. There are lots of things I want to do in the next three months, ideas to set in place, priorities to plan and carry out and a new schedule to refine. We need to work out what things we did because they were homeschooling, and which things we'll do just because we're a family.<BR/><BR/>~ SharonSharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13071911265430519926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562326053379517826.post-41254747510522892892008-10-05T20:37:00.000+08:002008-10-05T20:37:00.000+08:00Hmm...I just submitted a comment and it didn't sho...Hmm...I just submitted a comment and it didn't show up, so I'm going to try to remember what I said the first time (sorry if it ends up appearing twice). : )<BR/><BR/>As Christians one of the greatest comforts we have is knowing that God's plans are greater than our own. Even five years ago I could never have imagined that I would be homeschooling and enjoying it. Homeschooling was certainly never in our plan for raising our children. So it is very possible that this is just a break from homeschooling for you. But even if it is not, you have built a wonderful foundation for your children, and have set a great example for them in how to honor your husband and seek God's will.<BR/><BR/>I do not remember how you said the Australian school calendar works. Does this mean he will be starting at the Christian school at the begining of 2009 or later in the year?<BR/><BR/>Kellieargsmommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15871201210451384398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562326053379517826.post-66508690962660101862008-10-05T12:50:00.000+08:002008-10-05T12:50:00.000+08:00Hi Ruth,I didn't realise you had sent your kid...Hi Ruth,<BR/><BR/>I didn't realise you had sent your kids there before moving. Now I know three families who have had or do have kids there, and all people I trust the judgement of! I laughed when I saw you call your holiday school the same as R's homeschool, sharing last names and all.<BR/><BR/>It wasn't so much blogging about it that helped me think things through, it was the hours of argument (er, heated conversation) with Jeff and the two really huge emails I wrote to my mum & dad over the last few weeks. But writing it all out here was certainly very cathartic. Having written it down, it's not all rumbling around in my head and heart any more and I am feeling a lot more restful and peaceful about the whole decision. It's great to see someone else has hopes of having another go at homeschooling when they're all "school age" as well.<BR/><BR/>~ SharonSharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13071911265430519926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562326053379517826.post-8206359691157031012008-10-05T00:03:00.000+08:002008-10-05T00:03:00.000+08:00Actually, I might even go do a post on this myself...Actually, I might even go do a post on this myself... thanks for the insiration. Did you find that you were a lot more clearheaded about it all after you had blogged about it?<BR/><BR/>Ruth xx<BR/>http://www.sugarfishblog.blogspot.comRuthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06404247098958587687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562326053379517826.post-37489109646793064152008-10-04T23:49:00.000+08:002008-10-04T23:49:00.000+08:00Oops! Now I'm sorry for the long post!Oops! Now I'm sorry for the long post!Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06404247098958587687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562326053379517826.post-5142537504767915652008-10-04T23:48:00.000+08:002008-10-04T23:48:00.000+08:00Totally understand your (and Geoff's) decision in ...Totally understand your (and Geoff's) decision in this matter. I would also love to be homeschooling, but it definitely takes its toll on the little ones and we have also realised that we may find it more suitable when all the kids are at schooling age.<BR/><BR/>Having homeschooled for a short time, and now having children in a Christian school (actually, they were even in the "God is Truth" school for a while until we moved), I know that there are heartbreaking difficulties with both homeschooling and traditional schooling. <BR/><BR/>With Ben and Charlotte currently in a Christian school, I love the time that I can now spend focusing on Jacob and Oliver... after all, Ben and Charlotte had my attention all day, every day when they were young, so I would love to be able to do the same for the little ones.<BR/><BR/>You really see the little ones come along in leaps and bounds when you can spend more focused time with them each day. I was amazed at how quickly Oliver's speaking came along as soon as I was able to spend a lot more one-on-one time with him. <BR/><BR/>At the same time, I am saddened by some of the things that my children come home with, having learnt it "in the playground" :-( I do often struggle with the feeling that they are too young and not grounded enough to be learning some of the things they hear from other kids.<BR/><BR/>I do need to be more at peace with the knowledge that God is in control and he is taking care of our children every minute of the day. I need to spend more time each day praying for each child individually and then just trust God. <BR/><BR/>I also need to remember that although Ben and Charlotte could definitely be getting a "better" education at home, that God uses anyone and everyone who is willing to be used by him, regardless of their background or education level.<BR/><BR/>I have been reading a few books lately where God has used people from very poor, uneducated backgrounds to do mighty work for Him. I think we as a society (myself definitely included) often value education too highly and I need to constantly tell myself not to be stressed out that my kids are not learning at the speed I know they are capable of, and not necessarily learning all the things I would like them to learn.<BR/><BR/>There is still all the before and after school and all weekend to do a lot of character training, and to equip our children for a lifetime of compassion and service. Family devotions around the table at night are a great opportunity to do some daily "schooling" with all your children at once.<BR/><BR/>It is also lovely that school holidays are quite frequent and substantial, and there is definitely a lot you can teach them in that time... heh heh. My kids beg me to do "T____ School" in the holidays because they love it so much.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I should go, as I need to go to bed to pray and shouldn't be spending all this time on here!<BR/><BR/>Come visit us again when you are down next, and we can talk some more. <BR/><BR/>Ruth xx<BR/>http://www.sugarfishblog.blogspot.comRuthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06404247098958587687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562326053379517826.post-81541403583996228732008-10-04T21:23:00.000+08:002008-10-04T21:23:00.000+08:00It's so funny that you mentioned "Truth" - the sch...It's so funny that you mentioned "Truth" - the school we have chosen has the motto "God is Truth". I was quite relieved when I saw that on their crest!<BR/><BR/>I have been warned that schooling will take added time, and I've passed that warning on to Jeff. I guess at this stage we'll just have to wait and see. One thing I am concerned about is finding the time to pick Joshua up in the afternoons as this will quite possibly clash with the end of afternoon naps. We'll work everything out one bit at a time, I guess.<BR/><BR/>I will keep blogging. I might even have more time now (well, at some vague time in the future) to read and think and write about what I think. I am very thankful for the ability to blog. It helps me to be more deliberate in all my actions and thoughts as well.<BR/><BR/>And you're forgiven the long comment. After all, I leave long ones on your blog! Thanks for the encouragement.<BR/><BR/>~ SharonSharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13071911265430519926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562326053379517826.post-75802080275638176392008-10-04T21:02:00.000+08:002008-10-04T21:02:00.000+08:00I think perhaps the greatest reason that we homesc...I think perhaps the greatest reason that we homeschool is to integrate our faith with learning. I am privileged to have experienced both Christian schooling and public schooling (and even one glorious high school semester of independent study) and have concluded that Truth impacts all areas of study, not just science and not just "religion." In the formative years we hope to integrate the Truth into all learning and give our kids the skills to begin doing this on their own as they interact with life as an adult. Being able to see things with the lens of Biblical truth is an acquired skill.<BR/><BR/>For our budget, homeschooling is the way to do this. My sister, however, has enrolled her kids in a Christian school and they are doing quite well. I'm glad that you were able to find one for Joshua.<BR/><BR/>It sounds like you have a good plan for providing each of your four the mothering that they need. God is so good and so faithful to provide for us!<BR/><BR/>One caveat though, which you've probably observed: Being a mom of kids in school can be surprisingly time-consuming! A friend of mine found after two years that their evenings were consumed with homework help, meetings, music lessons, and sports so that with all the kids in school it didn't seem like much of a pay-off in the evenings. <BR/><BR/>For my own situation, we are so blessed to have my parents living in our neighborhood. My mother helps me out with teaching the big kids literature and takes my youngest to her house for "preschool" in the mornings. I was reaching a breaking point because of the very thing you describe: I was unable to keep up with the needs of a two-year-old. It isn't possible to do everything!<BR/><BR/>Forgive the long comment! I hope you'll keep blogging!<BR/>Blessings--<BR/>AmyMrs. Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06164426014157039784noreply@blogger.com