We've Had Our Hands Full!

This weekend we will end an extremely busy period. Dave's Arab/Israeli Conflict class ends Sunday. He has been home all week working on it. He has been on the computer all the time because one of the books he needed to read was an eBook. So it has been hard for me to get online to do my TOS work. Most meals we do not eat together because I need to forego a warm meal to jump online while he eats. Then he bugs me, "Are you done yet?" AhhH!!!! We need another computer.

We have had some answered prayers. Today my dad found out that a lump in his throat is noncancerous. Actually an extra thyroid floating around in there. How odd? But better odd than cancer. My mom was told she isn't going to die from her lung condition. We got tickets to go to San Diego in January. And an angel maybe helping us with our adoption expenses. Many answered prayers.

Last night I spoke with Dave's sister Meredith and after the call I looked into a curriculum she mentioned. She just kind of threw it out there. And I had heard of it before. But I went on their website last night. Dave was getting the kids in bed. I had to jump on. But I felt a huge peace and weight lifted from me when I read their pages. In theory I like the Charlotte Mason approach, and that is what Mere does. But I just can't get my head to make the paradigm shift. Just this idea of homeschooling is new. For those that don't know, Charlotte Mason believed in the child's individuality and interest in learning. They do a reading of an in depth subject matter (called a living book) and then narration. The rest of the day is filled with nature hikes and spending time outdoors. An example would be finding a pond and seeing frog eggs and tadpoles and do a study right there of the life cycle of a frog. Mere said they do math every day for about 20 minutes as well because that was one link I saw missing. So this seems good in theory, I just have an insecurity that it would be the best education for my children. And Mere reassured me that if I am not comfortable with it I shouldn't do it. God would give me comfort in what I should do. Then she mentioned Sonlight Curriculum. This is the one I visited and feel pretty solid about it. It is very literature based like Charlotte Mason. Meredith said many of her friends use it and love it. So I went there and I just know it is what we are supposed to do. I am awaiting Dave's approval, but he will OK it I am pretty sure. So I have joined all their email lists, requested their catalog and joined their forums. I have a question about what level we should start out at. From my previous research I discovered we are already doing Kindergarten, so I thought we would start with 1st grade. But I want to evaluate this further and see if we will miss anything by starting at Level 1. If I think we will be, I will just buy the item that fulfills our need and do that in the next 9 months. But I will have to get on the computer to do that. :) I feel so at peace and so liberated. I do think we will do some elements of Charlotte Mason and really delve into topics to learn a huge amount about a person or event. And we will do some unit studies as well when we want a break from school. But this is all just so exciting for me!!!