“It’s good to feel the rush of something nice coming.” – Samuel Smiles

New school curriculum. Do you feel the “rush” of it? The excitement as you look over the new material causes you to smile. Oh, your children are going to be little geniuses as they delve into the wealth of information that you’re going to pour into their little brains.

Aesop said: “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.”

Reality sets in about day three of the new school year. Our kids whine a little, misbehave a little, and are certainly NOT geniuses (must be the genes from the other side of the family!). But take heart! They ARE gaining ground.

The time that you spend with your children this year is a time that you’ll never get again. There are no do-overs in child rearing. Relish every day. Discipline, hug, instill and smile. Something nice IS coming! Wonderful young men and women of God because of the time that was spent being taught at their mother’s knee.

I can’t tell you the number of times

-  I have been at craft shows and said, “I can do that for a lot less money!” Only to find out that I can’t.

-  I see a dress that I love and say, “I can make a dress better than that!” Only to see that my imitation is not nearly as nice.

-  I watch the Food Channel and attempt to tweak the recipe to make it my own… Only to realize that “my own” wasn’t such a tasty idea.

There is nothing like walking in the shoes of someone else to get a new perspective.

My husband and I recently returned from a 4,300 mile road trip. We’re at the stage in our lives when we can relax on the road (no kids on board!) and experience our beautiful country.  The trip gave me a better perspective of life in America.

Here are a few of our observations.

1.  it’s easy to hide in the crowds of NY, but there is no place to hide on the plains.

2.  America is patriotic, as observed at the base of Mount Rushmore with dozens of former service men and women standing proud.

3.  Life on a mountain-top is not for the faint of heart or short-of-breath.

As you plan your new school year, consider giving a new perspective to your children. Open your doors to people that would love to share their story (a veteran, a missionary, a sick child). Plan field trips that will take you to places that you’ve never been (a children’s hospital, a historic landmark, a shelter).  Consider road trips to places that are very different from your surroundings.

We raised our daughter this way. She spent many days as a patient in a children’s hospital, and eventually volunteered there. She sat at our kitchen table with people from around the world, she traveled (she says…) to every historical place on the east coast and she served at camps for people with disabilities. She has experienced the best and the worst of life’s situations. Her perspective: “I have been saved for a purpose!”

My road trip gave me a new perspective; it broadened my horizons and helped me to realize that I have so much more to learn.

A couple of weeks ago our family arrived at the Creation Museum. We had greatly anticipated the visit. We were provided 4 free media passes, which gave us the opportunity to write a thorough review for my blog. We were surprised to learn that our day would also include an interview with the CCO and VP of Outreach, Mark Looy. We must have seemed a bit befuddled as we winged our interview with questions that came to our mind on the spot as Randy jotted the answers into his blackberry. It is the stuff memories are made of! Mark was a gracious and informative host. We give a hearty thank-you to Mark and to the Creation Museum for their hospitality and free passes.

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Families choose to homeschool for a variety of reasons.  We homeschool because we can provide our children with superior academics.  Our quality of life is greatly increased by having our children schooled at home.  Our children are exposed to a much broader range of people on a daily basis which provides a richer than average social experience.  Our children are happier being schooled at home.  However, our most important reason for homeschooling our children is a matter of faith.  Our children are the only things from this life we can take with us to Heaven.  We place a significant importance on making sure our children will join us one day with the Lord.  Scripture tells us not to put ourselves under the counsel of the ungodly.  If we, as adults, should not put ourselves under the counsel of the ungodly then certainly our children should not be placed under such counsel or authority.  That alone is enough of a reason to keep our children at home for their education.  There are many other Scriptures that encourage us to take charge of how our children are educated.  God is eager to have us train up our children in the way they should go because He wants them to spend eternity with Him too.  When the going gets tough and I am weary in well-doing I remind myself of why we have chosen this path.  The stakes are high and the rewards are eternal.