Brighton Park: Homeschool Mother's Journal: Thankful for so much today

My life this week…This was not a good week for me to be sick, but I was. Thankful to be feeling a little better now. Mr. Darcy is incapable of doing laundry. One more sick day and we would have all been naked. LOL. Just kidding. Sort of... And, It is Nutcracker Performance weekend for my two dancing daughters, so that has kept up busy this week with rehearsals each evening, the dress rehearsal tonight and tomorrow...the performance!

In our homeschool this week…Our twins with special needs were evaluated for new augmentative communication (speech) devices. So excited that they will be getting new Ipads with speech/language apps. Last Christmas, my son Timothy, finally found some words. This year, he is getting a voice. What a blessing. As a speech language pathologist I am impressed with the technology now available to those who cannot communicate verbally. As a mother, I am just so grateful for it. We are so thankful

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…Keep Jesus in the season. For every event/story/craft that is Santa/secular centered, read or do one craft that is Jesus/Nativity based. How you portray holidays to them as children greatly effects how your children will celebrate these holidays with their own children years from now. You aren't doing activities, you are making memories. You are instilling traditions; make them count.

I am inspired by… a peaceful environment. Clear counters, lit candles, soft music...turns a busy kitchen into a blissful one.

My favorite thing this week was… A movie I watched recently. It affected me greatly as a speech therapist and as a special needs parent. Look for me to share what it was and how it is inspiring me in a soon to be written blog post!

What’s working/not working for us… We decided to try "homeschool lite" for the month of December; between holidays and dance rehearsal schedule, and church activities. We are still doing all required subjects but shortening our "school" day so we have more time for holiday events and craft projects. There seems to be more joy in the season this year. I am glad we did this this month. It is working out well. I am thankful to be a homeschooler.

Questions/thoughts I have… I have really been examining my online time, my personal projects, and making sure that neither are taking too much time from my family, children and homeschool. So I am planning to cut a few things out of my personal schedule for spring semester so I have time to do what I feel I am being called to do. Like...

Things I’m working on… I am getting closer to completing my 200 hr yoga teacher training. My end goal is to teach Christian yoga and be a place where people can come and I can share with them in a different venue that Jesus loves them. I have started a new writing project that I hope will reach its completion in 2013. I feel I am being guided by wonderful, knowledgeable people and I am excited by what this coming new year will bring.

I’m reading… Inspired You: Letting God Breathe New Life Into Your Heart and Home I am loving this book. It is perfect for anyone wanting to truly infuse their living space with their faith and at the same time turn their home/homeschool into an INSPIRED space!

I’m cooking… we've been baking alot of Christmas cookies the past few weeks!

I’m praying for… The families in Newtown, CT who have been affected by the shooting tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

I’m grateful for…the ability and freedom to homeschool my children; especially in the wake of today's events. I'm so thankful.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…If you have written any recipe or craft or Christmas/holiday related posts, please come link them up at the Brighton Park HIP (Holiday Ideas Party) Link Up. You can link up your awesome posts here.