Spring-Field Trip-Break

While schools were breaking for a week in spring, I thought that the halls of “Jordan Homeschool” would stay open and the lights would continue to burn bright right on through the month of April as the kids have been steadily working hard without a break since December.

But, everyone needs a break now and then, right?

As soon as I made a mental decision to take a deliberate break from our regular school schedule, I just felt a relief that my whole inner being was yearning for but wouldn’t totally give into because of my overachieveism (I know this isn’t a word, but it’s a true condition that I have). While I strived really hard to take an official spring break where you don’t…. learn.....I scheduled a week of field trips.

Am I a geek or what? What’s wrong with me? By the end of the week, after venturing to several local museums, my husband asked me, “Can the kids do something f-u-n for their spring break?”

Fun? Are museums not, fun?

 

We did end up doing something f-u-n on our last day, that did not include any deliberate learning. We ventured to a family favorite park (They did have a little marine museum and mini petting zoo. I forced the kids to read every plant and animal informative sign. I'm kidding. Only a little.)

Looking back on our spring-field-trip-break, I have to say that the highlight of our week was simply the time that we were able to spend together as a family. If you're a regular reader of this blog and you're tired of reading of the many perks of homeschooling, here comes another one of those moments. I could go on and on about my love affair with homeschooling. Did you ever have parents that embarrased you as a kid everytime they snuggled in public? Just showing off all sorts of PDA (public displays of affection)?

Grab the barf bag. Its about to get mushy.

I'm a very reflective person. As I reflect on our t-i-m-e this past week...

T is for Together. One of my love languages is quality time, so I get a real high from quality time with my family. I loved just the simpleness of my kids laughter in the park as their Dad tossed a softball and the way my girls get all giddy from actually making contact with the bat. In a society where brighter, fancier, and bigger is better, its nice when less is more and simpler is sweet. 

 

 

I is for Irreplaceable. While the time that we get to spend together can never be irreplaced, neither can my kids. If you told me some years ago that one day I'd be at home 24/7 with my kids, I would've laughed at the thought of my inability to withstand my kids for that long day after day. Over the years, as I've pondered the reality that tomorrow is not promised and every moment with my children is a gift, I find my heart soaking up every moment that I get with them now.

They really aren't so bad you know. One of my prayers is to raise my kids to be the sort of kids (and, grown adults one day) that you actually "like" to be around.

M is for Meaningful Moments. I just love pictures. One day my husband will have pity on the pictures that I take with my camera phone and maybe he'll feel sorry enough to break down and get me one of those fancy, smancy big 'ol cameras that everyone seems to have now with the gigantic scopes that take magazine quality pictures. I'll say it again, I just love pictures and I try real hard to not allow this blog to turn into a photo journal. Pictures say so much and while they capture memorable moments, there's nothing like living the moments in true, vivid, color. The memories that that we've been able to create thus far in our homeschool journey has really maxed out my memory bank. Crazy, isn't it? And, its just our first year. Its been one beautiful memory after another.

 

 

And, lastly E is for Eternity. Isn't that what this life is all about? You didn't think that THIS is the end of the story did you?
 

In the grand scheme of things, if we were to step out of what we knew to be “time” into God’s realm of time, this life that we’re living is only a brief moment. If we were to try and view our life from God's perspective, this life is so short. Tomorrow is not promised to us, so we must cherish every moment that we have, impacting our children with the gospel not just by our words but in our actions as well.

 

May the time that we have with our children impact them for Christ, for an eternity.