Looking back over this past year, I can honestly say the way I made it through was only by His grace. So many times, I felt inadequate to the calling God has placed on my life. Each day, I realized that I needed Him every hour. I found myself truly depending on Him for every thing. And that is right where He wanted me.
Let me back track a bit. This past October, we were blessed with our fourth child.
Alison Sophia
And pretty much, she has been great! She loves her sisters and most of the time she is happy. The only problem has been, she has not been the best sleeper. Which has resulted in me being 9 months tired. Add to that a hard working husband and 3 other girls and you find me not thriving. But factor in being a home school mom as well and you pretty much can guess why I wrote this.
So, if you ask me to look back and evaluate how my year went – academically or otherwise I have to tell you that it was not a year where we made great strides. We did not finish most of our books. My girls left a few things undone. And I did not wrap our year up with a nice big bow like I usually do. Instead, we dialed way back, we did only what was absolutely necessary, and we tried not to fret about all that we could be doing.
Instead we focused on new beginnings, how a family really does stretch and grow when a new baby arrives and to give mommy lots of space until she has had her 3rd cup of coffee. We learned some real life lessons. And the truth is, that is what they will remember. Not 4th grade math or which language program they did. My prayer is, that they will know that even when life is challenging, His grace will get you through.
What about you? How was your year? What got you through? Today I am linking up with the Homeschool Village. Click the button below to find out more!
As always – full of such truth and wisdom! Fantastic post – thank you for sharing! I hope this gives others the encouragement they need that it doesn’t have to have that big bow and life does happen – but His grace … beautiful!
thank you!!
Stef
The Homeschool Village
Sounds a LOT like our home…except we didn’t have a new baby. What’s my excuse!? I wont be myself up too bad. This year was a time of adjustment. We went from 3 full time HSers to 5.
Wow! That is a big adjustment. I think that part of life is being able to see when you need to pull back and regroup! I hope that this year is smoother for you!
She is absolutely beautiful Stacey! I think that one of the things that makes me really stop and think about #4 is the sleep factor or lack of sleep. But you are right, it is over so soon, they grow so fast and it is all so worth it!
This was taken months ago! This week she turns 9 months and I can’t believe it!
amen stacey! it IS only by His grace that we get through … and there’s no greater lesson than that! {love the photo of your sweet baby girl!}
Really love the photo? Huge compliment coming from you! Then again, she is a lot of cuteness!
While i dont homeschool, i can totally relate to this post. Taking on a foster child with severe needs reall effected our home, maybe we should have been used to it but Livvy used to be a good sleeper, little man wasnt. Know little man is with the Lord and Livvy i am finding myself playing catch up, hard when your heart is still grieving.
Enjoy your new bundle and the blessings, schoolwork isnt going anywhere. Memories and togetherness are so much more important. Learned this the hard way xxx
Bless your heart Sara! May this time with Livvy be extra special! Thank you for your words, you are right to say the books aren’t going anywhere!
Praying for you right now,
Stacey
Praise God that you can look back and have a great attitude! What a blessing to have a new baby in the household! 😀
I am slowly getting there! She is a blessing that is for sure!
Definitely only by grace… thanks for sharing.. 🙂
How much of life is about realizing our daily/hourly/minute by minute need for HIM and showing that off to our children? If we didn’t live this life of homeschooling would our kids get to see that fully? I don’t send my kids off each day and have time where I get to work out those issues by myself. With my kids with me all the time there is so much more forgiveness being asked for and grace being given by us all. What a sweet thing to remember.
You know, I love the way you put that! Thank you for your encouragement! It is so nice to meet you!
Amen! We had to make lots of adjustments last year too. Like you, by His grace, we made it!
~Jennifer
Amen! His grace will always get you through. Congrats on the baby…precious! Thanks for sharing.
Man, it’s nice to hear your honest take. I don’t homeschool and find it hard to picture that I ever will. So, I live often in a state of worrying that I should want to homeschool or that I should be more homeschooly when I am with the kids. I have this crazy mental image of uber organized home school moms who use every waking second to beam brilliance on their children and show the world to them in gorgeously stimulating new ways. So, thank you for shaking that little picture upside down and reminding me that we are all just trying to get by and do right by our kiddos at their pace and in God’s grace.
Four kids, eh? What a wonder worker you must be to manage all that love and chaos and love!
Thanks for all your constant encouragement – you bless me, you really really do.
~Lisa-Jo
I have found that my “phantoms” will kill me if I let them! So many days I wonder myself what He must have been thinking when He called me to this! Only He knows!
You have mad love for your boys that is what matters most. You do what God has called you to, mixed with that love, and He will fill in the rest with His grace!
Can’t wait to hug your neck in less than 100 days!