Today's thoughts

The title of the post at Homeschool Blog Awards today is The Right Perspective. When I read the post earlier today the first question stood out to me - "What is your perspective on “school” time with your children?" It sent my mind wandering in a whole different direction than what the post was about. Every since I started homeschooling I've been trying to get us all out of the idea of there actually being a "school" time so that we would realize, and utilize, the learning potential in every single minute of every single day. I'm afraid I haven't succeed, but I'm still trying. Because my mind went there, I missed what the post was really about and would have missed a message I needed to hear if I hadn't gone back to reread the post just now. The post is actually about viewing our homeschooling time as a calling from God and seeing things from His perspective. This is the sentence that stood out to me in this reading - "That calling is of much greater eternal value than anything I can come up with to fill my time." I really needed to hear that. I've been having some struggles with one of my almost adult children and I was questioning whether I had wasted my time by devoting my life to raising my children. I even asked my dad that over the Christmas holidays. I would have loved for him to have answered me with the statement above. That was what I needed to hear. I'm so glad I didn't miss it this time. I've made plenty of mistakes and I haven't always fulfilled this important calling as I should, but it is a very important calling, and I'm thankful for it.

When I saved Ann's post, Seven Daily Rungs, this morning I had no idea how well it went with the post above. The post above reminded me of how important what I'm attempting to do is and this post gives me some suggestions on how to make the most of the time to better fulfill the calling. Ann has such a way with words! She draws you in with this sentence "The way in which we live our moments, our choices for the gift of the next 24 hours, are rungs on a ladder." and then goes on to beautifully describe 7 things that are important to include in each day - Listening (to God), Loving one another, Laboring together, seeing the Loveliness around us, broadening our minds with Literature, using Language to share what we learn, and using Logic to draw it all together and grow and learn more. She's given me lots to think about.

Another Reading Challenge

This one is a year long challenge. I heard about it from Juanita. It is a challenge from Timmy Brister to read a Puritan book each month. I don't think I've ever read any Puritan books and I was fairly certain that I didn't have any Puritan books but I couldn't resist checking out the list and seeing what might be available on line. I found a few available to read on line in different places and decided to give it a try and maybe even see if I can get some through our library system. My DH already complains about all the books I have so I dare not buy more. :) I'm not sure that I'll actually fulfill the whole challenge or reading a Puritan book a month but I'm going to do what I can. Today I started reading The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes.

Timmy Brister gives an overview of who Richard Sibbes is. He promises to give an overview of the books' authors at the beginning of each month.

At the end of each month Brister is offering a give away. To have a chance at this give away you merely have to post how the book has impacted you.