I AM HAVING AN IMPACT TODAY
Because I am living by faith, not feelings. Doing what I should, not necessarily what I want. I am at this moment correcting math workbooks. I am tired of math corrections, and of hearing, “I need help…I can’t go further…I don’t get this…”, (which means an entire hour I had planned for them to do their math lesson has just gone out the window until I phone the math tutor and schedule an appt. for him to help us at his earliest convenience) you know the script. I’ve seen enough improper, inverted, mixed number and proper fractions for a lifetime and polynomials, trinomials and binomials can take a hike into cyberspace forEVERRR.
“Momma said there’d be days like this, there’d be days like this, my Momma said”. But I press on because this is my life and I am a stay-at-home, home-schooling-bulldog-mother because, however I might feel this second, I believe in this stuff! I am also, while marking papers, simmering vegetarian chili, loaded with everything possible I could find to dump in it that is healthy (including grated carrots and lentil soup) because my fridge is nearly bare and I haven’t had time to go to the grocery store (too many papers to correct-hahaha!). I will then pour it over baked potatoes and egg whites, scrambled, much to the children’s dismay because they would prefer macaroni and cheese out of a box. But I press on because they will be healthy, happy, grateful children and they’re just fortunate they aren’t living in a box in India eating out of garbage cans, right?! That’s what I thought, too. (OK, I tried that line on them and they just reminded me that they are living in boxes at the present time - see April 13th post - they keep me laughing) Earlier today, I created smoothies out of almost nothing, also sneaking in withered fruit
in the form of very tired-looking strawberries, raw almonds, rice milk, keffir and flaxseed oil, so we would all get the nutrients we need…I even squeezed oranges in my citrus juicer because we’ve also run out of juice for smoothies! This is just one of those…….days ………….of………improvisation and creativity! Yeah, that sounds better. Then, later, I will go to prayer meeting at church when I’d rather sit home and watch history dvds because I am committed to the cause of corporate prayer. Yep. This is a lifestyle of faith I am determined to hold to. Because I know that these are the things I pledged my life to when I was worshipping God and getting goosebumps and dreaming big dreams, and just because I don’t have goosebumps right this second, the truth is still the truth and it always pays to live truth, especially if I want my big dreams to become my reality. And they will. Yes sir, they will.
Amen.
April 16th, 2008 at 6:17 am
Denise, thanks for this post. I love the way you inserted “bulldog” into your self-description. It really takes dogged determination to get through some days as a homeschool mom, doesn’t it? Math has always been the sore point at my house as well.
I also appreciate what you said about not watching history DVDs to go to prayer meeting. I had back surgery 6 1/2 years ago and have six screws in my back. They are a constant source or irritation and I am never completely pain-free. I have used that as an excuse not to go to prayer meeting (and on many occasions one or both of Sunday services as well) and I am just now getting to the point where I realize I need to go to church no matter what I feel like. Tonight I will go to prayer meeting - thanks for the extra push.
One last thing, I listened to your radio interview with HSLDA which led me to buy your book, No Ordinary Child, and I just want to tell you how much I appreciate it. I have only gotten about half-way through, but so far your enthusiasm and energy have given me a renewed vision of this thing we do called homeschooling. Thanks for that, too!
April 16th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Dearest Kathleen,
I appreciate your humility and honesty in sharing your circumstances, struggles and human-ness. Thank you for taking precious time from your very busy life as a mom (and everything else you are!) to encourage me. You’ve blessed me and everyone else who pops in here to find strength and hope and laughter - have a wonderful day! May your heart sing as God’s grace enfolds you and yours!
In His love,
Denise