…was actually in session yesterday.  First it was Dad, then Levi and now, Mom’s sick.  That’s about all you need to know and the rest is pretty clear.  Progress halts.   What’s there to eat?  Laundry?  Groceries?  Time-Out.  Push pause and make yourself a frozen burrito (if you can find one!).   Seth has excelled in Home-Economics for the last two days.  Cleaning, slicing, delivering, sweeping, dicing, dishes.  He’s our champion.  Upon further investigation, it appears that lots of our dear friends are experiencing the same bleak (thankfully, temporary) circumstances during this rainy, cold season.  We love you all and are praying you’re well soon!

Are all my homeschool-mom friends out there dreading Monday as much as me?!  I have to be honest - I’ve been luuuuuuuuuvvvvvving our holidays together and the thought of getting back to our normal schedule on Monday is just a bit daunting.  I find the holiday groove just groovy.  You, too?  I understand.  (For those of you perfect people who can’t wait to crack the calculus, Latin roots and biochemistry books, please go to www.mykidsagenius.com where you will find encouragement - after cracking the Greek-Hebrew code to enter the site - from other PhD’d mothers and their prodigies.) But if you’re like me, and ‘Sleeping In’ is a subject when necessary, here’s my strategy for the morning:

• First off, don’t expect too much!  I’ll probably cut the academic requirements by half on Monday, but follow my normal chore charts for the kids.  (you should see my dust!) Victory on day 1 is an 8 a.m. wake-up call for the kids’ Bible and prayer times, after 1 cup of strong coffee and some Bible and prayer time for Momma.  The time with God counteracts the potential caffeine-induced edge I might be tempted to yield to when encountering my not-so-gleeful students on the first day back to studies.
• Secondly, gird up for battle and require good attitudes.  You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that getting back on track with the normal schedule is like fighting the law of gravity on day 1.  And although I have every reason to believe the best of my children,  I will lead strongly and be ready to win any power struggles that might arise.  Peace and order must rule.
• Thirdly, ponder all that you accomplished during Christmas break so you don’t feel like you’re ‘behind’.  (as if some official were looking over your shoulder, evaluating all your moves in December-get rid of that imaginary set of little eyeballs sent to discourage you!)  If your kids baked cookies with you, built Legos, messed around with a digital camera, computer program or MP3 system, played with siblings, read, sketched, played instruments, built snow forts, hung out with Grandparents, Dad or church friends, and did chores, there’s a whole lot of learning and child development that took place.  Just the fact that they were home with you every day means they’re already ahead of the pack. 
• Lastly, praise God for the privilege of being home with your precious children, no matter how trying they can be at difficult moments.  Enjoy who they are and how unique God has created each of them to be.  The big yellow school bus can appear to bring relief, but God has called you to do what you’re doing, as imperfectly as you feel you do it.  You are a very rich woman indeed if you don’t have to hold an outside job to make ends meet, but rather get to work at home.  Resist the world’s mentality that children are a bother and you have much more worthy things you could be doing.  You get one chance at this job of training your tender shoots - decide to enjoy all the aspects of mothering while you’re in this season and you will never regret it!

Have you seen this? This inexpensive, easily accessible, paperback book is undoubtedly one of my most favorite tools for success in Kingdom life. It’s the entire Holy Bible, broken into daily readings consisting of a portion of the Old and New Testaments, along with a Psalm and Proverb reading as well. I’ve ordered myself a copy for 2008 in a different translation than the one I’ve been in the habit of reading, so I’m looking forward to a fresh flavor in my reading this year. (There are also One Year Bibles for kids, with shorter daily reading portions.) It’s not a ‘box’ you have to live in, but a plan set in place to get me in God’s Word daily, without flipping here and there while wasting 20 precious minutes deciding ‘where to read today’. Then, if I happen to hit a spot where I want to camp, I’m free to do that, utilizing any number of other Bibles and study books I have until I want to move on and jump right back on track in my One Year Bible at the day’s reading where I left off. Look at this:
Hebrews 1:3 tells us that The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word. Is the Word of God sustaining you? Are you being supported, strengthened, encouraged, carried, upheld by His Word? Or are you perpetually weak, lagging, afraid, depressed, oppressed, uncertain, and deflated? To wish human beings a ‘Happy New Year’ devoid of God’s Word, I might as well cross my fingers and knock on wood that everything works out o.k. for them. That’s too big a risk for me. Without God’s Word, I’m starving myself and living in a weak, defeated and emaciated way. Colossians 3:15 reminds us to Let the Word of Christ DWELL in you RICHLY…and that ain’t about livin’ out of my promise box! ‘Vitamins’ can never take the place of eating whole, balanced, nutritious meals every day. Start fresh this year and make a practical plan to live in God’s Word daily - His Word never fails. Oh yeah, one more thing: Happy New Year!