The opening of a door...

Permission:


1 : the act of permitting


2 : formal consent : authorization

Change:

1 a: to make different in some particular : alter
b: to make radically different : transform
c: to give a different position, course, or direction to

As you know, I am a homeschooling mama. We have walked this homeschooling road for 11 years now, since my homemade was of school "age."

Over the course of following this call, given to us by God, we have used several different methods of teaching. I am a "Charlotte Mason" type girl, actually I didn't even know of her when I began, for four years I "taught", then I stumbled across Miss Mason and her teaching philosophy. I was so thankful to have been placed on the same path as my new friend Charlotte (though she had long been gone from this earthy place.)

How grateful my heart was to learn that I had followed the Lord and was actually, "teaching" as this wonderful educator of long ago. It gave me a confidence that I sorely lacked in my starting years, it was like that seed of greatness that God planted within me suddenly burst forth into bloom.

Flash forward a few years, suddenly I have gone from 3 students (high school sophomore, 7th grader, and 3 grader)-to a quick 'almost' mother of six. Almost, almost means I was fostering my wee three until God worked out the details of their adoption-which He did with amazing quickness.

A look at last year- a mama running in too many direction. A woman wishing to have her feet in one world...I lived here, within the rules of foster care, the public school (my 5 year old was mandated to go by the state, until adopted), and preschool (also mandated by the state for my 3 year old son.) I became a woman who wore a watch-well not really, I never succombed to that, I did constantly check clocks...but never tied one on myself.

At the end of last year, the Lord spoke, he told me I was to have a year of change. Change not only in doubling by adopting the three he sent, but with "how" we homeschooled. He spoke the word ,"unschool." Now I don't want to offend anyone, but I have never liked the word or the picture in brought to mind, in my spirit. I shared this with my husband, who said to do as God said. I am a woman under authority, of God and my dear Knight.

Now I must tell you, I don't think I am unschooling. I have changed it to "family schooling" as this is more of the focus than "un", which means NOT (to me anyway).

I have told the Lord I don't know how, I have asked Him what I am supposed to do. Honestly, things look a lot like when I started 11 years ago with just one, well it's a lot LOUDER now. I don't think I am walking in disobedience, but that I have permission to relax. To walk the road slower and with more rest, or that is how I imagine it.

Today my three oldest decided they would knit. My oldest has shunned knitting for years, though she was taught at 7. Today a competition has begun, and I laughed, because it smelled of unschooling family schooling. I heard the Lord, he was smiling and saying, "You can trust me."

(my knitters-picture taken prior to having 3 younger siblings.)

I think in lots of ways he is trying to get me to the end of myself, to which I answer, "Yes, but help me Lord."

postscript: *I have answered some questions that were asked from this post, in the comments section of this posting...in case you'd like to take a peak!