Eye Preloader

Month: February 2006

Structure or Routine

And everything, whatever ye may do in word or in deed, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him.
Col 3:17

There are scheduled times that I clean the house, mop and vacuum the floors and other jobs that need doing on a regular basis. However, if these were to be the only times that I cleaned or tidied, my house would be near uninhabitable! I’ve learned that while it is good and necessary to have these cleaning times, if I don’t tidy or pick things up at other times the scheduled cleaning time is staring at me like Mt. Kosciusko!

We’ve developed a motto from a book that I read, of which I cannot remember the title or author. This motto is something that I repeat several times a week, in a sweet voice and slowly, the children are beginning to get the idea.

“Always try to leave a room in a better way than you found it.”

It might be that I rearrange the pillows in the lounge-room or put the TV guide back where it belongs. It might be cleaning the kitchen cupboard door fronts while I have the sponge in my hand, rather than wait until Monday- my cleaning day. Whatever it is that I do, it all makes tackling Mt. Kosciusko on the cleaning days that little bit more achievable and less daunting.

My homeschooling efforts used to be a little the same: I felt like the task was of mammoth proportion! To only fit all of ones academia into certain hours is daunting! But since I’ve come to see that academics and education is much like my housecleaning routine it is so much more achievable. Here a little, there a little… Sure, we have set scheduled times where we focus on an area (like we do with housework) but it was when I saw that it is more about cultivating a lifestyle that more learning could actually take place! Here a little, there a little…

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all things to God’s glory.
1Cor 10:31

Motivation

The other thing I have noticed about myself is motivation. I enjoy having visitors as it requires me to do a certain amount of cleaning. Years ago, I used to use visitors as a motivation for cleaning the house! I don’t need that anymore, thankfully. It’s good to not be motivated by fear. However, I wondered about my motivation for my children’s education: why did I want them to read this book and that book? Why was it important to me that they have done this, that and the other? Was it again, similar to my housework in that a fear of some kind was my motivation? As I was able to release these concerns and fears to God, I started to live in freedom. Which I then took, as one often does when on a learning curve, to the extreme. Over time and circumstance, God brought me to a place of healing and restoration in the area of “education”, I can now set about my day and goal with a clearer motivation…one that is not based on fear.

~ What if my child doesn’t know everything he/she needs to?
~ What about the other children his/her age? They can all spell,write, do trigonometry, etc.
~ What will my neighbour/friend/Ed.Dept. think about my child not learning a foreign language?
~ Accck, do they need a foreign language?

Sure, all these things are concerns and ones that may need to be considered but the point isn’t the concerns themselves rather the motivation behind them.

Lord, help me to truly understand my imperfection and to know that I have not attained nor will not attain here on earth the state of perfection that I so often seem to desire. If the apostle Paul had not attained perfection on earth, then I know that I won’t either. Help me Lord to press on, toward the goal, to actively pursue your grace through Christ- not in and of myself – but knowing that Jesus has taken hold of me. Help me to keep my eyes upon heaven and your kingdom… that everything I do be for your glory.

but one thing–forgetting the things behind, and stretching out to the things before, I pursue, looking towards the goal, for the prize of the calling on high of God in Christ Jesus.
Phillipians 3:13-14

I Am A Flylady Flunkie

Okay, I’ll confess…I’m a Flylady Flunkie. Nope, not just once but three times!!!! Yes, three times I’ve tried to do the Flylady program as it looks so good…but I just couldn’t tweak it to suit, nor could I apply it to myself.

However, I stumbled (actually it was more clicked) my way through a site which has helped me! It is called Large Family Logistics. While I don’t have a large family, or as large as some of these families, I certainly do need all the organisational help I can get. I have tweaked some things to suit my family and for a few weeks now, I’ve been organised, tidy and clean and spent time with the children doing good things.

My household routine is:

  • Monday ~ Laundry & Kitchen Day (All washing, drying, folding, ironing and putting away.) ‘Miss A’ does cleans the kitchen.
  • Tuesday ~ Bathrooms and bedrooms.
  • Wednesday ~ Home Office/Study Day. Organise finances, file all papers, clean study area, post letters, meny plan, and shopping lists. This works well as it is the day before…Town Day.
  • Thursday ~ Town Day. The kitchen is clean ready for the groceries. The finances are in order, ready for shopping and bill paying. The meal for today is organised from the day before.
  • Friday ~ Cleaning and/or Town Day. On pay week, we will go to town again and get further supplies or when it is off-pay week, we go through the house from top to bottom.
  • Saturday ~ Outside Day. The girls and I go to softball while John stays at home with the boys and sometimes tends to the yard and garden. (Also John’s Shed Day)

Particular Protocol for Jobs.
After spending time at this site I decided to make my own Protocol Sheets, which have been laminated and are in easy reach. We have protocols for? Dishes Duty and Pre-Tea Chores, Bathroom and Bedroom work. I’ve always liked using standard sheets so that I can refer to them – I also feel that it makes me not nag.

Anyway, just wanted to post about this site as I have found it helpful.

Selected in the Aussie Squad U/16…

Wahoo!! I just have to brag! Miss A has been selected in the U/16 Girls Australian Squad for softball.

She has been training and working hard for three years now at State representative softball. It hasn’t been easy as she has had to commute 4 hours to and from, staying with other families and being away from her family. Throughout the week she works hard at lessons, housework and softball as well as continuing to build her family relationships. Last year she represented the ACT State team and this year, due to our move, she represented Victoria.

Out of all the many girls who play softball in Australia, only 15 are selected from each state to compete in the National tournament against each other. This year, Seven months of traveling and training came to a climax as Victoria narrowly lost by one run to consecutive winners, NSW.

Each year, at this National tournament, Australian selectors are present to scout out prospective up and coming ball players. They watch them, their attitudes and log their playing statistics. Eight states competed (NT are not able to attend regularly) with 15 girls in each team (approximately 120 girls altogether) and only 30 of them are selected for the U/16 Girls Aussie Squad. And A was one of them!!!!

What this means is that she has various training camps to attend, even more rigorous trainings and health and fitness awareness. She has to compete in various tournaments to represent Australia and even play in one International tournament against other participating countries. Oooh, it’s so exciting!

A Verbal Skill Breakthrough…

We’re having a breakthrough! Yes!!!!!

Both my boys are fairly quietly spoken and humble. They’re quietly confident in themselves with many things but they’ve been slow to learn to read. Patience and gentleness have been lessons the Lord has wanted to teach me.

I’ve been working with ‘Master C’ all week, listening to him read aloud to me. We buddy-read and then he narrates section by section and it’s working well. His narrations are picking up. But one thing that has bothered me for awhile now is his vocabulary and oratory skills. Oh, I know he has a vocabulary because when he thinks I’m not listening (and when he’s alone with his brother) he talks loudly and a lot, but as soon as I come near he goes very quiet and barely mumbles a word, much to my sadness.

Well, I’ve asked him to talk- I ask him questions and do all that I can to encourage it but to no avail, sadly.

Early on this week, I was teaching the boys how to read aloud and project their voice; not to mumble or to read into the book. I put my hand up in front of their face and encouraged them to try and make their voice hit my hand. They thought this was a great joke.

But…it has worked! And not just with reading aloud- it’s worked at the tea-table and in general conversation. Wow! I’m pretty chuffed, I can now hear them. Today, John was reading aloud from his Bible and he started to mumble again and ‘Master C’ (younger brother) loudly told him to ‘hit Mum’s hand with your voice – c’mon, it works”. Off he started reading aloud- clearly and concisely!

Again I’ve learnt, just a little consistency and a dash of encouragement, a tad of laughter or silliness, and a measure of patience has paid off…. Now, to keep it going.