he is doing a new thing (by randi)

So, our school year is starting quite soon, and this time I am down to one. Aubry is in 6th grade and she is my only student.

Sounds easy enough, right?

Well, not so much.

I have been very hesitant about preparing for homeschooling this year, and I finally figured out why:

1. It's just me this year.  And single-mom homeschooling isn't typical.

2. I have no "vision".  Why am I doing this?

3. It's one more "first" to tackle.

I have lots of homeschooling friends.  And they are all married.  And, until recently, I was too.  Now I feel like kind of an oddball in a very family-oriented setting.

Now, don't even get me wrong. I know that my kids and I constitute a family.  A very strong one, in fact.  But this still feels odd.  Like I am not quite sure how I fit here.

And the vision thing.

...without vision the people perish.  *Proverbs 29:18

Why am I homeschooling?

Because I always have?

No, that's not cutting it anymore.

On Monday some friends and I got together to encourage each other in our homeschooling efforts.  And I had a major breakthrough.

After sharing my dilemma, a friend encouraged me to allow God to do a "new thing".  To quit digging through the ashes of the past, and allow Him to create something brand new in my family.  She also suggested that I name my homeschool.

I have great friends, eh?

The next morning I came across this verse:

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  *Isaiah 43:19

And I knew right away what my vision is and what my homeschool is called:

PERCEIVING SPRINGS HOMESCHOOL

God wants me to create a home where we perceive (are very aware of) the things God is doing in our lives.  A place where what He is springing up, is completely obvious.  Not hidden.

And, in fact, I am shortening the name.  

PERCEIVING SPRINGS HOME

That's who we are.

 

Comments

[erinnorberg]

Perfect! God is so good and so sweet, and as my dear friend Randi always says, "He's just so nice". Excited to go into this year with you, my friend!

[sara crystal]

so sorry randi that you had to move on single, but there are blessings. I speak as someone who had to do the same. you have a lot of company. keep your head up and be strong. anyhow you have no choice, since if you collapse into the bed as a tearful sorry puddle, there is no one else to get anything done. yeah. sorry. but it is not so bad and you can do it. keep your back straight, drink lots of water, keep making stuff even more, count your gifts and blessings, and keep a good lawyer so you get your fair share. we love you, I love you, God loves you.your fan in oakland, ca, love sara and the fur gang

[sara crystal]

ps at our house we are allowed 10 MINUTES OF SELF PITY PER DAY. not more. love and a soft hug, sara

[randi]

hey sara...i like the idea of 10 minutes a day. it leaves time to reflect and deal with feelings, but it also demands moving on. lucky for me, the deep, overwhelming feelings are few and far between now!

thanks! :)

[Melissa]

Beautiful. Now that you have a vision and a name I am sure the year will go wonderfully. There will probably be ups and downs but that is 100% to be expected. Good luck!

[meg]

I love the name and the intention behind it. Here's to a beautiful, fresh new year!