It's official. We have tried every kind of school there is. Private school, public school, home school, Christian school. We should win some kind of "try every possibility" award. 

Last year, we made the decision to take Addison out of public school and homeschool her for 1st grade. It was the right decision for her for that year. And it was a joy. We loved having her home and loved teaching her. 

But as the end of the year approached, we started discussing this school year. Would we homeschool both of them? A kindergartener and a 2nd grader with a 2-year-old in tow and a foster baby and a business to run? Can we do that? Do we want to do that? Is that what's best for everyone? 

After much prayer and discussion and more prayer, we decided that homeschool wouldn't be the best option for this year. We started touring private schools late last Spring. 

We found a couple schools that we loved. We knew we wanted a Christian curriculum and a high level of parental involvement.  Of course, there are waiting lists and applications and all that goes along with private school, but we did it.

And we found a little gem....only 5 minutes from our house with Christ at the center of it all, and I'm happy. 

But even today, I cried and doubted because that's what I do as a momma. I want so badly to make the right choices for them....to do what's best for their little hearts and souls. I want them to grow and prosper and be leaders and be kind and give love to the world. I want them to love learning and love Christ. 

So here we are. At the beginning of another school year, trying something new again. Maybe we've got it right this time. I hope so. I won't pretend I have this all figured out, but I will fight for the best education for my children....that's ultimately one of my most important jobs as a parent. 

Even though the day started a little rough for Luke, as you can tell....

he came home happy and joyful and thrilled to be in kindergarten. 

And I knew this one would love school. She was practically begging for it. The classes are small so there is only 1 girl in her class {who told Addison that she had been praying for the Lord to bring a girl to her class!} and 4 boys. And she's in heaven. 

Here we go.....this year is going to be a whole new adventure. 

How have I lived so long without a laminator?

I realize the title of this post is pushing some of you over the edge. I know, you may not even know what a laminator is. Remember how your 6th grade teacher had cool pictures printed on paper that felt like plastic? That's what a laminator does! It makes paper feel like plastic! 

I'm 100% sure that is not at all a technical definition of a laminator, but who cares? That's basically what it does, so let's call it good. 

More on the laminator in a bit....

Before we get to that, I feel like I should ask you how you've been....really...How are you? I don't know because I'm not on social media. (By the way, my absence from social media saved you from seeing about 15 pictures of my new laminator tonight. You are welcome.) 

Isn't that strange? I really feel like I don't know what's happening with you people because I'm unplugged. But I will also say that my social media absence has been amazing. It was admittedly hard at the beginning. I was addicted for sure. But it is so much easier now. I mean, it sort of feels like freedom. (I am promising to explain that better later.) 

I also feel like I should admit that I am not in a very disciplined place at the moment, and I am perfectly okay with that (for now). 

If you've been reading for any amount of time, you may have noticed that I have a tendency to be too hard on myself. I hold myself to a high standard on most days and make myself feel bad when I don't live up to my own high expectations. I am learning to chill out. 

I'm currently not on a regular workout routine. I'm not being disciplined about having my quiet time in the morning with the Lord. I'm not being disciplined about what I eat or when I go to bed. It's not normal for me, but it's okay. 

I am finally in my groove in terms of being a homeschool momma. I've found fun, themed curriculum on teacherspayteachers.com and I'm staying up late on a regular basis printing fun lessons and then laminating them. What can I say? I'm a teacher at heart. Always have been.

I feel the tug on my heart to get back into a rhythm.....to run again.....to study again....to read again. I guess you could say I've been a little lazy for a season. And for the 1st time ever, I don't feel guilty about it. I'm okay with it. 

My soul yearns for discipline and structure and order, but sometimes it's okay to wander a bit.....to stray off the straight and narrow and remember why I like it better there. I don't really know what I'm getting at here. Just processing. Writing on the screen. Attempting to unravel my brain. 

It's the way things happen often. Sometimes I just need to write. {Sorry to bother you with the inside of my head.}

On another note, (that's my lame way of transitioning from the previous section that made no sense whatsoever and may even be contradictory) I have fully embraced my Whitney English Day Designer agenda, and I can't wait to start using it. I even emailed them yesterday to see if they had any 2013 editions left (they don't). I think I'm going to like it.  

If you missed the last post, be sure to check it out here for a chance to win a planner. 

I thought you might also like to see what we've been doing lately since I've vanished from Instagram. Just a little school outside because we've having the most gorgeous Oklahoma fall weather around here. 

Oh and my neighbor just started homeschooling this week! How crazy is that?! They moved into the house next to us right before school started. They have 3 kiddos and one of them is a little girl that's in 1st grade. Of course our kiddos have become instant friends (which I love). But she decided this week that homeschool was the best option for them too. 

She came over this morning and we talked curriculum and theory and approach all morning long, and it felt so good. I feel like this Fall is full of blessings and harvest from the Lord. I really do. 

Other news in the Dalke house inclues Wyatt brushing his own hair. 

Personally, it's a little too Ace Ventura for my style, but hey, he's cute and can rock anything. 

Oh and I discovered Teacherspayteachers, bought a $30 laminator from amazon, and started laminating everything in sight. 

I don't know if that makes me crazy or fun. Either way....happy Thursday. 

Homeschool Curriculum

This is the 1st week I feel like we have our feet underneath us in this whole homeschooling thing. 

We had some struggles with phonics {aka....no one wanted to do our phonics lessons}....so we scratched it altogether, and because of that decision, we feel good. 

Everyone keeps asking what curriculum we decided on, and now that we're in the swing of things, I feel like I can confidently stand behind what we've picked out. 

For Reading, we originally went with Saxon Phonics, but each lesson was taking us close to 30 minutes. It was too much for all of us. So we have swept any formal phonics lessons under the rug and we are reading like crazy, and Addison loves it. We are also studying sight words and spelling words each week. 

I found an awesome program called bookadventure.com that is very similar to the A.R. program in the schools. Addy can read books, take tests online, and earn points. She is thrilled to read and take tests everyday so much so that her journal entry yesterday read, "I am happy when....I am taking tests." She meant those book tests. We're big fans of Book Adventure, and did I mention it's free. 

For Math, we went with Singapore math. Brian, Addy, and I all love it. Lessons are simple and very well taught, and I like the approach to teaching concepts. It's not all rote memorization. She's learning and understanding concepts. 

For Science, we are using Nancy Larson science. I love this too. Simple while engaging, and I feel like she is already retaining a lot of new information. 

For Geography, I found an awesome curriculum over at confessionsofahomeschooler.com called Road Trip USA. We already love this curriculum. It incorporates history and animals into the basic geography study of each state. Plus, Addison is currently learning all 50 states and their capitals thanks to this fun song on youtube. Plus we got to learn about Colorado while we were in Colorado. How fun is that? 

For History, we picked out Mystery of History. I personally want to work through this curriculum because I know I would learn so much! Seriously. It's a study of World History mixed with Bible history. The only problem is that I think Addison isn't ready for it. It has lesson activities for younger, middle, and older students, but I think we may wait 1 more year (or at least until January) before really diving into it, but we absolutely plan on working through it eventually. We are currently using supplements that go along with US history while we study various states in Geography. 

Art has also become a very important part of our curriculum. Addison LOVES art, so we have made a point to make art fun and creative for her. I am using lots and lots of books I bought on amazon as well as ideas from pinterest.  

And that's about it folks. We're cruising along....feeling good. Happy Homeschoolers over here.

{And I never thought I would say that about us!}  

31 days of Jesus....Where?

I spent the day asking myself where Jesus fit in my daily routine. I have been slowly but surely changing my routine so that I get up earlier and spend the first part of my day with him either studying His word or in prayer. 

But today was not one of those days. I over slept. 

So now where does He go? 

The girls were coming over for Bible Study this morning which meant it was time to unload the dishwasher, start a load of laundry, pick out clothes for everyone, eat breakfast, clean up breakfast, change out all my Scentsy warmers....you get the idea.

After Bible Study it was time for school and lesson plans. There is a lot of planning going on as we figure out what our homeschool day looks like. We're getting used to our curriculum and settling in. It's just going to take time. 

She missed her friends today (talk about breaking a momma's heart), so we took our school day outside. That seemed to be the magic ticket. Playing with the neighbors this evening was just icing on the cake.

Oh and then more planning (since Brian and I are both teaching, we sort of have to have a plan going into each day). And math prep for tomorrow needed to be done....enter index cards and dot paint.

Then there was dinner that was not going to fix itself (I actually cooked tonight!).

And the remains of our homeschool day.

and this guy and a couple of chicks.

And my office and an online team meeting, and that list of to dos for tomorrow.

And where does He go? Where does Jesus fit into all of that? Because I need Him and need Him desperately. I need His grace and His peace and all those things that only come from Him. 

If you asked my kids where Jesus fits, they would tell you that He fits in your heart. And I don't think there is a better answer. He fits right inside my heart. I don't have to make Him fit into my busy crazy day, because He is already there. 

He's there as my children sing "Oh my soul march to victory. Oh rejoice for I have been set free." {Thank you Travis Cottrell). 

He's there as those big round eyes look at me like there is no other. 

He's there as my daughter and I have a great day....no behavior problems, no power struggles. Just grace. 

And He's there in the quite conversation of the day. The whispers to Him for guidance or encouragement or a simple reminder that He is leading me. 

There are no rules to Jesus. You can find him anywhere. Once you ask Him into your heart, He does not turn from you. He never leaves you. 

He guides you. He sends you His Holy Spirit to dwell inside you. 

And I realize that it sounds like it doesn't make sense. There is thing called faith that can't really be put into words. 

The greatest part about Jesus? He doesn't care what you've done. He doesn't care what you're doing. He loves you just as you are. He died on a cross for the sins He knew you would commit. 

Loving Him isn't about following rules or escaping sin. It's about having Him walk with you. It's about carrying Him inside you. 

Where will He fit in your day? 

Anywhere and everywhere. In the mess, in the madness, in beauty of it all....He'll fit in it all. Simple as that. 

The Mega Balancing Act

I wrote a post one time that has had more views than almost any other post I've written. It was called Work Life Balance. And that idea of work, life, motherhood, and balancing it all has been big on my mind this week. 

Today was our 1st day as homeschooling parents. We have a unique situation in that Brian is going to teach 2 days a week while I teach the other 3. 

Talk about having a mega balancing act coming my way. But honestly, I'm not stressed. This week has been a little crazy as I've worked to get curriculum together. I still have my 2 days to "work" and that's all I need if I use my time wisely. I plan on doing that. My kids deserve it. 

I'm excited about my day as teacher tomorrow. We have our first outing with other homeschool girls, so it should be fun. (Even though I have a tendency to be awkward in social situations where I don't know people.) Oh well. I'm okay with it now. 

Today was good. Brian and Addy did school this afternoon and even went on a library trip. Or at least they said they did....I have yet to see the books they checked out...but supposedly she got her own library card and doesn't have to use mom's anymore. 

She said "New Hampster" today instead of New Hampshire. What's better then that? I we got to hear it. A silly little word slip up was enough reassurance that we are doing the right thing (I never would have known that if she had said that in school.) 

We ended the day with brownies that she insisted on making herself with absolutely no help from mom. 

I know not everyday is going to be smooth. And I know that there will be hard times, but we'll work though it all together. That's what families do right? 

It just seems natural and normal and good. 

And I'm good with good. 

A 2nd 1st day....

I know I said I was going to start going to bed at 10:00. I'm working on it. I really am. This week has been a little abnormal as we've prepped for our first day of homeschool....which is tomorrow. 

All 3 of us are excited and nervous at the same time. I can't wait to see what this year holds for us. 

Watch out 1st grade....here we come. 

The Decision

We made a rather important and life changing decision last week. I had been prayerfully considering something for several weeks. I don't know why, but I just couldn't shake it. 

Thursday morning, I woke up later than I would have liked. Brian had been up since 5:00 am. I found him at the kitchen table reading his Bible. 

He looked up as I walked in the kitchen and simply said, "We're going to homeschool Addison." 

Okay. 

Done. 

Homeschooling was a promoting that was placed in my heart before Addy entered kindergarten. She was in a private school for pre-k that we adored, but when it was time for kindergarten, Brian and I both had reservations. So, we pulled her out. 

I started researching other options...homeschooling being one of them. I loved the idea. But before we knew it, we had 2 foster babies, and I was pregnant with baby #3. It just wasn't the right time for us. So we decided to put her in public school. 

We were blessed with the most amazing kindergarten teacher. Addison thrived. I keep saying how much of a blessing her teacher was to us during the transition year that last year was. I had peace about her being at school. 

But this year, that promoting returned. I couldn't explain it, and I couldn't shake it. The homeschool thing just kept coming up.....during the day, during my quiet time, and over and over again. 

The majority of my being wanted to pretend that I wasn't feeling the need to seek out more information. Homeschool would mean more work for mama. I was just starting to feel really good about my work load. 

But this feeling wasn't going away. And there are lots of reasons that we decided to finally take the plunge and make the change....reasons that we can talk about another day. 

At the moment, I'm in lesson planning mode, and honestly, it feels good. I feel in control of my child's education for the 1st time, and I love that. 

Addison is actually excited. We were unsure how she would react, but she's ready and looking forward to the extra attention she's going to receive from mom and dad. 

Tomorrow is her last day of school. Wednesday Brian will teach our 1st day of homeschool....and Thursday and Friday will be mom's day to teach. Brian is going to teach 2 days a week. I will teach 3. I'll do all the lesson planning as well. 

So that's it. Life is about to be a little different around here, and we're all anxiously awaiting it. We know it's not the easiest choice. But we believe it's the right choice for our family right now.