Building Campaign

Our church is bursting at the seams. Again. It is a wonderful problem to have. It seems to be contagious. Everywhere you look churches are adding on to their buildings. Is there a spiritual awakening happening in our town? What an exciting thought.

So, as we think about how God wants us to contribute it gives us a chance to teach some economics to Sam. This is economics in God's kingdom, not in the USA alone. God's economy is so different. True riches are not $$$, but relationships--with the ultimate relationship being with our Lord. So, according to our missions pastor about 6 months ago, our goal should be to use the resource of money to amass the true wealth of relationships.

So, we are sacrificing financially in our family so that we can see more lives changed, have more brothers and sisters within our own body at PCC. We are anticipating the blessings that always come with sacrifice. We are searching for ways to infuse this kind of upside down (compared to human logic) into Sam.

This has also inspired me to think about a budget for my business. Dwight has a mental budget for our family finances which he cannot put on paper for me to see and understand (which is fine). I don't think quite the same way, so I am attempting to think about financial planning with my business--which will give me the practice I need in case I ever need to take over the family finances.

As I do this, I am also going to have Sam do the same with his allowance. He likes the idea of using quicken to track his money.

So, school is going great. I realized that the grammar book Sam is working through is a high school freshman English credit, so I worked out a gradebook that will be part of his high school transcript. We are beginning the next to last chapter in pre-algebra, so algebra will be starting soon. That will also be a part of his high school transcript. I have heard that you can do a transcript without dates and no one blinks, but if you indicate that your child did this class at a young age you have to answer lots of questions.

Sam will also begin high school science early. I have to start thinking about high school requirements earlier than expected. One thing I am trying to do is balance pushing Sam to challenge himself with making sure he's enjoying school. Having been in a classroom setting where almost every subject was too easy--he has developed some academic laziness. I want to eradicate that laziness, but at the same time not push to the stress level.

I think we are doing that in math, probably not in science (but without the algebra and algebra 2, he can't do chem and physics which is where that would happen). I am trying to do that in writing, but this is where he resists and the place where he is probably below grade level.

I doubt of the history will ever feel like that kind of level until he gets into college--I sure didn't. The VA advance high school diploma is supposed to have AP classes or college level classes. I know we can do that at the local community college when he gets a little older. The min. age might be 15, so I can wait to investigate.

By the way, I love Microsoft Excel--it is a wonderful platform for a gradebook and transcript!!

A committee of one

Well, the decorating committee has disbanded. The meeting last night went well. Every decision the committee made was unanimously supported. The entire committee took it very easy today.

You see, I volunteered to be on a committee to help do visuals that would remind people of our store front church days. We are launching a new building campaign, having outgrown our current space. I ended up being the only one who volunteered (ugh!) and had to do or delegate everything. I am good at delegating, but had to do way more decision making than I am comfortable with. Plus, yesterday was a little nerve wracking--wondering if everything was going to look nice, work out, etc.

I had wonderful people who took the vague instructions I gave and ran with them or I would have been a basket case. Sam stayed at the neighbors which helped tons, too.

The after affects of stress are hitting me today. I feel very tired, clumsy, not very smart. I think it takes 2 nights of sleep to overcome the stress hormones.

School is going well. Sam is doing well. We are adding something to our revamped spelling. Someone on one of my lists said that visual-spatial kids can sometimes improve spelling by orally spelling a word both frontwards and backwards. We tried it for the first time today. Sam thinks it is weird--we'll see if it helps.

Heading out to Olive Garden to celebrate the successful set-up/clean-up last night. People laughed a lot and said things like "Oh yeah, I remember that" and lots of laughter.

Oh, yeah, you're probably wondering how Bible is going. It is going well. Both books are nice in their own ways. It is nice to have a launching platform for discussions about spiritual things.

Too Much Delegation

I love delegating. It means less work for me--which my lazy streak loves. It means I can benefit from talents others have that I lack. It means you get the share the joy of a task done.

Some things cannot be delagated. Some things can, but should not. Education of my son is something I delegated for about 5 years. I paid dearly for others to teach my son. It seemed like the right thing to do and probably was. Since last Easter I have taken over that task myself and we have been very blessed by it (the whole family). I was still delegating parts. The computer and Rosetta Stone software is teaching him Latin. He was learning violin and is now learning art from someone else. These are all good things, since I am incapable of teaching.

I was also delegating his "religious" training. We were both doing Community Bible Study. Their studies were enjoyable for both of us. We were studying the book of John this year. Sam was not enjoying the discussion in his class. He admitted to rarely sharing answers and they did crafts (which he abhors).

I was starting to think that Sam was learning facts, but not developing a deeper relationship with the Lord. I began thinking about what my dear son is like and how he would best learn to develop this relationship. I began to feel proddings from the Lord because I doubt if any classroom setting was going to help in this way at all.

Then, as we shared the Lord's Table at church Sunday night and one man shared during confessing time that he had not been pursuing his daughter enough in this same area--I felt a stronger prodding.

Then in a discussion with our pastor it was just suddenly obvious that he will learn to relate to and love the Lord the best the way he learns everything else the best---one on one.

So, we are no longer going to Bible Study, but are doing a book (Learning About God from A to Z). This book came with out SonLight curriculum and is actually quite fun to do together. When some truth about God really touches my heart and I share that with Sam--he learns more than the facts.

So, now we are doing:

SonLight American History (approx. 5th grade level)--includes Bible and Poetry
Pre-Algebra--almost finished with the book
Easy Grammar Plus (9th grade level)
Exploring Creation through General Science (7th grade level)
Rosetta Stone Latin
Art (private lessons)
Writing Composition--The Write Stuff Adventure (loosely following)
Spelling--incorporated--learning rules he breaks as he breaks them
Typing--blog entries--usually typing his compositions
Handwriting--incorportated

I think we are covering all our bases.

There is a difference between knowing and seeing

I have had 2 recent events that have showed me the truth of my title.

#1. We were at a night of worship and not at the soundboard--but actually part of the congregation (a rare occurrance). It was a very nice worship. At one point the worship leader suggested we go literally on our knees if we felt led as we sang about kneeling before God in the next song. Watching my husband bow before his creator hit me deep. I've known he was a follower of Jesus since middle of Sam's first grade year, but seeing his submission to his creator with my eyes--what a difference.

#2. We have set up school so that Sam has 4 independent subjects and a chore to do, then he can have "recess" until 10:30. Recess is defined very loosely--basically his activity of choice need not be educational at all. I have known that he was succeeding in this because I would see that he was playing at 9:30 (when I come out of my bedroom) and his work was done. Today I was up while he did those 5 things. I saw my 10 year old boy staying on task, going quickly from one task to the next until they were done!! Again, the difference between seeing it and knowing it is just amazing.

In John 11 Martha got to have the same revelation. Her brother was dead--Jesus had not come soon enough to heal him. When he did arrive, Martha makes this statement, "I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask". She knew it was possible for God to raise him from the dead--even four days (and smelly) dead, but when they got to the tomb and Jesus asked for the stone to be removed she shows some doubt (in my humble opinion) by saying "But Lord, by this time there is a bad odor for he has been dead these four days." The knowing didn't go all the way deep. Imagine the strengthening her faith received when she saw Lazarus walked from the tomb alive. It sure affected the crowd.

I know that God exists and loves me. I know he sent Jesus to pay the price for my sin. But when I experience that forgiveness and experience the presence of the Holy Spirit it is so much more real to me. When I experience victory over a entrenched sin pattern. This is the seeing in my spiritual life. What a difference!

Are you seeing God in your life, or just know the truth?

Update

Howdy, we are moving along. Here is an update of how things are going:

Subject that are working well: We have three chapters to go in pre-algebra. We finished the first chapter in our Science book. Grammar is moving along nicely. SonLight (History and Reading) is still just as fun as before. Community Bible Study is just fine, too. Writing (Composition) is going very well. Check his blog this weekend to see some of his work. And Latin is smooth sailing.

Improvements: Sam has developed the ability to start school on his own (he has 4 assignments to do and then a recess). He is also doing chores without complaint. His chores are: dishes, keeping water bottles filled, keeping bird feeders and bath filled, and putting school stuff away when school is done. I didn't say he remembers to do them, but he is doing them with a positive attitude--I think that is incredibly good for a 10 year old.

Subjects that need some work: Spelling, handwriting, typing. What is lacking is mostly motivation. If a student doesn't care about spelling or legibility--it is difficult to remediate these things. In some ways, I'm backing off and waiting for him to be frustrated enough to work to improve things.

Needs Improvement: Math attitude is not quite up to par (though, I've seen some improvement just this week). Sam is so easily frustrated when the material isn't easy. When he can't figure it out in less than 30 seconds he tends to start whining and yelling. The strategy that seems to be working is for me to "teach" the material, then send him to his room (where he can whine and complain w/o an audience) and if he wants my help he has to come calmly and respectfully. I tend to want to help him when he starts whining and complaining and then his frustration is thrown at me in anger--trust me, it ain't pretty.

So, all in all, I feel like we have a good thing going here and it will continue to improve. Maybe one reason is because if it isn't working we are all willing to try something new or different. Of course, the real reason it is working is because it isn't just Sam, Dwight and I, but we have a helper who is there to comfort, lead and direct our paths.

Something I noticed in my study of John this year. Jesus said it twice so far--when we obey God, then we get discernment. I can see that has been true in my life as I look back, but I'd never noticed before. Obey what you know God is calling you to be and do (love God and others, do good, be an encouragement, etc.) and then the specific discernment will come. It isn't easy for us folks who want our ducks all lined up, but it is certainly good for us!

A character issue that came up during a math outburst-- we are all born with a god-complex (we want to be god--do all the directing and none of the following). This is the original sin we inherit from Adam and Eve. When we get frustrated with ourselves at our imperfections, this is due to our god-complex--we do not want to face the fact that we are imperfect (and therefore not a god). But sin comes in only when we respond wrongly to this feeling--we sin. When we resist in and cry out to God, only then can we experience victory. If we do not give in to our frustration, but do so without acknowledging God--does it lead to pride?

Anyway, that has been our January. Hope you all are growing in your relationship with God, too.