Homeschool Is Cool

   

We are officially halfway done with our first year of homeschool. YAY! 

Now that I have a few months of homeschool under my belt, I feel that I can give some opinion and have some perspective on it. It has been an adventure, and there are tough days with tears, but mostly it has been a HUGE BLESSING to our family.

First of all, the flexibility is exactly what we need while living out this crazy military life. Since we started school in early July, we were able to take a couple of days off in September to spend time with Bill after his deployment. We were also able to take some time off during our recent move – and then we picked right back up where we left off without concerns about new schools, etc. And on the days that Bill has off, or is home early, the kids are here and able to have the much-needed time with him.

Second, I am so proud of how well the kids are doing in school. I’m not an easy teacher. I know my child's potential and I won’t settle for anything less. I realize now that no one is going to push my kids as much as I do.

But, having said that, they really love school. I see passions lighting up in both of them and I’m able to gear my curriculum in that direction. And, most important, even through the struggles we are growing together and bonding in an entirely new way.

Speaking of passions, I love this quote...

“Passions weaken, but habits strengthen, with age, and it is the great task of youth to set the current of habit and to form the tastes which are most productive of happiness in life.” -The Map of Life, William Edward Hartpole Lecky

I hope to achieve both with our homeschool time. I want them to learn productive life skills while igniting passions. Yet, as this quotes infers, passions come and go but good habits last a lifetime. 

Finally, I love that I am able to point things out to them when we’re out and about and tie it back to something we learned a couple of weeks ago. No errand or outing is “safe” from a learning tidbit.

So, having come this far, it felt necessary to celebrate. On Friday we ordered pizza (kids’ choice), made and ate cupcakes, presented awards and made fun crafts (thank you, Kiwi Crate).

Lastly, if you’re interested, I highly recommend watching this commentary video about our current school system. Bill watched it as part of his class and then shared it with me. It’s entertaining, informative and thought-provoking. 

I'm so glad I decided to homeschool the kids. It works for our family right now. It was a huge leap of faith and has required so much from all of us but the rewards of seeing the kids learn and grow has made it so worth it.

My Favorite Books of 2013

Today I’m linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy’s blog to discuss the best books of 2013 (the best books we read in 2013, not necessarily published in 2013). According to my Goodreads account, I read about 20 books this year. You can see the complete list here.

I really enjoyed most of the books I read this year. But, for the purpose of this blog, I’m going to narrow it down to my Top 5 books. I’m not ranking them in order of least to greatest because they are all so different and hard to compare. 

I’m including a quick note on each book rather than a detailed review because I believe it’s better to go into a book with a fresh slate than with expectations from what others have said about it.  

Here they are...

Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe by Bill Bryson – I laughed on almost every page of this book. The author’s witty commentary on the people and places of Europe are spot on. Reading this book was like being on a European vacation – without the expense of airfare! Hands down the best travelogue that I’ve ever read.

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – I hate to sound dramatic or cliché but this book changed my outlook on life. She has such a unique writing style, and because of it, she’s able to bring stories and ideas to life in a new way. Her heart for the Lord is inspiring, too.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain – I kept seeing this book pop up on “Must Read” lists this summer but I was skeptical. I don’t really care about Ernest Hemingway or his life, so I wasn’t sure if I’d like it or not – but it grabbed me in the first chapter and didn’t let me go until the end. It’s an intriguing story in a fabulous setting. Having a glimpse into these iconic lives – good, bad and ugly – was utterly fascinating. Plus, his first wife was a diamond in the rough and I enjoyed “her” perspective of the story.

Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls – Need a hero? Look no further than the lead character of this book. The author did an excellent job bringing her grandmother to life – all her spunk, sass and tenacity. Her life story is amazing, shocking and bittersweet. You’ll be cheering for her the entire time. Overall, an uplifting and inspiring story.

7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker – Don’t’ let the title of this book scare you. This book isn’t a guilt trip. Actually, it’s more like meeting your friend at Starbucks and catching up on the latest antics. Through her excellent story telling, I was able to journey along side of her – while laughing and learning. I think about things from this book often. I can honestly say it’s still working on me. 

Again, I enjoyed so many books this past year  - and still feel "connected" to most of them - so it was hard to narrow it down to these Top 5 picks.

Finally, although I’m not a fast reader, I’m hoping to double the amount of books that I read this year. That would put me at about 40 books in 2014. Let’s see if I can do it!

What about you, what were your favorite books in 2013?