It's that time of year again...  I've begun the all-consuming process of making schedules and laying out plans for the year.  Calendars, organizers, highlighers, and any other "make-your-life-easier" and "your-school-year-will-flow-smoother" gaget can be found strewn all over my desk, while my husband is mysteriously missing in effort to escape yet another school decision or conversation!  (Evidently I have a tendency to get a "little" overwhelming about this...)

"Why are there so many great curriculum choices?  How many times will my schedule have to change to accomodate my ever-growing-nap-time-changing one and three year olds?  Is my fourth grader getting enough science?  Is my phonics program right for my second grader?  Will the introduction to Kindergarten be a fun one for my 5 year old?  How will I fit it all in?  Are they learning everything they need to know?  Will I ever feel like I'm in control?"

Then the Lord reminds me... through all the choices, deliberations, and decisions, there is one thing I must remember:    

It's then the questions start again... only this time... they're different.

"Are my children learning what the Lord wants them to know?  Am I living in a way that shows my children, before anything else (including a clean house, an "important" phone call, the unpaid bills, ect.), how much I love Christ, my husband, and them?  Do my children know why I stay at home and teach them?  Are they having fun?"

Let's face it... life certainly "happens" when I'm homeschooling.  But instead of thinking it's "getting in the way" of my schedule, I need to remember it could be the Lord placing a "time out" before me to bring me back to what's truly important.  Maybe in my quest for "getting it done", I've gotten more behind in His will for my children.  A better question to ask might be, "What are my children learning from me about how to handle difficult circumstances, interruptions, or diversions that life most certainly brings?"

Someday my children will leave home and they will come into contact with people on a daily basis.  When a person meets my child (as an adult) they won't know how they did in math, what grade they got in english, or if they play an instrument... but they will see how he handles himself and how he treats them. Upon further discussion, they will see my child's character and, they will make a decision on what my child is by what they see.

Math, Language Arts, and the like, are subjects I want my children to have.  Knowing how to read and solve equations is extremely important, however, there are few other lessons my children need to be taught with as much significance placed on it.  Some examples would include:

• Righteousness - learning about the Lord and how to be like Him
• Grace - showing complete forgiveness, and not seeking to get a sibling in trouble
  
• Compassion - sending a "Get Well" card to someone hurting
• Thoughtfulness - calling someone and letting them know they're thinking of them
• Love - sharing toys and giving unselfishly
  
• Forgiveness - being able to not hold a grudge with a sibling
  
• Discipleship - sharing and defending their faith
• Obedience - submitting and doing chores with a happy heart
• Patience - teaching a sibling to tie their shoe
  
• Giving - tithing their allowance, realizing everything came from the Lord
• Submission - reading the Word of God and obeying what He wants for them to do, even when that means their desires get put on hold... babysitting, chores, ect.
  
• Peace - not being afraid of the storm, for they know the Lord is in control
  
• Self-Control - not hitting the little sibling after they've been hit with a wooden block (ouch!)
  

School is important.  My children need to learn.  But "life" offers some pretty big lessons that I'll miss if I'm trying too hard to check off my list for school.  Some questions I need to ask myself before the school year begins, and realize about "life", are:

1. What is it that my children learning? After their relationship with Christ, my children's character is more important than algebra any day.  Life shapes character.
   
2. What kind of people are they growing into? When I see an issue taking root in my child, it's time to close the books and get to the heart of the matter, literally.  How they respond to circumstances will affect them the rest of their life.  Biology may not.  Life presents responses.
   
3. Would I be happy if they were like me as an adult? Other than the fact I have a relationship with the Lord, there certainly are some areas I need work on.  Am I being the example that I want my children to strive to be?  Sadly, my answer is "no" on any given day.  Nothing more should matter than time with the Lord.  It is from Him EVERYTHING comes.  My children need to know that, more than any other thing, for from that wisdom, everything else is possible (even algebra and biology).  The Lord IS life.

Planning out my school year is neccessary for a smooth start and continued direction.  But more importantly this year, I will evaluate what my children really need to learn, and I will be more willing to let "life" teach it.  May the Lord bless you and yours.

In Him,
Amy