All I have to see is a group of freshly scrubbed Abeka kids enter the homeschool co-op and I can be seized with the guilt of my less than organized ways.  I find myself hoping that the kids will not mention that we haven't touched a spelling book since Septmember, or that I gave up on the Saxon Math and switched to an on-line program.  Or, that we have been studying early American history for two years now and just covered George Washington last week.

I kept telling myself that this year I would make a neat little Charlotte-Mason type schedule (I even downloaded free examples from simplycharlottemason.com  ) but to no avail.  We followed our own schedule of sorts ~ reading a lot together and independently , doing tons of copy-work (which my kids love. and listening to audio books as we drive around town.  (shhh....don't tell anyone, but we loved Jim Dale's brilliant voices in Harry Potter).  We read some great historical books and did a few memorable pioneer crafts. We worked on getting a morning chore schedule and have finally mastered feeding the cats and cleaning the litter box, AND more importantly having what we call "Jesus time."  The girls make their beds, clean bathrooms, can cook several easy meals independently, keep their rooms relatively clean, are learning to do laundry.  They get along famously, can ride horses as easily as play Bach and Mozart on the piano.  They love church, love God , love to read, roller-blade, play outside,and are just plain "good kids.  All in all they are healthy, happy and are learning despite my own less than stellar planning abilities, and the fact that I let them watch American idol, sometimes eat cookies for breakfast and chicken-nuggets for dinner. 

I guess I need to rest on the promise that "He who began a good work in me" is Himself not a procrastinator.  He is working on me and my children TODAY.  I can only cooperate and let Him re-train me one baby step at a time.  I am trying to simplify my life and to actually have a list of things to do...TODAY.  So, I haven't planned yet for next year, but TODAY we are still in pjs and plan to go to see "Narnia" at one.  I plan to enjoy TODAY....and I'll worry about more plans....tomorrow.