Fish and Chips Story — The Story of Us

“Do you know Jesus?” says Alora. “Yes I Do” says Ms. Debbie. “Okay” Alora says. She’s off running to the gate. “Ms. Stacey, Ms. Stacey, MS. STACEY DO YOU KNOW JESUS, MS STACEY I SAID DO YOU KNOW JESUS?” With a red face and a smile Ms. Stacey comes to the gate and says, “Yes I Do.”

Alora runs back to me proudly and says “Mommy, Ms. Debbie and Ms. Stacey both know Jesus, they have His joy down in their hearts. Bye, give me a kiss and hug, I have to go play now.”

And that was my morning.

On the way to gym class in the van we were listening to Psalty (the singing song book). It was the joy song. “I’ve got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart to stay. And I’m so happy, so very happy i’ve got the love of Jesus in my HEART.” Alora asked “Mommy do you have the Joy of Jesus in your heart?” and I said “Yes honey, I do.” “Well I do to, and Zoë, and daddy. I’ll have to ask if Ms Debbie and Ms. Stacey know Him.” “OK, dear” I say, assuming she’d forget as soon as we got to play gym and she saw all of her friends. But no, she took off her shoes and said hi to all of her friends then made a bee line for Ms. Debbie to make sure that she knew Jesus.

Maybe I should take a lesson in evangelism from my 3 year old.

Well yesterday marked a new first in Alora’s life. Her first official on the schedule and in the books dentist appointment. She was a champ. She loved it. Joellen (the dental assistant) helped her pick out her toothpaste. There were soo many options we stopped listing flavors and finally said pick a color. She went with swirly purple which was grape. She got polished and shined without a whimper. She did have two dark spots we have to keep and eye on and found out she has very deep grooves in her molars so we have to take extra care in brushing those so no problems happen on down the road. When it was all said and done she got a great shot with Dr. Zidel and picked out her pink toothbrush and pink timer. 

How can it be that in less than a month my perfect little innocent baby will be 1. That’s right 1. Okay now I know you don’t believe most of the first sentence and neither do I. She’s not perfect, and far from innocent, but you couldn’t have told me that 11 months ago. No, 11 months ago I was living in new mommy bliss looking at the wonderful thing God entrusted to Jason and I and she was perfect. But now enter the real world of 11 months later and the little girl who when you say no to her blows raspberries and growls at you with a pout, is far from the dew kissed angel from the heavens, but she’s still mine. Still entrusted by God to me.

It seems i’ve come along way in these past 11 months. I realized that being a “stay at home” is ok, in fact it’s what God wants me to do. I realized that Jesus is my provider and my covering, my husband. Just as Jason is here on earth. Both provide for my every need, comfort me when needed, and guide me always.

Now you may ask what does this have to do with the monthly post update on my kids, well it has everything to do with my kids. Because remember “When momma’s not happy, Ain’t nobody happy!” And as I realize these amazing things about myself, It makes me a stronger, better and little bit by little bit a more capable mom of handling all that life can throw at me. So bring on the raspberries and the pouting faces,,, i’m armed and ready,,, at least for the moment,,, and when that moment fails i’ll just turn to my husband and God, and they’ll take care of the rest.

And all of that gives me the strength to realize homeschooling may be right up my alley. It’s a recent struggle to decide where our eduction for our girls will lie. But after much discussion, debate and research, Jason and I have decided that who better to spend 8 hours a day with our girls teaching them everything there is to know, than us, their parents. The people God entrusted them to in the beginning.  Some people may say, well they’re still young, why worry yet or what about socialization, they’ll be weird unsocialized homeschoolers. And to that I must say after much research, is RIDICULOUS!

There is no better time than now to start teaching your kids, they start learning from the very beginning, why not guide them the best way you can. And as far as the socialization, my kids will have every opportunity to be a part of any group, sport or activity that any child would, but also has the opportunity to do it during the day, when others can’t. Field trips, no problem let’s take a family vacation to Gettysburg or D.C., explain that we are homeschoolers and take a trip behind the scenes.

Now granted I still have rose colored glasses on about this new endeavor, so things may change as reality catches up to me. And I completely agree it’s not for everybody, but for me and my house we will homeschool!