Tiffani's Last Day to Homeschool

Friday was our last day of homeschool for the 2007-2008 school year. As we finished up the final exams, cleaned out desks, filed papers, stored away text books, and averaged grades, there was a different feeling than other years. Friday was monumental. For the past 11 years, I have been Tiffani's school teacher. For nine months out of every year, she has started every school day off at 8 p.m. sharp (well, sometimes not so sharp) writing her spelling list, and then moving on to language, math, history and science. (There were electives in there too. Her most recent elective was French, in which, ironically enough, she scored higher than in English.)

But. Friday was her last day to homeschool. This fall she will be starting the collegiate program in the metroplex whereby she will complete her last two high school years congruent with her first two college years. It is a free program for those who are accepted. Two years from now she will have 2 graduation ceremonies: one for her high school diploma; the other for an associates degree in engineering.

As most of you know, we have used the A Beka curriculum, and it has served us well. She scored extremely high on the Accuplacer entrance exam at the college.

This is a big step for all of us. This is one more step in letting go, and I've got to say, it is tough for the mom in me. These are unchartered waters, however, we have all prayed about this, and we truly feel as though God has opened this door for her. Tiffani has a good head on her shoulders, and when it comes to the big decisions, she consistently makes the right choices. I trust that she is going to be a faithful ambassador for God on that campus this fall.






This is our downsized classroom, ready for the 2008-2009 homeschool year.

Blessed

The music in this montage is what inspired this blog. I have to admit that from time to time I get to feeling a bit sorry for myself. Immature, huh? It is at those times that I need to stop and count my blessings. My husband has preached many times that people start to backslide when they stop being thankful. When I start to focus on ME and MY NEEDS, I am not only ignoring God's plan for my existence here on Earth, but I am hurting myself by brushing aside the blessings that come with focusing on others.

God has been so incredibly good to me. How could I complain??

The Red Plate-Special

Saturday morning, I woke to a phone call. It was my mother telling me that she would be landing at the DFW airport in just one hour to take me shopping and to lunch at our favorite restaurant. She flew in for the day to let me know that she thinks I am special.


Yesterday morning my youngest daughter woke up early, made banana pancakes, and served me breakfast in bed. She used the Red Plate to let me know that this was my special day. I am now 39.

My husband took our family of 5 to Tokyo One for lunch--it was a financial sacrifice, but he wanted me to know I was special.


Last night Craig and I toured the Galleria. He was looking for something to buy for me. "Do you like this? I'll buy it for you. How about this?" (The Louis Vuitton store did not count--I certainly found something there.) We finally found something. I felt special.

Sis. McGree took our kids home from the church so we wouldn't have to rush back. On our way home we stopped at Braums for a really special treat.

Altogether I received eight birthday cards from family and friends who always remember me. Four phone calls came in wishing me a great day. Even Henry, my college teacher and Preston, a rough-around-the-edges kind of guy signed the traditional song in ASL.

Before going upstairs to bed, Bethani came to me in such a sincere way, gave me a big hug and said, "Mom, I love you. Happy Birthday." THAT made me feel special.

Yes, I am truly blessed to have wonderful people in my life. Thank you Lord for blessing me.