Big Week

This week, our finished dossier (adoption paperwork) reached our agency. How wonderful it felt leaving our hands!

Little did we realize that one of the papers had an electronic signature instead of a live signature, so it was rejected. Gulp. At least it was caught on this side of the ocean!

Also, we began the 2017-2018 school year. We are homeschooling again with Cherish in the 5th grade, and Hope and Andrew in the 2nd grade.

Happy schooling everyone!!

First Reading Class...

...in the wee early morning:

Let the world open up to these two!

One of "those" moms!

OK. I admit it. I have become one of "those" moms. What am I referring to? I am now a home-school mom.

It seems that some people have a very negative opinion of moms who keep their children home and educate them. Actually, I have looked up to moms who can devote their time to such a calling and help their children to grow into bright, well-rounded youth and adults.

I've always felt called to teach. God put that gift within me. It's part of who I am. But, homeschooling? Nope. I never planned on that.

Through my education classes at college, I realized how much I did not/do not know and totally agreed (and still do) with the policy of continuing education for teachers. It.makes.perfect.sense. Period.

So, when Derek approached me about homeschooling Cherish, I was completely unsure. First of all, what if I "mess her up"? I can't sign up for continuing education classes, be a stay-at-home mom, be a serving wife, homemaker, teacher.... That's too many full-time jobs for me. Secondly, Derek and I have always talked about sending our children to school because of all the reasons we loved school--sports, the arts, music lessons, drama....

However, God has made Cherish so inquisitive. She constantly wants to learn something. There are times she cries from a hurt heart when I tell her she needs to play rather than to read or learn something.

(She learned how to add and subtract while she was just three years old. It was quite by accident--while Derek and I were at Lowe's looking at items for a remodeling job.)

This past summer, I made a point that Cherish would play--and play A LOT. We scheduled all kinds of play times and play dates for her. Which, I will say, she enjoyed.

I didn't let her pull out anything that resembled learning material. The most I agreed to was to read to her.

I began logging the books she asked me to read to her. In a two-month period of time, she had Derek or me read her 178 books. And one of those books was a novel! (This amount would have been higher if Derek and I had agreed to read to her every time she asked.)

If you can't tell: Cherish loves books!

So, Derek told me he wanted me to have a local university test Cherish before kindergarten. Thus, she was evaluated, and she was reading! READING! I didn't even know she could! Yes, read a few simple words but not read books! She was continually asking us to read to her, so we didn't think to ask her to try to read to us.

She read for the evaluator. Perfectly. Independently. I.was.shocked! Shocked I tell ya!

The evaluator consulted with me. Traditional kindergarten was out of the question. She thought homeschooling would be the best option for Cherish.

Derek and I are not one of those parents who want to push our children to advance as quickly as possible. So, we didn't want to put her into traditional school and bump her up grade-wise. So, we have decided to home school her. She is in kindergarten, and that is all she knows. However, the curriculum we are using is for first graders, and we've added Chinese and American Sign Language. She will also be in ballet and tap classes come September.

This is so strange for Derek and me. Let me tell ya! Derek and I were both in "special reading classes" in elementary school. Neither of us liked books. The world of books didn't open up for me, personally, until sixth grade--when my teacher read Treasures of the Snow to my class. (I can't believe I still remember that title.) All of a sudden, I realized the amazing world of books.

So, here we are taking one day at a time. Here's the teacher side of me (lesson planning):

However, Cherish can't seem to get enough of school. An 8:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. school day just doesn't seem like enough. She begs for more. She begs to do the next day's work--so she can always be ahead.

I admit again. I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to "burn her out". She's so thirsty for knowledge, and I am trying to make the learning fun--with games, experiments, etc. However, I know too much learning could "burn her out" for the future. I know an education is a marathon. Not a sprint.

So, Derek and I continue to consult one another. I know we are just beginning. (We just finished week two of kindergarten.) I want her to remember learning as fun and exciting, not hard, torturous, or boring.

One day at a time. We are finding our way.

So, what does the future hold? I.do.not.know. All I know is that I am homeschooling Cherish for kindergarten. I guess we'll figure out first grade later. Again, one day at a time....

I am so thankful for the home-school moms who have come alongside me to give me advice. Thank you, Michele, Denise, Donna, Kristi, Barbara, Stephanie, and Irma! Thanks for "blazing the trail"!

P.S. I think I'm gonna need a maid! Just sayin'!

Spring Program and Preschool Graduation

Derek with "The Wanderer":

Getting ready to begin:

"Dad!"

Cherish performing with her class:

Receiving her gift and diploma:

Such a sweetheart!

With her precious teachers:

(What AMAZING ladies!)

Family shot:

Playing together:

Then off we went to a reception and a party at Mrs. Tricia's house.

What a fantastic way to end such a great year!

We love the preschool our church provides. The ladies that work there are so kind and tender! Derek and I are so thankful Cherish was able to attend once we returned home from Ch*na. We. are. so. thankful!! God bless PPP!

Cherish's Education

So, in my 20s I was against homeschooling my future children for various reasons. But as I worked in various schools and saw the current prices of private schools, I began being open to the thought of homeschooling—especially given the groups here in town that have many people to be accountable to.

Even with a degree in education, I have felt inept in my ability to be Cherish's sole teacher. So much so, that yesterday I talked to a couple of people about abandoning the idea of homeschooling for at least several years.

But then, God.

The next day—today—Cherish picked up a Kindergarten reader and began reading the book! The WHOLE book! I was in absolute shock! (I did the "happy dance" many times.)

She doesn’t start Kindergarten for another year and now she can READ (that sounds so weird to say), she can count up to 100, add, and subtract. Thus, I am reconsidering homeschooling all over again. God has opened her little mind, and I don’t want to waste her thirst to learn.

I get nervous thinking of being my husband’s helper + caring for little one(s) + homeschooling my daughter + being a homemaker (cleaning, cooking, etc.) + being a Sunday School teacher...but I know The LORD will guide us/me.

Hey, I know! A maid would help! ;-)

"100 Activities to Do With Your Preschool Child"

This is an e-book loaded with fun ideas for parents to do with their child/children--whether you plan to home school your child or simply give him/her a great start for school. The e-book, by Heidi Johnson, can be found by clicking HERE.

I have printed off the book and plan on doing at least one activity each weekday (Monday - Friday) from now until we leave to bring Andrew home from China--minus vacation days, of course. This should take us through December 7th. I am looking forward to this special time of bonding with Cherish and helping the time pass until we are holding Andrew in our arms.

Until then: Onward Ho! Today begins Activity #1.