"Little Women" Family: My Heroes

Friday, August 08, 2008

My Heroes

Recently, I have been going through a few small trials. Sometimes I forget that that is what they are. Sometimes life gets overwhelming for me. Then I read/hear about my friend who passed away leaving her husband and two daughters without her, or our friend whose little boy passed away suddenly, or a woman in my co-op whose baby was born with a heart defect and is waiting for a transplant, or a friend of a friend who is working to gain strength in her legs so she can walk again, or a friend who has been trying so hard to have a baby and it just hasn't happened for her yet. These people are truly my heroes!! Wow! They help me see that I can do it. Even though my trials may be tough for a bit, I'm pretty sure I am just a whiner. :) Just kidding. Really though, I need to put a smile on my face and appreciate every little blessing in my life! Every day I have with my children is a gift! Every kiss my husband gives me is a thrill because I have him near me. Every time I get to see them smile or hear them laugh or even when I hear them cry, it is a joy! The fact that we get to spend those days at home in good health is a blessing. Every step I take is a pleasure. Holding my children or changing their diapers or picking up their toys is pure bliss because I have them here with me. Little sicknesses are a delight because they will be over soon. Pregnancy, labor, and delivery are all wonders because I am able to experience them myself. We all have trials in life but as long as we view the cup half full, keep on fighting, treasure each experience in our life, and then turn the rest over to God to help us get through, each of us can choose to be happy. I have always found strength in knowing that no matter how lonely/hurt/overwhelmed I feel, I know without a doubt that my Savior Jesus Christ has been where I am. He knows exactly how I feel. And that brings me so much joy.

My Favorite Part of The Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 17:21-24

"21 And when (Jesus) had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

22 And when he had done this he wept again;

23 And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.

24 And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them."

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/3_ne/17

To learn more about The Book of Mormon or to get a free copy: http://www.mormon.org/book-of-mormon/

Our homeschool program!!

My style of homeschooling is "public school at home." We began homeschooling on our own, the 1st year. Then we were enrolled in the Washington Virtual Academy (WAVA) for 3 years. Now we are enrolled in ORLA. Our girls are taking several classes at an Elementary School that is no longer used for a typical Elementary School. Instead 450 homeschooling students (K-12) take classes there with certified teachers (you choose which ones and how many) but you do have to be at the school with them until they are 12 (in another room with toys for the younger kids) or sign them out to a friend. Then you fill in the rest at home. For example, my girls take Music, Art, P.E., and Science at the school 2 days a week and then I teach them Math, Language, and History at home, on the other 3 days. The school also pays for an additional $300 a year of curriculum (like the Math, Lang, Hist.) We do have to keep up with a certain number of hours per week. We also have a "home room teacher" that helps us with everything, like deciding what extra things to do at home and making sure we don't miss anything. We are really enjoying this program-- it truly is the best of both worlds! If you have any questions, email me. :)