A Typical Autumn Homeschooling Day

I found myself in one of those particularly pleasing moments the other day as I stood chopping apples to can homemade applesauce. I looked across the kitchen to see Josiah showing Isabelle the success of his Science experiment which was demonstrating the electrical charges in water. Isabelle, or rather her hair, was a necessary part of the experiment itself! Isaac, who was doing his math seat work at his desk, joined in to see the exciting results. Later that afternoon the kids all worked for over an hour to harvest grapes and pull off stems in preparation for our 3rd (and hopefully successful this time!) attempt at making homemade grape jelly. I love moments like these because it makes me so appreciate this privilege of homeschooling. It seems like I'm constantly told, "I could never homeschool," by friends and acquaintances alike. I wish they could live in my shoes for just a day to see the sincere wonder that teaching and learning and living alongside your children can bring. Now, don't get me wrong. If any of you know me, you know I am far from perfect and my children are certainly all that the Bible declares of them when it says in Proverbs 22:15 , "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child." But there is a closeness ... a sort of depth and respect in our relationship simply because we are with each other throughout every day. We see each other in the good moments and in the moments we wish we could erase. I am uniquely designed to be my children's teacher because I am with them to see their strengths and weaknesses. I know when to push them in a particularly difficult subject; and also when to pull out the chocolate and go for a walk! I cherish these moments. I cherish the gift of this time. I know that each day and month and year will bring new and different challenges and discoveries. I'm so thankful to my God and King for giving me life and health to be able to walk this path He's given me.