New Year, New Excitement!

What do you think of when you hear the word Butterflies?

Last year at this time, my stomach was honestly full of butterflies.  Nervous, anxious butterflies. Everyday, these little things would turn inside of me.

This year, mid August, those butterflies came back, only this time, they are full of excitement, anticipation and peace.

It’s like our family just knows what to do now. We love the fact that we are Homeschooling!. We talk about learning, we incorporate learning, and we plan all the exciting things we are going to learn about.

As a family, we talk about our schedules and routines, and as a rule of thumb we try our best not to over crowd our days. This is sometimes hard with a bigger family, but on the most part we try and keep our homeschool days ‘home’, and simple.

I don’t know about other homeschool moms out there, but I am raring to go!.  I feel like I am set with my day planner, goal sheets, stickers, and curriculum (as well as MANY other things) and ready to tackle the year.

My good friend Rachael  who started homeschooling with me, posted some great tips to get ready for the new school year in her blog! –  you can find that here  http://www.parentingandhomeschoolinginfaith.com/

Although I’ve done much planning and preparation, nothing else can get me through this, but first and foremost  keeping my eyes on Jesus.  I will need His strength, and His guidance. For, I can’t do this (or anything else for that matter) on my own.  But….

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.   Phil 4 : 13

All the planning and organizing in the world cannot compare to the delicate one on one time we set apart for our children and their individual growth. The good intentions and daily schedules won’t matter, if we are not focusing on our children’s OWN learning style and love language.

Yes, we put up more shelves, lined up our books, bought our supplies, made a ‘word wall’, planned our unit studies, bible studies, character studies, science and art. I’ve even put their names on their cubby boxes!

But it won’t matter, unless I commit this new year, week, and day, to Him.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and then your plans will succeed                 Proverbs. 16:3

Whatever you do, whether it’s homeschool your children, work outside the home, house clean, share your faith, or simply love your husband and children, I pray you would commit yourselves to it,  by giving it to God.  His word says He will help you and guide you.

We plan to start hitting the books next week!  and we are excited.

What are you doing to plan for September?