Adjustments...

Deuteronomy 6:6-7  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 
 
About 4 weeks into Sonlight's Core 200 curriculum, I began to realize that the history topics are really a bit too mature for Alexis.  Going into it, I did not comprehend how tough the content would be to absorb/take.  The History of God's Kingdom is a hard subject matter to read about day after day.  Oddly, I had a preconceived notion that this history of the roots of the early church would consist of good times and bad - growth and suffering, which it does, but the emphasis feels as though it is on the suffering.  Until now, I was not even aware of the continuous persecution and atrocities performed against Christians in the early church.  I mistakenly believed that I was perfectly knowledgeable about the martyrdom which took place within and outside of the Roman Empire era, the Crusades, and more.  However, as usual, Sonlight brings history to life quite clearly.  Reality of the new church is harsh, and that gets S.P.E.L.L.E.D. out well in Core 200.  It became clear real fast, that I would have some adjustments to make in order to make this Core work for my daughter.

Truthfully, I almost walked away from Core 200 altogether  It is not that I dislike this curriculum, actually quite the opposite.  It just simply includes an overwhelming amount of harsh truths/content that makes my daughter uncomfortable.  I wondered if setting the Core down for a few years would be the easiest thing to do -then just start over - somewhere.  I had not a clue what I would replace it with though.  Thoughts kept rushing through my head remembering the time spent praying before we chose this Core and the discussions I had about it with my daughter..  I was just sure that God was pointing us in this direction.  What to do...

Still wanting to use an Apologetics type of curriculum, I found my new search coming up empty.  So, after much seeking and even more prayer, I believe that we are to continue to proceed with Sonlight Core 200 - but--- with some balance.  All along, the plan was to work with Alexis in Bible and History lessons.  I will continue to do this and will screen the history books to tone down the brutality.  This makes for a much shorter lesson.  In order to build back some content, I am adding The Mystery of History (Volume II and probably some of Volume III) in bits and pieces.  I like their gentleness so far, however, it seems to be at the opposite end of the "blunt" spectrum from Sonlight,.  I would like Alexis to have something in the middle of both.  It is my hope to achieve this, as I strongly feel that this history should not be entirely glossed over, but for her sake, it needs to be palatable.

In addition to the book censoring, ;-)  I've added a Hands and Hearts History Kit (Ancient Greece and Rome,) which will be used throughout the first semester, although it is most fitting used in the beginning of the year.  Alexis has loved other Hands and Hearts History kits in the past, and so far, this one looks just as great as the others.  We will also include several of the hands on activities that The Mystery of History includes in their book.  I noticed that quite a few of them seem to be for younger children - which we will pass on, but I do like a decent amount of their hands-on supplements.  We also will try to incorporate movies from Netflix where applicable.  We did this for Cores 5 and 6 and loved it - however, I am finding it difficult to find filtered movies for this Core.  The most benign movie about Nero I've found was a 1951 movie called  Quo Vadis.  Alexis was less than impressed with the acting, so I gave her a pass on it.  I'll admit after reading The Flames of Rome, the movie felt like a bad representation of the book.  Next up- That the World May Know, Faith Lessons on the Early Church: Conquering the Gates of Hell.

All this to say, as we finish week 6 of school, we are finding our own with History this year.  I know my sweet daughter will grow in her faith and knowledge of Christ without including every last detail of a church history full of fallen sinners.  Perhaps her gentle spirit needs more time to process how ugly it can get without Jesus in the picture.  As for me, I am finding the full content of the Sonlight Core 200 curriculum completely riveting.  We are both growing. 

1 Peter 3:15-16

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Homeschooling Through a Traffic Jam

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.   

 When I first became Alexis' "official" teacher, our schoolhouse was quite different than it is now.  My two older children were attending a Christian School, and my husband worked in an office about 15 miles from home.  Four years later, one child went away to college, one was still in high school, and my husband continued working at his office.  The following year - both older children had flown the nest off to college, and it was terribly quiet.  The lack of activity was almost deafening.  None of us left behind liked it very much.

 

Amanda returned home after her first year, wanting to stay here.  We warmly welcomed her back.  It felt so very good to have her around again!  After registering for her fall classes, I realized that Amanda would have some down time during our school time.  We smiled, and tried to stay flexible - still glad to have her here.  We all learned to work around each other, and homeschooling went just fine until about April...  With one-fifth of our school year remaining, David spent most days making business calls and working out of our home while we had some major remodeling done.  Amanda had a crazy schedule and seemed to excessively be in and out, and workers were constantly roaming throughout our house, prying windows out of walls and more.  In the name of progress, Alexis and I bit our tongues, tried to stay focused - and persevered for two loooong months.

 

Thankful and grateful were emotions I held when we began another school year in a quiet house.  Amanda's schedule was busier, David (son) was back at school, my husband was back at his office, and Alexis and I embraced a home-front that stayed peaceful and productive.  As the new year rolled in, my husband began to hear rumors of a restructure within his company.  We felt concern, prayed often, and held on tight awaiting news.  We were both ever so relieved and thankful when we learned that David's job remained safe.  His office, however, did not.  David learned that he would have to work out of our house.  When receiving the news, I winced...  Immediately I felt shameful for my reaction, and quickly repented to my husband - attempting to hold a determination that this new way of life would work for our family.  Within the next few months, our homeschool environment once again received an upheaval as my husband moved his office into our bedroom.  Believing that this was temporary, and that he would soon use our son's bedroom as an office, (upon graduation, David had hoped to remain in his college town and get a job,) and knowing too, that we would soon finish Alexis' homeschool year, I attempted to relent peaceably to this invasion.  (Key word:  Attempted.  I waned at my repentance - truth be known.)  In spite of everything, we completed Alexis' 7th grade year...

 

That brings us to the present school year...  About a month or so ago I blogged about a struggle I was having concerning a job that my son planned to accept.  Although I came to a place of letting God know that I was okay with it if it was His choice, I was relieved when the offer left the table.  David has accepted another job - and will remain here, leaving for work just as Alexis finishes school each day.  Amanda goes to college full time and works part time.  During Alexis' school days, Amanda is gone only 4 of those hours per week.  My husband remains in the carved out office in our bedroom holding conference calls, phone meetings, etc.  Alexis and I work mostly in our family room, which is the center of our home.  Our walls are thin, our ceilings are high.  I used to think that we had the perfect sized house.  There was no coveting on my part for a schoolroom, until now....  Just a little bit....  Sometimes lately more often than not....

Although there are moments that I wish our bonding was done after school hours, I try to stay mindful of the fact that I love my family, and would be foolish to be unappreciative of any time spent together.  When there is an invasion of the kitchen during a math lesson, with dishes clanking - and a microwave running, clearly I know that I will soon blink my eyes - and this season of our lives will be over.  When Alexis' Bible lesson is going on, and Amanda wants a car moved so she can get hers into the driveway to be washed, I try to smile and remember that the older two will soon be out on their own, Alexis will be off to college, and David will have made an office out of one of their rooms.  I know I will look back on these days with a recognition of worth and give thanks to the One who gave me these blessings.  I will strive to keep my attitude in check for Him!  I think...  I hope...