Well, I have to say that last semester was one of the best we’ve ever had.  Really.  The kids learned SO much, completed so many rich and meaningful projects, and we all LOVED Tuesdays.  In case you don’t know, Tuesdays were a break from the regular school routine as we spent serious time doing nature study, art and artist study and composer study.  We also usually met with some friends in the afternoon for one of our clubs – 4-H, book club, art club, P.E. and creation club.

Why in the world am I changing things if they worked so well?  Good question.  I’ll have to back up a bit to give you the whole picture….

We had been part of a homeschool co-op for five years.  Some of you will remember that I was very blessed to take on the role of leading the Mom’s Room in that co-op last year.  Some of you will also remember that, after a long “battle” with God, I decided to take a break from co-op this year.

Needless to say, when teaching, speaking and encouraging are part of who God made you to be, leaving the Mom’s Room was very tough.  And, after growing to love so many of the ladies over the past five years, leaving them was extra-tough.

Through a serious of circumstances that I’d rather keep private, I’ve been asked to return.  Not knowing what to do, I went to God first.  He’s the one who told me to leave last year afterall!  After seemingly hearing a “yes” from Him, I went to my hubby.

Again, some of you will remember that one of the reasons I gave up co-op was to help my hubby in his youth/children’s ministry at church.  Have you ever felt that you just don’t belong somewhere?  Even though I have a master’s degree in elementary education and LOVE teaching my own children, I’ve just never felt comfortable in my role as “the youth minister’s wife who teaches A LOT, plans all the children’s curriculum, helps ties all the loose ends together for special youth and children’s events” and so on.  My real-life friends have known that I struggled with this uncomfortable feeling from the get-go.

Long story short, my husband recognized my lack of zeal.  (Believe me, I tried to be joyful and creative in helping him.  I don’t know if anyone else experiences this – but I am incredibly creative and full of ideas when I’m doing something the Lord has called me to do.  If I’m in the wrong place, the creativity simply isn’t there.  The ideas don’t come.)  He had already begun finding ways to lessen my church burdens before I was approached to come back to co-op.  When I talked to him about going back to co-op, I fully expected him to say “no”.  To my surprise, considering the need, he has been completely supportive!

So, what does this have to do with me changing my school plans for the remainder of the year??  Co-op takes up most of our Monday.  We travel a bit to get to co-op and tend to visit the (great) library there each week.  With the travel time, library time, a lunch break and three hours of co-op, there isn’t much time to “do school” on Mondays.  A little math and reading and we have to head out the door.

At this point, I have no idea how I’m going to rearrange the school week.  (Remember, school and co-op start again MONDAY!)

• I really want to keep up with the fine arts/nature study day.
• I have to get through a Pioneer and Slavery/Civil War unit.
• I have to finish our chemistry curriculum (of which we’re behind already.)
• And, of course, there are the ever nagging math, grammar and spelling lessons to do! 
• Oh, and I can’t forget our Tuesday afternoon clubs that have been such a blessing.

Boy, oh boy!  Looks like we’ll just have to wing it for a couple of weeks to see what we’re able to do realistically.   Is anyone else trying to figure out the juggling routine right now?

I posted this in “Encouraging Homeschoolers”.  I guess I can say that I hope you are encouraged that everybody struggles with figuring it all out once in awhile!  LOL