Summer Time!!

Well, after thirteen months of school, our first year of homeschooling has officially come to an end. It has been a roller coaster of excitement and stress, adventure and worry. All in all, I think it was an amazing year that will be difficult to duplicate in years to come. I feel very pleased with the progress that Maddi and Spence have made in the core subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic. I also feel like I have taught them to love learning, to love and explore and care for the world around them, and to begin to appreciate the precious subject of history. I too have re-learned all of these things, and in truth, learned more than I could ever teach these children. In fact, as we close out this school year, and I find myself longing for more time to study and learn, I feel as though I have gained some insight into at least part of the reason why the Lord wanted me to home school. It's for me. I have been blessed so much since I made the decision to home school. I feel closer to my children. I feel much closer to the spirit and much more receptive to personal revelation. And I have become a student once again. This time, however, the Lord has picked my major and determined my course work. And for some reason, the major of late is American History. After studying Church history for quite some time, and then making a very intensive study of the New and Old Testaments, I am turning my attention to a new topic: American History. More particularly, I am going to study those amazing men we have come to be known as the founding fathers, and give an ample amount of time to study the original constitution. This course of study will tie in with one of my other great loves: a study of the last days. You see, as I stated in another post, I believe in American exceptionalism. I believe in the preservation of this great nation, both in days past and in days to come. I believe in a divine destiny of this great country, and I also beleive that that divine destiny depends upon a return to our founding principles. Unfortunately, I am rather uninformed on these topics. Therefore, it is my right, and I believe my personal duty before God, to get informed. Without homeschooling, I might have never come to this place in my life. Thankfully, however, I have. And so, even though I am more excited than words to have a break from schooling and a chance to catch up on a few of the many projects that loom over my head, when Fall arrives, I will be ready to dive in for both me and the kids. For now, however, cheers to summer time!