Jun 01 2013

What does it mean when I say “We homeschool year round”…practically speaking?

by Mary Joy

June 1, 2013

Last day of school 2012-13We just wrapped up our 2012-13 “official” homeschooling year yesterday.

We enjoyed our last day of the “school year” traditions…

We starting the day at our favorite breakfast restaurant where the boys enjoyed their favorite waffles topped with whipped cream smiling faces while I enjoyed my favorite omelet. (*Josh enjoying his waffles.)

After breakfast, we headed to the children’s building of our favorite public library where one of our favorite children’s librarians agreed to photograph us as I presented the boys with award certificates for reaching their learning goals and skill goals. (*The large photo in the collage above in front of the mural at the library after our little ceremony.)

We continued our special day at my favorite antique/flea market where the boys were enthralled with the vintage and antique toys they discovered along the way. (*The second picture down in the collage  stack.)  Josh even discovered some farm and home items Josh identified from his American history studies this year.

Michael reminded me that we used to take pictures of them in the fun character photo opp stop in front of the Antique Shops…LOL I thought the one of him in jail worked well… ;)

And before ending the day with pizza and a movie at home, they headed out to enjoy our third annual water play time…even though it was only 78 degrees out! And they had a blast.

But we aren’t “finished” homeschooling for the year!

Learning happens every day. It took me until this year to really “get” that homeschooling in our family can be just as unique as our family. After all, living is learning and living in a family is a natural way to disciple which is what God really calls us to do as parents…

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. Deuteronomy 6:7 NIV

Every day the Lord is helping me understand that homeschooling for us is learning and discipling through living as a family. It is through God’s leading and impressing His wisdom on my mind and heart that we are finally experiencing what learning as a family can look like for us.

You see, when we have a day “off” from our formal curricula the boys find other ways to learn.  Something clicked in them this Spring and they don’t wait for me to lead them to a lesson…they seek them out for themselves too!

This afternoon, Josh got out a science experiment book and started working on them on his own. Michael was watching the process in awe…they both ran to tell me all about it afterward with the light of discovery in their eyes. Then they figured out that Netflix has added “The Magic Schoolbus” to their summer line up and watched the digestive system in action and how the food chain works in the ocean. This was our day of rest…LOL.

One of the biggest goals Will and I had, and I continue to foster, is to instill the love of learning and the initiative to investigate and discover in our boys through homeschooling…and this Spring it happened!

So earlier this week when I told them we had finished the state required hours for this year, there were groans. They didn’t want to stop “schooling” they told me. There was too much to learn! LOL  They reminded me that we are a year round homeschooling family so why do we have to stop for the summer?

They were thrilled when I reminded them we weren’t! I helped them to see how they are learning new things every day with me and on their own. I had them list things they had learned on their own this year to help them begin to see how life learning is happening in our house, our car, in town…in our family every day. I had the blessing of watching the light bulb go on in their eyes!

But I also talked with them about preparing and planning so we can make sure we get to do the things that interest them and that they need to work on this summer. I told them about what I had planned for the summer and had them brainstorm to make sure I included some of the things they wanted to do too.

So how does homeschooling year round or “life learning” look for our family…practically speaking? Read the rest of this entry »

Comments off

Permanent link to this article: http://www.surrenderedlivingnow.com/2013/06/01/what-does-it-mean-when-i-say-we-homeschool-year-round-practically-speaking/

May 30 2013

Homeschooling in the Midst of the Storms of Life…

by Mary Joy

May 30, 2013

70300 MtCbgustFrt!

As I listen to the steady sound of the rain tapping against the window panes with the faint echo of thunder as tonight’s thunderstorm moves into the distance…I  can’t help but think about the life changing storms we have lived through during this past homeschooling year.

Last summer, Will, the boys and I eagerly anticipated this schooling year. We had found the curriculum that worked well with our family’s approach to learning and life. We had survived our first full year as a homeschooling family and we were enjoying the last few weeks of summer and ready to start fresh the first week of August.

Then that tragic day happened…we were hit from behind and we never saw the huge life storm we are dealing with coming. This has been a year of mourning, healing, recovering, grieving, growing, learning, stretching, bonding, and learning to completely trust God in the eye of the storm.

While I realize that more than ten months have passed since my husband was killed and the boys and I were seriously injured, there are many days when it seems like it was just last week.  At the same time, I realize that so much has happened since that tragic day. God has never left us and I have grown so, so much while He has faithfully taken care of us and led us in the eye of the storm and in the softly falling rain moments of our lives this past year. Read the rest of this entry »

Comments off

Permanent link to this article: http://www.surrenderedlivingnow.com/2013/05/30/homeschooling-in-the-midst-of-the-storms-of-life/

May 28 2013

You are a Princess!!!

by Mary Joy

May 28, 2013

You are a princess!

26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. Galatians 3:26-29 NLT

 

Dancing in His Grace,

Mary Joy

 

 

Don’t miss a single post! Take a moment to sign up for the free updates through your E-Reader or in your email.  And be sure to join the Unwrapping His Grace Facebook Community where you will find daily updates, Scripture, encouragement and opportunities to share prayer requests or follow us on Twitter.

Comments off

Permanent link to this article: http://www.surrenderedlivingnow.com/2013/05/28/you-are-a-princess/

May 27 2013

Mondays with Mary Joy…I need your thoughts

by Mary Joy

May 27, 2013

Michael and me riding on an antique carousel during out pre-op trip to St. Louis last week.

Michael and me riding on an antique carousel during out pre-op trip to St. Louis last week.

May is coming to a close and June is just around the corner!

Our lovely Gina Marie is beginning a brand new series that will start this Friday! In it she will be sharing her heart about getting fit with faith. I know I am looking forward to it! Be sure to check it out I know you will be blessed!

So…I have a question for all of you…

I am going to start writing on Mondays. What are some of the topics you would be interested in hearing about from me in a series on Mondays with Mary Joy?

I have some thoughts…but I need YOUR input before I finalize it!

My mom, Michael, and me at the Butterfly House in St. Louis last week-- yes...I got my haircut! LOL 6 inches off!

My mom, Michael, and me at the Butterfly House in St. Louis last week– yes…I got my haircut! LOL 6 inches off!

Summertime with Mary Joy Mondays

~This would include the joys and challenges my family and I experienced through the previous week– we are heading to our first family reunion in many years, preparing for Michael’s next surgery on his leg (June 19th), field trips and backyard campouts, dealing with our first Father’s Day since Daddy went home to heaven.

Little People can do Big Things Too Series

~The Lord is giving us so many ways to serve Him and others this summer. In fact it is the focus for our family’s summer. We are amazed at how God is multiplying the ideas and goals of our little guys…all of which we are in awe at how God is blessing and stretching us!

Marriage Mondays

~Looking back on lessons and blessings in my marriage with Will.

Monday Prayer Moments or Monday Devotions

~An opportunity to gather together and lift up prayer requests as a community on the blog as we begin each week.

Mommy Mondays

~Lessons God is teaching me in the mommy moments of my life as this first year since Will’s homegoing comes to an end.

Homeschooling Mondays

~We homeschool year-round and summer is an extremely fun hands on learning time for us. Would you like to hear more about how year round homeschooling looks at our house and the wonderful living books and the informal curricula I have put together for our family for this summer? Our whole family is excited about it!

These are just some of the ideas I have…I would love to hear some what interests YOU! Is there a topic you would like for me to talk about? Did something from my list touch your heart? PLEASE share your thoughts on what this new series should focus on in the comments here on the blog. I really would appreciate your help with this!

Don’t miss a single post! Take a moment to sign up for the free updates through your E-Reader or in your email.  And be sure to join the Unwrapping His Grace Facebook Community where you will find daily updates, Scripture, encouragement and opportunities to share prayer requests or follow us on Twitter.

Leaning on the Lord,

Mary Joy

Be sure to check out and support our wonderful sponsoring partners…

Recycled Memories creates beautiful jewelry, note cards and gifts using recycled papers and items…I love the ones I have!

Michelle from Visual Prayer creates inspired art through prayer and mixed media…one of my favorite forms of art!

 

2 comments

Permanent link to this article: http://www.surrenderedlivingnow.com/2013/05/27/mondays-with-mary-joy-i-need-your-thoughts/

May 23 2013

Live and love fully every day…because someday may never come.

by Mary Joy

May 23, 2013

Will's birthday in 2010.

Will’s birthday in 2011.

This past weekend, our kids and I spent the whole weekend remembering and making new memories.

My sweet Will’s earthly birthday was this past Monday, May 20th. He would have been 46 years old. Will and I were six months apart. For six months of the year he was “robbing the cradle” LOL. Our private smile.

Will taught me so much through the time I was so blessed to be in his life and have him in mine…I learned so much from his words and from the way he lived his life. But he also taught us so much by his death…he taught us not to wait to live…just to do it. Someday may never come…so be careful what you put off. Will and I both believed in embracing life and fully loving each other…bumps and bruises and all.

While we were courting...I was his princess from the beginning...

While we were courting…I was his princess from the beginning…

Every day I spent with him he told me how much he loved me and that I was beautiful. He helped to “re-program” so many “old tapes” in my head and heart.  He helped me to realize and accept that I am a beautiful, vibrant, joy-filled, spirit filled woman who is special and precious and still growing and learning everyday…his princess (as he always called me). He called me his princess because he told me that he was so honored to court and then marry the daughter of our King of Kings. Wow.

Our marriage and courtship were filled with moments of encouraging one another and building each other up so that God would have the glory through our relationship…and learning from our mistakes and fully forgiving each other. When I was with Will…I experienced the incredible unconditional love of our God. Will’s first love and passion was our Savior and that love spilled over into his relationships.

Will struggled with a lot of physical challenges/illnesses in addition to living with bipolar. He was an overcomer…and he always gave the glory to God. He was sober for 20+ years when he went home to heaven and he did it by completely focusing on and relying on His Savior to get through each day. He managed his physical/mental illness the same way.

Will talking with a missionary friend on-line...

Will talking with a missionary friend on-line…

Every morning, he would be up before the rest of us, at about 4:30am.  He struggled with sleep because of physical breathing issues and bipolar. But he didn’t waste those hours he was awake…he was always soaking in God’s Word and hungering to grow more every day. Some early mornings he was skyping with missionaries around the world when I woke up…he would be listening to them, praying with them, encouraging them.

Will taught me that we might be disabled but that doesn’t mean we can’t reach people for the Lord. God is bigger than that. Read the rest of this entry »

Comments off

Permanent link to this article: http://www.surrenderedlivingnow.com/2013/05/23/live-and-love-fully-every-day-because-someday-may-never-come/

May 21 2013

Taking the time to remember – the Legacy of William Pershing

by Gina Marie

May 21, 2013

Yesterday was a special day in my family, as I know it was in Mary Joy’s family:  yesterday was Will’s first birthday in the Presence of God.   In so many ways, it was a quiet, reverent day for me as I looked back and remembered that day last June when my family was able to spend time getting to know Will, Mary Joy, Annie, Josh, and Michael for the first time; it was the day that the relationship we had online moved to a real-life, face-to-face, friendship!

2013-05-20_20.01.58

How precious and fragile is this life – - – and how important it is to take each day as a gift.

I took for granted that this special day could be just one of the first of many times that we were going to be able to spend together.  How was I to know that less than a month later our precious friends were going to be in the car accident that changed so much?  On that day in July, Will was ushered into the Presence of God while Mary and the boys survived as living miracles of God’s healing and Grace.

~~~~~

I asked Mary if I could share my heart about how meeting her Will has touched my life and my family.  Thank you, Mary, for this opportunity to share my heart and, in my own small way, pay tribute to the life and legacy of this special man of God.

~~~~~

It’s hard to know how to start this post – - – how can I in mere words share with you how Will Pershing impacted, and even to this day, still impacts, my life and the life of my family?

Yesterday would have been Will’s 46th birthday, so I felt like God would have me write 46 ways he made an impact on my life. 46 things I remember about Will.  46 things that will always mean “Will Pershing” to me…. even though I only met him once face-to-face in his home.

 

 

He was a man who made an impact on me, even in the short time I was blessed to know him….. Read the rest of this entry »

3 comments

Permanent link to this article: http://www.surrenderedlivingnow.com/2013/05/21/taking-the-time-to-remember-the-legacy-of-william-pershing/

May 18 2013

A.C.T.S.– A Call to Serve with Adventures in Odyssey!

by Mary Joy

May 18, 2013

{I wrote this post partnering with Adventures in Odyssey and Tyndale. I received Adventures in Odyssey Our Favorites in exchange for sharing their A.C.T.S.– A Call to Serve Summer Program and Contest as part of a Blog Tour. This is not a sponsored review and all views and opinions are of my own and were not influenced in anyway.}

A.C.T.S.

Summer is almost here! Can you believe it?

We homeschool year round so our 2012-2013 school year doesn’t end until the middle of June and we will start back up at the beginning of August. Even so, I do tend to approach the summer months of May, June and July as a time to do things a little differently. One of the things that Will and I began doing when we got married was to find opportunities for our family to serve God together throughout the year and continuing that very special legacy has been one of the most rewarding things we have done this year.

Josh and Michael have been excitedly coming up with ways to raise money to help the missions our church supports. Josh came up with the idea of having a yard sale and lemonade stand and donating the money to the mission funds at our church.  When he mentioned this to his Bible Club teachers they got excited about it and asked if the Kids for Christ Bible Club could get involved and help us. We were thrilled to have them join in, the more stuff and the more helpers that day the easier it will be…and I am always excited about working with other families to serve the Lord through serving others together.

My step-daughter, Annie, is getting ready to start collecting hygiene items for Generation Next again in June and our family is totally on board with finding ways to do that.

Josh packing our Operation Christmas Child shoebox for this past Christmas.

Josh packing our Operation Christmas Child shoebox for this past Christmas.

And don’t forget it is a lot easier to shop for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes during the back to school sales than in the rush of Christmas preparations!

One of the things that I have noticed with our family is that the more we find ways to serve the Lord through serving others the more we want to serve! And each time we serve together it bonds our family closer together and closer to the Lord. What better way to really teach our children about how much the Lord loves us and how He calls each one of us to serve others in our families, communities and around the world?

Jesus calls us to put hands and feet to our faith not just talk about it. In today’s world we are inundated with opportunities to indulge ourselves and focus on our own wants throughout the year but especially in the summer time. I know as a parent one of my greatest desires is that our children grow up to be men and a woman who are passionate about their relationship with the Lord and who are confident about how to live for Christ in their daily lives. From experience with my children and with the children and teens in the youth/children’s ministries I used to lead, I have found that working with and helping people and children who are less fortunate than we are makes a bigger impact on them than just talking about the importance of helping those in need. And I am amazed at how much of an impact summer service projects, big or small, have had on our own children and the children/youth I have met through ministry groups.

In a very real way, then, the best path toward building selfless, confident children is to help and encourage them toward a growing and thriving faith in God. And that includes obedience to what God teaches—not because it makes kids feel good, although it often does—but because they’re following God’s instructions to love Him and serve others. That builds a faith they can count on and carry with them into adulthood…and that is the greatest gift we as parents can give on our children.

So when I received an e-mail from Tyndale Blog Network asking me if Unwrapping His Grace would consider participating in the Adventures in Odyssey Blog Tour for A.C.T.S.– A Call to Serve this summer I was immediately interested! Talk about an answer to prayer!

When I told Josh and Michael about it they were bouncing with excitement! Read the rest of this entry »

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Comments off

Permanent link to this article: http://www.surrenderedlivingnow.com/2013/05/18/a-c-t-s-a-call-to-serve-with-adventures-in-odyssey/

Older posts «

» Newer posts