Learning at Home this Year

After much prayer and research, we have decided to teach our girls at home again this year. I could write an entire post about why we've decided to homeschool, but I'll just give you the abbreviated version instead. You're welcome. :)

Our first priority with our children is to teach them how to truly KNOW Jesus Christ- not just know about Him- and to walk with them all the days of their lives. We also want them to love to learn. By educating them at home, we can spend lots of time discipling them, cultivating their interests, and catering to their abilities.  

We have chosen to use My Father's World for our curriculum again this year. Layla is starting First Grade and Kylie will be working on Kindergaten. Based on their birthdates, Layla would be going into Kindergarten and Kylie would be K4 if they were being sent to school, but one of the things I love most about homeschooling is being able to teach them on the level that they're on. Layla has been reading (and I mean full-blown reading, not just "see Tom run") for almost a full year now. She would be bored out of her mind reviewing colors, shapes, and letters in Kindergarten! I'm so thankful that I can challenge her, because she thrives on a challenge! Kylie isn't as motivated as Layla is, but she loves to learn. She has around a 45 minute attention span at this point, so I am not opposed to stretching her Kindergarten work out over 2 years. We'll just see how it goes.

I'm so grateful for the freedom to choose the best education for our children! Yay America!! :)

P.S. Check out my instagram for first day of school pictures of my cuties! 

The most important day of Layla's life

On June 22, 2012, our precious Layla Claire gave her life to Jesus in the closet of the "cousins room" at my parents' house!

 The girls and I were staying with my parents so that we wouldn't miss Viva's arrival. Around 4 that afternoon, I heard a little sniffling coming from the other room. When I went to check, I found Layla with big, fat tears in her eyes. She took me by the hand and asked me to come with her. She led me into her room and closed the door... then into the closet and closed that door. We sat down on the floor and held hands and I asked her to tell me what was going on. She told me that she was sorry for her sins and that she was afraid about going to Hell. I reminded her that we don't have to fear Hell because of the work Jesus did for us by dying for our sins. 

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:10

She has known all of the facts about the Gospel for quite some time, but that night I could see that the Lord had softened her heart and allowed her to see the depravity of her sin. Layla finally understood the precious gift of grace! I told her that all she had to do to receive His free grace was to ask for it, so she talked to Jesus and I listened... and cried. She told Him that she was so sorry for the wrong things she had done and she asked Him to give her a new heart and to fill her with the Holy Spirit so that she could live for Him. 

"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:3-7

A few days later, we had the sweetest time of worshipping the Lord in my parents' living room. We prayed and sang and shared from the Word. And then Layla took her first communion (see Matthew 26). It was beautiful! We magnified the Lord together as a family and welcomed sweet Layla into the Body of Christ.

My prayer for all of my children has been that they would come to know the Lord at an early age and that they'd walk with Him all of the days of their lives. He has answered my prayer in Layla's life! Thank you Jesus for your sweet gift of salvation!! I realize that Layla is only 5 and that this is the very first step in her lifetime of walking with Jesus, but I am so grateful that this decision came so early. I want her to KNOW the LIVING GOD... not just know about Him. This is not about religion to us... it's a real life relationship with the Lord. Pray for us as we walk with her on her journey, that we could be examples of disciples (students) of Jesus Christ. Next step: making her decision public to our church family and following through with Believer's Baptism!

Cake to celebrate her new life in Christ!! (2 Cor 5:17)

The Catch Up Post! :)

So, I realize that it's been quite some time since my last post, and I have more fabulous excuses than you wish to hear about so I'll just jump right in! 

I know May and June are usually pretty crazy months for most people, but this year they were exceptionally busy and challenging for us. Here are a few of the things we've been up to:

Layla's first year of tball:

Kylie's first year of ballet:

Stella's baby dedication at church:

Smith family vacation to Destin:

And our niece, Viva Ray, was born:

The business has been challenging and wonderful. I'm excited to see what the Lord has for the rest of our summer!