So this is what I've been hiding..

It's 1:00 a.m. and I can't sleep.  So, I've been tickled to my toes about all the God has been doing, and I think I'm ready to share what is going on.

So, let me start by saying this.  As soon as you think you've got God's will all figured out for the rest of your life, think again.  And just because you've been doing something the same way for for 14 years does not mean that God won't call you to do it differently on year 15.

So, what am I talking about? I am talking about educating my children.  I think you all know that I love teaching my children.  I've taught my kids all by myself.  I've combined my kids with other people's kids for a school at home option.  I've taught other people's kids in a co-op setting, and I've had my own children taught by other people in a co-op.  So, I've run the gamut of homeschooling venues.

But a few weeks ago, a small booth at the Winnebago County Fair caught my attention.  For some odd reason I was drawn to check out:  Regents Christian Academy.  When I stopped at the booth, I politely told them I homeschooled.

Anyway, have you ever tried to dismiss something and have it come popping back into your life?  This is the way I felt about this Regents school.  I even prayed that the Lord would get it out of my head.  Why am I always thinking about this school??   As soon as I prayed, the Lord had the pamphlet show up unexpectedly as I was cleaning up the room.

As I thought about this, I was reminded about Emily and how little school she was getting and how much she would probably thrive in an environment like this.  I even brought it up to my dear husband, whom I thought would instantly tell me it was a bad idea.  And then I could just forget about it.

He actually thought it sounded like a plausible idea and suggested I get some information on the whole thing.  So, I made a phone call and set up an appointment.

Here's what happened next.  I found out that this school is probably 2 miles from my house.  I found out that it is essentially a parent-run school with very small class sizes. (plus. plus. plus!)

The theology of the school couldn't possibly be more biblical and practical.  Even though the school is incredibly small, they are trying really hard to meet all of the academic requirements of an accredited high school.  (Since the school is very new, I am assuming they are not accredited yet?)

Instead of wriggling out of this, I was easing into it--including the part that I haven't mentioned yet--teaching language arts for 2 hours/ 3 days a week.

After many confirmations from the Lord and specific answered prayers on several levels.. (I can't go into the details of what I asked God to do to confirm this for me, but they are very unusual, specific things) both Emily and I will be enjoying Regents Christian Academy this year.

My other three children will continue to be homeschooled and enjoy their various academic pursuits here and through our homeschool co-op.

So, our adventure is starting! So, I have dropped various activities just to make this transition.  My husband is very supportive of this also.  We are so excited for Emily who is just bursting at the seams ready to start.

For those of you who are greatly disappointed in us, I have no apologies.  We are following the Lord and his leading.  We take each one of our children as a gift from God and specifically asked the question, "What is best for THIS child, Lord?"  And putting my reputation as a homeschool-mommy enthusiast on the line is actually a very humbling thing for me to be going through right now.  I was very concerned about how the other moms would take this news, and I have been pleasantly surprised at how supportive everyone has been.

So, for us, it boiled down to this idea: Do we worship home schooling? or Do we worship the Lord?

I can hardly describe the peace I am experiencing right now.  It's so last minute, and yet the timing seems so right.  So, I hope you will rejoice with us in this endeavor.  Thank you so much for praying.

Getting out and jumping in..

I love people.  Maybe a little too much sometimes.  I love just hearing about their days or what they are feeling at the moment.  But I think I've become too "networked" for my own good.  I think you all know what I mean.  Facebook overload.  And once you are so enmeshed in it, it is almost impossible to pull out--except cold turkey.

Which is what I plan to do after this weekend.  Cold turkey.  No more facebook account.  I'm sure there will be withdrawls.

I'm sure I'll be going over to my computer 15 times a day to see what is up with everyone.  But I will get through this.  I have to.

Because... I have been offered an opportunity to do something that is going to involve my energy, time and commitment.  And it is going to be harder than teaching preschool art.  I need to focus, get my life organized and listen to God.  I need prayer.  I need help.  I may even need a maid. (well... not yet..)

And the worst part about this is--I don't feel the liberty to go into the details right here.  So, you can pray and if you want to keep up with me, I have a phone, email, and this blog.  And you can even see me in real life--too!!

thanks!!! 

THINGS that were said recently to me..

We have this saying in our house, don't say something funny or it will get on the blog.  It's almost true.  The only time it isn't true is if I forget it.  Sometimes I'll leave the anonymity factor intact, which keeps me from losing all of my friends...


Funniest thing said to me by another Hallstrom mommy:  (We were in the very hot fellowship hall and I had just been outside in the rain and had gotten chilled and she says) "Take that sweater off.  I'm going to barf just looking at you!"  I quickly obeyed and whipped off the sweater.  Please don't barf you middle-aged mommy who is having a hot flash..

Funniest thing said to me at the Gospel booth at the fair this past weekend:  ( A little girl wanted to spend the entire afternoon with us in our booth making balloon creatures.  After being there for about an hour she looked at me and at Emily and said..) "So, are you her grandma?"


Scenario at home: (One of our friends' kids was hanging out with us and both of us had our feet on the footstool together)  "Boy, you have really big feet!"  I assured her that I had both big and awesome feet.


And.. some REALLY AWESOME things that were said recently...

"Mommy, this food was really good" from Emily (age 6) who basically eats nothing and likes nothing.

(I promptly went into the livingroom to figure out who told her to say that, and there wasn't anyone.  She came up with a compliment on her own)

"I see that you have been domestic today" from Will after I had cleaned up the bathroom/ bedroom on Monday.

and my favorite from my son as he left for his second year of college yesterday...

"I love you too, Mom.." with a little bit of emotion in his voice. :)

And we're off!!

There's no way to prepare yourself for the wave shock of starting a new school year.  In our family we go from 0-100 in under a week, most of it happening the day or so prior.

So, what do I mean?  Well... I got this call on SATURDAY night.

"Hey our teacher for preschool art is very sick, and we need a teacher.."  (for the entire semester)

Thankfully when the message was on the answering machine, they did not hear me say "NOWAY, uh uh.. and NO"

And then I got to thinking.  As crazy as this sounds, I probably should do this.  I have too many adults in my life right now anyway.  I need to reconnect with the little people of this world.  My Emily was all excited about being my "helper" for this project.  In fact, she went around collecting things all over the house to help me get started.

I didn't even have the heart to tell my mother this yet.  My mom is so good with little people.  Maybe I could just transform myself into my mother for an hour each week??

Anyway, I took the bull by the horns and wrote out a plan.  Each week there will be a color theme.  So, this week, the color was RED.  I had red objects for them to look at, I gave them each ONE red marker and one page to color.  I gave them some red food to sample: apples, strawberries, and strawberry twizzlers.

I brought my big bell.  I scared the moms into thinking they had to help me.  I scared the kids into thinking they had to listen to me.  I scared all of the siblings of the kids into thinking they had to help me too.

And I came up with a child questionnaire for each parent to fill out.  It had really awesome questions like this:

Small motor development:

Does your child know how to hold a crayon or pencil?

Is your child safe with scissors?

Can your child use a glue stick?

Do they want to eat it?


I haven't fully recovered enough from the first day to actually get the surveys out and read them.  But I will.  I have to because next week is YELLOW.  And I am no chicken.  I'm going to dress like one though to complete the theme, probably.   But as far as having a good first day in preschool art, I think it was a success, even though I didn't say EVERYTHING that I might have wanted to.  I'm sure the message was clear.  But just incase it wasn't:

Here's what I didn't say but wanted to.....

And where will you be (EXACTLY) if your child: wets his pants, throws up, throws a tantrum, kills someone, or takes off all of his clothes?  Because I will not tolerate these things.  And if you think this is a daycare, think again.  The first mom who complains about the way I do things is signing up to teach.  So there.

With a Mary Poppins attitude like this, I think I should probably teach others how to run a preschool, eh? What's with that high pitched sing-song voice that all those early-education people have anyway? Tell the kids what you expect and then expect them to do it. You don't need to make a song out of everything.   When I ring the bell, I expect you to sit down on the line and be quiet.  When I say "Color this with a red marker" that's what I mean.  There aren't a lot of other options.

So, next Tuesday is yellow.  If every preschooler out there is not wearing yellow, I'm going to be upset. In fact, if any body who reads isn't wearing yellow,  there will be consequences. just sayin.

How's that for fun?

A "domestic" need?? what on earth is that??

You know how my sweet husband and I have been married for 20 years?  Is there anyone who reads this blog who doesn't know that?  probably not.  I talk about it all the time.  I'm proud of it, but I'm also so grateful for it.  But the thing is--I feel like I'm just now starting to figure out what he needs.

Have you guys ever heard of guys having what they call "a domestic need"?  me neither.  It's sounds kind of archaic and well.. 1950's.  And after all, isn't my husband too spiritual for all that?

Oh, so yours isn't either, eh?  Somehow this just bristles with this image I have.  It goes something like this:

Old, dishelved, fat man in a big lazy boy with a bowl of popcorn in one hand and a bud light in the other.  He flops his comb-over to the other side and shifts his huge belly to the other side.

"Hand me the remote, will ya?"  belch.

That is sooooooooo not my man, OK?

Here's the revelation.  It is possible for fit, handsome, not-lazy man who doesn't own a lazyboy and hasn't seen the remote in a decade to actually have a "domestic need"..

I know. I know. shocking.

So, my dilemma is this: how do I up and begin to meet this need? It sounds overwhelming.

I know with the whole "organizing mommy" persona I have going that a whole lot of you are duped.  (not all-- thanks Juli of Herding Grasshoppers) but the casual on-looker could potentially be duped.  I'm just sayin.

The real is this.  I enjoy "moments of domestic brilliance" shrouded by hours of domestic chaos.  I think it is the chaos part that is dragging this whole domestic need thing into focus.

It's not like he complains.  It's the look of pain that he has when he says, "so I guess I'll grab something at work to eat?"  or " I really need some more shampoo"  (and it's been the 14th time he's asked me..)

So, maybe I've been going at this whole household management thing all wrong.  I think I'm going to start over with: what do you see as the 5 highest priorities?  and then what do you want me to do and what can the kids do?

So, there you go.  Yes, I've been very busy.  And yes, it's been a little chaotic here.  But I need to refocus on my family and their needs--since there's only so much one organizing mommy can do! How about you? How do you guys get it done?  And what are your priorities?  

Happenings..and pictures

The summer has been a blur.. but not too busy for this: playing games with friends after chapel//lunch at our home.  My friend, Juli plays a mean game of scrabble!

 And this: meeting my most faithful blogging friend/ commenter: Mrs. P of Pursuing Titus 2. 

 What a fun time!  She and her hubby and five kids drove their vehicle and trailer to our little home and we got "an eyeball" of each other for the first time!  (Although she and I both think we may have met a long time ago at Aunt Kathi's??  possibly when she was 14 or something?)

 And going to a friend's house for a picnic/ party to celebrate his new "man kitchen"..

 But most recently--the mighty floor project..

 Thanks so much to my precision-minded engineer-type husband who made a wood floor into a work of art..  and to all the boys who helped out so much!!  We nearly fell asleep on the job Sunday night, but we finally finished everything we could do with the rented nailer at 2:00 a.m.

Some people are insane, and that includes us.  Thank you very much. 

The death of an idol--the birth of a floor

So, what does a middle-aged mommy make into an idol?

Oh, where to start?  There are so many...  but let's just start with our homes, shall we?

For some odd reason, those of us who have gone the homemaking route, some how feel entitled to an awesome home.  After all, I'm serving God here, so it should be awesome, right?  In order to serve God the way he has called me  (wife, mother, homeschooler, hospitality queen, etc.) I have to do it from the home.  And since I've laid down my worldly ambitions (in theory, at least), God should honor me by making my dwelling not only large, functional, equipped but beautiful as well, right?

Right.

Except that here's the kicker.  The main purpose of serving God is not just doing the task in front of us--such as changing a diaper, pulling weeds or serving some beans--it's to make us more like Christ.  And making us like Christ is sort of a custom-tailored job--not a one-size-fits-all job.

There are many of us out there who feel like our main "ministry" is from the home and many of us do this is a similar way.  There are as many varieties of this type of ministry as there are people who do it.  And as soon as we take our custom-tailored-by-God-method and try to export it (in any fashion) to the next person, it becomes a stumbling block of legalism and rules.  Instead of thanking God for the privilege of having such a high calling, we find ourselves in an unthankful comparison state that leaves us feeling defeated and un-provided for.

And what seems to come to easily to someone else is such a hurdle for us!  And what God has provided so easily for us, it a major stumbling block for someone else! And so on.  That is one reason why I cringe at how-to manuals for homemaking, homeschooling and Christian living in general.  Granted, they give a lot of great ideas in the general sense, but when they are written with the spirit of "do it my way because I am awesome" that is when I have a little shiver that goes across my neck.  And then my hair (that is already standing up on end) just stays there in a permanent point for a long time..

And that is not to say that some of us don't look at the awesome mommy blogs and have the same reaction, but if you are getting that from this blog, I'm going to have to scrap all 9 million posts and start over.  Just so you won't have to do that, may I present to you--my idol.  (O.K. one of my idols)

The floor.

The beautiful floor.

The beautiful hardwood floor.

that isn't stinky carpeting.

that is going to actually look nice when I clean it instead of looking crappy like this stinky carpeting.

yeah.

10 years of trying to whine, convince, manipulate, beg, etc. my husband into getting me a new floor.

Finally, last summer, I was completely out of steam on this issue.  ONCE again.. we had a little cash that was spent on something else.. again.

And I finally resolved myself this: THIS is exactly the floor that God wants me to have and I need to be thankful for it--right now.  I decided that this was indeed an idol AND that it was time to sacrifice it-once and for all.

A tremendous peace followed that conversation with God.  I can't say that I've never tried to pick it up again, but I was able to lay it back down quickly.


A year later--guess who is getting her floor put in-- today?

Yeah.  you guessed it.

God is so good.  It's not worth holding on to those idols, ladies.  Let 'em down so he can lay it down.

The interpretation..

So, if you missed a post and you have no idea what the dream was, it is here: the dream.

I asked for ideas about what the interpretation/ meaning might be--just for fun.  But we have this friend, Michael who, without much ado, gave this interpretation:

The driver's license is your identity.  The credit cards/ debit card is the worldly goods.  By saying you've eaten your credit cards and your driver's license, it is saying that you have died to the concept of your identity being in worldly things.  When it was hard going down, it is saying that it was/is really a struggle to do this.  But the peace/ contentment/ relief was saying that it really is better to have my identity in Christ.  The joy and the peace of having died to these things is very real.

I found it very encouraging.  I'm not saying that I've attained this, but I liked his interpretation, and I really love this song to go with it.  I think I'll download this and put it on my cellphone ring.  Love it!

For those of you who are new to the Josties, they are an awesome homeschooling family who makes music and videos.  We are really having fun with some of their stuff.  Enjoy!

A "prophetic" dream? or just a..

So, I'm having this dream and it is very real.

The dream goes something like this.  In the dream I am asleep, except I am in that groggy state where I am almost awake and I've just realized that I have eaten my debit card, my credit card, and my driver's license. I am about to eat the checkbook and the taste of the paper was awful and I try to spit it out. 


In the dream I contemplate trying to get the stuff up but realize that it's no use.  I've already eaten it and there's not much left to do except spit the remaining check out of my mouth.  And while I'm trying to figure out if I should eat more credit cards or just sit there, a strange sense of relief comes over me and I realize that I don't need those things anyway.  


So, that's the dream.


My first thought was that I have pika--you know where you crave the ashes from the fireplace and leftover spoons.

When I gave this interpretation to my mother, she said, "no, you don't have pika; you have goata"

goata?

Yeah, you know.. "goat-a" like a goat.  They eat everything in sight--even credit cards and stuff.

Or maybe I just ate a spider or a moth or something and that was the thing that felt like the checkbook.

And then I realized that in my dreams, I'm always eating something I shouldn't be eating.  Not like chocolate or donuts.  But in my dreams, I tend to eat stuff that isn't food.  But this dream kind of hit me hard, and I was even half-way surprised to find everything still in my wallet when I got up.

So, give me your interpretations, and goat-a has already been taken.  And after you give me all of your thoughts, I tell you what our friend, Michael said.  And he is all about this kind of stuff--dreams, interpretations, visions, etc.  In fact, I won't be half surprised if my dream will be the subject of his next sermon or devotional. Because it is THAT interesting.

So, calling all prophets, creative thinkers, and the wise counselors of Babylon (and beyond).. Where is Daniel when you need him?

Hyper mommy of a senior in high school..

Didn't we just do this?  Didn't you guys just barely make it through Jamie's senior year of high school?  O.K. well, some of you are still reading, so it probably wasn't as traumatic for you...

NEVERtheless, we have homeschooled child, #2, Joanna Kay, aka: Jo-snazzer, Jo-with-it, Jo-bear, Jo-Im-not-sure-I-can-run-my-life-without-you...  is going to be a senior in high school.

This past week, we made our first visit to a college: The Institute of Art in Schaumburg.  She brought her photography portfolio and we met the academic advisor assigned to her--Leah.  Already I love Leah.  Already I love the school.  Does Joanna?  I think she does, but she is going to another interview tomorrow (without me) because hyper mommy needs to get a life!!  (enough said!)

But I am sure the Lord is this or something similar because you have seen some of Joanna's photography on this blog.  Granted, not every picture I post is awesome or even taken by her, but this would be a words-only blog if it weren't for the Jo.

Not only does she have THAT going on, but she leaves in 3 days for Portland, Oregon for Prizewinning Photography 1 and 2.  She found this on her own and it seems like a wonderful (Christian!) photography training program.  I hope she posts things on her blog while she's gone 'cuz there isn't going to be much happening around here for photographs!

So, she's sewing the last few dresses and things she needs for her trip.  Meanwhile, she is registered for the ACT.  School starts (regular homeschool co-op school) starts in less than 3 weeks.

So, what classes does she have this year?  Off the top of my head, I would say: Model UN, Anatomy and Physiology, Algebra II, Drama, Government/Econ, French, and I'm probably forgetting something.

Oh, and what about senior portraits, graduation ceremony, party, trip, you know the routine...

Pray for our Jo.  Safety, direction and for God to speak to her about her future training after high school. Thanks!

Another funny youtube

For those of you who are looking forward to yet another homeschooling year starting, you need to meet the Josties--an amazingly talented homeschooling family who puts out hilarious vids. Enjoy.

Need your advice here..

My hubby is working on his project for his marriage and family counseling class and he is designing a pre-marital program.

Is there anything special that you wish was covered/ discussed during your marriage counseling that wasn't?

Is there something you have learned and think should be included?

Any thoughts??