As you might know, we are at the Christian school this year...more of a step of obedience than anything. God has confirmed and affirmed the fact that it was His idea for me to be teaching at the school this year, and I needed that affirmation over and over again, as well as this year of teaching.
Blessings:
- a discovery of my passion for homeschooling and scriptural passages to guide our family
- finding and settling on HOD
- a honing of my philosophy of homeschooling before we get started
- a formulation of praxis for homeschooling
- new friendships through the school
- a change of pace for a year, after being home with my babies for 4
- a discovery that the grass is not greener on the other side of the fence, for those days when I wonder if homeschooling is something we need to continue
- many more too numerous to list
Challenges:
- schedule and home life
- keeping up with administrative requirements for school
- dealing with other people's kids rather than my own
- some very challenging students and despite the fact that they should not be at the school, they are
This has been an amazingly challenging year. I'm sure I'll blog about it because it's been fodder for our submission to the calling to homeschool. To write about it now would take too long.
I had three incidences of disrespect from my freshmen just yesterday. They are in a class of 9, and five are the significant challenges, in addition to a sixth that has already been expelled. Just thinking of going to school makes me want to get sick so I don't have to go.
I am somehow comforted by the suffering Jesus endured on my behalf for my own sin and the sin of humanity. I am crushed by the fact that these children have been introduced to Christ but want nothing to do with Him. Consequently, they are making being at school unbelievably challenging for me and being at home unbelievably so for their parents.
Please pray for these children, first and foremost, for their wavering relationship with the Lord, and ultimately for their salvation. Please pray for their parents, who love Jesus and don't know what to do. Finally, please pray for me and the other teachers and administration that we will be able to carry our our jobs with love and discipline when necessary and FINISH STRONG. Thank you.
