Thanks so much, Tiffini, for your words of wisdom here!
I have not been myself lately, and my post is a little jumbled. Thanks for adding needed clarity and excellent advice to this thread - I greatly appreciate it!!!
Thank you also for your prayers for our Dad. With us now being further into the WG, I would say our days (on the longer science lab days especially) are probably around the 7 hour mark too. I'm glad though - I want to be sure we are doing 'enough' for high school, and I know 100% we are.
We are really enjoying the WG here too. We just had a pretty amazing discussion with the "Rooted and Grounded" Bible study today. It has been so neat to read about missionaries' work different places all around the world. Their challenges are many, yet their faith is so strong. Wyatt is really enjoying this study, and he prays diligently for each group of people he's learned about it. I feel this is the right time to do this kind of study. Wyatt's faith is grounded. I can see how God has worked through all of the years in HOD that we have spent time laying the foundation for faith to grow upon. The many years spent in heartfelt discussions, in studying/memorizing the Word, in honing Godly character traits, in enjoying devotions together geared toward his becoming a Godly young man specifically - so many things we have done together from LHTH to MTMM - and all having prepared him for this Rooted and Grounded study in WG. He desperately wants everyone to have the opportunity to know the Lord... to hear the Good News about what He has done!
Each year in HOD's previous guides, there has always been a sharing the Good News type project. They've all been different through the years, but all are the same in the fact that they have given ample practice in sharing the Gospel through different avenues. It feels like "Rooted and Grounded" is kind of a culmination for that - like seeing how God gives opportunities for the Gospel to be shared in all different ways with all different people, and He finds a way to use imperfect people like us to do it! Humbling. Wyatt is making those connections and really looks forward to his Bible Quiet Time each day. We also are really liking "Practical Happiness" for our devotional study. I love that author - we enjoyed doing "Boyhood and Beyond" years back within HOD too. "Practical Happiness" is written in the same down-to-earth, yet deeply wise, style - only more grown up for high school aged dc. We have already had some great discussions from it.
Anyway - I got off here now!
I guess I just wanted to say when I thought of a World Geography year, I was excited about a lot of things from the 'geography' angle, but I didn't think of it being full of teachable moments that were pretty deep and definitely heartfelt in the Biblical sense. What a delightful surprise!
Thank you, Carrie, for always keeping the Lord part of all we do. It is moulding our dc's hearts, as well as their minds. Hug that sweet daughter of yours, Tiffini!
Oh and here's a laugh - I first read that she was going to a 'barn DANCE' each week!
(which actually sounds fun too, but not what she's actually doing, which I realized upon my doing more careful reading).
In Christ,
Julie
I guess I just needed a little encouragement that it was the right way to go and that it will be a spiritually strong year, as well. I want my ds to be challenged and grow, but not be overwhelmed or feel burned out so that he doesn't like it. Your post was nice to find this morning. 