He loves it so much!

[DHT1999]

When I first found HOD, at the end of last Spring, I shared here how rough my youngest son's First Grade year had been. He hated school way before we got to our Christmas break and was so unhappy that he was having physical symptoms - head aches, tummy aches. He spent most of last year participating in his brother's curriculum and it was fine, but I really wanted to do something special with him this year. I had prayed and prayed about what that should be and looked at everything I could find to look at. We purchased Bigger Hearts to combine them but after additional prayer, we decided to get him his own program and we choose Little Hearts, even though he placed better into Beyond. I thought he would like the content and I knew he would like the playful feel to it.

Well, he is now in Unit 5. I just have to share once again how blessed we have been with this curriculum. There is literally not a day that goes by that my little sweetie does not thank me for getting Little Hearts for him. He loves it so much! When school is over, he complains of being bored and we often do more Little Hearts. There was a recent day when he woke up with a fever. I was just going to let him have the day off but he came to me and said he would feel better if we could just do Little Hearts! I honestly feel like this curriculum was written just for him! I started out intending to add some things to it, since he is a 2nd grader. I've ended up dropping everything extra except we use a different math. Now that we've used it longer, I am comfortable just letting him enjoy a lighter load and to end each day asking for more!

Today was a particularly sweet day. He especially enjoys the Thinking Games. We put sheets up on all the windows in the house (our downstairs is kind of open with three rooms opening up into one space, as far as the light goes) to make it very dark and used a small flashlight to shine on the ceiling to represent God leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. He was just beaming and was so happy. Afterwards, we sat down and held hands and thanked God that He has always had a remnant of people who would follow Him and we thanked Him for letting us be a part of His remnant today. My little guy totally "got" the idea that we have a spiritual legacy (with ancestors!) that goes all the way back to Moses.

Well, I just wanted to share again since it's been awhile. My oldest son is doing just as well with Preparing. Thanks to everyone who helped us to make the decision to try HOD. We are so thankful.

[playschool]

We will be starting LHFHG in about a week. It was very encouraging to hear how well everything is going with your son. Thanks for posting this!

[Kathleen]

Donna,

I'm so happy for you and your little guy! I, too, am feeling oh-so-blessed to be able to share special school time with my kids! (And it is a blessing to be able to share that with other moms who actually understand here! ) I just love to think of the eternal significance of what we're able to do and share with our kids day-in and day-out(...it really helps with the endurance. )

Knowing you have many more happy HOD days,
Kathleen

[my3sons]

Donna,

Your ds is precious - I'm getting weepy reading your post (weepy in a good way ). I am so glad you made the decision to get him his own program, and he is loving it. I can envision the two of you doing the Thinking Games you described. Oh, how blessed we are for moments such as those! Those little ones sure do love special time like that, and comments like your ds made about wanting to do Little Hearts even when he wasn't feeling well sure do fill up a mama's emotional gas tank as well. My little Riley just told me he's really excited to start Beyond (we did the first half last year, so he knows what it will be like). My Wyatt said this morning, "You know, summer sure is a lot of fun, but eventually you sure do long to do school again!" WOW - that from my outdoor loving boy. We start CTC and Beyond in a few weeks. I'm looking forward to days like you described here! Thanks for sharing and give your little guy a big HOD hug!

In Christ,
Julie

[Carrie]

Donna,

I'm so glad that your little guy is loving LHFHG! My son loved it so much last year too. I thoroughly enjoyed envisioning you with your son and the sheets over your windows, discussing God's care for the Israelites and His care for us too. What a true joy moments like those are during "school". I cannot remember any moments like that during my own public school days, and I treasure the memories I'm storing up with my own kiddos through homeschooling.

I'm so glad that your oldest is enjoying Preparing Hearts as well. My second son in line loved it last year too! Thanks for sharing! Your post blessed me beyond measure today.

Blessings,
Carrie