"A" is for Apple

So, our first day of school is tomorrow! In an effort to get motivated for our upcoming school year, I've been on The Well Trained Mind forums trying to seek out some encouragement. Upon reading threads that comforted me over the fact that I'm not totally screwing up my kids lives by homeschooling, I came across THE thread about "When are you starting school?" I know people school year round, but it completely shocked me when I read that many people start the first or second Monday in July. WOW! I went into panic mode and thought about all of the things I had to get done before we started. 


Since we had little "E", I've totally been lacking in the motivation department...just ask my husband! He's been doing basically ALL of the work around here and working his 40+ hours a week. I have been feeling totally awful about that, but honestly back in VA I felt like a single mom most of the time because of his time-demanding job and the insane amount of Church stuff we were involved in. So, while I feel awful, I have really enjoyed a break and some down-time. However, I have recently been "encouraged" by Husband to "get my act together" and since I'm a loving, submissive wife, I do as I'm told :-)


I don't think I realized that moving (across the country), having a baby, and homeschooling for the first time ever would be so difficult. I can handle it right....WRONG! It was really tough to get done all I needed to accomplish with just Ammie. I'm happy to have gotten it done, but you always feel like you can do more, right?! Lately I've been second guessing myself and this whole homeschool business, but each time I run through everything in my mind, God reassures me that I am on the right path with this. I love having Him on my side...hehe! I can just hear Him now..."Sara, I never said it was going to be easy, but this is what I have called you to do and you need to do it." So demanding, isn't He?! 


Anyway, getting back to schooling year round. I've always read/heard that schooling year round was the best as far as students retaining the information. I also work better if I set small goals over a long period of time instead of 1 or 2 big goals. So my plan is to school all year with 5 to 6 weeks off a year. That way, I will see the light at the end of the tunnel a little sooner and honestly it's just a great motivation to know that you have a week off just around the corner! 


So this is it! The schedule is completed and all items are in place! Ready, set, go......!


**Will be posting pictures of our school room soon!!