~10 years is reason to celebrate!~
It's been a decade since we started our homeschooling journey and my goodness,how we've changed over these past 10 years! (In more ways than one:)
It was really fun to dig up a few old photos...Especially one that was taken the 1st year of our homeschooling journey, and compare it to a fairly recent one.
Though none of our children have been strictly homeschooled K-12 thus far, we are still a family who has devoted the past 10 years to this secondary vocation in one way, shape, form or another. It's a full-time dedication to something we feel called to do but we certainly don't fit into any particular mold or label. I can finally be ok with that. No, we are far from fitting into any kind of perfect box. In fact, being perfectly imperfect always gives us something to work on as we forge ahead.
It seems cliché to say that I can hardly believe 1o years has gone by! But it's simply true in so many ways. Like anything else, there have been terrific days and tough days but we have come this far...Woo hoo!
(And I wouldn't change a thing, by the way!)
How fast has it flown? Well, it really is true...Time does fly by so incredibly fast...Homeschooling or not! This is not to say that there haven't been some very slow moments. There certainly have been many days when I thought I'd never make it through another minute of homeshooling, let alone 10 years. This is all just to say that each day is precious and the tough ones make it all worth it. My husband and I have always said "One year at a time, God willing..."
From this day forward, we march on with the same sentiments.
Now, let's get to the celebrating!
(After a short walk down memory lane;)
2008
(And I wouldn't change a thing, by the way!)
2006
2007
(Aquarium Field Trip 2007~ I'm 42 and 6 months prego here...Best pregnancy of all:)
How fast has it flown? Well, it really is true...Time does fly by so incredibly fast...Homeschooling or not! This is not to say that there haven't been some very slow moments. There certainly have been many days when I thought I'd never make it through another minute of homeshooling, let alone 10 years. This is all just to say that each day is precious and the tough ones make it all worth it. My husband and I have always said "One year at a time, God willing..."
From this day forward, we march on with the same sentiments.
Now, let's get to the celebrating!
(After a short walk down memory lane;)
2008
2009
(Our oldest went to public high school this year)
2010
2011
2012
It's so important for home educating families to celebrate success...Seriously. No one else is going to do it for us, that's for sure! Especially when many of us don't even have family and friends to encourage us.
That being said, if I could single out one thing I've learned in the past 10 years, it's that joy is contagious...and in the home, it begins with me. I have to constantly remind myself of this when I get discouraged or get caught up in the daily tasks at hand and the work to be done. I set the tone.
I have found that it's absolutely necessary to bring joy into the picture and there are so many ways to do this...Prayer, Sacraments, thankfulness, and stopping to share the simple things...Even simple celebrations!
It's truly up to us to be surprised by joy...And it's waiting to be discovered every day, right along with our children, even amidst the math books and spelling words!
Wracking my brain for ways to celebrate a whole decade without being too expensive, I came up with a celebration with these 10 things!
10 surprises for each of our last
10 days of school to celebrate our
10 years of homeschooling!
(I made a list and didn't tell the kids what the surprise was until the morning of each day;)
We counted down our last 10 days of school with 10 surprises...
1. Breakfast and Board Games!
What better way to hone math and reading skills!
We love this game (Catholic version of Monopoly...There are interesting tidbits on each card that we read aloud. Our 6th grade "banker" practiced the lost art of counting change! It was a fun way to start the day:)
(I made a list and didn't tell the kids what the surprise was until the morning of each day;)
We counted down our last 10 days of school with 10 surprises...
1. Breakfast and Board Games!
We love this game (Catholic version of Monopoly...There are interesting tidbits on each card that we read aloud. Our 6th grade "banker" practiced the lost art of counting change! It was a fun way to start the day:)
"The parents exist to teach the child, but they must also learn what the child has to teach them; and the child has a very great deal to teach them."~Arnold Bennett~
2. Library and Slurpees!
*10 surprises for 10 years was a fun success*
Happy Summer from our house to yours!
~May Crowning 2014~
Perfect "last day of school!"
More: 10 Least Expected Lessons to Celebrate 10 Years
2. Library and Slurpees!
3. Morning Break at The Yogurt Station!
4. Recess At An (air conditioned) Indoor Play Place!
(It was a HOT 100 degrees outside that day)
5. Breakfast Picnic In The Park!
6. Bookstore Visit!
7. Strawberry & Blueberry Picking!
8. Everyone got to go to the airport to pick up college brother! (Surprise at 6 AM:)
With spontaneous trip to the ocean for an hour!
9. Lunchtime movie!
10. Breakfast with the Principal!
Happy Summer from our house to yours!
~May Crowning 2014~
Perfect "last day of school!"
More: 10 Least Expected Lessons to Celebrate 10 Years
Congratulations, Tiffany! What a great idea with your list of 10 ways to celebrate! In fact, since we've never done a breakfast picnic, I've now decided to add that to our summer bucket list ;)
ReplyDeleteMay God continue to bless you as you continue your journey!!
Thank you, my friend! Congrats to you too and God bless the rest of your journey as well:)
DeleteHappy Anniversary to you all, sweet friend!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this post! The joy of your journey is so overwhelmingly clear and contagious too. Love all of the pictures and remember some of them too. You are so right about joy coming from the momma and spreading to everyone else. I keep reminding myself of this one ;) You are also right, it is SO easy to get caught up in the dailiness of getting it all done that we tend to forget to celebrate the little and big things at times. You are all so blessed and showered with His continue graces! Many blessings to you all, Tiffany! Thanks for the smiles and Happy Memorial Day :-)
Thank you, Ann-Marie! I pray you have a very blessed summer!
DeleteI love this list! What a great way to bring JOY to your homeschool! Congrats on 10 years :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jen! Wishing you and your family a very blessed first summer in FL!
DeleteHi Tiffany!
ReplyDeleteI'm a little late getting to this post, but better late than never as I always love visiting your corner of blog land for inspiration, ideas, and support! I just love this post and all your pictures are precious! I love your 10 day activities to celebrate a great milestone. Warning: I'm stealing this idea as 10 years will be next year for us :) 2015 and my oldest will be done with her 9th grade year of homeschool high school. We will be celebrating big time :) I'm pinning your post for future fun and inspiration :) God bless your summer!
I'm joining in prayers of thanksgiving for His graces and your yes. May you continue to have many more joyful years. ALL FOR!
ReplyDelete