The Hope of Homeschool

The warm sun on my back is such a comfort. It’s a hope of spring days soon to come. This week we had many a warm day mixed with a bit of rain here and there. It was a warm balm after all our wintry wonderland of the past weeks. We knew we needed to get out of the house but we didn’t realize how desperate our need was!

One sunny afternoon we were out this week getting the ingredients for a birthday cake. This little ladybug made me smile and be hopeful about spring! (and that just might be a little pollen on the windshield too?)

May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope. Romans 15:13

Part of the goings on: math, math, Apologia marine biology and Pride and Prejudice on the piano #homeschool #multipleages

Besides spring-like weather making me hopeful, homeschooling in general makes me hopeful. Hopeful for the future. Hopeful that this fleeting time will have eternal effects on generations to come. Like Senator Lincoln said to us back on that wonderful field trip day to our state capitol, “homeschoolers are the hope of the future of this nation.”

So, this week I focused on hope…

On Monday we took a creek side walk at great-grandmother, Mama Ann’s house. It’s a magical place and we all talked about how much we needed that visit. We found it to be all we hoped for.

“We are made to reach out beyond our grasp.” ~ Oswald Chambers

Most of the week that sunshine seemed to spur the children on to get their school subjects done so they could scoot out after lunch and run. Productivity in hopes of running outside!

I am always hopeful that my families will be encouraged to enjoy art!! Yesterday we fit in a regular sort of school day, an afternoon iHomeschool Art in the Homeschool Google Hangout. (I got to ‘see’ several of my fellow homeschoolers and wonderful chalk artist James Pence – met him and his wife at BEECH Retreat last year!) Watch the Google Hangout video at Art in the Homeschool. Be sure to circle +Tricia Hodges and iHomeschool Network on G+, and bookmark www.ihomeschoolnetwork.com/hangouts. AND Hodgepodgedad and I had a date night to celebrate his birthday!

A Hodgepodge collage: 1. Nana took me, and our two drama girls to see Les Mis on Sunday afternoon. It was fabulous!  | 2. It helps to have a thinking cap on Monday for math | 3. Paper plates, Zaxby’s (fish sticks for the egg allergic), chocolate, roses (thank you Hodgepodgedad), a movie – Valentine’s date night at home with the folks I love best #1000gifts | 4. Making birthday cards for Mama Ann and for Hodgepodgedad

More from this week:

• I have review of Rod and Staff Bible Stories to Read and Bible Pictures to Color – today at The Curriculum Choice
• Say YES in Your Homeschool – advice to my younger self
• How an Art Box Inspires Artists – so simple and practical

Today I am off to the Real Refreshment Retreat here in Atlanta – with two of my long-time homeschooling friends. I am hopeful and prayerful for encouragement for myself and so many others in this wonderful, challenging homeschooling journey.

In summary, yes, homeschooling does make me hopeful. But ultimately…

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness… I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly trust on Jesus’ name… on Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Many thanks to our Friday hostesses!

• Collage Friday hostess Mary at Home Grown Learners
• Weekly Wrap-Up hostess Kris at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers