Columbus Day 2010

God's timing is ALWAYS perfect. There is no need to stress or fret how things will turn out. They always turn out according to His plan for our lives. We need to relax and enjoy the ride.

I need to remind myself of this so very often. There are days when I fuss, fuss, fuss, trying to figure how everything will work out. He has a plan and I need to trust. It's simple--trust, trust, trust.

Our new school year is up and running as of October 4. I love new books, pencils and papers. I remember in college how I loved the beginning of the new quarter. I motivated myself by saying, "I have a 4.0, now I have to work to maintain it!" How do I motivate my students who have no clue the value of a 4.0? I don't give grades until high school. Prior to that, if I find an error while correcting papers, we go back and relearn the material. Sometimes, there are complaints like, "I already know that." and "Why do we have to do it again?" Well, I thought I would get complaints last week as we began to look at Christopher Columbus, again. I didn't even think of the timing of our study. Here it is Columbus Day!

For dinner, I served Italian meat loaf, green beans, acorn squash and carrot raisin salad. (I actually wanted green salad, but someone said that would make dinner too green, and I didn't have any lettuce.) Following dinner, I read half of  I, Columbus My Journal 1492-1493 by Peter and Connie Roop. This biography is based on actual journal entries written by Columbus during his famous voyage. Everyone enjoyed the book. We'll finish it tomorrow.

We had a discussion on the value of journaling. I have encouraged my children to journal for years. My mantra, "Today is tomorrow's history." Someday, someone may want to re-enact 2010 and if no one keeps a record of their day to day life how will the re-enactors develop their persona? I have kept a journal on and off since I was 9 years old. Some years were more off than on. I'll pick up where I left off, chuckling as I realize I gave birth to two children since the previous entry. I guess I was too busy to keep track.

This reminds me of the journal my great-great grandmother, Ellen Hall Miller, kept. She was diligent about recording her garden produce, the weather, and world and family affairs.  The year was 1935 and she had fairly regular journal entries. The months of November and December she mentioned how my grandmother was getting along with her pregnancy. The last entry was Dec. 26th, but to my disappointment, no record after that for another year or so. My grandmother gave birth to my dad on Dec. 27, and it is not recorded in Granny's diary! I can spend hours reading her entries. They transport me in time.

Family history and genealogy are a wonderful way to teach history. I'm looking forward to studying the Mayflower, again, and renewing my memory of my ancestors aboard that ship. That is the motivating factor.  The love of learning is instilled in the student, because the teacher loves to learn, too. What a tremendous opportunity I have as a home educator. I can enjoy learning the first time, and learning something new the next time, and sharing what we've learned together with my children each day.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3: 5,6