Being Thankful - Day Fourteen And Fifteen

Today, I'm thankful for two things:  my home state and the freedom it affords us with regard to homeschooling and homeschooling in general.  In the admittedly silly effort to maintain some anonymity (when am I going to give that up?), I won't list the state.  But, thankfully, there are enough responsible, freedom-loving people in our state government that feel strongly about homeschooling freedom.  We may not be Texas, but we are awfully close with regard to the openness of our homeschooling laws.  It's simple to express intent to do it.  There aren't cumbersome tests to take that prohibit parents from choosing the best curriculum for their kids.  There aren't pesky requirements about paperwork and the like, which means I don't have to spend precious time filling out forms or turning in information that no one is really going to look at anyway.  It frees me up to educate the way I need to without burdening me with rules that accomplish nothing.  We have a wonderful state!

And I'm grateful that we are on this homeschooling journey.  It's hard, it's confusing, it's overwhelming at times.  Many days I wonder if I'm doing the best I can for the kids.  Many days I look in the future years and Flat Out Panic.  But, I see the development in the kids that inspires me to keep going.  I know there is a connection between us that is just different.  I know that none of the kids are going to get labeled in order to explain their personality.  It's a blessing that we are able to do this thing for them.  It's not for every family.  Some days, I wish I could take a break from it so I could think a coherent thought.  But, when I have breakthrough moments with the kids, it lifts me up and reminds me that this is good for them.  Not perfect; it's good.  No school will be perfect.  No school has all the answers, including the one at our home.  But it's good, and any good in it is because the Lord has shown us mercy and given us grace.

Tonight, I'm thankful!