Week 2 of homeschool - some more things I learned

1. I don't have a good answer to questions like "why do I have to know what a preposition is?"

2. Lunch break is the best part of the day, just like it was when I was in school.

3. Kids will do anything to get out of work.

4. The red pen is a powerful tool.

5. The desire to cheat comes naturally.

6. Kyall has terrible penmanship, and I'm not sure it should be a big deal.

7. Coloring for a 3rd and 5th grader is a waste of school time.

8. Lucas loves to trace.

9. I'm glad Bible memorization is part of my kids' curriculum.

10. I cannot resist correcting misspelled words, even if the subject is math.

Figuring it out, a day at a time!

Miriam

First week of homeschool.....what I've learned

1. Why my teachers always had coffee mugs with them.

2. I am a rule follower - I need to learn to be flexible.

3. Kyall truly is the class clown.

4. My kids are super smart.

5. Bible reading and prayer with the kids is a great way to start each day.

6. Olivia daydreams a lot.

7. Lucas's attention span is way shorter than I thought.

8. Math remains my least favorite subject.

9. I have a lot of power.

10. I love spending this time with my kids.

Thanks to everyone who has been praying for me, knowing that homeschooling my kids has been a struggle and not something I really have looked forward to. I think we're going to like it.

Miriam

Store hopping

I think it's pretty safe to say that it's unlikely you will find every grocery item on your list in one store here in Lima. Grocery shopping can be an adventure, if you're up for it!

At times, it's fun, at times, super annoying, to walk into a grocery store with a list, and leave with everything minus five. So we head to a different store and leave with four of the five things we lack. So we head to a different store for the last thing, and see that this store has items we hadn't seen in the first two stores, so we go ahead and buy them too, because they may not be there next week!

I get so excited when I see a new product or something I haven't seen in a while. I'm not sure why, but they seem to try out certain products for a few months, and then discontinue them - of course, they're usually things imported from the U.S. that we love - and it's so disappointing when they disappear.

Some of the things that may or may not be in any given store at any given time are: sour cream, icing, syrup, Pringles, certain cereals, instant oatmeal, cereal bars, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, corn, canned soup, imported ice cream.....on and on I could go. It's a gamble every time and just because it's not in the first store doesn't mean it won't be in the next one and just because it's in the second one doesn't mean it won't be in the first one next month!

Grocery shopping is a big deal. It takes up a good chunk of time. It's something I have to do every week. I will keep doing it. Sometimes it's fun, other times, it's a hassle. I miss Wal-Mart.

Miriam

Friends and Amigos

What would we do without friends??? Life would be so much less enjoyable and fulfilling without friends.

My earliest memories include friends! God has blessed me my whole life with true, loyal and wonderful friends. There have been many times I have been far from most of them and have mourned them and longed to see them. There have been times when I have been very lonely and had no friends close by. There are people who I was great friends with as a child or teenager that I don't keep up with anymore. There are friends I have only had for a few years that are an important and special part of my life now. There are people who I was casual friends with years ago, that now are some of my closest friends. There are a few who I have been friends with since early childhood and remain so to this day. Whatever season in life I find myself, and whether surrounded by friends or just with one or two nearby, I know that I am greatly blessed.

The friends I grew up with helped shape me and make me who I am today. I thank God from the bottom of my heart for these friends. The friends I have made as an adult help shape me and sharpen me as well and they are so important to me. I don't know why God chose to bless me with an endless list of awesome friends, but I am so glad He did.

I am truly thankful for my best friend, who is also my husband. I won't embarrass him by going into all of his good qualities and attributes....suffice it to say he is the best.

I pray often that God will bless my children in this same way and always give them at least one soul mate to call a friend. As our lives change and we head to a new place in Peru to live soon, one of my top prayer requests is for friends for my children - true amigos.

To all of my friends, near and far, I love you, I thank God for you and my life is so rich, full and meaningful because of you!!!

Miriam