Officially Home

School starts tomorrow at the school I've taught at for the last few years. And I'm officially a full-time homemaker. It really hasn't seemed real until now. Back to school sales, the hustle and bustle of getting a classroom and bulletin boards ready have alluded me altogether. As teacher friends are pinning teaching ideas and cute quotes, I've been in the back of the class cheering them on...quietly. I pray all the patience, wisdom and grace they will need for this year ahead.

And today as I sat down to write out a few goals...I realized...it's official...Homemaker...that's me. A dream come true. And while it's filled with some uncertainty and a little nervousness on how this is really supposed to look, I'm certainly thrilled that God has allowed me this blessing.

So...here's my goals for this week.

1. Make homemade bread (instead of sandwich bread).

2. Cook dinner every night (except Wednesday because the church cooks for us...Hallelujah)

3. Stick to the homeschool schedule

4. Write Genesis 1:26-28; 9:1-7, Psalm 16:11,1 Corinthians 10:31, by hand, daily, in preparation for Sunday School Sunday.


5. Spend time studying for Bible Study teaching Wednesday Night


6. Work on needlework for 30 minutes


7. Menu plan for next week


8. Read one chapter of Pollyanna aloud with kids.


9. Encourage Bruce
How are you spending your week? If you're a full-time homemaker, do you find it easy to waste time? Or, are you a go-getter? Do you keep a pretty tight schedule or fly by the seat of your pants? What works for you....Give a girl some advice if you have any tips you think I could use! Thanks!

First Days

It's the first day of the first grade for Tucker! 

And yes...

I'm his teacher and as you might can see, 

he's terribly excited about that!

Savannah (Fifth grade!) will be with us this year at school. 

She'll be working on her own work in another classroom. 

We're glad she's going to be close by!

I'm praying both my kids have a great year academically...but even more so that they learn the life lessons that God has for them as they are at school each day. I'm thankful for the freedom they have to learn about Christ and His ways each day at school. 

Now....if school just didn't start so early this would all be a whole lot more fun!

Jesus Accessories

I was thinking (OK....honestly, I was dreading) about going back to school. I love my class...I love teaching...but I love my own family, home and church ministries more...and sometimes I wish I could be 2-3 places at once. But, God gave me this great job and I will do it until He says, "Finished".

Anyway...I digress.

I was laying out all our clothes for tomorrow's first day back to school and the convicting thought struck me...I need to put on His (God's) glory. The Lord has been so good to me and in the midst of my dreading going back to school I was reminded of the large ministry He has given me with my class at school. It hit me that these clothes I was laying out merely cover up this body I'm in and that more than anything my class and their parents need to see God's glory. It prompted me to make a short list of what that might look like...it's by no means conclusive....

1. Joy on my face
2. A listening ear
3. A spirit of humility
4. A friendly countenance
5. A word of encouragement
6. My best foot forward
7. A less of me is more of Jesus attitude
8. Thankful heart
9. Appreciative spirit

What if I really concentrated on Glorifying Him...on Exuding Him...on Sharing Him....and less about my own agenda? What could happen? I'd say the possibilities are endless!

Here's to an amazing first day back to school. If your like me and are working on glorifying Him more this year, what Jesus accessories are you putting on today?

Last Days

I'm spending today...the last day of Christmas break....in my jammies, watching movies with the kids. Given my obsession with Christmas movies, I'm pretty sure I could do this for a month solid and not be finished...but unfortunately time has run out and I'll be back in the classroom tomorrow morning bright and early. This last day is bittersweet. I love this time with my kids and Bruce. I feel like I'm such a better wife and mom when I'm off from school. I cook more, keep things more orderly, take more time with the kids. I'm more patient, less uptight about schedules and bedtimes. I'm more me.

Something will happen at 6:05 in the morning when the alarm goes off. The last day will be behind me...the new day ahead of me. I'll ready myself physically and spiritually for the new day and I'll put my best foot forward to retain some of the "last day Gina" for my family and for myself. Don't get me wrong, I love routine, the steady everyday rhythm of our lives. I love waking up on Sunday's and knowing we will be in church together and knowing that Monday's is Bruce's day off every week. I love knowing that God is watching over us and protecting us and guiding us and loving us. I love those dependable qualities about my God and my life. So tomorrow as I stroll back into my routine I am going to aim to be more concentrated on the beautiful moments that Wednesday holds, looking for opportunities to embrace the me of the last days, all the while, searching for meaning in the ordinary and working hard not to fall into the trap of the mundane. I'll count my gifts and live a more grateful life for today. And maybe along the way merge a little of today...the last day...into everyday.

Back to School Photo

 This little man started kindergarten yesterday...

This little girl....fourth grade

Praying for them both as they fill their minds with numbers and letters...

and their hearts with the knowledge of Jesus!