Monday, August 14, 2006

Letters of Intent and IHIP'S

Well, after talking to one of my girlfriends, my aunt, E (such a good sis-in-law) and my MIL (all past or present homeschoolers or homeschoolees), I feel ready to face the battle front and jump through the hoops for NY State and our school district... and file my letter of intent to homeschool the kids and send in my IHIP... an Individualized Home Instruction Plan. Sending it tomorrow. We will see what they have to say. :)

The kids are doing well and warming up and remembering all of the fun things they learned last year. So far I give them both an "S". I am sure that within a week or so we will be moving up to an "E" while we finish our review and move on to the new stuff.

I think I might learn a few things along the way...

Saturday, August 12, 2006

REQUEST FOR TRANSFER

(*A friend sent us this. I had to smile... been there, felt that. Thought some of you might appreciate this.*)

To: Commander and Chief Spiritual Armed Forces, Jesus Christ
Dear Lord,
I am writing this to you to request a transfer to a desk job. I herewith presnt my reasons:
I began my career as a private, because of the intensity of the battle you have quickly moved me up in the ranks. You have made me an officer and given me a tremendous amount of responsibility. There are many soldiers and recruits under my charge. I am constantly being called upon to dispense wisdom, make judgments, and find solutions to complex problems.
You have placed me in a position to function as an officer, when in my heart I know I have only skills of a private. I realize that you have promised to supply all I would need for the battle. But sir, I must present You a realistic picture of my equipment. My uniform, once so crisp and starched, is now stained with tears and blood of those I have tried to assist. The soles of my boots are cracked and worn from the miles I have walked trying to enlist and encourage the troops. My weapons are marred, tarnished and chipped from constant battle against the enemy.
Even the book of Regulations I was issued has been torn and tattered from endless use. The words are now smeared. You have promised you would be with me throughout, but when the noise of the battle is so loud and the confusion is so great, I can neither see nor hear you.
I feel so alone. I’m tired. I’m discouraged. I have Battle Fatigue. I would never ask you for a discharge. I love being in your service. But I humbly request a demotion and transfer. I’ll file the papers or clean latrines. Just get me out of the battle – please, Sir!
Your Faithful, But Tired, Warrior

To: Faithful, but tired, Soldier, Spiritual Armed Forces
Location: The Battlefield
Subject: Transfer
Dear Soldier,
Your request for transfer has been denied. I herewith present My reasons:
You are needed in this battle. I have selected you, and I will keep My Word to supply your need. You do not need a demotion and transfer. (You’d never cut it on latrine duty.) You need a period of "R&R" Renewal and Rekindling. I am setting aside a place on the battlefield that is insulated from all sound and fully protected from the enemy. I will meet you there and I will give you rest.
I will remove your old equipment and "make all things new." You have been wounded in the battle, My soldier. Your wounds are not visible, but you have received grave internal injuried. You need to be healed. I will heal you. You have been weakened in battle. You need to be strengthened. I will strengthen you and be your strength. I will instill in you confidence and ability. My words will rekindle within you and give you renewed love, zeal and ethusiasm.
Report to Me tattered and empty. I will refill You.
Compassionately,
Your Commander-in Chief, Jesus Christ.

Summer Is Over

... at least for my kids...

They have made it through the first week of school... and have done wonderfully! I think they are still seeing the benefits of homeschooling, even though none of their friends have started school yet. Our wonderful state's public schools don't start until after Labor Day and don't get out until *shuddering* the very end of June. That is so wrong. JT and T will be done by the beginning of May. My thought was that it would be easier to start them now and let them out when it starts to get nice out rather than trying to fight with them to get their school done when the winter is gone and the days are turning warm and sunny and the outdoors are beckoning. *Taking a breath*

So, today we went and got the rest of their school books. I was so excited about the new books that I tried to convince them to do school on a Saturday. It didn't work. This year we will be learning about US history, how the human body works (occasional gory details involved), astronomy (no, not reading horoscopes), all about dinosaurs and insects (those last four are all included in their Science) and even Spanish. JT is excited about that one. We are also making sure to include the standard Math, Reading, Spelling, Phonics and Writing. They are thrilled... you should see the reaction to the first glimpse of the weekly schedule. One would think some sort of torture is involved. Occasionally I hear the question, "Why do we have to do school at all?" I have explained that ignorance is not an option. They both do get excited when they suddenly grasp a new concept, I think the main problem is that they cannot sleep in until 11:00 and then spend the remainder of their day playing. Oh well. They will thank me someday.... I hope.