Too long and it ends today!

Since the inception of my Facebook account, my blogging has increasingly because less and less.  Which is mostly bad.  The only good reason was that I posted fun, quick things more regularly.  The bad is that those comments are now gone, as Facebook does not archive all our cute moments for later reading.  So today it ends.  I started this blog to be a scrapbook for my kids, and I am committed to putting things back on.  I don't scrapbook.  I never journal.  I throw away 90% of the arts and crafts that they make.  And we've either lost photos from computer crashes, or I don't get the camera out nearly enough to have those memories either.  What will my children have someday when their older?  Memories?  I know how well those have fared for me.  My mother has better memories of my childhood than I do!

The past 6+ months, I've been actively searching for my current calling. What does God want me doing now?  What kind of legacy does He want us to create with our family?  What do I want to be when I grow up?  Now that I am done having children, and they are all at some sort of school age -- I feel like this is the next step in my life.  Time to settle in.  It's time to create something that will be our legacy.  Or how a friend of mine put it, what is our "family farm."

I want something different for my family than the norm.  With a family of 6, it's not easy anyway you do it, so why not do it the way you want.  Billy and I started B Fabulous BBQ for two main reasons, to do something we love, and to have a place for our children to learn sound work ethic alongside us.

Along this journey of searching for my calling, God has brought me to Homeschooling.  What?!  Homeschooling? Excuse me, Father, but remember me?  I'm the one that doesn't even like my kids!  And I already have plenty of my plate.  But I kept hearing Him pretty loud and clear, "I'll equip you.  Be faithful.  This will bring you closer to Me.  This will keep you focused on what is important."

When we started praying about B Fab, we grew closer to God and our faith deepened by letting go and trusting His plan for us.  It paid off!  We have had tremendous blessing thru the decision to start B Fab BBQ and the opportunities keep coming week after week.

I see how Homeschooling could be another way that my faith will grow and I will depend even more on God.  Not only will I be a better person for His glory, but I'll be a better example to my kiddos.  Oh, how I long to be a better mother!  But don't get me wrong, this is not a selfish endeavor to try to make a better Deanna, it's with the best interest of my children's lives in mind as a whole.

• More family time
• More control over their curriculum
• Teaching to their strengths and learning style
• Better teacher to kid ratio
• Learning by doing, not just in a classroom discussing
• Flexibility with their schedule so they can see their dads more
• Less crazy evenings
• The list goes on ...

I'm really excited about curriculum!  I'm so excited about unit studies about: our state of Iowa, our nation, the Presidents, the solar system, mammals, the Bible.  And this summer a garden!  If I'm pumped up about learning these things (and so much more!) certainly I can find ways to get my kids excited too, right?!

As I type this, Ellie is playing one-on-one with Amelia.  She dressed her up, gave her a name, taught her "princess manners" and is currently teaching her a song/dance/skit.  I have an internal hug of joy as I watch Ellie "teach" Amelia and the thought of lots of other opportunities that this can happen.  And for Jack to teach Evelyn.  And Amelia to teach Jack!

As we begin this journey this summer, I'd love your support thru prayer and thru fun ideas to be a super-duper teacher!  The internet is SUCH a blessing for Homeschoolers.  There are tons of great blogs, free learning websites, and more!   If you have one that you like to send your kiddos to for learning games, or a resource you use for crafts or projects.  Let me know!  My kids will appreciate you!