We are three weeks into school and things are going well. It is my 2nd year teaching at home, and there are a number of things that thrill and inspire me.
1. I love the Classical Conversations group. It is great to have support and direction with the added bonus of good friends who are also involved.
2. We can take a day off to take advantage of special events. We went to Great America for homeschool day on Thursday. The park crowd was at a minimum. We got to stay on rides for multiple turns whenever there was nobody in line. Also, one of the ride attendants told us that this was his best work day ever- not just because there was no crowd, but more so because everyone was so polite and kind. (I imagine it was because of all of the un-socialized homeschoolers)
3. Hanna has a better grasp on the English language and is more empowered to retain and participate.
4. It is evident that Biruk was receiving a quality education in Ethiopia and that he has an excellent memory.
5. Both Svetlana and Andy are excelling outside of a large classroom setting. I feel our decision to remove them from traditional school is validated.
6. Mel is a delight to teach. His eagerness and zeal for learning is almost difficult to keep up with. Additionally, after two years home, he is now emotionally available to ask for and receive affection. If my lap is available, he demands to sit in it. Not that he verbally asks, he is just adamant about climbing on. I get to teach him to read with him sitting on my lap. It thrills my heart to finally hold him so much.
I hope that whatever difficult decision you've struggled with in the past is rewarding to you today. I encourage you to step outside of what is known and comfortable and take a chance. Teach Sunday School, take a volunteer position, home-school, adopt a child, start a blog, try a new recipe, just do something.
You'll be glad you did.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Am I the only one?
In a departure from anything adoption related or spiritual, I am going to share the conversation I was party to on the way home from school today. I am sharing because I can't be the only one, and also, I must admit I was amused. I hope you will still hold me in some regard after you read this.
Brace yourselves.
The conversation began when Biruk told Hanna that it is rude for girls to fart. (you can guess what started this)
I said it was rude for anyone to fart.
Biruk wanted to know why everyone farts if it is so rude. (It has been pointed out that everyone does it sometimes. Yes, this is not our first conversation on the topic.)
We then discussed what is rude and what is not. In the bathroom is always fine, in some one's face is unacceptable, the accidental is unfortunately unavoidable, and therefore excusable.
This rapidly segued into why do they stink so bad and what color are they? Which lead to a spirited conversation about different colors and what a riot that would be.
Yes, I allowed the conversation and even participated when necessary. Believe it or not, they exhibited some good linear thinking and scientific observation. (Mostly I allowed it because I was laughing so hard. My girlfriend's husband says she and I are really 12 year old boys. I fear he may be right.)
Anyway, this is what rides home are like for me.
Please tell me I am not alone.
Brace yourselves.
The conversation began when Biruk told Hanna that it is rude for girls to fart. (you can guess what started this)
I said it was rude for anyone to fart.
Biruk wanted to know why everyone farts if it is so rude. (It has been pointed out that everyone does it sometimes. Yes, this is not our first conversation on the topic.)
We then discussed what is rude and what is not. In the bathroom is always fine, in some one's face is unacceptable, the accidental is unfortunately unavoidable, and therefore excusable.
This rapidly segued into why do they stink so bad and what color are they? Which lead to a spirited conversation about different colors and what a riot that would be.
Yes, I allowed the conversation and even participated when necessary. Believe it or not, they exhibited some good linear thinking and scientific observation. (Mostly I allowed it because I was laughing so hard. My girlfriend's husband says she and I are really 12 year old boys. I fear he may be right.)
Anyway, this is what rides home are like for me.
Please tell me I am not alone.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
1st day of School
It is finally the first day of school. I know, the kids are home schooled and therefore don't leave
me, but the start of school has been a needed thing. Summer has dragged on, and the kids have exhausted their need for free time.
Yes, those are uniforms that we are wearing. This year is a little different than last year. We have joined a school community called Classical Conversations. www.classicalconversations.com One day a week, we meet from 9am until 3pm. My four older children are in a class together, and Mel is in a younger class. There are tutors who introduce new material each week, and it is my responsibility to ensure that the children learn and understand. There is usually an assignment for them to turn in the next week. It is a nice balance for us. There is some extra guidance and accountability for me as well as the kids.
We all feel the first day was a success.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
blessings
Well,
My friend moved me to tears with the last post. Biruk is getting a little fed up with all my crying. He says, "Why you cry when you happy? Give me a break!" Apparently he though I was stronger than that.
I did not expect her to write anything. I just wanted her to add the button with Bianca's picture and remove the picture of the quilt. She did so much more. Thank you Melinda!
It felt weird to have a link where I was essentially asking people to give me money. Give Me money. I have absolutely no problem asking people for money 'for Someone else'. But this is actually to benefit me. Well, Bianca and subsequently, me. Am I asking for money really? I think it is more like allowing the opportunity. Because really, most of you who read this blog are in the same boat as me. Stepping out in faith and waiting for God to provide the way. I assure you, He will ALWAYS provide the way. I have never had a personal "GIVE" button before, but I have ALWAYS had the funds when I needed them. (not always when I wanted them...)
Ok, enough of that.
How are things going for you? Are you encouraged today, or is your heart discouraged? I pray for you all, my dear friends:
Precious Lord,
Thank you for your mercy and love. Thank you for hope. Thank you that we can know in our hearts that you love us. That if You are for us, no one can be against us.
Please Lord, strengthen our hearts today. Give us courage to look forward- past all obstacles. Help us Lord to find our joy in your strength.
No may God Himself, the God of Peace, make you pure, belonging only to him. May your whole self: spirit, soul, and body be kept safe and without fault when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. You can trust the One who calls you to do that for you.- I Thessalonians 5:23
Amen
My friend moved me to tears with the last post. Biruk is getting a little fed up with all my crying. He says, "Why you cry when you happy? Give me a break!" Apparently he though I was stronger than that.
I did not expect her to write anything. I just wanted her to add the button with Bianca's picture and remove the picture of the quilt. She did so much more. Thank you Melinda!
It felt weird to have a link where I was essentially asking people to give me money. Give Me money. I have absolutely no problem asking people for money 'for Someone else'. But this is actually to benefit me. Well, Bianca and subsequently, me. Am I asking for money really? I think it is more like allowing the opportunity. Because really, most of you who read this blog are in the same boat as me. Stepping out in faith and waiting for God to provide the way. I assure you, He will ALWAYS provide the way. I have never had a personal "GIVE" button before, but I have ALWAYS had the funds when I needed them. (not always when I wanted them...)
Ok, enough of that.
How are things going for you? Are you encouraged today, or is your heart discouraged? I pray for you all, my dear friends:
Precious Lord,
Thank you for your mercy and love. Thank you for hope. Thank you that we can know in our hearts that you love us. That if You are for us, no one can be against us.
Please Lord, strengthen our hearts today. Give us courage to look forward- past all obstacles. Help us Lord to find our joy in your strength.
No may God Himself, the God of Peace, make you pure, belonging only to him. May your whole self: spirit, soul, and body be kept safe and without fault when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. You can trust the One who calls you to do that for you.- I Thessalonians 5:23
Amen
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Help change the life of a child.
This is Traci's friend Melinda writing this post. She gave me her password so I could add the picture of Bianca for her and a link so I decided to write this little post as well. :)
Traci and Scott have decided to step out in faith once again to adopt a precious little girl that needs a mommy and daddy. Even though they have only been home for 6 months with Hanna and Biruk, even though their plates are already full, they have decided to be obedient to the calling God has placed in their lives. This is one of the verse's that Traci has found so meaningful during this time, it comes from Isaiah 54:1-2 "Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor;because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,"says the LORD. "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.
The Heim's have adopted all 5 of their children. They have never done any type of fundraising for any of the other adoptions. This time is different. They were not expecting to adopt this soon. They thought they would wait at least a year before they would add another child to their family, but as God often does, He laughed and told them He had other plans for their family.
I am asking on their behalf for you to be a part of this miracle called adoption. Not everyone will adopt a child, but we are all called to be a part of orphan care. What better way to do that then to financially support a family that is changing the life of a child. On the side of the blog their is a picture of one super adorable little girl that goes by the name Bianca. If you click on her picture it will direct you to a site that allows the Heim's to fund raise for her adoption. The donations go straight into an account specifically for Bianca. All donations are tax deductible and will be there only for Bianca.
I am so thankful to God for bringing this family in my life. I love these guys and want to see how God completely amazes them with his blessing's for this adoption.
Would you consider being a part of changing a life?
"Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, `Give them up!' and to the south, `Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-- --- Isaiah 43: 5-6
I'm only one. But still, I am one.I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something.And because I cannot do everything,I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.-- Edward Everett Hale
Traci and Scott have decided to step out in faith once again to adopt a precious little girl that needs a mommy and daddy. Even though they have only been home for 6 months with Hanna and Biruk, even though their plates are already full, they have decided to be obedient to the calling God has placed in their lives. This is one of the verse's that Traci has found so meaningful during this time, it comes from Isaiah 54:1-2 "Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor;because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,"says the LORD. "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.
The Heim's have adopted all 5 of their children. They have never done any type of fundraising for any of the other adoptions. This time is different. They were not expecting to adopt this soon. They thought they would wait at least a year before they would add another child to their family, but as God often does, He laughed and told them He had other plans for their family.
I am asking on their behalf for you to be a part of this miracle called adoption. Not everyone will adopt a child, but we are all called to be a part of orphan care. What better way to do that then to financially support a family that is changing the life of a child. On the side of the blog their is a picture of one super adorable little girl that goes by the name Bianca. If you click on her picture it will direct you to a site that allows the Heim's to fund raise for her adoption. The donations go straight into an account specifically for Bianca. All donations are tax deductible and will be there only for Bianca.
I am so thankful to God for bringing this family in my life. I love these guys and want to see how God completely amazes them with his blessing's for this adoption.
Would you consider being a part of changing a life?
"Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, `Give them up!' and to the south, `Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-- --- Isaiah 43: 5-6
I'm only one. But still, I am one.I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something.And because I cannot do everything,I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.-- Edward Everett Hale
Sunday, August 23, 2009
The Anouncement
Drum Roll Please.....
The Heim Family has officially begun the process to adopt a four year old girl named Bianca (not her real name), from Ukraine. I will go further to say that she is one of the precious angels that Project Hopeful has been advocating for. http://www.reecesrainbow.com/newsite/angelhiv.html hit this link and scroll to the end of this page and you will see her.
The site proclaims, "My family found me!"
We sure did.
My prayer is that more of these children will be found by their families, and soon.
The kids are excited and have no qualms about sharing the fact that she is coming home, as well as her HIV status. We realized right away that God is calling us to bring HIV into the light and dispel the fear it brings. It is a lot to put on a little girl, but God has a plan for my little Sunny, as I like to call her, and we will obey his will.
As you can imagine, along with this news are the usual comments, only they have stepped up a notch.
"You're going to heaven for sure"
This was said with utmost kindness, and the person meant well. The thing is, I am going to heaven for sure. Not because I adopted some children, but because my Heavenly Father adopted me.
Ephesians 1:5
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will...
I don't adopt the children so I'll go to heaven, I adopt them because I am going to heaven.
James 2:14-18
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
Dear friends, God is asking each of us to do something. To evidence our faith through our deeds.
He asks me to mother his children.
What does he ask you to do?
The Heim Family has officially begun the process to adopt a four year old girl named Bianca (not her real name), from Ukraine. I will go further to say that she is one of the precious angels that Project Hopeful has been advocating for. http://www.reecesrainbow.com/newsite/angelhiv.html hit this link and scroll to the end of this page and you will see her.
The site proclaims, "My family found me!"
We sure did.
My prayer is that more of these children will be found by their families, and soon.
The kids are excited and have no qualms about sharing the fact that she is coming home, as well as her HIV status. We realized right away that God is calling us to bring HIV into the light and dispel the fear it brings. It is a lot to put on a little girl, but God has a plan for my little Sunny, as I like to call her, and we will obey his will.
As you can imagine, along with this news are the usual comments, only they have stepped up a notch.
"You're going to heaven for sure"
This was said with utmost kindness, and the person meant well. The thing is, I am going to heaven for sure. Not because I adopted some children, but because my Heavenly Father adopted me.
Ephesians 1:5
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will...
I don't adopt the children so I'll go to heaven, I adopt them because I am going to heaven.
James 2:14-18
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
Dear friends, God is asking each of us to do something. To evidence our faith through our deeds.
He asks me to mother his children.
What does he ask you to do?
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Successful Fundraiser
Just wanted to share with you that we have raised enough money to pay for the fence around the Covenant Village property. The quilt featured to the right has been won, and our Tattoo fundraiser raised $1010!!! Rich was so busy that there was never time to do one for me. I guess I dodged the needle this time. The other Project Hopeful ladies and I are considering a design so a tattoo is still probably in my future. Thanks again to Rich and Bridget Kocis at Peace of Art Tattoos. http://www.peaceofarttatoo.com/
While this specific fundraiser is now over, we are constantly in need of funds to cover our office expenses, so feel free to continue to donate generously.
Exciting news also here at the Heim house. I will share soon, but please keep us in your prayers.
TTFN
While this specific fundraiser is now over, we are constantly in need of funds to cover our office expenses, so feel free to continue to donate generously.
Exciting news also here at the Heim house. I will share soon, but please keep us in your prayers.
TTFN
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