It’s a month of beginnings! Welcome to a new school year, and all the fun, blood, sweat and tears that go with it. I tend to put on a new happy face when we start the year, allow everyone a new start, and “forget” about all the hard things from previous years. Usually within a few days, I’m in tears (in solitude, mostly) because the schedule isn’t working, he forgot how to write his name, she doesn’t remember any math facts, and we’re missing several key books I could have sworn were all ready. Really? How did I fall apart so fast?
In Lamentations, a book filled with a lot of sorrow- thus the name- God tells us that His mercies are new every morning. I don’t know about you, but that is so reassuring to me. Think- to be able to know that God doesn’t wake up and say, “Right- you think you’re going to be thankful today. Do you remember what you said yesterday? Do you?” We find in Psalms that He can remove our sins as far as the east is from the west. That gives me confidence to wake up and say to myself that it’s going to be a good day, a wonderful day, a blessed day, because God is in it and He’s allowed me this fresh start.
To bring that back to school, can you give your kids and yourself a fresh start every day for learning? Sure, he made those letters backwards yesterday, but even though I know it and have plans for ways to help him if he does it again today, I can instill confidence in him by acting absolutely certain that he might possibly know that this time. Think of her smile when she realizes I won’t hold that mistake over her head. Think of his renewed vigor when he knows I’m not going to frown before he even starts. Think of your peace when you can say to yourself that you’ve learned something important this day, because perfection really isn’t my goal, anyhow. Learning is, and it requires a lot of mistakes on the way. Mistakes which we chalk up as strategic battle scars, and leave behind for a fresh start tomorrow.
Happy Beginnings all year long!
CHECK OUT THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THIS MONTH BELOW:
This month you’ll find Welcome games, Blair Auxiliary Sale, Ta-Ha-Zouka Park, Star Gazing, Show & Tell, Field Trip to Rotella’s and See You at the Pole.
SEE THE YEAR GENERAL SCHEDULE ON THE “CALENDAR” TAB
In Lamentations, a book filled with a lot of sorrow- thus the name- God tells us that His mercies are new every morning. I don’t know about you, but that is so reassuring to me. Think- to be able to know that God doesn’t wake up and say, “Right- you think you’re going to be thankful today. Do you remember what you said yesterday? Do you?” We find in Psalms that He can remove our sins as far as the east is from the west. That gives me confidence to wake up and say to myself that it’s going to be a good day, a wonderful day, a blessed day, because God is in it and He’s allowed me this fresh start.
To bring that back to school, can you give your kids and yourself a fresh start every day for learning? Sure, he made those letters backwards yesterday, but even though I know it and have plans for ways to help him if he does it again today, I can instill confidence in him by acting absolutely certain that he might possibly know that this time. Think of her smile when she realizes I won’t hold that mistake over her head. Think of his renewed vigor when he knows I’m not going to frown before he even starts. Think of your peace when you can say to yourself that you’ve learned something important this day, because perfection really isn’t my goal, anyhow. Learning is, and it requires a lot of mistakes on the way. Mistakes which we chalk up as strategic battle scars, and leave behind for a fresh start tomorrow.
Happy Beginnings all year long!
CHECK OUT THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THIS MONTH BELOW:
This month you’ll find Welcome games, Blair Auxiliary Sale, Ta-Ha-Zouka Park, Star Gazing, Show & Tell, Field Trip to Rotella’s and See You at the Pole.
SEE THE YEAR GENERAL SCHEDULE ON THE “CALENDAR” TAB
Welcome Games and BINGO
Our Saviour’s Baptist Church
Friday, September 7
11:15am-12:15pm
Join us as we begin this new school year together! We will have some activities to get to know each other more. If you would like, bring some small party favor type items or little candies so we can make a welcome bag for each child. These will be in the kitchen when you arrive, and each person/family can go by those and add items. This workshop time is always free and requires no RSVP. You are welcome to bring a lunch and join us to visit after the workshop from 12:00-1:00. Enter door down ramp on east side.
Co-op Classes- 9:00-2:30
Snacks: Felicia McDermott (please bring a snack for 30)
Free-Style Crafts: You’ll take turns bringing items, but if you have something you could bring for this first class, please do so.
Nebraska: If your kids have visited a place in Nebraska they would like to share about, they can do so. If they have pictures or momentos, they may bring those, also.
Co-op Classes- 9:00-2:30
Snacks: Felicia McDermott (please bring a snack for 30)
Free-Style Crafts: You’ll take turns bringing items, but if you have something you could bring for this first class, please do so.
Nebraska: If your kids have visited a place in Nebraska they would like to share about, they can do so. If they have pictures or momentos, they may bring those, also.
Blair Auxiliary Sale
Arlington, Washington County Fairgrounds
Thursday-Sunday, September 13-16
This is a massive garage sale worthy of skipping most everything in your schedule for! We call it “Arlington School”, and my kids save and prepare for this as if it was the only event of the year. Felicia and crew will be there Thursday, come shop with us!
Park Day
Ta-Ha-Zouka Park in Elkhorn
Friday, September 14
11:00am-1:00pm
Hopefully the weather cooperates with us, and we can enjoy the start of beautiful fall days together! Come whenever you would like and visit and play. Bring a lunch, if you would like. Felicia will be driving for Homeschool Teen Serve and unable to come, so invite friends to come with! If the weather is bad, Oakview Mall is the backup plan.
Star Gazing
Mahoney State Park
Friday, September 14
7:30-11:00pm
Yes, you read that time correctly! This requires a park entry sticker. They will have big telescopes set up. You don’t have to stay whole time.
Show & Tell
Our Saviour’s Baptist Church
Friday, September 21
11:15am-12:15pm
Bring your favorite things and come share it with friends! Kids and parents alike are welcome to bring a favorite playing type item- toy, stuffed animal, game. You may also bring a favorite school type item- a report, a drawing, a project. We’ll set these on display in the open room and allow each child to present about them. This workshop time is always free and requires no RSVP. You are welcome to bring a lunch and join us to visit after the workshop from 12:00-1:00. Enter door down ramp on east side.
Rotella’s- Field Trip
6949 S 108th St, La Vista
Thursday, September 27
10:30am-12:00pm
***NOTE THIS IS ON THURSDAY***
This delicious trip will let you see how bread is made large-scale! Only kids 6 and older. If you want to bring older kids but have younger ones, visit with Felicia, perhaps we can trade children to allow olders to go and youngers to play a while. RSVP by the 19th. Contact Amy with questions at [email protected] or at 402-521-1053.
This delicious trip will let you see how bread is made large-scale! Only kids 6 and older. If you want to bring older kids but have younger ones, visit with Felicia, perhaps we can trade children to allow olders to go and youngers to play a while. RSVP by the 19th. Contact Amy with questions at [email protected] or at 402-521-1053.
See You at the Pole
Ta-Ha-Zouka Park, Elkhorn
Wednesday, September 26
8:00-8:30am
“See You at the Pole” corresponds with the Global Week of Student Prayer and encourages students to take a quiet but bold stand for their faith by meeting together before school to pray on this day, “uniting themselves together in prayer before God and interceding for their generation”. Since we have school at our homes, let’s encourage this by meeting together at the park to pray. We will bring donuts and breakfast items to share after. Invite your friends, family and parents who may not be homeschooling as well.
***In case of bad weather, check email or text. As a general rule, if Elkhorn schools are closed due to weather, we will also close. Use common sense.***