Gateways to Joy

"S hould swiss  alps be capitalized?" I ask my eight year-old son. "Wait ... what is that again?  He asks seemingly frustrated. "Take a break." I say. "Thank you!" He exclaims. Today has been a tough one— long.  Not only have I had to homeschool, cook, do laundry and ..., I've also had to throw some unexpected lessons on: kindness, not being vengeful and The Golden Rule.  Today reminded me of Elisabeth Elliot and what she often said,  "We have to teach our children, line upon line, precept upon precept."  This is no easy task and isn't for the faint of heart! I often sit back and wonder  "Am I messing these kids up?"   They are so sinful and haven't been around half the stuff I grew up around, yet I was so different it seems.  There was only my brother and me, and I am five years older so that could account for why we didn't argue as much.  Both of us attended school outside of the hom...

L aughing and talking echoes through the house.  Some of the kids are at the dinner table doing their school work, and some are in the kitchen talking to me while I stir the beans and make the corn bread. "The chicken is almost done."   I tell the kids who are in the kitchen.  My son hollers across the room to notify those at the table. "Underline the nouns and tell me which ones are common  & which ones are proper."   I yell from the kitchen. My daughter brings me her paper.  She's working on her vocabulary from Classical Roots.  She whines.  I tell her to correct her mistakes (again). We break bread for lunch.  Interrupted by the call of my husband, who has already called a handful of times.  "What y'all doing?"   He asked. "About to eat."   I say. "I wish I was there with y'all.  Can't wait to put this meat online, then I'll be home too." We finish conversation. Kids make Mama feel good.  The...