(Written May 29th)
A three day weekend spent in the sun (before the tropical storm hit) and buried up to our eyeballs in curriculum, lesson plans and school schedules and by Monday night BJ and I were both a little fried, physically and mentally. We have determined that 6 kids at the base pool with slide included while tremendously fun is also a little nerve wracking and stressful. We are also quite certain that this whole "home schooling 6 kids of all varying academic levels and 2 of whom are special needs" is just plain crazy and after hours of reviewing schedules and repeatedly counting hours to make sure that we could not find anymore the 24 hours in any given day, we have determined that it is IMPOSSIBLE!! Absolutely and entirely impossible ~ there is certainly not enough money in the curriculum account, hours in the day, energy in this tired body and without a doubt not enough brains in this head to get it all done, everyday, all year, for the rest of their ever-loving lives! Well, maybe not quite that long but it sure feels that way. And the fact that my Navy - loving husband was spending his day off pouring over schedules and printing out addition fact sheets was not lost to me and I love him dearly for his dedication to his family. Granted he spent most of the day terrorizing me due to my unorganized and slightly chaotic system but he would not be the BJ I know and love if he was not torturing me for one thing or another. However, even with my lovely and trusty assistant it was still quite clear that this next school year we will embark on a voyage of the impossible and just the prep work for this voyage has me completely exhausted.
So, you may be wondering whether or not I spent this morning at our local elementary, middle and high school registering my way into a little freedom and sanity. Yes, I did! No just kidding, God would not let me do that regardless of how many times I have begged Him to allow me to. And after 10 years of home schooling BJ would not allow me to register them either, which is comical since he is the one who was against home schooling all those years ago because he did not want our kids to be "weird." No, I spent this morning plugging away at our last few weeks of this school year and chuckling to myself about how insane this really is.
But, I got to thinking, or more properly put, God got to explaining that this impossible task set before us serves one purpose and one purpose only ~ to glorify God. And in my impossible I see that He is entirely capable, completely able and fully desiring to be all that He has always been. And in this vast space of impossibility before me I see the possibility, no, the certainty that He will fill this space with all that He is and our cup runneth over. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me ... I just need to give Him this space of impossibility of this call that He has called us to.
1 Corinthians 1:27 ~ "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put shame to the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame to the things which are mighty."
I am quite certain that when God used the hand of Paul to write these life giving words He was looking down the long corridor of time and had His eye on me and He knew that many would say we were foolish and maybe we are, but He will use us all the same. And He felt my weakness, for He carried my weaknesses upon Himself and He determined to use me all the same.
2 Corinthians 12:9 - 10 ~ "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
I too make my boast in my weakness that the power of Christ may rest upon me, upon my home and upon my family. And in my weakness I feel His strength and now I wonder why have I held so tightly to my own strength for so long? His power resting upon me, His strength is well ... perfect.
And yet we had much comical relief this weekend ~
And they all came tumbling down ~
The cross dressing Ruppel Ballet Company (we are seriously considering taking this one on the road!)
And last but not least, the boys' answer to those pesky tears while cutting onions ~
Who knew swimming goggles had so many uses?!
A three day weekend spent in the sun (before the tropical storm hit) and buried up to our eyeballs in curriculum, lesson plans and school schedules and by Monday night BJ and I were both a little fried, physically and mentally. We have determined that 6 kids at the base pool with slide included while tremendously fun is also a little nerve wracking and stressful. We are also quite certain that this whole "home schooling 6 kids of all varying academic levels and 2 of whom are special needs" is just plain crazy and after hours of reviewing schedules and repeatedly counting hours to make sure that we could not find anymore the 24 hours in any given day, we have determined that it is IMPOSSIBLE!! Absolutely and entirely impossible ~ there is certainly not enough money in the curriculum account, hours in the day, energy in this tired body and without a doubt not enough brains in this head to get it all done, everyday, all year, for the rest of their ever-loving lives! Well, maybe not quite that long but it sure feels that way. And the fact that my Navy - loving husband was spending his day off pouring over schedules and printing out addition fact sheets was not lost to me and I love him dearly for his dedication to his family. Granted he spent most of the day terrorizing me due to my unorganized and slightly chaotic system but he would not be the BJ I know and love if he was not torturing me for one thing or another. However, even with my lovely and trusty assistant it was still quite clear that this next school year we will embark on a voyage of the impossible and just the prep work for this voyage has me completely exhausted.
So, you may be wondering whether or not I spent this morning at our local elementary, middle and high school registering my way into a little freedom and sanity. Yes, I did! No just kidding, God would not let me do that regardless of how many times I have begged Him to allow me to. And after 10 years of home schooling BJ would not allow me to register them either, which is comical since he is the one who was against home schooling all those years ago because he did not want our kids to be "weird." No, I spent this morning plugging away at our last few weeks of this school year and chuckling to myself about how insane this really is.
But, I got to thinking, or more properly put, God got to explaining that this impossible task set before us serves one purpose and one purpose only ~ to glorify God. And in my impossible I see that He is entirely capable, completely able and fully desiring to be all that He has always been. And in this vast space of impossibility before me I see the possibility, no, the certainty that He will fill this space with all that He is and our cup runneth over. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me ... I just need to give Him this space of impossibility of this call that He has called us to.
1 Corinthians 1:27 ~ "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put shame to the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame to the things which are mighty."
I am quite certain that when God used the hand of Paul to write these life giving words He was looking down the long corridor of time and had His eye on me and He knew that many would say we were foolish and maybe we are, but He will use us all the same. And He felt my weakness, for He carried my weaknesses upon Himself and He determined to use me all the same.
2 Corinthians 12:9 - 10 ~ "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
I too make my boast in my weakness that the power of Christ may rest upon me, upon my home and upon my family. And in my weakness I feel His strength and now I wonder why have I held so tightly to my own strength for so long? His power resting upon me, His strength is well ... perfect.
And yet we had much comical relief this weekend ~
And they all came tumbling down ~
The cross dressing Ruppel Ballet Company (we are seriously considering taking this one on the road!)
And last but not least, the boys' answer to those pesky tears while cutting onions ~
Who knew swimming goggles had so many uses?!
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