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What I Have Learned From My Teacher

I’ve been looking at different stores recently for a good price on pure vanilla extract. The prices seemed too high so I figured I’d wait until I found something cheaper. Then, yesterday, my neighbor came over and asked if I needed any vanilla. I laughed and said, “Yes, why?” And he said he had gotten a gallon of vanilla at his work and couldn’t possibly use it all and did I want some. So, now I have enough vanilla to last a year or more!

You know, although I laughed at first, when I thought about it later, it really struck me how much God loves me, and the tears began to form. He knows my every thought and need even before I ask. It was like a bridegroom thinking of his bride and wanting to do something special for her. He finds out what she likes or needs and surprises her with it. The Lord’s love makes me blush sometimes. It’s so deep, who can fathom it? “Many waters cannot quench His love.”

He wants us to love others with that same kind of love. And, yet, He gives us the love we lack and even shows us how to love. It reminds me of my young daughter lately. She wants to take me out on a date. She’s been saying, “I’m doing this just for you, Mom.” The boys asked her how she was going to pay for this date, and she said, “Oh, Mom’s going to drive us there and pay for it, but I’m doing it just for her.” That’s just like God and us. He gives us the love, and we say we’re doing it just for Him. He must laugh out loud sometimes at our infantile reasoning.

What I Have Learned From My Children

My two year old threw a big fit at the zoo today. He refused to obey the simple command of “Come here,” and had to be buckled into his stroller. He made such a scene and began twisting out of the belt, so I knew I needed a private moment with him. So I left the others with Grandma, and we headed off to the restrooms. After administering some discipline, which usually works, he became worse. So I began to pray and rebuke the enemy. Now, that really worked, and he was able to lay his head on my shoulder and reconcile with Mommy.

The enemy knows that this little soul is being fed the Word of God, and he was trying to shoot some arrows at us. But, we have been bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus, and satan only has the authority God gives him, or the foothold we give him. When we don’t discipline our children, then satan has a greater foothold on them. So as weary as I get, I must continue to discipline and, especially, intentionally pray for my children. Consistent discipline can be very draining, but I know where to find my rest – Jesus says, “Come here,” when He sees me weary. Unlike my two year old today, I plan to obey that command so as to avoid satan’s arrows aimed my way, and in order to find rest for my soul.

My Prayer

“Holy Love, flow in me, and out to those you divinely place in my life. When I am weary in well doing, help me not to faint but to know I will reap a harvest of blessing from You. Thank you for knowing my needs before even I do and encouraging me by breathing courage into me. Help me to learn from You how to encourage others, especially those of my own household.”

"Cozy, Cozy, COZIES", is what my daughter Julia, age 5, shrieks as she dives under her covers and laughs, waiting for me to rush in after her and snuggle. The word "cozy" is just that....a word that makes you feel comfortable and warm, just like Julia feels when she is deep within the blankets, squirming around, squealing for Mama. Splashes From the River Multimedia, Inc. was smart when they named their product for educators, which is absolutely sweeping the nation with great gusto. Cozy Grammar is the name, and cozy it is -- I shall tell you why. First off, what is warm and fuzzy (in general) about grammar? Come on, be honest. I personally like grammar - It is my favorite subject (even though my punctuation definitely could use some sharpening), but grammar? Cozy? I don't think so. However, there is a reason this program, which consists of two high-quality video tapes and a workbook (+ answer key), is definitely considered "cozy". Marie Rackham. This woman is a character in herself. When you see the videos, you will understand what I mean when I say this. She has a cottage on Vancouver Island, right on Campbell River in British Columbia, and she films the classes right there, in and around her beautiful, warm home. The scenery outdoors is breathtaking. Have you ever seen the Anne of Green Gables videos? If you loved that gorgeous scenery, you will be pleasantly surprised at how similar this is. Marie is a retired English teacher who is prim and proper all the way (note the classical music piano soundtrack in the background), yet giggles and takes joy in the simple things around her. Much of the classroom time is spent outdoors, with the gurgling river and on the beach. Teacup in hand, Marie uses her surroundings to introduce grammatical concepts. For instance, she chops her own wood while explaining subjects and predicates. She falls DOWN and "hurts" herself on a log to visually demonstrate a grammar concept to the viewer. We all know how important it is to use visual aids, when we're driving home a point. This is what Marie does, but she goes far beyond a blackboard and a still-life dummy. You walk with her on the beach, learning to speak and write correctly. You follow her into the kitchen, where she giggles and grabs a cookie. You laugh your head off when she sits on a damp log on the beach, and jumps up in "surprise", claiming she does not like having a "wet bum"! All of this is for the viewer's benefit -- so they learn grammar. The Old Schoolhouse™ gives Cozy Grammar the "Best all-time Grammar Award" in our book. This is a full course, complete with approximately 2 1/2 hours of teaching time in the videos and a 110 page workbook (work along while you view the classes). 27 lessons in all and definitely well-worth the price. This is perfect for homeschoolers, absolutely perfect! Moms, take the class with your kids - it's a wonderful refresher course. Although it is really designed for kids 10 on up, my two younger children loved Cozy Grammar, simply because of all the scenery and "cozy sounds" coming from the tapes. They thought it was great, and so do we. Highly recommended by TOS™ -- 20 stars on a scale of five!

--Product Review by: Gena Suarez, Publisher, The Old Schoolhouse™

My husband disassembled the crib; a new era of independence awaited our toddler and us. I watched this as one would watch a dreaded ceremonial goodbye--with a lump in my throat. Could it be this season of life was over for us? That crib had stood planted firmly, resisting the earthshaking antics of toddlers, embedded in our house as what seemed like a permanent fixture near all our marriage days. Cribs parts now lay on the floor looking forlorn and broken. Images flooded my mind--the toddler graduating and the next newborn looking so tiny. I saw the six month old with fists wrapped around rungs, and two tooth smile peeking between the maple bars. I visualized the ten month old standing with tight grips on the railing, bouncing and singing that sweet mama chorus in the morning. I remembered the 18 month old, having thrown all his blankies and bears overboard, with his leg thrown over the rail and contemplating his next move. I see the two year old climbing in her crib. How did the time pass so quickly? When did the days run together like pages in a story? And this, this sacred time of our lives has passed. And I want to cry. Yet I was supposed to be excited. I was supposed to feel free. I was supposed to be liberated from diapers and nursing babes. Perhaps some mommies welcome this season....but for some of us baby lovers, this is not liberating, but depressing.

For many of us moms, there may be no more satisfying moments in our lives than the birth of a new baby. Again we are pointed home and prioritize our little nests. The fuzzy things of life come in to focus. This is what counts. Our perspective is back. We focus on the honorable calling of motherhood with renewed energy. This is where our need to nurture, our need to be needed is so fulfilled. A helpless six year old can be annoying....but a helpless one month old gives us purpose and drive. Some mothers find babies are demanding, and some of ours have been, but babies remind me of our kindred Anne's comment on the subject of days---each day is a fresh start with no mistakes in it, yet. Each new baby brings delight and fresh opportunity. While I don't doubt the sin nature of man, I also can not ignore the innocence and vulnerability of each new baby....with no mistakes in it, yet!

Perhaps more so for the homeschooling mother, babies can quickly become part of our identity. Our babies are our job security. They offer us a safety net. They validate us. We feel equipped and important. We can turn their tears in to laughter with a round of patty cake. They are a bright spot we can usually manage. The ironing pile may wait, the corners may have cobwebs, the vocabulary lessons may have slacked off, the weekly art forgotten, all these things we can excuse because of the baby. Those dear blessed babies. They demand we sit down and nurse them. They develop so rapidly we marvel at their abilities. We stop to enjoy them. Sure, they dump the rice and stick crackers down the vent, but they are so quickly forgiven, because they are babies. We are mothers, mommies, and moms, but when we are “mama” God seems to give us a bit more grace in dealing with our babes.

Now there will be no more babies sleeping on daddy's chest, no more little blankets in the wash, no more drooly smiles, and soft pudgy hands grasping my single finger, no more "best days of our life" when the day of birth arrives. No excuse to sit on the couch with a sweet smelling baby. What will I do? I suppose it's no more strollers, diaper bags, and potty chairs. No more arms overflowing with pocketbook, groceries, baby on the hip, while my hand grabs a toddler by the neck of his shirt. No more milk puddles everywhere. No more morning sickness, afternoon, and night sickness. No more sticky icky high chairs. No more worries about the little toys the babies might mouth. No splashing in the toilet. I keep telling myself I should sigh with a little relief. My sigh is melancholy at best.

This season can be particularly painful if it does not come naturally. When our bodies tell us it is time, and we have no choice, we may grieve. When our husbands tell us it is time to pack up the crib....and we have our doubts, we may grieve even a bit more. Our grief is prolonged with wondering. We may cast a second glance at every pregnant mom. We may note each baby we see and wonder what might have been for us. We may feel deprived, despite having a full nest. And we may feel silly. After all, it's time. Time to move on - our body or our hubby says. Our energy is low at times and our children are demanding. We may need to focus on them. We are reminded by bouncing, bubbling, singing, energetic new mommies of one or two that we are not 27 anymore. We may not want to be homeschooling at 63. And our bodies...our bodies no longer have elastic left in them we say. How can we do this to our bodies again? Selfish or realistic? We need to care for the whole family, not just cuddle with baby. We want to be deeply involved in the life of our grandchildren, and if we are too old.....you see, that’s what happens. The thoughts run through our minds. The indecision about the decision prods at us. We wonder if it is the Lord's best, or if it is our flesh. We may even feel hurt or disconnected from our dear hubbies if our husbands are the reason behind the decision. And we may monthly struggle, wondering if the decision could be changed. We may hold our breath each month.

So mommy friends of mine, if you find yourself grieving over that crib in the attic, take heart. You are not alone. We can not make these decisions alone, but must follow the will of God, if that be through our bodies denial of pregnancy, our ability to carry a child at this more precarious point, our husband's determination, or our own indecision that keeps us from conceiving at a later age. What we must not do is blame, or find ourselves obsessed with having "one more." I won't tell you not to cry, because I have. Our hearts may long for a baby, and for those of us that have lost babies perhaps this loss goes deeper than most. In our book of seasons, Ecclesiastes, we learn there is time for every event under Heaven. There is "A time to give birth,"... "A time to mourn and a time to laugh."

Dear ladies, I can not be so shallow as to say grandchildren await. To be sure they do Lord willing, and we will love them immensely. Looking to that day will not quench us. God alone can give us the peace we need to move, even if only baby steps away from our baby days. And while our baby days are gone, or lingering by a mama's boy, we can enjoy what He has given us for this day. Like gray hair, our growing children are a crown to delight in, and the fruit of our womb ripening.

Marla Nowak has accomplished her childhood dream to be a mommy. She is the mother to seven children, one adult daughter, four at home, and two with the Lord. Story time is her favorite part of the school day. Pleasures like a good cup of coffee, or the first hydrangea bloom are simple things she appreciates. Admittedly a bit of a homebody, Marla delights in her family (most days!) She is in the tenth year of homeschooling her children, including two with Down Syndrome.

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