Let the Lessons Begin!

Oh, the joy of sitting at the table in your pajamas, joking and laughing out loud while you learn! We started a new school year yesterday, and simply had fun! Madison is quite the enthusiastic learner, and she is so silly and light-hearted that it is a joy to do lessons with her.

Today we did our first science experiment, which is something that she got so excited about that she flitted about, singing and skipping all the way to the kitchen to gather materials. Our lesson today was about mummification, and our experiment was to see if we could "mummify" some apple slices.

We will have to check our apple slices next week to see if it worked. Science this year is going to be so much fun! Our curriculum came with a kit containing all that we need to do 15 experiments!

Yesterday's math lesson, on the other hand, was very boring. The first several units in the math book are review, and it just feels so useless to keep beating that horse to death. Therefore, after Madison did the first page in her math workbook, I decided that it was a waste of time for her to do problems that she could do blindfolded with both hands behind her back. So, instead of doing another workbook page today, I started giving her quizzes, to see if she could "clep" lessons in the math book. She has tested out of 8 lessons so far. I have a funny feeling she will get to skip over half of the math book. We will just start with the concepts she hasn't mastered, and when she finishes the book, we'll order the next grade level. She may end up doing ninth grade math by the end of the school year.

Bible class yesterday was the highlight of the week so far. The lesson hit me right between the eyes. We are studying worship: what it is, why we do it, and how we are to do it. One of the verses that we read was Revelation 4:11 that says, "Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." I have always loved that verse, as it tells me what my purpose in life is: to please God. But the thing that struck me today was that I find myself misunderstanding my place in the relationship. Oftentimes I live my life as though God were created for me: to help me in my time of need, to strengthen me when I am weak, to heal me when I am sick, to comfort me when I am frightened. But the truth of the matter is that, first of all, I am here for Him, not the other way around. Granted, He does do all of those things in my life, but it is not for my good pleasure that He assists me and comforts me; it is so that my life might point others to Him, and in turn, give Him the glory. I choked up as I read the verse. Madison was not struck with the same epiphany, but it made for a great start to a wonderful year of home schooling.

I hope and pray that this school year ends as well as it has started.