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Hello world!
May 21st, 2010 by Athena
Hello all! Welcome to my Blog. I hope you enjoy it, IF I can make it work right.
First off I will introduce myself. My name is Athena. I’m a Christian, homeschooling mom of 4 great kids. Ages 16, 14 (nearly 15), 8 and 5. Also in my family is my dear hubby, Tony; and my mother, Lori, or Granny, as the kids call her. Our four (and 6) legged member are: Albus – a boarder collie – lab mix 3 years old; Griffin & Sebastian – mixed breed cats 10 & 3 respectively; Lexi & Banana – guinea pigs about 6 months; Bambina – hamster also, 6 months; and Fido, Scrappy & Sammy – hermit crabs, age unknown. We often have other members for short (or long) times that have many legs – daddy long-legs are a favorite and make great and easy care for pets.
I named this blog “somewhere in the middle” because that is where we seem to always be. Not just in the middle of life, but in the middle of opions and various ends of spectrums. For instance, take my Christian journy. I am still a relitivly new true believer. I was saved in October of 2008. Not anywhere near a tradition saving, I’ll post about it sometime. I have since found a very happy church home in a local Assembly of God church. I have become very active in the nursery since January, and have been asked to start teaching the 3 & 4 year old class during service. The children and I LOVEbeing there and worshiping and learning from our new church family. However (and this is where the “somewhere in the middle” comes in), I do take the Bible for the truth, but with a grain of salt, so to speak. A good example is Creation vs evolution. Even though I completely believe that God created everything, and we do NOT come from ooze (ooze to zoo to you , did it really only take 6 days to create it all? Could it have taken longer? Perhaps He kept it simple for simpler times. I lean considerable towards 6 days, however I do not exclude the possibility that it did take longer. I simply don’t know. And, honestly, am not that concerned about it. God did what He did, and what really matters is that I am saved through His son, Jesus Christ. I know many want to know the answer, but I don’t need to. So, that puts me “somewhere in the middle” of that.
In our homeschooling journey, we are also in the middle of those we hang around with. We have friends who do “school at home” and those who “unschool.” We approach homeschooling from both ends. We do whatever works on any given day or month. Each kid in in there own “learning zone.” Some on track, some ahead, some behind – in each of the different subjects. Makes for a lot of work for mom, to keep it all together, but I want them to grow at their own pace, not someone else’s preconceived idea of what they should do. Somethings MUST be done, others are options. Some things are done at the table, others are done on the couch. We have a VERY flexible routine to our day, and move it around when needed by one or more of the members of this family.
And, now, after many years of trying to fit in with some group or another, I am finally content to be “somewhere in the middle.” That’s not to say, that there are times I want to “just fit in somewhere,” I am still human. Just like sometimes I have to think “ahhh.. – we are so behind in school work!!” But I have spent a lot of time praying to God to lead me where He wants me, and to show me what He needs me for. During all that, I have come to see, He has placed me “somewhere in the middle” for a purpose, His purpose. And that is just fine with me. After all, isn’t our whole purpose here on earth to serve our Lord? Who am I to argue with Him. So, here I am, “somewhere in the middle.” Happy and content, for the most part.
I hope this blog will be entertaining and informative to you. I will not apologize for my feeling, thoughts and opinions. Nothing I say is meant to hurt or offend anyone. I welcome and comments and questions. I do insist on one thing. In our home I have one rule about disagreeing with mom. You have every right to not like, or completely disagree with what I say, you may even tell me what you thing, BUT, it must be done in a respectful and kind way. I will not listen if you don’t. And we will get nowhere. So, please keep that in mind when posting.
I hope you enjoy this, and please check back often to see what else I post.
Blessings – Athena