Tis the Season

I love this time of year.  I love the smells, the food, the music and most of all the reason for this season.  When I remember the reason why we celebrate, this time of year has a much deeper, richer meaning to me.  I have thought about ways that I can bring this into our daily learning.  It really is nice that we can begin each class with a prayer, and then talk and reflect about spiritual things.  When we look to heaven for direction, enlightenment comes and that is when true learning happens.  I believe we then are able to see things as the really are and not clouded by the way we want to see them. 

Last night I went and finished my last minute Christmas shopping.  It was the only time I had  alone.  I left after dinner, (7:00 pm) and didn't get home until everyone was in bed (11 pm).  The life of a homeschool mom is exhausting.  I'll be honest.   I don't know how parents homeschooled 15-20 years ago.  There is so much information available at the touch of a button today.  Even Christmas shopping is made easier now.  Most things I have purchased online have been shipped to me in two days.  Incredible!  When I sit and think about that, I am amazed at how blessed we are.  I am grateful to live in this day and time when there is an abundance of resources available to aid in our growth and understanding of things as they really are.

We are a week away from Christmas and I am feeling the anxiety of finishing neighbor gifts, cleaning my home for my in-laws to arrive, finishing our lessons before our 2 week hiatus and all of the items left on my "to-do" list.  I am an anxious person by nature and this is the time of year when I can get overwhelmed.  I am trying to do my best to remember that I need to relax, breath and pray for direction.  As long as we are doing our best to progress forward a little some days and more on other days; God will aid us in our learning as we look to Him.