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Jenn

227 E Edgewood Dr
Friendswood, TX, 77546
United States

Jennifer James Sapaugh is a homeschooling mother of 5, singer/songwriter, and adoption advocate from Houston, Texas. Jennsapaugh.com is designed to better share and connect Jenn with other like-minded people in hopes of her crazy life adventures encouraging others in their crazy life adventures.

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Filtering by Category: homeschool

Thoughts on "Sin" brought to you by Presley & Andie

Jennifer James

So this year in school we are back in ancient history. Starting at the beginning (Creation) til about the Fall of Rome. We in the classical homeschool world refer to this as "year 1". Anywho, yesterday we were going over all the good stuff in the garden of Eden, where Adam & Eve disobey and both blame each other (so classic). We get to Cain and Abel and stumble upon God's generous warning to Cain in his anger to do what's right, and then God added:

         "But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." (Gen. 4:7b)

For me, I'm thinking "Whoa! Isn't that the truth - sin is waiting always trying to trip me up!! What a great word! I have to be on guard and rule over the sin!" For the kids, I'm thinking, "What a great teachable moment, this is gonna be good"

And so we were off, the moment beginning with:

Presley: What door? 

Me: Like, the door of our hearts and minds...

Presley: Ohhhhh, I thought you meant the front door. (Disbelief. come on, you're 6 almost 7)

Me: What sin could be crouching at the door of our hearts and minds?

Andie: Like taking everyone's party packs and throwing them away! (Still have no idea about what this even means. Like, what is a party pack even?)

Presley: Oh ya! Or taking the party favors at a birthday party and dumping them all in your bag!

Andie:  Ya! Or pouncing on the electricity so everybody doesn't have power! (now, in her defense we had recently lost power in a thunderstorm, but still, this was kinda shocking)

Presley: Disobeying your parents!

Andie: Or disobey your mom! And... don't punch anyone in the face!!!

And that pretty muched wrapped up our moment. We talked about needing Jesus to help us with these temptations (as I tried not to burst out laughing) And we concluded with some intro that will lead us into "Noah and the Flood" tomorrow. So there you have it, the deep thoughts and theologies of some Sapaugh kids. So impressive. (sarcasm)

 

             

 

Tap Shoes & Week 2

Jennifer James

Yesterday afternoon, I had most everyone's attention (generously speaking) trying to finish some History reading, but there was this noise somewhere around me that was driving me crazy.

(That is one challenge of motherhood I never anticipated  - all the noises! It's like I'm used to them, but then they are also slowly, day by day, eating away at my sanity)

DO NOT BE FOOLED by this cute face!!!!

DO NOT BE FOOLED by this cute face!!!!

Anyways, I realized what it was & had to break from the reading to tell Madden - "Either take the tap shoes off til we are done or sit down!!" I tried to regather everyone's focus and jump back in. Only to be interrupted by Madden yelling my "Look Mom!! Look!! (x15)  I finally looked at her and said "WHAT??!" (in a very patient mommy voice....or nothing like that at all) She responded by trying to show me how softly she can walk in the tap shoes to make less noise. Still interrupting; still wasting my time.

 

I literally just needed to read a couple of pages - and I felt like I may die trying to get it done.

Regular School Perk: Kids don't have access to tap shoes while their teacher is reading the History lesson.

This is a very real picture of homeschooling when you have littles. Those 2's & 3's are kind of a wild card when you are needing to focus some attention on bigger kids. I find it to be the hardest part. In fact, in order to be able to dedicate time to the big kids with a little break from the 3 year old craziness - Madden is actually going to be going to a 2 day a week Mother's Day Out this year! (Praise Him!)

When homeschooling with younger kids, the dynamic and schedule change every year. If you have a new baby, if you have a good afternoon napper, God forbid - when someone drops a nap - you work around the better times in your day with your kids. Now that Andie is in Kindergarten, this is my first year to be full on teaching 3 kids. So, even though I am 5 years into this madness - this year is new to me!

First day of school pic!!

First day of school pic!!

It is sometimes shocking to me but the truth is, regardless of the challenges of my homeschool day, I still feel like the perks always out weigh the hard stuff.

I LOVE having my kids with me (and with each other). I LOVE the freedom we have to go and do.  I LOVE that all my extra time and energy gets to pour back into them.  And actually, I LOVE learning with them as we read and discuss things. 

The hard parts are hard - but I think being a mom is pretty hard work no matter what. We never thought we would homeschool, but I am so glad God has us on this path for now. At the end of the day, I feel really lucky.