Home | Charis Buckland

Back at homeschool this week! And the gym and ballet and church! I was as happy to have fall break from school as they were! Back to the grading, supporting, teaching, and organizing the schoolwork for K5, 2nd grade, 4th grade, 6th grade, and 7th grade. 

We took Christmas photos, which of course, everyone loves, right?! Not so much, but my people have become accustomed to it, so they know to smile, look toward the camera, and it will all be over soon! It’s the tripod and me, running back and forth using the timer. Just look at the flashing light, everyone! My standards have lowered over the years, so as long as people look in the direction of the camera, and don’t look mad, we’re all good! At the end, they took a photo displaying how they feel about Christmas photo day! 

We went to a farm with church and had a wagon ride, saw animals, played on some great playgrounds, and looked at pumpkins. 

We enjoyed the games, too! Basketball and bean bag tosses are so fun!

Izzy Grace found a ladybug. She followed the little fancy bug all the way up her arm. 

In school, we learn so much beyond academics. We learn organization, time management, how to think for ourselves, how to be courteous and clean up our supplies, how to create, responsibilities for tasks around the house, how to make meals, bake goodies, and create ideas for how to serve others. Our curriculum includes Bible truths throughout every subject in every grade. They learn academics with a biblical perspective through the entire school day.

Sometimes I get to stressing out about what I am doing with my life. I also worry about whether my kid is successful in ballet or if they get the solo at church. We must remember that at the end of life, we all stand before God. 

He will care little if we were popular, if we made a lot of money at work, or if we were valedictorian. 

Our kids will stand before God, too. He will care little about their batting averages, grades, or popularity. 

These activities and goals are not inherently bad. In fact, God gives us the ability and the love for sports or science, or whatever it is we love to do. It’s problematic when it takes the place of God, and in our hearts we know that things other than God are more valuable than God Himself. 

How are we investing in our spiritual lives? Are we investing in our childrens’ souls? This is all that will last into eternity. 

I have cheerleading trophies and medals in the attic. Collecting dust! The time spent practicing and learning and falling and laughing were some of the most fun times I can remember. I loved the gym. Funny now that three knee surgeries and an ACL replacement later, they are simply memories. What a blessing to receive a college scholarship for a sport I love, but at the end of life, my soul matters more. 

Before college cheerleading tryouts, I was invited to Open Gym, which means pay a small fee at the door and receive instruction from cheerleaders at the University of Kentucky. Cheerleading is big in Kentucky! Open gym happened on Sunday nights, though, and I had youth choir and service on Sunday nights. I was able to go, just after church. I paid the small fee myself and drove over after church without a thought. It made sense to me to attend church first, even at seventeen. Later, I did compete nationally and win some competitions too!

My girls now who are in ballet, do not take any classes on Wednesday nights because we have church activities. Usually it’s fine, but there are times when they have had to not take a class they wanted in order to maintain that priority. God will honor them for their priorities and will bless those who humbly follow Him. We talk about where their hearts are. Is God changing their hearts to value what He values?

Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you. James 4:10 

It’s totally fine for us to say “no” to some stuff that might compete for time with the Lord. It’s fine to teach your kids how to honor God with their time. Sometimes that means saying “no” to some stuff. Our souls matter most!  

Love,
Charis

Pic(k) of the week:

I picked up a Starbucks drink after the gym. What a treat to myself! I couldn’t wait to sip the iced vanilla latte with pumpkin cold foam on top! When I came downstairs after my shower, I found Izzy Grace looking weird with something in her mouth, then saw my drink on the kitchen counter where I left it…