Looking back...

As I think back over this year, my mind and heart go a million different directions. This has been a very eventful year for our family and ministry. So, for the next few days I would like to share a short review of our 2016. I would also Like to share some of my goals for 2017!
 

 2016 Overview

January:

What a month January was! This was the month that God laid Hungary on our hearts. We had been waiting for months for our paperwork to be approved for Greenland. Shortly after God miraculously worked out a trip for Marty and I to go to Serbia and Hungary, we got our final no from Greenland. We were so very lost at what to do. We had invested so much of ourselves into Greenland. Should we continue being missionaries? If so, then to where?

Marty and I in Serbia!

February:

 We watched God do amazing things for us on our trip. Once we got back from our trip we took some time to pray about what the Lord wanted us to do. We didn't want to just jump at the first thing that came available. By mid February we knew that God wanted us in Hungary. It was exciting and nerve-raking all at the same time.

March:

March was filled with packing, packing and more packing! We shipped a small pallet here to Hungary. It was like playing a giant game of Tetras. March was also the month we said see ya later to my parents. You figure after saying bye so many times it would get easier. Well, it doesn't. 

The pallet!

April:

Moving month!! April 13th we had our sending service at Victory Baptist. Saying bye to them was just as hard as saying bye to family. Well, they are family! :)  April 16th we started making our way to Hungary! We had a misunderstanding in Paris at passport control, so we were delayed one day. But we arrived safely in Debrecen the 18th. For the first week we were here Eryn was really sick. I think she picked something up along the way. The on April 27th I got to experience the hospitals here in Hungary! I sliced open two of my fingers trying to open a new knife. I took a chunk out of my first finger and filet my middle finger, I got 8 stitches in my middle finger. Now I have my battle scars. It's safe to say that the knife won! 

See ya later to Mena!

My freshly stitched up fingers!

May...To be continued!! Tomorrow... 

Snow!

We got some snow today here in Debrecen! The kids loved it. So, of course, I had to get out with them and take some pictures.

One of my favorite poems growing up was, Snowball, by Shel Silverstein. The girls brought in their "pet snowballs" so, I had to share it with the girls. They thought it was great, so, you guys get to read it, along with some cute pictures of our kids. :)

My handsome young man

Gotta catch some snow!

Silly girl

AHHHHHHH

They sat down to make snow angels, Eryn said, Mom my bottom is cold! 

Snow angels!

Snowballs

A little homeschool honesty...

Okay ladies, let's be honest, how many of you have ever felt like you would so lose on the tv show, Are you smarter than a 5th grader? I don't think I would last very long on there at all!!  And yet, here I am homeshooling a 4th, 5th, and 6th grader?! Shocking, I know! :)

This last week in school was a rough one. We are in our sixth week school, and it felt like we had been going to school for half an eternity. to sum it up...one rough week!

On Friday my guys take quizzes on what they learn during the week. They did okay on the tests, but some of them were like pulling teeth! As a teacher I felt like a total failure! It seemed like they couldn't remember anything that they learned.

So, it was time for a change!

Either I swallow my "super mommy" pride and admit that I needed help, or have a total break down of our schooling. I decided that my pride had better go! 

I have always known that kids all learn in different ways. And, my guys are no different. It's funny, but I think all my guys learn in different ways. :) Eryn can usually read and understand, Maryanna is a very visual learner and hands on, Eli is a mixture of both! So, it was time to incorporate that into our schooling. I know, "Why didn't I do that sooner?" Well, I just didn't. Not a good excuse, but it's the best I got! 

Math is a subject that my kids have struggled with. So, as a change, I have found different you tube channels that explain it ways that my kids understand. I incorporated the videos into our school today, and boy what a difference! I saw the lights go off in their heads as they understood something that I was having trouble explaining to them. It took a goofy guy dancing about fractions for Maryanna to grasp the facts. Hey, I'll watch the goofy guy dance all day if it means my guys are learning!!   

I had to swallow my pride, admit my guys weren't grasping the facts by my teaching them alone, and change my thinking on things...all in one weekend! But, believe me, It's worth it! Today has been a smoother day in school than we have had in a long time. Yes, our school days are longer, but if they are learning, I'll take it!

I hope my honesty has helped someone. We are all human, we all make mistakes, so, let's own up to them, correct them, and head in the right direction! 

I hope you have a happy Monday homeschooling Momma!!