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A
TIME AND A SEASON
"...To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under
heaven..."
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Life is full of changes and mine is taking a new path. This will be
my last article for the Mysticool Mom's site but I will still look forward
to each month to see what Heidi and all the other moms are up to and
how they are surviving/enjoying these parenting years!
Life with 4 children has never been boring for me and I am always amazed
that our house runs as smoothly as it does. (OK, it doesn't really run
smooth but we somehow make it through the days!) When my kids were younger
everyone always told me to enjoy them because they grow up so fast.
They were right! When my kids were younger and I thought the problems
we were going through were so tough, friends always told me to "just
wait til they get a little older....it is even harder!" They were
right again! I can hardly believe it but my children are really growing
up and we are entering new stages of our lives.
Jill is finishing her Driver's Ed. class and has actually driven across
the Tacoma Narrows Bridge now! I never imagined what it would feel like
to have a child of mine driving. So exciting yet so scary! In 2 days,
she will be starting a summer Chemistry class at Olympic College and
then in the fall she will begin doing Running Start and be taking college
classes full time. She is even talking about going away to college after
that. My little girl is growing up and I can already see the apron strings
loosening.
The boys are also growing up. For them I am noticing more physical changes.
All three have grown about 2-4" it seems like recently and none
of their pants and shoes fit anymore. Jeff just turned 13 (a TEENAGER!)
and has hairy armpits and even a slight mustache while the youngest,
Andrew, is already talking about "when I have hair in my armpits
like Jeff!" Their conversations are becoming much deeper and more
thoughtful and they are starting to talk about their futures and not
just the present.
We have made some big decisions this year which are going to mean changes
and adjustments and stepping out of our comfort zone. One big one is
that we are going to join a homeschool co-op that we are beginning this
year at our church. We are copying a very successful homeschool co-op
from Fox Island and we are already seeing classes overflowing with students.
While the 3 boys will be taking some great classes like Outdoor Survival,
History, Tools & Technology, Guitar, Math and a Narnia book club,
I am going to be teaching 2 classes. One is a Hands on Science class
for 6-8 yr. olds and I am pouring through lots of great library books
along with my personal collection to find some fun and exciting things
for the kids to learn and do. The other is a Story Circle class for
younger kids, where we will read and do crafts and make fun snacks.
Needless to say, this is taking up planning time for the summer and
one day a week through the school year.
The other really big change is that we have started a home business.
I have agonized over the desire to bring in more income to help out
our family and thoughts of leaving my kids to go back to work outside
of the home. I am committed to homeschooling so putting them back into
public school was not an option. The choices of jobs did not look too
great and what I would be losing to gain just didn't seem worth it for
the long run. After much, much prayer, a home business offer fell into
our laps and we immediately felt like this was our way out! We are now
the proud owners of "Fresh Start Purification Systems" and
we provide air purifiers to residential and business owners to clean
up their air, remove odors and reduce bacteria, germs and fungi by 99.9%.
Sick Building Syndrome is in the news everywhere. What a great feeling
to know that people with allergies, asthma, cigarette smoke, pet odor
and dander and other chemicals and pesticides now have a way to purify
the air they are breathing and we can be a part of that solution! Our
slogan is: IF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DON'T HAVE AN AIR PURIFIER, YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY'S LUNGS ARE THE AIR PURIFIER!
We are also helping other families interested in starting their own
home business get started. I am working mostly with other homeschooling
moms right now from across the United States and love being able to
make some great friends while still providing for my family. This has
been such a Godsend to our family and it has been great to be home,
bring in significant extra money and still parent the kids the way I
want to and the way they need to be parented. The kids are just as excited
about the business as we are and you can ask almost any of them and
they can do a demonstration for you. We are planning on setting each
of the kids up in the business as they get a little older so that they
have the option to bring in some extra side money or possibly even work
it full time. We feel like we are helping to provide them with something
of great worth and it is a very rewarding feeling. Another goal we are
working towards is bringing Darrin home from work and his long commute
that he makes every day. We are looking at our home business as the
way to do it and are very excited as we track the progress.
So as my family starts into another season of life, I look forward to
the future and the many adventures we will have. Some will be joyful
and others will bring pain. That is life. I am amazed at how fast time
has gone and I truly realize now what people mean when they say your
kids will be gone before you know it! I look with anticipation and relief
as I see my little ones grow into a beautiful young woman and 3 young
men. They love the Lord and are filled with conviction to live their
lives with a purpose. What more could a mom want!
Thanks for listening to my ramblings month after month. I really think
it is great to be able to journal what goes on within your family and
especially where it relates to your kids. Thank you, Heidi, for allowing
me to be a part of your Mysticool Moms! I wish much successful parenting
and even better relationships to each family reading this!
www.freshairliving.com/alagasse
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Favorite Links
Lakeshore:
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supplies and materials
for schools and teachers
Crosswalk.com
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Answers Network:
Answers, ministry tools,
and more!
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marriages and relationships
HomeschoolingBOYS.com
Christian families -
Articles, links, contests, email
encouragement, forums.
Homeschooling
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BIO
After working in the banking industry, having my own floral business,
and moving with my husband all over the country and Germany while he
was in the military, I am doing what I love the most: staying home and
teaching my children. Issues that we have dealt with are infertility
for 7 years, finally having 2 children naturally and then adopting our
two youngest boys, who are half-brothers. Parenting is always a challenge
but when you really care about impacting them not just academically
but spiritually, it becomes even more of a challenge. I am not ashamed
to say I love the Lord Jesus with all my heart and, as a Christian,
it impacts every decision we make in our home. Nothing is more rewarding
than to see my children walk in the ways of the Lord. BUT, we have had
lots of people over the years that have been a part of the process and
just as others have held our hands and been an encouragement to us,
hopefully some of that will overflow and touch each of you as you read
and share our struggles, trials, disappointments, breakthroughs and
joys! Sometimes just an encouraging word is enough but I have found
that practical advise goes a really long way. May this be a combination
of both.
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