I Needed That

Sometimes we just need a laugh. A good laugh at ourselves is one of the best. After doing this homeschooling thing for 20 years now, I find myself getting disillusioned and tired of it at times...many times, in fact. Thus, the need for a good laugh.
I've written about home schooling before (it happened to be my very first post.) However, this young man does a much more entertaining and concise job of explaining homeschooling and debunking a few of its myths. Seven of them, to be exact.

Here's just a few of his best quotes, in case you don't have time to watch his hilarious take on it:

• "Homeschooled??! So does that mean you're a genius or an idiot?"
• "Yeah, well that explains your outfit."  :-D
• "But think about how nice that sounds...living in a world where you don't know who Lady Gaga is..."
• "If being sheltered from sex, drugs and alcohol when I was in middle-school makes me sheltered...then YES, I was sheltered!"
• "People hear 'home school' and they think you live on a farm...or the wilderness...or in a log cabin. Just anywhere that's an hour away from a Wal-Mart."
• "Homeschoolers have no life?? Let me get this straight. You're the one who spends 8 hours a day in a specific classroom, at a specific time...EVERY day...and I'M the one who has no life??!!....Heck no! My life is AWESOME!"
• "Homeschoolers do school in their pajamas. This isn't so much of a lie as it is a reality...but it is the very, very best thing about being homeschooled."  ;-)

This was a good reminder for me. Sure...we have our quirks...but we've also got some awesome perks.

I'm Not a Fan of Snow, BUT...

I love Missouri for several reasons - one of them being the fact that we have all four seasons in reasonable, equal amounts. Some hot, summer weather for swimming, some cold and snow for snuggling and sledding, beautiful autumns and refreshing spring-times. However, the older I get, the more I dislike winter in Missouri. I've started thinking that I'd be happy to become a snowbird after retirement - spending the winter months in Florida, Arizona or the Maldives. (that last choice is in my dreams - when we become as rich as Bill Gates)

However, within the past few days I've realized I am actually longing for snow. Not just a dusting...but inches and inches...perhaps even a couple feet of the stuff! Do I really want to go sledding that badly?  No, of course not. It's just that my college girls will be heading back for the beginning of their spring semester within a few, short days...and I wish we had just one more day where we all had an excuse to stay home and do nothing but spend some time together as a family.

Two feet of snow usually does that for us. No one goes anywhere, no one expects anything out of us, and we just hang around with each other. Christmas day did it for us this year, but I'm selfish and was hoping for just one more day like that before everyone went back to their separate lives.  Sometimes it's those little inconveniences - like snowstorms - that cause life to come to a standstill for a few hours and give us a reason to slow down and bask in our loved ones.

That's the real reason why I hear myself humming, "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!"

The Never Ending Story

A rather momentous day occurred in the Kohl family genealogy books on December 3rd, as a new generation made its debut.  Grandma Kohl passed away before the majority of her great-grandchildren were born. Grandpa Kohl died years before his first grandchild was even married. Yet, as happens continually throughout history, their family and legacy continue. One of their great-granddaughters just gave birth to the first great-great-grandchild.

It's a bit mind-boggling to think about, this thing called "generations." None of us will ever live to see the long-term, generational effects of our descendants...and yet those effects will continue, perhaps for centuries. Will one of your descendants be a future president? Could one of them help cure a deadly disease? Perhaps one will create some wonderful, new invention. Deeper and more profound than that, however, is the impact they could have on the world around them. The longer I live, the more amazed I am at the tremendous influence the humblest people can have...and that influence isn't limited to their immediate descendants. It can overflow and touch numerous families and an entire community.

None of us can know whether or not this newly birthed generation will produce a famous inventor or world-renowned scientist. However, I am certain of this. Grandma and Grandpa Kohl would be in awe of the family tree that continues to flourish after them. Not because any of their progeny are rich or famous, but because so many of them continue to value the things they valued...commitment, integrity, strong work-ethics, serving others and valuing family.

I probably have a warped view of heaven. But I like to picture some angelic being approaching Grandma Kohl (who's probably sitting in some heavenly rocking chair, crocheting), and announcing, "Behold, for unto you is born..."
And then she laughs. That wonderful, jolly, contagious laugh that was uniquely hers.

Whether or not that's the case...the next generation is certainly worth relishing in and rejoicing over. These new little ones make all of our efforts and struggles through life so very worthwhile.
So, congratulations Matt and Haley - little Caden is carrying on quite a legacy.