Teamwork

Football rears its head. Baseball saunters proudly into October. Even hockey enters preseason. Each sport brings its share of salaries, agents, TV coverage, coaching changes, trades, and yes, teamwork. Team Schroll entered their season in late August. There were no trades or coaching changes, but there were two temporary acquisitions. If you have followed blog coverage for the team, none of this is new to you. As we plug along, teamwork presents as a critical part of the success of this season of our life.

Our team began with two parents and four children as well as extended family who are always willing to fill a need or be a sub in a pinch. Our team worked smoothly. It quickly expanded, though, to social workers, doctors, specialists, early intervention workers, lawyers, and judges. My role as mom and teacher on that team became stretched. I now had a more detailed managerial role. I needed to become a better student of the game. I have to learn daily the new rules of the game, how to play by the playbook, how to improve my swing, and what it takes to build up my endurance.

Teamwork, though, is what I keeps pricking my heart and mind. Not all members are using the same playbook sometimes, and it can be frustrating. However, my initial team of those who are closest to me is proving to be hall of fame material. My sweetie, who works so hard at his job, came home tonight ready to relieve me at my position. He finished the dishes and sent me out for some quiet time to regroup and to write (something that I have wanted to do for a while). Mind you, this left him with the babies and our two youngest children. I was still the chauffer for the older girls whom I took to youth group at church.

My kids have played their various positions in stellar ways. All but my little one can change diapers (even dirty ones). My angel is an expert at giving babies baths. They all have filled roles of bottle maker, playmate, and diaper bag carrier. They are learning the ins and outs of loving and teaching these babies who so desperately needed someone to pay attention to them.

Many have commented that I am a tad busy, which I think is code for crazy. I tell them that I could not do this without the team my Owner has put together. My family amazes me with their star quality efforts this season. I am truly blessed to be part of this amazing team. I know that whatever the outcome of this season, we will have made memories, learned together, and shared our life with anyone who is willing to watch or be a part of our team.

Another Year Begins

We entered our eighth year of homeschooling today. Normally, our year begins in mid-August, but due to fostering other children, our start time was delayed. So here we go. I now have a junior, an eighth grader, fifth grader, and first grader. Oh, and a baby and toddler.

The day moved smoothly. We got out on time for the big girls' classes that they take elsewhere; the little kids did well in getting a good portion of their work done at my mom's house. The babies were amazingly cooperative and accommodating to our crazy morning schedule. My toddler took a long afternoon nap, which gave me some extended time to do some direct teaching with my kids.

We have some exciting things to learn together. It warmed my heart to see how much my little ones remembered from last year. My princess is a little nervous to hold the eighth grader position, but is approaching the year with a positive attitude. Angel is just glad that her schedule does not match last year's. She is entering new territory with an online course at Cedarville for dual credit. My little man wowed me with his work today. I am hoping that his fifth grade year does not rival his sisters' years. They were not fun! My first grader is not all that eager to go to school for some reason. I think she would just prefer to sit on the couch with me and listen to me read to her. She has not yet developed the love of reading for herself despite her ability to do so. I have enjoyed reading quite a bit lately and hope that I can continue that pattern (as long as the energy resources are not too depleted.) So goes our life in homeschooling.

Teaching is a job. Parenting my children is a job. Fostering children is a job. Being a mother is a privilege. God is working on my heart and teaching me quite a bit in this journey. It is all good. I am thankful that He has chosen our family for this time to minister in this way and that I can minister to my own family while teaching them at home. That is not to say that it is not overwhelming at times. Riding those waves of emotional surges can swamp me, but eventually the tides calm, the winds lessen, and the skies clear. God holds all things together. He will hold me, too.