changes happening 'round here

i am sitting here, glancing at all of my pictures from summer...and wondering where the time has gone?! there are pictures of hudson's preschool graduation...pictures of bryson's basketball games. there are some from hudson's 5th birthday, a few from the beach, and lots from our vacation. there are many fun memories stored in our brains and imprinted upon our hearts, too....even though they are things that i haven't captured on camera. our summer is flying by, and i am sure yours is, too. we have been busy every day....and we have been having lots of fun! summer always comes and goes so quickly. and, for a summer girl....that's a tad sad. this summer is [has been] slightly unusual for us, in that our summer will end...but our time as a family- at home together- will not. we have been preparing for what is to come. :) there will be no "going back to school" this year. we aren't purchasing the backpacks, the uniforms, and the lunch boxes.

we have (prayerfully) chosen to homeschool the boys this next school year. there. i said it.

i have been so reluctant to post that...and i can't say exactly why. maybe it's because doing so really makes it feel final. maybe i fear the backlash, or the judgment. maybe i wanted it to be our little secret. maybe it's because i feel the eyebrows raising and i can hear your..."oh. wow. so....what brought you to that decision? are you really sure you want to do that?"

one thing i have found, in making this decision, is that EVERYONE has an opinion about homeschooling. some are very supportive (thank God...our families are!), while others are definitely not. for an insecure chick...it has been challenging, but satisfying, to stand up...and stand firm in this decision. i can even tell you that i am excited, albeit nervous, to start!

we have cleaned out the play room (to make it more of a classroom)...we have ordered the curriculum...we have signed up for friday classes (woo hoo...break time for mommy each week!)...and i think we are just about ready to go!

homeschooling will be a huge change for us. it will totally change our lifestyle. it's going to change the dynamic(s) in our home. it is going to change me as a mom, and i pray that, in some aspects, it changes my relationships with my boys. i pray that these changes are for the better. i am surrounded by a ton of godly women, who homeschool their children as well. i am so thrilled to come alongside them...and i am so blessed by all of the encouragement and help i've received from each.

whether you are getting ready to send your kids back to school, or you are homeschooling...i pray that the rest of your summer is wonderful! i can't believe that it's august already! i wanted to hop on here and try to form some thoughts (which always seem to sound better in my head!). i wanted to "check in" and "say hi." i wanted to update my faithful few. i'll be back soon...

have a super duper weekend! :)