The Joys (and Not-So-Joys) of The Beginning Stages of Homeschooling

I've been mulling over many thoughts and ideas about exactly which approach I want to take with Ava (not that I'm planning to pick one set approach and cling to that alone and nothing more or less). I have planned to and continue to plan to educate her clasically, but even with that there are still so many options and ideas. From curriculum choices (Do I choose just one? Do I take some of this and some of that? Do I even bother with one?) to how to know when she is ready for which level, subject, etc., to which books to choose to how often we do everything... It might be an understatement to say that I am quite overwhelmed.

My natural inclination is to want to sort everything out and have it all organized and planned out so I know exactly what I am doing before I do it; however, I have come to a couple realizations regaring this: 1. It might take me a lifetime to gain all of the knowledge I would want myself to have before beginning (sometimes I set unrealistic goals for myself) and 2. I cannot let her sit idly while I try to figure all of this out. 3. REST in the Lord, Courtney! God is the pilot of our ships and he will not lead me astray. Give it to HIM! *Sigh of relief*

As a result of these realizations, over the past few days we have been inching our way into a (very casual) routine of daily exercises for Ava. Today we did shape tracing and I was so surprised at how well she did!

The first three shapes of each row (excluding the heart) were traced jointly with me guiding her hand (you can see at the bottom of the triangle how she got excited and was ready to start on her own, thus the slippage of the line :) ). The rest she did by herself after she said, "Watch me, Mom!" She then wanted to draw a heart for her Mamae so I made that possible for her.

I am loving this!!! Teaching and watching my daughter learn brings so much joy to me!! I wonder how much more joy does it bring to our Heavenly Father when he watches us act out His plans four our lives and obey and find comfort and rest and peace and joy in Him!?

P.S. Don't judge my title. James 1:2