The Gratitude Attitude

Gratitude is a funny thing. Especially when you don’t really mean it. As a teenager, can you remember how many times you’ve walked down the hallway on Christmas morning. Opened the very first gift that you’ve received. Glared at it for a moment, forced a smile and used the common phrase, “Oh. It’s perfect!”. And what is it? Another one of grandma’s knitted, kitten sweaters four sizes too small. I mean, do you look like a nine year old?

That kind of thing happens to me all the time. Not by my parents or siblings, but by relatives outside of my immediate family. For Christmas a couple years ago, my great grandmother that I see about once a year gave me a gift for both Christmas and Birthday . I was expecting the usual ten or twenty dollar bill. But as soon as the gift was opened, I realized that my great grandmother thought I was a little younger than I was, for inside was a pair of Minnie-Mouse socks the size I would have worn about five years before. The worst part was that she had accidentally left the price tag that had $5 printed big and bold. However, that was nothing compared to the barbie doll, or the fashion designers kit I had received that same year.

My point is that every single time a person is given something that they think is ‘childish’, it makes them feel like their relatives don’t really know them, or understand how old they are. But in doing that, and having those thoughts, we miss out on the really special part of receiving gifts. That is that those aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws and grandparents are just trying to give you something nice. Not something to remind you that you’re still a minor. Not something to tell you that no one cares about how you feel. Just to tell you that you are loved.

When you are in the awkward stages of High School, and you are starting to figure out who you are, consider that no one really knows what you like or dislike just yet. Yes, you have a personality, and a mind and you do want to receive something that you are actually going to use more than the one time that everyone is watching you. But that doesn’t mean that you should be rude or even just angry about it. Work on that gratitude. Work on that attitude. And keep faking that smile because you know that they love you anyway.

Waiting In Life

Have you ever had to wait for anything? A childhood toy that you had to save up for, or maybe a driver’s license that your parents wouldn’t let you get? Or was it a present waiting under the Christmas tree? Waiting can be hard.

      One person that I always think about when I hear complaints about waiting is my 4-year-old sister, Ellie. For instance, one day my mom had just left our house to run errands when Ellie discovered an eighth of a tomato sitting on our kitchen counter. When she asked me if she could have it, I told her ‘no’ because I was not sure how long it had been sitting there.  I thought that she would forget about it . But she didn’t and was determined to have it.

      During the entire half-hour my mom was gone, my sister probably asked me about fourteen times if she could have the tomato, and my answer every single time was ‘no’. So she waited and waited. Eventually, my mom got back in time to give it to her.

      Waiting for the good things in life isn’t easy, whether it is an eighth of a tomato or something more serious like a job or college acceptance. But it is important because it makes enjoyable things much more enjoyable and disappointing things much more disappointing. Both are really good and healthy life experiences.

      As a homeschooled high school student, you may want to skip out on the wait. For example, you may want to breeze through history class so that you can graduate and become a doctor or a math teacher. Or you might rush into a car dealership and buy the first, shiny Camaro that you see. But if you wait until you are a little older, then it will all be worth it. Growing up will come in its own time. You will be an adult for the rest of your life. Getting to that point is the best part.

Snow Melts

A few weeks ago we had a huge snowstorm. It was so big that there were days where the snow would freeze into ice, making it nearly impossible to back a car out of a driveway. Other days the snow was soft enough to make snowmen and have snowball fights.

One thing that I noticed during this time, was the different perspectives people had on the snow. Most children enjoyed every second while many adults or teenagers look at it as more of a pain.

When the snow first came, schools were delayed(except for homeschoolers), stores were empty and everyone had car trouble. Gradually, it left: and now it may seem like we missed out on some of the fun.

Something a little sad has happened to me recently. As a child, I loved going to the circus. Seeing the people in costumes walking around, getting on the terrifying roller coasters and eating junk food was fun. Now it seems more of a pain than fun. I would almost rather not go back, just because I don’t want to freak out every single time my four year old sister decides to play hide-and-seek in the crowd, or I accidentally agree to walk into a house of migraine making mirrors. My opinion on the circus was fun when I was younger, but it has now changed to complete stress.

When you think about it, life can be the exact same way. As children, we take it easy living every day stress-free and enjoying life as it comes. But soon enough, we grow up. And it’s no longer about snowmen. It’s about getting through the circus or backing the car out of the driveway hoping it will all end soon enough.

As high schoolers, let’s not miss out on the joys in life. Even if it comes in forms of clowns and snowstorms. Let’s enjoy the cold. Let’s enjoy the days off. And let’s have fun. Let’s live stress-free in this beautiful winter wonderland called life that God has given us. Because like the snow, it will quickly melt away.

This Year

Happy 2016 everyone! The other day I was listening to a song by J.J.Heller called ‘This Year’. The chorus goes,

“So long to last year, it’s all becoming so clear. There is no use living in regret.

Let’s fight a good fight. Train our eyes to find the light.

That makes this year the best one yet.

Starting right here, Happy New Year. Happy New Year.”

This started me thinking about New Year’s resolutions and how people continually try to make themselves better. It’s like we get a brand new start, and our mistakes from the past don’t matter anymore.

Now don’t get me wrong, this attitude is great. Devoting ourselves to be a better version of us is a really good way to approach the world from the beginning. But the question is, why don’t we act like this all year long? Does anyone remember their New Year’s Resolution from 2015? What about from 2014; or 2013, 2012 or 2011. Do you remember what you decided to be better at in 2010? If you do, then great! But chances are, you don’t.

Just like the Israelites, we are humans. We constantly forget the good things; and after a while, we go back to our regular, everyday routine of complaints. Shouldn’t we be looking for great opportunities to be better? Most people don’t stick to their resolutions and tend to forget what it was in the first place. There is a reason that you can’t remember 2010’s resolution.

But with hard work and devotion, it can be really easy to add ‘don’t be so easily offended’, ‘be kinder’, and ‘listen to others’ to our everyday lives.

As parents, students and yes… highschoolers, I challenge you all to be a better you. Don’t wait until 2017 to make your next resolution. Make it today. Turn your faults into your strengths. Live every day like it’s a chance to be someone new, because it is. I wish you all the best and a happy new year!

Being Thankful for Thanksgiving

 

      Happy Thanksgiving everyone! This is the month of midterms, cleaning the house for company and gorging ourselves with plenty of food! There are so many things to do and so little time to do them. It can seem to go on and on until finally, Thanksgiving day comes and everything just… stops. You get a whole day off to completely relax. Then, all of a sudden, it starts back up again and goes all the way until the New Year.

    Something I’ve noticed about myself is that sometimes I can get so caught up in what needs to be done that I can forget the entire point of Thanksgiving: being thankful. There is always so much to do, with Christmas coming up and the New Year on it’s way, it’s so easy to forget.

When the early pilgrims first came to America, they literally had nothing; no food, no clothes, poor health. They could have easily been angry and depressed, and they were for a while. But once they started finding food, they were thankful for what they had and not only did they share it amongst themselves, but also with the Indians. They were kind to each other and thankful for what they had. Even though they’d lost much in their long journey, they had a good attitude.

In high school, especially at this time of year, we can be so caught up in finishing our school work and other distractions that we forget the point of this season: the season to be thankful.

As the year starts to end and the new one comes in, I challenge everyone to be thankful for what they have, not only around Thanksgiving, but also throughout the new year.

Sometimes You Just Have To Work For It

The other day I read a quote by Thomas Edison that said, “The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually disguises itself as hard work”.

This got me thinking about how often we may pass up a perfectly good opportunity just because we don’t want do the work.

Think about it. The average kid makes about 3,000 decisions a day;trust me,I Googled it.

We make decisions both big and small, such as, when to do homework, what to wear and whether or not to obey our parents.

Sometimes our choices throughout the day will depend on what we “feel” like doing rather than what might be in our best interest.

Let’s say a friend asks you to take a medical class with them at a local college. Maybe you are tired and don't really feel like going.

Choosing to go despite how you feel could be the thing that sparks your interest in pursuing the medical field. It could be the difference in you becoming a doctor or not! You get new chances every single day to do or be something great.

However, even though good opportunities can come unexpectedly, socanbadones.

It is easy to choose laziness over hard work. Sometimes we sit down to play just one game and an hour later we realize that we haven’t even touched our math homework.

From there, the day spirals downward. We never seem to be able to get caught up, which results in not getting to do that fun thing I had been looking forward to.

As a high school homeschooler, you may be faced with many decisions.

With more responsibility comes more opportunity, but also more temptation.

My advice to you this week is to be careful about which choices to make and when make them.

Be aware of the offers that are thrown at you because you never know how they are going to change your life in the future. If something seems hard, it just might be worth the effort!

You can do anything, sometimes you just have to work for it.

 

 

The Blessings of Protection

The Beatles, I Love Lucy, A Wrinkle in Time; do you notice a common theme? Perhaps you think of popularity. Maybe, they remind you of American culture or even worldwide culture. There are countless themes that could go with these titles but one of the most common is the fact that they are considered classic entertainment.

Whenever I go to my grandparent’s house, we always watch the Twilight Zone, a tradition I’ve enjoyed since childhood. And it was my dad who introduced me to music of the 1980s. I’m pretty much surrounded by classics.  

Sometimes, entertainment, even “clean” classic entertainment, can cause strife in our homes. As homeschoolers, our parents are very protective of where we are, what we see, and what we do. One of those areas is entertainment. As we grow, we begin to realize that there are movies we’re not allowed to watch, music we’re not allowed to listen to and, yes, even books we’re not allowed to read! It can get really annoying, but sometimes we just have to take a step back and realize that there’s an entire world out there full of very good things, as well as very bad things. Our families are just trying to protect us from what’s out there. They know that one day we will be aware of all the good and the bad, they're just trying to reveal it to us slowly.

In our modern culture, we tend to feel like everything is about enjoyment; keeping ourselves happy and not bored. Yes, TV can be a nice break from a long day; just to sit down and not worry about anything. However, it's nice to have parents that are concerned with what we are filling our hearts with. I encourage you to take time out of your day and be grateful for all the things you're not allowed to do. Sometimes it's the things that seem the most annoying that turn out to be the biggest blessings.

 

Spring is in the Air

With fall here and winter on it’s way we have a busy, exciting school year coming up.
          It’s only three more months until 2016 which means we’re wrapping up the semester.
Normally, this time of year people are thinking about pumpkin pies and cold weather. However, at GRACELUBBOCK Homeschool Group, spring is in the air as we consider next semester’s classes.
I know it might seem a little early to start talking about spring. It feels like it just ended. But, in high school and even in middle school, planning ahead can be super important to your schedule.
          GLHSG is looking forward to insure that our kids have the most productive semester possible.
Imagine if no one ever planned ahead. What would the world be like? Food would be interesting.
          The microwave would be the only used appliance in the kitchen.
Thanksgiving would consist of popcorn and pizza pockets. All because we didn’t plan ahead.
          Okay, you’re probably not going to eat popcorn for thanksgiving but, keeping yourself in a progressive routine will help you keep your life organized.

Tolerating Toddlers as a High School Student

Toddlers. The majority here at GRACELUBBOCK Homeschool
Group can relate to this word in one way or another. Some of us have tots that we babysit. Others, have younger relatives.
          Although fairly harmless when infants, most toddlers can become choosy and try to act independent.
          I'll always remember the first time I saw both of my sisters after they were born. Ellie, the older one, was born when I was eleven. Until she was born, I didn't really have much experience with tiny babies, so when I saw her I was scared.
          A couple years after that, my sister Moriah was born. I felt a little more prepared as a sister when she came, but it was still over-whelming to think that I was going to be an older sister to a baby that is 13 years younger than I am.
          Now, at ages two and four, Ellie and Moriah are partners in crime. One poses as the distraction while the other gets into trouble.
          Sometimes, they can drive me crazy to a point where I can’t do my homework without distraction. Occasionally, I have to rearrange my schedule to revolve around nap time. If I didn’t do this, I might end up with a kid in my lap during History. Other times, I just have to thank God for what he’s given me. I feel very blessed when Ellie “cleans” my room. Even though I have to go back and redo the cleaning, I know she meant well and was doing it out of love.
          As distracting as it is to have sisters that are 11 and 13 years younger than me pester me during school or play, I have to realize that I am able to have a good relationship with them because I am homeschooled. I know that I will forever have memories about our childhood to cherish.
          My challenge for the week is to look at your siblings, whether younger or older, and thank God for them, because you probably wouldn’t be as close if you weren’t homeschooled.

Hitting the Target in High School

I have really bad Target (the store) experiences. I proved that the other day when my mom and I were going grocery shopping.
          I was getting my sister buckled into her car seat and as I turned to walk around to the other side of the car to get in the passenger seat, something caught my attention.
A man was standing next to his car. I am not sure why this caught my eye, but it did.
As I continued to study the man, I failed to notice what I was doing and slipped on car oil.
I fell and hit the car.
          The man stopped what he was doing and stared at me for a second.
Then he started laughing.
          I tried to get up and walk but a few steps later, I slipped on car oil and hit the car for a second time.
He started cracking up again!
         "You might want to get the oil off of your shoes!" he advised me.
"Ugh, huh..." I verbally agreed, but continued my effort to get up with the car oil on my shoes.
Instead, I opened the passenger side door only to hit myself in the head yet again.
By this time, the man was laughing at all my mistakes.
          At this moment, I turned completely scarlet.
I put one foot in the car, closed the door, and said," We need to get out of here!"
          My mom started driving but couldn't get out of her parking spot fast enough.
"Why?" she asked confused.
"I don't want to talk about it, please get out!" I said.
"I can't, there's a car in the way," she explained.
"Please, just get out, Mom. He's watching me!" I cringed.
"I'm still trying. I can't. What happened?" she asked, still confused.
"I don't want to talk about it," I moaned.
We were almost out of the parking space when he began waving at me.
"Mom, go! He's waving at me!"
I said.
          It took what seemed like forever, but we got out of the parking space, and eventually, the parking lot.
          My still confused mom made me explain at the stop light.
I learned an important lesson that day. You see, everyone makes mistakes. I know I have made my share.
         Sometimes, we are embarrassed by our errors. Sometimes, people may laugh at our expense.
However, we should learn the art of forgiving ourselves.
         When the Target incident happened, I was embarrassed, but now, I can laugh at myself.
Laughing at yourself is an important tool to have in high school.
Despite the fact that we all will have our blunders, we need to understand that the world won’t stop spinning just because we made a mistake. Life will go on, so why not enjoy it and laugh?
I also think it is important to understand that others will make mistakes and that we shouldn’t be so quick to judge or laugh at them.
          As a high schooler myself, I can understand the trials that some other high school students might face.
          I want to be able to extend grace to those who might be feeling bad about their errors and show them that I will not laugh at their blunders.

Living in the Now

          The first week of high school can be the most awful week of your life! Trust me, it’s like sixth grade all over again. Trying to fit in and realizing that you actually have to think about what you’re going to do when you are out of the house is really, really stressful.
          Of course, for homeschoolers, it’s a little different.
In my case, the worst thing that has happened to me in high school is realizing that my grades ACTUALLY count. What a shocker! What am I supposed to do with all of this homework I suddenly have?
          School is all fun and games until it counts for college.
Honestly, I’m just having a little fun with you. The thing is, we can probably all relate to the challenges of starting over again.
           New school years are hard for everyone, but it’s important to make the most out of it because this is the only 2015 we will ever have. This article isn’t just for the freshmen at GRACELUBBOCK Homeschool Group. It doesn’t matter if you’re five or fifty, I want YOU to read this article, laugh, and embrace the moment. Carpe Diem, people!
            Living “in the now” is super important because you can get caught up in planning too far ahead or stressing about the past.
            What’s happening around you is “life.” It’s good to be alive, but many times we miss it. Just imagine if Newton missed the apple, or if Columbus was so caught up in the previous voyage that he couldn’t see America right in front of his very eyes. Suppose Noah was so focused on what everyone else was doing that he couldn’t build the ark. Since everyone came from Noah, where would that leave us? We’d all be washed up!
          This year I want to challenge everyone to see the time that God has given us. Let’s live today, because tomorrow has enough trouble on its own.