"Life is Either a Daring Adventure or Nothing":Getting to Know Helen Keller

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched- 

they must be felt with the heart."- Helen Keller

This quote sums up how I feel when I have meaningful teaching moments with my children.  Trust me- not every moment is like this.  Like I told my son today when he was asking me about Lucky Charms: "It can't all be marshmallows."  Life isn't all marshmallows either.  But there are enough "marshmallow" in there to make life sweet.  And that's how I felt as I watched my kids finish up their unit on Helen Keller.  My pictures try to capture these incredible moments, but really these beautiful, precious events cannot really be seen...they are felt.  

 It's the feeling I got when their eyes lit up as they punched their own names out in "braille."  It's the feeling I got when my daughter, completely on her own, decided to spell the name "Helen" too- what a sweet way to remember that great hero!  And it's the feeling I enjoyed when my daughter showed me some sign language and said "You and I are this...best friends."  

It's that proud-mama feeling when I see them diving into a project, EXCITED to learn and create.  This zest for life is the epitome of who Helen Keller was and continues as her legacy.  I expect my little ones are like her, a bit "too active" at times for society.  They can be rascals!  But, like her, they also enjoy this world in free-spirited ways, ways I am still trying to learn.

I am so blessed I have every day to do that- to learn with them.  

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."-Helen Keller

"We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world."-Helen Keller

"I am only one; but still I am one.  I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.  I will not refuse to do something I can do." -Helen Keller  

Both an exquisite student and teacher, it's no wonder she said things that speak to the heart of this homeschooling mommy! 

I hope my children and I remember that there are NO LIMITS beyond OUR OWN MIND.  With a good teacher, friend, and faith we can do ANYTHING and become our BEST selves.  I saw that in the many fascinating accomplishments of my own "handicapped" father.  I've learned of it from the amazing life of Helen Keller.  And I see it every day through the milestones of my own busy special needs children.  "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." Anyone enjoying their young children is definitely in the middle of a daring adventure.  So don't just see it or touch it, FEEL these moments with your heart.
Love, Eva

Exceeding Expectations

I am SO excited to have a little corner of the internet to share my thoughts, pictures and ideas regarding homeschooling.  It is such a blessing to be taking this journey right now.  It can be super stressful.  It's slightly unexpected.  If three years ago someone had told me I would be embarking on this work, I don't know that I would have believed them.  But it's the right thing for us all right now, in this precious season of growth.

I don't know for certain how long I will be on it.  I don't know that I am the best teacher for it.  But I'm telling myself that I am every day.  I whisper it gently and try to believe it when I see my kids struggling.  I softly tell myself that I love my kids more than anyone.  That I pray for them and I'm in tune to their needs more than anyone.  That I would do anything to help them learn and thrive.  And all these things DO make me more than qualified to teach them and shape them.  And what little treasures, seriously, TREASURES they are!  I would equate them to a precious jewel you find in the wild, in a cavern still messy with dirt but beautiful in its rawness and valuable all the same.

It's funny how I can see the things we do and sometimes feel like it wasn't enough.  Yet, if they came home from another school and said they had done these things I would be really impressed.  So here's to breaking free from giving others more credit than we give ourselves.  To seeing the tremendous value in our children and ourselves.

"The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules (and loves) the world..."

Love,
Eva