A World without walls
everyday life while homeschooling overseas
I'm sitting in the Frankfurt airport, waiting for our flight to announce boarding and watching the planes take off through the window. Mostly, though, I'm thinking about the latest closed chapter in our lives. Our life really is like a book full of chapters...or perhaps it could be even better described as a series. The chapters are rather long and full of adventure.
So in this last installment, we found ourselves ensconced in a jungle/tropical paradise. I'm always surprised at how experiencing a place affects our perceptions. It is NEVER like we imagine it will be. And no matter how much I plan and prepare, I will never be ready for what will really happen. I'm grateful for every day we spent in Sri Lanka. I'm grateful for the heat and humidity, as it made me more grateful for seasons. I'm grateful for the friends who became family. I'm grateful for a support network that I knew would never let me down. I'm grateful for tuk tuks and buses that made every day an adventure. I'm grateful for all the tropical fruits and spicy curries that I learned to love. I'm grateful for the beach, the mountains, the raw beauty of that tiny island country. I'm grateful for the fact that we made it 3 years enduring the feeling of a complete lack of motivation--I know that sounds strange, but it's true! After a few weeks of living there, you have no desire to do ANYTHING. You're just tired, discouraged, and 'blah'. For a vacation spot, it's fabulous! But to live, it was difficult, to say the least. But because of this, I had to learn how to REALLY motivate myself and push through the hard times. I accomplished more than I ever thought possible! I'm hoping that through this, I've gained an increased ability to motivate myself and others and to work harder. Hard things are good. While it was hard to go through our 'living funeral' for the past few weeks, I'm grateful for that, too. It helped me to see a bit of what I accomplished and made me feel loved--and to know that I did all I could. The opportunities we have of living overseas are pretty amazing. I'm grateful for the difficulties we encounter, as they make us better people. I'm grateful for the amazing things we see and experience, as it broadens our horizons. I'm grateful for the cultures we encounter and the friends me make, as it breaks down boundaries and leaves no space for prejudice or judgement in myself or my children. Just a love for all people, no matter their race, nationality, religion, or outward appearance. No matter where we go, people are people--they need love and acceptance. That is what brings the greatest joys in live. I'll never forget the people who have touched my life with their love, acceptance, friendship, and service. I pray that God will watch over them with His ever-loving watch care...and I WILL see them again!
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Who Am I?
As a Stay At Home Mom of 4 wonderful children, I have the amazing opportunity not only to home school them, but to do so in many different places! I am married to the most amazingly wonderful (and handsome) man in the whole world! Together, we seek out, every day, that Joy in the Journey that makes life exciting! Archives
November 2020
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Emily's books
by Dan Brown
I like that the plot twists and turns a lot...and it makes you think. However, I don't appreciate Dan Brown's endings in his books. I find the endings incongruent with the rest of his stories--why make it a romance for the last chapter...
by Shannon Hale
I loved this book. I'm a sucker for fairy tales/fantasy. This was so well written! I can't wait to read all the rest of her books!
by Shannon Hale
I'm reading this one again. I liked it the first time I read it. I'm still liking it for the second time around. I like all of Shannon Hales' books.
**Still lots of fun the second time around! I do like this book for a comfortable...
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