To New Beginnings

     We are a family of 4, well, 5 if you include our precious pup Sadie. Our household includes, my husband Josh, me the wife/SAHM Amanda and our girls Grace (four) and Eden (21 months). A lot of new things have taken place this year! We moved to Orange County 6 1/2 months ago. I know it's not cross country or anything. It's just that my husband, Josh, had been commuting for 6 years so we finally made the move from the I.E. It was hard. We went from seeing family multiple times a week to a few times a month. We are only about an hour away, but that traffic on the 91 stinks! We left our church, where Josh had gone with his family since he was 7 or 8 and I had attended there since 2006! We love and miss our church family there. We have been going to our new church now for about 6 months and it has really made the O.C. feel more like home. (Do people even call it that? The O.C.?) Though I'm not quite certain I will ever fit in down here, I do love it. Weird, I know.
     Our other new thing is Homeschool.  Josh and I pretty much decided before we had children that we wanted to homeschool. This week we started preschool with Grace (Ahhhh, time goes by so fast!) My sis Christy called me and asked if we were going to CHEA and if we we're starting pre-K with Grace. Josh and I talked about it and decided that would be a good idea, especially if Kindergarden becomes mandatory next year, so she wouldn't be thrown off with going from nothing to 5 days strait curriculum. Christy talked with me for 3 hours one day sharing what she does and gave me so many ideas. I also consulted with a few other homeschool moms I knew.  They all imparted such wonderful wisdom to me. Giving me books, worksheets, & helpful hints. They all had their own distinct way of how they homeschool and I can't wait to see what really works best for our family and hopefully find our groove.  I have been researching since July different preschool methods, curriculum, lesson plans and activities. We were even debating  on a Christian preschool that a family from our church sends their kids to for one day a week or just all at home. We decided to do it all at home.  We will be doing field trips with homeschool families from our church.  We will also be doing monthly co-ops with Grace's cousin Selah. Writing this down is my attempt to help keep myself accountable. To share with friends and family what we are doing. To hear from others what they are doing. To keep track of G's development throughout the year. I can't believe the time has come.  As you may have noticed I am not a strong writer. I hope to grow and develop in that. What my husband doesn't know is I am about to ask him to edit my entries. Here is to new beginnings!