We are on vacation this week! Yay for rest and a break from the big city! This is the first time I have had wifi, though. First world problems. Ha!
First day of vacation, we went to a water park. We were prepared for a day full of fun and sun. Then, within five minutes of getting in the lazy river, Ahmet breaks out in hives and starts itching horribly. Sigh. Not a good start, for sure. It gets worse, though! The poor guy was stepping down from the bathroom, his ankle twisted, and down he went. His ankle is about twice the size it should be, but he promises me it is just a bad sprain.  So, no chlorine (for him) or exploring for the rest of the vacation. Forced rest!
The funny part – his dream vacation is one where you sit and read. BUT this time, he was looking forward to hiking to waterfalls and exploring the city. No big deal, though. We brought plenty of reading material, the kids and I can still swim, and the local malls have wheelchairs.
We have put this vacation off for several months, but decided last month, that is must be taken. We each need a time to rest and refresh ourselves-physically, mentally, and spiritually. Ahmet and I periodically give each other a day away to spend extra time connecting to God. After all, in the chaos of ministry and family, quiet time can be hard to come by, and since coming here, we have discovered it often has to be fought for-and we are willing to fight!
How do you rest? (Here soon, I will share a post about rest, and how important it is for us.) Most of the time, resting does not require anything special. You do not need extra money, a new location, or even a lot of time. What you do need, though, is a purpose in your rest. Rest is not meant to be an escape. It is meant to be restoring and refreshing, and to draw you closer to the One who loves you most!
Before logging off this borrowed wifi, I want to share with you my favorite verses about rest.
Psalm 23:2-3 “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures (physical rest): he leadeth me beside the still waters (mental rest) 
He restoreth my soul (spiritual rest): he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
Grow, glow, and go!

I really think there has to be at least a little bit of craziness in a person who chooses to homeschool—and sticks with it year after year—by choice. There isn’t really much of a choice in our family. It is either homeschool, pay $26,000 a year per child for a private school, or send them to the local Buddhist public school. So, yeah. Homeschool.
I actually like homeschooling, though. There are many reasons for this, but the biggest one is I LOVE having my kids around me. Sure, it means most days I get a little less of the “productive” stuff done-you know all the things I can point at and say, “Look at how awesome I am!” But, honestly, at the end of the day, it does not even matter to me. Granted, that is probably because I am exhausted and my ears are ringing from all the talking that goes on around me all. day. long.  You know the big difference between a 2 year old and a teenager? Teenagers eat more and they are bigger. That’s it, and you can now set aside the parenting books. Just kidding. Don’t. Seriously.
Anyway, we started a new school year last week, and a new curriculum… and I no longer rely on chocolate, coffee, or coke to get me through stressful situations such as the first week of school and a new curriculum. We survived, but barely. Of course, that might be because I caved and made  “better for you” dark chocolate almond clusters. The great thing is I really do not have a craving for sweets anymore, so I ate two and was done. In case you are wondering, they were a great stress reliever. However, a punching bag might have been just as effective.
In the middle of it all, though, I found myself just thanking God for the blessing of getting to teach my sweet kiddos. This will be AJ’s last year, so I think I am more aware of how short my time is with them, and I am working to take advantage of each moment. For those of you who get to homeschool, give yourself a hug at the end of every day! You are doing a great job! For those who know homeschool moms, give them a hug and tell them what a great job they are doing.