Rosa's living room was so perfect. We all sat on the couch while Sarah zoomed in from Washington State via the amazing technology, Skype. I loved the moment we saw her when my suspicions were confirmed - she was as lovely and smiley as her online writing and photos exude.
We all instantly began piping questions to this new expert in all things Rest.
We heard her share that she humbly wrote this ebook as a way to help herself find a way to avoid typical homeschool mom anxiety and teach from a state of Rest. She describes that we simply imitate Him, look at our kids as His image and not check boxes to check.
1. Rest - Schole
I love how she said you shouldn't be writing this book. I think it's so brave to write a book that inspires the author even before the author might be an expert; the Holy Spirit is working through her! How did writing the book teach her more about your own family and her desire for rest? It helped her to slow down, schedule less, and multitask less (as hard as that might seem as I'm sure you are already interrupted in reading this to fill a sippy cup or change a diaper.). She describes these "interruptions" as Our Lord's plan for our day. We are his instruments. We were made for this.
Her book is going to be published in print this fall! Great news!
2. Mary, Martha and Me
I love this - Don't just do something, sit there. I don't know if this is hard for anyone else but it isn't easy for me to see another mom scurrying about preparing for an event while I sit there at Christ's feet and pray. I have a hard time not wanting to remove her burden even to my and my family's detriment. How do you make this a reality? Sarah says she tries to remember her season of life is one with small children.
3. You were made for this
I love that title. I remind myself often. I struggled for the first few years of my conversion - and still do - about what I was made for. I appreciate hearing the reminder! Do you ever struggle with the time you take for your blog and your writing v your family v your husband? (I wanted to ask her that question but I didn't get a chance!)
4. Andrew Kern from Circ - rest: "enter into God's rest and serve him wholeheartedly - not out of anxiety - but out of love and trust." I was such an anxious mother from the start. It ebbs and flows when I'm post-partum or very pregnant. Sarah described avoiding the homeschool comparisons and joked that her kids get nervous when she is about to meet with people from Classical Press as that means more books for them!
5. Why your daily grind is holy ground
- look at a pile of dishes and see the makings of a cathedral - my favorite, for sure.
My good Froend H says that the nightly dishes are here nightly examination of conscience.
How did you do the chores and homeschool before your older kids could help with chores? I love her chore chart / it's so pretty and it's so well done. Just reading it makes me feel more orderly.
6. The daily tasks of a monotonous Monday are holy because they are where we meet our maker.
Read the book to get the rest. It's awesome.
Lisa
