Finding Joy in the trials

The past few days I haven't been feeling well in the afternoons so I have skipped my workouts and just gone home to lounge on the couch in pain.  This is much to Thing 2's dismay.  He loves gym time.  He gets to play with other kids, new kids.  He works on his social skills and is very happy there.  I love taking him and giving him that time while I work out my issues on the eliptical and treadmill. 

Yesterday, we went home and worked on his reading.  I pulled books from the secret stash and gave him two to read to me.  We cuddled up on the couch and he read.  One of the books he was having a hard time getting into.  It's no fun reading a book you're not into so I found ways to get him excited about it.  There were different animals doing different behaviors so he got to get up and model the different behaviors for me.  We had such a giggle-fest as he waddled and hopped and oinked around the living room. 

So while I didn't feel good and just wanted to lay around, I am so glad I spent the time working with my littlest love.  We both got good out of it.  Seeing him enjoy reading and using inflection and reading bigger words than he has been used to reading was an answer to this mama's prayers.  I love seeing God's answer to prayer.  God is so good at providing material to fill my "blessings book". 

My heart is overflowing with happiness for my eyes being opened to the opportunities God provides for relationship and fun and joy, even if it messes with my plans and schedule. 

Thing 2's reading update

I am very happy with Billy's reading this week.  He's done really well reading to me.  He gets frustrated and is learning to back up and regroup and try again.  I am so proud.  We've also worked on the spelling words for his group and the 2 groups above his.  He did a great job.  We have been reading each night and he's recognizing bigger words and getting better each time.
Last week one of his teachers told him he reads like a robot. He wasn't happy that the teacher said that.  This week he has improved on inflection and tone moderation.  The words he recognizes quickly and easily get the privilege of having tone and pitch.  It is so cute to hear.
Any ways, I just wanted to share that we're making some progress and I am happy at the difference I am seeing so far this week.
Hope you're having a great week!

Challenges

As a parent I am very protective over my children and would do anything for them.  I celebrate with them in their accomplishments and mourn with them in their struggles.

My little love (affectionately called Thing 2) has been struggling in reading at school.  He is showing improvement at home but at school he has been moved back in the reading group and spelling group at school.  This doesn't sit well with me since he's been in a special group that is supposed to help improve his reading.  We worked hard on it.

I should stop here and point out I LOVE his school.  I love his teacher.  I think the staff of the school is amazing.  And his class is filled with good kids.  Taking him out of the school and quitting my job to provide his education at home is not an option.

God provided us with another option this morning.  I pulled him out of his reading tutorial group this afternoon.  We had been putting so much time into the tutoring and it just wasn't working.  So now I am his reading tutor.  We have a program we are going to be working from.

I am going to be spending a lot of time on my knees because I have to learn to teach from the only one that can teach me.  God is going to have to show me how to help little love grow and blossom in the area he has been struggling with.  I can't do it in my own strength.  I need wisdom.

I am nervous and excited all at the same time.  Any of my homeschooling friends/followers that have advice please share.