It Doesn't Take Much...

Today was a new day in the ole Clark Homeschool. A day I have been wishing for and waiting for a long long time. A day my kids wondered about and longed for.

I purchased an electric pencil sharpener.

I broke down and bought one. For years I have just bought the little plastic sharpeners. It just went against my frugal ways to spend money on an electric sharpener when I had three children who had the ability to turn a pencil clockwise a couple of times. But hey~guess what? If you can't find the little pencil sharpeners or you try to sharpen a crayon or a pen or anything else your toddler finds to sharpen in it you will find they break in a heartbeat. And its bad when you can't find any sharpened pencils in your house and you have three homeschooling kids.

This morning we excitedly opened our pencil sharpener box. We hurriedly installed the batteries. The kids begged over who was going to get to sharpen the first pencil. And then little sweet Abbie reached over~picked up the blunt useless pencil~held her little hand over the opening~and slowly inserted the pencil into the sharpener. A quick buzzing sound and then quiet. Would it work? Would we be disappointed yet again at with our pitiful pencils?

Victory!!!! The sharpest prettiest little yellow #2 pencil you have ever seen! I immediately began to sing "We Are The Champions" and the kids cheered. All the kids~including James~took their turn and in no time flat we had enough sharpened pencils for a small country. We were ready to conquer the books. Ready to write amazing essays well beyond our years. Ready to show fractions and long division who was boss.

Now some of you may doubt that this actually happened. But it did. There were four witnesses~and just because one can't talk very well doesn't matter. He knows what he saw. As Abbie reached for another pencil and happily began to sharpen its little blunt end~she took a small breath and quietly began to sing... "Don't Stop Believing..."

And a little tear rolled down my cheek.

We can move forward with Clark Academy now. We will not be swayed.

Goodness~I just don't know who they get all their dramatics from? ;)