Assignment: Take time this week to write about YOU and your feelings of trials and triumphs with homeschooling.  Touch on when you first heard about the concept of home schooling and whether you tip-toed into the idea or just jumped in and never looked back.  Share your schooling as a child and how you compare it to what your goals are for your children.

This is my 5th year homeschooling.  I can't believe it!  It has all happened so fast!  Especially since moving to Colorado. 

I've shared recently what got us started homeschooling, so I will just share my feelings about it.  I was pretty nervous about not making the right decisions as to what curriculum to use my first year.  I was so overwhelmed when I went to my first homeschooling conference that I just came home and cried!  I'm pretty happy with our overall experience, and I can't imagine ever sending the children to school.  I am trying to stay open to that option if the Lord would direct it, but it would be very difficult for me. 

My first year was challenging in that I had one child who had writing challenges - she still does - that I had to learn to work with.  I've appreciated having a sister who has a degree in early childhood education, and many years' experience teaching kindergarten and directing a private school's early childhood department.  She has given me lots of suggestions and help.  I did try to send this daughter to Montessori school after her first year, but it ended up being just three months before we had to take her out to move to Colorado.  I'm not sure that it was really a good fit for her anyway, as she didn't get the one on one help with her special needs that she really needed.  I'm happy to say that this year she is writing much more than she ever did, and I'm not having quite the struggle with her to do her work as in years past.  This year is a new challenge in that I've added a third child into the mix.

My schooling experience was public school in a small town.  I had some great teachers and even some that I still keep in contact with.  Socially though, I had a really difficult time.  I never really felt liked.  My children now don't get much opportunity for social interaction as we live so far away from other children and activities.  They are learning to relate to people of all ages, and are also growing up close to each other and to their parents, which is very important to me.

The following are some pics of where we homeschool.  These are some of our books stored close to the dining room where we do most of our schooling.  The window is actually closed in now with a wipe board/bulletin board on one side and shelves on this side.

This is the dining room where we do our written stuff.  For the reading we do a lot of it on the blue couch here.

This is the storage closet upstairs where I store other goodies that aren't currently being used.

It is getting late, so I will have to save the scripture thought for another day.

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I know this isn't a popular theme on here, and a lot of people seem to think that if you try to honor God in obeying His law that you are legalistic.  I don't want to get into an argument here with anyone, but I just want to process some thoughts I've had and hopefully find an answer to the conflict that has arisen between my dh and I regarding the Sabbath.

Ever since last fall, I felt the Lord showing me that His Old Testament was every bit a part of His love letter to His church as His New Testament.  I felt like He wanted me to study His laws, and do my best to obey them - not as a way to seek my salvation, but as a way to honor Him.  I feel obeying His laws not only shows my love to Him, but also it is a way for me to have a standard in my life.  It gives me a focus...not only for what is holy, but also for what is the best way to live.  I've found that the Lord blesses those who observe His laws.  When I keep the Sabbath, I am blessed.  I'm finding that His dietary laws are not just random, but really healthy for me and my family.  As the Lord shows me other parts of His Old Testament teachings that He wants me to do, I will put them into action.  From my understanding some of the laws have to do with the levitical priests, or with the Temple.  Those things obviously don't pertain to me.

On Friday my dh called and told me that he wanted to go fishing with his buddies.  I was already having a rough day with the girls regarding school and feeling pressured to get the house clean before sundown, when I like to start the Sabbath.  I got frustrated with him because I was planning a special meal to start the Sabbath and he wasn't going to be there.  He had already told me that he would be spending the whole day Saturday fishing and looking for good hunting spots.  I told him okay to go, but it was really a breaking point for me and I was having such a hard time dealing with the stress of it all that I cancelled school for the rest of the day and just tried to get myself under control.  I really don't expect Tim to think and do things the way I do, but my emotions were already so exacerbated by dealing with the kids that day that I couldn't get them under wraps.  The rest of the day I worked on housekeeping and finishing supper.  Tim changed his mind and didn't go with his buddies either day, even though I asked him to do whatever he wanted to do.  Saturday ended up being somewhat tense, but we did talk about it yesterday.

The challenge I have now is finding a way to honor God in His laws without dishonoring my husband.  I must find a way to observe what I feel God would have me observe without making my dh feel like I'm being legalistic.  If I am unable to keep every letter of the law, I know that I am not condemned, because Jesus knew I couldn't keep myself blameless, and He already died for me to pay for those times.  On the other hand, that is no reason to continue to deliberately dishonor God's teachings!  Besides that, the laws are good, and I am blessed, and my family is blessed if we do them.

Please pray for me as I continue to learn and grow in these things.

Carol

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For Today, Sunday, August 31th, 2008

Outside My Window... It was cloudy and rainy.

I am thinking... things are getting pretty complicated here at home.  While I try to obey what I feel the Holy Spirit is saying to me, my dh is walking a different path.  He is frustrated that I don't want to do my own thing on the Sabbath any more and frustrated that I am teaching the kids to keep it holy.  I also am trying to eat kosher and he doesn't see anything wrong with pork or shellfish.  I'm not sure what to do.

From the learning rooms...We had a rough day on Friday and I finally gave it up for my own sanity.  I was getting pretty angry, but part of it has to do with the family tension that is happening.

I am thankful for... our house.  We have such a nice place to live.

From the kitchen...

Monday ~ Pancakes and eggs. 
Tuesday ~ Potluck with friends - I'll probably make corn on the cob or a salad.

Wednesday ~ Borscht with bisquits

Thursday ~ Husband will cook

Friday ~ Crockpot dish with Challah  or another bread if it can be done without stress! 

Saturday ~ cold meals or left overs

Sunday ~ Monterreys.

I am creating...chaos where there should be peace.  Lord help us! 

I am going...to drive my husband crazy if I can't figure this out. 

I am wearing...velour pants and a comfy grey and blue long-sleeved t-shirt, and my hair is pulled back in a ponytail.

I am reading...my One Year Bible, a book called "Rain from God" about some Native Americans in the early colonial years.

I am hearing...rain on the roof.  

 
Around the house...the girls are in the basement watching a movie, the baby is napping, dh is in the kitchen finishing up a pumpkin pie he made with my 9 yo daughter.

 One of my favorite things... reading to the girls. 

A few plans for the rest of the week... Praying a lot.  Homeschooling, keeping the house clean, playing and reading and such with my 4 yo and my 1 yo.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Saturday we went for a walk along the west fork of the Cimarron River.

This is the bridge we crossed - a tree that fell across the river.  A bit hazardous with two little ones, but not undoable.

The kids had a great time wading in the water, throw rocks in, and playing in the sand.

We have a new nickname for our youngest...

...Bear Bait!

If you would like to join us in The Simple Woman's Daybook, please see our Hostess, Peggy for details.  You may also visit her for the Mr. Linky to others

 Depending on His Faithfulness,

Carol

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For Both Elementary-Aged Children:  My Father's World Explorers to 1850.  This includes the following:

For Ciara (10 1/2, 5th grade):  Rosetta Stone Spanish 1, Intermediate Language Lessons, Writing Strands, HWT advanced cursive, miscellaneous library books for reading, Singapore Math 4B, Sequential Spelling 2.

For Jaedyn (9, 3rd grade):  Rosetta Stone Spanish 1, Primary Language Lessons, Sonlight Language Arts 3 plus advanced readers, HWT basic cursive, Explode the Code 6, Sequential Spelling 2, Singapore Math 3A.

For Eliana (4, preK): 

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From the Wenger Reunion in Illinois at Camp Menno Haven:

Tim's brother Andy and his wife Monica, and Tim's nephew Chris in front: 

Cousins John and Dee's adopted son, Chad:

Tim and Josiah chatting with uncle David:

Cousin Haley and Elly enjoying s'mores and goofing off:

Lots of fun fishing!  Cousin Hannah:

Tim's brother, Eric:

Tim's cousin John's adopted son, Tai:

BIL Bob, with son Josh and Eric:

Elly and her Uncle Steve:

These two were almost inseparable!  Josiah watches as they tousle together:

Jaedyn trying to unstick herself from her s'more:

Tim's cousin Karl found a king snake.  I kept my distance!

Tim's cousin Richard and his daughter Lydia:

Making s'mores:

Tim's Mom talking to his cousin Richard's wife, Miriam:

I can't help myself but post all these cute ones of Haley and Elly!

Cousin Richard's daughter Natalie:

Guess who?  The "twins" again!

Sunset at Camp Menno Haven.

These next pictures are at the same area, but at Grandma and Grandpa's:

Ciara and her cousin, Jessa:

Elly turned 4 right after our return, so Grandma wanted to celebrate before we left:

Ciara and Jaedyn make strawberry pie with Grandma.  We also picked and ate a lot of blueberries!

Elly has a tea party with cousin Josh.

My nephew Michael.  Isn't he a cutey pie?

Playing parchisi is cousins Abby, Hannah and Jaedyn:

Nephew Josh:

Niece Hannah:

Jaedyn:

Niece Jessa:

Grandma and SIL Nancy snuggle Nancy's son Steve:

Right after the reunion, I went out with my MIL and SIL's.  From left:  Margaret (MIL), Nancy, Laurie (Tim's only sister), Monica and Jill.  It was a special time to be with them all together.  We ate Mexican food.

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These are the Winter DTS 2008 Graduates plus Jaedyn.

Ciara:

Josiah:

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For Today, Monday, August 25th, 2008

Outside My Window... It was cloudy this evening, but not a drop of rain.

I am thinking... today didn't go so well.  I got off to a slow start and school went on and on most of the day!  I need to figure out how to keep my little ones from feeling left out and getting into trouble!

From the learning rooms...Mondays are too full.  I've got to get us up earlier, do up more wash and clean the kitchen on Sunday nights so I don't have to worry about that.  The girls are working hard, but I can't seem to find time to get everything done!  The art lessons have gone to the wayside and it is a shame.

I am thankful for...my husband.  He is so helpful and supportive - and he cooks too!

From the kitchen...

Monday ~ Biscuits and gravy
Tuesday ~ Stir fry and rice

Wednesday ~ some kind of chicken in the crock pot

Thursday ~ Husband will cook

Friday ~ Something special for Sabbath... 

Saturday ~ cold meals or left overs

Sunday ~ Monterreys.

I am creating...a home where Jesus is Lord. 

I am going...to Mexico next month, hopefully. 

I am wearing...old, long, khaki skirt, an off-white long sleeved blouse/t-shirt, ankle socks, and my hair is pulled back in a ponytail.

I am reading...my One Year Bible, selections sent from me from Torah Club, year 1, lots of books with the girls for school - our read-aloud right now is Almost Home (about Mary Chilton from the early Puritan days).

I am hoping... that I don't lose my only PA job right now to another PA who can work more hours than I am willing to give.

I am hearing...my dh loading the dishwasher.  

 
Around the house...the children are all quiet and in bed.  Most of the laundry is folded but still on my bed - 1 more load to fold.

 One of my favorite things... the blessing I get by keeping the Sabbath. 

A few plans for the rest of the week... Homeschooling, keeping the house clean, playing and reading and such with my 4 yo and my 1 yo.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

This is my second dd9, Jaedyn on a rock during a geocaching trip we took last month.

If you would like to join us in The Simple Woman's Daybook, please see our Hostess, Peggy for details.  You may also visit her for the Mr. Linky to others

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I'm planning on doing Blogger Friend School again this year, when I can.  They are having a neat giveaway.  Click on the above image to see how to join.

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To join this meme, click on the picture above.

I'm Carol.  I am a mother to three little ladies ages 10, 9, and 4 (hence the name threelittleladies), and one little boy blessing, age 21 months.  We live and work with the missionary organization Youth with a Mission in the mountains of western Colorado. 

We have been homeschooling since I brought my oldest dd home from private school in the last two months of her kindergarten year.  At the time I had been working full-time and jealously watching as my dh played Mr. Mom full-time since my children were born.  I had never intended on being the primary income earner, but my job just brought more money for us.  Anyway, to make a long story a bit shorter, I was pregnant with my 3rd dd, and I was determined that I would get to stay home with her for at least a year so I could nurse her properly.  Dh got a full-time job, and I cut back my hours so that I could homeschool.  My mother was dying with cancer that spring, and I was driving back and forth to Kansas with the children from Illinois.  My oldest dd hated school and cried almost every day that I took her to her private Christian school.  I finally decided that there was no point in leaving her in the school when we had to take her out so much for us to go to Kansas.  I knew by this time that I would get to homeschool her the next year anyway, and so we withdrew her.

After having a taste of homeschooling and being full-time Mom I did not want to ever go back to full-time work.  Dh was burned out with taking care of the children and wanted to be the bread winner.  He worked for two years as a program director at a local Mennonite camp, but soon realized that physically he wasn't cut out for the job.  We began to pray about what to do and quickly the Lord opened the door for us to become missionaries with Youth With a Mission full-time.  We've been here since the fall of 2005, through its ups and downs, and are now in a very blessed place.  The Lord told me in January of 2006 that He was going to give us a son, and I became pregnant with ds within weeks, which is a miracle of itself since I had struggled for 5 years before having my 3rd dd.

These are our children:  Eliana, 4, Jaedyn, 9, (my nephew Carter, 4), Ciara, 10, and Josiah 21 months.  Carter does not live with us, in case you are wondering.  This picture was taken in July at the Omaha Zoo.

Feeding on His Faithfulness,

Carol

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For Today, Monday, August 18th, 2008

Outside My Window...We saw a group of about 5 sage grouse strolling across the yard.  My 1dd10 yelled, "Mom come quick!  There's a bunch of female turkeys in the yard!"

I am thinking... about the first two weeks of school and how they've gone.  I've been very overwhelmed at times, but I feel we are accomplishing a lot.  The kids are learning American history again this year and making science, history, and language arts notebooks.  They are also doing Rosetta Stone Spanish, which I've wanted to get for a couple of years.

|I am thankful for...our lovely home, the internet when it works well, my husband and children, although my four year old has been severely trying lately!

From the kitchen...

Monday ~ Spaghetti and sauce, salad
Tuesday ~ Stir fry and rice

Wednesday ~ some kind of chicken in the crock pot

Thursday ~ Husband will cook

Friday ~ Something special for Sabbath... 

Saturday ~ cold meals

Sunday ~ Grilled burgers, etc.

I am creating...I can't think of anything! 

I am going...crazy with my 4 yr old mouthing back when I tell her no. 

I am wearing...old blue jeans, an off-white t-shirt from Towanda, Kansas, an old, grey sweatshirt from Horton, Kansas, and my hair is pulled back in a ponytail.

I am reading...from Ezekial, Hebrews and the Psalms in my One Year Bible (only 6 weeks to go!), and a book called Johnny Tremain.   Our read-aloud right now is Almost Home (about Mary Chilton from the early Puritan days).

I am hoping... that we get enough students for the fall Discipleship Training School.  We need one more or they will cancel the school - we need a minimum of 5.  Often we get late applicants, but I'd sure love to have at least 5 more.

I am hearing...quiet.  Finally.  The kids are outside playing except my baby boy who is sleeping.  Oops... I spoke too soon.  Now the elephant herd is coming in.
 
Around the house...the girls are now playing in their rooms - probably making paper dolls or playing with their Polly Pockets.  My four year old is now at my side asking for a bath.

 One of my favorite things... is learning along with my girls each day. 

A few plans for the rest of the week... Homeschooling, keeping the house clean, playing and reading and such with my 4 yo, and writing thank you notes to our supporters.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

These pictures are from a walk we took on Saturday afternoon at Beaver Lake, which is a short jaunt down our road.  The girls are checking out water critters on the shore.  DS is pretending he is driving a "brroomm-brrroooommm!"

If you would like to join us in The Simple Woman's Daybook, please see our Hostess, Peggy for details.  You may also visit her for the Mr. Linky to others.

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I found the following quote on the Sonlight Message Boards and I found it very interesting, and thought would start a good discussion on an important topic:

Does anyone else ever feel awful after going to church? It's not the church's fault and it's not the people's fault, it's just how I feel anytime I'm around social stuff. I see so many people that I don't have time for, or they don't have time for me, or I'm just stupid and terrible with making conversation. The whole social thing wears me out, makes me feel like a loser, but I still long for it, I still try friendship and I'm not without friendship, but there's always such a longing in me. I was just reading LJ's thread on when friends dump us, and that need for and loss in friendship sounds common to all of us. In any relationship it always feel like it's a risk to either look needy and pathetic, or get stuck with someone needy and pathetic . In fact I'm beginning to hope that in addition to spending eternity with God, maybe in heaven there will finally be time to really know all the great people of the world that are too busy for me, or that I'm too busy for, or whatever else it is that gets in the way of relationships. I'm not sure what my subject really is, I guess it's just Sunday again and I'm feeling lonely again, (in spite of all the great people out there and even the great friendships I have) and I'm wondering if there's anyone else out there too.

I've given up a long time ago on meaningful church relationships. I've been going to the same church for almost 3 years and still don't have any female friendships there. I've never been good at small talk, and I've got four children to keep rounded up all the time.  We live an hour from town and so we can't get very involved in outside activities.  My dh makes friends easily, but I think he would also admit that they are superficial...How much deep relating can you do going in and out of a building, even if you do stop and drink a cup of coffee together.  While he is relating to the men, I usually stand back and wait.  I don't see many women around chatting anyway.

I am one of those people who find relating on a superficial level exhausting.  I don't see a lot of point in it.  I like to talk on the phone when I have time, but if we don't have anything to talk about, I'm ready to move on.  I have a couple of blog friends I've made that we love to talk to each other on the phone.  Every few months one of them will call me and we talk for an hour or two, and it goes so fast.  I find them real blessings.  Both are willing to call me too, although I can rarely call them for financial reasons. 

In the past I felt like I was the one initiating all my relationships and if I wasn't doing the calling, it wasn't happening.  That gets empty to me after a while.  I am learning that having friends from any source is valuable, whether they are local or far away.  I live in a community of lots of like-minded people, but I often get overlooked when it comes to social outings of the women.  I'm the only one with young children.  I've often been hurt by that, but it isn't new to me, and I've learned to live with it.  Often my dh and I will invite anyone who wants to come over for a meal at our house.  Usually only the singles come.  I don't know what to do with that.  I find that our best friends after living here almost 3 years are singles.  I'm okay with that though.

I've often thought that a church like Antoinette's home church would be nice.  They do a lot of eating together, worshipping together, sitting around and chatting after church, going out to coffee after church.  It makes me wish we could live in Indiana near them!

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Hi Friends!

Another week has gone by.  Boy were we busy!  We started our first week of school for the older girls (3rd and 5th grade).  Our schedule left out a couple of subjects, but it was a lot of work anyway!  I’m so glad we took the time to get caught up in math in July, because trying to get caught up while we have such an intense schedule may have been really hard!  We are trying to get caught up in spelling, but they don’t seem to mind it as much (we are doing two lists at a time).  We are also trying to get caught up on the math facts that we should know by now, and that seems to be going well, but it is just another thing we are adding to our very full schedule! 

Last Monday school took us all day – at least 8 hours.  I think we were all exhausted by the end of that day.  My Elly didn’t do all of her preschool subjects each day, but we are 3 weeks ahead of the older girls, so I just took her lead as to whether to do Handwriting Without Tears and Shiller Math.  If she balked, I just skipped it.  It is supposed to be fun anyway.

Thursday I lead intercession at the base and had to work in the afternoon, so we didn’t do school.  Saturday we took a field trip to Mesa Verde National Park by Cortez, Colorado, which I count as school.  I wish we could have spent about 2-3 days there!  I hope some day we can go back and let the girls do the junior ranger program there, while we camp or stay in a hotel nearby.  It is a 4 hour drive from here.  I’ll post pics later.

Thursday night part of the youth group from Plow Creek Church in Illinois came to do some volunteering and enjoying the mountain.  They were here until Tuesday morning.  They worked Thursday afternoon and Friday.  Saturday they went with us to Mesa Verde.  Sunday they’ve been fishing and canoeing at Silver Jack Reservoir.  Yesterday they worked one more day, and then they headed home today.

Sunday, I, with my girls’ help, picked raspberries, picked up and vacuumed the house, caught up the dishes and the laundry, made new schedules for our homeschooling this week, and then caught up on my blogging.  I also balanced the checkbook.

Monday we did a partial school day, then went to town for my bigger girls to get their eyes checked.  Their glasses prescriptions are essentially the same.  Then we went to the public swimming pool and had a great time.  Off to Wallyworld for a few, then home.

Today we had a nice stay at home and do school day.  I’ve got a few things left for the girls to do.

Feeding on His Faithfulness,

Carol

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Instead of doing a meme, which has been the majority of my blogging as of late, I thought I'd just sit down and give a good update on what is going on in our mountain home.

Two weeks ago we started school by doing 4+ lessons a day with the goal of finishing the two workbooks the girls had started in the spring so that they would be "caught up" for the school year when we start next week.  This went amazingly well, and 2dd9 finished hers by Wednesday of this week, and 1dd10 finished hers today.  I gave them each a bag of Ghiardelli chocolate (it doesn't have artificial ingredients).  They work hard for chocolate!

Three weeks ago while the big girls were at camp, I started doing Sonlight P4/5 with my 4 yo dd.  It has been delightful.  We also do the HWT preschool program, Shiller Math book 1, and Developing the Early Learner workbooks that came with the Sonlight Core.  It is a delightful time and she always looks forward to it.

I bought a bunch of preschool toys from My Father's World when I got the preschool set from Sonlight.  Many of them are very similar, and that has been a bit disappointing.  The kids don't seem to mind, and ds20months loves them.  I do like having toys around that help him to learn too.  He is talking more and more all the time.

Next week we will (Lord-willing) start My Father's World - Explorers to 1850 - with the older girls.  I will be using Sonlight Core 3 readers with 2dd9.  My oldest dd used them last year.  My oldest dd will just read a bunch of suggested books for 5th graders.  For language arts they will be using Primary Language Lessons by Serle and Intermediate Language Lessons by Serle.  I am pleased with the way these books look.  They seem to be gentle and thorough.  For math, I think we will stick with just one curriculum - Singapore Math.  I bought Miquon Math too, but I don't want to fall behind.  For science we will do the suggest things with the My Father's World curriculum, which among other things includes Apologia Botany.  For extras we have Rosetta Stone Spanish, which seems to be a lot of fun so far, piano (which I don't have a teacher for, so we'll just have to teach ourselves), and an art program that I can't remember the name for.

I've begun preparing myself for the board recertification test I need to take this fall or next spring.  I have to do 100 hours of education by next June anyway.  I've done about 10 of it so far.  I also bought a book and program that I can read to review, and also comes with a couple of practice tests that I can do on the computer.

Lately I've been dealing with depression again (well, yesterday and today).  I've found that when I am tired (usually in the evenings), I start feeling low and crabby.  I'm hoping that it is just hormonal and will pass quickly.

Did I ever mention on here that I'm not working at the Urgent Care clinic any longer?  They found that they didn't need me any longer.  It has worked out nicely so that I rest on Saturdays as my Sabbath and then prepare for the week and do my running around and shopping on Sundays. 

Tomorrow we will be having a wedding between one of our former staff gals here and the son of another one of our former staff members here.  They are both still missionaries with YWAM in the Himalayas.  There are a lot of people around the base this weekend, but my dd-10 will be quick to point out that no one brought kids with them.  It is strange to have all these people and no children.  My poor kids, they can't even get friends for the weekend around here!

Next week the youth of our former church in Illinois is coming for a few days (from Friday until the following Monday) to help out with work projects.  We might go to Mesa Verde with them one day, or we might wait and do that with just our family another day. 

We went geocaching last weekend.  The bugs were bad, but the weather was cool and wet, although it didn't rain on us.  It was a beautiful hike through the mountains not too far from us.  I haven't downloaded the pics yet though.

Feeding on His Faithfulness,

Carol

Updated to add:  I forgot to mention when I posted this the first time, that Thursday was my 40th birthday!  I was woke up to fresh hot cinnamon rolls out of the oven, coffee (which I really don't like in the mornings!), and my children coming with three packages.  The packages each contained a box of Good and Plenty candies (my favorite!), and a picture drawn by each of the three girls.  They were delightful.  My dh is going to buy me an ipod that I can download audiobooks onto to listen to on the road.  We are just short of extra cash right now...  The rest of the day was normal, with school in the morning, work in the afternoon, and arriving home late.

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Bible Study/ Devotions ~ I'm making progress in my NIV Daily Bible.  I only have two months left.  I'm working at making my relationship with the Lord to be more about expectancy than expectations.  More about relationships than a to do list or expecting God to do things for me.

"Must Do"~ Order a recertification boards study guide.  Pray about what Bible/devotional material to have the girls use this year.  

Home Blessing~ This week I left most of the housekeeping except laundry, cooking, and dishes for Friday so we could have a nice clean house for Sabbath.  That made Friday very stressful!  I will have to reconsider this since Fridays will be about schoolwork too here soon.

Train Them Up~ We are working on relating to each other with respect and honoring one another.  I don't feel we are making much headway!  This week we will finish our old math workbooks so the two oldest girls will be more on track when they start the new school year the next week.

Menu Planning~ Monday:  1dd10 plans on making pancake supper for the family.  Tuesday:  Spaghetti, french bread, salad.  Wednesday:  Hotdogs over a campfire, macaroni salad.  Thursday:  I work late, dad prepares.  Friday:  Taco Salad.  Saturday:  Leftovers.  Sunday:  Pizza, salad.  Hopefully I will make some desserts to have on hand this week.  Has anyone heard of Kambucha?  My husband has been making that lately.  It is supposed to be really good for you.  It is a special kind of tea.

If you would like to participate simply add your link on Mister Linky at Tiany's blog directing folks to your “Monday Meanderings” post! Link back on your post so that others can join us and or read through everyone’s “Monday Meanderings”. This is for ALL Moms you do not have to be a Homeschooling Mom to participate!

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http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

For Today July 27...

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Good Morning World!  I had a wonderful night of sleep in my new bed!  Here it is!  Dh installed it last night:

He and a friend pulled all of the wood from the woods around here and built it from scratch.  His friend had built beds like this before, and so taught dh how to do it.  If you remember seeing dd10's bed, the railings in our loft and the railings on our front deck and steps, dh's friend also made these.  Cool, eh?

I hope you enjoyed this show and tell.  You can click on the image above if you'd like to see more similar show and tells.

Resting in His Faithfulness,

Carol

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Go to Valerie's Blog and see how you can win these movies:

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We moved into this house in May.  I've been meaning to get pics of it before now, but here they are now.

From the outside:

This is a closer look at the back deck.  Tim is building us another bed for the master bedroom:

Next we'll look at the house from the inside.  This is the front door.  I think it is pretty.

Next is the kitchen.  It is small but functional:

Next is the main floor great room:

Beyond the window behind the table in the last picture is the master bedroom.  The following are the homeschooling book shelves that I need to organize this week on the back of that window.   We hope to close in that window with a built-in bookshelf on one side with a framed cork-board on the other.

Recently I moved 3dd4 into her little brother's bedroom next to ours.  They enjoy sharing a room:

This bathroom concludes our tour of the main floor:

Next we'll head up stairs to the upstairs bedrooms and loft.  The first pics are of the loft room that looks out to the living room and living room windows:

Here is a close-up of the futon quilt that I got at a yard sale in Illinois for $5!  I love americana decor.  Especially when it gives a "country look".

Looking back at the entry to the room from the railing, one can see the bedroom doors, the loft closet door and the bathroom door.

Behind the closet door is a wonderful room for storing books and toys!

Next is the bigger girls' rooms.  1dd10 first, then 1dd9's (who is reading under her purple comforter!)

Our basement has the tv room, two unfinished bedroom/other rooms, an area for dh to do his pottery, a mud room (because it opens onto the ground level in the front of the house), and a laundry area.  If we ever get the okay from the county, we might be able to finish it, but for now the pics aren't too interesting, and it is a mess.

I hope you enjoyed my journey through our new home.  We feel very blessed to be able to live here.  God is good to us.

In His faithfulness,

Carol

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1.  Bible Study/ Devotions ~ Not so good.  I think I only read my Bible once this week.  Hopefully I will get that straightened out soon! 2.  "Must Do"~ I'm trying to get the house in order and the things ready for starting school next week.  I'd like to change the bedrooms around so that 1dd10 can have her own room, and 3dd4 will share with her baby brother, but so far we need another twin bed to make it happen.  The girls are at camp this week, so it would be a fun surprise for 1dd10 to come home to having her own room free of a baby sister... 3.  House Cleaning~ I had a great day of cleaning floors, bathrooms and kitchen cabinets today.  I will try to keep with my schedule. 4.  Train Them Up~ I started the first day of PreK with 3dd4 today.  It was short and sweet.   Last night I stayed up late to get everything ordered to be able to do Handwriting Without Tears with 3dd4 when I get the last things I need.  It really is a good program.  I'm also reading a good book about teaching your kids to honor one another in all things.  I really like it.  I'll post more on it later. 5.  Health/Nutrition~ Some of you may know that we decided to take a Biblical approach to our eating - following Old Testament Laws.  That is going well.  Once in a while I make a boo-boo and eat something that I didn't know was contaminated with pork or something like that, but for the most part my family and others around here are getting used to our wierdness in this area.  My total cholesterol was an all time low at 142!  It never has been high though.  We also try to avoid artificial ingredients, but fell off the wagon big-time during our vacation - although we didn't eat out very often.  I found out from a blood test that my vit D is low, so I have to take vit D supplements once a week.  I started excercising last week - I took walks twice, but I need to get more consistent about it.

Highlights from this week: 

On the 9th dh and I celebrated our 14th anniversary.  He got me a dozen roses.  We went for a long walk in the evening by Silverjack reservoir, which is near where we live.  It was a nice evening away from the kids. 

Yesterday we drove my two oldest dd's to Camp Redcloud near Lake City, Colorado.  They are very excited because they can do horseback riding there.  So far they haven't called us crying!  I'm proud of them.  They are very much Momma's girls.

We have two robins nesting on our decks.  One in front and one in back.  We got to watch one make her nest this week.  I saw a bat on my front deck this afternoon.  I hope it doesn't stick around too long, but the mosquitos here are awful so it is welcome for a while!  We saw a bear on our way home from Lake City.  That was fun.

Feeding on His Faithfulness,

Carol

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For Today July 14...

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