In all I am, do, and will write, my aim is to hit God's mark. I will have moments of being misguided as I am not perfect, but know that I serve a God that loves me through it all.
I knew this Homeschool Memoirs “Class” was going to be a bad influence on me.
Last week’s assignment was to introduce yourself. Determined to be friendly, I set out to introduce myself to everyone INDIVIDUALLY. I did mention that I tend to bite off more than I can chew, right?
Twenty blogs later, I finally clued in. Have you ever walked into a room full of one hundred fifty people and refused to leave until you had shook the hand of all those present? That’s what I was doing.
Not good. Not good at all.
Did I learn my lesson? Oh, no. Still read them all. Just didn’t comment on all.
As I was saying, Memoirs is a bad influence on me. This week’s assignment is all about agendas and plans. My addictions. Feeding my addictions, I tell ya’.
I have been “preparing your plans for sometime”, but I am most definitely not “ready to go” as the assignment opener stated. Always planning, rarely doing. Yep, that’s me.
This week’s assignment:
Share what you’re doing this year for your homeschool agenda.
Share the different curriculum you’re using. (Include age/grade you’re using it for, how long you’ve been using it, and why you like it.)
Share a Bible verse that has encouraged or inspired during this planning-process, and how.
In the spirit of learning to chew my food before I swallow, I am only going to answer portion one in this post. But, if you are truly interested, I’ll leave a link to my future post regarding the curriculum choices after I have written them…someday.
Agenda. Don’t you just love the word agenda? It sounds so hidden behind the scene, so focused and purposeful, so....so...manipulative...
Well, my husband and I do have a homeschool agenda. Keeping me focused while exploring curriculum, the agenda is there behind the scene. With so many choices out there, having this agenda has helped eliminate many, many, many options. Options that are good, but just not for us….I encourage you to sit with your husband and come up with a similar agenda…especially if you are prone to jump on every bandwagon that comes along.
Like I do. Thus, the agenda to gently slap me back into place when I am off on a tangent.
Warning: If you are an atheist, you might want to stop reading here. The following agenda my husband and I are purposefully striving to instill in our children will surely frighten and concern you.
BIBLE
Develop a personal relationship with God.
Establish a personal habit of daily Bible reading and prayer.
Actively seek to memorize scripture passages.
Cultivate a heart for missions.
HISTORY
See God’s work in man’s lives throughout time. God’s providence.
See man’s responses to God throughout time, positive and negative.
See the results of man’s responses to God, positive and negative.
See that God can do the impossible as History shows us time and again how God can work circumstances in ways the participants could have never imagined.
GEOGRAPHY
Establish familiarity with God’s world so as not to be intimidated by ignorance if God so called one to missions in a foreign land.
MATHEMATICS
Learn to see God as a God of order, design, and consistency.
LOGIC/PHILOSOPHY/CLASSICAL RHETORIC
Develop critical thinking skills to better combat false teaching.
SCIENCE
Marvel at God’s handiwork.
See God in all the details.
Understand that God is so much bigger than our own understandings.
HEALTH
Respectfully care for the ‘temple’ God has created.
Understand our bodies are “fearfully and wonderfully made” by God.
Realize the effect the Fall had on our physical body.
LANGUAGE ARTS
Develop skills to effectively communicate God’s message to a fallen world.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Establish a means of outreach toward other cultures.
See how God interacts in other cultures.
See how God’s gospel message is universal and effective.
ARTS
Encourage beautiful expressions of worship of God.
Encourage expressive communication about God to others.
Through art history, understand how people transformed by Christ have expressed their faith and worship through various types of art through the ages.
LIFE SKILLS
Male: Lay the groundwork for being head of a single-income home.
Eight years ago I got married. I know this is where most people would say "got married to my wonderful husband" or "got married to my best friend" or something like that. However, this post isn't about my husband; it's about me.
And, we all know, everything's about me.
Anyway...eight years ago and five children later, I look better than I did on my wedding day. Really. Even my husband thinks so. Really. I'm sure you would agree with me that a fine-toned physique is most unbecoming.
So, after years of full dedication to living a sedate life and spending the last seven years either pregnant and/or feeding each child off myself (I'm trying not to use words that will draw the unsavories through google search), I have achieved a most remarkable shape to this flabby physique of mine.
And what a gorgeous muffin-topped waistline it is. It matches those perfectly distorted upper parts beautifully. I've been waiting my whole life for these items to match my cellulite infested legs and toosh. I've arrived. Finally.
But, in the interest of society, I am willing to attempt to conform. I will loose some weight and try to tone up a bit, so as not to be a stumbling block for you. I wouldn't want to cause you to feel jealous.
December 9th is my 40th birthday. Forty by forty is my new motto. One hundred forty by forty actually. And, no, I don't have a full forty to get there...close, but not quite.
I have enlisted my sister-in-law to help me stay on track. For every day I don't at least walk for fifteen minutes, I must pay her a dollar. Fifteen minutes. Shouldn't be that hard, right?
We started the challenge nine days ago.
I owe her nine bucks.
Just doing my part to make sure my nephews and nieces have great Christmas presents...
Had a date with my three year old this evening. She invited me.
"Mom, it's my turn to have a date. Only Mommy and Sweetness. And Baby too."
I wasn't about to pass that up. Especially after the string of days I've just had with her.
She took me to a restaurant just down the road from us. No reservations required. It's one of those restaurants one must frequent when you just really need to be told that your child/ren are the most adorable little cuties. You know, those days when you are debating whether to place them up for adoption.
The patrons, however, at this restaurant have a median age of seventy and gladly coo and giggle at any child that graces the establishment. Enough to send any parent soaring with pride.
This is where I found myself this evening. With Sweetness. So named to give my training of her some sense of goals. She really IS a sweetie; it just can be difficult to remember sometimes.
So there we were strategically seated at the first table. All who entered could bask at this lone woman with her two adorable children sitting angelically together having an intimate dinner. The doors opened. Ah, yes, fan numbers one and two approaching....
They drew nearer. She was barely moving, and he was looking like he just might not be able to see where he was going. I internally rehearsed my modest responses to the inevitable comments: "Yes, thank you. We think they are adorable too. Yes, we are busy, but it is a good busy. Ha, ha, ha, yes, we do have our hands full...full of blessings...."
They stood by our table and both looked into my eyes. She didn't say a word. Neither did he. Instead, he drew a piece of paper smaller than the size of a business card out of his pocket and handed it to me. It was accompanied by a tiny little gray cross. Then he said one small sentence....
"Raise them well." He walked away holding his wife's hand.
The card was a poem explaining all about having a cross in your pocket at all times to remind you to live for Christ at all times. Daily. Wherever you are. Whatever you're doing. Live for HIM. Model HIM.
Okay, I'm adding my own words there, but you get the idea.
Then I realized it. That seventy-plus gentleman who looked like he couldn't see where he was going could see a whole lot more than I could.
I just hadn't realized I had left the house with a post-it note on my forehead that read:
Woman trying to parent without God's help. A true idiot.
Remind her to prioritize reading God's word ahead of blogs.
Caught. Disciplined. And corrected. Feels good. Tomorrow is a new day.
There’s a big difference between “class” and “memoirs”.
Aren’t memoirs writings by people who are famous or, um, well…old? Instead of a meme set to make me feel young and collegy; now I have been thrust back into reality.
The trauma, the trauma.
Will this goodie-two-shoes-I-do-all-the-teacher-tells-me-to gal be able to motivate herself to do the assignments weekly if she now doesn’t see the word “class” on her icon?
That is the question of the week.
Stay tuned. I have six days to do the first writing assignment…
Assigned date: August 20
Assignment: Write up something about me, my family, my home, how long I’ve been homeschooling and why I/we decided to homeschool. Maybe include a photo (I’d love to add a photo…if I wasn’t technologically challenged as well). Length optional.
Due date: August 26, 2008 (the year is important here so this perfectionistic procrastinator doesn’t play a mental game with herself and put it off “justifiably” until August 26, 2009)
Wait! I’ve already done part of the assignment!
About me: I’ve told you that I am commitment challenged, prone to exaggeration, a fixator on words, easily traumatized, feeling my age, a goodie-two-shoes, technologically challenged, a perfectionist, a procrastinator, a mental game player with myself, and an over analyzer. And, if you read my last post, you read that I tend to bite off more than I can chew.
And I’m a wife and mother.
Hey! That puts me into the next part of the assignment: My family.
Married to my attorney husband for eight years. A little boy born July 1st joins siblings Beautiful (dd Oct.’01), Handsome (ds May ’03), Sweetness (dd Nov. ’04), Happy Boy (ds Aug. ’06).
Yep. Five children. Ages six and under.
Let that sink in.
Beautiful has been loosely homeschooled for the past year and a half…we are getting serious this year. Handsome has been loosely homeschooled for about half a year…HE wants me to get more serious with him. And, Sweetness will begin her period of loose homeschooling soon.
What do you know...Wasn’t that last tidbit a part of the assignment as well? I am so on a roll here.
I just need to say we are throwing my ninth grade niece into the mix this year. Going to be a fun challenge. She has never been homeschooled before.
I lean toward a Charlotte Mason style with classical twirled in there. However, my Handsome is “work-bookie” and Sweetness is showing signs of being VERY kinesthetic. I may have to do some major adjustments.
I could probably write a dissertation on all the reasons why we have chosen to homeschool. But, in a nutshell (or in our nuthouse), we homeschool with the hopes of molding our children’s hearts toward God and to keep their hearts until they are ready to fly on their own.
Look at that. I seem to have completed my assignment. What am I missing? Oh, about my home…the physical home is on the move…literally. We are in the process of fixing up our current home to put on the market while at the same time building our new one. We hope to move in two months.
Or before Christmas.
And a photo? Don’t push your luck.
Oh, and where’s the teacher I’m supposed to be kissin’ up to? Do I get extra credit for turning in my assignment on the day the work was assigned?
To see that I am truly not the only eager student, head on over to here.
I promise not to return to this entry over and over again to try and perfect it. I lied. Been back four times already making things "better." Please tell me the icon finally showed up embedded in my entry. I need to hear/read those words.
To say that I am mad is an understatement. Livid is a better word. Just take a peak at this latest California ruling, and I bet you won't stay calm either. Go ahead take a look at how one judge has yet again implied that Christians are lacking intelligence...
The portion that has me "laughing" at such a conclusion is the part that says "made a legitimate claim that the texts failed to teach critical thinking and omitted important science and history topics."
Oh. My. Word.
And what tests and studies have they conducted to prove a lack of critical thinking skills in the students? Important science and history topics....according to whom? This argument of theirs would have some merit if it is proven that the judge's choice of secular science and history texts are infallible and have omitted NO science and history topics at all.
So, whose missing the critical thinking skills, hmm? Ooh, that was mean of me. Oops.
I, for one, plan on teaching my children critical thinking skills and, by golly, they will be using Christian texts and living books. Will I shield them from all secular subjects such as evolution? No. We will debate them, and my children will have an intelligent understanding of the theories. Oh, that's right, evolution is a theory, isn't it? It's hard to remember that when it is constantly shoved down our throats as a fact.
As a parent, it looks like we need to make a decision here. Do we teach our children secular science and history devoid of God, the author and creator of science and history so that they can get credit to get into a university, OR do we teach them about God's plan and creativity and end up having children who won't get into the university of their choice but will still have a heart full of intelligence and critical thinking skills.
Easy one for me. How 'bout you?
Many Blessings,
Holly
I am notorius for biting off more than I can chew.
Let's see...just had a baby, we're building with soon to be moving, starting up homeschooling my 1st grader and my 9th grader niece for the first time, adjusting to the possibility of a new church, just started on Facebook while still being confused on how to write blogs a year later. Need I continue? There's more to that list, but you get the idea.
Change, change, change. So many adjustments.
In the past year of blogging, I've attempted to join many writing inspiration links...in a hope to get me to be consistent or motivated to get more serious about learning the ins and outs of template changes and writing blog entries.
Very unusual for me. I prefer to think of myself keeping my priorities straight, but I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that I just might be plain old lazy in my attempts. I need help.
Lots of it.
So....
Not sure what I am doing here or even what this Blogger Class Mates thing is, but I'm pretty sure I won't be asked to do anything illegal. I do, however, know that I am a goodie-two-shoes and always do my assignments for class...usually. I think, then, I just might actually stick to this.
Maybe. We'll see.
I'm already off to a not-so-good start. The first assignment is to make a category on our templates for our assignments and to put the official button on our sidebar. Okay, know how to put the button there. Done. But, Girls, I would LOVE to know how to make a categories section on my sidebar. Even with one person trying to help a few months ago, there is no section for categories on my sidebar. I'm beginning to think it is the template that I have chosen from Homeschoolblogger. Can it be? Do I need to choose a different template? Any brave soul want to attempt, yet again, to help this technology challenged individual with creating categories?
It's almost been two months. The phone call one never wants to receive. My baby niece was dead, accidently run over by her teenage sister. I briefly blogged about it in my last post.
How does one follow a blog post like that?
I've written a blog here and there in my head, sat down to type it out, and had frozen hands. I just couldn't post about the mundane or silly things goin' on around here. Not without first writing a follow up of my last post.
Problem is...I just wasn't ready.
Until now...
GOD IS GOOD! My family has been seeing so many unexpected miracles throughout the last two months. We can truly feel the many, many, many, many prayers flying to Jesus on our behalf. There is just so many ways God has revealed Himself through this tragedy.
Take my four year old nephew. He asked his parents when was God going to bring the baby back after He was done "fixing her". Later in the day he came inside shouting to his mom to come and look...he had found the baby! He was pointing up into the sky intensely and describing a scene playing before his eyes: there was the baby with a "big Jesus helper" (angel) and traveling before them was the littlest baby (his mother had miscarried at 15 weeks four months prior to the tragic death of their youngest.) He insisted they were there in the sky.
We believe God gave that little guy a vision. And gave to us a small glimpse to remind us that He has those little babies safely in His hands.
The memorial service was beautiful. My brother is a pastor and really felt God still wanted him to lead the service even though it was his child that had died.
We all tried to talk him out of it.
I'm glad my brother insisted that he must follow God's lead. He spoke of the adoration his little baby had for him and how he looked forward everyday to spending time with her as she lit up all around him. She was a joy because of her adoration toward him. He used that picture of his now deceased baby's adoration to show how God wants our adoration. We are to adore God. It brings God such joy.
The sermon continued with demonstrations on HOW to show adoration toward God: love your wife, submit/respect your husband, honor/obey your parents, forgive, repent, etc. In other words: Obey God.
Those who were closed to hearing God deemed the sermon "inappropriate." Huh? Since when is it ever inappropriate to point others to The Great Comforter?????
Those, however, who had ears to hear and eyes to see loved the sermon. We have seen unsaved loved ones turning toward God during this time. I even had one unsaved friend who attended the service say that it was the most clear explanation of what it means to "serve God" that he had ever heard! He got it!
Two weeks to the day of my niece's death, my own son was born arriving nine days early. The miracle is that my sister-in-law AND my teenage niece (the one who had been driving the car) were at the birth of my son. I had a homebirth with a midwife attending.
It was a beautiful and emotional time. My newborn son was placed into the hands of my niece as soon as possible. She just held that little boy and cried and cried and cried. A healing cry.
The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Life goes on.
We all have our moments, but healing is continuing. I am most asked how my teenage niece is doing. She is doing well. She has moments that she "loses it." Maybe a song or a comment or a memory will trigger a meltdown, but for the most part she is strong. She, fortunately, had a strong relationship with the Lord even before this tragedy and knew where to turn in her sorrow.
She and God are best pals now. The tragedy has opened doors for her to share her story to many, many people. As she tells her story, she points them to God. And, that my friends, is what it is all about.
And, this week my sister-in-law announced she is pregnant again! May God use this pregnancy to further the healing process. Amen!
It is four in the morning, and I can't sleep. Been awake for a long time. I am too numb to probably write something coherent here, but I'm going to try...I, and my immediate family, covet your intense prayers right now and for the long haul.
Remember a few weeks back when we all heard the news that Steven Curtis Chapman's teenager accidently backed over and killed the younger sibling with the car? I remember being so full of grief for them and immediately was able to go to the Lord and intercede for not only the entire Chapman family, but for the teenager especially. It didn't make any difference that they are strangers to me.
Horrors on horrors! The same situation just happened yesterday in my own family! My brother's teenager, who was just moving the car for a minute, did not see the one year old sibling crawl near the car. The baby was run over and killed.
My heart, my heart, my heart....I know I am a stranger to you, but I write this in hopes that someone out there will respond the way, a few weeks ago, I was able to respond to the Chapman family.
"I can't afford to buy organic." It amuses me sometimes that many of these very same people saying this are holding a four dollar daily latte, smoking a cigarette, drinking a beer or going out to eat two or three times a week.
Yes, it is affordable to buy organic. One just needs to put it into perspective. Believe me, you'll be a whole lot healthier and possibly save on doctor trips as well. So, do you want to buy that $1.25 candy bar or soda, or do you want to pay an extra 40 cents on organic broccoli?
I'm not saying that you have to buy all organic. But, I do believe that it is good stewardship to purchase the best that one can afford, especially when it comes to healthy foods.
One way to save on the cost of organic produce is to create one's menu around what is in season. Simply don't buy something if it is not in season. It will be way over-priced. The catch is to figure out what is in season. It can get confusing due to the fact that produce can be trucked in from all over the world. So, what is really in season in your area? I've been looking into this and have come up with a list that will hopefully be helpful to some of my readers.
I am no expert. In fact, some things on this list I've never even heard of...like some of the kinds of melons and squash. Also, I am assuming the varying months of seasonality is due to varying variety of certain fruits and veggies or regional growing seasons. The list is referring to peak season growing periods. You'll find the produce to be of better quality and far more worth the price...especially in taste.
Be flexible as growing seasons can adjust a bit year to year due to weather conditions. Watch the news for floods and frosts in growing areas as this effects quality and prices. For instance, in our area right now, there is a shortage of bananas because the supply area has suffered from floods. Prices are up. Earlier this year, the quality of oranges wasn't worth purchasing them at all because of a frost during peak growing season.
So, I have gotten as far as learning what is in season. The list is not exhaustive. Let me know what I have missed, and I'll add to it. I hope to some day focus on buying more locally as well, so my personal list will eventually adjust to that. In the meantime, I hope this list helps you along in making the steps to purchasing better quality food for you and your family and making it worth the cost:
Acorn squash Jan., Mar.-Dec.
Apples Sept.-Oct.
Apricots June-July
Artichokes March-May
Asparagus April-May
Avocados Jan., June-Aug.
Bananas All months
Banana squash Oct.-Nov.
Beets June-Oct.
Bell peppers Aug.-Sept.
Blackberries June-Aug.
Blueberries July-Aug.
Broccoli All months
Brussel sprouts April, Aug.-Sept., Nov.-Dec.
Buttercup squash Jan.-Mar., Sept.-Dec.
Butternut squash Jan.-Oct., Dec.
Cabbage Jan.-April, Nov.-Dec.
Cantaloupe June-Sept.
Carrots All months
Casaba melon Sept.-Oct.
Cauliflower Jan.-Oct., Dec.
Chard June-Sept.
Chili peppers Aug.-Sept.
Celery Jan.-March, May
Cherries June, Aug.
Chicory April, Nov.
Collards Jan.-Mar., Dec.
Corn-on-the-cob May-June, Aug.-Sept.
Cranberries Sept., Nov.
Crenshaw melon Aug.-Sept.
Crookneck squash June-Aug.
Cucumbers April-June, Aug.-Sept.
Dates Nov.
Eggplant July-Aug.
Endive April, Nov.
Escarole April, Nov.
Figs June-Oct.
Garlic March-April, Aug.-Oct.
Grapefruit April-July, Oct.-Dec.
Grapes June-Nov.
Green beans May-Aug.
Green onions Jan.-Sept., Nov.-Dec.
Honeydew melon June-Oct.
Hubbard squash Dec.
Kale Jan.-Feb.
Kiwi fruit May-Dec.
Kohlrabi June-July
Kumquats Jan.-June, Nov.-Dec.
Leeks May, Sept.-Nov.
Lemons Jan., March-Dec.
Lettuce March, Dec.
Limes Jan.-Feb., May-Dec.
Mushrooms Feb.-April, Nov.-Dec.
Mustard greens Jan.
Nectarines July
Okra July-Oct.
Onions All months
Oranges Jan.-April, Dec.
Papayas May
Parsley All months
Parsnips Oct.-Dec.
Peaches Aug.
Pears Jan.-April, Aug.-Dec.
Peas May-Aug.
Persian melon Aug.-Sept.
Persimmons Oct.-Nov.
Pineapple March-June
Plums May-Aug.
Pomegranates Oct.
Potatoes All months
Pumpkins Oct.
Radishes April, June-July
Raspberries June-July
Rhubarb April-May
Rutabagas Feb.-March, Sept.-Dec.
Scallop squash June-Aug.
Shallots July-Oct.
Spinach March-June
Strawberries April-July
Sweet potatoes Nov.-Dec.
Tangelos Dec.
Tangerines Dec.
Tomatoes June-Aug.
Turnips March, Sept.-Dec.
Watercress June-July
Watermelon June-Aug.
Yams Nov.-Dec.
Zucchini June-Nov.
So, now if I could just figure out the best times to stock up on spices/herbs, nuts and gluten-free grains. Anyone want to help me with that? Got a source to point me to?
I've had several inquiries regarding my posts lately, or lack there of. No, I have not given up on blogging. In fact, every night I cry myself to sleep because I didn't get a chance to blog that day.
Seriously, I have several blogs written (in my head, of course) that WILL be typed and posted soon.
There has been TONS going on in our little family recently, especially in our marriage. Good, POSITIVE things! Things I am excited to write about.
Just don't want to jinx it by writing about it too soon. :>)
In the meantime, sign up for my RSS feed or onto bloglines or one of those other readers, so you don't frustrate yourself by continually checking only to find I haven't posted.
Trust me. The coming posts will be worth the wait. I am so not biased.
I stunk at Spelling Bees. Being a visual learner, I am actually a pretty good speller. But Spelling Bees, no way. I have to SEE the word written down to prove to myself that I have spelled it correctly. It's not enough to 'see' it in my head. My daughter, however....
Beautiful is quite a reader, writer, and speller for a six year old. Because of this, I have not bothered to run any formal spelling program for her. I can recognize a natural speller when I see one.
I'm not saying that she never spells a word inaccurately, she simply doesn't need any extra instruction from me. All I ever have to do is just point out the omitted letter or the extra letter or the misplaced letter. She erases it and proceeds to write the word correctly right then, the next time she needs to use the word in her writings, and the next time, and then the next time and the next time...I'm not bragging or even implying that I have a genius, but she is definitely a natural born speller.
However, being the teacher that I am, I needed to assure myself that she was really grasping the "important" words. You know, those high frequency words. So I pulled out my book of HFW #1-400 and proceeded to quiz her on five or ten words per day...just to see...for my sake. (I am not going to provide a link to this book because I really don't recommend it; it is way too 'classroomy'.)
Anyway.
I think we were on word number thirty or so before she missed one. I was praising her all along the way. Showing her how amazed I was at her spelling abilities, I asked her how she manages to spell so well. She turned to me and stated very dramatically (those who know her personally can probably picture the expression on her face):
"Oh. When I close my eyes I see letters everywhere that just float into place." Drama Queen, you little stinker!
So many times I hear the groanings of a mother's heart straining to find time to drink of God's Word or to pray or to worship. Over and over and over I must remind myself that mothering IS worship when done with the motivation of pleasing my Heavenly Father.
Someday I'm going to paste this YouTube video on my sidebar...whenever I learn how to do that...and listen to it constantly. But, in the meantime travel on over to On Our Journey Westward.
In three days I will have been blogging for one year. This is my 68th entry. As I reflect back on my blogging experience, I am pleased. I have stayed true to my commitment toward this blog:
Before I started, I made several promises to myself:
1) The blog was not to be used as a gossip chamber or a venting stage against my children or husband.
I can't say that I have not been tempted to dump family problems into the blogosphere. Gossip is very easy to write about and to read about, but that wouldn't exactly be aiming higher than the norm, now would it?
2) Entries were to always be uplifting or encouraging. Any more serious entries were to aim to point myself and others to God (thus the name of the blog). That wasn't to mean there couldn't be any silly entries.
We have way too many sources of "downers" in this world. I just don't want to contribute to it. I want to continue to aim high, to set myself aiming for the ideal and to encourage any reader to join me. By ideal, of course, I mean a relationship with Jesus Christ that is true and honest and puts Him first.
3) Learning my way around blogging designs and templates, etc. was not to take priority over my ongoing quest to be a better wife, parent and homemaker.
One can only look at my template to see that I have kept this one with ease. I've pretty much not touched my template in a whole year! Or, one could conclude that I have a lot of work to do in being a better wife, parent, and homemaker. :>) But it is true, my husband and I have been working on our relationship more intensely this year than ever before. (That's a good thing.) We have gotten more serious in making goals for our children both in character growth and educational goals. I have been working on improving my home management skills. Eventually I want to have one of those home management binders I've read others have. If time spent on these objectives means no time to write a blog entry...so be it.
4) I was not to write a blog entry just to write a blog entry. Or, write just to keep readership up. Any entry was to be worth someone taking the time to read. I did not want to play a role of encouraging others to spend too much time in front of the computer.
Oh, I have posted silly things, yes. I did them mostly when I was trying to learn something about posting or something like that, but those are such quick reads, I figured it was harmless. I do, however, stick to my commitment to blog without obligation. You will see that I have put a button thing on my template that points to another person's entry explaining what blogging without obligation means. I sincerely hope that any of my entries are worthy of the time you take to read it.
Do I have more goals for this year? You bet!
1. I really do want to get a blog design that truly does reflect me and my family and the aim of this blog.
2. I really do want to figure out how to post pictures, video, sound, and those little stamp pictures that people put up for things like Works for Me Wednesday, carnivals, Saturday Stirrings, Green Hour, etc.
3. I want to be more consistent about postings regarding our homeschooling days.
4. I want to be more serious about posting entries that demonstrate how God is working on me. Maybe as you read about this work in progress, you will see what God is doing and what He can do.
5. I want to be able to organize my entries by categories. I'm very confused on how to do that.
So, how can you, a reader, help me?
1. Pray for me.
2. Challenge me by holding me accountable to the goals. If I falter, tell me! I am not put off by constructive criticism. In fact, I respect people that lovingly rebuke me! Note: I said, lovingly. Meaning: A rebuke coming from God's words are refreshing, but a rebuke coming from someone who just doesn't want to be wrong is, well, not lovingly motivated.
3. Let me know how God is working in YOUR life. This is SO encouraging. It's a bonus if something I have written has spoken to you personally.
Now, stop reading and go hug your children, get dinner on the table, and greet your husband with a warm smile. Oh, and de-lurk just for a second to let me know you are there.
Oh. My. Word! Look at this freebie contest...I'm letting you know about it, but secretly hoping you don't enter so it increases the chances of me winning! Selfish. I know.
Rosetta Stone has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while -- next week they are unleashing a brand new curriculum, and you can WIN the *all new* Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3… FOR FREE!
This is a $219 program (and believe me it's worth every penny!) and the winner gets to pick from any of these 14 languages: Spanish (Spain or Latin America), English (American or British), Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Irish, Hebrew, or Russian.
This will also include a headset with microphone, and students will participate in lifelike conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program. Rosetta Stone still incorporates listening, reading and writing as well, in addition to speaking. Many homeschoolers requested grammar and vocabulary exercises, and with Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3, they're included! For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program and allow parents to easily enroll students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, and view and print reports. To win this most excellent program -- in the language of your choice -- copy these (blue) paragraphs and post it in (or as) your next blog post -- then to enter the contest, go to the original contest page HERE: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenIG/501132/ and leave a comment with the link showing where you blogged about it. And please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post it. And good luck! The winner will be picked randomly on March 26, and will be notified thru the link they left to their blog pg. And if you have more than one blog, you can post them and enter those separately for more chances to win. Yay for free stuff!
I'm trying not to be tempted to start multiple blogs just for a chance to enter more times!
Many Blessings,
Holly
I would give credit to the author, but I have no idea who that may be...
"When my wife and I mention we are strongly considering home schooling our children, we are without fail asked, "But what about socialization?" Fortunately, we found a way our kids can receive the same socialization that government schools provide.
On Mondays and Wednesdays, I will personally corner my son in the bathroom, give him a wedgie and take his lunch money.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my wife will make sure to tease our children for not being in the "in" crowd, taking special care to poke fun of any physical abnormalities.
Fridays will be "Fad and Peer Pressure Day." We will all compete to see who has the coolest toys, most expensive clothes and the loudest, fastest and most dangerous car.
Every day, my wife and I will adhere to a routine of cursing and swearing in the hall and mentioning our weekend exploits with alcohol and immorality. If our kids attempt to use the bathroom without permission, we will punish them immediately.
And we have asked them to report us to the authorities in the event we mention faith, religion or try to bring up morals and values."
I cannot believe the brainwashing people display when they bring up the silly 'socialization' issue for a reason to put my children in government run schools. Talk about not being properly informed once again!
On the Pill? Or considering using the Pill? Please read this article.
I, unfortunately, ignorantly used the Pill for six months. Fortunately, my body responded very negatively, and I got off it quickly. I thought I was informed. It's amazing, however, what you can really learn if you take just a little bit more time. Why do we so blindly trust that our doctor knows everything about everything? And, is willing to tell us in the little time he/she has with us? It is truly amazing how doctors have been placed on a pedestal above even God. Where have you placed your doctor?
Scary thought.
I've been there, Ladies, it is not easy to 'not follow the doctor's orders'. But, if my husband and I have prayed about it and sense God saying something different...My Great Physician knows best! Be prepared for a backlash from family, friends, and church members, unfortunately. Your reward is in Heaven.
Woman ONE: visibly pregnant, toddler in heavily laden grocery cart, three more small children following behind. Fumbling with her car keys, scooting the children into their car seats while juggling the cart to keep it from running away unattended. Many people, including store employees, walking by, not one asking if assistance were needed.
Woman TWO: dressed for the office and walking quickly. In her hands was a small purse and her car keys. Following behind her was a teenage store employee pushing a small 'half' cart with ONE grocery bag in it. The bag was placed in her trunk by the teenager while she unlocked her car, got in and never even turned to thank him.
Woman ONE: elated at the timing of a store employee walking by her car just as she had finished emptying her cart and was busy checking all the children's seat belts, kindly asked the employee if he would take her cart back to the store as he was heading that way. Received an annoyed frown from said teenager. Feeling obligated to explain why she needed this little itty bitty piece of assistance as she pointed out the four littles in her car and her bulging abdomen. Cart was removed from her reluctantly.
Woman TWO: sped out of the parking lot within a minute of leaving the store. The night's dinner most likely in the grocery bag prepared and ready to eat as she walked into her home.
Woman ONE: turned out of the parking lot a good ten minutes after leaving the store...and on her way home to unload groceries, put away groceries and start making dinner...which, by this time was going to be VERY late. Whiny, hungry children and husband expected.
Which woman would you like to be? Me, I'm quite content being woman ONE. Can't say I didn't practice my share of crabbiness by the time I got home, though.
Anyone care to enlighten me on how baskets full of candy, over-priced matching outfits, painted eggs, bunnies and little chicks have anything to do with the true meaning of Easter? Or, am I wrong in even calling next weekend, Easter? I've never done a word study on Easter or even bothered to research all the other hoopla that comes with it.
I do, however, remember that this coming weekend marks the remembrance of Christ willingly giving His life for me and rising from the dead.
Glory to God! Creator of LIFE!
So a dilemma started a few days ago. My children noticed that we don't paint eggs, or hunt for them. We don't believe in an Easter bunny, and we don't hand them baskets full of dollar store toys or candy.
We are such party-poopers. What to do?
We actually had a fabulous conversation regarding what Easter/Resurrection is. They all agreed that it made no sense to muddle up God's story with all that other stuff that didn't appear to remind them of what God has done.
They voiced that they were rather sad that they didn't do egg hunts, etc and asked if we could to it anyway. Why not do "the other stuff" on a different day?
Brilliant!
Thus, we will be celebrating SPRING on March 20th from now on. Here is the plan my children and I worked out using the letters from the word 'spring'.
S: Slurp a smoothie.
Pretty self explanatory.
P: Plant something pretty.
We will be planting something in a container this year as we might be moving soon, but we will begin to plant flowers or trees or ...
R: Race for riches.
This is the "Easter egg hunt" substitute. We have plastic eggs. I'll be putting something silly or yummy or whatever in the eggs and hiding them.
I: Invent or inspire.
An art project or poem or story writing opportunity.
N: Nibble a nummy.
A special dessert treat will be made. I'm going to try out making 'Nest Cookies' from a recipe that I found at GreenStyleMom.
G: Give goodness.
The sky's the limit on this one. Maybe we will share our art or poem or nummies with a neighbor. Or, maybe visit a nursing home and read someone a story, etc. I'm going to leave this decision to the children each year.
See. We can have fun.
Now, maybe I should look into celebrating those silly little Christmas cluttering things on a different day so they don't take away from Christmas's true meaning. We already don't do stockings. We do Treasure Boxes...you know, like what the magi brought. Didn't I read somewhere about an early December day that involved shoes? (An idea similar to filling stockings.) Where did I read that?
This morning I was sitting back enjoying thumbing through the posts contributed to the recent Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival hosted by The Heart of Harmony. The Clouds of Art Show at Hearts and Trees entry created quite a stir at our house. I had three little people climbing on me, sitting on my head and vying for the best seat to see all the lovely pictures of clouds. And I was contentedly listening to their chatter regarding each picture.
Beautiful, of course, was not lacking words to express her responses. Handsome had a few things to say here and there. And Sweetness just kept looking back and forth from the pictures to Beautiful to Handsome and to the pictures again...absorbing, absorbing...
Vincent Van Gogh-Wheat Field Under Threatening Skies...
Beautiful: "I'm sure that's a dragon's tail running through that field."
Handsome (ever the realist): "NO! It's a trail! See?"
Claude Monet-Water Lilies (The Clouds)...
Beautiful: "Just like a mirror!" (She even jumped up and positioned herself behind and above the computer and announced to her younger siblings that that is where the clouds really are!)
Handsome (looking at her like she has got to be the craziest sister alive): "I see lilies; where are the crocodiles?"
George Innes-Passing Clouds...
Beautiful: "Just like when we are looking out the window at Grandma and Grandpa's house! See the mountains in the clouds?"
Handsome (not to be out-done): "No! My turn to talk! See that giant sheep and the mountains like at Grandma and Grandpa's house? Why is that man smoking? That's yucky."
Beautiful: "That's not a giant sheep; it's a buffalo!"
(I proceeded to enlarge the picture so they could see it a little more clearly.)
Beautiful: "Oh, it's a cluster of trees. And, look, it is Fall. See how the leaves are yellow?"
Handsome: "It's a giant sheep. Why is that man smoking?" (Okay, so he takes after me and doesn't like to back down.)
Claude Monet-The Stroll (Woman with a Parasol)...
Beautiful: "I don't like that picture. She looks cold even though the sun is shining. The wind is making her hair look funny and ugly." (Lord, help me. I've got such a girlie-girl.)
Handsome: "It's not raining. She doesn't need the umbrella."
Emily Carr-Scorned as Timber, Beloved of the Sky...
Beautiful: "I love this picture! I could just climb into it and explore! Wouldn't that be fun? That's a huge, explosive cloud!"
Handsome: "Look at those TALL trees!"
John Constable-Cloud Study...
Beautiful: blank stare
Handsome: "I like the blue cloud. I like blue."
John Constable-Study of Clouds at Hampstead...
Beautiful: blank stare
Hansome: "I see a storm there coming. See the black cloud?"
I was contentedly listening to them talk amongst themselves. But it was Beautiful's response to the last painting represented in the cloud show, however, that made me gasp...
Lawren Harris-Clouds, Lake Superior...
Beautiful: "Lake Superior! Just like in Paddle to the Sea! This painting looks like Greyling!"
Guys, it has been over three months since we have looked at the book Paddle to the Sea! I have never read Greyling to her! But look how she was making connections! Yes, they both made connections in the other paintings, but I kinda would expect that about everyday life discussions. But, for this little girl to make connections not from everyday life but from her own studies, was just SO rewarding to hear!
But, she took it one step further. She ran to get her book, Greyling by Jane Yolen, to see if Lawren Harris was the illustrator! All this without my nudging at all!
The extra bonus is...guess what I found her doing this afternoon! Come on, guess! She was outside with her bin of crayons and paper with clipboard drawing pictures of clouds! (I know, I know, I should post a picture of her drawing. Teaching me how to use my new camera, how to download it onto my computer, and get the picture onto my blog is quite the challenge for my husband.)
Let your children soar, Ladies! Don't sweat it; our children ARE learning. Even when we are dragging our feet dealing with morning sickness.
Many Blessings,
Holly
P.S. Just so you know, Lawren Harris is NOT the illustrator of Greyling. It is David Ray. But we had a great discussion on how the styles did look similar. Sorry, I tried to find an illustration to post, but apparently the book is out of print. All the used copies I found online didn't show a picture.
I am notorious for forgetting to take the meat out of the freezer in time for it to thaw. And, I really don't care to go grocery shopping too many times during the month, so try to use what I have creatively. This leaves me searching the pantry for inspiration quite regularly. I like to have a few "Pantry Panic" meals ready and handy. The following is just such a meal as I usually have all the ingredients somewhere in my pantry and spice cupboard. It comes from one of my Sue Gregg cookbooks. It's one recipe I really don't alter at all because we like it just the way it is.
3 cups chicken broth
¾ cup lentils, uncooked
½ cup brown rice, uncooked
¼ cup onion flakes, instant minced
½ teaspoon basil
¼ teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon thyme
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¾ cup cheddar cheese, grated*
Blend all ingredients together in a casserole dish except the cheese. Bake covered at 300 degrees for 2 to 2 1/2 hours until tender and the broth is absorbed. Top hot casserole with cheese with a handful of fresh parsley.
*I hold off on adding any cheese because some family members struggle with dairy allergies. But if I have some goat cheese, I will add that generously. I will also use fresh onions or herbs if I have them instead of dried. I don't really measure.
When serving, individuals add a splash of green tabasco sauce to their personal taste. My husband also adds his cow's milk cheese.
I usually double the recipe. There isn't tons of leftovers for us, but if there is, it makes a great tortilla filler. Add some cheese, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce...whatever.
You know, it just occurred to me that this would make a good 'mix' gift as all the ingredients are dried. Just label the jar with instructions to add chicken broth and cheese, the temperature and times, and you're done. Hmm, I think I just solved the mystery of what to make for all those friends of mine with babies due the same time as me. (You know who you are. If this meal doesn't sound appetizing to you, best tell me now or forever hold your peace!)
