The face of our homeschool has changed this year.  We have lots of different levels.  Matt is a senior in high school.  Caleb is a sophomore.  Marissa is in 7th grade, Cody is in 5th grade, and Brady is in preschool with  Mommy! (See below for the wonderful Preschool treasures I have found!)  It is a challenge this year with all the kids going at once!  This will begin our 13th year of homeschooling.  One thing that I have learned lately is… BALANCE.  I have learned that there are many people out there all homeschooling differently, and that my style and needs are very different from theirs.  I don’t need to copy them to be successful.  I have learned my weaknesses and limitations.  I only can do 1 thing well.  If I have too many things that demand my constant oversight, I get frustrated and angry.  This completely defeats the whole purpose of homeschooling. 

I have always been what they would call an “eclectic” homeschooler.  I use several different venues and methods and enjoy mixing and matching them up!  This gives me so much freedom and doesn’t lock me in as a teacher or force my kids to “fit” into a certain box.  I am naturally a very hands-on teacher.  But, that just doesn’t work well with several different children and different grade levels.  So, I have had to relax on that, and bring in some packaged curriculum in some of the subject areas.  God is good and has provided much satisfaction for me with using Student of the Word curriculum for Bible.  I teach it to all the kids at once each day.   I am able to be “hands-on” and really dig into the deeper things of God.  (See my Student of the Word posts).  I also use this time to teach any thing that needs reinforcing as a group: character issues, notetaking, critical listening skills, music, etc.

Each year, Blaine and I discuss and pray fervently about our curriculum choices for each child.  We confer and I do lots of research. In addition to using Student of the Word for the Bible teaching for all of our children, here is what we landed on this year for each of our kids.

Matt, age 17, senior in high school: 

• Algebra 2, Switched-on-Schoolhouse CDROM by AlphaOmega Publications.  He loves it so far.  He said that it is very thorough in teaching and explaining the concepts so that he can understand them.  I love the grading feature and all the teacher helps!  Switched-on-Schoolhouse is saving me this year in the difficult subjects and the kids are enjoying it!!  
• English IV, Switched-on Schoolhouse. 
•  Integrated Physics and Chemistry, Switched-on-Schoolhouse. 
• Exploring World History by Ray Notgrass.  This is an amazing course that integrates History, Literature, Bible, and Composition.
• Hewitt’s Senior High Health Syllabus.  This uses the texts Total Health: Choices for a Winning Lifestyle by Susan Boe and I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris.  I LOVE HEWITT HOMESCHOOLING!!!  They have so many neat choices for the different subject areas.  A treasure indeed. 
• Body By Design: An Anatomy and Physiology of the Human Body by Alan L. Gillen.  This is a great book with the Creator given all the credit!  Great graphics and history included in the text.
• You Decide!  Applying the Bill of Rights to Real Cases by Critical Thinking Press.  This book includes 75 actual U.S. Supreme Court Cases!  This looks like a blast and is designed for grades 6-12+.
• Rosetta Stone German
• Bible Quizzing Memory Verses from the Book of John

Caleb, age 15, sophomore in high school:

• Algebra 1, Switched-on-Schoolhouse Curriculum.  See link above.
• English I, Switched-on-Schoolhouse Curriculum
• Integrated Physics and Chemistry, Switched-on-Schoolhouse Curriculum
• Exploring America by Ray Notgrass.  Just like the Exploring World History above, this covers History, Literature, Composition, and Bible.
• You Decide!  Applying the Bill of Rights to Real Cases by Critical Thinking Press.
• Beef Cattle Science Textbook
• Rosetta Stone German
• Bible Quizzing memory Verses from the book of John

Marissa, age 12 1/2, seventh grade:

• Developmental Mathematics (Not all of these are still in print.  This will be our last year of being able to use these.  The early books are available only.)
• English Switched on Schoolhouse (I removed all the spelling lessons in this so we could use Sequential Spelling.)
• Sequential Spelling 2 DVD  Both Marissa and Cody really enjoy Sequential Spelling
• Exploring  Creation with Zoology 2 by Apologia.  For this book you can print off the notebooks for free at the link I gave you.  Marissa and Cody LOVE all of the Exploring Creation books by Apologia!  They are a lot of fun and written to the students!  You can purchase the science experiment kits from Home Science Tools.  We have done Exporing Creation with Zoology 3 and Exploring Creation with Botany, and you can purchase all the kits from Home Science Tools.  Plus, their customer service is second to NONE.  They have the fastest shipping I have ever seen and their prices are quite competitive.  Nature’s Workshop Plus is very bad for customer service, and I won’t ever use them again for any science supplies.
• Beautiful Feet Medieval History Guide and the books to go along with it for the Junior High Level.  We have always thoroughly enjoyed the Beautiful Feet History Guides.  They are a lot of fun!
• Hewitt Junior High Health Syllabus  This uses Total Health:  Talking about Life’s Changes by Susan Boe, and Dover Human Anatomy coloring book.
• Bastien Piano Lessons from Mom
• Alfred’s Basic Guitar Course (long distance with Grandpa from IN!)
• Keyboarding Skills by Diana Hanbury King
• Facts First!  This is an amazing online resource for learning all the basic math facts in addition, subraction, multiplication, and division.  It is interactive and keeps track of their progress and what facts need reinforcing.  For $50 per year, you get a subscription for up to 4 students.  We love this!
• Bible Quizzing Memory from the book of John

Cody, age 11, 5th grade:

• English, Switched-on-Schoolhouse ( I removed all the spelling lessons in this so he could use Sequential Spelling.)
• Sequential Spelling DVD
• Modern Curriculum Press Math  both the student and teacher books.
• Exploring Creation with Zoology 2 by Apologia.
• Homemade unit study on the  Middle Ages using lots of great books.  I used All Through the Ages by Christine Miller as a resource.  The Story of the Middle Ages by Christine Miller/Guerber will be our main text.  Plus, we got a couple of awesome magazines from Learning Through History.  We got the Early and Late Middle Ages issues.  These include articles, crafts, activities, etc. 
• Look, Listen, Think! by  World Teachers Press.  Cody needs reinforcement in listening and concentration skills.  I hope this will make a difference!
• Mindbenders by Critical Thinking Press.  This should help with his deductive reasoning skills.
• GeoPuzzles
• Alfred’s Complete Drum Course for Kids  We love this because it uses drumsticks and a bucket to learn the basics of rhythm and music.  A great foundation for drummers!
• Facts First!
• Art of his choice
• Bible Quizzing verses from 1 & 2 Samuel

Brady, age 3 1/2, preschooler ASKING to do school:

• Mommy, Teach Me  and Mommy, Teach Me to Read by Barbara Curtis  These books are absolute TREASURES!!!  Not only do they show how to teach preschoolers very naturally, but, it is food for the homeschool mother’s soul.  I LOVE THESE books!  I have implemented many of her exercises already, and Brady loves them and asks for them.  She loves the Montessori method, but, makes it easier and much more affordable for homeschoolers.  She also adjusts it to fit our lifestyle.  Did I say these are a TREASURE???
• Preschool Plus Preschool Package by Hewitt  This resource is a unit study that uses great literature and activities.  I am using it in conjunction with the Mommy, Teach Me!  Books.  Preschool Plus has the reading and math separate so that you can easily use something else for those 2 things.  And, that is what I have done.  I have replaced the reading and math with the Mommy, Teach Me!  method.  But, they really complement each other well, and I can use ideas from both. I also purchased the Christian Appendix for Preschool Plus by Hewitt for Brady’s Bible.  Preschool Plus has a lot and you can adjust it to fit your child as they need.  Brady likes more some days, so, we do it all, and less some days, so we do just a little of it.

For extracurricular activities this year, Matt and Caleb are playing football with Shiloh Christian School this fall.  Matt purchased his first pickup this summer, and so he drives himself and Caleb to practice each day.  It will be a new and different experience to go to football games and keep up with all that goes with it!  But, we are excited and grateful that they have this opportunity.  Matt, Caleb and Marissa will all be involved in Teen Bible Quizzing learning the entire book of John this year.  Cody will be involved in Children’s Bible Quizzing learning 1 & 2 Samuel.  Caleb is involved is the ND Junior Angus Association and will continue to show his registered Angus heifers.  Caleb, Marissa, and Cody participate in our local 4-H club also.

That is the face of our homeschool this year!  We always keep the attitude of being flexible and being willing to change!

In 1998, 1 month after I had Marissa, I joined a Weigh Down Workshop.  I didn’t really know a lot about it at the time.  I went,  completely enjoyed it, lost all my baby weight and then some in 6 months time.  It isn’t really a "weight loss" program like we would think of one.  It is based on God’s Word, and uses the principles of true physiological signals of hunger and fullness. 

The Weigh Down principles are simple.  Give your WHOLE heart to God, and let Him lead every area of your life.  Give Him control of everything, including your eating habits.  Weigh Down emphasizes heavily the focus of God’s Word.  Being in the Bible everyday is key to getting our hearts back on the right track.  Emphasis is placed on improving our relationship with Our Creator every moment of every day. 

The physical aspect is also simple.  Only eat when you are truly hungry.  For most of us, that is when we are growling in the stomach.  Weigh Down goes into depth with how to listen to these signals, and how to obey them.  If we stay between the boundaries of hunger and fullness, we will eventually get to and stay at our ideal weight.

I have used Weigh Down principles ever since 1998.  It changed the way I looked at food.  Weigh Down believes that you don’t have to make the food obey with lower calories, fat, or sugars.  You are free to eat any type of foods that your body is calling for, but, only within the parameters of hunger and fullness.  Eating smaller amounts when the hunger does come is also key. 

I have found so much  joy in eating this way each day.  I don’t have to worry about what I can’t eat.  I just continually wait for the growl and then I enjoy what I am hungry for!  I have had seasons since I started doing Weigh Down where I have eaten beyond full and when I wasn’t hungry.  I have gained weight during those seasons.  But, the awesome thing with Weigh Down is… you can start fresh and wait for hunger right away!  You don’t have to fret about the mistake, you just wait for hunger and eat at that time!! 

I even went through pregnancies using the Weigh Down concepts and it worked well.  Of course, I ate more often,and usually in greater quantity. As I listened to my body’s needs, everything worked better.  My babies were always perfect weights and lengths and healthy.

The founder of Weigh Down is Gwen Shamblin.  Since she began Weigh Down over 20 years ago, her ministry has grown and changed.  I really enjoyed her earlier series.  I was pleased to find that they still sell her old series.  It is called:  Weigh Down at Home.  It was made before many of the changes came into the Weigh Down ministry.  I prefer them over the newer ones.  In fact, this Weigh Down at home series is FREE online!  You won’t have the workbook that goes with it, but, it is all the teaching videos that come with Weigh Down at Home!  Go to: http://www.weighdownathome.com/  The home page steps you through everything.  Plus, at the bottom of the page, you can order the VHS version FREE for the cost of shipping!  Or, you can purchase the DVD set.  But, you don’t have to have them, but, they come with the workbook, tips, and encouragement tapes.

Weigh Down has changed my life in many ways.  I am able to maintain a healthy, ideal weight, and I have grown in the Lord very much.  I came to really KNOW God and who He is through many of the Weigh Down scriptures and studies.  I have several friends who are doing Weigh Down at Home right now. Tthey are losing weight, have more energy, and one even said that her diabetes is now coming under control!  God is amazing! I just received a thank-you note in the mail today from one who has been doing Weigh Down since January.  She feels it has saved her life because of her health.  She has lost 25 pounds to date!

As with any program or teacher, you have to discern everything against the Word of God.  I may not agree with EVERYTHING Gwen Shamblin teaches, but, for the MOST part it is very good, and only pointed me directly towards my Heavenly Father.  I believe with the Holy Spirit’s help, we can glean what we need to learn from it, and let the rest go.  We need that discipline for everything, really.

I just had to share this beautiful gem that I have found in my life.  It has given me so much freedom spiritually, emotionally and physically. I am still learning lessons God has for me through his Word and the trials I face.  But, I just praise the Lord that He is still teaching and growing me up in Him!

If I make soup, we love to have warm bread to dip into it!  But, sometimes, I don’t have any, and it is time to eat.  These breadsticks are very fast and easy to make. I also use this recipe as our pizza dough. My kids love to make them and shape the dough into the letters of their names!  One evening, Caleb especially got into it, and created a neat topping for them all.  After they were baked, only HE was allowed to add the finishing touches…

Homemade Breadsticks

1 c. warm water
1 T. yeast
2 T. oil
1 t. salt
1 t. sugar
2 1/2 c. flour

Dissolve yeast in water.  Add remaining ingredients; gradually adding flour.  Knead until smooth.  I just mix it in my electric mixer for a minute or two, and call it "kneaded"!  Cover and let rise 15 minutes.  For breadsticks:  Cut dough in quarters and then divide each quarter into 6 pieces.  Shape into breadsticks by rolling or twisting. Place on greased cookie sheet.  Let rise for 10- 15 minutes and then bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes.   For pizza dough:  Divide dough in half and roll on 2 pizza pans. Let rise for 20 minutes.  You can bake it before topping with pizza toppings, or wait and bake it after you have topped it with pizza goods!
Bake at 450 for 8-10 minutes.  For breadsticks:  Brush baked breadsticks with butter.  Sprinkle lightly with Italian seasoning or parmesan cheese.  YUM!

The same friend who gave me the Gingersnap cookie recipe is the one who shared this delicious soup recipe with me 18 years ago!  It is a standby and so fast and simple.  Add some fresh bread and you have a nutritious and comforting meal.

Cheddar Chowder

 In a large saucepan add together the following:
2 c. water
2 c. diced potatoes
1/2 c. chopped carrots
1/2 c. chopped celery
1/4 c. chopped onion
1 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 c. cubed ham
Boil all of this together for 10-12 minutes and do not drain!
While the above ingredients are boiling,
make the white sauce:
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. milk
2 c. milk

Melt butter in saucepan, add flour to make a paste.  When blended add milk.  Cook until thick and bubbly.  Remove from heat.  Add 2 c. grated cheddar cheese.  Stir until melted.
Remove vegetable mixture from heat, and mix cheese sauce into the vegetable mixture.  Serve!

When we were first married, a friend of mine shared the recipe with me.  It is been a family favorite ever since.  These cookies are just right.  Not too sweet, chewy in the middle with the outside having a touch of crunch!  These are a "snap" to whip up and are really good in the winter with some hot tea or hot chocolate!

Soft Gingersnap Cookies

3/4 c. shortening
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. molasses
1 egg
2 1/4 c. flour
2 t. soda
2 t. ginger
1 t. cinnamon

Mix all ingredients well.  Roll into balls and roll balls in white sugar.  Flatten with the bottom of a glass.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.