Monday was our first day back at school.  At the moment we are just starting gradually with penmanship, grammar, spelling and math.  The kids were feeling mix emotions about starting already, but when the day was over, they asked to do more work!!  I pray that our schooling this year will be wonderful, learning new things together.  This is our curriculem for this year:

Larry (1d11-grade six)

SaxonMath 65, A reason for handwriting F, Language C, Phonetic Zoo Level A, Exploring Creation:Botany, Natives of Long Ago, Story of the World Vol 2, Writing Strands Level 3

Curley (2d9-grade four)

SaxonMath 54, A reason for handwriting D, Language A, Phonetic Zoo Level A, Exploring Creation:Botany, Natives of Long Ago, Story of the World Vol 2, Writing Strands Level 3

Moe (3s7-grade two)

SaxonMath 2, A reason for handwriting B, Plaid Phonics B, Phonetic Zoo Level A, Exploring Creation:Botany, Natives of Long Ago, Story of the World Vol2, Writing Strands Level 2, Continuing Handbook for Reading.

Being a single mom, it is difficult to have times with just one child.  This week the kids are in DVBS.  I had an appointment with my rheumatologist during that time.  I took one child, Curley, with me.  After my appointment we went to a cute English tea shop for tea and scones with cream and jam.  It was a lovely time enjoying our treats and then walking around the town looking at the shops. I love to be able to spend one on one time with each child, listening to them talk about how they are doing.  I wish I could do it more often, but I do try and do it as much as I can.

Praise is rising

Eyes are turning to You

We turn to You

Hope is stirring

Hearts are yearning for You

We long for You

When we see You we find strength to face the day

In Your presence all our fears are washed away

Washed away

Hosanna! Hosanna!

You are the God who saves us

Worthy of all our praises

Hosanna! Hosanna!

Come have Your way among us

We welcome You here Lord Jesus

Hear the sound of hearts returning to You

We turn to You

In Your kingdom broken lives are made new

You make us new

‘Cause when we see You we find strength

To face the day

In Your presence all our fears are washed away

Washed away

CCLI  4662491

Paul Baloche& Brenton Brown

Sorry, I have been MIA for awhile.  The kids and I have been really enjoying our summer. We went on our annual Cousin Campout and had a blast.  Moe really thought it was awesome because it was during his seventh birthday.  Speaking of which, I cannot believe my baby boy is seven already.  As I was tucking him into his sleeping bag on the night of his birthday, I said to him, "I don't want you to grow up, I want you to stay being my little boy!"  That sweet boy wrapped me up in his arms and squeezed me tight and said, "Mommy, I'll be your little boy for two more years, but then I HAVE TO BE your big boy!"

The kids are at our church's day camp this week thanks to someone who sponsored us (PTL!!).  That means I'm kid free from 8:30 to 4:30.  This hasn't ever happened before, this is a new thing!!  Well, don't worry about me, I've got lots of projects I need to do.  First of all, cleaning out the school room, Secondly, finish marking some stuff (I know!!  tsk tsk!).  So I got a good start today.

I plan on starting some school work next week of the subjects I already have and start the others as they arrive from my suppliers.  I can't really get into some personal private issues on this blog, but please pray that God's will be done concerning our homeschooling.

I am joining a blog friend in trying to lose weight (yet again).  I have allowed the stress that I am currently under to affect my munching habit.  I have gained some of my weight that I worked really hard to lose and that really depresses me. But with God on my side, I am going to lose it again.

Well, I think I have updated you all and I hope you are enjoying your summer as much as I have!

God bless!

Well, we did it.  We finished school for this year.  LarryGirl graduated to grade 6, Curley to grade 4 and Moe to grade 2.  It was a good year with only a few down points.  We finished a lot later than other years, but oh well... we made it.

Next year is not quite decided.  There have been some issues that I really cannot discuss on this public blog, but please pray with me that God's will be done. 

As for summer plans... the kids and I are going on our annual cousin camp out next week.  The kids are also attending our church's day camp thanks to someone who sponsored them.  More camping, more days at the beach, visiting friends,  ahhhhhhhhhhh!!  I. LOVE. Summer!!!

I won't be able to post this on the actual day, but Sunday is my birthday.  I am looking forward to visiting with my parents and hanging out with my kids.  I hope the weather is wonderful, although they are calling for rain!

Hope your summer is great.

I can't believe I did this all by myself.  I'm certainly growing in this area.  Now I have to figure out how to post videos!!

Hope you like the songs I picked.

Love mlpinky

PS  I could really use some prayer, as I'm going through some real stressful times.

Bring out your tissues, this is an amazing video.  It kinda ties in with the last one.  GOD CHANGES LIVES!!!  Bring your "mess" to God and see what HE does with it!!!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDDc5RB6FQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrGfA6y9fNI

I haven't figured out how to post videos.  Anyone who knows how and would like to tell me, please leave comment.  Anyhow, I found this on someone else's blog and it moved me to tears.  I have been going through a difficult situation, but I know so many people are hurting.  I don't know how I would get through this without Christ.  It breaks my heart seeing people try and go through life with so many hurts and do not go to Christ for healing that only He can bring.  I hope it touched you as it touched me.

Love mlpinky

What to say Lord it's

You Who gave me life and

I can't explain just how much

You mean to me

Now that You've saved me Lord

I give all that I am to You that

Everyday I can be a light that shines Your name

Every day Lord I'll

Learn to stand upon Your Word

And I pray that I

That I may come to know You more

That You would guide me in

Every single step I take that

Every day I can be Your

Light unto the world

Every day it's You I'll live for

Every day I'll follow after You

Every day I'll walk with You my Lord

It's You I live for every day

It's You I live for every day

(Hillsong United)

Just a note to let you all know that I'm struggling a bit over here.

So far this month has been painful.  I do see my rheumatologist tomorrow.  My right foot is so painful, I'm limping, can hardly wiggle my toes, and can only wear my crocs.  I  have another nodule on top of an already existing nodule on my knuckle.

Probably this is due to some stress that I'm having personally.  This past weekend has been quite stressful due to some very hurtful, unthoughtful things that someone has done.  I need wisdom in knowing how to deal with this.

On a happier note, Curley and Moe past their yellow belts in Karate.  Moe was over the moon excited.  The three of them are so excited about karate and want to join the Karate Tournament Team.  I hope I am financially able to do this for them.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers...

Today was a very full and busy day.  A friend and I went to the Homeschoolers Conference in town.  It was fun looking at all the displays and thinking about the future.  I was specifically looking at Canadian Geography and writing curriculem.  I went to a seminar with Donna Ward who wrote "Canada my country" and really enjoyed it.  I am interested in using her stuff.  Also I was interested in Writing Strands and wondered if anyone here has used it.  I have looked at Excellence in Writing course and have heard really good things about it.  It is a little more expensive.  I enjoyed hearing my friend Donna Fawcett (homeschoolblogger.com/authorDonna) speak about what she would change and wouldn't change in her homeschooling.  I was really tired by the end of the day but I had something really exciting happen!!  I won a Tim Hortons "roll up the rim to win".   Finally after weeks of buying timmy's, I won a coffee!  Yippee!

Can it be true?!  Can my little girl be eleven already?  Amazing how time flies.  She is turning into such a wonderful young lady.  She is kind, thoughtful, loving, tenderhearted, has a burden for the lost, beautiful.  I am so blessed to be her mom.  I pray that God will give me the wisdom and patience as she continues to grow into a fine young woman.

We are having a birthday celebration dinner on Thursday with 16 family and friends.  She wanted a spanish dinner this year, so I am making spicy lasagna, spanish pasta bake and tacos.

Happy Birthday my angel-girl!! 

I had a GNO tonight.  What a wonderful refreshing time to be with my three best friends.  I met these women at Bible College many moons ago and we have been friends ever since.  About six years ago, we realized that we were letting the busyness of our lives separate us.  It wasn't a consious thing, we didn't mean it to happen, but we were not seeing each other for long periods of time.  We decided that we need to make time for each other, so the four of us take a turn every three months to host a GNO.  We absolutely love getting together.  Sometimes we go shopping, or go out for dinner, do an activity, or like tonight, just hang out and talk and talk and talk.....  I thank God for my three friends that I can be real with, pray with, cry with, and laugh until we cry with.

Last night I had the opportunity to see the Toronto passion play.  My mom's boss rented a nice bus and invited the staff and families to go see the play and have dinner.  So I went with my mom and dad.

The play was excellent.  I really enjoyed it.  It began with explaining Jesus' birth, Jesus in the temple when he was twelve, Jesus' baptism, and went on from there.  There were over 300 people acting, dancing, singing.  It was really well done.  I would love to go again and take my children.

Easter is early this year.  It's kind of hard to believe it's already here.  Especially with snow on the ground still.  I am looking forward to this coming week and remembering just how blessed we are.

Thank you Jesus for your wonderful gift of forgiveness.  Help me to slow down this week and remember your love for us.  Help me to give you all the devotion you deserve. Amen

For three years now, the girls have a sleepover in the middle of march for their birthdays.  It falls during our "March Break".  This year the girls had invited one friend each, so four girls altogether. 

First off the girls opened a present from one of the girls and were very excited to get another Webkinz.   Then the girls decided to put on a fashion show.  We have a large bin full of dress-up clothes, so using those and some clothes they brought, they put on quite the fashion show.

For dinner I made tacos and make your own sundaes with lots of toppings.  The girls loved doing that.  After a little while, we did a craft.  I wasn't overly thrilled with the craft I bought.  I'm not that crafty, so I bought a kit.  It was a beaded watch bracelet.  The watches didn't all work, but the girls had fun doing it anyway.

Finally it was time to start to the movie and hopefully quieten down a bit (yay right!).  We ate chips and popcorn and watched 101 Dalmations.  At 11:30 it was lights out.  I went to bed, but had to get up a few times to "help" the girls.  They finally all were asleep around 1:30.  The girls had a blast.  It is amazing how four 9 and 10 girls can trash a place!!

Last night we had quite the storm.  It snowed and snowed and snowed!  I believe we got about 40 cm of snow when it was all over.  I haven't seen this much snow ever!!  I heard on the radio that we have had more snow this winter than in the past eighty years! Our church service was cancelled this morning.  The plow broke as it was clearing the church parking lot!  Our parking lot just got ploughed now and it is almost noon.

As much as I am ready for spring and would like to see all the snow disappear, the snow does look beautiful.  It has been kind of fun working with our neighbours and trying to dig out of all this snow.  That being said, I still would like spring to come.  I think the groundhog lied when he predicted an early spring!

It's hard to believe that my little girl turned nine on Wednesday.  I think back at her early arrival and it seems it was just yesterday.  Curley was six weeks premature and weighed five pounds.  We spent 11 days in special care.  But I remember looking at the other tiny babies and thanking God that she didn't have too many problems.

Curley is a special tenderhearted little girl.  She loves pink, ballet, animals, playing with her dolls and being with her family.  She loves going to church and loves her school work.  She has been a joy to parent and I look forward to the years ahead as she continues to grow and mature into a young woman (although the thought does scare me a little;) )

Curley wanted a turkey dinner with mashed potatoes, squash, dressing and veggies.  She wanted apple and pumpkin pie as well as Lime Ice Box Pie.  We had 15 family and friends over and we all had a blast.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEANUT!

Just thought I'd write a quick note on how cool the lunar eclipse looked tonight.  I got up Curley a few minutes ago to show her.  We are study astronomy this year, so it's cool to see it.

Curley goes in the hospital early tomorrow for another round of tubes and adenoids.  It's the third time for adenoids and I've lost count of the amount of tubes she has had.  If you think of us, please pray that everything goes smoothly.

I can't believe how much snow we have right now.  Yesturday 20 cm of snow came down again.  I guess it's a Canadian thing to talk (and complain) about the weather.  I am getting a little tired of being snowed in.  I can't recall having such a snowy February.  The snow is beautiful, but I don't always like driving in it.  I think we have about 45 cm of snow on the ground at the present.  However, this morning the sun came out and it has been quite pleasant.

It's hard to believe that we are half way through the month.  I have to say that compared to all the other January and February, this year has been the best homeschooling winter ever.  Usually in January and February we all get in the "I don't want to do school" funk.  But we are doing great.  No complaining, whining, sniveling, dragging feet.  It is wonderful.  I am not in a funk at all and I'm already thinking about choices for next year.

We are coming up to birthday season.  The girls definately don't NEED anything.  They have all the toys and clothes that they can fit in their room.  I have a few ideas but does anyone have any ideas for GIRLS TURNING 9 AND 11??  Thanks in advance for your comments.

***Lily can you email me?  Because I have lost everything on my old computer, I have lost email address and websites.  I have a new computer now (thanks to my friend!!)