The Homeschool Mother's Journal - October 28, 2011

In my life this week...
I'm slowly getting back to an early morning exercise routine & quiet time.  I've been blessed by some marvelous quiet times with the Lord the past couple of weeks, but adding exercise has been wonderful, too.  It's been missed.

My 14 year old had a milestone this week: he went bow hunting for the first time on Tuesday morning.  He saw several deer, but none close enough to shoot.  Going again tomorrow.  It was a bit nerve-wracking for me, but time with the Lord, prayer, & the elliptical while listening to a sermon helped a ton!

In our homeschool this week...
If there was ever a week I just wanted to take off of school, this was it.  I had such a bad & weary attitude on Sunday evening about the upcoming week.  However, we muddled through Monday and plowed through Tuesday.  By Wednesday, I was almost looking forward to school!  I'm so glad we kept going...I feel like a success and no longer defeated!

Helpful homeschool advice to share...
Keep going, no matter if you feel like quitting.  Just like a tough work-out, you'll feel better for completing than you will if you give up.  It's one thing to skip a day of school because something comes up.  It's another if you skip because you just don't feel like it.  Those are the days we just need to hang on to the Lord for strength and keep on.

Places we are going...
Today, we went on a fantastic field trip which took us on an hour & a half tour of the Erie Canal.  We even got to experience a Lock.  Very cool!!!  The sky was blue and the fall colors were absolutely gorgeous!

After the field trip, I took the opportunity to go to the only Apple Store in our area. The store is 45 minutes away from our home and, since the field trip was held close by the store, I decided this was the day to go get the glitch in my phone fixed.  This was the children's first visit to the prestigious Apple Store.  Their impression?  I quote, "We could stay here all day!!"  Yep. Those are my kids!

My favorite thing this week was...
My husband making it home for dinner most nights this week!

What's not working for us...
The fact that Mathletics.com has been re-vamping their website and their workbooks have been unavailable for 3 weeks.

Things I'm working on...
Editing my 3rd photo shoot in a month's time;  laundry;  getting kids clothes together for winter.

I'm reading...
I just finish "Inconceivable" and have just begun, "The Best Kind of Different: Our Family's Journey with Asperger's Syndrome" by Shonda Schilling.  As I have a few friends who have children with this syndrome, I think it will be a good book to read in order to understand more of what these children and their parents deal with everyday.

I'm cooking...
Enchiladas tomorrow to take to a bachelor-friend on Sunday.

I'm praying for...
Good friends who have spent the last 3 days in Barrow, Alaska as they consider taking a job up there.

A video to share...
Thought I'd share a clip of my Gloria reading.  She's doing so well.  This clip basically is a snapshot into our everyday homeschool reality around here...sound effects, comments, goofy faces, and all.  I'm sure you all can relate!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!!!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - October 24, 2011

In my life this week...
I'm posting the Journal entry 90 minutes before the deadline.  Does that tell you anything???

Had one of my husband's best friend's from high school come over for dinner last Thursday.  Haven't seen him in 13 years, meaning this is the first time my children ever met him.  They absolutely LOVED hearing stories about daddy in high school!!

In our homeschool this week...
We did school in our local public library two days in a row.  What a great thing it was to have a change of scenery!!!  The kids worked hard and didn't even mention they were hungry when it got past lunchtime!

Helpful homeschool advice to share...
Get out and do school in a different location!

I am inspired by...
The wisdom and insight of younger friends.

Places we are going/people we are seeing...
My husband isn't going anywhere.  He's only seeing fields and grain bins.  We, however, have gone to the library, my nephew's football game, co-op, etc.  I met up with the adult members of my family for a nice dinner last night...sans hubby. :(


My favorite thing this week was...
Having the long-absent cleaning lady come in to clean my house for company.  Sometimes, you have to admit that you can't do everything and still have family members survive.

I'm reading...
Still on "Inconceivable" by Carolyn & Sean Savage.  Interesting read.  Won't say much more.

I'm praying for...
Courting & engaged couples.  Overwhelmed moms.  Missionaries.

A quote to share...
"Wish I was there with you." -my husband.  *sigh*

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - October 9, 2011

No matter how I try to get this done earlier than Monday, it never seems to work.  Oh well.  Such is the life of a busy homeschool mom.

In my life this week...

I was able to get together with a couple of high-school/life friends last Monday night to celebrate the engagement of one of these dear friends.  This friend suffered an almost-fatal brain aneurysm back in March.  What a blessing that God spared her and she is planning her wedding with a great guy...also a fellow-graduate.  

On Friday night, we had an impromptu dinner-fellowship with another couple with whom we go way back.  They were only in town for a week and were leaving the next day, so we made the most of the short time we had.  Between our 2 families, we have 15 children 15 and younger.  All those kids plus all the memories made for a lot of fun on Friday night!

Our last session of soccer was on Saturday morning.  It's been a great and fun 8 weeks for my four children who have participated (1 was an assistant coach and 3 played).  While some of the coaches were better than others, each of my children enjoyed themselves and all 3 of "my" players scored a goal during the Saturday league.

In our homeschool this week...

We had another shortened week due to a birthday.  Our sweet Anna turned 11 on Wednesday and birthdays are one of the best reasons to take a break from school and celebrate!  Other than that, we are getting well into our "rut."  At this point, it's a pleasant "rut," though I foresee me wanting to break free from it come the middle of February.  

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...

Fresh out of advice this week.

Places we are going...

Wednesday found us at a great local playground while celebrating Anna's birthday.  We met Grandma at a nearby Apple Farm for some fresh fry-cakes and cider afterwards.  Friday was co-op day and our routine is kicking in there, as well.  On Sunday, my husband was busy with the fall harvest, so I took the kids to a nearby waterfall and had a picnic consisting of pizza and Coke!  We enjoyed a beautiful hike on a rare 80 degree, sunny fall day.  Had a chance to get some photos of my 12 year old and am looking forward to editing those this coming week.

My favorite thing this week was...

After H.O.P.E. (our co-op) on Friday, I found myself surrounded by several of the K4-1st graders proudly showing off their artwork to me.  How sweet it was that they wanted me to see what they had done!  I sometimes think little ones are afraid of me and it was sweet to see that this group isn't!

What's working/not working for us...

This past Monday was the first Monday in which we had to combine my son's weekly piano lesson, my daughters' monthly cleaning job, and our weekly city ministry.  Not sure that's working for us!

Questions/thoughts I have...

What is it about Tuesdays????  That seems to consistently be the day that my kids POKE around with their school and I get totally stressed.  What about you?  Is there a day that seems to be more stressful?

Things I'm working on...

Laundry and cleaning....again.

I'm reading...

"Inconceivable" by Carolyn Savage.  I just finished "Choosing to SEE" by Mary Beth Chapman.  THAT was an amazing book! Though I'm not a huge CCM fan, I found that the Chapman family has a very real relationship with Jesus Christ.  It is often said that your faith will shine through in the midst of a trial or, in contrast, prove you have no faith during a trial.  The fact that Stephen Curtis Chapman gave the gospel message to the doctors and nurses while he gazed upon the lifeless body of his 3 year old daughter is proof of a strong and real faith.  I can only hope I would be so faithful to God in such a trial.  I highly recommend "Choosing to SEE."

I'm cooking...
A lot of pasta.  It's easy.

I'm praying for...
Friends who are making decisions regarding employment and a major move.

A quote to share...
"If God has called you to be a servant, don't stoop to being a king." -Gary Beikirch


Journal along with other dedicated homeschool moms over at The Homeschool Chick!

Annoyed or Annoying

The other day, I was teaching Seth (7 years old) the difference between "there, their, and they're."  The following is the short conversation that took place:

Me:  Seth, if you get this, you will be ahead of 50% of the adults in the English-speaking world.  The other 50% of us are annoyed by those who don't get it.  So, Seth, it comes to this: you can be annoyED or annoyING.  Which would you rather be?

Seth:  AnnoyED.  It's embarrassing to be annoyING.

That's my boy!!!!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - October 1, 2011

In our homeschool this week...

Normally, we accomplish five days worth of school in four, but this week we crammed five days into three.  On Monday morning I received a text from my brother informing me that an old friend had passed away the night before.  Once I found out that his memorial service was Thursday morning, I knew that I had to make sure the children's school work was done before I could go.  So, we all worked hard and pulled some long hours, but I was glad to be able to attend my friend's service.  It was truly wonderful as the speakers were amazingly eloquent in honoring our loved one.

Helpful homeschooling tips/advice to share...

"Be prepared."  It's not just for Boy Scouts.  As homeschool moms, we need to be as efficient as possible.  While it costs me a few hours every weekend, writing down all of my students' assignments and looking through the material to see what is expected of them (& of me!) during the week saves me headaches and stress later in the week. 

Places we are going and people we are seeing...

I saw a few friends I have not seen in a while at the funeral home on Wednesday evening and at the memorial service on Thursday.  After the service, I took advantage of the time I had alone and did some shopping for school materials and other needed items.  Sadly, I didn't get half of the items on my small list, but I did find some nice ear rings! :) 

I took a couple of my children to sing at an assisted living apartment in town in order for them to minister to the residents with our church's  youth choir.  That was a ton of fun. 

Friday, four of the kids and I went on a field trip in which we learned about some of the road construction going on in our town and how all of those type of projects come to be and are carried out.  While the kids seemed to lose interest fairly quickly, we adults were fascinated with all aspects of construction.  

My favorite thing this week...

Having my husband ask me to go to the store with him just to get a couple of things.  He knew I'd go to the store late at night when all the kids were in bed and I was dead tired.  Instead, he made it a fun little date for the two of us!

Questions/thoughts I have...

In light of our field trip this week, why is it that the older we get, the more questions we have?  Why do we become more interested in things we do not know about and yet have less time to learn about them now that we are parents rather than when we were teens and had "all the time in the world"?

Things I'm working on...

Cleaning my house.  It's a long, unending process.  Can I get an "Amen"?

I'm reading...

"Choosing to See" by Mary Beth Chapman.  You know it's going to be a tear-jerker when the dedication page makes you cry!

I'm cooking...

A lot of pasta.  It's quick & easy and relatively healthy!

I'm praying for...

A friend who just left for his 4th (or is it 5th?) & longest tour in Afghanistan.

A quote to share...

"Go to other people's funerals or they won't go to yours." -Richard Wilson.  Posted earlier this year on his facebook page.  Went home to heaven Sept. 25, 2011.

I went to your funeral, Rich.  I expect you to return the favor someday. ;)  Thanks for all the laughs and all that you did for my family.  Looking forward to sharing the joys of heaven with you.