SCHOOL

I am learning more and more of what homeschool looks like in our home for our family.  It's every day. It's in little things, like chores, bugs & turtles. I am even getting a bit better at keeping track of those little things so I'm not so frustrated with tracking school hours for the state... but still have a long ways to go with that.  Homeschool tracker has helped me with this. I use the basic edition (which is free), and mostly just for "attendance" record and journaling their hours and work.  I use to do this all on a calendar, but this seems to be much easier for me.

Much of our curriculum has stayed the same this year.  We once again will use My Father's World for our Bible/History/Science. We are in our 3rd year of the 5 year cycle, studying Rome to the Reformation.  I am even sticking close to the Language Arts they recommend this year after straying a bit last year.  Myah will use Writing Strands, Intermediate Language Lessons and All in One English.  Both she and Joel will continue with Spelling Power.  Joel will continue with Primary Language Lessons.

Math has been our biggest switch this year.  I have purchased Teaching Textbooks for both Myah and Joel this year. It costs quite a bit more than I have spent in past years, but I am looking forward to having one less subject that I personally have to teach.  Teaching Textbooks does all the teaching and grading for me!  I'm thinking it was worth every penny.... Myah has already done several lessons completely on her own free will and enjoyed it.

We have also added a typing program and some basic Spanish to our list this year.

Kiana started working through the first grade curriculum last year.  I am going to spend lots of time reviewing that and hope to have it finished by Christmas.  She will do Singapore Math and Spelling by Sound and Structure. 

Probably one of the biggest assets to our homeschool is the Children's Life Journal.  It coincides with mine and Evan's daily reading & is a perfect way to teach our children the importance of their own personal time with the Lord.  I have been telling my children that God doesn't have grandchildren... only children.  They need to have their own walk with the Lord and not cling to mine or their dad's.  For those with kids a bit older, they also have a teen version.  The thing I love about this, is that it's all about the Word of God.  Period. What God is teaching them from His Word and His Word alone.

As we endeavor to teach our children the truth of the Word of God, please pray for us to have wisdom and for their precious hearts to be so captivated by Jesus that they fall more and more in love with Him and His Word.  That is why we homeschool.  Their purpose here is the same as mine, to glorify God in every aspect of their lives and to grow up going into all the world preaching the Gospel and making disciples.  God desires to equip them to do just this.  My prayer is that through these years of teaching them at home, is a good foundation for this goal.

BEEN OFFLINE FOR A WHILE...

... and it's been refreshing! I have checked fb, but very little lately, and blogging has been put on the back burner. After 3 weeks of swimming lessons, we took an amazing vacation back to MI, did lots of relaxing on a lake, saw lots of friends and family, and ended with a night in IN visiting many great friends from Harvest Chapel in Lafeyette! The time away was actually like a vacation!

playing with REAL MI sand!

not sure what to do with these goofy things! :)

The fish are huge!

Learning how to kayak!

They did catch a lot, though!

Enjoying the Lake MI shoreline!

We even had a little time to ourselves for a walk on the Grand Haven pier!

AJ turned 3 while we were gone, and had 2 birthday celebrations!  What a spoiled little man!

Coming home is always a good part of going away, though.  Our home was used for a family reunion our neighbors had while we were gone, & it was spotless when we came home.  Our list of projects hit us pretty hard, but we have been trying to enjoy the process of getting summertime/outdoor work done, and taking a little break for some fishing and stuff in between.  We have actually started some landscaping (yeah!) and finally felt comfortable enough to tear down the temporary burm we had to build during the flood.  We are desiging a permanent one into the landscape now. 

I have had school on the brain, along with missions team week (coming up soon!) but first we are anticipating 4H fair next week.  Myah is bringing trusty "Cowboy" as well as "Little Joy" and her foal "Stormie" who can't stay behind without mama yet.  Joel and his dad are working on a woodworking project, which he is excited about.  Just buying the lumber put a huge grin on his face!

I finally made some decisions about curriculum for this year, which I hope to do another post on.  I am anxiously awaiting our fun packages to come in the mail that will grow our minds this coming year! 

The weather has been HOT, so we have been inside quite a bit lately.  Looking forward to a relief from all this heat tomorrow hopefully!

Spiritually God has taken me on a journey these past couple of months.  I feel like I am on the otherside of a difficult season, but coming out strong because of His strength! God is faithful, and I am excited to see what He's doing in my heart, my family and in this community.  That's probably a whole different post in itself!

BEEN BUSY!!

Garden is half planted.  Corn, beans, lettuce, spinach, radishes, carrots, potatos, & onions are all in.  Still to come, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and of course... pumpkins!  It is all confined to ONE location this year, and with daddy's help, we should have a good irrigation system up and running shortly!  :)  I also have a small herb garden in the works...

Puppies are leaving this week to join their new homes!  It's been another fun adventure, and saying goodbye is always a little bit both bitter and sweet.  We've gotten really attached to one little girl, who will be moving to North Dakota and joining another family with 4 kids.  Thankful to have found good homes. 

We are doing a russian olive removal on our land.  We have about 4 acres total of trees that we are cutting down.  Russian olives have spikes on them several inches long and are a noxious weed.  We plan to re-plant with native trees.  Not the most pleasant job, but we are glad to do it.  It is making things look a lot different around here!

Horsey time!  Myah's 4H is almost in full swing.  She's been riding a lot around here, and in a week, we start our weekly trips to the fairgrounds.  She is still determining which horse she will use for the program this year.  Cowboy is her trusty faithful old guy, and Dakota is a step more challenging, but I think she's ready for that.  Her dream is to use Dixie, which she has been spending a lot of time with as well, but I think it will be at least a year before that happens.

Joel is discovering the joy of dirt bikes... oh boy... here we go!  (My children are choosing some of the more "dangerous" hobbies, I'm afraid!)

School.  We have 2 1/2 weeks left, so we are plowing through.  It has been helpful that the weather has been cool and rainy, so we are not so antsy to be outside.  My kids have requested to keep going with some of it through the summer time, so I am working on that.

Wild asparagus is in full bloom, so this past weekend, we went picking and got a bunch in the freezer.  I'd like to do one more round like that one, and we should be set for the year.

Our main goal for the summer as far as projects are concerned is to get the barn sided.  I feel like we are taking a bit of a breather when it comes to some of those major things which feels really good!

Women's Bible study is wrapping up for the summer, and we have gone to bi-weekly studies at the shelter on Thursdays.  Sunday nights, we still meet weekly and are still studying through Romans. It's been such a blessing!

BOUNTIFUL BASKETS

Just signed up for my first boutiful basket!  Can't wait to pick it up this Saturday!  It is a nation-wide co-op for fresh produce.  (Organic is available.)  Check it out!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

PUPPIES!

Is there anything more fun?

So sweet!!

A NEW GIFT...

For years, I have tried.  I have never persevered to the point of feeling successful.  Today, I got a new gift that may just help. 

Everytime I would go to play, my old guitar would be out of tune, and tuning it was not fun.  Then, when it would "sort of" sound decent, I would maybe still have time to pick away for about 3 whole minutes before getting distracted, putting it down again, only to attempt to start the process all over again a few months later. 

This new guitar sounds amazing.  I am thankful for the old one where I began my learning process, and now my children can start on it.  But I am even more thankful for this new one because it sounds so GOOD!  :)

Thank you, to my friend, Michaela, for the guitar.  She will travel throughout Montana, Costa Rica and later this year in Africa, all for the sake of the gospel.  God bless you!  We love you dearly and will be praying for you!! 

Thanks also to Tandra, who keeps me well stocked on picks and just bought me the coolest tuner, which makes guitar playing so much easier!  I love you girls!  My daughter looks up to you both as a role models.  Thank you being a godly example to my family!  :) 

SEWING, BAKING & WOODWORKING

 

Days like today I am reminded once again of why I love homeschooling my children.  Not every day is like this (in fact, unfortunately days like this are rare), but we had a fun time.  Once we hit the books and got through decimals, Elisha's greedy servant, and all the rest, we were freed up for some other schooling. 

The kids have been begging me to teach them some things on the sewing machine.  So, all the kids made pillows today (except that my stuffing supply is gone... something about a stuffed horse needing more stuffing in his neck...) so stuffing will have to wait until I get to town. 

Kiana also helped me make some easy sweet cinnamon biscuits. 

And then while mom was away at Bible study, the kids (with a little help from daddy) made the sailboat they have been dreaming about making for a week now and sailed it on the pond.  They named it the "fast flying duckie".  :)  I wasn't around to get pictures of them actually sailing it, but it worked well!  Everyone was excited!

RANDOM PICTURES

BIRTHDAY GIRL:
Kiana turned 6 last week... yes, 6!!!  Already!  Because we all took turns battling the flu, I didn't get pics on here as soon as I had hoped.  Mom and Dad were both sick on the actual birthday, so the girls made cupcakes together and we enjoyed lots of family time in the living room with us resting.  It was actually a really nice day! 

Her friend, Maggie, and her family came Saturday night to celebrate with us.  Kiana wanted a lion cake. (In case you were wondering what it was...)  :)  They had lots of fun with glow sticks and petshop toys.

Riding Dakota

Kiana is a math whizz, loves to write fancy, and is the most amazing snuggler.  She loves horses, her siblings and just being home.  She is a joy that lights up our day, and I am so thankful for her!  Happy Birthday, baby girl!!  We love you dearly!

Kiana being Kiana, while doing math  :)

WOODWORKING:
My table still yet to be stained...

Bunkbed for the boys:

Bed in progress

Still needs stain and a twin mattress for AJ



FUN RANDOM PICS:



Ready to go skating!

Learning the parts of a fish

AJ bundled up and ready to ride

Love my goofy girls!

Working on barn roof

Horses at sunset

WOOD WORKING

Just finished making THIS shelf for my dining room and THIS table, which I'm not sure where it will end up yet.  I originally made it for my entryway, but it is too big.  Now I have plans to make a smaller version for in there and a narrow one for alongside my fridge.  (Note, these are not my photos -- you all know how good I am at actually posting pictures!)  We also finished a bunkbed for the boys room, and all these things still need stain or oil!

Still to come is THIS farmhouse table with benches (and a few minor changes).

JUST SHARING....

Though there is nothing "special" about this book, it leads you to a book that will change your life.  Our church has embraced the reading program in this book this year and it has literally turned our congregation upside down (in an amazing way!)

There are many "read through the Bible in a year" programs out there.  This one is similar.  BUT, the difference is, when I do my reading, I am not doing it to check a box.  I am searching, praying, and desiring God to show me something from today's reading that will impact me and change my life.  He is always faithful. 

Journaling is a big part of my day now.  I read through the Scripture for the day, which is taken from both OT and NT.  As I am reading, I ask God to show me what He wants to teach ME today from His Word -- PRAY!  Usually something pops off the page at me.  He has even used what He taught me in the morning so that I can appropriately handle something that has come at me later in the day.  He prepared me in advance.  When I draw near to Him, to listen to His voice, He will not fail to draw near to me.  He desires to TEACH me!  He desires to teach me even more than I hunger to learn!  I pray my hunger grows!

Back to the journaling....  I write out the SCRIPTURE that stands out to me.  Then I write OBSERVATIONS.  How did Saul, Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Joshua, etc. learn from their experiences?  What did they do right and what did they do wrong?  These can all be amazing mentors in my life that I can learn from both their mistakes and the good things in their life!  They have wisdom that I can learn from so that I don't have to learn from consequences in my life.  It requires time, but I constantly remind myself that we should be giving Christ the BEST of our day.  I write what I observe from the verses that I feel God is using to speak to me.

Then I write an APPLICATION.  How does what I observe in their lives relate to where I am at TODAY?  How can I apply this?  Acts 9:22 -- "Saul increased all the more in strength."  God desires to do that in me, too!  To increase my strength so that I can continue on in the work of the Lord!  Just a small example from my reading this morning.  (Keeping in mind the imporance of NOT pulling Scripture out of context!!!!)

I end with PRAYER.  Lord, forgive me.... Lord, change this about  me...  Lord, do this in me....  This can lead into a time on my knees where I spend serious time prayer, or that can come at another time in my day.  Sometimes, we should just "sneak away" to pray, like Jesus often did.  Those times are more valuable than any other part of your day...

The final requirement... TELL.  Talk to your spouse.  Talk to anyone else who is doing the reading.  This is where our church has been shaken up.  What a blessing it has been in our marriage!  I know marriages that have been SAVED from destruction because they have spent time in the Word and it brought them together!  Almost every conversation with someone from our church leads (and frequently starts) with a conversation about what we got from the Word today.  Not only is God teaching and moving through our obedience of being in the Word and drawing us closer to Him, He is deepening our conversations with fellow believers.  We now don't have to spend time on surface stuff, but get right down to the important things.... WHAT'S GOD BEEN TEACHING YOU TODAY? 

PROAPT -- Pray, Read, Observe, Apply, Pray, Tell 

OR, more simple,

SOAP -- Scripture, Observations, Applicaion, Prayer

The other neat thing is, there is a children's version.  They read from the same scripture as mom and dad (only fewer verses) and do their own journaling from it.  So, at the dinner table, we have an easy conversation centered on GOD!  Life-chaging...  The Word of God!

NEW SOFT CLAY RECIPE!

I have always had a favorite recipe for homemade soft playdough.  I found a new recipe in a magazine sitting in a waiting room one day.  It was very similar to the one I always use, but had one new ingredient:  koolaide!  It smells good, and does not require food coloring.

Mix:
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 tsp. cream of tarter

Mix in sauce pan:
2 cups water
2 Tbsp. oil
1 pkg. koolaide

Mix together and then cook over med. heat till soft ball forms.  Kneed & play!

POST-SURGERY UPDATE

Things didn't go completely as planned.  Instead of coming out with a finger that moves, the doctor mid-way got permission from Evan to fuse the bones together.  There was no cartilage left in my finger tip, which would have caused any movement I did have to be painful.  I am thankful God answered our prayers to give the doctor wisdom.  I feel that he had wisdom in this decision, otherwise I may have needed another surgery down the road.  This journey is coming to an end, finally!

Monday I get my big arm wrap off.  I am thankful to be feeling much better today!

PICTURES:  FOCUS ON KIANA

Kiana's favorite thing to do:  ride "Little Joy"!

I *love* this picture!

PICTURES::  FOCUS ON JOEL!

Two Brothers

Joel with favorite rooster 

So handsome!

MORE PICTURES:

FOCUS ON AJ

Sitting on Cowboy

Playing with Mommy

 Running through the fields

Riding Cowboy



FAMILY PHOTOS

Earlier this fall, my friend Tiffany took some photos of our family. She is an amazing photographer! (If you are looking for a good photographer, let me know!  I'd be happy to pass her info along!) She followed us around here on our property to capture our family the way we are. This is where we live. This is the home that God has placed us in for now, and we are thankful. This is just a sampling of so many pictures.  I so wish I could post ALL of them! Thank you, Tiffany, for beautifully capturing our life as we are in 2010.  I am extremely grateful!!