The time has finally come now that we're halfway through the school year almost, to start having my oldest take more responsibility for her work. Today we tried a new routine based on Leigh Bortins idea of scheduling and it made the day go smoother. Since I'm struggling with a cold that I can't shake, I really need the children to work constantly so they don't start getting all wild. Today we went from school to chores to play. It reminds me of when I had infants and would do a feed/wake/sleep schedule. Although I think I ditched that after my first baby; it's hard to recall really.              

Anyway, after seeing how today went, I made a list of items for my oldest to do starting at a certain time whether I'm sitting here or not. There is actually a lot of work she can do on her own. I'm needed for her timed math drill sheet, mental math, and the new material that is introduced in math, but she can do the mixed practice on her own. If she gets hung up on any of her work, she's to keep going forward and can ask me questions when the time comes. The time is NOT when I'm working with someone else. This is going to really cut down on my interruptions and the general cacophony that erupts when my attention is pulled in numerous directions at once.                            

What remains to be done is to rewrite last nights list to reflect the one on one time I'll have with the other 2 children. Aside from adding more reading time to them in the evenings, I'm going to have a few fixed 10-20 min increments of one on one with each student so I'm sure they are getting enough time with me.                                                            

I have to say, I seriously commend homeschooling mom's to more than 3 children. Only 2 of mine are doing actual work each day, but the 3rd needs Mommy time, so I'm still juggling them all. Realizing that next year I'll likely be teaching reading again, I have got to have my oldest as independent as possible. Since she'll be in 4th grade I think it will be feasible. Next year I'll also have a 1st grader, so she will need a good bit of one on one with me still. 

Usually I'm preparing for the next school year around this time, though it does surprise me each year. January is when we've often made some decisions to change things up a bit midway, but I doubt that will happen this year. Classical Conversations has brought so much structure to the day that I was ready for that my January dilemma will hopefully not exist in 2009!         

Well, since I'm still coughing so much it's time for Nyquil and sleep. We've got a viewing to go to tomorrow so will be on the road. Please pray for us as we travel and try to be a comfort to those grieving most.        

Reinstating UNFPA -- Over China's Dead Bodies

Newspapers from cities as far away as Melbourne, Australia are anxiously awaiting word on a Uyghur woman in China, six months pregnant with her third child. According to local reports, government officials tracked Arzigul Tursun down in her village and escorted her to a hospital where authorities ordered her to abort the baby against her will. Although guards had been stationed at the hospital, Arzigul managed to escape. After the police interrogated her family, the mother-to-be was recaptured yesterday in the home of some relatives. Her plight has sparked outrage in the international community, which is demanding her release.

In the past, the U.S. government -- at President Bush's insistence -- has withheld funding from groups like the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) for its supporting role in these coercive abortion policies. President-elect Obama has said he will restore U.S. funding to UNFPA. America will no longer be an innocent bystander of tragedies like this one. Instead, the U.S. will be knowingly funding forced abortions like Arzigul's with millions of taxpayer dollars. In an interview with the Obama campaign before the election, RH Reality check asked, "If elected President, would Sen. Obama, overturn the Global Gag Rule or reinstate funding for UNFPA?" A spokesman for the campaign responded, "Yes, Senator Obama would overturn the global gag rule and reinstate funding for UNFPA."

The new administration plans to funnel millions of dollars to UNFPA despite its support of China's savage one-child policy. Contact your leaders and tell them that terrorizing pregnant women is not the "change" America voted for. Urge them to oppose Obama's anti-woman agenda.

Additional Resources
Christian Post: Int'l Furor over Forced Abortion Case in China

World Net Daily has the story on how a homeschooling family from Germany has requested political asylum in order to homeschool their children here in the U.S.

Germany's laws against homeschooling were set in place by Hitler. He fully understood that the best way to bring the children of a nation under his authority and to train them to his way of thinking was to place them in the schools his government controlled.

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

I love buying Christmas presents, but handmade items are special treasures.  In a culture where so many are too busy to bake, sew, craft, carve, cook or create, homemade gifts are unique.  The gifts I treasure most are those that seem to reflect and personity of the giver.

Stop in and visit Simply Vintagegirl .  She's hosting a Homemade Christmas this month.  Learn to make an amazing perpetual calendar (from the lids of juice concentrate cans, no less!), or give hot cocoa mix or a recipe binder!  After you've seen all her inspiring projects, follow her links to other bloggers to find more suggestions!  

You don't have to be a skilled artisan to give homemade gifts.  Herbal teas (from herbs purchased in bulk ) can be packed in pretty bottles.  Recipes online give great ideas for "gifts in a jar".  In years past I've done several from Chris' collection over at momof9splace!

Domestic Chaos Tamer and Homeschool Mom of Five,  Dell  writes about home, heart and hearth.

Have I mentioned how much I enjoy this time of year? The warm memories that are associated with this season makes it a very special time of year for me. This is a wonderful time to set aside and remember the many blessings that the Lord has given us: the people in our lives, the material things that we have and the assurance of His love for us. The Lord has given all of us many, many blessings; both great and small.

One of these blessings are children. I realize, that for the most part, our society doesn't value children the way the Lord does. He makes His opinion very clear in Psalm 127:3-5 "Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrow are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate." I really enjoy working with my children! Of course, not every moment is enjoyable, (for my children are human, after all!), but there are more wonderful moments then not so wonderful ones.

One of these moments was this past week, when I made a dessert with my second daughter Grace. She will be 6 in January and she is such a joy to work with! I give her a job to do and she does it with everything she has! Truly a joy!

Apple Cranberry Crisp

6-8 medium apples, peeled, corded and sliced

1 - 1 1/2 cups of cranberries

1 cup of white sugar

3 Tbs of flour

2 tsp of cinnamon

1/2 tsp of ginger and nutmeg

2 cups of quick oats

1 cup of flour

1 tsp salt

1 cup of butter

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1/2 cup pecan pieces (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix apples, cranberries, white sugar, 3 Tbs of flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger into a bowl. Place into a 9 X 13 baking dish. Set aside.

2. Mix oats, 1 cup of flour, brown sugar, salt and pecans (optional) in a bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over the top of the apples and cranberry mixture. (You can tell by the pictures that this was a 2 day project. After cutting and mixing the apples/cranberries, we had to leave and didn't get back until late. Just be sure to put them in the fridge and they will be fine.)

3. Bake for 45 - 50 minutes, or until golden brown on the top. Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Jennifer Dewing has experience in the restaurant business. She turned in her chef's hat and donned the many hats of a stay-at-home mother 7 years ago. She is now the mother to 5 children, 7 years and under. She home schools her eldest two children. Her husband is a professional chef and in their house, food is a big part of their family. Come visit her at The Days' Dewings.

While I'd like to lay claim to the title of this entry, it is from my Devotions for Homeschool Moms by Jackie Wellford. In this entry she brings the question, did we count the cost accurately for homeschooling? The author notes that she has had to sacrifice a lot, and only has time for a few close homeschooling friends even. Time for oneself is virtually invisible when you homeschool, though still I find myself feeling as though I should cut out even more. For this reason I've been debating on deleting my VAThinker blog, which I've already purged of multitudes of political postings, since it was created for the Presidential election. I've also pondered nixing Facebook since it is a time sucker for a mom who has 3 precious children to nurture. 

I'm feeling low right now, so won't make any decisions. I suppose what I need to do is get over this miserable cough and feel better, but also find someone who needs encouragement and do what I can. That is what usually helps when we need something, give it away, right?       

"Lord, you are holy and just and worthy of praise. Forgive me of my selfishness and pride, and please help me not to waste time, but to realize how fast these children are growing. Help me maximize our learning together and be compassionate toward them. Bless me with friendships that encourage me in this task of mothering and being a godly wife, and bless my children with honorable friends that they will have for a lifetime. In Jesus' name. Amen."