Faithful Friend
Sep. 10, 2008 - Update
Hello Friends,
I will be posting mainly over at my blog, Drucilla's Stitches I love homeschool blogger but have a difficult time doing anything beyond the basics.
I love visiting you sweet bloggers and will add those who are interested to my friends list at blogger. Please visit me here.
God Bless You!
Tina
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Sep. 8, 2008 - Handbook of Nature Study
We have been using Anna Comstock's Handbook of Nature Study for several years and now have found a great website to follow along as we study from her book.
Handbook of Nature Study is an online journal that you will enjoy if you like this book.
Today we are making a Flower Notebook as we have been collecting flowers for the past few weeks and they are dried.
As soon as I can remember how to add pictures I will share our notebook.
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Aug. 26, 2008 - Devotions and library books
Yes, we are back on track. One week of school and daily adding some of our extra curricular activities such as art, soccer, and our upcoming homeschool support group meeting. Much planning has went into our meetings this year with a newly formed leadership committee, in which I am truly grateful. As coordinator for our group it is sometimes overwhelming so I am very thankful for each person who helps in our group. We have a precious group of women who love the Lord and have been such a blessing to me the past few years.
I am determined to get up early this year before we begin school to have my quiet time of prayer and devotions before beginning our day.
Today as I was reading my daily Proverbs 31 devotion by Wendy Pope I was so excited to see that the P31 team is beginning a study on the book, He Speaks to Me, by Priscilla Shirer. This sounds like something I may really enjoy so I hope to get the book in the next few days to look over before deciding. You can visit her at her blog, Experiencing The Real Meaning of Free.
As I was waiting for my daughter during her art lesson today I decided to swing by the library and check out some books. We really enjoy History so I try to make it fun and add in a few books while we are reading from our particular text. Today I found a wonderful book that I have seen in homeschool catalogs from time to time called, The Signers, The Stories Behind the Declaration of Independence by Dennis Brindell Fradin. This is a fabulous addition to our history lesson as we begin our year! I sat down and read a little section this evening and can't wait to begin this with my daughter tomorrow!
We are having much needed rain today! Praise God!!
Tina
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Aug. 8, 2008 - Friday Freebies
The Friday Freebies from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine has some wonderful resources this week to help with your planning this year.
Everything from recipes to worksheet planners. Please take a look at the great freebies this week. If you aren't receiving the Friday Freebies you can sign up at The Old Schoolhouse Magazine website listed under E-Newsletters.
We are always on the lookout for helpful curriculum for Geography and this freebie is awesome!!
Thank you for all the freebies!
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Aug. 7, 2008 - The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
It's always the same each summer.........we have a blast with trips, visiting friends, picnics, camping, and so much more, then around the first of August we begin to feel the pull to get back into a routine around our home. We truly love our home and being home. Yes, we love homeschooling! I've always tried to instill a "love for learning" into our home. Although my girls don't want to admit it, they do love learning and enjoy a good book and "digging" into a subject.
I learned early on in our homeschool journey that we really love the Charlotte Mason style of learning and reading living books.
For the longest time I couldn't understand what a living book was. Through experience from reading good literature and reading many books and blogs about living books I began to understand what it means and how important it is in the learning process.
If you are interested in learning more about living books or the Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling you can find lots of information simply by searching Charlotte Mason online. I hope to post more information in the coming days about this learning style.
The Old Schoolhouse magazine is such a blessing and encouragement! I received the Summer issue today and have been glancing through the pages since finishing dinner. I enjoy glancing through the entire magazine and then allowing myself time each day to read each story and article written as I slowly digest each one. So very much to consider as you read about the lives of real homeschooling families just like you and I. This issue is one of my favorites because I enjoy the Charlotte Mason style of homeschooling and all the helpful resources and information packed within this issue.
I also received the most recent flier from Progeny Press today in the mail and have been looking over the books listed for each grade level. This is a wonderful resource even if you don't plan to use the guides. You can take a look at Progeny Press if you would like to see the list yourself.
If there is one thing you order this year let it be The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, you will be so glad you did!
Have a Great Day,
Tina |
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Jul. 29, 2008 - Thinking about school
Routines and schedules have been thrown to the wind for quite some time around our house. We have been enjoying the freedom to take off on quite a few little excursions while on our summer break. Joy, pure joy, to spend time with your family and enjoy all that summer has to offer. We still have many days left to enjoy the warm weather and beauty, however, all things have a season, and we must think of getting back into our routines as we gear up mentally and physically for our school year once again.
This year our oldest daughter will be entering her second year of college, whew, I can hardly believe it. We are so excited for her as she begins another year anticipating what the Lord has in store for her.
At home, we will be homeschooling the youngest daughter in 8th grade. I have been looking through magazines, websites, and seeking the Lord's will for our curriculum for the eighth grade and here is what I've come up with.
Math - Teaching Textbooks and Money Matters for Teens by Larry Burkett
Language - LLATL (Learning Language Arts Through Literature) Gray book, which includes a book study of the following books, Brother Andrew, Eric Liddell, A Lantern in Her Hand, and Across Five Aprils.
History - Focusing on American History, Abeka, Land that I Love, along with several other good books we will be using with some wonderful American History.
Health - Abeka 8th grade
Books I hope to read this year:
The Cat of Bubastes, A Tale of Ancient Egypt by G.A. Henty, All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot, and The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter.
Poetry - Favorite Poems Old and New
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Jun. 30, 2008 - Do not be anxious
Do not be Anxious About Tomorrow
Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly
Father feed them.
Are you not of more value
than they?
Matthew 6:26
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Jun. 20, 2008 - Puppy Love
We are having a wonderful summer!!
Meet "Ellie" our new Australian Shepherd puppy. She was 9 weeks old when we got her. Playful, loveable, and truly a handful, we love her!
Summer is flying by and we are staying very busy.
I hope to post more here when I can. |
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Apr. 23, 2008 - Backyard Nature
You don't have to go very far to discover all the wonders of God's creation here in our little part of the world!
We have truly been enjoying the warm weather along with God's awesome display of nature right in our back yard. We have saw many different kinds of birds, bird nests, butterflies, blooming trees and bushes, flowers budding, and mushrooms growing! Today my daughter and her friend found Morell mushrooms growing at the edge of the woods around the rocks. Truly awesome! I can't believe I've never noticed these before! You can see them on my photo display across the top of my blog, enjoy! Now, go out in your back yard or near the woods in your own area and see if you can find some of your own!! |
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Apr. 21, 2008 - Looking Back, and Ahead
The school year is coming to a close as we finish our reading and other curriculum for the seventh grade year. We have enjoyed reading all the Living Books designed into our Westward and Onward study written by homeschool mom Dorian Holt. Here is a list of some of the books we read this year:
Streams to the River, River to the Sea
Lassie Come Home
Justin Morgan Had a Horse
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
American Tall Tales
Strawberry Girl
Old Yeller
A Gathering of Days
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Caddie Woodlawn
Bound for Oregon
As I look ahead and plan for next year, the year before High School, I am thinking of using the Progeny Press Study Guides. Has anyone used these and how did you like them?
I am certain I want us to use the Living Books approach. If anyone has any other suggestions for curriculum for older grades using Living Books I would love to hear from you!
Looking back, I am very pleased with the accomplishments this year.
Using Saxon 87 has been a struggle at times but I feel certain she has gained an understanding of the math concepts. We only finished half the book and if I don't change my mind and find something that is a better fit for her we will continue to move along in Saxon 87 using the DIVE CD.
We have also enjoyed the Apologia General Science and will continue with Physical Science next year. We hope to form a study group with friends in our homeschool group, looking forward to this.
Our homeschool group consists of around 25 families who meet together twice a month with Club Meetings for the children. We plan activities which revolve around the books, Keepers at Home (girls book) and Contenders of the Faith (boys book). We also have scheduled field trips and Mom's Meetings once a month. It has been a very interesting year, far less structured than previous years. We are making plans for a Leadership Team, which will consist of 5 or 6 moms who will make the schedule for the year and plan the activities before everyone in the group meets for the year. We have found it to be very difficult for a group of 25 moms to try and plan the year. So many opinions, ideas, etc. that nothing is accomplished. This is what happened last year.
Is there anyone who has experience in a small homeschool group setting with similar experiences? I would love to hear about your experience!
I will post more about our school year later.
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Mar. 31, 2008 - The Song Sparrow
The Song Sparrow
He does not wear a Joseph's coat of many colors, smart and gay
His suit is Quaker brown and gray, with darker patches at his throat.
And yet of all the well-dressed throng, not one can sing so brave a song.
It makes the pride of looks appear a vain and foolish thing to hear
In "Sweet, sweet, sweet, very merry cheer."
A lofty place he does not love, he sits by choice and well at ease
In hedges and in little trees, tht stretch their slender arms above
The meadow brook; and then he sings till all the field with pleasure rings:
And so he tells in every ear, that lowly homes to heaven are near
In "Sweet, sweet, sweet, very merry cheer."
~Henry van Dyke
Happy Spring! We are finally experiencing some warm weather and the birds are singing sweetly outside my door as I type this.
Oh, how I love spring! So looking forward to walking barefoot in the grass and starting our little garden soon.
Nature all around is blooming. Some of the pictures on by sidebar are ones I took today outside. The trees are budding and the blooms are beautiful colors.
We are reading from the Anna Botsford Comstock nature book, Handbook of Nature Study, as we prepare and enjoy for coming days of summer.
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Mar. 20, 2008 - We have New Babies
Easter Chicks
"Hershey and Kiwi"
Mamaw and Papaw purchased baby chicks for Allison and her cousin yesterday. Oh, how cute they are! I will take more pictures today with her included. Last night we just got a picture of the chicks in their box since they were a bit afraid and hadn't yet settled into their new environment. She has been a wonderful little mommy taking care of the sweet babies. Feeding, watering, placing a warm blanket inside the box and worrying over them have all reminded me of my first experiences as a new mommy!
The sun is shinning and we are looking forward to warm weather today.
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Mar. 19, 2008 - Nature Study
Mar. 13, 2008 - Revive Me Lord
Oh, how I love God's Word!
I praise Him for placing a deep love for studying his Word!
We have made it a practice to read in the Psalms every day!
What a blessing!
Psalm 119
Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!
25 Revive me according to Your word
37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
And revive me in Your way.
40 Behold, I long for Your precepts,
Revive me in Your righteousness.
107 I am afflicted very much;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word.
149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness;
O Lord, revive me according to Your justice.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word.
156 Great are Your tender mercies, O Lord;
Revive me according to Your judgments.
159 Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.
160 The entirety of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
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Mar. 3, 2008 - Quiet Time in God's Word
 Therefore humble yourselves under the might hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7
As I was reading my Bible this morning this is the scripture that I came to. We have been doing a study of heaven in our Sunday School class and many verses come from 1 Peter so I had been reading there. As I began to read, I came down to verse 8,
8Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
As I read the notes in my Bible this is what it says:
Be sober means to be self-disciplined, to think rationally and not foolishly.
Be vigilant means to be alert to the spiritual pitfalls of life and take appropriate steps to make certain that we do not stumble.
your adversary: Satan is our avowed enemy. He never ceases from being hostile toward us; he is constantly accusing us before God.
We must come daily before the Lord seeking His strength and guidance for our life because Satan is real and truly is like a roaring lion. Do we really have to look very far to see this? I think not!
As I read further, I see in verse 10 the wonderful peace I can experience:
10But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, and strengthen, and settle you.
11To Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen.
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Feb. 25, 2008 - God's Plans
 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.
Jeremiah 29:11-14
Praise God that He knows my future and will listen when I call upon His name! I've truly been calling upon Him lately. Many needs: physical and emotional strength, patience, love, and the list goes on.
God has answered many prayers and continues to answer daily.
My first priority is my family and the past few weeks have been spent caring for my dad in his recovery and my own family here at home. Driving back and forth from my home to his. Laundry, dishes, not much cleaning, etc.
I'm so thankful the Lord gave me insight along my life's journey into living a disciplined life and teaching me to die to self as I read and studied the scriptures over the years. All those wonderful Bible studies I've attended and the "pouring over" the scriptures have been such a blessing the past few weeks. I've had to set aside my own agenda and focus on the needs of others.
I can't say it's been fun or easy every day but God has truly opened my eyes and touched my heart in so many ways. Without Him I would be pretty worn down at this point. However, He has given me the strength and energy to do more than I ever thought possible. From small details of helping my father with an extremely deep wound, bandaging and caring for this, to emotional battles I've faced, feeling as if I've failed many times.
God is my refuge and present help in troubles times! I can't quote the scripture but it just came to my mind and I have experienced his help!!
Whatever you are going through, God is there for you, waiting for you! He will give you ALL you need, only trust in Him. We must have FAITH to believe the WORD of God in it's entirety.
I've missed blogging here but I've kept my sanity by sewing and quilting and journaling at Drucilla's Stitches, a blog I created in memory of my grandmother.
I will continue to blog here about homeschooling and our life's journey as much as possible. For now, God has other plans for our life, plans I must accept and follow. I'm trusting Him along the way.
In Love,
Tina
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Feb. 12, 2008 - Home Sweet Home
It's great to be home. It seems the last two weeks have been quite crazy around here. Last week my dad came home from the hospital and I stayed with him during the day while my sis stayed at night. Most days my daughter came with me and we did school as well as we could during the day.
My dad had been having health problems and we thought maybe it was his gallbladder. Boy, were we all wrong. As soon as we took him to the ER and they did the EKG it showed he was having a heart attack! Wow, you talk about surprised. Things went rather quickly from that point. They transfered him by ambulance to a hospital that specializes in Cardiac Care and the surgeon explained that his right artery was completely blocked. However, on the way he coded and they had to shock him to bring him back. My dear sis was riding in the ambulance and was terribly upset by the time I arrived at the ER.
Things went well during the angioplast and placing the stents. It was later that day that things went wrong. Dad's blood pressure began to drop drastically and by evening he was in serious condition. They whisk him to surgery after finding that he was bleeding and they couldn't stop the bleeding. His blood would not clot and he was in danger. It was a very long night of waiting. Early the next morning we learned he was stabilized and he began to slowly wake up. The doctor had explained that we were to expect the worst and hope for the best. He told us he may not wake up, could have neurological damage, etc. As I said, waiting and checking in on him to speak to him during the first few days was stressful. However, we could see the progress each day. God's love and grace was like a blanket for our family as each day came and went, moving into the next. Friends and family came to the ICU and sat with us, bringing our family gifts and food, giving us words of comfort, prayers, and love. I can't express how much this meant to us during the week of waiting and trusting the Lord for a miracle.
My dad continued to recover and he is home and doing well. The doctor himself said it was the Lord who reach down and touched his life. He said, "the Lord isn't finished with you yet." The nurses called him their "miracle patient." To me it's AMAZING GRACE!!
My dad isn't a believer and I pray this will touch the deepest part of his heart and open his eyes to see JESUS!!
I would like to thank all my blog friends who have left comments and prayed for my dad. Please keep him on your prayer list for a full recovery and his salvation!
I will add a few pictures of what we have been doing tomorrow.
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Feb. 3, 2008 - God's Love and Mercy
| We are praising God for His Love and Mercy this week. My dad had a heart attack on Monday and we've been at the hospital all week. I will be able to post the entire story later but I'm on my way back to the hospital and in a hurry. He's doing well, please pray for him! Hug your parents and tell them you love them today! Take the Time! |
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Jan. 18, 2008 - Growth
Jan. 14, 2008 - Beginning Our Week
Beginning our new week of school with a new unit, titled, Growing Tensions, using the book, A Gathering of Days, by Joan W. Blos.
This is a picture of our stack of books we will be using for this unit. Some of these we will select portions to read as there will not possibly be enough time to read each one in it's entirety.
Some of the topics we will cover: slavery, Eli Whitney, American Inventor, Underground Railroad, Native Americans, and more.
The weather is cold again, burrrr! Snow flakes were falling briefly today as I carried groceries into the house. I really enjoy winter during winter, don't you? I don't care much for 70 deg. days in January! LOL!
Perfect day to snuggle under a blanket and have a nice hot cup of tea or cocoa huh? Dream on, girl! There is still laundry to do and dinner to prepare! Well, at least I did have my cup of raspberry tea while I was writing this post.
Wishing for snow,
Tina |
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