Here's a website with free study guides. Literature, etc.

http://www.sparknotes.com/

I haven't been here in a while. All our boys will finally be finished with the school year by the end of the day. Jon finished a day or so ago, and Mark is taking his last science test as I write this. The younger boys finished last week.

We're going to celebrate a little tomorrow or next day. Not sure if it will be tomorrow because I work tonight and I'll be spacy and tired. LOL. Will probably go to Tulsa and Broken Arrow and go shopping. Jon got a Bass Pro Shop gift certificate as a grad present from a family in our homeschool group.

He hasn't been sure what he wants to do next. I've contacted NSU to send him some info.

DH has been looking for property for us to buy. I'm working nights. 2 daughters are expecting babies, but live 300 miles away  . Also, we want to start next homeschool year earlier. So we have lots of irons in the fire.

I was away for a few days, but I'm back now. Went to visit family and friends. Searched for books at my MIL's garage where we're storing some stuff. Came upon some books we can use for school next year. Yippee! Won't have to buy all new stuff.

I want to relearn Algebra 2 with my son, then go on to more advanced math. I took Intermediate Algebra at a community college a few years ago before I went to nursing school. I was so pleased, I got a 100% score on the final exam! As I drove home I thought to myself, I'm just not gonna say anything. I walked into the house and the kids said, "How'd it go, Mom?" I said, "It went okay." My DH was eyeing me and then said, "You aced it, did you?" Then I admitted I'd scored a hundred. Hehe. That was fun.

One of my residents passed away at about 12:40 this morning. I hope she was ready to meet the Lord. I think she may have been, but there are some troubling questions I have. This is one of those moments in life when I wish I would have done some things differently. Not that I didn't talk to her about it -- I did. But I might have given it a different emphasis.

She was only 51.

I'm enjoying getting ideas from the book  Easy Homeschooling Techniques by Lorraine Curry, especially for my younger children. I got a used copy through amazon.com. I tried to find her blog site, but I forgot the name of it.

I may use ACE for some subjects, especially for my high schooler. Actually, probably for science for all of them. I'll likely use Saxon math, and a few things I have, like Easy Grammar and Easy Writing by Wanda Phillips. But I like the idea of lots of reading (individually and together as a family), copywork, some essays, and using notebooks and library books.

I've talked to Jon about possibly hiring him part-time to help homeschool his brothers since I'll likely be working fulltime nights. He thought it was a "pretty sweet" idea.  He'd still have time for another job or taking college classes if he wants, or maybe flight lessons. Also, he'll be an assistant coach for the homeschool group's basketball team.

My son Jon's graduation was last Friday.  It was a wonderful evening.  It was nice that my youngest daughter and her husband, and my mother and her husband, all made the trip to be there.

The homeschool group really gave a nice graduation ceremony and end-of-year celebration. The wonderful evening and meeting some of the people made Mom and Sue feel a lot better about the boys being homeschooled.

Even though he's had the ceremony, he's not quite finished with his work. He's done with everything except physics and calculus. In about another month or so he should be done.

If so, what did you think of it?

Character Assassins by Peter Hammond and Brian Abshire

http://www.frontline.org.za/books_videos/character%20assassins.htm?ID=1394

"If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself." - Dwight L. Moody

Found this yesterday at http://www.livingwaters.com/goodmorning.shtml

Is there a quick and easy way to locate and read new comments? Sometimes on the control panel I see there is an additional comment, but not sure how to find it without looking through all my entries.

This is very disturbing, to think that a big company like yahoo would put someone in real danger like this, all for business.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2465946.ece

I work all 3 nights this weekend.

The school year appears to be winding down, although we'll be doing at least an extra month, because of various other things we had to do throughout the year. I wish my son didn't have to do the whole calculus book, but CLE seems to expect nearly all of it to be finished.  I can't remember a single class I took where a whole book was used.

Graduation is planned for May 11, by our homeschool co-op. My son is the only senior, there are lots of 6th graders and some kindergarteners also. I've heard the church they're using for the event is a nice "old architecture" building. It sounds like a very special evening is planned.

"It always scares me when people think so highly of Christian music, contemporary Christian music especially, because I know a lot of us and we don't know jack about anything. Not that I don't want you to buy our records and come to our concerts. I sure do. But you should come for entertainment. If you really want spiritual nourishment, you should go to church...you should read the Scriptures."-- Rich Mullins, composer of the song "Awesome God" who was killed in a traffic accident several years ago.

found in Christian Leader (a Mennonite Brethren publication) October 2006 issue, p 4.

How does one make chai tea at home? My sis-in-law once gave me some that was bought in a store. My daughters once took me to a coffee shop where I had a cup. If I put hot water through a coffee filter with sweet spices (such as those used for pumpkin or apple pie) and a dash of black pepper, then steep a tea bag in it, then add milk and sugar, would I get what I'm looking for?

I thought about my childhood a bit this morning. I was very lonely as a child. I was not well-liked in school and didn't have much friendship. Maybe I didn't know how to be a friend. I was probably an annoying kid. My parents had problems. My dad had schizophrenia, and for many years my mom didn't understand what was wrong or how to deal with it. Of course, life must go on. Every once in a while I still have to stop and think how to deal with some of the things that affected my personality, way of thinking, responding, and dealing with life.

Yesterday our daughter Susie and her beloved Derek exchanged their vows in the home of his parents. His dad is a licensed minister. Welcome to the family, Derek!

Even if you try your best to be law-abiding, there are certain places to avoid if at all possible.  We got educated on this fact very recently.

We recently had to pay for towing and 2 tickets, and my husband and son had to call a friend for a ride at around midnight. They were coming home (Tahlequah) after a trip to Kansas. We've heard the Hulbert police are buddies with a certain tow company. A ticket wasn't enough for those guys. Speeding wasn't even the issue, but for a bad light bulb for the license plate. Other towns you'd just be warned to get it fixed. The experience reminded me of that old show The Dukes of Hazard and their greedy Boss Hogg character.
The most memorable education often isn't found in textbooks or a classroom.

I should be in bed. Working 12-hr shifts today and tomorrow, almost an hour drive each way.

One care home resident today told our med aide, "you're my servant, you have to bow down to me." She is terribly self-centered. If we try to remind her that she is one of 35 people we take care of, she doesn't want to hear it, and has stated so. She probably has had an "uppity" attitude all her life. I need extra grace in dealing with people like that, lovingly but assertively. Yes we're supposed to put the residents first, but not put one first at the expense of the other residents.

I'm glad to finally have some days off work. The kids are working on their school. I'll do Easy Grammar with the younger 3 later today, and Math with my youngest.  And DH will probably do Social Studies with the younger 3. The oldest 2 work mostly independently. 

There's a meeting at work tomorrow morning, but I don't have to work tomorrow. Then I work 12 hours each on Sat and Sun, then nightshift Mon and Tues.  I will  probably have this schedule for awhile.