Wow!  I tell you, sometimes it just seems like life goes crazy and tips the scale at nothing short of amazing! 

 Last week was the kick-off of the Ultimate Homeschool Expo and I tried my hardest to listen in to every one of the live conferences.  They were super!  The final conference "What Will They Remember" with Jill Novak was the sweetest ending to a completely enjoyable, uplifting and encouraging series of speakers.  Jill had us all in tears and feeling the Lord in a powerful way. 

 Thank you Cindy, for orchestrating it all for us.

Although the UHSE is done, it's not over.  You can STILL get a ticket for this event!  How can that be?  Well, all the chats and ALL the vendors and ALL the cool free stuff (tons of it!) are going to be on the website for eons to come and all you have to do is get your ticket NOW, before the price goes up.  Then you will have access to ALL the talks, all the goodies and you can't beat this deal - anywhere! 

 Here is some info straight from Cindy:  Even thought taping is over, it is Still going on and here is what it means for you:

·        You can access every session by downloadable audio for years to come (at YOUR convenience).

·        You can access a full library of ebooks, articles, studies, and printable pages.

It is NOT too late! So, grab your ticket today! Price will be the same $40 until July 1^st--then, it will be $99.95 for the entire UHSE 2008 Package. Save NOW! You will LOVE IT! Here is your link to order:

http://www.ultimatehomeschoolexpo.com/tickets.html

If that link does not work for you (for some reason the link does not show both the single and order with a friend options for some browsers--haven't figured that out yet! Ha!), then use this link:

http://www.ultimatehomeschoolexpo.com/UHSE2008.html

The speakers had some great door prize giveaways, and I enjoyed giving several copies of my eBook away.  (I will have that available at the special UHSE price until at least the end of this month, then I might have to go back up to my regular price so if you were THINKING that you wanted to learn how to cut your kiddo's hair...now is the time to purchase it.)

  One of the doorprizes was a copy of Tammy Cardwell's eBook, "A Homeschool that Handles the Hard Times; a Guide for Christian Homeschoolers."

(You can check out her website here.)

When I saw that Tammy was giving one away I jumped at the chance and zipped over to her blog and entered.  Lo and Behold, I was the winner!  I was elated!  When I downloaded my copy, much to my chagrin I discovered that I already had a copy of it!  I couldn't believe it, I felt so dumb but my goofiness is your gain.  First off, I re-read her book and was blown away at how it spoke to me!  I am sure I read it before, but I guess my circumstances right now were more ripe for hearing what she had to say.  It completely ministered to me and blessed my socks off.

So I had a little chat with Tammy, and she and I would like to bless YOUR socks off!  We decided to have a little giveaway of our own here. 

 Here is the deal: 

 You zip over to Tammy's blog and leave her a comment telling her that you saw the contest over here.  But you have to linger a bit, and read her blog.  That's the catch.  You have to spend a little time over there and then come back here and tell me what you read, and well, extrapolate a bit on it.  That's all.  You can handle that! 

And then by the end of next week, May 16th, we will each pick three of you to win a copy of her eBook!  Doesn't that sound super?

Head over to "A Cluttered Desk" and see what fun stuff you can find to read!  Then leave her a comment about my blog, and come back and tell me about hers, ok?

Blessings,

Nancy

I pray that you are having a peaceful, blessed day!  We have had a nice family time here and now I need a nap.   

But First, just for fun, I thought that it might be nice to give away a bunch of  copies of my haircutting ebook.  I wanted to give some away for the blog awards, but "stuff" happened here and I never got my info out to the prize folks.  So, lets see.....how about 10 freebies?  Maybe more, I dunno.  I will just wait and see how many comments I get.  I am in a generous mood! 

Anyway,  If you have always wanted to learn how to do a simple haircut, I can help you learn how.  This is a great ebook, if I do say so myself.  Actually, here is a review of it.  And here is another. If you would like to have one, just leave me a comment.  It is that simple.  But, you must give me your email address, but please disguise it so the spammers don't pick it up with their web spiders, ok?  Just do it like this:  Your name  at  whatever dot com. 

Sound simple?  I hope so.  Today, I need simple!

Hugs to you all,

Nancy

     It is so nice to have you visit!  I had the funniest thing happen today.  My kids and I do a work-share on an organic farm and there is another homeschooling Mom doing the same thing there with her two kids.  We have been enjoying getting to know them and on our break time, we usually talk about guess what:  Unschooling! 

Today, after we talked a bit she said "She was so glad to meet me because most of the homeschooling Moms she talks to make her feel like she is the worlds biggest under-achiever! "  But  since she met me she doesn't feel that way anymore!

I can't tell you how much I cracked up when she said that!  

She didn't mean it in a negative way of course~but it certainly made my day! 

What she meant was, that she doesn't fit into the mold of school-at-home, of curriculum driven, or any of those high stress kinds of home schooling lifestyles.  She is learning what is best for her family but still feels like an under-achiever when comparing herself to others.  It happens all the time, and for some Moms, it is ok and they thrive on comparison and competition. 

 But for some of us that is the antithesis of our homeschooling ideal.  We have to be able to recognize it for what it is and not let it get under our skin, or into our head. The heart of our homeschool is being solid in our belief of what works best for us and then all the rest (comparison and competition) can fade into oblivion. 

It's not about curriculum, or standardization, it's about learning who our children are, and helping them learn HOW to learn.  Self sufficiency and self worth, all wrapped up in a neat little package that God Himself ordained and created.  That is what homeschooling is to me.

My new friend and I had talked about scheduling, curriculum, learning styles, stuff like that.  We talked about going with the flow, freedom in our homeschooling, breaking out of preconceived molds and indoctrination.  It is so neat to talk with other Moms!  She also asked me if I ever stop wondering if I am doing the right thing, and I said there are always those nasty doubts and second-guesses that creep in.  There will always be those people and ideas that will come against us for doing what we believe is right for our families. 

And I have said it before about my kids and our home education choice; the triumphs and successes are mine to enjoy and the mistakes are my mistakes to make.  Try as they might, nobody can ever take that away from me as long as I have breath!

                                          ~----~-----~-----~

 Be sure to get in on this:  Benefit for Tammy Cardwell.  Unbelievable!

And a big thank-you to the Homeschool Minute for blessing me with a mention and a contest!  (Just click on the current newsletter link and don't forget to subscribe to these wonderful e-newsletters!)

Leave me a comment to get in on the contest ok?  And a hearty THANK YOU for everyone who already did!  I appreciate you!  

 We didn't set a deadline for picking a winner, so there is still time!  You could win a free copy of my E-book "Haircuts for Little Men!"   

Homeschooling IS Life!

Nancy

If you would like to be a part of the blessing for Heather, who has a brain tumor, just go over here to BooMama's site and get the info.  On the 18th, you can give a gift to help her and her husband with expenses!  What a wonderful way to put some feet to your faith.

AND if you go here, to "I should be folding laundry's" site, you can get a button to promote this wonderful event, and even get in a drawing for some wonderful sounding prizes!  Wow!  ( I love that lady's blog name!)

Hugs to you all,

Nancy

And while you are at it, just being gooder would be nice.  :)

Rats, wouldn't you know it?  I have had so many typos, and mispellings, and other sundry errors on my blog that I had to fire my editor!  Right before Christmas.  I really hated to do it, but she was getting me into all sorts of trouble with the Punctuation Police!  (the Secret Punctuation Police, that is.)  So, after getting rid of my problem, heaven forbid I have that kind of riff-raff here on my blog, I thought I better find some good grammar rules to go by so I don't get myself into trouble again, in the interim!  Alas, this is all I could find, and me thinks this must have been the manual my editor was using all along!

Grammar Rules - How to Write Gooder Here are several very important but often forgotten rules of English: Avoid alliteration. Always. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with. Avoid clichés like the plague. (They're old hat.) Employ the vernacular. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive. Contractions aren't necessary. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos. One should never generalize. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know." Comparisons are as bad as clichés. Don't be redundant; don't use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous. Be more or less specific. Understatement is always best. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement. One-word sentences? Eliminate. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake. The passive voice is to be avoided. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms. Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed. Who needs rhetorical questions?

To give credit where credit is due, I found this on "Mikey's Funnies." 

This crazy blog entry is in response to a comment about my blog, on ANOTHER blog, about an entry on MY blog, about another blog......follow?  (Not on HSB, so don't worry.) Anyway,  I just happened to surf over there tonight and found that some dear lady had spent a whole lot of time over here, checking for errors.  :)  Wasn't that nice of her?  I am not quite sure why, but she did anyway, and I just want to thank her!  I never would have known that I mispelled "beeswax" or "free-rein" or even known that I goofed up that crazy "s" on the word "naysayers!"  I am forever in her debt.  I have posted before on my apostrophobia, and she must have missed that!

I am not sure where she got the idea that I think I am a superior teacher though....I can't say I have ever laid claim to that. But we are all entitled to free speech, even if it's not very kind.

And I haven't had anyone say that I "S**K" in a long time.  (Actually, my blog, not me.  But I and my blog are one.  LOL)

You know, I just want to share a little story with you all.  PLEASE try to ignore any typos, ok? 

Earlier this week, I had two hours of really fun dental work done.  :)  And after that, with my mouth feeling very fat, I decided to stop by a little store that was on my route.  You see, I was looking for a gift for my daughter that I had seen there before.  I searched the aisles looking for this particular item, and couldn't find one.  I did find a similar item, but decided it just woudn't do.  Before I left, I thought I would take one more trip around the store, checking the clearance shelves.  I prayed that if there was one of these items left in the store, that I just might find it!  As I rounded the last corner, there it was!  Right on the clearance rack.  It was discounted about 30% because of a small flaw, but I was thrilled to find it.

I got up to the only check out and was the only one there.  While the clerk, a young woman, was tallying up my purchases, a man came up to the counter and started asking if they had a certain item.  The clerk and a manager were both there and they proceeded to dialog with this gentleman about his needed product.  After several minutes of that, the clerk then turned her attention back to me.  About that time, a well dressed, made-up older woman came rushing up to the counter, and very animatedly (is that a word?) announced that they had something back there with her name on it and she was here to get it. 

The clerk and the manager looked very disturbed because someone else had already picked it up for her....did she ask someone to do it?  Oh, she exclaimed, yes, I did!  Last night at the cocktail party she had asked so-and-so to pick up her purchase and she had had TOO many drinks and forgot!  The clerk and manager looked relieved.  I stood there with my mouth beginning to hurt, as the anesthesia was wearing off, I was hungry and tired and just wanted to finish checking out and go home. 

 About that time, another "gentleman" came rushing up tot he counter with this huge cooking pot.  While I waited for my total so I could write my check....."I am Mr. So and So from such and such law firm and we have adopted this family for Christmas and I would like to know if you can give me a discount on this purchase, blah, blah, blah.  Sigh.  I had a hard time holding my very fat feeling tongue.  Actually, I didn't hold it, and in hindsight, well, you know, I should have. 

 I said "I am so amazed that this transaction has been interuppted three times now, and I would just like to finish here with my little order and go home."  The clerk, who should have been aware of  her transgression said nothing.  "Well, excuuuuuuuuse me!" said the lawyer in a very pompous and condescending tone.   I said, "I am just so surprised that nobody is willing to wait their turn."  To which he replied, "Well, the next time I see you somewhere, I will be sure not to interrupt you.  " Right," I said, "I am so sure you will!  And with that, he replied, "Merry Christmas", in a very sarcastic tone, as I took out my very long key chain that says "Jesus Loves You" on it and headed for the door.

I got into my car, and headed home, and you can imagine that I was fuming.  I called hubby to vent, and he said, "Guess you have three people to pray for today!"  Hmph. 

I certainly didn't feel like it, but in reality I knew he was right!  I also replayed the whole event in my mind with all the options of what I could have done, should have done, would have said....if I had stopped and prayed and not opened my mouth.

Later at home, I pulled out my current copy of TEACH, which just came in the mail.  If you have yours, read the column about When Love Grows Cold, by Jennifer TeGrotenhuis.  (I am sure I spelled her name wrong, oh, nope it's right!)  It spoke to me about recent events, and it is my prayer that it will continue to speak to me, God's Word that is, about my heart of stone, and how God can't use it.   Out of the heart, the mouth speaks, and we all know that if God's Word isn't in us, it isn't going to come out of us.

It certainly isn't good to get caught up in what other people think of us, or our homeschooling, or our writing......we are called to edify, not tear down.  I really hope that I can turn my heart of stone, with the Lord's help, back into that heart of flesh that can be conformed into the image of His son.

And some day I might be given a grade of an "S" by the only Important One to judge me, and it will hopefully stand for satisfactory, or even better, it will be a "W" for "Well Done."

Guess I need to add another person to my prayer list!  Hmmm.....maybe I could hire her to be my editor!

Homeschooling Is Life!

Nancy

(C) Homeschooling Is Life 2006 Nancy K. Baetz

I am not at all sure what that was supposed to mean, but it sounded profound! 

Well, did I tell you about our anniversary retreat?  I tried to surprise my hubby with a night out at a B&B, but the night before we left he "accidentally" discovered the debit on our bank account.  DRAT.  Anyway, he was still surprised.  We went to a southwestern retreat in the Rockies!  It was so lovely, although they had to go and mention "bears" and how they would get into your car if you left food in there.....so all I could think of were bears lurking here and there.....

The wind howled down the canyon all night and we had pinecones smacking the windows during the night---no, I didn't think THOSE were bears, I can tell a bear from a pinecone.....but not a mountain lion from a pinecone, that is another story altogether....

Before that, we had dinner in Manitou Springs, at the best Mexican restaurant in the world, Mission Bell Inn.  Then we went hot tubbing.  (All the while looking out for the bears, since it was outdoors.) Then the next day, we had a lovely gourmet breakfast and then we went down the mountian to Manitou again, to play tourist and even had some of the spring water.  (There are springs everywhere that you can try, carbonated springs.  Pretty different and neat, I must say.)

We didn't talk about the kids ONE time, except when we called to check on them every few hours.  (Not really)  and it was a pretty nice day, except the car broke down at the end of the day, and we had to walk several miles to a gas station, uphill both ways, in the snow.  OK, so I lied.  It was really cold though. 

And the car did break down, and we had to call our babysitter to come rescue us.  And then I called the police dept. to let them know that our car was broken down and would be on the street over night, so that they wouldn't tow or ticket it----but the next morning, guess what was on the windshield?  Yup.  A ticket.  After they told me they wouldn't.  So, I called them and they were very nice and all that, even though I was NOT too nice, well, nice, just frustrated.  But they said it was their mistake.  GOOD.  I just added quite a bit to your economy, and did my civic duty, calling to let them know my car was breaking the code law.....ladedadeda.  Anyway, they were nice enough and we didn't have to pay the fine.  SHEESH.

So then when the Tow Truck dropped off the car, he drove right over a barrel of flowers by the driveway.  IT WAS OUR LUCKY WEEKEND, I guess.  :)

I was just so happy to get the thing home, I just laughed.  Then Ken had to put in a new fuel pump.  It was a lot more expensive of a retreat than we planned.

Sigh.

Oh, well, actually, it was priceless.  The best part?  My husband shaved off his hunting beard for the occasion.  He is SO handsome, I always feel like a newlywed when he shaves off that beard---I almost FORGOT what he really looked like!

Lucky, Lucky me.....

GOD is so good.  :)

Nancy

Hello Friends,

I thought I would do a quick update of our  homeschool life and let you know what we have been up to. 

This week was busy, and we have had record heat here. I let the kids play out doors in the little pool as much as possible.

This morning we went for a quick trip to the Summer Reading Party that our local library does every year.  We listened to a bag piper, saw the falcons from the Air Force Academy, and watched the hospital helicopter land.  We only stayed a little while, it was just TOO HOT to deal with it. 

Then we went to an unnamed store for my son to get himself a new bike.  He has never owned a new one before!  So this was a treat.  He participated in a medical study on kids who have diabetes, and they gave him some gift cards for his time and for the fun of getting poked and prodded.  Part of the study was to see if diabetes has any effect on the cardiovascular system, and so they hooked him up to this computer on several pulse points, and then did an overlay of his heartbeat, with his pulses---that was after they marked and measured from one point to the other----then they can tell how fast his blood is coursing through his veins.  It was amazing!  We figured that his blood is moving at about 3 miles per hour.  That is of course, if we have done the math properly.  I may have to double check my math, if you saw my IQ results :)

Next stop today was the health food store.  I just finished reading "The Makers Diet" which, incidentally was very good.  So we are making some changes to our diet based on it.  One of my children was on  antibiotics for ear infections routinely as an infant, and I, being the new mother didn't have  a clue and just listened to everything my Dr. told me as if it were gospel.  Now, she is having digestive issues, and we think it may be due to the over use of the antibiotics.  So, we are going to try to get our bodies back in order, as well as we can. 

We had a great time sampling different things at the store, lots of organic fruits, etc.  We tried "Kefir" which was really gross but we tried the plain kind.  Next time, we will get some with flavoring.  We also tried liquid yogurt, and loved that.  While I was there I bought some probiotics, which are supposed to replace some of the natural bacteria in our body that is wiped out by antibiotics, sterile soils etc.  I am really hoping and praying that we see some improvement in our health.  I will let you know.

Has anyone else tried these things?  I would love to see how they work for you.

So, that was pretty much our day.  It was so hot I came home and took a nap.  Oh, and our tadpoles are looking more and more like frogs, although one of them doesn't seem to be doing well----

And Daddy got home early today so THAT was a blessing and a treat.

Oh, and I got my TOS magazines in the mail today :)  That always makes me happy.

Love you all!

Nancy

Hey, guess what!?  I was on the radio today!!! 

My friend Happy Apple was over today, and while we were all outside playing, the phone rang.

My kids don't usually answer it if they don't recognize the name or number, but for some reason my daughter answered---and it was a gentleman, Trent Loos.  He got my name off of our support group site, and wanted to know if I would join him for an interview (in less than two hours) on homeschooling.  Yikes!!!

So I said yes, and then hit the computer with prayer requests, called my husband and prayed with my son.........and set the alarm for 1:28, when I was supposed to call in.

I want to tell you that I DON'T think well on my feet, but I know that with God all things are possible!

I did some quick research on Mr. Loos, and found that he does a lot of programming on agriculture, and is himself a 6th generation rancher.  I didn't really have time to do much, since I had company and had to get my two oldest kids to book club.......so one friend picked up the kids and Dianna (Happy Apple) said she would stay and supervise the other 6 kids while I locked myself in the office for this half hour interview. And She prayed for me too---wow, I can't tell you how much I appreciated it!!!

I just want to stop, and give GOD every ounce of the glory.  If there is anything good thing that comes from this opportunity, let it be all to Him and Him alone.  I know for a fact that when I fall flat on my face---it is because I get in the way of what God wants me to do.  But if I allow Him to use my words, I get a tremendous blessing because I know it wasn't me!!!

I thought "how can I do this, a whole half hour???"  But I made it, it actually FLEW by.  It was fun, and challenging, and Mr. Loos was a total gentleman.  I hope we can speak again soon!

If by chance you would like to listen to it, go here: http://www.kfrm.com/audioondemand/index01.htm and then click on his program, Rural Route, and the link for today, Tuesday June 28.

Let me know what you think!

After the interview, Mr. Loos shared that he has children also, and one is in a very small class---but this homeschooling thing has been tugging at his heart.  He said that last night, he brought home a herd of goats and some donkeys (I think!) and while he was watching his daughter interact with the animals he thought "this is where she belongs, this is what our lives are all about."  That isn't exactly what he said, but the jist of it was that THIS life, this ranching lifestyle that they have is the best learning situation for his children.  They are right where they are supposed to be! 

 I think we all know how to encourage them, right?

Don't be surprised if Trent joins us at Homeschoolblogger!

Humbly, but very excitedly,

Nancy