Year Five ~ Jigger
Faith and Life 5
My Path to Heaven by Geoffrey Bliss
Our Lady's Book by Lauren Ford
Stories of the Child Jesus from Many Lands by A. Fowler Lutz
CHC's Saint Comprehension Book
Exploring the Mass from Catholic Heritage Curricula (CHC)
Life of Fred: Fractions by Dr. Stanley Schmidt
Calculadder 2
What's Your Angle, Pythagoras? by Julie Ellis and Phyllis Hornung
The Harp and Laurel Wreath by Laura M. Berquist
My Catholic Speller: Level D, by Catholic Heritage Curricula
Language of God: Level D, by Catholic Heritage Curricula
CHC Handwriting Book
Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb
The Tale of Troy by Roger Lancelyn Green
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate Dicamillo and Timothy Basil Ering
Story of the World I by Susan Wise Bauer
Kingfisher History Encyclopedia
Augustus Caesar's World by Genevieve Foster
Of Courage Undaunted by James Daugherty
Catholic Geography Bee by Catholic Heritage Curricula
Map Skills: Level D, by Catholic Heritage Curricula
Latina Christiana I by Cheryl Lowe
Rummy Roots
English from the Roots Up
Le Francais Facile (The Easy French) by Marie Fillon
Art Through Faith
A Catholic Garden of Puzzles by Catholic Heritage Curricula
Black Holes and Uncle Albert by Russell Stannard
The Universe in my Hands by Catholic Heritage Curricula
Pilgrim's of the Holy Family by Catholic Heritage Curricula
Year Nine ~ Piper
Introduction to Catholicism: A Complete Course (the Didache Series) by James Socias
Beginning Apologetics 1: How to Explain and Defend the Catholic Faith by Frank Chacon and Jim Burnham
The Meaning of Vocation by Pope John Paul II
Life of Fred: Advanced Algebra by Dr. Stanley Schmidt
Calculadder 6
Mindbenders
Typing Instructor CD-ROM
The Harp and Laurel Wreath by Laura M. Berquist
Assorted Classical Literature Selections (one per week)
Warriner's Grammar, Third Course
Vocabulary
Christ and the Americas, from Catholic Heritage Curricula
History of the Ancient World by Susan Wise Bauer
Catholic Geography Bee by Catholic Heritage Curricula
Rummy Roots
English from the Roots Up
Henle Latin, Year One by Fr. Henle
Le Francais Facile (The Easy French) by Marie Fillon
Edible Wild Plants
Fur Trapping in North America
Ecology and Field Biology (text)
Assorted library and internet resources
National Geographic Magazine
Popular Mechanics Magazine
Smithosonian Magazine
Good Morning, and welcome to Monday! I hope your weekend went well; ours certainly did!
I have a confession to make: I'm NOT the world's best housekeeper (gasp!). I mean, I'm not a pig or anything, but I could do better. My house is always neat and usually picked up, and gets vacuumed regularly. So what's the problem? Welllllll..... I'm a habitual stacker/ignorer. You know. I'm one of those people that stacks things I don't know what to do with, and then ignores said stack for ages. Until it either drives me crazy, or drives me out of my home. I'm sure you know someone like that. Maybe you even ARE someone like that!! If so, take a deep breath, and chant softly, "I am not alone, I am NOT alone!"
So, over the weekend, I'm looking at my stacks, and wondering if I'll ever really be rid of them all at the same time (oh, bliss!), when FlyLady's voice pops into my head (I love her, but she surely shows up at the most uninspiring times) and says: It only takes 15 minutes. You can do anything for 15 minutes! And then the lightbulb goes off! I CAN do anything for 15 minutes! I don't just want to do horrid things for 15 minutes, though, I want to do fun things, too! The kinds of things that I never allow myself to do because the stacks are waiting!!
SO, I decided to begin with facing/enjoying one 15 minute challenge each day. That's it. Not 15 minutes this hour, and then 15 minutes next hour and so on, just 15 minutes ONCE each day. I can do that, right? Right. So can you. If you'd like. Right along with me! How much fun would that be? And they're challenges, not from me to you, but from me to me. Humps to be gotten over and conquered, so I can release some of that anxious energy I automatically get when I look at a stack or unfinished project.
So what I'm thinking is this: I'll post one 15 minute challenge a day that I'm going to face/enjoy. And you can either do it along with me if the mood strikes you, or, if inspiration calls you, do your own 15 minute challenge, and then tell me about it or post it on your blog (letting me know you're doing it, of course, so I can be inspired as well!).
With that in mind, here is today's challenge: to answer an email that has been sitting in my in-box for three weeks now. I know, that sounds kind of weird, but some emails require such a lengthy, personal response that takes a lot out of a body, and so I've been putting it off. But no more! No time like the present, so here I go! In honor of it being the first day of the 15 For Today, I am going to reward myself with a second 15-minute challenge: to sit down with a cup of tea this afternoon and read my book ~ Guilt Free.
I had to chuckle at the "stacker" mentality. Yes, that's me. Just today, my husband questioned me about the stack of clothes to give away that are on the floor at the foot of our bed. I actually said, "They've only been their since Thursday, I haven't had time to sort through them". In fact, he's the one who cleaned out our closet of clothes we do not wear (or I'd never have done it) so it's actually his fault that stack is there ... but I digress. When you enter my kitchen, on the right is a counter that holds the microwave and a big stack. You know, like the mail, paystubs, programs from concerts, film that needs developing, anything else that gets dropped off when my family enters the house (the kitchen is right near the front door). This stack drives me crazy but I can't seem to control it. So, I'll try the 15 minute challenge. Soon. Keep us posted on how well you do - I need the encouragement, too!
I think my 15 minute challenge will be to rearrange what can only be termed our "miscellaneous" siverware drawer, you know, the one that holds the potato masher, garlic press, candy thermometer, etc.
Welcome to our home! Within you will find an assortment of ramblings having to do with home educating, books, homemaking, being a wife and mother, crafts, Catholicism ~ in general, our life at home, where our hearts truly lie.
Happy at Home
Mo Chroi~ Wonderful Husband who makes me laugh and is crazy about me and our kids
Me (Celtic Mom)~ Happily married to My Heart, mother of two wonderful sons, and passionate about many things, among them being teaching, making our house a home, and exploring my Creative Well
Piper~ Eldest son who loves being home educated and playing the bagpipes with the local Scottish Pipe Band
Jigger~ Youngest son who loves keeping up with his brother, and going further with his Irish Step Dancing
The Tea Shop Mysteries by Laura Childs
For the Love of Literature by Maureen Whittmann
The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer
Endangered Minds: Why Children Don't Think and What We Can do About It by Jane Healy
Catholic Homeschooling Companion by Maureen Whittmann and Rachel Mackson
Surprised by Truth by Patrick Madrid
Please Don't Drink the Holy Water! by Susie Lloyd
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