Hi thought I'd better find a bit of time to put a quick entry so you know I'm still here :-) We've finally started with math u see and it's goin good mainly at least I finally feel like the children are doing some formal learning now and we've been doing some hooked on phonics though we're not quite as consistent with that one yet.

We also did a sports day yesterday which was brilliant - the children really enjoyed it and I just enjoyed being out of the house for a day and not feeling overwhelmed with housework etc

Anyway babies crying, children fighting, phone ringing so better go get some more work done

If you're thinking of purchasing hooked on phonics check out www.educationaltoys.co.uk I bought it about a week ago - the complete program for £29.99 instead of £99.99

Bargain!!!

Hi and thank you for your encouragement - I do feel a little better about things now, I don't know why I let the problems with my dd shyness get to me - I already know she can integrate - I remembered while I was pregnant we'd gone to one of these indoor kids clubs and she made a friend on her own so why I let myself listen to others doubts I don't know - think I'll blame postnatal hormones this time :-)

Also I was getting a few unsupportive comments from so called friends because of the homeschooling - I'm sure people only get stressed about it because it challenges them that they don't want to spend all day with their own offspring not that I ever judge or tell everyone they are wrong for sending their children to school but they seem to think it's ok to tell me I'm wrong for not sending them!! I have been advised on a good phonics program (thanks deedee) so am hoping to purchase that soon and i'm just not stressing out about it all too much now just trying to trust my own instincts again.

We are going to Nott Castle tomorrow so I'm looking forward to that, and we're going to a farm at the end of the month so it's all educational even if we're not sitting down at desks for most of the day (which I disagree with anyway).

Why is it though that just when you start getiing things together something else goes wrong - I'd just got on top of my housework etc and came down with a bad cold so now as I'm getting over that I have to get back on top of my housework in order to have more time for planning some fun educational activities.

On a positive note I am managing to lose weight and get my fitness levels up - I have PCOS so to lose weight is extremely hard this is the best I've managed but it involves me being very strict most of the time with my diet and trying to exercise everyday but it is worth it as I have managed to shift all the pregnancy weight so I'm back to where I was before I was pregnant (which was still quite overweight and unfit) I've reached my first goal but ultimately I have about 5 more stone to lose but it will be worth it!

Hi, I know I've not blogged for a long time, things have been rather hectic though they are slowly calming down now. Baby Deborah is 8 weeks old now (doesn't time fly) and she's quite a settled baby.

I am really struggling though, I feel like I should be doing more things/being more structured in my home schooling. My eldest dd is 6 and it is sometimes a struggle to get them working, though apart from a gr8 maths curriculum which I will be starting end of this month I'm kinda at a loss. I have teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons and that did go well then she got bored after a week (this was a few months ago) I know I need a good basic teaching your child to read or phonics program or both but there are so many things out there and we have so little money and I'm beginning to feel like I'm just not achieving anything, I think I need something with little preparation as time is very short these days with 4 little blessings to take care of and I try to help out in my dh business.  I also feel like I need a complete curriculum or is maths and english enough at this age? And how do you incorporate it all into your life? I really struggle to get the children to sit down and do the school work at times, I'm just pulling my hair out.

On a good note we have a few good outings planned for next few months which I'm looking forward too I could just do with some general encouragement and advice - plus I've just started taking my eldest dd (6) to a dancing class and she seems to have integration problems - not being used to integrating with other chldren I really do feel a bit of a failure at the moment.

Sorry it's taken so long to get a post up but better late than never.

DEBORAH ANN was born 5th February, 1:10am - it was rather quick, she was delivered by a paramedic on my living room floor. We were planning a home birth but didn't expect her to arrive quite so quickly. Just 1 hour and 10 minutes of labour. Thankfully everything was ok and the paramedic was great, the midwives didn't even arrive until after the placenta had been delivered.

We spent the first two weeks constantly breast feeding as I was determined to make it work, but after seeing a specialist had to make the difficult decision to give up again and give her formula as my body wasn't producing enough milk. It's difficult to trust God when things are not going the way you planned but I know He's got the bigger picture.

The older 3 children are absolutely in love with the new baby and have been great, we are slowly getting into a kind of routine and fitting in some school work so things are starting to settle down. We're just praising God that we have 4 wonderful blessings and praying for the strength and wisdom to bring them up in His way.

Christmas has come and gone again for another year, we're eagerly anticipating the arrival of baby number four. Well to be completely truthful I go from thinking please hurry and let me have my body back (baby's movements are getting extremely uncomfortable now) to thinking , oh no not sure I can go through the whole labour thing again. Which is quite bad really considering my longest labour is about 5 hours and I haven't really had a bad experience yet. I don't feel like I've really had time to prepare myself mentally, we've been so busy and a lot of things have happened during this pregnancy it's really only just sinking in that anytime now we will be blessed with another babe.

We have also all been quite poorly with colds etc and I've been very tired as we weren't getting full night's sleep because of the children being up in the night, I think the whole homeschooling has gone out the window for now until baby born, well anything organised anyway.

I will keep you updated with news of baby when they decide to arrive, my official date is not until the end of the month but I've been early with all my others so hoping this one follows suit.

Just a quick entry as I've not managed to put anything in for the last couple of months, it's all hectic here, trying to get things ready for Christmas and then with the baby due end of Jan (and my past record of not quite reaching my due date) we're trying to be organised haha. Plus my husband has a lot of work on which is good as he is self employed but it does make time limited for other things.

We are doing really relaxed schooling at the moment, I've got a Christmas book my eldest dd got from Sunday School, it's the Christmas story told through 7 different animals so we're reading one of those and then doing some craft related themes although the dc are not always as enthusiastic as me heehee.

We've also got the math u see curriculum which is really good, but I think I'm goin to wait until the baby is born and we can get settled into a proper routine before we really get into it, they have enjoyed what they've done so far so that is good.

Anyway I should be sorting tea out so I will go for now and God bless you all and have a great Christmas.

Hi, I'm here again at last :-) my school room is nearly finished, I've kinda got a bit side tracked trying to sort out our bedroom before I get too big, as we're hoping for another home birth so got to make it suitable! The children seem to enjoy having the little room though I have to watch them because they are good at messing it up too!

I bought teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons, and I started it and it went well for about a week, then my eldest dd decided she didn't want to do it, so  I've decided to give her a couple more weeks and then try again, my ds wants to do it but he'll be 4 this month and a bit young I feel, as he gets bored about halfway through one lesson.

I went on a ladies weekend last week, well it was just one night, but it was really nice to be cooked for and not have to clean up and not to have anyone demanding your time, being able to fully particiapate in the services without worrying about children, and having some space all to myself. I love my children and dh but the break was really nice, I think we all need a bit of time sometimes to just get with God and let him sort out some heart issues, I also attend a bible study goup (CBSI) it's really good and we're studying Mark this year, the importance of spending time with Jesus before we can go out in His power is what really came across this week so I'm trying to make more of an effort to just spend some time being in His presence, prayerfully and doing my daily reading.                                                                      

Last night I read Psalm 139 (one of my favourite Psalms) and what really struck me anew was "how precious are your thoughts towards me O Lord, they are inumerable....all my days were ordained and written in your book before they came to be" How awesome, I've known this truth forever so to speak but God's really speaking to me through it at the moment - almost as if he's wooing me and drawing me back to himself as I feel life's got a bit on top of me this year and I'm not where I should be with God.  I've just been spending time thinking about this truth - God thinks about me all the time! Even when my dh or my dc or any other member of my family aren't thinking of me God is, His love for me is perfect and neverending, there is no wonder it is so easy to love Him back eh! Blessings

Hi, thought I'd post a quick blog to say I've not disappeared from the planet heehee - we went camping for 2 weeks (Cornwall) it was great, and obviously there was no computer and  I have to admit it's taking me a while to get back into going on my computer - I never missed it and  I thought  I would. We've also all been hit with a terrible sickness bug this week, the children started last Sunday then Monday was my turn and I've still not fully recovered. My poor ds has been hit worse, he seemed fine yesterday and the day before but ended up sick in the night last night so I've had to be careful what I've allowed him to eat today as he's supposed to be going to Donnington (racing cars show) tomorrow with his dad.

We're also talking of have a move round in the house and I could be getting a little school room while my dh gets a bigger office so hopefully that will help with the whole schooling side of things but  I will keep you posted.

bye for now

Hi, we went to the first official UK math u see workshop last Friday night, it was great, I am certainly convinced that it is the curriculum I want to follow for my children, I can really envision maths being a fun subject in which I get to learn too while using this curriculum. 

It was also great getting to meet other Uk homeschool bloggers and being able to put faces to the names (hello if you're reading). It's surprising how good it is to know you've made a decision on something like this and have something to work towards. We've also just ordered galloping the globe as it wasn't expensive and  I think it'll just help give us something to focus on, I'm not planning on doing anything in depth as they are so young but just to gently get used to slowly doing some slightly more formal school and getting me used to doing some planning will be good. I'll let you know how it goes!  

I've just been on deedee's site to see I've got an award - which is great considering how bad I've been at blogging lately :-) You know though it has really lifted my spirit! I wasn't even feeling that down but I feel uplifted - isn't it great what a bit of encouragement can do, so thank you.

I was at a ladies breakfast this weekend and that was really encouraging too, all about how the media makes us feel dissatisfied with ourselves and yet we are daughters of the King - loved and beautiful from the inside out!! There is a verse (well a couple) that have always spoken to me in Psalms

 Ps 45:10-11
0 Listen, O daughter ,
Consider and incline your ear;
Forget your own people also, and your father's house;
11 So the King will greatly desire your beauty;
Because He is your Lord, worship Him.
NKJV
Our God desires our beauty - sometimes we feel we want some romance, sometimes our husbands just don't fulfil that need and yet do you know, do you realise that your God loves you in every way - He desires to be close to you, His love for you is greater and better than any man on this earth could give you. But there is a price - we have to forget the past, put God before everyone else, which means making time for Him, reading His word, talking with Him, worshipping Him, not just slotting Him in on a Sunday we have to put Him in a place of priority in our lives to really experience that love He has for us.

Anyway, not sure where that came from but..... on a more academic note my eldest daughter is 5 and we still don't really do any official schooling - I do believe better late than early and she's not particularly advanced and interested academically but  I could do with some advice - should I invest in a maths program or just keep using stuff on the interenet? And how do  I know she's learning what she should be? Any advice or good websites to look at, books to read would be gratefully recieved thank you - and remember You're Beautiful!!!!

Hi, you know I came on a couple of weeks ago, typed a nice long entry - then lost it all because the computer went funny aaaarrrrggghhhh

Never mind, maybe it wasn't meant to be on the blog. :-) I've recently signed up to fly lady, I'd been on the website but never actually signed up before, and I'm finding it really encouraging, I don't do all the challenges etc but it does help to keep me in check.

Our real big news though at the moment is ........................... (drum roll) .................... we're expecting baby number 4. We're really excited though a little nervous, to be perfectly honest we weren't really expecting it to happen at least not this soon as we've always struggled with infertility, I guess we can say God has well and truly dealt with that!!! I think people find it hard to believe you the more children you have when you explain the problems you have had in the past with conceiving.

On that note I really must get myself off to bed, so God bless you all and take care.

Well it's back to school for all those who choose the "normal" course so I thought I'd better start getting into routine - but that decision didn't get much further than my head  My parents have been away to Spring Harvest for the last week and as they only live a few doors down we've all missed them to be honest so we ended up there for the day - although my sister did come over and we did our family prayer time for the week so it wasn't a wasted day! We have managed 3 weeks so far which is good, we're all going to keep our own journal recording what we want and how God has worked in our lives through this prayer time etc so it will be good to look back on.

I admit my husband and I are really struggling at the moment with the whole God/chrsitianity/church thing. I have walked with God all my life and I don't really know what it is like to be without Him but sometimes I wonder why I don't seem to see Him working in all His power, we all struggle in my family and most people I know to be honest and I know there is way we can walk with Him and be close to Him but I'm struggling to see it worked out in my own life if that makes sense and then I feel like I'm being a bad example to my children! Hopefully this committed prayertime will start to make a difference, I know some of it is my own fault I don't always read His word as much as I should etc but it is very difficult with 3 young children and I know I sometimes make the wrong decisions and listen to music instead of putting the bible tapes I've got on or choose to listen to the wrong music but it is hard sometimes to keep on keeping on especially when we don't see the results!

On a positive note we're enjoying this good weather the children are having fun playing in the dirt outside! We've actually planted some seeds - first time ever (apart from cress) and they are starting to grow - though I've just found out my brocoli is growing too quick (and i was so proud)  my mini cucumber's look good though and it's all educational so I'm quite happy!

Hi, I know it's been a while, I hardly seem to get time to check my emails these days let alone blog!! But I love it, I'm on a get fit mission so most evenings i have a friend coming round who does an exercise video with me! It's amazing just how much easier it is to do when there are two of you! We encourage each other and help us both put a bit extra effort in, i guess homeschooling can be like that too, when there;s someone else doin the same thing it can really help encourage - we're only really at the first stage and I'm already struggling but just knowing that there are others out there who have done it or are doin it and faced the same problems can be a real encouragement!

We have found a free spelling website - spellingtime.com and it is really good, my eldest who is only 5 doesn't really know her letters yet and hasn't been that interested (we've recently found out she's got a bit of a hearing problem too which probably hasn't helped) but on this website she's loving it and learning letters! I'm just struggling to get her to do proper letter formation when it gets to writing!

My sister is also now planning on homeschooling, they have a new baby (beautiful and cute) and are hoping to take their older son out of school too before he gets to secondary school! So that will be really neat, and she is a primary school teacher which could be handy. We've also started meeting together to pray for our family - it is predominately christian but we do seem to face an awful lot of problems, our parents are in the ministry so we think they really need the extra prayer support - we only started this week and already have had 2 answers to prayer! Isn't God good?

I think I'm just goin to enjoy the rest of easter and then start plannin some more formal school work with the children, I 'd like to find a curriculum but there is just so much choice!!!

Hi, I know it's been a while, I hardly seem to get time to check my emails these days let alone blog!! But I love it, I'm on a get fit mission so most evenings i have a friend coming round who does an exercise video with me! It's amazing just how much easier it is to do when there are two of you! We encourage each other and help us both put a bit extra effort in, i guess homeschooling can be like that too, when there;s someone else doin the same thing it can really help encourage - we're only really at the first stage and I'm already struggling but just knowing that there are others out there who have done it or are doin it and faced the same problems can be a real encouragement!

We have found a free spelling website - spellingtime.com and it is really good, my eldest who is only 5 doesn't really know her letters yet and hasn't been that interested (we've recently found out she's got a bit of a hearing problem too which probably hasn't helped) but on this website she's loving it and learning letters! I'm just struggling to get her to do proper letter formation when it gets to writing!

My sister is also now planning on homeschooling, they have a new baby (beautiful and cute) and are hoping to take their older son out of school too before he gets to secondary school! So that will be really neat, and she is a primary school teacher which could be handy. We've also started meeting together to pray for our family - it is predominately christian but we do seem to face an awful lot of problems, our parents are in the ministry so we think they really need the extra prayer support - we only started this week and already have had 2 answers to prayer! Isn't God good?

I think I'm just goin to enjoy the rest of easter and then start plannin some more formal school work with the children, I 'd like to find a curriculum but there is just so much choice!!!

We attended an answers in genesis meeting yesterday, there were 3 talks, Noah's Ark, Cain and Abel, and the education system. Wow, it was great, I would advise anybody to go to one if there's one nearby or you could always have a look on their website I believe it's www.answersingenesis.org they have some great resources. The talk on the education system was given by a guy who used to be head of science, and believe me he knows what he is talking about. What a worrying state our world is getting to - or even already in. And how sad that so many parents do not even see the danger in sending their children to secular purposlely against Christ schools, without even checking what their children are learning!

I learnt quite a bit and they produce a science curriculum for ages 8-12, it looks really good - a bit old for my children yet but I'm seriously thinking of saving up for it, because it looks at science through the biblical view, for example how fossils are not millions of years old but can be explained by the world wide flood. It's certainly worth a look if you are thinking of purchasing a science curriculum I'd check these out - God's design science curriculum, you can purchase it from here in the Uk, probably best to email the Uk person, they are based in Leicester.

Another curriculum they do is one based on the pilgrims progress, that looks really good too.

I think it's important that we teach our children (and ourselves) how to defend our faith, we need to know the facts so that evolutionists cannnot blow us away with science so to speak. We should be capable of challenging them intelligently and these resources could help us with that.

It's my birthday today - hooray and all that. I'm slowly creeping up to 30. I don't know about any of you but I sometimes feel like I'm just not old enough to have the responsibility of a husband and 3 children, how did that happen?  One minute we're trying desperately for a baby wondering why God isn't blessing us in this way and then suddenly we've got 3 gorgeous blessings and no time to really think of why God does this that and the other! I know it wasn't quite like that, it's been a gradual process over the last 5 years but it's gone so quickly. My eldest baby is growing up, she's nearly 5 I can no longer call her a toddler, she's an infant. I love it and  I love watching them grow but it happens so fast!

My other gripe today would be, why can't I be more like the person I want to be? It's my birthday and I tried hard not to expect too much and just be grateful to serve but the flesh keeps winning. I end up disappointed because I still have to do all the regular chores although my dh did get us takeaway for tea but I had to clear up. Now I know the right thing would be to be gracious but my flesh just keeps jumping up and saying it's not fair why couldn't he do it for me on my birthday?

I guess I'll have to keep praying and reading my bible and God will probably give me more opportunities to develop this quality of grace

Blessings

We've been studying Esther recently (I go to a Community Bible Study class weekly), it's actually return of the Jews after exile that we are looking at but for the last few weeks it has been Esther. It is such an amazing story of God's sovereignty. I've seen things that I've never seen before in this book, I think it's one of those that you just read as a story and think it's a lovely story of a brave Jewish queen but it is so much more.                                                                                                                                                                       

There are many questions that although we cannot answer are certainly worth asking and mulling over. We looked at whether Queen Vashti's refusal to see the King when he wanted to parade her in front of his guests was right or wrong, whether Mordecai should have even been in the city when other Jews had returned to Jerusalem, Esther's position in a very "worldly" place (the harem) had she not been chosen as queen she would have just been part of the King's harem. Was Mordecai right in not bowing to Haman?

For myself I had always thought of Mordecai and Esther as being close to God and doing what He told them, probably because I know the end of the story and we always major on how God used them, but the question has to be asked were they really close to God and in the place He chose for them? And if they weren't then it is even more amazing that God chose to save His people through these 2 Jews. Showing us that God can use any of us if we are willing, for His purposes even if we have made bad choices or are not in the place we should be.

In part of the commentary for this study it said that we can see how God worked through a seemingly unrelated series of circumstances for His ultimate purpose, in the story of Esther. It got me to thinking do we really see and recognise God's work in our lives, even in the small things or do we really believe in coincidences? My recent example would be that  I was wanting to take my youngest to baby clinic to be weighed as I've not been since last October but they've moved and the time coincides with my bible study I go too. About a day after  I discovered this  I got a phone call from our health visitor telling me my dd was ready for her next check up and she'd be coming out to see me on Monday if that was ok. Now because of the study  I recognised God's hand in this and thanked Him but even when sharing with other christians they didn't seem to get it! Maybe because it's not a big deal and just part of ordinary life and maybe  I could say it's just a coincidence but to be honest I think I would rather believe that my God, my heavenly Father, cares as much about the mundane parts of my life (and maybe there is a reason I need to see the health visitor) as He does about the major things. And you know life is much more exciting when you recognise God's working in it and realise that in ALL things He's working for our good and we never know where each encounter with another will lead us or them.  God is giving me new revelation about all this and it is so exciting (bit scary too) but really exciting. What an awesome God we serve!!

Hi, I think it's one of those days today, you know where nothing goes right and you just want to go back to bed

I am really feeling it today - how on earth do we homeschool our children, keep a nice organised house, feed them good meals, be supportive wives etc etc and thats without even including any outside activities. I just feel at the moment that if I spend time keeping my housework up to date the children don't get much schooling and if I spend time teaching them the housework suffers.

I started this yesterday and I have to admit today's been a bit better, but any ideas on how to keep it all together would be well received. I keep trying to get organised but I think that I could do with one month with no children in the house so that  I could get organised then it would be easier to keep it up when they came back  

Everytime I'm organising one room they are in another messing it up!

Maybe God's trying to teach me a lesson in grace, perseverance and patience eh?