Oh, dear! A spur-of-the-moment creative assignment. I'm not sure I'm up to this, but we'll give it a try. Here's the assignment: Post the category that best describes each of your family members and write something about why you nominated them in that category. You’re welcome to post photos.
I'll bypass my kids and go right to the grandkids for now.
The "James Herriott " award goes to Kevan. He loves "all creatures great and small," from spiders to praying mantises. His collection of bugs---dead and alive---drives my daughter (his mama) nuts.
The "Clone" award goes to Julianna, who is truly the spitting image of her mother, my daughter. It's downright scary. Her personality is identical, also.
The "Highest Vocabulary" award goes to Kaetlyn, who at 5 has a comeback for everything, when you least expect it. Example (and I quote): "My teacher says that independent reading builds stamina." And she knows what the words mean. My son is getting "pay back" now. She keeps him on his toes.
The "Cuddle Bug" award goes to Levi, who can melt your heart with his big brown eyes.
The "Wild Girl" award goes to Ellianna, who is not the little "princess" her mother (my DD) was expecting. She loves slugs, running in the mud, roughhousing with her older brothers, and in general acting in a very un-princess-like way. She is her grandma's clone!
The "Life is Serious" award goes to my oldest grandson, Nathan. Like many first-born sons, he takes his role as the boss of his 5 younger siblings seriously. Is it no wonder that he and Ellie clash constantly?
The "Star Wars" award goes to Justan. Not because he loves Star Wars so much but because he often has "Star Wars" moments---off in some galaxy of his own. "Earth to Justan, come in." Focus, boy. Focus. Happy all the time.
The "Littlest Angel" award goes to Baby Christian, with the auspicious birth date of: 08-08-08.
Does it get any better than that? To my shame, I can't find any recent pictures of this angel.
Not a whole lot going on here. We did get to go see the Rockettes last week. Brooks called me on Thursday and said he had free tickets to see the Rockettes on Friday at 2pm. We went and had a great time. Sorry no pictures from it though. You can't take pictures during the show. Last year we were able to go as well but we saw the last show of the season. This year we saw the first show. It was great, as always. Our favorite is the live nativity at the end. We LOVE that.
We have had the opportunity to work on some child training things recently. :-) We have one child that is in the habit of calling my name from another room and just continues on talking. Or if this child knows where you are, this child will start talking before he/she gets to the room you are in. So we have been really working on waiting until you SEE the person you are talking to before you speak. :-)
We have also had the opportunity for some attitude training with other children. My mentor recently reminded me the importance of First-time obedience. When you call the child's name, you can really see into their heart right at that very moment. While I know this, I hadn't really thought about it in this way recently. I was glad for the reminder. There is no point in me doing anything with a child if their heart is not right.
I have had a lot of moms contacting me recently about the Neurodevelopmental approach for help with their children. As I talk with these moms, I'm reminded of how so very thankful I am for the ND approach. We have different children today because of ND. Things have been good for a while now and I tend to forget how they used to be. When we visit the zoo now, I often don't think of how there was day when that wasn't possible. The same goes for 4th of July fireworks, or the Rockettes show. There was a time when we couldn't have done those activities. God is good all the time!
We love to go swimming! Yesterday we spent 3 hours swimming and in the hot tub at our local motel. Our little town has only one motel and only this pool, and since they don't have that much business, they offer open swimming Monday thru Fridays ($4/person). We use to go more often, but they raised the rates and discontinued monthly passes, so it can get pretty pricy, but it's nice as an occasional treat! Often (like yesterday) we have the whole place to ourselves the entire time. Grandma & my SIL and 3-yr-old nephew joined us later for a fun afternoon.
We all start this homeschool journey with preconceived ideas and expectations of how it should go or what we ‘have’ to do to teach our children. We enter into homeschooling, knowing it will set us and our children free from the perils of the public school system, but sometimes those ideas and expectations are like shackles that keep us from teaching and loving our children the way we really want to. It is as if the method is more important than the goal. Which it is not. I have met a lot of new homeschool moms recently through Jocelyn’s meme on the HSBA Post: Homeschool Memoirs Meme and through Cindy Rushton’sTalk-a-Latte I have attended. I remember being a new homeschool mom.
Fifteen years ago, there were not so many resources out there that could be easily found, and considering I did not have the internet or even a computer, I had little in the way of outside encouragement. Add to that the fact that I was a 3yo baby Christian, just learning how to train my children at all. I feel for these new moms who are searching for the ‘best way’ to homeschool their children. I remember being a new homeschool mom.
Looking back to when I was a new homeschool mom, there are a few small things I can think of that would have made such a difference in my homeschooling had I only been told. I think I would have wanted someone to tell me we did NOT have to go into debt buying every complete set of each grade. I would have wished they had introduced me to a Bible-based homeschool method like HOW - Heart of Wisdom. I needed to know that God MUST come first. The WORD truly is our life, and outside of that, there is no wisdom.
Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Isaiah 33:6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.
We get so caught up in what we learned in the government schools, and some of us just aren’t the ‘break the mold’ type of people. We were bound by society, and we have yet to break free. God is the one who can set our hearts and expectations free so that He is the Leader in our homeschools. If we bring all things through Him, we will not fail. It was He who told us to walk with our children and talk with our children to teach them His ways.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
As society continues to move towards socialism, it is imperative that we stand firm in teaching our children as they need to learn. They are not cookie-cutter children. They each have their own strengths that we need to recognize and allow them to learn in, according to their bent (training up a child in the way they should go - according to their bent).
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
This is a freedom that will stop the tears and frustration. Some children just won’t read until they are nine. Period. Two of mine didn’t. They are voracious readers now.
When we listen to God and see the hearts of our children, recognizing their purpose and needs and walking in that with them, there is a freedom that will take us places that far exceed our original little expectations!
We made gingerbread men yesterday, and when we went to take the first batch out of the oven, they were gone! They had escaped! None of us saw them leave, so we didn't chase after them. But we are going to make gingerbread houses to try to trap them. That was Fiona's idea.
Here are some pictures of the twins and Kelsey and Morgan making the gingerbread and then using cookie cutters to make gingerbread man shapes. We used the gingerbread recipe that Melissa Telling posted on the Online Christmas Party.
First we put on our cute Gingerbread Man aprons that we put together. We got these from Oriental Trading.
Morgan started mixing the butter and brown sugar.
Morgan seems to be contemplating the physics of making gingerbread.
Kelsey had the Lil Baker costume from Oriental Trading. We're all watching Morgan cream together the first 6 ingredients.
Kelsey and Garrett used the mixer together.
Garrett took frequent breaks for photo opps.
But he did help pour in the molasses. It took about 4 minutes for it all to pour out of the cup!
Here's another photo opp for Garrett.
Now Morgan is rolling them out...
the twins are rolling them out...
they're marking them with gingerbread men shapes...
Put 'em in the oven for .........................................................
But when we opened the oven, the pan was empty. The gingerbread men were gone!!!!
We watched the next batch much more closely.
None of them escaped!
We decorated these gingerbread men. Morgan liked using the red hots!
The twins used lots of icing.
Kelsey's is very stylish and Christmas-y.
Here's Katie's gingerbread girl.
This guy tried to run but did't get very far!
Patrick made this one. His arm fell off, so Patrick stitched it back on.
Anna's, of course, is VERY stylish.
Oh yeah, the cookies were delicious! Thank you, Melissa, for sharing this delicious recipe!
We sent emails to friends asking them to tell us if they spot one of our gingerbread men. My brother said he would keep his eyes open while he's out in the woods hunting deer. My college roommate emailed me and said that she spotted one of our Gingerbread Men in Jamaica!!! Another friend saw one of them at the Nez Perce Indian Reservation in Idaho. It's amazing how far they got and in such a short time. We just made them yesterday!
If you see one of our Gingerbread Men, could you please leave me a comment, telling me where you saw him and what he was doing, so I can tell the kids?
I had my appt. today and everything looked great. I gained 1 lb in the last two weeks, which puts my total to 14 lbs. My blood pressure was 110/68 and no protein. The baby sounded great and has moved down some. My SO was able to take time off of work and actually go with me. This was the first time since my very first appt. We did a little shopping and went out for Chinese afterward. Things are getting so close. This pregnancy has gone way too fast.
Here's something I found and thought it would be a great lesson for our children with Thanksgiving coming... {KW<><}...
In the White House, Abe Lincoln was pacing the floor of his office. He felt more troubeld than he had ever felt before. The fate of the Union was at stake. He felt as if he were almost alone in his concern for the outcome. Friends and aides appeared to be almost panic-stricken. Abe felt that this was the most critical hour of the [Civil] war, perhaps the most critical hour in the entire history of the United States.
In desperation he left his office, went into this room and locked the door. There he fell before a chair. With his head in his hands, he wept and prayed.
Now, more than at any other time in his life he turned to God. In deep anguish he told God that he had done all he could. He pleaded for help. There was nothing more that he could do. He must leave the result of the battle in the hands of God. He now knew that if his country was to be saved, it would be only because God willed it.
It was a heartbreaking hour of prayer.
When he unlocked the door and came out of his room he felt that a great burden had suddenly been rolled off his shoulders. His intense anxiety and torturing concern had been relieved. He felt a quiet and calm trustfullness...
On his desk was a copy of the Thanksgiving Proclamation. He had proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a day of national Thanksgiving. The nation had never before had such an annual Thanksgiving Day and he had decided that it was time the nation remembered in a special day what God had done.
Now he read slowly the proclamation:
We have been the recipients of the choistest bounties of heaven; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God.
We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.
We have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.
Tears slipped down his cheeks as he read these words, for he believed in them deeply. It was because of this belief that he ordered the Treasury Department to engrave the words, In God We Trust, on American coins.
As he was sitting at his desk, thinking about these things, an aide rushed in and excitedly exclaimed, "There's good news from the battle at Gettysburg, Sir..."
But in spite of this great victory, his days were filled, dealing with generals, listening to the problems of many citizens, and handling endless administrative details. For help he turned to God through the Bible and in prayer.
Almost daily now, he felt the need to go to his room to pray. More and more, he became conscious of the work of God in the affairs of men.
Writing to a friend, Byron Sutherland, one day, he said,
I believe we are all agents and instruments of Divine Providence. I hold myself in my present position and with the authority invested in me, as an instrument of Providence. I am conscious every moment that all I am and all that I have are subject to the control of a higher power, and that power can use me or not use me in any manner and at any time as in His wisdom might be pleasing to Him.
One day, Mr. Chittenden, the register of the Treasury, asked him if he believed that God actually directed national affairs. With a deep feeling of emotion, he replied,
The the Almighty does make use of human agencies, and directly intervenes in human affairs, is one of the plainest statements of the Bible...I have many evidences of His direction, many instances when I have been controlled by some other power than my own will, that I cannont doubt that this power comes from above.
Please support The Homesteading Carnival by checking out the links at Y2-K Hippie. You can also participate in the Homesteading Carnival each week by sending your submission. The THC was created to bring together homesteaders from all over the world, each week, and share things from their homesteads. Not just about gardening and barn-animals, but about life on the homestead in every aspect.
Rachel is giving away two nice prizes - well, three, actually.
Creativity Express - This is a program that lets kids explore the world of art, digitally. It ‘guides you through creativity building projects… right on your computer! With your own art materials right there!” This is a great beginners art program, for those who want to do computer and blog graphics.
My Book Of Colouring At The Zoo- This is a book from Kumon. If you have a child, or a younger sibling who enjoys playing and drawing with crayons, then this book will help to encourage that. It’s for ages 3 & 4. This book could also be used as a part of schooling, helping to remember colours and mazes.
Be sure to send in your submissions to the next Carnival of Homeschooling. It will be hosted at Tami’s Blog on November 18. Submissions are due in by 9pm EST on Monday.
I have been holding onto this blog for some reason but I really don't come here as often as I used to. I think it is officially time to move on. I know I have said this before but this time I mean it. If you want to keep in touch you can find me at http://www.sleeplessstitch.blogspot.com If not it was nice getting to know some of you.
Have a really blessed rest of the year and know that I truely think of you often and say a little prayer.
Outside my window...beautiful sunshine shining on a very thin layer of snow. Sparkling like glitter on the roofs of the house and out-buildings. It's been a few days since the morning has begun with sunshine.
I am thinking...how silly I was to have forgotten to do my Daybook yesterday!
From the learning rooms...major time with Marine Biology, today.
I am thankful for...the minor remodeling we're able to do as we can afford it.
From the kitchen...I'm getting a new dishwasher today! Woohoo!!!
I am wearing...jeans, black turtleneck w/my gold Lakeside hoodie.
I am reading...Bible; still reading Pride & Prejudice. Haven't had much time lately.
I am hoping...that the Lord will bless our church and that dd#2 will find the ministry the Lord wants her to be involved in and that it will bless her precious heart.
I am creating...a list of things I may want to make as CHRISTmas presents.
I am hearing...the radio.
Around the house...I am cleaning up where the old dishwasher used to be in preparation for the new one coming today.
One of my favorite things...double yokes in my farm-fresh brown eggs.
A few plans for the rest of the week...homeschool, praise team practice, a seminary class, gym, CHRISTmas crafts and possibly painting.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
Our 2 girls. Just love those smiles, just love their laughter. When did they grow up?
This blog is a meandering of my thoughts along the way.
My goal is to be an helpmeet to my husband, mama and child trainer to my three children, and an encourager to all in my path.
Oh, dear! A spur-of-the-moment creative assignment. I'm not sure I'm up to this, but we'll give it a try. Here's the assignment:
To my shame, I can't find any recent pictures of this angel. 
We love to go swimming! Yesterday we spent 3 hours swimming and in the hot tub at our local motel. Our little town has only one motel and only this pool, and since they don't have that much business, they offer open swimming Monday thru Fridays ($4/person). We use to go more often, but they raised the rates and discontinued monthly passes, so it can get pretty pricy, but it's nice as an occasional treat! Often (like yesterday) we have the whole place to ourselves the entire time. Grandma & my SIL and 3-yr-old nephew joined us later for a fun afternoon.
Christina
