I just read about the new contest for the homeschool planner and thought I'd give it a whirl, maybe it'll even get me inspired.

I always have such high hopes for each new school year.  The planning part is my absolute favorite, however, implementing my plans is a challenge.  I already have almost all the pieces ordered and ready to go, but again I'm not sure how to get through it all.  I want to inspire my kids to learn, not force them to.  We try and do that by mixing up the topics and activities.  School shouldn't be such a drag.  God's world is exciting and there are many exciting ways to learn about it.

Please pray for me this year as I attempt to follow my plans, but most of all let God lead and me follow.

I haven't updated in months.  It's not that nothing has happened, but because I don't take the time to do it.  I love this website and getting to know people with this medium.  I need to be a little selfish and take a few minutes each day for myself.  It's something I'm working on.

Life is great!  God has been very gracious to our family.  I have several families I keep track of using caringbridge or this website.  It's a great reminder of how "lucky" we are.  I wish I knew why little kids get sick or even go to Heaven to be with Jesus.  It really touches me to see how very faithful the families of these kids are, how they minister through their difficulty.  I grow more each time I read one of their entries.  It draws me to pray.

Again, I am so thankful that God is in control.  Where would we be if we were ultimately in control?  God is awesome and faithful. 

Can anyone believe summer is nearly gone?  My list of things to accomplish this summer hasn't hardly been touched, yet I'm running out of time.  Our official school year starts again on Tuesday.  I can't believe it.  I'm ready to get back into a routine.  We have somewhat of a routine during the summer, but it's just not the same.  Besides, fall is one of my favorite times of the year.  God is so gracious to paint the leaves those gorgeous oranges, reds and yellows.  In our neck of the woods we have 4 distinct seasons (which I love!)

I've been praying about how to de-stress my homeschool.  I've received some excellent articles via e-newsletters.  God must be speaking to me?!?  I'm trying to incorporate a new idea every week.  I found that trying more than that just frustrated all of us.  I want this year to be different.  I feel God has a different plan for us.  One that includes discovery and wonder and LESS STRESS!  I would love any ideas anyone has for balancing school, work (I'm a CPA who works from home) and life in general. 

Our God is awesome!  May he richly bless each and everyone who reads this today!

Maybe you've heard about the upcoming vote in the state of South Dakota.  Our pastor has been preaching on it for 3 weeks now.  We're the first state to vote to ban abortions.  If the vote passes there are 11 or so states that are going to introduce similar legislation in their states.

It's exciting that God has chosen a very small state in population to get this started.  We're under 800,000 total.  Many of you live in cities with more people than that.  YIKES!!  We had a group from Bound 4 Life in our church this morning.  They're a group that operates in Washington, DC.  Students can go and intern there for 3 months at a time.  While there they pray and fast.  They are praying 24 hours per day, in shifts.  What an awesome way to influence our government!!  If we can win the battle in the heavenlies, we can win on earth.

God led this group to SD in August.  They're still here.  They led 21 days of fasting and prayer.  They believe that God is going to use SD mightily as He did with David.  David wasn't the biggest, but God used him to defeat the Philistines.  Our God is awesome.  As I listen to the encouragement from these men of God, I find myself wondering why.  Why would God use my state?  God's plans are truly bigger than ours. 

I truly believe God has a huge plan for our country.  If the shift has to start in South Dakota, so be it!!  Please hold us up in prayer.  May God's will be done on November 7.

I just logged on and was shocked to find it's been nearly a month since I last made an entry.  Life is so busy and I allow myself to get caught up in it.  That's not a good thing.  My husband was just listening to an audio book and on it they were discussing being proactive.  I'm afraid I allow myself to be more reactive than proactive.  That's not where I want to be.  I want to be in control of my life and direct my time, not just react to everything that gets thrown at me.

Summer is gently coming to the Black Hills.  It's absolutely beautiful.  We had a homeschool day today and had a blast.  It was an end of the year celebration and a chance to get together one last time before the hecticness of summer takes over.  The kids got to ride paddle boats, try their hand at archery, play on inflatables and have some yummy food.  It was a nice time to visit with other homeschool moms too.  I so enjoy talking with them.

Due to the busy day I'm off to bed early tonight.  I've had a few too many nights that don't start until 12:30am and are rudely interrupted by 8:00am.  I am someone who desperately needs sleep, 9-10 hours is best.  As a mom, that doesn't happen.  Oh well.  I don't want to wish the days by too fast.  I will just enjoy the journey of kids and everything that it entails.

For anyone who has seen my pictures, you know snow just won't leave us alone here in SD.  Just when we thought spring was on the way....another 2 days of snow.  We received 6 inches yesterday and another 3 or so today.  Crazy.  The nice thing is that the moisture content is so high.  The temperature isn't bad either, 40 or so now, so it's melting as I write.  YEAH!!

My kids are suffering from spring fever too and it's making school tough.  We try and incorporate outside activities as the weather permits.  I recently started running (or at least attempting to) so that involves a trip to the track near our house.  We try and go every afternoon.  I have the kids walk 2 laps (1/2 mile) while I try and run at least 1/2 mile (although I'm embarassed to say not all at once).  They're absolutely loving it and begging to go.  It's so fun to see them excited about exercising. 

Besides, there's just something about this time of year I absolutely love.  Isn't God's creation awesome?!?!  It's hard to stay indoors.  The weekend is supposed to be beautiful, mid 50s-60s.  Once we get down off the mountain where we live, the ground should be dry and a trip the park will be a blast!!  Happy Mother's Day to all of you!!  May God bless you richly as you seek to train your children.

The snow is almost gone, PTL!!  I still have a bit in my back yard, but spring is definitely making itself known.  It is my favorite time of year.  I can't wait for my tulips to blossom (that is if the deer ever quit eating them).  Everything is new and fresh just like each day God gives us.

I must admit that I'm looking forward to a "break" from school.  I will lose three of my "kids" to their own home for 2 1/2 months.  Since their house is right behind mine I'll still get to see them regularly.  It'll be nice to watch them play and not try and get school done.  We're quitting our formal year on May 19, but as with all homeschooling families, we will continue to take advantage of any teachable moments that may present themselves this summer.  I hope to spend time in our small garden and try journaling with my kids.  There is so much to learn when you garden.  Besides, who doesn't enjoy being outside.

If anyone has any suggestions as how to keep the deer away, I would appreciate it.  They're eating my flowers down to nothing.  Blessings!!

As I wrote in one of my other blogs, I live in the Black Hills of SD.  If you've never visited, you should.  It's absolutely gorgeous.  We have 4 distinct seasons.  As winter turns to spring, we usually get one last snowfall.  That happened this week.

It started Monday evening around 11:00pm or so.  It didn't stop snowing until last night (Wednesday).  We came home from a friend's house around midnight and it was still snowing.  Our whole small town was shut down as was pretty much a 50 mile radius.  We live up about a mile high so we got the brunt of the storm.  50 miles away, in Rapid City, they didn't even get 2 inches.  Due to the wind gusts of 50-60 mph it was bad enough to close I-90 from Rapid to the Wyoming state line.  Most of the foothills got 1-2 feet or so.  Up here, a friend measured 61 inches in an undrifted area.  The drifts are even larger than that.  The plows are having a difficult time breaking throw and clearing more than a one lane path.  It's crazy.

Today is a beautiful day, the sun is shining.  It's almost blinding outside because it's reflecting off of the snow.    They're forecasting 65 degrees for tomorrow and Saturday.  We may just go from being snowed in to a small flood.  Pray for us.

I received my The Old Schoolhouse issue today.  It is always a highlight to me.  As I did my initial thumb through I noticed an article on square foot gardening.  We live in an old mining town built in the Black Hills of SD.  Due to that we have a very small yard.  Fortunately, it's flat.  This gardening concept is very exciting to me.  I've not done much gardening in my life and would love suggestions.  We have a short growing season due to our mile high elevation.  The weather is often gorgeous, 70s in April, but unfortunately snow is still a very real possibility.  (We're under a winter storm warning starting at midnight tonight.  They're predicting 6 inches or more.)  Due to that, I don't usually plant until almost the first of June.  Our nights are quite cool, even jacket weather, most of the summer.  I would love ideas of veggies to plant, both for me and also kid-friendly plants for the kids.  I plan to have my husband put together 4 boxes.  I would like to start part of them inside to get a jump on the season.  I'd love help!!!

I guess I should begin by introducing myself.  I am a 31 year old mother of 3.  I have been homeschooling for 4 years now.  My husband and I made the decision to homeschool after our daughter finished kindergarten.  There wasn't anything challenging to her that year.   

• My oldest is a 10 year old daughter.  She is a bright child and loves to learn.  She is also a gymnast.  She will be competing at level 6 this fall.
• My second child is a 6 1/2 year old son.  He's also very bright and loves basketball.  He hasn't had too many opportunities to participate, but practices his dribbling regularly.
• My third child is also a son.  He's 4 1/2 and attends a christian pre-school.  He'll be home with us shortly and I can't wait.  We're just starting to learn our letter sounds.   It's exciting to teach him how to read.

I also wrote that I homeschool my nieces.  They belong to my husband's next oldest brother.  At ages 12, 9 and 7, they're wonderful young ladies and I enjoy them.  Logistically it couldn't be any easier because last fall they moved in behind us.  We're just finishing up our second year together.

God has laid on my heart to adopt too.  My husband knows this desire, and is supportive, but it isn't a desire of his, YET!!  He thinks our 3 is enough.  I'm continuing to pray that God will change his heart.  Our house isn't big enough according to the state, but as we are getting out of debt we have plans to remodel.  I'm hoping then that God will open the doors to adopt.