So much has happened.  I guess I’ll try to hit the highlights and move on from there.  Last August we went to Portland for a HUGE family gathering to take a picture of all my grandma’s kids, grandkids, and great grandkids.  She wasn’t doing well and that was one of her wishes.  While there I was speaking to my aunt about how work was for hubby and she offered him to work with my uncle in his business.  At the time it seemed really improbable…hubby loved his job and was doing well…other than that he was gone a lot.  So I spoke to him about it and he wasn’t really sure what my uncle did and if he’d even like it.  About a month later we were invited to see the Phantom of the Opera live in Portland.  So we extended our stay a day and he rode around with my uncle.  Afterwards he said he’d think about it but was pretty happy with the job he had here. 

In September I helped my mom and her business at the Knit and Crochet Convention in Portland, OR.  Her site is loopweaving.com.  It’s really amazing, you should check it out if you’re into yarn crafts!  Then home to try to begin the school year.  It was not a good start.  Lots of life interruptions and such. 

Late October I was blessed with a monetary gift to be able to go to a Basic class for the spelling/reading program I LOVE, Spell to Write and Read.  I was all ready to go…then the day before I left I was told about my Grandma and her health was not doing well at all.  She was in the hospital again…I really felt like this was it for her….so I spoke to the leader of the meeting and she was so sweet and understanding!!  Then I headed down to Portland again (about a 4-hour drive one way)…I ended up being there for two weeks.  My grandma passed away the day after Halloween.  It was heart-breaking to not only lose my grandma but to watch my mom lose her mom.

I had never been away from the kids or my husband for so long!  They were great when I got home, posters and cards, balloons and a cake.  I was really feeling off for about a month after that.  Then we started in with school again. 

Hubby and I talked about the job offer from my uncle and he said things would have to get pretty bad at work for him to even consider it.  Shortly after that things started going really wrong with his job. 

Then the holidays…then January…a birthday every 11 days.  On February 1^st we always breathe a sigh of relief that we made it through another January! :)

At the beginning of January he was speaking to our oldest daughter (15) about the job offer and said that his job would have to be totally gone for him to consider moving.  A few weeks later he was laid off. Feb. 11^th is his last day. 

Needless to say we are heading in the direction of moving back to the Portland area.  We really feel like this is what the Lord is leading us to.  I did apologize to my husband.  Last summer I started praying that he would have a job that could involve all of us as a family.  That he would have more time at home (which he desires also) and instead of working so hard to build up someone else’s business we could build our own.  Then all this happened.

So now…after living here for 10 years, 9 in this house we might be moving.  My feelings range from nervousness to excitement to just about every feeling in the spectrum!  I know that the Lord is with us always and that He is directing this through and through.  

We are open to doors opening or closing…just trying to do what the Lord wills each day!!

I guess that catches things up, mostly.  It’s amazing how FAST the time goes!  Seems like yesterday it was summer!

I feel like Dory in Finding Nemo….only instead of singing “Just keep swimming…just keep swimming….it’s… Just keep praying…just keep praying!

Hugs and Blessings,

Christina ~

This summer has been far busier than I thought it would be!  Obvoiously I have not had time to write.  I am writing a quick note today because I am very excited!

I just entered to win The SchoolHouse Planner from the folks at the front porch of Homestead Blooger! 

I hope I win!!!!  I usually don't win things...but this is one I would love love love!

I will hopefully update soon on the rest of the happenings around here.  In the meantime, I hope you are having a great summer and that you get a chance to relax and have FUN with your family!!

Blessings,

Christina ~

Mother’s Day 2008.  A day that I will soon not forget.  I have to share with you that I had no expectations this year…except maybe that I get time to knit!   I am blown away, shocked, amazed, honored, and really truly blessed!

Let me tell you about it.  My eldest daughter, 14, decided to get with the younger two and have them and her each write on post-it notes why they love me.  They each wrote about 10 things…10 post it notes x 3 kids…30 post-it notes all around the house.  Everywhere they knew I would go (coffee creamer, milk, cupboards, bathroom, hallway…you get the idea) they put these little love notes.  I was so surprised!  It was really wonderful, and all I expected.  But it’s not all I got.

A little later that day, my eldest daughter says to me…remember how I said I was up late every night last week working on a project? (some nights she was up until 3am!  She did get up the next day and do her work with a good attitude so I didn’t complain.)  Well, says she, here it is.  She and my hubby hooked the laptop up to the big TV.  Then began a slide-show (she has made slide shows before, but this was the crème-de-la-crème!) of all three children from babies…growing up before my eyes all over again…to present day.  All the while , in the background the song “A Song for Mama” by boyz II men.  And then “I Am Your Child” by Barry Manilow.  If you haven’t heard the words to these songs before…let me tell you I was crying like a baby myself!  Even hubby cried!  I defy anyone in that situation not to!  The fact that she worked so hard for so long “ahead of time” was shocking, but to think of every little detail and want to do it at all…well I was literally speechless. 

Speechless and crying.

Then (yes there’s more!) she gave me a gift, handmade by her…it was a clay SM in a small box with a small recent picture of the three kids.  She told me that the SM was because she thinks I’m a Super Mom. 

Speechless.

Stunned.

So blessed!

Just when we think that they don’t care and take us for granted…they go and do something beyond wonderful. 

Thank you my precious daughter, thank you for the greatest gift a mother could have…a daughter like you!

I have to go find the Kleenex again! Below are the words to both songs…If you’ve read this far…you have to read the words below!!

Blessings,

Christina ~

A Song for MaMA

By: Boyz II Men

You taught me everything
And everything you’ve given me
I always keep it inside
You’re the driving force in my life, yeah
There isn’t anything
Or anyone I can be
And it just wouldn’t feel right
If I didn’t have you by my side
You were there for me to love and care for me
When skies were grey
Whenever I was down
You were always there to comfort me
And no one else can be what you have been to me
You’ll always be you always will be the girl
In my life for all times

Chorus:
Mama, mama you know I love you
Oh you know I love you
Mama, mama you’re the queen of my heart
Your love is like
Tears from the stars
Mama, I just want you to know
Lovin you is like food to my soul
You’re always down for me
Have always been around for me even when I was bad
You showed me right from my wrong
Yes you did
And you took up for me
When everyone was downin me
You always did understand
You gave me strength to go on
There was so many times
Looking back when I was so afraid
And then you come to me
And say to me I can face anything
And no one else can do
What you have done for me
You’ll always be
You will always be the girl in my life
Chorus

I am Your Child

 By: Barry Manilow

 I am your child.

 Wherever you go, you take me, too.

 Whatever I know, I learn from you.

 Whatever I do, you taught me to do.

 I am your child.

 And I am your chance.

 Whatever will come, will come from me.

 Tomorrow is won, by winning me.

 Whatever I am, you taught me to be.

 I am your hope, I am your chance,

 I am your child

Here’s your Kleenex!!!!!  lol….

I have decided that I will join Lion Brands first knit-a-long!  They are using a pattern that I have admired for years.  I haven't ever actually tried anything so challenging as this...but that's a good thing!

If you knit and would like to try, the pattern is free so pick up those needles and join along!  Don't forget to grab a badge for your blog too!   :)

I was asked by my charming and oh-so-wonderful hubby what I would like to do for Mother's Day this year.  Is it sad that I really don't know? lol!  Maybe, this knit-a-long came at the perfect time!  Maybe I'll just spend the whole darn day knitting.  Talk about guilty pleasures!!! 

To all the mom's out there...Happy Mother's Day.  May you be treated like a princess and feel like a queen for at least one whole day of the year!!

Blessings,

Christina ~

I reflect back on the last week in awe.  I happened upon Cindy Rushton's site...again (More about that later)...a few weeks ago.  I saw an invitation to the Ultimate Homeschool Expo (UHSE).  I read about ALL the speakers who would be attending.  Many of whom I was familar with... Amy Pak, Teri Johson...etc.  I was excited to hear them.  I wasn't sure how it all would work, a virtual convention?

So, I bought a ticket.  I received my invitation to the member site which one has access to indefinetly.  I was amazed at all the good stuff already there.  TONS of preview chats before the expo even began.  A virtual vendor hall, a virtual mommy grab bag with TONS of goodies inside.  And more....much more.

I listened in on the workshops all last week ( I missed the first two days due to internet trouble).  I wasn't upset about the ones I'd missed because after they are edited and uploaded by Cindy...a daunting and overwhelming task I'm sure...I have access to them as often as I like!

I feel so blessed to have been able to attend this.  It was so awesome to not have to drive to a convention, worry about who would be with the kids, GAS money, or anything like that.  I was in my jammies for some of the sessions!  My kids were right here with me and to top it off...there was a session for dad's also!  No mommies allowed! :)  I think it was awesome, some husbands (like mine) want to be supportive and helpful...and some need to be reminded how huge of a task it is to be a wife, mom, homeschool teacher, and all the tasks of managing a household! 

There was an opportunity to ask questions to the speaker after their presentations.  There were door prizes.  There were new friends from all over the world.  There was a sense of belonging to the larger picture of the homeschool world.  There was the realization that we are not alone, as we sometimes feel (at least I do).

I feel like I had been running on empty...and now, I feel refreshed!!!  All that is left to say is if you were there drop me a comment!  And if you weren't...it's not too late!!!  You can still sign up for a ticket.  You will still get all the free goodies, and preview audios AND as the sessions are edited and uploaded to the member site you can still listen.  Right now it's still 40.00.  (The best 40.00 I've EVER spent in my life.)  July 1st the price will jump to 99.95 (or something close to that.) 

Just so you know, I don't get a dime for referring you.  I just feel that because we give so much it's necessary for us to take time for ourselves to fill up again, so we can continue to give.  Maybe we're not as faithful as we ought to be with our daily time with the Lord.  Or maybe we're just in the middle of a struggle, health, finances, kids, spouses.  What ever the circumstance, do something good for you today!

So what are waiting for?  This might be just the uplifting-joyful-rejuvenating-refreshing thing you need for you, your family, and your homechool!!

Blessings,

Christina ~

So I have totally been neglecting my blog!  I was doing so well with keeping up with things.  Ah well...such is life!

It's that time of year again, time to make the annual school order for next fall.  This year is wrought with slightly more apprehension though...as my oldest will be a freshman in high school.  Yep, 9th grade.  And with that I feel a LOT more responsibility!  Lord give me stregnth! :)  We will be delving into Sonlight's Core 100 - American History in Depth.  Fortunately, she is looking forward to studying American history as we haven't done a whole lot of that.

My youngest two, will be 6 (dd) & 8 (ds in May)by then so we will be moving on from Sonlight's Core K: Introducing World Cultures...to Sonlight's Core 1 - Introduction to World History.  What is interesting about Core 1 is that that is what I started homeschooling my oldest with lo those many years ago.  This fall I will have been homeschooling 8 years.  The time has flown by, didn't seem like it at the time, but looking back I realize how quickly it has gone.

I am keeping the two littles together for History/Bible/Science/Grammar.  We're doing First Language Lessons by Jessie Wise.  They love it!  It's very gentle and hey, if they enjoy it and are learning...well you get my point.  In math we're sticking with Math-U-See.  I did contemplate Singapore...but then changed my mind.  I already have most of the elementary supplies as that is what my eldest did until pre-algebra.  This year she will be using Teaching Textbooks.  I am hoping for success in math with this program!

So, now just the finalizations of the school order need to be made.  I am hopeful to finish that up this weekend so that I won't have to think about it anymore. With this order I am also going to order the Butterfly Pavilion from insectlore.com.  The kids are going to love this!  I found a free butterfly lapbook from homeschoolshare.com (awesome site!).  Hubby and I have made plans to plant some flowers that butterflies love in hopes that when we release them they will stick around!

We will be doing school through July.  Usually end at the end of May. Unfortunately, we are behind this year..but have plans to make it up!  I'll take August off so that I can have a sanity break, then hit it again in September.

I am hopeful to not neglect my blog so much...I got really frustated with it when I was tagged and decided to go tag some people I knew and some I didn't...I had the whole thing typed out with links and everything and then something happened and I lost it all.  So...I walked away for awhile.

I will post some pictures soon, have some great ones of the kids doing their science experiments and just being cute!

Hope you have a blessed day!

Christina ~

People change.  I'm not who I was 10 years ago.  Probably not who I was 5 years ago.  I think it's the same with everyone.  Having just had my birthday and refusing to think of "age" as a defining factor in my life, however realizing that I am the mother of a 14 year old (and an almost 6 and 8 year old!) now...well it's been more difficult than in years past to not think of myself as "getting old." 

Before and just after my oldest was born my husband and I knew how to have fun.  It was simple, just shirk responsibility as much as you can and do pretty much whatever you wanted (within reason). 

As the years past we got more responsible.  Then we had two more children and got really really responsible.  With the added students into our little homschool, the workload tripled.  Now along with maintaining the house and chores that go with that comes the added work of planning, teaching, and all that goes with homeschooling three kids. 

My journey into chronic pelvic pain started just shortly after my youngest was born.  I've told the story, just realizing that she will be 6 next week reminds me of the years that I've spent dealing with this.  Having had a hysterectomy last summer was supposed to make the pain go away.  It didn't.  However, always trying to find the positive in things I can honestly say I don't miss my period.  It had gotten so bad I couldn't leave the house for 7-10 days a month.  Of course I also miss what having a period means....the ability to have more children.  But that's not what this particular post is about. 

It's about life with many responsibilities and with pain.  I had one of those "epiphany" moments recently.  I'm not much fun anymore.

Seriously, I was letting responsibility rule my life.  I've seen this happen in other people.  As they get older they forget how to have fun and are just all about the work.  Well...I happen to know that my kids will continue to grow too fast and in the blink of an eye be out on their own with their own families.  And where will I be?

I need to find the balance between the fun me and the responsible me.  For my birthday the kids went to their grandma's and hubby and I had had a blissful two days.  It was so fun.  I was fun!  There is no reason why it only has to be when the kids are away.  It can happen while their here.  It's just a mindset in "me."  Not them.  I need to balance all the work with some fun, so I don't forget how.

Having the pain being dealt with by a doctor who cares about the quality of my life more than any other doctor I've had helps a LOT!  I can begin to see that while the Lord has allowed this pain...it doesn't have to be the end of me.  I KNOW He doesn't want it to be the end of me!  It doesn't mean that I have to spend all my energy doing all the time to prove that I can take care of things so my husband won't feel like he has to!  Or to prove to the world that I can still be a good homeschool mom and wife/homemaker regardless of how I feel.

The point you may be asking?  Is this....I face duality...the homeschool teacher/mom/housewife/disciplinarian/mentor/etc.... vs Christina. I don't have to get lost in the other jobs I have.  I guess I just get too focused on one thing and so...I'm working on that!!!  It's my goal to find the balance!!

On to this week re: school.  It should be a fun week!  We are going to grow some beans for my littles to watch, name, draw, diagram, and ooh and ahh over.  And all of us will be making Valentines to send all over this country and a few others for our Sonlight Valentine Swap.  The kids are really really looking forward to that!!  I figure we'll do a few each day so they can all (around 50-60) be mailed around Feb. 8th to reach their destinations in time!  Also, there are about 30ish kids in our local homeschool group to make also!  We have a little more time for those though.

I hope that this week finds you happy and healthy and that blessings surround you!  I'll try to write again soon....been too neglecting to my poor blog. :)

Christina ~

So, I've been seriously neglecting my blog!  I intended to pass out the Super Blog award and haven't yet....and it's been too long since my last post.

Our Christmas was great, and the New Year has started off well also!  I called this entry The January Girls, because my eldest daughter, myself, and my youngest all have birthdays in January.  It makes for one busy season!  First there's Thanksgiving, then Christmas then three birthdays one after the other.  It puts a serious kink in our homeschool schedule!  This year we took off December, I'm thinking next year we'll start our month off in mid-Dec and go through mid-Jan.  That would be nice!  Though for now I just have the guilt that we haven't gotten back on track yet!

Exciting news....I won this week's drawing for the Heart of Wisdom give-away.  I was very excited!!!  They have some awesome products you should check them out if you haven't yet.

Hopefully with the retun to homeschooling this year will also come the return of a routine which will include more entries in my blog!

This is a short entry as I have much to do to get ready for our return to school.  I just wanted to let everyone know that I was still here...just busy.  I plan to visit other blogs and catch up with everyone else also!

Till then,

Blessings,

Christina ~

So...I have been away, busy and not posting.  Then my daughter (jujugirl13) tells me she won an award (not the one I gave her).  I know how uplifting that can be and was so happy for her.  Then....she tells me that she wanted to give it to me also.  So sweet!  Then I read her comment on my last post.  I'm not sure if she knows exactly how sweet and wonderful those few words were to me!  I am honored and blessed to have such a wonderful daughter!!!

The Blogger Hero Award!

I don't have a lot of time at the moment to share this with others...but rest assured that I will later today! 

And....other good news from The Heart of Wisdom Blog

A Free Book Random Drawing will be held every Monday through the months of December and January starting December 10.

Each week, THREE Heart of Wisdom subscribers will be randomly selected to receive one FREE Homeschool Book from Homeschool-Books.com. We will offer a new title each week. 1st place will receive the tree book 2nd and 3rd place will receive the Ebooks.

So I added their link on my sidebar and encourage you to sign up for this.  I love her approach to homeschooling and putting the Lord first and foremost in our homeschools.  Well...you can also get a sample of her Heart of Wisdom book for free....so there's no reason not to check it out.  You'll love it!

I hope your day is full of blessings!

Christina ~

I have been blessed to recieve this award!  I want to share it with my first HSBlogger friends!  I hope that it brings a smile to your face and some joy in your heart to feel appreciated and thought of, as I did!

Thanks for visiting my blog and for being my frist blogger friends!

jujugirl13

dawnee

beckysbabies

ThriceBlessed

Blessings,

Christina ~

This year, Thanksgiving was a quite one.  I am thankful for that!  Usually there is a lot of stress and places to be and people to see...but this year we were granted a reprieve from all that hustle and bustle.  I made all the fixings we like and a ham instead of a turkey!!  It was wonderful!  I wish my mom could have joined us...and that I could have given my grandma a big-ole-hug.  This is her first year through the holidays without her husband of 65 years.  Just thinking about that makes me so sad. However, the rest of the day was really great.

In honor of my mother-in-law...the newest tradition to hit our family is the 'Blessing Box.'  One writes down and/or keeps the blessings (maybe a card recieved, something special that happened that was written down, a note of encouragement, or a picture...etc.) in a box and on Thanksgiving takes them out and reads through them, sharing the blessings with everyone.  I love this!  I think that I will make a 'blessing blog' category so that I can track some of my blessings here on my blog.  Feel free to adapt, add to, or change completely any of these ideas for your family.  I love to promote family and thankfulness more than just on one day a year!  Another perk to having a blessing box is that when one is feeling down or discouraged (especially us homeschooling moms) it is wonderful to go through the blessing box and read about the good times we've had that we might have otherwise forgotten about!  Good fuel to continue on...

I think that I'll have the kids start their own Blessing Boxes this year!

One of my favorite days of the year.  Jamma Day.  It's orgins have been lost in time....but somewhere along the way of our marriage hubby and I decided that the day after Thanksgiving would be "Jamma Day."  A day where productivity is frowned upon.  A day with no cooking (why cook when we have yummy Thanksgiving food leftover?), cleaning, schooling....anything productive.

Instead the day is spent hanging out in our jammas with the kids, watching movies, playing games, video games, reading, knitting (this year teaching my youngest daughter (5.5) to crochet).  The kids LOVE this day...so do we...so much so that we usually take the next day (Saturday) also!

I love this day!  I highly recommend it to everyone, though most people like to shop on this day...and if that's what you want then great...if not consider Jamma Day...it's quite rejuvenating!!

Blessings,

Christina ~

What is a blog?  Well okay, I don't have to answer that because I think everyone who knows about computers knows about blogs.  The question I ask is...what is my blog?  Some are personal...Some are about hobbies...some are helpful and give advice...some are just random thoughts shared with the infinite universe of the world wide web...and some...are just too random to be categorized.

The question I ask myself is...what is the purpose of my blog?  I have read a lot of things about 'how to blog.'  How one should map it out and know it's purpose before one begins.  I didn't really do that.  I just figured that I'd use this as a way to share in the journey of a unique family homeschooling and practicing family values that are quickly becoming obsolete.

Now I feel like it's out there wobbling like a baby learning to walk.  Maybe I'm putting way too much thought into this...but as I looked over my blog I realized that the reflection of me that I see in it is as vague as I am feeling lately.  Maybe that's normal?

I guess another question is where to have the blog?  In a homeschool community seemed the logical place as I homeschool.  And I don't have to worry about a lot of the ick that other sites have.  Although, I have to say that I have spent WAY too much time figuring out html so as to tweak the appearance of my blog.  It's very rewarding...but the path to the reward was wrought with irritation and frustration.  Take for example, how to add a friend who's blog is on a different site?  I don't want it under links...another thing to figure out!

I am not an overly social person, never have been.  Thank God, that has NOT spilled over into my kids.  So, why do I feel the need to have my "blog" out there when I'm not "out there?"  That's a good question.  Maybe I'm just not the 'typical' blogger, if such a thing exsists.  I know they are as differing as the people who created them.  Maybe I just need to stop psycho-analyzing myself and my blog and just write when I can.  Maybe in time it will morph into whatever it will be....

That's an interesting notion....for now though I need to get the day going and if all goes well I just might be able to finish knitting the corsset-T I am making my eldest daughter.  I'll post pictures when I'm done.  Along with the o-so-cool gloves I made her.

If anyone as any advice as to how to truly 'make your blog reflect you'...well I'd love to hear it!

Blessings ~

Christina ~

>^..^<

The love of a dog....who ever said they were "mans" best friend?  Reasons I love my dog?

1.  He always wants to be close to me, but not too close.

2.  He doesn't judge me.

3.  He always listens when I talk to him.  (Unless he's chasing/barking at another dog )

4.  He always wants "snuggle time."

5.  He's perfectly content to always be "my baby."

6.  He's always there for me.

7.  His motto in life?  "Where ever you go...that's where I want to be!!"

My best friend....Dante

Blessings ~

Christina ~

>^..^<

Some days I really feel like this.  Just do the next thing.  There doesn't seem to be joy to be found anywhere.  Just do the next thing.  I think it must be the balance to the other days where there is SO much joy I feel I'll explode!

Today has been a tough day.  This is the first year that we are really able to stay on track with school.  Okay, so the holidays haven't hit yet!  Years past have held many interruptions to school...health issues for me, and before that was the births of my last two babies (2000 and 2002).  This year, I thought, would be better.  If anything we should be able to be more consistant with school!  And we have been.  Just that the days like today...just do the next thing....make me feel like I'm walking through mud...uphill!

I have my blessings that I try to continually focus on.  The ones that really bring me inner joy.

Last Sunday night we went to see Chonda Pierce.  She is too funny!  One thing I realized though is that a LOT of people struggle.  Even those you wouldn't normally think do...do.  Fact is everyone does at one time or another.  The one thing that keeps me going, aside from the Lord's grace, is my family.  If it weren't for them I could see me slipping to a dark place.  But they "need" me.  They need their mom.  One thing that Chonda mentioned was in her struggles a friend asked her "have you embraced your pain?"  Embraced.  That word really struck me.

I was angry when I realized that even after the hysterectomy I still had  pain.  I was down right livid!  Then I moved over to acceptance.  I guess that's where I am right now.  Could I ever "embrace" this?  I don't know.  It seems unfathomable at this moment.  I know that God has a purpose in everything, even in this pain.  I sure wish He would share with me what that purpose is!!

For now, I just try to think positive. To have a positive attitude.  It does make a difference to continually try to find the positives, even in situations that don't seem to have any...but if I look hard enough they are there.  So each day I pray for the strength to make it through one more day and God is good....He gives me that strength, and lo and behold I make it through one more day!

I told myself that I wouldn't post negative thoughts here on my blog.  That I would share the journey of a Life Ex-Ordinary!  Truth is, bad times and pain....well they highlight the good times and joy.  Without the bad how would we see the good shine so bright?

I pray that today finds you happy and full of joy.  If it doesn't...then look harder for the positives...they are there waiting to be found!

Blessings ~

Christina ~

>^..^<

It's late for me, should be going to bed as I have to get up way earlier than I care to think about at the moment.  Spent the evening planning what to take on our road trip to Portland, OR (about 4 hours one way).  Going down there to visit family and help my mom move.  The kids ALWAYS love a road trip so there is a positive in that!

Two really great thing happened today that MUST be mentioned.  First, as Jack (7) and Emma (5) and I were reading in our Usborne history book via Sonlight...Jack really made a connection to our reading.  It was a very awesome thing to see the light bulb go off!  He told me that he wanted to be an astronaut like Neil Armstrong and walk on the moon too!  So cool!  Then a little later we were reading The Apple and the Arrow (which I previously thought would bore them to death) and I was having fun with lots of dramatic voices and inflections and such....he was so into it he didn't want me to stop!  Very very cool moment!!

Second awesome thing?   Well my eldest dd (13) loves to learn, but usually not by reading.  It took me a LONG time to realize that loving to read does not = loving to learn.  Learning can be done in oodles of ways!  SO....here's the cool thing...she's reading The King's Fifth via Sonlight Core 7 (Intro. to World History Part 2) and decided she'd read ahead so she wouldn't have to tomorrow.  A little later I saw her still reading!  I asked her "Are you finished?"  She repled....wait for it....."Yeah, but I got really into it and don't want to stop!."  I almost fainted.

You see I LOVE to read.  Don't have a lot of time to do that right now.  But I work it in when I can.  I am endevoring to read Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife (sequel to the much loved Pride and Prejudice) and love it...just no time. 

But I digress, the point of today's post is the DELIGHT I experienced today with my kids.  Oh we had drama and fussing and all that not-so-fun stuff...but these things...these are what I want to remember.

Yes...this was a good day! 

Blessings~

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I really loathe money.  Aren’t you proud of me for not saying the word “hate?”  I always discourage the kids from using that word, so I am working on it also.

I really loath money.  I loathe that in today’s day one has to be up to their eyeballs in debt, or have a two-income family to have money for extras.  Let me say right here and now that the Lord has ALWAYS provided EVERY NEED we have ever had.  Sometime I’ll tell you the story about how my husband was unemployed for over a year, yes a whole YEAR!  And not one of our bills was even late.  That’s how good our God is!

I have been invited to “maybe” go to Africa a year from now.  I am excited and scared beyond belief!  I think a trip there would certainly open my eyes to the reality that faces these people every day and here I am complaining about “extras!”  Yes, it would be good to focus on the blessings I have instead of material things that I don’t have.    I will choose to focus on my blessings!  You know, the things money CAN’T buy.

I think this comes from the occasional sin “envy” that creeps into my life from time to time…where it seems that everyone I know is able to do the things I so wish to.  Nothing extravagant mind you…I don’t want diamonds or jewelry.  I don’t want a new car (well, that’d be nice but not high on the list).  What do I want you ask?  Well…I would want a very big house, it doesn’t have to have fancy things in it or marble counter tops or anything like that.  Just big!  Sort of Like they used to build houses a hundred years ago, with 14 ft. ceilings, and spiral staircases, with a separate room for dining and a very large kitchen.  It has always been a dream to have my husband and his father to build us a house using plans from a hundred-year-old house.  Sadly, his father has had some health issues that prevent that, so I changed my dream to my husband and son building it.  I guess I have some time because my son is only 7!

I think from time to time that it would be a good idea to get a part-time job.  Something I can do in the evenings…I used to do medical transcription.  I did try that once.  Only then I was homeschooling a 3^rd grader and had two wee-ones at home.  You know what happened?  By November, my 3^rd grader ended up in public school for the rest of the year.  Now some good things did come from that.  1) She asked to come back and be homeschooled.  2) I realized that homeschooling three kids IS a full time job.  Now I don’t get paid in dollars.  But the rewards are far more reaching than any dollar could go.

My rewards are that I know my children are safe.  I KNOW that they aren’t learning things that I wouldn’t want them to (swearing, dressing trendy (in inappropriate ways), pier pressure for sex or drugs). And I am able to nurture them to grow in the Lord.  To be so strong in their faith that they KNOW He is the only way!  That they know WHY they believe what they believe.  That their faith would be unshakable!   Also, that my 13 yo daughter actually has a relationship with her six years’ younger siblings.

When I look at things that way, suddenly that “extra money” doesn’t seem quite so important.  I say all this to encourage some out there who might be struggling with the same issues, the Lord will provide it for us!  Sadly I have seen this again and again and still I sometimes forget.  So friend, don’t forget.  Know that He is good all the time and will provide every need for your family also!  The truth is this:  If it is truly important then the Lord will provide it!

Christina ~

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It’s Saturday. Usually I really like Saturday’s…but today isn’t going so well. It seems as though the kids really have it out for each other today. So, in an effort to customize my blog and get some homeschool planning done, well…it’s been challenging to say the least!

Today’s goal you ask? Well, try to recover from this stupid muscle spasm in my side and figure out Homeschool Tracker. It’s a great program used to keep track of what the kids are doing every day and for high school (next year for my oldest dd) be able to make a fairly descent transcript. Though we use it ‘after the fact’ instead of figuring out due dates and all that. It’s been easier to to just input in what we’ve already done. So…with that in mind I still have to figure it out. I thought I’d have this year to become proficient at it before it becomes truly important!

We have almost finished the Story of The World: Volume 2 Middle Ages and are off to SOTW Volumes 3&4 in one year via Sonlight. I really think it’s going to be a great year! I left Sonlight for a while and have discovered through trial and error that it really is “home” for us! So, this next week we will begin Core 7 ~ Intro to World History Part 2. Will also be using Apologia’s General Science and Rod & Staff for formal grammar. Rosetta Stone for Spanish and even learning some poetry this year!

The littles ( 7yo ds and 5 yo dd) are using Core K/C Intro to World Cultures and are really enjoying it! Youngest dd is really becoming quite the proficient reader! She is so excited about it….looks like she might pick up her mom’s love of reading….hope one of them will!

Off to do something productive….
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You Are Bert

Extremely serious and a little eccentric, people find you loveable - even if you don't love them! You are usually feeling: Logical - you rarely let your emotions rule you You are famous for: Being smart, a total neat freak, and maybe just a little evil How you life your life: With passion, even if your odd passions (like bottle caps and pigeons) are baffling to others

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Take the quiz and see who you are!  Never thought I'd be "Bert!"  Too funny.

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In answer to the title of this post....sometimes.  Why is it that I have the tools and knowledge how to get through a "test of the boundaries" from my kids....but then forget it when in the trenches?  Interesting.  I've been giving this a lot of thought because when I remember these tools....things go so much better!

My ds (7) loves to constantly push the boundaries...test them.  More like an out and out assault on them.  My dd (5) does it too but not to the extent of my ds.  All three of my kids are "strong-willed children".  Which I think is a good thing....for later in life.  Not so good right now.

Admittedly, things are improving due to the magical word "consistency"!  Routine, and consistency are the keys to a smooth day around here.  I love love love the days when things so smoothly and the kids obey and do their best (which is all I ever ask for from them).  It's just like instant joy fills me up.  Then there are some days that it doesn't go so well....and it's not joy that's filling me up!

I guess homeschooling is like a marriage.  There is a lot of work, prayer, communication, prayer, diligence, prayer, consistency, prayer commitment and prayer!

The main thing is that we have the time to work on this.  We have all the time we need!  That's the wonderful part!  To me character training is one of the most important things we can teach...but more on that later!

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Here I am posting again in the same month! Hey maybe I'm on a roll.  I have been working diligently on the background 'theme' for me. I kinda like this one, but now that I know a "little" bit about html and the code....might become addictive! 

The littles didn't do much school today, they are fighing a sickie bug, my oldest did do school....grumbly but done!  I feel the sickies coming on too!  Prayerfully, we'll all make it through this and get back to our rountine!

The family and I recently went to the pumpkin patch here locally and had a blast.  I think my fav thing this year was the hay-bale pyramid.  That was cool!  They got to go through a hay-bale maze, a petting zoo, a hay-bale pyramid, a corn maze, and got juice and a cookie at the end.  We also had a nice picnic lunch after.  Lot's of fun!

Here are some pic's of our adventure....

Jack and Emma

Jordan and Jack with Emma trailing....

 The maze....

Daddy, Jack, and Emma at the corn maze.