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Questions to ponder:
Why can I seem to grow all other herbs but Basil? I can't even get it to flourish INSIDE!
Is living and at a high altitude and in a dry climate worth it enough to see myself aging before my very eyes? HA!
Why does horse manure not stink like other animals manure does?
Why do my sons like the movie, Dumb and Dumber?
How can I like classical music AND country music at the same time?
Why do I like rainy days and being snowed in?
Why is my short term memory getting worse and my long term memory getting better?
Why do I like to stay home and not run around so much more than I used to? (could it be because I live in paradise?)
How do I love my horse and hate him all at the same time?
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I'm starting to get really excited about the upcoming Creative Living and Learning Online Conference. This conference was born out of the desire to help and encourage mothers during this time of year when they often get introspective and discouraged in their duties at home and homeschooling. SO, we have gathered together some incredible speakers and chosen to focus on creative living and learning as our subject.
Look at some of our speakers: Diana Waring, Sally Clarkson, Zan Tyler, Amy Pak, Leslie Valeska, Jill Novak, and several others.
I hope that you will join us at this online conference. You don't have to leave home AND you don't have to listen in live, you can join us when YOUR schedule permits you too and listen to the rest of the workshops at a time that is convenient for you after the workshops are archived.
To find out more information, please be sure to visit: www.creativelivingandlearning.com
Faith and Courage, Lori
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I LOVE English for the Thoughtful Child. I have to admit that I had my doubts about whether anything that easy would really work. I have been a bit eclectic in my homeschooling over the years, but if you were going to try and pigeonhole me, it would be in a combination of Charlotte Mason, Classical (time period study) and Unit Study. I'm on my "last" son and we are doing English for the Thoughtful Child. I don't know why I doubted it would work because I've seen narration, dictation, copywork and lots of reading work with my other boys in the areas of spelling, grammar and writing. However, for whatever reason, I still worried.
My son just came up and showed me what he was doing with todays work in English for the Thoughtful Child and I found him explaining a few things to ME and I found him catching his own spelling and grammar errors without me telling him. SO much progress has been made and yet he spends about 10-15 minutes on it a day. That's it!
Shame on me for doubting! Maybe one of these days I will actually learn! |
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Alot has been said, written and discussed regarding the idea of spiritual mentorship. One thing that I read in Titus 2 is that the "older women" are teaching the "younger women". I KNOW there is a desperate shortage of older women willing to mentor younger women. However, I think there is wisdom in Scripture and I think there is a reason that it talks about someone older mentoring someone younger.
Along those lines, I want to turn the tables a bit and ask YOU a question. How do you describe mentorship and a Titus 2 relationship as it pertains to our relationships with each other and our relationships with mentors or as being mentors and older women. Is it an accountability relationship? Is it a counselor relationship? Is it a teaching relationship? How does it look? Have you experienced it and has it been successful? I would love to hear your thoughts.
Lori |
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If you aren't familiar with Diana Waring and her approach to History, you are
really missing out. Not only are her resources time period oriented, but they also have a
distinct emphasis on the arts. In addition, Diana is the author of the history series,
Diana Waring Presents as well as the author of Beyond Survival.
THIS THURSDAY, November 20th at 3 p.m. EST, I will be airing a live interview
with Diana on our Artios blogtalk radio program entitled: Arts At Home. I know that this
interview will be encouraging and uplifting as well as informative as we discuss not only
a time period approach to history and the arts, but also discussing different learning
styles and obstacles. You can tune into the program live and be able to participate in a
Q&A at the end of the session or you can also listen to an archived copy of the broadcast.
Either way, just get on your computer and go to www.blogtalkradio.com/theendinmind We will be having a contest during the live session and the winner will be given a set of
Diana's CD's entitled: That's Why They Call It Grace: 20 Centuries of Church History.
However, this contest will only be for those who are listening in live via their computer.
I hope that you will be able to join us. If you have any questions, please
don't hesitate to contact me directly at: llane@artiosacademies.com
Please feel free to pass this on to all your homeschool buddies.
Faith and Courage,
Lori L. Lane
Executive Director
Artios Academies
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Tomorrow, Thursday, July 3rd, we will be hosting an interview with Rea Berg, the author and founder of Beautiful Feet Books which provides homeschoolers with guides to studying history and geography through literature. The syllabi provided by Beautiful Feet have always been among my homeschool favorites. You don't want to miss this opportunity to hear from Rea Berg as much of what she will discuss and offer us is applicable to all of our involvement not only in homeschooling but in integrating the arts within our homeschool curriculum. You can tune in live by going to www.blogtalkradio.com/theendinmind at 3 p.m. EST tomorrow or you can listen to an archived copy of the broadcast at your convenience by visiting the same website and then clicking on the broadcast for July 3rd. Hope you can all be there! Lori Lane |
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It should read Lions, and Tigers, and Bears OH MY!....but it doesn't. Instead my life includes, chickens, gardens and horses. But, I've got problems....at least "challenges" so, I thought I would put my "issues" into writing and ask for some advice! Problem #1 - NOTHING is coming up in the garden! It's been two weeks..and I've consistently watered...and nothing but GARLIC that was planted last fall has come up. This didn't happen last year....so hat did I do wrong. Problem #2 - My chickens are refusing to lay their eggs in the nesting boxes...and instead are finding the craziest places all over the barn and in boxes to lay their eggs...oh...and also below the roost...which makes finding the eggs in a timely manner......almost impossible. HELP! Problem #3 - My chickens keep digging little spots in the dirt (like little indentions in the dirt) where they can sit and keep cool I guess. The problem is, they will even climb into my pots...WITH PLANTS IN THE POTS...and scratch out dirt and my plants in order to find a place to make their little "spot". Problem #4 - We got a new horse...CHEROKEE...and we have had him two weeks. He is wonderful...but SNERT is bullying him...and it is not calming down AT ALL. Problem #5 - It is still dipping below freezing at night occassionally and that has cost me some flower plants.......ones that were SUPPOSED to be fine at even 40 below......so I don't get it. Problem #6 - My barn cats keep making unseemly "deliveries" of their catches to my front door...and of course, eventually leave me the most "choice" parts of their catch to discover as I walk out the door. GROSS! Problem #6 - The "squishies" are making holes all over the pasture...which makes riding IN the pasture.....an adventure and I'm scared to death one of the horses is going to get hurt stepping into one of those holes. Problem #7 - My barn cats, one especially, Ranger, will not stay away from the birds....and we LOVE birds. Trivial issues...YES...I agree.....but hey, they ARE irritating! HA! Lori
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Although I have a personal website, BUT, I do plan on continuing to update homeschool blogger as often as possible. I had previously thought I couldn't keep up with both...but hey, I think I figured it out....so I'm not disappearing from the homeschoolblogger. Plus,I get great comments from this group and love surfing other blogs here. So, let's keep in touch! Lori |
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This morning I had the privilege of interviewing Lesley Howe on our blogtalk Radio program: Artistic Pursuits. Lesley is the founder of The Impact Players and the mastermind and creative force behind The Impact Project. She and her husband Ben have also started a production company, Elsie Productions, and produced their first production this past year. Lesley is a writer, teacher, actress and barista and you simply must learn more about her, her background in theater, her goals, aspirations and vision for making a difference in the arts industry. She has been a teacher at Master’s and Artios Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts since 2003 and currently is the head of theater department after having taken a year’s sabbatical during the 2007-2008 school year. Please be sure to download this interview by visiting www.blogtalkradio.com/theendinmind and download the Artistic Pursuits broadcast for today, June 9th and be sure and check out this weekend’s production of The Impact Players. For more information, please visit www.theimpactplayers.org Faith and Courage, Lori Lane |
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The May/June Edition of our newsletter, The End In Mind, is now available on our website for you to read and enjoy. This month's issue features the following articles: What's New at The End In Mind Special Limited Time Sale Offer on the book: Beginning With The End In Mind and free mp3 download Upcoming Events Savor The Moment, Cherish the Child Elijah and The End In Mind Artistically Speaking News from Artios Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts Cordis Academy News On a Personal Note There is a lot to cover and share with you….so let’s get started! Go now to: www.theendinmind.net and click on the link for the May/June edition for The End In Mind Newsletter. See you there! Lori P.S. If you've been waiting to get a audio copy of our recent workshop, Beginning With The End In Mind, you don't want to miss out on the special offer listed in the newsletter. |
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It is a GORGEOUS morning and a quiet one too! John is down in Denver attending the Republican State Convention as a delegate; Jordan just left to go to the conference: Do Hard Things done by two of the Harris boys, and Jared is at a birthday sleepover and going bowling today with Cub Scouts. THIS HARDLY EVER HAPPENS! I'm home alone and in a house the size of ours..... It's been a great week. I'm adjusting to "summer" quite quickly. Yesterday I spent most of the day outside working in the garden and planting all the flowers that I bought when I was down in Denver on Thursday for traffic court. (remember?...I did the ArtsatHome broadcast on location at Starbucks?) It did my heart good to have my hands in the dirt again and working with beautiful colors. I've been working hard on this rustic wildflower garden that John fenced for me last year. It's coming together nicely and I'm looking forward to sitting out there with my morning coffee very soon. However, I think I'll wait just a bit longer as earlier this week during my morning coffee time, we had a bear visit our house and make himself at home on our front deck.....even going so far as to stand on his hind legs and look through the door window. Can you believe it?! We've got the pictures to prove it...but I STILL can't figure out how to put them up on the site. Hopefully, someone can help me with my technical challenges soon! The morning I drove to Denver, in the first TWENTY minutes of my drive, I saw about 9 deer, 1 bear, a herd of elk and a herd of antelope. Have I told you lately how much I LOVE living here? I do have to admit that the coyote issue is driving me a bit crazy! As I started Tuesday's broadcast of Beginning With The End In Mind, I was sitting at my writing table in front of the side window in the living room and when I looked up there was a coyote RIGHT BY the tree just a few feet from the house. He was just walking by and my chickens were just calming watching him pass them. It was really weird! My thoughts this morning are still centering on change! I'm facing alot of changes right now. I think I've alluded to them in previous blogs. I'm facing some huge changes within my work; I'm continuing to face changes as I continue to adapt to how and where we have chosen to live; I'm facing changes (not all bad) in friendships; I'm facing changes in seasons....and the list goes on, just like yours does I'm sure. We talk alot about God being unchanging...... and I know that to be true....and yet, HE does send US changes. These changes are situations or people that we can struggle against.....or work with! In other words, God uses change to refine us to be more like himself. God uses change to accomplish his plan in our lives. God uses change to get us out of our comfort zone and encourage us to grow in areas in which we need to grow. I find that I'm miserable and frustrated when I struggle against the change. Why do I do that? Why do I try to control things that are beyond my control? I certainly am aware that I do NOT like the unknown. It's not that I don't like adventure or even risk....I just like to take CALCULATED and planned risks. My "trust factor" needs to be stronger and I need to trust that GOD is control and that HE knows the unknown. I need to rest in his unchanging character during the CHANGES that I have to face. SO, I guess you could say that this week, I did better in resting....and not struggling and chafing against the changes that I'm facing. I tried to be more flexible and definitely tried to trust more. What is that saying? "Blessed are the flexible....for they shall bend, but not break." I'm so thankful that God keeps me in the palm of His hand and that "HE that hath begun a good work...will complete it." So, I'm going to choose to enjoy this "beautiful morning." Who knows...I may even break into that great song from the musical "Oklahoma" and start singing....."Oh What A Beautiful Morning." This is the day that the Lord hath made...I will rejoice and be glad in it. Faith and Courage, Lori |
.....this is a real treat! |
The ArtsatHome blogtalk radio segment with Cindy Pitts airs live on Thursday, May 29th at 3 p.m. EST. Cindy is the director of Artios Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts in Atlanta, GA. and is a long time homeschool mom. She has been teaching the arts to her children in an integrated and historically sequential format long before ever hearing about an organization doing the same thing. She will be sharing with us ideas on how to do the same thing within our own homeschools. Be sure to join us live by clicking on www.blogtalkradio.com/theendinmindat 3 p.m. EST Thursday or you can listen to an archived copy of the broadcast at any time by clicking on the same link and then selecting the May 29th broadcast with Cindy. Hope to see you "there". Faith and Courage, Lori |
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Just wanted you to know that my special guest this week will be Sally Clarkson. Sally and I will be discussing the philosophy and principles that she and Clay have written about in their book, “Educating The Wholehearted Child” and in the new updated “Seasons of A Mother’s Heart.” You don’t want to miss this BlogTalk Radio broadcast of Beginning With The End In Mind so be sure to join us live on Tuesday, May 27th at 3 p.m. EST by visiting my website www.theendinmind.net and clicking on the sidebar link for BlogTalk Radio OR you can go directly to www.blogtalkradio.com/theendinmind and just click on the date of the broadcast. If you are unable to join us live, you can still hear the broadcast by following the same directions and then clicking on the archived program of your choice. Then…on Thursday of this week at 3 p.m. EST….I have another very special guest joining me on the ArtsatHome broadcast. She will be sharing her tips on using time period and arts related activities in her approach to homeschooling, LONG before she ever knew about other historical arts related programs. Obviously, I’m not TELLING you who this is yet….it’s a surprise (but her name is Cindy Pitts and she is approaching 50!!!!) …..so, this is another “don’t miss” broadcast. Same directions for listening apply! J Have a great week! Lori |
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1. Don't miss the 4th segment of our blogtalk radio show. This show will be featuring homeschooling veteran, Zan Tyler. Zan is a nationally known speaker and spokesperson for homeschooling and lives in South Carolina. Zan fought a hard fight to make homeschooling legal in her state and nationwide. She is actively involved in www.parentalrights.org Zan is the author of the book, 7 Tools for Cultivating Your Child's Potential. Please be sure to join us live at 3 p.m. EST for this segment as we may be offering a live Q&A portion of this broadcast. You can join us live or listen to any of our archived segments by visiting www.blogtalkradio.com/theendinmind 2. Some of you have been asking how you can purchase my book, "Beginning With The End In Mind". If you will look at the top of this page, you will see a link entitled "The Book". If you will click on that link you will see a book summary and a picture of the book cover as well as a recommendation. You can order the book through this website as well. 3. I have uploaded several great articles to my personal website, www.theendinmind.net that I obtained permission to copy onto this site. Please take the opportunity to read these articles and to gain bits of wisdom and knowledge from these great individuals. |
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One time, John and I won a trip to some resort in Arizona. While there, we had the opportunity to participate in a leadership activity...otherwise known as some sort of ropes course. When I found out that part of that "opportunity" included climbing to the top of a pole....and while strapped to some type of safety cord......I would be asked to jump out and off the pole in order to latch onto another rope and swing to another source of firm footing....... As you might imagine, when I realized what I was going to be asked to do, I conveniently found something else to fill my day and my time. John, however, went with the group and participated. He came back totally pumped and exhilarated and almost made me feel like I'd missed something. Almost! Today I found myself thinking back to that missed opportunity and wondering once again what it would have felt like if I had pushed myself beyond my comfort zone...if I had trusted the instructors....if I hadn't been afraid of falling.....if I hadn't been afraid of letting go of one thing in order to gain another. What would it have felt like to "free fall"? Do you think God sometimes asks us to experience the feeling of "free falling"? Does He ask us to jump off and out on sheer faith that we will somehow make it to the other side safely? Do you think He expects us to jump even when we can't feel his presence right beside us ready to catch us? Every once in a while, I get the feeling I'm supposed to leap out....and yet, when I glance down, I see my knuckles white with terror and anxiety, trying to keep myself from falling much less jumping. I see my hands and arms wrapped tightly around what I DO know and not being willing to experience the UNKNOWN. Funny...I've always thought of myself as an adventurous sort of girl. One that is willing to take risks.....but I guess that is true only to a certain extent. Sometimes fear seems to grip my heart.....fear of the unknown takes over and keeps me from experiencing all that God has for me. Oh ME of little faith! Yet, it is so much more comfortable and even COMFORTING to stay with what I know I can count on and the things I've grown to expect. However, I find myself once again feeling like I'm being asked to jump. To let go...and Jump! To free fall with no expectations of the future but a trust in the one who holds the future. Wow...that takes courage......!!!!! Anyone out there feeling the same way? Faith AND Courage, |
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Education Improving....NOT! It was a beautiful day today. Although it wasn't very warm, at least it wasn't snowing and the snow on the ground continued to melt so we used the day to work around the property and around the barn cleaning out all the winter "junk" that seems to accumulate when it is too cold to stay outside for long. This warmer weather also means that I was inside alone for awhile...which rarely happens...... After rearranging and cleaning the family room, I sat down to work on my 15 year olds transcripts and portfolio for the year. Once again I was amazed by the non-standardized.....standardized requirements. For example, Georgia has just "upped" their credit requirements for their HS students again....now requiring 4 maths, 4 sciences and 3 foreign language I believe. However, they continue to be one of the lowest ranking states, ranking 48th in SAT scores. In Colorado, they have just "upped" their requirements to just three maths, three sciences and just now 2 foreign language I THINK, and yet, they currently rank 17 in SAT scores. However, Jordan's portfolio will be reviewed in Maine and the requirements for a HS diploma from that state are completely different yet again. Of course, since we live in Colorado, I will be sure that my 15 year old completes all requirements for this state as well as any college that he is interested in attending....but, I'm trying to make a point. The point being.....requirements for a HS diploma vary from state to state and in some cases, from school district to school district within that state. From looking at the way the standardized test scores vary from state to state, it looks like the requirements for a HS diploma have very little to do with how well the students do on their standardized testing. In my humble opinion, these facts make a great supporting argument for individualizing the approach to a child's education to meet HIS specific needs rather than teaching to the masses or the lowest OR highest common denominator. It also is a great supporting argument for home schoolers who wish to study their child.....and to walk a path that may be different from those around us who are more than happy to share their opinion about OUR children with us. We cannot be driven by fear of "requirements"....each child is unique and must be taught according to his "bend", gifts and weaknesses. This "individualized" approach takes time to really know your child......to find what works best for your child, and to listen to your child. I would love to hear some comments from some of you on ways you have found that have helped you to individualize your approach to teaching your children. Perhaps you have had some individuals discourage you from this approach.....perhaps you have caved to "fear" from time to time...perhaps you are finding joy in the journey. Whatever the case...we would love to hear from you on teaching to the Heart of your child. Faith and Courage, Lori |
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If you've been trying to listen to our second broadcast of "Beginning With The End In Mind" and have not been able to find it, there is a good reason for that. It is due to the fact that I have not aired that segment yet. I apologize. I tried to post a blog on the BlogTalk Radio site to let you know that it would be delayed but I didn't realize that it would be delayed by two whole days. I'm so sorry! The second segment will be aired today, Thursday, April 24th at 3 p.m. EST. I hope that you can join us as we continue to lay the foundation for future broadcasts. If you can't join us live, please be sure to join us by visiting www.blogtalkradio.com/theendinmind and you can click on today's segment and listen to it at your convenience. Hope to catch you later! |
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Hey! Check out our new BlogTalk Radio program: Beginning With the End in Mind. You can join us live each Tuesday at 3 p.m. EST or you can visit www.blogtalkradio.com/theendinmind and listen to or download past segments. We will be building a foundation on God's two supeme priorities and then applying those priorities to every area of our lives. We will feature special guests, listener call-in segments, live chat sessions and much more. Oh, and by the way, while we are on the subject of communication....don't forget to leave me a comment now and then. That's the only way I know if you are "out there" and if the message is being communicated effectively. You can also visit my website at www.theendinmind.net Hope to hear from you soon. Lori |