DEFINITION:
so·cial·ize
v. so·cial·ized, so·cial·iz·ing, so·cial·iz·es
To place under government or group ownership or control.
To make fit for companionship with others; make sociable.
To convert or adapt to the needs of society.
Now do I really want to be socialized???? Todays homeschoolers are far more able to fit into the real world than the so-called socialized children of the public system... Every day I see more and more examples of this... Increased violence, decreased morality, increased crime, more and more laws to decrease or completely remove rights, yes socialization... An unneccessary term to the homeschooler...
Ok.. has the price of gas put a leash on your homeschool field trips? I know things that I had hoped to do with the kids this summer will definitely be altered due to the rising cost of fuel...
In our area, (the local stations in our little town) are selling gas for $3.52 a gallon for regular... But if I drive just 20 minutes away, I can get it for "as little" (and I use that term lightly) as $3. 38... (at least I could yesterday..*L* )
So for those looking to get the best deal on fuel-------
This is pretty nifty. Just enter your zip code in the site below, and it tells you which gas stations have the cheapest prices (and the highest) on gasoline in your zip code area.
It's updated every evening.
A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had
shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no
secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe
box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never
to open or ask her about.
For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one
day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would
not recover.
In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down
the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside.
She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box.
When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of
money totaling $95,000.
He asked her about the contents. 'When we were to be married,' she
said, ' my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to
never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should
just keep quiet and crochet a doll.'
The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only
two precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him
two times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst
with happiness.
'Honey,' he said, 'that explains the doll, but what about all of this
money?
Where did it come from?''Oh,' she said, 'that's the money I made from selling the dolls.'
I'm not sure if the FlyLady should send in reserves or I should just take a bubble bath...*L*
I don't know about others, but when my house is disorganized, I am out of sync..
I am having one of those weeks this week... I can't seem to get things together and actually get some housework accomplished..
My poor DH says, "Don't worry about it"... but he thinks that the house will be here even if you can't walk on the floor for the dirty clothes...*L*
But I just have trouble getting my school life in order when I feel the need to be doing housework also... It is very troubling for me to be in disarray like this.. I just didn't stay on top of it this time...
And to make things worse, do you ever read blogs that you wonder "What am I doing wrong?'... Where they seem to have everything under control all the time?? I love to read these, but sometimes, I think they make it harder for me to try and get things done, because I think well, so and so, does ok with this, why can't I get it all accomplished?
Well, if you have any thoughts on this, drop me a line... or if you have any tidbits of wisdom in the house cleaning / organization area, let me know... I feel like I am drowning in clutter today...*L*
Rain, Rain, go away!!! The high winds and what seems like a continuous downpour have made it somewhat difficult for me to sleep tonight...So, I think I will surf some more and wait for the calm to come back..
One of the things I am most grateful for in our homeschool life is the opportunity for my children to grow together and love each other and be best friends... when I see them cuddle like this, it warms my heart and makes me appreciate the blessings of our family even more...
I am a conservative..... as most people know... And it doesn't matter to me what anyone votes as I think everyone is entitled to his/her own view politically... But as Super Tuesday comes closer, I find that I am really getting more concerned as to who will be the nominees... in that I want to feel confident in my vote and empowered in the faith in our democratic system...
I have several friends that like me are placing their support for their candidate on their blogs... I have long had a Mike Huckabee button on mine... My friend Michelle put this voters guide on her blog this morning... I think that it certainly will help others to make a decision as to who they wish to support by who represents their views...I'm joining Michelle in urging everyone not to forget to cast their vote... It is important to take a stand on issues that concern you and to be able to say I supported the nominee that supported my views...
Okay... I am excited... Just got a new book in the mail ( I love getting things in the mail...)
It's by Francine Rivers. I started it sometime ago from the library and didn't get it done due to some things coming up and so I decided to order it.. When I am done, I'll post it on PBS and let someone else enjoy it too...*S*
I, like millions of people, like nothing better than sitting down and reading a good book... It has to be my favorite pastime... I like nothing better than to curl up on the couch, under a quilt and read something... I am not particular in my preference for reading matter and sorta hang on the eclectic side... I tend to quote Andrew Zimmeran on eating: "If something looks good, read it"..*L*
Various authors from Max Lucado, Janet Dailey, Dean Koontz, Steven King, Robert B. Parker, Patricia Cornwell, to Andrew M. Greeley all being some of my favorites.. though lately I have sorta strayed off into the land of "self-help" and "guidance"... Which means the current topic for our house is how to make our homeschooling more productive and continue to be enjoyable..(which this has been on our list of goals, "to create a relaxed, fun, learning environment", since we started). My current reads are:
Next on the list to read is " The Unprecessed Child: Living Without School" by Valerie Fitzenreiter... (if anyone has read this, drop me a review and let me know what you thought..
Yes.. I am home alone... My DS and DH have gone to a "Boy Scout Lock-In" and my DD is staying the night with her grandmother...
I almost don't know what to do with myself... I've got the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha" ( I read the book, but never saw the movie), and I think I will take a long, hot bubble bath (which I rarely ever do without DD joining me), pop some popcorn (with extra butter, of course), make some hot chocolate with all the extras (whipped cream, caramel, and chocolate sauce) and just relax...
and then again, I may sit and eat ice cream in lonliness... *L*
Yes, I realize how much I miss my family and how much I really enjoy the noise and the hubbub of them being around...
But for tonite, I will relish the idea of peace and quiet... and gotta go run that tub..
Ok... The bargain of my week happens to be "The Kids Fun-Filled Question and Answer Book" by Jane Parker Resnick and Tony Tallarico. It is 185 pgs. of all kinds of wonderful answers to the kind of questions kids ask... Like "what is virtual reality?" or "How do plants eat?" or "What is Deja'Vu?" and I really liked "can penguins tell each other apart?".....
Anyway, I happened to pick this one and 5 others up along with a geography game with all its pieces and cards intact...WOOHOO!!!! for $2.18... now that was a bargain!!
Every year, I come up with a long list of things that I would like to accomplish in the upcoming year... and usually I am able to get a few things done, but always have many left uncompleted...
This year, I decided to make my list and then weed out the ones that were truly low on the list...
Prior to having children, I always listed lose weight, exercise more, and other things that I thought were important... But as I have gotten older (and I'd like to think wiser) I realize that it is all God's plan and he is the captain of the ship and I am just need to trust in him for directions on the path of my life...As a homeschool mom to 2, I think the area I want to work on most (and feel the need to) is to become closer to God and be able to be a leader and teacher of God's word to my children.
I would like to spend more one-on-one time with my children and to have more patience and just remember that they are children and that nothing is perfect nor will ever be and to praise and rejoice over the abilities and blessings they have received. I want to develop an even deeper bond with them and for the love and respect we share to grow even greater than it is now (if that is possible)...
I want to make the right choices for them and to be Christ-led in all of our decisions involving our home, our school, our lives...
and I want to be thankful daily for all the blessings of the coming year... and to not take for granted what God has given me in allowing me to be a mom, the blessing of being home with my children, and a wonderful husband who loves and supports us... and most of all, for the greatest gift, in my salvation....
This verse was included in a bible study I did a couple of years ago..
:"...you do not know what will happen tomorrow... You ought to say, `If the Lord wills..."
(James 4:14-15) It's not wrong to plan ahead and goal set, because these are biblical principals, but it becomes a misdeed when the Lord is not consulted and to make plans apart from the Lord is to presume upon God and assume we know the future...
What is life? You are but a vapor here for a short time and then gone.. and my resolution for 2008 is, "If it's the Lord's will, then it will be done."
I was reading some blogs this morning and I came across these questions on one and thought I would ask them of my own kidlets... These are the answers I got from them...*LOL*
Why did God make mothers? 1. So there would be more life on earth (7yo)
2. so the children would have parents (4yo)
How did God make mothers?
1. with his powers (7yo)
2. he made you as a baby and then you growed up and was a mommy to us (4yo)
What ingredients are mothers made of? 1. dust in the air, love, cartilage (7yo) (my abstract thinker)
2. vitamins, blood, bones (4yo)
Why did God give you your mother & not some other mom? 1. because that is the one he wanted me to have (7yo)
2. 'cause you wanted us (4yo)
What kind of little girl was your mom? 1. fun and nice (7yo)
2. a good girl and you didn't pick up your toys (4yo)
What did mom need to know about dad before she married him? 1. needed to know what he was like (7yo)
2. need to know if he has a job (4yo)
Why did your mom marry your dad? 1. because they loved each other (7yo)
2. because you were in love (4yo)
Who's the boss at your house? 1. our mom and sometimes our dad (7yo)
2. you at home when daddy's not home (4yo)
What's the difference between moms & dads?
1. Momma cleans and Daddy works (7yo)
2. Daddy makes a mess and mommy cleans it up (4yo)
What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Spend time with us (7yo)
2. do work on her new 'puter (4yo)
What would it take to make your mom perfect? 1. Nothing. I would like her just how she would be (7yo)
2. Having us (me and Tommy) (4yo)
If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be? 1. for mommy to stop biting her nails (7yo)
2. change your haircolor (Gee... I'm not sure what color she would want..*L*) (4yo)
So, I see my resolutions for the New Year should include, to stop biting my nails an color my hair... I am sure I can get that done...*L*
Yes!!! The good Lord knows... It has been one of those days...
First, I let the kidlets sleep in... I figured they were probably exhausted and needed the rest, because we have been on the go lately with the holidays and things to see and do while celebrating the Christmas season...
Then we had a HS friend and her kids over for a playdate... My kids were terrors!!!
I mean totally terrible!!! My son who is 7yo and normally easy-going and fairly well behaved was mean, smart mouthed, and just a bad boy... My 4yo who is a typical little girl whined much more than usual and cried for what seemed like most of the day...
I was embarrassed by their behavior and felt terrible for our guest whose children were behaving ... I just was at my wits end ...
So, after they had left... I put my kids in the school room and made them write sentences about their behavior and then we discussed the behavior and the consequences... I also discussed with this being so close to Christmas, how bad behavior can wreck havoc on future presents and priviledges through the holidays...
I think I am going to check out the book "Creative Correction" by Lisa Whelchel from the library... I tried to read it a while back but never got finished with it, as something always seemed to come up...
If anyone has any ideas for how to deal with days like this, please share them!!!
) 
and felt terrible for our guest whose children were behaving ... I just was at my wits end 
... 
