My first ever meme, from By Sun and Candlelight . Hope you enjoy!

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?

My husband and I had just completed his first full year in Bible College. We had moved there after our salvation and marriage. We had our oldest daughter who was 3 when we moved and our second born daughter who was 6 months when we moved. We were living in a rented house in a great neighborhood. We only paid $350 month for this house. Those where the days!

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today:

• Tidy Up (We deep cleaned yesterday)
• Take a bike ride to the library with all the kids
• Have a nice lunch
• Lay baby boy down to bed for a nap and do some summer school
• Work in the garden

3. Snacks I enjoy:

• Glass of chocolate milk
• Bowl of cereal
• Hot tea with vanilla creamer and english muffin with homemade jam
• bagel and cream cheese
• chocolate chip cookies and cold glass of milk

4. Things I would do if I were a billionare:

• Buy my grandma a new house
• Give to my church
• Support married & bible college students with scholorships
• Buy a farm with a specially designed house. I want a huge school / play room with a garden atrium in the center, wood flooring thoughout, tons of shelves, decorated like pottery barn. The farm would only be used for our own family's needs, not to sell.
• Help build bike trails and provide high quailty bike's and surrey's for the those in need. I would love less dependence on cars. I think the surrey's would be awesome if they could be enclosed for poor weather. (I also want a horse and buggy.) I think the Amish should have their own roads that are seperate from the main car roads in their counties. The cars FLY by them and high speeds. Believe me, we know. Maybe tomorrow I tell you about my bike trip through Holmes County!

5. Places I have lived:

• Ohio
• Minnesota
• Illinois
• Michigan

Please keep it going! If you do this meme, leave me a note that you did it!

Michelle

Visit my oldest daughters blog!

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/wonderland21/

We used to call our school Didasko Christian School for the last several  years (Didasko measn "to teach" in greek) but I was tired of that name and am ready for a new name. Well, the Lord inspired me through Pilgrim leader William Bradford who spoke of the pilgrims by saying...

"They cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations... even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work."

I was so amazed at this because this is exactly how I feel. I don't know what the Lord is doing in my life or my family's life, but I would feel so blessed that even if I don't do anything greater than teach my children at home, lead them to love their God and a lifelong commitment to serving Him, that my life can be but a stepping stone to greater things in the future for my children and their children and their children.

So we are now officially...

Stepping Stones Christian Academy

Hi!

We started back to school this week. We are keeping it really light until August 1st when we will jump in full steam. Things are going really well doing it this way and I think I will add a little more each day so that it doesn't seem like I am dumping the whole load in a few weeks.

So far what has surprised me the most is our 2 new math programs. I really really really struggled with what to get this year as I have felt like we have never had success with math in our homeschool. All I can say is WOW! Praise God for His leading. I feel like I have some winners.

My oldest dd has taken to Teaching Textbooks like fish to water. She loves it! As a matter of fact I told her twice today she didn't have to do math and she begged me to do it. Today was her unit test and she was excited to do it. HUH??? Wow, this is exciting!

My next dd, who has ALWAYS struggled with just about every subject and is WAY behind in math has been doing GREAT with Horizons Math. She was moving soooooo slow through Math-U-See and I felt like we were just getting farther and farther behind. She never understood the concepts being presented that way they were and she was bored to tears with MUS. I wanted something that could keep her interest, would help her to catch up and would be easy to teach. After looking at EVERY math curriculum at the HS Convention, I finally decided on Horizons at the end of the day. I love teaching it, It is so easy and it is great for working with more than 1 child at a time. I am so excited about it, I am going to order the Kindergarten level for my 5 year old and the 2nd grade level for my 8 year old as soon as she finishes Rod & Staff Math book 1 as we find this incredibly boring as well.

We are also using Analytical Grammar and after a shaky start because I was really unsure about how to teach it, we have found a groove and it is going well. I believe we will stick with it and be better off for it. I love that it goes in cycles so that when we get into the year full swing, we will be able to take a break from it and focus on other Language Arts.

I recently looked over The Reading Lesson book and I like the less cluttered look of it than Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, so I think I am going to start my 5 year old on that with Explode the Code books.

Of course I am still smitten with Tapestry of Grace and I am looking forward to tomorrow when Year 3 redesign is due to arrive at my home via UPS! I can wait to look it all over!!!

Another product I am really excited about is Atelier Art. I received the sample DVD in the mail and I am very impressed with the program. I figured it out that if I combine my youngest 2 dd's, and my oldest 2 dd's, it will be cheaper than the art lessons we have been paying for, plus the cost of gas and the convience of doing the lessons when it is best for us instead of the teacher. I hope to eventually get all levels and then art lessons will be really inexpensive for my other kids! We are a big art family so this is an important subject for us.

Well I hope to update soon and let you know how the rest goes!

Michelle

PS Here are our Kindergaten plans.

Kindergarten 2008-2009

Phonics Writing Bible Time	The Reading Lesson Explode the Code Rod & Staff ABC Series Workbooks
History Geography Literature	Tapestry of Grace
Math	Horizons Math Kindergarten
Art	Atelier
Music	Piano Lessons (older sister teaching)
Science	Misc.
Nature Study	Misc.
Practical Skills	Baking together, Hand sewing, Whatever the older girls are working on.

Scenario: HELP! I am drowing in junk. My kids are creating disasters faster than I can keep up. I am overwhelmed and don't know what to do!!!

Solution: #1 Get rid of 95% of the toys:

Real Life Example: I had a playroom basement with all of the kids toys. I thought if they had a place to play that would help and it would keep the rest of the house clean.

Reality: Too many toys meant huge messes in the basement. Then the kids would invade the other areas of the home with their toys so they could have an organized place to play. The whole house was always a disaster!!!

Solution: I organized and packed away almost all of their toys. I rotate bins of toys as they get board with what they have. This has resulted in a very clean basement most of the time and plenty of creativity with their stuff. I don't rotate very often either. The room is easy for them to clean so they don't get overwhelmed with it. Result: Happy Kids & Mom

#2 Go get Sink Reflections from your library. It really will help you way more than MOTH. If you want help developing a schedule, I recommend Confessions of a Happily Organized Family by Denise Schofield. These two books will change your life!!!

Well I am all done shopping for next year and here is what were using!

	8th Grade dd	5th Grade dd	2nd Grade dd
Phonics			100 EZ (finish) Explode the Code
English	Analytical Grammar	Rod & Staff 3 (finish)	First Language Lessons (finish)
Writing	Tapestry of Grace	Tapestry of Grace	Tapestry of Grace
History	" "	" "	" "
Geography	" "	" "	" "
Literature	" "	" " Progeny Press Guides	" " Progeny Press Guides
Math	Teaching Textbooks	Horizons Math	Rod & Staff
Spelling	Spelling Power	Spelling Power	Rod & Staff 2 before SP
Art	Atelier	Atelier	Atelier
Music	Self-Taught Guitar Piano Lessons	Composer Studies	Composer Studies
Science	Using misc. resources I already own. Next year will get something more advanced.	Library	Library
Nature Study	Misc.	Misc.	Misc.
Practical Skills	For everyone: Teaching our daughters to be Keepers at Home. Misc. classes & library books to try new skills	" "	" "

Every day I say to you,
"Mom, I love you so".
Even when you make me clean,
Or almost break my nose.

Because I know the things you do,
to try and make me glad,
far outweigh your pitfalls,
and when you make me mad.

And though I like to sit and whine,
about how school wastes my time,
there really is no other way,
I would change my school each day.

The thought you put into your work,
and the way mine, I try to shirk.
Makes me realize deep inside,
You bring me so much happy pride.

And though Mother's Day is kind of far,
Just thought I'd say thanks for drivng the car,
to endless activities for me,
because you want us to be happy!

I love you mom, so very much
Thanks for making such a yummy lunch!

This is a poem written for me today by my daughter after lunch. Yesterday I almost broke her nose when I kicked her in the face while she was attempting to grab my foot to tickle it. It was a complete reflex as I am VERY ticklish. She had blood gushing all over. It was a horrible mess and I felt terrible. She told me she didn't blame me though. She said she knew what she was getting herself into. Ugg! I still feel bad...

My husband, (who's a pastor) recently shared with me his prayer list a godly friend of his gave him. They spent time in prayer together recently and this is how they prayed...

One Another

• Holiness, continual conformity to Christ through trial or triumph
• Grace and wisdom to lead as husbands, as fathers, as ministers
• Fruit producing knowledge

Church

• Revival in our midst
• A passion for the things of God
• A love for the pure word (doctrine and the pursuit of God in theology)
• Boldness in preaching the whole counsel of God, God's full attributes proclaimed and pursued unapologetically
• A biblical understanding of true and false conversion
• Biblical church discipline
• A holly fear of God
• An obvious distinction from the the world; from children to adults
• Godly men marked by humility and holiness
• Desperation and mass attendance in prayer
• Christ centered, edifying fellowhip
• Missionaries supported and  sent who preach a pure gospel, bringing the truth to the nations.
• Gimmick-less outreach, rich in doctrine and bathed in prayer
• Children prepared to be men and women by solid and penetrating teaching

Wow! We are so often focused on ourselves. These prayers focus on God.

My Father's World vs. Tapestry of Grace

A nice lady emailed me asking about cost comparisons between the two. It would be different in each individual case, but let me highlight what I know. 

My Father's World	Tapestry of Grace
There are 2 programs for K & 1st - There is an optional level (Adventures) and then there are 5 additional levels to be used for the elementary years. Potentially you could be buying a new level every year that you might reuse once. These programs tend to be weak for the jr. high years. You will need to purchase an additional level for your high school student. You could end up buying a program for your 1st grader, your 6th grader and your 9th grader all in one year. YIKES!	There are 4 levels which can be used from your youngest child all the way to your oldest. You only need to purchase these 4 levels and then your done. There are no additional high school courses to purchase. The program is rich and full at all levels. Especially the jr. high and high school levels.
Includes all the books you will need for that year. There are consumables in most years so you will always need to have 1 for each student plus purchasing them for future years.	Does not include your books. You will either need to purchase all your books which could be very expensive initially or you could utilize the library extensivly. (I do this.) You could purchase books used as well to save money. These books will be used over and over when you recycle through the levels. There are no consumables. (Unless you include lapbooks which you could purchase the CD and they would be non-consumables)

 The biggest difference between MFW and TOG is that TOG really covers all levels and MFW does not. You will get lesson plans for  your K child all the way up to high school with TOG. My Father's World is really geared towards jr. high and younger, although I think it is weak for jr. high students. Then you have to purchase the high school program as well. In addition, MFW has additional products you have to purchase one of for each student. This is not the case with TOG. You only need to purchase the core bundle package. So what does MFW and TOG include?

I was recently asked "I found your blog because I was looking for reviews on "My Father's World" curriculum. It brought me to your post on why you love it.  I see you switched to Tapestry of Grace. Was there something about MFW that you no longer liked?"

Well here is the short answer... I still think that MFW is a wonderful curriculum and I still stand by everything I wrote about it. What changed were my goals for my girls. I just wanted something that I could plan a little more. TOG give me the option to do that each week, while MFW was pre-planned for the whole year. I also grew tired of My Father's World because...
 

-I didn't like using the same book for weeks on end. I personally need more variety. MFW bookbasket just didn't cut it here.

-The activities were ok, but I wanted to choose my own that actually will build real skills. I don't want to make a copy of a book and have the girls staple it together. I want teach them to make a real braided rug or sew a real mini quilt or make a real punched tin candle holder. MFW activities were overly simplified for me.

-I wanted to have more writing activities. MFW is weak in this unless you count the endless narration pages my girls wrote. Now we make display boards and more. We also will be picking up the writing aids CD from TOG next year. This has all sorts of writing (creative, book reports, essays, plays etc...)

-The American History year I was using this year was really weak for my youngest daughter. Some weeks she didn't have anything on the schedule at all. TOG is wonderful and full for all ages. 

Since I am still new to TOG I may develop more thoughts, but for now these are the main reasons. We are even more Charlotte Mason minded than previous years and I love how I can bring in that philosophy so easily with TOG. I didn't really think the books in MFW were living enough. They use textbooks quite a bit and I wanted mostly living books.

Michelle

We switched to Tapestry of Grace and we love it! I can't wait to share with you how much I love it soon. I love how I can do school with my preschooler all the way to my jr. high daughter! For now, here are a weeks lesson plans.

Lesson Plans                          TOG Week #29                                 March 3, 2008 – March 7, 2008      

Bible / Church History –

Prudence and the Millers

—     Chapter 4

—     Chapter 5

—     Chapter 6

—     Chapter 7

—     Trial and Triumph, pg. 213, David Brainerd

History -

—     George Washington (d’Aulaire) pg. 1-37 (coloring pictures)

—     Liberty! How the War Was Won! pg. 2-5

—     Hasty Pudding, Johnnycakes (Ichord) – Chapter 2

Upper Level History –

—     Battles of the French and Indian War (Smolinski) 5 pages a day

Independent History – (Allison only)

—     George Washington’s World (Foster) pg. 73-91 (not A Young Poet Names Phyllis) pg. 93-110

—     Accountability Questions w/ mom

Science –

Ben Franklin Book of Easy and Incredible Experiments:

Keep notebook pages of various experiments that are done.

—     Pg 15-19

Timeline –

Add the following to your timeline as you read about them:

—     French & Indian War 1754 – 1763

—     Franz Joseph Haydn 1732-1809 Austrian composer

Projects –

—     Begin a display board that examines the pursuits of Benjamin Franklin. This week, present information about Poor Richards Almanac. (Week 2 of 9)

—     Begin a display board that shows and explains about colonial fashion. This week, focus on men’s clothing. (Week 2 of 4)

—     Activity: From Time Travelers: Colonial Life CD make a pierced tin lantern.

Practical Work & Handicrafts –

—     Sewing: Finish sewing your skirts from last week.

Read Aloud –

—     Sign of the Beaver (Speare) Ch. 5-8

—     Worksheet on Friday

Music – Franz Joseph Haydn

—     Listen to http://www.classicsforkids.com/shows/showdesc.asp?id=16  Franz Joseph Haydn

—     Read The farewell symphony (Anna Harwell) (Listen to the symphony)

Well let's see, my life is anything but simple even though I long for it! I have given simplicity a break because I auditioned for a musical in October which landed me a part in a play. I am in "A Christmas Carol" and I play Scrooge's charwoman (maid). Three of my daughters are in the production as well. Since it is a very large scale production we practice several nights a week. (Think 4-5). We will be having 4 shows with seating at 2500 people for each show.

On top of that we have recently repainted our whole 1st floor, had our floors refinished, got 2 new doors installed and will be having our carpet cleaned in a couple of days. This has lead to a very messy house because I am so busy that I haven't had time to clean it!

We also had a mini-vacation about 2 weeks ago that always makes for lots of clean-up afterwards. Hey why don't we throw hosting Thanksgiving in there and we will be all set. Ok.... Done!

PS I have also been dieting and working out 4 days a week at the YMCA. I have lost 13 lbs so far! Yahoo!!! I have also been attempting to homeschool my children consistently. Ugg. Life will slow down after Christmas. I HOPE!

I recently fixed up the basement room of our schoolroom. Please see my photos below.

These are our school books. All of them actually. I don't believe in having an over abundance of books. I have 2 years worth of My Father's World on there and all the other subjects too.

This is the preschool area I made for my dd. We do 1/2 hour of preschool each morning before I work with the older girls.

Here are our fiction books and my tileboard marker board from Home Depot. I added a calendar/weather feature using laminated cardstock words and numbers. I attached velcro circles to the board and to the backs of each piece. My daughter can then change the date and weather daily on the board.

I have already started to make changes in my life that would reflect some of the things God has shown me through the Amish. Here are some of the changes that have been happening for the last month or longer...

• I have cut way back on outside commitments. God has called me to be a keeper at home, not a keeper at homeschool group or library or even at church. God wants me in my right place. To be honest, I have never been happier since I have limited my outside commitments. I feel so much joy and peace at home.
• I have begun sewing like crazy. Over the years I have gone back and forth about modesty and if that meant dresses all the time or not. At times I have been dresses only and at other times I have said that it wasn't really required. But you know what IS required? Obedience to my husband. I had been seeking the Lord and He answered my through my husband. I had turned a deaf ear to dh many times, but my loving husband said "I would love it if you and the girls would only wear dresses. I think you are all so beautiful in dresses. I can see Christ in you, in your attitude, in your activities when you only wear dresses." I have finally listened. I have felt so wonderful since I made the switch back. I know this was God's answer to me in my cry to Him.
• I have downsized our wardrobe in a big way. I have bags and bags of old clothes I have taken to the thrift store. The Lord showed me how these were a burden to us and not a blessing. It has been so freeing to know that I don't have 15 loads of laundry a week anymore. Each weekend I will be downsizing even more of ALL the rooms in our home.
• I have begun to make homemade bread and other items. I want to feed my family the best. The Lord has really showed me this is His will for me. Since my bread making has begun using whole wheat bread flour I have actually LOST WEIGHT! I realize that the Lord is show ing me in my faithfulness He is teaching me the best ways. I am going to be adding to my knowledge and supplies over time from www.urbanhomemaker.com I would love to get a grain mill and make my own bread flour.
• At the beginning of the summer I disconnected our TV and have LOVED our time without it. I do watch a movie every now and then, but we don't have the garbage of nightly TV in our home anymore. I have read more books this summer than ever before. I have learned so much. (PS I don't read fiction, unless I am reading a story to the kids)

I am going to keep making more changes as God directs. I would like to recommend some good books I have read this summer to you, these are some of the best of the best... (I'll add more later)

This is a wonderful children's book about the Amish. Click here to visit the authors website and do some fun activities. http://www.patriciapolacco.com/books/fancy/fancy_index.html

Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.

Holmes County - Amish Country

August 2007

My family and I went to Holmes County, Ohio to see the Amish. We didn't go to shop or to be tourists, but to really meet and spend time with these people. I wanted to see if they were who they appear to be on the surface or if they are just a group of people living a life they have always known. I suppose that is true with some of them, as it is with us in our modern churches, but I now truly believe the Amish and Mennonites are my brothers and sisters in the Lord.

I have had a love for the Amish for a long time. I have read dozens upon dozens of books about their way of life and devotion to God for years, even before I was a born-again christian. I have read the negative and the positive. I have done so much research that I wanted to go and spend time with these people. To know them.

I did have a chance while I was there to interact with the Amish on several occasions. The most profound for me was when I took a buggy ride with an elderly Amish man and had a chance to talk to him about his faith. He said to me, "You know, many people think that the Amish think their works will save them, but that is just not so... We are saved by faith alone, just like everyone else. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)" I almost cried, I was so happy. My spirit was so joyful that the Amish knew the Lord. He continued..."But we just believe that works should follow our salvation

But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."  James 2:18,20

A Tree and Its Fruit

 Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will ⁾know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruit.  Matthew 7:15-20

I am seeking God and His will in my life. No, I don't think He is leading me to join the Amish, oh but I would if it were possible! But He is teaching me to learn from them and to bear fruit myself. Who knows, but if I am faithful, maybe someday he will lead me down that country road I so long to live on.

Did you enjoy the pictures? Actually the ones of the children are my own. They all have the same deep respect and love for the Amish/Mennonites that I do and therefore spent their vacation money on these Amish dresses at a Mennonite Thrift shop. Then they purchased their kapps from an Amish fabric store. My daughters wear their dresses all the time around home now. I even have one that I love. Visiting Holmes County was like going home for me. I feel like that is where I belong. I actually long for it. My daughters and I are going to return in October when my husband goes out of town. We will visit our dear friends there. No, we really do not know anyone personally, but I feel as though they are my brothers and sisters in the Lord. Hopefully I will get an even greater chance to meet some next time I am there.

Well it is official, after a lot of things happening this spring my husband is officially an Associate Pastor again! Yeah Praise the Lord!!! We have waited for this day for a long time. One of the best things is we don't even have to move because he is pastoring right here in our city. God is so good!

I am enjoying the summer and we are all looking forward to going on a vacation to Family Camp in August and then back to school in my newly redecorated school room. I recently painted and carpeted the room. I added 2 huge new whiteboards and painted a bookshelf. I designed a preschool zone for Heidi and made a play zone for the other kids outside the room (we are located in the basement). In my playzone I set up a livingroom area, a play-kitchen area, a baby toy area, a dress-up area, and best of all an art zone so the girls can work on art projects and school projects without messing up my homeschool room or my new carpet. I can see and hear all areas when I am in the homeschool room so this is a blessing. I will post pictures as soon as I get new batteries for my camera.

We are planning on MFW Explorers-1850 next year along with most of the same stuff as last year. I still have to actually purchase my items, so I can't wait for August 10th when Chad gets his first big paycheck from his new position.

God Bless,
Michelle

A well-ordered home simply works. People get to where they need to be, tasks get done, family life is cherished, all with a minimum of fuss and bother. Because, when organization is done well, it fades into the background, allowing you to have a life.

I have decided that I am going to blog only when I feel like it! So there! LOL Anyhow, I wanted to share a really amazing book that I have been reading. I love it because it is practical, short, consise and has a lot of great information. The book is titled The Well Ordered Home: Organizing Techniques for Inviting Serenity into Your Life by Kathleen Kendall-Tackett.  This book has a lot of advise that is common sense to many people, but not to me. I grew up in a home that was less than well ordered and I have been striving ever since the birth of my first daughter to learn the home management skills I never learned.

Recently , my life has been more chaotic that usual with 5 children & homeschooling. I just couldn't seem to keep everything flowing. I needed inspiration. So I checked out a ton of books out of the library. Including Sidetracked Home Executives, which I am getting a great chuckle out of. Anyhow, check out this book if your looking for a little inspiration. I know I am ready to go!

I was just thinking, I am going to start a list of books I want my daughters to read before they leave home that will help them start out with some great tools in their new lives. This one is definitley going on that list.

Well it has been a long time since I have posted anything. I decided a while ago to put this blog aside and focus on other big changes that might be happening in our home. One of the things that happened since my last post is my huband and I went to New York to visit a church that was interested in having him candidate as their pastor.

I was amazed how different NY is than here. We were in the Catskill Mtns. In between the mountains were these little villages. It was amazing. The little village we went to was so cute and QUIET! There wasn't even a grocery store. You had to travel about 15 minutes away to a nearby city to grocery shop.

We really enjoyed our time there and thought the people were nice but felt the church didn't really fit our personalities. They did ask us to come back and officially candidate, but after much prayer we decided that we are going to wait on the Lord for what He has for us.

On a side note, I have been watching some good movies lately. I love movies!  A really good one that I enjoyed with my two daughters (ages 12 & 9) is Stranded It is a great family movie, I would say starting about about age 9. It is a version of the book Swiss Family Robinson.