In all I am, do, and will write, my aim is to hit God's mark. I will have moments of being misguided as I am not perfect, but know that I serve a God that loves me through it all.
Oh, man, she's so goin' to think I'm copying her.. Truly, this was my intended post. I saw it done last year somewhere and actually remembered it. A miraculous feat in and of itself.
Don’t believe me then.
My 2008 Year-In-Review
Meaning: The first sentence of the first blog of each month.
January: We were supposed to go spend the weekend at my in-laws this past weekend.
February: I haven't written anything profound lately. (Surprise, surprise.)
March: I am notorious for forgetting to take the meat out of the freezer in time for it to thaw.
April: Blank (Maybe I was busy doing taxes?)
May: So many times I hear the groanings of a mother's heart straining to find time to drink of God's Word or to pray or to worship.
November: Blank (Holding my breath for the elections most likely. Oh, and falling and injuring my hand making it very difficult to type.)
December: Candy. (Hmmm. Not a sentence. I claim author’s creative license. Hey, if e.e. cummings can refuse to use capitals, I can refuse to use sentences. So there.)
I’ve enjoyed writing this year and am honored to have you reading. There are others rounding up their blogging year.
Many blessings and Happy New Year,
Holly
Candy. Did somebody say candy? Love candy...especially ooey-gooey candy.
Grapes, apples and apricots, too.
Cranberries, dates with all that goo.
Peaches, pears, cherries galore
Who can ask for anything more?
Leathery goodness and sticky mess
Dried to perfection they are the best
No additives or allergens hiding inside
Candy designed by God with pride.
I'll step off my high horse now. Lest you think I am some kind of candy snob, let me just tell you, candy is a weakness. Anything with caramel in it. Or peanut butter/chocolate combos.
Problem: allergens...and tooth decay. I once had a jelly bean rip out my tooth crown. Very expensive dietary deviation.
I used to lament not being able to have "real" candy. Until my then four year old daughter, Beautiful,while munching on a date, looked up at me and said, "Mom, God sure makes great candy!"
P.S. In case you're wondering where I've been. I have a broken finger on my dominate hand and a five month old in a half body cast with a broken femur. Long story. Maybe I'll post about it. Let's just say it involved steps. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me..."
T....tweet. Like to hear the birdies go tweet, tweet, tweet. I love the sounds of singing and chattering birds. Any birds; especially in the morning. Except for peacocks that sound like fighting cats.
I...Ice. Terrified of driving in icy conditions. So much so that I bolt the door and hide the car keys at the first snowflake.
M...Morning. Up early is important to me. Six o’clock is sleepin’ in. As far as I am concerned, I have wasted the day if I am not up by seven. Did wonders for my social life in high school and college, let me tell ya.
E...Eclectic. Beat to my own drum. A little of this and a little of that. I must put my own twist onto something, or I don’t feel like it is truly me homeschooling my children, but someone else. It doesn’t have to be something hugely different than the directions. It could be something as little as using an orange crayon when the directions say to use red. I know. I’m such a rebel. My all-directions-must-be-followed-to-the-letter-son will most likely need therapy by the time he is ten. I’m gettin’ away with it so far because he doesn’t know how to read yet.
L...Language. Words work. The written word is stronger to me than the spoken word, but I love words. If you are into words, stick around. You’ll see hardly a blog entry goes by that I won’t stop in my tracks and twirl a word around on my tongue. For instance, the word “tweet” has puzzled me since I typed it in this entry. Where did it come from? Was it a child trying to say street? Or feet? How did it end up being connected with birds? Probably the best present anyone could give me would be a word origins book on EVERY word in the English vocabulary. (No offense to other languages, but English is the only language I speak, unfortunately.)
Y…pass. Only had to give 10 timely facts. And, since “timely facts” has eleven letters, I have pulled out my pass card. It is only coincidental that there are five letters used before the “Y” and five letters after. See? Words were meant to be analyzed.
F..Feet. Can’t stand feet. Pun intended. Yep, feet have a purpose and are truly appreciated. If they belong to you, however, they most definitely do not belong on or near me! Exception: Newborn/infant/baby feet are beyond adorable and must be smooched multiple times a day.
A...April. Christ’s resurrection and spring flowers popping up everywhere. Around here the sun peeks out once in awhile, and I begin to feel the affects of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) melting off of me. It’s a very happy month, isn’t it? Why’d they have to go and throw taxes into the mix?
C...Cook. Spending time in the kitchen relaxes me. It’s in the kitchen where I become the painter that I have always wanted to be. (I see beautiful paintings to create in my head---only my hands never seem to get the clear message.) Therefore, I cook. By color. The brighter the better.
T...Timely. Being on time is important to me. The way I figure it, the host/hostess said five, so I will do my darndest to be there as close to five as I can. I view it as a show of respect by honoring their request. It is also a show of loving sacrifice. To arrive more than 10 or 15 minutes late, barring some uncontrollable reason, usually means that I was focusing on me rather than the host/hostess. Being fairly punctual is my way of showing the host/hostess that I care about them and want to spent time with them. Just know, if I see a snowflake…I ain’t comin’.
S...Six. Number six of eight children. Seven, if you count my older sister that was born three months preemie and only lived for 15 hours. In which case it would still fit because seven starts with an “s” as well. All my siblings have names that end with either an “ie”, “ey”, “i”, or “y”. Therefore, I answer to any name shouted that ends with an “ee” sound.
There you go. And if you are leaving this entry without the Rockin' Robin song in your head, you amaze me. Fly on over to hear others' factual chatter at Homeschool Memoirs.
Well, I'll tell ya. My answer would have been nearly identical to hers....
The rules are tough. I gotta give it to four faithful readers of my blog and one new or far away blogger friend. As of right now, I only know of five faithful readers of my blog. Problem is, I can't award them as NONE of them have a blog. What to do, what to do...
I know! (Insert lightbulb)
Make YOU do the work! If you are a faithful reader of my blog (and are brave enough to admit it), leave me a comment and a way to reach you via your own blog. I just might pick you as the recipient of this award! Would this be considered my first giveaway?
Okay, I'm not going to make you do ALL of the work. I most certainly can toss this award to a new and/or far away blogger friend I have recently "met". I am giving it to someone who has shown herself to be a very good friend. She reached out through the blogosphere and attempted to help me with HTML issues. A very brave attempt. I have followed her directions partially so far and have been successful.
I just have to get around to following the rest of the directions.
You will have her to thank once I get my categories functioning properly and pictures around the blog...if I ever sit down and do it. Don't worry, SuzyScribbles, I have saved the directions. All your hard work hasn't gone unnoticed. Here's my way of saying thank you...
Enjoy some linky-love! See how I'm learning the lingo? And it has only taken me a year and a half!
Many Blessings,
Holly
P.S. Alrighty then. THAT could have been a real downer. Good thing I have Sitemeter so I KNOW there are people reading this blog. Just don't want to admit it, huh? I understand. So, I'll publicly thank you people now: Thank you for reading my blog. I'm sorry I can't thank you individually as I have no idea how to reach you. Sitemeter counts you and gives me a rough idea of your city whereabouts, but that is it. So to those of you where my Sitemeter shows that you DO come back regularly, feel free to grab this award for yourself. You deserve the award for putting up with my ramblings.
Do you think the same calm tolerance would be shown if hypothetically, as a teacher, I chose to take my public school classroom students on a fieldtrip to a church where my favorite speaker was talking about the ramifications of unBiblical choices happening in today's presidential elections?
Wouldn't that be "academically relevant?"
Wouldn't that be a perfect "teachable moment?"
Hmmm. Not indoctrination, huh?
Oh. My. Word. I'm seeing double. Double standard, that is.
Let me see if I got this straight:
1. Promote the g8y agenda..get congratulated for practicing sound "educational" teaching.
2. Promote a healthy debate of Creationism vs. evolution...get accused of indoctrination.
So, what's up, doc?
Um. Well, now. I guess I always thought education was about teaching my children HOW to think, not WHAT to think. Silly me.
I love the word submission. Horror upon horrors! Love submission? Yes, that's what I said.
It's one of those words that when you truly understand the meaning you can't help but sit back and smile. True submission brings about contentment. Why? Because following God's Word ALWAYS has the end result of being content. No brainer, Ladies, Our Creator knows what is best. His best will ALWAYS result in something positive even if the process hurts a little....or even a lot.
Now before you start throwing darts at me and calling me a doormat for actually WANTING to submit to my husband....read this amazingly written blog entry: Submission
See? Dirty, dirty word.
The word itself has become like a beautiful white towel stained with filthy spots from our childish unclean hands. Let's not throw the towel out. Let God bleach it clean to reveal its true beauty.
But just a warning: Like that pile of laundry you have on the sofa, bleaching the submission towel must be completed over and over and over again.
Happy submitting!
Many Blessings,
Holly
P.S. Yep, changed the original title to this blog. Original brought some unsavories to my blog. Duh.
Is it number eight already? Holy toledo, Batman! Where've I been? Looks like I've got some catchin' up to do! Last Homeschool Memoir I did was number three. Shame, shame on me. But, since I insist that my blogging is not to interfere or take priority over my here and now, I only feel a tiny, little, itty-bitty guilt.
Now doesn't that sound like a totally righteous excuse for skipping class four weeks in a row? Shhh.
Did you ever skip class before? I did once (not counting the times I faked illness so I could stay home and watch Brady Bunch). I wasn't exactly one of the "cool kids". Even my skipping was lame: it was Senior Skip Day. You know, a scheduled skip day. Justifiable. I even did all my schoolwork that I could before the skip.
Oh, boy. There's the challenge. Study and children don't always go together: Baby wants to be fed, two-year old wants to cuddle, three-year old wants to sit on my head, five-year old wants to supervise seating arrangements much to the horror of all other squealing children, seven-year old (just turned seven five days ago) wants to dictate how everything should be done, and teen-aged niece needs help at the computer. Thus, favorite spot to study is at the table.
Shocked you, didn't I? Yep, I'm a Charlotte Mason-wannabe. Images of cozy couch cuddling is a myth at my house.
We start the day at the kitchen table...for the baby's protection. He doesn't get sat on while I nurse him. Two and three year olds are pinned in their chairs, so that helps. And, we already have "assigned" seating, so five year old is content. Seven year old likes her spot because she is directly across from me and can make constant eye contact. I'm sure she feels center stage...perfect for my little actress. Teen-ager doesn't arrive 'til afternoon.
If the assignment had been to share my favorite study spot with my kid (note: singular) I would have said the sofa...hands down. For the sake of being able to breathe...literally...Table Time is a must at our house when we all are studying together. I do, however, adore cuddling on the couch with one of my children, each of us with our favorite blankies.
Mine is yellow with flowers all over it. My blankie, that is.
Speaking of which, I notice one of my children has woken up and is curled in MY blankie. Gotta go play some tug-of-war....
Many Blessings,
Holly
P.S. Don't you dare comment on my lack of progress in learning to categorize, put pictures in and/or add the class icon thinga-ma-gig. I know you want to. I so know you want to.
P.S.S. OH. MY. WORD. Did I really just successfully get the class icon thing up? I did it, didn't I? It was so simply; I feel so stupid. Now I must go back to my other entries for this class and get that little picture up. Got to keep up my reputation for being anal, you know.
P.P.S.S. Yes, I won the tug-of-war! No one gets between me and my blankie! No. one. It was a close one and my three-year old, Sweetness, put up a good struggle, but she was willing to concede defeat after round eight.
A very important question was addressed to me this week:
"Mom? Why do you have a bright pink line on the top of your big toenail?"
It's been intense survival mode for the last couple of weeks. The light at the end of the tunnel is a looonnnnggg way off. Only the musts and the have-tos are getting accomplished. I'm not lieing, just look at my big toe. Evidence of the fact that I have been neglecting some personal care for way too long.
Not talking about painting my toenails; I do that only in the summer to cover up my toe fungus during sandel and flipflop season. I'm talking about other basic care...like getting my haircut or nails clipped.
So. This week I set out to take care of myself.
Monday: I took the time to floss my teeth. Just one more way to count to ten before exploding on the five year old and three year old whining and arguing yet again.
Tuesday: Got my haircut. Surprise! Didn't even have an appointment. Was meeting my husband at HIS appointment after a full day of running errands. My hairdresser took one look at me and practically threw me into the chair.
Wednesday: Managed to shave my armpits. Believe me, we are ALL glad I took the time to do that.
Thursday: Almost had time for a shower. Almost. Two year old needed the bath more than I did. Blowout diapers take priority.
Friday: Almost had time to shave my legs. Almost. Figured I should probably join my seven year old and the rest of the family for the Birthday Girl's special breakfast. Legs can wait.
Saturday: Almost had time to trim my toenails. Used the time to trim the children's toenails and fingernails instead. All 100 of them. Here, I'll help you out: (10 toes X 5 children) + (10 fingers X 5 children) = 100.
Sunday (this morning): I hope to be able to shave my legs and/or trim my nails too. We'll see. I think I just used my little window of time to write this blog entry instead. Takes awhile when one is feeding the youngest and typing with only one finger.
Besides, if I trimmed my nails this morning, what would I use as silent weapons on my children during church today?
However, I think I have an answer to my daughter's question as to why I have a lingering bright pink line on my big toenail...
Seven. Seven sounds so grown up. I know you were so excited for your birthday today, but I wasn’t. With turning seven, it means you are no longer six. No longer six ever again. Ever again. Seven.
Yesterday when we were talking about your birthday, you excitedly exclaimed, “I will never be six ever again!” I secretly cried. I loved my six year old so, so, so much and know I will miss her. But, you know what? I’m going to love my seven year old too, probably even more. You are getting more and more beautiful every year. Beautiful on the inside.
I look forward to the day you have planned for us today, My Beautiful, and I look forward to the days God has planned for you. You are a wonderful blessing in my life. And, like our verse says, a blessing from God brings wealth, not trouble. You are the best kind of wealth.
I’m off to a great start. Only three assignments in, and I’m already behind. This particular entry for Homeschool Memoirs is about routines. Should have been written during the week of the 3rd. What is it now? The 13th?
Hey, they both have threes in them! Reminds me of the girlfriend of mine that I ran into at the store just days before my wedding day. I was to be married on the 30th of July, and I saw her on the 27th. She congratulated me and said she wished she could have been at my wedding! Turns out she had read 13th instead of 30th on my wedding invitation. I assured her she still had an opportunity to witness my fiance make the bravest commitment of his lifetime.
She still didn’t show. Maybe she thought I said 3rd? I've heard of fashionably late, but I haven't seen her since. I should have specified what year.
Routines. I stalled and stalled in hopes that I could actually find some hint of routine in my crazy mixed up life right now. I even toyed with the idea of cheating on this assignment. Do you think anyone would have noticed a copy and paste job? However, unlike some people I know, I pressed on trying to maintain a clear conscience.
Couldn’t live with myself any other way, you know.
So my checklist/schedule/routine-deprived life goes on. Hopefully, this deprivation is temporary for I LIVE for the structure of checklists and schedules and routines. You know how I’m surviving? I’m attempting to convince myself that my lack of routine currently IS routine.
Mental games, Girls. It’s all about mental games.
Here’s a little taste of my “routine”:
I plan a meal.
I prep a meal.
I serve a meal.
I eat a meal…sometimes I get to participate.
I get a meal extracted from me by my littlest.
I clean up from a meal.
I clean up same meal again by aiding my three year old in the bathroom.
Again, I clean up the meal as my I-can’t-risk-getting-“something”-on-my-hand-five year old needs assistance in the bathroom too.
Oh, let’s not forget cleaning up the meal AGAIN via the toddler’s diaper.
By this time, infant needs HIS meal cleaned up also…both in spit up and in diapers.
I field questions like “Can I have an apple?” with “No, we just ate a half hour ago.”
I proceed to forget to exercise to rid myself of said meal.
And it all starts again.
There you have it. My routine: Kitchen to bathroom. Bathroom to kitchen. Back and forth. Back and forth. All because of food. And maybe, just maybe, I might just get some housework completed or a little homeschool thrown in for good measure. Some days I even have a chance to run an errand or two…to the grocery store or to my friend’s house to pick up duck eggs.
Food, food, food, food, food.
Isn’t food what homeschooling is all about? Feed the heart, feed the soul, feed the body, feed the spirit, feed the mind…
…feed the ego…
Did I say that aloud?
My brain is beginning to clog and spew on its own; I best go get the plunger...
I knew this Homeschool Memoirs “Class” was going to be a bad influence on me.
Last week’s assignment was to introduce yourself. Determined to be friendly, I set out to introduce myself to everyone INDIVIDUALLY. I did mention that I tend to bite off more than I can chew, right?
Twenty blogs later, I finally clued in. Have you ever walked into a room full of one hundred fifty people and refused to leave until you had shook the hand of all those present? That’s what I was doing.
Not good. Not good at all.
Did I learn my lesson? Oh, no. Still read them all. Just didn’t comment on all.
As I was saying, Memoirs is a bad influence on me. This week’s assignment is all about agendas and plans. My addictions. Feeding my addictions, I tell ya’.
I have been “preparing your plans for sometime”, but I am most definitely not “ready to go” as the assignment opener stated. Always planning, rarely doing. Yep, that’s me.
This week’s assignment:
Share what you’re doing this year for your homeschool agenda.
Share the different curriculum you’re using. (Include age/grade you’re using it for, how long you’ve been using it, and why you like it.)
Share a Bible verse that has encouraged or inspired during this planning-process, and how.
In the spirit of learning to chew my food before I swallow, I am only going to answer portion one in this post. But, if you are truly interested, I’ll leave a link to my future post regarding the curriculum choices after I have written them…someday.
Agenda. Don’t you just love the word agenda? It sounds so hidden behind the scene, so focused and purposeful, so....so...manipulative...
Well, my husband and I do have a homeschool agenda. Keeping me focused while exploring curriculum, the agenda is there behind the scene. With so many choices out there, having this agenda has helped eliminate many, many, many options. Options that are good, but just not for us….I encourage you to sit with your husband and come up with a similar agenda…especially if you are prone to jump on every bandwagon that comes along.
Like I do. Thus, the agenda to gently slap me back into place when I am off on a tangent.
Warning: If you are an atheist, you might want to stop reading here. The following agenda my husband and I are purposefully striving to instill in our children will surely frighten and concern you.
BIBLE
Develop a personal relationship with God.
Establish a personal habit of daily Bible reading and prayer.
Actively seek to memorize scripture passages.
Cultivate a heart for missions.
HISTORY
See God’s work in man’s lives throughout time. God’s providence.
See man’s responses to God throughout time, positive and negative.
See the results of man’s responses to God, positive and negative.
See that God can do the impossible as History shows us time and again how God can work circumstances in ways the participants could have never imagined.
GEOGRAPHY
Establish familiarity with God’s world so as not to be intimidated by ignorance if God so called one to missions in a foreign land.
MATHEMATICS
Learn to see God as a God of order, design, and consistency.
LOGIC/PHILOSOPHY/CLASSICAL RHETORIC
Develop critical thinking skills to better combat false teaching.
SCIENCE
Marvel at God’s handiwork.
See God in all the details.
Understand that God is so much bigger than our own understandings.
HEALTH
Respectfully care for the ‘temple’ God has created.
Understand our bodies are “fearfully and wonderfully made” by God.
Realize the effect the Fall had on our physical body.
LANGUAGE ARTS
Develop skills to effectively communicate God’s message to a fallen world.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Establish a means of outreach toward other cultures.
See how God interacts in other cultures.
See how God’s gospel message is universal and effective.
ARTS
Encourage beautiful expressions of worship of God.
Encourage expressive communication about God to others.
Through art history, understand how people transformed by Christ have expressed their faith and worship through various types of art through the ages.
LIFE SKILLS
Male: Lay the groundwork for being head of a single-income home.
Eight years ago I got married. I know this is where most people would say "got married to my wonderful husband" or "got married to my best friend" or something like that. However, this post isn't about my husband; it's about me.
And, we all know, everything's about me.
Anyway...eight years ago and five children later, I look better than I did on my wedding day. Really. Even my husband thinks so. Really. I'm sure you would agree with me that a fine-toned physique is most unbecoming.
So, after years of full dedication to living a sedate life and spending the last seven years either pregnant and/or feeding each child off myself (I'm trying not to use words that will draw the unsavories through google search), I have achieved a most remarkable shape to this flabby physique of mine.
And what a gorgeous muffin-topped waistline it is. It matches those perfectly distorted upper parts beautifully. I've been waiting my whole life for these items to match my cellulite infested legs and toosh. I've arrived. Finally.
But, in the interest of society, I am willing to attempt to conform. I will loose some weight and try to tone up a bit, so as not to be a stumbling block for you. I wouldn't want to cause you to feel jealous.
December 9th is my 40th birthday. Forty by forty is my new motto. One hundred forty by forty actually. And, no, I don't have a full forty to get there...close, but not quite.
I have enlisted my sister-in-law to help me stay on track. For every day I don't at least walk for fifteen minutes, I must pay her a dollar. Fifteen minutes. Shouldn't be that hard, right?
We started the challenge nine days ago.
I owe her nine bucks.
Just doing my part to make sure my nephews and nieces have great Christmas presents...
Had a date with my three year old this evening. She invited me.
"Mom, it's my turn to have a date. Only Mommy and Sweetness. And Baby too."
I wasn't about to pass that up. Especially after the string of days I've just had with her.
She took me to a restaurant just down the road from us. No reservations required. It's one of those restaurants one must frequent when you just really need to be told that your child/ren are the most adorable little cuties. You know, those days when you are debating whether to place them up for adoption.
The patrons, however, at this restaurant have a median age of seventy and gladly coo and giggle at any child that graces the establishment. Enough to send any parent soaring with pride.
This is where I found myself this evening. With Sweetness. So named to give my training of her some sense of goals. She really IS a sweetie; it just can be difficult to remember sometimes.
So there we were strategically seated at the first table. All who entered could bask at this lone woman with her two adorable children sitting angelically together having an intimate dinner. The doors opened. Ah, yes, fan numbers one and two approaching....
They drew nearer. She was barely moving, and he was looking like he just might not be able to see where he was going. I internally rehearsed my modest responses to the inevitable comments: "Yes, thank you. We think they are adorable too. Yes, we are busy, but it is a good busy. Ha, ha, ha, yes, we do have our hands full...full of blessings...."
They stood by our table and both looked into my eyes. She didn't say a word. Neither did he. Instead, he drew a piece of paper smaller than the size of a business card out of his pocket and handed it to me. It was accompanied by a tiny little gray cross. Then he said one small sentence....
"Raise them well." He walked away holding his wife's hand.
The card was a poem explaining all about having a cross in your pocket at all times to remind you to live for Christ at all times. Daily. Wherever you are. Whatever you're doing. Live for HIM. Model HIM.
Okay, I'm adding my own words there, but you get the idea.
Then I realized it. That seventy-plus gentleman who looked like he couldn't see where he was going could see a whole lot more than I could.
I just hadn't realized I had left the house with a post-it note on my forehead that read:
Woman trying to parent without God's help. A true idiot.
Remind her to prioritize reading God's word ahead of blogs.
Caught. Disciplined. And corrected. Feels good. Tomorrow is a new day.
There’s a big difference between “class” and “memoirs”.
Aren’t memoirs writings by people who are famous or, um, well…old? Instead of a meme set to make me feel young and collegy; now I have been thrust back into reality.
The trauma, the trauma.
Will this goodie-two-shoes-I-do-all-the-teacher-tells-me-to gal be able to motivate herself to do the assignments weekly if she now doesn’t see the word “class” on her icon?
That is the question of the week.
Stay tuned. I have six days to do the first writing assignment…
Assigned date: August 20
Assignment: Write up something about me, my family, my home, how long I’ve been homeschooling and why I/we decided to homeschool. Maybe include a photo (I’d love to add a photo…if I wasn’t technologically challenged as well). Length optional.
Due date: August 26, 2008 (the year is important here so this perfectionistic procrastinator doesn’t play a mental game with herself and put it off “justifiably” until August 26, 2009)
Wait! I’ve already done part of the assignment!
About me: I’ve told you that I am commitment challenged, prone to exaggeration, a fixator on words, easily traumatized, feeling my age, a goodie-two-shoes, technologically challenged, a perfectionist, a procrastinator, a mental game player with myself, and an over analyzer. And, if you read my last post, you read that I tend to bite off more than I can chew.
And I’m a wife and mother.
Hey! That puts me into the next part of the assignment: My family.
Married to my attorney husband for eight years. A little boy born July 1st joins siblings Beautiful (dd Oct.’01), Handsome (ds May ’03), Sweetness (dd Nov. ’04), Happy Boy (ds Aug. ’06).
Yep. Five children. Ages six and under.
Let that sink in.
Beautiful has been loosely homeschooled for the past year and a half…we are getting serious this year. Handsome has been loosely homeschooled for about half a year…HE wants me to get more serious with him. And, Sweetness will begin her period of loose homeschooling soon.
What do you know...Wasn’t that last tidbit a part of the assignment as well? I am so on a roll here.
I just need to say we are throwing my ninth grade niece into the mix this year. Going to be a fun challenge. She has never been homeschooled before.
I lean toward a Charlotte Mason style with classical twirled in there. However, my Handsome is “work-bookie” and Sweetness is showing signs of being VERY kinesthetic. I may have to do some major adjustments.
I could probably write a dissertation on all the reasons why we have chosen to homeschool. But, in a nutshell (or in our nuthouse), we homeschool with the hopes of molding our children’s hearts toward God and to keep their hearts until they are ready to fly on their own.
Look at that. I seem to have completed my assignment. What am I missing? Oh, about my home…the physical home is on the move…literally. We are in the process of fixing up our current home to put on the market while at the same time building our new one. We hope to move in two months.
Or before Christmas.
And a photo? Don’t push your luck.
Oh, and where’s the teacher I’m supposed to be kissin’ up to? Do I get extra credit for turning in my assignment on the day the work was assigned?
To see that I am truly not the only eager student, head on over to here.
I promise not to return to this entry over and over again to try and perfect it. I lied. Been back four times already making things "better." Please tell me the icon finally showed up embedded in my entry. I need to hear/read those words.
Many Blessings,
Holly
P.S. Ah, yes! Icon image has been successfully embedded. And it only took a month to figure it out. Duh!
To say that I am mad is an understatement. Livid is a better word. Just take a peak at this latest California ruling, and I bet you won't stay calm either. Go ahead take a look at how one judge has yet again implied that Christians are lacking intelligence...
The portion that has me "laughing" at such a conclusion is the part that says "made a legitimate claim that the texts failed to teach critical thinking and omitted important science and history topics."
Oh. My. Word.
And what tests and studies have they conducted to prove a lack of critical thinking skills in the students? Important science and history topics....according to whom? This argument of theirs would have some merit if it is proven that the judge's choice of secular science and history texts are infallible and have omitted NO science and history topics at all.
So, whose missing the critical thinking skills, hmm? Ooh, that was mean of me. Oops.
I, for one, plan on teaching my children critical thinking skills and, by golly, they will be using Christian texts and living books. Will I shield them from all secular subjects such as evolution? No. We will debate them, and my children will have an intelligent understanding of the theories. Oh, that's right, evolution is a theory, isn't it? It's hard to remember that when it is constantly shoved down our throats as a fact.
As a parent, it looks like we need to make a decision here. Do we teach our children secular science and history devoid of God, the author and creator of science and history so that they can get credit to get into a university, OR do we teach them about God's plan and creativity and end up having children who won't get into the university of their choice but will still have a heart full of intelligence and critical thinking skills.
Easy one for me. How 'bout you?
Many Blessings,
Holly
I am notorius for biting off more than I can chew.
Let's see...just had a baby, we're building with soon to be moving, starting up homeschooling my 1st grader and my 9th grader niece for the first time, adjusting to the possibility of a new church, just started on Facebook while still being confused on how to write blogs a year later. Need I continue? There's more to that list, but you get the idea.
Change, change, change. So many adjustments.
In the past year of blogging, I've attempted to join many writing inspiration links...in a hope to get me to be consistent or motivated to get more serious about learning the ins and outs of template changes and writing blog entries.
Very unusual for me. I prefer to think of myself keeping my priorities straight, but I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that I just might be plain old lazy in my attempts. I need help.
Lots of it.
So....
Not sure what I am doing here or even what this Blogger Class Mates thing is, but I'm pretty sure I won't be asked to do anything illegal. I do, however, know that I am a goodie-two-shoes and always do my assignments for class...usually. I think, then, I just might actually stick to this.
Maybe. We'll see.
I'm already off to a not-so-good start. The first assignment is to make a category on our templates for our assignments and to put the official button on our sidebar. Okay, know how to put the button there. Done. But, Girls, I would LOVE to know how to make a categories section on my sidebar. Even with one person trying to help a few months ago, there is no section for categories on my sidebar. I'm beginning to think it is the template that I have chosen from Homeschoolblogger. Can it be? Do I need to choose a different template? Any brave soul want to attempt, yet again, to help this technology challenged individual with creating categories?
It's almost been two months. The phone call one never wants to receive. My baby niece was dead, accidently run over by her teenage sister. I briefly blogged about it in my last post.
How does one follow a blog post like that?
I've written a blog here and there in my head, sat down to type it out, and had frozen hands. I just couldn't post about the mundane or silly things goin' on around here. Not without first writing a follow up of my last post.
Problem is...I just wasn't ready.
Until now...
GOD IS GOOD! My family has been seeing so many unexpected miracles throughout the last two months. We can truly feel the many, many, many, many prayers flying to Jesus on our behalf. There is just so many ways God has revealed Himself through this tragedy.
Take my four year old nephew. He asked his parents when was God going to bring the baby back after He was done "fixing her". Later in the day he came inside shouting to his mom to come and look...he had found the baby! He was pointing up into the sky intensely and describing a scene playing before his eyes: there was the baby with a "big Jesus helper" (angel) and traveling before them was the littlest baby (his mother had miscarried at 15 weeks four months prior to the tragic death of their youngest.) He insisted they were there in the sky.
We believe God gave that little guy a vision. And gave to us a small glimpse to remind us that He has those little babies safely in His hands.
The memorial service was beautiful. My brother is a pastor and really felt God still wanted him to lead the service even though it was his child that had died.
We all tried to talk him out of it.
I'm glad my brother insisted that he must follow God's lead. He spoke of the adoration his little baby had for him and how he looked forward everyday to spending time with her as she lit up all around him. She was a joy because of her adoration toward him. He used that picture of his now deceased baby's adoration to show how God wants our adoration. We are to adore God. It brings God such joy.
The sermon continued with demonstrations on HOW to show adoration toward God: love your wife, submit/respect your husband, honor/obey your parents, forgive, repent, etc. In other words: Obey God.
Those who were closed to hearing God deemed the sermon "inappropriate." Huh? Since when is it ever inappropriate to point others to The Great Comforter?????
Those, however, who had ears to hear and eyes to see loved the sermon. We have seen unsaved loved ones turning toward God during this time. I even had one unsaved friend who attended the service say that it was the most clear explanation of what it means to "serve God" that he had ever heard! He got it!
Two weeks to the day of my niece's death, my own son was born arriving nine days early. The miracle is that my sister-in-law AND my teenage niece (the one who had been driving the car) were at the birth of my son. I had a homebirth with a midwife attending.
It was a beautiful and emotional time. My newborn son was placed into the hands of my niece as soon as possible. She just held that little boy and cried and cried and cried. A healing cry.
The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Life goes on.
We all have our moments, but healing is continuing. I am most asked how my teenage niece is doing. She is doing well. She has moments that she "loses it." Maybe a song or a comment or a memory will trigger a meltdown, but for the most part she is strong. She, fortunately, had a strong relationship with the Lord even before this tragedy and knew where to turn in her sorrow.
She and God are best pals now. The tragedy has opened doors for her to share her story to many, many people. As she tells her story, she points them to God. And, that my friends, is what it is all about.
And, this week my sister-in-law announced she is pregnant again! May God use this pregnancy to further the healing process. Amen!
It is four in the morning, and I can't sleep. Been awake for a long time. I am too numb to probably write something coherent here, but I'm going to try...I, and my immediate family, covet your intense prayers right now and for the long haul.
Remember a few weeks back when we all heard the news that Steven Curtis Chapman's teenager accidently backed over and killed the younger sibling with the car? I remember being so full of grief for them and immediately was able to go to the Lord and intercede for not only the entire Chapman family, but for the teenager especially. It didn't make any difference that they are strangers to me.
Horrors on horrors! The same situation just happened yesterday in my own family! My brother's teenager, who was just moving the car for a minute, did not see the one year old sibling crawl near the car. The baby was run over and killed.
My heart, my heart, my heart....I know I am a stranger to you, but I write this in hopes that someone out there will respond the way, a few weeks ago, I was able to respond to the Chapman family.
"I can't afford to buy organic." It amuses me sometimes that many of these very same people saying this are holding a four dollar daily latte, smoking a cigarette, drinking a beer or going out to eat two or three times a week.
Yes, it is affordable to buy organic. One just needs to put it into perspective. Believe me, you'll be a whole lot healthier and possibly save on doctor trips as well. So, do you want to buy that $1.25 candy bar or soda, or do you want to pay an extra 40 cents on organic broccoli?
I'm not saying that you have to buy all organic. But, I do believe that it is good stewardship to purchase the best that one can afford, especially when it comes to healthy foods.
One way to save on the cost of organic produce is to create one's menu around what is in season. Simply don't buy something if it is not in season. It will be way over-priced. The catch is to figure out what is in season. It can get confusing due to the fact that produce can be trucked in from all over the world. So, what is really in season in your area? I've been looking into this and have come up with a list that will hopefully be helpful to some of my readers.
I am no expert. In fact, some things on this list I've never even heard of...like some of the kinds of melons and squash. Also, I am assuming the varying months of seasonality is due to varying variety of certain fruits and veggies or regional growing seasons. The list is referring to peak season growing periods. You'll find the produce to be of better quality and far more worth the price...especially in taste.
Be flexible as growing seasons can adjust a bit year to year due to weather conditions. Watch the news for floods and frosts in growing areas as this effects quality and prices. For instance, in our area right now, there is a shortage of bananas because the supply area has suffered from floods. Prices are up. Earlier this year, the quality of oranges wasn't worth purchasing them at all because of a frost during peak growing season.
So, I have gotten as far as learning what is in season. The list is not exhaustive. Let me know what I have missed, and I'll add to it. I hope to some day focus on buying more locally as well, so my personal list will eventually adjust to that. In the meantime, I hope this list helps you along in making the steps to purchasing better quality food for you and your family and making it worth the cost:
Acorn squash Jan., Mar.-Dec.
Apples Sept.-Oct.
Apricots June-July
Artichokes March-May
Asparagus April-May
Avocados Jan., June-Aug.
Bananas All months
Banana squash Oct.-Nov.
Beets June-Oct.
Bell peppers Aug.-Sept.
Blackberries June-Aug.
Blueberries July-Aug.
Broccoli All months
Brussel sprouts April, Aug.-Sept., Nov.-Dec.
Buttercup squash Jan.-Mar., Sept.-Dec.
Butternut squash Jan.-Oct., Dec.
Cabbage Jan.-April, Nov.-Dec.
Cantaloupe June-Sept.
Carrots All months
Casaba melon Sept.-Oct.
Cauliflower Jan.-Oct., Dec.
Chard June-Sept.
Chili peppers Aug.-Sept.
Celery Jan.-March, May
Cherries June, Aug.
Chicory April, Nov.
Collards Jan.-Mar., Dec.
Corn-on-the-cob May-June, Aug.-Sept.
Cranberries Sept., Nov.
Crenshaw melon Aug.-Sept.
Crookneck squash June-Aug.
Cucumbers April-June, Aug.-Sept.
Dates Nov.
Eggplant July-Aug.
Endive April, Nov.
Escarole April, Nov.
Figs June-Oct.
Garlic March-April, Aug.-Oct.
Grapefruit April-July, Oct.-Dec.
Grapes June-Nov.
Green beans May-Aug.
Green onions Jan.-Sept., Nov.-Dec.
Honeydew melon June-Oct.
Hubbard squash Dec.
Kale Jan.-Feb.
Kiwi fruit May-Dec.
Kohlrabi June-July
Kumquats Jan.-June, Nov.-Dec.
Leeks May, Sept.-Nov.
Lemons Jan., March-Dec.
Lettuce March, Dec.
Limes Jan.-Feb., May-Dec.
Mushrooms Feb.-April, Nov.-Dec.
Mustard greens Jan.
Nectarines July
Okra July-Oct.
Onions All months
Oranges Jan.-April, Dec.
Papayas May
Parsley All months
Parsnips Oct.-Dec.
Peaches Aug.
Pears Jan.-April, Aug.-Dec.
Peas May-Aug.
Persian melon Aug.-Sept.
Persimmons Oct.-Nov.
Pineapple March-June
Plums May-Aug.
Pomegranates Oct.
Potatoes All months
Pumpkins Oct.
Radishes April, June-July
Raspberries June-July
Rhubarb April-May
Rutabagas Feb.-March, Sept.-Dec.
Scallop squash June-Aug.
Shallots July-Oct.
Spinach March-June
Strawberries April-July
Sweet potatoes Nov.-Dec.
Tangelos Dec.
Tangerines Dec.
Tomatoes June-Aug.
Turnips March, Sept.-Dec.
Watercress June-July
Watermelon June-Aug.
Yams Nov.-Dec.
Zucchini June-Nov.
So, now if I could just figure out the best times to stock up on spices/herbs, nuts and gluten-free grains. Anyone want to help me with that? Got a source to point me to?
