Well it's about that time again. Time to plan next year's school curriculum. I'm already deciding to use Rod and Staff again with a sprinkling of Christian Light Education. They are both Mennonite companies and I have found that I like their material best of the various curriculum companies that I've tried. Christian Light has an excellent Home EC course that my oldest dd (13) will be starting this coming school year. She is very interested in the Keepers of the Faith curriculum that involves the Keepers at Home activities. I'm thinking of trying KAH and CLE together and seeing what happens.

My middle dd (11) is very interested in learning how to sew and she has made a couple of items by hand but she prefers the sewing machine over hand sewing. I want to really encourage her in this area. Of course this means I need to get over my own insecurities about the sewing machine and sewing in general. I feel like I'm more comfortable sewing one piece hanging veils than I am with trying to sew a dress. Perhaps I can find an easy modest skirt pattern for my girls and attempt to sew  some skirts.

My yougest dd (7) hasn't shown much interest in sewing yet. She prefers to draw pictures, read books or play with her dolls. She does however like to help with cooking the meals and so maybe she will have an interest in cooking sometime.

I am not a "B" word or the "N"  or the "W" word and I refuse to have my children exposed to such trashy music. I was absolutely disgusted one day about two weeks ago my husband and youngest daughter went over to this magazine/gift shop to get our oldest girls who had finished their lunch and wanted to kill some time while we had finished ours. There was this young guy sitting in his car with his "music" so loud I'm sure it could be heard clear across the street. The "noise" was filled with so many obsenities and "N" word etc. Tim went in in to get the girls and I had our youngest daughter with me so I told her to quickly come with me and to cover her ears and we quickly walked to the car

Ithink he mistook me for a nun (those of you who know me understand why)  because the music stopped all of a sudden by the time we got to our car. I don't understand why it's so acceptable to use hate words in so called "music" and young people are just so numb to the "N" word and  about what it really means. Maybe a trip to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles would give them something to think about before they utter such a word(or any racial slur) again.

Then there is that "B' word. Could it be that the modern day feminazis who demand to be treated equally with men has given these rap "artists"  license to disrespect all women with their words? Since when did we women become female dogs?

 There was a time when it was illegal to use fowl language in front of women and children. Now you hear women who can out cuss any sailor and some of these children need their mouths washed out with soap with the way they talk.

What God must be thinking when He sees His children treating each other like this? Okay I'm done with my rant.

The Lord blessed us with a new washer that a friend gave us. I'm so thrilled to not have to use go to the laundermat even though it is interesting to watch how others do their laundry. The main thing I noticed about people was they use way too much laundry soap. The machines at this particular center had all front loaders so you can see all the soap these people were using and they used so much soap that all I saw was bubbles and no laundry!

Anyway, we feel blessed to have a workiong washer. The old washer turned to be that the washer's tub got cracked due to some screw or something that came off. Anyway the result being the water just flowed out like the flood gates being opened and water, water everywhere. The carpets are out now and so we have bare floor where the carpet once was.

Now we have to figure out how we want to cover the floor.

 Fires: We have had this very scary wildfire burning since July 1st. It's a little too close for comfort to be able to walk outside and see flames burning in the hills above you. Even though you are far far away from it, it's still very scary and you wonder how bad it's going to get and you wonder if you will have to evacuate your home.

 Blackouts:Then there are the power outages caused by the fire. Our power has gone out every night and some daytime power outages as well. Today it went out while I was at the laundermat.

Floods: We came home from lunch on Sunday to find that our washer went on strike and flooded the hallway, entry, and dining room. So Tim had to call in at work to tell them about our flood emergency and he wouldn't be in. So went spent several hours cleaning up the mess and ripping up the hallway carpet. Then of course the power decided to go out. When that happened Tim started laughing. I was afraid he was having a nervous breakdown! But I'm glad he saw the humor in all of this. Next we will pull the carpet in the living room because just a bit of water was there. The thing is the water  that was flooding was clear and we have no idea why the washer acted so "hateful".

Such adventures!

Oh my!

Okay I know it's been ages since I last updated but the truth is, I always forget that I need to come here and update. I remember after I have signed off for the night. So anyway, here it is summer and we have to do summer school. I still have to order curriculum for the fall but my budget is a bit tight. I plan on using Rod and Staff again. I really like that it is completely Bible based and easy to use.

This week here in CA some very disturbing events went on that was just pure evil. I won't go into detail but I have some strong feelings about it and since I don't want to be accused of spreading "hate" over the internet. I will say that the Lord spoke to me through some verses this morning during my devotions'

In Psalm 37:1-2 it says:

1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut off like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

That was very comforting but at the same time sad because God doesn't  want any of us to be lost forever in eternity but I know that is what will happen to anyone who doesn't turn from their sin. May God have mercy on California.

When I started this blog almost three years ago I wanted it to be an encouragement to homeschool moms and potential homeschool moms, I knew that in order for that to happen, I knew I was going to have to become transparent and share my joys, my sorrows, my struggles etc.

I have to admit it;s not easy sharing personal things on a public arena. When I shared about my mom cancer and her death, I almost deleted the entries because it was just to personal but the Lord showed me that even though those entries were full of pain, there were others out there who are dealing with the same issues though maybe not in the same manner.

The times when I've shared about feeling like a failure as a homeschool mom reminded me that many a hoomeschool mom has been there, done that and can really relate to my struggles.

So it is my prayer that this blog will continue to be  an encouragement to myself and all who read it.