From the Heart:

We had a great week.  School went very well.  We are all past our sicknesses.  No drama.  I'm so grateful.

The Lord is speaking to me about being a better friend, about really listening and being there for people.  I need to hear this, and so much want to do this.  I am convicted of keeping my friends at armslength.  I know it stems from being insecure in childhood and feeling like I didn't have any friends, so I stopped trying.  There have been times when the Lord has brought me friends, and still I did not work hard at keeping them.  I want to go beyond that in my life, and work harder at being there for my friends.  If you want to be included in those who want my deeper friendship, just leave a comment, or email me.  I'm going to try.

This is Snow Crystal working on a Christmas present. 

On the Homefront:

We worked on keeping the house cleaner throughout the week, and found that to work well.  I do laundry twice a week (Sundays or Mondays and Thursdays or Fridays).  If the laundry isn't finished, I finish it the next day without adding more from the new day.  This way I know all the laundry gets done twice a week and it isn't as much of a burden.  The older girls are helping me a lot more too.  For example, Snow Crystal is downstairs making cookies right now as I type.  The weather was nice, and got nicer all week.  Feels like summer except for all the snow still on the ground.

This is Snow Crystal following her "directions" of how to make her favorite cookies that she had to do for language arts yesteday.

In the School Room:

Bible:  We continue to read Egermeier's Bible Story Book with Bubbies and the older girls listening in.  We didn't do anything with our Biblical Holidays book.  We also read a few stories from "I Heard Good News", which is a book full of short stories about how different countries and peoples received the gospel.  I am thinking that for the older girls we might try to do some of the articles and activities that go with The Voice of the Martyrs magazine.  You can find it at http://www.kidsofcourage.com.  It looks like it would be a good thing for them to do.

History:  We are now in the post-civil war era.  In Landmark's History of America we learned how Montgomery Ward changed the way business was done for the rural American, and about Richard Sears' imput to this.   

Science:  We moved on to start learning about Alexander Graham Bell and his inventions.

Read-Aloud:  We are ahead with the older girls, so took a break from read-alouds.  I read The Light on Tern Rock with Bubbies.

Reader:  Mountain Princess and Snow Crystal are reading Shades of Gray, by Carolyn Reeder.  It is a good book about a boy who was orphaned during the civil war, and having to live with his mother's sister and family after the war.

Language Arts:  The older girls worked on similies, topic sentences, writing a formal letter, and grammar.  Bubbies reviewed the letter "S" and made a "P" and an "S" letter sheet (I get these from homeschoolshare.com).  She read her first "reader" that comes with her curriculum.  It is a cute little book called "Pam"). It was a proud moment for her to read it to her daddy one evening this week too.

Math:  We had a great week again this week, and the girls continue to make progress in becoming independent.

Spanish:  MP is using Rosetta Stone and seems to be learning and retaining a lot.  SC is using The Complete Book of Spanish (workbook from Wal Mart).  She'll get back to Rosetta next year.

On the Mission Field:

The school had Chris Stanton here.  He suffered from acute mountain sickness for the first day, but finally recovered.  I think they've been having a great time. 

In the Literary Scene:

I am reading Brock and Bodie Thoene's second book in the Galway Series Of Men and of Angels, and I finished the first book too.  Very good reading!

Feeding on His Faithfulness,

Carol

If you would like to join me in this theme, just write up your own weekly summary, using mine or your own categories.  Then sign the Mr. Linky below.  I'd love to read your weekly summaries too!    I hope to post mine on each Friday or Saturday.  At the latest it will be on Sunday.  If you get yours done before I do, just leave your link in my cbox or comments from the week before.  Be sure and check last week's Mr. Linky for any new ones who posted before I did!  It is a great way to meet new people.

From the Heart:

I'm hoping that I am coherent enough to write an intelligent readable post this weekend.  This week has been good.  We only had four days of schooling, but we managed to get our five days worth of work done in that time, somehow.  I'm grateful for that.  I'd really like to get this year done by May or early June so I can start schooling year-round in June or July, and take some of the pressure off of missing days due to sickness and so forth.  I don't want to not be able to start early and each year go late, and so forth.

I had the bug this week from starting on Sunday, but it was the worst Wednesday, with me chilling and aching Tuesday night.  I am much better now.

Most of the pics posted today (except the one of my family making applesauce) are from a birthday party we went to near Delta, Colorado, yesterday. 

On the Homefront:

Wednesday while I was sick, dh and I, and the kids made applesauce.  We had gotten 3-4 cases of apples from Sharing Ministries last week or so, but hadn't gotten to this.  Dh had the day off due to working last Saturday.

We didn't have anywhere to attach our "Squeezo" onto a ledge or table in our home, so dh took the kids to the front deck to make our applesauce after I cooked it up.

In the School Room:

Bible:  We continue to read Egermeier's Bible Story Book with Bubbies and the older girls listening in.  We didn't do anything with our Biblical Holidays book.  We also read a few stories from "I Heard Good News", which is a book full of short stories about how different countries and peoples received the gospel.

History:  We read more about the Civil War from Landmark's History of America, and started the second volume of the same book learning about the "Go-getters" that helped settle our country.   

Science:  Pretty much the same.  We'll be glad to get through the electricity and magnetism unit.

Read-Aloud:  We finished Across Five Aprils with the big girls.  We also finished The Hundred Dresses with Bubbies, but didn't finish the lapbook yet.

Reader:  Mountain Princess and Snow Crystal finished Turn Homeward, Hannalee.  It is a good book based on an event in the civil war era.

Language Arts:  The older girls worked on similies, topic sentences, writing a formal letter, and grammar.  Bubbies reviewed the letter "P" but we didn't get to making her notebook page.  She seems to have lost interest in that, so I don't know if I will continue to do it or not.  It may work better to do them with Little Critter in the next year as I introduce letters to him.

Math:  We are back to our math books, and I am pleased to say that Snow Crystal has begun to work more independently.  For this I am thankful!

Spanish:  MP is using Rosetta Stone and seems to be learning and retaining a lot.  SC is using The Complete Book of Spanish (workbook from Wal Mart).  She'll get back to Rosetta next year.

This is Little Critter playing the piano at our friends' house during the birthday party.

On the Mission Field:

The students were gone to the Go Conference in Estes Park for most of the week.  Tim took three of the guy students fishing for half the day yesterday.  They enjoyed themselves a lot.

In the Literary Scene:

I finished reading Raising Godly Tomatoes by L. Elizabeth Krueger.   I highly recommend it for every parent with children in grade school or younger.  I will regularly go back to it as a refresher, and I feel it has already done wonders with my family.  I am also reading Brock and Bodie Thoene's Only the River Runs Free, which has had a fabulous beginning, and I know will continue to be great.  It is about Ireland in the mid-1800's.

Feeding on His Faithfulness,

Carol

If you would like to join me in this theme, just write up your own weekly summary, using mine or your own categories.  Then sign the Mr. Linky below.  I'd love to read your weekly summaries too!    I hope to post mine on each Friday or Saturday.  At the latest it will be on Sunday.  If you get yours done before I do, just leave your link in my cbox or comments from the week before.  Be sure and check last week's Mr. Linky for any new ones who posted before I did!  It is a great way to meet new people.

For Today, Monday, October 26th, 2009

Outside My Window... 

Dark outside, but cold and patches of snow on the ground.  Saw turkeys roaming the yard yesterday. 

 I'm thinking...

God is faithful in the little things.

From the learning rooms... 

I give a rundown on Saturdays, so I won't bore you with the details.  I'm pleased with the way the girls worked hard today.

I am thankful for... 

Four healthy kids.    

From the kitchen...

It is cloudy, cold, and damp outside today.  But inside, it is bright, cheerful, and warm.             

The fireplace is roaring, taking the cold and dampness out of the air.  There is contentment within our family, although going nowhere today, and just staying inside.

We started our morning with my usual Sabbath breakfast recipe – a dozen eggs, some whole wheat bread, a cup or two of cheese, and about four turkey patties (pre-cooked) crumbled. I mix all of this together and then sprinkle the egg dish with more cheese, and then bake at 350 for 45 minutes.  This gives us a protein rich egg dish to start our day, without all the usual mess and hassle of an egg, sausage, and toast breakfast. We had bought cinnamon rolls the day before to have as our breakfast dessert.

So far today, we have read a chapter in Psalms, Proverbs, and a portion in I Samuel 13, 14, 15 and I Chronicles 5 and 9 -this is the story of the reign of Saul.  Besides having generous portions of Bible reading as a family, we have played a game of Scrabble, watched the movie, Toy Story, a board game of Monopoly, and read from our  historical novel   ( a   G..A. Henty book) while many of the children colored pictures with fine art- grade precision pencils.

My niece was with us this weekend.  She arrived Friday evening, as we were preparing our pizzas and breadsticks.  We sat at the table together, and before eating, we had prayer, and sought forgiveness from one another for any transgressions against each other in the past week.  We remembered as a family how Jesus died and paid the penalty for our sins against Him.  His blood was poured out and His body was given up for us.  After pizza, we read a portion in the Bible, played a game of Scrabble, and hung out in the family room around the cozy and warm fireplace.

I am still having an internet connection problem – therefore – my lack of posts.  I have a lot to share and find myself seriously behind in things I’d like to share, such as –

Our trip to Biltmore Estate and our tea time with Grandma in August

Our first visit to Ruth’s farm in Tennessee in August

Our Family Camp here at Ranch Shekinah in October

Our second visit to Ruth’s farm in Tennessee in October

Our week of celebrating the Biblical Holiday, Tabernacle of Booths, in Tennessee with Ruth and her fellowship group

Ruthie’s 11^th birthday party – A Victorian Tea party that we hosted 17 little girls and some of the mom’s

Add to all of that, I still haven’t posted on the foaling of Hot Shot and Willow!

Although I am way behind in posting, I have been enjoying my family thoroughly.  As I mentioned above, we took another trip to Tennessee just a few weeks ago.  Just as soon as we got home from that (we were away nine days) it was Ruthie’s birthday – we took all week getting ready for her Victorian Tea Party.

There have been a lot of changes within our family since our summer trip to the Bill Gothard Institute of Basic Life Principles seminar, followed up with two inspirational visits to Ruth’s wonderful family in Tennessee.   I'm looking forward to sharing what's new with our family, and also to visit with you.  See you soon (I hope!)

Antoinette

From the Heart:

Back to the basics.  We finally had an almost normal week, and I was determined to get five days of school in, in spite of the fact that Thursday and Friday we had two extra kids in the mix.  Somehow we made it happen.

The Lord is gently helping me to rediscover my love and passion for overseas missions.  I have no idea where or when He will call us from here, but the desire is growing stronger each week.  I am waiting for Him to work the details out and bring my husband along this same way in His perfect timing.

On Friday evening we were able to celebrate Sabbath more traditionally with our new tablecloth and candlesticks.  This was enjoyable to me and the kids, especially.  We ate an elk roast, baked potatoes, vegetarian baked beans, and an apple pie.

You can see closer up shots of our new tablecloth and candlesticks on my previous post here.  The company that sells these graciously heard the Lord and provided these to our family as a gift.  If you would like to look at their website and see their other wonderful things they offer, check it out at www.davidicdance.com.

On the Homefront:

We had two nights with snow this week.  One day the kids were actually able to get out and sled a bit.  It is quickly melting away again...for which I am rejoicing.  The days aren't especially cold.

We are still waiting for the Lord to sell our old van's snow tires, four-wheeler, and chicken coop, if He so desires.  It seems He is leading my husband to sell the four-wheeler, and we are doing this in faith and obedience to Him, although it is not a desire of ours.

In the School Room:

Bible:  We continue to read Egemeier's Bible Story Book with Bubbies.  We didn't do anything with our Biblical Holidays book.  We have started Book of Virtues, which is enjoyable.

History:  We finished A Photobiography of Abraham Lincoln and read more about the Civil War from Landmark's History of America.   Bubbies finished learning about medieval times, and started learning about ancient China.

Science:  The big girls are learning about electricity and magnetism, but none of us are really getting into their reading assignments or activities.  It just isn't all that interesting, and it is maybe a bit beyond our intellect, perhaps.  Bubbies studied about caves, coastal areas, and that sort of thing.  Last week I forgot to mention that we did the Outdoor Hour #3.  With our friends here, we didn't get one in this week.

Read-Aloud:  We continued Across Five Aprils with the big girls.  We are ahead of schedule, but it seems very slow going - I'd sure like to read it to its end sooner!  I am doing The Hundred Dresses with Bubbies, complete with a free lapbook from www.homeschoolshare.com.

Reader:  Mountain Princess and Snow Crystal are reading Turn Homeward, Hannalee.  It is a good book, that I took an evening to read in its entirety.  It is based on an event in the civil war era.

Language Arts:  The bigger girls' language arts was based on newspaper articles, that we didn't have access to, so I did an extra dictation instead.

Math:  I came across a great math program for helping the girls learn their math facts a little faster.  They are enjoying it a lot.  You can get it for free for two weeks, so we are trying to get as much use out of it that we can while we can!  It is www.mathscore.com.  We did this 30 minutes a day this week, so I had the kids put aside their usual math books to work on their math facts.

Spanish:  MP is using Rosetta Stone and seems to be learning and retaining a lot.  SC is using The Complete Book of Spanish (workbook from Wal Mart).  She'll get back to Rosetta next year.

On the Mission Field:

The students had an extra special week with a speaker named Troy Sherman.  I think he speaks into their lives a lot when they  are here.  One of the students from the last school came and was ministered by him quite a bit this week also.

In the Literary Scene:

The only book outside of the kids' reading that I got in was Raising Godly Tomatoes by L. Elizabeth Krueger.   This continues to be very helpful in our family.

Feeding on His Faithfulness,

Carol

If you would like to join me in this theme, just write up your own weekly summary, using mine or your own categories.  Then sign the Mr. Linky below.  I'd love to read your weekly summaries too!    I hope to post mine on each Friday or Saturday.  At the latest it will be on Sunday.  If you get yours done before I do, just leave your link in my cbox or comments from the week before.  Be sure and check last week's Mr. Linky for any new ones who posted before I did!  It is a great way to meet new people.

Last Friday this motley crew, who happens to be our current Discipleship Training School, put on a love feast and foot washing for us.  The theme they chose was "Favorite Biblical Characters".  I came as Mary, the one who loved to sit at Jesus' feet.  Dh came as Lazarus, my brother.  Mountain Princess came as Queen Esther.  Snow Crystal came as the angel with the fiery sword, Bubbies came as Mary, Jesus's mother, and Little Critter came as King Josiah.  Here are pics of us in order of how I just listed it:

We ate at fancily decorated tables on the floor a very special meal created by the students.  They entertained us with singing, and washed our feet before the end of the evening.  It was a very nice evening.

Here are a few random pics of people enjoying themselves at the love feast.

I hope you all enjoyed my little presentation of our fun night last Friday night.  If  you would like to see more show and tell entries this week or enter one of your own, jump on over to Mary's blog Raising Godly Men and join the fun!