Oct. 9, 2008
Hello again
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Wow, It totally amazes me at how fast time fly's. We have started homeschool, finally. It has taken us a while to get up and running. Mostly due to finances. We are using paces for our youngest son that our oldest son didn't use. He went on to bigger and better things. He is going to a tech college later this year. Currently he is working, GED etc. He had a lot of unused curriculum. (a blessing in disguise. I bought our youngest two books to give her a month of brushing up and then we will (Lord willing) Get her into her 8th grade curriculum. The brush up has been good for her. Our oldest daughter is getting married. She has met a wonderful preacher from PA. They will be married on March 21. We are so thankful to God for bringing Joshua into our lives. He has been preaching for his congregation for almost two years. So I joke about it....but we will be taking donations for the wedding.:) Our daughter started the wedding planning with a smaller budget, that she grew and grew and grew and then she came to her senses and scaled it back again. :) Wow, anyone who has planned a wedding knows how quickly it can get out of hand. Stay tuned....we haven't spent a dime yet....we will see. :) Hope homeschool is going well for all of you. Renee |
Aug. 17, 2008
Update......
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Life has been crazy around here as usual. The summer has almost run it's course. We hit 105 yesterday on the heat! Yikes. I have been working extra, which is good because vacations take a lot out of the budget. Dave and Tim are planning their hunting trip for mid September. We have an unexpected surprise added to our life! My daughter is getting married next June. She has met a wonderful preacher and they are so in love. Thank you God! It's time to buy our curriculum again. This year we only have to buy for the youngest two. That will be weird. Our oldest son is working on getting his GED. He will have it by winter, if all goes well. He is nervous, but I am sure he will do fine. He is brushing up on his math skills. Starting this week I will be working a lot less! YIPEE! I have tons of projects around the house and also plan on doing more with the kiddo's. :) Hope you are all having a great summer! |
Jun. 20, 2008
Watching Shadows On The Wall
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This was fun. The other morning we got to watching the shadows on the wall. The kids were amazed at how fast the earth was revolving. (at this point I was a little freaked out-my kids are in their teens) Then I got to thinking....we have never lived in a place that has sun!  Seattle is cloudy an average of 226 days per year. The normal average annual precipitation total for Seattle is 37.19 inches (between 35-39 according to most sites). Snowfall, however, seems to be only about 10-12 inches a year, on average. Add to that the days that it isn't raining but is over cast....move your house closer to the mountain which adds more rain and more clouds.....add to that the days when the sun was at a different angle and didn't cast adequate shadows and there you have it folks.....Shadows in their mid to late teens. We now live in Eastern Washington which gets 265 (or more) days of sunshine!! With an average of 10 inches rainfall. |
May. 14, 2008
One Der Mom
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A few weeks ago I started this blog called One Der Mom. Since I enjoy blogging so much I thought...Why not? It would have tips....ideas...a recipe or two...things to help the busy mom get through her day. ONLY THING IS....I have been so busy that I haven't had time to blog. DER! Ok, for some good news. My youngest daughter never, ever, ever wants to play games. We talk her into it sometimes. Well she has discovered that she likes games. And now we can't get her to stop. PRAISE THE LORD!!!!! That is enough to make me happy this week. |
Apr. 19, 2008
O Christmas Tree
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My son did it again. Yesterday we discovered that someone had taken a bolt out of our lawnmower and the handle was falling off. (we assumed that someone had done this since both of our backyard gates had been kicked in and a few bottles of vodka-small bottles- were strewn on the lawn) But I asked him to find something that would help us keep it together so we could mow. He entered the shed...less than thirty seconds later he came out with one of the bolts from our Christmas tree stands. It fit, it worked, we will keep it there until we buy a new bolt. Smart boy...that one! If we don't get around to fixing it....will we remember where that bolt is when our tree is leaning ever so far over to the left?? |
Apr. 16, 2008
Move over Martha Stewart
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I was trying to be a good steward of my time yesterday. I was extremely tired after my quick trip to the coast and back on Sunday. It would have been easy to just come home and take a long long nap before I headed to my afternoon job. Here is how the morning went. Work from 6:30-8:30 am Quick shopping trip for milk and a few other essentials to get us through the next couple of days. Mostly cleaning supplies....since I do most of the deep cleaning on Monday mornings. Cleaned both bathrooms, a couple of rug spots, two loads of laundry, dusting and cleaned the kitchen. Went to the pool with Carolyn to swim our laps. Here is where the blog title... Move over Martha Stewart comes into play. We got home from the pool at 12:25 to find that my mother had just stopped by and was going to be back with my aunt and my step dad for lunch. Yikes I hadn't done any major grocery shopping...so this was going to be interesting. Quickly I went to grab the bread to make chicken salad ....drats no bread...no mayo. Thoughts of tuna melts crossed my mind, convert it to chicken melts and you have a plan....except for the fact that I was out of cheese. I opened the two cans of chicken and chopped it up and added BBQ sauce. Plopping the hamburger buns I found under the broiler and placing the chicken in the micro on two minutes....I had just enough time to open a can of mandarin oranges, cut up a few bannana's, add some frozen blueberries and a can of pears...we had a pretty fruit salad. Just enough chips left over in a bag to fill up a small bowl and a plate with lovely sliced dill pickles and we had a nice little lunch. I didn't even break a sweat! Scooping the chicken onto the toasted buns took seconds. I served them on a platter. They came for a nice little lunch that looked like I planned it. Yummy! Couldn't have been better if I had planned it. I took a two hour nap then headed off to work. After work we watched a movie and I called it a night. :) Do I hear super hero music playing here??? LOL! |
Apr. 12, 2008
Spring Break
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We took a spring break this week. My 18 year old son's girlfriend from the coast came to visit us for a week. We have really enjoyed having her here. But as you know....it's time to hit the books again on Monday. Back to routine. Have I mentioned lately how blessed I am with my job? I work from 6:30-8:30 am and then I work from 4:30-8:30 pm. This gives me most of the day with my kids. I have to try to fit in a short nap now and then. We have been swimming at the Y. Which has been so good for our bodies! I don't know how to say this....except that our life has been so crazy for so long that swimming during the day is a dream come true. Tim went fishing this week with 4 "older" guys from church. The retired kind! He brought home 4 beautiful trout. Tim and his Dad are out on the raft, fishing this morning. Another big blessing....we were just able to buy those fishing licenses this year....it has been hard in the past few years for us to even do that. It looks like David might be getting two weeks of on call pay per month......if this is the case I will probably drop my morning shifts and just work the evening. Please keep this in your prayers. Well....have a blessed Saturday with your babies...they grow up so quickly! |
Apr. 11, 2008
Another fun thing to do
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Yesterday I took the kids to one of those golf/frisbee parks. We didn't spend a lot of money. The frisbee's were $1.oo a piece at Wal-Mart. Each player had their own color to throw! We played on a nine hole course. I printed the map out from the computer and my boys navigated for us. The wind blew our lite weight frisbee's in all sorts of directions. Occasionally a kid had to duck to avoid getting hit in the head. My kids added the scores, navigated and had a wonderful time. I know my kids are older, but younger kids would enjoy this sport. |
Apr. 6, 2008
Duct Tape
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If you have ever seen your children's brains in action...you will understand why I was so proud! Sitting on the living room floor last night...we needed to blow up an air mattress for a guest we had staying at our house. It was dark and I didn't want the kids going through boxes in the shed. My youngest son suggested that he could use the blow dryer, set on cool air to blow it up. Only the connection was all wrong. The blow dryer nozzle wasn't going to fit in that hole...no matter how hard it was pushed. He said..."I know I'll take that pop bottle use the top part to fit in the nozzle and cut off the bottom of it to fit the blow dryer in." Fashioning his minor invention took seconds and with a little assistance from some duct tape...he had that mattress blown up in less than 5 minutes. Go KID! The fact that he used DUCT TAPE....does frighten me somewhat! |
Apr. 1, 2008
Public Speaking
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Several months ago when we were looking for a church in our new home town....we chose a smaller church because we wanted more opportunities for our children to learn to serve. (I know that there are ways to serve in a large church too....no judgment here! It was just our choice!) Our two sons gave the sermon again on Sunday night. This is their second time. Our oldest son did a sermon on 1Timothy and and letting no-one having a chance to look down on your youth. He talked about purity in speech, faith, love...etc. Very well put together. Our second son spoke on faith and used three scripture references pertaining to the birth of Jesus and how Mary had to have faith, how the wise men had faith and how the magi had to have faith. He did such a good job. It was interesting to see how their individual personalities handled their talks. I am so proud of them. Of coarse this counts as speech class. |
Mar. 12, 2008
Only the coolest song ever!
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Be Thou My Vision |
Mar. 10, 2008
Monday....back to books
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We all know what Monday morning means....back to the books. My kids are all tired from a youth rally they attended this weekend. The subject was Consider the Ant. They really had a good time. My daughter keeps saying...."Get up lazy bones" So I feel she at least got something from the weekend. They are watching a movie now after doing some of their homework. We were planning on going to a frisbe park in town but it is raining today. Just as well the kids are toast after their long weekend. I need to clean the house make dinner and get ready for work this afternoon. Life is good! GET UP LAZY BONES! |
Mar. 6, 2008
Well....
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It is about that time of year again...when we start running out of curriculum and have to spend spend spend...to get us through the rest of the year. This I will gladly do. The weather is almost like spring and we hope to spend more time outside this year than ever before. Life is too short to waste these sunny days. I sent an email to an online art society to inquire about a map for a tour of the cities statues. They never answered back....so I don't know what I will do about that. Perhaps a little more research and asking at the library. We live by the Columbia River and I hope to get my children into drawing scenes from our river walks. Charcoal drawings would be cool. We also live close to a pool and not far from the YMCA with weights and other muscle building equipment so we will be joining that this month. Well that is it for a brief update on what we are up too. Back to ordering the books. |
Mar. 2, 2008
WORMS IN THE SPAGHETTI
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I was driving to work the other morning when I heard part of a sermon. The speaker was telling a story from 5th grade. He had just been served spaghetti in the lunch line. Upon examining his spaghetti he observed that it was moving. He quickly took his spaghetti to the lunch server and explained his situation. WORMS WERE IN HIS SPAGHETTI! School was dismissed for the rest of the day. The point of his story was that God worked all things for good for those that loved him. Romans 8:28 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose. While he was jesting, I would like to take his point and elaborate a bit. This week was a horrible week for a working homeschool mom. My kids were fighting and it is so evident that they need me more than ever. As the week began I was dreading the hours my work had given me and I was begging God for the chance to be with them more. One client became abusive this week. (HE WAS THE WORM) I had to tell the company that I would no longer work with him. I received a call from my company giving me another client Mon- Friday 9am to 3pm...to which my heart sank...why couldn't I be home with my kids. At the end of our conversation the office lady said, that should just about give you your 40 hours. To which I opened my eyes widely and said, "Wait...I only want 25-30 hours a week!" "Oh!" she said and we changed my schedule. (SHE LET SCHOOL OUT EARLY!) Now my schedule is in the evenings for just four short hours a day Mon-Friday and I have a great amount of time with my children. GOD DOES WORK THINGS OUT DOESN'T HE! My children will have their father home with them in the late afternoon...into the early evening...giving them very little time alone! PRAISE GOD....and thank HIM for the worms!Here is a link to my other blog Home Sweet Homeschool |
Feb. 13, 2008
Day Off
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ROFL- When is a day off a day off? It's not. So this is my schedule for today Cleaning, cleaning, cooking, ironing, a bit more cleaning, work with Carolyn on Math and English. budget, getting Jon a bus ticket for his birthday. Church tonight, perhaps a short nap, since I get up at 5. Work on Spanish with kids. Making some homemade bread today. And also making some potato salad....maybe a casserole also since I will be working a twelve hour shift on Friday. Take my daughter to the library...and return movies. Buy ingredients for a birthday cake. Get Tim a book for his English studies. Finish reading a book I started. Get another book for while I am at work. Sometimes I have time to read. I will on the twelve hour shift I work! |
Feb. 8, 2008
Has it worked!
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Okay today marks one week on my schedule. It hasn't worked totally, but I do feel like I have accomplished a few more things than I was. Bummer that I still feel like I need that nap to get me through. I got my job this week. The hours are perfect for homeschooling. I was praying so hard that it would be just right. I work one hour today. Monday I work 8:30- 11:30 Tuesday 6:30 am-noon Wednesday off Thursday 6:30 am- noon Friday 9am-9pm I have all but one Saturday off. The bulk of my hours will be in one day on Friday and the kids are old enough to do one day on their own. A couple of days I just have that two hour shift early in the morning. WOW! To me that schedule seems God ordained! The 12 hour shift might kill me off....but hey...I am willing to take that chance. |
Feb. 3, 2008
AWP
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AWP- is my new code. It stands for Action With Purpose. Here is what I am going through today...well not just today...perhaps it is ongoing. I confessed not long ago that I have a hard time scheduling my weeks. Frankly it stresses me out. Mostly because I have a hard time sticking to a schedule. But, when I do make a schedule I accomplish so much more, than those days or weeks when I don't have one to follow. I have lupus. Lupus is disgusting and living with it is not fun. But today I was praying to God about my schedule...again. He probably gets sick of hearing me whine. Maybe not. Well AWP popped into my brain. I have been feeling so yucky lately...with dark circles under the eyes etc...some discouragement and depression, even though I hate to admit the depression, because it makes me feel weak. It also makes me think that if I just trusted God more I wouldn't feel depressed...anyway...I think the depression is a side benefit of feeling tired. Anywho...I had a great day yesterday...up until I couldn't fall asleep last night, cause I felt so good about the day. I want more and more and more of those days. SO I printed out my schedule for the week and decided to include a few spots in it for AWP. I have so many things that I want to accomplish. But when I don't do that schedule I am tempted to give in to the tiredness. There is a fine line between taking care of yourself and letting the disease get the best of you. ie-just letting the day come and go doing what I feel like doing, instead of getting things totally done. My husband and I get so much accomplished when we meet for the week and plan things out...so on the first day of the week on Sunday we will Lord willing have a planning session. Nothing too long, short sweet and simple. Then during the week my AWP time will be based on whatever goals we have set for the week. Here are the things that are on my schedule. Church Activities Family Time Homeschool Excercise Work- yes I have to work to help earn money for us to live Domestics- you know the chores yuck! Leisure time Blogging and working on my website AWP- Action with Purpose Finances Service to the Community including my brothers and sisters in Christ. While I was making my schedule I was having serious doubts about my ability to do these things. I pray and pray that God is with me and helps me every single hour of my day. :) |
Jan. 23, 2008
This weeks menu
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Sunday- Pork and Beans Taco's Monday- Pork steaks with mashed potatoes, onion rings and tomato slices Tuesday- Stewed chicken with Rice (this is one of those easy five minute put together meals that is so so so tasty! ) Wednesday- Chicken Stir Fry Thursday- Bean and Bacon Soup and homemade biscuits Friday- BLT's Sat? Undecided. Sun- Potluck at church- I think I will bring a Greek salad. |
Jan. 18, 2008
Day 6001
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Just kidding! My youngest daughter 13 was crying last night. It totally broke my heart. She is so desperate for a friend. We haven't met any of the neighbor kids in our new town. Not that I cherish that moment because it often comes with struggles since they are "of the world" so to speak. But we have chosen to attend a small church because we feel like they need our help in many ways. A place where we feel like we are needed is always good! But, the downside is that there isn't anyone my daughters age. We are praying- that God will send our daughter a friend. She needs someone for sleep overs- and all of those other little girl/young lady times. Please pray for a friend for my daughter. |
Jan. 17, 2008
Day 6000
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How much information do you think we managed to cram into their little brains in approx 6000 days? I dare say, not as much as I would like to. We started homeschooling 17 years ago. Here is a short trip down memory lane: We visited a planetarium and learned about the stars We went to the beach and played on numerous occasions-we brought our bible and had a devotional on the sand. We visited and fed seals We played games-we played games-we played games! We started several businesses and had the kids help with filing etc... We played hours and hours of Celtic music with the fiddle, guitar, tin whistle, keyboard and drum. We talked to our kids almost non-stop Here is a list of what we are doing now.... Our boys are preparing to give their first sermons at church Our youngest is doing needlepoint, painting and listening to all kinds of music Our kids are learning to compose music Our son just opened his own online t-shirt shop Our kids are learning Spanish They also do their bookwork....math...civics...history....social studies...bible...reading....music theory...etc- What a blessed homeschool we have had. I wouldn't trade those 6000 days with our kids for anything in the world. Just the thought of someone else getting to experience all of those things with my kids makes me sad! |