Just wanted to post quickly about our Sunday.  I was our oldest daughter's helper in SS at church and I can honestly say I was so blessed just by being there!  They aren't actually starting the new Sunday School year until next Sunday, but our daughter did wonderful (as usual!)  We know that our daughter is teachable.  It is very challenging to get her to sit, but we know that we *need* to have some expectations of her.  She is worth it to us, and we know that the Lord thinks she is more than worth it.  The teachers always say that our daughter is not disruptive, yet we feel that she needs a bit of structure.  Really, the class is too advanced for her in many ways, but with help we feel that she can pull something out of the 'story' and 'music' time.  Her smiles seem to confirm that to us.  So, we try our best to help her sit.  We do give her a bit of freedom to get up and get a different toy if she'd like too.  We let her hands stay occupied with a favorite toy.

On Sunday when my daughter realized I was staying with her, she gave me the sweetest hug and kiss.  Her smile said it all.  It's like she was saying (and I believe she was), "It feels so good to have someone here that understands and knows me."  Our daughter depends on us and others for pretty much everything at his point.  This is why we are praying that a few people in our church would have the heart to really get "to know" our daughter.  So far...that doesn't seem the case.  But, we are still praying.  Until, then...it is always an honor to serve the Lord while caring for our daughter!

Our homeschooling is going well.  There is too much for me to write about at this point.  I'll just name a few things.  I am working on putting together a communication board for my daughter with PEC cards.  The board will actually help her understand the structure of our days more, as we'll make simple sentences with the cards.  I found the idea in a wonderful book written by parents of special needs children.  I'd like to write on it more later as well w/pictures.  Of course, our daughter *always* loves books, and is letting me expand on the titles that I am reading to her.  Yay!  She is such a creature of habit.  I am doing a lot of 'Before Five In a Row' books with her. 

My 6 year old is a great student.  He can get kind of silly, but really...I cannot complain.  He is doing--First Grade Rod and Staff Math, Handwriting Without Tears, Alphaphonics, and Five in a Row.  I also try to include once a week, Desiring God Bible Cirriculum.  I would like to do 'Considering God's Creation' once a week as well.  But, if daddy would like to take that over...that would be fine with me  Daddy and our son are doing nightly reading time of the Redwall Series too.  Lots of good reading!  So far when it comes to homeschooling, my motto has been SLOW and STEADY.  That's worked well for us!

Our four year old is doing well with reading simple words and sentences.  She is showing a strong interest in writing as well.  And our almost three year old???  Music and books....and throwing things!  That's his life right now  It'll be interesting to see what his style of learning will be.