Posted in Hmmmm
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I need to seriously consider the possibility that I want to Co-op because that is a way for me to let someone else step up to the task of discipling and mentoring my girls. And there will be a time for that, but is it now? I have no special guarantee that any of the mothers teaching there will do better than I I am essentially thinking of it as fun "free" time that I will be able to legally count as "school hours" . So much the better if anything is learned or "caught" there. But what will be caught there, I must stop and ponder. The Co-op appeals to me because they seem pretty flexible and not sticklers about this and that, but is it that perhaps I should rather seek to be challenged a little more...and my girls also? Why am I blithely assuming that they will teach these precious girls better than I? Which brings me to another spot in my thinking that I must consider. I think that I see this as a way to pacify and please my girls, as if homeschooling were a bitter pill and this the sugar to make up for it. I want our home-education to be sweet, if it isn't, I need to work to make the adjustments to make it as sweet as my ability is, and they will need to swallow it regardless. I want them to see that as I teach, it is for them I teach. It is not a punishment or a 12 year sentence. And so... On that "extra" , "expendable" day, I would like to, in love, ask the girls to turn their eyes outward. This I know from experience that they generally love to do, and I want to nurture that in them. So Thursday's will be our Day of Service. I'll even encourage the boys about ways that they can get involved (even if it on a different day from the girls and me). I can use this time to finally make those regular visits to my Aunt that have had on my hear to make, and visit grandpa Norm, and bless others in the church and out of the church. Maybe we can even spend some time blessing someone in the church who is always blessing others, like Janet, and Debbie and countless others. Oh the possibilities. What a wise husband (and sons) God has given me. I think I see the solution now, for me for this year. This time is precious for me. I don't know what God has for others, but I can see all of the "things I have been praying to get around to". "Doing a Co-op" Does not seem to be the thing for me this year. Maybe it will be another year, but this year I cannot say much about next year. Except that I will seek God. |
Posted in Soulfood
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"I knew that I couldn't have Joy without going through the pain" -a mother, on going through labor, to birth her daughter Joy. So the other day my friend, Janet, lent me the book, Be Fruitful and Multiply, by Nancy Campbell. I laughed when she handed it to me because I have 8 kids (we joke that our friendship may be one of the reasons that she and Christopher have four children instead of two). You know what? It was really good for me to read that book. Whether anyone has one, two, or many more children that book could be a blessing because it helped me realize that I was taking my little ones for granted. At the risk of making some people (rightly) upset at me, I had forgotten that it is not a "given" that we each have children or even one child. I was taking my little Josie for granted. At this time in life most mommy's don't have a little cute, sweet, onery, dimpled, lovely one to squeeze and cuddle. So now, when I am eager to lay my cute lovely one down for a nap (because I am tired, really), I imagine what empty arms feel like and I sing an extra song of praise to God for his wonderful creation, especially children, and I smile. I hope you have somebody to cuddle, whether or not that somebody came out of your womb, be it a niece, a nephew, a grandson, or your 'young mommy friend"'s baby! May God bless you with full arms. In Christ, Jenette. |
Posted in Hmmmm
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Hey, check this out, if you need a laugh! A musical before unsuspecting patrons in a malls Foodcourt! Can't vouch for all of the them, just the Food Court one, and the Red Heads Protest Wendy's. ImprovEverywhere |
Posted in Hmmmm
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I need to decide if I am doing this anymore or not. We are finally settled (heh), so maybe this will be possible for me. How much time is it worth for me right now....Hm.... I could see some good reasons for continuing, and ways that it might enhance my organization, but if I am not "doing" this then maybe I shouldn't "do" this. It's interesting to watch blogs come and go. Just like with other things in life we transition. Anyway, if I "do" this, it will need to have a purpose for me; I just need to figure out if it has one that I care about. Know what I mean? |
Posted in Justajournal
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I had my window open all last night. It was beautiful to hear the poetry of the wind, rain and silence all night long. Mostly they were gentle. This morning the sky is grey and the wind is crisp. This is a good day to snuggle and read. Sometimes that is a challenge with so many precious girls to snuggle together in front of one book. Hope this day finds you with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and lots of contentment with thanksgiving to God.  This Picture was taken at Alley Mill near Eminence, MO, a lovely place to visit and canoe. |
Posted in Pix
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Posted in Justajournal
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I haven't blogged for about a year. My husband was hired as the camp manager at a wonderful church camp here in MO and since we moved we have all been somewhat adjusting. We have 8 children now. I don't think I had blogged that yet! Our beautiful baby girl is named Josie! What a character! Wants to have mama, but when she gets placed in my arms won't for the life of her look at me and coo or anything...she just wants to use me as her secure platform for gazing out at her exciting world. When I am not holding her, she watches me like a hawk! I am going to try to post a bunch of pictures here because I love it when people post pictures! Of course, I might run in to some kind of glitch...I have a way of doing that! Anyone out there have great advice on how to be loving and sweet and bonding with your pre-teen oldest daughter w/o letting her run all over you?  Well, I think I'll call it a night for now, but I am looking forward to rejoining ya'll; I'll just have to be sure to budget my time. Jenette. |
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Hey, still alive here.
After VBS (two months ago), we had stomach stuff for about a month (one family member at a time, except for me). That was during/after I hurt my back.
Now we have something else that's doing its thing, so its been about two months total.
Those are just "excuses" for why I havn't been blogging.
My husband has changed jobs (Children's Minister to Camp Director), so we are moving starting this weekend. Gotto go, more sickiness. Won't be blogging again for a while.
Jenette. |
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The girls are in bed listening to Little House on the Prairie. Jenna did not cry in tragic dismay when I rubbed her cheek, said goodnight, kissed her sisters and left the room (we moved her crib out of our room a couple of weeks ago...it has been quite an adjustment
The boys are doing Legos with their dad in their room...I think they called it a Lego Blow-out Night, or something.
I am sitting here. I thought maybe I would get industrious and blog some cool smart things, but I don't feel like being cool or smart. Hmm, am I being ruled by my feelings???
Well, I will blog one suggestion I have and maybe go into more detail later. I hurt my back a couple of weeks ago and my husband took the kids to the grocery store and had them each do a different meal over the next day or so (the 12, 11, 9, and 8 year old). He then informed me that we should have each of the boys (the oldest three of my kiddos) plan one meal to budget for, shop for, and fix each week. Well, he is the boss, and what generally looks like a lot of extra work to me when he suggests it, usually turns out pretty fine.
We did that last week. It has been great! It has even been fun! The boys each got to spend 20$ for their day for meals, snacks and drinks they wanted to buy. I helped Jordan (my oldest girl) plan a days worth of meals and budget for it. I planned the last three days and assigned my five year old and three year old to be my helpers on that day (I gave myself 40$ for those three days...heh heh). I made up a planning sheet for each of them for their menu, shopping list, price, and total. We worked on this over a couple of days then took them to the grocery store. Each of the boys took a cart, 20$, and got to it.
I took the 3, and 6 year old and my list. Joel (my oldest) took my one year old and my eight year old and helped her out on her list (he was only shopping for one day after all and I was shopping for three WHOLE days heehee). He is so capable, he is going to be my manager some day, I might even pay him if he is good enough. Nobody went over budget except Jordan (my 8 year old) and Joel spotted her the few cents she needed.
Are you ready for the menus? I had to learn to be a little flexible
Monday: Breakfast: Cereal/smoothie, Lunch: Burrito, Dinner: Fish-sticks
Tuesday: Breakfast: Spaghetti/bread sticks/green beans, Lunch: Ramen noodles, Dinner: Bread sticks/Red Baron Pizza/brownies/green beans.
Wednesday: Breakfast: Cinnamon rolls, Lunch: Fish-sticks
I won't list the rest of the week, but you get the idea... Try this sometime and make it fit your family. I am thinking of doing challenges (like "you keep the change" week and "who can do it for under 10$" week and "who can make it all from scratch" week) with appropriate enticements. I will definitely do an "who can keep mom from grossing out on fish-sticks
Hmm, maybe an "how to fit chocolate into the menu week"? I am really on a roll!
The kids are learning a lot and I am learning a lot!
Gotta go!
Netz. |
...I think she's gettin' it now though).
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/tator-tots/root beer.Posted in Neat Ideas
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This morning I woke up musing about a woman's desire to be adored and taken care of. How does this all fit in with being a wife and mom? Kind of makes me smile to think about it.
Last night I made some yummy cobbler. I am writing the recipe here because I made a bunch of changes and am notorious for never being able to make the same thing twice.
combine in a large pan on the stove add
cook and stir until thick and bubbly add 1 16 oz. bag frozen blueberries. keep warm.
Combine in a bowl
mix and add one stick of butter until crumbly beat
Stir into flour mixture until just moistened. Pour fruit mixture into a large rectangle or two square pans. Top fruit with spoonfuls of flour mixture. Bake in 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes (just until the cobbler batter is lightly brown). Serve warm with icecream.
There now I can make it again some time.
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Posted in Neat Ideas
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Wow! This is a good site for using your garden to teach about all kinds of historical events. I am going to be taking another look at this!
http://www.kidsgardening.com/2006.kids.garden.news/mar/pg1.html
Jenette. |
Posted in Neat Ideas
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These are the clearest instructions I have seen on this topic and would be an excellent start to a Unit Study for the garden or Native American Culture as well.
http://www.kidsgardening.com/growingideas/projects/March02/mar02-pg1.htm
Jenette. |
Posted in Hmmmm
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http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Academy252/154692/#c289894
About working, farming, and work ethics from an Amish point of view (with some good questions).
Jenette. |
Posted in Hmmmm
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This seems far-fetched, kind of like so many other things that aren't.
Take a moment to read it, and remember the wierd controversy over allowing TOS to go to the UK to visit with homeschool families there. Truth is stranger than fiction.
http://www.crosswalk.com/news/weblogs/dean/
Jenette. |
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Maybe I need to do other things now (folding the clothes) but here is another good article on gettin' stuff done for the summer:
http://www.titus2.com/corners/6-01-m.htm
Jenette. |
Posted in Hmmmm
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Here is an article about depression that might be helpful to some mommies. http://www.titus2.com/corners/9-00-m.htm Jenette. |
Posted in Neat Ideas
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Not "getting around to" all the things you envisioned your family doing???? Asking yourself at the end of the day what in the world have we accomplished???? Hmm, I know the feeling sometimes.
This past Monday, I was over at my friend Janet's house to discuss Steve and Teri Maxwell's Managers of Their Homes, book (she's thinking of getting ). I have worked through the book before, so I was describing it to her, and telling her the pros and cons. This book is well worth the money, although not everyone will like it (imagine...we might all be different).
So the next few days I will be jotting down what I think are the priorities at this time for myself and each of our kids. I talked this over with my husband the other day and I am ready to do this part of it. I'll just be jotting down the ideas and changing or updating them as I go in the next few weeks. From that I'll make a co-ordinated schedule that will make us a perfect family and enable me to RULE THE WORLD BWAAAaaaa hahhaaaahahahaa!!!!!
Here is a link for that resource:
http://www.titus2.com/ecommerce/products/prod_listing.php/1100
Even if you think you don't like structure (bleah!!!!), it would be well worth your time and money to give this a good try (a month) and then tweak it to fit your family's style!
Jenette. |
Posted in Hmmmm
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Hmm, maybe we make them insane, you'll have to go to my husband's blog for more about that, if I type any more, I might have to eat again
http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolbiblestudies
Aren't kids precious? Or are they just a nuisance? |
Posted in Hmmmm
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Take a look at these lines from a poem written by a little girl:
'Black lands taken from your hands, by vampires with no remorse," the aspiring actress and poet wrote. "They took the gold, the wisdom and all the storytellers. They took the black women, with the black man weak. Made to watch as they changed the paradigm of our village. "Yeah white nationalism is what put you in bondage. Pirates and vampires like Columbus, Morgan and Darwin." '
Read about this here: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Quidamae/109301/#c280877
Found the news story here: http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/60921.htm
I don't really care to comment on this issue except that it prompts me to recomend the book Morning by Morning
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375507744/104-1622286-1257517?v=glance&n=283155
This is an interesting perspective written by a homeschooling African American Woman of who is a Christian. It gave me some good food for thought... I strongly recomend that you read it if you are white (pastey) like me, or of a darker shade. My favorite line (by one of her sons) was "college is an artificial construct" (sounds like something I would have said to my mom) and her reaction, "Duh! You got to work with the system kid" She had after-all taught him, (by example) that he did not (I loosely paraphrase). This book made me laugh and gave me a fresh perspective.... PLEASE (oops did I shout?) check it out (I got mine from my library). If nothing else Morning by Morning will give you practical tips for getting your kids into Ivy League Institutions...but then your child might say that they are all "artificial constructs"..hmmm I gotta like that guy.
Gena, I think someone on your staff needs to interview Paula Penn-Nabrit the author in TOS
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.Posted in Math
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Hey, I have a confession about math. I actually do what the Bluedorn's suggest in Teaching the Trivium: https://www.triviumpursuit.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16133&cat=248&page=1 (They have a great chapter about the appropriate time for beginning formal Mathematics).
I don't really emphasise Mathematics until my kiddos reach the 3rd grade. In the 3rd grade I started each of my boys in Saxon Math 54. Saxon 54 does a good job of explaining the basics so starting there was no problem (and I had no problem with enthusiasm). We have drilled Math. facts as I have seen them to be necessary...
Soooo, I guess I am saying that I agree with the Bluedorns, don't feel bad if you delay formal Mathematics to pursue other things when your children are little and squirmy. I would definitely advise against doing an hour (or half hour) of sit-down work with an active, frustrated squirmy boy. Be creative. Here is a good online article by the Bluedorns that I read about 5 years ago. It's been helpful to me, maybe it will be to you.
http://www.triviumpursuit.com/articles/ten_to_do_before_ten.htm
Hmm, somewhat related is this blog. It all relates to the "what stuff do kids need to be learning, when and how much can we (or the State) cram these things in their heads, who decides and why... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/spunkyhomeschool/Homeschooling
Enjoy your kids, Jenette. |