I've been praying and seeking the Lord about our curriculum choice.  You can probable tell from my "eratic" entries.  Well, that's just the life of a "Homeschool Mom", I guess!  Atleast it's been mine!

This weekend, I went to order one set of the BJU DVDs online.  I had ordered from them a few years ago and they had an old password, which didn't work anymore.  Long story short, I registered under Heath's name but they still wouldn't let me order because his account was similar to mine.  They also sent me an e-mail that everything was ok with his account but it still didn't work.  They are closed on weekends and I had to wait until Mon. to call them.

I had talked w/Heath, voicing that I think this might be a sign that we shouldn't order.  He told me to go ahead and call Mon. and just order it and everything would be ok.

Yesterday morning, I just got down on my knees before the Lord and prayed that if this is not his Will for our boys that he would close the door. 

I called BJU and I was going to order one set and just get my password to order the other one next week.  The Lady gave me my grand total for one and w/tax & shipping it came to around $1,170.00.  Well, the extra took me by surprise because I was thinking $1,000.  So, I told her to just e-mail me my password and let me talk to my dh about the price.  That would put my total to around $2,340 for both my boys.  I called Heath and he told me to just go ahead and order. 

I went back to their site to order.  Got through everything and it then kept decline my debit/credit card.  So, I call BJU back and tell them and try to order through them.  Come to find out, I can't make big purchases like that on my debit/credit card.  I told them that we don't own any credit cards and that we pay cash for everything. How was I suppose to order?  The guy told me that I could send in a check.

Well, I called Heath back and I told him that I felt like this whole ordeal was a big giant "No" from the Lord.  He agreed.  Now, looking back, I can't believe I was fixin to pay $2,340 for curriculum on our budget!  You wouldn't believe the peace I felt, when I finally just let it go!

After much discussion this afternoon, Heath and I came up with a new plan for next year.  His ideas came in on the business end.  I will work M-F, 7-9 and 2-5.  9-2 will be school hours.  He said to record our office hours on the phones and not take calls or do business during school.  (That was a huge "light bulb" moment for me!)

I ordered most of our new curriculum today and the grand total for both my boys will be around.....$670.00

Both boys curriculum list:

Bible -  Studying God's Word (I purchased 2 - 4th grade student books, so that I could combine.)

History, Science, English, Spelling -  Landmark Freedom Baptist  (In addition, we'll continue Spelling Power because my boys love it.)

Reading -  BJU  5 & 3 (I already had 3rd grade and only had to purchase a new worktext)

Handwriting -  Horizons 5 & 3

Math -  Mason  Teaching Textbooks              Colby   CLE

I went with a more independent approach.  Reading and Handwriting are the biggest weakness w/both boys.  So, I picked things that I could be more involved with them.

God is so good and he answers prayers!!   Thank God for my Jesus!!

I'm  at peace.  Thank you so much to everyone that was praying for me!

Blessings!!

I almost had my mind made up over our curriculum. Now that it's geting time to order, I'm full of doubt.  I've been praying and seeking the Lord but I feel as of right now, I don't have a peace.  It's helped to come back and read my blog that was written at the end of this school year.

I was planning on making a big switch to BJU's DVDs.  I was reading over their catalog the other day and read that their shipping takes around 30 days.  This means, I'll need to go ahead and start ordering.  I'm starting to really worry about spending $2,000 and it not be the right fit.  If it's not a good fit, I don't know what I will do.   I'm scared they will hate watching the DVD's all the time but I "think" it will be better all the way around.  I have just as many "Pros" in my head vs "Cons."

We are starting to take on more work with our business.  Which will require more of my time.  I already had a hard time being consistant with hsing last year.  Plus, we switched arround curriculums last year.  I wasn't happy with the boy's ACT scores either.  I do get easily frustrated teaching hard concepts. 

I'm so confused and I know I'm rambling like crazy.  I just want to hear the Lord and be on the right path.  I've been researching curriculum and reviews for days, just looking for a big sign from God..."This is it!"

Heath is leaving this decision up to me.  He says I know more about it than he does and he trusts my judgement.  The problem is that I'm not use to making this big of a costly decision.  I'm scared about not hearing the correct path from the Lord and going in the wrong direction.  Which will cost a lot more money, time, and frustration. 

If anyone is reading this, please say a little prayer for me! 

It's getting near the end of the year.  I've been reviewing this past year in my mind.  Thinking about what we've improved on, what we could have done better etc. 

We are taking our ACT tests next week.  I believe this is what has really gotten me rattled.  I know a lot of hsers don't put a lot of emphasis on testing but I do.  (I guess it's just ingrained in my brain!  )  I've been reviewing with Mason and I'm upset about what all he hasn't retained.  I'm 100% sure that we should be hsing and I'm 100% sure that he's done better with me than he would have in school.  I just think we can do better.

I've had the bulk of their curriculum picked out, for next year, for the past few months.  It was very eclectic, pulling from many diff. publishers.  This week, I believe, God is moving us in a different direction.  I also have ADD, run our business and hs the boys.  Sometimes it can be a little much and my stress levels get high.  This has had some impact on mine and the boys relationship.   I'm not as care free anymore and have been nicknamed "Military Mom" by some of our friends!    (But they are the same friends that go on and on about how good my boys are! )

With all that said, I believe we're headed in the direction - BJU DVDs.  With having the teacher's manuals, I'll be able teach some of the subjects.  I can still be involved but have some work lifted off my shoulders.  I like that everything will be from one publisher and everything is all inclusive.  I've used some of their curriculum before and have loved it.  It was just too much (for me) to teach it all.  Plus, we were on such a tight budget last year that I was a little limited on what I could order.  This year, my dh told me that we could afford the DVD option, if that's what I thought was best.

I'm still praying and seeking the Lord.  I can be very indecisive and run to something and then turn and go completly opposite (I believe it's called "Wishy Washy").  I know my ADD contributes to some of this.  That is why I'm just waiting on my confirmation from the Lord!!!

We had a blast at Six Flags over Georgia's Home School day.  It was more crowded than I thought it would be but it was better than a reg. day.  Our Assistant Youth Pastor (Joey), his wife (Renae) and their son (Jackson 6 yrs old) went with us. 

Mason was our photographer for most of the pics.  He's in the red shirt.  Colby is in the light blue shirt.  I only posted a view pics. because most of them are of roller coasters, flowers, water, signs, etc.  Mason had a great time with that camera!!

All the boys were so brave.  I posted the pic. of the first big coaster that Mason rode.  He was so cute.  When we were standing in line, I could tell he was nervous.  He looked at me and said, "I'm not having any regrets this time.  I told myself that I'm riding everything!"  and he did just that!! 

Colby rode everything that he was tall enough to ride.  It was nice to not have to go to the kiddie section.  Jackson is a brave little guy too.  He was very upset that he wasn't tall enough to ride the Super Man.  I think he helped Colby be brave!

On the way home, I was bragging to the boys about how proud I was of them for being so brave.  Colby said, "Last night I prayed that God would help me ride all those rides!"  We all started laughing and talked about how God answered his prayers!!

I'm so tired today and I have huge blisters all over my feet.  But it was so worth it!!  The only thing I didn't like was that they closed the park at 5:00.  We would have liked to of stayed later!

Great family day!!!

Well, I was awake at 3:30am this morning.  I was catching up on Homeschool Reviews forums.  I came across a post about blogs.  I've been wanting to start one but haven't had the time.  Since, I had lots of time this am, I went ahead and started one.  In my haste to learn how to post a pic, I forgot to write a decent entry.  I'm not a good writer, everyone will just have to excuse my errors!

I started hsing my two sons Mason (11) and Colby (8) two years ago.  My oldest was diagnosed ADD and I was getting pressure from PS to put him on meds.  He's never been a behavior problem but had a hard time staying on task and retaining info.  I didn't believe that he was severe enough to need med.  (We believe if you need it and have a peace about it, then take it.   There was no peace for us.)

The Lord laid it on my heart to start hsing.  I struggled with it because I wasn't sure if I could handle it.  After much prayer it was revealed to me that hsing was God's will for our family.  My husband new it from the start but wanted God to reveal it to me.  He didn't want me to feel as if I was pushed into hsing.

The first year I struggled with hsing.  I'd second guess God (which is never wise) and my abilities on and off all year.  A couple of mths into this year, I kind of started doubting again.  Everytime this came up, God would bring a person or a story into my life to re-interate his will.  I'm finally at complete peace.  I now realized that it's not always going to be a walk in the park.  We will have good and bad days.  Heath told me to quit stressing constantly about the end result.  He said, the most important think is setting short term goals and when you've met them, set some new ones.  He told me that he is so proud of me and how much time I put into researching the best curriculum for both Mason and Colby.  I so needed this encouragement and praise.

Mason is doing so much better at home.  I'm very proud that both of my boys have learned a lot.  I also love being with them. 

So, here we are!  I've already picked out their curriculum for next year and I'm so excited.  We will continue this journey until or if God moves us in a different direction.

This is a picture that my Sis gave me yesterday.  It was the day my sweet little nephew was born.  I had to share it because Heath's eyes are shining.  I wish we would have faced Jayden towards the camera but we were all so excited!!

I'll be posting some more pics. of the boys......as soon as I have my 10 rolls of film develped or we'll get out and take some with my digital camera.  I'll also share some of our "Baby Jayden".