It has been a long, but good, summer.  No big vacations but plenty of family time spent on the acreage camping and building fence around it's perimeter.  The fencing is finally complete so the neighbors cattle can't roam eating and trampling the new blueberry plants, fruit trees and other newly planted vegetation.  Perhaps the grass will have a chance to grow as well.  I look forward to the coming cool fall evenings/days to walk and enjoy the fresh open space.  There's nothing like enjoying the stars beside a nice campfire, too!

Aside from being weekend warriors on the acreage, I have been very busy getting my home organized, cleaned and freshly painted.  I think this school year will go much more smoothly now that eveything is in it's place.  At least I know I will feel much better about starting on Tuesday, September 2.

 I had flirted with the idea of Classical Conversations and while I believe it is an excellent course, I am looking forward to Lone Rangering it once again.  I like the personal journey we set out to take each year, the personal conversations, the leaning on Christ and coming closer to him through the trials each week, sometimes days,  that present themselves.

So, I have ordered all that I believe we will need for the year.  It's nice that so many things can be recycled to the younger ones from the eldest though I've done such an overhaul I'm not sure I will be doing much recycling this year.  Here is an idea of what we will be doing:

Math U See: This is new for us, I'm excited about using it and anticipate good things.

Spelling Power: This, too, is new with the hope to replace the old spelling books with just this one.  Keeping so many different grades of books takes up so much space.

Easy Grammar / Intermediate Language Lessons: We have used Easy Grammar which I appreciate greatly for it's easy use.  Intermediate Language Lessons is new; I will let you know how that goes.

Beautiful Feet Early American History / Oklahoma History: I love BF!  I have used this before and I'm never disappointed.

Apologia Jr. High Physical Science and elementary level Exploring Creation with Astronomy: This will be new to us but quite excited how the upper grades are expected to learn individually.  The Physical Science is written directly to the person reading it.  I think my son will truly enjoy this program.

Writing Strands: I haven't used a "real" program for writing.  We have done a lot of narration, which we will continue, but believe it's time to incorporate something a little more structured; I think they will be able to handle it just fine with all the practice they've had through the narration process.

Meet the Great Composers Book 1:  Another new item I hope brings something fresh to the dining room table.  We take lessons such as bagpipe and piano, but haven't delved into the rich heritage we have in music and those who have written it.  Im looking forward to this and I'm sure I will learn a lot!

God and the History of Art:  Another fresh subject for the dinner table.  Much like the above subject, this has been neglected in our studies.  I look forward to learning along with the boys.

English from the Roots Up:  In many ways, this will be a refresher of the Latin they have already learned.  They will pick up Greek with this too.  Once again, I'm expecting to learn much.

10 minutes a day language immersion French/Spanish

Typing

And of course, Bible, which we will alternate with Pearables Personal Help for Boys.

An interesting develpment has occured as of last week; I have been asked to homeschool a friends daughter who is younger than my boys.  I considered it and have agreed to help her out.  She is a full time working mother with no help from her husband, a Muslim, who is not properly caring for the family as he should and hoping to divorce my friend.  All that aside, I ask that you pray for me, as well as the young mother, her daughter and for the salvation of her Muslim husband.  Homeschooling an extra will be interesting, to say the least, but will let my husband and I know if we are ready to try for another child -- Lord willing.

Blessings to you all,

Kathryn