Nancy writes:  Hello everyone!  I thought it would be nice to get to know one another's Favorite Bible Story...not necessarily a story in the Bible but the story of what your favorite Bible verse or story is and why.  This will probably be a very easy assignment for us all but with warmer weather well on it's way, I know how hard it is to stay indoors, even for school work.  (Head over to Nancy's Nook, the blog home of Blogger Friend School, to participate and to read other assignments)

I do have a verse that has become somewhat of a favorite of mine - Acts 17:26 - and there is a story behind it.  In 1993, DH and I moved from western Canada to southern New Jersey with our then one-year-old son.  There is a whole 'nother story in how everything was worked out in a series of God-incidents (not coincidences!) for us to acquire the necessary visas and move; but that's for another time.   Anyway, we moved across the continent and settled in as best we could, found a local church home, and did our best to get involved and make friends.  It really went very well, but of course there were many times when I was lonely and discouraged, especially after our second son was born in 1994. (it wasn't his fault, he was a very good baby!!) DH and I had a small Bible Study group we were leading at the time, and one evening our study guide directed us to a Scripture passage in Acts.  I don't know any more what the lesson was about, or what Scripture we were supposed to read, but I remember skimming either before or after that reference to try and get a context and read this in the middle of Paul's speech in Athens:

From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

That was the perfect reminder I needed that God was in control.  We had followed His leading in our decision to accept the job offer to DH, and had gone through the doors He had opened to get us to that place.  And God had determined exactly where we should live, and the times we should live there.  After that, Paul goes on to say:

God did this so men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.  'For in Him we live and move and have our being.' 

While its true that we already knew God, its entirely possible that someone we came in contact with during our time there didn't, or didn't know God as fully as they could.  I know we certainly did draw closer to the Lord in those days!  Only God knows all the reasons and purposes for placing each of us where we are, we may not know until we reach heaven what those purposes are.  But I believe that we should always be seeking Him and encouraging others to seek Him as well, and remember that He knows where we are and has prepared good works in advance that we are to do.  (that's in Ephesians 2:10)

After a few years in New Jersey, we moved to Maryland, and have had some ups and downs in our experiences here as well.  When I have 'one of those days' where I wonder why I'm here or what good I'm doing, I try to remember that even my address is not just by chance.

Nancy writes:  I got this idea from Pat and her beautiful daughter-in-love, Jenny in an email about two weeks ago, so I decided to use it first.  I quoted her email here to give the directions.

"what if you took Jennys idea about showers of blessings and if we all told about a time God showered us with a blessing and how we paid it forward to bless someone else or how we had done something for another and in turn were blessed."  Share a verse or worship song that touches your heart for this assignment.

I'm coming in late to do this assignment, so I'll keep it short.   Over the years, our family has been blessed by the generosity of others many times.  When we lived in New Jersey, our wonderful church family was so helpful.  We were expecting our second child, and had only a vague plan of where Harrison would sleep once the new baby outgrew the cradle I had.  One of the church families gave us a twin bed.  Another lady in the church often blessed us with childrens clothes she had purchased at the store she worked at - when things came off the racks as discontinued, the employees sometimes had opportunity to buy the items for practically pennies.  This lady would buy things up and then give them to families at church.  When we moved to Maryland, we found that church folk here were just as generous and willing to help.  Some of the things we've been blessed with from various people are kids clothes, a bed, and even a TV for the kids to use for their game system.  We have tried also to be generous when we hear of someone else with a need - we have passed along to others a bed, toys, many kids clothes and many baby items.  Most recently we were privileged to be able to supply our youth pastor and his wife with a crib for their new baby.  I'd like to be able to do more and to give away more of the many things we have accumulated that we really don't need any more.  Perhaps never needed in the first place. 

I've learned that there are many people who are reluctant to ask for help when they need it, to accept a gift or offer of help, or to admit that they are in need and allow others to help.  I am like that myself!! But I've also learned that the giver is blessed simply by giving.  It really is true that "it is more blessed to give than to receive"  Don't turn down the help that a fellow believer offers, because you may be denying them the blessing of being able to share what God has given them for just that purpose.

It's interesting that our Scripture reading for this morning was from II Corinthians - where Paul has a lot to say about giving.  So I picked these verses from what we read to share for the assignment:

No he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overlowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.  And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

~ II Corinthians 9:10-15 ~

This week's assignment is The Three R's -- Reduce, Recycle, and Re-use.  I thought since today is Earth Day and this month is Arbor Day that we all could share ideas or tips that we use for recycling, reducing or re-using items in our home.  Do you recycle at all?  Does it just seem nearly impossible to recycle?  Trying to catch every piece of trash that goes into the garbage is a hard one for me too.  I have a friend who is very diligent with it and so are her children!  It amazed me to see how they respect nature and use the Three R's in their home.  I challenge you all to write about your ventures with recycling, reducing, and re-using your trash and take a pledge to at least try to use some of the tips that you read about on this assignment.  Don't forget to add your favorite scripture for this assignment.

We do recycle, not everything we could, but most.  We pay for trash and recycling pick-up, so we need to get our money's worth!  We recycle almost all plastic and glass containers from the kitchen, and all the cans.  We save our aluminum cans (soda cans) and crush them ourselves and deliver them once every few months to a place in the city that pays for them.  It gives a little extra money back that we often give to the kids because its their job to crush the cans. 

The most obvious way we "reuse" is things like the containers that sour cream comes in.  My DH takes lunch to work, so these kind of containers are often good for leftovers that he can take along.  When I buy deli meat, it often comes in those Gladware type containers - that is a good deal too. 

We have a woodstove for heat, and we use paper packaging, newspapers, and scrap cardboard tubes that my DH brings home from work as our firestarters.  Our efforts to reduce electricity/energy use at home is purely out of concern for the amount of our electric bill!!  I would love to use the outdoor line for my laundry, if only I could figure out WHY my wonderful energy-efficient front-load washer won't dispense anything out of the fabric softener reservoir???  Only if I wash in warm water, which kind of works against me in the save electricity department, doesn't it.  I do have a call in to an appliance repair guy, so hopefully we can figure that out.

I haven't yet bought any of the reusable canvas grocery bags that most of the stores sell, but I keep meaning to.  What's funny is that I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen other customers with these bags.  With all the people driving around big gas-guzzling SUV's with "Save the Earth" bumper stickers, I'm a little surprised.  LOL 

I believe in taking care of our environment, and being wise stewards of resources; so I gladly recycle as much as I can,  use energy wisely, and choose eco-friendly products wherever possible.  However, I refuse to let the eco-terrorists guilt me into doing anything in a futile effort to "save the planet"  This is probably why I'm slow to buy canvas grocery bags.  It's my silly silent passive-aggressive protest.  LOL  Plus I guess I do care what people think - I don't want anyone to think that I'm an eco-terrorist! hahaha.  Okay, I really did look at the price of the canvas bags at the market this morning, and if I hadn't been in such a hurry (I really needed to use the washroom!) I probably would have bought a couple to get me started.  I hereby promise that I will start stocking up on canvas bags, beginning with my very next trip to the grocery store.  Remind me.  I've definitely got enough plastic grocery bags stored up to stock my small size trash cans for a LONG time, so it's not like I need to bring any more of those ones home.  

(I think that was my pledge: acquire and use canvas grocery bags)

What we SHOULD and COULD do, but don't () is grow any of our own veggies, or compost.  Now the compost I could do - I just need to get started.  The vegetable garden would have to be all DH and the kids.  Me = black thumb.  Me = not even the tiniest shred of interest in planting, weeding, or even harvesting.  I know it's cheaper to grow our own, I know it's healthier, and I even know that it would be more emotionally satisfying to eat something I grew myself; but I have not reached the point where all the benefits outweigh my laziness and disinterest in the project.  *sigh* 

We have been members of the Arbor Day Foundation for many years - for $15 they send you all those trees!!!  I think I let the membership lapse in the fall, but may join up again next chance I get.  We have a little sapling in the kitchen that DH is going to plant soon. 

"The earth is the LORD's, and all that is in it, the world, and all who live in it." ~ Psalm 24:1

For this weeks assignment I decided to take an idea from a fellow BFS'r.  I'd like a Yea or Nay in a comment if you'd be interested in passing along an idea or you can just email me.  This week I'm using an idea from Sombra at More Little Wilsons.  I do have plenty of ideas that I've written myself, but thought it would be fun if we did a round of BFS on the blogs that participate.

I decided to do this meme, not because I was tagged or for the purpose of tagging anyone else, but because I wanted to post something here today and didn't know what.  I read this one at A Place to Call Home and thought it looked fun.  So here goes:

Five ...

Things I was doing 10 years ago (1998):

1. announcing that we were expecting Baby #3
2. finishing up our first official year of homeschooling
3. wondering how I would teach two different grades in the fall
4. still unpacking and settling into our house, the first time we were not renting
5. planning our first family vacation to Disney World

Items On My To Do List Today:

1. laundry!!!! I'm behind again.
2. deliver mission trip applications and deposit
3. update Homeschool Tracker
4. balance the checkbook
5. get to town in the evening for my choir's concert

Snacks I Enjoy:

1. salt & vinegar chips
2. peanut butter cups
3. Coca-Cola
4. dark chocolate
5. cereal or granola bars

Things I Would Do if I were a Billionaire:

1. pay off all the debts for myself and my family
2. put aside a big college fund for each of my kids
3. buy the land and fund the building project for our church (bigger youth and activity center)
4. get an inground pool (we think our pool liner is done for)
5. do the home improvement projects we'd like but can't afford - or maybe just build a new house... in which case I wouldn't bother with the inground pool here.  LOL

of my Bad Habits:

1. procrastinating
2. yelling at the kids
3. eating mindlessly
4. starting projects and not finishing
5. negative thinking

Places I have Lived:

1. Calgary, Alberta
2. Winnipeg, Manitoba
3. Ocean City, New Jersey
4. Mays Landing, New Jersey
5. Frederick, Maryland

Jobs I've Had:

1. data entry clerk
2. accounts payable
3. assistant controller (accounts)
4. office manager
5. pianist

Since I wasn't tagged, I'm not tagging either.    But if you do decide to play, please leave a comment and let me know!

For this week's assignment I thought it would be fun to share our dinner plans for the night or if you're organized enough for the week.  You can include pictures if you desire.  Also tell what your family likes to drink, if you have desserts or not.  If you want to then take this assignment and let all the children in your life make dinner for the night.   Please add your favorite verse for this assignment as it might be an encouragement for someone else.  This week's assignment is short and sweet so have fun with it.

You know what?  I dont HAVE a plan for dinner tonight.  Tonight is baseball practice for Landon, followed immediately by church activities for the whole family, so Wednesday evening dinners are often "shoot your own" or leftovers etc.  I don't even have any leftovers!!! Realistically, I will probably make hot dogs.   Once baseball season starts, meals at home become a challenge.  I am a reluctant cook of limited skill, cooking for a family of picky eaters.  They get that from me, not their dad, by the way.    But I do have a couple of tried and true things that I make for dinners that don't tax my skill and time too much, and I can be pretty confident they will get eaten. 

• Chicken and Stuffing Casserole
• Slow Cooker Smoky Meatballs (had these last night - yum!)
• homemade baked mac & cheese
• pineapple casserole
• soft tacos or burritos
• hot dogs or hamburgers
• almost anything on the grill (bonus: DH does the actual cooking!)

Usually we drink milk or fruit juice at dinner, but sometimes soda is allowed.  I used to have a policy that everyone had to drink at least one full glass of water before anything else at dinnertime, but I've let that one slide over the winter.  I've thought of it several times lately, that I need to bring that rule back.  In summer we usually have iced tea and lemonade or limeade available as well.  We don't often eat dessert after dinner, but more often have a late evening snack that is a dessert item. 

She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.  ~ Proverbs 31:15

During the winter, it is still dark when I get up!  I do provide food for the family - this verse doesn't say that it's gourmet food or that she enjoys the preparation, just that she provides it!   I make a lunch for DH to take to work, and for Harrison when he works too.  Now, if I had some servants I could make a case for my qualification as a Proverbs 31 Wife!

Recipe for Success Wednesday, April 2

It is also National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day! So share a recipe…figuratively, as in two parts love, one part creativity, or literally, as in a super quick, nutritious meal your kids scarf up. Think about what you do in the day, what helps keep it organized and you sane (or how you got past that need for organization and saneness!), and curriculum materials you find effective.

My kids like meals that don't require recipes.  Things like: mac & cheese, hot dogs, sandwiches, soup, pancakes, etc.  So I will not share a recipe. 

I am not a very organized person and have trouble sticking to a schedule.  But I do like to make lists and lesson plans.  However, as Captain Barbossa says in Pirates of the Caribbean: "They're actually more guidelines that rules"  That being said, I have found a couple of things that are essential to my attempts to keep up with everything.  I long ago gave up any pretensions to organization and sanity, but these things help me to hide that fact!

Homeschool Tracker - There is no way I could keep track of grades, assignments, resources, time spent, credits, etc without this fabulous software.  And I can't even begin to imagine the amount of time I would waste trying to create Excel spreadsheets or Word documents in a futile attempt to keep track of these things!  I have the paid edition of the Tracker, but there is a free version as well.  I try to enter all the basic assignments in advance (this is part of the thrill of lesson planning for a new year! It's fun for me!) and then add and update as we go.  This year I started printing out an assignment list for each of the boys on Monday morning.  Then they are responsible to manage their time and keep track of time and due dates for assignments.  And I can tell them to work on math without having to figure out which pages they are to work on that day.  I absolutely love this program!

I have a chore system, schedule, and posted rules that are not perfect but do seem to help us.  For chores, I have chores written on color-coded index cards and select eight each weekday that are the minimum requirements for the kids to do.  (that's two per person in my house)  Then the kids get to draw their chores randomly from the eight that I want done that day.  Things like pet care and setting and clearing the table are in the mix every day and some others change.  This has gone a long way to quelling the complaints like, "Why do I always have to feed the cat?" - "Why does he always get the easy chores?" - and the complaints of general boredom from being assigned the same job day after day.  "The Rules" are worded almost like a contract, they are printed out in large font, and each of the kids has had to sign it, indicating they have read and understood the terms of our agreement.   Then if when a dispute arises, I can refer them to "The Rules" rather than try to make things up as I go.

I try to find curriculum that will enable me to teach more than one kid at a time, and non-consumable products are my favorites many times. 

Once again I'm a day late in getting my post up.  *sigh*  I really am enjoying the chance to read some other entries though - even though I don't have time to comment on everyone's.

Profiling Home Educators Monday, March 31

Describe yourself, your family or one of your children. What is it like to be home educated in your family? What is “normal” for you?

Well... I'm very glad the words "for you" appear after the question "what is normal?"  because I often wonder if we're normal at all!!

Our "normal" day - school starts at 8:30am, when we meet for Bible reading and the kids draw their chores from the deck of cards.  The morning is spent on schoolwork, and for the most part everyone works on their own.  I try to get everyone together midway through the morning on days when we are doing Science or Social Studies all together.  The kids take turns choosing the lunch menu, but usually that means I wind up making two or three different things so everyone gets something they like.  The afternoon is supposed to be school time as well, but very often we all get busy "playing" and we don't get done what I had planned!  I have on my schedule that we are supposed to all do chores and housework for an hour each afternoon ... Riiiiiiiiight.  That doesn't happen in real life like it did in the fantasy world I was living in at the time I wrote up that schedule.  But every now and again - like today - it actually does happen.  Basically, "normal" for us is a day when we get started late, do things in a different order from the plan, skip some things entirely, but somehow when all those days add up, we do finish the school year pretty close to "on time"

Character Sketches:

Name:  Harrison aka "H"

Status:  Tenth Grade

Known for:  talking incessantly, making unnecessary noise, "needing" the music channel on the TV while he works on school, cheering for teams that are rivals to his parents' favorites, being attached to his iPod, collecting hockey cards, dressing like a hoodlum - most notably in Snoop Droopy Drawers style pants.

Talents and Abilities:  he can memorize and analyze sports stats in a most impressive way - this should come in handy in the sports broadcasting/journalism career he hopes to pursue

Favorite Subject:  anything he's already finished. ;~)  Least Favorite:  Biology 

Goals and Future Plans:  to go on two missions trips this summer - a week long trip to Honduras, and a series of day trips to DC; to study broadcast journalism and someday host a sports talk radio program 

Name:  Spencer

Status:  7th/8th Grade

Known for:  artistic ability, incessant and annoying noisemaking, reluctance to speak in public or on the phone, interest in comic books and cartooning, collecting pirate ships (for that WizKids pirates game), willingness to help around the house (usually - not always!)

Talents and Abilities:  drawing and cartoon style drawing in particular;  can build ANYTHING with Lego

Favorite Subject:  Science  Least Favorite:  Language Arts

Goals and Future Plans:  He's not sure what his career choice will be, but something in the area of animation, illustrating, or graphic arts  

Name:  Landon aka "Moe Hawk"

Status:  Third Grade

Known for:  crazy haircuts, stoicism (also called stubbornness), belief that he is always right

Talents and Abilities:  very good at most sports he has tried

Favorite Subject:  Science  Least Favorite:  ??? Depends on his mood.

Goals and Future Plans:  he wants to be a garbageman!!! LOL  Somebody has to do that job and I guess it holds plenty of appeal for young boys - driving or riding on the back of a big truck, throwing trash in it and watching it get chewed up...  He and two of his buddies at co-op are planning (okay they are 9- and 10-year olds, keep that in mind) to have their own trash collecting business when they grow up.  I bet they could do it too! 

Name:  Kennady Anne aka "Kennie"

Status:  First Grade

Known for:  singing ALL the time; wearing Tinkerbell or Princess costumes as her school uniform; sucking her thumb (we're still working on it); generally cheerful attitude; generally messy disastrous room

Talents and Abilities:  she really is a very good singer!!  She has tons of energy and is doing very well at baseball too. 

Favorite Subject:  Art  Least Favorite:  whatever she doesn't feel like doing on a given day

Goals and Future Plans:  I'm not sure, but I think she plans on being a professional princess.  She would make a great worship leader.  She has also told me she'd like to be a fire hydrant (which cracked me up at the time, she MEANT a firefighter) or a cowboy-girl  (I pointed out that a female cowhand or rancher would in fact be known as a "cowgirl" rather than the gender-ambiguous term she came up with)

I don't think I've ever participated in a homeschool carnival before, and I was really branching out by starting Blogger Friend School this year.  But I came across the wonderful blog,  Principled Education , and thought it would be fun to be a part of her celebration of Home Education Week.

Looking Back Sunday, March 30

Share your personal history…before you were a home educator. What was life like? Think about things you miss and things you and your family have gained.

Before I became a home educator, I worked in accounting for a heavy construction company.  It was sometimes an interesting job, sometimes challenging, but rarely truly rewarding.  The company offered to help foot the bill if I was interested in taking courses for my CPA designation, and that would have meant a bigger salary too.  But at about the same time they were making their pitch to me, I found out I was pregnant with our first child.  And there really was no question about it: I was going to be an at-home mom.  And by that time we had also decided that we wanted to educate our child(ren) at home.  But let me back up a bit...

Only a couple of years earlier, I had not even HEARD of homeschooling.  Not in the modern world, anyway.  I guess I knew that sometimes missionaries had to teach their children at home, but I figured they probably used correspondence courses.  A family began attending our church that homeschooled their children, and they were the first such family that I had ever known.  I was very interested in learning more about this unique (to me) way of educating, and it wasn't long before my DH and I were thinking that this might be a good choice for us as well.  By the time we became parents, our minds were made up.  Moving several times while Harrison and Spencer were very young, and meeting other homeschoolers along the way cemented the decision.  And since I had dreamed of being a teacher ever since I was young, it was just "right" for us.

What do I miss about life before?  I guess the paycheck most of all.  That extra money would buy me lots of curriculum now.    I also miss meeting a wide variety of people that exist outside of my "stupid Christian bubble"  as one of our friends puts it.  Yes I meet lots of people now, but to be honest, the vast majority of people I meet are contacts through church or the homeschool community.   

What have we gained?  A measure of freedom and independence that we couldn't have if we were tied to the school system calendar.  We can take vacations when it suits us to do so, even if it is in the middle of the school year; and make time in our schedule to accomodate unexpected illnesses or travel, and things like --oh... eye surgery, for example.   We know where our kids are, what they're doing, what they're learning (or not learning) in school, what they like and what they don't, who their friends are and how much time they are spending with them.  I got to see them learn to read - I got to see that myself, not have them get off the schoolbus and tell me.  In my opinion, watching my child read a book for the first time is every single bit as exhilerating as hearing them say their first word or take their first steps.  Probably more so.  And for me personally, I have gained the chance to learn and study all over again as I teach and plan lessons for my kids.  I can express an interest in the things that it was "un-cool" to be interested in when I was In high school.  I can take extra time to understand something if it doesn't make sense the first time.  I would have loved to be a professional student, but this is close enough for now!

There are lots of windows in our lives, i.e., window of our soul, closed windows and open windows that God has for our lives, there's what some people call their, "window of opportunity", and there's "eyes are the window to our soul".  The assignment is to take a picture, if you're able, find a graphic if you can, and write about your favorite window in your home or the one you look out of when you have those 'daydreaming' moments. 

This picture gives a little idea of what I see out my bedroom window as I sit here at the computer.  I am lazy and didn't want to get out my camera, so I just found a picture from back in the fall:

Of course, right now that tree is still pretty bare, so I can see the neighbor's house behind, and it's not quite that close to my window.

The next two pictures are my favorite views from windows in my home - out the back windows, the first one looking east and the second one, more towards the south.

I consider myself very blessed to have country views out my windows!  And I don't complain about NOT having my "dream" view, I do have a wall-hanging that helps me imagine it, and dream of maybe someday (when we retire?) having a log home in the woods:

Who knows? Maybe!     I love having big windows and having a view that stretches a bit, rather than a fence or a wall.  I think the only thing I could really enjoy having right up close to my windows would be big trees.  Being able to see trees and mountains and sky when I look out my windows reminds me to be in awe of their Creator.  And how wonderful it is to be able to look at the world God made for us, and to read the Word God has given us, and get a peek at what God Himself is like.  The challenge for me is also to see the people around me as God sees them, and to remember to see the events and situations I face through a spiritual perspective - in light of eternity.

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.

~ Ephesians 1:18-19

So I was reading blogs this morning and thinking that I really *should* write something for mine, but wasn't sure what to write.  Hmmm.... And funny thing - most of my blog-friends have posted this tremendous contest on their blogs, so my dilemma was solved!!! I have something to post, and I can HOPE that I win this most excellent prize!!!!!  The hard part would be if I do win, that I'd have to choose which language...  I have a long list that I/we would like to learn.  Right now I think I would go with Spanish though.  I have mentioned this on a couple of my message boards, but haven't even been on the phone with family this week to tell them (I hope I do that before they happen to read it here...) but Harrison and I are considering going on a missions trip this summer to Honduras.  So a little knowledge of the Spanish language would certainly be helpful!!  Anyway... on to my requirements for entering the contest:

Rosetta Stone has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while -- next week they are unleashing a brand new curriculum, and you can WIN the *all new* Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3… FOR FREE! 

This is a $219 program (and believe me it's worth every penny!) and the winner gets to pick from any of these 14 languages: Spanish (Spain or Latin America), English (American or British), Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Irish, Hebrew, or Russian.

This will also include a headset with microphone, and students will participate in lifelike conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program.  Rosetta Stone still incorporates listening, reading and writing as well, in addition to speaking.  Many homeschoolers requested grammar and vocabulary exercises, and with Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3, they're included!  For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program and allow parents to easily enroll students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, and view and print reports. 

 

To win this most excellent program -- in the language of your choice -- copy these (blue) paragraphs and post it in (or as) your next blog post -- then to enter the contest, go to the original contest page HERE: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenIG/501132/  and leave a comment with the link showing where you blogged about it.  And please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post it.  And good luck!  The winner will be picked randomly on March 26, and will be notified thru the link they left to their blog pg.   And if you have more than one blog, you can post them and enter those separately for more chances to win.   Yay for free stuff!

I know absolutely *everybody* is entering this drawing, but boy I hope I win!!!!! 

Our assignment:  I thought this week we could write something fun or just take a look back at our lives and what we wanted to do when we were so young!  It'll be fun to read about what everyone thought they would be doing when they were young...did you ever think you'd be homeschooling?  Add a verse to go with your assignment too please.

I only remember a couple of things that I really wanted to do "when I grew up" and I sort of have done them too!! Not exactly the way I'd dreamed of when I was a little girl, but I like the way those dreams have worked out just fine!  My great ambition when I was in grade school was to be a teacher!  How funny!! One of my very good friends, Christine, wanted to be a teacher too, and we spent many of our play hours having "classrooms" and taking turns being the teacher.  I was actually quite jealous because Christine had a large playroom at her house, and a real wall-mounted chalkboard so her "classroom" was much nicer than mine.  At my house we rigged up an easel and newsprint to function as the chalkboard and it wasn't half as nice.  LOL  I haven't been in touch with Christine in many years, but I did hear that she had realized her dream and was teaching in the school system.  God allowed me to fulfill my dream by leading us to homeschooling.  My other dreams revolved around music.  I wanted to be a singer, or play with an orchestra or a band, and later on I wanted to be a minister of music at a church.  When I did go to college (where I did only one year before heading back into the work force) it was with the plan of getting a "new" degree that university offered that was a combination of Music and Education.  What I wanted to do was teach high school choral and band.  Reality - I didn't complete that degree but I have been a paid musician at two different churches, and I have been involved in leading worship and church music at some level since I was a teenager.  I don't have a title or a salary, but in many ways God has allowed me to fulfill those dreams as well. 

Did I ever think I'd be homeschooling?? No, I didn't.  I had never heard of such a thing happening in the modern world until I was a newlywed.  A family started attending our church that homeschooled their two daughters and that was my first exposure to it.  By the time we were expecting our first child, we had decided that educating our own at home was the direction God was taking us, and there has never been any turning back from that time!  (although on the hard days, I sometimes notice the yellow bus drive by our road and sigh.  LOL)

Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

~Psalm 37:4

Thanks for a fun assignment, Nancy!!!  To participate, or to see all the Blogger Friend School assignments for this week, visit The Kings Kreation

This week's assignment (read it in its entirety at The Kings Kreation/Nancy's Nook)  is to go to the Wall of Prayer and either list someone to pray for or just pledge to pray for anyone or any family...especially for WIVES and FAMILY MEMBERS of service people.  Just imagine the wonderful circle of prayer that we all can be part of.  Leave your favorite verse of scripture or favorite chapter from the Bible too, please.

I am not posting names on the Wall of Prayer, but I did visit the website.  Our family prays for our military every day, and specifically for some servicemen we know from church, and for their families: 

G. Barnes - Navy; C. Boone - Navy; R. Eyler - Army; J. Merchant - Army

I also pray specifically for a dear online friend whose husband is serving overseas:

Stefanie recently gave birth to their second child, and her husband Kevin is really looking forward to getting home and meeting (in person) his newest princess. He's talked to her on the phone already.  

I am so thankful, every day, for the men and women who serve and for their families at home that manage without them for months at a time.  It's a life and a sacrifice that I really can't imagine.  We pray God's hand of protection and His richest blessings on all of them.  I pray that those who already know the LORD would be able to encourage those they serve with to know Him as well.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. ~ Psalm 34:7

Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. ~ Proverbs 25:25

My MSN homepage informed me this morning that today is National Grammar Day.  I had not heard of it before today, but I certainly like the idea.  I've often wondered if I should have pursued a career in editing, since I can be completely distracted by grammatical and spelling errors in printed work.  On the other hand, my own writing (I should clarify: informal writing) is certainly not correct all the time.  My belief is that friendly e-mails and letters, message boards, and informal blogs are usually written in the same way they would be spoken, which is not always correct.  So, lest anyone think I am properly horrified by mistakes they make in their blogs or messages --- I am not.  Chances are, I don't notice, and I probably make some of the same mistakes myself.  I make my share of typos, that's for sure!!! I would hate to have the SPOGG (Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar) people rate my blog for grammatical correctness (which is admittedly far more important to me than political correctness )!!  But the National Grammar Day website does make for humourous and educational reading.  Please do check it out!!  I love the "Top 10 Grammar Tips" and learned something from reading them too.  The first tip on that page is probably the thing that regularly irritates me - the misuse of the words "me, myself, and I" 

Armed with the resources from that website, I'm confident I can teach correct English grammar to my children.

After all, as I like to say to homeschool critics who wonder whether we're qualified to teach:

Shoot, me and Bubba is purty smart, so'se we learn them chilluns everything we knowed and they be eddicated real good-like!

A friend emailed this very disturbing new story to me yesterday...

World Net Daily - Judge Orders Homeschoolers in Government Education  (check the link for the full story, I have included only some highlights below)

A California court has ruled that several children in one homeschool family must be enrolled in a public school or "legally qualified" private school, and must attend, sending ripples of shock into the nation's homeschooling advocates as the family reviews its options for appeal.

Specifically, the appeals court said, the trial court had found that "keeping the children at home deprived them of situations where (1) they could interact with people outside the family, (2) there are people who could provide help if something is amiss in the children's lives, and (3) they could develop emotionally in a broader world than the parents' 'cloistered' setting."

The appeals ruling said California law requires "persons between the ages of six and 18" to be in school, "the public full-time day school," with exemptions being allowed for those in a "private full-time day school" or those "instructed by a tutor who holds a valid state teaching credential for the grade being taught."

The judges ruled in the case involving the Longs the family failed to demonstrate "that mother has a teaching credential such that the children can be said to be receiving an education from a credentialed tutor," and that their involvement and supervision by Sunland Christian School's independent study programs was of no value.

Nor did the family's religious beliefs matter to the court.

Their "sincerely held religious beliefs" are "not the quality of evidence that permits us to say that application of California's compulsory public school education law to them violates their First Amendment rights."

"Such sparse representations are too easily asserted by any parent who wishes to homeschool his or her child," the court concluded.

The father, Phillip Long, said the family is working on ways to appeal to the state Supreme Court, because he won't allow the pro-homosexual, pro-bisexual, pro-transgender agenda of California's public schools, on which WND previously has reported, to indoctrinate his children.

 

My applause to the Long family and I am praying that their appeal succeeds.  In fact, it's my understanding that some of the recently enacted education laws in California are being challenged as to their constitutionality; so I am praying about that as well.  Specifically, the laws that require that no reference is made to "mom and dad" or "husband and wife", for example, because that would be discriminatory to homosexuals.  Never mind that the law as it stands now specifically discriminates against those with traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs.  Is it any wonder that we have no interest in moving to California??  Not that we've had any job offers or anything, I'm just saying...

And on a lighter note - I think...  I heard this one on the news and decided to find the story in print. 

Ohio School Suspends Boy over Mohawk  - So this kindergartner is suspended from a charter school because his mohawk haircut is a "distraction to other students"  Huh????  Like maybe the first day after a fresh cut it would be the topic of conversation, but how incompetent is the teacher if she can't direct the kids to the lesson????  Now I understand that the school has a dress code, and I happen to agree with that policy.  I think classroom situation schools, whether public or private, should have some sort of reasonable dress code, and it should be enforced.  The kids at this school have uniforms, it sounds like.  I looked at the school's website, and they do indeed have a dress code, specifically laid out on the website.  It addresses appropriate clothing and jewelry, but doesn't mentione haircuts anywhere.  It just says "grooming guidelines" but doesn't say what they are.  I imagine that when you enroll your child, you'd get a handbook spelling out some grooming guidelines.  I assume those would cover things like lice and filth.  Might even state an appropriate length for hair - perhaps boys' hair should not go past their collar or something like that.  But it doesn't say anything on the website about it.  And this kid gets the boot because he wants a mohawk.  His mom says she never received what the principal says were "previous warnings" about the disruptiveness of his 'do.  I personally like his cut.  Go have a look at his picture in the news story at ABC (link above).  Now look at this:

That's MY kid.  Not his mug shot, although that's what his expression might lead you to believe.  That's the haircut he chose.  Also for your consideration:

Y'know what?  I have never yet found his haircut to be disruptive or distracting, in my class, or in any other.  And you'd think that if anyone was likely to be "distracted" by this type of hairstyle (so often equated with rebelliousness and anarchy - eyeroll) it would be the oh-so-conservative Christian homeschool types we hang with.  LOL  Everybody likes it.  True, my hoodlum kids tend to stand out just a little bit in the Homeschool Fellowship yearbook...    However, this cut doesn't violate our school dress code.  Which I admit is pretty relaxed, since pajamas are quite acceptable.  I did recently amend the school policy to insist that boys, as well as girls, wear shirts during school hours.     I know, I'm cracking the whip...

So we've got schools in California that insist that children can use whichever bathroom - boys or girls - they "identify" with; boys can wear dresses to school because they have to be free to express their transgender identity; and no one can say anything negative about it.  And then we've got a charter school in Ohio that kicks kids out because their hair is a little unusual but not breaking the rules.     Gotta love government education.  'Nuff said.

 Oh, this one looks like FUN!!!! 

Here's the assignment Nancy gave us:  This week you are given $1000 PRETEND online spending money! The rules are simple for this assignment. Using ANY online store…write out a shopping list of what you would buy!  You can even post pictures of the items you're buying, if you want, it's not required.  These things should be things for YOURself ONLY! 

List the name of the website with a link and include product item # and cost…you must use all your $1000 without going over!  As a bonus every commentator will have their name put in a basket and I will draw three names of people who have signed the Linky and commented to receive a special prize in the mail from me! 

The hardest part of this is going to be choosing things that are just for ME.  I REALLY want a new computer though, so my first stop is at the Dell online store...

Dell Inspiron Desktop with Monitor  $499

Dell All-in-One printer  $129

Trophy Chase Trilogy - Books 2 & 3 only  ($10.99 each)  $21.98

Thistle & Cross Trilogy - Books 2 and 3 only  $20.98

The Black Rood and The Mystic Rose (no picture available)

Lawhead books  totalling $81.92

Black cowboy boots  $84.96

New watch - $44.50

Another of my favorite rings - $15

Haven't forgotten to tithe - $100

___________________________________

Total $997.34

That was harder than I thought!  And now a dose of reality:

But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so comfirms His covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. ~ Deuteronomy 8:18

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things [the things we NEED] will be given to you as well. ~ Matthew 6:33

Oh boy, I COULD use a makeover!!  I would love to have a nicely personalized template and all of that - but I do not have the time or enough motivation to figure out how to do it on my own.  Maybe having a new professionally done template for this blog will boost me into learning how to do some of these things for myself!

Christi Gifford from www.ArtDesignsbyChristi.com is having a special contest just for the HomeschoolBlogger community!  The winner of this contest will receive this pre-made complete blog makeover design from Christi!

You can enter the contest too - it's on the HSB Company Porch

For this assignment we are share stories about the family button box, button can or button jar.

My Grandma, my Mom, and my Aunt all have had button boxes or button jars of some kind.  And in keeping with tradition, I have a button jar too, although I am not sentimental or overly frugal with the buttons that are in it.  Mine contains mostly "leftovers" - from when I'd buy a card of buttons for a particular project and then needed only two or three of the five on the card.  Occasionally I have kept buttons from an item of clothing that was headed for the rag bag.  The little collection has come in handy many times.

I don't remember anything specific about my family's button collections, but several years ago I was made this cross-stitch sampler for my Mom, which has random buttons sewn onto the corners.  I don't have a picture of the one I made, this picture is from the book that contained the pattern:

The poem on it reads:

FAMILY BUTTONS

A button here from Grandma's gown

Worn on her wedding day;

Another from mine, a pearl one,

Precious as words can say.

That one is from my husband's shirt,

A blue one, I recall.

And those are from the baby's things,

That's why they are so small.

There's buttons here from children's clothes

Discarded through the years.

Buttons recalling happy times,

And some recalling tears.

Counting the different buttons

Sewn here around my rhyme

I see they form a history

Of a family -

MINE.

If you're not already a Blogger Friend Student, why don't you join us?  The assignments are fun and you don't lose marks if you decide to skip one or if (like me) you're sometimes late!  Nancy is our hostess and we welcome new friends.  Head over to Nancy's Nook to read other entries and to get started in our school!

I found a fun contest over at Pat's Place that I thought I should enter.  I don't very often enter the contests, especially if they aren't on a blog that I already read, but this one just appealed to me - plus I LOVE the little contest graphic and wanted it on my blog.  LOL  Look, isn't it cute???

Now just that picture is making me happy. 

Pat says: "All you have to do for one chance to win is leave a comment on this post about what makes you happy and for another chance to win link to your blog about my contest."

Okay, there's my link... Now what makes me happy?  Knowing the LORD makes me happy, of course.  How can I not be happy when I think that the King of Kings loves me??? That is the ultimate happiness.  But that's the obvious answer - and I have so many blessings that add to my happiness:

• the days and times when I can have good conversation or silly fun with my kids
• spending time with my DH, especially dates and vacations
• fun times with friends
• music - listening to music, playing with the worship team - this gives me an incredible amount of joy

I got to see the eclipse last night - that made me happy too.    And snow usually makes me happy.  When it's those huge fluffy flakes, especially if it's close to Christmas!  That's the best.  I like catching them on my tongue just like the little kids.  And so many other fun little things...  I did this Sesame Street personality quiz for fun a couple days ago that just seems appropriate to post with this entry:

 http://www.blogthings.com/thesesamestreetpersonalityquiz/

 And turns out,  I am Ernie: Playful and childlike, you are everyone's favorite friend - even if your goofy antics get annoying at times.  You are usually feeling: Amused - you are very easily entertained  - You are famous for: Always making people smile. From your silly songs to your wild pranks, you keep things fun.   How you life your life: With ease. Life is only difficult when your friends won't play with you!

The "amused - easily entertained" description came to mind when I was writing this entry!! That's definitely me.

You know what would make me happy? If someone could tell me how to make the actual quiz graphic show on my blog.  I haven't figured that out. 

By the way, I read about this contest on Jen's blog where I also just read a very funny joke - and THAT made me happy too!