School on the Farm

• Aug. 13, 2008 - It's Not about Academics

Ahhh....School's back in session.

For us that's a welcome thing! Really!

We have worked and played hard during our summer break. We enjoyed a trip to LA and AR for a family reunion in June, and through July we completely re-organized (ie - cleaned and decluttered from top-to-bottom) our home. We researched our families' histories, the benefits of raw milk, a NO SUGAR diet, and how to purchase and grind our own wheat. Whew! So, when July 28th rolled around, we were all ready for school to begin and the work to slow down! Can you see why I haven't posted in almost 2 months??

We are now on week 3 and have eased into all the subjects. We work all morning, have lunch, work a little more, then head off to the pool. Come back for showers and some quiet reading time followed by some free time. Then, before we know it, it's time to clean for our 'king' in preparation for daddy's return home and the family dinner hour. Ahhh, routine. It's a beautiful thing!

I must pause to thank the Lord for the vision of homeschooling. I was so worried about trying to teach all 5 this year - 2 high schoolers, a 5th grader, a 4th grader, and an active little preschooler who needs to be taught how to read and write. But, as He has been faithful to do every year, God has given me exactly what I need - when I need it - to get it all (mostly) done. And what doesn't get done - He's given me the grace to accept it and move on! And He's instilled in me a new purpose - to ENJOY this time I have with my children. It's NOT about academics! It's about RELATIONSHIPS! When I remember that, our days fly by in peace and joy and give me such a feeling of contentedness - that can only come from HIM!

Enjoy your children, today!

Shannon

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• Jun. 23, 2008 - Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 23, 2008 ...

Outside My Window...Hazy skies, gardenia bushes in full bloom,

hay bales in the fields.

I am thinking...I have to get off the computer today

and work on my summer to-do list!

I am thankful for...to be a child of God after seeing and visiting with

many lost family members at last week’s family reunion

From the kitchen...grumbling children, clanking spoons and bowls

(sigh – we are all still very tired!)

I am wearing...jean capris, brown top

I am creating a family tree online for mine and my husband’s family

I am reading...online Census reports! (yea!)

I am hoping…for a week of being at home so we can catch up on our rest

and get some things done!

I am hearing...tired, grumpy children

Around the house...tired, grumpy children grumbling

as they finish their breakfast and begin their chores

One of my favorite things...listening to grandparents share their stories from the past

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week….family tree, summer cleaning, organizing, seeing a best friend’s new baby boy!

Here is picture thought I am sharing….

(picnicking roadside on our recent trip)

If you would like to participate in "The Simple Woman also please visit Peggy's blog: http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

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• Jun. 21, 2008 - Summer Break - 2008!

Okay, Here's my summer to-do list for school. It looks long, but I've broken everything into bite-sized chunks, which helps to cross things off the list sooner and I love crossing things off my lists! (Keeps me motivated!) I've already been able to cross off a few things!

LESSON PLANNING:

~~TOG Core Reading~~

~~TOG In-Depth Reading~~

~~TOG~~ ~~Church History Reading~~

~~TOG Literature Reading~~

~~TOG SAP – RH~~

~~TOG SAP – DI~~

~~TOG SAP – LG~~

~~TOG SAP – UG~~

~~TOG Geography – RH/DI~~

~~TOG Geography – LG/LG~~

~~TOG Projects – RH/DI~~

~~TOG Projects – UG/LG~~

~~TOG NB Pages – RH/DI~~

~~TOG NB Pages – UG/LG~~

~~Chemistry Co-op Plans – Erin~~

~~General Science Plan – Caity~~

~~Swimming Creatures Plans (ZOO2) – R/H/JM~~

~~Swimming Creatures – NB Pages – R/H/JM~~

~~Vocab/Spelling Plans – Erin~~

~~Spelling Plans – Caity~~

~~Spelling Plans – Reghan~~

~~Spelling Plans – Holly~~

~~Grammar – Erin~~

~~Grammar – Caity~~

~~Grammar – R/H~~

~~Writing – IEW – E/C~~

~~Writing – WWE – R/H~~

~~Mother Daughter Bible Study – Erin~~

~~Mother Daughter Bible Study – Caity~~

~~Independent Bible Study – Reghan~~

PRESCHOOL with JM

~~Phonics Pathways Plans (4/days)~~

~~ABC Book (with PP) (1day)~~

~~HWT Plans (4 days)~~

~~Bob Jones K5 Math (2 days) (begin 2^nd Sem)~~

~~Abeka K5 Art (1/day 1^st Sem; 2days/ 2^nd Sem)~~

~~Copywork/Dictation – Begin once HWT complete~~

SCHOOL PREPARATION:

~~Coil Binding~~

~~Label TOG Books Unit 1~~

~~Decide TOG Books – Unit 2~~

Decide TOG Books – Unit 3

Decide TOG Books – Unit 4

~~List School Supplies - Mom~~

~~List School Supplies – Erin~~

~~List School Supplies – Caity~~

~~List School Supplies – Reghan~~

~~List School Supplies – Holly~~

~~List School Supplies – John Michael~~

~~Organize Science Kits – Chemistry~~

~~Organize Science Kits – General~~

~~Organize Science Kits – Zoo2~~

~~Organize Science Kits – Zoo1 (what’s left)~~

~~Copy Attendance Record for 08-09~~

~~Set-up Teacher Notebook~~

SCHOOL ROOM: I will take before and after pictures of this monumental task!!

~~Dust Shelves~~

~~Organize Books~~

~~Cleanout/Organize Cabinets~~

~~Cleanout/Organize Drawers~~

~~Cleanout/Organize Dormers~~

~~Cleanout/Organize JM’s school area~~

~~Cleanout/Organize Supply Closet~~

~~Cleanout/Organize My Desk~~

~~Cleanup/Organize Computer Files~~

Install overhead light above 2^nd desk

Clean Ceiling Fans

Clean Windows

~~Hang Curtains (buy rods!)~~

Work on Wall Timeline ??

Paint US Flag (Small Dormer Wall) ??

Paint US Map (Large Dormer Wall) ??

~~Hang America/Freedom Décor above Shelves~~

Put up picture frames above Shelves

Piano Tuned

Buy Metronome

We'll see how much gets done before starting school back up on July 28th!

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• Jun. 20, 2008 - We're in Summer Mode!

Our schedule for the summer is looking something like this:

Breakfast & Bible

Morning Chores

30min Summer School (math never stops in our house!)

30-60 min summer cleaning project

Reward ourselves with Pool time

Lunch

Quiet Reading Time

Free time for kids - school planning for me

Afternoon Craft (scrapbook, paint, draw, journal, sew, whatever!)

Clean 4 King

Dinner

FamilyTime (Worship, Movie, Hospitality, Bible Study, etc)

We can stick to this schedule well on T/W/TH. Mondays & Fridays we are sometimes away from home for part of the day and adapt our schedules. We are hoping for a restful but productive summer and some sweet times of fellowship.

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• Jun. 4, 2008 - Raising Maidens of Virtue

I recently had a discussion with several of my closest friends about courtship vs dating, preparing daughters to be helpmeets, etc and I discovered that while I am passionate about my convictions in these areas, it was difficult articulating what I felt. So the discussion spurred on some research by John and I to search out the scriptures and other's articles and put into writing exactly what our vision is and the why behind it. (A very good article on Biblical courtship was one called "God's Design for Scriptural Romance" by John Thompson.) Here is what we came up with:

Our desires for raising godly daughters and maidens of virtue are:

* For our daughters to embrace their single years as a time the Lord has given them to practice being helpmeets - not a time to pursue selfishness and foster independence, but a time to learn things that will help them be a complementing helpmeet to their future husband. Proverbs 31:12 states she does her husband good ALL the days of her life.

* For our daughters to embrace courtship and the role their father has been given as head of our home and their protector in this area. (Deut 22:21 & Numbers 30 –in context—and other scriptures throughout explain how God holds a father accountable for his daughter’s purity) (and as demonstrated by God's own example as our heavenly Father - Psalm 36:7) To commit themselves to guarding their purity (both the physical and the heart) Song of Solomon 2:7; 2 Cor 10:5; 1 Thess 4:1-8 ; Proverbs 4:23; Proverbs 31:12 To trust their earthly father by ultimately trusting in their Heavenly Father (Proverbs 23:26, 2Cor 5:7) For more verses on why we will teach them to refrain from all manner of physical touch until they are married – you can look up these – Hebrews 13:4; 1 Cor 7:1; Proverbs 5:18-20; Proverbs 6:29; Song of Solomon Chapters 4-8; 2 Cor 11:2; Touching leads to more touching (God’s design for procreation), ultimately leading to temptation (mental and physical).

* For our daughters to embrace the calling of helpmeet - to enter marriage knowing that their God-given purpose is to be their husband's helper and co-manager of his kingdom, spending their lives building up their husbands; encouraging, honoring, and respecting their husbands; sharing, encouraging, promoting his vision for the family; teaching their children to share in and encourage his vision, so that he may 'trust her with his heart' and be free to confidently fulfill his own God-given role as priest, provider, protector, and prophet. Genesis 2:18; Proverbs 31:10-31; Titus 2:3-5

* For our daughters to embrace being keepers at home, to know and understand that this is their God-given sphere of influence (1 Tim 5:14); to be a wise manager of her husband's resources (Proverbs 31:14,16,24; Proverbs 14:1), helping him to rise to 'prominence' (to succeed in his own callings) Proverbs 31: 11, 12, 23

* For our daughters to embrace the calling of motherhood - to find true fulfillment in this 'good work' - to know and embrace that the bearing and raising of children is one of the central purposes and greatest blessings of marriage. Genesis 1:28; 1Tim 5:10, 14; 1Tim 2:15;

Putting our convictions into writing really helped John and I solidify what we were thinking on these topics. Also, having the verses referenced, showed the girls that these weren't simply our opinions on the subject, but our convictions - backed up with scriptures. We also stressed to our girls and a friend or two, that while these were our understanding of how to apply certain scriptures, it doesn't mean this will be everyone's. Sharing these convictions with our closest friends also helps hold us accountable. Should we seem to deviate from our goals or be following a path of heresy - we have a great group of friends who would exercise true biblical discipline on our behalf to bring us back into fellowship. Praise God for such a great group of friends!

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About Me

I'm a happily married wife to one terrific husband (17 years). I'm also the blessed, stay-at-home-mama to five wonderful children. The verse I claim for our homeschool: "Teach your children to choose the right path and when they are older they will remain upon it." Proverbs 22:6

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