Jun. 28, 2009 - 11th Annual Homeschool Mom Retreat
Eleventh Annual Homeschool Mom Retreat
This last picture is my favorite as it shows my favorite part of the whole weekend. Rain pouring down outside, hitting a tin roof, cozy little lights, quiet time with the Lord. |
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Jun. 11, 2009 - For Linda Regarding Time4Learning;-)
Time4Learning As A Core Curriculum
I have a dear cyber friend who the Lord has had me cross paths with many times. Her name is Linda and she is the mom of many blessings. She posted a question on a blog post I wrote the other day about using Time4Learning. So I"ve made her questions bold and made my responses Pink 
I just signed up my daughter for Time4Learning for the summer. She is really enjoying it.
Praise the Lord! We LOVE it!
Would love to hear how you schedule it and use it as your main curriculum. I am actually interested in using it for her 4th grade year but still not sure.
I will tell you how we use it, but there is a thread going on over at the Time4Learning forum right now that might give you lots of different idea's. (Big Smile)
My main goal is that each child do a minimum of one activity per subject. If the activity is simple and they fly through it, I will add another. They have done as many as four activities in a day depending on the subject. I am not a scheduler so we just do the lesson that we left off on. The program is set up to check the lessons completed so that you will know exactly where to start.
For the past two years I only did the resource sheets if they were struggling to grasp a concept, but as they get in the older grades I've found them to be very useful and I'm using them more and more.
We are going to be keeping a 1 1/2 inch notebook per child this year. They print off their quizzes, tests and resource sheets and keep them in their binder. I have found that It's good to sit with my younger children when learning phonics or new concepts, but I let the older children work independently and call me if they need help. I check their backpack and if they've passed they can move on, if not I have them repeat the lesson and I sit down with them. I don't like some of the material covered in the social studies and science and so we've used Heart Of Dakota for that, but this year we are going to try doing just time4learning as it's my oldest sons senior year and I want to devote more time to him this year. (He wants to plug into speech and debate) We'll see how I feel after we get going. (smile)
Do you use a writing curriculum? I see that math, Language Arts, Science & Social Studies are included.
I LOVE Time4WRITING. Brandon had an awesome teaching named Leslie. They get weekly assignments and are turned in and corrected. The teacher then sends them back to the student to fix and re-submit. It was so nice not having to be the one to be the teacher in that area. His writing really improved.
This would free me up a lot. It would save on paper trails and me having to correct her work.
Amen! It's a solid curriculum. In all the years we've homeschooled the boys have NEVER done as well in math as they have since we joined Time4Learning. It definitely will make you have to stop as they get into the older grades and do the lesson before your child to understand. (smile) |
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Jun. 7, 2009 - Time4Learning...., Finding our Fit!
Finding A New Rhythm For Our Time4Learning!
This post was formed after one of my sweet Time4Learning sisters from our cyber community posted her idea's on scheduling. It got my wheels turning.
I wasn't sure how I was going to schedule our Time4Learning assignments this year? Last year, I followed my friends Time4learning schedule which was faster paced. It was PERFECT for their family, but never felt completely comfortable for us?
We were doing 2-3 activities per day, per subject. With that schedule we could finish a given grade level within a 36 week school calendar year. However, there were days I felt like they were checking boxes and that they were not truly absorbing and understanding concepts.
I have been contemplating several different idea's while going lightly through the summer. But can you believe that our summer schedule has actually turned into something more long term?
Since we are lightening our load for summer I eased up on the assignments. I have the boys doing ONE Math, ONE Language Arts and ONE Language Arts Extension lesson per day. I cannot tell you how GREAT this has been for us in our home.
Simplicity ='s consistency and consistency ='s RESULTS!
Less leaves the boys hungry so they will want to more. More fills them up and takes away their desire to go back for seconds. The boys are excited to do their school and I can tell they are no longer checking boxes, but fully grasping concepts and hanging onto them.
Just this morning Colton was talking to me about one of his language arts lessons this week on Antonyms and Synonyms. His whole face lit up in excitement as he poured out example after example.
By simplifying our school time it allows us consistency and freedom to pursue other interests. If the lesson is easy and doesn't take much time we will do more, but instead of starting with a heavy load and having occassional days that we lessen the activities, this year I am going to start with less and add if I see they are able.
What's the difference you might ask? Starting light and adding more will make the boys feel successful. Starting heavy and not doing a lesson makes them feel they aren't completing their assignments.
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Jun. 6, 2009 - Scott's Top Strength's
Scott's Top Five Strengths
 Scotty w/ Seth at Busch Gardens last year.
Well, Scotty finally took his test today and once again I was blown away by how SPOT ON his strength's were. This testing is so accurate. I cannot wait to share it with our moms at our homeschool support group and in my co-op classes.  They are in order of dominance. Deliberate was his #1 STRENGTH!
Deliberate- People who are especially talented in the Deliberative theme are best described by the serious care they take in making decisions or choices. They anticipate the obstacles. Chances are good that you might choose your friends with care and caution. It’s very likely that you might be the team member who is known for weighing the pros and cons rather than rushing recklessly to conclusions. You might refrain from acting impulsively or making rash decisions. By nature, you might present yourself as a no-nonsense person to certain people.
Achiever- People who are especially talented in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and
work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive. Because of your strengths, you approach your work-related or academic assignments with a great deal of intensity. You are known for putting in long hours and working hard. Chances are good that you invest a lot of time, energy, and effort figuring out how things operate.
Relator- People who are especially talented in the Relator theme enjoy close relationships with others.
They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal. Driven by your talents, you may have friends who come to you for guidance, suggestions, or recommendations. Topics might include situations in their personal or professional lives.
Belief- People who are especially talented in the Belief theme have certain core values that are
unchanging. Perhaps you rely on reason rather than emotion when you must make a choice that will affect you or someone else. Chances are good that you may point out issues, problems, or obstacles before others see them. Some people label you a pessimist. Perhaps you reply, “I’m just being realistic. I sometimes choose to fix things before they wear out, break down, or become obsolete.” Because of your strengths, you may hope individuals choose to spend some quality time with you. Perhaps they have seen you put aside something you were doing just to help them. Your unselfishness might win the favor or friendship of others.
Harmony- People who are especially talented in the Harmony theme look for consensus. They don’t
enjoy conflict; rather, they seek areas of agreement. Because of your strengths, you may strive to be a dependable person. By nature, you may appreciate experts who assure you that your thinking is sound, your actions are correct, or your behavior is appropriate. It’s very likely that you sometimes seek out and listen to the opinions of others before you express your own views.
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Jun. 6, 2009 - Mrs. Arnold's Fall Co-op Class Schedule
Communication and Conflict Resolution For Highschoolers! 9-12th
Communication is essential to a happy and successful life. After all, our life revolves around relationships....., Whether it be friends, parents, children, spouses, siblings or our own personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the next semester your highschool student is going to find out who God created them to be so they can learn to embrace their strengths while they begin to understand their weaknesses. Most importantly your student is going to learn about those people in their life who think and act differently than they do and they are going to learn to value those differences. The purpose of this class is to prepare your older students for RELATIONSHIPS IN LIFE! 9-12th Grade ($20 Supply Fee includes “The Way They Learn” book and worksheets)
Finding the PERFECT Career For YOUR Child’s STRENGTH’S! (highschool) 9-12th
God has created each of us with a specific purpose for our life. How much time do we spend trying to figure out what we’re created to be? I started my nursing career in my mid 20‘s after spending lots of money pursuing other options and then ended up dedicating my life to home educating my children a few years later. In Psalm 139 we see that God was very specific in creating each of us. He says He knows our thoughts before we ever speak them. The Lord makes NO mistakes and He has a perfect purpose for your child. In this class each student will receive the book, Strength Finder 2.0! Your student will receive a specific code in the purchase of their book which they will use to go on-line and take a 30 minute test that will tell the their TOP FIVE STRENGTH’S. Based upon those results they will find out what careers would line up perfectly for them. This class will give your child vision and direction in school and in LIFE! the purpose of this class is to prepare your highschool student for THEIR COLLEGE AND CAREER CHOICES. ($20 supply fee ncludes the book Strength finder 2.0)
Don’t Check Your Brains At The Door (Highschool) 9-12th
Don’t check your brains at the door is an AMAZING book that teaches your child how to have a STRONG biblical worldview in the midst of this changing, politically correct world. It addresses questions our kids are being hit with everyday....., MYTH’S about God, MYTH’S about Jesus, MYTH’S about the bible, MYTH’S about the Resurrection, MYTH’S about religion and christianity, MYTH’s about Life and Happiness. Of all the worldview books I’ve read and seen this one has made the MOST impact on my sons life. It is simple and yet incredibly deep. Every single question gives you God’s word as the answer. If you want your child to know what they believe and WHY they believe it then this class is for YOU! (20.00 supply fee includes the book)
Don’t Check Your Brains At The Door (Junior High Students) 6-8th
Don’t check your brains at the door is an AMAZING book that teaches your child how to have a STRONG biblical worldview in the midst of this changing, politically correct world. It addresses questions our kids are being hit with everyday....., MYTH’S about God, MYTH’S about Jesus, MYTH’S about the bible, MYTH’S about the Resurrection, MYTH’S about religion and christianity, MYTH’s about Life and Happiness. Of all the worldview books I’ve read and seen this one has made the MOST impact on my sons life. It is simple and yet incredibly deep. Every single question gives you God’s word as the answer. If you want your child to know what they believe and WHY they believe it then this class is for YOU! (20.00 supply fee includes the book)
Current Events Discussion and Debate! (highschool)
Each week we are going to talk about world events and pop culture. This will be a discussion about morality and the world around us. We will discuss anything from our President and his policies to Octomom and her 15 children. There will be open discussion and even monitored debate for those with differing opinions. However, every child is going to have to figure out what they believe and why they believe it. This class is meant to get your children thinking about the world around them and how it lines up with their standards, morals and convictions. ($5 supply fee)
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May. 29, 2009 - Putting it into ACTION! (Strength's Defined)
Putting it into ACTION!
(Strength's Defined)
I remember working as a Sales person for Nutri-System Weight Loss centers back in 1989. (Don't laugh, that was before children) I quickly climbed the success ladder and won top prize for being their top sales person in the entire state of Florida. So what did they do? They promoted me to Sales Manager. Guess what? I was a HORRIBLE sale manager and the longer I was away from our clients the more miserable I became.
You see, I wasn't good at sales because I loved making money. I did well because I truly loved and cared about my clients. I loved getting know them and what mattered to them. Each of my clients became my friends. As a manager it was all about me trying to teach others the practical techniques of making a sale.
What if I had just been left to stay in my strength? I often wonder. I quickly lost my love for my career choice when I was kept from the clients and promoted (said loosely) to administrative.
I've been home from convention for a few days and I've been reading through my Strengthfinder 2.0 book. This truly is one of those life CHANGING events that happen only a handful of times in ones lifetime. When people have asked me why I homeschool I have one answer that will never change...,
1- Because I want to opportunity to teach my children about the world through a biblical worldview as their foundation without worrying that someone else is coming behind me putting questions in their little impressionable hearts. When they are older I love that we can then explore what the world believes and have deep discussions, but on OUR timetable.
However, after reading this book and taking the tests and reading through the results I have a very strong new reason to homeschool as well! (Big Excited Smile)
2- Because I don't want my children's goal in life to be like everybody else. I want the opportunity to let my boys SOAR in their strengths! I want to to invest in honing them early on. I want them to take your breath away as they explode into the world as adults.
I truly believe that God does NOT make mistakes. He would not give Brandon the gift of communication and then tell him not to use it so he can work with numbers. This Clifton Strengthfinder Test and book is all about.
What if we made the child who loves numbers, but is petrified of public speaking, invest ALL their extra time to learning how to speak publicly. Could they do it? YES! Would they become passionate, NO!
I believe that God already knows how He wants to use each of us. He tells us in Psalm 139 that He knows everything about us and that he created us, knit us together. God doesn't make mistakes.
Do we need to work on area's that are not our God Given talents? Absolutely! My boys are still gonna do all their basic core subjects. I want them prepared to chase their dreams. But whether it be curriculum or extra curricular activity I now will be extra choosy when selecting the more time intensive area's of our life.
So how do we take this information and put it into ACTION?
Right now Scott and I are considering enrolling Brandon in a speech club that travels and competes all over the state of Florida. THAT is where we want to invest our time and $$$ with this child. We are looking at piano lessons for Colton because he has an innate gifting in that area. We know that the little ones are still developing so we will give them a nice buffet of information about the world around them until the Lord begins to reveal their Talents. Understanding my children's strength's allows me to steer their ship more effectively.
One of the things I took away from this book was letting go of that old saying, "You can be anything you want" and instead will now say, "You canNOT be anything you want to be--- BUT you CAN be a lot MORE of who you ALREADY ARE!"
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May. 26, 2009 - Linda Werner~Strength's Defined
Strengths Defined, Strength's Validated and Strength's Celebrated!
In twelve years of Homeschooling I don't think any speaker has ever impacted my life as much as Linda Werner this past weekend at our homeschool convention. There are so many amazing people that have inspired me over the years, but her message was very validating, encouraging and inspiring.
I do NOT want well-rounded children! I want PASSIONATE ones that operate in their strengths and only manage their weaknesses. I want to spend this short season of homeschooling helping my children become exactly who God created them to be instead of trying to make them who I think they are supposed to be or who I think the world thinks they are supposed to be.
The entire message revolved around the idea of letting go of status quo and instead empowering our kids (and ourselves) to be the best we can be for the Lord and for this world. I was especially touched by the close of the message when she had the most amazing little boy come up and give an awe inspiring public speaking performance. This little boy had Aspergers and mild autism and had been written off by those who wanted him to fit their idea's, their rules. After unsuccessful years in a classroom situation they decided to try homeschooling and that was when little Matthew's life took off.
He was administered the Clifton strengthfinder test and that turned the tables as they found out his strengths and worked around those instead of trying to strengthen his weaknesses. When that little boy stood up in front of over one thousand people and took that microphone he demanded your full and complete attention. I did not see aspergers or autism. I saw an incredibly gifted young man who literally brought me to my feet with thunderous applause.
As a Mama to four sons who struggle to process auditorily we have invested literally thousands of dollars trying to fix their area's of struggle. Right before convention I told Brandon that this was his senior year and that we were gonna work HARD ON MATH his worst subject. As little Matthew took the stage my memory went back to March when my Brandon emceed the county homeschool talent show and held an audience in the palm of his hand with his humor, personality and charm. I remembered his little hand going up as he wanted to go up on stage to pray at P.E. class. I cried tears of sadness for all the time invested in trying to build up his weak area's and began to ponder what it would have been like had we instead worked on those strengths. I'll never know, but I do know that Phillipians 3:13 tells me to forget what is behind and strain towards what is ahead and so that is what I am purposing in my heart to do. This year will be all about watching Brandon GO, as he works on those strength's of his.
After meeting Matthew I realized that I had been approaching it backwards. We will manage math by having him work on it everyday, but it will NOT become the focal point of his life. Instead, I am going to administer his StrengthsQuest test tomorrow and our senior year will be spent indulging and celebrating his strengths.
I so see the Lord's timing in all this. Most of you know that I traveled with my friend Kim last year and spoke on "Becoming The Best Homeschooler You Can Be". The gist is that we should embrace our strengths and stop striving to become what we admire. I still believe that, as a matter of fact even moreso now, but My message was to the moms who kept trying to keep up with their friends. Linda's message is about the whole family, especially the kids.
If you have never heard Linda speak I would highly recommend going to FPEA Website and order all of her CD's. Also, be in prayer as she and I are working on scheduling a visit to our area very soon. I want every single one of my PPEA members to hear this message!
By the way, Colton, Brandon and I took our tests today and I will close with our TOP strengths. The adult gives you your top "5" and the youth 10-14 age range gives you your top three. Brandon and I are very, VERY close in strength's. Colton is a lot like his daddy!
Mary's Strength's
Woo- Woo stands for winning others over. You enjoy the challenge of meeting new people and getting them to like you. Strangers are rarely intimidating to you. On the contrary, strangers can be energizing. You are drawn to them. You want to learn their names, ask them questions, and find some area of common interest so that you can strike up a conversation and build rapport. Some people shy away from starting up conversations because they worry about running out of things to say. You don’t. Not only are you rarely at a loss for words; you actually enjoy initiating with strangers because you derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection. Once that connection is made, you are quite happy to wrap it up and move on. There are new people to meet, new rooms to work, new crowds to mingle in. In your world there are no strangers, only friends you haven’t met yet—lots of them. .
Communication- You like to explain, to describe, to host, to speak in public, and to write. This is your Communication theme at work. Ideas are a dry beginning. Events are static. You feel a need to bring them to life, to energize them, to make them exciting and vivid. And so you turn events into stories and practice telling them. You take the dry idea and enliven it with images and examples and metaphors. You believe that most people have a very short attention span. They are bombarded by information, but very little of it survives. You want your information—whether an idea, an event, a product’s features and benefits, a discovery, or a lesson—to survive. You want to divert their attention toward you and then capture it, lock it in. This is what drives your hunt for the perfect phrase. This is what draws you toward dramatic words and powerful word combinations. This is why people like to listen to you. Your word pictures pique their interest, sharpen their world, and inspire them to act.
Positivity- You are generous with praise, quick to smile, and always on the lookout for the positive in the situation. Some call you lighthearted. Others just wish that their glass were as full as yours seems to be. But either way, people want to be around you. Their world looks better around you because your enthusiasm is contagious. Lacking your energy and optimism, some find their world drab with repetition or, worse, heavy with pressure. You seem to find a way to lighten their spirit. You inject drama into every project. You celebrate every achievement. You find ways to make everything more exciting and more vital. Some cynics may reject your energy, but you are rarely dragged down. Your Positivity won’t allow it. Somehow you can’t quite escape your conviction that it is good to be alive, that work can be fun, and that no matter what the setbacks, one must never lose one’s sense of humor.
Connectedness- Things happen for a reason. You are sure of it. You are sure of it because in your soul you know that we are all connected. Yes, we are individuals, responsible for our own judgments and in possession of our own free will, but nonetheless we are part of something larger. Some may call it the collective unconscious. Others may label it spirit or life force. But whatever your word of choice, you gain confidence from knowing that we are not isolated from one another or from the earth and the life on it. This feeling of Connectedness implies certain responsibilities. If we are all part of a larger picture, then we must not harm others because we will be harming ourselves. We must not exploit because we will be exploiting ourselves. Your awareness of these responsibilities creates your value system. You are considerate, caring, and accepting. Certain of the unity of humankind, you are a bridge builder for people of different cultures. Sensitive to the invisible hand, you can give others comfort that there is a purpose beyond our humdrum lives. The exact articles of your faith will depend on your upbringing and your culture, but your faith is strong. It sustains you and your close friends in the face of life’s mysteries.
Includer- “Stretch the circle wider.” This is the philosophy around which you orient your life. You want to include people and make them feel part of the group. In direct contrast to those who are drawn only to exclusive groups, you actively avoid those groups that exclude others. You want to expand the group so that as many people as possible can benefit from its support. You hate the sight of someone on the outside looking in. You want to draw them in so that they can feel the warmth of the group. You are an instinctively accepting person. Regardless of race or sex or nationality or personality or faith, you cast few judgments. Judgments can hurt a person’s feelings. Why do that if you don’t have to? Your accepting nature does not necessarily rest on a belief that each of us is different and that one should respect these differences. Rather, it rests on your conviction that fundamentally we are all the same. We are all equally important. Thus, no one should be ignored. Each of us should be included. It is the least we all deserve.
Brandon's Strengths
Adaptability- You live in the moment. You don’t see the future as a fixed destination. Instead, you see it as a place that you create out of the choices that you make right now. And so you discover your future one choice at a time. This doesn’t mean that you don’t have plans. You probably do. But this theme of Adaptability does enable you to respond willingly to the demands of the moment even if they pull you away from your plans. Unlike some, you don’t resent sudden requests or unforeseen detours. You expect them. They are inevitable. Indeed, on some level you actually look forward to them. You are, at heart, a very flexible person who can stay productive when the demands of work are pulling you in many different directions at once.
Positivity-Description Above
Communicator- Description Above
Connectedness- Description Above
Includer- Description Above
Coltons Strengths
Dependability- Trust is important to him. He cares about being seen as responsible and trustworthy. (understatement) People count on him to do what he says he will do. When he makes a promise you can bet he'll keep it.
Caring- He has a heart for helping others. This is very important for him. He wants to make the world a better place in small ways or big.
Organizer- Scheduling, planning, and organizing his world make life better. People count on him to get the details right and to pull a plan together.
As you look at mine and look at Colton's I can already see why God put him in my life. Where I love the relational/people side of things, I NEED my Colton as he can help us stay on track! I will post more about where to get the books so that YOU and YOUR children can take the tests too. If you do decide to purchase please e-mail me your results. I would love to see how God has gifted you. We can never, EVER take pride in our strength's as they are simply a gift from the Father and used best when we remember our position that HE IS THE VINE and we are the branch! (John 15:5)
Mary, do not conform to the behaviors and customs of THIS world, but let GOD TRANSFORM you by changing the way you THINK! Romans 12:2
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May. 24, 2009 - Convention "2009"
May. 6, 2009 - Summer Schooling In STYLE!
May. 3, 2009 - Happy 7th Birthday Jacob Arnold!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACOB JAMES ARNOLD
It goes way too fast. I remember Jacob's birth like it was yesterday. With the arrival of number four we had to scramble to do a room addition. It was finished just in time. The night before my scheduled C-section I remember well the smell of the new carpet and paint. My Mama heart was so full as we prepared to bring this precious and most wanted child into our home. It was almost too much to take in. I can still hear the creak of my Great Grandmother's rocking chair and feel the old lumpy springs as I sat up most of the night rocking and waiting for my baby Jacob to come. It seemed almost incomprehensible to understand that just a month earlier this had been my 1 1/2 car garage and Scott and I had been sleeping on air mattresses. (grin)
Jacob has been a JOY to mine and Scott's heart. He looks so much like his oldest brother, but has his very own precious personality. I love to watch him learn new skills. The excitement of blending words reminds me of of what you see when you offer a child ice cream. Everything is so exciting. Won't you celebrate our Jacob with us today! Just click on his picture to see the musical montage.
Jacob 7 years old |
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Apr. 26, 2009 - Tribute to my Scotty
Tribute to my "Scotty"
 Much younger and thinner, but where it all began!
“When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.”
This has always been my least favorite verse. I want to be married in heaven! (can you see me stomping my foot as I pout?) I love being married to my Scotty. He is my best friend. He believes in me. He is loyal and dedicated. He sacrifices for the sake of the greater good of his wife and children. When I close my eyes the 23 years FLIES BY!
I still remember our six month anniversary. Scott took me to Pappas’ restaurant in Tarpon Springs and he surprised me with a promise ring he had slipped into my glass of champagne. Fast Forward 14 years later and he once again took me to the same place, but this time he slipped two beautiful rings into my apple juice. (I was pregnant with Jacob) One was a solitaire and the other was a mothers ring with four birthstones. He had this cute little nervous smile even though we had been married for so long. I cried when I found them and he placed them on my finger. When I went to the ladies room a little later there were a couple of women waiting for me, asking if he had proposed. I literally laughed out loud as I explained to them that we had been married for fourteen years (at the time) and were getting ready to have our fourth son. They just loved how he had surprised me with the rings.
 I wear all three rings.., My promise ring from 23 years ago and the solitaire and Mothers ring!
My all time favorite memory is that of my 38th birthday. A few days earlier we had found my precious Grandmother almost gone. She had fallen on Saturday and broken her femur and had laid without food or water until Scott and I found her on Monday evening. I still remember how he broke her window to get to her and how he ran and covered her because she had been coming out of the shower. I can still hear his gentle voice comforting her while I was trying to dial 911. They decided to do her surgery on my birthday and I was a wreck. I had been at the hospital all day long and he came and picked me up late that evening. He stopped at a steak house to pick up dinner. We had a Margarita while we waited and sat and talked. He made me laugh after a day filled with uncertainty. It felt so good, so normal to have Scott near. Then when I got home I found that he and the boys had been busy trying to surprise me. There was a beautiful cake and bouquet of flowers. I’ll never forget it. It was the perfect ending to a very long day.
 Scott actually wrote this himself..., sniff sniff.
I love how he loves his boys and I, more than the things of this world. Our home is rich in love and relationships. I wouldn’t trade the life he’s given me for any other. Fancy cars, bigger houses and more things could never fill my heart the way he does. I have two favorite daily activities..., Coffee and Jesus in the morning and throwing my feet in my husbands lap while we sit and talk in the evenings. I long to hear his voice and feel his touch. He is my hero, my confidant, my best friend and an AMAZING Father! If I could have a do-over I wouldn’t change a thing! So you can see why I struggle to think of eternity without being married tohim. But this morning I read this verse in the Message translation and WHOA! It helped give me a new perspective..., “After the dead are raised up, we're past the marriage business. As it is with angels now, all our ecstasies and intimacies then will be with God.”
I can almost see Scott and I standing next to one another worshipping our Lord together for all eternity! Now that's a picture I can get excited about!
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Apr. 25, 2009 - Celebrating Grandma!
My Beautiful Grandmother
 On a field trip To Tampa University where she went to college
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Through the years of my marriage when Scott or I are trying to make big decisions. Grandma will often find us knocking on her door asking if we can put the coffee pot on. She is faithful and full of wisdom. She is loyal and she invests herself in others.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
My grandmother wakes each morning and starts her day with a load of laundry. She sips her coffee and reads her bible while her first load begins to agitate. She is one of the hardest working women I know. At 88 she still completely cares for her home.
Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Noble is definitely a word to accurately describe this amazing grandmother of mine. Widowed in her 30‘s from a very wealthy man she had to sell off all their properties and possessions to support her and her only son. She didn’t live in the past but jumped with both feet into the present. No whining! She went to college in her late thirties and graduated in her early forties with a degree in education and if that wasn’t enough she went back in her early fifties and got her Master’s.
Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Lord, I pray for this precious Grandmother of mine this morning and ask that you would just continue to pour out your blessing on this daughter of yours as she enters the winter season of her life will you be the warm cloak about her shoulders. |
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Apr. 24, 2009 - Arnold Family Portraits!
Family Photo Session 4-21-2009
Our dear friend Stacia Nemeth is beginning a new photography business. This sweet girl is so very special to me. When we attended another church she was one of my adopted kids. (Her Mama was a dear friend) I still remember her throwing her arms around my neck in greeting, I remember her sweet little voice when she sang as a young girl and then me crying as I watched her grow up and step up to the microphone.
Here she is all grown up with a family of her own and you can see her Mama heart through her lens. She captures far more than an image, she captures the essence of who we are. These pictures will only become more and more precious to me as time goes by. They are growing up so quickly. I have had many moms ask me about having her do their portraits. Her e-mail addy is lovescriptphotography@yahoo.com
Won't you come celebrate with us as we share our first offical family session!
Arnold's "2009"
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Apr. 22, 2009 - Central Auditory Processing Disorder and the MIRACLE of Time4Learning!
Our Family
This weeks post is all about homeschooling with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) As we are beginning to close out my Brandon's junior year and look towards his last year as a homeschool student I have found myself remembering and reflecting our entire homeschool journey. Time really does fly. It seems like yesterday that he was running around the house in his barney outfits singing, "I love you, you love me, what a h-a-p-p-y family" Little did I know when we began that I would have three (of four) sons who struggle with APD.
I believe that all children are gifted. Where my boys struggle to process auditorily they make up for with their artistic/relational skills. My husband and I know that the Lord makes no mistakes and that He makes each of us perfectly in HIS image to complete a purpose that can only be fulfilled by “US”! No one else can do what my boys have been put here to do. No one else can do what you’ve been put here to do! “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” Psalm 139:1-6 I don’t know about you, but I can pretty much relax when I see that I don’t have to know the answers, I just have to know the TEACHER! The purpose of this post is to better explain APD and to tell you what I have found that works for my boys!
Auditory Processing Disorder simply means that a child struggles to process and organize information in the brain appropriately when taught auditorily. However, most APD kids have an incredible visual learning capacity! Where Auditory learning coats information with teflon, Visual learning adds VELCRO!
Through the years there are a handful of programs that have worked exceptionally well for my boys. I will share my TOP Two!
Five In A Row Unit Study
Five In A Row Unit Study uses beautifully illustrated picture books to teach Applied Mathematics, Language Arts, Art, Science and History. Because the pictures in the books added visual velcro my child went up 2.5 grade levels back in “2000”, in general information and did exceptionally well in language arts. It's a wonderful program that not only worked academically but gave us some wonderful forever memories to hang onto and cherish all the days of my life. FIAR is great for general knowledge, but the following program is PERFECT for the basics.
Time4Learning
In “2007” I finally found the perfect math program for my APD boys. We began using a program called, Time4Learning. Because of the strong interactive graphics my boys were able to understand math concepts like never before. The graphics added the visual velcro so that the information went where it was supposed to and stayed put! They were able to build upon concepts. Once again, year end testing went up like never before. We had tried every math program known to man and though they might work in the beginning they always seemed to cause more confusion than mastery. Time4Learning took math to a whole new level. I just wish we had known about it from the very beginning. As a matter of fact, there is a HUGE number of children who struggle to learn the traditional way making the move to this program and they are getting the same results I share about! They even have a page specifically put together for CAPD child that shines light and information on the disorder itself.
Let me close with a personal story that I think will help anyone to understand what a child with Auditory Processing Goes through to learn. As I was preparing for a large homeschool conference back in January my computer began to act funny. I had e-mails and details that needed to be taken care of and every time I would try to look up a document I would get a prompt that said, “File Not Found”. In my quiet time the Lord used this to show me what my boys have had to go through. You see, I knew that the information was in the computer, I remember putting it there. But for the life of me I could not find it.
Do you have a child who learnings differently! Embrace it, don’t fight it. Your children are with their perfect teacher. There is no one who loves them more than you. Remember Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” (and your children) declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a FUTURE!”
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Apr. 13, 2009 - Fun Visit With LeAnn
Apr. 12, 2009 - Easter Sunrise Service
Apr. 12, 2009 - Aunt Debbie and Aunt Bobbie
Hi Aunt Debbie and Aunt Bobbie,
Our computer crashed back in February and I lost your e-mails. We have a new one as well. It is heyarnolds6@verizon.net
I thought you might get this;-) Will you shoot me an e-mail so that I can put you in my address book? (((Missing you Hugs)))
We love you,
Scott and Mary
PS- Aunt Debbie we were praying for you guys as you went for the MRI a couple of weeks ago! |
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Apr. 9, 2009 - Easter Egg Hunt- Park Day!
Easter Egg Hunt "2009"
We had a wonderful day at the park. Thank you Mary D for all the work of organizing and to all the moms who participated. It was a wonderful day filled with Jesus, Jelly beans and colored plastic eggs!
 Mama and her boys!
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Mar. 11, 2009 - PPEA Talent Show "2009"
Mar. 9, 2009 - Christa Had Her BABY!
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(Sweet Sandy homeschool mom of FIVE spending time w/ Jesus)
Kim, Mary, Alice and Elizabeth
Mother and Daughter joking around
Cindy, Linda, Mary
Kim and Mary
Charles and Cindy
Alice and Rhonda
See we really do business. It's not ALL fun and play. (smile)
Getting ready for the Networking meeting. We were the early birds!
Alice and Andre who is a brand new FCH leader. He was SO excited!
Jen and Niki
Beautiful Center Pieces
Dr. Jeff Myers "Teaching our children how to be effective communicators"
Dinnertime
Old Friends..., Terry and Andie
Scotty setting up the new (to us) computer!
It then hits me that he's worried they speak a different LANGUAGE. I started laughing and explained that they're not from another country, just another state 
Beach Baptism
Praise And Worship as the sun comes up
Approximately 600 people came to Worship the Risen Lord! 
My Scotty and a few of our boys worshiping the Lord!
Pastor Danny pouring out the Lord's message
These were the people getting ready to be baptized.
Holy.., Holy..., HOLY!
My friend Steph w/ her husband and Colton;-)
Alfonso baptizing two of his boys!
First Seth
Then Mikael
Mikael and Brandon
Seth and Colton
Monica's Beautiful Family
The Entire Gang (minus the moms)
Mary D and her sweet boy
Precious Jen and her girls
Aryssa and Seth (aren't they cute?)
Stacia and her youngest. 
Stacia's wonderful husband holding his little girl!
Every Year the PPEA has a Homeschool Talent Show that our members participate in. It's coveted because there is only room for 25 performances and we have almost 300 families. Last night was a blast! I have to thank Korey Provard who directed the entire program. She did an AMAZING job! 
Caroline and my Brandon were the emcee's. I was so proud of them. They did such a great job working together. I have to admit Scott and I were a bit nervous that Brandon was going to get too excited, but he did great. I have video that I took of him that I'll include it below.
Korey Provard our Fabulous Director!
Fancy and Amber our beautiful hostesses and greeters!
Dawn was one of Korey's "helpers" during the show! She's a NUT and lots of FUN!
Aja is one of my girls. I've watched her grow up and I was so proud of her performance. I have video's of her and her friend Alex singing that I'll post below.
My sweet friend Dee's little boy, who did a cooking demonstration!
Sweet Little Precious Girl!
