~ About Me ~
Hi, welcome to my blog. I will be sharing our experience as we homeschool 5 boys - our struggles, trials, prayers, and blessings. There are many challenges along the way for any homeschooler and I hope you are encouraged by what you read here. We use Sonlight and My Father's World as our main curriculum. Thank you for stopping by and comments are welcomed.
We did not get all our schedule school done this week. I had two appointments and I took time to go to the hospital with my husband. I started to get a little stressed but realized - there is always next week! It is so easy to get caught up in a schedule and put pressure on everyone in the house to get it all done but I am learning to relax a little more especially when life throws a bump in the road.
I made some changes this week to our after dinner chore schedule. The boys have always helped clean up after dinner ever since they were little. When the got older it became their responsibility to do the dishes etc. I would spend that time taking care of housework or school preparations. I was thinking last week that maybe they needed a change in chores (to put a little spice in their life ) and decided to change things around. We have 5 rooms downstairs: bathroom, dining room, computer/study area, sitting area and living room besides the kitchen so I gave them each a room. They will be responsible for that room for one week and then we change again. Their job is to straighten up the room and whatever needs to go upstairs they place on the stairs and the person who owns it needs to take it up and put it away. I wanted to keep things even and fair so when they are done with their assigned area they must help someone else until the downstairs is cleaned up. Whoever is responsible for the dining room becomes my little helper because the dining room chores are tied into the kitchen chores. It is working out so far and everyone seems to be enjoying the change.
I have finished the introduction to Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore. I am excited about starting Session I this week. We have spent the introduction becoming familiar with the book of Galatians and what it means to be crucified with Christ. Over the last few years I have thought a lot about what it means to be crucified with him and I have come to realize how important it has become in my walk with Christ. There are many days when I say it over and over to myself..."I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer me who lives but Christ lives in me." It is a truth from scripture that is a huge reminder that we cannot do anything on our own - we must walk in the Spirit or we will fulfill the desires of the flesh. This is what the study is all about and that is why I am so excited about it. I feel the Lord has been doing a great work in my heart lately, he is revealing himself to me and showing me the areas of my life that need to be change. It is more than doing a bible study and feeling good about it...there have been so many times when I have done a study but seen no real change in my heart. In the last year or so (actually since I did Believing God) I have committed myself to seeking the Lord more and applying those truths to my life. I am so thankful for his word...we are blessed to have it.
In December's journal prompts the boys had to plan a menu and I decided to let them choose something we could make and it would be there special meal. This weekend it was B2's turn so we went shopping this morning and picked up what we needed for his dinner.
His menu was:
Spaghetti and meatballs
Garlic bread
Salad
And for dessert - banana splits!
I have done this in the past but it has been awhile. It makes them feel special and important that they had a say in what we were eating that night. We will be doing one child ever two weeks...the younger 3 have very interesting menus I will post those at another time.
Well I guess it is game time...everyone have a blessed weekend.
I loved that Beth Moore study! I think you will experience a heart change, especially going into it with the desire to change. My favorite thing from the whole study is the knowledge that not only can God change my life, He can change my day. I relied on that premise so heavily while experiencing ppd after my #4.
Anyway, pardon my ramble! :)
Blessings!
Tara
Therefore encourage one another and build
each other up... 1 Thessalonians 5:11b
Aug. 21, 2008 - Thankful Thursday
Iris at Sting My Heart is focusing on peace today. Everyone longs for peace - peace in their homes and in their countries. As Iris pointed out one definition of peace is: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions. Another definition, which encompasses the above definition is: Strong's Concordance 7965 - Hebrew Shalom ..... A word study in the New King James version for SHALOM says: Completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.
I am so thankful for the peace of God. It is more than being free from conflict on the outside...it is true freedom from conflict on the inside. So many times we appear to be cool, calm and collective but inside our emotions and thoughts are raging. I am so thankful that we, as believers, can have shalom even in our inner being. When the storm is raging call on your Prince of Peace and He will quiet you with His peace. Thank you Jesus for that peace...it is a strong testimony of your work in our lives.
I am also thankful for my MIL and her sister. They have offered to take the boys for a day so that I can have some time to myself.
I am thankful that my dh's new job is going well. The Lord has given him peace, wisdom and strength each day.
My prayer for you:
The LORD bless you, and keep you; the LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace (shalom). Numbers 6:24-26
Sonshine over at Glimpse of Sonshine presented me with this award - Thank you for your kindness!! It was not easy to choose only 5 blogs for this award because I enjoy reading so encouraging and informative blogs. Blessings to all of you...and keep on writing!!
Now I must:
1. Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award based on creativity, design, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogger community, regardless of the language.
2. Post the name of the author and a link to his or her blog so everyone can view it.
3. Each award-winner has to show the award and put a name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award.
4. The award winner and presenter should post the link of the �Arte y pico� blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. Please post these rules.
I nominate the following blogs for this award(in no particular order!)...
Tiany at Less of Me~More of Him: a beautiful blog plus homeschooling and homemaking resources
Stacy at By God's Grace: love her cute graphics, worship music & her willingness to be real about life and give God the glory
Dee at Boys 'R' Us: fellow homeschool mom of all boys; enjoy reading her humorous posts about life with all boys
Song of the Sagebrush: enjoy her poems & posts about her life on the ranch; brings me back to the simple way of life
Shorty Bear's Place: love to read her Thankful Thursday post; a beautiful heart that loves the Lord
"Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You..."Jeremiah 32:17
I am thankful there is nothing to difficult for our God. If He can create the heavens and the earth through His great power then we can be sure He is able to accomplish mighty things in our own lives.
I am thankful for my husband, who has worked tirelessly this week training in his second job and continues to accomplish work in the ministry. I am thankful for his dedication to the Lord and to his family.
I am thankful for my children. They are each a unique gift from the Lord. They may bring challenges into our lives but they are also a huge blessing.
Thank you Iris for hosting the Thankful Thursday meme. If you would like to know more head on over to her blog and check it out. You will not be disappointed.
) and decided to change things around. We have 5 rooms downstairs: bathroom, dining room, computer/study area, sitting area and living room besides the kitchen so I gave them each a room. They will be responsible for that room for one week and then we change again. Their job is to straighten up the room and whatever needs to go upstairs they place on the stairs and the person who owns it needs to take it up and put it away. I wanted to keep things even and fair so when they are done with their assigned area they must help someone else until the downstairs is cleaned up. Whoever is responsible for the dining room becomes my little helper