I started playing around at Blogspot the other day and well, I got carried away.  My father in law started a blog over there for my brother in law's homeless ministry.  He asked if I could help him.  I didn't know anything about blogspot but figured I could learn enough to help him if I played around with it a little.  So far I have been no help to him but have really been liking the features there for my own blog!  Oops!  So I am considering a big change.  I need to decide if I am done with this one or if this can just be my little homeschool place on the web and  Good Fruit can be more of a devotional type blog. 

For now, just know that I am at both places, but it is possible that Jen's Journal will be moving soon.  I'll let both you loyal readers (both of you...ha ha) know if I ever make up my mind. 

We have already done 5 weeks of school, and this week is our first break. 

This is a week to catch up on my records and planning.  Our next break will be the week of September 10th and I hope to have all things Five in a Row ready to go through that week.  I have already pre-planned most of the books.  Mary Evelyn will be learning from Amber on the Mountain, Gramma's Walk, and Night of the Moonjellies.  Rachel's lessons will come from Mailing May and Higgins Bend Song and Dance.  Now I just need to glance at my pre-planning page and see if I need any materials for projects or crafts. 

I also want to review where we are ao far in the three R's and make some short term goals for these.  This is our first year using Easy Grammar with Rachel and we both really like it a lot.  She had her first test recently and did great.  In math she is brushing up on her multiplication tables and she is loving Wordsmith Apprentice for creative writing.  Mary Evelyn is working hard to learn her addition facts mostly using games and hands on activities, though we do use a math book too.  She is still learning to read, but thinks that should wait until college.  Her writing is great and she is getting braver and trying to write more on her own and not asking me how to spell every little word.  Both girls love Five in a Row and our read aloud time.  I let them draw while I read chapter books out loud.  Currently we are reading Caddie Woodlawn and really enjoying it.

Some of their extras are swimming lessons, church activities, and Rosetta Stone foreign languages...free though our library.  Jason is going through the book of Acts with them and we are learning catechism questions and answers with our small group from church too. 

Busy, busy...just like everyone else I know!

I wanted to share a game idea I learned about in the Carol Barnier book I am reading (see my sidebar for the title).  We have been playing Hop on It to review our math facts.  You write one answer per index card and lay these on the floor in any order.  I call out a math fact (like 7x6) and Rachel hops on the card that says 42.  It makes review a little more fun than it could be.  I like this game because it can be played with just about any subject.  Mary Evelyn likes to play this game as well.  There are lots of other game and manipluative ideas in the book.  If you need a little creativity in your homeschool, check your library.  It's a great book. 

Yesterday was Middle Child's Day.  Can you believe I missed it?  Sigh...I expect Big Brother Billy and Little Sister Laura must have mailed their cards late because they haven't gotten here yet.  And poor Mary Evelyn...we forgot to wish her a happy day as well.  But the good news for her is that today is Left Hander's Day, so she still has reason to celebrate.  Unfortunately she has to share this one with Little Sister Betsie, who also seems to be left handed. 

Who makes this stuff up anyway? 

Today is Betsie's second birthday!  Or the joke in our house...at least we think it is.  Since Betsie was found as an abandoned baby, the doctor had to estimate her birthday.  But at that age, it has to be pretty close.  She was found August 9th and estimated to be 2 days old...so we're going with it!  Last night we had a pitiful looking homemade birthday cake and sang to her.  I wish we had videotaped her dancing and laughing while we sang Happy Birthday.  My still pictures didn't capture how cool she thought it was.  It took her forever to blow out her big #2 candle because we have convinced her that fire is something to stay away from.  Try blowing out a candle from three feet back sometime!  Really, the cake and gifts have all been done, so today will be a rather normal day.  (You can do that when they're two!)  But I will be thinking all day how blessed we are to be Betsie's parents.

Happy birthday Little One!

Come on, Betsie.  You can do it! 

And they are 30 minutes (almost) away.  This means I have to wake Betsie up early from her nap and what mother in her right mind wakes up the nearly 2 year old from a nap?!    It's one o'clock and she is wide awake.  Here's hoping for at least a short cat nap today. 

But the girls are improving a lot in their swimming this summer so I am hping the lessons will make a big difference.  We are going to the beach next month and it's always more fun when you are more skilled at this stuff! 

Off to put the wild child to bed! 

Wow.  I have just received my first blogging award.  My dear friend, Nikki has nominated me for the Blogger Reflection Award. 

The award is special not just because of what it's for (more on that in a minute) but because it's from Nikki.  If she had not just given the award to me, I'd be giving it to her!  (Can you do that?)  Nikki's blog is so beautifully written and challenging.  She makes everyday life at home with three children sound like every woman's dream come true.  She has a gift for seeing the beauty in the ordinary.  The way she loves her husband and sons is downright inspiring.  I am always blessed by her words and I love it when she has a new post!  And what can I say about her encouragement when we were adopting?  All throughout the process she was there with encouraging words and prayers...and when I really needed it, scripture.  Nikki, that meant SO much!  Thank you for encouraging me yet again with this award.  I said I would nominate you if I could...well, I decided to do just that.  Of course, whether or not you want to honor five others is up to you, but if this is for the best of the best...you have to be in my top five!

Here's what Nikki's blog says about the Reflections award:

"The reason for the title is because this award should make you reflect on five bloggers who have been an encouragement, a source of love, impacted you in some way, and have been a Godly example to you. Five Bloggers who when you reflect on them you get a sense of pride and joy... of knowing them and being blessed by them.

This award is for the best-of-the-best so consider who you pick, carefully. This award should not be given to just anyone. If you're going to do the award don't just write a few words and slap it on your blog. Write real thoughts about these bloggers and what they've been to you, and if the bloggers you pick have already been given the award, don't be afraid to give to them again. They deserve it as many times as it's given."

So...here are a few people who have inspired me along the way...either with their blogs or in real life or both!

I want to give this award to Hollie.  Hollie is a busy mom of three boys.  She has a blog, but I am blessed to know lots more about her heart than she shares there.  In fact, I would not be a bit surprised if she is so humble about the award that she doesn't mention it on her blog!  Hollie is my real life friend...we just hung out this morning and then raided the Target dollar section together afterward.  She is so generous too...always comes bearing gifts.  I am always so thankful to have Hollie as a friend when something good OR bad happens.  It's fun to have her as a "go to" friend when there is news of any kind.  She encourages me, prays for me, and makes me laugh all the time.  Hollie is also a bit of an accountability partner, though we sometimes need accountabilty to hold each other accountable!  Thank you Hollie for being my friend. 

Next is Candace.  Candace is another mom of three.  I love how she shares her questions and ponderings with the rest of us.  We have learned that we have a bit in common too.  We are both teachers turned homschool moms and married to accountants.  Candace has the best ideas for teaching little ones.  I read her blog and think she must be a bundle of energy to put so much into her teaching!  No busy work at her house!  Candace loves her husband and children and especially her Lord and I am glad to get a glimpse of how she seeks him continually via her blog.

Next is Alicia.  Alicia and I have only recently met, though we have been at the same church for a while.  We have both recently become a part of the same small group at church.  The second time I was there, I had had a horrible day and started crying right there in front of everybody when I was sharing with the group.  (I HATE when that happens!!)  Alicia marched right on over, put her arm around me, and prayed for me right then.  I have been reading through her blog in the past week and have enjoyed getting to know her a little better though her writings.  She is such an example (like Candace) of ways to make school fun, of loving your husband in sickness and in health, and make the truth of scripture central in the home.  And she is a FIREBALL!  I want some of her energy!  Alicia, I am so glad God has led us to the same shepherding group and I look forward to getting to know you better!

I must nominate Leslie.  Leslie started blogging after her sweet daughter Eliana was born last December with Down Syndrome.  She has been so transparant about the struggles of finding a new normal among the many challenges she has faces, including surgery, feeding troubles, and more.  Not only is her blog a reminder of how God works in us and that all children are a gift from Him,  but she recently ministered to me in a more personal way by sending me a gift in the mail and some of the most kindhearted notes and emails you could imagine.  Leslie has a gift for building others up, even when she hurts.  I want to be more like her.

 Here is the link to the blog where this award started.  Rules for passing the award on can be found there. 

Here's the video referred to in this post:  My King 

As I said in my earlier post today, I was going to be reading Colossians.  Here is what I found in chapter 1, verses 15-20.

God is doing so much right now that I am just plain worn out.  It's good but it is hard.  Growing pains.  And I can barely articulate it so I know I won't be able to write it all out here but I'll give it a shot.

We have joined a new small group at church.  We had been leading and hosting one for a few years in our home until we got Betsie.  I had not realized how much I missed it until we joined a new one a few weeks ago.  Last night I spent time at a restaurant with 5 other ladies from the group just talking and praying and learning so much.  One of the mothers has two grown children that were homeschooled and two that are the ages of my oldest girls.  She is such an encouragement and such a wealth of knowledge...the godly kind (wisdom!).  The other ladies are such humble examples to me too.  They love their families and God and I know they pray for each other (and now me too).  I am so thankful that God has led us to this group.  I am excited about what He will do in our hearts as we spend time together.

Most of what we discussed last night was about parenting.  I think when you have 6 mothers together this is just natural.  I was challenged in so many areas and I can't wait to have time to discuss it all with Jason.  We talked about everything from when to allow your child to take communion to handling tattling in a Biblical way to submission to authority and so much more.  I could barely sleep last night.  I have been so frustrated lately as a mother that I was thirsty for this.  The best part is that these ladies continually went back to scripture.  This was not a meeting to find the best tips for how to get your child to clean up her mess...it was a time of exhorting one another to rely on God and His word as we seek to lead little ones to Him. 

As we shared prayer requests I could barely figure where to start.  So I asked that they pray for me in setting the proper atmosphere in our home.  I shared that I want to respond to disobedience and other problems with my children in a way that brings peace to our home and family.  Yelling and lecturing don't seem to work.    Jason told me the other night that I really need to stop measuring a day's success by our girls' behavior/attitudes but by whether or not I was obedient to Christ in my thoughts, words, responses etc.  I heard another woman say something similar once.  She goes over the fruits of the spirit each night and asks God to show her where she exhibited these fruits and where she failed that day.  Big sigh...  I have so much to learn.

However, it is peaceful for the moment.  Little one is napping and Big ones are reading quietly.  I am about to spend some time in Colossians and see what God has for me there today.  (I woke up late this morning and failed to read anything this morning except a little at the breakfast table to my girls from Matthew.)  I am desparate for His word right now.  I want it and I definitely need it.  So it's time to get to it.  I'm listening Lord...

Someone asked me in a comment from another post how I chose to scrapbook the Five in a Row titles rather than lapbook.  Well, I don't know that I ever decided anything!  We have never done lapbooks, although since we started scrapbooking they don't seem like the impossible project anymore.  This site will show a sample of a lapbook if you aren't sure what I am talking about.  Basically, scrapbooking, notebooking, lapbooking, etc are simply ways of presenting information learned in a unit study.  We scrapbook because we saw others' scrapbooks and we liked them.  You can be sure you rarely (if ever) see an original idea on this blog!

For our scrapbooks, I bought Rachel and Mary Evelyn a 10x10 spiral bound scrapbook from the craft section in Wal-Mart.  I think they were something like $5 for an 80 page book.  Keep in mind that when I post pictures, I let them do the arranging and various little projects themselves.  And my girls are wonderful, but they are NOT perfectionists!  They are into slapping some glue on that baby and moving on!  They love to go back and look through their books though.  They are proud of their work and will show you if you come by the house.    Also keep in mind, that we do other projects or activities that just can't go in a lapbook.  Mary Evelyn and I made lemonade cookies this week to go with her book (lentil) and Rachel and I did a science experiment involving hot and cold air, a 20 oz bottle, and a balloon.  Neither was exactly scrapbook-able, though I suppose we could have taken pictures and written a little summary of what we did.  Maybe another time...

For the first two weeks of school, Rachel's book was The Pumpkin Runner.   We enjoyed this book a lot, our first from volume 4 of Five in a Row.  We learned a bit about Australia.  Some of her lessons included learning about the globe: latitude, longitude, the equator and prime meridian, and the hemispheres.  She wrote a story using several vocabulary words from the story.  Her scrapbook page is pictured below.

The green paper opens up like this:

Mary Evelyn's book last week was Lentil by Robert McCloskey.  She had fun playing her own harmonica, though I couldn't get her to play it in the bathtub like Lentil did in the book.  She wants to take harmonica lessons now.    She also loved using charcoal to draw and learned that this was the medium Robert McCloskey used for the illustrations.  She also learned a little about Ohio (the setting) and the elements of a story.  Below the picture of the Lentil pages are her pages from the first week's book, The Finest Horse in Town.  (We still need to finish this page!)

And here is Mary Evelyn with her new harmonica.

Or is it finally meeting old friends?  Today I had the pleasure of meeting a few of the moms from the Five in a Row boards.  We took the kiddos to a fun little play place.  They got to play in several child sized areas like a grocery store, a dentist office, a vet office, and a diner.  My girls loved it, but I was blessed to finally meet a few of the people who have encouraged me in homeschooling, marriage, parenting, and so much more over the last 5 years. 

Standing: Heather with Grace, Michelle, Lorrie, Kendall, and me with Betsie

Sitting: Kafi and Rebecca

And here are some of the girls having lots of fun.

Lesson #1:  I think God wants me to homeschool so I can see how much I need Him.  I was very prideful when I started this journey five years ago.  Not that I have conquered that sin in my heart by any means, but I am certain that I am not the perfect mom or teacher nor do I have perfect students.  However, God is so very gracious.  He knows what each of us needs each day and we are never left lacking in any way.  The joy of the Lord is most certainly my strength.

Lesson #2:  My girls are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Period.  I have one student who learns differently from the average child.  This has not been easy for me to accept.  I want it to be easy to teach her, to pull out the manual, do what it says, and then have her understand each concept right away.  But the way she learns requires a lot more hands on kinds of activity and a lot of patience.  It really stretches me.  And yet, she is made in the very image of God.  There is nothing wrong with how she learns.  In fact, it is a gift because it forces me to depend on the One who made her to show me what she needs.  I am so very thankful for who she is.  So, so thankful.

Lesson #3:  My husband is the best out there, no doubt in my mind.  I was made to be his helpmate, but I promise you that most days I feel like he is the one helping me all the time.  He came home the other day with all sorts of notes from his own "research" on how to teach our daughter.  He spent a few nights working with the girls on some hands on lessons this week.  He does devotions every night to lead them into a closer walk with God.  I'm not sure it was intentional, but he has even made these devotions good in the area of language arts as they are currently making their own notebooks about the book of Acts.  I was feeling very burdened for one of our girls the other day, but God has shown me very clearly this week that I do not carry this burden alone.  I have my Father, who knows everything already, and I have Jason, who takes full responsibility for his girls.

Lesson #4:  It's gonna take a lot more than a few activities in a box to keep Betsie busy during school time. 

Tomorrow is the big day...the first day of school here at the B***** Christian Academy for Girls.    I spent a bit of time last week soliciting advice and ideas for keeping Betsie content as can be during the time I must do the three Rs with her sisters.  Then it was off to the thrift stores to load up on some cheap entertainment (pots and pans, toys, videos, etc.)  I have a list of ideas printed out in the front of my plan book.  Yes, Betsie does get into things, but our bigger issue is that she wants ME...all the time.  If I sit down to teach math or reading, she wants me.  And then of course she wants to grab the book or draw in it or whine or whatever. 

We are emphasizing to Rachel and Mary Evelyn that God's plan for them is to help, to serve.  If they marry, they will be a helpmate to their husbands.  But whether they marry or not, we are ALL called to serve.  We are going to drive this point home by having them be my assistant with Betsie this year.  I have to separate Rachel and Mary Evelyn for the three Rs, so while Rachel is being helped by me, Mary Evelyn will serve by playing with Betsie.  Rachel will be with Betsie while I work with Mary Evelyn.  We did this some last year too, but the emphasis this year is really on being helpful and serving because that is what God has called us to do!  And hopefully we'll be able to train Betsie to play alone a little more as well. 

I am not quite prepared with all the preschool and toddler materials so while we have good weather we will try letting Betsie and a big sister play outside in the backyard (fenced in).  But otherwise the general plan is to have special toys that we can rotate that ONLY come out during school time.  I may even be stupid brave enough to let Betsie paint with sister supervision.  Washable paints only of course!

So there ya go.  I am as ready and planned out as I can be.  But I know that just because I have plans, this doesn't mean we won't have to stop and correct bad attitudes (sometimes the teacher's!) or deal with other interruptions.  Homeschooling, along with the other major roles in my life, has been a reminder that I am unable to do anything in my own strength - no matter how detailed the plans are.  It was one thing 5 years ago when I was starting out with a bright and eager four year old to know that I could teach her what she needed to know.  It's quite another with a fourth grader and a second grader and the various struggles we have encountered the last few years.  After a little while, it's easy to question if I can do this or not.  But God is able.  Jason and I still believe homeschooling is His plan for us right now, which means He will equip us.  He will give wisdom as we ask for it.  And He will not leave us alone.  How exciting!  Another new year with my girls, my husband, and  my God. 

I can't believe we're about to start a new school year already.  Didn't we just finish the last one?  This year we are starting back on July 9th.  I have several Five in a Row units planned for each girl already.  They will be working at different levels this year.  I admit I had a miniture panic attack/freak out time last night thinking about how in the world I will get it all done.  Betsie is acting a bit clingier these days and that makes it hard to get things done.  Jason helps me see the big picture at times like this and reminds me of our goals.

We also came up with a few things to try differently this year.  This won't work every week, but we are going to see if schooling Tuesday through Saturday some weeks works.  That way, I can almost guarantee at least one smooth and get-done-quicker school day each week because Jason will be here to make sure I don't have to stop each time we get some momentum going.  I sure hope Betsie continues taking naps all year because that is the planned Five in a Row time.  When I am working with one girl, the other will have BOB time (books on bed).  However, if they decide to sit in on each other's lessons, that's fine, but BOB time will be done later in the afternoon.  I definitely want them reading.  Also, Jason is going to take a little more active role in a few areas this year.  He has always been involved but he wants a little time each evening to help Rachel with standardized test preparation and to listen to Mary Evelyn practice her reading out loud.  This is a HUGE blessing to me. 

Part of my nervous breakdown concern has to do with how much time I spend preparing food now.  Since we started the Feingold program I am cooking more from scratch.  Some of you who know me are laughing right now.  It's true.  We have to be careful to use ingredients that have no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, etc. and so I make bread and much, much more.  I even make syrup now!  The program seems to be working so I don't want to quit, but until it is "normal" for me it takes time.  And I was already short of that.

But I am excited!  I love our curriculum and it's the time of year when the shiny new school supplies start going on sale.  (Jason has never understood the thrill I get from a new box of crayons.)  There is so much potential in the 180+ school days ahead.  I love homeschooling and learning right alongside my girls.  So one more week to get ready and then we're off!  I need to get that school table and bulletin board cleaned off tonight!

My students:

Mary Evelyn (2nd grade), Betsie, and Rachel (4th grade)

My girl...

It's been exactly one year since we received our little one in Changsha, Hunan.  She was a 14 pound (and we think undernourished) scared little person.  She could sit up, roll over, and pull up.  She could not sit up from lying down, crawl, or walk.  Two months after we received her she was walking everywhere.  She can run, climb, stack blocks, talk (individual words only so far), undress (I'm not fond of this achievement.), and has a healthy attachement to her family.  She loves her grandparents and other family members and will go to others after a few minutes of checking them out and seeing that we accept them.  (like my pal Hollie!)  She eats well and has gained about 6 pounds in the year we have had her.  She reminds us to pray at every meal, usually before we're all at the table and ready!  She is addicted to a certain teddy bear and blankie.  She likes books and songs with motions, meaning Zaccheus and Itsy Bitsy Spider are big here these days, along with Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.  Betsie is more active than I remember her sisters being, so that means you better keep an eye on her all the time!  I am thankful for certain videos and toys that can hold her attention and let me teach the bigger girls. 

I am so thankful for the last year we have had with Betsie.  It has been a challenge going back to the baby/toddler stage, but so worth it.  She has brought a lot of joy to our family.

I am thinking of her birth family today and praying for them.  I am also praying about how to talk to Betsie about her beginnings when she starts wondering about it.  I already pray for them and thank God for letting me be her mommy when I pray with her at night, so she won't remember a time when this wasn't talked about.   I am also thinking of our wonderful travel group and their little ones.  They are all thriving in their families too and I miss them!  My travel mate and friend Heather sent me some new pictures today from "Gotcha Day" and I was so excited!  Heather, I have a few of Julia from China I can email you too!

The plan for celebrating is a Chinese dinner and decorations.  Maybe some Chinese clothing if anyone is up to it.  Since we just started the Feingold plan, this will all be at home instead of a Chinese restaurant.  I am making chicken fried rice, spring rolls, and jello for the picky eater who shall remain nameless.

Here are the pictures Heather sent me.

This would have been just after she was handed to us.  Notice she is NOT happy about  me holding her.   That must be a hard thing for the caregivers to do.  Jason and I are trying to manage paperwork, cameras, and a crying baby.  There is no big ceremony.   They compare your paperwork to your passprt and hand you the child.  It happens really fast!

This one is a few minutes later.  Betsie has stopped crying but she didn't give one hoot about the doll I was trying to show her.  She never has cared about that doll!  The family on the left  are some of our travel mates.  They don't live too far from us and their daughter is doing really well too.  Don't they look happy?!

And here she is now...so big and so curious and so full of life!  We love you Betsie!

It's June!  That means we'll celebrate our first Gotcha Day anniversary this month, along with Father's Day, Jason's birthday, and the last day of school one week from today.  I had planned on posting pictures from our trip to China in regular posts but decided to create a little slideshow instead.  It's up a little early because I expected it to take me FOREVER to finish it!  It was much easier than I thought, especially since I had a little help from my friend figuring out how to get it on the blog.  (Thanks Hollie!)

The sterile looking hallway, highchairs, etc. are from Betsie's orphanage in Zhuzhou, Hunan.  It wasn't a bad place.  It just wasn't home.  Of course the saddest thing to me about those who live in China's orphanages is that no one is there to share the gospel with them.  That breaks my heart!  PLEASE say a prayer for those children and their caregivers.  It's one thing to spend this life in a "blah" environment without knowing Jesus, but it's their eternity that is most urgent.  It's this understanding that makes me so excited to see God's plan for Betsie.  He is so gracious to bring us together.

Happy June and Happy Summer!   

Jen

Adoption Journey

This week in May is a busy and exciting one each year.  Yesterday Jason and I celebrated our 14th anniversary.  We can't believe how God has blessed us in 14 years.  We think we have learned a lot, but it's clear to us that we have so much more to learn.  I look back at that 20 year old girl that got married and think that the people who said we were too young may have been right!  On the other hand, being so young helped me to overlook a lot of things that would be hard now (like how broke we were then!).  Jason has been a better husband to me than anyone else ever could.  When I struggle with fear, he reads the Bible outloud to me.  He has learned that he can't reason with me or talk me into a peaceful heart, but that God can.  And then there are the children God has given us, one of them 7 years ago today!

Today, Mary Evelyn is a seven year old.  I can't believe it!  Yep, our 7th anniversary was a doozy.  I was what they call about to pop!    Mary Evelyn is such a funny little girl and she has a big big heart.  True, she has earned a reputation for being a tad, um, sensitive at times.  Still, she cares a lot about people who have less than her.  There is a homeless man by the name of Earl that sits outside at the Chick-Fil-A near us in the mornings.  If she ever sees him, we have to stop and buy him breakfast.  She wants to give him clothes and all kinds of things all the time.  I do love that about her.  And her prayers!  She melts my heart to hear her pray.  I am so thankful for this little one and all that I have learned by being her mother.

To celebrate her birthday, we went to the Georgia Aquarium yesterday.  (yep, on our anniversary)  It was a surprise and she was SO excited to find out where we were going!  It was hard to get good pictures because of the lighting and the glass, the crowds, and because my kids would rather look at the fish than the camera.  But here are a few anyway.  Enjoy!

We got some new sand this weekend.  Mary Evelyn chose blue, which is of course lots more fun than plain sand!  Betsie doesn't sit still for long, but she sat in the same spot for over an HOUR filling a bucket with her little shovel.  Here's a few pictures.