We had a milestone just recently - our oldest daughter was promoted from 8th grade to 9th or High School.  I have answered the "So, you are going to teach her through High School?????" question at least 25 times.  Thankfully, my answers are getting easier to come by.  This should be old hat by the time we promote the 4th child. 

What is my answer?  Why are we homeschooling through high school?  My most simple answer is that we are being obedient to the path God has called us to.  I don't really know if I can provide a better education that the public schools can - but I know I can give our children the education God has designed for them.  He smooths out all my rough edges, He fills in all the gaps I leave out, He directs all my courses and plans (hopefully) and when I veer off on my own - He gets me back on track - sometimes graciously and sometimes not so much....

I feel now that if we put our oldest in PS - it would negate the previous eight years.  My job is not done yet - we are just getting to the fun stuff.  I get a chance to see her use all the reasoning and judgments skills I have planted in her.  I want to see her tackle the tough subjects - frankly, I believe I will make  her think and reason a lot harder than most schools would.  I've seen the reading lists for some of my nieces and haven't been too impressed.  I can only hope and pray that she "passes" me up in ability and knowledge.  This for one - forces me to keep educating myself and two - it means she is learning and growing.  God can provide the resources we need to keep her advancing - my abilities should be of little consequence to staying the course God set for me.  That way, when we graduate our last child I will truly be able to say "God did it, not me"    All I can claim is faithfulness.

So I have a High Schooler in the house and I am potty training the littliest.  I know this is not so uncommon in the homeschool world - but in the secular world - I'm a bit of an oddity.  The other milestone is of course the potty training.  My little guy is learning to pee on trees outside.  I knew once he figured that out - we'd be off to the races and sure enough.  We seem to have turned the corner.  Yeah! 

Sometimes - ya gotta just do life.  No fluff, no extras.  That has been the theme since Christmas.  I call it  "keeping my head down".  We have been impacted by the ecomony slow down which I'm sure had something to do with our personal crack down, but it was more self imposed than required by our situation.  It has been a good thing which is the testimony that I hear over and over from others about hard times.

But recently, God has been stretching me in new areas and breaking me out of my cocoon.  Making friends.  I'm really not very good at it.  Chit chat, casual talk is so challenging for me.  I have a friend that is so great at just talking about whatever and she is alway coaching me - still I struggle.  But in the last couple of months I have not been able to side step the "getting to know you" process with several people.  The obstacle to making new friends has always been a matter of time and priority - but God found ways around this and almost literally placed a few wonderful women smack in my lap.  I've been sitting back marvelling at how He almost tricked me, like I didn't know I was making new friends until I had actually done it.

Having always been a one-girlfriend kind of girl - this is a whole new world for me.  I'm so excited about what God is doing.  I feel like I am being bouyed up - which if I overthink it - I get a little nervous.  But he promises "But I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you".  I must believe that I am not exposed, but blessed. 

Happy Almost Spring in the Sierra!

As I put together this brief slide show of our trip - I'm flooded with memories.  A trip like this stays and stays with you.  The chance to spend such quality time with my family can only be hoped for again in the future - but if it never comes - I am so blessed to have had these thirty wonderful days. 

In August my husband kindly offered to take our family on a pilgrimage of sorts to our country's capitol, Washington DC.  The plan was to be gone for a month and I really didn't believe it would happen.

Guess what?  It did.  After a whirlwind of planning and wrapping up loose ends - we flew away from our home on October 22.  I had no idea what to expect from being gone from our home for 30 days.  I have lived in this town since I was a small girl - attended elementary, jr. high and high school here.  I married here and all my children have been born in the same hospital - two in the same room.  I am truly blessed - however, the prospect of being away from home was very exciting. 

We stayed in a rented house for two weeks in DC and experienced city life - complete with no vehicle.  That was a stange experience - going grocery shopping without my giant grocery getter (Excursion).  We learned how to expertly pack the stroller with our supplies and get it on and off the Metro without spilling it all.  It was awesome to be in the city during the elections - what a different perspective we got by getting out of our comfort zone.

After our 14 day tour of duty in the city we rented a car - (woo hoo) and headed for the countryside.  We toured Mount Vernon, Monticello, Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown - just to name a few.  Down in the Colonial triangle - we were so thrilled to spend four days in a 18th Century farm house.  What an experience that was!  The house and the grounds were so beautiful with fall colors.  It was a treat for this evergreen-living family. 

Our last week was spent back up in the DC area - but we were ready to go home.  We were severely homesick.  I know - we are wimps, some of you travel or move all the time with no complaining.  We love travelling - but we love coming home.

This was a trip of a lifetime and I'm hoping the fruit of our labor will be harvested for years to come with situations like this... We were home just a few days when I found my two youngest using metal poles from the porta crib as guns over their shoulders.  My 7 dd was chanting "hut two three"   when she suddenly pauses.  She grabs a rectangular pillow - tosses it in the middle of the floor and says "now we are guarding the tomb of the unknown soldier".  It was a precious moment to realize she "got" something like that.  Nevermind - the soldiers guarding the tomb are a bit quieter than my clan. 

We are getting back into the sit-down side of schooling.  I did attempt to do some school on the road - but as expected - over projected what we would get done.  There just wasn't time - with a field trip every day.  Good news is - we can do all the recording of our travels now - no serious lesson planning for a while.  We have a lot of "meat" to work with.

I hope to have a few minutes to check around to my "friends" and see what you all have been up too.  Have a very Merry Christmas season!

H

Happy Fall!  Boy is the world stirred up with some blustery winds of change and turmoil? Seems everywhere I look there is uncertainty.  I'm trying to cling to God's promise and stand rooted in Him.  I know you are too.  My prayers seemed focused on our leaders and our country.  My heart overflows with concern for our spiritual future in this land.  But God knows...

After two months of feeling RAW - I think I'm back on the level.  Nothing like some national crisis to put my own troubles into perspective. 

But despite all that...we have an exciting month coming up!  Our family is headed to Washington DC for a month long field trip - and educational smorgasborg.  It is the realization of a goal we set five years ago and we really didn't know how it was going to come all together, but it did.  The economic slow down is allowing us to leave our business in the reliable hands of our employees and take the kids on trip of a lifetime.  I still can't believe we going. 

So if anyone has tips or hints about visiting our capitol - I'm all ears.  We will be using The Providence Foundations - In God We Trust guidebook so that we don't over look the imprint of faith our founding fathers left for us. 

I'm also trying hard to let the trip be the education and not try to cram in a bunch of busy paper work.  I'm resisting so far.  Can anyone relate?  I mean - I prepared a lesson plan for our trip to Disneyworld?  Get a life right?  Needless to say - we had a nice stack of scratch paper from that misjudgement.  But this is a little different  so I'm asking God to show me wht is best for our family. 

Blessings to you!

H

Living in small town, we have a fairly small support group.  It consists of about 25 families with about 20 being regularily active.  These last few years we've embarked on holding a short Co-Op in the spring and the fall.  It runs once a week for six weeks.  This goal is worthy but still so much work.  We are getting ready to start this week and the topic is DRAMA/THEATER.  I may have bitten off more than I can chew.  We are just trying to keep it simple and fun - but simplicity is something I stuggle with.  Moms seem so tapped out.  We all have to choose what is most important - and choosing to do nothing outside of our normal subjects has to be ok.  There are seasons for everything.  What worked one year doesn't necessarily mean it will be good for the next.  This is one of the hardest parts about being in any position of leadership.  "Reading the crowd" and being ahead of the curve instead of crashing and burning mid turn. 

I've enjoyed reading about other moms who use the Keepers program for a co-op or get togethers.  I am talking with another mom about putting a group together.  I'm super excited about this. I've really only seen it used for girls groups.  Does anyone have experience or a reference for using it in a boys group?

Have a blessed day - I'll post how our DRAMA went.

It is one of those rare spring days in the mountains, when the wind is warm,  and the sun is even warmer.  Spring in the high Sierra is mostly sunny, but step outside and you'll be greeted by a brisk wind or just plain freezing temperatures.  Not today - after several days of 22 degree mornings we woke to a balmy 42.  Wahoo!

I forced school until noon and just couldn't torture them any longer.  Out, Out, Out.  My 17 mo son enjoyed his first excursion to the sandbox, albiet very wet.  I'm putting off his nap because he seems to be enjoying the fresh air more than he needs the rest.  He just gave a bite of his snack to the dog and put the rest in his mouth.  Must be a good day - cause I didn't do a thing to stop it.

The girls are in and out - singing as they go - making up songs about bugs and worms.  My girls are more interested in what is under the rocks that my 10 yrold boy.  Of course they still have to work around patches of snow to find them.

And me?  Well, I'm avoiding most responsiblities - except recording our attendance to see how many more days until 180.  Wahoo - we will take a 6 week breat at the end of May.  Six weeks to go.  What's that song - sing with me now.

"I think I can make it now, the rain is gone.  All of the bad feelings have disappeared.  There is that rainbow I 've been praying for, it's gonna be a bright, bright sunny day."

I'm certain I've mixed up the lines - but you get the idea.

Each year I've been inching my way towards year round school and this year finds me even closer.  I've just scheduled the six week summer break and then back at it for the middle of July.  I think for me - with all I try to do both with my support group and my personal responsibilities with our business, that a traditional school year is just too much pressure.  I need to spread it out more and take a load off.  Besides - the kids go a little batty with too much unscheduled time.  Now - to break it to my girlfriends. 

That's all for me now - enjoy the moment - Saturday's high is forcasted for 42.  YUCK!

We've been back from vacation a week and a couple of days - but sadly we were met at home with terrible colds.  Must have got them on the plane.  Our high enthusiasm to dive into school was dashed with sneezes, coughs and headaches.  These are the bumps and curves of homeschooling.  I guess I should be more upset about missing another week - but God has given me peace about it. 

The snow has kept coming and coming all week long.  Not with huge amounts of build up - but just slow and steady.  The mountains are violet and white offset by the pale blue of the winter sky.  It is cold and the trees seem cozy snuggled in blankets of white.  Being the "sunniest place on earth" most of the time - these days upon days of cloud cover have contributed to the fog we are in - in the house.  But, today the sun finally shed light on the Glory of God all around us.  I love the peacefulness that settles in during and right after a snow storm.  The hustle and bustle abates and we all seem happy to be indoors - as long as we remembered to stock up on the basic grocery needs before the flakes began to fall. 

Another wave of storm is supposed to hit later tonight and I'm looking forward to more rest.  Hopefully it is still snowing Monday morning - the kids always do well in their studies when it is white outside, without the sun calling their names to come and play. 

I have the desire to break out the scrapbooking stuff - but not the energy.  I suppose my creative juices will have to be directed to blogging.  Moving from this chair seems impossible, except when the baby requires my attention.  Everyone else is on their own. 

Well, I'm looking forward to checking in on all my friends, so I'll sign off for now.  Once the decongestant clears my system, I'll be back.     H

I was just thinking last night as I tossed and turned trying to go to sleep  - that I should pop in and post an entry.  As the children prepare for a slumber party in the living room - an annual New Year's eve tradition - I'm enjoying a few quiet minutes to sort out the last few weeks.  Where did the time go?  There was the baking, the ice skating, the gingerbread village (yes, I said village not just a house) and the shopping for food which never seemed to end.  But this year - for the first time in such a long time, the holidays brought me a sense of peace (in general).  Yes, there were frenzied moments. Don't let me kidd you - but because I said no to so many social things - we got to enjoy each other and our decorated home so much more.  Usually I don't even have time to bake.  And I'll admit it...we skipped Christmas Eve services at church and read the Christmas story at home in our living room.  Once I shed the guilt - I enjoyed the evening a lot.

Ah - but the big secret that has really kept me a way from the blog was...we surprised the kids with a trip to Disneyworld for their Christmas present.  Planning the surprise in secret - in a house full of loud and nosey children was challenging.  The surprise was consuming my brain and I could share it with so few people for fear they'd give it away.  I staged a Scavenger Hunt for Christmas morning with clues and challenges - like delivering breakfast to a neighbor and opening 60 Oreo cookies looking for three pennies - in order for them to solve the mystery  of  "What is for Christmas?"

The final clue led them to boxes - inside were custom made t-shirts that had Mickey on the front saying Yipee.  On the back it read - "The Vaughan Family is Going to Disneyworld in 2008".  At first they were thinking  March - but when they realized we were leaving in 2 weeks - they were so excited. 

We are now in the seven day window and we can prepare openly.  I keep finding myself whipering to my husband about it and then realize - I don't have to whisper any more.  Have you even kept a secret?   Some people have a really hard time with it. 

I'm still in shock that we are going - as dh said he never wanted to visit a Disney park again - after the last time.  But I mentioned wanting to do a trip as the present this year - and he suggested it.  Go figure?

I'm sorry I have nothing deep and meaningful here to post.  My mind is still locked into logistics and details of moving a family of six across the country without major mishap.

There is one detail - I could use help from you all with.  Any good suggestions for fiction reading?  I don't read a lot of fiction that isn't Christian - but sometimes that genre can get - how to say it - a little cheesy.  And I don't have an hour to browse the Christian book store.  Any ideas? 

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season - Heidi