Kellie at Hilltop Academy hosts Flashback Fridays, which usually take us somewhere back to the eighties and those hairdos. Not this week so  much. She tells us that she has found the best husband out there. I'm sure she just hasn't gone far enough North or she would have realized that Mr. Wonderful is actually the best husband out there .  I'm sure Big D is  a close second though  

Although he's not Elvis, he's definitely a "Hunka- Hunka" with more of a John Wayne feel...

He's also a little bit crazy...

and a good Dad...

He loves his country and served it well...

and came home to us as soon as he could

he brought Doodles a lamb from Ireland, and an "Operation Iraqi Freedom" hat for Bear 

and his heart for me

'

He's also very handy.  He built an addition to our house that has three bedrooms, two baths and an attached garage. He did all of the interior work (plumbing, wiring, dry wall, finish work ) and the siding and gutters. 

He participates in our children's education. Doesn't he make a very realistic Capt. John Smith?

 He's also obsessed with the Buckeyes!! He's done very good job of passing this on to our family as well.

And lastly~ he also loves God. I don't know where I'd be these last few months if it wasn't for his faith and perserverance. He always looks for the good and always praised God for it.

We're coming up on 15 years next spring. I also can't wait to see what they hold for us!

Life is slowly getting back to a new normal.

 I' ve been researching stuff for our new units next year- very heavy in history    However, before I go into that any further, I figured I should finish showing what we did last year. Our simple machines unit started off with  "Rube Goldberg" and then we moved on to the various simple machines.  We  found the different machines in our house and neighborhood, did experiments with them and built them with Legos and K'Nex- it was a great unit.

Here's some pics... 

Catapults

having marshmallow wars

figuring out how to lift a bag of books to the top

Success! Gotta love those inclined planes 

Even Lego guys use inclined planes to get places!

building a hand drill (screw) out of K'nex

Archimede's Screw

building gears

Looking for the wedge in a pencil sharpener

building a wedge with two inclined planes

lifting a jug of milk with a wheel and axle

In Him,

I have been a Christian for almost twenty years. I know that God doesn't leave us, that He only wants what is best for us and what will help us go to Heaven. I know that with my head. My heart however, is a different story. It hasn't caught up. I'm learning how to live with a broken heart. One that feels very dejected from God.

The song "Never Alone" from Barlow Girl describes me so well:

I waited for you today
But you didn't show
No no.
I needed you today
So where did you go?
You told me to call
Said you'd be there
And though I haven't seen you
Are you still there?

I cried out with no reply
And I can't feel you by my side
So I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here and I'm never alone

And though I cannot see you
And I can't explain why
Such a deep reassurance
You've placed in my life.
We cannot separate
'Cause you're part of me.
And though you're invisible
I'll trust the unseen.

I cried out two weeks ago as I sat in the emergency room after waking up bleeding. Bleeding that shouldn't have happened for several months. That was the day I found out our baby had died. The baby that was a total gift from God. I know all babies area gift from God, but this was the only baby that we had conceived on our own- a totally unexpected blessing.One that we were told would never happen.  A gift that we never expected or had even asked for, and was taken away as quickly as it had been given. Oh, that hurt. It still does.

I know some day my heart will catch up but right now I'm holding on with my head.

I haven't posted for a while. It's been a long, hard last couple months. I hope to be back and back to myself soon.

The school year is drawing to a close! We're all ready for a break. Right now we're wrapping up math, grammar and phonics. Technically they could be done with everything but math, but I'd like to keep them fresh. The rest of our days are filled up with garden planning, field trips, music and art lessons, and of course enjoying life outdoors! 

This is from a museum we visited last week- hopefully I can post some more later. 

When Doodles goes back to her room, you never know what she will look like when she comes out. She is such a free, adventurous spirit! Got to love it!!!

That's a small part of what happens when you are married to the National Guard. And then some-  Easily hurt feelings, loneliness, clingyness, and doubt join in as well.

This just a short separation ( 3 weeks),  I dread the thought of another long one but there are no guarantees .

They don't tell you all of this when the contract is signed.

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This too shall pass.

In Him,

That's just what you need if you are in the middle of a science lesson and they decide to flush the fire hydrants! Of course, being the diligent homeschoolers that we are and never wanting to miss an educational moment , the kids went and asked interviewed them about what they were doing. After much research, they discovered that city workers were checking to make sure that they worked and were not clogged. Definitely some social studies there, right?

Since we were already outside, we decided to add some play time  physical education as well.

The neighbors driveway is always more fun...

And to add fun socialization skills -

a competition was added... 

to see who could make the biggest splash , soak their pants, and...

fill their boots up with water

We did get back to our science. They made a pretty cool windlass for our "wheel and axel " lessons. Here's a sneak preview of that unit. We'll be wrapping it up next week.

Where is your sting?

I've heard these words many times. I know that in death there is victory. In my head, I know it. However, the heart is a different subject. I have a friend who is going to die. Probably today. She knows it. She's ready.

We're not especially close friends. I actually knew her children better because we were youth workers with them. They are all grown now but that doesn't make it any easier. I know the pain they are going to be going through. I went through it myself 23 years ago. Wow, that's a long time. It sure doesn't feel that long. I still remember it though.

She's asked to go to the hospital so she won't die at home. She doesn't want to do that to her family - a mother's/ wife's love. It's just a matter of time. That's very sobering. 

 Her life and death will bring her a victory. She has finished the race- she will be with our Lord. I pray that God will bless her family with peace and that they will hold on to that victory until they meet again.

For the past five years, I have attended and thoroughly enjoyed CHEO in Columbus, Ohio. Being in West Virginia, it is a bit of a drive, but one we have always felt worth it. It was at CHEO that my mother came totally on board with us ( thanks Mom! ). It was at CHEO that my husband saw the whole picture of what was going on with our homeschooling. It was also at CHEO that my husband help pick out part of the curriculum that we used this past year instead of leaving it totally in my hands. CHEO also tends to a bit of a reunion for us because we run into old friends that we never see except at CHEO. CHEO has also allowed us access to a vendor's hall that is phenomonal. We also met Steve Demme at CHEO and he autographed Bear and Doodle's books. Needless to say, we a soft spot in our heart for CHEO. I guess that is why I am disappointed in the way CHEO is being structured this year. They are only offering a convention package for three days instead of the usual one or two day pass. I have emailed one of the board members about this and they were very nice and explained their position . I have found one discrepancy but it is not worth airing. I don't have proof- it's just based on my memory.

I have read on other boards various reasons why they are changing things- who knows what the truth really is. I just hate that it is happening. I'm afraid that they are going to be biting the hand that has fed them for so long.

I hope this is a one time thing for CHEO. It will be like losing an old friend if I have to give it up permanently. As I explained in my email to the board member, it is not a deal if it is not what you need. I do not need three days. I'm really at the point in my homeschool journey that one day is sufficient. I wouldn't buy an art kit for just the brushes even if it was a great deal. I truly hope this changes. 

Kellie at Hilltop Academy hosts Flashack Fridays. These are fun to look at and definitely bring back memories. Oh, the hair!  Although I was not an athlete, I still had my passion in the eighties ~ performing! Anywhere there was something to do with music, I was there. Yes, I did all of the band stuff- was pretty good at it too. I went on to major in music at Ohio University. However, there was one part of performing that I just *loved* - colorguard. Our highschool marching band was pretty competetive and the colorguard was right up there with them. We even had a winterguard. If you aren't sure what a winterguard is, go to youtube and check them out.

This is our guard "Utopia" at a regional championship- we did make it all the way to the "big" championship... 

That's me in the top right corner. Don't you love the  makeup? Can't beat blue eye shadow and hot pink lips. We had to coat it on for performances just like you would for a theater performance.

I have a lot of great memories being in the colorguard- I even went on to make a short "career" out of it. After graduating from highschool, I worked with different guards throughout Ohio and West Virginia. My last guard was my biggest accomplishment- they were undefeated for 2 years.

Every once in a while I 'll see a marching band and I'll get those little pangs of missing it, but they pass. Who knows, maybe this will be something Doodles will pick (or toss) up?

Last week, we started reading Vinegar Boy. If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it. We have been doing it as a read aloud. The kids love it. It has sparked some great conversations. Most of them are to answer questions or to express some form of nausea at the realization of what really happened at the crucifiction. Today's conversation was completely different.

As I read "A Roman horseman patroling the traffic turned and bellowed an order at two foot soldiers."   I heard:

" Two feet- I'm bigger than them!"

It took me a minute to process that comment.   

I couldn't stop giggling as I explained that there were two soldiers patrolling on foot!

The joys of Homeschooling!

Lately it seems our studies have been one bunny trail after another. Just when I "think" I have it planned out, I come across something else that looks too good to pass up. As I was combing the database at the KONOS Yahoo Group looking to see if I missed anything for our simple machine study, I came across a post that talked about Rube Goldberg and this game:

So off with the "new and improved" plans! First find Mousetrap. Thank goodness for Goodwill! That was the only place we could find it. It had all of the pieces except " the helping hand" and being the resourceful students that we are, we were able to make a makeshift hand out of sticky tack and a checker.

We started off by reading about Rube Goldberg ( why don't I remember studying about him?) and what his comics were saying. The kids really enjoyed trying to figure out all of the steps. We then got out Mousetrap and talked about how it was a "Rube Goldberg machine." We all enjoyed playing it . I'm sure it will be a favorite for a while now.

Next came Youtube. There are a ton of videos on Rube Goldberg machines. Here are some of our favorites

• Rube Goldberg machine III
• Simple Rube Goldberg Machine IV
• Mythbusters
• Homemade Rube Goldberg Machine
• Honda Ad

After watching the videos, the kids were given a goal of making a Rube Goldberg machine that will close the door to our video collection. 

This task was very challenging!

After much trial and error... 

and looks like this...

They made their goal!

The ball rolls down the first ramp...

jumps over the gear in the middle, rolls down the second ramp, hitting the books in a domino effect to close the door.

Not bad for a days work!

They've already asked to do another one today-pretty good after insisting yesterday that they didn't want to do this ever again!

I don't know how recent this phenomenon is, but I have noticed a trend where my time has been deemed invaluable by others. There always "seems" to be a good reason, none the less, I am the one who's been taken advantage of, not them.

Monday, I spent over 2.5 hours at a tire place waiting to get my car inspected and brake roters replaced. No, that is not a typo. I handed over my keys at 11:45 being told that the inspection would only take 30-45 minutes. No probem. At 12:40, they were showing me how I couldn't pass inspection until the front rotor was replaced- again only 30-45 minutes. Sounds reasonable, we'll wait and run ro get some lunch when it's done. At 2:10 ( after walking to get a snack at a gas station) I asked how much longer and was told the parts had not arrived yet. I told them I would give them 10 min and then I wanted my car back, passing inspection or not. Miracously, the part showed up in those ten minutes and the brakes were fixed. The story does have a good ending though- they did not charge me for labor. I walked out of there at 2:30 paying $30 for front rotors and wasting my afternoon.

As I said, that situation was not new territory for me. Last month I had a Dr.'s appt. to refill a prescription. Sounds simple , right? Don't you know that if it sounds too good to be true than it isn't what you've been told.  We  ( had both Bear and Doodles with me, remember we homeschool ) only sat in the waiting room about 10 minutes. Not bad. After been weiged, taking BP and history, we were told the Dr. would be in shortly. No problem, because we had brought our math books to fill in the time. Did you know that the back of MUS lesson pages are great for hangman? I didn't realize it either until we had to play about 25 rounds because we waited over 2 hours! I was held captive because I needed  my prescription. He did eventually give me my prescription sans any apology. Time to find a new Dr.  Haven't got the bill yet, but I seriously doubt he'll take the labor off ( it was only 10 min anyways).

You know if I was 2 hours late for my appt. that I would be turned away. What has happened that we are allowed to treat others this way, and worse- we allow it.

Yesterday  we started preparing for our Easter celebration. First, we read The Parable of the Lily  by Liz Curtis Higgs. This is a beautiful story of God's love for us  for both children and adults.

We also started Amanda Bennett's Easter Unit Study. This is the first time I have ever bought a  unit study over the net. I'm really glad I did. It is a wealth of resources and very well put together. So far, we have made a map of Israel and identified Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Jerusalem. We've also started a timeline a Jesus' life and looked at prophesy. The best part of the day however, was talking about John 3:16. Bear's heart is really tugging at him. The reality of eternity hit him. I think it's only a matter of time before he commits himself to God and is baptized.

Sunday we are having dinner with my brother and his family. We're all excited about this! Remember those older cousins I mentioned earlier? They'll both be there- Bear and Doodles are busting at the seams to see them!

I hope everyone has a blessed Easter!

It seems lately that I have allowed myself to be inundated with a variety of opinions on what God wants from us- particularly regarding Easter. My problem is, that after a while, my brain starts spinning, then hurting  and everything becomes mush. After reading this link posted by another blogger, I decided it was time to get some help. I emailed a friend who is a history prof at Ohio Valley university and shared the link with him. I asked him if it was historically accurate. His reply was:

"I'm not much in the know about ancient history (my field is U.S. history) but I suspect much of this information is true.  But what we have to realize is that much of our cultural practice went through many transitions through a variety of cultures, picking up artifacts and customs to which were assigned new and changing meanings and symbols.  When you think about it most of our cultural practices fit this model.  For example, football can be traced back to the blood sport of the gladiatorial contest among the Romans.  Does  this mean that football is evil and we cannot participate.  Many of our laws, sports, holidays, customs, traditions have roots among ancient and medieval people that have been amalgamated with the practices of other peoples with ever-changing results.  If we took this to the ridiculous, we would become incapacitated and couldn't do anything.  The problem some evangelical Christians have with Easter is not the ancient origins but the fact that Easter was a Roman Catholic holiday and celebration.  During and after the Protestant Reformation, many Protestants rejected anything that smacked of Roman Catholicism.  So we just have to re reasonable and put the modern practice into context and make a personal decision.  In our culture, does the rabbit really represent fertility and the practices of fertility religion.  Obviously not,  A rabbit is just a cute cuddly little creature that makes us feel good.  Are our children likely to get infected with fertility religious practices just because it had a far different meaning in some ancient civilization?  I doubt they will ever know, unless we tell them or they find it out as adults.  I personally think that a lot of this stuff just goes to ridiculous ends, though I certainly do not question the sincerity of the people involved.  I just think we have to educate ourselves and make a reasonable decision that we are comfortable with.  What do you think?

I told him:

"I think I just needed an impartial voice of reason. We don't do the Easter bunny but not for those reasons- just because we want to focus on the resurrection. We do allow them to decorate and have baskets though. We were just doing it the same as we do with Santa and Christmas. I didn't think it was sinful but my mind has been chocked full of things lately and I wanted to run it by you."

To which he replied:

"I think your approach is very reasonable.  We need to focus on the real story, the resurrection, not make it yet another materialistic day. "

I was feeling better but did not have complete peace until this scripture was pointed out.

 1Corinthians 8

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge.^[a] Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But the man who loves God is known by God.

 4So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. 5For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), 6yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

 7But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

 9Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

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DUH! Why do I do this to myself? I think sometimes in our pursuit of godliness, we fall right into Satan's snares.

Thank you God for your holy word and your limitless patience with your children.

Mr. Wonderful and I have made a few changes to our traditions but not because of man's interpretation but what we feel God has placed on our hearts. We are excited, the children are excited and we feel that we will be honoring God. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. This is not a salvation issue and if it's not, then it is a disputable matter, to which we are told in Romans 14:

 "22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin."

Rosetta Stone has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while -- next week they are unleashing a brand new curriculum, and you can WIN the *all new* Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3… FOR FREE! 

This is a $219 program (and believe me it's worth every penny!) and the winner gets to pick from any of these 14 languages: Spanish (Spain or Latin America), English (American or British), Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Irish, Hebrew, or Russian.

This will also include a headset with microphone, and students will participate in lifelike conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program.  Rosetta Stone still incorporates listening, reading and writing as well, in addition to speaking.  Many homeschoolers requested grammar and vocabulary exercises, and with Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3, they're included!  For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program and allow parents to easily enroll students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, and view and print reports. 

To win this most excellent program -- in the language of your choice -- copy these (blue) paragraphs and post it in (or as) your next blog post -- then to enter the contest, go to the original contest page HERE: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenIG/501132/  and leave a comment with the link showing where you blogged about it.  And please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post it.  And good luck!  The winner will be picked randomly on March 26, and will be notified thru the link they left to their blog pg.   And if you have more than one blog, you can post them and enter those separately for more chances to win.   Yay for free stuff!