Posted in day by day

 

Posted in day by day

 

Posted in day by day

New doctor yesterday. 
Rearranging rooms (again)
New rug for office/school room/playroom today
School:  All letters learned now, she is doing very well with them.  Reading more now and focusing more on handwriting.  She finds it much easier now to copy and remember how to form cursive letters.  Needs more practice on number recognition 20-100.  Bought some flash cards for that today.  Addition understood.  Tadopoles to be shipped next week.  Busy with Mommy doing housework.  Going to try some new disciplining methods.  Reading "Creative Correction" and it has some great ideas.
Baby:  crawling whenever she gets the chance, and pulls herself up on things easily and is even trying to let go and stand.  With new carpet, I will have one room that I can put her down to let her try to learn standing/walking, not that I'm in a hurry for her to walk.  Parenting gets much busier with a walking baby.
Our move is looming now.  We may be able to go Dec, early Jan.  It is so hot here, I can't wait.

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While reading another blog entry about the Amish response to recent tragic events and their forgiving spirit, I came across this quote: "Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

...worth thinking about...

(The link to that other BLOG is HERE)

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    This morning I had a phone call from my in-laws.  It was nice to hear from them, as we don't talk very often these days.  As we were saying our goodbyes, they listed their plans for the day unaware that each new word was spinning me into a frenzy of homesickness.   How I long for the crisp autumn temperatures, for family, familiarity, vibrant hues of trees changing color, the fresh salty Atlantic breezes of the Maritimes.  Is the grass truly greener on the other side of the fence?

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"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."  Jeremiah 33:3

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Haven't spent very much time on the computer lately, therefore, no blogging.  We went to Charleston for the Labor Day weekend to spruce up our home that is still for sale (a year on the market now, ugh!) and just "get away from it all" so to speak.  Hubby hasn't taken time off of work since baby was born, so he needed to stop and smell the roses.  It was nice to have him in our daily routine for those few days.  But..then he had to go back to the long hours, and we had to get used to not having him around again...no fun.

I have also been trying to have school at least three times a week and am slowly organizing our diverse collection of workbooks, readers, curriculum with accompanying games/charts/flash cards, etc., all of our art supplies and craft materials.  I have also collected several new books (mostly homeschool related) since we moved here, and so have so much to go through and decide what should stay and what I should pass on.  Then of course, you have the daily "busyness" of running a home, and raising babies. 

I have always been funny about changing up my routine as far as what I use to amuse myself.  I will do crossword puzzles for several months during any "down time", then I will switch to reading, then games on the computer, then web surfing and so on.  Lately, when I get a free moment to vegetate, I do sudoku puzzles.  I am addicted!  Organizing is therapeutic for me, thus my love for them.  I am sure there is some deep rooted psychological reason why I have addictive tendencies toward this type of thing, but I don't want to know what it is!  It is starting to wear off, so I am wandering  in to the computer again lately, so I will probably be blogging a little more again now.

Hi to any of my friends who have stopped by and found me not "home" lately.  I will be trying to "catch up" on some of your blogs in the next day or so. 

I thought it was cute...my four year old heard me mentioning that "I need to post a blog soon" and I saw her contemplating that thought for a few moments, and then said, "Mommy, I can't wait until I am older, like six, or eight, so that I can have my own 'log' to type on."  Psst...I can't wait either!

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Posted in day by day

Posted in day by day

Today was hard for Mommy girls.
I felt alone and sad.
I shouldn't have scolded quite so loud,
or sighed when you needed me.
You see, I am not perfect,
Although I would love to be...
But God is working on my heart
and why? I just cannot see.
I guess He wants me to need Him
instead of depending on me.
I'll try to do better tomorrow, you'll see.
I'll ask Jesus to help me through.
I know He'll guide me, He's always there
when clouds cover my skies of blue.
So rest your precious eyes tonight.
In Jesus arms I leave you be.
While I sit and thank Him so very much,
For giving you both to me.

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Haven't taken time to write this week.  Reading when I find a quiet moment.   I am delighting in my new books, mostly Charlotte Mason related.  Found a notable website with a useful layout for employing this method.  http://simplycharlottemason.com/home/
Naturopathic doctor appointment yesterday.  He suggested a few herbs and recommendations...  We'll see. 
Had a pleasant day browsing through a sleepy southern Alabama town.  Refreshing  to spend time together as a family. 
The pastor of a church we attended visited us as we were preparing for our day trip.  Glad to have the opportuniyt to meet him and learn more about the church.  We were privileged to hear him speak this morning and were challenged and blessed.  We are ever humbled and awed to see the Lord's leading in our lives...
Ready for a new week?  Making a list of new goals this evening.  Do the next thing...

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Found great book we are using for devotions.  Lessons from Proverbs in story form, good old fashioned family morals and dynamics...even KJV!
 http://www.timberdoodle.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=587

Working on nature journals.  Experimenting with a couple methods of recording entries and looking for a system we are comfortable with and that will maintain continuity and orderliness over time. 

Receiving books daily that I have ordered (cheap cheap) from Amazon.  Victoria gets so excited about each one!   Christmas in July!  She got a little field book about birds today with a checklist at the back for sighting common North American birds.  First she wanted the "genoculars to see birds way up in the sky, Mommy!"  Then it warmed my heart to look out and see her fuzzy pony tail bobbing over the back of the wicker chair on the patio, field book open in her lap, watching intently.  (This comes as I am pouring over books and articles with the subject of instilling and fostering a love for learning and nature at this tender age.  Nice to see some of the ideas are working.)

Angelina very enthusiastic about eating these days.  My little bird...mouth opens with excitement when food is near!  So sweet!  Teething--drooling + +, biting on anything that gets close, tugging at ears this pm, a little fussy.  Those homeopathic tabs are amazing!  I keep wanting to say it's coincidence, but it can't be every time.  She stops fussing within a minute!!!  So cute to watch her respond to sister.  Laughs and lights up so bright with any attention from her.  Moving forward and backward now in her walker.  She is so young!  She will walk early I'm sure. Loves  Daddy.  Gives him the most precious looks.  Priceless.  I am happy with the grocery cart cover I ordered online.  Keeps her upright while we shop.  She still can only take so much, but we get farther than in the carseat.  It is pink toille and I get a lot of comments as I walk through the store..."oh, how sweet!"  (Ugh)

Posted in day by day

Posted in day by day

I am so pleased with the girls room tonight.  I am now going room by room to finish the unpacking and organizing.  I was letting that room go since it was only used really at night, except for Angelina's naps (and we are not allowed in there during those times).  It was pretty bad as we had unpacked boxes of toys and books and just kind of piled things up.  And...I brought in a large container of baby clothes to update sizes for my rapidly growing 5 month old and things had gotten worse from there, till there were piles of clothes, toys, books everywhere.  Even if Victoria wanted to play in there, she couldn't!  Anyway, today we tackled the piles and created two boxes for goodwill and organized the small toys (which is mostly what Victoria has) like Barbies & Polly Pockets and all thier accessories etc into bins/baskets, and went through all her books and weeded out twaddle.  I even had the energy this evening to rearrange the furniture and place a little recliner chair beside the bookshelf for Victoria to sit and spend time "reading" which she does a lot of these days.  She takes a book and talks a mile a minute (some words are made up) and from a picture she "tells me" the story and what GREAT stories they are!  She now wants to read to ME instead of me read to HER!  It is pretty sweet though, and what an imagination.  Ironically (or maybe not so) this echoes the results Charlotte Mason predicts if her method is utilized.  As you can see, this is why I feel it is a "natural fit" for us. 
After the room was set and bedtime rolled around I only suggested bedtime and Victoria came in and easily picked our books for tonight.  As I was reading Dr. Seuss she stopped me and said "Mommy, you made my room look soooo nice.  Thank you!"  My heart was warmed.  I know I feel better in an organized environment, and I think she does too.  She will probably play there more now.  I am also renewing my resolve to not bring "junk" toys into our home.  I detest plastic and commercialized trinkets!  They are everywhere and easy to collect, without trying.  When Victoria was very small, I made a resolution to avoid this but I slip and we end up with the stuff anyway.  You know, she doesn't ever play with it!  She goes for her animals (the more realistic the better) books, dollies, paper and crayons, and dress up more than the other "stuff".  I needed to be reminded before Angelina starts getting her stash going!!  I have also ordered several inexpensive educational games from Timberdoodle.  I can't wait to get them!   I am forever trying to come up with easy/quick ways to work learning into our daily routine,  other than "school", which really is so informal right now.  With a baby, these activities need to be short and sweet and easily interrupted.   I have been limiting TV again now too.  I am so thankful that when I say time to turn the TV off, she goes right to it and no complaints.  It's almost like she wants me to tell her to.  So funny.  Then I feel even more guilty for leaving it on so long!   I'm just reading through this entry and I have only talked about Victoria.  You see!  My little one is such a joy and so good.  I observe her and look forward to watching her grow and blossom like her big sister.  She had a whiny day today.  I think she is teething.  We have these homeopathic tablets and they work well.  She stops whining right after getting them (I am not exaggerating) and usually settles for a nap.  They are GREAT!  She is taking solids (I guess you call the mush that) well.  She seemed to react a little to bananas, even though she loved them, so I will wait a little longer for those.  So far she has had pears, apples, sweet potatoes and green beans (and rice cereal of course).  I want to do some more research on yogurt and when I should start that.  It is hard to believe she is 5 months!  I need to get some portraits done soon.  I haven't had Victoria's 4 year done either!  Life is too busy.  I have tried to start taking more pictures again.  Several months have gone by with not many pictures.  (Not like me, who loves scrapbooking and looks for interesting ideas to get excited about laying out pages for!)  Poor little Angelina will someday notice the difference between her and Victoria's albums (the first year at least).  Lots of things for me to work on...for sure.
Must get to bed.  I am trying to get more sleep.  I know that will help my mental state.  Had a rough morning today.  Jeff even went and made an appointment for me with a naturopathic doctor 2 states away!!  I guess he is worried about me.  AND ready for me to get back to my normal self, poor man.  We need God's grace.

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Well, we have been having a short time of "school" each a.m.  I have been doing a lot of research and reading up on  Charlotte Mason (again).  Her strategies seem so logical and wholesome to me.  It is a natural fit, but I do have a few issues.  My biggest fear is that if for some reason, who knows, my children were placed in a more "traditional" educational system, would it be very difficult for them if we use such a "non-traditional" approach to their education?  I feel that our A-Beka curriculum keeps us grounded to the more traditional.  It gives me some comfort that she is learning the same as others her age.  I know it is possible to combine Charlotte's methods along with others, and that is probably what we will do.  I have relaxed a lot, since the start of our homeschooling journey, about schedules, lists, scope of practice, etc.  I enjoyed it anyway, but I think I would have burned out faster using the plans and goals I once had.  This is a "journey" as I said, and I am learning as I go.  I love the whole process and I am so thankful to have this opportunity.   I am grateful also for the others in this blogging group who share their experiences and wisdom.  I may not be able to meet people in person, but I have been privileged to sneak a peek into other homeschooling routines and it has been challenging and inspiring!  I have crossed paths with others who have shown interest and kindness which I was in need of, and I thank you all for your online friendships!

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We don't truly feel "at home" until we know what routine is and then get a break from it. Our long weekend went by quickly and we did manage to get some organizing done.  Having someone to help Victoria with her scattered needs and hand the baby off to when she just needed some cuddle time or a quick diaper change,  allowed me the rare opportunity to focus on specific tasks and make some headway!  My kitchen is much more presentable and I now feel any dirt is "our" dirt, so I am more comfortable there.  I also nudged Jeff along to get some of his "stuff" put in the right places, so I think it is now possible to have our school area together for sure this week.  No excuses now. 

Nature:  Victoria has been feeding some birds in our back yard.  We have seen bluejays and cardinals.  Also several squirrels are stealing some of the bird food, but they are fun to watch.  She also discovered a new frog.  She and  Daddy found it was called a Barking Tree Frog after doing research on the web.  (She really enjoyed learning about native Florida frogs with Daddy).  I would like to start a Nature Journal with her this week.  After much research and reading I would like to try the Charlotte Mason approach to our homeschooling and a Nature Journal is a key element in her methods.  I am looking forward to getting it started. 

Devotions:  I will be looking this week for a new approach to family devotions.  We have been using an adequate series for Jeff and I, but I cherish that time each evening, and would like to include the girls more.  It surely doesn't hurt them to sit and listen no matter what we are using, but I feel it would be a great time for Daddy to have opportunities to share in teaching the girls spiritual lessons.  He misses out on so much with our schedule.  All his fathering is concentrated into an hour or two each evening.  We have talked about looking for something different so I will do some research this week in hopes to find a good series/book etc. (Any suggestions would be welcome for anyone reading my blogs)

Onward and forward, back to the old routine tomorrow.  Hopefully with a new outlook and renewed spirit.

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So refreshing to have Daddy home.  Off till Wed!  Got + + sleep and feel better and definitely less stress.  We have missed our man around lately.  Victoria is Daddy's little helper and never leaves his side.  I don't think he minds   Even Angelina is sleeping better (she feeds~no pun intended~off Mommy, so when Mommy happy, baby happy).
Chores today, and maybe some fun tomorrow.  The Lord gives us what we can handle, and He knew I needed Jeff for a few days.

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Posted in day by day

Posted in day by day

 

Had a few lonely days.  Hubby working long hours and time is long with no friends yet.  Caring for two children is much more demanding than one.  I thought I was prepared for the inevitable changes, but I had no idea.  Smile, Lou.  I know you warned me.  I need mercy and grace only He can give.