Wednesday, February 4, 2009 - Blogger Friend School- All You Need is Love
Memory Verse:
Psalms 127:3 (New Living Translation)
Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.
Intro:
This week we continue with shaking things up a bit. Children are often so pure in what they say. There is no sugar coating it, they just say it as they see it. Their thoughts can make us laugh, touch our hearts and open our eyes.
Assignment:
This week are going to do an “Interview With Mom” and post it to your blog. There are a list of questions below to interview your children with. Feel free to add your own questions or remove any question you don’t want to use. You will then ask your children the questions and post the answers that they give you.
This was a fun assignment for me to do. I was amazed at how accurate my kids’ answers were. It also gave me some insight into who they perceive me to be. I showed me what things I seem to emphasize. I called my oldest also for this assignment because I was curious what his answers would be. We had a funny conversation, especially about the first question. I changed the one about how old I am because they all know how old I am. Here are their answers.
WHAT DOES MOM ALWAYS SAY TO YOU?
22-year old son: Hey, it’s your mother.
15-year old son: Do your chores.
Daughter: Do your schoolwork.
WHAT MAKES MOM HAPPY?
22-year old son: Good kids.
15-year old son: When people do their schoolwork right.
Daughter: When things get done right and we don’t mess up.
WHAT MAKES MOM SAD?
22-year old son: A sappy movie.
15-year old son: When people do not do their work when they can.
Daughter: When we don’t do things right or when her computer stops working.
HOW DOES MOM MAKE YOU LAUGH?
22-year old son: Makes me look on the brighter side of things.
15-year old son: Her silly dances.
Daughter: When she makes goofy sounds.
HOW OLD DOES MOM ACT?
22-year old son: 30
15-year old son: 30
Daughter: 25
HOW TALL IS MOM?
22-year old son: 5’8”
15-year old son: 5’8”
Daughter: don’t know
WHAT DOES MOM LIKE TO DO?
22-year old son: blog
15-year old son: work on her computer
Daughter: computer
WHAT IS MOM’S JOB?
22-year old son: She is a store administrator/marketing person/whatever else they give her to do.
15-year old son: She is associated with The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.
Daughter: Something, she gets paid.
WHAT IS MOM’S FAVORITE FOOD?
22-year old son: Veal Parmaginia.
15-year old son: Spaghetti with veal.
Daughter: Italian food.
HOW DO YOU KNOW MOM LOVES YOU?
22-year old son: She’s mom.
15-year old son: She puts up with all the stupid, annoying things we do
Daughter: She doesn’t kill me.
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Monday, January 26, 2009 - Blogger Friend School-Now Youre Playing with Power (Nintendo)
Playing catch-up again on Blogger Friend School Assignments.
Memory Verse:
Genesis 7:24 The water held power over the earth for 150 days.
Introduction: The only witnesses to the Flood are Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives - 8 people. And then there’s the animals, 2 of every unclean animal and 7 pairs of every clean animal. When Noah and his family emerged from the ark, they offered sacrifices and praised the Lord for preserving them.
Assignment: What kind of catastrophe have you lived through? Weather? Fire? Car crash? Did you feel the oppression of the power of the disaster, or the protection of the Power of the Lord? Tell us the story of how you rejoiced and praised Him through it and after it.
I have led a very blessed life. The only major catastrophe that I have had to live through happened when I was a little girl, about 7 years old. I wrote about that event a year or so ago in my post titled “A Doll Story”. I think that post says it all.
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Wednesday, January 7, 2009 - Blogger Friend School-Prayer Box
Memory Verse: Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 2 - To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven; A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.
Intro: My Prayer Box is a unique personal declaration of faith. It’s a place for our family to lock our worries, wishes, desires and prayers–even keepsakes or photos of loved ones. It’s about gathering thoughts and prayers that allow us to pursue dreams and to recognize that we are never truly alone. My Prayer Box represents faith, which is a force that allows us to believe in things—things you can’t hold in your hand, but can always feel in your heart. Here is a post about prayer boxes and how to get started using them, it’s not too late since it’s early in the year.
Assignment: Tell about your prayer box, if your family has one that you peruse at New Year’s Eve or New year’s Day and share those prayers, thoughts and acts of faith on the next year.
When we first began homeschooling, my children created their own prayer boxes into which they would place the things they were praying for, but the practice fell to the wayside. What we have done that has stood the test of time is something similar though. At the beginning of the school year the children write their hopes and dreams for the coming year in a letter to themselves. They seal them in an envelope and I keep them safe in with their school records. When the new school year begins, they are pleased to see how far God has brought them and are inspired to dream big. They then pray for those things they were not able to accomplish and add that to the letter for the following year. It has been interesting to see how their prayers have changed and grown since we first began. Love to see God moving in their lives and spirits.
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Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - Blogger Friend School-Betcha Cant Eat Just One
Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Introduction: Betcha’ Can’t Eat Just One (Lays Potato Chips)
This weeks topic deals with eating potato chips and how good they are. I love salty foods so I have a terrible time eating just one. Along with these chips that I can’t eat just one of, I cannot get enough of studying my Bible. I think it’s ironic that chips (salty foods) are such a temptation. In the Bible (Leviticus) it tells us that salt is regarded as a disinfectant and when babies were born the midwife covered the baby with salt to clean its body and also to ward away any evil spirits or demons.
Assignment: Tell us about something that you can’t get enough of and what scripture(s) in the Bible you cannot tear yourself away from.
I mentioned in December 4th’s Homeschool Memoirs post that I enjoy m&ms. Well, that definitely is the thing I can’t eat just one of. Not even one handful. It seems once I get started I have to restrain myself not to finish the bag. Of course, if I had bought the snack size baggie I would be good but we always buy the big, family size which is easily my downfall. That is not good. Besides the unnecessary added calories I usually end up with a bad case of heartburn. I think that my m&m issues could be used as a life lesson: too much of a good thing and all that.
I’m sure I have said this before, but I absolutely love to read the Book of Proverbs. I have been through it many, many times and every morning I include a chapter in my morning readings. Every time I read it I learn something new.
Proverbs 18:20
A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
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Tuesday, December 9, 2008 - Blogger Friend School-Finger Lickin' Good
Memory Verse: Matthew 14:19…Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.
Intro: Finger Lickin’ Good - You can read about Christ feeding the 5,000 in many places in the Bible (Matthew14:19;15:36; Luke 5:6;9:3-17). I am a fairly new Christian and one of the many things I love about reading the accounts of Jesus’ miracles, is that there was not a big drum roll, fireworks, a thousand dollar suit or an agent building up some big preview of what was about to happen. Jesus would calmly say things such as “have faith”, “believe”, “have them sit and pass out these loaves of bread”, and then the miracles began.
Assignment: Although I am not able to produce miracles, it sometimes feels like I need to when it comes to meal time. There are times when money is tight, groceries are few and I have to feed my family. During the holiday season, you might have so much going on that you need to make a meal quickly with as few ingredients as possible. This week post your favorite recipes that require six (6) ingredients or less. Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
The past few weeks the only kinds of meals I have been making seem to be ‘6 ingredients or less’.
I have a bunch of easy recipes listed in Monthly Munchies, but I thought I’d share another.
This isn’t exactly a meal recipe but we used the leftovers to make egg salad sandwiches.
Deviled Eggs
1 dozen eggs, hard boiled
1 teaspoon dry mustard
¼ cup mayonnaise
Salt and pepper
Food processor
Disposable pastry bag
Cake decorating tip with about ¼ opening
Peel eggs and cut in half lengthwise. Slip yolks into food processor. Add dry mustard and mayonnaise. You may want to add a bit more or less mayonnaise to get the right texture. Process until smooth. Salt and pepper to taste.
Put decorating tip on disposable pastry bag. Fill bag with egg yolk mixture. Fill egg whites by squeezing the yolk mixture into them.
Makes 24
To make egg salad sandwiches just break up leftovers with a fork and put on bread.
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Wednesday, December 3, 2008 - Blogger Friend School-America's Favorite Dessert- J-E-L-L-O
Memory Verse: Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Intro: America’s Favorite Dessert J-E-L-L-O - What we read affects what we believe. When we feed the Scriptures in our spirit, faith comes alive and becomes a living force within you.
Assignment: Write about your favorite ‘faith food’. Tell about the books of the Bible that you read that help to build your faith. Nurture the seeds of faith inside you. ex: Acorns become Oak trees.
Narrowing it down to just a few books of the Bible that I turn to that help build my faith is a tough one. Every time I read a passage or a chapter I feel like I’m reading it for the first time and gleam something different every time. There are a couple of books I turn to when I’m looking for ‘soul food’ to feed my spirit. I absolutely love Proverbs. To me it is life’s instruction manual. I think because I love poetry so much, that Psalms comforts and uplifts me. Ephesians equips me for the battles in this world. Job encourages me not to be discouraged, no matter what. Isaiah and the Gospels remind me of God’s unselfish gift of salvation. I think that we can each find something in any book of the Bible to keep our faith strong and growing as we fill our hearts, souls and minds with it and savor every morsel.
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Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - Blogger Friend School-Thanksgiving Blessing
There is no real assignment for Blogger Friend School this week but a request:
If you’ve got the time, please bless your fellow classmates with a blessing for this holiday.
I pray that our Father in Heaven blesses you and your family with happiness and joy that fills your heart, patience and perseverance to weather the trials of the times, faith and hope to know that He is in control and love and peace that comes from Him that you may outpour it where ever life takes you.
Psalm 24:5-6
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
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Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - Blogger Friend School-Computers Help People Help People
Memory Verse: Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Intro: Computers Help People Help People (Marketing credit: IBM)
There are many ways computers help us. It is a wonderful way to stay in touch with family far away, “meet” other christian women around the globe, and it can be such a blessing with homeschooling.
Assignment:
Share some of your favorite homeschooling sites. The only “rule” for this assignment is that you have to list at least one “free” site. Many homeschooling families have made the choice to live on very little income to do what they believe is best for their children and I want everyone to be able to benefit from this assignment. If you have other sites that are “paid” sites, feel free to include these also as it might be something someone would really appreciate. If you feel led, share your curriculum choices with us. I always love to learn what is out there that I don’t already know about. Please make sure to include links to the sites you share.
I try to share all the great sites that I find as I find them. So instead of relisting them here, you can look through my Websites and Other Resources Category pages to find what may suit your needs.
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Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - Blogger Friend School-We Bring Good Things to Life
Memory Verse: Philippians 4:8
In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy.
Assignment: Share a field trip/lifestyle learning experience where you really felt you were bringing good things to life for your children, where something came alive for them, or ignited a passion.
There have been so many events in my children’s lives that seemed to give them passion about something. Simple life experiences spark their interests and they take it from there.
When my oldest was young we really thought that he would work on or with heavy equipment. At 3 years old he would spend literally hours playing with his Matchbox trucks along the bay window sill. He would watch and imitate the construction workers who were just outside the window preparing the road in front of the house for paving. Then when he was about 6 we were stuck in traffic because of a fire and we watched as the firemen put it out. When he was a young teen he was given an old IBM Tandy computer and he learned, on his own, computer language. By the time he was 14 or 15, he had taught himself PowerPoint, created a presentation and won 1st place nationally and 2nd place internationally in competition. Now as an adult he is a Computer Systems Specialist with a pretty big company and wants to be a fireman.
All of my children have always been the outdoorsy types, but my younger son has a passion for it and animals. When he was younger he watched my husband and father take down a dead tree and he wanted to be a ‘tree-cutter man’. From a very early age, his room has housed various collections of ‘habitats’ that he has created for an unending number of creeping and crawling creatures. He has captured lizards, pollywogs, tree frogs, and various insects. He creates appropriate homes for them, studies them then lets them go. He has observed the metamorphosis of a frog, done experiments regarding the camouflage traits of lizards, and most recently learned he doesn’t want crickets in his room because they kept him up at night with their songs. When not in school, he can easily be found either in the garage building something to house creatures or somewhere outside. He wanted to be a marine biologist engineer, but I have a strong feeling he may become a Ranger or something of the like.
When my daughter was a toddler she always wanted to see your teeth and would insist on looking into your mouth. She would go to the dentist with me and sit on the floor watching as the dentist worked on my teeth. She is now debating on her future as either a dental hygienist or a meteorologist. Her favorite channel is the Weather Channel, and has been for years. She watches it all the time. Weather has always held her interest. While she does not like it when the skies become dark and becomes fixated about knowing the current conditions, she is our resident weather girl giving us forecasts on a regular basis.
As I see it, there doesn’t seem to be any one particular incident that sparks interest in my children, but a series of many events that shapes and forms their passions and desires. I can’t take the credit for specific events that lead to these interests. God has already placed these fires in their hearts and I am privy to be able to see them develop.
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Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - Blogger Friend School-Quality is Job #1
Memory Verse: I Timothy 4:12-13 - Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Assignment: My family and I rarely do anything apart from each other. We don’t really have quality time together because all our time is together. We feel like the more special moments are when we have dinner together or when we worship God together. For this assignment, tell how you and your family spend QUALITY time together.
How does one define ‘quality time’? For us it just means being all together. Because my husband works very long hours as a truck driver, gone before the kids get up and many times home after they have gone to bed, we especially treasure his days off. On those days, we often go out to lunch or dinner. At this time we have little to no distractions and we can enjoy each other’s company without hindrances. Also on those days when we run errands, we appreciate the simple conversations and the silly jokes that we share. And how we love the holidays and special occasions when the entire family is together to share a meal and good times. While some are able to share game night or watch a movie together on a regular basis, we appreciate the simple moments that we have and tuck those memories into our hearts.
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