Welcome to Blessings Undreamt Of... a blog celebrating the numerous God-sent blessings that I could never have dreamt of before embarking on our homeschool journey. I encourage you, too, to have a joyous and God-filled homeschool adventure! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:51:00 -0600 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:51:00 -0600 Well, our morning started out somewhat normally (normal for this week at least).  See, the boys and I are doing a “service project” this week and next by DEEP cleaning and DEEP organizing our church’s older building, which includes the fellowship hall, kitchen, 5 classrooms, 2 bathrooms, and several closets.  It is SUCH a joy to be able to do this because God laid it on our hearts to do so quite a while ago.  After we got the official okay, we were off and running!  As usual, we spent the morning scrubbing, vacuuming, hauling, trashing, storing, and organizing.  Here’s where the unusual starts!  For a treat, I thought the boys and I would enjoy lunch from Sonic and then some playtime at a neat park in town.  So, off we went.  All was yummy and fun, as you’d expect.  Our youngest was getting sleepy, so I thought that he’d fall asleep if I held him while swinging.  And, he did… so the older boys played on happily.  My sleeping boy stirred once and fussed, but since he’s getting canine teeth, I didn’t think much about it.  I just cuddled him close (chest to chest), and he fell back to sleep.  However, when he stirred the second time… I fully understood that his fussing had NOTHING TO DO WITH TEETH.  He was MOTION SICK!!!!!!!  Sonic is NOT so fun the SECOND time around!  He and I were covered in BARF!  After getting everyone loaded up, and borrowing my oldest son’s shirt for the drive home, our youngest napped happily for another hour in the van under our carport while I sat in vomit soaked jeans and under things… but at least my shirt smelled like a sweaty pubescent boy!!!  After his napping, we got cleaned up, and I started fixing supper when my sister called.  My sis is about 6 years older than me (she’s 45 almost 46).  At 37, she had her first grand mal seizure and was diagnosed with Epilepsy.  Now, due to numbness and a tremor in her right hand, she has endured many tests over the past few weeks only to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s.  She has been through it and isn’t done yet!  Plus, she is the minister of adult education at their large church, her daughter is graduating from high school in May, her son from college, and her son is getting married November 2010.  Of course, prayers for my sister are appreciated, as she most certainly needs every one she can get with all that’s on her plate! So, keep in mind that NO day is EVER normal or usual because… in an instant… everything can change. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/744415/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:51:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/744415/ We've recently had the blessing of getting to know a wonderful, homeschool family.  In learning more about them, we were somewhat surprised to find out that the father had written a book.  Then, once we took the time to actually read the book, my husband and I were completely blown away (in a good way) by its Godly wisdom and complete biblical truth!!! If you, or anyone you know, have EVER had struggles in your life or marriage (which is everyone, huh?), this book is an invaluable tool!!!!  The chapters are short and easy to read.  DH is reading it to me a chapter a night :) Yes, I am literate, but I enjoy him reading outloud and he indulges me with that. :) Oh, the book is "Meaningless Words and Broken Covenants" by Tim Coody (yep, pronounced like the coodie bug).  I cannot express what a powerful truth God expresses through Tim's (with some help from his dear wife, Laura) book.  It is available on Amazon and other sites too... just Google it. Again, you'll be blessed by, changed, and grown in Him through reading it. :)Michelle   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/736107/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:29:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/736107/ I receive a couple of e-devotionals every morning.  Sometimes God speaks loudly through them... and He did today!  I thought that this short devotion from Crosswalk.com might be an encouragement to some of you as well. Blessings, :)Michelle The Contact Lens and the Ant  Mary Southerland Today's Truth  2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him."   Friend To Friend  Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the enormous granite cliff when she stopped for a well-deserved breather. Standing on a narrow ledge, she measured how far she had come and reveled in the excitement of her first rock climb.  As she rested there, the safety rope suddenly snapped against her eye, knocking out her contact lens. "Great!" she thought. "Here I am on a rock ledge, hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry." She looked and looked, hoping that somehow the contact lens had landed on the ledge, but it simply was not there.  As panic began to set in, Brenda immediately prayed for peace and help in finding her contact lens. Taking a deep breath, she resumed her climb. When she got to the top, a friend closely examined Brenda's eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found. Brenda was now calm because she had reached the top, but was also sad because she could not clearly see the beauty of the mountain range around her. A bible verse suddenly popped into her mind, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth."  Brenda smiled as she thought, "Lord, You can see all of these mountains. You know every stone and leaf and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me find it."  Later, when Brenda and her group of friends had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff, they met another party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?"  Well, that would be startling enough, but do you know why the climber happened to see the lens?  He had noticed an ant that was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying the contact lens. The story doesn't end there. Brenda's father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, "Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy, but if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You." Just this week, I have repeatedly asked God why I have to carry one of the current burdens in my life. As far as I can tell, there is absolutely nothing good in it and the weight of that burden seems to get heavier with each passing day. Then yesterday, I received an email from a friend who thought I might need to hear this story of the ant and the contact lens. God has such a great sense of humor, doesn't He?  I got the message and am now praying, "Lord, if you want me to carry this load, I will." I may never understand the purpose of this particular burden but remember ... human understanding is not necessary for spiritual obedience. That's where faith comes in. Are you carrying a burden that seems to grow heavier with each step you take?  Does the load you carry seem pointless and hard to understand?  Trust God.  He will supply all the strength and power you need for every burden that comes your way. Let's Pray  Father, please forgive me when I complain about the burdens and problems that come my way.  I want to face each one with joy and peace.  Give me the faith to trust You and to daily surrender to Your plan - even when I don't understand it.  Help me to stand firm when I want to give up and remind me that You are working all things together in my life for my good and Your glory.  Today, I choose faith over fear.  I choose Jesus. In Jesus' name,  Amen.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/729602/ Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:45:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/729602/ The sounds of home school fill our home this morning to overflowing.  The piano notes clinking tentatively as a new piece is learned… the clattering of Lego buildings forming as a potential architect creates his latest cubic wonder… the banging of a rattle on the piano bench as the youngest keeps the beat for big brother… and… lastly, the quiet, subconscious humming along of yet another brother while he completes handwriting… all these sounds amuse and bless my soul on this unusually crisp, cool summer morning on the first day of September in East Texas.    May the sounds in your home bring a smile to you today, as well!   JMichelle http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/722861/ Tue, 1 Sep 2009 10:33:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/722861/ In preparing for the new school year, I've come across some great links.  So, I thought I'd share. For pre-school activities:   FileFolderFun.com     Christianpreschoolprintables.com     ABC Lap-N-Note at Homeschoolshare.com http://www.coloring.ws/        http://www.childrens-church-ministry.com/index.html       http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/  Other helpful misc. science, math, weather, and more links:     http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/         http://www.tlsbooks.com/      http://www.theweatherchannelkids.com/weather-ed/teacher-resources/lesson-plans/weather-classroom/         http://www.math-drills.com/decimal.shtml And of course:  http://donnayoung.org/index.htm I used some of these for organization, some for supplemental, and some just for fun. Blessings, :)Michelle http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/719394/ Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:51:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/719394/ One of my dearest Titus friends sent the below article to me recently, and I thought that it might brighten your thoughts about your own body image as much as it did mine!!!  Blessings, :)Michelle Recently, in a large French city, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said:  THIS SUMMER DO YOU WANT TO BE A MERMAID OR A WHALE? A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym. To Whom It May Concern: Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans). They mate for life and have an active romantic life, they get pregnant, and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Bering Sea, and the coral reefs of Polynesia. Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected, and admired by almost everyone in the world. Mermaids don't exist.  If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis.  Fish or human?  They don't have a romantic life because they kill men who get close to them... not to mention how could they be romanced given their obvious anatomical abnormalities?  Therefore they don't have kids either.  Not to mention who wants to get close to a girl who's skin is all scaly and smells like a fish store? The choice is perfectly clear to me... I want to be a whale! P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with my husband who still gives me butterflies, and a latte with my friends.  With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.  So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated, and happy.  Beginning today, when I look at my backside in the mirror I will think, "Gosh, look how smart I am"! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/714865/ Thu, 6 Aug 2009 10:44:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/714865/ … and I’m so excited.  After MUCH research and searching, we have purchased all of our texts and supplies for the 2009-2010 school year.  Boy, does it feel good to have that DONE!!!  Being an eclectic homeschooler, it can be incredibly challenging finding the best “fits” for each of our boys.  So, in case you’re curious, here’s what we’ll be doing… Our 4 year old’s studies-- box 2 of Bob Books (he’s already read the first box), Zoom Piano, Rod & Staff pre-school workbooks, Primer MathUSee, and a bit of etc. Our 5th grader’s studies-- Inductive Bible Studies for Kids! by Arthur & Arndt, MathUSee Epsilon, Apologia Flying Creatures of the 5th Day, Beautiful Feet American History, Daily Grams, A Reason for Handwriting, Zoom Typing, Spelling Power, English from the Roots Up (Latin & Greek), Computer Technology, English/Writing (that’s my major so, using my own methods, I incorporate his other subject for his essays, etc.), piano, and bits of etc. Our 7th grader’s studies--  Inductive Bible Studies for Kids! by Arthur & Arndt, MathUSee Pre-Algebra, The Texas God Created (Texas History), Apologia General Science, Zoom Typing, Power Glide Spanish I, English/Writing (again… a la my methods), English from the Roots Up (Latin & Greek), Computer Technology, piano, and more bits of etc.  ...And dismount!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (for those who don't understand the "dismount" comment... that's what gymnasts do when they finish a routine... homeschool moms do it when they have successfully collected curricula for a school year)  Now, I can’t wait for the fun part… teaching it!!!  Hopefully our 4th son, who just turned one, will happily cooperate with our schooling schedule. J   Blessings in your new school year! JMichelle http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/712495/ Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:50:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/712495/ You’ve heard of free-range chickens and other poultry?  Well, we now are the proud parents of a free-range baby boy.  You may ask, “What is a free-range baby?”  Well, the answer is much simpler than you might imagine.  Simply put, a free-range baby is one that becomes mobile.   Our youngest son has discovered the joy of motion.  Yes, it’s true that crawling is lots of fun.  However, baby walkers with wheels are a true joy to curious almost 9 month olds.    Now, that we have taken the leap of equipping our youngest with wheels, he is quite a determine mischief-maker.  He currently enjoys opening doors, drawers, and dismantling carefully organized shelves.  We anticipate that soon he will revel at pulling neatly folded laundry and sending it crashing to the floor and delight at stalking and de-furring our tabby cat.  FYI: from past experience with our other 3 sons... de-furring occurs when a baby grabs a handful or handfuls of fur and does not let go, thus causing the feline victim to flee furiously with such force therefore dislodging the tuft in question.   So, during this moment of reflection, we are reevaluating our recent purchase of the “walker” a.k.a. the vehicle of mass destruction.   Blessings, JMichelle http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/678847/ Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:30:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/678847/ With Spring in the air, our boys have been a bit distracted lately.  Some would say, "Well, that's just boys!"  However, since we have 4 of them, that trite saying will just NOT do.  So, for a while now, our boys have been doing some physical work every day.  My dear husband lays out an outdoor job (or part of a job) for them to complete every day.  As the Mom, I have the option of using the job as a re-focusing tool when necessary... meaning that if schooling is just not happening, then they use their morning for outdoor work and afternoons for schooling.  As a book my DH has been reading says, men (young and old) were "created for work".  On a different note... has anyone else besides me ever had the burning desire to write a book?  I have always known or felt that I would some day write something for someone... really... something more in the format of a book or curricula, but something!  For years, I have prayed about this longing and that God would reveal what He would want me to write.  Now, I don't know if this will be His answer or not, but I have been asked to help write workbooks to go along with a very popular early reading program.  They are currently checking into the legal aspects of the endeavor.  So, this could lead to something or nothing, but it is quite exciting.  IF this project does NOT work out, I have also had another option graciously God-whispered to me.  I (and our whole family) continue to pray about all of this, but we are encouraged that these possibilities may be answers to many fervent prayers. Now, back to the duties of the day. Blessings to you! :)Michelle http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/665504/ Thu, 5 Mar 2009 07:38:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/665504/ It is interesting to watch the media frenzy surrounding our country’s new administration.  Although I am 39 years old, I have never known of such a celebrity status attached to any elected official.  JFK seemed to share some of the same charisma and idol-istic attraction from Hollywood, but still nothing of this magnitude.  Now there are product lines and advertisements and fan clubs surrounding everything Obama.  It is most concerning to observe so much of the country placing such complete, unadulterated trust in previously untested leadership.  I do hope that he can do ALL that he said he would to improve the country’s economy, etc., but fear for the reality that always sets in once new presidents fully realize their true limitations.  No matter Democrat or Republican, so many promises of candidates remain left undone once they take office.  The ebbs and flows of political tastes and economic trends combined with the candidate who can best sway voters to believe their party’s propaganda gain the prize of responsibilities for the next 4 to 8 years… then the tide again changes… and the opposing “team” comes in and repairs the damage… and so on and so on.  Our president is… just like every president before him… JUST A MAN!  I can’t help but wonder how long (and what) it will take for that inevitable reality to strike America.  God help us. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/649743/ Sat, 24 Jan 2009 10:25:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BlessingsUndreamtOf/649743/