ElCloud Homeschool: Busy Minds, Busy Hands, Busy Feet - Homeschool Blogger

Santa Claus, ElCloud Style

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:40:00 -0600

We don't "do" Santa Claus at our house. We hang stockings, and we watch Santa movies ... but we don't tell kids he's real or give gifts from him. All gifts are from Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, Aunts, etc.

But despite that, every one of our children at 3 years old has wanted to believe in Santa Claus. We have books that talk about how Christmas is about Jesus, and tell the true story of Saint Nicholas vs. the make-believe Santa ... but they still believe.

The older kids know he is fake, but occasionally present me with "Letters to Santa" anyway. I received four letters yesterday (to be posted later in this article), right before my children tried to convince 3 yo L that Santa wasn't real.

But they didn't stop at saying he was pretend. They tried to convince her he was dead ... complete with photos they found on the internet of the hunter who shot Santa, and Santa's grave. (these photos are not gory or inappropriate in any way)

I then had a distraught 3 yo. She was already upset that we kept saying there isn't a Santa Claus and that Christmas is about Jesus. She would say, "But Santa is in Christmas, too, right?" with a pleading look. But after these photos, she was almost in tears. Leave it to teens to torment a preschooler like that.

I told the children to drop the subject and stop arguing with her. Next year she'll be older and more able to understand the difference between what is pretend, and what is real. For now, it's not worth upsetting her.

And now ... the letters to Santa from my kids who all know Santa isn't real ... well, except for 3 yo L.

Dear Santa C,
For Christmas, I want Barbie clothes, Barbie stuff, Barbies,Kens, Kelly dolls, Girl coloring books, High School Musical. I was very very extremely good this year.
From 10 yo C
(she even included a map to her bedroom and our house from the North Pole)

Dear SC,
I need a Nerf Toy, and I want it to be a Nerf Build Your Own Blaster! Or a The Largest Full Auto Nerf Blaster.
PS I was very good.
Love, 8 yo J
(maybe we need to discuss needs vs. wants again)

Dear Saint Nick,
I was very good this year. For Christmas I want Build Your Own Blaster.
5 yo M
(he drew a picture of a wii, although he didn't list one)

Dear Santa,
For Christmas I want a bouncy ball, a doll, a teddy bear, toy dishes, a crown, a coloring book, crayons.
From 3 yo L
(no more crayons, please -- we have too many already)

Now, if you're a family member reading this, and you've already received a Christmas idea list ... just ignore these. These are not necessarily Mom and Dad-sanctioned gift ideas.

Just sharing the Santa-related activities at our house this week, from a family who doesn't even "do" Santa.

Trusting In Him,
April

Exploramania's Gymathtics DVD

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:04:00 -0600

The first thing my children did when the Exploracise Gymathtics DVD arrived in the mail, was to put it in the DVD player. They love exercise videos and were eager to test a new one. After their first test run, they were all worn-out. Only the 3 year old and 8 year old actually finished the 30 minute workout -- the 5 and 10 year olds both quit. My 8 year old son was intent on keeping up with the children on the DVD, and my 3 year old came to tell me how tired she was at the end. "And my head is weally tweating," she said. (sweating)

The Gymathtics DVD by Exploramania is more than just an exercise video. It also includes math concepts for 2nd - 5th grade students: basic geometry, counting, skip counting, and number patterns. As the children exercise, they learn about parallel lines, horizontal lines, vertical lines, diagonal lines, polygons, skip counting, and patterns. You can see a more detailed list of the topics covered on the DVD HERE.

Combining math concepts with full-body movement provides a multi-sensory approach to learning that can be very helpful for the kinesthetic learner. The visual learners will also benefit from watching the DVD, and the auditory learner will benefit (to a lesser degree) from hearing and seeing the explanation. Exploramania has based their Exploracise program on scientific research.

I consider this to be more of an exercise video than a math lesson. The math is just a fun reinforcement of concepts already taught in your curriculum for most children. But for the kinesthetic learner, it can be very helpful understanding the concepts covered. The DVD appeals to younger children than 2nd grade, so it also serves as an introduction to concepts that will be taught later. Four of my kids (ages 3 - 10) enjoyed the DVD, although the 10 year old is already bordering on considering it silly. The four children who have used this DVD enjoy using it occasionally, but it isn't their favorite exercise DVD.

I was surprised by the voice-over of wellness thoughts in the stretching wind-down at the end of the DVD. It just reminded me of a New Age, pop psychology, positive thinking, meditation and relaxation recording.

"Relax your body and open your mind to think about good health and well-being."

"Be nice. Ride the "nice wave". "

"Eat healthy super foods with lots of vitamins and minerals."

"Be a dream stretch star. Stretch your dreams and reach for the stars. Stretch your mind to reach for your dreams with hard work and determination."

In the future, I think we'll be turning the volume down for the wind-down segment. There isn't anything overtly inappropriate in there, it just annoys us all. As Christians, we do prefer to place our trust in God and follow His direction rather than believing in the supposed power of positive thinking.

The Gymathtics DVD is available for $24.99, and they are currently offering free shipping. There is also a Gymathtics 2.0 DVD for 4th - 7th grade students. Exploramania has Exploracise Mats (educational yoga/exercise mats) and Exploracise Thumballs available to combine math with exercise.

Gymathtics DVD is a great way for young children to get the wiggles out and burn some energy on a rainy day ... and reinforce some math concepts at the same time.

This item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion. Click the TOS Homeschool Crew banner at the top to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

Trusting In Him,
April

It might be a bad day at home if ...

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:26:00 -0600

It might be a bad day at home if ...

Mom makes a 2 page list of every single thing she does in the home, to manage it and care for the family and animals -- then posts it on the refrigerator.

Trusting In Him,
April

TOS Homeschool Crew Review: AVKO Membership

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:25:00 -0600

AVKO Educational Research Foundation is a non-profit organization devoted to helping teachers, parents, and researchers as they teach reading, spelling, and keyboarding to students with mild learning disabilities and dyslexia. Don McCabe began AVKO in 1974, and is the creator of the popular Sequential Spelling curriculum.

AVKO's website offers many free resources on their FREEBIES page (The Complete I Before E Rule, Latin and Greek Roots), but they also have an affordable membership option which provides access to many more materials. The membership options allows you to download many of Don McCabe's e-books for only a $25 annual membership. The following information on membership benefits was taken directly from their website.

Benefits of AVKO Basic Membership ($25 per year):

25% discounts on AVKO printed materials
Hundreds of dollars worth of FREE e-books (PDF)
Access to the Member Only section
AVKO Newsletter with freebies, discounts, resources, and promotions
Access to Don McCabe's most popular workshop recordings in MP3 format.
Supplemental Curriculum Materials including word games, worksheets, activities, and more!
Access to Pretests and Placement Tests
Access to the Answer Keys for the Unscramblers and Family Reunion exercises of the Engaging Language Kits

Benefits of AVKO Deluxe Membership ($100 per year):

Access to all of the benefits of AVKO's Basic Membership

25% discount off ALL materials ordered

Read-only access to ALL AVKO curriculum materials (except for Sequential Spelling and Engaging Language Kits)

Access to AVKO's newest e-books:

Word Family Supplements 1-7 for Sequential Spelling
Spelling Remediation Test Kit

What do I think?
I've not used Sequential Spelling, nor do I have a dyslexic student, so I hadn't really looked at AVKO or its e-books before. But if I had a child struggling to learn to read or spell, then buying at least ONE basic membership subscription would be beneficial. To Teach A Dyslexic is sold for $14.95, but for only ten dollars more ($25.00) a member receives that e-book as well as many other helpful resources. The Patterns of English Spelling e-books are sold for $39.95, but members receive all ten e-books free.

If your child struggles with spelling or reading, or you are tutoring children with disabilities or dyslexia, then the AVKO membership is an affordable and helpful resource. Even if you only join once, in order to download and save the e-books, it can be beneficial if your child has a need. The website has a plethora of information, although it isn't always easy to locate.

In our home, this isn't something we need at this time. BUT if I suspected dyslexia in one of my children, I would definitely turn to AVKO for help.

This item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion. Click the TOS Homeschool Crew banner at the top to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

Trusting In Him,
April

FIRST Wildcard Blog Tour: So You Want To Be A Work-At-Home Mom

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:48:00 -0600

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book! (Scroll down to read my review, and then the first chapter!)

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card authors are:

Jill Hart

and

Diana Ennen

and the book:

So You Want To Be A Work-At-Home Mom: A Christian's Guide To Starting a Home-Based Business

Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City (August 15, 2009)

My review:

Jill Hart and Diana Ennen have written a very helpful book on working from home. As the creators of Christian Work At Home Moms (Jill Hart) and Virtual Word Publishing (Diana Ennen), they are both successful work-at-home business women. In this book, they draw upon their own experience, as well as that of other Christian Work At Home Moms.

So You Want To Be A Work-At-Home Mom focuses on the details of choosing the right business, setting it up, marketing it, and managing your home business. Every aspect of beginning to work from home is approached from a Christian viewpoint. Jill and Diana point us continually back to our relationship with Christ, and making that relationship top priority. They encourage us to operate our business in a godly way, and to keep our priorities aligned with God's Word.

This is a tremendously helpful book. It's not just an idea list of possible businesses, although that is included. It really is a "how to" book, complete with cautions on common mistakes to avoid.

Trusting In Him,

April E.

***Special thanks to Jill Hart for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHORs:

Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. Jill is a co-author of the upcoming book So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom (Beacon Hill, Sept. 2009). Jill welcomes work-at-home questions at http://AskJill.cwahm.com/.

Visit the author's website.

Diana Ennen is the President of Virtual Word Publishing. Diana has worked from home for over 25 years and is passionate about PR, Publicity and Marketing & helping others Start their Own Virtual Assistant Business. Follow Diana on twitter at www.twitter.com/dianaennen.

Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $15.99
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City (August 15, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0834124661
ISBN-13: 978-0834124660

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Making the Choice to Stay Home

Today’s moms are passionate women who want both careers and families without having to give up precious time with their children. They’re searching for ways to have it all, and they’re finding that it’s possible to work from home and at the same time balance a family.

It may sound like a dream, but it’s not. It does start with a dream, though.

A few fortunate women fall into a job or business that allows them to work at home, but it isn’t that easy for most women. To find a way to stay at home while still contributing to their family financially is something that many women long for but few know how to achieve. We hope to make it easier for you.

Being Content at Home

You might have expected us to immediately launch into a chapter about how wonderful life can be if you work at home. However, with the authors having worked from home many years, we realized that you first need to be content in your home life to make it work. The focus of your mind is where true happiness lies. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

Before beginning your search for a career that will allow you to work from home, it’s important to remember that God has put you where you are for a reason. It may be for a season of your life, or it could possibly be long-term. Either way, trust that God will provide what’s best for you, and that may look a little different than what you think is best.

Being a mom and working outside the home can be incredibly challenging. Coordinating schedules, running kids to and fro, and being so tired by evening that you don’t have the energy to enjoy your kids take their toll. However, being a work-at-home mom every day, all day, presents its own unique challenges. It can become monotonous, even tedious. The kids, the house, the responsibilities—the list goes on and on. In either case, it can feel downright impossible to have an attitude of gratitude. The road can be hard, but in the end, your life will be less stressful and more satisfying if you can overcome discontentment. Following are some ideas for building contentment.

Be Grateful

One of the hardest attitudes to achieve is that of gratefulness. It’s easy to get caught up in the negatives that happen each day. However, it’s important to be grateful for each and every blessing that God gives.

Make a list of things in your life that you’re grateful for. You can start your list with your family and the opportunity to work from home, and continue from there. Take the time to thank God for each of the things on your list. As you begin to develop a grateful attitude, you’ll begin to notice more and more things each day you can add to your list.

Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that (1 Timothy 6:6-8).

Give Back

Changing your attitude is the first step to finding contentment. Reaching out and helping others is a proven way to change your attitude. When you extend help and graciousness to others, it can’t help but benefit you as well.

Find someone who needs a friend, and make a conscious effort to reach out to him or her every week or every month. Or find a ministry that you admire, and get involved. You’ll be surprised what investing something of yourself in others will do for your attitude. If you’re running a business from home, you may be able to bless others with a product they can’t afford or a special discount that will brighten their day. Maybe you can mentor someone. Be careful, though, that you don’t get so involved in helping others that you neglect your own business.

Choose to Accept Your Situation

A key component of contentment is acceptance. Acceptance doesn’t mean you don’t strive to better your life. It simply means that you make peace with where you are in life at this time.

There will always be more to attain—more money, more prestige. If you spend your life focused on what you don’t have or what you haven’t attained in life, you’ll be sad indeed. Celebrate each and every success, no matter how big or how small.

Examine your life and see all that is good in it. Each good thing is a gift from God. Accept that He is with you at this point in time. He’ll be with you in every success and every setback. Nothing you do will make Him love you more, and there’s nothing you can do that will make Him love you less.

We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

Focus on Christ

This may sound like a cliché, but it’s easy to allow focus to move from the Lord to self. When moms work at home, the needs of family, business, and self can sometimes be all-consuming, leaving little time to meet spiritual needs. But focusing on your relationship with the Lord is what should come first. If your relationship with Christ is weak, all other relationships will be affected.

Here are practices that will help keep you focused on Him:

1. Read your Bible every day. Make the commitment to read at least one verse every day. The Book of Proverbs is a good place to start, or start with verses from the Gospel of John for a close look at the life of Christ. As you progress to reading more each day, consider purchasing a Bible that will guide you through reading the whole Bible in a year. There are also versions available that will lead you through the Bible in ninety days.

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:8).

2. Cultivate an active prayer life. You can pray anytime and anywhere—when you’re driving, putting on your makeup, cooking, even as you drift off to sleep at night. Take advantage of these precious moments to spend them with your Heavenly Father.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

3. Meditate on the Word of God. When you find a verse or verses that have deep meaning for you, allow your mind to dwell on them, and let them soak into your spirit. A good starting point might be Romans 8:38-39—“I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Make note of the verses you’ve chosen, and jot down thoughts or ideas that they bring to mind. Keep your mind focused on Him, and be in prayer that He will open your eyes to what He would have you learn from the verses.

4. Wait. Contentment will not be attained overnight. Feelings of discontentment will push their way in. When they do, look through your life to bring to mind the ways God has changed you, the things He’s done to bring you closer to an attitude of contentment. Contentment comes in His timing, so allow Him the time to work in your life.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him

(Psalm 37:7).

If the temptation to wallow in discontentment continues to present itself, find someone who will hold you accountable—someone you can trust to be kind but firm who will speak the truth to you lovingly.

When you’re feeling dissatisfied or frustrated, give your accountability partner a call, and be honest about your feelings. Every mom gets frustrated; you’re certainly not alone. When you find someone you can talk with honestly, it will be an excellent help in overcoming negative thoughts and feelings. Accountability partners know each other on a very real and honest level and still accept and love each other. This allows both of you the opportunity to be supported as well as supportive.

Contentment may seem elusive, but with prayerful deliberation it can be achieved and will bring you more joy and peace than you can imagine. Start working toward an attitude of contentment today.

When your mind and heart are in a good place, it’s time to begin thinking about the choices that are available to you. Can you work from home? Should you work at home? And how in the world do you begin your search for success?

Setting Priorities in Business and at Home

Working from home, particularly if you’re running your own business, is a time-consuming endeavor—especially for moms. You’re responsible not only for the success of the business but for your family as well. You must be self-reliant, self-motivated, and self-disciplined in order to attain success in both areas.

When you work at home, it’s easy to let phone calls, e-mail, and paperwork keep you tied down and cause you to feel you don’t have time to take a break or choose to spend top-quality time with your family. Maybe you’ve noticed that you spend more time in front of your computer or on the phone than you expected to when you made the decision to work at home. Maybe you see your kids acting up and trying to get your attention. Maybe the work-at-home dream you envisioned isn’t happening.

You started out with noble intentions, but now the excitement of success in your business has caused you to lose sight of the primary reason you chose this path. It happens to many of us who work at home, so don’t worry. Help is on the way.

She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard (Proverbs 31:16).

Here are five tips for setting priorities in your life and business:

First, be honest. You probably didn’t start your work-at-home career to climb the corporate ladder. Spend some time in prayer, and ask the Lord to show you the things you need to change.

Take a few minutes to answer the following questions about how you’ve been handling the time commitment of owning a business.

• Are you spending too much time on the phone with clients?

• Do you think about business to the point that you’re distracted when you’re doing family activities?

• Is television getting more top-quality time with your children than you are?

• Do you snap at your children because of the stresses of your business?

Second, make a list. Sit down and write out a list of things you see that you would like to change. This can be a list of tasks you can do differently, such as limiting the time you spend on your business or ways you can reduce stress so you can deal kindly with your family.

Third, log your time. Buy a notebook or create a spreadsheet to log the time you spend on business. Make a column for each day across the top and a row of half-hour increments down the side. Time yourself every time you sit down at your desk by writing “in” in the box that corresponds to the time and day. Every time you leave your desk or complete a task, write “out” in the appropriate box.

At the end of the week, total up the hours you’ve spent each day on business tasks. Take special note of how much time you spend on e-mail and things that aren’t billable. Are you surprised, or is it about where you thought it would be? This can be a real eye-opener and show you in black and white if your priorities have gotten off track.

Fourth, take a break. If you’re in shock after examining your time log, it’s time to take a break. If you normally work during the weekend, make it a point to take this weekend off. Shut down your e-mail, turn off the ringer on your business phone, and shut the door to your office.

Plan ahead and schedule your time. Prioritize your workload, and have the work that will require the most effort and concentration scheduled for your peak time. Try not to get sidetracked; stay on task and focus on what you need to do. For example, you’ll be amazed by how much more you can accomplish by changing the way you handle e-mail. If you answer it only at scheduled times, you’ll find you have more time to do the tasks at hand.

Reevaluate the ways you’re spending your time. Try to plan when you can work on your business without losing time with your children. If your children are in school, make it a point to stop working when they get home. If your children are still small, try to plan your time accordingly. Perhaps a babysitter for several hours or days a week is necessary. Another possibility would be to have a grandparent or neighbor watch them once or twice a week to allow you time to work without interruptions.

Fifth, plan an activity. Now that you’re ready to make a change in your routine, why not plan an activity once a week? This can be an outing with your children or something simple, like setting aside time to make cookies together. You’ll notice that when you plan for these times, they actually happen.

If possible, find another work-at-home mom, and hold one another accountable to keep to your new schedules. Make a weekly play date for your children to spend time together. You and your friend can talk business if necessary, or you may decide to make it a “no business talk allowed” time.

Remember that the years you can work at home and have time with your children are a gift; your business is a gift also. How that will work for you and your family will take a little time to determine and will be different for each family. Take the time to find what works for you, and set your schedule accordingly. Reevaluate your priorities every few months to make sure that you’re making the best use of your time. The rewards will be well worth it. Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him (Psalm 127:3).

So You Want to be a Work-at-Home Mom, by Jill Hart and Diana Ennen © 2009 by Jill Hart, Diana Ennen, and Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, Kansas City, MO. Used by permission of Publisher. All rights reserved. Visit www.beaconhillbooks.com to purchase this title.

Things you can't believe you said ...

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:25:00 -0600

Some of the crazy things I've said today ...

You can pretend you're dead AFTER the house is clean, but you're NOT going to pretend you're dead NOW.
The next time Baby G gets his head stuck in the chair, get a picture before we help him out.
If this sink wasn't dirty, we could blog a picture of this cat sleeping in it.
The Bible says that if you don't ask others to forgive YOU, then God won't forgive you. Wait. No it doesn't. It says if we don't forgive others, He won't forgive us. Well ... you still need to ask forgiveness.
Will you heat my coffee in the microwave ... for the third time?
I hear barking. Is Dad home?

How about you?

Trusting In Him,
April

I really didn't expect this ...

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:40:00 -0600

I admit I've looked at the Homeschool Blogger Of The Week blogs before and wished I'd be chosen one day. But I wasn't expecting to be chosen or even thinking about it today. In fact, I was really surprised when I saw my name on Tia's facebook. Thank you, Tia and HSB! :)

And if you're here for the first time ... welcome! You can look at my sidebar to see blog categories that might interest you.

Trusting In Him,
April

My crown sparkles, how about yours?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:21:00 -0600

Proverbs states that gray hair is a crown of splendor, or glory in the King James Version.

"The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old." Proverbs 20:29

"Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life. " Proverbs 16:31

I admit I always thought that was a poetic and figurative way of saying we should honor those who are old.

Until I realized that some of my silver hairs sparkle in the light. I've got one in particular right at the top of my bangs that just shines under the light above my mirror. And then there is that one at my temple that winks at me from time to time. I have more than one gray hair, but these two sparkle!

I have my own tiara!! I've never been one to wear a tiara, but I can live with this one. And I confess my vanity is thankful my gray hairs are silvery white ones instead of flat gray ones.

My crown is going to be beautiful and white! But for now I have a sparkling tiara.

Trusting In Him,
April

I should probably clarify ...

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:07:00 -0600

In light of some of my comments on yesterday's "Banned From Walmart" post, I thought I should give my kids some credit. They are not horrible! We often get compliments on their behavior; even at times when they were still not as well-behaved as I'd hoped. There was a time-frame when we'd given up on taking them into restaurants, but now we can do that again ... most of the time. There are some days when we know their coping skills are not strong enough for that, and we wisely choose to eat at home, or carry-out.

My oldest four rarely wander off in Wal-mart anymore, and the youngest 3 haven't yet done so. Actually, now my 14 year old does that frequently, but she usually asks if she can first. It's been ages since my 8 year old son just decided to go to the toy section alone, or hid under clothing racks.   And although my 10 year old continues to be oblivious to those around her and does still walk in front of people's carts, she's rarely spinning pirouettes in the aisles anymore. Some of them still like to walk on the black tiles, but they try to be more aware of those around us and they stop if I ask them to.

Our current problems lie with the 3 year old and the 5 year old. We're working on training them ... thus the current grounding from Wal-Mart for my 5 year old. He has to learn that it isn't acceptable to act wildly, and that if he will not behave in the store, he will not enter the store.

I could make excuses about my two hyper-active kids, or the ones who are really distractible dreamers, or their impulsive natures, or the two emotional ones that are prone to melt-downs, but I won't.   They aren't perfect, and neither am I. This particular season is another rough one with behavior, but we will come through it, and they will improve.   That is one thing I've learned over the past 14 years of parenting.

Although we don't maintain a single file line, or keep hands on the carts, we can move together through the store in a semi-orderly and moderately quiet fashion. It is possible, and it does happen. I just haven't felt that I should totally squelch who God made my kids to be ... instead we try to train them to moderate their natural inclinations. Yes you can wiggle and move and talk ... but just keep it within these boundaries that don't cause problems for other shoppers.

I'm not saying those who are more orderly have squelched their kids, but for me to achieve that with mine would take some harsh measures and it would be squelching them. I decided a long time ago that I was causing more harm than I was making progress, so I followed my husband's lead and backed off from trying to achieve the goal of quiet children following me in a line at the store. Especially since my main reason for doing so was so that I could look like a good mom.

For the sake of a funny post, and in expression of my frustration earlier this week on a noticeably BAD experience with my 5 year old, I focused on the negatives. BUT it's not always like that. In fact, on Wednesday night, we ate in a restaurant as a family. No one got up and ran around, and we received more smiles than glares.     The discussion over who got to eat mashed potatoes and who got macaroni stayed calm and fairly quiet. Rest assured, they do receive compliments on their behavior fairly often, and they can behave themselves.

I'm sorry if my post hurts the image of large families, or contributes to the belief that they're wild and the new Cheaper By The Dozen movie is reality for all large families. BUT ... I also know that there are other mothers of large families who are trying to raise up their children in a godly fashion. And they feel they can never measure up to the expectations that are placed upon them. Just like some of us suffer under the burden of the Perfect Polly Homemaker image, or the Super Susie Homeschooler image ... some of us are burdened by the guilt that our large family isn't perfect enough. Mega Mom Mary's kids are much better behaved than ours and she looks at us as if we've failed to discipline our children and are sending them straight to Hell in a handbasket.

I don't think that is what my commenters were thinking yesterday. (If you were, don' t tell me.) But I realized after reading their comments that I needed to post a disclaimer. Not only for my own image, but also for the reputation of my kids.

I wrote my post because I know there are other Moms out there who just need to know that they aren't alone. That other Christian families have rough days at Wal-mart, too. And the more kids you have, the more likely you are to have more rough days.

My kids are gifts, and one day God is going to take all that energy and passion and use it for His glory ... if I can get my kids safely through childhood with a measure of self-control. LOL!! In the meantime, raising them can be tiring -- and when we have bad days, it's better to laugh about them than to feel like a failure as a Mom. I know, because I've tried it both ways.

In this journey with you,
April

Banned From Wal-Mart

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:49:00 -0600

I don't know what it takes to be officially banned from shopping at Wal-Mart. I imagine it must be something pretty bad, but I haven't really researched it. I don't intend to get banned, and I just do my best to stay faaaarrrr away from any type of behavior that might get me banned.

BUT I know what it takes to get an ElCloud kid banned from Wal-Mart by his or her parents. We've become experts on that subject. In an attempt to keep US from being banned from shopping at Wal-Mart, we occasionally have to ground certain kids from returning to Wal-Mart until THEIR behavior improves.

Now, none of my kids are like ducklings at Wal-Mart. We don't have a single column line of quiet children following us through the store. We can't even seem to manage to get everyone under a certain age to keep their hands on the cart. We tried to achieve both those goals, as they seemed to be the recommended method for large homeschooling families ... but we failed. Our kids like to dance through Wal-Mart, slalom as they step on ONLY the black tiles, point out things we obviously MUST HAVE before we leave, etc. We've grown used to this and just try to shush them and pull them in closer when it becomes apparent that they are bothering others, or getting in everyone's way.

But then there are those days ... when things go just a little bit haywire and cross over THE LINE. In order to prevent us from going crazy, we just have to ban them from returning to Wal-Mart for awhile. For some of my kids, that is probably the worst punishment ever ... to miss out on forays into Wal-Mart. Even worse if you are forced to sit in the car with Mom while Dad takes the rest of the children into the store ... for 2 weeks.

Here's the list of what NOT to do if you don't want to get banned:

If you suddenly decide you want to look at a toy, and you are under age 10, and you leave without saying a word to anyone ... not returning until the entire family is in "Search and Rescue Mode" ... you're gonna get banned.
If you get mad that Mom said you can't go look at a toy, and you just leave to do it anyway, and Mom has to go hunt you down in the toy aisle ... you're gonna get banned.
If you decide to hide under every clothing rack we pass, giggling and refusing to come out while you play spy ... you're gonna get banned.
If you decide to throw a temper tantrum, whine, or in any way make a scene ... you're gonna get banned.
If you pester your siblings and fight with them so that your Mom is gritting her teeth and whispering threats to you with steam coming out of her ears and a blush of embarrassment all over her face ... you're gonna get banned.
If you are so lost in a dream world that you walk in front of every other cart in the store, or knock down a display, or bump into elderly ladies, and have to be repeatedly reminded to watch where you're going ... you're probably gonna get banned.
If you decide to race ahead of your parents, or race with your siblings, thereby endangering yourself and others, and you don't cease and desist with a warning ... you're gonna get banned.
If you get on Mom or Dad's last nerve, and they have said your name more than they managed to say the word "buy" ... you're gonna get banned.
If you can't keep your hands off all that STUFF that Wal-Mart places around the checkout counters and whine and complain and beg to buy the cheap junk ... or the candy ... you are probably gonna get banned.
If you decide to run laps around the freezer department, weaving in and out amongst the shopping carts like a NASCAR driver ... you are GONNA GET BANNED!!

I can't remember all of the instances that have caused us to ground a child from shopping Wal-Mart over the years. But I do know it wasn't ever one of my oldest two who were banned. It's those middle ones. For the first time ever this week, I grounded my five year old from entering Wal-Mart for awhile. I guess it's his turn. It was a mix of #7 and #10 that did him in, though.

Yep ... we don't take the worst kids in the world with us to Wal-Mart. I've seen worse, from parents and kids. But, we definitely have our own struggles there. Wal-Mart (and other shopping experiences) has probably given us more of our gray hairs than any other part of parenting. Okay ... maybe not. But it's definitely adding some sparkle to my silver crown.
Trusting In Him,
April

Fleeting moments of grandeur

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:05:00 -0600

Sometimes I feel as if I'm on top of the world, excelling as a wife and mother, ordering my home and tasks with ease, accomplishing more than I imagine possible. I am confident and energetic. I feel like an achiever and a conqueror.

Those moments of grandeur are fleeting. All too often they are followed by mediocrity -- days of chaos and struggling to keep all the plates spinning without dropping anything. Weeks when I am rushing from one task to another -- or simply wandering around somewhat aimlessly, overwhelmed by all that I SHOULD be doing. In these moments, I am merely persevering.

In the moments of grandeur, those near-perfect days when I am feeling that maybe, I might be, almost, just a little bit of a Super Mom -- I think I am doing it all. I am the great one. I have my act together.

But when the chaos returns, and I'm trying to figure out what I've done wrong -- I have to admit that I am not SuperMom. I can't maintain the grandiose days forever. I am merely an imperfect human relying on God's grace.

Everyone has revolving (and evolving) moments of grandeur and mediocrity. It is just life. And life is much less about me than I often believe. It isn't really about what I'm doing RIGHT or what I'm doing WRONG. It's not all about my success and failure.

So in these days of mediocrity, disorder, distraction, and even laziness -- I am once again humbled, but also hopeful that the more organized and productive days will return. I like those moments of grandeur more than the days of just trudging along.

But I persevere, each and every day -- even when I'm not in my most glorious state. Even when I'm merely mediocre.

Galations 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Hebrews 12:1, 2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, ane let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith ... "

1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12 "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that our daily life may win the respect of outsiders ... "

Trusting In Him,
April

American Heritage Foundation -- free American history curriculum

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 13:55:00 -0600

Click banner to visit AHEF website.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free,
in a state of civilization,
it expects what never was and never will be."
~~ Thomas Jefferson

The American Heritage Education Foundation is a non-profit organization created to help educate our children in the history of our nation and the philosophies upon which it was established. They believe that the focus on diversity in our schools is tearing the country apart and threatening its survival, and that it needs to be balanced with a study of our country's history. They focus on four themes in US history: Freedom, Unity, Progress, and Responsibility.

In order to promote these four themes, the American Heritage Foundation created an American history/citizenship curriculum for K-12. They provide this $150 value curriculum free of charge as a free PDF download, as PDF documents on a free CD-ROM, or for $19.50 in a printed notebook format.

The curriculum is provided in 3 levels: elementary, middle school, and high school. They also provide a Spanish language variation in the elementary level. Each level of curriculum is over 180 pages long, with information for the teacher, lesson plans, group activities and individual activities.

These materials are designed for public school use, and some of the activities are obviously created with a larger group in mind than a typical homeschool family (like the Colonial America Simulation Game). These could be adapted with some effort, or they could be used in a homeschool group or co-op setting. Now, I will admit that adapting materials intended for a public school classroom to the family homeschool isn't always easy, but sometimes it can be worth it.

Although the American Heritage Foundation is a secular organization, the curriculum refers to the founding father's belief in God and the Bible with factual respect. The Christian beliefs of the Colonial settlers and founding fathers is not ignored, but it is still a secular curriculum. This makes it suitable for classroom use, or use in a homeschool group with members of varying beliefs.

Some of the citizenship topics covered include:

The American Revolution
George Washington
U.S. Presidents
The Declaration of Independence
The US Constitution
The Great Seal
Thanksgiving
The Bill of Rights
Our National Documents
Entrepeneurs in American History
The United States of America's Flag
The Star-Spangled Banner
The Gettysburg Address
The National Motto
The Statue of Liberty
The Pledge of Allegiance
America the Beautiful
What is An American?

The three levels include much of the same materials for the teacher, with age-appropriate differences in activities and discussion questions. This means they can be used together in a homeschool or co-op setting to teach the same material to all the students. This is NOT a complete American history curriculum, but can be used to supplement your American history or US government studies.

For myself, I have to admit that I will not use all these lessons and activities, but I will use some of them. Most of our citizenship lessons are oral discussions. We aren't likely to use most of the worksheets, but we are more likely to use the activity ideas. I think this curriculum lends itself to a homeschool group or co-op more easily than to an individual family situation.

BUT, it's a FREE curriculum!! Request your own copy and check it out for yourself. Even if it's not something you'll use regularly, there may be some helpful information or even one activity that makes it worthwhile. Get it for your homeschool group ... or you might fall in love with it, and take the time to make it work for your family. You have nothing to lose!

If you'd like to help promote the American Heritage Foundation, you can donate to their non-profit organization. These donations will help them continue to share their curriculum free of charge to public schools, private schools, and home schools.

This item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion. Click the TOS Homeschool Crew banner at the top to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

Trusting In Him,
April

ACT Inc. Discover -- Online Career Planning

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0600

Do you remember the High School Guidance Counselor and all the tests you had to take to help you decide where your skills and interests were? I loved those tests! Well, ACT Advantage has an online career planning software called Discover.

As their website states, the Discover software helps students:

Assess interests, abilities and job values.
Explore occupations, majors and schools.
Build an education plan that relates to career plans.
Improve job-seeking skills and develop a resume.

My 14 year old daughter loves personality tests and exploring her interests, so she enjoyed her time on the Discover website. She loved digging through the many career options it presented to her, and looking at the education requirements for each career. It helped her to see what careers were available to pursue, and what would be required for each career. At one point, I teased her that this was really the "stay in school, get a degree" propaganda machine since it lays out what your projected future income would be with each level of education you complete: GED, high school diploma, 2 year degree, 4 year degree, graduate degree. It also included information on scholarships and financial aid, to help plan how to pay for college.

After seeing all the options the Discover assessment provided her, my daughter then started removing fields of study and career paths from her portfolio. Since she doesn't really want to go on to a master's degree, she removed jobs that REQUIRED a graduate degree, for instance. This narrowed her career planning portfolio down to a more realistic and manageable list of careers that interest her most. When she was done with her portfolio, we were able to print it so she could keep this idea list as she continues through high school. We discussed that the high school courses she chooses can be important, as well. If she wants to pursue a science career, she'd need to focus more on math and science in high school than if she wanted to pursue a career in art.

There were some weird things that came up. She isn't really interested in math, yet many science careers that lean heavily on math did appear on her final assessment. I'm sure they were triggered by other interests or values of hers. But it was still good for her to look at those options and consider them.

One of the benefits I see is that homeschool parents don't always know all the career options out there in a specific field, or what educational requirements that career path would have. 14 yo A was looking at careers I hadn't heard of, and wouldn't have been able to advise her on educational requirements at all.

Unfortunately, this is a secular software provided by a secular company. There were very few faith-based ministry careers listed and many Christian colleges were not included in the college database. I also had to remind my daughter that God already has a plan for her life, and that if she is following Him ... He'll guide and direct her into a career. For the Christian student, the Discover assessment can be helpful, but thankfully it is not all we rely on.

The Discover assessment is available with a 3 month license for $19.95, or a 6 month license for $24.95. This can be helpful both for freshman looking at what courses to study in their high school years, as well as for seniors preparing to apply for colleges and scholarships, and choosing their major course of study.

Working through the Discover assessment was a helpful process for my daughter. It helped her see what her options were, and also helped to take some of the fear and worry out of the future. It was a fun way for her to explore her future plans and goals.

This item was provided free for review purposes, as members of the TOS Homeschool Crew. There was no other compensation, and this is our honest review.

Click the TOS Homeschool Crew banner at the top to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

Trusting In Him,
April

Free Holiday Idea E-book from TOS Magazine!!

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:52:00 -0500

Click the image to read more about this great holiday supplement from The Old Schoolhouse magazine. It's FREE for anyone to download.

Thanks TOS!!

Trusting In Him,
April

My Fall Decor Project This Year -- Table Cloth

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:24:00 -0500

In the past I've made fall wreaths, and table displays with cloth leaves. It's been a few years since I created anything, and my original wreath has long since been tossed out.

This year, Steve found a Fall fabric on sale and asked me to make a table cloth. He had 3 yards of this plaid tablecloth with candy corn and pumpkins on it, but it wasn't quite wide enough for our table. So we also chose a burnt orange fabric that matched it to attach for the sides.

I cut the orange fabric in half, lengthwise, to make two sides for our table cloth. Then I sewed it with straight seams onto the long sides, and zig-zagged the seam edges for extra strength. After that I folded the short edges under and hemmed them.

It took less than an hour to sew our table cloth, and we all love it! We usually keep a clear vinyl cover on our table, so we slipped this under that. We can still wipe off our table after meals, but we also can enjoy the rich fall colors.

In retrospect, I wish I had cut the orange fabric in thirds, and then cut the dark plaid fabric in half. I think an orange stripe down the center would have been a nice touch.

Trusting In Him,
April

Homeschool Crew Review: ABC Teach

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 07:15:00 -0600

Perhaps you've spent time searching the internet for a free worksheet on bird anatomy to print before, and you've found one of the 5000+ free worksheets available at ABC Teach's website. I have. But I hadn't ever really looked at what was available with membership in ABC Teach until we were given a chance to review it for the TOS Homeschool Crew.

ABC Teach has over 35,000 worksheets that members can access, as well as worksheet generators for crossword puzzles, word searches, and handwriting worksheets. When we were reviewing the Sue Patrick Workbox System, I found myself searching ABC Teach's subscription database for logic puzzles, sudoku puzzles, grammar worksheets, and sentence-structure worksheets to place in their workboxes. I printed out worksheets that went along with our history studies, as well. When I wanted to give my daughters some math practice from a different perspective, I printed worksheets on fractions, multiplication, and algebra. They do have worksheets on just about everything, for pre-K through 8th grade!

The worksheets I printed from ABC Teach looked great. They printed clearly and had cute graphics. Their search engine worked well, and found all the Autumn worksheets for me when I was looking for another workbox activity. I printed Autumn acrostic worksheets for my children, to get them thinking and writing creatively.

Although we had a good experience with our ABC Teach review membership, it's not something I'm likely to purchase. To be honest, in our homeschool, I just don't look for worksheets to print often enough to justify the expense. We use curricula that includes its own worksheets, and we do lots of things via discussion instead of worksheets. I prefer having my children actively involved in something, or reading, and it isn't often that I need a worksheet to help them understand a concept. To make use of an ABC Teach membership in my home, I'd be assigning worksheets as busy work, and that isn't a direction I want to go. I'd rather spend the $40 on buying more curriculum or supplemental curriculum for my kids.

However, for those who are designing their own curriculum, filling workboxes, leading co-ops, teaching classes, or needing to complete portfolios of their children's work to show to school boards or skeptical family members, a membership in ABC Teach would save them a lot of time. They wouldn't have to search the internet for just the right free worksheet, and they wouldn't have to try to create their own worksheets each week.

ABC Teach's membership costs $40.00 per year, or $70.00 for a 2 year subscription. But you can purchase it for 50% off through Homeschool Buyer's Co-op, now through November 30, 2009. If you're intrigued by what ABC Teach has to offer, you can see a video tour, and a list of their worksheet categories HERE.

We received a free one-month trial membership in ABC Teach in order to write this review. Click the TOS Homeschool Crew banner at the top to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

Trusting in Him,
April

Autumn ... through the ElCloud Lens

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:29:00 -0500

The leaves are half off the trees this week, but I wanted to share some Fall photos I took last week, when the leaves had just finished turning. It was one of those days where I just went, "Oh! Wow! Everything's yellow!" It may have been that way for a few days but it suddenly hit me, and I had to take photos. I'm so glad I took the time to do it since the tree is half-bare now.

A yellow carpet across the lawn ...

The sweet little tree ...

My kids wanted to know why I took this picture ... I just liked it.

The canopy ...

Our friendly scarecrow, guarding the back door ...

The cute little tree from the side, looks a little different from here. I truly had not noticed its tilt before.

The scarecrow guarding our driveway ...

Just a couple of our pumpkins in the rain ...

That's what Fall has looked like at our house this year. Every now and then we just have to take a moment to enjoy (and capture) the beauty of a season.

Trusting In Him,
April

FIRST Wildcard Blog Tour: Mom NEEDS Chocolate by Debora M. Coty

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:51:00 -0500

Note: I was signed up to review this book, and I was really looking forward to reading it. I mean, its title says it all ... Mom NEEDS Chocolate. But I wondered what direction the author would run with that statement. I love chocolate, and my kids have been known to call Steve and tell him that he'd better stop at the store on his way home because "Mom needs chocolate, Dad."

Sadly, my review book never arrived. It probably was eaten up by a machine in Toledo and is now residing in a damaged or lost mail warehouse in Cincinnati. But it isn't here. So I can't write a review of the book; I can only give you the first chapter to read.

Scroll down to learn more about the author, and to read the first chapter.

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Debora M. Coty

and the book:

Mom NEEDS Chocolate: Hugs, Humor and Hope for Surviving Motherhood

Regal (April 1, 2009)

***Special thanks to Rebeca Seitz of Glass Road Public Relations, LLC for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Debora M. Coty is the author or contributor to several books, including Mom NEEDS Chocolate: Hugs, Humor and Hope for Surviving Motherhood. A resident of Florida where she lives with her husband, Coty raised two children and enjoyed a dedicated career as an Occupational Therapist before beginning to chase her God-given dream of writing. She is known for communicating sound biblical concepts with a refreshing, light-hearted style. Her writings can be read in her monthly newspaper column, Grace Notes: God’s Grace for Everyday Living.

Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Regal (April 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0830745920
ISBN-13: 978-0830745920

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

My Cups Runneth Over

Pregnancy

A baby is an inestimable blessing and a bother.

Mark Twain

As for you, be fruitful and multiply; populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it.

Genesis 9:7, NASB

There are a few things I’ve learned while fulfilling the “be fruitful and multiply” mandate.

Pregnancy draws you closer to your spouse. During an emergency stop in our driveway while I tossed my cookies in the grass, my husband, Chuck, tried to comfort me. Soon we were throwing up side by side. It was the most romantic thing he’s ever done. Those two brown spots on our lawn were the envy of all my friends.

Childbirth classes are invaluable informational sources. At the country hospital we’d chosen, one young farmer raised his hand the week after we learned about Braxton Hicks false labor contractions. He earnestly addressed the nurse instructor, “Ma’am, my wife’s been miserable all week. Could you tell us again about them Briggs and Stratton things?” He was the same strapping fellow who confided the first week, “We ain’t ever had any babies, but we’ve birthed a lot of cows.”

The budding momma’s swelling belly and the ledge over her innie-turned-outie navel aren’t the only evolutions in the body’s profile. Average-sized breasts become huge globes that bump into everything. It’s like having volleyballs attached to your chest. These alien chest globes take on their own personalities. I called mine the Bobbing Twins, Freddie and Flopsie. I addressed them directly: “Freddie, stop bouncing around or I’m going to fall off this bike,” or “Flopsie, you’re gonna have to squeeze into this DDD cup—there is no E.”

Finally, you’re in your ninth month. Ah, but the surprises are not over. After hours of sweating, teeth grinding and PUSHing, you are rewarded with a tiny screaming miracle. The little bugger has a surprisingly strong sucking reflex, and when he latches on, it feels like a vice grip to this incredibly sensitive part of your anatomy. You’re awfully glad you did that desensitization with the washcloth beforehand. I once commented to Chuck after performing this unpleasant ritual that rubbing myself with terrycloth made me empathize with that old table he was sanding.

“Hmmm. Yes, dear,” he answered, only half listening. I later overheard him inform his sister on the phone, “Debbie uses sandpaper on her chest to get ready for the baby.” No wonder his family thinks I’m weird.

Shortly after giving birth, my friend Julia (also a nursing mother) and I decided to take a well-deserved tennis break. Leaving the babies with their daddies, we headed for the courts. The blissful quiet was shattered by a wailing infant in a passing stroller, triggering that mysterious internal milk breaker switch. Julia and I simultaneously clutched our chests like gunshot victims at the incoming flood.

“Stop it, Freddie! Not now, Flopsie!” I pleaded with the Twins as two dark, wet spots appeared in strategic locations on the front of my white tennis shirt. Julia and I mopped ourselves between points with a soggy sweatband, bringing strange new meaning to the term, “bosom buddies.”1

Son of Man, thank You for the blessing of family and the miracle of babies. Make me more like You because they may end up being like me.

Note

1. Adapted from “My Cups Runneth Over” by Debora M. Coty, first appearing in Today’s Christian Woman, November/December 2004 issue. Used by permission.

Trusting In Him,
April

The farm cats God provided us

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:11:00 -0500

Last July we brought home a 2 year old dog we found on freecycle. She's a large Sheltie, really large ... more like a Collie. She looks like Lassie and is, for the most part, a good dog. She has a bad habit of pawing you when she wants attention, has occasionally jumped on the kids which scratched them, has a bad habit of cleaning the kids plates every chance she can get, and a worse habit of chasing chickens. But she's a sweet dog, and mostly gentle.

The first day we had her she sniffed around our burn pit, and out crawled a kitten. It looked to be about 2 months old, and we didn't see any mother or other kittens. We named her Silver since she was a pretty dilute tortie -- gray and cream. We were glad to have Silver, because we didn't have any outdoor cats. There had been a black cat who hunted the property the winter before, but we hadn't seen him lately and he didn't come near us. Someone else had offered us barn kittens in early summer, but we could never reach her to go pick out some kittens. We tried several times and repeatedly failed.

Silver, our female "barn cat" although she's more of a garage or porch cat. My sisters teased us that even our outside cats have long fur, but she really only has a medium length fur.

Later that year, in late August I believe, we found a litter of kittens in the ceiling of our barn, peering down at us. They appeared to be 2 weeks old, crawling around with open eyes, peering down at us from the ledge above. We worried they'd fall, so we got them all down. Unfortunately, the Mom decided not to return to care for them after we'd handled them, so we bottle fed the 5 kittens. The children named them after famous Revolutionary heroes like Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross, and Thomas Jefferson since we were studying that period of history. Two survived, but one was hit by a car. That left only Thomas.

Thomas is the striped cat keeping the three kittens warm. He was a rather weird looking kitten who walked funny, but he outgrew that and is a handsome guy now.

We've had other cats that came around from time to time, but they never stay long. Silver and Thomas are always here. They sleep on the porch, along the house foundation, or in the garage. We feed them cat food, and they catch mice ... and moles ... and birds ... and baby bunnies. Not enough to de-populate Steve's garage of packrats, unfortunately. They're friendly and love to be petted, but they love being fed even more. They're obnoxious when they aren't fed.

Silver had two earlier litters this year, but she was a young Mom. Both those sets of kittens died within a week. She gave birth again 3 weeks ago and we were worried we'd have another dead set of kittens. This time she gave birth in a basement window well along the house foundation, instead of in the garage. It seemed stupid at first, but it hasn't been. The kittens are safe, and Silver and Thomas keep them warm. I started feeding them IN that window well, to encourage her not to wander away from them.

The family. Silver sitting up, Thomas lying down with the gray kitten, black kitten, and tabby kitten. We've looked and it appears that the black kitten is female, and the other two are male.

The two previous litters seemed to have been fathered by a couple orange cats, whom I haven't seen around lately. They weren't very friendly, but we knew there were two distinct cats and one was braver than the other. These three appear to have Thomas for a father, based on color and markings. The kittens are walking, trying to climb the cement wall around them, and starting to eat the cat food. Soon they'll all climb out and move into the garage for the winter.

May they live long and catch many mice and moles ... but leave the baby bunnies alone.

Trusting In Him,
April

Pictures of our Milkbarn Converted into a Chicken Coop

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:42:00 -0500

Last Summer we fixed the fencing around this old dog pen, and put a chicken wire roof over it. We moved our guinea keets into it. The guineas lived in it through the winter. We hoped they'd use the doghouse for shelter, but they didn't. Um, three of them froze to death, the dog caught one once, and we had one surviving guinea hen.

This Spring we moved our chickens into the same pen with the surviving guinea once they were big enough to leave the basement. We've spent the rest of the summer trying to decide where to move them. I wanted them near the house as they had been, so I could easily watch them and hear them. So we considered converting part of a nearby outbuilding and adding a fence. But, that was going to take almost as much work as building a new coop.

The chickens were happy here and they laid their eggs inside the doghouse, and also between the doghouse and the fence. We could access some of the eggs by moving a brick and reaching under the fence, but we also had to go inside and check inside the doghouse daily. We put a metal pan in the dog house finally, because it was too deep to reach to the far corner. We were using a stick to roll eggs out of it each day, and cracked several. After we put the pan in, we'd just use the stick to pull the pan forward, retrieve the eggs, and push the pan back inside again.

Cold weather came early this year, and we still hadn't decided what to do. Finally, we agreed to move them to the old milking barn, even though it meant I could no longer watch or hear them from the kitchen.

The milk barn has thick stone walls, but only one window. That window was boarded up, but Steve and I put a sheet of plexi-glass in place. It has a few gaps around the edges we couldn't completely caulk, but it still stops most of the cold wind. (The chickens are enjoying one of our watermelons that didn't get fully ripe, and some other veggie scraps from the garden.)

We thought they might roost over on these milking stanchions, but they never do. Our feeder is meant to hang, but we just set it on bricks and put a pan on top to protect the food. It's fairly dark in this barn, and we haven' t yet made the fence outside chicken-proof. So they are stuck in here, but they're still laying.

We were able to create roosts easily, by re-purposing farm clutter left by Steve's grandparents. The metal gate is sitting in a brick with a groove, and leaning against the stone wall. Several chickens usually roost on the top of this, and sometimes they lay their eggs under it.

More chickens actually roost on the old ladder we laid over two old sawhorses that were already here in the barn. And some of them roost in the window, even though we clipped one wing before moving them in here.

We re-purposed these old tires that were lying around to be their nesting boxes. They haven't laid a single egg in them. Although they have laid a few between them or behind them.

Speaking of re-purposing items ... there isn't any running water out by the barn anymore. So we have to haul water to them. Our first few attempts were messy, using a wagon to move their waterers back and forth, or carrying pitchers to the barn. Then I realized if we used an empty gallon milk jug, it wouldn't spill. We just take out a gallon of water in a milk jug each day and fill one or more of the waterers. If we do this once a day (sometimes twice) we are able to always keep their waterers filled.

They like to lay their eggs in this corner, and we often find 3 or 4 here. Of course, they also like to lay them in other places, and it's a bit of an Easter egg hunt each day, to find the chosen spots of the day. Sometimes we have to watch where we walk, because one will be lying in the middle of the room.

Happy chickens and happy rooster in their new WARM winter home. There isn't any electricity out here, so it's dark and they're going to have to make their own heat, but it will be fine. It's more than enough room for 1 rooster, 23 hens, and 1 guinea hen.

Next Spring we'll move our new chickens into the pen next to the house again, but these older ones are staying put in the barn for now. If we ever decide we need the barn for some other larger animals, we'll have to build a new coop for the chickens.

Trusting In Him,
April