"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. These commandments are to be upon our hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and as we walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:5-7 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:44:00 -0500 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:44:00 -0500 I was reading a post made by another person on this blog site and she had the same title. I read her blog and could echo her sentiments. She said now that I have your attention~ We are moving our blog location. I hate to do it and homeschoolblogger.com has been a great home, but I would like to load more pictures directly into the blog.  I will post more often if it is a simpler process. We may return to this blog... I would like my daughter to start one next year to work on her typing skills. For now though, you can find us at this address: ekluray@blogspot.com Come on by for a visit.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/740164/ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:44:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/740164/ My oh My!  The summer is coming to an end for us this weekend!  I am not sure where these last weeks have gone but I do know they are ALL gone.  In order for us to get in our 180 days of school and end when we want to be done, we have to begin our school year the last week of JULY! So... all that I was GOING to get done this summer, well, I cannot recall anything that did.  At the top of my to do list, getting the portfolios done from the 2008-2009 school year done, all of the assorted papers, projects and digital photos are still waiting for me! We will begin on Monday... hold on to your hats... it is going to be a bumpy ride!  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/718913/ Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:31:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/718913/ There was another great reading that spoke to me from my June Journey Magazine (LifeWay Publishing). The subject was on suffering.  We can easily be brought back to perspective when we encounter a rough situation and then we see what really matters to us.  There is so much that takes precedence in our lives that is so trivial.  It is those that go through the suffering that often turn around and bless others.  They can do this because of what they have gone through.  God doesn't waste one thing and uses all to His glory.  Take what you have learned about God and show others what you have come through. Be a representative of God to those that are suffering.  Use the things that you have learned in your suffering to minister to others. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/718911/ Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:22:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/718911/ This post is based on the scripture, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."  James 4:8 I read a daily entry in Journey Magazine (LifeWay Publishing) for the month of June... yes, I know I should have gotten this great message on sooner, but someone will benefit from it~even in my tardiness. The notion of the devotional was that when you are going through a rough place, ask God for help.  He will not turn away a heart that is seeking Him.  Even when you feel like the situation you are in is a mess, God is on the same mission that you are.  He wants to take you through it.  In the asking and believing and depending, He WILL show up! The great nugget that I do not want you to miss: When our deep longings and deep needs meet God's sufficiency and His goodness, our relationship with Him gets personal.  Don't ask why is this happening God ~ ask:  Lord, how do You want to reveal Yourself here?  God will show Himself to you and to others if you are seeking your purpose in the situation you are facing. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/718908/ Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:13:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/718908/ This we had a lesson titled Holiness Defined.  The word holy means to be set apart.  God is set apart from our world by his character.  Likewise, we are to be set apart from this world because of our relationship with Christ. The first song in our Worship service today was Everlasting God (Chris Tomlin).  Below are the lyrics. Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord We will wait upon the Lord, wait upon the Lord Our God, You reign forever Our hope, our Strong Deliverer You are the everlasting God The everlasting God You do not faint You won't grow weary You're the defender of the weak You comfort those in need You lift us up on wings like eagles These lyrics come from Isaiah 40:28-31.  We may remember the end part of these verses but we don't always think of the how we acquire the strength that allows us to run and not be weary, to walk and not faint.  When we wait upon God, then we will receive strength to be able to do what He has called us to. From Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary "Where God had begun the work of grace, he will perfect it.  If we go forth in our own strength, we shall faint, and utterly fall; but having our hearts and our hopes in heaven, we shall be carried above all difficulties, and be enabled to lay hold of the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus." Click the link below to hear the song (or right click to open it in another window/tab): Everlasting God http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/709378/ Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/709378/ Another race so soon.... yes, I was wondering the same thing. It is held on a Friday night after working all day ~ yikes. When we arrived in Travelers Rest, it was certainly threatening rain, although it ended up being a nice night. We found out at the event that the registration was for around 2,000 walkers and runners!  I know we would not have gone if that information had been known ahead of time, but I was not surprised... what do expect when the entry fee is $5! With our affinity for rabbits , we had to join in.  The event was held on a new section of the trail that opened for the first time at the race.  The Greenville Hospital System Swamp Rabbit Tram Trail is part of the rails to trails movement, and is named for the former Greenville and Northern Railway that used to run from downtown Greenville to River Falls in the Jones Gap area. The railway got its nickname from the various wetlands it passed through. The plan is to pave the railway from Greenville to Travelers Rest, and to eventually run trams on the path on a regular schedule. I have some photos to give you a scope of the event: 05/08/09 From the photos, you will see some taken at home.  Today was our last day of school~all 180 days (our 1st year with attendance records). http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/708051/ Fri, 8 May 2009 19:17:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/708051/ As you know, Eric likes to run in the occasional 5K race.  He had not done one in several months (winter and early morning running just didn't seem like a "fun" way to spend a Saturday), so when we saw the information on this one, he had to do it.  You see, when we were here the weekend in 2008 with Eric's twin brother moving "stuff" up to the apartment, we drove around in Greer and saw this run taking place before returning from our trip~we picked up the UHaul, loaded it drove it and unloaded plus had it back to be checked in... all of this took less than 24 hours with the insane-o mover!! We have been here a year and it seemed like a milestone type thing to do. Eric was signed up to do the 5K, there was a Half Marathon and a kids run on this day. Once Eric got back, he was pretty beat, so I said I would go with the kids. We did our 1st Half.... Half Mile Run! It was down a few blocks and the route put us right in with the people still running the Half-Mararthon! (I am sure they were not happy to have us out there, but we were spread out to where they could get around us!) There are some great photos, so take a look (we took some and others were taken by the photographers at the event). 5K and 1/2 Race Photos: Greer Run Happy 2nd Birthday to Rett and Reah!!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/708047/ Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:05:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/708047/ What a BEAUTIFUL time to go to Biltmore Estate.  We found out when we went to the fall homeschool festival that there would be a time in April for a spring homeschool day.  We could not wait to see the colorful gardens that we would experience in the springtime. We churned butter, learned about erosion and conservation, saw birds of prey, and saw how quilt patterns were put together.  These things were all before we drove across the estate to Biltmore House.  We toured the newly opened rooms.  They were restoring them when we were at the house but got to see these special rooms. It has been 10 years since we visited Asheville and Biltmore Estate for our 2nd anniversary.  The Festival of Flowers had just ended when we were on that trip so the gardens were being prepared for summer.  We got to experience the most tulips that any of us has ever seen in one place. We took many pictures and hope you enjoy them as much as we did. Biltmore Estate http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/687365/ Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:00:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/687365/ Our Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt from NC came to visit us for Easter. We had some fun together on Saturday.  There are some beautiful pictures at Lake Robinson.  We got really, really close to the hungry Canadian Geese. We enjoyed our time together celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Family Fun.... Easter http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/687361/ Sun, 12 Apr 2009 19:55:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/687361/ Yes, you read right.  We have experienced many new things this school year.  We went to homeschool roller skating in the fall and Rayelin enjoyed it.  I knew I would be no help, so she was on her own other than supervision!  This happens twice a month but we have not been back.  She would go more often, but we have found a new interest.  This month, there was a homeschool ice skating time put together that would meet twice a month at the Pavillion.  I wanted her to try it, and I did rent ice skates to do it with her.  (Luke stayed home with Dad).  After we had gone around a time or two (very slowly), I saw some kids with "walkers".  I said, "I need one of those."  They were PVC pipe that was put together and it looked like a walker that you pushed in front of you while going around the rink.  I went back to the counter and got one for Rayelin.  She was much improved on it.  I could see that with that device, I was no longer needed on the ice (not that I was much help to begin with)!  I got the ice skate off and went to the truck to get the camera.  She went around a few times with it and then went around with our friends after that.  She did really well!  There was only one fall and it happened just as I returned with the camera.  We will be able to go back once in April. Enjoy the photos.... The Ice Skater http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/687359/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:44:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hishouse/687359/