A Process of Change - Homeschool Blogger

Quickly before bed.

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 06:07:00 -0500

I was going to write a nice big entry but I am so tired! I have continual pain in my back, so that wears me out a bit.

We had homeschool meeting today and my family was it! Oh well, we had fun anyway.

I have to go, I can hardly keep my eyes open.

Our week

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 04:27:00 -0500

....so far has been lazy and uneventful since the iron tablet incident. I have switched to a liquid iron which isn't very pleasant tasting but I don't get any nausea, so it's a winner in my book. I hate throwing up!

The boys have been plugging away at their spelling and their About Me project. I decided that once they have finished their first draft, they can finish it off on the computer. That way they are doing they Technology part of the curriculum thing.

Did I mention I really don't like the Curriculum framework? The fact that most teachers don't use the thing, should be a good indicator. Homeschoolers are held to a much higher standard than the school system, which bugs me but I am not sure what can be done to get more freedom for homeschoolers on Australia. I would be interested if there is a committee or something.

Once we have finished the About Me thing the boys will be going on to swans. We have heaps of black swans around here, so it seemed a natural thing to study. There is a swan family not far up the road. They have six little cygnets, which are so cute.They look like balls of fluff floating on the surface of the water. So we will doing that soon hopefully.

Well I had better be off. Next time I should have a bigger and better entry!!

Feeling convicted

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 07:45:00 -0500

I have felt really convicted lately that I need to be putting my money where my mouth is on a lot of things. I am good at saying stuff but not so good at actions.

Wont be much action tonight though. I dont' feel well. Don't take iron tablets on an empty stomach. It will come back to visit you!

Words of wisdom

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 07:07:00 -0500

I forgot to add the wise words my thirteen year old had for me after the snake incident.

'you say you like to live in the country Mum. Country means snakes'

Cheeky boy. How dare he point out the obvious!

We are hitting the books hard tomorrow. The Homeschool Moderator will be back in a month or so, so we had better be prepared. I have decided that we will never have everything up to the Education Departments standards but we will do our best.

I have also decided that I am way to nice and uncontroversial in cyber land! In real life most people know that I don't tend to hold back on opinions if asked and since no one is asking here, i may as well say what I like!!

My first sort-of-contro thing is I am a dyed in the wool Homeschool Zealot! Can't think of a better descriptive! i believe that homeschooling is the best thing for almost everybody. There would be a few exceptions of course, one being if your Dh doesn't allow it but these exceptions are few and far between. If parents are willing to lay aside their own wants for a season in their lives, then you can homeschool. Yes it is scary but what is the alternative. Just because one family has kids that turn out alright, doesn't necessarily mean that your kids will. I have seen what the 'system' will do to kids. How can sending your children away for seven hours a day be a good thing?! Childhood passes in an instant. We have such a short time to influence for good or for the world. Why let the world raise them if you have a choice?

The Word of the Lord is true. You reap what you sow. The companion of fools suffers harm. Children are foolish creatures.

Now I don't normally get this animated IRL about this because frankly, I don't know anyone else that is as convinced this is the BEST way. I would probably be mobbed at best, maybe stoned! To most people I have met think homeschooling is a good option but school is always there and is pretty good too. Sorry, I think it is a poor, poor cousin.

My children struggle scholastically and it would be so easy to put them in school and have be done with it. But this is not what is best for them. They are OURS to raise. Not the governments.

That is my soapbox for today!

I had better got some other stuff done. Bye for now!

SNAKES!!!

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 00:21:00 -0500

We had a snake on the road near our house today. I hate snakes. I mean in a really desperate kind of way. They fill me with dread. Probably because every snkae around here is venomous. They can kill you. So I ran over it. Not once but about five times! It wasn't dead after the first two times so I made sure. I don't feel well. The boys want to go and look at it but I am too scared. I think I will go and live in Ireland.

Did I mention I really hate snakes!

For the record, it was a tiger snake.

I will be back later with a proper entry. I had to unload my traumatic experience

it's been a while

Mon, 8 Oct 2007 19:22:00 -0500

Here I am again!

I thought it was high time I started blogging again. We are having a baby! We are due 29th January next year. It will be a boy and his name is Micah. The boys are really excited even though they were hoping for a girl. They keep telling me next time Mum! They really want twin girls. Not sure if I am up for that but it is up to the Lord!

We have changed the way we are schooling a bit. Trying to be a bit more interesting and I have been investigating how to do notebooking and unit studies. I think that the boys will find them really interesting. Isaiah wont be doing as much as the other boys as he still needs to focus on the basics. He is also doing speech therapy (even though I forgot the last visit . I'm hoping to get back in soon.

Dh has just had surgery on his knee so we have had life turned upside down a bit. Lots of visits to the Doctor.

We have also been going to a city one and a half hours away for Dh and I have to go as well, because I am too risky to give birth here . The boys are loving being able to go to the beach a lot more. Fuel is sooooo expensive but when Micah arrives it will all be worth it! I am so excited about this baby. We all are. He will be so smothered!

Okay I tried to put a photo in and it was taking forever, so I don't know what I am doing wrong. Maybe because I have slow dial up? I will have to figure it out!

Well I had better go and hopefully I will be making more regular posts!

All Moved and lots more!

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 08:05:00 -0600

We are all moved in (mostly) . We do need to get a lot of furniture we have discovered though! That is kind of a nice problem to have though, since we haven't had any room for anything for so long!

We have a lot of stuff happen since the last time I posted. So I will do my best to catch up.

Jordan was found to have some kind of problem with his heart. There was a possibility of surgery and we were very worried. It turned out that, though he does have a valve problem and a small leak it shouldn't effect his life in any way and lots of people have the same problem and never know it. So that was a huge relief and a great time of praising God!

We lost another baby just two weeks ago. This time I was 18 weeks and the baby got to 14. Another boy we named Seth. And no I don't believe God is telling us not to have any more children. The amount of times I have heard that in the last two weeks is amazing! I get a bitbut I suppose people are only thinking of me. I had a lot of tests done (approx 25!) and the baby has has a few tests, we just have to wait to see if there are any answers. We may find out nothing but the Dr wants to figure it out as he has never seen this before ( three 2nd trimester loses in a row). I know, I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt though, that God is in control and He has His hand on me and my family. I know He was with me through the whole thing, even when it was really difficult. Sometimes God seems far away when stuff is happening and you feel out of control of everything but you know what? It is only because WE aren't in control that we feel the distance. He is there, just call. There will be peace beyond understanding. My Dad was saying how he is glad I have a strong constitution to get through this last year. I can honestly say it has nothing to do with me. Jesus was with me even when I was angry with Him and I was questioning what was happening. The Lord is my peace and my strength. While I wouldn't want to have to go through this again ( I might have to though, there is no guarantee) I am grateful for the surety I have of God's guidance and strength.

We have a visit from the head education curriculum guy this week coming! Not too happy about it but I will be asking him exactly what he wants to see so that they will get off my back! Not in those words of course but I will be honest and say how annoying this is getting ( the constant visits) and how we have had an exceptional year maybe they could cut us some slack?! I don't think we will get any though so I had better be prepared for some humble pie I suppose. It doesn't taste nice but it is good for you! I have to say though that the boys reading has come along heaps. I jsut hope that this guy will see that and not just see all the ground that is still to be made up. I think I am going to move to Alaska!

I suppose I had better get going. I have church tomorrow and I have to go to the markets before that so I need some sleep!

Jenxx

Moving

Sat, 1 Jul 2006 06:57:00 -0500

Well I did go quite well for a few days then the World Cup was on and Dh and the boys stayed up until 4am watching it and woke the whole house with their yellingThis was me!

So we went off track a bit adn now we are moving to way bigger housePraise God! so we have been busy going over there and getting things organised. Tis weeks Dh is home afternoons so we will almost definitely be moved in by the weekend. Dh is a dynamite mover. Super organised, so I just follow his lead!

We have been falling down a bit in the bookwork and only doing the tiniest bit of work. Back on track next week.

One of the ladies from a messageboard I am on (The Woodshed) has started up a challenge for July to get us more organised so I pray this will be the kick in the pants I need.Make me more like this!

My friend had a little girl on Monday and she is so cute. Elijah has started asking when we are having another one and said that we just couldn't lose another one. That boy has such a soft heart.

Anyway I had better go as Jordan has decided that he will be a pain and not sleep!

Jen:)

Frustrated!!!!

Tue, 20 Jun 2006 05:38:00 -0500

Schedule This almost describes how I feel!!! I am so frustrated at my own laziness and stupidity. It didn't help that after sleeping in waaaayy late again, we went out all afternoon with my Mum. We had fun for sure but I am really letting my boys and my Dh down.

Today we got stuff for the new house. Paint for some turntable cupboards (to see of there is mouse poo!) and screening to go in the windows. The boys had a great time playing hide and seek in the hardware store.

I have ask Glen to give me a hard time about going to bed early so I will be getting harrassed soon.

Jen:)

First day of Routine

Mon, 19 Jun 2006 07:43:00 -0500

Okay I stayed up Saturday night and wrote out a schedule. This is how it went today. In other words I slept in waaaaayyy late (I stayed up and watched some of the soccer!) and didn't get anything done. And I mean NOTHING!

I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. It is just so hard to lay down my smelly rotten flesh.

I will try again tomorrow. I'm not off to a good start as I am not in bed yet!!!

Jen:)