While I find homeschooling a struggle more often than not, I am grateful to be able to be with my children every day, seeing how the Lord is growing them in knowledge. My prayer is to learn to enjoy them more, to show them how glad I am to be home with them and to be used of God to educate them in academics, homemaking and in the Word. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Fri, 24 Nov 2006 08:24:00 -0600 Fri, 24 Nov 2006 08:24:00 -0600 My dh recently found this website and it has been a wonderful encouragement to us, as well as a source of conviction.  I hope it is a blessing to you, as well.www.gracegems.org http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/244111/ Fri, 24 Nov 2006 08:24:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/244111/ Autumn is my favorite season-I get out my leaf garlands, pumpkins, apples and harvest items and decorate my house.  Every year, I try to get one new item to add to my fall supplies-probably my only "collection."  As a military wife, I try to stay somewhat streamlined in regard to too much "stuff", but my love of garage sales does compete with this effort.  I try to be mindful that we will move again and will have to take all of the stuff with us-unless we are sent somewhere where we are only allowed the minimum.  In either case, less is usually better and easier.  I know it is easier on my dh, since an abundance of stuff stresses him  a bit.  Years ago while taking it easy during my first pregnancy, I read some books written by a Swedish author about her parents who were a pastor and his wife.  The author reflects on the time following the father's when she comes across her mother burning the letters her husband had written to his wife throughout the years.  The author (daughter) said to her mother that, perhaps, she would have liked to have kept those letters as mementos.  To this, the mother replied she wanted to leave nothing behind when the Lord took her home that would become a burden-emotional or material-for her children.  She tried to live her life in a streamlined manner-not accumulating too much so that her children would only have good memories to cherish and not have to agonize over what to keep and what to give up when that time came.  What a heavenly minded perspective-to live life here as a visitor, not a permanent resident!  I think of the grandfather of a friend who, when he died, left a house and shed so filled with accumulated stuff that it took many, many garage sales, private ads, and junk dealers to get rid of all of it.  His children and grandchildren had to work on this problem for over a year, sorting the "treasures" from the junk.  It wearied his family and burdened them for months following his -time they would have preferred to have spent grieving and remembering him fondly.  I pray that I can learn to live like the Swedish wife and mother and live a life unencumbered by needless litter so that I can go home to the Father in His time without leaving loved ones burdened with the flotsam and jetsam of my life.  The name of the author of the books I mentioned is TF Bjorn-she wrote a trilogy: Papa's Wife, Papa's Daughter and Mama's Way.  (disclaimer: it has been years since I first read these books-I don't think there was anything objectionable in them. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/214778/ Thu, 5 Oct 2006 10:57:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/214778/ My dh found out today that he will have the privelege of continuing to serve in the Air Force.  We have been waiting to hear for many weeks and were pretty OK with whatever the Lord would have my dh do.  It was somewhat anticlimactic to learn that he would stay in; I was preparing myself mentally to rejoin the ranks of civilian life and felt a little thud after hearing the news. I do feel relieved, though, to know he will not have to job hunt any time soon.  That frees us up to pursue debt repayment and continuing education for my dh.  Yay! The Lord is so good in His provision for His people.    Rejoice in the Lord, for He is good.  His love endures forever. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/136840/ Wed, 17 May 2006 22:43:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/136840/ I am looking for information about Morningstar Academy/Jubilee Academy online homeschooling curriculum.  Does anyone have firsthand experience with this system?  It looked great on their web page, but I would like to talk with someone who has either used them or knows about it. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/125618/ Fri, 28 Apr 2006 09:42:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/125618/ This morning when I went to get my two year old out of bed, the first thing he said was "I Davey Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier.  I shoot Inninnins."  It is getting harder and harder to keep a straight face around here.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/123864/ Tue, 25 Apr 2006 09:39:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/123864/ Yesterday, a question came up through the sermon.  "Do I live as one without hope?"  I realized that I have been living that way for several weeks, dwelling on the difficult, the depressing, and the hopeless things of life in a fallen world-instead of saying to myself as David did, "Why so downcast, O my soul?"  Although I struggle on the physical level with a body out of whack as a result of a malfunctioning thyroid, I cannot blame the thoughts and feelings I have experienced lately on that alone.  I tend to sin in this area more than any other, I think-to allow myself to forget God's promises and sink down into feeling overwhelmed.  My prayer is that I can truly heed the psalmist's instruction to himself, "Find rest, my soul, in God alone."  As I attempt to instruct my children and get my house in order after our recent move, I want to do it in the power of the Holy Spirit-not my own.  To remember why we decided to teach our children at home and be motivated by that reason.  To make our home clean and inviting so that it can be a blessing to my family and to others the Lord might bring.  Discouragement is a strong weapon the enemy uses against mothers.  I pray the Lord will make us all strong in Him and His mighty power and help us to stand firm on His promises. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/119399/ Mon, 17 Apr 2006 12:51:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/119399/ This week we heard that my dh's grandmother died on Sunday-she was a devout Hindu.  Our hearts are grieving for more than just the loss of her presence.  We visited with her over the holidays in Canada.  She lived six months out of the year at my dh's house his entire childhood, so he was very close to her.  My aunt's mother also died this week in Arizona.  She gave my dh and me our first furniture when we were married and again another set when my dh was commisioned in the AF.  I am still digging out from our move; there are boxes in my entryway and in the garage.  For some reason, I am having a hard time getting unpacked and settled in.  This is very unusual for me-I am usually unpacked and decorated within the first week.  Not this time!  The constant rain is kind of bumming me out, too.  Sigh.  Maybe I am just getting a little bit tired of the moving thing.???  Maybe we become less elastic as we age? My dh is at work again and learning lots of new things.  He will find out in June, maybe even in May, if he gets to stay in the AF, so it is all about waiting on the Lord and being content.  (Isn't everything?)   My little ones are still doing piecework when it comes to school-they are behind, I admit it.  Well, I can't be the only one, can I?? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/113423/ Thu, 6 Apr 2006 10:46:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/113423/ We are finally in our latest house in Northern California.  It feels like forever since our family left Texas on March 3!  The trip was fun but tiring and I am so glad to be able to sleep in my own bed and cook healthy food.  The Lord has provided so wonderfully for us here; a great house and a great church only ten minutes away! The house: we are living in a gated development, situated around a lake.  It is absolutely beautiful here!  The house totally matches my dh and my taste and furniture.  That never happens to us!  The property manager even convinced the owner to lower the rent for us.  So neat!  The only drawback is the oleander bushes outside-my six year old decided to taste a leaf yesterday and we had a few anxious moments, let me tell you.  Thankfully, it takes a full handful to poison a child-WHEW!  The church: we have attended two worship services and fellowshipped with a family on Sunday for lunch.  A few neat things include: many girls who are the same age as my two daughters, the girls all wear long, modest dresses and are interested in old fashioned, feminine pursuits, and a great homeschool network is a short drive away.  The Lord is so good! My dh starts his new job here this week.  I pray he will learn quickly and will be able to work with a good group of people.  (If not, I pray the Lord will sustain him.)  My prayer for myself and my children is that we can get back into the swing of things as regards school and also to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/107699/ Tue, 28 Mar 2006 10:15:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/107699/ It has been such a long time since I blogged and even now I can only stop by and say a quick hello.  We are in Monterey, CA tonight and will be in Sacramento tomorrow.  On Wednesday we will, God willing, finally arrive at my dh's new base.  I am excited and a little anxious to be so close to being able to stop and rest for however long the Lord wills.  I like travelling, but this trip has been tiring.  I look forward to sleeping on my own bed soon!  Our packers were really good in Texas and I hope I still feel that way when our boxes are unpacked. The Lord has been so gracious to us in all of our travels from Texas to California; please pray for His safety and provision as we go to our new home.  More later... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/99703/ Tue, 14 Mar 2006 00:04:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/99703/ Here is a fun little quiz I discovered online.  Hope you like it.  The World's Easiest Test 1.  How long did the Hundred Years' War last? 2.  Which country makes Panama hats? 3. From what animal do we get catgut? 4.  In what month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution? 5.  What is camel hair made from? 6.  The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal? 7.  What was King George VI's first name? 8.  What color is a Purple Finch? 9.  Where are Chinese Gooseberries from? 10. How long did the Thirty Years' War last? Ready for the answers? 1.  116 years, from 1337-1453. 2.  Ecuador. 3. From sheep and horses. 4.  November.  The Russian calendar was 13 days behind ours. 5.  Squirrel fur. 6.  The Latin name was Insularia Canaria- Island of the Dogs. 7.  Albert.  In 1936 he respected the wish of Queen Victoria that no future king should ever be called Albert. 8.  Distinctively crimson. 9.  New Zealand. 10. 30 years of course.  1618 to 1648.                                        http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/80631/ Wed, 8 Feb 2006 08:25:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kimberly/80631/