Yes well, I am that girl. I am 30 and my "boys" are 39, 16, 8, 4, and almost 2. We are still new homeschoolers (this is our 2nd year) but are in it for the long haul (Lord willing). We strive for the simple yet abundant life that He promises. Less is more so far as we can see. Learning-to-love and loving to learn are the core desires for myself and my family. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:56:00 -0500 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:56:00 -0500 He said to me this morning that he feels like he learned more in this one year of homeschooling than he ever did in his last  16 years of public school.  Well I guess maybe that would be 11 because he is 17 years old.  Anyway, I was encouraged to keep on keeping on with my younger boys. Looks like I stepped off the face of the earth, wow!  I haven't had time or thought to do this since last year.  What a busy year it has been.  Time for a facelift.   Looking back ..... I thought that I would have blogged regularly but adding a high schooler to my mix this year was quite overwhelming.  CLASS is A LOT OF WORK.  ugh....I feel bad for all the tediousness that he went through but I feel good at the same time because his view of this last  year is really positive.  We moved in December  and I misplaced most of my 3rd grader's curriculum....sooo....I went to Sam's Club and found some workbooks.  We focused on Math and Reading and Geography for most of the spring.  I think though, that  our major learning took place in our hearts this year.  My 8 year old with some behavior issues is only a memory of the past.  His character and willingness to learn has really jumped off.  I realized that the less I try to control him, the more he learns self-control.  Ah....refreshing the humility that comes with making that statement.  I realized that I am excited to be a pre-schooler as a 30 year old. My 4 year old is gently coming to a realization of the importance of knowing how to read ON HIS OWN.  I love it.  I don't have to send him off and have someone else force that on him.  It is a simple natural progression in his thought life.  So here we are with a Rod and Staff preschool curriculum and a mother who is re-learning what true "learning" is all about.  It is a deep desire within us to grow.  It really has nothing to do with someone telling us what they think we ought to know .  A, B, C's and 1,2,3's are simply stepping stones into .....ugh.....too deep for me.....ha!.............well....I have been deeply inspired by Just  Call Me Jamin.  I need to add her to my friends, she is fabulously out there! My 2 year old is sweeter than I can even put into words.  Even his rotteness is sweet.  Ihave been enjoying these last 2 weeks just me and him in the morning while the other two have been at 2 different VBS's.  My journey as a mother has severely been enriched this past year.  I am absolutely in love with my children.  They are no longer a novelty of sorts and really I am so content with this "Calling" from God to be home with them in their education.  I must say though that  I am looking forward to being just "Mom" for the summer and not  "enforcer of workbook completion".  I endeavor to move beyond that this fall a bit as I realize the blessings of actually planning out a schoolyear. I know however that I am a very spontaneous and spacey person, so I am trying to simply plan out some units to throw in  to our regular stuff.  Big Sigh.... My naivity as a senior in public high school is very apparent to me now.  My education is just beginning. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/340927/ Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:56:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/340927/ This year I will be homeschooling two out of my four boys (and a bit of "pre"school for my 4 year old).  My stepson  is 16 and has moved in with us and decided to homeschool through the rest of his high school years.  So we will use CLASS with him and I am going to do a bit of experimenting this year with my 3rd grader.  He hates writing and anything that seems like it is not just a game.  This presents itself as a challenge for me to cause him to realize life is more than all games but still make things interesting and fun.  I struggle with organization so that is my goal for myself this year.  To fine some sort of organization tools that I can work with and keep up with.  I don't want him to have any gaps in his education so I really need to find a good dayplanner or something.....something for daily record keeping.  I don't like report cards though.  But the Lord may change my mind about that one.  My other goal is to start each day with our eyes fixed on Jesus.  I did a google for some kind of daily homeschool devotional to do with your kids but to no avail as of yet.  I look forward to having more normalcy around here....uh......what am I thinking! Ah well.....comments and any ideas would be greatly appreciated....Thanks http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/197443/ Wed, 6 Sep 2006 14:53:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/197443/ Shall I look at this half full or half ...nah!  The negative thoughts can just stay at bay for another month and then hopefully my perspective will change.  The cool air will help.  We made it through our first year of homeschool.  It was good.  It was not always easy and we only made it through half of the AO Lifepacs for the second grade, but the experience was good, and the knowledge I gained was good.  Somtimes I wonder if I didn't learn a lot more than he did this past year.  I am enjoying this piece of raspberry pie and the lazy summer days right now.  My oldest (step) son just moved in with us and is contemplating leaving the "social" realm of public high school and joining us at home this fall.  So with my hands raised high and my butt in a wicker chair I give my sons to my Almighty Precious Savior once again.  I have goals for this coming year that mostly involve organizational skills, but for  now I will enjoy swinging my littlest one in the swing in the backyard and getting dirty with the others while washing the mangy cat in the kiddie pool.  I look forward to broadening my horizons to many different types of curriculum this coming year.  I am not so worried about where the money will come from for this because I know that my Provider has it all set up for us.  Thanks for reading.  May the days continue to be long and slow and the memories encaptured often for you.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/161133/ Mon, 3 Jul 2006 14:20:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/161133/     I was at a local homeschool fair/mini convention yesterday and I heard something that I needed to hear desperately.  Sue Brage was giving the workshop entitled "What I thought I knew about Homeschooling, and What I know now" (my own paraphrase).......anyway.......at one point she said how a woman had come to her afraid to homeschool because she and her daughter were like oil and vinegar....or salt and vinegar (gosh I have a horrible memory).....anyway their personalities just did not mesh at all.  Sue's response was that maybe she and her daughter were the perfect candidates for homeschooling because of exactly that.  God intends for us to "love one another" above all else.  When we are in the dregs with our kids and trying to figure out what just happened and how we could have done that better.....we are closest to the heart of God.  So in that intensely intimate homeschool relationship we have with our children (butting heads)....Sue showed me that in that place we find God there.  Refining us, transforming our hearts and minds, drawing us closer to our children and therefore closer to Him.  She cited the verse Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. So in those harsh and difficult moments with my ds, I can find (if I seek) the perfect will of God. note: In case you are wondering more about Sue Brage and her ministry you can check out her website at  http://www.homeschool-encourager.com/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/102864/ Sun, 19 Mar 2006 11:19:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/102864/ was my main function as a mother today.  Two out of the three of these boys contributed to that purpose.  Sparing the details of their bodily functions, neither of them acted sick or fluey today after the initial incidents.  I just hope my littlest one doesn't have a rough night of it.  So we took the day off from the curricula and had a reading day.  I still feel like I am pretty hardline about "doing school" every weekday.  I worry some days if I am either too strict or not strict enough about the amount that is completed in the AO LifePacs.  So many things (and hands) are tugging me in so many different directions at this time.  Am I neglecting the little ones in leu of making sure J does at least two pages of math, lang. arts, ect...?  I  am also quite frustrated that I almost never get any time do read the things that I want to read.  Selfish I know, but by the time they are all in bed I am so tired that all I really feel like doing is eating chocolate and having a cup of Sleepytime and crashing on the recliner (that I have stolen from dh).  I love reading and J just whines every time I make him do it.  Will someone candidly tell me what's wrong with this picture?  Thank you in advance.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/86215/ Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:43:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/86215/ Grace.  That's what I want to think about for a moment this evening.  I just recently posted a comment on another weblog in opposition to her "irritation" with people who are late to church.  My feeling is that the doors of a church should ALWAYS be open to whoever will come, whenever.  If that happens to be in the middle of the "music" part of the worship service then so be it.  If you get there 30 minutes before the service ends, so be it. If you get there "on time" without fail every week do you need a cookie(or some "on-time-churchgoer-of-the-month" plaque for that accomplishment?  I have been to churches who lock their doors and don't let anyone in or out once the service has started.  I never went back.  It reeks to me of more of a performance than a gathering together of the saints for the sole purpose of worship.  So what do you think?   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/86194/ Fri, 17 Feb 2006 22:38:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/86194/ What an odd opening ceremony for the Olympics.  dh says it reminded him of Greek theatre, whatever that means.  The only part I did like (weird though it was) was the "Human Heart" portrayal.....intensely beatiful and captivating.  Our house is very much glued to the t.v. during the Olympics.  None of us are extrememly athletic but we love to watch and "critique".  The human body is truly an amazing phenomenon.  Happy Olympic watching to you all.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/82331/ Fri, 10 Feb 2006 22:25:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/82331/ Hopefully someone will find me here and give me some idea of how to break this addiction to that wonderful substance that seems to melt away all of my stress as it melts in my mouth.  I recently joined a gym and I am attempting to find that healthy cycle of life that has eluded me for about two years now.  Chocolate is my nemesis I am figuring out.  Once the stuff touches my lips I am swept away in my thoughts of obtaining it again for the rest of the day.  I am not kidding.  I have tried just having a "tiny" bit....but it does not work.  I only want more.  Ok.  I hate to obsess about anything  but I really am quite frustrated.  There must be a country or blues song about this somewhere.  Ah well, please post a comment if you have any suggestions or can empathize with me in any way.  Happy Friday night to you, thanks in advance for reading (and posting).   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/78368/ Fri, 3 Feb 2006 22:35:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/78368/     I have a cold again.  I think I broke my tailbone last week.  The days just keep coming and going...and coming....and going.....I know this is just that old depression trying its hand again.  I sat on a bag of frozen corn the other day.  That seemed to help. The tailbone thing....not the depression....well maybe.  Ok...that inspired me to go get the corn out of my freezer and stop whining.  My Eli is almost weaned now.  13 months old.  Some days I do my random head count (checking for noise - which is better than quiet)....anyway....while doing my head count for my 3 boys I begin to look around for the other one....but there is not another one....isnt that odd?  My mom says she thinks that is prophetic that I will have another baby (hopefully a girl this time she recounts).  Ah....my butt is getting numb.   Can I be a good Christian woman and say that in a blog for all of the wandering blog lovers to discover?  Now it (my butt) is actually becoming quite uncomfortable.      I joined a gym today.  I am still wondering exactly why when I am so challenged on my rear end....well....actually....I was "challenged" in that area before I ever even fell off that flimsy black sled last Friday afternoon.  That must be why.  So I will swim for now.  I like swimming.  I really like it.  Well...I have reached the end of my jabbering for this particular evening.  I hope whoever reads this doesn't ever have to experience the arctic chill of pre-milled polenta at anytime in their life.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/75003/ Sat, 28 Jan 2006 22:41:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/75003/ Boy that girl can fiddle.....I love it that Sara Watkins (and her brother Sean) of Nickel Creek were homeschooled....such aspirations I have for my boys of being fabulous musicians (hopefully a cellist among them).....I never really enjoyed any of the concerts I had been dragged to before I found Nickel Creek....and even though I am not as fond of their most recent release -  I absolutely melted in anticipation of hearing the voices of their instruments (strings and vocal) in a live performance.  If you have not heard of them...you will find a treat at http://www.nickelcreek.com/  just look for  some samples of their stuff....well worth the hunt.  I must also say that Chris Thile scooped up my heart during his dances with his mandolin.  Funny how simply watching/living something like that can increase the size of your heart in measurable amounts. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/72402/ Tue, 24 Jan 2006 00:37:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Leahwog/72402/