At His Feet - Homeschool Blogger

The best cake in the world!!

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:36:00 -0500

I am posting pictures of last week's project of making a cake of the earth. It was challenging, but it was a great project for the boys. They needed a challenge of how to be better teammates. We all made the cake together, and the boys had to plan out how the continents were all supposed to fit on the cake with the green icing. It turned out pretty good. They are so sweet. The boys had such funny faces while trying to get their eggs in the bowl without getting any shells.

Here is my eldest checking out what we needed to do next:

The final product! The best cake in the world!!

This is my youngest boy working on his writing lessons:

Here is my second son at his desk doing his writing lessons:

This is our daughter doing her "lessons""

This week has been great. There have not been any major projects this week. We are putting together posters with John 3:16 on them and pictures of people in other countries who need God. The boys cut out pictures fron Voice of the Martyrs yesterday and we plan on finishing it tomorrow. I will post those pictures too. That is all for today!! Melissa

Summer is passing

Sun, 27 Aug 2006 15:31:00 -0500

Summer break came and went. We still hear the buzzing of summer insects outdoors, but we are buzzing in our home with information and creativity. We enjoyed a full summer. We went on a few short trips and one longer vacation. We moved once and had spent many days outdoors at the park. It was indeed busy. We have now began and completed our first two weeks of this year's schooling adventure. We are using My Father's World curriculum. We are doing the Exploring Countries and Cultures unit. It is so nice. It goes along with my heart for teaching and gives us a good structure to follow too. We have been blessed and challenged. My children are enjoying school so much this year! I think they are a bit surprised at the level of enjoyment that it is bringing us. They love their nature walks, which involved tree bark rubbings with crayon and leaf drawings last week. They enjoy their nature journals immensly. Because they are boys, they don't favor any writing, but even that has improved so much from last year....including their attitude!! We are using Right Start Math this year and are enjoying that as well. The children love it because every day feels like we are playing games, but we are learning so much...and I mean WE. I have learned so much from doing this math curriculum. It is a little involved for me, but that is what it means to homeschool. I also need to have a good understanding of what they are learning, and Abeka was not providing that for me. Last year with Abeka was choking the "life" out of our homeschool. I wanted to quit...but know better.....and began to pray for God to intervene and show us what He had for us this year. He provided our curriculum...free from a lady at the convention we went to....is that not an answer to prayer? Yes it is, and we are loving our time together. The challenge this provides us is as we read through a book called, Window on the World, we are reading about other religions, cultures, and countries. It brings about many questions, and a deep sadness for those who do not know God. Maybe we have lived in our own bubble too long, or they really did not know others lived so differently than we do, but we have had so many discussions lately about those who do not love God, followed by such a sad silence. We are praying for those people and countries, and this is a good challenge for us...one God layed out for our family. One last thought...we have been praying for a year now about going to Bible school as a family, and we will hear tomorrow whether that door is opened to us. We wait in prayerful anticipation. God's will be done! Will blog again soon....Melissa

Living Fixed

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 08:03:00 -0500

I have been thinking for a few weeks about something. I read a verse Hebrews 12:2 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down and the right hand of the throne of God." It is simple and plain, yet it got me to thinking about His life. Jesus lived for others...outside of Himself. I wonder if He ever longed for a life of earthly contentment and "happiness." I think I have looked for that. Jesus did not live a "happy and fun" life. He did not live for Himself. Jesus really knew the joy that was before Him. He knew His Father, and the joy that was waiting for Him. He had peace and joy on earth too, but it was always because of what was before Him, not because of something great that was happening or some earthly contentment. Another thought about that verse is how lonely I am most of the time. I wonder if I would feel that way if I had a lot of people in my life. I do think so. I, along with many others search for "someone" to connect with, someone who finally understands me. Well, when I read this awhile ago, I thought about the fact that Jesus had crowds around Him all the time, and 12 that were permanently fixed by His side for 3 years! Not one of those earthly people really understood or knew Him...in fact it seemed at times he was frustrated with their lack of understanding and faith. Yet, we have the Father....if we take the time to rest before Him and really know Him. To really know a spouse takes time, and faithfulness. A few days of no communicating makes for strange feelings between us. We really have to dedicate and commit ourselves to spend time loving and talking and always getting to know that other person. The same is with God. It is our time. It is my time. Do I want to give it up? I truly desire that "knowing" God. Yet, I know that it takes my time. Time is precious. I want to give it, well, learn to give it, because I long for one of those words in that verse above...FIXED. I wander too much...my feelings wane...I get tired. I long to be fixed...steadfast. I know it will take my time. In return the blessings are far beyond what I have ever known.

Burning and Buzzing

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 08:04:00 -0500

There are two thoughts on my mind this morning. I thought it was the 31st today ( a problem that occurs during summer break) so I read Proverbs 31. I am always touched by something new every time I read it. I was given an Amplified Bible for my birthday this year...LOVE IT....so I have been enjoying new aspects of the Bible because certain words are expounded upon. I am a huge fan of vocabulary. I love insights into poems, literature, and especially the Bible. This morning one aspect really stuck out to me. It was the second part of verse 18. It says "....her lamp does not go out, but it burns on continually through the night (of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt and distrust)." That verse always made me think that she is alert, to care for her family at any time...never delving so deep into herself that she would "forget" about the needs of her family. I do feel that is part of it. The other part that stuck out to me today (and definately my perspective), was that part about her "lamp" not going out at night. I think we all have times of "night" in our lives. I pretty much always took that literally, but the other side of it is maybe those dark times in our lives where the faith inside our hearts, and the love of God keeps us going so we can continue to help our families when we are needed. We all have sad, sorrowful times whether due to loss, tragic events, sickness or depression. It is encouraging to me to know that though those times come, God in His compassion gives us a burning light inside us that gives us the ability to keep going and serve our family. I love that light...Jesus!! He is the only one who could keep us going!!! I do feel that it is a choice to keep going, but there have been times where I just felt like I was barely existing and could not keep going and then...a flicker...a hope...that only comes from God. The flicker....that lamp that does not go out in the night....Oh, thank you Jesus!!

In other news...and definately not near as important.....I am on a benadryl "buzz." I was stung by a bee two days ago while playing Bible Freeze tag at a park with my children. I tend to swell up terribly and have bruised blackish marks around the area effected. My ankle is twice as large as usual and I am pretty groggy from Benadryl. I dread having to take any medicine. Last time I got stung I had to have a shot. Well, I am sure, being that it was on my ankle that I will be fine, other than looking like I have a club-like leg. Hee hee!! That is the "buzz" from the Watson's home.....

Feelings and lies...

Fri, 23 Jun 2006 08:30:00 -0500

Well, my thoughts this morning are of a serious nature. I know that the enemy is out on the prowl for our individual lives, but also us as families. He is on a serious hunt. If he can't make our heads turn at the things of the world, he will try to work from the inside out. I don't go around thinking that the devil is lurking around every corner. I am suspicious however of our own selves. We set traps on our own and get caught. I am sure the enemy is thrilled at not having to do too much work, we do it for him sometimes. I have been doing some thinking lately about the starting line of certain feelings that go awry, and we never get them back on track again. We are always feeling things and thinking things, but somewhere they either get straightened out, or maybe just stuffed down in real tight. Not too surprisingly, they do come out in the end. It seems that we begin living a lie based on our feelings. We "feel"____, so it must be true.....no, it IS true.....therefore I must do______. We begin living through our feelings as though it were absolute truth, making decisions based on those feelings, and hurting those around us. I don't know how people did it in the days of old. It seems to be an epidemic among Christians today. I have caught myself in it. I should say I have been blessed by God to have been made aware of it....to stay alert, to stay on track and not give up the fight. I am so sad today to see how this very problem is destroying individual hearts for God, families for God and oh~~~how it grieves me!! If it grieves me, I cannot even imagine how it grieves God. His beautiful creations slowly turning away by their own deceptions..... I do not look down my nose....not one bit. I was "feeling" that slope downward. I have felt its pull too. I looked into the window of what was on the other side, and have been amused. God in His beautiful grace [His undeserved favor] has rescued me from myself....and from the enemy. I am thankful for setting my feet on firm paths. I pray that He helps me to stay aware and alert. Too many times it comes in smoothly...without alarms and bells. My thoughts...."Stay alert...."

June...almost gone

Tue, 20 Jun 2006 10:51:00 -0500

Can it truly be another month already? Time truly flies faster than I anticipate! I am enjoying the summer break. We all really needed it. We have played in the park, made crafts, read books, rested a lot, and no summer break is quite complete without a stomach flu....wait did I really say that? Yes, we had a stomach bug, but we have never had a summer bug like that before. I will spare all the details. I am getting ready to begin next school year's preparations...all the paper work and filing and planning. Sadly enough, I get a great start...motivated and excited, but putter out come February. I am doing a new form of teaching this year with a whole new curriculum, and I pray that it will carry us steadily through the year. We are using My Father's World, and Right Start Math. It requires a lot more hands on for me than last year, but it is what I want. It is what we all need. I better run.....this beautiful day is just waiting for us to enjoy!!

What to do in Summer

Wed, 31 May 2006 07:30:00 -0500

Well, our year of "schooling" is over for the year, though our days of teaching are never over. My children are making a Fruit of the Spirit book, pictures, drawings and scripture writing....even artwork that will show the trait of the Holy Spirit that we are working on. We hope to play math games and do spelling and geography bees. I miss having a garden. That was such a perfect thing to do in the summer. Maybe some day soon when we settle again.

For now, we are still getting moved in. Yesterday, we had a family laundry marathon. So far all the clothes are all in the drawers and closets. Carpet was shampooed yesterday and today all the furniture gets moved around. My husband finishes his medical coding course and takes his test on Saturday. His parents come to stay with us on Saturday. I am sure that will be a nice visit. Right now I am trying to figure out what to make for meals. Low sugar, low fat, low everything.....salads I suppose and maybe chicken. So, our work is cut out for us for at least the next week. Then we have garage sale preparation. During all these busy days, and life is flying by so fast, I am trying to remember to look at God's beauty, smile and laugh often with my children, play and color pictures, and be thankful for each breath God gives me! God is so good and I am eternally grateful for all He has done for me.

Flying....and life in a flurry

Mon, 29 May 2006 09:12:00 -0500

It seems like it is longer and longer between blog entries. Life is a flurry sometimes. I wish it would just slow down a bit. But then it would be longer until we were with our beloved Saviour!! We have been very busy. We moved in a new little place a few weeks ago. It is a temporary move as we are seeking God for what to do in our lives. We ARE unpacking even though it is temporary. It is like opening presents. With curiosity like mine, I can't leave a box closed for too long without wondering what exactly did I put in there anyway. ??? I might need it. We are in a three bedroom/two bath. It is comfortable and roomy and Jonathan is close too. We are getting unpacked and settled in. A few weeks ago, my sister called and asked me to come out to see her. Sometimes things are tough, and I am so hesitant to reach out and ask for help, but I am glad that she did. So off I flew to TX for four days. I HATE flying, and am under the strong opinion that without God's mercy, and maybe even His humor regarding us "very smart" humans who make things that fly up in the air, we would NOT be able to live through one flight. It is unbelievable to me that those things stay together and the whole airplane concept is funny to me at times. Okay, I will get off that subject. So, I did make it, convinced that God Himself held the plane. I had a very nice time and both my sister and I were encouraged and helped in different areas. I was so glad to be home though. I know we must have looked quite a site in the airport all six of us hugging and crying like we hadn't seen eachother in months. Four days....that was all. A lifetime to us though!! So far, we have had some slower days. We went to a really nice state park in IN for my birthday, and had a very nice time. Now, we will just wait and see what is ahead for us this summer. It is in God's hands. He is so good!!

Schooling while relocating

Wed, 10 May 2006 07:17:00 -0500

We have moved to another home closer to town. It has been good for us. It has also helped another homeschool father who needed a place to stay in order to work out marital issues. He is at our other place and will help us finish the building. We are in town now and we are in the home where Jonathan works!! He gets up and works right from his office in the house and is sometimes in and out, but we get to see him more often!

We have tried to continue schooling last week while I painted and cleaned the new place, and while loading and unloading furniture, and while settling in and unpacking our new place. It has gone fairly decent, though we have misplaced one mathbook. We have overcome that one with additional math pages. We have even done art work!! I truly look forward to settling down and relaxing for some time, though I think we may be uprooting again this summer for a time. We will have to see how God works in our lives in the next few months. I have truly appreciated the encouragement from many who gave encouraging words during a hard time a few weeks ago. I think it happens in springtime most every year. We are plodding along for the rest of the year and look forward to an exciting year next year also!! Well, I better get to all those boxes waiting for me....we have church at our house on Sunday. Hee hee....better unpack. Melissa

A New Day

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 07:50:00 -0500

Doesn't God always in His beautiful grace bring us a new day? Each day has its joys and sorrows, but there is always the hope of joys in the new day. My last post was an expression that just had to come out. It is hard for me to keep pondering frustrations and keep them rolling around in my mind. I need to let it go, verbalize it and then I am able to process things so much better. The enemy wants our mind. If he has control there, he has mastered us. I want to give each day, my heart, my mind to Jesus, and let His life flow in and through me. I do not deny that I still "feel" tired, but I have the strength and joy of my heavenly Father that helps me to begin each new day with hope and expectations of wonderful things. I hear the birds this morning, the anticipation of rain on the ground, and see the fresh morning faces of my precious children before me. I thank God for His mercies new every morning!! always leaning on Him, Melissa