Picket Fences - Homeschool Blogger

Where do I begin?

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 20:55:00 -0500

As I try to write a new and much needed entry, my mind goes blank! What do I write about? My life seems so uneventful compared to so many of you out there. Although, uneventful is what I like. I yearn for a relaxed and easy-going life style. Although relaxed is something I have yet to accomplish. I find myself stressed over day to day issues, and the future. I don't like it when I feel my life could change at any moment and I have to totally trust God for tomorrow. What do I mean?? My husband is very unhappy in his job (as I am also for him) and is actively looking for something else. And in his line of work, this new job could take us anywhere in the U.S. My selfish side gets in the way when I think of my beautiful home that I fear having to lose if we have to move. I don't like change...although I should be used to it by now. We have lived in 4 states and moved about 10 times in 13 years of marriage. Now let me say, not one of those moves has been a bad one. In fact, they have all been a great adventure and experience. So why would I doubt that God could have something better for me? He's never let me down before!!!! I am grateful that my husband has a job and at least we are not unemployed or without a home while actively and desperately looking for a new job. I am constantly praying that God would help me to be the strong, supportive, loving wife that I need to be right now, regardless of my own fears and struggles.

Oh boy.....that was a load off. Maybe I just needed to vent. I hadn't planned on going into all of that. As far as school goes, it seems to be going good so far. This week will be our 4th week. The girls are trying to get back into the swing of things. We are reading alot of 'living books' and enjoying everything we have read so far. History is so much more interesting and fun when you read a living book versus a boring text book with the facts just regurgitated (did I spell that right?) back to you. If we could just read fun books all day for school, I would be happy!!! Actually, I guess we really do, besides our math and typing. Hmmmm!! Guess that's why I think school is so much fun!!! Well, now that we are back into a routine, I hope to keep this going and current. It feels good to put my thoughts out there again.

Lost Blog

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 06:36:00 -0500

Well, this is strange. I just logged on and noticed my last blog from a couple of nights ago is missing. There is no telling what happened. It was late and I was half cross-eyed as I entered it. Sad to say, I haven't kept up with my blog very well. Seems that when I get some down time to do something I want to do, there are a list of things to be done and I have to pick and choose what to do. And putting two sensible thoughts together at those 'down times' is a challenge too, since it is usually at the end of the day. I don't live a hectic life! I love my life. I have the two most wonderful and delightful daughters a mom could ask for, and a wonderful husband who shares in my desire to be home with our girls!! I must say, though....I don't know how wives and mothers who have to work outside of the home and still maintain their home and family (we all know that is a full-time job in itself) do it!!! I have started working from home part time for my fathers business that he has owned since I was a little girl. My whole family...Mom, two sisters and a brother-in-law are all involved. I get up early in the morning so I can have a few hours of uninterrupted time and so I can have half of the day to keep up with my home and family and homeschooling our daughters. Why have I chosen to take on this extra task??? One... so I can stay involved in the company, two.... I enjoy the work that I am doing, and three....I can help out with some home improvement expenses around the house. Ok, I have rambled enough. I don't know where these blogs are going to go. I don't have a lot of interesting things to write about.

I am glad our homeschooling schedule is slowing down and ready for the relaxed lazy days that summer seems to bring with it. I look forward to sitting by the pool for an afternoon curled up with a book while my daughters run off their seemingly undying energy. I wish I could tap into some of that energy!!!

The Birds WERE Singing!!

Thu, 10 May 2007 08:50:00 -0500

What a beautiful morning! The birds were singing, the squirrels and chipmunks were up to their usual morning mischief UNTIL the workers came. We are having some landscaping done around the house. We live in the hills so our sides and backyard slopes which does not allow the girls a good place to play. We are having some of it terraced and leveled off in the back so we can grow some grass (it's pretty rocky right now). SO, I can't complain about the noise since it means progress and a pretty yard!! I'm just glad I crawled out of bed early enough to enjoy my critters before they scampered away. I look forward to being able to throw a blanket down on our soft grass under the trees and having a picnic or reading our read-alouds together!!! It is also cloudy and there is a feel of rain in the air. I love rainy days...when I can be snug at home to enjoy it!!! I get all domestic when it rains.

Well, the tractors woke my 'lil bit' and she loves to cuddle first thing in the morning (my 8 yr. old). She brings sunshine into my day!! Seldom does she wake up in the morning without a bright smile on her face!! And what a trooper she is, too. Two weeks ago, she had braces put on her teeth, plus a permanent retainer that stays in her mouth on top. She has had to learn how to talk clearly and eat differently. Plus, she received her bottom (removable) retainer yesterday which she can take out to eat. Bless her heart!!! She doesn't complain much, but admits having braces isn't as glorious as she thought it would be. We keep reminding her it is only for a year and it will all be worth it in the end. Already her teeth have straighted out considerably and she now has a big space between her teeth where her mouth is being widened. I will post some pics when I can figure out how to do it! Anyway....don't know why I went into all of that. I should close and get started on my day!! I hope everyone has a very blessed day in the Lord. God is good All The Time!!!!

Simply Me

Sun, 6 May 2007 20:53:00 -0500

Well, here it goes...my first blog. I type this with nervous fingers and an anxious heart. I will begin with a brief and humble description of myself and family. I am married to my college sweetheart, Kevin, a very handsome pilot who flies for the owner of a major league baseball team. I enjoy my 'girly' time with our two daughters...ages 10 and 8. We love to curl up with a good book, go to Starbucks for an Iced Chai, long nature walks at the trail, or go to the local bookstore and find a cozy corner with a stack of books (I have to drag them out of there after a couple of hours). Homeschooling allows our family freedom to flow with my husband's schedule.

As for myself, I was raised in a loving Christian home and went to public school for grades K-9, then finished at a private Christian school for grades 10 - 12. I am the oldest of 3 girls. I was always the 'good girl' (at least this is what my sisters teasingly say) who wanted to please her parents more than anything. I feel blessed to say I lived a sheltered life. I hope and pray that I can be the Godly influence for my children as my parents were and still are for me.

Why did Kevin and I decide to homeschool? We feel it is in God's plan for our family. Call it a personal conviction. We don't believe that the traditional public schools line up with our vision for raising our children according to God's plan. And even though Christian schools are a better alternative to public schools (our oldest went to a small country school for Kindergarten and a private Christian school for first grade and had a wonderful experience....a time of blooming I call it), we believe there are still many advantages of homeschooling that outweigh the traditional classroom setting. Having not been homeschooled ourselves growing up, my husband and I find this a journey of learning and growing. We have been homeschooling for 3 years now and are still finding what works and doesn't work for our family. I feel I am getting a better education now as a homeschooling mom than I did growing up with the typical textbooks. Ugh!! How boring!!! Living books are so much more fun!!!

If I tried to describe our homeschooling style, I would have to say it is a combination of Charlotte Mason, and Classical. My 4 favorite books of reference (of which I could not homeschool without), are the Bible, Karen Andreola's "A Charlotte Mason Companion", the Clarkson's "Educating the WholeHearted Child" and "A Thomas Jefferson Education". Not to mention Carole Joy Seid's coveted booklist! I am a booklist junkie....and my most favorite "me time" is perusing the shelves of a good used bookstore!! OH....the thrill of the hunt!!!

Why am I starting a blog when I already feel my plate is quite full and probably shouldn't create another distraction away from my daily priorities? Well, I hope to use this as sort of a personal journal so I can look back on our homeschool journey to see where we have been and how we have grown and also in hopes of creating some dear friendships with other like-minded moms. We homeschooling moms tend to stick out in the crowd and are watched a bit more closely....but then again, I never have been one to 'do what everyone else is doing'.

My writing skill never was one of my strong points in school....it just kind of has a style all of its own. But at least here, my writing won't come back to me with a bunch of red ink. I am putting my heart out on the line for all the world to see. With me, "What you see is what you get". No frills or fronts. But I hope to make some good 'heart' connections through all of this where we can share our hearts, our weaknesses, our successes and our prayers with each other.

Well, here it goes....I look forward to seeing what happens.

In Him, Lisa