This is where Im gonna come to learn a little, give a little, calm down a little, and have fun a little! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:04:00 -0600 Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:04:00 -0600 I feel like Im ready to just cash it in and send them back to school.  They wont listen, they have attitudes that this is just free time.  I don't know what else I have to do to make it happen.  I will admit that I am unorganized but I sit and we wok everyday, to get almost no where.  Im so tired and feel like Im stressing beyond belief everyday anymore.  I almost want to just say forget it and lets go back to school.  I hate putting them back into the hands of the public school system but at least they gave them some respect and they did their work.  Here I have to fight and fight and fight.  Im seriously tired of it,. It doesn't help at all that I am watching my step-daughters kids because they can't afford daycare.  I love the boys but its making things even more unorganized here and I just don't know what to do about it.  I wish I had time and money to just take a vacation and get out of dodge for a while.  I feel like leaving and not coming back.  Isn't that horrible?  What a thing for a Mom to say.      http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/654149/ Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:04:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/654149/ Things got so busy recently, and I will admit Im much better at the networking sites.  Which is kinda funny because I use to keep a journal all the time.  It was a way for me to get things out.  I don't know why I don't feel that is important now.  Maybe its because it gives me something else I need to do.   Things are going well.  I do really enjoy the choice that we made this year to go with a virtual accademy. It has helped me to be more organized and it has helped at least two of my kids to be that way too.  I am concerned about Ryan.  He really struggled this last semester.  So much so that he is going to have to work at making things up.  I worry because he knows what he wants to do.  He wants to go to a Christian University in TX to be a youth pastor, which touches my heart! Im worried that he will give up on his goal because of a rough patch in the road.  I know that this is what the Lord has called him to do, I just think that the Lord is trying to strengthen him while its in the process.  I really want to support him and help him along this path.  I just know that he is made for this.  Beckah is amazing, she loves her work and she is eager to do it.  She finishes with plenty of time, and it basically my little assitant.  She takes pride in her work, and I truly appreciate that.  Im glad that she has found a love for work and learning.  I never had it until I was much older.  She is well on her way to many good opportunities. Raelynn is the youngest of the four children I had with my first husband, and she has the Im the youngest syndrome really bad.  She is eager to learn but wants me to do all the work for her.  I sttruggle a little bit with it.  This is the first time I have done elementary school age for homeschool.  So Im a bit green with it.  She seems to have a love for science, history and art.  She really would rather stay away from reading and writing and math.  Can't say as I blame her, but I really need to figure something out to make this something she enjoys.  Im just haveing trouble coming up with that. All in all Im thrilled with our year so far and look forward to continuing! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/651496/ Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:11:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/651496/ Im so excited, we finally got snow.  Yeah Im the weirdo that loves winter and hates summer.  I love being cold and snuggling up under a blanket.  I love hot tea, chocholate, coffee and cider.  I love having chili and soup days.  I just love when its cold.  I love when it snows so much that you are stranded inside.  I love when you build a fire and sit down and read some verses in the bible together and have a wonderful bible study.  I love when we pop popcorn and watch a family movie together.  I also love doing school work under the covers and all grouped together.  Its so homey and so close.  I just love it!! I can't believe that thanksgiving is in just 13 days, and I volunteered to have the dinner.  LOL I know I will be hitting my own forehead before its over.  Because of this we have decided to take on the huge job of painting our living room.  Right now its a horrible army green.  We got permission a while ago from our landlord to paint, but we didn't think we would be here that much longer so we chose not to.  Well now we know we will be here another at least 17 months, and I would love to have a bright and cheerful living room.  So the kids and I are going to take next week and work around schooling to paint the living room.  I want to paint it a nice crisp cream color.  Then accent it with some burgandy area rugs and window treatments.  I think that will brighten it up very nicely.  It really needs it, its the darkest room in the house.  The windows face north and south so there is no direct sunlight, and it really needs all the help it can get!  I am thrilled to get started, and I believe the kids will enjoy it too.  I will post before and after pics so everyone can see the huge difference there will be! Blessings to all!! Renee http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/619318/ Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:57:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/619318/ I can not believe how busy I am!  I feel like I go from the min. I get up until I go to bed at night.   Working with Raelynn is a real blessing but she gets distracted so easily!  I would love it if I could just get her to focus on what she is suppose to be doing.  Daniel is also a handful.  Its more like he is three instead of five.  He gets into everything.  His latest love is the washing machine.  He will not leave it alone.  And it doesn't seem to matter how severe the punishment is, its worth it.  He will get a good (affectionately using Kim's phrase) pow pow and cry then be right back in there like it didn't phase him.  I wish I had something that I could do to keep him from doing that.  Those of you that know me, know Im strict.  I don't just let things happen, I expect my kids to obey what their parents tell them.  This one however seems to go beyond strong willed.   He reminds me of a bussiness man that will pay whatever price it takes to get what he wants.  I really need to figure out how to break that.  Spanking isn't working, talking isn't working, taking things away isn't working, finding other things for him to do isn't working.   Short of putting him in a rubber room, Im not sure what eles to do.  Most everyone knows how into baseball Ryan is and we devote our whole spring to it.  Well he has been in fall ball this year and we are devoting all of our time to that now.  Thinking oh yay I only have one more week to go, the kids wanted to join a homeschool bowling league.  With bowling being near and dear to my heart I just had to say yes.  So now on Wens. we are trucking across town to bowl.  They are loving it so far and its not just about one kid.  So they are all happy!  Well except for Daniel, he doesn't get to bowl and he really wants to. So with all this said, I would love to have an extra hour or two a week just for me.  No kids, no husband, no bills, no somethings that need to be worked out, no housework, just me time.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/602290/ Thu, 9 Oct 2008 13:23:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/602290/ This is a paper that Beckah had to write.  I was so touched by it and I wanted to share it.  Sorrow of a Loss 'Ring, ring, hello' said my dad it was my mom, 'can you bring the kids over I need to tell them something' said mom. Creek went the door as we walked in. 'Sit please' said mom silence then quickly Mom and Kevin saying you’re going to another sibling!!! 'Well what do you think'? 3 are happy but my 1 year younger brother says I think this one going to heaven too with hope and precious once again silence then Robbie how could you say that said Ryan my older brother . It has been 5 months all is great. Then 'hey kids' we all came knowing something was bad with tear filled eyes my mom said that something is wrong. That something was wrong with the baby. My mom was heading for the hospital. Hour by hour I’m waiting trying to stay calm it seemed like my heart was beating 10 times faster. Ring, ring, I checked the caller id toll free I thought we have no time for this. Five minuets then ring, ring, its mom. Hello I said 'sorry kids your sister isn’t going to make it' that moment I burst into tears. The other kids asked me what Mom said and I said the worst. I’ll call you back when I get more news. That day my sister was born and about 10 min later she was gone. Waiting for the call was like waiting for someone to punch you. Ring, ring, hello it’s Kevin “sorry kids you sister is dead”. After I heard this and the fact that my mom was in surgery I couldn’t think straight. I thought I might lose my mom, my sister, and my faith. I was tired sad and I missed my mom. It’s been 3 days since we saw our mom. When my mom walked in we gave her cards, hugs, and kisses. She liked all her gifts but it still couldn’t compare to the daughter she lost. Weeks then months go by mom still hurts it was hard for her to get out of bed in the morning. It’s been 8 months there is still sadness creeping in the house. My sisters name is Grace cause God gave us his grace. We still miss her but it doesn’t hurt With the burning in my heart like before. My sister taught me that God does every thing for a reason. I miss my sister but I know she is in a better place that no human can imagine. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/595397/ Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:26:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/595397/ Well I believe that we made the right decision.  Not only did I feel a peace about it after we prayed and made the decision, but it has gone so well. Ryan is really into doing what he is suppose to do.  He is in there taking notes and doing all the things that he needs to do.  He is enjoying his online classes and is even getting involved in the chess and history clubs. Beckah is doing well also.  We didn't get her materials until yesterday, but there were a few things that she could do.  Litterature was one.  She is reading The lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.  The online school has novels to pick from.  After you choose your novel it will generate questions that go along with the novel.  Its pretty cool.  She has also been able to do science, which she absolutly loves.  She is a science freak.  In the three years I have had her home, I knew that when I had something planned for science that there would be great participation.  Now she has almost all of her materials and is just loving it.  She has done art, and music.  She probably will not love the history as much, but I guess we all have subjects that we like better then others. Raelynn is such a joy to have at home. She is so eager to learn and tries so very hard.  Im thrilled with how much she wants to do.  When we are done for the day she asks me if we can do more.  Its so sweet.  Im enjoying it so much. So far this year we are off to a good start!!  We are so blessed!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/578630/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:51:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/578630/ Its just a little less then a week before school starts for my two public school kids and my three online kids.  I have so much to do, Im going nuts.  We haven't gotten all of the stuff for the online kids, so I am hoping that comes in the next few days, I don't want to be having to organize stuff while getting the kids started.  I have a few online meetings that I have to attend.  Which is fine, but it takes up time too.  I know it sounds like Im complaining, Im not, Im just rushed. The public schools kids are completly different.  Robbie's school, which I really don't like, is unorganized.  He will be a returning student.  They should have all his stuff on file.  I went to register him today.  They have no directions set out.  No go to this table first then this one then this one.  Nothing.  I stood in line for almost an hour before I was told I was in the wrong line.  So I stood in the right line to get up to the counter.  There she asks me if I have filled out my paper work.  I said what paper work.  She just kinda sighs loudly, so I said, Ma'am Im more then happy to do what needs to be done, but there is no direction at all.  She says thats ok your in the right place.  Hands me the paper work, then says but we are closing down now, you can come back later or tomorrow.  So I kept Christ in me and I left quietly.  All the while wanting to scream that I had already been there for 1 1/2 hours and I didn't want to come back in a few hours or tomorrow.  But I will just go back tomorrow. Then I go to Daniel's new school.  He is legally blind and was placed specially at this school.  All I did was say his name, and they took over.  I had to fill a couple of things out and I was out of there in 10 min. Makes no sense to me how two schools in the same district can be so completly different. Anyway, besides the jerk construction workers across the street, I think I will just relax until my meeting in an hour and then take the rest of the evening to myself!! Blessings to all!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/573670/ Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:37:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/573670/ I know I was so undecided about a few things.  LIke Ryan and what to get him, and whether or not I wanted to homeschool Raelynn. Well both have been decided. I look around at all the creative things that you girls do, and I have realized that I don't have the creative gift to create projects like ya'll do.  ITs just not in me.  I was worried that homeschool was just get to it and get it done.  So I decided to try and take some of that pressure of myself. My friend homeschools her kids but she uses a virtual academy to do it.  So you are still the kids teacher but they choose all of it, they have a teacher for back up and there is stuff that is planned.  So I looked into it, and I like it.  They design the corses around what the child needs instead of what grade they are in.  Raelynn has trouble with reading, so they have designed her language arts around where she is at, not where she should be.  And coming out of a public school, you know that is what she was getting there.  "Mrs. Tillitz this is where Raelynn should be, and we need to do..this....this. and that to get her up to where she should be."  This was comforting because it just took what she knows and how she tested and they have designed her work on that.  Im thrilled.  THey have music appreciation and art and physical education.  Which I guess is up to me.  But Im thrilled with the music and art.  The girls have been approved and I am just waiting for the high school side to call me and arrange what we are going to do for Ryan.  But I will say that Im thrilled and ready for it.  I even have some teacher assignments that I have to do.   Oh and one of the biggest things for Ryan is they have college counselors there that will help him with all he needs to get into a college, and to get schollarships.  He really wants to go to SAGU (souther assemblies of God Univeristy) For Youth ministerial studies and Education.  Im thrilled that my son knows and hasn't changed in 2 years what he wants to do.  He wants to be a youth pastor with educaiton as his backup.  Im so very proud of him!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/564711/ Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:10:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/564711/ One would think that after 17 years as a parent that I would have already tried this.  But no I haven't and Im sure that some people will be shocked. I have always expected that when I say to do something that the kids will do it.  Well I guess we all hope for something that we don't always get!  One area I have always struggled with my kids, is taking care of the chores when I say to do them.  Usually it will eventually happen, but not in the time I am hoping for.  That and they argue about who was suppose to do something, why they have to be the one to do it, and plain, "I didn't know it was my turn."  So I decided that the first day of summer break was going to include a schedule, instead of sleep until I want, watch as much tv as I can, do only what I really want to do, I have made a chart.  My chart has all the chores that need to be done, and all the kids names on this chart.  We sat down and we talked about each chore and who wanted to do what.  Some of the things they were more then happy to do, some things I had to assign.  But I will say its working.  They know that the tv does not get to be turned on until the chores are done.  No Wii, no games on the computer, no spongebob, discovery channel, no history channel, no nothing with a screen untill its all done.  That mean everyone.  If Beckah gets done but the rest haven't, then there is still no screen.  If everyone but Raelynn is done, too bad, you have to wait.  That way they can either chip in and help their sibs, or they can have free time to do something creative or to read.  Of course the creativity is winning so far, but Im sure that when they get a want to play that Wii that they will start chipping in.  I wish I would have thought of this years ago.  I guess I was always just skeptical.  I thought that it just looked good, not that it would work.  But either way I will continue and see what happens.  So stay tuned!!! God Bless!! Renee Renee tillitz   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/542593/ Tue, 3 Jun 2008 21:50:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/542593/ Well I got the news.  The economic stimulus checks for turbox tax people are being mailed instead of direct deposited.  So instead of getting our check last week, it will be mailed out at the end of June.  SOOOOOO that means that I am not going to be able to buy all of the curriculum that I wanted to. So I am going to be buying it subject by subject unless I can find somewhere that I can get it for cheap.  So if anyone has any suggestions Im very open to them.  Othewise I will be buying and doing one subject at a time.  Which I guess isn't the end of the world, but I don't like doing it that way.  Help?? lol http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/533230/ Fri, 16 May 2008 11:49:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bornagainrenee/533230/