Homeschooling under Grace - Homeschool Blogger

Thu, 1 Nov 2007 19:06:00 -0500

It's been awhile since I've blogged about anything. No excuses I just haven't felt like it. Honestly, I don't know why I'm here tonight. Maybe because 2 boys are in their rooms for the night and the baby is asleep due to being sick; so I have some quiet time. I've just been in a state of soul searching the last several months. None of which I really need to get into because honestly I don't have many of the answers that I think I need. It's the weirdest thing because while I love homeschooling and all things related to the family I am having major issues with some of the attitude that I sense IRL and in cyberworld. I am tired of homeschoolers who have their agenda attacking others when they have theirs. I've grown sick of the haughtiness that seems to have attached itself to the homeschooling movement. I just don't feel like I fit in the HSB world. My views are quite conservative, but I don't feel the need to bash people over the head with them. I see so much of that and if it makes me ill I can't imagine what it must do to a lost person who might stumble across and read some of the stuff I read. Pride cometh before the fall I always like to say. So my time here may be done. I've been feeling it for quite some time. So enough of my strange ramblings and I hope that anyone who reads this blog knows that I am a homeschooling mom who was bought with a price doing the best she can to glorify God each and everyday. May God bless you and the decisions that you make each day regarding your family.

Memory Box

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:06:00 -0500

School is rolling along here and as usual I'm always looking for ways to enhance and reinforce ideas and concepts that we are learning about. This weekend I am going to work on putting together a memory box for the boys. I'm going to get a plastic file folder hanger box thingy with a folder for each day of the week. Each day of the week I am going to have them work on memorizing something of importance for different areas. There are so many things that I want them to know and think will be beneficial for them when they take college entrance exams and just want them to have as a base of knowledge to draw from. I think I will set it up something like this:

Monday: Work on memorizing the 50 states and their capitols

Tuesday: Work on memorizing the planets

Wednesday: Work on memorizing the Great Lakes

Friday: Work on memorizing geometric shapes or some math conversion like how many quarts in a gallon type thing.

Once they have mastered whatever is in the folder for the day, which could vary for each child, then I will check them off and put something new in for that day. So once they're done memorizing the 50 states they will work on filling in a blank map from memory. I will also make it a spiral memory curriculum so that they will come back to previously memorized things just to further cement it into their minds. I'm thinking this will be a good tool for them to use when I get busy with changing a diaper or I get a phone call or any other inevitable interruption that happens on a daily basis! You have those too don't you?? It will be easy enough for them to go to the hanging folder and pull out their sheet for that day and quietly work without time being wasted. We seem to have a lot of time that flies away because I do have two little ones around that require much care and attention. I got this idea from someone else's blog sometime last year and have just never implemented it. I tucked it away for just the right time and now seems as good a time as any!

You might be a redneck if...

Mon, 3 Sep 2007 17:57:00 -0500

Well, we are back from the "family reunion" and overall had a nice time. My husband has wonderful aunts that my children love and one aunt has a huge backyard (27 acres worth) complete with pond so they had a great time outside running around.

All of my husband's extended family lives in Georgia and I mean smack in the middle of redneckville. They are all very nice, but I had a hard time relating to them. One cousin had a T shirt on that read: 24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case, Any coincidence? This was a grown man and the shirt was well worn so it must be a fav. His son (my boys' cousin) bragged all weekend about how his mommy and daddy drank and he couldn't wait until he could drink too. The language left a little to be desired as well. My boys definitely got to practice extending grace and mercy. It was actually sad to see how they choose to live their lives. It seems to be all they know. My husband's T shirt wearing cousin invited us over to a cookout they were having. It seems they have a "bus" that they have put air conditioning in and a TV complete with video games for the "young uns" and they drive it to the race track so the kids are contained while they race all night long. The races had been rained out this particular weekend so they had the kids in the bus while they worked on their race car. Thankfully, my husband declined. Last time we went to the races there was a lot of drinking, smoking pot, and cursing that went on. As if that's something my kids (or any kids) need to be around.

All in all we had a nice visit, but I am glad to be home. I am definitely a "suburban" type girl. I can't imagine living in the middle of nowhere and having to drive 45 minutes to find a grocery store or Walmart. I'm spoiled I guess.

Tagged

Fri, 3 Aug 2007 08:33:00 -0500

I've been tagged by Mythreesons. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.

1. Players start with random facts/habits about themselves

2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog aobut their eight

3. At the end of your blog you need to choose 8 people to tag and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged and to read your blog.

Eight random facts about myself. Ok, here goes....

1. I was a Navy brat growing up

2. I lived in Japan for 4 years

3. I lived in the Phillipines for 2 years.

4. I was born in Florida and have lived here for the last 23 years

5. We ate at the Macaroni Grill the other night and I sooo didn't like it, prefer Olive Garden.

6. My all time favorite movie is Steel Magnolias

7. When I was in high school I dreamed of joining the Peace Corps

8. I hate, detest and loathe rats. They CREEP me out completely!

Those were my eight random facts. Now, I have to tag 8 people. Gosh, I don't even know if I have 8 people on my friends list. I'll do as many as I can, how's that??

Friends

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 20:23:00 -0500

After reading another blog about making lists and using those lists to look for qualites in other people I decided to come up with one. I really thought about this all week. Never thought of making a list of qualities I look for in a friend. So here goes...

Qualities I look for in a friend:

1. Believer in Christ

2. Keeps their word

3. Loyal.

4. Continually looks for ways to enhance and improve their relationship with God

5. Someone I can be real with. I hate when I'm around people and don't feel accepted enough to be me.

6. Will firmly, but gently tell me when they see things out of balance in my life or areas that need some attention.

7. Honest. I can't stand when people lie or fluff stuff up. Keep it real.

8. Someone who loves their family

9. A giver and receiver.

10. Someone who can admit when their wrong.

I would say those are the top 10 attributes I look for. I find in my life I have different levels of friendships. I have some people I have been friends with for what seems like forever who I can't really share the matters of my heart with and others who I've known a shorter time and I feel like I can share anything with. I've heard it said that only a few are allowed to enter the holy of holies of your heart. Others are in your heart, but in the outer courts.

sacrifical giving

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 12:53:00 -0500

If I could travel back in time I there are many places I would like to go, but I would really like to go be a part of the early church the way it is described in Acts. I would love to get a glimpse into what their giving looked like compared to ours today. Acts 4 talks about the provision of the early church and how because of their giving out of hearts that we of one mind God bestowed GREAT POWER and MUCH GRACE on them. Wow! That means that because they took care of one another He allowed them to operate in miraculous power and His favor and blessing were upon them. Giving out of hearts of love moves the heart of God. Imagine being in a church where every need was met. Now we have to realize the difference between true need and wants and we would conclude that some have need out of their own poor management of the resources that God has given them. But no one was needy. Meeting the needs of one another is what moves the heart of God. When we are meeting the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ God's power and favor is upon us. That priniciple is all throughout scripture yet it seems to be where we fail the most. Why is that? I think these believers were whole heartedly dedicated to Christ. Their hearts were turned toward him. The sacrifice of Jesus was real to them and they in turn sacrificed. To many of us it's just a story that inspires us to try to live a good life. When was the last time you heard of someone selling a piece of land or house and giving the money to a church. We parade around in our righteousness and worship in our huge buildings and we think that we are honoring God. I'm not interested in giving my $ to a building fund. The Scripture says that we are the church, the living stones. I'll gladly give my $ to the living stones. The living stones are where God dwells now. We no longer have to build cathedrals to honor God. We honor him by taking care of those he loves and by treating ourselves as the dwelling place of God.

Sacrificial giving is what God desires. Just as he sacrificed his only son we are called to sacrifice to one another. Read II Samuel and see that David understood that giving something to God that cost him nothing was not an option. It's easy to give out of our surplus, but God wants us to trust him and give when he moves us to even when it looks like we can't. What will happen? I believe God's power and grace would be upon us. I think the provision of the early church is fascinating and a concept that is lost on the church of America. I read a modern parallel of Acts 4 in my commentary that talks of how Luke would have to rephrase much of what was written if he were writing today. He might say something like this:

"And the multitude of them that professed were of hard heart and stony soul, and every one said that all the things which he possessed were his own; and they had all things in fashion. And with great power gave they witness to the attractions of this world, and great selfishness was upon them all. And there were many among them that lacked loved, for as many were possessors of lands bought more, and sometimes gave a small part thereof for a public good, so their names were heralded in the newspapers, and distribution of praise was made to every one according as he desired."

16 years today

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 16:06:00 -0500

Sixteen years ago my husband and I were married. Hard to believe it's been 16 years. We have definitely had our ups and downs, but all I need to do is look at my husband to see how much God loves me. Even in the midst of rebellion and making decisions with no thought of God whatsoever He still allowed me to marry a man who would love me for better or worse.

I married a man who has a heart of gold. He genuinely loves and cares about people and is always willing to go the extra mile to help someone. He is a hard worker who is stable. I never have to wonder what kind of mood he's going to be in, walk on eggshells around him or wonder if he's going to bring home a paycheck. He is a man who lives God's word everyday. I am thankful that he is in my life and wonder what the next 16 years are going to bring.

20 years!! It can't be!

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 21:29:00 -0500

If you ever read my posts and there are spelling error it's becaue I am usually at the computer at night in the dark, like tonight! I just realized that my 20th year reunion is next month! Oh my! I truly can't believe I have been out of high school that long. Why is it that when your young time seems to go so slow and once you're an adult it just flies by. Well, after much deliberation I've decided that I'm not going. I went to a fairly small high school and lots of my friends still live in the same small town, including my parents. I still talk to a few friends from high school and am generally not interested in going and reliving the past. My past is something I've tried to forget for sometime so why would I want to go and dig it up again? We did go to my 10 year reunion and it was fun, but I think I've outgrown all that impressing people stuff. Anyway it makes me feel OLD! Before I know it my oldest will be graduating!

Time for a change

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 20:08:00 -0500

For so long now I've wondered where exactly I fit in on the Christian spectrum. I've always felt like I was somewhere on the fringe not quite fitting in anywhere. The firsti time I had a man prophesy over me he said that I have been watching a parade go by and that I wanted to be a part of it, but have always been in the crowd watching. He told me that I was like the woman with the issue of blood that just needed to touch the hem of Jesus' robe. I've also often wondered if that wasn't part of God's plan. Am I really supposed to "fit" somewhere. After all I'm only here for a brief time right? Over the years as my relationship with Christ has deepened so has my longing to fulfill his will in my life. On the homefront I think that I am fulfilling that role and do feel challenged daily. On the "ministry" or "mission" front I feel bored. I know I have a calling, but am reluctant to step into it. Fear is the most likely culprit. Fear of what others may think of me. Not just others in general, but others who have known me for years and have wanted me to "conform" to their way of thinking. I've tried to fit the mold, but when it comes right down to it I don't. I sense that God has something for me outside of being a wife and raising my children. Gasp! No, it doesn't mean I'm going to quit homeschooling because although it's hard I have done it long enough to see the benefits it has.

I have always wanted to work with girls (or women) who have found themselves in an untimely pregnancy. That is the reason I went into education in the first place was so I could teach pregnant girls so their option wasn't just to quit school because of their shame. Unfortunately the area we lived in offered no such programs, but I did have pregnant girls in my classes and I would eat lunch with them and just accept them when others wouldn't. When the girls were getting uncomfortable behind a desk most of the teachers would just deem it as their problem. Very sad. I was even pregnant at the same time as one of my students. My goal has always been to get my counseling degree and work with pregnant moms who have no support. That is my heart. That is where much of my mercy and compassion is. That is where I believe I can make a difference. God has been showing me that He is tired of me selling myself short. I've buried my talents, partly out of fear and partly because I started believing the lies that I didn't have much to offer anyone except my family. God is showing me that he has given me a story and he wants me to share it to help others overcome the shame and hurt in their lives. God has blessed me with an endurance and perseverance when it comes to other people. I am not a cut and run person. When I make a friend it's for the long haul. God wants to use that in my life. I'm learning that not everyone wants to take the time to invest in others long term. They will invest to get their return (recognition, feel god about themselves) and then someone better comes along and the former friends are forgotten. So God has been showing me my worth and forcing me to accept it. That's hard for me. I've always been so focused on my unworthiness that this is a new way of thinking for me. At a group last week the teacher asked us what God had asked us to do that we haven't done. I could think of several things. So, my first step today is to call the pregnancy crisis center and find out what I need to do to become a volunteer/counselor. Then I will pray and let God determine my next step.

It is better to give

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 12:26:00 -0500

One of the things I want my children to learn is the old lesson of giving is better than receiving. We are not a rich family and many weeks struggle just to get by. My children however do have two sets of grandparents who like to buy them things. My MIL especially likes to show the children how much she loves them by how much she buys them. I've learned the hard way to just let it go, but I still have real concerns that my children grow up being aware of ways to help others.

My husband took 2 of our boys to the store and they wanted a gumball out of the machine. Only 1 boy had quarters. He decided to share with his little brother and they each got two gumballs apiece. My husband told them that often times that's how God works. Give and he gives back double to you.

The next day my MIL came to the house to babysit while my husband took me to have my stitches out. After the appt. he had to go back to work and my MIL took my boys to see a movie. Apparently she had given my husband $100 and he had put it in his pocket. When he came home from work the boys still weren't back and we were talking and he told me that one of his employees had come to him and asked if she could borrow some money. Forgetting about the $100 in his pocket he kind of panicked knowing we only had $50 until next payday. He told her that he needed to call me because I did the bills. He asked her how much she needed and she said $100. Suddenly, he remembered that his mom had given him that money. So he pulled it out and gave it to her and told her to keep it. This is a woman that has been down on her luck and we've had her and her son over for dinner and different things so it wasn't just a random person asking. Anyway, when the boys arrived home and my MIL was leaving she gave my husband a ziploc bag full of money, $300! Wow! It was in $1.00 bills so we didn't know how much was there until we counted it. God used us to bless someone and then turned around and used my MIL to bless us.

This was so timely for me personally. I've struggled lately with spiritual principles that I haven't seen "working" and it was just a reminder from God that it is better to give than to receive. Sometimes it comes right back to you like it did my sons and us, but sometimes it comes in ways that aren't monetary. It was a good reminder for me at a time when I had been feeling very "dry" in my spiritual walk and I loved how he spoke to my boys on their level. They went to Walmart a few days later and put their quarters in the same machine and the machine only gave them 1 a piece. Some would say it was just a coincidence, but I know that God was showing them that when you give with a pure heart He sees it.

If we ask for opportunities to give God will give them to us. Giving doesn't always have to be monetary either. It can be a timely phone call, a card, something you don't need anymore that someone else can use. There have been times when we've had no $$$, but God still allowed us to give. It's easy to give out of your abundance, but harder when you don't have much. I remember a few years ago I was in Walmart really late. I went through the line and the cashier was very pregnant and looked very tired. Her shirt barely covered her expanding belly. I talked with her a few minutes about the baby coming and if she knew what she was having. As I was driving home God impressed upon my heart to gather up all my baby clothes and take them to her. I wasn't sure I was done having babies, but knew that God wanted me to do that. The next day I got out all my clothes and washed them. We put them in tubs and I called Walmart and spoke with the front end manager and told her who they were for. I wrote a card and just told this young lady that God loved her and wanted to meet her needs. We took them and left them for her. I never saw her again, but I know that God has a plan and purpose for her and her baby and whenever I think of them I pray for them. I had no money to give her, but God made sure her needs were met. A couple years later I found myself pregnant with NO baby clothes to speak of. God provided by giving me a little girl so none of those clothes would have worked anyway. God didn't provide for me right after I gave those clothes, but years later He was faithful and made sure I didn't need what I had given away. Ask for opportunities and creative ways to give and God will give them to you. My uncle has always said that the daily bread isn't the problem, but the distribution of it is. God's provided all we need, but He's left it up to us to distribute it. I want to teach my children to be good distributers of what God has given us.