This blog is about our family's life as Christian homeschoolers. I formerly stated I was sharing it all, but after some thought, I decided that sharing it ALL may not be the wisest way to go, after all, you may not want to know it ALL...so....I am sharing most of it! I hope you enjoy what you read here, and I look forward to reading your blog too! :) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Thu, 28 May 2009 15:25:00 -0500 Thu, 28 May 2009 15:25:00 -0500 Today, my daughter was driving me up the wall!  Every time I turned around she was into something she was not supposed to be into.  So I decided to involve her in what I was doing, and this is what we did. We put our make up on.   Took a picture of ourselves when we were finished!   Did the dishes..   Worked on colors...     Ate lunch...   Finally!  Book and naptime! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/693543/ Thu, 28 May 2009 15:25:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/693543/ My grandmother and mother have decorated cakes for years.  So I am starting to follow in their footsteps.  I purchased some basic materials and decided to bake and decorate my own birthday cake.  After baking the cake and letting it cool, I turned it out onto my cake board, which was barely big enough, and placed it in the refrigerator overnight.  The next day I coated it with icing to trap those crumby crumbs! My mother's tip was to dip the spreader in hot water to smooth the icing. The next morning after the crumb coat had dried, I did my next layer(s) of icing.  Since it was a chocolate cake, it took more layers than I would have liked, but turned out nicely just the same.  Who doesn't want more icing? After I smoothed the final layer, I let it dry then began decorating.  I really didn't have much to go on.  I just started with what I could think of first.  My colors are pale, but I didn't want it to be too bold on my first try just in case I really messed it up! This is how it turned out:     I enjoyed it, and I am looking forward to decorating more. : ) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/517979/ Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:04:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/517979/        The above photo is obviously a picture of a pile of unfolded laundry.  I should be folding it right now and getting ready for bed, but I just couldn't pass up this uninterrupted moment to post.  Everyone else is asleep.  We had a nice day.  The weather was very warm and windy.  The children and I went out for some nature study in the yard.  I thought I would draw with them, but somebody had to keep their eyes on our littlest one.  She was doing her own form of nature study primarily by taste!   Alexa did several leaf rubbings and labeled them nicely.  Gibson drew the neighbors' house and their front yard with a car out front.  I'm trying to explain to him that we are drawing objects only of nature, but, bless his heart, he would rather draw exactly what he sees regardless of it's origin.  At least he had a tree with a couple of cute little birdies in it. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/514325/ Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:06:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/514325/ This is my niece, Emery, she was born April 2nd.  She weighed in at 6.5 lbs and is 20 in long. : )  She has been the smallest so far!  Isn't she adorable? Our little cutie! Big brother with his precious little sister. All 3 of my beautiful children. Alexa turned 11 last month!     Here is a bouquet she picked for me. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/513191/ Wed, 9 Apr 2008 06:53:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/513191/ objective  [uhb-jek-tiv] ,adjective-  not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased: an objective opinion. subjective [sub-jek-tiv], adjective- existing in the mind; belonging to the thinking subject rather than to the object of thought (opposed to objective). God has been speaking to me about these two words.  He is showing me more about myself which is good because I have been asking Him to show me my fallow ground.  This morning I had an encounter with one of my children.  The type of encounter that occurred happens often, more often than I care to admit.  It ended in hurt feelings on both parts.  I was asking God about it, and because I was actually listening this time, I heard Him tell me these two words.  (I do not audibly hear God, He speaks to my heart.) He told me to post about this.  I immediately consented, but found that it was so easy to be distracted.  After attempting to do several things first, out of habit, which unfortunately is a habit of disobedience, I obeyed and began.  Why did God want me to post?  I can only believe that because He knows all about me and my learning styles He wanted me to really get the point! Objectivity is something I struggle with, or more honestly, have not possessed and have not pursued.  Most of what I think, say, and do has been subjective.  God has brought me far in my journey with Him over the last 9 years, but not that far.  The encounter with my child this morning could have turned out a lot differently if I only would have been objective and had not spoken according to my own feelings.  It is diificult and certainly inconvenient to remain objective.  If I had only seen the big picture, I could have saved my child and myself from unnesessary harm.  The simple fact is this: I get caught up.  I am too often swept away by my own desires.  They take me far, far from the Solid Foundation of my life, and those around me are injured in the process. Lord, please help me to be objective in every relationship to bring you honor and glory. In Jesus name, let it be so. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/511974/ Mon, 7 Apr 2008 10:59:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/511974/ Hi Barb,   How are you?  We are all well.  Did you tell me you own a copy of  The Burgess Seashore Book for Children?  Could I borrow it?  We are studying day 5 in our creation study, and I thought this book might make it even more interesting.   We have been enjoying the nicer weather.  Yesterday we spread out a blanket in the back yard and sat Ruby down.  She was so cute.  We gave her different flowers we could find in bloom.  She looked so sweet holding them.  It was quite the picture, her holding dandelions while the rest of us gathered around and gooed and gaa-gaaed at her. : )   Then Alexa asked to bust open a rock.  She had found a few rocks that looked as if they might be geodes, and she wanted to discover if she was right.  She was right!  They had beautiful white crystals inside.  She then began to bust apart other rocks to discover what was hidden inside of them.  She spent hours and had a delightful time.  She found some fossils also.  I think I will have her take pictures and post and label them on her blog.   Well, I better go.  I finally got my dishes caught up, and now I am working on the laundry.   Love, Jen ps The reason I posted this on my blog: I have been enjoying a book entitled A Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola.  It is written in such a warm conversational style.  My note that I sent to a friend recently reminded me of her writing, and I thought I would pass it on. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/505916/ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:40:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/505916/     As the keepers of our homes, we do a lot of washing!  We wash dishes, clothes, floors, faces, and bottoms!  The chore of washing is never finished because all that we wash will become soiled again and again.  It was during the daily washing of my dishes that I was thinking on this.  Every time I wash something is an opportunity to remember all Jesus did to wash away our sin.  He suffered much to bring permanent cleansing to our souls.  Even when we choose unwisely to follow our own desires and sin, we can always come back to Him.  His work of washing us white as snow will always stand.  His washing is complete.   I am thankful to Him for this.  I am reminded every day, all day long that this life is temporary.  The washing I do is temporary.  But the washing Christ performed is everlasting.  Praise be to God!   For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.  But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.                                                                                               Titus 3:3-7 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/470632/ Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:50:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/470632/ You know, sometimes I get tired of answering questions.  Some days I'm so worn out that I start wandering down that winding road of self pity, and I think, "Why can't some one else answer these questions?  I'm tired and worn out, and I need a nap!"  But, today, God opened my eyes a little more.  Just enough to see and have mercy on my children for their endless questioning.  My husband and I are their main source of information.  For what ever reasons, God saw fit to bless us with the trememdous responsibility of helping Him form and shape these young characters and minds, hearts and souls.  And if we take it seriously enough, and know how and when to lighten up, we are raising a generation to love Him.  To praise and honor Him their whole lives through, and by His grace, they will pass it on.  And on and on it will go.  Glory be to God for this honor, and shame on me when I fail to see it.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/467967/ Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:26:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/467967/ I'm sitting here in the midst of a mess.  My house is completely in disarray.  My parents and brothers were here for 2 days.  We had a wonderful visit, but my house is evidence of their stay.  But I'm not going to stress out about it.  I'm just too tired and too thankful to freak out about it right now.  God is so good.  He brings such healing into our hearts if we allow Him to have His way.  Now I was a little stressed while they were here, I have to admit, but He has a way of working all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  So it all worked out.  It was a special treat to see my brothers.  I don't see one hardly at all and the younger one is stationed in Germany.  It had been almost a year since I had seen him.  They are really great guys.  They are good brothers and wonderful uncles.  The kids loved playing with them, and it was really cool to see these big burly guys love all over our littlest one.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/451847/ Fri, 28 Dec 2007 21:47:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/451847/ I am so blessed to be able to home school our children.  Thankfulness is a key to unlocking contentment in even the most stressful situations.  Sometimes the stress gets to be too much for me and I start to have a melt down.  I let all the little things pile up and turn on me.  I start to feel a slave to all my worries and doubts, and I can barely make it through the day.  But only if I would be thankful!  If only I would remember all the LORD has done is going to do even yet!  Then I would know peace that passes understanding.  Peace that will guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus.  Today I want to carry His peace instead of my anxiety.   Our children with my grandmother. :) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/442581/ Tue, 11 Dec 2007 04:59:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jenniferwells/442581/