Homeschooling, parenting, sewing and quilting, gardening, literature and life *For ye are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:26 " Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100:1-3 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:16:00 -0500 Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:16:00 -0500 It's been a fast year!!! Looking back at the pictures from this blog...wow. It's amazing how quickly things change. My kids look so much older now! It is definitely time for an update. 2008 was  a busy year and here we are already in midsummer 2009. We have had so much rain lately it doesn't really feel like summer yet, but the calendar says it is, so it must be  :) Stephen graduated in June. We will be having a party for him at the end of summer. Megan finished her two year program and has her associates and is going on for her four year. Jennifer started her third year (also finished her associates) and this Fall she will finish for her four year degree. My kids are growing up  :) Til next time, Theresa   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/707219/ Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:16:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/707219/ This has been a busy week of getting school plans ready and books ordered. I haven't yet made it out to pick up notebooks, pens and pencils, but hope to very soon. A friend of mine is pointing me towards Tapestry of Grace. I have to say this curriculum looks very interesting! She says her boys love it, and are busy all afternoon making lap books, doing mapwork, and enjoying the books. I think I will give it a try  :) We are having cream of potato soup tonight with potatoes, onion and green peppers from our garden. I put some chicken bouillon in it and kielbasa to give it a little zing. The days are getting shorter and it was cooler this week. I don't mind the cool weather; I never liked the heat! But I am sad to say goodbye to the summer.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/575905/ Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:36:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/575905/ Wow!  Summer is almost over! We have  been so busy and I have sadly neglected this blog. Our summer flew by with gardening, vacationing, family reunions and picnics, travel, and camping.  Right now the blackberries are ready  :) We just had our first corn on the cob from the garden and have been enjoying zucchini, beets (yes, I love them! with butter and salt they are delicious), green beans, our own lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers. The first week of June we travelled down to Virginia and saw Jamestown and Williamsburg. Also we toured through Gettysburg Battlefield and museum. It was very impressive and the kids read lots of history books to get a feel for what they were seeing. I will be adding more to this blog in future days. I had re-designed it and lost a lot of my sidebars in the process! Hopefully I will be able to get most of them back. I hope you all are enjoying your summer! It's time to get ready now for school planning. Annie keeps asking me, "when are our books coming?" She is very excited to begin. Kevin will be doing preschool things so this will be new for him too. Annie and the younger boys have been reading Hank the Cowdog books all summer (there are over forty in the series!) If you haven't read "Hank the Cowdog" you are definitely missing out! Enjoy your day, Theresa http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/574073/ Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:32:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/574073/ We lost a dear friend this week. He had a sudden heart attack and lingered for a couple of days, but is gone. He was so special, always with a smile for everyone and a gentle, sweet spirit. "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/506312/ Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:34:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/506312/  Happy Easter! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/503215/ Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:34:01 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/503215/ Today is St. Patrick's day and it is cold!!! It was only 14 this morning...but it is sunny and that is nice. It won't get much warmer this week either. It will be a full week, with the first day of Spring, St. Patrick's day, one of my kids' birthdays, and Easter all in one week. I think everyone I have talked to lately is looking forward to Spring. I don't mind winter, it's the driving that I don't like when it is stormy out. I like cosy winter days when you can stay inside and have some tea and do a little sewing and no one has to go anywhere or be out on the windy snow-covered roads. Where would we be without the fun-loving Irish? I have a lot of Irish on both sides and my husband does also in his family...I hope you all have a wonderful week! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/499857/ Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:01:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/499857/ Snacks. Games.   Gifts.  Fun.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/481544/ Mon, 3 Mar 2008 12:34:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/481544/ Kevin:  "Mom, how old am I?" Me: "Three." Kevin (b--i--g  sigh...) "Always I have to be three!" Oh for the days when we were so impatient for time to pass so that we could be a little bit older, a little bit bigger, a little bit wiser! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/481527/ Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:07:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/481527/   Happy Valentine's Day! "When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.  Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, "It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now."  She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon."     Genesis 29:31-33 These are some of the saddest verses in the Bible! First of all, that Leah was not loved...and that she really thought she could earn her husband's love by having a child. What a burden, to feel you have to do something in order to be loved in return! God in His great mercy gave her children because she wasn't loved. (How opposite to how people look at the gift of children today!)  "So be very careful to love the LORD your God. " Joshua 23:10 This is an interesting verse, an admonition and a reminder to love the Lord. Why? Because only God can satisfy every longing! He is perfect, He is faithful, His mercies endure forever! We are sinful vessels that fail to show perfect love to one another. We sin against each other, fail each other, and hopefully reconcile and forgive one another, and then we do the same thing all over again! But we can take comfort in our Redeemer who will never fail us. "But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love".  Psalm 33:18  "How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings."   Psalm 36:7 Do you need a place of refuge? Run to Him whose love is unfailing!  I hope you have a wonderful valentine's day and can rest in the Love of your Savior who died for you. I hope that if today you are feeling sad or burdened or lonely, that you will feel His love enfold you. I hope you find a place of comfort in the Lord. "May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant." Psalm 119:76 "The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. " Psalm 147:11 Happy Valentine's Day!   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/480441/ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:18:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/480441/   Winter is finally here! It has not been a typical winter for our area but it is snowing today and the kids are thrilled  :)   We did our morning school work and I am doing laundry today, finishing writing up reports and now have time for a cup of tea and some cross-stitch by the fire...a lovely hour! My heart is heavy for those who live in the states that are suffering from the effects of the recent tornado. What an trying time and for some, heartbreaking. I pray they receive strength to go on and comfort from our God above. I have been very remiss in keeping up this blog ever since Christmas but hope to get caught up soon. I have some updates to do but right now, it seems low priority  :0   The days are passing quickly and I have so many things I want to accomplish this year!  Homeschooling does take up much of the day and there is little discretionary time left after housework and meals to prepare...but I am truly thankful to live in this great country where we enjoy so many freedoms. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/476561/ Thu, 7 Feb 2008 15:31:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/joyfulnoise/476561/