Thoughts of a cold, dark stone whose only good can be what is reflected from Son http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Tue, 8 Sep 2009 19:48:00 -0500 Tue, 8 Sep 2009 19:48:00 -0500 We've started into our school schedule again, and I have to say I'm happy we have.  We were all ready to start and so far (a week into things!) we are still all enjoying the schedule.  Even Peter seems to be adjusting OK.  Now if you were on the outside listening in it may seem like chaos to some, but at least by my expectations it seems to be going fine.  Peter does seem to pull out any thing within his grasp so it also often looks chaotic, but as long as it keeps him happy I don't mind collecting things later. A few people have said I should blog about what our day looks like, so I'm going to give you the paper schedule version today . . . and hopefully (though don't hold me to this!) I'm going to blog about what a day actually turned out to be in two weeks! General Schedule   8:00 Wake-Up, Do jobs:                         Devotions, Make bed, Dress, Brush hair, Toothbrush, etc. . . 8:45 Breakfast 9:00 Bible (upstairs)             Prayer, Memory, Psalm             Bible Reading             Bible Activities              10:00 – 10:30 Esther/Jenna  -- Writing activities, vocab and spelling             Mom with younger kids – read book, do activity 10:30 Math 11:00 Snack          UNIT 12:30 Lunch, Lunch Clean-up 1:00 Typing/Piano/Exercise 1:30      Outside time (Free play, Job, Around Neighborhood, Hike, Activity, Sport) Read Aloud Time Silent Reading Free Time     MONDAY – Plants and Pillars WEDNESDAY – Library/Prayer group THURSDAY – 1 month cooking class/1 month Esther & Mom reading time FRIDAY – Unscheduled Day – Field Trips, Visit Grammy, Volunteer at BVPSC I'll try to get some pictures from our "actual" day as well when I post in two weeks. Also we've been redoing our kitchen. . . though it is taking awhile to complete . . . so soon I should have pictures to show!       http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/725170/ Tue, 8 Sep 2009 19:48:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/725170/ Now how can you expect me to take time to blog when I have an adorable face like this staring at me everyday!!  Hard to believe he turned a year this week! Poor boy!  I'm sure he'll make up for all the torture his sisters have inflicted some day. Between Grammy's shoes and the tennis balls on her walker Peter keeps occupied when we visit!  He hasn't tried to use the walker to walk yet but that may be coming soon!     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/708672/ Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:11:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/708672/ Ok, for anyone who has ever tagged me before you probably know that I hardly ever do them!  But this one actually made me curious and it seemed simple enough to carry out! -- Yeah, Tesha knows the kind of things I can handle! Here are the rules: 1. go to your documents/pictures 2. go to your 6th file. 3. go to your 6th picture. 4. blog about it. 5. tag 6 people to do the same. This is Jenna in December of 2007.  We had taken Esther and Jenna to Cincinnati for the weekend to take in a couple musuems and see a Behold the Lamb of God Concert.  Here she is posing in the hotel room!  Kaelyn is now growing out of the clothes she as on in this picture. So if you're curious about what photo may be in your files then consider yourself tagged. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/659414/ Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:15:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/659414/ Well, we tried to watch the inauguration today!  A 3 year old has many of questions though.  Throughout the couple of hours we watched Kaelyn cycled through these phrases 20-30 times, "Where Rock Obama?"  "Where those fighting men against the wall?" The "fighting men" she was referring to were the members of the armed forces that could be seen lining the halls as everyone filed out for the inauguration.! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/647909/ Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:41:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/647909/ It was Jenna's turn to take her pictures! So here is a peek.     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/647526/ Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:57:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/647526/ Today was the baptism of my niece, Marisol.  It was a beautiful day in many ways.  It was neat to see my little sister bringing her little one before the feet of Christ.  It is fun for me to see her as a mom, and her love for her little one.  My mom would have loved to be here today!  Our whole family was able to be here to celebrate with them.  Here is a picture of the babies! 2008 Babies --Gibson Martin (top), Peter Hartman, Marisol Edris, and Maxwell Garvin (bottom)   As I sat down tonight I came across this quote from John Piper, "It is a precious thing beyond all words -- especially in the hour of death -- that we have a God whose nature is such that what pleases him is not our work for him but our need for Him."  It reminded me of the other day when I sat down on the toilet and looked up at the mirror that Jenna (5) and Kaelyn (3) had just worked so hard at cleaning!  There were definitely more streaks and splotches on it now than there were before it had been "cleaned."  I just had to sit and smile.  They had worked happily and hard on getting that bathroom cleaned.  It reminds me of myself.  It is easy for me to get caught up in what I "need to do for God."  And even be tempted to think that I have "accomplished" something great for Him.  Yet all my efforts are like that mirror.  He accomplishes everything so much better on His own.  I just serve to make it more of a mess.  And yet He still allows me to serve Him!!!  How merciful is that!  Who ever heard of keeping a servant who makes more work for the master!!!  And yet He takes me and my pride and my busyness and holds me in His arms. "How wide and how long and how high, how deep is the love -- How deep is the love of Christ."   It is my prayer that all these 2008 babies might experience this . . . and of course all the rest of us as well. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/641323/ Sun, 4 Jan 2009 21:30:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/641323/ Wow, we've had 5 healthy beautiful babies in our family this year! (No, not our little family, but as my kids would say in our big family!)  My sister Tesha had the last of the arrivals on Dec 13 -- a boy, Maxwell James Garvin.  What a blessing, and great outcrying of thanks.  I pray that God might protect each one as they grow and raise them up as children of His own. . . . just a quick recap of who joined our family this year. . . Gibson Martin (to Joel and Alison) in March, Ella Michalik (to Steve and Libby) in April, Peter Hartman (to us!) in July, Marisol Edris (to Tim and Anna) in November, and Maxwell Garvin (to Bob and Tesha) in December.  We should see everyone over the holidays so hopefully we'll get some good 2008 Baby pictures.  . . . and coming next year. . . ???  . . .  no, no announcements of any pregnancies, but my dad is adding to the family by marriage in March!  So we will be welcoming Janet to our family in 2009. A few photos of the family. . . Peter at almost 5 months. At least an attempt at a Hartman kid photo!  Ella, Jenna, Audrey, Esther, Peter, Kaelyn, and Stevie. Anna, Tim, and Marisol! -- at Thanksgiving. And all the kids at Thanksgiving -- Peter, Jenna, Grant, Esther, Marisol, Kaelyn (and Lami), Will, Lincoln, and Gib!! . . . and no pictures of Max yet . . . you have to check out Tesha's blog to see them.  I haven't gotten to see him or hold him yet (sad face!) ... but hopefully before the new year. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/636130/ Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:04:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/636130/ In October the kids and I took a trip to she my sister, Tesha, and her family in Hershey and then took a trip together down to Washington DC to do some site-seeing.  Here we are at the beginning of the first day outside of Mount Vernon.   Peter, Jack, Kaelyn, Emily, Jenna, Esther, and Jack. Still at Mount Vernon, outside a slave's quarters. At the end of the last day walking around The National Mall -- not bad, there are still smiles!!  Peter missed the picture because he is now in the front pack on me, and I'm not quite sure where Jack disappeared to. Esther and Jenna at the Lincoln Memorial.  Notice the expander that Esther now sports in her mouth! -- Much to her delight they will be replaced with partial braces at the beginning of the new year. Here we are on Halloween with cousins from the other side of the family. Audrey, Kaelyn (holding baby doll "Baby Ella), Esther (holding Peter), Jenna (holding Ella), and Stevie I just needed to get this picture on my blog so Nate can't delete this picture!  He has successfully turned Esther into a LA Laker fan, so I think I need to start early with Peter.  A friend from Phoenix came and left this for him to help me out!!   The most exciting news in our lives right now is that I have a new niece!  My sister Anna had her first baby -- a baby girl, Marisol Edilia -- born last Monday.  Unfortunately I haven't managed to get pictures yet!!  Hopefully soon, but you know me! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/623111/ Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:24:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/623111/ Well, tomorrow Peter will be 6 weeks old!  As you have noticed I haven't made an entry since he was born!  It isn't because our house has been too crazy -- I think it has just been because it has been different!  I have to admit, I love the time just after we have had a new arrival.  Yes, there are night time feedings again, a sore and misshapen body, dirty diapers (but of course those seem easy when compared to wet beds and poopy pants of a preschooler! . . . yeah we're still working on that -- we have several great weeks and then we regress again!) and other things of that sort.  But my schedule also gets cleared for a while, my wonderful mother-in-law does my dishes, laundry, cleans the bathrooms, and takes my older kids on outings for a couple of weeks!    I know lots of you go through postpartum blues after a baby, but I think my hormones kick me into a "high." I am so incredibly grateful for my family, and especially the precious new life that has entered out home.  Cuddling with a sleeping newborn infant has to be one of the greatest feelings in the world.  As he lies upon my chest I'm flooded with emotions of not wanting him to grow up, or at least not wanting to miss anything as he does grow.  My thoughts drift to God as our father -- does he experience these same emotions??  Of course do I take the time to cuddle up in his arms??  Being completely still and trusting??  Are those moments to few and far between, or do I ever even surrender to that point?  Does God treasure those moments when we surrender and sit still?  I so easily get my list or plan for my day and just push forward.  These last few weeks as I've nursed or cuddled or just sat have given me time to reflect and be renewed for which I am thankful.  In a couple days we'll start a new school year and our schedule will begin being filled with more and more.  But I want to make sure I take the time to treasure my kids as they grow and allow God to treasure me!  In so many ways having my kids at home and studying God's world with them allows me the chance to do both of those!  I'm so thankful to be able to do that.  Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of days I want to tear my hair out as whining doesn't stop or the screams come for the umpteenth time.  But there again I'm sure I give God plenty of those.  It is amazing how much I've grown in my relationship with God by being a parent!  Ok, enough of my ramblings for now . . . once I sit down I have a million different thoughts running through my mind!  But I'll let you see some pictures.  My camera broke a couple weeks ago so these are all from right after he was born!  I'm hoping to replace the camera quickly so I can keep you updated.  We are also hoping to update our upstairs computer soon so that would make it so I can post from upstairs which should make these posts more frequent as well.       http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/579074/ Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:43:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/579074/ Every school year I have decided to let the kids go and get their picture taken at a photo studio since they don't get school pictures taken.  It usually ends up being cheaper than if they were ordering school pictures and they get to try a lot more poses.  By the time we got around to it this year the school year was just about finished, but thought you may want to take a peek at Esther's 2nd grade pictures.  She had fun with them! I've decided to let them do whatever they want in their pictures -- for Kindergarten she chose to wear a nice pink sundress, 1st grade was another pink dress along with her favorite stuffed animals, but this year she decided to go with the sports theme!  Jenna will get to try it next year as she will be in Kindergarten and was saying throughout Esther's session, "Next year when I take my picture I'm going to be a flower girl!" -- We'll see!     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/556355/ Fri, 4 Jul 2008 07:16:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/karahartman2105/556355/