Natural Paths - Homeschool Blogger

Homeschool blog carnival for kids

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:36:00 -0500

For more information visit here and here.

Using magazines in homeschooling

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:35:01 -0500

Visit this link to see how we used magazines to make a couple of neat notebook pages about field marks (birds).

Update

Fri, 8 Aug 2008 16:05:00 -0500

Hello to all my wonderful friends here at HSB! This is just to let you all know I have decided to move my blog. I may post a few things here now and then, but I have found Blogger quite easy to use over the summer and will be continuing on with it. You can now find me at The Narrow Path. All my homeschool entries will be there as well once our new year starts in a couple of weeks.

Rambling elsewhere

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:18:00 -0500

A quick note for my readers here at Natural Paths........

I will most likely not return to blogging here until our new homeschool year begins (late August). In the meantime, I have been rambling elsewhere online (started mostly due to posting and login issues here at HSB that were causing me major frustrations). If you would like a link to visit me, please contact me privately here at HSB.

Enjoy your summer (or for my Down Under friends, your winter)!

On break

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:40:00 -0500

Just a quick note to let my readers know I'm taking a break. I have many things going on and just don't have the passion to blog here for the time being. I'll visit you all as I am able.

Tuesday Review

Tue, 3 Jun 2008 07:50:00 -0500

Visit Angela to join the Tuesday Review or for links to participating blogs.

Ecover Dishwasher Tablets

** 25 tablets per box (one tablet per load)

** Plant based ingredients (no petrochemical ingredients)

** No artificial fragrance

** No chemical residue left on dishes

** Safe for septic tanks; safe for river and marine life

** No animal testing

** No phosphates

** No chlorine bleach

** Exceeds legislative biodegradability requirements

I started using these tablets a few years ago as part of our family going more green. They are fabulous! We have extremely poor quality well water (high in iron and sulfur) and these do a fantastic job.

Ecover offers a variety of products - dishwashing, laundry, household, personal care. They are available in natural foods markets and through online retailers. Amazon offers a great price (and this item qualifies for free super saver shipping with a qualifying purchase).

My other review from today can be found at This Open Road.

Teaching Tidbits

Fri, 30 May 2008 09:05:00 -0500

More notes from a seminar I attended years ago at my state homeschool convention.......

How To Avoid Burnout

** What is burnout? What are the symptoms?

- Physical

- Mental

- Emotional

- Spiritual

** How can we recover from or avoid burnout?

- Step back and look at the big picture.

- Recognize God's economy at work.

** There are days for all of us where we feel like we can't keep going.

** Burnout only happens to people who care deeply about what they're doing and who are following something they believe with all their heart.

** You can't keep taking out without putting in.

** Learn to say NO! Don't give in to weakness. Say no when you need to without apologizing.

** Burnout can happen from your children, your husband, your church, etc. Anyone can get burned out.

** We feel a lot of stress for our children to achieve.

** We have reminders all around us of what we haven't done. There are things that can "accuse" you wherever you go. When you start taking all this in, it can overwhelm you.

** Are you tired all the time or often sick? These are signs of physical burnout.

- You need to rest!

** Do you feel stressed or easily become discouraged and vulnerable to the enemy (satan)? These are signs of mental burnout.

- Don't try to manage everything yourself. You have a "team" in your house to pray for you and help you.

** Do your emotions come and go? This is a sign of emotional burnout.

- Handle your emotions by submitting them to the Lord.

- Never decide to quit doing something based on how you feel. Pray about it!

- You need to have a friendship with your child(ren). You are a team that God has called together.

- When you are a Christian that God has "called" to homeschool, all you have to do is look in Scripture to see what happened to other people that God "called" ... it wasn't always pretty and it wasn't always easy.

- Remember the fruit of your efforts (homeschooling) is eternal.

** Don't count everything as a grade as to whether or not you have been successful.

** Remember we do what we do to see our children following the calling God has placed on their lives.

** When you face trials (financial, illness, etc.), don't give up on homeschooling. God will give you the grace to do it. Ask God to give you the grace to continue.

** Don't get so taken up with the nuts and bolts and academics of homeschooling that you miss God.

** You have to readjust your focus from time to time.

** God has a plan for your child(ren). He's had a plan since before you decided to homeschool. It's His plan! You are merely a tool in the plan. Put your focus on Him and His plan. Stick to the plan that God has given you for your child(ren). Don't focus on what your neighbors or friends are doing. Put your focus back on the Lord (Psalm 139). When you fail, He will make sure He provides a means of success for your childI(ren) in spite of your failure.

** Seek Spiritual and practical solutions, but be guided by peace.

- Adjustment of a situation or approach.

- Adjustment of outside obligations.

- Adjustment of expectations.

- Adjustment of managerial style.

- Adjustment of personal steardship.

** We get busy meeting other people's expectations and end up setting our own children aside. Make sure your obligations aren't causing you to put them low on your priority list.

** The most important part of personal stewardship is taking care of yourself!

** When you feel confused, step back and pray about it. Feel the peace of the Lord about it.

** Pray for your friends who are struggling (and the ones who aren't). Pray for the Lord to give us strength to finish the race.

** Let your children know the important things and pray and trust the Lord for the rest.

Seminar presented by Debbie Strayer.

What happens when you're not paying attention...

Wed, 28 May 2008 09:15:00 -0500

Last evening ds1 came rusing inside to tell us "our" female pileated woodpecker was merrily tapping away at our shed (no worries as it needs to be torn down anyway). I grabbed the camera and we all rushed outside. We've gotten to know her quite well since December so we know she's rather skittish. I kept my distance and was able to get one photo (unfortunately it's pretty grainy since I did some major zooming in).

Yes, the photo is posted correctly. She was perched in this position tapping away at the underneath of a beam. She tired of our presence quickly, flew away, and in swooped "our" male red-bellied woodpecker.

He's not as shy so I was able to get a lot closer for his photo. If you look carefully, you can see the hole they have pecked out on the underside of the beam.

In all the excitement, I completely forgot I had a homemade pizza in the oven for our dinner. It turned out more "golden" than we prefer, but was still tasted great and no one complained. The recipe I use can be found here.

Tuesday Review

Tue, 27 May 2008 00:39:00 -0500

Visit Angela to join the Tuesday Review or for links to participating blogs.

Dr. Bronner's castile soaps ... available in liquid (dilute with water) or bars

* Biodegradable

* Vegetable-based

* Certified organic by Oregon Tilth

* Certified fair trade

* Multiple uses

* No synthetic foaming agents, thickeners, or preservatives

* Several varities ... almond, eucalyptus, baby mild (unscented), peppermint, tea tree, lavender, rose, citrus

We've used these products for a few years now (almond, baby mild, and peppermint ... eucalyptus for bathing our dog) and love them. They are available at natural foods markets, Vitamin Shoppe, various online retailers, and I recently saw them in Target. One key reminder for the liquid form ... dilute, dilute, dilute! Yes, prices are a bit high, but dilution makes it last a long time.

My other review from today can be found here.

Happy Memorial Day

Mon, 26 May 2008 12:11:00 -0500

Happy Memorial Day!