Flamin' Flamingos - Homeschool Blogger

Loving the challenge!

Wed, 4 Oct 2006 09:35:00 -0500

When I first joined (www.thewalkingchallenge.com) I set "high goals"! Now reality... has set in! lol I started by walking the dog 2 or 3 times a week... for about 3 miles total. I wish it was consistent, but that's a challenge within itself!

The fact is I'm still walking!

I probably should set a # of miles, but am just encouraged by fellow walkers. I recently (in August) asked our local YMCA to start a P.E. for homeschoolers and classes are now in session! Yeah!! I told the moms, "let's walk while the kids are in class"! We have about 7-8 moms walking around the track!! Some walk a mile, others walk two! Isn't that wonderful!!

KUDOS to all you Baytown, TX MOMS!!!

Keep the pep in your step!

God Bless!
Erica

Click to join thewalkingchallenge

I'm still awake??!!

Sat, 9 Sep 2006 01:25:00 -0500

If you really knew me you wouldn't believe I'm up past 1 a.m. I'm usually in bed before 9 and asleep by 10, most nights. My husband's alarm goes off at 4:30 every morning, so mornings are my peak time!

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I was half asleep around 8:30 tonight (uh, last night)... then as I tossed and turned in bed, I knew I had to read... so I did! Well, when I read, I get inspired to write, so here I am!

Now as I fumble in the dark room tapping the keyboard, hoping the clatter of my solar nails don't disturb my husbands slumber, I actually feel a yawn coming on! : O

I guess the idea of writing something grand and inspirational will have to wait!

I will say we had a wonderful day in school and we also enjoyed our first day of co-op at our local library. There were 20 families and 36 kids! This was the actual first day for the co-op to meet! We are a town with about 63,000 + people (last time I checked the population sign... uhmmm, can't remember). Anyway, 3 moms said, "let's do this co-op thing" and here we go!! I love the idea of fellow homeschoolers sharing academic time, not just social! Very inspiring indeed!!

As another yawn comes, I realize I spent more time reading (about 2 hours) and only 5 minutes writing! Forgive me for my abrupt exit... good night!

If it's going to be, it's up to me!!

Mon, 7 Aug 2006 10:42:00 -0500

Yeah! I was able to get this banner here! I'm learning a little more computer stuff every day! (I just can't get my pics here yet). I'm also walking more... which is the point of this banner!

My husband and I bought "walking" tennis shoes on Saturday! And it was "tax free" weekend in Texas too. Everyone gets a tax break for the back to school rush!

Now we just have to find time to walk! LOL I'll keep going in the morning while the kids are asleep and I suppose he'll go in the evening.

I convinced our local YMCA to start a "home school P. E. program" so I'm praying our homeschooling families will have a chance to get fit together!! (Pray that at least 5 or 6 families will join us).

It's all about PRIORITIES AND WILLINGNESS TO MAKE CHANGES! I've only walked about 8-10 miles in the past two weeks and made conscious changes to my diet and I was able to squeeze into a 9!! o.k., so I'll keep wearing the 10's until they become much looser... but it did feel good!! Two years ago I was wearing a 15-16, weighing 178-180!

I found out that I can't "plan to walk tomorrow" or "later"!! I have to STOP in the middle of something (a good book, t.v. show, blogging, or any other thing that gets me side-tracked)! I don't even have to walk the 1.5 mile block, I can just walk to the end of the street which is about a 1/4 of a mile... by time I come home I've walked a 1/2 mile!! I feel so much better when I do this!! Then I make a tall glass of ice water with limes or lemons, take a shower, and put on some comfortable clothes ="house uniform" then I do some crunches and leg lifts! IF IT'S GOING TO BE, IT'S UP TO ME!!

Don't have time??? Minimize this window NOW and hit the floor and give me twenty!! Go outside and walk for 2, 3, 5 minutes.... JUST START!!

Erica

walking challenge

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 22:46:00 -0500

I just started "walking" around my neighborhood. I've managed to get 5 miles in a four day period... I'm so glad I've done this! I always wanted to be a "walker"! I had way too many excuses not to walk: Texas is too hot, humid, and down-right "flat"! Well our street is nicely paved and a double-wide boulevard lined with every kind of tree from 100+yr old oaks, Pin, Live, many others, Pine, Pecan, Magnolia, Cypress, Juniper, Oleandars, Hackberry, Crepe Myrtles, just beautiful to see with all the old charming, 1930's, '40's, 50's homes with a few possibly built even in the seventies!!

I love my new hobby of walking... I do this early while the kids are still asleep! Although my teenager wakes up to get ready for school and "watch over her siblings".

I take our 48 lb. six-month old, white German Shepherd for exercise (and of course protection)! She is quite a motivator; not tiring, very alert, and barks if someone or something (another dog) comes too close!

I smiled one morning as she barked at a fenced- Pit Bull and thought about how God protects us from the enemy as we follow Him through our difficult times! The Pit Bull (the enemy) was fenced, seemed frightening and intimidating, but couldn't get to us because he was locked behind the fence!! My German Shepherd made me feel safe; she would fight the PB if need be otherwise; just keep moving forward, away from the enemy!

I love how God uses "ordinary" things to show us "extraordinary" things!

I don't remember how to change this icon or ticker here... it's of course July, but I like this little thing!

Writing Right!

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 21:37:00 -0500

I took my high schooler to the library for a few hours after dinner, to work on her writing. She is working on "technical skills", grammar, and editing. This is a challenge if you haven't written formally, in a while. I always question myself, "do I put a comma, semicolon, or colon? Or should I stop here? Is this a run on?" So many uncertainities. "Did I spell that word correctly?" "Did I shift the verb tense?" "Do I need to hyphenate this word?"

Wow!! College days and papers are so far in the past... over a decade now! What do I do? Take a "refresher courses for grammar"? Or do I just buy several "reference books" for writers?

I checked out about a dozen "writing" books tonight! I'll be in review-mode for several weeks! I suppose I'll be re-learning as I teach it!

What do ya'll do?

Anyone know of wonderful websites for this writing adventure?

Best deals!! Where to buy curriculum!!

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 18:45:00 -0500

It's the time of year to consider updating, adding to, or starting completely over with curriculum for the coming school days! We've already started a daily Language Arts and Math assignment! History, Science, Health, Foreign Language.... and so on will begin soon enough.

SOOOO.... where do you find the best "bang for your buck"??? So far I think www.pennywiselearning.com has some of the best deals!! Especially for S.O.S. and other individual books, cd's etc. Please share your sites too!

I also found a great homeschool auction place (similar to Ebay) but more exclusive at www.homeschoolbid.com

Have a great day!!

Home Library

Fri, 7 Jul 2006 20:33:00 -0500

I love the image of a room full of thousands of books!!

I don't have a third or even second story home... just a modest cottage-style home built in 1938, with beautiful oak floors! I have dreamed of having a "home library" so last year I tossed the really large, Ikea-sofa (nothing was wrong, just too big for my 14' by 20' living area) to the curb! Then I went to an antique store and bought a mint-condition, 70's-style swivel/rocker! It's pink/mauve... really girly!! I kept my contemporary navy chairs from Ikea and added my sister's chair and a half with ottoman. A few months ago I added another chair and ottoman (vintage) to my "home library"!! My friend gave me two bookshelves to go with my other floor to ceiling bookshelves... now I have 6 bookshelves in my living area!! The navy walls with oak floors and a couple of lamps and side tables is giving me that "coffee-house/library" look I am going for! My daughter told me today (and periodically repeats this), "Mom, our living room looks like a library!" Aside from the newly chewed chair (her dog chewed out some foam on a chair) the room is getting to be what I want!!

I know Katie (another blogger) has a library too. What kind of "home library" do you have?

Share your book storage ideas too!

I'm not going to let it go to the dogs!

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 12:58:00 -0500

This was my response to a post from another blogger. I thought I'd share my thoughts on my own blog as well!

I was reading the "Easy Homeschooling" newsletter and noticed you had a blog too. I just started recently (maybe 2 weeks?) and wanted to began writing again!

Anyway, I am very encouraged to be reminded of "who I am"...I've had a tough morning as my 15 y/o was gone and her new 5-month old 45 lb, German Shepherd chewed away foam on a chair that was already needing help!! I cried as I swept and prayed to God to have pretty things in my home... not stuff that "goes to the dogs"!! I reminded Him of our tithes, pledges, and offerings so now I need to call in the return!!

I'm not sure why my husband and I haven't bought new furniture in over 9 years.... If I knew how to sew, I could probably make slipcovers!

I guess we always spend it on other things! Kids, bills... cost of living! Credit cards aren't used... so it's cash or nothing.

This also reminded me of how God gives us what we need and "gives good gifts"... I am a child of the King and I want/need to have "nice, new furniture" and the dog will live outside... at least not on my furniture!!

If you're reading this... PLEASE HELP!!

Mon, 26 Jun 2006 09:05:00 -0500

For all you advanced bloggers with the "know how" please tell me how you add all the cute stuff on your blog. I want to add a calendar on my "home" page and add my photos and cute ticker for the "walking challenge". I'd like to add family photos too. I tried to add pictures, but everything in "my pictures" on my computer wouldn't come up on my blog. I don't know how to make the picture smaller or know how to do anything with editing. I sent Joe (in the forums) an email, but I'm sure ya'll can help as well.

Thanks!

walking challenge

Mon, 26 Jun 2006 08:45:00 -0500

Well for today, at this moment, I figured out how to add this "walking challenge" to my blog, but I don't know how to put this in the sidebar or keep it "updated" on my blog. Anyway, check it out... it's a pretty neat site to encourage you to get moving!

Erica

Why "Quotes that Quench"?

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 12:40:00 -0500

I titled "Quotes that Quench" based on the idea that quotes can be uplifting and "satisfying" for our soul. And at the same time quotes can put out useless thoughts to be replaced with new inspiring ones.

Here's the thesaurus entry from http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/thesaurus?book=Thesaurus&va=quench&x=14&y=13

Merriam-Webster

Interesting to note the two different meanings below... "to extinguish"= "to cease" and yet the other; "to satisfy".

One entry found for quench. Entry Word: quench
Function: verb
Text: 1 to cause to cease burning <we thoroughly quenched the campfire before we headed to bed> -- see EXTINGUISH 1
2 to put a complete end to (a physical need or desire) <this lemonade really quenches my thirst> -- see SATISFY 1

Days Go By

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 12:04:00 -0500

Sunrise 'til sunset.

Time goes by, I may forget;

Days of clouds, days of rain,

Days of joy, days of pain.

To seek your face...

Time goes by, may I not forget,

sunrise 'til sunset.

*poem by Erica Garza 6/21/06

thoughts about seeking the Lord

Moms share thoughts to avoid or get out of burn-out!

Mon, 19 Jun 2006 21:50:00 -0500

As I prepare for another workshop for the homeschooling moms... I asked them to share "how to avoid or get out of burn-out!"

Here's some wonderful ideas from very dear moms and friends in my homeschooling groups. Enjoy~ Be Encouraged~ Avoid burn-out!!

I go scrapbooking.

I really should read my Bible though.

I like to get a peddicure when we can afford it.

Otherwise, I'll have a tall glass of wine.

Hot tea is nice too, but I have to chug it most of the time otherwise it gets cold because I'm still tending to everything & everyone in the house

This may seem silly or even a little materialistic, But when I get in a rut I like to buy something new for school; a new educational game or colored pencils anything to make it a little bit more exciting. Or even try a differant curriculum for a while. Or put away the books and just have drills. Just asking them questions and talking rather than reading and writing all day.

Well, That is my 2 cents worth.

Hope it helps.

YOU KNOW WHEN I WAS GROWING UP; EVERY YEAR WE WENT ON A FAMILY VACATION. OVER THE YEARS I�VE BEEN SHOCKED AT PEOPLE WHO SAID THEIR FAMILY NEVER WENT ON VACATIONS.

I talk to my husband, a good listener--he always seems to know what to say to me.

We usually go out to a nice, quiet dinner together and relax.

I like to sit and watch funny shows on TV (sitcoms) some of the old ones like MASH or LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE.

I also like coming home to my puppy dog, who is always happy to see me, and just play around with him.

When you figure it out let me know...

I do like to take a nap or quiet time in the afternoon.

I don't know if you are able to listen to Christian programming during the day, but I do. When I miss shows on the radio, I listen online. Today's episode of Focus on the Family was excellent. Josh McDowell was the feature. If you're not familiar with him, he does a lot of ministry to children and teens. He's written numerous books and travels around the world ministering to kids and parents. We had the opportunity to hear him in person at our church in Atlanta last year. This episode is a parent MUST. I hope you are able to listen. I am actually ordering several copies to pass on. Blessings!

I take the kids somewhere we've never been before, usually local, just somewhere outside besides our back yard. We especially like field trips with just our family during these times.

I take a mommy-time-out where I walk out to the mailbox ALONE and take a deep breath along the way (we have a long driveway). I call a prayer partner or spiritual mentor and just talk about the Lord and what He's doing in the earth today. That refreshes more than almost anything. I have many other ways I rejuvenate; often the Lord gives me a fresh idea at that moment perfect for the situation. I couldn't homeschool without Him!

Going to the movies just me and my hubby. A date night with my hubby always drives away the blues.

1. Go to the library and rent a good family movie.

2. If the weather is very nice, we pack up the fishing poles and head for the nearest pier.

3. We go through the Cub Scout book and see what fun achievment we can do.

Since I unschool, we rarely have any burnouts. Hope this helps you!

.... unschooling leaves little room for burnout - it's hard to burnout when your learning while living and enjoying your life!

I , too pray more and look to the Bible for answers. I visit my fav website www.homeschooloasis.com and read some of the articles there about letting God be the leader of my homeschool. We also take time off and do some field trips (not all educational) or projects. We have changed curriculum and ways of homeschooling many times over the years and I think that helps because we are always trying something new. To feel better I also remind myself how many public school graduates have to do remedial work in college. My favorite thing I read lately said "God has not called us to adhear to the worlds standards of education." I know that as long as I seek the Lord and seek to please him we will be alright.
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Well that's it for now. I'm sure after the workshop Thursday, I'll have lots more ideas about "burn-out". Please share some of your ideas too.

so much curricula... so little time!

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 18:57:00 -0500

I have several new/used books, workbooks, teacher guides, children's books and much more to look over for the coming year!! Where do I begin??!! This has always been difficult for me to narrow it down; to skim for the general info. of a book. I have 3 children times 7 subjects...21 sets of curriculum!! That's crazy to think I can conquer the whole jist of them all!!

I will be teaching a workshop for other homeschoolers and this "skimming the curriculum" is one of the topics! All I can think of now is.... Ladies break out your sticky notes and hi-lighters!!

Like I said, so much curricula... so little time!