By His Grace - Homeschool Blogger

New Blog

Thu, 29 May 2008 01:44:00 -0500

Hello Friends,

From now on, I'll be blogging in another place. I've loved blogging here at HSB, but I think I'll let my account die so someone else can use this space. After much prayer and seeking, I've decided to halt our homeschooling journey... for many credible reasons.

I hope to continue to be in touch with you. I will continue to read and comment on your blogs. Please do the same on mine. I would greatly miss you if you didn't. Thanks for all the homeschooling support, suggestions, and encouragement you've provided. It was invaluable. This has been a blessed journey for us in so many ways, and I'm excited about the new path God has led us to. Don't be a stranger!

Blessings,

Karen
http://karen0317.blogspot.com/

Tribute to Maria Chapman...

Fri, 23 May 2008 11:55:00 -0500

...from her dad, Stephen Curtis Chapman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN7_qbOpuWs

Readalouds, Summer, and Paying it Forward

Tue, 20 May 2008 23:07:00 -0500

This school year, we started books aloud each day – as part of our school day. I later decided that the girls needed to practice independent reading more, so they wouldn’t depend on me to comprehend. I don’t know if it has helped with their reading comprehension, but I sure miss having our story time. I’m really looking forward to doing Learning Adventures again next year with Sarah. I love the lit-based curricula! With “A New World of Adventures”, we will be reading Call it Courage, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Misty of Chincoteague, Little Pilgrim's Progress, Amos Fortune: Free Man (again), Calico Captive, The Sign of the Beaver, Johnny Tremain, Toliver's Secret, and The Incredible Journey. I’ve heard of many of these, but never got around to reading them. I’m very excited. I’m so amused at how excited I can be about “their” education. Even my mother has commented about my enthusiasm when I talk about things we’ve studied together. I can only hope some of it is rubbing off on the girls.

For the summer break, we’ll read books, and try to have fun. I don’t do “fun” very well, so pray for me. Rachel will continue with Math this summer to try to finish Algebra before next year. Sarah will do math practice work a day or two each week. Rachel is volunteering to work at our library’s summer reading program. Sarah will be competing tennis for the first time. *exciting* On top of that, we’ve got two family reunions and church camp in July.

On another note, I haven’t heard from the Dean about teaching again this summer. I’ve taught for the last several summer terms, but this summer, enrollment is looking surprisingly low. I’m sure the economy has a lot to do with that. Quite honestly, I’m hoping they won’t need me. A break sounds SO good to me right now. I’ll know after open registration next week. I’m still contemplating quitting before the fall semester. I don’t mind teaching. I mean, the money’s nice to have, but it’s just not in line with my priorities right now. It almost seems like a burden.

One more thing I want to share… A few weeks ago, I posted a “wanted to buy” listing in vegsource for the audio CD that accompanies the Apologia Biology Rachel will be using next year. After a week of no response, I decided not to re-post it, but to buy it since it wasn’t all too expensive. Out of the blue, I got an email from a homeschool mom in NC offering to send it to me at no cost. Her daughter has learning disabilities, and Apologia had given her the CD for free since she had a documented LD. She said she won’t sell it, but will give it to me. She wouldn’t even accept postage! I received it today, and I’m still in awe of her generosity. Most people would get whatever they could for the CD. It was hardly used (it didn’t help her daughter), and in excellent condition. This lady has inspired me to be just as generous to someone else. I was given some curriculum last year from a lady who graduated her youngest child. She didn’t want to go through the trouble of selling it and asked me to get it off her hands. I’ve decided to use some of it, but I don’t have a need for other pieces. If you know of a homeschooler who needs a complete set of Bob Jones Biology, let me know.

I hope you ladies are having a great week. *hug*

Update... and a Few Regrets

Sun, 18 May 2008 22:19:00 -0500

First of all, let me give an update on my friend. She called me Friday to tell me that she had overreacted and regrets being so harsh about Seth. She actually told him that he'd have to repeat the 11th grade. He didn't respond much. He was hurt, but didn't (he wouldn't) object. He accepted that it was the consequence for his failures. He did, however, talk to one of his teachers who in turn called my friend to discuss some things in private about his English teacher and the circumstances in the classroom. This confirmed her gut feeling that it really wasn't all Seth's fault. They've decided to take English over in the summer and not repeat after all. YAY!!!!!!!

Tonight at church, we had a special “5^th grade blessing”. It was very nice. We honored our 5^th graders who are advancing to the youth group…to the teen years…and to middle school. Their teachers and youth ministers talked about the “graduating” class, and we (the parents) presented a “blessing” to them. DH and I (well, mainly I) spent a fairly large part of the weekend writing Sarah’s blessing. The blessing was supposed to mention her special qualities, our hopes and prayers for her and our advice for her. There was so much I wanted to say, but I chose to keep it simple for a couple of reasons. First of all, I didn’t want to embarrass Sarah too much. I knew it was to be presented before a group of people. Secondly, it was supposed to be from both parents. I knew that if I opened up, it would have been obvious that I wrote it. I wanted Sarah to know (and believe) that it came from us both.

I wish I had written it as I felt it. Turned out, the other parents’ blessings were very touching and really let everyone know more about the child. It also let me know a lot about the parents. I try not to be discontented, but it’s so hard not to when you see how involved other parents are in their children’s lives…how close they are… and how they pray for their children so fervently. The letters that were written to the other kids revealed a deep spiritual connection between the kids and their parents – even before the children were born. They spoke of specific examples that show their leadership, their caring heart, their patience, etc. Some of them well exceeded the 2 minute time limit, but it didn’t seem like it. It was obvious that the mothers wrote many of the letters, but as the dads read them, you could hear the sentiment in their voices. There were lots of tears and lots of tissue used. Our blessing to Sarah wasn’t as touching, and I somewhat regret it. Sarah, on the other hand, was glad I didn’t get as mushy as the other parents, but I wish others could know just how unique and just how special Sarah really is. I don’t feel we did her justice.

My DH doesn’t know the girls nearly as well as I’d like him to. He doesn’t put forth the time and effort that’s required to know them like I do. There are so many things they are missing from him – things that they need. I can’t change that. Many times, I hold back because I don’t want to “show him up”. I need to stop doing that. In fact, I find that I’ve picked up some of his negative habits instead. He loves them. There’s no doubt of that. He just doesn’t do a good job of showing love in the language they (and I) will hear it. I guess I’ve been more concerned about his feelings than their needs.

Okay, back to Sarah. There are times I think maybe I’m being selfish home schooling her. I think she’d be fine in PS and will excel in that learning environment. She had no struggles before we began HSing, and she made friends very easily. She had a natural tendency to lead – even though she wasn’t trying to. Nowadays, kids need to see good kids at school – kids who are a positive example and who can help other kids see Jesus in their lives. I wonder if God would use Sarah in that way if she were there. Something tells me he would. I wonder if she’d flourish in that environment. Something tells me she would. She’s far from perfect, but she really is a wonderful kid with unusual wisdom for her age.

Unhappy With My Friend's Decision

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:28:00 -0500

Today, a very good friend of mine called me, quite distressed about her middle son.

A little background: Seth is a wonderful 11^th grader who has had a very difficult school year. My friend is an assistant principal in SC, and she is quite an advocate for education. He has worked harder than he’s ever had to work this year and struggled all year to maintain passing grades. A couple of months ago, my friend told me herself that she felt he has worked very hard and has tried his best – so much so that she told him not to take his books to a Christian youth retreat in February because he needed a break from all the stress he’d been under. I’ve joined her in prayer for Seth this year. I offered to help in any way I could. I felt so bad for Seth.

Today, she told me that Seth will be repeating the 11^th grade. Why? He’s repeating because “he’s not going to pass 11^th grade English, and it’s a requirement”. I asked her “is this the school's decision or hers?” (because I’m very sure she told me once that a child cannot be held back unless the parents authorized it). I asked her if he’s been told this yet. Seth is an athlete and a very strong Christian influence among other kids in his school – planning to attend a Christian college and become a youth minister. Seth has a younger brother who is one year younger than he, so they’d be in the same grade next year… at the same school. How would this affect him psychologically? Her answer to me was “This was his doing, so he has to deal with the consequences!” I fully respect my friend and her husband and can almost understand her stance on this. I didn’t want to overstep my boundaries so I asked her… ever so gently, “Do you think the benefits will really outweigh the injury this could cause?” She thinks it will. I think this could harm him in an irreparable way.

Turns out, he was advised by his guidance counselor to take an advanced English class this year and it has been his greatest source of stress. I proposed that “maybe he was ill-advised”. She explained to me that he was placed in the advanced class because of his English score in last year’s testing. Apparently, children in their district have to take/pass exams each year. I further suggested that obviously the placement process is flawed because of the difficult time he has had this year from the start - despite his "high" score last year. Either the score range is off or the advanced class is too tough. I asked her why he couldn’t re-take it this summer – therefore missing a mission trip and youth camp. Wouldn’t that be “consequence” enough? She said “I don’t want to pay for summer school”.

My friend is not as close-minded and selfish as this may sound. She is a fabulous mother and believes in what she’s saying. I think it’s the homeschooler in me that cringes when I hear such harsh words about a child who has tried his hardest and is being made to feel that his best just wasn’t good enough and deserves “consequences”. Too much credence is being placed on grades and test scores. No one seems to be concerned about him. This has infuriated me today, when only a few years ago (before I was enlightened by homeschoolers like you guys), I probably would have agreed with her. It’s so sad how strong that "public school mentality" can be.

I just pray they make the right decision regarding Seth. I hope they put his needs above any other motivations they may have. By the way, she supports and completely understands our choice to home school. She just doesn’t see education the way I do anymore. Boy, have I changed!

Mashed Potatoes

Mon, 12 May 2008 16:57:00 -0500

I couldn't think of a good title for this blog, so I used today's dinner side dish. :-) Plus, it matches my mood.

I hope you were made to feel very special this weekend. We spent the weekend visiting. On Friday, we drove to my MIL’s home and spent two nights with her, then spent Sunday with my parents on the way back to TN. It was a busy weekend, but it was a nice little getaway. Saturday night was a bit exciting. Out of nowhere, we were under a tornado warning, with one being spotted only 5 miles away! We camped out in the hallway for about 10 minutes. Apparently, the storm decided to leave us as quickly as it arrived. J Camille had never experienced a tornado warning before, so she was a little alarmed. There were no sirens in my MIL’s town (quite surprising, considering this is southern Arkansas). Anyway, I haven’t updated about my MIL in a while. Her Alzheimer’s is actually better. Well, the medicine she’s on has helped tremendously. It’s really quite amazing! She still has some confusion, but she’s nothing like she was in January. Mother’s Day morning, we left my MIL’s home and headed for my hometown. The girls gave me a card for Mother’s Day and we went to lunch/dinner with my parents Sunday afternoon before driving home last night.

We have 4 weeks of school left for this year. I’m looking forward to saying “so long” to this year. I’ve got a lot of things to sort out before next school year. This year has been trying, to say the least. My husband – bless his heart – is trying to be helpful with the home schooling, but his attempts are making things more complicated. When I vent to him, I often regret it because he thinks I’m requesting his help in some way. He takes it upon himself to lay down a new “rule” that disrupts my day and that I’m not willing to enforce. Also, he thinks public school is the solution for a child who doesn’t appreciate the advantages of HSing and doesn’t apply themselves. About twice a year, he tells me that I should “just send her back to public school next year”. *sigh* I tell you, there are times when I wonder why I bother working so hard on something that’s not yielding any results.

Well, dinner’s almost ready, so I'd better run. I think I’ll spend some time alone this evening. By the way, if you have any good book suggestions for learning disabilities, please let me know. Thanks!

To all you fabulous moms...

Sat, 10 May 2008 00:53:00 -0500

Happy Mother's Day!!

You are loved.

Mentoring Opportunity

Tue, 6 May 2008 22:41:00 -0500

As if I didn't have enough to do, I've recently volunteered to mentor a homeless, pregnant mom through a christian-based children and family services organization in Memphis. I'm very excited about this! I've wanted to do something like this for a long time - even back in Arkansas. I work with children all the time - at home and at church - so I really wanted to work with someone my own age for a change. In Little Rock, i tried to volunteer at a battered women's shelter, but the timing wasn't right. This organization houses homeless, pregnant women who want to turn their lives around. The mentoring initiative is voluntary, so anyone I'm connected with will be there because she wants to. Hopefully, I'll be a blessing to her as she works to get on her feet and provide a solid home for her child(ren).

I've been so blessed. There are times I feel guilty for not having suffered much in my life. I am also blessed with skills that many people are clueless about such as home management, financial management, budgeting, etc. I know the Lord has called me to touch the lives of others in some way. I really think this is it. For years, I've felt "drawn" to women who others have ignored or given up on. I think I seem to be able to sense when someone needs a friend. Most of the time, those people resist my effort, but I realize that it's got more to do with them than me. When you've been abused and betrayed all your life, friendships don't come easily. I have one very close friend who has taught me this. It's hard not to take it personally, but I just pray and keep on loving.

Anyway, I will find out in the next week or two (after they do all their background checks on me) who I will be partnered with. I can't wait to meet her. I hope she'll benefit from our friendship. I know I will. The Lord is drawing me to this for some reason.

Rachel's 15th Birthday

Sun, 4 May 2008 17:37:00 -0500

On Tuesday, May 4^th, 1993, in Houston, TX, I gave birth to our first daughter. Rachel was overdue according to the EDD. I was induced because of the results of a non-stress test on my May 3^rd OB appt. I had an epidural after 3 hours of contractions and she was born almost 12 hours later (7:24am). It was a fairly routine delivery to the hospital staff, but it was life-changing for us.

Today is Rachel’s 15^th birthday, and I’d like to share 15 wonderful things about her.

Affectionate. Rachel will make a wonderful mother some day. She still tries desperately to “baby” Camille and dislike the fact that she has grown so independent.
Devoted. Friends can count of Rachel being there. She’s sure to remember your birthday and stay in touch – even from a long distance.
Sensitive. Rachel wears her heart on her sleeve. When she hurts, she hurts deeply. When she loves, she loves deeply.
Innocent. I can’t count the number of times Rachel has “entertained” us with her naïveté. Oh man, the questions she can ask!! Sometimes, it’s the classic “speaking before thinking”, but many times, it’s just sheer innocence.
Out-spoken. When Rachel has a strong emotion, there’s no keeping it in. It’s bound to come out in words or in body language. When other kids watch movies or wear clothing that are inappropriate, she’s sure to say something about it to them.
Creative. Give the girl a blank slate, and she’s happy as a lamb for hours! She loves doing anything creative: drawing, floorplans, hair styling, cake decorating. You name it, she’s love it.
Passionate. When Rachel loves doing something, it becomes first on her priority list. There’s not much that will pull her away from an activity she loves.
Trusting. Perhaps this goes along with the innocence, but Rachel will believe almost anything you say. One could convince her of almost anything. That’s scary once if I think about it, but in most cases, it’s endearing.
Determined. If there is something Rachel wants to do or a point she wants to get across, she is persistent.
Observant. If Rachel is interesting in something, you can not sneak it past her. She’s very keen on details most people overlook. I remember trying to hide a piece of candy in my mouth when she was a small child. Never did it work! Even if I didn’t say a word, she smelled it or sensed it. It’s really quite remarkable how observant she is… and the memory she’s got!
Modest. I love Rachel’s taste in clothing, books, music, and TV shows. She has a wonderful sensitivity to ungodliness.
Resilient. As sensitive as she is, she gets over it very quickly. Rachel can be extremely down about something one minute – in a complete “funk” – then be cheerful and silly the very next hour.
Polite. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve received compliments on Rachel’s polite and respectful behavior around others. She was teased in school for her politeness and properness. I’m glad she hasn’t lost that quality with age.
Cute. Rachel has grown to be a very attractive young lady. She dresses very nicely and clothes look very flattering on her. She takes pride in personal grooming and her appearance and it shows.
Transparent. Rachel has a purity about her that causes her to be transparent. It’s pretty easy to see how she feels in most cases… even if she’s being dishonest.

So today, we celebrate fifteen years with Rachel. I still can’t believe she’ll be twenty in five years. *LOL* This is a difficult time for her, as she’s still a kid but also a young woman. I believe she’ll find her purpose in the Lord and become a faithful servant of God.

Shocking Realization

Fri, 2 May 2008 00:50:00 -0500

Said Rachel to Sarah when I was in the next room bathing Camille, “In five years, I’ll be twenty!”.

I froze in place – in utter shock – when I heard this. I 'bout dropped the soap! Call me “oblivious”, call me “dense”, but I had not thought of that. Five years will go by so quickly – I need more time to prepare her for her twenties. I clearly remember her 10^th birthday, and that couldn’t have been more than… what?... a couple of years ago?

Oh my… I’m flabbergasted!

Slow down, sweet child!!!