In The Process

School Update Part 1

Well I finally found some time to give an update on our school year.  Today I will fill you in our Bible time.

For Bible time with Emma I decided to teach her the "hows" of  having a devotion time.  We read 1 chapter a day, discuss it together then we both journal about: What God is teaching us, what God is showing us about His character etc.  We started the school year in the Book of Matthew.  My goal is to do all of the Gospels first and then maybe some of Paul's epistles then we will tackle books from the Old Testament. 

Bible time with Eli and Abbie I am reading The Jesus Storybook Bible.  I love this children's Bible!!  Here is an excerpt from today's reading from Isaiah.

Dear little flock, (A letter from God)

You're all wandering away from me, like sheep in an open field.  You have always been running away from me.  And now you're lost.  You can't find your way back.

But I can't stop loving you.  I will come to find you.  So I am sending you a Shepherd to look after you and love you.  To carry you home to me.  You've been stumbling around, like people in a dark room.  But into the darkness, a bright Light will shine!  It will chase away all the shadows, like sunshine. 

A little baby will be born.  A Royal Son.  His name will be Emmanuel, which means. "God has come to live with us"  He is one of King David's children's children's children.  The Prince of Peace.  Yes, Someone is going to come and rescue you!  But he won't be who anyone expects.

It goes on to say:

But people will hate him, and they won't listen to him.  He will be like a Lamb-he will suffer and die.  It's the Secret Rescue Plan made from before the beginning of the world!

It's the only way to get you back.

But he won't stay dead

Yes the Rescuer will come.  Look for him.  Watch for him.  Wait for him.  He will come

Oh how this story made me cry today I barely could read the words.  Every story in this children's Bible points the Savior Jesus.  I highly recommend this book to everyone!!!

God is so good to us.  He has provided away back to himself for us.  Thank you Jesus!

Where have I been

Well as I said previously I have been very busy lately.  Two things have been keeping me very busy.  The first being homeschooling.  School is going great this year.  We are really enjoying our curriculum choices with the exception of one: Latin.  I've had to go back to the drawing board on that one.  I'll update at a later time about school.  The second thing which is keeping me so busy is my husbands workload.  The poor man is so busy with projects he is having a hard time getting home for dinner and even getting home to get some much needed rest.  So needless to say with him gone so much I am very exhausted at the end of the day.  My 4 kids sure do know how to tire me out!

Now, all of this to say that this Saturday my husband and I are going out!  Hooray!  We are going to an open house of one of the houses he has designed this year which was in Spokane's Fall Festival of Homes.  Yes, I am bragging a little here.    But we get to go out  with no children AND we get to  be with adults. The party is catered, so no cooking dinner and no children.  OH wait I said that part already.  Here is a picture of the house.  I think just the outside is amazing!

Anyone want to buy this beautiful house?  It is for sale and Spokane is a lovely place to live!

Again, I promise to do more blogging in the future!

No, really I am still here!

I have been meaning to update my blog but lately at the end of the day I am too exhausted or my mind is complete mush!  School is going great this year but it is taking up way more time than last year did.  Also taking care of 4 kiddos tends to take up a lot of my time and my energy. I promise I will be updated soon!   Happy days to all!

One year ago

It is amazing how fast time flies.  I was just thinking about our life one year ago.  We had three amazing things happen to us as a family.

First, my dh's  brother was diagnosed with cancer.  He is in his early 30's and it was a "fluke" that he even went to the doctor.  Low and behold there were spots in his lungs.  Over the year he did some chemo treatments but soon decided to halt the treatments.  It seems the chemo was actually making him feel sick, the cancer had not affected him yet.  Just last month after moving to a new town, getting a new job he has now decided to start up the treatments again. (he was tired of the coughing).  My husband has seen how God is actually using the cancer to pull his brother even closer in his walk of faith.  We can praise God for that!  If anyone cares to:  please pray for healing and pray for my husband's unbelieving family.  Thank you

The second thing that happened last September was the shocking announcement that we (meaning I) was pregnant with Josiah.  I kinda knew in July, but I was in such denial.  I thought I can not be pregnant, "Abbie is only 7 months old".  "What am I going to do with 2 babies?"  Now that he is here I am so thankful for him.  He is such an amazing little guy.  We feel so blessed by God to have this little guy in our family.  He brings joy to all those around him.  Oh, I could just gobble him up!  And of course life is busy with a 7yo, 5yo, almost 2yo and an almost 7 mo old but I wouldn't trade that business for anything!!!

Lastly,  one year ago I got a call from the man who works upstairs from my husband.  He called to tell me my dh had had a seizure.  I had no time to panic at that point (trust me later at night when all were in bed I did)  I was pregnant and I had 3 little ones I had to find a babysitter for, so I could take dh to the hospital/ER.  When I saw my husband I was a little taken aback.   He was wanting to go the the doctor (not normal for him!), he had a huge black eye and a big knot on his forehead (from dropping and hitting his head on a metal filing cabinet), he also had a swollen and bitten tongue.  As a wife it is very hard to see your dh so vulnerable looking.  Well I took him to the ER and to the neurologist.  We were told yup he had a seizure, no idea why (all the tests came back normal ) take this medicine and oh by the way no driving for 6 months!  Well when you are self employed not driving is a BIG deal.  We weren't sure how that was going to work out.  Would his clients understand?  Would business drop?   You know what God totally took care of everything (just like He always does!  why did we worry?)  Our dear neighbors took him to work AND picked him up or they babysat our kids so I could pick him up.  Did business drop?  Not at all!  His clients were great, very understanding.  The only thing that changed was we needed a new filing cabinet!  Now if dh remains seizure free (which he has) they will slowly wean him off the medicine.  Whoopee!

As I look back I see how God gave us a lot of things at one time.  But it makes me realize, God can handle a lot at one time!  He is truly amazing.  Thank you Jesus

Yes, I am still here!

The summer flew by and I have been trying to get things done before school started.  We did officially start school on Tuesday.  Everything went smoothly and the kids were excited.  I'm sure we will tweak a few things.  But all in all our first week of school went great!  I'll try and post more often!

Christmas in August!

Yippee my Rainbow Resource order just arrived to day!  I'm off to open the box and play with my new curriculum.  Soon I will post our daily, weekly, and yearly schedule.

I'm Busy, Busy Dreadfully Busy

Life right now is very busy.  School officially starts in about 4 weeks.  Between now and then I need to do the following:

1.  clean out kids clothes, box up old ones and make list of clothes needed for the fall/winter

2.  clean out and organize the school room.  make room for new years curriculum. 

 3.  finish planning upcoming year. 

4.  deep clean house.  HMMM may not happen

5.  take kids to swimming lessons

6.  buy school supplies

7.  register kids for Awana

8.  upkeep on the garden.  the weeds have taken over my strawberry patch

9.  organize my desk area.  it is seriously scary!    Almost there!!!!!

10.  slowly get the kids back in school mode

I am sure there is more but that is all my brain can focus on right now!

Two good books

I love to read.  I typically have 4 to 5 books on my nightstand that I am reading at once.  This summer I decided to take a break and read 1 at a time and read some more books that are just for fun.  So on vacation I read two good books.  I'll give you just a quick, very very quick description:

1st I read The Broker by John Grisham.  It is a typical Grisham book entertaining, light fluff, twaddle but I still love his stuff.  My husband is reading this now and it is making him want to visit Italy.

The 2nd book was The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers.  I really enjoyed this book as it points to our true sin bearer Jesus.   Ms Rivers is amazing how she can draw one into a story and at the same time share the gospel.  Hmm I really like her!

Ok so I really enjoyed reading just for fun again.  I am looking for any suggestions on good literature, good fluff books or any book you would consider light reading.  Acutally I'll take any book suggestions as I will be ordering some more books for my kids soon might as well order some for me as well.

Easy Grilled Chicken

I just tried a new recipe for grilled chicken.  I decided to post about it because 4 out of 6 of us loved it. By the way, the 5 mo old may like it someday when he can actually eat solids and the 21 mo. well lets just say she is really into bread products, milk and fruit.  Ok so now for the recipe.

Lemonade Chicken

1c. Italian dressing (I used Wishbone)

2/3c. Lemonade mix, the powder kind

2t. or so of pepper.

Mix the above together.  Add chicken.  Marinate, then grill.  Yum.

It was very moist and flavorful.  We will be having this again!

Bringing Up Children

I just finished reading a great article in my Rod and Staff  August 2007 newsletter.  The article is really geared to teachers but I think it applies to all parents especially those who are choosing to homeschool.  It is referencing the biblical idea of raising our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  ( Eph. 6:4)

 Here are the suggestions for bringing up children in a classroom.  Parenthesis are my own thoughts and ideas.

1.  Most important, commune with God each day.  Truth must be in our hearts before we can teach others. (Pray and read God's word daily before school)

2.  Pray daily for each of your students (pray daily for my children)

3.  Prepare and share meaningful devotional thoughts that are on the students' level. (Make Bible time and devotion time a priority, daily)

4.  Claim God's grace to keep right attitudes and to not be moody. (Ask for God's grace in this matter!)

5.  Teach by word and action a reverence for God and His Word.  (Again make it a priority daily and teach the things of God throughout our day)

6.  Teach respect for authority and love for each other.  (Remind children of the scripture that apply to this idea)

7.  Be awake to each child's needs.  (pray that God would reveal my children's needs to me)

Needless to say I need to daily bring myself and my children to the foot of the cross and cry out for God's mercy and grace as a parent, teacher and believer.