Apr. 9, 2009 - what we've been up to...
Hey it's been a while. We are all still here and doing well. I hope all my friends are well too.
I don't really have a good reason as to why I haven't updated my blog in a while. Just call me forgetful or lazy I guess.
I have been growing a lot spiritually since my last post. I am trying to make peace with myself and my flaws. I have always struggled with thinking nothing I do is ever good enough so that makes it hard for me to build friendships because I don't want to let anyone get too close. I have been praying for help overcoming this problem because I am tired of keeping friends out and pulling away. I now, since praying about this problem, feel like it was Satan telling me that I am never good enough. I know that I am not perfect and nobody is- so I need to quit being so uptight and hard on myself.
Anyways, just letting you know what I meant when I said have been growing spiritually. This is just one of the things I have been struggling with. I put this problem at the top of the list because I think a lot of the other struggles stem from this habit of perfectionism.
A nice poem to enjoy ----
LOVE
Love will make us well behaved
In each word and deed;
It will think of others first-
To their needs give heed.
Love will keep us sweet and kind
when we're treated ill;
Praising God for doing well
What is his good will.
Blessings--Jess
Friday, April 17, 2009 - Making some Changes
Hi Friends!
Due to frustrations with this blog, we have officially moved over to
http://royalbygrace.blogspot.com/
Please come on over and visit us there! :)
Jan. 27, 2009 - Overdue Update
It's been some time since I've updated my blog here...
Still homeschooling 
; but not much time for blogging about it, I guess.
We've had some challenges lately. The biggest distraction has been my sweet niece who is 2 months old coming to stay with us during the day. It is hard to stay focused on math when there is a beautiful baby making noise in the background 
. I'm sure as time passes, the new will wear off of that, and things will become a bit less chaotic. At least I certainly hope so! It has also been a while since I've had to function and care for a baby...I'm as easily distracted as the children are 
.
I'm thinking we need some changes to the curriculum for next season. Teaching Textbooks will replace Saxon for 1 dd; and I'm thinking I'll get Math U See for the younger girls.
I also need something for Language Arts, since I don't have as much time to put together copywork and so forth on my own. I have LLATL for grades 2 & 3, which is OK; but I'm considering Language Lessons from Queen Homeschool instead. Anyone use these? Simply Grammar is not a good fit for my oldest dd. She does not like it, even a little bit; so I'm thinking I'll get Language Lessons for her as well.
We're doing fine with our History, using A Child's History of the World as a text and then adding library books and other activities to that. Next year we'll move into the Mystery of History books.
Science has been hit or miss, and I really need to focus a bit more on that subject. We do lots of reading about animals, plants, a fair amount of Nature Study, and are reading Storybook of Science off and on.
We just finished volume I of A Child's Geography which was great fun. We'll begin volume II soon.
Lots of reading going on, everything from piles of easy readers, poetry, non-fiction, and fairy tales, to Sarah's newest obsession, knitting and crochet books.
I struggle with record keeping, so I think I may try to do more journaling as a record here in the coming days. I've tried countless different "systems" and don't seem to keep up with any of them. Perhaps an online account here will be better.
OK, I need to get a few "non-school" things accomplished today, too. Off to start the crockpot and find a cup of tea!
Nov. 24, 2008 - I have moved
Meet me over at www.mlpinky.blogspot.com
Nov. 17, 2008 - Thankful Thoughts
"God is pleased with no music below so much as with the thanksgiving songs of relieved widows and supported orphans; of rejoicing, comforted, and thankful persons."
Jeremy Taylor
Sing to the Lord today, for do we not all find ourselves described in the quote above?
Sep. 24, 2008 - BFS Assignment #103
Assignment: How do you keep energized so you can get it all done? bouncy music? treat it like a workout? Do you use a schedule?, a housekeeping binder system? luck of the draw system?.. or is this an area where you need encouragement? Do you need God’s help to keep order and beauty in your dwelling place? Take this week to tell us how You diligently keep going with your housekeeping chores.
Oh, this is a tough area for me! I never seem to get it all done, and the moment I "think" maybe I have....I realize that another thing to be done has suddenly materialized.
I have found that music helps motivate me. Some days is is upbeat contemporary Christian songs. Remedy by David Crowder is a favorite of mine. Sometimes I prefer the peaceful strains of a classical piece. I have a Pachalbel cd borrowed from the library that I've put on first thing each morning this week.
I've also found that if I start with the kitchen, then things just seem to flow from there. Perhaps because it is the heart of our home, or because I like washing dishes maybe. Our little kitchen/dining area gets much more use than the other rooms, since we also do our Table Time at the kitchen table. If I can get the dishes done and put away, the table cleared, and maybe a pretty flower, or a scented candle on the table; I'm usually motivated to move on to the living room, etc.
The laundry is another matter altogether, I'm afraid. With a household of 3 young ladies who seem to change clothing at least a half-dozen times a day, Mt. Washmore often reaches the most daunting heights! I have discovered that I don't mind washing and drying (thanks to my automatic washer and dryer) clothes nearly as much as I resent the folding, hanging, and putting away. So, since my girls make most of the laundry chore, I've delegated all of the "putting away" to them. They actually don't mind it so much, and it makes things go much faster. 6 eager hands are better than my reluctant 2!
I have 2 days that I do a "House Blessing" cleaning; and the rest of the time I try to focus on whatever area is annoying myself or my husband the most!
Sorry that I didn't get the previous 2 asssignments completed...life sometimes gets a bit hectic here. Perhaps when I have some spare moments, I'll do them as "make-up" work!
Blessings,
Catherine
Sep. 3, 2008 - BFS Assignment #100
BFS Assignment #100 - Oh What a Feeling!
Assignment: Take time this week to write about YOU and your feelings of trials and triumphs with homeschooling. Touch on when you first heard about the concept of home schooling and whether you tip-toed into the idea or just jumped in and never looked back. Share your schooling as a child and how you compare it to what your goals are for your children.
I really do LOVE homeschooling! I enjoy having my girls home with me, and learning right along with them. I went to public school, so I have plenty of "gaps" yet to fill! Besides, who could resist all those lovely books???
I eased ever so slowly into the whole idea of homeschooling. Though I had heard of homeschooling, my plan was to get a job working at the local school when my daughter was old enough to start attending. Of course, the Lord had different plans...much better than mine, of course.
When my oldest dd was 4 years old, and everyone kept saying she needed to go to Preschool; the LORD just kept sending those lovely homeschool families along to encourage me that homeschooling was the way to go. I enjoyed visiting with them, and the issues that my SIL had with her son in the local school made me very skeptical about sending my child there anyway. Well, in the small town we lived in, you only qualified for pre-K if you were low income (not a problem for a bi-vocational minister's family); AND if you couldn't speak English. One of the kind ladies at church, who also taught at the school, told me we'd never get past that one as much as my little one talked (she gets it from her Father, I promise). I took that as the final sign that I needed to just get started homeschooling.
I went to the local teacher's store and had a wonderful time looking at all their curriculum; but after reading For the Children's Sake and A Charlotte Mason Companion, ended up with lots and lots of living books, and a few Wal-Mart workbooks "for fun".
For the first few years, when skeptics would ask all "those questions", I would say, "We are deciding year by year about homeschooling." Now I know that we will homeschool until all 3 are finished with high school.
One of the most rewarding things about having them learn at home is seeing them enjoying the learning process. When we hit a "roadblock" and have a difficult time, I can put that book away, or try a different approach. I've found that learning happens naturally when they have the freedom, time, and opportunity to do so. Good books will be read, and good learning tools will be used if they are strewn about for them to "discover".
They have their mother's love of books, so it is a common sight to see 3 little girls and one not so little girl all curled up with their noses in a book! Of course, this does sometimes make it difficult to get those other necessary daily things...laundry, vacuuming, sweeping etc. done!
I just heard my "middlest Love" singing the song "Make Me A Servant"...perhaps I should take her up on the offer, right away!
Blessings, Catherine.....off to see if the little Love would really like to be a servant !
Oh...try as I may, the graphic isn't working for me...I'm a disaster at these techy things; would someone please tell me how to post it properly???
Aug. 27, 2008 - Blogger Friend School
This sounds like such fun!
I signed up for Blogger Friend School 2008-2009.
They are having a great Back to School giveaway that I am participating in. Check it out if you haven't signed up already!
Blessings,
Catherine
Aug. 27, 2008 - A Fresh Start
It's almost time for our new learning season to start.
I love the excitement and "newness" of a brand new educational year.
Our adventure will begin on Tues., Sept. 2, 2008.
I had big plans to begin Aug. 1; but life exploded in lots of good ways; but in ways that put my lesson plans and new books right back on the bookshelf!
That's OK, when I was in school (ancient history now), we never started classes until after Labor Day....just seems right in my brain even now.
Sooo.....I've signed up for Blogger Friend School, and am looking forward to making new friends and doing some learning of my own as well this year.
Here are a few of the great resources I plan to use this year:
Bible
SCM Scripture Memory System
A Child's Book of Character Building
A Child's Geography
Mystery of History Vol. 1
A Child's History of the World
Simply Grammar
LLATL Red
Phonics Pathways
Copywork books
English from the Roots Up
Exploring Creation with Botany
Handbook of Nature Studies
Storybook of Science
Parables from Nature
Miquon Math
Math Mammoth
Teaching Textbooks 5
Ambleside Online resources for Literature, Poetry, Art, Composers, Shakespeare, etc.
Plus lots of great read alouds, craft projects, and whatever else we find that looks interesting along the way!
This is the first year I have 3 "grades" to teach- 1,2, & 5. Should be quite an adventure.
Blessings,
Catherine
Aug. 14, 2008 - work
I really like it. I have just been at it for a few weeks and I already have 8 customers!
The kids like it too because they feel like they are getting to help me work. I am really excited and really appreciate the suggestion.
Things are going well with our family, we don't have our farm yet but working on it! I have faith it will happen sooner or later. I just hope it is sooner rather than later, but we are waiting on God's timing to work everything out. I am trying to be patient with Him.
Take care, Blessings--Jess
