Sunday, September 09, 2007

Monday Meanderings September 10

I really love this Monday Meme that is hosted by Tiany! It helps to give the week focus and also gives us time to reflect on what needs to be done!

BIBLE STUDY/DEVOTIONS:
This week I am starting the book of Timothy. I have been so enjoying the epistles! I really look forward to reading such uplifting words! I was also 'blessed at the curbside' this week! I live next door to a church and they were throwing out boxes of books! I got an entire curriculum to use in our homeschool! Teacher's book, workbook, and test book! I also got 2 books studying the book of Matthew, a large hardbound book of great people of the Bible, and 2 other books about teaching the Bible to children. What a wonderful surprise that was! I will be going over the books this week and planning on how to use it in our homeschool.

MUST DO:
This is a big area this week. My bestest friend in the world will be here from New Hampshire (I'm in Michigan) on Friday! I haven't seen her in 4 years! I have to get all the bedding washed for her bed, scrub the bathroom really good ("guest good!"), make the yard look nice again (I've been hiding from the swarming bees and the skunk ... long story) and do a good vacuum of the car.
Also: Must mail out books for paperbackswap, mail off bills, and mail out Emme's pen pal's letter tomorrow!
Must attend first homeschool meeting of the year and first seasonal combined worship at church.

ZONE: This week's Fly Lady Zone is the kitchen. I'll be following along with Kelly's Missions! I also need to do a really good scrub of the floor and wash down the walls and cabinets!

TRAIN THEM UP: This week in school we will be starting our regular schedule. Mostly I want Emme to get through this more rigorous curriculum. I am also giving her a new chore of picking up 10 things that are out of place in the house and putting them back in their correct spot. We are also having our first Tea Party on Thursday while studying our Artist and Composer Study and listening to our folk song and hymn. (All found on Ambleside)

MENU PLAN: You can find my menu plan here at this post!

Have a very blessed week with your family,

Sherry

June 25th:

Things here have been really busy.  Life is full.  Sometimes I feel like it's hard not to get overwhelmed.

I go through an adjustment period every year it seems.  From September through mid-June I homeschool Emme and Jennah and Jacob go to school and spend time with their dad.  For the first few weeks that they are on summer vacation, it's like my whole schedule is entirely thrown up in the air and it takes awhile for the pieces to come back down and settle into a new routine.  I guess I don't handle change all that well.

Jacob has soccer on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursday evenings.  We have church on Wednesday evenings and Sundays.  We go to my parents' house on Saturdays.  That leaves only two nights a week where we are not somewhere else.  I'm such a home body that it is hard for me to adjust.  I now remember why I just wanted to stay HOME all fall and winter!  lol

We started our summer term last week, and it is going pretty well.  Jennah has already read several books so far this summer and has already surpassed all of the reading club requirements!  I'm not surprised though.  She is also doing her typing lessons (something she had problems with at school, even though they were not graded on it) math, history, science -- just about every subject actually, and mostly on her own.   She just started "Anne of Green Gables" today as well as a book about the presidents. 

Jacob has been practicing his handwriting, multiplication up to 12, english worksheets, reading about the history of hockey and automobiles, and we are still reading "The Incredible Journey" and "Treasure Island".

As for Emme - I miss the amount of time we had during the school year.  I feel as if I don't have enough time to devote to her.  She does her math, phonics, and handwriting every day.  I need at least a half an hour a day to sit down with her and do religion, history, and reading.  You would think it would be simple to find 1/2 an hour, wouldn't you?  So far it hasn't been.  Although she is having a wonderful summer being a little girl.  Catching fire flies, rolling down hills, watering flowers, watching baby bunnies,  making new friends, rollerskating, bike riding, shooting baskets with my dad, etc.  I definitely should quit worrying so much.  We have a full school year ahead of us.

July 1st :

It's been awhile since I started that update.  A week anyway!  lol  This holiday week we don't have any soccer, so it is a much more relaxed week.

We went to the drive in night before last and saw "Surf's Up" and "Nancy Drew".   "Surf's Up" had some 'boyish' humor (talking about poop, etc) but the overall theme was  a good one.  (It's more important to do the right thing than to win.  Friends are more important than winning.  Hiding from your problems is not the solution) 

"Nancy Drew" was awesome!  I LOVED it!  I've heard reviewers call it "old fashioned" and "Boring".  Well, it's a good, clean, adventure/mystery with a good role model in Nancy.  She does disobey her father, but she comes clean to him and apologizes.  There are some more modern aspects to the movie in some of the characters -- but Nancy stays herself, true to her beliefs.  This also got Jennah (my 11-year-old) really excited about starting the 2 Nancy Drew Mysteries I got her for her birthday!  I hope this leads to her reading the entire series!

I also wanted to mention that Wendy's kids meals are including audio books as their 'toy'!  We got the first "Magic Treehouse" audio book!  I'm so geeked about that!

And one more thing -- I am going to be posting a big LINK POST tonight or tomorrow.  I found a bunch of great links lately. 

I hope you are all enjoying your summer!    Oh, and did you all see the gorgeous Strawberry Moon last night?  I was blessed enough to be able to sit on my front porch and gaze at it for a bit, listening to the wind in the tree tops.  It was just an amazing moment with God!  I actually cried, thinking that people could see what I see and hear what I hear and not KNOW that it was created by our Father! 

Oh, and to the blogger who asked if I had a template for the family newsletter -- I don't.  I have one through my MS Works program that we use.  I searched online, but didn't find a free one.  I'm sorry.

Sherry

Emme and I were watching the desert version of "Planet Earth" last night and we were watching the young male impalas fighting.  Em asked why they were fighting like that and I explained that they were fighing over a girl.

Her response:

"COOL!  I want to get another Ken doll and make them fight like that over Barbie!"

*sigh*

  Sherry

I spent a lot of time today going through my friend's list here at HSB.  Anyone who hadn't posted in the past three months, I took off my list.  Now, I realize that I MYSELF left for several months and you guys didn't ditch ME!  But I have a reason, I sincerely do!

I had 50 friends on my friends list.  I have a really hard time keeping up with everyone and generally only get to about 10 or so at a time, so some journals I was completely overlooking.  THIRTY of those 50 haven't updated in several months!  So, now I have a few over 20 friends on my list, all of whom update every once in awhile!  Now I can be a better commenter for all of you!   (And if you are someone who hasn't posted in awhile and have started back up, let me know!  I will add you right back!)

See?  I'm not a mean, cold-hearted person!  I had the best of intentions!

Well, it's 8:41 on Easter eve.  The kids are watching a movie in my bedroom and my dh is at work.  The eggs are colored and pictures of them have been taken.  (I will post on Monday)  I have everything all set to put together the baskets as soon as the children are in bed.  I THINK I am prepared!   The laundry is caught up, the dishwasher is running, and I am oh so tired!

Janette Oke's 4th book in her "Love Comes Softly" series is premiering as a movie tonight on the Hallmark channel.  Only 15 more minutes!  I have been patiently awaiting t his!  I love that series so much.  I have the 7th and 8th book to read still, and they are next on my list!  Lately I have been caught up in the Abram's Daughters series by Beverly Lewis.  I read the first three of those.  I also recently read "The Queen's Fool" by Phillippa Gregory and right now I am reading "The Queen's Confession" by Victoria Holt.  I really love historical fiction! 

In Jake's Easter basket, I got him the book Eragon which I just found out was written by a homeschooled teen.  We went to a book fair last week and Jake wanted the book, but I knew he didn't have the patience for it.  I told him I would read it aloud to all three of them this summer, but figured I would surprise him and start it tomorrow.  A homeschooling friend of mine just finished it and loved it, so I thought I would give it a try!

As far as school -- last week was probably one of the best weeks we've had in a long time.  Things are moving along smoothly and we've got a good routine going.   We are reading "Squanto Friend of the Pilgrims" right now along with "If you Lived in Colonial Times", which Emme loves.  I think she is enjoying learning about how this country was discovered.   We've been keeping a notebook all along, so she will have a nice reminder of what she's learned.

We will be starting a second, smaller notebook on Monday.  In science we are learning about different types of forests and the animals that live there.  The notebook will be filled with drawings and coloring pages of animals, trees, grasses, and temperature/precipitation differences in the three types of forests and we will end up by going on a hike through a local (very small) forest and adding in whatever we happen to find on our nature hunt.  I think it will be really enjoyable.

Oh, I watched a show last night on The Discovery Health channel about raising a dozen (or more) kids.  This family had 14, and THIRTEEN of them were BOYS!  Oh, that poor, poor mom!  They were an impressive family though.  She homeschooled them and the father is ordained and they ran their own ministery.  They were all just so happy and loved their family -- it was really great.   The show airs once a week on Saturdays at 8 EST, I believe.  It's called something like Parenting by the Dozen?  I can't exactly remember. 

Well, I hope you all have a most blessed Easter Sunday!  Hug those kids!

Sherry

HI Ladies,

Sorry it has been so long once again.  I feel guilty about not blogging more about our homeschooling.  The thing is, once again I am going back and forth about sending Emme to school next year.  I really need to bring income into this house or else everything is just going to fall apart.  I've managed to hold things together so far, but we never have enough money to save any.  If we have an emergency, we have to borrow money.  We have no college funds for the three kids, etc.  I've been trying to be really frugal, but even then it seems we can't get past living paycheck to paycheck.  I figure if homeschooling is truly meant to be, I will find a way before September. 

In good news, Emme is doing better with reading.  She is also picking up math really easily and we have been working out of a 2nd grade book lately.   She picks up phonics really easily and is getting better at listening and narrating back to me with longer works.  So she is progressing nicely.  If she does have to go to school next year, I think she will be well prepared for anything they throw at her. 

In more good news, I have lost almost 20 pounds so far this year.  I've changed our eating habits and have started exercising.  Emme loves all the vegetables, salads, fruits, and really just about everything.  None of the kids are crazy about the recipes I've been making though -- they would rather have their chicken or pasta or rice or vegetables all plain -- but that is fine with me!  My dh has lost 40 pounds in the past six months.  He is still having back problems though.

Jacob is back in soccer.  He's doing great!  He only has 4 more games until it is over -- he plays twice a week.  Unfortunately, he has been complaining about his heel and the sides of his heel hurting on one side.  We have a dr's appt on Monday -- I am hoping it is nothing; however, it has been constant for the past couple of weeks.  My ex husband's family has been riddled with cancer genes and he is worried that it could be a sign of something serious.  His younger brother's cancer started out as innocent leg pain as well.  I'm praying it is something simple and soccer-related!

Jennah is the same as ever!  Sweet, good tempered, avid reader, loves school.  She's such a joy. 

Well, that about does it for the update!  I hope you are all doing well!

Sherry

 Wow.  A lot has changed since I've been gone!  I tried updating the other day, but HSB was still down.  Everything looks so odd!

Anyway -- I've been mostly the same.  We have made a lot of changes around the house, a lot of rearranging and changing rooms around.  I've also done a lot of shopping.  Mike's been laid off again for the past 2 weeks.  That's been super tough financially and on our relationship!  The kids are all doing well.  School is going slowly.  We've been studying Advent quite a bit and doing a lot of crafts. 

I have a lot of plans for next year bouncing around in my head.  As you can see from my image above, a lot of that has to do with being more frugal.  I did really well for a couple of months there -- and now?  Well, in the CHRISTmas spirit, I have been spending like crazy.  I am not at all happy with myself.   When am I going to learn to control myself?  Ugh.

Next week we are going to be shopping out of our pantry mostly.  I only plan on buying a few supplemental things.   I also have several prescriptions to fill -- and I plan to take advantage of places which give you 20 or 25 dollar gift cards when you switch. 

Anyway -- I just wanted to check in and say hello and tell you all that I hope you are doing well!

Sherry

 Wow.  A lot has changed since I've been gone!  I tried updating the other day, but HSB was still down.  Everything looks so odd!

Anyway -- I've been mostly the same.  We have made a lot of changes around the house, a lot of rearranging and changing rooms around.  I've also done a lot of shopping.  Mike's been laid off again for the past 2 weeks.  That's been super tough financially and on our relationship!  The kids are all doing well.  School is going slowly.  We've been studying Advent quite a bit and doing a lot of crafts. 

I have a lot of plans for next year bouncing around in my head.  As you can see from my image above, a lot of that has to do with being more frugal.  I did really well for a couple of months there -- and now?  Well, in the CHRISTmas spirit, I have been spending like crazy.  I am not at all happy with myself.   When am I going to learn to control myself?  Ugh.

Next week we are going to be shopping out of our pantry mostly.  I only plan on buying a few supplemental things.   I also have several prescriptions to fill -- and I plan to take advantage of places which give you 20 or 25 dollar gift cards when you switch. 

Anyway -- I just wanted to check in and say hello and tell you all that I hope you are doing well!

Sherry

Hi all.

Today is all about progress.  There is so much to be done in this small house which I call home. 

Right now, my best friend's husband is taking out my dead garbage disposal and replacing it with new plumbing.  (A new disposal is just out of the budget at the moment) Afterwards, he is going to take my car through the oil change place.  I have a lot of anxiety about doing this myself, and dh just doesn't do that type of stuff, so my friend's husband does it for me. 

After this is done, I will put in a load of clothes and head on over to sign THE BOY up for indoor soccer.  Then I will go to my Mom's and pick up the bottom of the China cabinet. 

By then it should be around 1 p.m. and Emme and I will get our schoolwork in. 

I also need to bring in my son's twin bed from the garage because this evening we will be taking the final desk and dh's computer to the basement and i will be free to fix up THE BOY'S room! 

I also have a couple of things to get out in the mail today.  My head is just a blur right now!

Tonight I need to do a good vacuuming of the living room and hallway, put away the clutter in the living room, get all the baking stuff put in the old pantry, the school stuff will go in the small china cabinet, and the bottom half of the NEW china cabinet from Mom will be filled with videos, dvds, and books.  *whew*  No wonder I feel all flabbergasted!

I will check in again later!  And I still owe a tag!

Sherry

It's been one of those super busy days here at the Honeycutt Household.  It seems like my whole house was in a shambles!  I've worked on the living room, kitchen, basement, and my new pantry  

I have SO MUCH clutter.  I was just saying that earlier.  I swear I try really hard to declutter, but there is just SO MUCH.  I'm thinking one of my main problems is paper clutter.  My desk is overflowing with it.  Even though I have a nice big drawer to keep important papers in, they never seem to make it there.  I also have a coupon organizer, home organizer, and holiday organizer.   On top of that I have several folders and binders to house all the homeschool paperwork -- so why do I have paper everywhere I look?

After going through certain people's blogs who shall remain nameless, I feel like such an inferior mother, wife, and homeschooling mom.  I intend to do really great crafts and unit studies and then end up trying to shove in math and reading at the end of a busy day instead. 

How do some Moms seem to have so much time to devote to elaborate crafts and lesson plans and field trips and nature walks and reading endless books to their offspring?  I am obviously doing something wrong.  *sigh*

Will I never be the happy homeaker?

So anyway -- we have the holidays looming and then the whole New Year.  Instead of a bunch of lofty ideals of  how to improve my life through resolutions -- I am going to go back to the basics again.  The 3 R's.  (Like I have talked about in my other blog)

Religion, Relationships, and Responsibilities. 

The three areas of my life that need the most strengthening.  So, on this note, I am going to figure out exactly what is most important in each category and make a modest list of changes which I will try to incorporate in 2007.  So we won't be calling them "resolutions" round here!  Back to basics!

Sorry to complain all the time!  I am going to now post another post about what we will be doing for this week -- complete with the crafts that I HOPE will get done by Thanksgiving.

Sherry

Hello ladies.

Thank you all for your prayers and kind, wishful thoughts.  I am feeling much, MUCH better!  Less depressed, more energetic and positive.  So the prayers worked   Thanks!

My parents, Emme and I went to my cousin's wedding in Chicago.  I said a LOUD shout out to Michelle,  Abiga, and Anna upon entering the city! 

Here is a picture of the bride, Kristin, and her sister, Lori; my cousins:

Her dress was so beautiful, the picture doesn't do it justice.  Simple, elegant and really lovely.  The whole wedding was really great.  Her husband seems wonderful and I am just so happy for them. 

Emme was the only child that got to go to the wedding (another perk of homeschooling!) Here she is:

And right before we were heading out the door:

It was a nice time for everyone. Emme was especially excited since they had a CANDY BAR at the reception!  lol

We heard that Bo Shembeckler (sp) the past coach of UM football passed away and that put a damper on things for my dad and uncles.  And then the loss of the HUGE football game yesterday put my dad further in the dumps.  ( I don't watch football at all -- I'm a hockey gal!)

I think the best part was coming home!  I walked in the door and the house smelled like apples and cinnamon (Glade candles) and my bed was so comfie and my spot in the living room and my COMPUTER!  lol  Even 2 days away was enough to make me appreciate HOME. 

The hotel we stayed in did have internet and playstation, but I let Emme watch the Disney Channel when she wasn't coloring in her Polly coloring book or doing her Reader Rabbit workbook. 

So we are home and I turned in our boxes for Operation Christmas Child and found out we are going to have a New Year's party at church!  I can't wait!  I never, ever, ever do anything on New Year's!  I keep the kids with me and we celebrate and they try to stay awake and mostly they fall asleep and I hang out with my sister and we eat junk food.  WOOHOO!  What a way to bring in the New Year!  lol  This year we will be praying in the new year.  Wonderful idea!

And another thing I would like your opinion about. 

We have the option of adopting a family for Christmas.  Our minimal obligation would be to supply them with a Christmas dinner and some gifts for the family.  Of course you can go above and beyond that!  I really, really want to do this....however, I am worried I won't be able to give them ENOUGH.  So should I?  I mean, as long as Mike doesn't get laid off again, it should be fine.  But what if he is?  Then I don't know if we'd be able to afford more than the minimum.  I'd like to really make this family feel special and welcome them over to my home, etc.  Please pray for me so I make the right decision.  Just a quick little note to God so that I know what to do! 

Ok -- I just wanted to let you know that things are looking up here at my house spiritually and emotionally -- so thank you again for your prayers.

OH!  My parent/teacher conferences with Jake and Jennah's teachers went WONDERFUL.  They are both excellent students, behaving well, well-liked, etc.  SO happy!  (Remember last year I had some problems with THE BOY)  I was a very proud mom!  I just worry so much about next year that Jennah will be going to middle school.  I am absolutely positive without a doubt that she would never, ever succomb to peer pressure and do anything at all that would harm her or disappiont us -- but I don't want her around that kind of stuff.  And I worry!  I will just have to pray that God keeps her eyes and ears innocent and safe!

If I don't update before Thanksgiving (although I plan to because I was tagged!) Have a blessed, wonderful, family-filled holiday! 

Sherry

It's 6 pm on a Friday and as usual, I didn't get nearly as much accomplished today as I had hoped to.  I didn't spend extravagently, but I spent more than I had planned. 

I bought 15 dollars worth of things for Christmas.  2 rolls of beautiful wrap, several containers to put homeade goodies in and a pretty angel cup to put in a gift basket with coffee and muffins.  

I finished cleaning out and organizing my coat closet yesterday, and now I have nowhere to keep the stuff I just bought.  *sigh*  I have 2 small bins full of little gifts to put inside baskets and tins, but they are already full. 

My mother is giving me a gorgeous armoire -- or perhaps it is a buffet?  I am not sure what it is called.  It's got 2 shelves on the bottom and then t here is a top part with glass doors and shelves.  Anyway -- I should be getting this this week -- it will be the perfect place to store my Christmas goodies. 

You know what I miss?  I miss having help.  An older brother, a male cousin, etc who can help lift heavy things.  I have dh, and that is all.  And he is not all that helpful, if you know what I am saying!  (*cough, cough*)  My Dad is getting older and has a bad knee.  None of dh's friends ever help.  So I am basically at the same point as my mother -- either do it yourself or it won't be done.

Are there any of YOU that carry your own chairs, bookcases, armoires, etc. up and down stairs, in and out of the house?  Well, if I don't, it will never get done.  It's a sad fact of my life.

Of course I can PAY someone to help me -- but I think back to the dozens of times I have helped other people with household chores and have done it out of the goodness of my heart. 

What happened to the good old days when the whole community got together to help raise a barn?  *sigh*

Ok, so back to my armoire.  My mother and I decided enough is enough.  We are giong to put one piece at a time in the back of my SUV and get it into my house.  Because we are strong and we are STUBBORN!  (The latter being of utmost importance when moving heavy furniture)  I HATE having my Mom help me.  She's one tough cookie.  She moved the darn thing herself out into the garage from the house! 

It's a family piece that I am going to love and cherish and hand down -- so it's a very important piece to me!  And I really want to enjoy it over the holidays.

***************************************************

My parents, Emme and I are going to Chicago next weekend for my cousin's wedding.  Emme is really looking forward to it.  I will be "carschooling" Emme on Friday so I want to make sure to include something interactive with the trip we're taking.  It's only a 4-1/2 hour drive, but not all that scenic, especially this time of the year!  We'll definitely stop at the Illinois border so she can get a postcard or something to put inside of her "field trip notebook" --- and I think we may be going to Sears Tower -- so maybe I will talk about that building before we go.  I will do my BEST to take pictures!  I'm so bad at remembering that. 

******************************************************

My friend Domi from France took this picture last April -- isn't it beautiful?  She takes wonderful photos.  

Well, have a blessed weekend and Veteran's Day!

Sherry

I thought maybe posting about my anxiety about going to the HS meeting tonight might help me to actually make it there.  I've mentioned before how I am afraid to .......no, that's not quite right.  I'm not exactly afraid to leave the house, but I fear being in places of public interaction.  That makes more sense, I guess.  Anywhere that I have to talk and participate.  That pinpoints it better.

I missed church for several weeks because of this.  I missed the last HS meeting.  I avoid signing up for anything now because I know that I will get this huge weight in my chest keeping me home.

My hands have actually been shaking today and I have been very impatient with emme.  I feel guilty because we did not have a good school day.  I was rushing her and not nurturing her enough. 

Em has ballet right now, and then right after that I will drop her off with dh and then go to the hs meeting.  All of these things are within about 2 minutes from my house.  I'm showered, dressed, even have makeup on.  Yet I do not want to leave the house.  I hate this aspect of myself.

Well, I better try and convince myself that I need to go.

Sherry

It's been a week since I've updated, and for that I am sorry. 

Things here have been pretty slow.  Today is church -- and I am hoping that will be all for today.  I know it's a day of rest, but I was sick on Friday and gone all day yesterday, and this house needs attention!  Desperately.  So, I will be cleaning house.

Emme has been really into crafts all week long.  They hold her interest for hours.  We did some collages for her  Native American Notebook, and they turned out really nice.  I think this week we'll work on some fall trees collages for the nature notebook.  Those should turn out really pretty, I think.  My Mother's friend gave us a HUGE bag of craft supplies.  One thing that was in there was a book about collages and several very uniquely printed tissue paper.  It should work out nicely.

The boy's birthday is Thursday.  He'll be 8.  My Dad and I were watching home movies yesterday of his 5th birthday, and I just couldn't believe how much of a baby he still looked like.  He still talked with his baby-like voice and had a baby face.  And then the video from Easter, just 6 months later, he began to look more like the grown boy he is today.  It's truly a blessing to have those video tapes.  My Dad watches them for hours.  I especially love the one where we bring Jake home from the hospital.  Jennah is 2-1/2 and very protective of "her" mommy!  Jake is all head with big eyes and dimples.  It's great.

Did I mention here about Jacob's improvement in soccer?  On Thursday he actually kicked in the winning goal!!!!  His first goal ever!  My Dad and I were so choked up when it happened!  What an awesome three-generation moment!  We couldn't even look at eachother because there would have been tears!!!  We were so proud of the BOY!  Then yesterday he got yet another goal!  We are hoping that this will help his confidence and make his game time and team playing even more important to him now.  We are going to sign him up for indoor soccer over the winter (Grandpa is paying! Thanks Dad!) and then he'll be back with his regular team in the spring.  I'm thankful we found a sport that gives him such great exercise while instilling in him the importance of working with a team.

Em and I have been really buckling down with the basics over the past few weeks.  I think it may have been Susan (?) that suggested that if I was feeling overwhelmed, blue, or behind, to stick with the basics.  We've been doing a lot of math, handwriting, spelling, and reading.  We get some history and science in there too, and of course Religion, art, music, etc. -- but the math and other basics is what we spend the bulk of our time doing.  For now.  I feel guilty about it, as I follow Charlotte Mason's principles and I know I am not reading nearly enough living books to her at the moment -- but I will get back to that.  I am just not myself right now.  And it's taking me some time to get back to myself.  But I AM getting there.  It's just a slower process than I thought it would be. 

It's supposed to be a glorious day, weather-wise.  I am going to work on the front lawn today, and the backyard tomorrow.  The grass is knee high!  Ok, not knee high, but it seems like it!  My own little house on the prairie!  :D   Speaking of that, Melissa Wiley, author of the Martha and Charlotte years, is traveling cross country right now to her new home.  Say a little prayer that she and "Jane, Beanie, Wonderboy, and baby Rilla" get there safe and sound.  I admire her so much as a homeschooling mother and writer.  I know I've mentioned her several times here on this blog.  You can catch HER blog at: The_Bonny_Glen. 

Well, it's time for me to get dressed for church.  My good friend Cindy will be here to pick me up in about 1/2 an hour.  Time to praise the Lord and worship in his house!

Have a very blessed Sunday my friends,

Sherry

I was driving yesterday on the highway and looking into the huge expanse of sky -- baby blue with huge, full fluffy clouds.  It went on forever.  Then I'd glance back down and see factories, electrical lines, billboards, and the airport.  It made me yearn for vast cornfields, prairies, mountains -- more signs of God's work. 

Generally I love living in the suburbs.  I'm walking distance from 5 churches (including my own), a grocery store, 2 drugstores, many fast food chains, and a multitude of other small businesses, parks, and amenities.  I am a short drive from anywhere and anything. 

However, I have moments where I long for the quiet life of my grandparents' farm when I was growing up.  Standing on the tree swing, pretending I was wonderwoman.  Stealing into the forbidden barn where the mother cat had just had kittens.  Climbing up various pear and apple trees, carrying down whatever I wanted in my pockets.  And the farming of the small land with my grandfather in his overalls.  Picking green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, etc and watching as my grandmother turned them into canned goods for the winters ahead.  I used to pretend that the small stairway that led up to my room was like the one in Little House on the Prairie -- and that I was in a flannel gown and bonnet. 

It was a good childhood.  So many memories of those years. 

Which brings me back to the longing I feel for wide open spaces.  To have a little land of my own.  Maybe a cow and a chicken or two. 

But I'm happy with where I am.  I have a roof over my head which God will continue to provide.  I have a lovely big kitchen that is reluctantly putting up with me as I learn how to bake.  I have a small backyard which provides me with a stray tomato if I'm extra careful.  I have a home with a family contained inside of it -- and although I may dream of a more simple (I am not saying easy!) life, I can still appreciate my own.

Sorry I haven't been posting much.  I've been sort of down still; I can't seem to shake it.

Em and I did a lot of grocery shopping today.  I had another great savings day with coupons, sales, rebates, and free offers.  Mike told me that he "loves" my new hobby.  LOL

If you want to see how much I saved, and get some links to new freebies, check out my_other_blog. 

Emme and I have a lot of school to catch up on.  I have just felt so run down all week.  We did the basics, the 3 Rs, but that was about it.  I know I should go to the doctors, I am sure something has to be wrong, but I just hate to go. 

Next week just HAS to be better.  It has to. 

I hope you are all doing well.  I hope the schooling is moving right along!  Emme and I will have a catch up week next week -- do a little extra every day to get back to where we should be.  I'd like to get at least one little field trip in.  There is supposed to be a fire prevention activity at Home Depot on the 7th -- that would be nice if we can swing it with Jake's soccer game! 

Well, I better get to bed and get my 5 hours in before the kids wake me!

Blessings,

Sherry

 School started today.  Jennah and Jake were back to public schools.  They sent home a load of paperwork to be filled out.  Jake, my son who does NOT like to read (milkwoman's baby, obviously not a child of MINE!) is supposed to read 100 chapter books by the end of the year.  Books of 100+ pages will be counted as 2 books. 

While I'm really pleased that there will be all of this reading going on ...... I'm having my doubts about whether or not he will actually DO this.  Please, please don't repeat this --- but Jacob is probably my child that learns the easiest, grasps concepts easiest and, well, is the most naturally intelligent.  Does that make sense?  Everything comes easy for him.  He is NOT the hardest worker though.  Jennah is.  She is very smart as well.  She has had all As and Bs since K (she's in 5th) and last year her last report card was all As.  But she worked HARD for that.  HARD.  She also has the best memory.  She remembers books word for word.  And she easily reads a couple hundred books a year.  She also does extra homework, for FUN.  But it doesn't come as naturally.  She works for it.  As Emme is homeschooled and only starting 1st grade -- I'm not sure where she falls yet.  All three kids are different.  They have different strengths and weaknesses -- just like I'm sure all of your children do as well.  Jacob's weakness is his attention span.  His unwillingness.  His impatience.  THAT is why he doesn't like to read.  It TAKES TOO LONG!  I'm serious.  Really!  Have you ever encountered this before?  So I hope this won't be a big ordeal for us.  I wonder if he will count the books we read aloud as a family?  Listen to on CD in the car?  Or should I make him actually read all the books himself?  (He will complain several times each page.........trust me, I know!)

  On to other things.......  I got 8 green pepper for a dollar and I've chopped them and frozen them for meals over the next month or so.  I did the same with tomatoes -- after peeling them.  I want to make some homeade spaghetti sauce.  YUMMY!  I think I"m going to go and get more of those green peppers -- they are generally about a dollar each in the winter time!  Great deal.

I ventured away from my menu plan for today -- but I did use 2 of the main ingredients.  I made fried potatoes w/ onions and ham and cheese omelets.  Not healthy -- oy vey!  But it was a long day and I didn't have any lunch and just couldn't wait for the chicken, rice, and ham casserole to cook in the oven.  (We didn't get home til 630)

AND -- great news!  Jake scored a GOAL in soccer tonight!!!!! 

My Dad was so proud!!!!  Me too.  He didn't score a goal the entire season last year.  He was too timid to get in there and kick the ball.  Now he's trying and he's seeing it pay off.  I LOVE that he sees that if he puts in a little effort that it WORKS!  I mainly want him in it for the exercise -- but these perks are good too!  Plus it gives my dad SUCH joy!  He comes to every practice and game. 

Well, time to pick up dh from work.....

Sherry

September is starting off in a good light!   I won a really terrific gift for being chosen the random blogger of the week!  The great people at Trivium_Pursuit are the sponsers this week and I am going to receive Teaching_the_Trivium as my gift.  I can't tell you how excited I am!  There are several other books that I know I will be purchasing from them down the road, check out   My_Mommy,_My_Teacher and the Psalms books!  They are gorgeous!

One more thing -- a great article on their website that you have to check out is:

10_Things_to_do_Before_Age_Ten

So, as I mentioned, it is September 1st.  We have a couple of trees starting to change already, and even those that stay green throughout most of September still have that yellowish-green tint they get at the end of summer when they start to get tired.  The kids, however, don't seem to be losing any of their summer energy yet!

Jennah is outside on her daily mini-nature walk.  Yesterday we found a dead Monarch in the street  so I brought it inside and it is not sitting on a twig in the nature jar.  I'm not sure what I will do with it yet.  It is flat and the texture of a dried flower.  I may find a way to use it in a nature journal in some type of protective covering.  It is quite beautiful.

Emme is rollerskating back and forth on the kitchen linoleum.  No, I have no idea why I am allowing this.  I do want her to practice skating; maybe that is it. 

Jake started soccer a couple of days ago and I was impressed with how well he did!  I was proud.  Last year he was so timid and shy and this year he's putting real effort into it.  His appetite has been so HUGE over the past year -- I don't know how you mom with 3 or 5 or 6 boys can afford to feed them! 

I have been grocery shopping all day.  Our new budget went into effect today, so I have a 100 dollar a week budget to feed the 5 of us.  (This includes toiletries and paper products and my husband's 2-liter-a-day-more-if-he-is-working pop addiction)  I worked hard on our weekly dinner list and we are having some good stuff this week! 

Speaking of dinner, I have to finish that up.  I didn't forget about BLOG DAY 2006!  I just haven't had the time to check out 5 new blogs -- but I will be doing that, hopefully tonight!  I think it's a great idea!

Late summer blessings!  

Sherry