I realized I had not blogged in a VERY long time. After reading someone else's blog it inspired me. So many things have happened since my last entry. For one Co-op is over, it ended with a bang on Monday. We had a great time at open house and the kids really enjoyed their classes. Korbin joined Fancy Feathers 4H and is the secretary for the club. He is really enjoying it. There is talk of a clover group for younger kids but nothing is final.
  We took a trip to Disney World for 6 days and 5 nights of totally awesome fun! We had an absolute blast but came to a bitter realization when we tried to walk 4 miles a day in the parks. We are VERY out of shape and need to eat better and exercise. Not sure when that's going to actually happen but at least we had the awakening! That's the first step! I feel like the last month has come and gone and this one is running full steam ahead! Thanksgiving is a great holiday that we love and can't wait for but are so unprepared!
   DH and I have discussed some things that have really come to light. As Homeschoolers we get accused quite often as "sheltering" our children. But why is it so MANY people can turn a blind eye to what is happening to the world around us? The Bible says that the world belongs to Satan and we are to be in it and not of it. Until Christ returns the world is not ours, not Gods, but the devils. We are sitting around watching our once Christian nation fall. We know it is all in the plan, it is all Gods will, but we are not to bow to it! Not turn PC and just accept what is happening.
   I for one am starting with my children. It IS discouraging there is so much to say "no" to and so little to say "yes" to.  As my son matures I am realizing more and more the brier patch that awaits him. The blaitend obvious pornography that is out there on a daily basis. There are laws to stop ads from showing people smoking because it causes cancer. But where are the laws to protect men of all ages against the addiction of porn? Where are the laws to protect young women against feeling as though there is something wrong with them because they don't look like the air-brushed images on magazines and billboards.  The boys are exposed to what women "should" look and dress like and so are the girls. Between skinny jeans and short skirts there is no limit to how much NOT to wear.
   I first came to this realization in the check out line of HEB, I was standing there in line with Korbin standing beside me. I realized something caught his attention (usually I am to wrapped up in putting groceries on the conveyor belt to notice) he was staring at a magazine right at HIS eye level. It was a Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. The woman on the front (who naturally didn't have an once of fat on her) was topless with nothing but a shell necklace to cover her not so private chest. Her VERY low cut bikini bottoms barley covered her bottom area as well. I turned him around and picked up the magazine to flip it over and the back was even worse with less than half clothed women on the other side posed with a giant bottle of beer. This was in HEB the GROCERY store. Because the magazine was not a "pornographic" one I guess it did not need a cover.
  This was a while back but I have decided since then that I should not remain silent. Something as simple as going to the grocery store should not have me needing a blindfold for my son. These things are not ok. The Bible states many times about modesty and how women should be treated, and this is not it.  In a couple of years he will be dealing with raging hormones and it is only getting worse out there! I have decided to now take the time to say something, stop being concerned with what others think. Stop being concerned with being in a rush. Whether or not my small voice will make a difference, it will help to make a stand. To, if anything , show my children the difference between right and wrong. We can't stop it all, I know that.  But where does the line draw? I am not talking long sleeves and pants, just not nudity or pornographic displays.
  We don't have cable by CHOICE either. Just take a moment to actually think about what they are advertising.  What the show is condoning, what IT is teaching your children. This is no longer the beloved t.v. I knew as a child. Ironically our kids now watch on dvd the shows I used to watch, when shows needed a moral that was actually well... moral. Cartoons today can say "what the...." and "hell" and several more "implied" words and even "son of a..". of course that was a pg 13 cartoon ....WHAT!? a PG13 CARTOON!? yikes!
  It can be all to overwhelming so... what am I protecting my kids from really?
 - going to an institution where they must conform to the standards the "world" expects
 - a world where you must be PC and not BC (Biblically Correct)
 - a world that EXPECTS them to be sexually active by the age of 13 so they teach them how
No thanks.

We were so glad to finally get some rain today! We are back on track with school and full steam ahead. Co-op starts this coming Monday and we are sooo ready.  Well the kids are, I am not as ready, I lost the book for art class and have not received the supplies yet from oriental trading!  I also need to finish the syllabus for photography class. Things have been a little crazy here on the “farm” we got 3 new chickens called silkies and they are so fluffy and soft. Their names are Pearl, Ginger, and Butterscotch. I got them from a nice lady and have them seperate from the flock in “quarantine to make sure they don't have any problems. I discovered that Butterscotch has scaly leg mites and lice, so I have to treat them all for that. The I discovered my own flock has them as well so now I have to treat them all! Luckily they are not transferable to humans or other animals! We have to get back to work and work on reading and math. Everyone is having focus problems today but not as much as usual. I think the rain has helped us stay indoors and stay focused!

I found this blogger through a fellow homeschooler and thought I would give it a try. I have been trying to keep a homeschool journal but to no avail.  I am excited to get back into the swing of things! It has been a tough year and a half.  We moved twice within one year and are now living with my Mom (Susan or Mimi as she is usually called) and my little brother who is in college.  It is a bit cramped but we love living in hill country. We live on 4 acres that we rent and have wonderful landlords.
     At the beginning of this year everyone in the house lost their job. Mom lost hers as she was doing contract work and no one was hiring. Jym lost his due to cutbacks and Seve had quit his to concentrate on school. It got very hard for a while but the Lord gave us strength to make it through, as well as provided. Homeschool was going well at that point. Korbin is a bit behind due to a curriculum change and moves, so he is doing 4th grade Abeka. Evie is doing HOP for kindergarten and Abeka math and writing (cursive!). So once again with the distraction of everyone at home it got difficult to do school.
     Now everyone has good jobs and we are getting back into school yay! Jym has even got a promotion within the short time of being back at his previous job!  Mom is enjoying hers working for Hospice home health. This week we really got back on board.
     Evie is 3 stories and one word ladder away of finishing her HOP and getting her prize she picked out (a rainbow maker!).  Korbin is so smart, he is doing really well in math and  gets bored with it fast so I have to make sure he doesn't get bored! Fourth grade Language is a whole new world! We are learning to write letters of all kinds and really getting down to the basics of writing! The unit we are on now is writing reports *sigh* really not something Korbin WANTS to do! He enjoys story telling, don't think he will enjoy History as much as I did. Right now he is working on his first report ever over Gorge Washington Carver. I find it fascinating but alas he did not want to read about it.
   Well seeing as it is very late and I really need to go to bed I will have to continue blogging another time!