Homeschooling A Houseful

Today as I was reading something completely unrelated to this post I thought of the following scripture: Galatians 6:9 (KJV) 9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Being a mother is a lot of work. Being a mother of a large family is a lot of work. Being a homeschooling mother just adds to that load! However we do it, ALL of it, for a reason! We are doing it for, "well doing". Whatever that reason may be- it's there. And in due season we will reap from all this work, if we faint not!  INSPIRE, IGNITE, EXPERIENCE, FIND JOY!!!! As this season, this "rough road" called being a mother will not last forever- and we will see the benefits of our struggles, our prayers- our trials. If we faint not, if we don't give up, don't give in!!!  As we are starting a new year, and for our family a new adventure! (We recently moved, more on that later) I am feeling very inspired by this scripture.  So ...

    Today as I was completely bored sitting in the DMV, I decided to check out my Pinetrest  boards! This article came through entitled Bring on the Wind!   After reading it I did almost start crying right there in the DMV, just as my number was called! (Please read the article, as it saying it all so perfectly!)   In this article it used the idea of trees being stronger when they are challenged by the environment.   Trees grow deep roots in response to battering winds. Likewise, we develop strength, character, and courage as we respond to challenges.   We have challenges in our lives, and it's how we choose to react to those challenges that determines the outcome. We can choose to either let those challenges and "winds" develop us, or hinder us. IT IS OUR CHOICE!   As Douglas Malloch wrote in his classic poem, “Good Timber”: The tree that never had to fight For sun and sky and air and light, But stood out in the...

The other day I was down rocking my baby, we caught the worst cold and flu. I think we are finally all over it, however the cough is still lingering. As I was sitting there cuddling my little ones..... I heard this shrieking !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SCREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Coming from not one, but TWO teenage girls. As mom's of teenage girls know there's a difference between yells of drama and yells that matter!!!! (Wait most mom's of little toddlers know this too!) This was a Yell THAT MATTERED! As I was getting up, the next thing I heard was that pitter-patter of running feet. Then...... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! a  LAUGH,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!                                  A LAUGH SO LOUD I wondered what was worst, the Yell or the Laugh? Ok, now I am confused. Wait is it the flu!?!?! Next I hear a herd of wi...

Here's a link to another blog,   why most families have 2 children . I love her perspective on it. The fact that she takes her story and makes it real. I personally felt that feeling of overwhelmed at three. I wasn't one of those mom's who felt I had to do everything for my children as she said. I enjoyed my children, but really didn't believe in that thought of spoiling a child, to the extreme that the world tends to do. I always thought it as...well... spoiling!  I wasn't raised in a large family, however my mom did babysit in our home when I was younger. There were times when we were, a FULL HOUSE! My mom taught me through her example of training and running such a large amount of children. I did help with some of them, especially when she had a lot of babies and toddlers at one time. This was before all the daycare laws they have in place now. It's unbelievable how the laws lead to this spoiling! We never had a problem, and I believe ...

I Just Love.... Mommy Inspirations! The Duties of Parents Being Examples Oh this speaks so true, in so many wonderful ways! I just printed the sermon at the bottom of her post. This will be my good night story, tonight! My SIL gave me a framed photo of the one above, it is well... not only the nicest piece of art I own, but also one that inspires me, daily! I just love it!!!

I just read this  most amazing, and inspired post! It was definitely what my heart was aching for today. I have felt like I am loosing the battle today, the battle of life and children and everything. However we can't give up, we can't give in...... we can't get tired.  I know that when I want to give up, that's when I must fight harder.. Ephesians 6:12-13 King James Version (KJV) 12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. We must do all we can do, to be able to stand in the judgement day to say... yes, I did all I could do! I know that when these times come, I must do as Abraham Lincoln said, "I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming convi...

ME!??? NOT MUCH! A little of this....... A little of that...... and a LOT of this...... Yes we are moving, not our blog, just our house! Do you know how much work it is to pack up a houseful???? Will be back soon! and hopefully with a LOT more of this......

You have such good kids! Your children are so well behaved! I might be at a family gathering, the grocery store, a home school activity, a field trip..... anywhere really. I hear this often, and it got me pondering about it. I thought I'd throw out my two cents on parenting. First off I MUST say that I do not live in a wonderful, blissful, always happy home. We have our trials, our bad days, and well those days when Mama Bear wants to just slip off to bed, and forget the day ever started. The problem with slipping away, is that you are just running from the problem. It will never get better, if it's never fixed. I can solve all your {and my own} problems in one simple word, CONSISTANCY. I don't care if you are a spanker, a time-out parent, a job or chore for discipline you name it and there's probably a discipline book written all about how to do it! I don't honestly feel it matters how you discipline, just that you do, and that you are consistant. I've read a f...

Photo Credit here. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ( Colossians 3:14-16 , King James Version ) 7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. ( Psalm 26:7 , King James Version )

Since it's been a long while since I blogged, and figured it would be nice to start off with a bang, or at least something fun! I thought I'd post the ABC's of my online world... here goes, hope you enjoy and maybe find a new fun place to linger in cyberspace...... A~ Amazon.com , however since I know, everyone knows that one... I'll add one more, Annie Elliott B~ Biblegateway.com , nothing like a computer doing the word search for you! Blogger, gotta love it! C~ Confessions of a Homeschooler , again well know... so how about Classical Conversations . We are not part of their co-op but I love looking over their suggestions and ideas. We are using their memory suggestions, spelling and dictation. I love how this is laid out. D~ Delightful Learning , love seeing all her posts, she always inspires. Dean's Academy , a good friend of ours, gotta love seeing your real friends in cyber space. E~ Ebay , gotta love them, especially for their cloth diapers! Etsy , I love hom...

last year is the first year I saw these ads Hobby Lobby {the ultimate craft store} puts out in local newspapers for Independence Day. They run a full page add {take about some serious bucks} all about the Constitution, patriotism, and God and our country! The above picture was for the 2010 Independence day. If you go to this website, Hobby Lobby Holiday Messages, you can see all of the ads they have done, along with downloading them. I have a feeling we will be adding a few of these to our decor, especially in Noble's room. He loves all things Constitutional!! I had no idea they also had Christmas and Easter ones too! They all have a Christian/Godly appeal to them. I figure if Hobby Lobby can spend their money on such a wonderful {and I am sure over looked} item. That is so important and giving.... well then I will definitely support them. They are "throwing out" their hard earned cash, for a wonderful cause, and they deserve our support!!

We started meeting with 2 other local homeschool families, to sing to the residents of the care center. Our first time was in December, we thought Christmas Caroling to the residents would be fun. The older children also memorized different scriptures. It was good. At first the kids were somewhat nervous and scared. However we decided to continue this every month since, and it has become a joy. Not only to the kids, at least I know my A's love and look forward to it, but also the residents. They are so cute there, and excited to see us. I am only saying this because it doesn't take much. You don't have to do a huge presentation. The simplicity of having us come, makes their day!!!! So how do we do it? The three mom's involved rotate turns of planning. Planning is simple, we choose 3-4 common children's songs, religious songs, or hymns. These are for our group to sing together. Then during the week before we go, we email the person in charge what each of our families...

The homeschool village's discussion this week, is refreshment. What do you homeschool mom's do to refresh? Since we are back to a year around school schedule, I don't take an extended time off. However we take our breaks, breathers, and refreshers as needed. We take part in many different activities and outings throughout the year, school and summer, to keep us refreshed and recharged. For me personally whenever we take a break, it seems it's harder to keep the peace. We like our routine, and it works nicely to just keep it going. A few other things I've heard others do that I am considering, pondering, and praying about... Is to do school 4 days, and use the 5th day as a project, family day. I like this idea, but at the same time, we do many of these types of things everyday!! Another thought is to school 3 or 4 weeks on and take one week off again as a project week. Again not sure about it, will have to see what way the Lord directs our ways. For us, we use our br...

Simply Charlotte Mason, Smooth and Easy Days ~ Free ebook. There are more on the site, I just haven't read them yet. The Original Charlotte Mason Series ~ I am loving these, and haven't gotten nearly as far as I wish. I could read them constantly! Dumbing us down by John Taylor Gatto~ this is the first book I started reading out of this bunch, and it was the one that got me in my reading groove. I am planing to read it again, once I am finished with Miss Mason. Homeschooling with a meek and quiet spirit ~ I read this title on another blog, as a recommended summer read, and well I thought the title sounded just like what I needed, right now.... and it was!!!

Last week, I was in the copy shop in our small town, getting our chore charts laminated. I am seriously into laminating right now, EVERYTHING!!! NOBLE actually told me he hates lamination!! I asked him why, and he said you have to be careful to not rub it off.... I said it's a toss up, laminate and learn to be careful, or keep using paper, and make your mom feel like she is killing every tree on the earth!! Not really, but we go through a ton of paper, or can around here. I will try to remember to post about the laminate charts I have made... later, right now it's Bob's day!! I walked into the small copy shop, it's run by a cute little local couple. I bet they have lived here their entire lives, they are truly cute, and super nice. I love living in a small town, where everyone knows everyone. Even though we are not super involved, just visiting the copy shop, or the grocery store... people ask you questions, talk to you about your kids, and it's like everyone knows ...

Do you love my new navigation bar??? I sure do! Do you wish you could have one too??? Visit Confessions of a homeschooler, and she has a wonderful post all about how to do it {in blogger}. It couldn't be any easy, simply copy and paste and some simple personalization.... and you are done! Here's a direct link to the post. One day I will finish it by adding the drop down's, but for now I am happy with what I have. Well almost happy, I want it to be centered, and haven't figured it out yet. Give me time, I will mess with it and mess with it, until I figure it out!! Unless any of you happen to have some great tips for doing it... hint, hint?????

Well I don't know much about you, but all the A's on my blog were BUGGING me!!! Notice on the Left Sidebar all their new names!! I tried to come up with "new names" that showed their personality, and well....Who THEY are. {BOY is simply, boy because I am not sure what to call him just yet. I will probably change that one, eventually}

I think I would love this mostly during our school time, all the Mommy, can you help me's?? Mommy, how do you spell _____'s?? Mommy, what does this mean?? oh and then my personal favorite... MOMMY, HELP... A7 is pulling my hair!!!!! {or that could be changed to hitting me, pushing me, throwing something at me, or won't get off me!!!! Seriously, ALL boy there!!} my new voicemail shall say.... Hello! I am sorry, I can't come to your assistance right now. I do care, and would love to help. Please take a number and WAIT!!!! Love your Mommy!

......when all his guns look like this! all taped together! I am on the lookout for some new toy guns, that might last. I believe A4 has a birthday coming up.... and well I think he might be in need of a new gun!!!

You lounge on the couch, in jammies and blankies and read The Real George Washington aloud. With yummy hot cocoa !! {photo is from tropical traditions site!} We also watched the George Washington Hero's DVD , and part of the a More Perfect Union . So it might have just been one chapter in the book! However very inspiring! Not only that but we did stop between sections to discuss and talk about it! That is what I love about homeschooling... if it's one of those days, where you have been stuck inside for two days, it's cold and you don't want to start moving.... well there are other ways to enjoy learning, and ditching the schedule for the day! April Showers can be gloomy and dim... but only if you make them. We thanked God for all the moisture, we have truly needed it. I was actually debating turning on a sprinkler the other day, as I noticed the grass was looking a bit yellow. I just couldn't bring myself to do it! Thank God I didn't have to, he did it for me.