Homeschooling A Houseful

House of Order Tip #2 Setting up cleaning areas. I like this idea of Areas for a few reasons *It's easier for me to remember, SIMPLIFY! *It's something that my children can feel they are steward over and are responsible for. When I say areas, it's not always a room, sometimes it's a hallway, or a shoe shelf or coat closet. Any place in your home that needs constant tidying up and maintenance can be considered an area. My oldest son is now apprenticing with his Dad, to start a business together. So he is no longer here on a daily basis, and is off working. However everyone in our house helps to maintain it, and just because Dad and Noble are gone working all day, does not mean they don't  have responsibilities around the house. They do all the "manly" work. Check, change oil in vehicles, keep the cars clean, heavy lifting and things I don't want to deal with alone, or don't know how to fix!!! Along with that Noble is in charge of all outdoo...

Please watch this video, and if you can please help!! If this video doesn't work here's a link to her  GO FUND ME fundraiser As I watched this movie, my heart ached inside. Such a sweet little spirit, fighting so hard. Please from one Mama to another, please support this family. As I watched this video and read the comments, I thought this is similar to homeschool. It seems in this world, so many things that seem different, are looked down on. However these parents are fighting with all they have to do what they feel the Lord has asked of them for their little angel.  I don't want to get into a debate on their choice, as I haven't researched if very far. All I know is this is their little one, the one they were entrusted to guard and care for, and they have done the research. The have done extensive research, and most importantly they have asked for guidance. Please support this family, in doing what they know is best for their little Rachel...

  Years ago, that's crazy I can say that, years ago!! But yes, YEARS AGO I initiated the idea of warm fuzzies. The idea came from this talk.....   I just love this idea of positive reinforcement of service. Basically anytime I see anyone doing anything positive, serving others, and being selfless, they get a warm fuzzy. As you can see from the jar at the top of the post, the fuzzies are pom pom's. I happened to find some that are extra fluffy!! We begin with an empty jar, an empty love bank, by seeing these acts of service, we are rewarding them with a fuzzy. Along with positive affirmation, and loving words. Then once the jar is full (in our case once all the fuzzies are out of the bag and into the jar) Then we will do something positive and fun with our family!!!   Depending on our situation this can be something simple, like a family hike and picnic or ice cream and the park. To something more extravagant, like a trip to the zoo, or a museum, or ...

My friend Becky, from Purpose Driven Motherhood , just posted 200+ Inspiring, Clean movies and documentaries Thanks Becky!!! This will be a wonderful resource to have!

    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...

I recently gave this talk at the Winter Homeschool Conference in Utah. My good friend Tammy hosts this event, along with many others. Here website is www.hopehaven.blogspot.com I worked so hard on this and it was such a great class, but I was unable to finish it, I ran out of time!! Along with that, there is so much information given, and discussed in the class- I just thought I should post it here! ENJOY! I give this talk not just for you , but for me! It was nice to take the time to put some of my thoughts together, and study this subject. It gave me time to notice my faults, and decide to start making them right. True and good principles are worth our effort, we must, revisit them, often. As I know Satan has a plan, and it’s not the same one I want for my family or my life. I know he’s cunning, and sly- he can slowly sneak things into my life to tempt me, and if I am not always on guard, always aware, those things WILL enter into my life and my family, and before I know ...

I recently spoke at a convention, and wow I thought an hour would last forever, it didn't!!!! I had so much to say, and didn't get to it all!!! So I thought I might start doing some simple posts to give different ideas. My talk was called House of Order. The first and most important part of this talk, and all ideas for organization, is that you must take what works for you, and forget about the rest! Don't make something work for you that doesn't. To simplify my thinking, and to make sure I don't forget the great ideas or new ways we are implementing school. I make a simple graph on my office computer program. This is for each of my children who are independent in subjects, to keep track of what they need to do and what they have done. We call it the IS sheet, Independent Studies! I make a graph with 7 columns and however many rows are needed per child. Column 1 is for the subject, or item they are to do. These are only independent subjects. Spelling Pr...