Homeschooling A Houseful

For some time  now I've wanted to put together a blog planner. I LOVE the idea, simply because I LOVE to organize! I also love this idea, because so often my great thoughts leave me!   Seriously..... completely LEAVE ME!!   I have many a great thought, however when those great thoughts are not written down, or put in to action, then the next one starts bumping them out and then before long, my great thought is,  GONE.   Sometimes these great thoughts come through a conversation with a friend, or family member. Sometimes they come through a question posted on an email list I read, or maybe it's one I post. Sometimes they come from my own mind.  I am one of those quiet souls, whose mind is always running 100 miles an hour. Having conversations with myself, and honestly that's part of why I started blogging, just to be heard! I am also one of those people who loves to write, hates to speak!   So to help me tame, the  ...

I have decided that we need to get back to our morning family lessons. YEP not sure what happened, but it ended, and we need it again! :) I basically try to fill one hour with lessons we do as a family, yes a whole family! I have tons of memory ideas, and read alouds- both fictional and non fictional. However the first thing we need to get on, Character Training. Here's what I'm planning. First I printed off  the Duggars, Operational Definitions of Character Qualities , which definitely helped my brain get going in the right direction. I also visited the LDS church website, under resources by topics for children  and by topic for youth  and the LDS sitemap.  I also really like the Values.com site  along with anything else I might come across. My idea is to use one topic for a 4 week stretch. I plan to choose one hymn, and one children's hymn per week totaling 4 each for each topic. I also plan to relate our memory work- poems, scriptures, quotes,...

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 ...

In a young family, and a... well.... more seasoned family! (There is NO way I'm calling myself old! Not Yet!!!) As I was home with just my younger children, my mind started reminiscing those years of a young mom. Thinking back to those days, long lost years! I was pondering over some of those "trials" young mothers deal with.  The thought actually came to me, maybe I should run to the store and take care of a few of those errands I need to accomplish today. I looked around at my crowd, and actually thought to myself, am I up to that? Yeah a short trip would be fine.  Then I started pondering on this thought..... WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MOTHER WITH A YOUNG FAMILY, I HAD MY CHILDREN TRAINED!  I took them everywhere that I went, they could be taken into public WITHOUT much of a second thought.  Yet now I have that second thought, WHY?  Because I have live in babysitters, and I am MORE than happy to let them stay home.  I DONT KNOW IF TH...

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 ...