Cool Front - Yay!

The last few days have been a real temptation for me!  The weather has turned cooler and I want to play!

My kids are usually the ones asking if we HAVE to do school on most days.    The past 2 days I've been saying "do we HAVE to do school?"

Here in Southeast Texas, getting cool weather is like getting snow.  They both hold about the same amount of excitement for us.   When you go from a balmy, humid, 80 degrees - at 6am - to a cool 50 degrees in the morning - it perks you up and makes you want to do something different. 

Well, today might just be one of those days!  If I do anything fun - I'll let you know!

Until then......
Have a blessed day!

Here are a few pictures of our little farm:

Geography Study

I am so excited about two new studies I am doing with Collin.   One is a Geography Study and one is a Horse Study - both by Beautiful Feet.

The Geography Study (go here:)

http://www.bfbooks.com/Geography-Through-Literature-Pack-PB?sc=18&category=860

uses four of the Holling C. Holling series books, plus maps and the BF guide. 

What I love about this study is the way it guides you to research other topics besides what is right in front of you.   For instance in the first lesson you are encouraged to research the Canadian Goose, even though it was only mentioned in one sentence.   Of course, that's the beauty of a unit study.   Another example is in the 2nd lesson where they mention a pond and the student is then prompted to research the difference between a pond and a marsh.    As with most unit studies, we are covering multiple subjects at the same time, which is a really cool way to do "school".    Even though it's a "geography" study, we are covering Science, History, map skills, research skills (English), writing (English), dictionary skills and Literature.   

In this particular study we are using the maps that accompany the books.  These are huge, beautiful maps, that the lessons incorporate.   I mounted each map on heavy duty, black posterboard so they would be easy to work on and look nice. 



In the Spring we will begin the Horse Study which will cover Literature, History, Science, research, Geography and English.   Of course, we will have real life specimens to research too - right in our own back yard!

I have done unit studies before that were WAY too involved and gave an overkill of activities to do.  These by Beautiful Feet are just right.   Not too much busy work and yet, enough to cover multiple subjects within a subject.

If you are looking for a creative (painless) way to teach, maybe you should visit their site and pick out a topic or two.      Learning doesn't have to be painful and boring:)

A Productive Weekend

It's amazing what you can accomplish........if you stay home!

After the last few weeks I've had, I was so glad to get to this past Saturday and Sunday, and just stay home for a few days.

Saturday I spent a good part of the morning choosing my recipes for the next two weeks, then taking inventory of the the freezer and pantry and making out a grocery list.    This task shouldn't take more than about an hour, but on this day it seemed I was getting interrupted about every 5 minutes, so it took most of the morning.  Even the landscaper guy showed up unexpectedly and took up about 30 minutes of my time!      After lunch I was ready to go BUT.....Ted was getting ready for a Homecoming dance that night and asked if I would iron his shirt, to which I said yes, of course.  Well, then I couldn't leave because I didn't want to miss seeing him all dressed in his suit, so there went another hour.  (He had to leave at 4:30).

So, by the time I actually got out of the house and on the way to the grocery store, it was about 4:45!  Thank goodness supper was already in the crockpot! 

Since I was now at the grocery store so late in the afternoon, I became very hungry (and shakey) about half way through and was in desperate need for a sample of (almost) anything.   Thank goodness, right about that time, there was a lady making potato soup!  This (tiny) little cup held me over until I got to the check-out line, where I opted for a Dr. Pepper out of the cooler and took a few sips before I paid.   I don't normally do that, but I was desperate NOT to faint while unloading my $200 worth of groceries!

By the time I got home, it was close to 6:30 and I was starving.  Problem was, I now had tons of groceries to unload (David did most of it) and put away (that's my part), so I couldn't finish supper until all of that was done.

All told - I guess we finally ate about 7:30.  A little late - but hey - at least we ate!   We watched old episodes of Mary Tyler Moore with Collin and had a good night.


Sunday was another "at home" day.   David was taking the boys to Wings Over Houston - an air show, and I was staying home all day to work on lesson plans.

I was excited to have the house to myself (no interruptions) and to (hopefully) get Collin's lessons organized and on paper for the rest of the semester.    I wanted to do this because it seems that we stay so busy with extra-curricular activities (co-op, 4H, field trips, friends) that I needed to make sure our goals were clear and that we weren't neglecting our schoolwork.

It was really nice being able to use my brain without anyone else wanting it at the same time:)

I was able to make out the next 8 weeks of lesson plans, eat lunch, type up the schedules for this week and still make supper for the boys when they got home.    I'd say it was a productive day!  

Now, if only I could have one of those days - once a week!  I might actually be organized:)  

Maybe I should see if I can find a "car show" in the area for next Sunday:)

This Week's Menu

Weekly Menu

Breakfast
Pigs in a blanket
Toast & Fruit Smoothies
Cereal
Pop Tarts
Oatmeal
Breakfast bars
Sausage biscuits


Lunch
Quesadillas
Taco Salad
Grilled Ham & Cheese
Baked Potatoes
Hot dogs


Dinner
Cowboy Pot Roast w/rice and rolls
Chicken Penne Pasta w/peas & carrots
BBQ Sausage Links w/Baked Potatoes
Seasoned Fish Sticks w/New Potatoes & Corn


Dessert
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Slice and Bake Cookies

**This week I did assign each meal to a certain day, but will also stick this Menu on the fridge**

Hello 45

Well, today is my 45th birthday.

Happy Birthday to me!

I feel like this is one of the big numbers in the birthday row.  Why? I'm not sure.  Maybe this will be the year I try something I've always been too scared to do or I'll go wild with my hair.  That would be fun!  No matter what.....I'm happy to be healthy and alive!

For weeks now David has been telling me that I'm going to LOVE my birthday present.  It's been killing me to know what it was.   Well, he gave it to me when he got home from work yesterday and I am thrilled!!  He bought us 2 tickets to the (Broadway) show called "Burn the Floor"!!  We will be seeing it at the Lutcher Theater, which is local, but I know it will be just as good.    I'm so excited!  We'll be going on the 31st.  Yay!

I feel like this has been a whole week of gifts.  Monday night David took me to a local charity event called the "Julie Rogers - Gift of Life" benefit.   This is a local group in Beaumont that raises money for cancer screenings - to give to those who can't afford them.  

We had a beautiful dinner (all decorated in pink for breast cancer) at the Civic Center, then walked across the street to the Julie Rogers Theater for the auction and entertainment.   Steve Ford - son of Gerald Ford (the president) - was the guest speaker and did a wonderful job of telling stories about living in the White House.  

THEN...............

What I had been waiting for..........

MARIE OSMOND!!!!!!!!

YES!  Marie Osmond was the entertainment!!!  My life is now complete (hahaha)!  I've seen Marie Osmond!  The only thing that could have topped that was if Donny would have come out to surprise us.  THEN my life would be complete:) 

Marie debuted her show about stories and songs that night......in Beaumont!   It was wonderful!  She started off telling stories about how she got into the business, her family, her life, and then intertwined the stories with songs.     She was great!  

What a wonderful evening - to dress up and go out with my VERY good looking husband AND see Marie Osmond.   Ahhhh.

Now - today - we are going to lunch.  David, the boys and David's parents are all taking me to lunch - Mexican, of course!   Everyone has church stuff going on tonight, so we opted for lunch instead.

I truly feel blessed.  Thank you, Lord for a wonderfully abundant life!

Here are the pictures from our Monday night outing........

 Me and Audrey (David's office manager)

and Zelma (Audrey's best friend)

 David and I

 Steve Ford

 Tracy Byrd auctioning off one of his guitars

Which went for $10,000!

 Marie!

Marie sitting down singing while slides of her children

played on the big screen.  This is a picture of her son

who died earlier this year.   Very touching. 

And that is all I have for now................

Until next time.........

Blessings!

Friday Update

We've had a lot going on this week; some expected, some not.

We started  the week on Monday with normal school stuff.  Of course, it was Columbus day so Ted the teen was pleading his case about ALL other schools being off for the day.   I made them do their work anyway.  I did let him go to lunch with some friends; but he had finished his work, so all was well.

Tuesday we did school then I took Collin to the dentist for his 6 month cleaning.  The "routine" appointment turned into "he needs 2 fillings" so Wednesday saw us back in the dentist's office, with Collin being numb until 5:00 that afternoon.   He missed Violin class.   

Wednesday morning I was actually able to go to an early morning coffee with 2 friends.  We sat in the coffee shop for about 2 hours, just enjoying "girl" talk.    Before going home I headed to the DPS office to renew my driver's license.  I was so thrilled because normally you stand in line there for at least an hour.  But, on this day, I hit it just right and there were only 3 people in line in front of me.   However, when I got up to the counter and took the "eye" test, I failed!  I only wear glasses for reading around the house, so I didn't have them in my purse.  The lady sent me packing so that is still on the "to do" list - this time with my glasses.   You know what that means - if they tag me as needing to wear glasses when I drive - I'll have to have them with me at all times.  Hmmm.  Better get some cute ones!

Thursday we had our monthly 4H meeting.   We had a great speaker, who shared many great aspects of being involved with 4H.   Then the kids did a "Food Challenge".   This is a project where the kids break up into teams, are given a bag full of groceries, and they are challenged to mix the ingredients into a tasty dish.   They also have to make it look presentable and tell about the nutritional value of the ingredients.

This was alot of fun and we had some good food afterwards!  Collin's team made a dip (or a bean salad) with 4 types of beans, corn, oil, chili powder, salsa, cumin, and chips.    The other teams made Chocolate Haystacks, Cherry/pineapple fruit salad and guacamole.  

Today we are heading about an hour up the road to the Harvest Festival.   This is a yearly festival where they have demonstrations like candle making, corn grinding, spinning, blacksmithing (?),  and other activities.    Collin has 5 pictures on display there for the photo contest, so we'll get to see what (if anything) he won.    Last month he won 3 ribbons for these same photos in a different festival contest.

I love that school doesn't have to take place behind a textbook!

Happy Friday everyone!

To Forgive and Be Forgiven

This is something that's been on my mind lately - forgiveness.

It's a word that Christians throw around alot, but in the last few weeks I've been observing a few situations and think that it's more talk than walk. 

I'll start with my own confessions:
I cut a friend out of my life for different reasons and yet, keep having this nagging feeling that I need to forgive her and move on.   I don't have to open my full life to her and give her access to be involved with my family, but I at least need to extend a hand of friendship to her, once again. 

By the same token, I've offended a few people, who have now stopped talking to me, and yet, when I've written them two notes of apology, I get no reply.  None. 

I talked with a friend a few weeks ago who has experienced a huge percentage of her church being unforgiving toward her family, for something her grown child did.   And when I say "grown" I mean, as in "married, divorced, children" grown.   In other words: no longer a child living in her home; no longer her control.     Wow!  So when my children grow up, get married, make mistakes, is this what I'm going to expect from Christians?   They will hold ME accountable for what my 50 something year old child will do?  Wow! And how sad!

Isn't that what having a "church family" is supposed to be about?  Picking you up when the world has crushed you?  And yet, this woman and her husband have been totally shunned by their church; deacons and wives included.   So much for setting a good example.

In some tragic cases that I've read about or seen on TV, parents whose children have committed heinous crimes, such as murder, have been forgiven by victim's families.   In many cases, the victim's families even reach out to the parents; knowing the heartbreak a parent feels when their child has caused so much pain.     But, not for this poor woman.   She might as well have a Scarlet "A" on her chest, because that's how she's being treated - for a crime she didn't commit.   I, personally, don't know why she stays in a cold, unloving church like that.   Maybe one day she'll find the courage to walk away and find a real church, with people that actually know what love is.

One particular person that I offended with words, actually told her children never to speak to me again.  How sad is that?  These are teenagers, who have now witnessed the unforgiving spirit of their own mother, and will either grow up to be just as unforgiving or realize how wrong she is.  
Even as mad as I've been at my own friend who hurt me, I would never want to place that burden on my child, to have to purposely NOT speak to someone, if face to face.   

The other lady who hasn't accepted my apology, got offended when I didn't embrace her love for a certain group of people, which she felt necessary to post on FaceBook every day.   Yet, I see such great irony in her decision to post about her love for others and shun her fellow Christian, for not agreeing.   At any rate, she has yet to accept either of my two notes of apology, which means she is choosing NOT to forgive.

On the other hand, I've watched my 17 year old son forgive friends over and over and move on with those friends, like it's supposed to be done.     Makes me realize that wisdom has nothing to do with age.   No wonder Jesus loved the little children. 

We have alot of work to do fellow Christians.   If you're harboring unforgiveness toward someone in your heart today, make it right.   Correct your situation.  Reach out.  Grow up.  Build a bridge.  Whatever is in your power - make it right.  Swallow your pride (which causes you to sin) and be a grown up.   Do the right thing.

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."  Mark 11:25


Until next time........

Blessings

Meet Ted

After saying that I don't post much about my teen, in order to respect his privacy, here is my 2nd post in a row about him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L6ybGYl1OM

Enjoy!

Sometimes you just have to laugh

I love having my boys at home with me during the day.  I love our conversations that take place, just off the cuff, having no deep meaning, but just everyday fun stuff.   

Today my 17 year old, who doesn't get talked about much on here because I'm trying to respect his privacy, said the funniest thing, that I must share.

I'm not even sure what started the conversation, but I said to him:
"Ted, you don't even know how blessed you are."  To which he replied:
"Oh I know how blessed I am.........I look in the mirror every day."

And then we all cracked up! 

Just one of those moments that makes me love my boys!

More Indoctrination

It just hit me this afternoon that 3 people have asked me about homeschooling in the past 5 days! 

Each situation is different:
#1 - a mom who is tired of her daughter being bullied by "mean girls" in middle school.

#2 - a mom who homeschools her elementary age daughter, but wants to bring home her 7th grade boy due to the indoctrination going on in the public school.

#3 - a mom whose daughter is in 5th grade in a private Christian school, who feels her daughter is falling through the cracks and is more interested in the social lives of her fellow 5th graders, than academics.

All different situations - all different reasons.  

I have found it very interesting to hear the different reasons for taking such a huge leap, into the world of home education.

When we started (13 years ago) my reasons were far different than they are now.  At the time, I knew that I wanted to keep my kids home in order to raise them with my values and not their peer's.   I knew that I didn't want to have to compartmentalize Christ to after-school and Sundays, because HE wouldn't be welcomed in the government institution.   I also believed that my kids would be much more confident in who they were, if they were allowed to just grow and be themselves; without their peers telling them who they should be.  


After all these years I still believe in my initial reasons for keeping my kids at home, but more and more I find myself adding to those reasons.

Why?  Here's just ONE additional reason:

Because I would be example #2 (on the above list).   This mom is flabbergasted because her son came home and informed her that they were being forced to watch "Channel One", which is a TV program, only being used in 4 states (Texas being one of them) in government schools.    The program has  "Educational" programs as well as advertisements (brainwashing).   On this particular day, the son came home telling his mom that they were made to watch a segment on homosexuality and the acceptance of it. 

The mom was amazed at the fact that she was not asked permission, nor informed that her son would  be indoctrinated in this way.     She had no say-so.   AND, the ONLY reason she even knew about it AFTER the fact, was because her own child told her!  If she didn't have a child who felt the need to tell him mom this, she wouldn't have known at all!!!! (that's right! I feel that deserves many !!!!!!!)!

That infuriates me!  Who do they think they are?  Whatever happened to school being about academics?  And, since when do academics include social indoctrination?

I will decide what my child needs to know about social and moral issues - NOT THE SCHOOL!

So that, my friends, is just one more reason why the stinking government does not get the privilege of raising my kids. 

Ok - I'm done now.

The Great Pumpkin

We had such a great day today with our homeschool group!

It was "Pumpkin Day" and we had a great time:

CHOOSING

HAULING

TAKING PICTURES

CARVING

 EATING

AND HAULING

 "HERBERT" FROM THE CAR

TO HIS NEW HOME

 ON THE FRONT PORCH!

Meet Herbert:)

Book Review - Dave Ramsey's The Money Answer Book

Dave's latest book "The Money Answer Book" is just my size of reference book!  It's small, compact, yet full of all the important answers that Dave is so famous for.

In this Question & Answer book, Dave has categorized the questions in broader topic headings such as:"Relationships & Money",  "Stewardship",  "Automobiles",  "Real Estate & Mortgages", and many more.   This style makes it easy to turn directly to the area you need help in, and find the question that pertains to you.

This book is easy to read and you won't get bogged down with extra details.  Yet, at the same time, it's just as helpful as his full sized books; even offering a budget page and a list of his famous baby steps.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone needing a handy reference book to keep on your desk with your bills.    You never know when you might need some advice!

I Love Fall!

I Love Fall!

There is something so refreshing about the Fall!

Cool weather, 

clear skies at night, 

front porch swings, 

blankets,

open doors and windows, 

pumpkins

and the

promise of the holidays!

I love the Fall!

Every Authority? (re-post)

 For some reason, this entire week, I have felt that I needed to post this entry again.

Maybe someone is struggling with this kind of situation; I don't know, but

here goes.

A few weeks ago we had some friends over for dinner.  Like many dinner parties, men end up in one part of the house (front porch on this night) talking about guy stuff and the women end up inside, talking about life and kids.  Such was the scene on this particular night.

As the ladies and I sat in the livingroom talking, the conversation turned to the subject of school.   I, being the only homeschooling mom in the room, decided to just sit back and see where the conversation would go.  Sure enough it led to all 3 moms voicing their complaints against various aspects of the system, but particularly, the teachers.    I listened to several stories about teachers being unfair and even embarrassing kids in class, on purpose.   I didn't have anything to add, being that my children aren't in the system, until they started going down the road of obeying authority.

Even after sharing these stories of blatant disrespect on the teacher's part and how angry it made them, they agreed that they were teaching their kids to obey the teachers, no matter what, because they were "the authority".    Interestingly enough, just that afternoon I heard a young lady call in to Rush Limbaugh, confused on what to do about this very subject.   The young lady explained to Rush that her teacher (aka "the authority") told her NOT to obey her parents because they had "crazy, conservative ways".   The young lady was so distraught because this was a class she had to take, and yet, she knew this wasn't appropriate behavior for the teacher.   Rush agreed that she was in a difficult position and told her to stand her ground; that the teacher was either trying to test her or intimidate her.

But, back to my house guests.  At this point, I had to jump in.   I shared the story about the girl calling in to Rush, and then voiced my opinion that not all authority is worthy of being obeyed.  They went on to  give their "church-y" answer, that if our kids don't obey authority on earth, how can we expect them to obey God.   Uh, excuse me..........I believe that our kids are to obey their parents, in order to learn how to obey God; not, obey every authority placed before them on earth. 

I don't want my kids to blindly follow some nut job (like in college), just because he or she is standing in the front of the room getting paid.   I also don't want my kids to obey a predator, just because he or she is an adult.   Absolutely not!  I want my kids to reason, in their own minds and hearts, what the right decision is for each situation.    I want my kids to know right from wrong and when to stand up for what they believe in.    I want them to recognize when someone is leading them in the wrong direction - which might be a church worker or a future boss, doing something they shouldn't.  


Do I want my kids to respect their elders?  Yes.  Do I want them to be considerate of others? Yes.  Polite?  Yes.  Kind?  Yes.  Obey the law? Yes.  Obey their parents and ultimately, their Heavenly Father?  Of course!   But, every authority under the sun?  Absolutely not!

Read the book of Daniel.   Not every authority is worthy of respect.

Have a great "renew your spirit day"!

Debbie