Ice Cream Celebration

We finished our school year last week.  We celebrated with a trip to the local ice cream parlor.

Megan is now a fourth grader.

Laura is now an eleventh grader.  

It was the final year for Jasmine.  She is officially finished with high school!   

Now... For summer vacation!

Back to the Routine

Our vacation and Spring Break is over.  Today, we are back to the routine.  Megan is starting her day with her workbook work before piano practice later.  The older girls dived back into their studies, doing awesome in Bible time.

Back to Work

It seems the week-long break helped refresh everyone.  Megan had a hiccup on her math when she forgot how to divide, but it came back to her after a couple minutes of reminding.

Last night, Megan and I finished The Borrowers Avenged by Mary Norton.  This means we have officially finished all five of the Borrowers series.  It was a bittersweet moment as we said goodbye to Pod, Homily, Spiller, and Arrtietty.  As much as Megan loved the series, I believe she may revisit them when she is older. 

We will begin Rabbit Hill for our bedtime reading next.  While we were on vacation, all the Chronicles of Narnia arrived at our home.  Those will be on our list.  I have so many books on our read aloud list that I fear we may never get to them all!  I have The Green Ember and The Black Star of Kingston by S.D. Smith in my Amazon cart.  I keep hesitating to push buy, thinking there is something else I wish to add. 

In my reading, I'm thinking of switching the biographies I've assigned for Laura next year.  I loved Soul Surfer so much, the positive spirit of Bethany Hamilton, that I want to add that to her biography list.  

Last night Laura came into the bathroom while I was taking a bath and talked with me for a long time.  It was so special to me, having my quiet, shy girl that has gone through so much the last couple of years open her heart to me about her faith. Maybe our time in Georgia did her good. I thanked God immensely that my sweet girl has kept her faith. 

We in the final stretch of our school year. I am looking forward to a summer break, though I haven't decided how long that will be.  Many summer activities haven't been scheduled yet, such as VBS or library programs.  Until I have those dates, I am in a waiting time before I plan out next year's schooling. 

Preparing My High Schoolers For Their Mission

My beautiful high school daughters amaze me all the time with how giving, fun, smart, and gifted they are.  They are two VERY different girls.

Late last year my older daughter had some senior pictures taken.  She will be finishing up her homeschooling adventures this Spring. It is bittersweet, even though I am so proud of her.  

My sister, a photographer, takes many of our photos.  She has taken many photos for me over the years, capturing memories that are priceless. 

Jasmine is my second homeschooler to graduate from our homeschool. She has worked diligently for the last four years to overcome learning challenges and escape the public school mindset.  Her confidence level has increased dramatically as she finally learned that there is nothing wrong with her brain and learning style. Her visual nature means that she needs to see and actively do, not just listen to a lecture or read a text.  Her attention issues were resolved when she could get away from crowded classrooms.  As a result, she has watched many amazing documentaries, read biographies and historical accounts of people and events, and done many fascinating projects and experiments. She feels the best lesson was in independence, learning how to learn on her own. 

And then there is my fifteen year old.  She is a sophomore this year in high school.  Her sister took some photos last week, and they turned out beautifully.

Laura has been homeschooled since a couple of months after beginning third grade. Named after Laura Ingalls Wilder, she also loves to write.  Artistic and musical, with an interest in mission work, I often wonder God's plans for her.

Laura has a close relationship with her young, autistic cousin.  She is very patient and living with him, and he responds to her in amazing ways.  God has placed a special love in Laura for autistic children because of her relationship with her cousin.  She has talked often about possibly going to school and learning about ABA therapies to help special needs children.

I don't know if this is God's plan, but His plans are higher than mine.  He has plans for my daughters that are truly ones thought out before the creation of the world.  My job in our little homeschool is to prepare my girls for whatever "missions" He has for them.  The mission might be in a mission field in a foreign country, spreading the Gospel of Jesus. Brie mission might be as a youth pastor in a local church.  The mission might be doing social work to reach out to others in need in our own communities.  The mission might be to be a wife and stay-at-home, homeschooling mom, serving her family and giving her children a foundation in Christ. Her mission might be to teach special needs children.  Whatever the mission, my job is to equip my children in our Home Mission Field. 

Can I Just Stop Time?

See this precious baby?  I love her so much.

Of course, she grew quickly.

She was my first homeschool child, even though there were four older sisters.  She was the one I went out on a limb to see if I could do this homeschool thing.  She was my Guinea pig, poor girl.

No matter how many pictures I snapped, she just kept growing up.  I regret not one picture.  

We are in our eighth year of homeschooling.  The years went by so quickly, and I am so happy I got to spend so much time with this child.

It seems like she went from tomboy to young lady so quickly.  She was skateboarding one week and trying out makeup the next.  

I woke up one day, and my baby was a teenager.  She was so tall and witty and loyal to her friends.  She began to astound me with her unique personality.  Her talent in art and writing truly began to surface.

And now she will turn sweet sixteen in weeks.  She is talking of getting her first job (that isn't babysitting) and planning to learn to drive.  Where did the years go?

 

Two daughters have left the nest, went off to college, and got married.  They have careers and want to have families soon. One daughter is posed on the brink of blazing her own trail.  She graduates this Spring and is planning to kick off adulthood with mission work.

 

Left home are my baby, age 8, and my Laura, my growing up too fast girl.  I hope she realizes how loved she is and how proud of her I am.  I hope she lives by Psalm 61:2, her life verse, and leans on the Rock that is higher.  I pray she is blessed with peace and joy.

All the times I question whether homeschooling is working or whether I made the right choice all those years ago, I only need to think of my Laura. We spent so many hours together, learning about the world.  We struggled with some subjects, but she is doing so amazingly well now that you could never tell it.  I think about the fact that I only have two years left with her before she graduates, and I can't believe it went so quickly! 

She is a joy in my heart.  If I could stop time, just for a bit, to keep her my little girl, I would.

Fifteen and Searching

Laura's Drawing

My fifteen year old drew this from a picture she saw this past weekend.  Fifteen can be such a tough age.  Who she is now is not necessarily who she will be in five years.   Right now I love that she is getting back her love of drawing.  She will be starting violin lessons soon.  She is beautiful and fun and has her own unique style.  

I pray for her often.  I feel that this is such a dangerous age.  So many teenagers make life impacting decisions at this age.  I have found that my best way to handle all the fears and doubts that come to my mind is to pray.  I place my girl... All of my girls... In Jesus's hands daily.  The Holy Spirit can do a much begtter job of working on my daughter's heart than I can.  

My daughter is searching.  She is at an age where she needs to decide what she believes and why.  She is at an age where she must make her faith her own, and not her mom's or Dad's.  She sees how other teenagers live, and she wants to figure out what the Lord wants her to do and if He is a good God. She has been taught and raised in church and prayed wiling and over and baptized.  Now, she must be given the space to figure it out. 

This is the scariest time for me as a mom.  The child could walk away from all she knows.  Yes, she still is immersed in cthe Word of God daily.  She is still in church. But she is thinking ahead... To college.  She is thinking ahead to careers.  She is planning her future in her mind and heart and daydreams, and I want Jesus to be at the foundation.  I pray because she could see things differently.  

We discuss things, but she is more of a quiet soul.  She goes along with stuff because she not one prone to drama.  Will her decisions now change who God has planned for her to become?

God is working on me in a number of areas.  One of those areas has been to lower my stress level and build others up.  It is very difficult to build up others if I am stressed out.  I have realized that being stressed causes health issues in me and, due to anxiety, I don't act all that great at times with my daughters. 

And my daughters are amazing!  I doubt that they believe so, because I have had too many stressful years!

Encourage your children!  Let them know you are proud of them.  The days pass very quickly!

My Artist Returns

She used to prefer paints.  She was so enthusiastic about the painting assignments she completed that went with her poetry units in Heart of Dakota's Creation to Christ.  Later, she worked on some of her own projects that she found in art books or just did on her own.

For the last couple of years, however, my little artist hasn't seemed all that interested in art.  She hasn't wanted to paint.  The few drawing assignments I assigned received complaints from her.  I didn't push, but d exuded to give her time as our family had moved and then, a few months later, we switched churches.

Seeing her spend time on a pencil drawing was thrilling!  She has a lot of natural talent.  She freehand copied a picture that she loved!  This Mom is overjoyed!

Wolf Park

Megan, Laura, and I were privileged to join with my sister and nephew at Wolf Park near her home.  My nephew has been there a few times, but we had never gotten to visit. 

It was interesting to learn about the wolves and see the socialized ones in the park.  We learned about different colors and natural habitats of wolves. 

We also learned the differences between wolves and coyotes.  We visited different foxes and were thrilled to see bison.  

We love the adventures we have been taking lately, and Wolf Park was very interesting!

Fall Fun

Laura and Negan went with their older sister, Tasha, and her husband to visit a corn maze and hayride at their church.

They had a great time.  Megan loves being outside in any capacity and loved being with her sisters.

Laura palled around and enjoyed the relaxing fun.

Auston, my son-in-law, and Tasha live an hour away.  We love when they can spend time with any of us.  They are such a cute, newly married couple. 

I love that my daughters are also friends. This was only three of the five.  When all are together, my heart is thrilled and musical chaos reigns!

First Day of School for 2015/2016

We had our first day of school today. 

Megan is an official third grader now. 

Laura is in the tenth grade.

Jasmine is in her final high school year.  She is a senior!

Megan starts the school year already into her third grade work in reading, English, and Bible.  She loves science and will read whatever I place in front of her.  She has such a fun, creative mind. 

Laura is my longest running homeschool student.  She came home right after the start of her third grade year.  We are beginning her eighth year as a homeschooler.  She also enjoys reading.  She has developed a passion for writing and fills notebook after notebook with stories.  Despite thinking she isn't very good at math, she is exceeding her own expectations as she jumps into Algebra II. 

Jasmine is in her final year, and that is surprising to me.  She came home to be homeschooled in her freshman year, and has surpassed everyone's expectations.  After years of struggling in public school, she has soared in high school at home! 

I am so proud of my girls and how incredibly far they have come over the years.  They work hard and do well in their studies.  Even more, they love the Lord.  I am anticipating this year to be one full of adventure and learning and joy. 

Our 2013/2014 Reading Lists

Here are the reading lists from last year.  I am positive I am missing some, as we moved in March and things got very hectic and disorganized for a bit.

Jasmine - 10th Grade

1. Star of Light - Patricia St. John
2. Careful Enough? - Dillon Forbes
3. God's Tribesman -  James and Marti Hefle
4.  Amos Fortune, Free Man - Elizabeth Yates
5. The Reb and the Redcoat - Constance Savery
6. Songbird - Nancy Lohr
7. Michael Faraday: Father of Electronics - Charles Ludwig
8. The Secret Wish of Nannerl Mozart
9. John Paul Jones: the Pirate Patriot - Armstrong Sperry
10. George Washington's World - Genevieve Foster
11 The Egyptians - Life in Ancient Egypt - Liz Sonneborn
12. The Cherokee - An Independent Nation - Anne M. Todd
13. Cherokee - Richard M. Gains
14. Sioux - Richard M. Gains
15. Marie's Home - Caroline Austin
16. The Hiding Place - Corrie Ten Boom
17. Traveling Light - Max Lucado
18. A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23 - Phillip Keller
19. The Hiding Place - Corrie Ten Boom
20. Maggie's Dare: The Great Awakening - Norma Jean Lutz
21. Francis Scott Key - David Collins
22.  Albert Einstein Young Thinker - Marie Hammontree
23.  Lizzie and the Redcoat - Susan Martins Miller
24. 50 States Under God - Joy Dean
25. Heroes of the Faith - Evelyn Wheeler
26. The Signers - Dennis Brindell Fradin
27. Who is God and Can I Really Know Him? - John Hay and David Webb
28. Hearts and Hands Volume 4 - Mindy and Brandon Withrow
29. Physical Science - John WR Grunder
30. The Road Less Traveled - Tim Kennedy
31. Four American Inventors - Frances M. Perry
32. The Story of Inventions - Frank P. Bachman
33. American History Stories - Mara L. Pratt
34. Lydia the Patriot: The Boston Massacre - Susan Martins Miller
35. Unwrapping the Pharaohs - John Ashton

Laura - 8th Grade

1. Trouble Times Ten - Dave Lambert
2. Ink on His Fingers - Louise A. Vernon
3. Galen and Goliath - Lee Roddy
4. Leondardo Da Vinci - Diane Stanley
5. Mr. Pipes and Psalms and Hymns of the Reformation - Douglas Bond
6. Good Queen Bess - Diane Stanley and Peter Vennama
7. Gabriel and the Hour Book - Evaleen Stein
8. A Child's Geography: Explore His Earth - Ann Voskamp
9.  The Hidden Treasures in Philippians - Evelyn Wheeler
10. The Mystery of History: Volume III - Linda Lacour Hobar
11. Tales from Shakespeare - Charles and Mary Lamb 
12. Issac Newton - John Hudson Tiner 
13. The Tinker's Daughter - Wendy Lawton
14. Looking at Pictures - Joy Richardson
15. A Piece of the Mountain - Joyce McPherson
16. God's Design for my Body? - Susan Horner
17. From Girl to Woman - Sandi Queen
18. The War Against Germs - Josepha Sherman
19. The Mystery of History Volume 3 - Linda Lacour Hobar
20. Morning Star of the Reformation - Andy Thomson 
21. The War Against Germs = Josepha Sherman
22. The Egyptians - Life in Ancient Egypt - Liz Sonneborn 
23. Traveling Light - Max Lucado
24. A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23 - Phillip Keller
25. Make it Work Weather - Andrew Haslam & Barbara Taylor
26. Arty Facts Weather & Art Activities - Janet Sacks
27. Eyewitness Books Weather- Brian Cosgrove
28. Maggie's Dare: The Great Awakening - Norma Jean Lutz
29.  Francis Scott Key - David Collins
30. Henry Ford Young Man with Idea - Hazel B. Aird and Catherine Ruddiman
31. God's Plan for Growing Up Book #1 From Girl to Woman - Sandi Queen
32. What is God's Design for my Body? - Susan Horner
33. Lizzie and the Redcoat - Susan Martins Miller
34. Who is God and Can I Really Know Him? - John Hay and David Webb
35. The World of Biology - John Hudson Tiner
36. The Road Less Traveled - Tim Kennedy
37. Hearts and Hands Volume 4 - Mindy and Brandon Withrow
38. American History Stories - Mara L. Pratt
39. Lydia the Patriot: The Boston Massacre - Susan Martins Miller
40. Unwrapping the Pharaohs - John Ashton

Megan - First Grade

1. The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse*
2. At a Farm - Rick Wagner
3. God Made the Opossum - Mrs. James Swartzentruber*
4. The Egg and the Chick - Mrs. James Swartzentruber*
5. The Squirrel and the Nut - Mrs. James Swartzentruber*
6. God Made Me - Mrs. James Swartzentruber*
7. God Made Us - Mrs. James Swartzentruber*
8. God Made the Firefly - Mrs. James Swartzentruber*
9. Not Dots - Ellen Tarlow
10. Hop In! - Julie Small-Gamby
11. The Hat - Judith Bauer Stamper
12. Jesus Washes Peter's Feet - Glynis Belec*
13. Family-Time Bible in Pictures - Kenneth N. Taylor*
14. Big Kid Day - Janelle Cherrington
15. Me Too! - Linda Ward Beech
16. We Should Be Thankful - Mrs. James Swartzentruber*
17. God Made the Opossum - Mrs. James Swartzentruber*
18. City Colors - Linda Ward Beech
19. The Bus - Joaquim Alvarez
20. A Lot of Dogs - Ellen Tarlow
21. At a Farm - Rick Wagner
22. Slim Sam - Margaret Crocker 
23. The Adventures of Chatterer the Red Squirrel - Thornton W. Burgess*
24. The Adventures of Grandfather Frog - Thornton W. Burgess*
25. The World God Made - Edward J. Shewan* 
26. Family Time Bible - Kenneth Taylor*
27. History Stories for Children - Dr. John Wayland*
28. The Cat in the Hat All About the Human Body - Tish Rabe
29. Would I Trade My Parents? - James Bernardin
30. The World Around Us - Rosemary Wells
31. Look and Learn, A First Book about Bodies - Nicola Tuxworth
32. Babar.s World Tour - Laurent De Brunhoff 
33. Dem Bones - Bob Barner 
34. You are Special - Max Lucado
35. The Pukey Book of Vomit - Connie Colwell Miller
36. The Digestive System - Rebecca Olien
37. The Skeletal System - Rebecca Olien
38. Just In Case You Ever Wonder - Max Lucado 
39. The Respiratory System - Rebecca Olien
40. The Circulatory System - Rebecca Olien
41. Heaven is for Real for Kids - Colton Burpo
42. The Bloody Book of Blood - Kelly Regan Barnhill 
43. The Adventures of Buster Bear - Thornton Burgess
44. Helen Keller - Margaret Davidson
45. The Magic School Bus Insect Invaders - Anne Capeci
46. Ants are Fun - Mildred Myrick
47. Ladybug - Claire Llewellyn 
48. Army Ant Parade - April Pulley Sayre
49. What's it like to be a Dragonfly - Jinny Johnson
50. Ladybugs - Susan Ashley
51. Fireflies - Susan Ashley
52. Spin with Spiders - Karen Latchana Kenny 
53. The Adventures of Buster Bear - Thornton Burgess 
54. We Explore - LuAnne Yeager, Ruth Hobbs, & Dorothy Nisly* 
55. Animal Babies - Harry McNaught
56. Annie and the Wild Animals - Jan Brett
57. Dig, Wait, Listen - April Pulley Sayre
58. I think I need a Pet - Pamela Chanko 
59. I'm Going to be a Vet - Edith Kunhardt
60. Sheep - Hannah Ray
61. Deserts - Neil Morris
62. Zoologists and Ecologists - Ruth Owen
63. Smudge, the Little Lost Lamb
64. Chick-Chick the Ping-Pong Champ - Russell Ginns*
65. The Crippled Lam - Max Lucado
66. The Boxcar Children - Gertrude Chandler Warner 
67. Going to Grandma's - Pamela Chanko
67. The Pepperoni Parade and the Power of Prayer - Barbara Johnson
68. What Will the Weather Be? - Lynda DeWitt
69. Whiteout: A Book about Blizzards - Rick Thomas
70. The Big Snow - Berta and Elmer Hader
71.  The Crippled Lamb - Max Lucado
72. Clifford and the Big Storm - Norman Bridwell
73. Clifford Keeps Cool - Norman Bidwell
74. Sizzle - Rick Thomas
75. Rumble, Boom! - Rick Thomas
76. Wind - Honor Head 
77. George Washington and the General's Dog - Frank Murphy
78. Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares - Frank Murphy
79. The Adventures of Jerry Muskrat - Thornton Burgess 
80. Mummies in the Morning - Mary Pope Osborne
81. Pyramids and Mummies - Seymour Simon
82. Unraveling the History of the Mummies around the World - Slyvia Branzei
83. The Boxcar Children - Surprise Island - Gertrude Chandler Warner 
84. Katie the Caterpillar - Pamela Chanko
85. We Learn - LuAnne D. Yeager, Ruth Hobbs, Dorothy Nisly
86. The Adventures of Jerry Muskrat - Thornton Burgess 
87. Mummies in the Morning - Mary Pope Osborne
88. Unraveling the History of the Mummies around the World - Slyvia Branzei
89. The Boxcar Children Book 2 - Gertrude Chandler Warner

Balancing the Scales

Jasmine has been taking Physical Science this year.  I bought the advanced program for high school credit from Heart of Dakota.  The projects in it are perfect for my hands-on learner.  She has built a glider, a steam boat, a house frame, and now a scale.  She has so much fun with the projects.  Dad helps out occasionally when he is home.

She is going to take Chemistry next year.  I am really hoping to find a quality program with lots of visual and hands-on lessons.  The benefit of homeschooling is that the lessons can be tailored to how the student learns.  That is an incredible benefit for a student that learns best by doing and seeing, not just reading.

From Prince to Shepherd

Moses had fled Egypt to Midian.  There,  he meets Jethro, a Medianite  priest, married Jethro's daughter, and transforms his life from a prince in Pharaoh's Kingdom to a shepherd in the desert.

One third of his life was spent in luxury.  He had the best food,  servants, power, the best education.   But  his heart was still with his people,  the Hebrews... The slaves. In a moment of anger,  Moses had killed a man.  Now, he had fled to escape the wrath of Pharaoh.  Can you imagine the closeness he might have once felt with the Pharaoh?  Now gone, had that left Moses feeling sad? Yet Moses knew the authority and decisions of Pharaoh would be carried out without question.  No doubt Moses had witnessed the "justice" of Pharaoh before,  and knew that his life wouldn't be spared just because he had grown up as a prince.   After all,  the Pharaoh was considered a god, not just a king.

Moses ran for his life.  He became a shepherd.  After all,  the Egyptians had no use for shepherds. That is why the Hebrew people were originally given land by a Pharaoh of the past during Joseph's life.  Goshen kept the shepherds separate from the Egyptian people, in a place with grazing for sheep.  As slaves, they now worked for Pharaoh, but Moses would learn the trade of his ancestors after he fled Egypt.   He would become a shepherd.

Moses was a prince, a shepherd, and eventually a savior for his people.  Christ was also all three.

And so, we pause now in the study of Moses' life to study shepherding.  Like studying Egypt to learn more about the Bible,  studying shepherding brings the Bible to life.   We catch glimpses of the forty years of the life of the shepherd Moses.   He was humbled there.  The arrogant prince changed his fine clothes for rough robes.  I'm certain the changes on the inside were just as drastic,  the contrast just as strong. 

The Lord is my shepherd,  I shall not want.

I was blessed to learn that my library has a book on Psalm 23 by Philip Keller.   I am also reading Traveling Light by Max Lucado to my daughters. We will spend the next three and a half weeks engrossed in sheep,  shepherds,  mammals,  deserts,  and maybe even the weather.   The Bible is coming alive for us as we study, read, watch videos,  and learn.  

Psalm 23 was written by David,  but so exemplifies Christ.   I look forward to all that God has in store over the next few weeks! I look forward to blogging about our adventures!

We Have Begun Exodus

Our studies have finally finished Joseph and Genesis and begun Moses and Exodus.  A couple of years ago my then preschooler learned a song about Baby Moses.

"Baby in the basket.  Float, float, float."

We are deep into studying Egypt.  Netflix movies, library books, even my Baby Moses Precious Moments plate have helped to get us into the time and place.

Oh, how we are loving learning with the unit study method!  My children are retaining so much!  It seemed a bit strange at first to read about mummies with my six year old.  There are times I have to edit some of the reading so she isn't exposed overly to pagan gods and beliefs.  Obviously Egypt was quite pagan.  But I'm finding that we have some interesting discussions about what the Bible says versus how the Egyptians believed. 

My older girls are grossed out by the mummification process, and yet intrigued too about this time in history.  Even my history hater is getting engrossed in the stories and movies.  It's awesome!

Slavery had been a topic we have talked about lately, considering that Joseph was sold as a slave and that the Hebrews were forced into slavery under the Egyptians rule.  We've talked a bit about Egyptian slavery and slavery in America and slavery today. 

We will take a week or so next week to study shepherding.  I'll be hitting the library for books as we study Psalm 23.  Moses spent 40 years as an Egyptian prince and then 40 years as shepherd in Midian.  What a contrast!  It'll be interesting to see what God will reveal to us in our study!

Back to Work after Thanksgiving Break

It's late on a Sunday night.  Tomorrow we start back to school after our Thanksgiving break.  I didn't part of yesterday planning out a couple weeks of school work.  Surprisingly, that planning went a different direction than I had originally anticipated. 

I'm tired.  The girls and I did a little bit of Christmas decorating after church today.  Usually my teens are busy with youth group on Sunday evenings.  But since the youth leaders had family plans this week, I had some enthusiastic helpers.  We won't put up a Christmas tree until right before Christmas, after my oldest and her husband are done with college for the semester.

Needless to say, after a very busy few days, I'm grateful to get back to the routine for a few more weeks.  My daughters each spent a couple days with family, giving us all the break from school we needed.  However, our family Bible time stopped over Thanksgiving break.  Over the last few months I have really become addicted to that time in the Word with my daughters. 

It stated out as a way for me to go through the Old Testament with my eighth and tenth graders.  Last year my tenth grader did a New Testament Survey class on her own for credit.  She passed it with flying colors, but didn't get much out of it spiritually or even intellectually.  She learned what she needed to for the test, and then promptly forgot it.

I decided to use a different curriculum and added my eighth grader to the study.  I joined in on the lessons, literally going through each one with them. Besides our study of the Old Testament, we are also spending two days per week going through the book, Who Is God, that we received with our Heart of Dakota curriculum.

Since we began this, God has really dealt with me in some areas.  He had revealed why the "perfect" curriculum was stressing me out and not working at all for one child.  He has deepened my relationship with Him as, even if I miss personal time occasionally, I am still in His Word daily. I have even brought the six year old in to listen to the lessons.  I'm amazed at how much she picks up. I usually read the lesson to her from one of her story Bibles during our individual school time.

Over the weekend I read the ebook, Bible Based Homeschool by Karen Debeus.  I then realized whour Bible time was going so well.

Studying the Bible together is a natural way of learning.  It's discipleship.  It's instructing my children in the way they should go.   It's helping to lay a foundation that my children need on which to build their lives.

A few weeks ago I was really struggling.  One daughter had spent weeks blowimg off some of her work.  I was discouraged and knew that what I was doing wasn't working.  She was very much in trouble, as there are consequences.  But, for me, I dug down deep in prayer.

God showed me that, while independence and self-learning are vital skills, my children need me to be more in charge, more involved in more aspects.  Computer classes and self-led programs are wonderful, but they should be used in moderation.

Of course, it was NEVER my intention to be uninvolved.  As this school year progressed, I found myself overwhelmed with teaching my first grader and keeping up with three children in three different grades studying three different everything.  It stressed me out and, very simply, hasn't been working as I had anticipated at the beginning of the school year.

At this point, as I continue to pray, I have changed some things up.  My youngest is working on basics and various topics.  My tenth grader is continuing most of her studies, but some has been halted as I have assigned her a research project instead.  My eighth grader continues on a normal for now until after Christmas, when she will finish her current curriculum.

Never delude yourself.  Homeschooling is hard work.  Even the most pre-planned, expensive curriculum can (and often does) fail.  

I have a few options on what direction to go from here.  I could combine my oldest two, leaving me only two levels to keep up with on a daily basis. I could switch to a more universal unit study style where studies are arranged by topic and each studies at their level.  I have to carefully and prayerfully consider each step since the oldest is earning high school credit.  

One vital area where God opened my eyes is to how short my time is to impact my daughters for Christ.  Knowing His Word has become vital.  I have an urgency about this that I lacked before.  If I want my daughters to be Biblically literate, it's my responsibility.  Sunday school, youth group, and Sunday morning service will NOT be enough training.  It's the icing on the cake, but not substantial enough to truly feed souls.  They need much more than what my local church offers for a few brief per week.  Besides, as a parent, God places the responsibilities on the shoulders of my husband and me.

To Combine or Not

It was Laura's project.  She was to make a paper mache rattle.  Normally Laura looks forward to the new projects.  Occasionally, the projects are...well...sticky.  For Laura, sticky means icky.

I don't believe she is OCD.  One look at her cluttered bedroom would throw that notion out the window.  She has just always been a bit... particular.  She hates sticky things or gooey items.  She does fine with things like cookie dough, but nearly falls apart when she was taking pumpkin seeds out of the pumpkin last month.

As you can tell in the photo, Laura was unhappy about the glue/newspaper combo.  Ironically, we have been known to skip projects if I don't have the supplies on hand or if I think it's just busy work.  She didn't ask to skip this one.  Maybe she underestimated the icky factor of the paper mache.  

About half-way through, Jasmine came to the rescue.  The opposite of Laura, she doesn't mind sticky projects at all.  In fact, the ickier the better.  She dived into the project with both hands, a smile on her face the entire time

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It's at that moment that I had a small light bulb moment.  These girls need to be working together.  Yes, they are two grades apart.  They have their "own" levels.  But to have them  separate in everything is silly. 

We do some things together.  Bible time in the morning is done all together.  We are studying the Old Testament and we are working through the Who Is God book.  My two older girls are great together.  They help each other.  We have some amazing conversations together during Bible time. 

My mind can't help but wonder how they would do if I combined history as well.  Would it be a blessing?

I wondered briefly if Laura would be able to keep up.  Then I remembered that she is taking on high school Spanish and is successfully getting good grades. 

Laura will finish her current history level in a few weeks.  But, Jasmine is weeks into the next level.  Not sure if I should slow Jasmine down till Laura catches up, begin with Laura and review with Jasmine, or just skip the entire idea.  I'm praying.

Time in the Word Together

I love having time studying the Bible with my daughters.  It's so amazing to sit together, reading the Bible, and discussing it together.  This year we have two Biblical studies that I am doing with my teens.

First, with our Heart of Dakota program, we are going through the book, Who Is God and Can I Really Know Him?  This was originally scheduled for me to work through with Jasmine, but I decided to pull Laura in on the study.  She would be starting the book with me about mid-year.  It seemed silly to be doing the same book with each girl separately.  So, a couple times per week, we gather around the dining room table together.  So far, the study has seemed very basic.  However, I don't see that as a drawback.  As the girls get older, I want them to have a solid foundation in Christ.  Building our lives upon the Rock of Christ has been the heart of our lessons thus far with Who Is God.

The second study I felt led to do with my older girls is one that covers the Old Testament.  We've done various studies together.  Last year we did a Wisdom study written by Robin Sampson, using a great book written by Charles Stanley.  We also read through the book A Young Woman After God's Heart by Elizabeth George.  Both studies were interesting and beneficial.

 

Jasmine and Laura will both need to do a study of the Old Testament for High School. Since Laura is receiving High School credit this year for her Spanish study, I decided to include her now in a thorough study of the Old Testament.

I'm using a couple of resources for our venture through the Old Testament.  Ruth Beechick has some wonderful books that I would like to include.  I'm also using an Old Testament class from Christian Light Education for a spine.  Laura LOVES the Bible lessons from Christian Light. She loves the format, and the historical culture references that are included that help explain so much of the time periods.  I love the affordable price and the Teacher's Guide, that gives me project suggestions and an easy-to-follow format.  I also love that the program is simple to supplement so I can add depth to lessons if I want. 

Normally the class takes one school year.  It will take us longer.  High School credit is important, but not as important as having a solid foundation in the Bible.  Jasmine was in public school for most of her school years. Laura knows quite a bit about the Bible after years of study in our homeschool. No matter how much or little each girl knows, there is always lots more to learn, lots of growth that can occur.  

My time with the girls is limited.  If I have learned anything from my older girls, it's that time is precious and fleeting.  We only have so much time to influence our children for the Lord.  When they are young, we often think we have forever. After the first ones grow up, the realization of how fast time flies by is imprinted deeply on a mother's heart. 

I feel such a desperation to do all I can to guide the girls to live for Christ.  As they get older, they will have to gravitate from living the faith of Dad and Mom to a deep, strong faith of their own.  If their faith doesn't mature into their own faith, if they don't know what they believe and why for themselves, they will stumble when that faith is tested.  Some stumbles lead to prodigals, to children that walk away from their faith because their foundation wasn't firm.  

There is no perfect formula in raising children to live for Christ.  Each child is unique.  However, there are some things parents can do to encourage a child in their faith:

1.  "More is caught than taught."  Live out your faith honestly in front of your children.  Pray in front of them as well as with them.  Study God's Word in front of them as well as with them.  Admit your struggles, apologize for your mistakes, and do your best to live what you believe, for they are always watching.

2.  Make your faith an all-the-time, everyday part of your life.  Don't fall into the trap of letting "Church" be the source of nourishment.  Even if you are at the church every time the doors are open, it's a weak substitution for parental influence.  What has more impact on a child?  Seeing Mommy or Daddy praying with the family every morning before school or every evening at bedtime; or seeing them close their eyes to pray when the pastor ends a sermon.  Children see through church facades easily.  They won't respond to fake shows with church faces on. They respond to authenticity, to love, to parents living for Christ in the day-to-day.

3. PRAY!  No advice on parenting will be as impacting as what God would tell you.  As you study the Word of God and bring your children before Him in prayer, He WILL guide.  Don't neglect prayer.  Bring your children before the Lord daily.  I've slacked in this area, and the results have been harsh. Even if nothing immediately catastrophic happens, you will find you that, as a parent, you start doing things in your own strength.  Without prayer, I noticed that I wasn't as patient with my children, causing stress on us all. I also noticed that I would over or under react to situations.  Sometimes the guidance of the Lord would alert me to situations, even attitudes, that I had been overlooking.  When I wasn't praying as I should, I would miss vital things. More than once, that led to consequences I regretted.

4. Forgiveness.  This is important to model for your children.  Forgive, not just others, but yourself.  Too many parents beat themselves up for mistakes, and then watch their children do the same thing later.  If you blow it and, in frustration, overreact to something, be sure to ask for forgiveness...and then receive it from the child and God.  If, to your regret, you have inadvertently helped cause your child to turn from you and maybe even The Lord, do all you can to fix the situation, but them forgive yourself. Don't let Satan or your child hold you in bondage forever. 

I'm planning a series on prodigals.  I'm in the middle of reading and studying, following where Christ leads. There is nothing in my life that has been as heartbreaking as watching my older girls struggle, even stumble.  One daughter took a rough path for awhile, but she returned to her faith.  Another is struggling still.  So, as I disciple the teens that are home, I know the very real consequences of a child that doesn't have as firm of a foundation as I thought. I'm trusting the Lord to guide me as He wills, praying He holds ALL my children in His hands.

Making a Glider

Jasmine finished her first Physical Science project.  She made a glider.  It works too!  Using the advanced level of Exploring Education's Physical Science that we ordered with Heart of Dakota, Jasmine is learning with hands-on projects.  She loves science anyway, and using hands-on materials is simply perfect for her learning style.

Spanish 1 with Rosetta Stone

No, Laura is not a telemarketer. She is not an airline pilot.  She is taking her first high school level course. Along with Jasmine, both girls are using Rosetta Stone Spanish 1.  It is their favorite subject!  They both just LOVE it!  It's not uncommon for them to do more than one lesson per day. 

I'm still in awe of Rosetta Stone's program.  I'm hoping to have the funds when we order next year's curriculum to order Hebrew for me as well as the girls' Spanish 2.  It's so awesome!  My girls seem to be learning so fast with this immersion method!  

I'll have to update later, after using the program for a few months, to see how successful it is.  Right now... Total thumbs up!

Second Homeschool Year

Jasmine began her second year homeschooling this week.  It was interesting to see her have her first Spanish lesson with Rosetta Stone.  She's so excited about her Physical Science class and the wonderful projects, models, and experiments that are included. To see this young lady excited for school, eager to learn, is a miracle after years of hating nearly every moment of public school.

We moved away from the workbook lessons in some of Jasmine's subjects this year. I really felt that Jasmine needed something more hands-on, with an approach that would work better for my very visual girl.   A have kept the workbook approach for a couple of subjects, but switched to Heart of Dakota, beefed up for High School, for science and social studies.  

Adding in fun electives, such as Rosetta Stone Spanish, and a digital photography class done by my sister, a professional photographer, and we are on our way to a well rounded year.