I miss you blog!

I do miss blogging. I miss sharing this way with my friends and family oh so much. It just seems so much easier on facebook. However it's not the same as a blog. I might come back here one day and share more but for now...I live in the land of facebook.

Faith

Isaiah 45:7 and I create evil

Well Hello everyone!

Sorry haven't blogged in sometime...I just prefer facebook at this moment as a way to share. Well anyways I have a question I would love to ask those that follow the Lord. You see in my enthusiasm to share on Facebook something I found in scripture , I found many friends who did not agree with me on the subject. While I was not shocked, what was and is shocking is that after much research I still can't see their side. So I want to ask you two questions. This is not to provoke, or start trouble or to bring anger. I really want to know your answers or even if you don't anwer me, I pray you seek the answers out yourself.

First Question (two parts) Do you think the Lord created everything? And if so, do you think he created evil?

Second Question: (three parts) Do you think the Devil is a fallen angel? Most give scriptures for Lucifer (a king), fallen Angels (who are all in everlasting chains) and Satan as all being the same person. Do you know the history of these three scriptures? Have you looked into what others belive that don't think he's a fallen angel, the history they give and the scriptures they also give?

You may write me on here, in private, or not at all. I only post to (I pray) get everyone to look beyond what is taught, and look and seek the Lord in his truth. These questions may not be salvation type questions but they sure will make your love for the Lord grow when you have a better understanding of Him.

Faith

First Week of School cuz it's cool!

Well last week was our official first week of school. I have to say, I always love the first week. New books, I am organized-for a change, the kids *actually* want to learn, and I love the feeling a being all Teacherie. But usually after that, it's all down hill (like a workout video you think you will do until your butt is in shape...it never happens right?)

But this year, I have a drive in me, that I have never had before. It's not a drive to "finish all of our books" or a drive to do school on time everyday. It's a drive to TRY. that simple. I usually let "research" get the best of me. I try to perfect everything, and in the end, do NOTHING!

I will have to admit my biggest reason for this change is:

1. my diet. I gave up sugar and caffeine (and soon phosphoric acid-it hurts my bones! and bread and pasta-cuz I just eat too much of it) I feel alive now...like my soul is on fire! I wish I would have known this 4 years ago...but maybe this is God's way of me being able to share with the world...that stuff steals your life.

2. GREAT examples of other homeschool moms. I have had some women in my life lately (blog and real life) that share my passion's and to see them in action...it's, intoxicating! I figure, why keep researching it ya duffice, get out there and live it. It would be great to be the example to others that they have been to me. Hey its my dream, stop laughing!

3. my husband, he is my rock, and I feel like when I don't put the effort in, what kind of wife am I? Oh and he works like 10 times more than I do...so I feel kind of like I should be atleast trying a little more.

4. my kids. They love school, and they love spending time with me. Why not give them what they want? It's not like they want candy and PlayStation. Well they do...but that's not my point.



Can you have 4 better reasons? Yes...the Lord. For those that don't have Him in their lives, I just don't know how they make it through the day. Especially if ya don't have the drugs, caffeine and sugar anymore.

My life is not perfect...but I love it just the way it is (minus the disorganized parts of course)
Faith

homeschool book deals & organization mess

First HOMESCHOOL DEALS: (below that if you chose to skip is my organization mess)

Okay a week or so ago I went to a used homeschool book fair to get me some good deals on some homeschool books. For the FIRST time in the 6 or so years that I have been going there I went there with a cut and dry list of what I wanted. I did not walk out with all that I wanted, but I walked out very happy, and $90.00 dollars poorer!

Right up front let me start by saying that I am on a mission. You see I have found certain curriculum's, that to me, works for every type of child. They can be relaxed, or rigid, depending on what learning style they have. And so I have started buying every grade, to own the whole collection 3rd-12th grade. I have about 13 more subjects left and I am done! Oh and I love LOVE books made by the homeschooler for the homeschooler...my list shows it.

The books I use are:
Apologia science (need 2 more for high school, 4 for elementary)
Math-U-See (need 5 more)
The Mystery Of History (1-4) (need 2 more)
All American History (done)
Spelling Power (done)

At the used sale I was able to get 3 apologia science years for a little over $20 each and a Math-U-See for $10 (still needs student workbook) and a Latin curriculum for $10. I also got a KONOS high school Medieval World set for FREE! Its a massive set with all kinds of stuff, she just gave it to me because someone gave it to her! New it would cost $60.00! It covers one History, Writing, and Art credit for high school each! is that not cool or what! And because my kids seem to love hands on projects, this will be up their alley!

organization mess: (homeschool that is)

Before you read below, what I am writing may sound like lots of extra work, it is not in my eyes. I love working on my kids school and so I enjoy the 'extra work'. Also please do not think that the extra work I am providing for my children below is something they must do during *that* subject time. My children get 1 hour a day of book reading or a school DVD to do each day (weekends included-don't worry my kids love it) and this *extra* fun work can be done then.

I have been working on organizing my life little by little. You would not know it by my house as of yet, but I am. The other day at a friends home I was thumbing through her new version of the Mystery Of History book and was baffled that she had large post-it notes in each chapter with stuff I could not make out on it. When I questioned her she told me she finds books that she owns to correlate with that time frame and has her children read them. (insert open mouth shock) Of course this curriculum already lists a large number of read along books to do during private time, but she had her own collection and used hers instead. That is not the shocking part, the shocking part is by just taking a couple of hours to leave notes for her children, she now knows they will be reading those books at that time. LOVE IT! So instead of them just reading any old book during reading time, they read a books that go along with what they are studying at that time! Might sound boring to you, but it's actually really fun, I have seen my own children after reading or hearing about one subject, go to the library and get more on it.

I tried to do roughly the same concept as my friend last year with my Mystery of History book but failed at it because I was trying to do it as we went along and was frustrated that the library either did not have the book we wanted or by the time I was able to pick it up we were about done with the chapter. So early on I gave up. But now I realize that if I just start a few weeks before school begins and write in each chapter what I need, then 2 chapters before time I can easily look it up and get the books or DVD's. A little planning ahead makes light work later on.

I am also doing this for science, language arts and maybe Latin too if need be. It has been fun to get onto the libraries website and look up cool books and DVD's to go along with what Devin will be learning in science. I practically want to do school with him!

It will probably take me from now until September 1 (when we normally start school) to finish doing this, but I am so excited to start! Let the homeschool games begin!

So what do you think?
Faith

READ INSTRUCTIONS FIRST!!!! I Warned you!

Okay before I give you what this post is about, I am giving you fair warning, what is below is a guide line for my family, not a hard fast rule! Do not under any circumstance think that what is below is a daily *have* to. We probably won't do 75% of it each day. I just need guidance, and after much prayer and hard work this is my answer:

My Daily Schedule
Chore Chart and details

P.S. It probably has a few things that will need to be adjusted as we find issues. OH AND YOU HAVE TO USE THE ARROW (that faces down) at the top of the chart to make the document larger.

So what do you think???????


Daily Schedule and Chore Chart

Our 2009/2010 School Year

I just wanted to post our homeschool meanderings for everyone. We will be starting school September 1st, like we have for about 5 or 6 years now. We do school roughly 4 hours a day 4 days a week for roughly 45 weeks a year. Taking off Christmas and Vacation/life. Giving us a total of 720 hours of 'class room' school. The other 280+ hours (MO requires 1000 hours of school) will easily be made up in many other ways, mostly in reading, writing, and school video's.

Tyrus our 4 year old will be doing miscellaneous school because I don't usually buy curriculum for a child before 3rd grade. However my friend Karen gave me plenty to keep him busy throughout the morning hours and he loves doing school with his brother.

I will be rotating our school so it will look like this:

Everyday: English, Math, Reading, Spelling
Mon-Wed: Science, Music, Writing
Tue-Thurs: History, Art, Biblical Latin

For P.E. Devin will be volunteering at HOH every week on Tue or Wed from 2-4pm. He is also involved in Baseball, Basketball, and Bowling throughout the year.

Our Homeschool Schedule for 2009/2010:

7-9am All are done as a family except dress and rooms
-Dress
-Pick up rooms
-Cook/Eat/clean up Breakfast
-Garden chores in summer House chores in winter or a mix if needed
-Bible Time
-Get school books out and ready



9am Reading-we read lots of classical books out loud for this class
9:30am Math-U-See Pre-Algebra
10am snack
10:15am Spelling with Spelling Power
10:30am English Intermediate Language Lessons
11am Science Apologia Physical or History MOH II Early Church and Middle ages
11:30am Music guitar lessons or Art
12pm Writing Faith Writers or Biblical Latin for beginners
12:30pm lunch
2-4pm volunteer at HOH once a week

I also plan on having the children doing independent reading for at least 30min-to an hour a day or watch a school-ish video from time to time.

So what do ya think?


Faith

Mother Warriors my voluminous book review

Yesterday I started a book called Mother Warriors by Jenny McCarthy, and around 11pm that same day I finished it. I just could not put it down it was so full of powerful information. After reading it I just wanted to share with everyone the importance of looking a what the mothers, doctor's, a few fathers, and herself were saying in her book. So I thought what better way then a book review:

Just for those that Don't know Mother Warriors is a sequel, if you will, to Louder Than Words by Jenny McCarthy. Her first book (on this issue) was about finding out her son was autistic and her road to recover him from autism. Note I said recover, not cure. Jenny McCarthy said it best when she quoted this:

"I agree there is no cure, but kids can recover. A great example I use is that autism is like getting hit by a bus. You cannot become cured from getting hit by a bus, but you can recover!"

-Stan Kurtz

Now my review; READ THIS BOOK~ I tried writing a long review about it, but nothing can put into words the importance of knowing what is in that book. The book itself says it all.

The only negative I will say about the book is it has fowl language in it, but that can easily be overlooked because of all the valuable information it contains.

So to make this a complete judicious book review I triple double dog dare you to read it!


End Note: You do not need a child with autism to be involved. I think everyone should be deeply concerned and aware of what our government and medical community is always doing. We are all liable to make sure they are doing their job, and doing it right. If we see wrongs (even if it's not done to us) we should all be trying to do our best to fight those wrongs-even if it's just spreading the word.