Monday, August 10, 2009

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

Monday, August 3, 2009

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

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

'places to see' -Always YOU!

A few weeks ago my BFF sent me a questioner and one of the questions was 5 places you would like to visit. My dear girlfriend put on there some great vacation spots, but when I erased them to add mine (cuz you have to fill it out and send it back and then to others) I could not think of ONE place I would rather be other than with friends and family.


It's not that I don't want to see this amazing world God made, it's just that to me, I need vacation to 'be' friends and family. Because after those vacations are long gone all I can remember are the great times I had with family. I don't remember a sunset, I don't remember a bright blue ocean;

I remember my mom and I laughing and having a good time with me, making brownies.

I remember my dad and our family laughing at the dinner table while eating my mom's yummy dinner!

I remember meeting my sister for the first time at age 31.

I remember standing in line at an amusement park talking to my BFF, or I remember laying on the beach watching our boys play and my friend and I just talking about good old times.

I remember the wonderful times with my grandparents Doris...who sat with me one day and told me so many wonderful stories about our families history.

I remember my Grandmother Ray, my cousin Kitzi, my mom, and my new to me sister Karrie all sitting at the table looking at old photos, some of us even crying. Oh and my grandma was a hottie! And my dad looked great in a dress!

For me, God put my vacation spot, right in the heart of another human. I just find it hard to see any 'physical place' as a vacation. Though it would surly be a bonus if I have a friend or family member at that vacation spot~

Faith

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The milestones of a 3 year old

I don't rightly remember much about my oldest (now 12 ) when he was three...there are few things, but most is lost to me. I am sort of sad by this because I can't pass those memoir's on, so I thought I would use this blog to keep those milestones (because I plan to print all this...some day).

These are my 3 year old's milestones...not your 3 year old milestones, please do not expect them to be what your son's or daughters should be. And if my child is behind your child...I am okay with that. I just wanted a memoir of these times.

Ty turned 4 this weekend and here are some things he did while 3.

He learned to say his abc's (he actually knew them at 2 just sometimes had them out of order)

He knows the sounds to most of the abc's-again at age 2

Most colors-at age 2

Most shapes-at age 2


He can:
count to 14 (and sort of does to 20...on good days, lol)
add up to 10 (just so long as he can use his hands like 6 + 1)
subtract up to 10


He can spell:
Stop
Go
Tyrus
Mom
Dad
Buffalo
God
box (when prompted)

If you give him the sounds of the letters of a word he can usually spell them.

He can sign (American sign language) :
yes
no
yellow
train (railroad)
read
book
doll
The letter 'y'

He knows what a blank is:
nocturnal
decompose
Tornado (and it's siren)
swine flu (I will never make that mistake again)
cops
bad guys



He knows that we:
Love and listen to God
Homeschool
Don't do the Easter bunny and egg part of Easter
Don't do Santa

Is starting to grasp time and is starting to read a hand clock

Loves to tell stories to his dad





He wants to be a pilot when he grows up and fly around telling everyone about God.

He only likes to pray in his head

He can usually dress himself

He can make his own bed, pick out his own clothes, and clean his room before I get up!

He loves to sing 'you love me' and

He loves bubble gum and does not swallow it

He loves chicken nuggets fries and ketchup when we eat out...no matter where we eat out, lol

He takes a nap everyday around 2pm!-this is mandatory or he goes ADHD on me!

Ty never ever would need Super Nanny to visit him, I remember joking one time that she was coming here and he gave me this scared look of what did I do, I am not a bad kid.

Devin and Ty fight way too much that is my fault for not training their hearts more.

Ty play's on the furniture all the time...something as dumb new parents we would never let Devin do.

Ty loves his Grandma "cuz she gives me food...and not God's food, the good kind of food"

He so could be in theater cuz he is very theatrical!

He is shy for about one minute and if you ask him 1 THING that is it he won't stop talking, your his new friend!




I am not done...will finish later!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Four day weekends should be mandatory!

My husband thought it would be nice to take a day off this weekend to give us a four day weekend of fun family time. I am ever so thankful for it! We had a blast.

On Thursday we all went fishing at Pomme De Tarre Lake. It was too windy to catch anything really but we so enjoyed the relaxed family time.

-did I mention I have a 12 year old that eats like MORE than his dad does. It was like they we in an eating contest at lunch! I think they had 5 hot dogs each, plus chips, plus fruit!

-A nice moment came up to teach my youngest about patients while fishing it was a great time to speak to him about how the Lord desires patients. Ty is a good kid, he kept looking at me, "has that been long enough?"...lol it was funny he had no patients to be patient.

Then Friday I went to the SHEM homeschool conference in Springfield MO. I absolutely LOVE going to the conferences! I hung out with a close girlfriend of mine and we had a blast being our goofy selves...and spent loads too much on yummy homeschool books and stuff!

-I got Devin (and all 10 future children) These Great CD's on American History...I so wish I had these CD's growing up, I would have easily been a history buff!

-I also got him Math-U-See. I am just bored with Saxon and because of it's public school tendencies I just wanted it out of my house.

Saturday was a day to go to some 'tag sales' (that is Martha Stewart for 'yard sales') and get us some booty to help prepare for 'change' (That is obama for 'change'). If things get bad enough and people get homeless we want enough provisions for them to stay with us, if God so desires.


-I got a fabulous Cuisinart ice cream machine that I have been wanting for like EVER!


Then on Sunday it was Ty's Birthday. It was such a wonderful day! Ty got all he asked for (thanks to great yard sale deals!) He was so happy to get these items. Now I will help him pick out just as many items (if not many more) to donate to those in need, he loves giving to the kids 'who don't have any toys' as he likes to say.

Then on Monday I sat my fat butt in my office chair and did nothing like ALL DAY-except facebook!!~ A four day weekend is fun but tiring!

Love,
Faith

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Hey, have you seen my brain? What God wants is...

I want to thank everyone for there questions and concerns regarding my health. I know many of you are concerned and have many questions still unanswered. I pray I can bring better understanding to you today.

But before we being I wanted to share a song with you that I pray will help you understand how I see my new found sickness. This is an important part of what I am blogging about so please download it and listen/watch it first...then read on.

"Jesus Bring the Rain"


This is sort of my way of doing a Q and A with you.

Well I am on a diet. Not a diet to lose weight (though I pray that is something that will happen:-) I am on a diet to rid my body of toxins.

What toxins?

Well first Candida.

Candida?

Candida is a yeast that everyone has. But for some reason- more than likely all the junk I ate my whole life-my body has allowed the candida to get out of hand. And what would be a normal amount of yeast in my body...is now wreaking havoc on me.

How do you know you have candida?

Well this is gross but I have thrush in my mouth, I have pleurisy (for almost a year now), I get yeast infections with EVERY period, serious brain fog, just to name a few.

How do I get rid of this?

Well unfortunately once candida has left your gut and is everywhere the only real way to get rid of it is to starve it to death.

What does Candida eat?

Sugar, gluten, and anything like sugar...such as fruit, starchy veggies, etc.

I am also doing this diet because my body is possibly killing itself! I have not been truly diagnosed yet (doctor's visit is not until July) but it looks like I have some sort of auto immune disorder where my body is attacking itself and causing my muscles to twitch, vibrate, and stiffen. That and the endless brain fog, and exhaustion.

What disorder is that?

Well I am totally speculating here but it looks like Multiple Sclerosis. Just for the record M.S. is where the body attacks two things, #1 it attacks the coating (this is like black electrical tape wrapping an electrical system) of your central nervous system (this is like the wires of your electrical system). When the black tape is gone the electrical system starts to short circuit. and #2 it also allows cells (the cells that normally fight infection) into the brain where they attack the brain. This can be pretty bad especially later in the disorder. From all I have read, it looks like this disorder could also be linked to my poor food choices, i.e. huge amounts cola, sugared coffee, fast food, preservatives, etc.

Lots of people eat those things why doesn't everyone have this disorder?

Well that is a good question, it seems that some people have gene pools that make them more susceptible to disorders than others. There are more factors than I like to speculate on but genetics is probably a big answer to that. Also many people probably have issues that are caused by poor diet...they just don't know it.

But M.S. is not curable right?

Well that is what the medical community says, but I think it's at least naturally treatable...I won't say curable...but from all I have read if caught early enough it can be treated enough so that you don't ever see symptoms again.

What treatment would that be?

Well for one the diet I am on(for the record I am not on the full diet yet I get to that later) This diet mostly consists of eating all natural foods. NO sugar, NO gluten, NO milk, NO preservatives, etc. Eating organic as well will help. To read more on the diet go here.

I also had a hair analysis. You see my blood work, urine, and x-rays were all coming back normal even though my body was saying...YOUR NOT NORMAL! But I found with a hair analysis it sees what those test can't see. Those results helped me to see what herbs and supplements I should take to help regulate myself. It also helped me see that certain foods that I thought were on my 'can have' part of my diet are now 'can't have' due to my metabolism type and what my body is not ridding itself of (calcium and magnesium) or is ridding too much of(phosphorus). It's a long story so lets just say it helped me see how to best use my diet/supplements for the best benefits.

Soon I will see a doctor and he will help me determine if it is indeed what I think it is, M.S. He will also help get me on some supplements, and see me on my way to living a normal life again.

Why are you sharing this with us?

Because I think God wants me to share with others that what you put into your mouth, does matter. Don't get me wrong a diet soda here, and a piece of cake there...is not so much my concern. What I think God wants me to show others is that when we eat we should always be thoughtful to what it is, how much, and how often. He also want's me to share that food can make you sick and eating foods he made are so much better.

If you look at history (a great book to get on what cultures have eaten is Nourishing Traditions) their diets tell us a lot about health and nutrition. It is amazing that cultures with no understanding of the science behind it eat so much better than our culture where we know the science.

I want to emphasize I am not saying nor advocating a strict diet of any particular food. I am only wanting to stress that you pray and weigh in your prayers to the Lord your desire to take care of the temple He gave you. He will guide you.

Love,
Faith

P.S. if you want to continue on I will tell you how this all got started...in short form;-)

*Seriously odd behavior at the end of my last pregnancy(now 4 years ago) mild depression
*mild postpartum depression for 8 months after birth of baby-lack of desire for anything
*brain fog-way more than usual
*lack of caring about anything-not depressed
*came home from binging trip 2 years after birth of baby from GA with lump in throat...thought cancer...found out just reflux
*muscle cramps in legs a few weeks later-thought calcium/magnesium issues took supplements got worse plus now I had weird vibrations in chest
*went to doctor took x-rays tested my cal/mag...said nada and sent me on my way
*did this again a few days later...said nada and sent me on my way
* few weeks later sharp pain in my chest when I would breath, urgent care visit later (plus another e-ray diagnosis: pleurisy
* Got sick had to take antibiotics (because of my husbands chemo treatments) started to get yeast infections and thrush in mouth
*vibrations getting stronger plus other issues got online and realized my symptoms were from candida
* Did not due much to find out what the vibrations were because of my husband health issues...put it on the back burner for a long time
*finally had enough went to doctor with a list of my issues he put me on a heart monitor
*lady did not put monitor on right and before I was able to go back and do it again the vibrations moved to my right arm and leg also
* doctor did lupus test-normal
*doctor sent me to neurologist...but I wanted to see someone who worked naturally to fix this issue so I asked a friend to give me the name of her doctor
*He said must wait until July but a hair analysis and supplements recommended from that analysis would be a great start
*muscles went from vibrating to also twitching all muscles even large ones
* Started my diet
* Got hair analysis test back and realized a lot of the foods I was eating while healthy were not good for some of my problems.
*currently waiting for doctors visit.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Home School 6 month update

Well we are 6 months into our 12 month school year (we homeschool year round). This year is by far our most consistent year yet...but it's not what you think. Usually by December I have pretty much washed our homeschool books because we bore of them/I am lazy. But this year we love the homeschool books we have and I have forced my self to be a little less lazy. Both have paid off! So here is our updated schedule that seems to work pretty nice for us, it's an average schedule that we try to do Monday-Thursday...notice I said try, we probably only consistently do this schedule 3 times a week on average but I usually make up what school is missed on Friday and the Weekend:

3:20 I get up or see my husband off-This is usually when I blog
6:30 I get up if I don't stay up after husband goes to work-blog
8am get boys up
8-9:15am chores-has chore chart
  • start laundry
  • make bed
  • shower
  • clean room
  • eat
  • brush teeth
  • put laundry in dryer
  • start school
9:15-9:45am guitar lessons using book and CD (electric guitar primer)
9:45am-10am bible study and memorization (my oldest boy's choice to memorize)
10-10:15am snack
10:15-10:45 reading (Chronicles of Narnia)
10:45-11am spelling (spelling power)
11am-12pm
12pm-1pm lunch
1pm-3pm Saxon Math KONOS or other school activity of his choosing
3-5 Free time

My summer schedule (starts first real hot days or first day of summer)will look like this:

8am get boys up
8-9:15 chores (listed above)
9:15am-10am garden/yard work
10-10:30am guitar
10:30-10:45am bible
10:45-11am spelling
11-12pm History or Science
12-12:30pm reading
12:30-1pm lunch
1-3pm Saxon Math KONOS or other project
3-5pm Free time

With this schedule he loses 30 minutes of lunch but gains really nice morning time outside relaxing and weeding the garden.

 

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