Thought it might be fun to start blogging a bit again.
Here's a post from WTM Forums I recently wrote, on those little "coincidences" in our lives that we feel are really not coincidences at all--"God Winks!"
God Winks
Hope you can read it without joining WTM.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Got Snow?
We sure do! There's roughly 30 inches on the ground and more coming today. I just felt a gust that rocked the house and swirled up the white stuff so much the window went blank! Poor birds. They are desperately looking for food on the snow-covered porch. We've gone thru a whole bag of corn, and have nothing but bread left--but sparrows aren't big on bread, and most of the other birds we have visiting us (towhee, cardinal, jay, junco, house wren) like seeds better.
Sky hasn't had school since last Thurday, and missed a day that week, too! His friend spent two nights at our house--brought his XBox and they put it on the "big screen" in the living room (we don't have any decorations on the wall above the couch, so we can use the projector and see TV, movies and games on an 8 ft "screen").
We are limping along in school.
I ended up making a list of our subjects and just writing where we should be--it's helpful for organization.
Off to take a shower before the power goes out!
Sky hasn't had school since last Thurday, and missed a day that week, too! His friend spent two nights at our house--brought his XBox and they put it on the "big screen" in the living room (we don't have any decorations on the wall above the couch, so we can use the projector and see TV, movies and games on an 8 ft "screen").
We are limping along in school.
I ended up making a list of our subjects and just writing where we should be--it's helpful for organization.
Off to take a shower before the power goes out!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Trying out some new looks for fun
Bear with me as I try out some new backrounds and buttons from ShabbyChic and The Cutest Blog on The Block, places you can go for free stuff! StephieK at Enduring With Grace is my inspiration.
I'm home alone for a while--Nature Girl went with her daddy to take her brother back to college, and Sky is at a friend's house. No school tomorrow!
I'm home alone for a while--Nature Girl went with her daddy to take her brother back to college, and Sky is at a friend's house. No school tomorrow!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Happy New Year!
When 2009 started, I had one son who had just limped to the finish of homeschooled high school (didn't want a graduation, so no party or celebration), one who had just entered treatment that October after running away for 2 weeks, and one little girl who was trying to navigate public school third grade after being homeschooled K-2. I was in a preschool teaching job I did not feel comfortable with, because I wanted to be home. Hubby was just getting used to his new assistant at work--one bright spot, as she and her husband are lovely, Godly, orthodox Episcopalians, rare around here. The rest of our church was falling apart.
Now, as we start 2010, Son #1 has just completed his first semester at VCU with a 3.6 average. Son #2 has been sober for over a year, has gotten nearly straight As in his new school, has joined the wrestling team and has been promoted to Varsity (even with no prior experience--either they s>ck or he's pretty good), and has not picked a fight since he's been home. I'm homeschooling dd9 and working part time. One credit card will be settled in Jan, leaving me with a "doable debt," which continues to go down. Hubby is happy at work, and we are just waiting to see if our church crashes and burns--if so, we know pretty much where we'll go.
Thru all the bad, carpy, yucky, HARD things this past year, I gained a lot of insight into myself, my family, and my world. I have far to go, but I'm less controlling, less afraid, and more grown up. The difficult times have brought me to my knees, and have brought me to my Lord. I've found truth in trusting Him, and can honestly say, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."
This year, I hope to become wiser, stronger, more honest, and closer to my husband. I hope to cultivate more peace and more joy at home, and make my home into a place of beauty, contentment, order, and solace.
Here's to 2010.
Now, as we start 2010, Son #1 has just completed his first semester at VCU with a 3.6 average. Son #2 has been sober for over a year, has gotten nearly straight As in his new school, has joined the wrestling team and has been promoted to Varsity (even with no prior experience--either they s>ck or he's pretty good), and has not picked a fight since he's been home. I'm homeschooling dd9 and working part time. One credit card will be settled in Jan, leaving me with a "doable debt," which continues to go down. Hubby is happy at work, and we are just waiting to see if our church crashes and burns--if so, we know pretty much where we'll go.
Thru all the bad, carpy, yucky, HARD things this past year, I gained a lot of insight into myself, my family, and my world. I have far to go, but I'm less controlling, less afraid, and more grown up. The difficult times have brought me to my knees, and have brought me to my Lord. I've found truth in trusting Him, and can honestly say, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."
This year, I hope to become wiser, stronger, more honest, and closer to my husband. I hope to cultivate more peace and more joy at home, and make my home into a place of beauty, contentment, order, and solace.
Here's to 2010.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
20 Inches of Snow!
We got about 20 inches of snow yesterday--here are some pics for ya! The patio picture was actually taken before the "rest" of the snow fell--there's only about 16 inches in this photo.
Today there are tons of birds nibbling at the seed, peanut butter pine cones, and cracked corn that we put out. We've seen sparrows, juncos, cardinals, house wrens (one lives in the garage! lol), and this morning, Nature Girl saw an owl!
Off to go sledding! (No church today, and we hope no school for Sky, either!)
Friday, December 18, 2009
Weekly Report--Yes, Really!
Thought I'd bang out a "weekly," like I used to do--BTW, Jessica at Trivium Academy has finally updated her blog, in case anyone is interested!
We are limping to the finish around here. I think the only thing we did consistently was math! Saxon 6/5 is going well--it's so incremental, Nature Girl gets just what she needs in little, understandable bits. She's still making about 3-4 mistakes in the "homework" section, where the meat of the program is, but these are easily corrected and more an indication of impatience than incompetence. She's on Lesson 75, which means we are done for the month of December. I think we will be done all together with the book in May, leaving some time either to go ahead with the next one or just do some "math from a different direction" iykwim.
Having finished Sign of The Sugared Plum and its sequel, Petals in The Ashes, we started Indian Captive, The Story of Mary Jemison. What a heartbreaking book--yet filled with hope and the adaptability of the human spirit. The first few chapters contain almost unbearable scenes, particularly as her mother realizes she will never see her dd again. We need to read it aloud until we get to the place where Mary (called Molly in the book) begins to adapt to Seneca life. I'll have Nature Girl finish it next week.
Rod and Staff Grammar continues to thrill me with its clear explanations, Godly tone, abundant practice--lol--Nature Girl tolerates (read abhors) grammar and does pretty well. Short lessons are the key--and doing most of it orally. We are on track to finish this also in May, if not before. I am being quite intentional with the "small things done over time lead to big accomplishments" ideal. We just started writing paragraphs--I really am thrilled, because I'm terrible at teaching writing, and this has just enough hand-holding to make it easy.
SOTW has been a bit dry--we just finished the chapter on Louis the Fourteenth, and I think we will just let it go for now. I hope to come back with renewed vigor in January. We'll have to combine a few chapters to make it thru the book by the end of the year, but that's ok. I am ordering Colonial Kids and Pioneer Family at Amazon for more activities--not real thrilled with the next few chapters of the Activity Guide.
Also starting in January, we will go thru a wonderful science book/curriculum called The Elements. Can't wait--Science mostly consists of nature study (very LCC here...lol) for Nature Girl. We finished the Bird Study, but haven't really picked up anything else.
Not many pics to show this week--will post more next week as Christmas comes--hoping you all have a Merry one!
We are limping to the finish around here. I think the only thing we did consistently was math! Saxon 6/5 is going well--it's so incremental, Nature Girl gets just what she needs in little, understandable bits. She's still making about 3-4 mistakes in the "homework" section, where the meat of the program is, but these are easily corrected and more an indication of impatience than incompetence. She's on Lesson 75, which means we are done for the month of December. I think we will be done all together with the book in May, leaving some time either to go ahead with the next one or just do some "math from a different direction" iykwim.
Having finished Sign of The Sugared Plum and its sequel, Petals in The Ashes, we started Indian Captive, The Story of Mary Jemison. What a heartbreaking book--yet filled with hope and the adaptability of the human spirit. The first few chapters contain almost unbearable scenes, particularly as her mother realizes she will never see her dd again. We need to read it aloud until we get to the place where Mary (called Molly in the book) begins to adapt to Seneca life. I'll have Nature Girl finish it next week.
Rod and Staff Grammar continues to thrill me with its clear explanations, Godly tone, abundant practice--lol--Nature Girl tolerates (read abhors) grammar and does pretty well. Short lessons are the key--and doing most of it orally. We are on track to finish this also in May, if not before. I am being quite intentional with the "small things done over time lead to big accomplishments" ideal. We just started writing paragraphs--I really am thrilled, because I'm terrible at teaching writing, and this has just enough hand-holding to make it easy.
SOTW has been a bit dry--we just finished the chapter on Louis the Fourteenth, and I think we will just let it go for now. I hope to come back with renewed vigor in January. We'll have to combine a few chapters to make it thru the book by the end of the year, but that's ok. I am ordering Colonial Kids and Pioneer Family at Amazon for more activities--not real thrilled with the next few chapters of the Activity Guide.
Also starting in January, we will go thru a wonderful science book/curriculum called The Elements. Can't wait--Science mostly consists of nature study (very LCC here...lol) for Nature Girl. We finished the Bird Study, but haven't really picked up anything else.
Not many pics to show this week--will post more next week as Christmas comes--hoping you all have a Merry one!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Yes, I Celebrate Christmas
There has been a lot of discussion over at the WTM forums regarding Christians and the celebration of Christmas. It makes my stomach hurt.
It seems many people believe it is wrong to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. That it is pagan. That is displeases God. That one day shouldn't be valued over any other. That it isn't in the Bible.
Wow. Just Wow.
Why in the world would God have made sure that the birth narratives of His Son were included in the Scriptures if he didn't think it was an important event? Given that all of the Jewish Holidays were fulfilled in Jesus, why on earth would God be displeased with a grateful outpouring of joy and love, praise and awe on the day set aside to remember the Incarnation?!
THE INCARNATION, PEOPLE! If ANYTHING should be celebrated, it's this!
God himself comes from Heaven, to be our Light, our Way of Salvation, our Peace, our Joy--and we treat it as though it's just...well, just IS? Goodness! UNbelievable.
The angels themselves celebrated! And we shouldn't, because it isn't pleasing to God? You have got to be kidding. We should be falling all over ourselves to give thanks, Glory, Honor to our King. We should be celebrating Christmas every DAY! We can't set aside ONE DAY a year to honor Jesus?
And THEN--AND THEN--
There's the post about EASTER--THEY DIDN'T CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION?
Oh, My.
Some of us have gotten so far off the track with this "it isn't in the Bible" crap.
It seems many people believe it is wrong to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. That it is pagan. That is displeases God. That one day shouldn't be valued over any other. That it isn't in the Bible.
Wow. Just Wow.
Why in the world would God have made sure that the birth narratives of His Son were included in the Scriptures if he didn't think it was an important event? Given that all of the Jewish Holidays were fulfilled in Jesus, why on earth would God be displeased with a grateful outpouring of joy and love, praise and awe on the day set aside to remember the Incarnation?!
THE INCARNATION, PEOPLE! If ANYTHING should be celebrated, it's this!
God himself comes from Heaven, to be our Light, our Way of Salvation, our Peace, our Joy--and we treat it as though it's just...well, just IS? Goodness! UNbelievable.
The angels themselves celebrated! And we shouldn't, because it isn't pleasing to God? You have got to be kidding. We should be falling all over ourselves to give thanks, Glory, Honor to our King. We should be celebrating Christmas every DAY! We can't set aside ONE DAY a year to honor Jesus?
And THEN--AND THEN--
There's the post about EASTER--THEY DIDN'T CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION?
Oh, My.
Some of us have gotten so far off the track with this "it isn't in the Bible" crap.
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