Learning how to suture

Jason's coworker gave him a suture training kit and the kids and I are learning how to stitch people up! It's so neat. Here are some pics.

Bike riding again

I gotta tell you, it feels soo good to ride again! Jason and I have been going up to our local park and taking turns riding with the older ones while one of us stays with the little people as they get stronger on their bikes. It is a much needed mini vacation every time I get on the bike. I am not a terribly strong person but I LOVE to ride. Breathing in the fresh air and praising God for his creation is so invigorating. I am looking forward to the day when Daniel will be able to ride in one of our trailers. Then we can all go together! Jason and I both pull a trailer on the back with 2 kids in tow. It's tough but it's so worth it. We went out last night and Alex is doing so good on his bike(with training wheels). I wasn't sure how he would do but he is catching on. Andrew does much better on the scooter so he will still need to ride in the trailer until next year. Summer LOVES to ride. I can't believe it. She talks about it all the time. You would never expect her to like it because she is so sweet and girly. I really enjoy having my girls as my bike buddies. When the older ones get stronger we are going to take them on the tough paths through another local park. Those are very difficult but so much more fun because they are not paved. That might be next year but we will see.

Christ is risen!

I am so grateful to my Lord and Savior! I am reminded often what a terrible person I am without him. How lowly I truly am and how nothing in me has worth apart from him. He gives me meaning and life. He restores my soul when I think that giving up is my only option. Hope has no meaning without him. Life is colorless and empty. It is better for me to be at the lowest valley and on my knees than the highest mountain top standing because in humility is where I see just who I am without him and why I need him so greatly. His death and resurrection has given me life and I am so thankful! Thank you Lord for choosing to save a wretch like me.

Dandelions

I bought some dandelions at Earth Fare the other day and I have really been enjoying them! For those of you who drink green smoothies, try a handful of these. I have been adding them in with my collards(collards are my favorite). One day I will get a juicer and try juicing them. Here are some nutritional benefits of dandelions(as if I need convincing):
The leaves are richer in vitamin A than are carrots.
One cup of dandelion greens:
-25 calories
-1.5 g protein
-5 g carbohydrate
-19 mg Vitamin C
-7,700 IU of vitamin A
-103 mg calcium.
They also stimulate the liver and kidneys. I have don't enough research on them but I wonder if these would help people with gallbladder disease. I had my gall bladder out about 6 years ago. I wish I had known about natural ways to deal with that. We have a ton of dandelions in our back yard but there are so many stray cats around here that I am fearful of getting worms or something if I ate these.LOL

Reflection

Well, for the last 2 days I have tried extremely hard to work on my thinking in regards to being content and remembering the end goal. It has really impacted me. I can say honestly that during these 2 days I have slipped several times. These times have been moments where life completely feels overwhelming. However, I am shouting for joy because God has allowed me to actually recognize these thoughts and he has helped me to calm down and move forward. These overwhelming feelings use to last several hours but thanks be to God they have been shrunk down considerably! For those that don't know me, stress impacts me on different scales. It cripples my mind and body. I physically hurt. My mind is turned to mush it seems and I can't think straight. Praise God that he is so good and he is the only one capable enough to pierce through the darkness!

On another note, we had our reflection service at church last night. I have been in and seen many plays/productions regarding Christ's death and resurrection. I can say loudly and boldly that this was by far the most piercing reenactment that I have ever seen. They set it up to where the audience(believers in Christ) could participate. Participating in the Lord's supper, singing after it(remember, they sang a hymn after Jesus ate with the 12), and the most powerful of all, nailing our written sins to the cross. The choir sang "Were You There". The choir quietly left and the congregation followed without making a sound. There was no resurrection, no joy..yet. Oh I can't wait till Sunday! The kids told me when we got in the car that we just HAVE to be there Sunday. It makes my heart sing for joy that they would rather go to celebrate Christ's resurrection than to go to visit family to eat candy. I love my family but that's not what Resurrection Sunday is all about! Have a joyful and reflective Friday!

Yummy Raw Sub Sandwich

This is so good and it really hits the spot when I am craving a sub.
- 1 Romaine Lettuce HEAD
-Various veggies to put on it
- Some type of sauce/spread.
Take the head of romaine and cut the bottom piece of and then stand it up on its bottom. Slice it from top to bottom. Take the 2 pieces and take out the very middle small leaves. This is where you will stuff you veggies. I like to put a sauce on first. You could use salad dressing, homemade mayo., mustard, anything. Stack your veggies on. I usually slice my veggies pretty thin so I can put more on. Some suggestions are:
-avocado
-cucumber
-tomato
-onion
-pickles
-red/green peppers
-salt, pepper, red pepper flakes

You could also "toast" your sub by warming it or grilling the lettuce head before you put the veggies on. This might seem crazy to eat a whole head of lettuce but if you just eat a couple of leaves it doesn't give it that nice hearty feel that you look for in a sub.

Light at the end of the tunnel

I don't know about you but I often think to myself "There is light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going". I think this is wrong thinking. It implies that the place I am at right now is not good enough for me to be content at. Paul writes that we should be content no matter what the circumstances. I know that it is ok to look at circumstances and remember that no matter how bad it gets, the light at the end of this tunnel is living with Yeshua. However, I am speaking of looking at where we are at and seeing the "light" as just another place where we *think* we will be happy at. I believe that many mothers face this struggle. We wish our lives away always thinking that where we are at right now is not as good as that place we see way over there. Then when we get there, we rarely embrace it, we just keep looking for something better. I wonder how my life would change if my actions were based on the knowledge that that "light" is not a different place in this life, it is to live eternity with Christ. How would my goals change? Would I take the time to give more money to help the needy instead of saving it to buy something? Would I spend more time on bible study instead of surfing the internet? So for today, I am going to work on being content at where I am at.

2 months into the new groove

Well, it's been 2 months since I had my little one. He is getting so big!! As you can see, blogging is the first thing to go when it gets hectic around here! I am not even going to take time to write out the drama that has occured over the last several months. Thanks to my church family and mother in law, we survived! We have been staying in doors a LOT and it is so difficult to imagine a world of biking, hiking, and nature walks! It seems like such a distant past. I am a little discouraged today thinking of those things(ok, maybe I should stop then, huh) because I know that it might be a while before we can do them. I can't wait till Daniel gets use to the ergo or either big enough for the stroller(our stroller isn't ideal for infants..lol) He is such a cute baby! I will have to upload pictures here. I have uploaded them to facebook. Here's a shout out to all those who CAN get outdoors..HAVE FUN for the rest of us!!

Fear in Blogging

I haven't been blogging because I have been fearful of the safety aspect of things. I heard that there are people out there bashing homeschoolers and it just rubbed me the wrong way. I realize that not many people care about what goes on in our little house but it sent shivers down my spine to think that my name might be on someone's hate list. Over the holidays however I have had several family members mention that they do read my blog when I update and that they miss it. Jason said that I should start back.So I am just going to jump right in.
Christmas was awesome this year. We had a great time with no drama, which was a blessing! Despite being pregnant the drive up to family wasn't bad at all, due to our "new to us" 12 passenger van. January has presented some challenging moments however. I was put in L&D for monitoring because of low amniotic fluid but everything seems to be ok now. They gave me fluids and put me on bedrest. They really don't know what is going on but they will continue to monitor me for my levels and for potential blood clotting issues. Oh boy!! At least I get to see my little one more often! Thankfully Jason can work from home so he is trying to take on the most difficult tasks while I continue to homeschool as I can. We are actually almost done with this year. Because we homeschool year round, we end up finishing early and starting even earlier as the years progress. The kids love schooling because it gives them something to do. They can only take so much of tv and wii before going insane. I am thankful for this :)
On another note, I have found it difficult to get out of those holiday blues that I sometimes fall in. It's been especially difficult since coming back from the hospital. The excitement of it all and then crash-very anticlimactic! Don't get me wrong, I am grateful that he gets to stay in a little longer(I am at 33 wks) but it's still been difficult. I go back in today for another checkup. We will see. I am trying to focus on what it's going to be like AFTER he is here so that maybe the wait won't seem too long. I am looking forward to seeing him and watching how he fits into our little family. The kids are very excited as well!

Weekly Overview 11/30-12/4

• Bible- Advent activities
• Hymn-One Small Child, Review other hymns and record
• Exercises-Stretching, Myself Fitness(XBOX)
• Science
  • Considering God's Creation
    
• Handicrafts-Christmas Projects
• Reading:

Charlotte- The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe

Kaitlyn- Swiss Family Robinson

Toby- Poppleton/Sonlight I can read it #3

Summer- 100 EZ Lessons

• Computer Science-Continue lessons on CSS/Html; Read chapter out of Rox book
• Art-Christmas presents/Cards
• People Study/Character Building- Christmas gifts/ Go through toys and clothes to give away
• Math- Math workbooks

Toby and Summer-math workbooks(Toby is working on fact families, Kaitlyn and Charlotte are working on percentages and division w/ remainders)

• Writing- LA workbook for grammar/Book report on book/Essay comparison/Story on Secret passage in house
• Preschool-Workbook/Books read; Britannica Learning Zone
• Toddler-Cutting/Pasting/Puzzles, etc...
• Read Alouds- A Llama in the family; The Christmas Box; The Oxford Illustrated Book of American Children's Poems; Book of Virtues

Weekly Overview 11/9-11/13

• Bible- Bible stories/Reading
  
• Memory Chapter- 1 Corinthinthians 13-Finished!!!!!! Yahoo, the kids have done so great!
• Hymn-Review previous songs, practice Silent Night Stanzas
• Exercises-Stretching, Myself Fitness(XBOX)
• Science
  
  • Considering God's Creation
  • Experiment demonstrating the various states of water and why they are the way they are(speed of molecules)
  • Rotation(Used spinning egg as example)
  • Article from Britannica kids online regarding water and it's states
• Handicrafts-Sewing lessons/Kaitlyn's skirt
• Reading:

Charlotte- Reading the adult version of Journey to the Center of the Earth(she liked the beginning of the kids version of this book and decided she wanted to read the adult version for more detail.

Kaitlyn- West to the Land of Plenty(Dear America) and a few misc books that she is reading on her own

Toby-Hop-Finished! He finished level 5..Go Toby!!

• Computer Science-Continue lessons on CSS
• Art-Artwork for webpages
• People Study/Character Building-Service
• Math- Math workbooks

Toby and Summer-math workbooks

• Writing- LA workbook for grammar, Letter to grandparents
• Preschool-Workbook/Books read
• Toddler-Cutting/Pasting/Puzzles, etc...

• Bible- Bible stories/Reading
  
• Memory Chapter- 1 Corinthinthians 13 cont.
• Hymn-Review previous songs, practice Silent Night Stanzas
• Exercises-Stretching, Jumping Jacks, push ups, lunges, squats, calve raises,Running in place, jacknife
• History
  • Story of the World: The Bottom of the World
  • Britannica online for kids videos on Aborigines
  • Paint faces like a Maori warrior
    
• Handicrafts-Sewing lessons/Christmas projects/Kaitlyn's presents
• Reading:

Charlotte- Reading the adult version of Journey to the Center of the Earth(she liked the beginning of the kids version of this book and decided she wanted to read the adult version for more detail. We will see:))

Kaitlyn-Finish Bark of the Bog Owl; Dear America Books(4)

Toby-Hop

• Computer Science-Continue lessons on CSS(This has become a huge deal to the girls. They worked on it constantly this whole week!)
  
• Art-Aboriginal art
• People Study/Character Building-Missionary Stories, Service
• Math- Math workbooks

Toby and Summer-math workbooks

• Writing- LA workbook for grammar; Write a sales pitch and convince Daddy and I.
• Preschool-Workbook/Books read
• Toddler-Cutting/Pasting/Books
• Extra-Poems
  

Homeschool Week of 10/26-10/30

I can't believe we were able to school this week! We were still sick in the beginning of the week, especially Jason. The kids were real troopers and they really do not like being bored! We are almost %100 better but still have a little congestion.

• Bible- Bible stories/Reading
  
• Memory Chapter- 1 Corinthinthians 13 cont.
• Hymn-Review and Begin Silent Night
• Exercises-Stretching, Jumping Jacks, push ups, lunges, squats, calve raises,Running in place, jacknife/ Begin Yourself Fitness
  
• Science

-Considering God's Creation- Atmosphere Experiment with flashlight demonstrating the effects of direct sunlight vs. indirect/proximity of sun.
-Hot/Cold air molecules
-Discover and Do video
-Microscope:Sugar, salt, cayenne pepper, onion, carrot, cheerio

• Handicrafts-Sewing lessons/Christmas projects/Toby-Paper
• Reading:

Charlotte-Journey to the Center of the Earth; Facing Death

Kaitlyn-

Reading to summer: Robin Hood

Independent: Cont. Bark of Bog Owl

Toby-Hop

• Computer Science-HTML, GIMP lessons/practice, begin lessons on CSS
  
• Art-Gimp
• People Study/Character Building-Persecuted people in other countries/ Write a letter through prinsoner alert/Encouraging letter
  
• Math- Combination between Captivated Minds and Math workbooks

Toby and Summer-math workbooks

• Writing-Correct sentences from last week that didn't get corrected/Read about the correct formation of paragraphs
  
• Preschool-Workbook/Books read
• Toddler-Cutting/Pasting

Homeschool Week of 10/19-10/23

I haven't been posting our weekly overview because I have been using another program(one Jason wrote) but I thought I would start copying over here, how hard is that?? LOL We have been "doing" school a little differently for the last 3 weeks and the kids love it! They are enjoying it so much more now. If you are wondering where our traditional Science is, we alternate entire Mondays between Science and History. Mondays are completely devoted to one or the other. We get so much more done this way and they seem to be able to enjoy it more. We do tend to study both Science and History within our other subjects by default but the official day is on Monday.

• Bible- Bible stories/Reading
  


• Memory Chapter- 1 Corinthinthians 13(cont..)


• Hymn-Away in a Manger


• Exercises-Stretching, Jumping Jacks, push ups, lunges, squats, calve raises,Running


• History-Prepare for Fall Academic Presentation Day

Finish Presentation and practice!

• Handicrafts-Sewing lessons/Christmas projects/Toby-Paper


• Reading:

Charlotte - Journey to the Center of the Earth

Kaitlyn - The Bark of the Bog Owl

Toby-Hop(On to level 5!!Yay)

• Computer Science-HTML, GIMP lessons/practice


• Art-Presentation Board


• People Study/Character Building-Missionary Stories, Service


• Math- Combination between CaptivatedMinds and Math workbook

Toby and Summer-math workbooks

• Writing-Oral Presentation/Book notes


• Preschool-Workbook/Read Aloud Books
  


• Toddler-Cutting/Pasting/Read Aloud Books
  

I am amazed

Charlotte has learned how to do animation in Gimp. She just messed around and figured it out on her own. I can't believe it! So neat.

Chaotic!

That is the only word that comes to mind to describe this past month! We have had a lot to do. Jason did get the toilet in and it seems to be fixed(Praise God) BUT we have yet to finish the bathroom. We have one tile left and I am hoping that it will be laid down tonight.
We found out that we are for sure having a little boy! He will be our tie breaker. We are very excited! Right now we have a couple of projects in the making that is taking up some extra time but I am hoping to integrate my blog into the mix so that should be interesting. School is going very well right now because of the changes that we have made. The kids and I are both really enjoying it now! It feels like this is the way it is supposed to be. So here's to integration, normality, and hopefully success!

Bathroom Renovation update

Well, Jason got the toilet in and most of the floor done. He is waiting until he makes sure the toilet isn't leaking before putting the rest of the tile in. We have tested it out and it seems it is not leaking! YAY! I am so proud of him. He replaced all it's parts and everything. He hates plumbing but did it anyway...for us. Such a sweety! As soon as we get everything done I am going to take a pic.

Bathroom Renovation

Yesterday, since we had sick kids, we(um...Jason) spent all day working on our downstairs bathroom. I had already taken all the wallpaper down and we had a tough decision to make on whether or not to re grout the floor tile or just pull it all up. In the end we decided to pull everything up...oh boy. Our floor had sunken in a bit because of our house settling so we were hoping that by re-doing things we might be able to correct the problem. Jason put in new sub-flooring and he did a great job!! We actually put it down on top of the old sub-floor because there was enough space to do it. It looks really good right now. Last night Jason also primed the walls. Today he is planning on painting and puting down the linoleum tiles. Then all that's left is the trim work, sanding and painting the cabinets, installing the new sink and faucet, and putting up the mirror. I can't believe how fast things are going. Oh, one more thing... we haven't put the toilet in yet so that is a crucial step! LOL Jason is going to replace the guts of the toilet before he puts it in. I am so proud of him. God has really given he the skills to do these things because he will tesify that this stuff is not what he does best. I will update on how today goes.

Linux Journey- one week in

So, what I am using in Linux to replace my favorite windows programs? I have a short list right now but I am sure it will expand in time :) Be forewarned that I haven't used these long so my opinion may change.

Gnucash - A Microsoft Money replacement. I really like this program but I need to learn how to download transactions from the bank. This is not crucial but it is nice. Right now I can manually click whether or not something has cleared. The one thing that I don't like about it is that I can't select multiple transactions within an account. This means that I have to go through and click clear on each transaction. It also means that you can't assign an account/category to multiple transactions at the same time.

OpenOffice- A Microsoft Office replacement. I am very happy with this program. I haven't dived into the "Word" aspect of it as much as I have the spreadsheet but I am satisfied right now.

Gimp- A replacement for Photoshop. I gotta tell you, I LOVE my photoshop but I am extrememly pleased with the Gimp. It has many of the bells and whistles that photoshop does and it is free! The only draw back is that it does have a learning curve.

Evolution- A replacement for Outlook. I really can't say anything bad about it except for the migration aspect. It was a trial getting everything migrated over from Outlook to Thunderbird(another email client that doen't have the calendar like Evolution does) and then to Evolution. Especially if you are not dual booting. Thankfully I have this computer set up on a network with a folder share to a windows based system.

I have several other programs in the cue to try out and I will update on my progress/opinion of those soon.

What's been going on??

Well, it's been almost an entire month since I last posted and I am sure my dear step mother is anxious to get an update so I thought I would start back so that I wouldn't have an even longer update to give :)
For the last 2 weeks we have been doing very little schooling due to sickness. At first it was just a fever and now we have children with sore throats. I think we are on the up now though. Poor Andrew, every time he drinks he says "Owie" and cries. He has had a terrible time sleeping. It seems this summer has been kinder to us regarding sickness(even though we seem to be sick alot..LOL) so I am hoping this winter will be easier than the last to.

Aside from health issues(including pregnancy) we have been working on the house. I have been constantly getting rid of stuff so that we can sell when we are ready. We are actually looking to downsize(we get drop dropping expressions when people hear this) to a smaller home in the next year or 2. We have also been working on the downstairs bathroom. We have stripped the wallpaper off and last night Jason tore up the floor. It was tile-awful looking tile! So the bathroom is going to be a huge project for us! I just wish I could help more but because of the pregnancy I am left with stripping wallpaper and decluttering-poor Jason!

I have also been working on our computers. I have installed Linux on one and am going to install Linux as a dual boot on the other this week. I have been studying up on it and trying to migrate things over because we foresee in the future that there will be a need for us to use open source software. I am so glad I have a hubby that knows about all this stuff and can teach me!

I am not sure what we are going to do today since we can't go to church. We will likely have a family service together. I am bummed that we will miss getting together AGAIN with the other family we meet with every Sunday night to have "home church" with. We enjoy it so much. They have been moving the last couple of weeks and now we are sick.

I haven't posted in a while any pics because my camera doesn't work anymore. I can use my camcorder but it's so much more difficult. I will try to get some pics up soon though.

Homeschool week of 8/3

This week finishes up our "summer" school. We have been dabbling in different things for the kids now trying to get a better idea of what our goals are for them and how we want to accomplish those goals. Some things will change, some things will stay the same. It will interesting and fun I think either way, that's the goal, right?
-Bible
-Math-Captivatedminds;Some worksheets for Toby. He is learning carrying.
-handwriting
-Creative Writing assignment based on experience during an adventure game we played(Dh wrote it)
-Piano Lessons
-Considering God's Creation
-Landmark History Book
Toby
HOP
Kaitlyn
Across Five Aprils
Great Turkey Walk
Charlotte
Wright Brothers
Left Behind book #21

A few things

Well, I am into my 13th week and I am feeling much better. I can't seem to sleep past 6 hrs though, no matter what I try. My food aversions have mostly disappeared, thankfully! I have been able to eat more raw foods which are so much healthier than subway everyday! My tastes have changed alot though. I am not eating as many fermented or asian foods. It's hard to believe that in just a couple of weeks I will be able to feel the squirming of another little baby in my belly. I always enjoy that part, especially sitting in church. It's very amusing!
On another note, I found an excellent resource through our local library called Discus. It's free and it has lessons, etc.. for school aged kids. What a great homeschool resource! It is very kid friendly as well, very visual. I am not going to require that they do the stuff on there but I think they will enjoy it any way! That's all I have time for right now but I do have more to say:)

Homeschool week of 7/27

Kaitlyn is much better! I almost took her to the ER but we were able to keep it under control. Andrew has been running a temp of about 102 but he isn't acting like Kaitlyn did. For right now, it seems like this sickness is milder for him. I am so thankful! Alex has been acting like he doesn't feel good but he isn't running a fever. We did "do" school in the traditional sense last week but I am really not into "traditional"! I am much more of a life learner. I want to enjoy what I choose to learn. I can't help but think that the kids are like that too. We will find our groove sooner or later. The kids have a musical coming up soon so the next couple of weeks we will be doing more unschooling(which I like) Here is what we did:
Misc.
Bible-Starting Strong
Math-Captivatedminds
Handwriting
Considering God's Creation
Movie-The Underground Railroad
Wii Fit Resort-They love this!
Kaitlyn:
Caddie Woodlawn
Miracles on Maple Hill
Hero over Here
Piano
Guitar
Charlotte:
George Washington Carver
Hero over Here
Toby:
Hooked on Phonics(Made it to the 3rd level! Yay Toby!!)
Preschool:
Lentil
One Morning in Main
Nursery Tales
Flashcards

Update on Kaitlyn

Well, her temp got up to 104.9 today. It came down with Tylenol so the doc said since we can control it we will wait till tomorrow to see how she is doing. I am praying that she gets better through the night. At least she doesn't have a neck ache or headache anymore!

Vacation and Back Home

Well, we had an interesting vacation. We had a lot of fun times! We are back home and things are not back to normal yet. Kaitlyn is really sick right now. She is running a fever of 104 and I am trying to get it down. I took her to the doc. yesterday because she was complaining of a sore neck and headaches. Those are signs of meningitis. The doc said that she might have it but only time would tell. I am supposed to take her in if she gets worse. The thing is, now her neck isn't hurting much and she doesn't have a bad headache. Does that mean this thing is just a virus? I surely don't won't Andrew to get it because he will likely have a febrile seizure with such high temps. Dh goes back to work today. I am sure going to miss him, it's so nice having him home! I will post later with an update on Kaitlyn.

Jason's Birthday Cake

They have done it again! Here are the pics.

I just had to post again about the cd Sooth Me. Every time I listen to it I end up crying. I truly believe that God has blessed these ladies in their ministry.

Our History

I sat and listened to my 80 year old grandma for several hours today. She reminisced about the old days, you know, the ones that had all the happiness and joy. The ones she wished she could live over. She ventured into those bad years, the years that seem to live over and over again in her head. Remembering the ones she lost, how they were lost, why they were lost, and what their life meant to her. I was fascinated. I sat and thought about all those memories swimming in her head. All those experiences lost in the sea of time. I would like to think that we all have memories that will forever live on but the reality is that everything will pass away. Sure, there are some things that will live on for longer than others but the truth is that they are history. History accumulates more history everyday and there just isn’t enough brain power for us to carry on other people’s memories. We carry our own. I now have a memory of sitting down with my Grandma and talking with her. I can pass down what she shared with me. I can share the emotional experience with my children but they will not have the same memory as me. I love history. Even though we might not be able to remember all that we hear or all that we study, history has a huge impact on our lives. When I talk about history, I am not only talking about our own past, I am talking about the pasts of others as well. It can change our course of action or project us into success. I love the fact that history is safe. There is no fear, worry, or uncertainty. It’s done, no guessing what comes next. There are deeper emotional attachments to history than there are when we think about our future. Yet somehow we consume ourselves with the future knowing full well that history can help us face the future with confidence.
As we closed the evening I couldn’t help but be shameful. I have several other older family members that I haven’t listened to enough. I feel cheated in a way as well. Why didn’t someone tell me this stuff was important? I am left with feeling hopeless that I will get a chance to share memories with them. I want to share their emotion when they talk about the joy, relive their sorrow, and recount their victories. The only way I know to help my history live a little longer is to write it down. No one may read it but at least it will be here if they want to. That way, if I never get a chance to sit down with my Granddaughter and chat about my past, at least she can read about it.

New Cd

A friend let me borrow a Cd called Soothe Me by Serene and Pearl from AboveRubies.org. I LOVE it! You can find it here. It focuses on Motherhood while uplifting our Heavenly Father. It is so uplifting. I really needed to hear it. Thank you Shelby!!

Homeschool week of 7/13

We have still been sick(well, just me anyway) so it has been another lighter week.
Misc.
Strong Start Bible Devotionals
BookWorm Adventures
Return to Chimp Eden videos
Considering God's Creation
First Language Lessons
D&D game-continuing to cover the constitutional convention and math skills(they love this, they ask for it on non school days-Praise God!)
Human Body videos from netflix
Writing(from the D&D game. They are doing so awesome! They write about their experiences inside the game.)

Kaitlyn
Roll of Thunder Hear My cry
Reading Mandy books again
Charlotte
Return to Gone Away Lake
Toby
Hooked on Phonics

Homeschool week of 7/6

This week we have been very sick. We still did school but it wasn't normal.
Misc.
D&D type game covering history now(Madison's notes on the Constitutional Convention) and math
Bookworm Adventures
Handwriting
We lesson out of Considering God's Creation
Kaitlyn
More Borrower's books
Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry
Charlotte
Sarah Plain and Tall
Toby
Hop books
Summer
Worksheets
Starfall

Homeschool Week of 6/29

Lazy week! Well, really the kids have been working on their game with Jason. They have so much fun with this. They are making progress with their math skills because they want to win at the game. So neat.
Misc.
Dungeons and Dragons type Math/moral game with Jason(his own creation)
Bookworm Adventures(Everyone)
First Language Lessons
Kaitlyn:
The Borrowers(a couple of the series)
Charlotte:
Helen Keller
Gone Away Lake
Toby:
Hooked on Phonics books
Handwriting
Summer:
100 EZ lessons
Kindegarten book
ABC Bingo

Science:
Considering God's Creation
History:
Several videos on Greece/Taking notes

Alex's 3rd birthday cake

Thanks goes to my Mil and Sil for their beautiful work and creativity! Thank you for making the kid's birthdays so special!

Someone please pass the expresso

Wow, I have been exhausted! We have managed to get school back in motion this week which has been nice. They enjoy having stuff to do. We are planning on going to the zoo today. That is always fun! I have some pics of the birthday cake that my Mother in law and sister in law made. I will upload those today. The cake was awesome! We had such a good time this past weekend. It's always hard visiting up there though. We miss it so badly! We miss being around family. I just wish I could take all my friends and my church with us when we move back. I don't know if we ever will move back but the plan was in a couple of years, if the Lord made the path clear, we would do it. We will see what he has for us. I am so very thankful for where we are now though. The Lord has put many wonderful people in our lives. The kids have loved it! On another note, we gave the cat away to our next door neighbor. She has 9 other cats! I am so glad she took him because I was about to take him to the humane society. Now the kids can go and see him. I have to say that it was really sad though. When we came back in the house it was like a family member was gone. So weird! We really didn't have a choice though. Several of the kids have cat allergies and they were miserable.

A few things

We have been taking a school break for the last 2 weeks. You know, I find it extremely difficult to NOT learn! LOL They are actually still reading, still doing math, still learning through living but I am not writing it down. Yesterday was my Alex's 3rd birthday! We will be celebrating it with the grandparents this coming weekend but we did get him a little cake and present yesterday. I couldn't resist. On another note, I am thinking about what to study next in the Bible. Anyone have any suggestions on a good study?

Kurios

Greek word meaning "Lord". It can mean sir, master, or owner but is mostly used as the equivalent of Yahweh. It's used of Jesus meaning Rabbi or Sir and God or Deity.
Mat 8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath

1 Timothy 4:1-5

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

My goal is to be able to give thanks for whatever I receive/do. If I can't, then something's not right.

Theos

-Primary name used for God in the New Testament. He is the only true God, the Savior. Theos is also used to describe Jesus, as in Tit 2:13

Rom 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
1Ti 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

New Pet

We have a new pet. I can't believe I am typing this! We found a stray 5 week old kitten crying outside. We waited a while but it's mother never came. It was very sick though so we had to decide whether or not to leave it there or take it to the vet. We decided to take it to the vet and find out what's wrong with it. We thought we could put it up for adoption after that. Well, it has a cold. Just a cold. So, now we have a kitten who loves being held and a bunch of children who love having him here. I don't think he is going anywhere. We still have to get his vaccines and test for feline leukemia but hopefully all will go well. He is adorable. The kids named him Curious George, CG for short. I feed him through a syringe special kitten formula. I will get some pics up soon.

Adonai

Adonai is a plural form of majesty. The singular form means "master, owner"
Deu 3:24 O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?

Homeschool Week of 6/1

This week was more relaxed. Jason had 2 days off. Sorry it has taken me some time to post it! I also included the books that they read over the weekend. Since I have been keeping track of their books better I am amazed at how many they read!
Books:
Kaitlyn:
Nancy Drew(#3,#6,#26)
Plain Girl
Gone-Away Lake
The Seventeenth Swap
All-of-a-kind Family
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson


Charlotte:
Left Behind Series (Books #11,#12,#13,#14,#15,#17)

Math:
Captivatedminds

Bible:
John(Using homemade worksheet questions)
Science:
Reading North American book
Social Studies:
-Historical fiction books(above)
-Continued reading on World War 1
Writing:
-CaptivatedMinds
-Story "Nighttime at the Nursery"

Misc.
-Toby reading for the summer library program
-Older ones reading to little ones so that they can get some prizes too-so sweet!

Yahweh (YHWH)

-It comes from a verb which means "to exist, be".
Compounds:
Yahweh Jireh(Yireh)-"The Lord will provide"
Gen 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
Yahweh Nissi-"The Lord is my banner"
Exo 17:15-16 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:
For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
Yahweh Shalom-"The Lord is Peace"
Jdg 6:24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Yahweh Sabbaoth-"The Lord of Hosts"
1Sa 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
Yahweh Maccaddeshcem-"The Lord your Sanctifier"
Exo 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.
Yahweh Ro’i-"The Lord my Shepherd"
Psa 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Yahweh Tsidkenu-"The Lord our Righteousness"
Jer 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Yahweh Shammah-"The Lord is there"
Eze 48:35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.
Yahweh Elohim Israel-"The Lord, the God of Israel"
Jdg 5:3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.

As I continue to study God's names I can't help but feel shameful. He is so much more than what my feeble brain can comprehend. So much more than what I praise him for, so much more than what I trust in him for. Surely the Bible is true, that eternal life is knowing him.

Elohim

It means Stong One. The plural for of El. It is used for false gods but never in it's plural form. When referring to God, it is always in it's plural form.
Isa. 54:5Jer. 32:27Gen. 1:1Isa. 45:18Deut. 5:23; 8:15 Ps. 68:7

Compounds:
El Shadai-"God Almighty"
Gen 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
El Elyon-"The Most High God"
Gen 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
El Olam-"The Everlasting God"
Gen 21:33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.

He is Almighty, the Most High, and Everlasting. Is there anything else that can be called all that? No way. And that is just the beginning. Based off of just these names, does this change your perspective on things in your life? Think about who this says God is. Give him praise and reverence for what this says about him. Doesn't it feel great to know God a little more?

Names of God

I am going to be doing a study on the names of God. As I was thinking about this I realized how awesome it is that we can gain knowledge of him through his many names. Many people worship him for all that he has done for them but to worship him just for who he is, that is true worship! This is exciting! How encouraging it is to see how our God is more than Creator,Savior, and Judge. His Word clearly reveals all that his names do so it is important that we study the Word as the foundation for gaining knowledge about our awesome God! After all, his Word is what reveals His names.
John 17:3
"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
Elohim
Yahweh
Adonai
Theos
Kurios

Buckwheaties

1 Cup buckwheat groats
Water

Soak buckwheat groats for 6 hrs. Drain and place in a mason jar(or seed sprouter container) with cheesecloth over it secured with either the top or a rubberband. Rinse and drain every meal(3 times a day). Make sure to really rinse these. They can get quite slimey. Once tails have grown to desired length(small tails to 1/4 in), your done. Place on teflex sheet in dehydrator. Set to 105 until dry(8-12 hrs or until dry). You can then transfer to container. These will keep a while, unless you eat them all up. :)

Cereal #1

1 serving

1/2 Cup flaked oats
1 Tbl. buckwheaties
Almond Milk
Raisins(optional)
Add all ingredients and enjoy. Let oats sit in milk before adding buckwheaties if you want a softer cereal. The buckwheaties give it a nice crunch. You could also add honey to this to sweeten it.

Camping with a large family

We lasted 24 hours exactly! We made it through the night and that's what's important right? Ok, so here is where things went wrong. Why do I assume that the great outdoors is going to be this smorgasbord of fun to kids? Maybe it is for those that haven't had their brains changed by instant entertainment. I didn't think about the fact that there will be other campers there and well, I have 2 little ones that love to be loud. We left because we didn't want to disturb the other campers. It was pretty evident that naps were not happening and when there isn't a nap, there is trouble. And we had some. So, here's some tips that I learned. By the way, we had a lot of successes!
~Water. 3 gallons of water was not enough for my family in a 24 hour period.
~Don't be under the impression that you will stay clean. It's not going to happen.
~Camp near the bathrooms unless you bring a port-a-potty. We were near the bathrooms and that was a success for us!
~Bring protection. Camping can be scary! In the middle of the night I heard something in the woods and Dh got out with the hammer and flashlight. Whatever it was went away(we think it was a deer) but I was scared the rest of the night.
~Bring foods that you can eat without having to start a fire. It didn't rain on us but I was thinking about how hard it would have been if it had.
~Bring games! We didn't bring but 2 games and that was definitely a bad decision. Bring games that can be played inside the tent in case it rains
~Bring whistles for the children(and you) for safety. (We did this)
~Bring trash bags so that you can take your trash to a dump station. We used our grocery bags but it would have been easier to put it in one big bag.
~Bring things that have multiuse. Cups can serve as bowls for a meal. A cast iron pan makes great oatmeal. We didn't have to bring a pot. A knife can serve as protection and you can use it to make skewers out of the limbs of trees.
~A clothes line would have been nice. We could have hung up the kids clothes when they got wet.
~Bring a Bible. We got to have a prayer time and that was precious.

Will we go again? It is very likely. I enjoyed so many things about it. I am sure we will start feeling the need to get out there. I hope that we can make some progress with Alex before we go again. We had a difficult time with him. Here is Summer. This is the skirt I sewed for her. It is getting well loved. :)

Hopeful Weekend

We are gearing up for camping this weekend. I am excited but a little bit concerned. I am not sure if we are setting ourselves up for failure or not. We won't be far away from the house so I guess we can always come home if these get tough. I am planning on taking lots of pics-hopefully I will be able to upload them. I am having problems with my camera and that's one of the reasons there hasn't been as many pics.

Yesterday I sewed Charlotte culottes. I think they look pretty good. The day before that I sewed Kaitlyn and Summer matching skirts. I was able to get a picture of Charlotte's culottes but I will have to wait till this weekend to upload Summer's and Kaitlyn's pics. Here's Charlotte's culottes and a few of the other kids.

Homeschool Week of 5/25

Books:
Cheaper by the Dozen(We stopped this one-didn't like the language)
The story of the Monitor and the Merrimac (Cornerstones of freedom)(C)
North American Wildlife (revised and updated)(K&C)
Mandie and the Night Thief (Mandie, Book 37)(K)
On the Run (Left Behind: The Kids #10)(C)
Mandie and the Hidden Past (Mandie, Book 38)(K)
Romona and Her Mother(C)
Thimble Summer(C)
The Wright Brothers (Landmark Books)(K)
Turn Homeward, Hannalee(K)


Math:
Captivatedminds

Bible:
John(Using homemade worksheet questions)
Science:
North American Wildlife book. We are using this to identify different plants/insects at the parks that we visit
This has been a hit.
Videos about dinosaurs from Answers in Genesis
Social Studies:
-Historical fiction books(above)
-Talked about Memorial Day
Writing:
-CaptivatedMinds
-Charlotte still writing book
Misc.
-Camping skills/readiness

Essene Bread

2 cups sprouted wheat(before sprouted)
1 Tbl oil
1 Tbl honey
1 tsp salt(or more for taste)
1 cup water
Place first4 ingredients in food processor, blend. Add enough water to establish consistency of oatmeal. You're not looking for pureed, you want some good texture. Divide dough into desired size onto teflex dehydrator sheets. I usually divide this amount into 12 small rounds about the size of a bread slice. Dehydrate at 105 for 2-4 hours, flip, and dehydrate for another 2-4 hours. This is very costumizable. You can dehydrate for as long as you want. It will be more doughy if you dehydrate for a shorter amount of time. I use a spatula to spread out my batter. I got it from vitamix when I ordered my blender. This has been an invaluable tool when spreading things on the trays. Sometimes it helps to dip the spatual into some water before you spread it around. You could also dehydrate this in the sun. It wouldn't take longer than a day I don't believe.

Book List

Instead of having my book list on the side of my page, I am going to use a blog page to keep track of it.
~Make Your Own Patterns

~Keeping Our Children's Hearts
Great book.
~Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit
Prepare to be challenged. Excellent book.
~You Can Farm: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Start & Succeed in a Farming Enterprise
Wonderful book. Great for those looking to start a farm(large or small)
~The Duggars: 20 and Counting!: Raising One of America's Largest Families--How they Do It
Cute book! I enjoyed reading about their journey and how God has worked in their lives.
~Teach Them Diligently
~A Woman After God's Own Heart
~Ditch The Diet and The BudgetPretty good book
~Hearing and Writing Music
~The Self Sufficient Life and how to live itLoved this book..I am buying it one day
~Calm my Anxious Heart
~Cure for the Common Life
~Breaking Free
~You can trust God
~How to Handle Trouble
~Romans
~The Call
Excellent book! I am planning on reading it again.
~12 Steps to Raw Foods
LOVED this book!!
~Sarah Ban Breathnach's Mrs. Sharp's traditions : reviving Victorian family celebrations of comfort and joy
Great for reference, not a read through for me though!
~The gentle ways of the beautiful woman : a practical guide to spiritual beauty
Really good book.This is a read again!

Fabric Sales

I got some new fabric yesterday! Linen was 50% off. I love linen, I am planning on making a skirt out of it. We will see how that goes. At the present, I am learning how to draft my own pattern. I can't stand store bought patterns. Nothing fits me right. I got a book called Make Your Own Patterns: An Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Making Over 60 Dressmaking Patterns Jason thinks he can create a program that takes the measurements you input and draws the pattern for you. That would be pretty cool! I think getting the drawing right is a major headache. I would be able to just print out the pattern, tape the pages together, and done. As of now I use parchment paper to make a pattern. I can't stand how it rolls. I am going to try to make this skirt a little shorter so I can use it to go camping in. This is a lightweight linen so it should be fairly cool. I might add some pockets to the next one if this one turns out nice. I would like to put some pockets and a D-ring on it to hold my keys or a small flashlight. Eventually I might sew in shorts. Those are my thoughts anyway, whether it will happen or not, that is a different story!

Been Thinking

Yet another post about raw foods:) I have been thinking about something. Is it the raw foods that make us healthy or the lack of chemicals, etc... when we go on a raw food "diet". What if you ate anything you wanted, cooked or uncooked, but just didn't eat anything with artificial colors, MSG, etc.. in it. I don't think I have met anyone that has tried both to compare. That would be an interesting experiment. The hard part would be buying meats and what not. They would need to be grass fed, hormone free, and free range and that can be expensive. Eggs are cheaper. Milk is another story as well. It would be cheaper to do a chemical free cooked lifestyle than it would to do a raw food lifestyle. That is something to consider, might be fun. Trying to come up with cheap, chemical free, easy meals that taste good. Ok, I think I have a new project. The kids would love this. I could posts some of the meals I come up with, though I am sure there are tons on the net.

Homeschool week of 5/18

Books:
Cheaper by the Dozen(Reading out loud)
Left Behind books# 8&9(C)
Mandie Books- 3(K)
All of a Kind Family(C)
Shades of Gray(K)
Helen Keller(K)
George Washington Carver(K)
Hop books(T)
Biscuit(T)
Math:
Captivatedminds

Bible:
John(Using homemade worksheet questions)
Science:
Read about comets
Mysteries and Marvels
Studied grasshoppers

Social Studies:
War World 1 continued
-Historical fiction books(above)

Writing:
-CaptivatedMinds
-Charlotte's book
Misc.
-Charlotte wrote a book! She said she thought "How could I honor God with my time?" so she decided to write a book that would tell people about Jesus and glorify him. I might just upload it once she has it the way she wants it. She read a lot to us and I just can't believe that she wrote it. How neat
-Went to the library

Simply cooked

I wanted to add to my last post about raw foods. I actually believe that cooked foods are not evil! One of the problems with cooked foods is that we usually buy convenience foods. Canned, frozen, prepackaged, processed, you get the picture. We rarely eat simply when it comes to cooked food. It's much easier to open a can of green beans than it is to blanch some fresh ones. Who wants to eat pasta by itself? You have to buy sauce. Who wants to eat a steak without something to go with it? Fries without ketchup? I can honestly say that one of the reasons I love raw food is that each ingredient tastes pretty good just by itself. Squash might need a little help. :) I am positive that if my body needed squash, it would taste wonderful by itself. I have found that the kids like simple foods versus complex. They would rather eat their food in it's basic form. Maybe we need to get back to that. Even if you eat cooked food, try to eat simpler, without adding a bunch of stuff to cover up whatever your eating. Maybe your body would tell you it doesn't want it. Now wouldn't that be neat?

Zoo video of the kids

Raw Food

Ok, many of you know that I eat 90% raw food. Why? Please do a google search on the benefits, there are TONS of information out there on it. Doctor's prescribe it for people with cancer, it has healed diseases, and it has given many people their life back. It is not a diet, it is a lifestyle. I will say that again, it is not a diet, it is a lifestyle. You realize that our lives should not revolve around food, yet for most people it does. What tastes the best, or what indulges that powerful craving? It's ok to think these things sometimes, God created food for us to enjoy. But when we go off the deep end and "sit at the King's banquet table" for every meal, something's wrong. This doesn't always stop at the raw food lifestyle. We can get carried away here as well. Gourmet raw food can be addicting! Simple is better sometimes. Now, when you first start eating more raw foods, you will think that your life is evolving around food. You have to learn new skills, get recipe books, etc.. You will get the hang of it and it will start to become natural(because it is). You CAN do raw foods without a dehydrator but it does help with transitioning. All this to say that I might start blogging some recipes that I am trying out. It's hard with the kids, they are so picky! They are not all raw so it's difficult for their tastebuds to acclimate. When you start eating more raw foods, your taste buds will change and you will see that you start to crave the things you didn't like at first. It's so neat how our bodies let us know what they need if we just pay attention. God is a great designer!

Week of 5/11

Books:
Cheaper by the Donzen(Reading out loud)
The Perilous Road(K)
Sarah Whitcher's Story(K)
Freedom Train(Charlotte)
Hop Books(Toby)
The Story of Thomas Edison(K)
Helen Keller(K)
The Terrible Wave(K)
Math:
Captivatedminds
Talked about fractions w/Jason
Bible:
John
Science:
Played with over 15 rolie polies, looked up what they ate, etc..
Went to the Zoo

Social Studies:
Read about World War 1(How it got started), why it was a different war because the technology was different(more destructive).

Writing:
CaptivatedMinds
Misc.
-Toby counted to 400!! We never practiced this, he just wanted to do it so he figured it out. What a smart little guy.
-Studied the praying mantis and watched a video of it
-Summer has learned how to fold rags!
-Kaitlyn sewed Summer a doll without any help from me! I will post pics
-Kaitlyn sewed Alex a boy doll.
-Played webkinz and new educational computer game
-Kaitlyn sewed another doll just for me to take pics since Summer drew on the other 2. How sweet:)
-We will be going to a promotional picnic on 5/16 where we will get to see some chickens! Yay!!
-They learned about how to strip the wallpaper, put in tiles, etc.. because of all the work that has been done in the bathroom.
-Kaitlyn read out loud to the littles a good bit this week, thank you Kaitlyn!

House Projects

This week my house has undergone some changes! My neighbor cama over and has helped(done most of the work) finish our upstairs bathroom's floor, walls, and trim. It looks awesome! I painted the kitchen, something that has needed to be done for many months now! I still need to go over a couple of places but I really like it. I need to sew some curtains(where to begin with fabric choices??) and get some pics up but that will come in time. I am so grateful that we are getting these things done. Today I am spending time catching up from yesterday. I didn't do laundry yesterday because we had some things we had to get taken care of outside of the home. I have about 3 loads now waiting for me!! I usually do about 2 loads a day. Good thing I don't mind it so much:) I just turn on some music and enjoy it.

How simple is too simple?

I have been thinking a lot about how we can live more simply. The truth is, it's very difficult to let go of things! In talking about our dreams and goals we want to take a radical approach(you will have to wait on hearing what our goals are because we are pondering at this point and don't want to get ahead of ourselves) but who wrote the book on what is radical and what is insane? I find that in our marriage we have always taken a different route. Always been a little off in our thinking compared to others. Are our dreams just a little too off or are we being called to a different life(even different than what we have now) It's hard for me to judge these decisions. I have always been crazy, sometimes too impulsive and extreme. But Jason has always brought me back to reality. Now it seems that he is desiring things that I desire so there is no bringing me back to reality. Could it be that this is not just one of my crazy ambitions? We are taking a step by step approach. What CAN we do now, no matter what we decide later. Acknowledging the fact that things might change, we can work on what we know will benefit us regardless of where the road leads. That means simplifying. But, then I ask the question again, how simple is too simple?

Homeschool Week of 5/4

Books:
Story of the USA
Freedom Train
Mandie Books(K)
Left Behind books-3 this week(C)
All Sail Set(RA-read aloud,still reading)
Oh Yuck, the Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty
A Letter to Mrs. Roosevelt(K)
The Terrible Wave(K)
Mysteries and Marvels of Nature(C)
Little Bear(Toby)
Frog and Toad(Toby)
Bible:
John
Social Studies:
Talked about the Knights of Labor(Charlotte read about it in The Story of the USA) which led to a discussion about the recent writers strike and what it means to be on strike.
Historical Fiction books
Science:
Rolie Polie observations
Discussion of why we have strawberries growing everywhere that we didn't plant
Yuk book
Other Science books listed above
Papa showed us what Poplar and Sugar gum trees looks like.
Observed a dead Dragon fly
Writing:
Completing Math Stories from CaptivatedMinds
Letters
Math:
CaptivatedMinds
Art/Music/PE:
Painting, (K)Piano, American Songs(Wee Sing), Bike Riding
This week Kaitlyn sewed charlotte a hankie and Grammy a bookmark.
Misc..
Helped Toby count his money
Played Webkinz

Chemicals in our clothes

Interesting article..

http://organicclothing.blogs.com/my_weblog/2009/01/permanent-press-facts-behind-the-fabrics.html

Picture updates

Avocado seeds. Waiting to see what they do :)

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Riding in the rain

Yesterday evening I was going crazy inside. I really needed to get out and breathe the fresh air and see God's nature. We decided to go ahead to the park even though the weather didn't look good. The older girls and I were the only ones who brought our bikes. Jason pushed the big stroller and Toby ran along side me. We got a little ways and it started raining. We decided to just wait it out under the canopy of the trees. It was beautiful standing there, protected, yet in the middle of it. It never quit but it did let up a little. We just kept going. Everyone had an awesome time. Toby ran the whole way with the girls and I. I can't believe how fast he is! I never had to wait on him. I wonder if God will use that somehow in his life.
I have several pictures that I need to post but I can't find my cable.

Time

Time is so strange. I can’t seem to understand it, though everything seems to depend on it. It’s my friend, yet it’s my enemy. What’s even more unfathomable is the thought of life without it. I think about God, and how he is outside of time. How peaceful that must be! To make decisions without thinking about before or after. To laugh without needing to stop. To sing without running out of breath (for time will do that). To run and not grow tired. To love with an un-measureable amount, right away (For love grows with time). To live in eternity without time. What does that look like? We live our lives waiting for time to change so that we can experience some moment, some joy that gives us hope. Oh how brief it is! And many times we get to that precious point in time only to be let down. How wonderful it must be to finally reach that blessed TRUE hope. The hope that is beyond anything we could imagine in our simple minds. Even more is the reality that it will NEVER end! We will live in that state for eternity with our God. Wow, what a thought. He is the hope that keeps us pressing on towards the goal. I am so glad that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will not be let down!

Great Weekend

I know I am weird but I just can't help it. Do you know how neat it would be to have an avocado tree? I know that it will likely not grow here but I can just try it right? This is my latest mini project. I have a couple of seeds sitting on my windowsill with toothpicks stuck in them so that they will suspend over water. Evidently, in a couple of weeks, they will start sprouting. Eventually, they will turn into trees. Maybe next year? LOL I don't know if I get enough sun so we will see. I will post pics later on.

We had an awesome weekend! We went bike riding again with everybody in tow. Jason carries two of the chunky munkies and I carry two. It is getting easier though I wouldn't say it was easy! We stopped to take a break at one point. The kids were running around in the field. Jason and I were laying on our backs looking up at the sky in awe of God's beauty. The contrast between the green trees and the blue sky were breathtaking! All of the sudden we heard thunder. The kids kept telling me that it was the bridge but I knew better. I looked up and sure enough, dard clouds were moving in very fast. We decided to start heading back. As soon as we got on the bikes we felt trickles of rain. We raced back to the car laughing as the rain pounded down on us and gave us relief after a hard ride. Isn't God great! He allowed us to see his beauty and power in so many ways. I cannot fathom what heaven is going to be like. Sunday night we got to have devotional time with our friends again. Man, how greatful I am to God that he saw fit to bring them into our lives. I LOVE spending time with them.

I am going to try to upload some more photos today.

Progress on the health front

We have made(and are still making) some changes here. In light of all the yucky chemicals I found hiding in alot of our "healthy" food, we have been more vigilant in checking labels. You know, those pesky little things that we don't want to look at for fear that it will make us feel guilty. I am completely off stevia. I still drink coffee but it is mostly decaf. I use almond milk, which I buy from the store, but I will soon be making it myself. I bought a couple of nutbags but I need more because I am using those for sprouting grain. I LOVE my essene bread! The kids are eating alot more raw food thankfully. They love fruit, zuchini speghetti, lettuce wraps with peanut butter, essene bread with honey, salad, and green shakes. I have yet to find a salad dressing that they like that is healthy. I have tried buying them from the store and they hate those. They like ranch dressing but everyone starts breaking out on their face when they eat it. I need to find a recipe that works so it won't be so expensive! I have one that I LOVE. It's Annies green goddess dressing. It's not raw but I am going to experiment with making it raw this weekend. It's just too expensive to keep buying. I had such a great time yesterday at my friends house. She let me use her oat flaker! I brought my oat groats over and went to town. They are soo much better! I love to just sit and chat with her, such a neat lady. I talked to my Daddy the other day and found out that he is doing soo awesome. He is bending his leg and pressing on toward the goal. I swell up with pride(I know, I know) when I think about all he has been through and where he is now. Love you Daddy and Mama Sue! That's all for now. Wow, I was really chatty today. :)