amy grant’s new book

I just HAD to post about this ~ even though I’m still officially on a blogging break. Read this ~ you’re going to love it!

i’m ok

Thank you to all who have sent sweet emails inquiring about my absence from the blogging world. I haven’t been completely absent ~ I’ve just been lurking a bit.

I am ok ~ really. I just haven’t felt the need or ability to post a lot lately. I’ve been taking some extra time to read and pray. I think it’s time for me to take a small leave of absence. Nothing drastic. I’m not going to close down my blog or anything like that. I’m just going to take a little time to get things back into order in my life (and my household, which is in serious need of some spring cleaning even though it’s not spring!).

With school back in full swing, considering Sawyer’s very full academic load this year, Sawyer’s involvement in several youth activities, homeschooling, French horn, co-op, my role as treasurer in co-op, and my reading several very convicting books (all at the same time, all convicting me of the same thing ~ gee, I wonder if God’s trying to tell me something! LOL) ~ I know I just need to be quiet and still, hear what God’s speaking to my heart, and learn from Him.

I appreciate your emails ~ and your prayers. Really, nothing is wrong. There’s no crisis, no problems ~ it’s just time for me to step back for a bit. I will continue to lurk on other blogs, and I may occasionally leave a comment. But for now I’m going to sit back and rest ~ I’m sure I’ll be refreshed soon enough, and I’ll be back to blogging before you know it!

I love getting emails, and I will read and answer every one of them, so please don’t hesitate to email me. I do want to keep in touch. I don’t know how long my leave of absence will be. It may be a week, it may be a month ~ I just don’t know yet. But I will be back to posting as soon as I feel the time is right. Thank you for your prayers ~ I’ll be back, refreshed and rejuvenated, just as soon as God would have me to be.

celebration of discipline

Roger and I have been going back and forth about joining a home team this year. A home team is what our church calls a small group. We talked and prayed about it, and we’ve tentatively decided to join one.

It’s hard for us to commit to things like a home team because A) Roger isn’t always available on Wednesday evenings (when the group meets) due to his flying schedule or going TDY, and B) at times my fibro completely wipes me out and I don’t have the energy to go somewhere at 6:30 in the evening. We talked to the leaders of the home team we’re considering joining and expressed our reservations ~ they assured us it isn’t necessary for us to be at every single meeting, and they encouraged us to join.

This particular home team is going to be reading and discussing the book Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, by Richard Foster. I had never heard of this book, or its author, so I looked it up on Amazon after we got home from church this morning. Here’s where we run into a problem: the first few reviews of this book on Amazon were good, but the last few were not. The last few reviews of Celebration of Discipline actually equated some of the "disciplines" to New Age teachings and occultic practices; transcendental meditation, astral projection ~ that kind of thing.

I read a few quotes from the book, and the reviews that say Richard Foster teaches a New Age-ish type of meditation seem to hold water. I’m still mulling this over and praying about it. We’re supposed to go to a home team kick-off this evening where we can pick up a copy of this book. I’m thinking it may be a good thing for us to read at least part of the book before home teams actually start meeting September 5. That way, if we have any objections to the book we’ll know what to say and be able to back it up with quotes directly from the book.

Has anyone else read this book? I’d be interested in hearing from anyone who has ~ or anyone who has knowledge of the author through experience with any of his writings. You can leave a comment, or email me (my email address is in the upper left hand sidebar).

I will admit to being extremely sensitive when it comes to stuff like this. I’m one of the few people I know who doesn’t think Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life is biblical. I think he mishandles Scripture, and uses various interpretations to make the Bible fit what he’s saying rather than aligning his teaching with what Scripture says. A few years ago, every church we drove past had "40 Days of Purpose" on their billboard. It infuriated me that so many churches were promoting Rick Warren’s nonsense. But again, I’m one of the few people I know who thinks this ~ I’ve actually been chastised by others who think Rick Warren hung the moon. I don’t agree, but I’ve learned that it’s not always appropriate to express my opinion.

If you’ve read Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster, would you please leave a comment telling me what YOU thought of this book? It will be interesting to read your comments ~ even more so once I have a copy of the book in my hands and can read it!

just becasue

Look what showed up on my doorstep yesterday:

My hubby is so wonderful!

baseball blues

This is one of my favorite pictures of my youngest son. It was taken at Cooperstown DreamsPark in 2005. Sawyer played on a Pony League traveling team when we lived in Alaska. His team was invited to play in a tournament at the DreamsPark ~ it was a HUGE deal, considering we lived in Alaska and had to travel to New York to play in the tournament. Plus, it was in Cooperstown, NY, the home of baseball.

We had an incredibly fun time in Cooperstown. We did all of the touristy things ~ we shopped at all of the little souvenir shops, went to the official first baseball field in Cooperstown and watched a couple of games, went through the Baseball Hall of Fame ~ all of that AND watched Sawyer play baseball. He played 2 games a day, so we were all wiped out, but we still had a great time.

I have this love/hate relationship with baseball. When we lived in Alaska, baseball took up our entire summer, and in 2005 it spilled over into August (Pony League practices started in October 2004, so it had been a lloonngg baseball season!). I really enjoyed watching Sawyer play, and I actually enjoyed going to practices, especially once the regular Little League season was over and we moved on to the Little League All-Star season. But until Sawyer started playing baseball (when he was 5), I was not a baseball fan. I’m into hockey. Compared to the action in hockey, baseball can move at the speed of drying paint.

When we moved back to Arkansas, Sawyer played one season of fall ball and one season of spring baseball. That was it. See the equipment Sawyer has on in the picture? He’s a catcher ~ and it gets really hot in all of those pads when you’re playing baseball in Arkansas! I was only able to make it to a few of his games once we were back in Arkansas, too ~ much too hot for me to be outside.

Right now the Little League World Series is being played in Williamsport, Maryland. Roger loves to watch the LL World Series on ESPN. He would rather watch that than MLB. I miss my son playing baseball ~ in ALASKA, of course, but still, it really was a lot of fun.

pass the button reminder

Don’t forget to sign up in the Pass the Button Giveaway. Tamara has some really great prizes ~ and there are LOTS of things you could win! Sign up line is Saturday, August 25.

book giveaways

I have some really exciting book giveaways to tell you about ~ except I’m going to have to wait until next week to tell you! I had fully intended to have some grand giveaways this week ~ but life has gotten in the way of blogging, and I must focus my attention and time elsewhere for now. But I promise, as soon as I’m able to get back to some serious blogging I will host some seriously great book giveaways!

Just to entice you to check back here next week, some of the authors included in the giveaways are:

Melody Carlson

Elizabeth White

Rebecca Seitz

Robin Hatcher

Stephen Bly

Eric Wilson

Brandilynn Collins

Click here to read reviews of books by some of the above authors.

I may be able to include books by other authors as well ~ you’ll just have to check back to find out who!

pass the button

Don’t forget to sign up in the Pass the Button Giveaway. Tamara has some really great prizes ~ and there are LOTS of things you could win! Sign up line is Saturday, August 25.

josh groban cd giveaway

Barb at A Chelsea Morning is giving away 4 of Josh Groban’s Awake CDs. Go on over and take a peek ~ all you have to do to be entered is leave a comment (and please make sure Barb has a way to get ahold of you!).

back to co-op

Our first day back at homeschool co-op went well. It was a bit of a madhouse at first, but that’s to be expected. We’re a true co-op ~ meaning the parents teach the classes (except Spanish) ~ so pre-registration is a little difficult. We don’t usually know exactly who is going to teach what more than a week or two in advance of the first day. And even then we have a hard time getting all of the fees and such put together so parents can pre-register. So, this morning was a little crazy, but overall I think things went pretty well.

This year our co-op is full. Bursting at the seams would probably be a better description. It’s great! We could probably fit in a few more high schoolers, but as far as the lower grades go, our "classrooms" are totally full.

We have some really great classes this year, including American Literature, Early 19th Century British Literature, Biology, Botany, 2 lower grade writing classes, and a bunch more. Sawyer’s going to have to work hard this year, but I know he’s up to the challenge.

the legend of the firefish

To read my review of The Legend of the Firefish, click here.

I thought this was cute ~ and a great idea! Who knew there was a National Talk Like a Pirate Day?! (September 19th)

Talk Like a Pirate Contest—Reach Out to a Pirate and Win!

Aug 15th, 2007 by Tina

For Immediate Release: August 15, 2007
Contact: Dave Bartlett, Harvest House Publishers
Phone: 877-307-0662
Fax: 541-302-0732
Email: dave.bartlett@harvesthousepublishers.com
Web: www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Talk Like a Pirate Contest—Reach Out to a Pirate and Win!

Eugene, Oregon—August 15, 2007— Most pirates routinely plunder and pillage and all that nasty stuff, and have earned the reputation of being an overall mean and grumpy lot with bad teeth. However, pirates are people, too!

Harvest House is pleased to announce the Talk Like A Pirate Contest—Reach Out to a Pirate and Win! Winners will receive copies of The Trophy Chase Trilogy by George Bryan Polivka, and other pirate-related books! Arrgghh! *The rules are simple me hearties! Write a short essay/message (200 words or less) on how you would positively impact a pirate’s life through one or more of the following actions:

a) Friendship/Fellowship (invite a pirate to an activity, outing, concert, church)
b) Prayer
c) Persuasion (as in persuading them to consider another line of work altogether!)
Arrgghh! All you have to do is write up yer message, and submit it between August 20 and Sept. 17 to: talklikeapiratecontest@harvesthousepublishers.com. Make sure to include yer email address and a good phone number (for verification and contact purposes only). Savvy?! We’ll make ye walk the plank if ye submit more than one entry, so if ye wants to avoid an untimely visit to Davey Jones’ Locker, pay attention ye land lubbers and follow the orders o’ yer fearless captain!

To effectively reach a pirate, you need to speak their language. So, your essay must be written in Pirate-speak! (hint: humor is good!) You can even choose a character from George Bryan Polivka’s Trophy Chase Trilogy to write about, or make someone up! Characters include: Fishbait McGee, Skewer Uttley, Conch Imbry, and/or Belisar the Whale—all notorious pirate captains of Nearing Vast (for ideas on pirate-speak, look up National Talk Like A Pirate Day, which is September 19).

Three winners will be selected, with the three winning essays to be posted on author George Bryan Polivka’s blogsite www.nearingvast.com/capspub on September 19. The winners (chosen by a scurvy band of judges whose honor and character are questionable) will receive a veritable pirate’s treasure chest of plunder, including: The Trophy Chase Trilogy (The Legend of the Firefish and The Hand That Bears the Sword, as well as the third book in the series, **The Battle for Vast Dominion). Other titles include When It’s Fourth and Long by Josh Bidwell (punter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arrgghh!), and Captives and Kings by Craig and Janet Parshall.

*Official Rules (NOT just guidelines):
One entry per contestant. Three winning essays will be chosen by a panel of judges based on humor, level of persuasion, and overall creative writing skills. The three winning essays will be posted on author George Bryan Polivka’s blogsite on Sept. 19, 2007. No purchase, entry fee, donation or any other type of payment necessary. Must be a resident of the lower 48 Continental United States to enter (residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada or elsewhere not eligible). Employees and/or family members of Harvest House Publishers not eligible. Must be 14 years or older to enter contest and be able to provide proof of age. Retail value of winning entry: $67.95. **(The Battle for Vast Dominion by George Bryan Polivka releases in January, 2008, and will be shipped to the winning contestants at that time).

Print quality images to accompany this press release are available in digital format. Available images are: cover art, author photos, Harvest House logo.

yet more proof

If my post about my non-working dishwasher didn’t convince you of my claim of being spoiled (LOTS of people have dishwashers, Trish), read on ~ perhaps this post will.

I am a stay-at-home mom. I also homeschool our youngest son ~ when our older son was still at home, I homeschooled him, too. The inside of the house is pretty much my scope of responsibility. I’m not saying I’m not responsible for parenting our sons, of course I am, I’m just saying I don’t have to do the yardwork ~ that’s Roger’s area (and the boys’, too). There are certain aspects of housework that I really don’t enjoy. I definitely don’t enjoy doing laundry, but that’s something I’ll write about another time. Today I want to tell you about grocery shopping.

I really dislike going grocery shopping. I’m not quite sure why, I just know that going grocery shopping is not high on my list of fun things to do. When I have to go grocery shopping at the commissary, my dislike turns to pure contempt. If you’ve ever shopped at a commissary, especially on pay day or a weekend, you understand. It’s crowded. It’s unorganized. People are not usually very considerate. At times the check-out lines are out the door. There’s rarely enough people working to get things running smoothly. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. And it’s slow. It drives me insane.

Grocery shopping is, however, one of those necessary evils. We have to have food. Not only because we have 2 teenage sons ~ that’s only part of the equation. But really, we can only eat out so much before it become monotonous, it’s not good for us, and eating out often really does a number in the budget/finances. I’m keenly aware of all of that. But still, I really hate grocery shopping.

This week I’ve been stretching the groceries we have on hand. I still made dinner (most nights), but they weren’t anything fancy, and they definitely didn’t qualify as nutritious meals. I knew I needed to go grocery shopping, but it has been so blasted hot that I’ve had absolutely no desire to get out of the house and subject myself to the torture that I knew awaited me at the commissary.

Roger knows how much I dislike doing the grocery shopping. In fact, he’s very good about picking up some milk on his way home from work, and often he will accompany me on the dreaded trip to the commissary. Even though he usually works really long hours, and despite the fact that often his long hours have been spent on an airplane that has no air conditioner (even though on the flight line the temps get extremely high, like 150*+ inside the plane when it’s sitting on the tarmac) Roger is still willing to stop on his way home from work and pick up whatever we may need in the way of eggs, bread, milk, ice cream……….whatever.

This morning I was scheduled for my monthly fibro/therapeutic massage. I had put off going to the grocery store all week. But I knew I wouldn’t be able to last past the weekend unless some grocery acquisiton was done. So Roger, bless his heart (and I mean that in the good way, Bev! LOL) dropped me off at the massage therapist’s office, then he went to the commissary. He did all of the grocery shopping. He spent over $500 at the commissary on groceries (that’s a LOT of food)!

Meanwhile, I was lying on the water-filled massage table, my head cradled in a soft pillow, while the massage therapist gently massaged the muscles in my legs, back, torso, arms, feet, neck and head. Relaxing sounds of the ocean splashing onto the shore played in the background. She used a lovely water-soluable oil and left me there to take a nice little nap when she was done with our 2-hour session.

Now do you believe me I’m spoiled?! LOL (Sorry ladies, my hubby is not for sale, or for rent, or even available for loan.)

book basket giveaway

Beth White, author of the newly released Off the Record, is giving away 2 baskets full of books! If you would like to enter the drawing, just go to Beth’s Quill and follow the instructions for entering.

nice matters

Daisy at A Daisy a Day has sweetly given me the Nice Matters Award. I wish I knew who to give credit to for originally starting the Nice Matters Award, but alas, I don’t. Nonetheless, thank you to both Daisy and the Nice Matters Award creator!

This award is for those bloggers who are nice people, good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also, for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you’ve been awarded please pass it on to seven others who you feel are deserving of this award.

I would like to pass this award on to:

Bev at Scratchin’ the Surface ~ Bev and I recently struck up a fun camaraderie of commenting on each other’s blogs and emailing back and forth. I’ve joked about moving in with her (if she only knew how serious I really am!) ~ read a couple of her posts and you’ll know why I’m movin’ in!

De’Etta at Choosing Joy ~ De’Etta is an actual IRL friend, and a very NICE person. She has a heart for mentoring other women and more patience than any saint I’ve ever heard of.

Meredith at Life at 7000 Feet ~ Mere is another blogger who I have recently emailed and done the comments thing with. Lovely lady ~ I’m quite jealous that she live in Colorado! She and her family are heading out to go camping this weekend, so this award will be a nice surprise for her when she gets back.

Randi at i have to say… ~ I recently ordered some items from Randi’s online store/business. Not only did she get my special order items done quickly, she even gift wrapped them for me (she knew they are a present for a friend’s birthday)! By the way, the items I ordered are absolutely beautiful!

At this point, I would like to follow a trend I’ve seen while cruising other blogs that have been given the Nice Matters Award ~ I would like for everyone who has left a nice comment here on my blog to have this award. I know, I know ~ that’s more than my allotted 7 bloggers to give this to, but that’s ok. Because this “award” is all about being nice ~ isn’t giving it to as many people as possible simply the “nice” thing to do?

nice matters award

Daisy at A Daisy a Day has sweetly given me the Nice Matters Award. I wish I knew who to give credit to for originally starting the Nice Matters Award, but alas, I don’t. Nonetheless, thank you to both Daisy and the Nice Matters Award creator!

This award is for those bloggers who are nice people, good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also, for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you’ve been awarded please pass it on to seven others who you feel are deserving of this award.

I would like to pass this award on to:

Bev at Scratchin’ the Surface ~ Bev and I recently struck up a fun camaraderie of commenting on each other’s blogs and emailing back and forth. I’ve joked about moving in with her (if she only knew how serious I really am!) ~ read a couple of her posts and you’ll know why I’m movin’ in!

De’Etta at Choosing Joy ~ De’Etta is an actual IRL friend, and a very NICE person. She has a heart for mentoring other women and more patience than any saint I’ve ever heard of.

Meredith at Life at 7000 Feet ~ Mere is another blogger who I have recently emailed and done the comments thing with. Lovely lady ~ I’m quite jealous that she live in Colorado! She and her family are heading out to go camping this weekend, so this award will be a nice surprise for her when she gets back.

Randi at i have to say… ~ I recently ordered some items from Randi’s online store/business. Not only did she get my special order items done quickly, she even gift wrapped them for me (she knew they are a present for a friend’s birthday)! By the way, the items I ordered are absolutely beautiful!

At this point, I would like to follow a trend I’ve seen while cruising other blogs that have been given the Nice Matters Award ~ I would like for everyone who has left a nice comment here on my blog to have this award. I know, I know ~ that’s more than my allotted 7 bloggers to give this to, but that’s ok. Because this "award" is all about being nice ~ isn’t giving it to as many people as possible simply the "nice" thing to do?

the laughing weatherman

Ok, it’s 6:15am (not so early for me since I’ve been up since 4:30am). I was watching one of the local morning news programs ~ yes, yes, KARK, since we know Matt Mosler, Camille and their kids personally. Anyhoo, the weather guy comes on, and he starts chuckling. Then he announces, "It’s 80* outside ~ 80* at 6am!" Well, at least the locals think 80* at 6am is as ridiculous as the rest of us do!

4 days into the school year…

and so far everything is really going well! Sawyer has enough work to keep him engaged for about 5 to 6 hours a day, but not so much that he feels overwhelmed. And, if you know me at all, you know I am totally opposed to "twaddle" (useless, meaningless busywork that has absolutely no value other than to keep a kid busy), so 5 or 6 hours of school work a day for a 9th grader is pretty good. Sawyer’s a fast worker, fast learner, and goal-oriented, which makes homeschooling him actually quite easy.

I have been reading Senior High: A Home-Designed Form+U+la by Barb Shelton. I wish I had read this book waaaay back when ("back in the day") when we first started homeschooling. I realize we weren’t at a high school level then, but I would have definitely benefited from some of the things Barb writes about in the first couple of sections. Barb recommends Marilyn Howshall’s books ~ since our pitiful library system here in central Arkansas doesn’t have ANY books by Marilyn Howshall, I guess I’ll be scouring Ebay and whatever other low-priced book sites I can find for some of her books. I’m going to have to update my Summer Reading List, too!

microsoft is watching

We’ve been having a lot of problems with our computer lately. The main issue seems to be IE 7 or something with the internet connection. I’m having to restore my computer to an earlier date because everytime a Microsoft Update downloads, it messes up my internet connection (as in I don’t have one!).

I called the 1-800 number for my Microsoft Braodband Wireless Network last week. The guy took me thorough a bizillion procedures until we found one that actually worked (after 2 hours on the phone with tech support!). But this morning Microsoft did another automatic update, and my computer/internet access was messed up again.

The guy I talked to last week about my wireless network told me there was no possible way that the Microsoft Updates were messing up my computer. I think the guy was just plain W.R.O.N.G.!

no dishwasher

Ok, I admit it. I’m spoiled. Always have been, probably always will be. It’s not such a bad thing, really.

Take, for example, our dishwasher. It just stopped working about a week ago. I can push the little "Start" button all I want, all day long, and it still does nothing. So, we’ve been using paper plates and plastic dinnerwear/cutlery. That’s not so bad ~ just toss it in the garbage when you’re done. Sure, we have to wash the pots and pans by hand, but we do that under normal circumstances anyway, so it’s not a big deal.

What’s really getting to me are the trays/racks for the dehydration unit. Roger has been making beef jerky, so the dehydration trays have been getting some good use. Except then we have to wash them by hand, and that’s a royal pain.

How did people ever live without dishwashers? I didn’t realize how important a working dishwasher was in my life until mine broke! I am not overly fond of cleaning the kitchen to begin with (actually, I believe I’ve developed an allergy to housework, but I do it anyway) ~ but to have the dishes piled up on the counter, whether they’re clean or dirty, is really starting to annoy me. I guess I could dry the dishes with a towel rather than letting them air dry on towel spread out on the countertop. That way I could put them back in the cupboard right away. But that’s just more kitchen work ~ usually by the time I’ve finished washing the dishes I’m ready to get OUT of the kitchen!

no accesss

This morning when I downloaded a new Microsoft update I lost my internet access. I have no idea how or why ~ but this isn’t the first time this has happened. Anyway, until I can get the problem fixed I won’t be able to post anything. I’ll work on it and hopefully be up and running again soon. Thanks for being patient ~ please check back in a day or so!

no access

I am typing this on my BlackBerry. My I internet connection isn’t working for some reason. I will work on the problem and be back posting as soon as I can!

we’re havin’ a heatwave

Good golly Miss Molly is it ever H.O.T. here! Check out the weather report:

TUESDAY, 08/14/2007 at 05:20 AM

Your 5-Day Weather Forecast

Today

Very hot with plenty of sunshine; extreme heat can be dangerous

High 102°
Low 71°

Tonight

Clear and humid

Low 71°

WEDNESDAY

Mostly sunny and very hot; extreme heat can be dangerous

High 102°
Low 72°

THURSDAY

Partly sunny and very hot; extreme heat can be dangerous

High 101°
Low 74°

FRIDAY

Partly sunny and hot

High 97°
Low 72°

SATURDAY

Humid with several hours of sunshine

High 99°
Low 73°

You know it’s hot when the locals are complaining about it ~ even the weather forecasters are telling people to stay inside with air conditioning and drink lots of water. Uh, yeah ~ that’s where I am and what I’m doing! LOL

starting school

I spent the end of last week (and a majority of the weekend) putting together my teacher’s notebook for this year’s homeschooling courses. Since Sawyer’s in 9th grade, it’s really important that I have good records. I’ve had an interesting time developing course descriptions and the course of study. Actually, I’ve enjoyed it, but it has taken too much of my time and effort for the past couple of days.

Sawyer started school this morning, then attended choir and youth worship team practice. Tomorrow he will attend a chemistry class/lab at Kathryn’s house. Wednesday Sawyer will have a French horn lesson, another youth worship team practice, and youth group. Thursday we don’t have to go anywhere ~ which is a good thing since the dishwasher repair guy (Maytag, no less!) is supposed to come fix our dishwasher. Friday Sawyer will have another chemistry class/lab at Kathryn’s house.

Next week co-op will start again ~ Sawyer and I both look forward to Tuesdays. He because he gets to see his friends (yet again), and I because there are other moms who teach stuff (like Spanish, biology class/labs, and British literature) that I’m glad to not have to teach.

So, we’re back at school, which brings with it a bit of a relief to be back on a regular schedule!

Fruitful Friday

This week saw 3 new additions to The Fruit of the Spirit Blogroll ~ please visit these lovely blogs and let the writers know you stopped by!
Simply His ~ Lisa
Kindred Hearts ~ Nikki
Meahl Memories ~ Linda

and the winners are……

:: drum roll please! ::

The winner of the drawing for Choreganizers is ~ Dawn! and…

::more drum roll please!::

the winner of the drawing for The Yellow Pages Guide to Educational Field Trips is  ~ Meg!

Congratulations, ladies! I will be contacting you to get your mailing addresses (or you can just go ahead and email them to me if you’d like ~ my email address is in the lefthand sidebar towards the top).

Thanks to everyone who patricipated in the Homeschool Bloggy Giveaway. And thanks also go to Jen at Ancora Imparo for organizing it!

fruitful friday

This week saw 3 new additions to The Fruit of the Spirit Blogroll ~ please visit these lovely blogs and let the writers know you stopped by!

Simply His ~ Lisa

Kindred Hearts ~ Nikki

Meahl Memories ~ Linda

modesty

I read this post today, and it really got me to thinking. As the mother of 2 boys, what have I done to instill into my sons’ hearts the concept of modesty? The clothing I see on girls these days, the posters and billboards, magazine covers, television……just about everywhere I look there’s a scantily clad female figure. And they’re all intended to get our attention.

I know there are a lot of people who have a heart for God and a desire to teach young women (girls) to dress modestly. And I wholeheartedly support that desire. But I also think that we can’t just leave it up to the girls. The young men need to be taught to hold themselves to a level of modesty as well. I’ve heard it said that men are visual while women are emotional. I have generally found that to be true. Therefore, should we not be teaching our sons that modesty is important ~ that temptation should be avoided by diverting their eyes and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ? And therein lies the key ~ obedience to Christ.

It has not been an easy task to teach my sons that modesty, in both females and males, is a desirable quality. The first time Patrick noticed a female body was in the mall in Fayetteville, North Carolina. We were walking past the Victoria’s Secret store when suddenly he just stopped and stared at the poster of the more-than-half naked woman in the window. His jaw dropped to the ground, and I thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head. He was 7 years old. 7 years old!! From that day forward, Roger and I have tried to make sure that our sons know what modesty is, why it is desirable, and how to avoid temptation when faced with a situation where there is immodesty.

Boys with their pants cinched down around the bottom of their behind, wearing "muscle shirts" and showing off their boxers is not modesty. Females may be primarily emotional, but that doesn’t mean we’re blind! Prime example ~ look at the Calvin Klein ads (actually, don’t "look" ~ just take my word for it). There are as many scantily dressed men in those ads as there are women. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not appropriate ~ but they sure do get a lot of airtime on TV, and even in the movie theater these days.

While I am not one who believes that boys should always wear khaki pants and polo shirts ~ jean shorts really are ok for boys, within limits ~ I do believe we should instill a proper desire for modesty in our boys as well as in our girls. And if the girls are not being modest (or are dressed immodestly), the boys need to know how to handle the situation.

This is not an easy thing to teach to anyone, much less boys. We must examine our hearts, and help and encourage our sons to do the same. This should lead to an understanding and recognition of sin, which in turn (prayerfully) leads to repentance. Repentance involves a turning away, going the other direction away from sin. That means when my sons are in an uncomfortable situation regarding a female’s immodesty, they should turn their eyes away and not let those thoughts take hold. With as bombarded as they are these days, it is a difficult task indeed. Yet our sons have been taught that females are not objects for ogling and that having respect for a girl means he keeps his hands and his eyes to himself. His thoughts belong to God, and if those thoughts are not Christ-like they cannot stay.

I know it’s not as easy as it sounds. I applaud those whose efforts make modest clothing readily available to girls. No one wants to wear sackcloth or burlap ~ there’s nothing that says modest clothing can’t be cute. Modest clothing should be important for boys, too. Not because females are visual, but because that’s what’s honoring to God. And isn’t honoring and glorifying God what it’s all about?

literature geek or science geek?

The other night at our co-op meeting, I noticed that there were generally 2 kinds of moms in attendance ~ those who enjoy science, and those who enjoy literature. One mom, a self-pronounced "science geek", had all kinds of fantastic ideas regarding the science curricula for elementary all the way through high school. Her enthusiasm was charming ~ I’ve never seen anyone get so excited over teaching kids about weather!

I, on the other hand, am admittedly a literature geek. Science-schmiance ~ give me a good study on early 19th century British literature and you’ll have my attention. I’ve seriously considered buying Sonlight’s Core 530 ~ Survey of British Literature. Just look at all of the books! (Sawyer would probably be bored to tears with it, but I’d have a great time.) If I ever have an extra $200 or so just laying around, I just might purchase the Core 530 for myself.

Since he’s taking 2 science courses and 2 math courses this year, I have a feeling Sawyer’s leaning towards the science geek moniker. That’s ok ~ both he and Patrick love to read. They’re usually reading some sort of science fiction, something along the lines of Star Wars, but at least they love to read!

So, have you thought about whether you’re a science geek or a literature geek? I know there are a lot of math geeks and computer geeks out there, too. Isn’t it great that the word "geek" is no longer the horrible label that it was 20 years ago?!

the new plan

I had originally planned to start homeschooling Sawyer again August 21. But to be honest, I’m starting to chomp at the bit. I’m ready to get started. While our homeschooling schedule is fairly loose, it still brings some consistency to our days.

I mentioned having ordered our homeschooling materials the other day. Most of the curriculum will be on our doorstep tomorrow. Which is really a good thing, since tomorrow morning Sawyer will go to his 2nd chemistry class (I’ll go into more details on that in a minute…) without a book. Not a real big deal ~ he can make up the work easily enough since he will have actually attended the "class" and have already done the work in practical application.

Since the majority of our books will be here tomorrow, and the rest should arrive by early next week, I think we’re going to go ahead and officially start school next Monday, August 13. I don’t really see a need to wait another week. Sawyer is protesting ~ he wants another week and a half of summer vacation. I say tough patooties, it’s time to get started. Of course what Mom says goes, but Sawyer’s still waiting for his father to call so he can make his case to the only person who can overrule Mom. Good luck, kid.

The deal with chemistry is that my friend Kathryn is instructing an Apologia Science Exploring Creation with Chemistry class at her home. I knew she was going to do this ~ but I figured since A) Sawyer’s taking biology this year and B) he’s in 9th grade, while the kids who are taking chemistry are older, and C) the other chemistry students are all girls, we could wait and do chemistry next year. I guess I was wrong. Sawyer and I went over to Kathryn’s house Monday to visit for a bit. While we were there, Sawyer sat at the kitchen table with the 3 girls who are doing chemistry ~ Paige (left), Charne’ (3rd from left) and Caitlin (right) ~ and went through a couple of the experiments with them. He had a great time. Science is kind of his thing, I think.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. My 9th grade son, with these 3 lovely young ladies ~ and I would be foolish enough to think that he WOULDN’T want to be there with them? Well, yes. Because you see, these girls aren’t the type of girls who would ever encourage anything more than a big sister/little brother relationship with Sawyer. And Sawyer’s not the type to be interested in anything more that that as well. I know that just because I know my child, but I asked him about it anyway. Why would he want to do biology and chemistry in the same year, especially when the chemistry class is made up of older girls? His answer: "Mom, they’re like my big sisters. Besides, they need me there to do the math for them." LOL Well, ok ~ I guess he’s probably right, too!

So, since chemistry is now in the mix for this year, and Sawyer’s still saying he wants to complete geometry and algebra II this year, I figure the sooner we get started the better. We’ll be taking a trip to Colorado in February for our niece’s wedding, and Sawyer may want to do a little snowboarding while we’re there. It would be best if he not fall behind while we’re in Colorado ~ the beauty of homeschooling is that it’s portable. Nonetheless, I still think starting next week is a good idea. No need to wait. Because there’s no like like the present, right?

back to homeschool week ~ thursday

Today’s topic: If I had only known…..

Oh boy, we could be here all day on this topic! We’d be better off discussing what I DID know when we started homeschooling.

As I wrote in a previous post, at the end of the first semester of our first year of homeschooling, I literally threw away every bit of curriculum I had purchased for that year. It had been an extremely difficult start to our homeschooling adventure ~ difficult for our oldest son and for me, and more than a little bit humbling for me as well. I really, truly, deep down into my marrow knew that God had led us to homeschool; Roger and I both had complete peace about our decision. So having the first semester go so awry was a hard lesson for me. It taught me, though, that I am not in control, nor am I in charge. Never an easy lesson, but definitely a beneficial one.

After much research, and even more prayer, it dawned on me that one of the main problems Patrick and I had been having was a battle for the job of being boss. I knew that I had to put a stop to that one ~ and I had to win. There was just no question; I was the parent, and therefore it was my job to be the boss. I don’t mean that it was my prerogative to be mean or bossy. I mean it was imperative for my children’s well-being that I fulfill my roll as the parent, instructing my children in the ways of the Lord, training them in the way they should go, guiding their hearts and minds to grow in the knowledge of God.

One of the best books I have read on the subject of child-rearing is Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp. I learned so much about my children in that book ~ and I learned an awful lot about myself as well. Shepherding a Child’s Heart taught me what I needed to know about teaching, guiding, discipling and disciplining my children. The answers were always right there in front of me every day when I would read the Bible ~ Tedd Tripp just pulled it all together then laid it out in a manner that connected the dots for me.

We continue, to this day, to check the position of our children’s hearts. Even though Patrick technically doesn’t live at home during the school year, we are still his parents, he is still under our care, and it’s still our responsibility to guide, teach, disciple and discipline him. Of course the same applies to Sawyer as well.

Another thing I wish I had known: there is no one right and perfect way to homeschool. We’ve gone through I don’t know how many different curriculum, workbooks, methods, schedules, and whatever else you can think of. Every year we try at least one new thing ~ I guess that’s why I refer to it as "our homeschooling adventure." LOL We have tried enough things now to have a good idea of what works well for us and what doesn’t. I know, for example, that Sawyer does much better with a literature-based curriculum than he does with a textbook- or workbook-based curriculum. That cuts out a lot of curriculum publishers right there. I also know that we do better as a family overall if we’re prepared to be very flexible with our schedule. There are days when my fibromyalgia takes over, and those aren’t very good days for any of us. So, there may be times when Sawyer will have to double up on his lessons, or work on something for a couple of hours over the weekend. No biggie ~ we know it’s probably going to happen occasionally, so we just go with the flow. But what works for me isn’t necessarily going to work for someone else. To someone who enjoys or requires a very structured, very set schedule in order to homeschool at their best level, our schedule probably looks like something that would send them into outer orbit. We all have to figure out what works best for us; no two homeschooling families are ever going to be exactly alike.

My third and final point is I wish I had known that I’m not the only homeschooler out there who faces challenges, frustrations, good days, not-so-good days, triumphs, disappointments, trials and victories. The first homeschool support group we joined left a very bad taste in my mouth, and I was extremely hesitant to join another support group or even try a co-op. That first group was a small, closed, close-knit group who weren’t very open and inviting to new members. The overall group attitude seemed to me to be one of, "Well, we’ve been homeschooling for X amount of years, we have X number of children, we use X curriculum, we’ve got it all together, and you can’t be one of us unless you and your children are perfect." Ugh. So, for a long time I was not willing to venture into the land of homeschool support groups. It has only been the past 2 years that the idea of being part of a support group has had any appeal to me. I didn’t want to walk into a room of perfect people and stick out like a sore thumb. But time and experience have taught me that there are many more people out there like me than like those in that first support group. (Actually, I doubt any of them had it as together as they liked to project.) After talking with hundreds of other homeschoolers, I realized that what I experienced as a homeschooling mom wasn’t all that different from what other moms experienced. It was really quite wonderful to discover that I’m not the only mom who feels like having either a meltdown or a breakdown occasionally! I’m not the only mom who struggles with consistent discipline or choosing God’s best over man’s good or better. I’m not the only mom who will feed her kids hot dogs and macaroni and cheese or grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for lunch because they’re quick, easy, and (let’s be honest) the kids love them! I don’t have to be afraid to ask for advice or suggestions from another homeschooling parent ~ it doesn’t matter how long one has been homeschooling; there’s always something we share in common. If I had known back then how valuable a good homeschool support group could be, I would have kept looking around until I found a good one. I have found a good one now, and an awesome co-op to boot! So if you haven’t had a good experience, or any experience, with a homeschool support group, I encourage you to find one. Not only will there be other homeschooling parents there who can help you, give you advice, bless and encourage you, but you just may find that you have the opportunity to give all of that back and more.

I’ve learned a lot of lessons over the 12 years we have homeschooled. Honestly, I could go on for days! But through it all, I have known without a shadow of a doubt that we are doing exactly what God wants us to do. It has been an incredible blessing to be able to watch our sons as they grow into young men, knowing that Roger and I have done all that we can to continually point them towards God. We’re far from perfect, but we have a big God Who is perfect and Who uses all things for the good of those Who love Him ~ and that makes even the not-so-good days worth every minute.

back to homeschool week ~ wednesday

Today’s topic: Getting out there…extra curricular activities, community involvement, volunteering, etc….

When our kids were little, the biggest "social" activities they had were church-oriented. There was church on Sundays, pot-luck lunches, dinners throughout the week, Awanas on Wednesdays, service/outreach projects, and play-dates at friends houses (all friends made through church). At different times we also had rollerblade hockey and ice hockey lessons, Tae Kwon Do, swimming lessons, soccer, baseball, days at the park, and other various outings.

Now that our kids are older, it seems that their activities are even more structured around the church, if that is even possible. Sawyer’s involved in youth choir, the sound team for the youth band, youth group, and youth leadership team. The co-op we attend once a week is held at our church, and although the co-op is not affiliated with our church, the majority of the kids who attend co-op also attend our church. Any service projects the youth of our church are involved in, Sawyer’s right there with them.

The thing I have enjoyed about being so active within our church is that the kids have been exposed to a wide range of ages and a wide variety of peoples. I’ve never agreed with the "children must be socialized" mindset. You know ~ those well-meaning friends and family members whose initial shock at your announcement that you’re going to homeschool your children produces the question we’ve all faced: "But what about socialization?!" Being socialized isn’t spending the majority of your waking hours only communicating with others your own age ~ to me that seems to turn into more of a pack of wolves than socializing. Have you ever seen what happens when 4 or 5 male wolves all gather in the same place? It’s not pretty.

By participating in church activities, and requiring our children to respond when spoken to by an adult (hiding behind Mom or Dad was never allowed), our kids were socialized in what we feel is the proper manner. They are as comfortable with adults as they are with kids their own age. And both of our boys are good with younger kids, too. I like to say my sons can communicate with anyone ~ newborns to octogenarians.

We’ve always had plenty of outside activities to choose from ~ both outdoors and outside of our home. Getting out there has never been a problem. Learning to choose between good, better and best activites and use of time, well, that has been the challenge.

mission accomplished

I went to work this afternoon and got all of our homeschool materials purchased. This was quite an accomplishment for me ~ I usually just go to the Sonlight site, select whichever Core curriculum we want to use, and presto! the majority of the work is done. Not this year. I spent at least 2 hours going back and forth between 4 different sites trying to A) find what I need, B) find it at the lowest price, and C) get the most items from one site at the lowest price with the lowest shipping costs I possibly could. Whew! That was a major workout for me!

I did accomplish my mission, though ~ to the best of my ability, anyway. I had originally told Roger we would spend about $500 on curriculum this year. That was before my brave 9th grader decided that not only does he want to take Spanish, Early 19th Century British Literature (with composition), Geometry, Biology, Ancient History, and French horn lessons, but now he also wants to accomplish Chemistry and Algebra II this school year. What?! Well, ok ~ but he got the big-time lecture about whining not being tolerated when he decides two months down the road that perhaps he has taken on a bit more than he can handle. Tough patooties, baby.

All told, I spent about $515, and I’m only missing 2 books that should cost about an additional $25. I thought that was pretty good, considering I had to add in the cost of the Apologia Chemistry text and tests & solutions. Let me tell you, I did some serious shopping/bargain hunting this afternoon! I value my time much more than I value saving a dollar or two, so I wasn’t willing to nickle and dime myself to death just to get the absolute bottom price. In the end I made purchases from 2 online book sites, and I still came in under $50 over my original guesstimation. That’s pretty good for me!

oops

Oops, I forgot to add the Mr. Linky comments link to my Tuesday "Back to Homeschool Week" post. Sorry ’bout that, folks! I stopped using TypePad comments because in order to verify your comment you had to go through an extra step ~ which I found a bit annoying ~ and you had to be able to decipher those goofy little letters, which I can rarely do the first couple dozen times I try to submit a comment. So now I just have to remember to add the Mr. Linky comments link. I think it was close to midnight when I wrote Tuesday’s post, so it’s not surprising that I forgot.

If you would like to comment on Tuesday’s post, please do so here.

back to homeschool week ~ tuesday

Question: How do you homeschool?

LOL Well, that is an interesting question! When we first started homeschooling, we used A Beka because it was the only curriculum I had ever heard about. There are lots and LOTS of people out there who love A Beka ~ we didn’t. It was too structured for us, and there was WAY too much "seat work" (which to us meant workbooks and other really boring stuff).

After our first semester of using A Beka, I threw it away. Really. I threw the some-odd-hundreds-of-dollars curriculum I had purchased into the garbage. I thought about having a book burning, but I wasn’t too sure about the lesson that would teach my then 5- and 2 1/2-year-old sons!

Over Christmas break, I went to the library and checked out a book by Ruth Beechick, and as many books as I could possibly find about Charlotte Mason. I spent our entire Christmas break researching different methods of homeschooling. When we started school again in January, it was an entirely different experience. No more tears, no more tantrums. Patrick and I had a blast just reading, exploring outside, cooking, cleaning, drawing and learning about things that he was interested in.

We spent the majority of our early years just doing whatever we wanted to do. The boys learned as we went along. I didn’t feel the need to be super structured or to get too wound up about whether or not they were learning what the other kids were learning in public schools. We tested every year, just to make sure we were on track. I bought "What Your Child Needs to Know When" by Robin (Scarlata) Sampson and went over the different check lists. We spent weeks learning about rockets, horses, learning to draw, and doing unit studies on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah. Once we even spent an entire semester learning nothing but how to follow a recipe, wash dishes, dust, vacuum and clean bathrooms!

We have continued with the Charlotte Mason method mostly. We added in different things as the kids got older. At one point we stumbled onto Sonlight Curriculum, which was a major windfall for us. We’re all big readers ~ my kids started reading early, and to this day they still have their noses in books. Sonlight provides very detailed instructor’s guides with its curriculum ~ I rarely used them. I made the curriculum fit us, not the other way around. We love to read, so the boys got lots and lots of books ~ fiction, non-fiction, Christian hero biographies, and even a "Choose Your Own Ending" or two.

Last year we added in homeschool co-op on Tuesdays. Sawyer didn’t take Spanish last year, which I wish now he had, but at co-op he studied The Mystery of History II, Apologia Physical Science and IEW. At home he still had Sonlight In-Depth American History, Teaching Textbooks Algebra I, and several other miscellaneous studies. It was a busy year for Sawyer, but he got a lot out of it, too.

We aren’t big schedulers, other than official school hours are 9am to 2pm, with homeschool co-op from 8:45am to 1:30pm on Tuesdays. We’re to the point where Sawyer really can do the majority of the teaching and work on his own, but I’m around incase he needs help. Both of my boys are self-starters when it comes to learning.

I realize that not everyone’s journey in homeschooling is like ours. My kids love to learn, which is a trait that has made it a little easier for us. Patrick now attends a residential math & science high school where all of his classes are college-level courses. At 16 he was more than ready to go to this school. He needed the challenge. I knew I couldn’t possibly provide the kind of challenging education he needs and thrives on. He’s just too far advanced for me to teach him any longer! Sawyer may reach that place at some point; for now Sawyer continues to homeschool, and we’re enjoying it. He’s my goal-oriented child. If the goal is to finish reading a certain book at write an in-depth report on that book by such-and-such a date, Sawyer’s all over it. He’s self-motivated ~ I still have to check up on him, make sure he has some sort of schedule planned out for each week, and grade his work. I make sure the large, global plan is provided, but I allow Sawyer to determine how he’s going to reach the end destination. It’s a method that works really well for us.

our decision to homeschool

Today’s Back to Homeschool week question is:

What led to your decision to homeschool?

We started homeschooling when our oldest son was in kindergarten. We were living in a state where we were less than impressed with the educational system. When Roger and I began discussing the horror stories we had heard about the public schools, we were surprised to find that we had both been praying about homeschooling. And we both felt led that homeschooling our children was what God wanted us to do.

The first couple of years weren’t easy. Roger was gone a lot ~ and I mean a LOT. Our second year of homeschooling we counted that Roger was gone TDY for over 250 days. It was hard having 2 little boys, feeling sick and tired all of the time, and for all intents and purposes being a single parent. But even with the challenges the boys and I faced those first couple of years, I never once questioned if we were doing the right thing.

Looking back, I can see God’s hand in every year that we have homeschooled (this school year will be our 13th year). There were times when I was sick and felt very frazzled, but God always encouraged me to continue. We still pray every year about whether or not we should continue to homeschool. Our path with Patrick has changed, but for now God has us continuing to homeschool Sawyer.

I know the only reason we have homeschooled this long is because God has directed us to. We wouldn’t have made it through even the first year, much less twelve, if it weren’t totally God directed. Roger and I feel very strongly that it is OUR responsibility to teach our children; that belief is what has prompted us to continue to pray about homeschooling and seek out God’s will regarding our children.

homeschool bloggy giveaway #2

My second Homeschool Bloggy Giveaway is for a copy of The Yellow Pages Guide to Educational Field Trips by Gregg Harris. It’s another one of those fantastic resources that I ordered, put away, and forgot I had. It brand new, except for the small sticker on the inside cover that declares, "This blook belongs to….."

This book can be shipped anywhere ~ US, Canada or international. You can sign up to win this giveaway even if you’re not a blogger. Just leave your name in the Mr. Linky box, then come back and leave a comment under this post. That way, if you’re not a blogger I still have your email address (you email address will not show in my comments section!). I’ll be really sad if I can’t contact the winner of this prize because they didn’t leave their email address!

Please only enter once; duplicate entries will be deleted.

You’ll find more bloggy giveaways here ~ you can also sign up to host a giveaway.

After you’ve entered the contest by filling in the Mr. Linky, come back and leave a happy comment!

homeschool bloggy giveaway #1

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This giveaway is for 1 Choreganziers: The Visual Way to Organize Household Chores by Jennifer Steward. It’s brand new ~ it even has the original price tag still attached! I bought this Choreganizers with the intention of using it to help my sons with their chore schedule/chart. Somehow it got put away, never used. I forgot I even had it until this past May when I started going through my homeschooling stuff to see what I could sell at our homeschool co-op’s used curriculum sale. The book is complete with 6 chore charts, 60 chore cards, The Chore Store(tm) with Dad Dollars(tm) and Mom Money(tm). You can learn more about Choreganizers

The drawing wil be held Friday, August 10 at 4pm CST. I will send this Choreganizers anywhere ~ US, Canada, international; it doesn’t matter. You must be a homeschooler to enter.

You can enter even if you’re not a blogger. Leave your name in the Mr. Linky box below, then be sure to come back and leave a comment. By leaving a comment I will have your email address. If I don’t have your email address, I can’t notify you if you’re the winner! How big of a bummer would that be?!

You can find others who are participating in the giveaway, or sign up as a blogger hosting a giveaway, here.

Please only enter this drawing once. Duplicate entries will be deleted.

Sign the Mr. Linky below, then be sure to leave a happy comment!

our decision to homeschool

Today’s Back to Homeschool week question is: What led to your decision to homeschool?

We started homeschooling when our oldest son was in kindergarten. We were living in a state where we were less than impressed with the educational system. When Roger and I began discussing the horror stories we had heard about the public schools, we were surprised to find that we had both been praying about homeschooling. And we both felt led that homeschooling our children was what God wanted us to do.

The first couple of years weren’t easy. Roger was gone a lot ~ and I mean a LOT. Our second year of homeschooling we counted that Roger was gone TDY for over 250 days. It was hard having 2 little boys, feeling sick and tired all of the time, and for all intents and purposes being a single parent. But even with the challenges the boys and I faced those first couple of years, I never once questioned if we were doing the right thing.

Looking back, I can see God’s hand in every year that we have homeschooled (this school year will be our 13th year). There were times when I was sick and felt very frazzled, but God always encouraged me to continue. We still pray every year about whether or not we should continue to homeschool. Our path with Patrick has changed, but for now God has us continuing to homeschool Sawyer.

I know the only reason we have homeschooled this long is because God has directed us to. We wouldn’t have made it through even the first year, much less twelve, if it weren’t totally God directed. Roger and I feel very strongly that it is OUR responsibility to teach our children; that belief is what has prompted us to continue to pray about homeschooling and seek out God’s will regarding our children.

pass the button giveaway

It must be the season for giveaways. Tamara at Training Hearts is having an amazing giveaway ~ with 25 different prizes! Click here to learn about "Pass the Button", see the prizes she has so graciously gathered, sign up to win, and grab a copy of the "Pass the Button" button to display on your blog.

here’s the scoop

Ok, here’s the information I promised about happenings around the homeschooling blogworld:

Starting tomorrow (Monday) there are 2 events; a Back to Homeschool Week blog challenge from Randi (which I already wrote about here); and a homeschool blogger giveaway. The giveaway is for homeschoolers to share items they have that they don’t need ~ something that would bless and help another homeschooling family. The items can be brand new, but most likely most of them will fall under the "gently used" category. Jen at Ancoro Imparo is hosting this one. You can sign up here.

The third event is actually school-year round participation fun! Tamara at Training Hearts is hosting her 2nd year of Blogger Friend School. Each week Tamara gives a different "assignment" for you to write about on your blog. Then you can visit other participants’ blogs and read their answers ~ it’s a fun way to get to know other homeschoolers. Sign ups are here.

homeschool blog happenings

I have several really great things to tell you about some different homeschool blogger happenings that are going on. But for now, I’m going to try to stay off of the computer ~ at least until tomorrow. Roger, Patrick and Sawyer were gone for 9 days ~ they just returned home this past Tuesday. Today we took Patrick back to school, and Sawyer’s at an amusement park/waterpark with our church’s youth group ~ they’re attending a Third Day concert this evening (I’m SO jealous!!!). So anyway, I’m going to try to spend some time with Roger before he has to leave tomorrow (this time it’s on a short TDY to San Antonio ~ and I’m NOT jealous of that since I really dislike San Antonio in the summer).

Have a great evening and Sunday! I’ll post tomorrow evening about some really cool homeschool bloggy stuff, I promise!

Fruitful Friday

This week’s additions to The Fruit of the Spirit Blogroll are:
Crown Laid Down ~ Holly
In Light of the Truth ~ Sarah
Catching Light ~ Vivki
Visit these blogs and you’ll understand immediately why they were nominated to display The Fruit of the Spirit graphic. Please be sure to let them know you stopped by!

fruitful friday

This week’s additions to The Fruit of the Spirit Blogroll are:

Crown Laid Down ~ Holly

In Light of the Truth ~ Sarah

Catching Light ~ Vivki

Visit these blogs and you’ll understand immediately why they were nominated to display The Fruit of the Spirit graphic. Please be sure to let them know you stopped by!

back to homeschool week

Next week Randi at i have to say… will be hosting a Back to Homeschool Week. Here’s a portion of what she wrote about it:

Next week, here on my blog, I will be hosting "Back to Homeschool Week".  There is a topic for each day and my hope is that my fellow homeschoolers here in the blogosphere will participate by posting their own experiences on their blogs.  This is the time of the year that our thoughts begin to turn towards curriculum, planning and scheduling, and I thought that gathering together to encourage one another would be beneficial all of us.

Below is the list of topics for the week.  I tried to keep the topics broad so that way we will have lots of different ideas and things to discuss.  You may participate for all five days or just for one.  Whatever you have time for.

Monday, August 6—What led to your decision to homeschool?   
Why do you do what you do?  What brought you to homeschooling?  What factors played a part in your decision?

Tuesday, August 7—How do you homeschool?
Scheduling, classical education, unschooling, getting the kids to help with chores, how to be "mom" and "teacher" at the same time, special needs, teaching an advanced child, how to teach the  tough subjects, teaching high school, teaching with babies and preschoolers in the house, budgeting for homeschool supplies, notebooking, etc., etc., etc…

Wednesday, August 8—Getting out there…
Extra-curricular activities, community involvement, volunteering, sports teams, music lessons,  making sure your kids have opportunities to be social, co-ops, etc., etc., etc…

Thursday, August 9—If I had only known…
What have you learned on your homeschooling journey?  What would you/did you change?  This is an opportunity to encourage others who are just starting out or who are struggling with issues that seem unsolvable.  It is also a perfect opportunity to tell us about one of those days made you want to throw in the towel.  A funny story?  Perfect!

Friday, August 10—Curriculum
What curriculum do you use?  Where do you buy it?  Have you found a "gem" that you must share with others?  Was something in particular a complete failure for you and your kids?

In each of my posts next week, I will have an auto-link so that you can link your own post from mine.

Because I know that opinions abound when it comes to homeschooling, I would hope to see everyone using this forum to encourage others, rather than to prove a point. My hope is that Back to Homeschool Week will provide someone with new insight and strength on their homeschooling journey.

I hope to see you next week!

***If any homeschooled kids would like to participate, I think this would be wonderful!  Either post on a blog of your own, or on your parents blog.  I think this would be a wonderful way to encourage parents in their homeschooling venture!

I’m really looking forward to this ~ I think it will be interesting to read other people’s posts about homeschooling. If you’re a homeschooler, I hope you’ll join in on the fun, too!