Noah is Becoming an Artist

My son Noah is just now discovering his love for drawing. He drew this today after looking at a picture hanging on the fridge. He is really becoming quite an artist. He enjoys it and I want to encourage him in it because who knows he might use it in the future in some way.

That is one of the wonderful things about homeschooling, we can encourage our children to follow their interests and talents. Sometimes it isn't so easy to see though. Some children just make it as plain as day that what they are interested in and others we have to really look and then look some more. But being with them all day we have more time to look.

What My Little Girl Gave Me

This is the picture that my sweet Chloe colored for me
today. We learned about the story of Isaac being offered and the ram being provided in his place by the Lord. It was a great time and she enjoyed coloring her picture so much. She then gave it to me, and I just felt wonderful!
It is such a privilege to parent children, and they are
so giving and loving to us as their parents. They forgive us and give us treasures we could never buy.

Some might look at this picture and think "my 5 year old could do better", but to me this is a beautiful picture and
I don't want any other. She gave this to me with a heart
of love. When I gave her a hug and told her how beautiful it was to me, she glowed.

This is why I home school my children. These are the moments that make it worth it. These are the moments
I don't want to give to an overworked teacher that doesn't really care. It doesn't really matter if my children go to Harvard or become janitors to me. What really matters is that they keep hearts full of love. What really matters is that they grow to love the Lord their God with all their heart and soul and mind. What really matters is that I get to share in their growth and not miss these special moments.

So the next time I am feeling like I can't "compete" or even the need to compete. I am going to remember times like this. Or when my son asked me for help and then figured it out on his own. But as he walked away he said, "thanks Mom, thanks for being willing to help". The heart, that is what is important.

Still Plugging Away

We are still plugging away with school. The older children are really starting to take more responsibility in getting their lessons done. It is wonderful! I of course am waffleing on the use of textbooks. I am wanting our lessons to be more fun and exciting. So I am considering using Weaver next year. Or returning to SOW, but using it in the way that I want to, and not feeling boxed in by the way the lessons are set up in it. For instance, we could all study the English lesson together, but the children can do the actual work at whatever level they are at. For science I would choose good read alouds on the topics and think of a project to accompany it rather than just right a report. Same for History. This year with the texts I think will be a good rest for me, and perhaps I will be ready to return to a more teacher intensive curriculum next year.

Right now I am in the midst of the getting the housework done and getting the schoolwork done tug of war. It's either the house calling me to work, or school but I haven't found the balance yet this year. And where fun falls into the struggle I don't know, but I better figure it out fast, or we will all be burning out in the next few months. I really need to learn consistency in my housekeeping so that I can enjoy my time with my children more. If you think of me, please pray for growth in that area of my life.

Homeschool Forms

On each of my blogs I have mentioned that I am in the midst of creating forms for different things. Once they are created I will put up a link so that perhaps others can use them to. I have designed a lot of them, but I need to turn them into pdf files so that I can share them.

For a couple years I have wondered how I could share my hobby of creating forms, now I know. So, as I get several up and made I will post the link. Of course this has to be fit in between school work, house work, yard work, kitchen work, hmmmm, well work. And play too.

So in the next month or so I should be ready to post the link.

You Know You Are A Homeschooling Family When...

....it's possible that everyone is still in pj's at lunch.
....bathroom reading involves encyclopedias and not comic books.
....Mom automatically corrects grammar/spelling and math errors without a thought and the children think it is normal.
.....homework is everything.
....home economics is more real and you don't have to use a flour sack for a baby.
....after two hours all lessons are finished and the children move onto the important stuff, LIFE.
....the neighbors give you strange looks all the time and ask if your children shouldn't be in school.
....the children find science fun.
....an entire afternoon is taken up with reading aloud a great book and everyone enjoys it.
....there is always a mess somewhere.
....you have more crayons than the local kindergarten.
....you feel like you might have to move out of your house because you can't fit anymore books.
....P.E. is playing in the backyard.
....nature study is a pleasant walk around the neighborhood.
....extra curricular activities are weekly errands.
....budgeting and finances are well known to your children.
....the children suggest that we need a day of 'home ec' instead of book work (translated, "if we clean the house can we have the day off of school?")
....your children aren't afraid to figure it out for themselves, they don't have to have a 45 minute lecture to do their lessons.
....the littles (2-4) beg for school and Mom finds SOMETHING for them to do that is educational.
....the older children care for the younger children, and don't feel put out because this is what life is about.
....your children can wear hand me downs and clothes that don't cost a fortune and don't give it a second thought.
....your children are mature, but have a childlike playfulness still inside them. They aren't afraid to be silly and be kids because it's not "cool".

A Neat Website

I found this website when looking for a recipe yesterday. It has so much and when I get time I would love to really look through it. It has many links for great educational books that can be downloaded and printed for a whole lot of subjects.

http://ofed.50webs.com/

Enjoy browsing through all the great stuff!

My History-You Can Teach Your Children

I did not graduate from high school. The last grade that I actually attended in full was 6th grade. From grade 7 up I just didn't go to school. I did not go out and get into trouble, I just stayed home. My mother was a single working mom and she had no way to force me to go, so I did not go to school. Now, I wasn't a Christian when this started, but as I grew older I did get saved but I still could not get myself to school. Oh, I went off and on and when I did I always got excellent grades, which was extremely odd because I know I never attended enough classes to actually learn anything.

I ended up taking my GED when I was 18 and passing with very high scores. My scores were in the very highest percentile. Amazing since I never went to the classes required to learn those things. I wanted to pursue higher education, but didn't end up doing it. Honestly I am amazed that I can function in society with the education I have.

Now, I share all of this to make it clear that you can teach your children at home even if you don't have a teacher's certificate, college degree, or even a diploma. I know different states have different requirements, but there is usually some way to do it even if you need someone over you. Do I feel hindered because of my lack of higher education? No, I find it an adventure to relearn everything with my children and to learn all that I missed the first time around. And because most of my knowledge has come from self-teaching I feel that it has shown me that my children can learn whatever they need to with some initiative. I am fairly well read, but I don't read many things that higher education would suggest because they are not wholesome titles. But I have read many classics and fine literature for enjoyment.

If you are considering home schooling your children but think that you couldn't possibly because you just aren't smart enough, don't let that stop you. You can! With the strength of the Lord my children are doing well and LEARNING. And they are learning so much more than academics. They are learning about love and life, serving the Lord and using the knowledge they gain. For subjects that are a mystery you try again to learn it to teach it, or you find the right curriculum or someone else to teach the topic. It really is amazing how some things that didn't click as a girl in school now come naturally. And you have the teacher's manuals.

I hope this bit of my history can encourage someone out there that might be feeling a little discouraged and overwhelmed. With God ALL things are possible!