tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79157221634502500522024-03-13T15:11:51.282-05:00It Happens in a FlashHomeschool, family, foster care, adoption, My Father's WorldStarfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.comBlogger221125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-57264804474694849312021-09-15T11:49:00.002-05:002021-09-15T11:49:16.324-05:00Abeka Kinder Language, MFW Kindergarten Unit 15 Elephant, Saxon Math Kinder<p style="text-align: center;"> We only had a 3 day school week this week due to an extra day we needed to take off for appointments.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Monday - appts</p><p style="text-align: center;">Tuesday - co-op</p><p style="text-align: center;">Wednesday - Abeka Lesson 9, Saxon Lesson 7, MFW Days 1 and 2</p><p style="text-align: center;">Thursday - Abeka Lesson 10, Saxon Lesson 8, MFW Days 3 and 4</p><p style="text-align: center;">Friday - Abeka Lesson 11, Saxon Lesson 9, MFW Days 5 and 6</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">I haven't blogged our school journey in several years so I feel like i'm learning to ride a bike again. I get to the end of the week and I realize I'm not taking enough pictures :( Gonna try to do better!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-coOP_2MDmJg/YUIjliz1PEI/AAAAAAAADM4/BQmy-KVnB-AsckLi4tS_Vq8AoM8vHSJngCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_9939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="640" height="99" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-coOP_2MDmJg/YUIjliz1PEI/AAAAAAAADM4/BQmy-KVnB-AsckLi4tS_Vq8AoM8vHSJngCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_9939.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_PQTdXGdQVg/YUIjnUTnPdI/AAAAAAAADM8/1PzvkvfDLiM3XhFg3WpvymOasmESIc9lQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_9940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="524" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_PQTdXGdQVg/YUIjnUTnPdI/AAAAAAAADM8/1PzvkvfDLiM3XhFg3WpvymOasmESIc9lQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_9940.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-68985550202920686732021-09-15T11:21:00.001-05:002021-09-15T11:21:45.277-05:00My Father's World Kindergarten Unit 7 Us, Abeka Kinder, and Saxon Kinder<p style="text-align: center;"> <span> I didn't realize Saxon structured things differently than the other math curriculums I've used in the past when at the Kindergarten level. Apparently, Saxon Kinder only calls for math lessons 3 days each week and you reteach those concepts on the remaining days of the week. So, we are a little ahead, but I'll fix that as we go along to get back on track. That's what I get for skimming over the overview š</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Monday - Abeka Lesson 5, My Father's World Unit 7 *Us* Days 1 and 2, Saxon Review</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Tuesday - co-op</p><p style="text-align: center;">Wednesday - Abeka Lesson 6, Saxon Lesson 5, MFW Day 3</p><p style="text-align: center;">Thursday - Abeka Lesson 7, MFW Day 4, Saxon Review</p><p style="text-align: center;">Friday - Abeka Lesson 8, MFW Days 5 and 6, Saxon Lesson 6 </p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RpMyoxZ2HNM/YUIdYZxVG-I/AAAAAAAADMo/B9cDDZQvu-AeNxTO31MFnU49bkdB1mFfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_9836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="448" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RpMyoxZ2HNM/YUIdYZxVG-I/AAAAAAAADMo/B9cDDZQvu-AeNxTO31MFnU49bkdB1mFfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_9836.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xyYDWxCx_xU/YUIdbDVXDMI/AAAAAAAADMs/8QRCNNnEJis7HhHY1_TvneIT7J3tAhaAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_9838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="555" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xyYDWxCx_xU/YUIdbDVXDMI/AAAAAAAADMs/8QRCNNnEJis7HhHY1_TvneIT7J3tAhaAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_9838.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></p>Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-46182833253990549972021-09-02T08:41:00.001-05:002021-09-02T08:41:49.684-05:00My Father's World Kindergarten Unit 11 Insects, Abeka Kinder, and Saxon Kinder<p style="text-align: center;">Trying to align Kindergarten Abeka Language with My Father's World Kindergarten takes quite a bit of time and planning. However, I love both and wanted to find a way to better meld the two together so I don't thoroughly confuse my boys. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">My lesson plans are usually 4 days a week because we attend a homeschool co op on the 5th day. Because of that, you'll notice that some of the MFW days are combined. This gives you an idea of how I am melding the two together tho and can easily be spread back out to a 5 or even 6 day week.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Monday - Abeka Language Day 1, Saxon Lesson 1, and MFW Unit 11 Insects Days 1 & 2</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Tuesday - co-op</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Wednesday - Abeka Language Day 2, Saxon Lesson 2, MFW Unit 11 Insects Day 3</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Thursday - Abeka Language Day 3, Saxon Lesson 3, MFW Unit 11 Insects Day 4</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Friday - Abeka Language Day 4, Saxon Lesson 4, MFW Unit 11 Insects Day 5 & 6</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vPsfdGuwFbg/YTDRxfGAo2I/AAAAAAAADL0/JY5K1vc8qcIQj5f92TopKYgDYuEY3wdtACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_9760.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vPsfdGuwFbg/YTDRxfGAo2I/AAAAAAAADL0/JY5K1vc8qcIQj5f92TopKYgDYuEY3wdtACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_9760.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lKyzR9Wc8QQ/YTDR1R1TQrI/AAAAAAAADL4/PGVRALazRUQ14nUKEpXQLuZ96uW2XvxfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_9765.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lKyzR9Wc8QQ/YTDR1R1TQrI/AAAAAAAADL4/PGVRALazRUQ14nUKEpXQLuZ96uW2XvxfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_9765.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMWr0zp7ZYg/YTDR3pO0TmI/AAAAAAAADL8/cMLgiLEwN6QgRMYODMda0NTw3aOiIhgzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_9784.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMWr0zp7ZYg/YTDR3pO0TmI/AAAAAAAADL8/cMLgiLEwN6QgRMYODMda0NTw3aOiIhgzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_9784.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NxG_MxsZqnE/YTDR6MmFiNI/AAAAAAAADMA/h5Adb-b8120_swGWyRiXpMzh9IiepjXxACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_9786.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NxG_MxsZqnE/YTDR6MmFiNI/AAAAAAAADMA/h5Adb-b8120_swGWyRiXpMzh9IiepjXxACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_9786.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8PfRzeAC6cs/YTDR8VvjFHI/AAAAAAAADME/U8LNfgmoHmABURC8Ou9oZ0dUgzsaXICOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_9812.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8PfRzeAC6cs/YTDR8VvjFHI/AAAAAAAADME/U8LNfgmoHmABURC8Ou9oZ0dUgzsaXICOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_9812.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">We put together an ant farm, ordered lady bugs for our ladybug habitat, watched several educational insect videos on you tube about ants, bees, and ladybugs. We read The Bee Tree and the Grouchy Ladybug, painted lady bug rocks, practiced our letters Ii's on the markerboard, had a tasty ants in the sand snack (saltine crackers with peanut butter on top and mini 'ant' chocolate chips) and a yummy honey biscuit treat.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-15138858870725787312021-08-31T20:11:00.002-05:002021-08-31T20:11:29.879-05:00Homeschooling for the wrong reasons...a growing trend...<div style="text-align: center;"><i>(Actually wrote this back in 2015, but never published it. And oh my! It's even MORE true today than when i first wrote it.)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
I don't know about you, but I've noticed an alarming trend in the reasons <i><b>why</b></i> people are choosing to homeschool their kids.</div>
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Once upon a time, people chose to homeschool in order to instill in their children a Biblical worldview, to give them a better and more rounded academic education, to preserve the family unit, or because the Lord was calling/leading them to homeschool.</div>
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Today?!? You'll still get a lot of those responses, but you'll also get a lot of what I call the "perks" of homeschooling, but I hardly think those can be called <i>reasons</i> for homeschooling.</div>
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Here are several I have seen and heard. My kid:</div>
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...wants to be able to dress however they want, color their hair whatever color they want, or wear their hair however long/spiky/short they want. </div>
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...can sleep in till noon and go to bed late.</div>
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...has no homework.</div>
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...won't get into trouble for their behavior anymore.</div>
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...can learn whatever they want.</div>
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...won't have to deal with bullies.</div>
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...can take off from school whenever.</div>
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Don't get me wrong, perks are great! However, they are not good enough <b><i>reasons</i></b> to sustain you through the tough times or keep you going for the long haul. Homeschooling is very rewarding, but it is also hard work. </div>
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It takes patience, planning, dedication, and a whole lot more.</div>
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I get so irritated when I hear people say they "just wing it". <b>There is NO winging it!</b> <i>You either take your child's education seriously or you don't. </i></div>
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I'm on several homeschooling pages and I see time and time again where a parent posts..."I've just taken my kid out of public school, now what do I do?." Seriously!?! Don't you think you should have thought about that huge decision just a little before jumping in? Don't get me wrong, I realize, for a small percentage of people, something happens all of sudden and their child must be taken out immediately. I get that, but it is happening more and more and is becoming the norm. I really think some people are seriously misguided into thinking homeschooling is a cake walk.</div>
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It also scares me some because we (homeschoolers) are always being watched. They (the people and organizations against homeschooling) are just waiting to jump in and take away this freedom. I'm sure they can see the growing trend of people just 'winging it' too. </div>
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We are actually very blessed in the state of Texas regarding homeschooling. We have very few guidelines to follow that dictate how/what we have to teach and I love that freedom :)</div>
Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-88046406747332623722021-08-31T20:06:00.003-05:002021-08-31T20:07:38.022-05:00Why is homeschooling so offensive to some people?<div style="text-align: center;"><i>(I wrote this several years ago, but never got around to publishing it. It's interesting to see how different things are now that we've fast forwarded a few years...some things better and some things worse, but that's for another discussion.)</i></div><div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;">I certainly don't get offended when people tell me their kids go to public school. I don't wrinkle my nose or roll my eyes or make rude comments to others like, 'You are going to ruin your child', or 'I don't agree with public schooling', or any of the other number of comments that have been made to me throughout the years when people ask me where my kids go to school. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;">If someone's educational choice causes such offense, then why don't people get offended when someone chooses to go to a private or charter school or even a different public school than their children? Why don't people get offended when others choose to live in a different town than they do? Or have the favorite color of blue instead of red? <strike>Or have a different favorite sports team than theirs?</strike> Scratch that...sorry, people do get crazy when it comes to sports...lol!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;">Is it fear of someone 'doing it differently' that causes them to find offense? Is it ignorance or just not knowing or understanding what homeschooling is all about? Could it be misplaced guilt in <i>some</i> cases to where God has impressed upon that individual to homeschool, but they are running away from that calling? Do some see it as a competition? Homeschool vs public school?</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;">I don't look at it as a versus thing. I look at homeschooling as just one of the many educational choices out there parents have to choose from. <i>On a deeper note, for our family, it's not just a choice, but it is also a calling the Lord placed on our hearts. </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;">Sadly, it's at church, of all places, that I feel my homeschooling "offends" others the most :( It didn't use to be this way. I don't know why the tides have changed. There are MANY public school educators at our church. Having been a teacher in the public education system, perhaps they feel as if I've "abandoned" them? Do they think I think I'm better than them because I'm choosing not to be in the public school? I certainly hope not! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;">I don't parade around the fact that I homeschool. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I'm very private at church about our educational choices. I only discuss homeschooling things with other homeschooling families or others who sincerely have questions and want to know more...which are VERY few when it comes to sincerity :/</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;">Because of this, I see the effects it has on my children. Ignorant comments made by supposed "friends" :(</span></span><br />
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</div>Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-36628208077780094912021-08-23T13:21:00.000-05:002021-08-23T13:21:09.433-05:00Join us for Kindergarten Time! Using Abeka, Saxon, and My Father's World<p style="text-align: center;"> I'm probably biting off more than I can chew, but what else is new.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">I'm going to <i>attempt</i> to coordinate Abeka Kinder Phonics/Reading with My Father's World Kinder and Saxon Kinder.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">I'll plan to post my weekly lesson plans along with pictures and highlights of each week in case you are looking to do the same.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">The Saxon part will be easy to incorporate into the mix, but coordinating between My Father's World and Abeka is a bit more challenging as they each follow their own plan for introducing letters and sounds and those plans DON'T line up with each other.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Here's to the start of another crazy awesome year! </i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4A5EOAKpk4/YSPm4KvD8BI/AAAAAAAADLY/l6WypNzLVg4uu0H0V3ZdGJ5BmA9fLN80gCLcBGAsYHQ/s488/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-08-23%2Bat%2B1.19.33%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="363" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4A5EOAKpk4/YSPm4KvD8BI/AAAAAAAADLY/l6WypNzLVg4uu0H0V3ZdGJ5BmA9fLN80gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-08-23%2Bat%2B1.19.33%2BPM.png" width="238" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-5146629165681770902021-08-23T11:58:00.004-05:002021-08-23T11:58:36.726-05:00Week 3 - All Aboard the Animal Train (MFW)<div style="text-align: center;">
Starting next week, I think I am going to just blog about each Unit. So much of what we do is repetitive from week to week until the unit changes that I feel like I don't have much to write every week. </div>
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The boys love pretending to be baby bunnies. We hopped all over the house and took turns pretending to do different rabbit things.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*Update* Even trying to just blog about each unit proved to be too much...LOL!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We finished All Aboard the Animal Train over the summer of 2020 and the boys loved every minute of it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We also completed Voyage of Discovery over the summer of 2021. The boys learned SO much :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Up next? Abeka Kinder, Saxon Kinder, and MFW Kinder! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">MAYBE I'll have time to blog about some of this...maybe ;)</div>
Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-84193857137601153192019-09-03T11:13:00.001-05:002019-09-03T11:13:55.368-05:00Week 2 - All Aboard the Animal Train (MFW)<div style="text-align: center;">
We started each day with our usual routine. The boys love singing and dancing so we try to take lots of opportunities to incorporate music into our daily activities and tasks. They are enjoying the songs on the Sing for Joy CD as well.</div>
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This week, we read lots of books.</div>
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Played outside with red water beads and searched for other small red treasures</div>
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Made red pudding, finger-painted with it, then ate it and froze some as pudding-sicles</div>
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We also colored rabbit 'get well' cards for our neighbor.</div>
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Another great week!</div>
Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-55365423990555371182019-08-24T09:59:00.000-05:002019-08-24T10:01:21.651-05:00Week 1 - AATAT (All Aboard the Animal Train)<div style="text-align: center;">
That's a wrap for week 1!</div>
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We've settled into a good routine for our preschool. </div>
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We start each day out with breakfast (that they usually help me prepare) and a morning show while they eat. I'll usually let them play in the playroom after this while I get a few things set up for the day. </div>
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We usually start out each school day with 'calendar time'. First, we sing and dance to <i>Shake Your Sillies Out </i>by The Learning Station. Next we sing and move around to their <i>7 Days of the Week, 12 Months of the Year</i>, and <i>ABC </i>Songs. If they still have a ton of energy, we sing <i>Shake Your Sillies Out</i> again before sitting down. I have a magnetic calendar where we talk about today's date, the seasons, and the weather. </div>
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After that, we move over to the wall where we have our train taped above the window. We do a silly follow the leader train game around the house then back to that wall where we recite our Bible verse, look over our unit poster, and talk about the theme. Week 1 was all about LOVE. </div>
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Next, we have a snack (sometimes with sometimes without a playroom break) then choose something from the MFW lesson plan to do (read a book, sing a song, make a craft, surprise box, etc.) I don't have any particular order in which we complete the lesson plan activities for the day. I just pick whatever goes best with the mood and activity level my boys are at in that particular moment.</div>
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After this, we do something more active like go outside to play, go to a jump place, have a friend over to play (or go to their house), swim, story time at the library...just whatever the rotation happens to be for that day. </div>
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It's usually time for lunch after this, so we eat, watch a cartoon/show, then have naps. My boys sleep anywhere from 1-2 hours. I use this time to try to get some sort of household chore taken care of. When they are up, they are raring to go again. </div>
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We usually try to go outside to play, but sometimes it's just too unbearably hot so we may play inside instead.</div>
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Next, they'll usually have another snack and watch a short show, play in the playroom, or choose a surprise box activity. Then I usually choose another activity or 2 to do from the lesson plans. </div>
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This week, we also had a red silly string fight, had friends over for swimming, went on a red color hunt, made 'get well soon' heart cards for our neighbor, and made cookie brownies for daddy :)</div>
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All in all, it was a great start to preschool!</div>
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Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-69884495753453485932019-08-19T14:00:00.001-05:002019-08-19T14:00:16.275-05:00Round 2 - Beginning...Again...<div style="text-align: center;">
We were all set for the boys to attend Mother's Day Out again this school year. They loved it last year and wanted to go back. We paid all the registration fees, first months tuitions, etc. The only stipulation was, in order to enter the 3 year old class, they had to be potty trained. </div>
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Yeah, we tried...All. Summer. Long. Drove myself crazy, drove them crazy, and it just wasn't happening; they just weren't ready.</div>
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So...I looked into a few other options, but with different days or time constraints, there really wasn't another good option out there :( </div>
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My boys are busy, busy, busy...so I settled to the fact they would be home with me every single day and got to working on a totally different plan.</div>
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We are now doing preschool at home :) I did it with my now big kids, but I've learned a lot over the years and we are adding in a TON more hands on stuff, taking A LOT of breaks due to my boys short and fleeting attention spans, and getting out of the house more for playdates-library days-jump world-playgrounds-swimming-field trips-etc.</div>
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We are doing My Father's World All Aboard the Animal Train. So far, they are loving it! I'm going to try to document each week as we go along. Feel free to join us and we begin round 2 :)</div>
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Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-72706656702696908032017-04-24T07:32:00.000-05:002017-04-24T07:32:57.198-05:00Foster Family<div style="text-align: center;">
I haven't been updating much on here and the posts may be few and far between from now on. I still feel like I have a lot to say (even if I'm the only one who reads it...lol) so I created a new blog. This blog has been focused on home schooling and my little family and I may still post here from time to time about those things, but now that we are fostering and expanding our family, I felt like I needed a new blog in which to post my thoughts.</div>
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The new blog is titled '<a href="http://allthelittlestarfish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">All the Little Starfish</a>'. </div>
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So...if you haven't heard, we are now an official foster family...hence the name of my new blog. If you've ever heard the starfish story, then you'll know exactly why I chose this name. And if you haven't, then please see the picture below for an explanation.</div>
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No, we can't save every child, but we CAN make a difference in the lives of these precious children and, hopefully, in the lives of their bio families as well by sharing the love of Jesus Christ with them.</div>
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Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-9761323590605639582016-06-07T08:15:00.003-05:002016-06-07T08:15:31.897-05:00I think I've known it all along...<div style="text-align: center;">
Well, here we are in June and still have not found a home. If you happened to read <a href="http://ithappensinaflash.blogspot.com/2016/03/3rd-time-is-not-charm.html" target="_blank">this</a> post, you'll recall that we put an offer on that home and promptly withdrew it due to a crazy owner, <i>um, I mean</i>, crazy complications. Fast forward about 3 months and that owner came back to us and offered for us to buy the home at his previous lower listing price. <i>Maybe it was meant to be after all!</i></div>
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There was just one catch...the owner was <b>not </b>willing to budge on price if anything negative happened to come back on the inspection. So, we trudged forward assuming the seller was being completely honest with his disclosures and signed to purchase the home 'as is'. </div>
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During the inspection, the owner commandeered my husband the ENTIRE time...telling stories, giving advice, suggestions, or "recommendations" as he called them, how we were to run things in order for them to work properly, etc... <i>Did I mention he was a little over the top?!?</i> My husband was not able to walk around with the inspectors despite the many times I tried to pull him away. </div>
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My husband turned to me at one point and said, <span style="color: red;">"I'm overwhelmed, I just want to leave".</span></div>
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I'm stubborn, so we trudged on. </div>
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At the end of the inspection, there were several small things and one somewhat large thing that caught our attention. Still, it was a decent price, so we pushed our hesitations aside and decided to move forward. </div>
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That night, things were finally quiet and calm enough and my husband and I started going over the events of the day. We went through the inspection report line by line and talked about all the little repairs we had to make, all the oddities of the home and the way certain things were "rigged" up by the owner, little things that worked during our last visit 3 months ago that didn't work this time around, and the big issue - LOTS of rotting areas under the eaves that had previously been painted over. So many questions and hesitations came to the forefront. We both got the impression the owner was struggling to keep his home afloat and we did not want to walk into the mess we were sure he'd leave behind another 2 months from now. Neither of us got a good nights sleep. </div>
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By the next morning, we both wanted out. We spoke with the loan officer and our realtor and put a hold on everything to really give us time to pray about buying this home. <i>Thank God for those option days! </i></div>
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So, with 3 days left before we lost any earnest money, we signed off to end the deal. Neither of us felt complete peace because there was just so much uncertainty, but we BOTH felt like a huge weight had been lifted. </div>
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Not only did we say no to this house, we said no to looking to buy another home all-together...and for good this time.</div>
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<b>We are done. </b></div>
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After tallying up all the repairs we'd have to make at that house, the few things we had to do on ours didn't seem so bad anymore. I have a new appreciation for my home and a new thankfulness for what I have. </div>
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<i><b>God wanted us to stay right here...and I think I've known it all along...it just took me a little while to get there ;)</b></i></div>
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Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-32404340344447030452016-05-09T08:14:00.002-05:002016-05-09T08:14:23.881-05:00Gold Stars for...Everyone?<div style="text-align: center;">
Let's face it...we are living in a time where every parent thinks their kid deserves to win a trophy or make the team regardless of if they ever put in the time and effort.</div>
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As a parent who has a child who works her tail off to better herself and pushes herself to advance and improve, parents the like above mentioned make me angry.</div>
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Oh sure, there are "supposed" to be skill requirements, but in reality, the enforcement of those requirements are purely up to the people in charge. When you require only certain people to meet those requirements and not others, you "cheapen" the efforts of those kids who practice their tails off at home or elsewhere. </div>
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<span style="color: blue;">And don't think for a second these kids don't see what is going on! </span></div>
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Those kids whose efforts are cheapened end up disappointed, let down, and wary of the integrity of the people in charge. Those kids who get what they want regardless of the effort they put in end up growing up thinking everything is owed to them and they deserve it simply for being on the earth.</div>
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There is an entire generation of twenty-something loafers out there who think they deserve exactly what the hard-working people get and its only getting worse with each new generation. </div>
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<span style="color: red;">*Enter the younger version of Bernie Sanders*</span></div>
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I get it...I get that we want our kids to have fun and be included. Sure, every child needs to be acknowledged for trying out and for whatever effort they put in with a participation award or participation ribbon, but to give every child a gold star or a trophy or a spot on the team simply for showing up? That's just sad...</div>
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Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-14730250238693395692016-03-21T06:42:00.000-05:002016-03-21T06:42:14.425-05:003rd time is NOT the charm...<div style="text-align: center;">
So, we put an offer on yet another home. This made the 3rd offer since last October.</div>
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It was one we had seen several months ago...pretty, needed some updating here and there, but had everything we wanted, including waaay more room than we ever set out to ever look for....but it was waaay out of our price range. Well, fast forward a few months and the home has been on the market almost a year and the sellers lowered the price by quite a substantial amount which put the home IN our price range.</div>
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So, we went out to look at it. Prayed about it for a few weeks, then went to see it again. We decided to make an offer. We offered $10,000 less than the asking price. We figured that was reasonable considering it had been on the market almost a year and it would leave some bargaining ground.</div>
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So, what was the outcome, you might ask? The seller wanted $20,000 MORE than the asking price. Is that insane or what?!?! </div>
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Sad part is, I think the seller actually EXPECTS people to come in and offer waaay more than the asking price as if it's a normal thing and WE are the crazy one's for not doing it. </div>
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Um....no thanks. We'll pass.</div>
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Now, we are back where we started...again.</div>
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I know God has called us to foster. I know we need a 4th bedroom if we want to foster sibling groups. I just need to trust that things will work out. I don't need to get bogged down in the details of it all. We still have time an our timing may not always be God's timing. So, we are continuing to move forward with foster classes. If we don't have a home with an extra bedroom by the time we are finished, God will show us what we need to do.<br />
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Who knows...maybe our future home will pop on the market in the nick of time or maybe God will change our thinking about something...all we can do is trust....</div>
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Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-88211972569057207282016-03-18T20:10:00.000-05:002016-03-18T20:10:36.755-05:00More Uncertainty...<div style="text-align: center;">
I feel like I have been on a roller coaster...physically and emotionally.</div>
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After missing out on buying the house we really liked last month, we considered just staying where we are. We made appointments to have contractors come out to look at doing a few remodels as well as adding in a storage building. Um...not happening!</div>
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Unless you want to do it yourself, construction costs are crazy expensive. We just can't see putting more money into a home where we would NEVER be able to recoup that cost. I mean, we love our home and the 2 acres it sits on. We've worked hard over the last 15 years to update our home and the land. It is so peaceful and quiet and <b>flood-zone free </b>which is a HUGE asset where we live. </div>
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If we are going to foster though (and I'd like to foster younger sibling groups), we need another bedroom.</div>
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So, we are back to the grind looking for another house. We've found plenty of homes, but something is always lacking with the land part. I think that's what we like best about where we live now. We have cut walking and go cart/4-wheeler trails all through the back acre. We've built a solid 2-story fort/cabin in the woods for the kids that we can have actual campouts in. We have fruit trees galore with some of the best tasting satsumas on the planet. We put in an above ground pool 2 years ago and slaved endless hours building the beautiful deck. Updated every room in the house. And more...</div>
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I know we can do all that at another home with another piece of land, but I get overwhelmed at the process of all that. I realize it took 15 years to get our current house and land to where it is today and we can do the same at the next place we call home. </div>
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It's a process...life is a process...and with that comes much uncertainty along the way...</div>
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Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-16158929476909733062016-02-10T08:04:00.000-06:002016-02-10T08:04:32.536-06:00Eat Your Words...<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>So, yesterday was insane.</i></div>
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If you have been following my recent <a href="http://ithappensinaflash.blogspot.com/2016/02/needs-vs-wants.html?showComment=1455110046618#c5055459119228358075">posts</a>, then you know we made up our minds and were content to stay right where we are. We really were...at least I <i>thought</i> we were. Then we get an email about the perfect house for us...<i>and it was.</i></div>
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The house had <b>EVERYTHING</b> we were planning to do to this house as far as construction and remodeling and then some...perfect size - not too big or too small, acreage, quiet little town, number of bedrooms, space for a school room, pool, AND a killer price. We could basically move from here to there with very little added cost!!!!</div>
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An older home, well built. Nothing fancy, but nice, clean and a good use of every square foot of space. The doors I want to put on this house, the other house had. The 2 bay storage building with lean-to we want to put here, it had. The bathroom we want to add here for pool access, it had. The desks the kids each wanted put in their rooms, it already had them built in. Plus, BOTH of the kids were onboard with moving there and usually <i>one</i> has been not so sure :/ There's more, but I'll stop there.</div>
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I thought, "Why, God, why? Why are we seeing this now that our minds are finally made up to stay here? We are trying hard to trust you...Is THIS what you had planned all along? Was that a test? Is THIS the step you want us to take?</div>
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So, we make an appointment to see it the next day (which was last night). LOVED IT! Put an offer on it an hour later only to find out that the owners had accepted another offer earlier in the day. <i>Our realtor was understandably upset.</i></div>
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Seriously?!? WHY did we have to go through that? Why didn't that realtor let our realtor know and save us ALL the time and effort if an offer had already been accepted well before our viewing? What do you want us to learn, God? What are you trying to teach us? I want to trust, I am trying to trust, but I'm so confused. It feels like the perfect bait was dangled in front of me and when I went to reach for it, it was snatched away. <i>I hate that feeling.</i></div>
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I'm not really mad...I'm confused and disappointed. Well, I am upset with that <i>other</i> realtor. I don't like to waste other people's time and I certainly don't appreciate others wasting mine :/ </div>
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<i>So, that puts us right back to where we started...<b>here</b>. </i></div>
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You know, it's funny.... Right before I got the call from our realtor, I was telling my sister all about the house and how perfect it was. They are also in the process of buying a home and she told me their financing fell through (due to NO fault of their own - issues with the loan company itself) and they didn't know if the sellers would be willing to wait and start the entire process over again with them. I told her to "trust in God; he may have something better for you". </div>
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<span style="color: red;">Little did I know, I would be eating my own words </span>no less than 5 minutes later when our realtor called back to give us the bad news...</div>
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I've decided, telling someone <i>else</i> to trust is much easier....when you have to swallow your own words? <i>Not so much...</i></div>
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I know in my heart that His ways are always higher and His plans are always good, so why does my mind still have trouble accepting that when a kink is thrown in?</div>
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Obviously, I still have a long way to go with the whole trust thing :( </div>
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Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-73323500483777662782016-02-07T16:20:00.000-06:002016-02-07T16:20:43.260-06:00Needs vs Wants...<div style="text-align: center;">
So, my husband and I sat down and really tried hard to separate our TRUE needs from things that were really just wants. <i>Funny how easy it is to get the two confused ;)</i></div>
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We came up with a few things...we really did need another bedroom for fostering. We did need some additional storage space. In a house with no attic space, no storage closets inside the house, and tiny bedrooms and clothing closets...we had reached a point where some of the things we needed to keep around were taking over and cluttering up the entire house. Then there's what to do with all my school things I needed to keep if that room was going to be converted into another bedroom :/</div>
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Fast forward to the month of February and we have decided we are going to put up a wall between our school room and dining room in order to create that additional bedroom. This one has been <span style="font-size: large;"><b>very</b></span> hard for me, but I know it's the right thing to do. We are going to put in a storage building next to our house to store all the school and other household things we need to keep, but may not necessarily use on a day to day basis. We are also going to convert the existing and unused tiny front porch into a hallway to keep the flow of traffic from going through the dining room and to help with the air conditioning circulation to our living room (which has always been an issue in our L-shaped house). </div>
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We do have a small list of wants too...depending on the cost, they may come at the same time the needs do, they may come later, or perhaps not at all.</div>
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We'd <span style="color: red;">love</span> to add a half bath in the laundry room. The water and sewer lines run right past that room, the backdoor to the laundry room is right by the pool, and it's located off the living room so people who visit don't have to go through our entire home to use the bathroom. We put in an above ground pool and deck 2 summers ago, but we (and guests) have to walk through the entire house to get to the bathroom. I sop up lots of water during the warm months...which, in Texas, is pretty much 75% of the year. And it ain't easy trying to keep those wood laminate floors from getting water in the cracks and bubbling up :( </div>
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I'd love to update my kitchen by adding in a few cabinets along the side wall (which would give me some much needed kitchen storage) and painting the existing cabinets. I'm fond of the antiqued/distressed look. Hey, what's not to like there? If you bump or scratch the cabinet doors, it looks like it's <b><i>supposed </i></b>to be there ;)</div>
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And finally, we'd love to add on a usable front porch that we can actually sit under on a porch swing, watch the rain, the birds and squirrels, and anything else that might be going on outside. We love the outdoors...</div>
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When we finally had our minds made up as to what we really <i>needed</i> to do, we both have felt at peace since then. I don't know if God will have us move in the future, but for now, we feel He wants us to stay right here :)</div>
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Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-64454597123719294642016-01-27T14:55:00.002-06:002016-01-27T15:21:01.376-06:00My Burning Bush via a Rolling Cart ;)<div style="text-align: center;">
The Christian school where my nephews attend was cleaning out and getting rid of a lot of things. My sis asked me if I wanted to have a nice rolling cart with marker board because no one else wanted it. Really?! Those things are super nice and expensive. I'm sure I knew someone in my circle who wanted it. Eventually, it made its way to my house where it sits in the back of my school room in front of the fireplace we never use...because we live in South Texas and a fireplace is nothing more than a decorative area ;)</div>
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All the while, remember, we are still searching for a new home. My husband and I had tossed around the idea of adding a bedroom on to our current home, but with an L-shaped house, that is not always easy to do and there's the headache of living in a home that is being renovated and that was just not something we wanted to do. </div>
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We did decide to start doing a few updates to our home tho, you know, to get it ready to sell... clean out clutter, paint a few walls, update the master bathroom, clean up the yard, etc... While doing this, a thought kept occurring to me.... <i>look at what you have now...it's more than enough...and it's already paid off.</i></div>
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I kept pushing that thought back. What was I thinking! It was NOT enough room...sure, if I closed in my school room we'd get that extra bedroom, but that was NOT happening. I NEEDED my school room!</div>
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Over the Christmas holidays, my sis borrowed my school table for a family get together. I kept forgetting to get it back...and you know what, we did ok for those few weeks of school. I found that the dining room table doubles quite nicely as a school table ;) Without that school table, the kids did their school work all over the house (their bedrooms, the couch, the floor) rather than just staying mostly in the school room at the school room table. </div>
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Little by little, the things I thought I NEEDED, I found were really just wants and I could do without. <i>But God, if I got rid of my school room, where would I put my wall marker board...in my dining room?!? <span style="color: red;">I love my marker board</span>. I know, it's kind of a weird obsession. It's one of my staples. I use it every single day. I need it, but I'm not sure I want that thing hanging up in my dining room :( </i></div>
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Then I glance over and see that rolling cart...complete with marker board. </div>
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<i>Seriously, God, did you send my burning bush via a rolling cart?</i></div>
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Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-4455508357598130872016-01-27T06:31:00.000-06:002016-01-27T15:12:18.827-06:00Home Sweet Home?<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't remember when we started looking to move to a new home, but it happened around the same time we felt we were being led to foster...I'm thinking August or September of 2015.</div>
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I decided, if I was going to do this, I "needed" a larger home. Of course, this new home "needed" to be completely updated, have high ceilings, AND a pool. Eventually, we found one that fit the bill and we put in an offer. It was accepted and we began the process of inspections. </div>
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This home was absolutely <span style="color: blue;">beautiful</span> and had everything (and more) we thought we "needed" in a new home. Long story short, from that point on, neither myself or my husband could sleep at night. We tossed and turned and were not at peace about anything. We were literally making ourselves sick over it all. We were praying hard for God to lead us in the right direction and to make the right decisions and He was...Problem was, we were not listening :/ </div>
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We had our minds made up as to what WE needed and what direction WE needed to move in. We were trying hard to make OUR will God's will instead of the other way around. </div>
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The entire time, I kept hearing God say, but you already HAVE what you NEED. Yes, we could have gone through with the home purchase and eventually become comfortable with it all, and yes, God would still have been with us...but in the end, that's not the best He had for us. We were settling for something other than His best for us. </div>
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We convinced ourselves that it was just <i>that</i> house...that there must be something better God has for us...so we continued to look. "God, please guide us to the right home", I prayed over and over. "Seriously, God, send me some sort of sign or burning bush guiding us in the right direction." <br />
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<b>Problem was, he had, but I refused to see it. </b></div>
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Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-57628674217668840012016-01-25T08:37:00.000-06:002016-01-25T08:37:19.830-06:00The "F" Word...<div style="text-align: center;">
The "F" word....It's something I have been praying about, thinking about, and occasionally conversing about with my husband...</div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Fostering</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">If adding my brother into the homeschooling mix wasn't enough, my husband and I feel God had</span></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> laid it on our heart to begin fostering. So, in September, we started taking classes. Fast forward to January and we are only about half way through the process. We could have been done by now, but there have been several distractions getting in the way...major layoffs at my husband job, contentment issues, and just the regular ol' chaos of everyday life. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I see now how God has been helping me work through my issues with control and change and flexibility...things I will definitely need when fostering. I look at what we have going on currently and I get overwhelmed thinking about how we are going to do all that AND foster :/</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I need to trust, that if God has told us to do something, He will supply us with whatever we need when the time comes in order to do that something. <i>I let the worry of future things get in the way of my present things all too often.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I also "think" I "need"<i> </i>too many things before we start fostering, problem is, I'm getting my NEEDS and WANTS all mixed up. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">One of those being our home. Ok God, if you want me to do this, then I'm going to NEED a bigger house. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-70054498224715836112016-01-25T08:06:00.001-06:002016-01-27T15:22:55.008-06:00I have issues...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Wow!</span> </span>Has it really been almost a year since my last post? Hard to imagine time flying by so quickly. I used to be better at documenting what has been going on with the kids schooling. I use this as a year book of sorts. The kids like to look through the pictures and recall memories of fun activities and other things from the past.</div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">LOTS </span></span>of changes will be taking place in our little family very soon. We are excited about it, but very nervous at the same time. Before I get to that, let me catch you all up on what HAS BEEN going on before I get to what WILL BE going on (just in case anyone except for me actually reads this and feels lost...lol).</div>
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My brother is homeschooling with us again :) I had a matter of days (yes, literally days) to prepare for him at the start of the school year. Luckily, my son and brother are in the same grade, so we were able to make copies of needed worksheets until his books arrived. I am a HUGE planner so it's a wonder I survived the first few weeks and months given that everything was thrown into a tail spin and the months of planning I had done over the summer was thrown out in a matter of minutes :( <i>Have I mentioned I don't like last minutes changes? I have<b> issues</b> with <b>change</b>.</i></div>
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Looking back, I realize God was teaching me to be flexible and to allow Him to be in control instead of me. <i>Have I mentioned that I like to have control too? And I DON'T like to give it up... Yes, I have major <b>control issues </b>as well<b>.</b></i></div>
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Why is He teaching me these things tho? It all had to do with the <span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;">"F" word</span></span>...<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
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Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-46882628676901549762015-03-11T09:46:00.002-05:002015-03-11T09:48:13.862-05:00...but homeschool kids are bully-free, right?<div style="text-align: center;">
Lately, I've been hearing and seeing a lot of people
comment about how they wished they could homeschool their kids to avoid
the bullies and bullying that plagues the public schools.</div>
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As
a public school teacher turned homeschool mom, I will admit, on a day
to day basis, bullying is usually not at the top of the list of things
homeschoolers worry about. However, this notion that it doesn't exist in
homeschool or that homeschool kids don't experience bullying is
complete nonsense!</div>
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This idea that many public school parents have that we can totally
protect our kids from bullying or bullies by homeschooling them is
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I'm
not sure if people think we live in bubbles or under rocks or if all
homeschoolers are somehow immune to being bullies or to being bullied,
but I assure you, this is not the case. If your kids are involved in
sports, dance, extracurricular activities, church activities, or even <i>*gasp* </i>homeschool groups, they WILL experience bullying from time to time.</div>
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This
has been the toughest year so far for my kids in dealing with bullies
and being bullied. Entering the dreaded middle school years also has
something to do with it. Hormones are running crazy and kids are trying
to cope with them as well as greater independence and less parental
dependence. Sadly, I also see many parents start to take a backseat at
this age. Kids still need our guidance! To me, this is when they need us
the most. We don't need to micromanage their lives, but when we see our
kids developing habits contrary to what they have been taught, we need
to step in and redirect and remind our kids of those values.</div>
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Just my thoughts on this dreary morning about bullying that others apparently think does not exist in homeschool :/</div>
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Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-75799226498118522372014-11-01T10:55:00.000-05:002014-11-01T10:58:00.651-05:00There's a First Time for Everything...<div style="text-align: center;">
Last night was the very first night my kids had actually ever gone trick or treating...door to door...in a neighborhood.<br />
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We live on a tiny little dead end street and the other 2 kids who live on our street go trick or treating elsewhere, so we've always just gone to Fall Fests and Carnivals at either our church or other churches.</div>
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This year, our church tried something different. And it was awesome! We and several other church members went to a friends house. She lives in a very popular trick or treating neighborhood. We passed out hot dogs, water, balloons, glow sticks, and candy....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">can't forget the candy</span> ;)</div>
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Before the night was over, we were completely out of glow sticks and balloons. Those 2 items were a hit!</div>
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The jar with the glow sticks had a Bible verse on it about Jesus being the light of the world. How cool is that?!? Many parents actually read it and commented about it. And, along with the candy in the bags, we also added a small card inviting the kids to come to Awana. Awana is a super fun activity our church offers on Wednesday nights. You can come for a free meal, play games, hear Bible stories, learn Bible verses, and earn awards. <i>The kids love it!</i></div>
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Sometime during the evening, my kids got to go trick or treating...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">and they had a blast! </span>This was also a great time to talk to our kids about safety ;) We knew several other people in the neighborhood so it was nice visiting with everyone. At one house we went to, my kids just started playing a game of basketball with the other kids at that house while the parents chatted. </div>
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Back at our friend's house, her yard was so full of kids running around, playing football, or just having fun, we couldn't tell the neighborhood kids apart from the church kids. Some kids didn't have anyone walking around with them and others were just dropped off at the neighborhood entrance, so it was great to have a safe place for those kids to go and hang out, eat some food, get a drink, or just rest.</div>
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Some people might frown on participating in anything "halloween" related or anything taking place 'outside' of a church carnival or festival. With this being our very first time in a neighborhood trick or treating, I have to admit, I was a little hesitant myself. </div>
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A friend told me several days before tho...."Satan doesn't own Halloween. He doesn't own any day." We have to search our own hearts and convictions and question why we are doing what we are doing. </div>
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Some people might say Satan is getting glorified when others participate in ANY Halloween activities. But is this really true? I personally do not think so. At least not for the people who don't put the focus on evil and dark things. Sure, there will always be those people who choose to put the focus on evil or Satan or witchcraft. They are going to do that regardless of what day it is. We need to be aware those things are going on and we need to pray for the people involved in those things, but should we let those people stop those of us who want to glorify God on this day? (I also took the time yesterday morning to talk about Reformation Day and Martin Luther. This was a pivotal point in church history that is so often overlooked and overshadowed by everything else going on.) I don't want to hide away, lock up my doors and turn out my lights, I do NOT believe the day belongs to Satan and it CAN be redeemed by God. </div>
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What an awesome time to be a witness of God's love and light to others! I so wish I lived in a big neighborhood (at least on Halloween night...lol). I mean, what other time are people willingly going to come to your door looking for a handout?....well, mainly candy, but what a perfect time to give them something more :) <b>Not in an 'in your face', 'shove it down your throat' kind of way either ;)</b></div>
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Last night was about food and drink for tired and hungry kids and parents, a safe place to sit and rest, an invitation to church, bright yellow balloons, and glow sticks with a simple reminder that Jesus is the light of the world. Last night was about getting to chat with old friends, meet new people, and share life with others. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><i>We loved it and we look forward to doing it again next year!</i></span></div>
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**Each Christian must search his/her own heart and convictions. It's a matter of conscience before God. Regardless of our levels of participation, we must remember to honor God in all that we do. **</div>
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Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-11711546244805077202014-09-03T07:54:00.000-05:002014-09-03T07:54:22.479-05:00Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes...<div style="text-align: center;">
I decided to visit my blog today. I haven't been in a while - just haven't had the time.</div>
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I read through several posts that were never published (which is probably a good thing ;) ). Sometimes I just like to get everything out and written down without telling the rest of the world...my way of venting I reckon.</div>
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School is in full swing and has been for about a month now; lots of changes taking place this year. </div>
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My daughter is taking competition dance classes at a Christian dance academy. We are SO thankful for Steps of Faith. If it wasn't for this academy, she probably would not be dancing anywhere. The music, the costumes, the movements, etc all bring glory and honor to God. </div>
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My son is in band again. The intermediate band he was in year before last fizzled out. He plays the trumpet. He is excited, but he wasn't thrilled about starting over in a beginner band. It will be good for him especially since he needs the practice after not playing for over a year. His band instructor is great and very experienced; she can meet each child where they are at regardless of skill or experience.</div>
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We let go of MFW (for now) in order to try out a fairly new fine arts academy that includes history, art, music, and drama. Letting go of MFW was REALLY tough for me, but I didn't let go completely ;) We plan to add in several of their recommended read-alouds for the 1850's to Modern time period this year. The kids seem excited about Artios Academy - my daughter more so than my son, but I think it will grow on him. If not, we'll change gears and try something different for next year.</div>
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We changed math curriculum. We are now using Dive in conjunction with Saxon - so far so good. The work load has doubled (and the kids weren't thrilled about that, but they are adjusting). It is a more thorough curriculum than what we had been using. It gives my daughter the continual practice she needs on past skills and challenges my son to do more difficult problems.</div>
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My daughter will also be in an art club this year. She absolutely loves art! I can't really draw, nor do I like to (probably because I'm no good at it), so it will be nice for her to get some solid instruction from an experienced artist.</div>
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Then there's 4-H. We are trying that too this year. I know, <b>I'm on overload</b> this year! I'm still trying to figure out how we are going to juggle it all. <i>People who say home schoolers have socialization issues must have never home schooled before because my kids have SO many opportunities to be out and about and around all people groups and walks of life that we have a hard time finding any down time nor can we fit everything in that we'd like to do or be a part of. </i>Anyway, this 4-H group is more for my son. There are TONS of boys in this group, which is awesome, because it is hard to find groups with many boys. They have rocketry, robotics, shooting sports, fishing (possibly), and lots more. There are plenty of things for my daughter to participate in as well, but her plate is already so full that she may not do much outside of the once-a-month club meetings.</div>
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There's also AWANA on Wednesday nights at church. LOVE AWANA! The kids memorize Scripture, play fun games, and hear Bible and mission stories. </div>
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They also have an opportunity to be in children's choir, although they are signed up, we haven't made up our minds completely about it yet...just don't know if we can fit it in with everything else we have on our plates :/ We'll just have to see how it all goes. </div>
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We dropped a few mission activities the kids and I had been doing <b>during</b> the day and replaced them with activities we <b>all </b>(including dad) could be involved in. We are looking forward to doing missions together as a family this year as well as focusing more on the people right around us...like our neighbors :) </div>
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Everything kicks in this month...dance, 4-H, Artios, band, etc... This month will be a trial month and we will make the final determination of what ultimately stays or goes. I don't want to be so busy that we don't enjoy anything and just feel like we are running from place to place. If it all works out the way I have it planned out in my mind, it will be fine. </div>
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<i>Ha! We'll see...</i></div>
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Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915722163450250052.post-75395123712271983992014-08-11T08:20:00.002-05:002014-08-11T08:20:43.165-05:00Why I LOVE Homeschooling!<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh, there are so many reasons...where do I begin?</div>
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I'll start off with a quote I came across a few years ago. I absolutely LOVE it and it sums it all up in a nutshell. Of course, I'll add my own reasons below this as well ;)</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><i>"In short, I homeschool because I canāt. I homeschool because He can. I homeschool because āin my weakness He is strongā (1 Cor. 4:10). And I homeschool because āHe is able to do immearsurably beyond what I can ask or thinkā (Ephesians 3:20). I homeschool because it gives me a front row seat to the miracles and faithfulness of a mighty God." </i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><i>-Rachael Carman-</i></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><i>I love having that front row seat... Every. Day</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">1. <b>Flexibility</b> - We can take off from school when my husband is off from work and with a husband who is off every other Friday, this is awesome! Need time off for a surgery, an illness, a family getaway while all the other kids are in school? Easy-peasy!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">2. <b>Schedule</b> - Rearrange each day according to your family's needs. Most days, we'll stick to the schedule and start school in the morning and finish just after lunch. But what if you need to go to a doc appt before you start school? Not a problem. Do you need to run a few errands in the middle of the day or gather that last item for a science experiment? You're covered. Do you need to drop everything to go help a friend or relative? Done :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">3. <b>Control</b> - I know exactly what my kids are learning. I get to pick from some of the best curriculum out there. If something isn't working, we can change it :) I know exactly who is teaching and discipling my kids. If a group, club, or instructor/teacher does not line up with our spiritual values or meet our needs, they can be removed or changed.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">4.<b> Opportunities Galore</b> - My kids have so many options of things they can be involved in </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">that we have a hard time picking and choosing. It is amazing just how many extracurricular activities there are out there. Plus, lots and lots of mission opportunities!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">5.<b> Togetherness</b> - Let's face it...this world keeps up pretty busy. I love that I can spend a good part of the day together with my kids. For the most part, my kids get along really well together because being together is an everyday thing for them. Don't get me wrong, we have some knock-down-drag-out sibling rivalries as well, but that is not the norm.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">6. <b>Biblical Worldview</b> - I love that the Bible can be woven throughout every single subject all throughout our day. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><i><b>Those are just a few of my reasons. What about you? What do you enjoy most about homeschooling?</b></i></span> </span></div>
Starfish Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02357460498875083845noreply@blogger.com0