The Old-New Me

So, if you know me one thing we've probably talked about it what a horrible time I've always had keeping a clean house. I've never been good at it. Didn't grow up in a clean house and honestly for the first few years of my marriage I didn't care. I was going through so much junk from my past and suffering with such anxiety and making my hubby pay for all of my Dad's mistakes. Anyway, it was not good. Thankfully my God is a redeemer and He completely showed up and showed out in my life! He healed me of so many hurts and gave me victory over anxiety and depression. He is AMAZING!!! After that whole process He really began to plant in me a desire to submit to and serve my husband, so I began to really try to get my home together, not because my husband demanded it, but because I knew it would make him happy and make his life easier. I really started trying and things got so much better, I even got much better about being consistent with our homeschool day and I was really on the right track. The other thing you may or may not know about me (I guess I'm being really real today) is that I've always been a starter and not a finisher. I come hard out of the gate and make good progress in the beginning, then I lose steam or life happens and I don't get back around to whatever I was doing......Enter my job. In December of 2008 I took a job working from home and in July of 2009 my husband and I became directors over the preschool ministry at church. My home began a downward spiral, the kids were doing most of the chores without being checked on and doing most of their school independently. I didn't have time to get rid of things, it just was not good. After much prayer the Lord showed my husband and I that the time had come to lay down the job and I did. My last day was July 6, 2010. The most exciting thing to me is that very quickly that desire to regain control of my home kicked in and I am slowly but surely getting there. I'm so excited to know it wasn't a fluke, it really is who God has taught me to be....I have a long way to go, but I'm on the right track and I'm excited about it. :)

Women Living Well

Organized Everyday introduced a video today and pointed us to a blog. I have watched several of the videos from the blog and LOVE it. The blog is Women Living Well. I highly recommend it for all wives and mothers. She is very focused on submitting to her husband, as unto the Lord and serving her family. She is super-duper cheerful and honestly in the past her chipperness would have gotten on my nerves and I would have thought she was way too extreme, but having begun (over the last several years) to walk out submission to my husband and service to my family, I TRULY see it's benefits. First, the Word of God tells me to do so and Secondly, it has changed my life, my marriage, my relationship to my children. I strongly recommend checking it out with an open mind and heart.

Applesauce Oatmeal Recipe

I wanted something different for breakfast this morning and I'm trying to us things I have on hand. So, I just typed in Applesauce Oatmeal Recipe and hit search. I found a recipe that looked easy enough and I tried it. It was very yummy and very easy. It barely took more time than making regular oatmeal. I definitely think this will be a keeper at our house. I did make a larger batch to feed the four of us. I used 3 cups of water and 2 cups of quick rolled oats.

http://www.food.com/recipeprint.do?rid=50627

Prayers for Our Soldier.....Please

My step-son Josh joined the Army back in January (actually he signed up for delayed enlistment in September of last year, but started Basic in January). He felt called to join Special Forces and tested high enough to get into the 18X program, which is an accelerated Special Forces Program. He has been through Basic Training, Infantry Training and Jump School and has been on hold for SFPC, which is pre-selection, basically it prepares you for Selection. He starts SFPC today and it will last 19 days (with no phone!). He will then (in Sept.) begin the Selection process. If he makes it through selection he will be SF and will then be assigned a base. Please pray that he is able to mentally, physically and most importantly physically handle all of the challenges. That he will find favor with his superiors and that he will acheive his goal of becoming Special Forces.

Thank you so much!

Explode The Code

I just found out that ETC now has an online version. It spans K-4th grade, is self-grading and levelling. It advances with your child. It's $55 for 1 year for 1 student. Definitely worth looking into. HERE is a link. If you look to the right on that page and click on Free Resources, there are sample lessons from the books (these lessons look WAY too simplistic, but trust me they work, and the simplicity allows them to become more independent, thus boosting confidence). You will also find research information on how ETC works. THIS is a link to a video explaining how the online program works. THIS link is a demo of lessons that your child can try out. I'm SERIOUSLY considerring this for my son. He LOVES to work on the computer, so I know he'd be asking to do these lessons and he's in 3rd grade, but not reading as well as I'd like. This would take out the guesswork on what his weaknesses are, etc. I'm EXCITED!

Update: I talked to my hubby and we decided to order the online version for Mason this year. The only bummer is that once you place your order (they do charge tax) you will have to wait 3-4 business days for an email that explains how to set it up and use it. Oh well, guess he'll have to play on www.starfall.com for a few more days.

Final Curriculum Decisions (with links)

Teaching Textbooks Math 7 is rather pricey, but the company allows resales (I bought mine used) and you can easily use a notebook instead of the workbook and will be able to pass it down from child to child.
Modern Curriculum Press Math C
First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind I used this with my girls and they still love to sit in on these lessons.
Mystery of History Volume 1 with History Through the Ages Timeline Figures (from Creation to Christ. I will also be using a Book of Centuries for my timeline. Something like this free one. If you decide to use this, I highly recommend the yahoo group.
Explode the Code (These books are Great for any student, but were especially written for children with dyslexia. They also have Getting ready for the Code books for earlier grades.) I used these with my daughter that struggled to read. They were the first thing that really produced light bulb moments. She loved using them and they quickly learn to do them independently.
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons I've used portions of this method with all of my children.
MCP Phonics
AVKO Sequential Spelling (Great program for struggling spellers and easily passed down.)
Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the 5th day and the free notebooking journals.
Twin Sisters Publications (Multiplication, Division, Addition and Subtraction) Songs and Workbooks for memorization.
Egermeier's Bible Story Book and Simply Charlotte Mason's Free Scripture Memory System
The Five Finger Paragraph

1st Day of School

Well, I wouldn't call it and epic fail, but I wouldn't exactly call it a success either. I'm not quite finished with all of my planning and we don't have all of our curriculum yet, so we did a little improvising. A couple of things we are using we have never used before, so there was a bit of a learning curve, too. We all did Bible, Language, Science and History and the girls did a little Math Memorization, most of that went pretty much as planned. The not so great part is that these kids are bouncing of the ceiling. Yet another reason, why I refuse to take another summer completely off. I think they COMPLETELY forgot how to act and since I haven't felt well the last couple of days and I haven't slept well in months....I did not have the energy to properly deal with it. Guess they'll have a talk with the Principal (Hubby likes to call himself this) tonight and I'll try to get some rest and more planning, etc. done, so we can really get back into the swing of things.

Here's to a better tomorrow....