The Big Day!

Here are just a few pics from the BIG day!

I hope to add more to flickr soon!

If you were at the wedding and have pics that I don't - please send them to me!

Danielle's cousins ... Katelyn & Patrick

Dancing!

The cookie boy, Jack!

Danielle and Rocky dancing!

Danielle & Paige!

Sunflowers

Before we left for our trip last week ... this is what we left in our back yard! How cool! We are just amazed at how God creates such a beautiful flower from such a small seed! HE is so awesome!

Michael

Michael was sitting on the bed playing while everyone else was resting today.

I started taking some snap shots of him sitting up and after a couple I got the look in the second picture! We think this is hilarious!

Anniversary / Trip

Well, I haven't flown in over a year ... and I have NEVER flown with an infant. What an experience! Everything but the baby had to go through the x-ray machine (stroller, car seat, etc.), and one time Michael was asleep - so I had to move him around a little so the man could see there was nothing between the two of us! Other than the bulkiness of getting through security - everything was fine! Our flight was on time, getting the rental car was uneventful, our suitcase was there, and we headed out!
We headed to downtown Nashville and picked up a burger at Wendy's to split - because we really wanted better food, but didn't have time. We found where John needed to be, we ate, John headed out, I nursed, and then Michael and I went to find the hotel. Too early to check-in, but there was a Lifeway Christian Store across the street (actually there huge main office was there too) so we went to browse! That is where I found the perfect anniversary gift for my husband! I also picked up a new cd that was on sale! We had nothing to listen to in the rental car, plus I thought it would be a good souvenir of our trip! After our shopping ... Michael fell asleep in the car, so I did some sight seeing! We later picked John up and headed to the hotel. We unpacked and stretched out a little and got a plan for the evening. We headed out to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel to look around. On the way we decided we wanted fish for supper, so we went to ... Cock of the Walk - one of our childhood favorites! Fried fish and fried pickles - yummy!

After dinner we made it to the Opryland: hotel, mall (like Grapevine Mills - but larger - I think), and of course Opryland. We only went in the hotel, but it is MASSIVE! The other two Gaylord Opryland hotels in Grapevine, TX and in FL will fit inside this one in Nashville! There is a riverboat ride inside and over 2,000 rooms! I couldn't believe! This is where the picture below was taken! I saw these horses and had to take a picture for my daughter that loves horses sooooo much! This was outside a little shop inside the hotel! The inside shopping area of the hotel reminded me of the French Quarter in New Orleans.

We finally headed back to the hotel with a tired baby! The hotel was out of cribs, so Michael got to sleep on a chair! Thank the Lord he doesn't flip and flop much!!!!!!

Saturday morning we took our time. We had the wonderful cinnamon rolls that are on the breakfast bar at the Holiday Inn Express! We hadn't had those in a while! I looked up some info on the internet, so we could head out! We did some sight seeing and went to historic downtown Franklin, TN. What a beautiful place! We ate lunch at McAllister's deli and then headed to the airport. We stood in line - where someone had left a guitar case! So, they brought in the bomb sniffing dog before they would remove it! How eventful! We flew stand-by on an earlier flight so we could get home before bedtime! I wanted a picture of Michael on his first plane trip - this is what I got! We were landing in Dallas and he was finally conked out! Whew!

Everyone survived at home - all because of some sweet friends and a worn out aunt and uncle! Thanks to everyone that helped us out! We had a great time!

Our 11th Wedding Anniversary

This weekend we spent Friday night in Nashville partly to celebrate our wedding anniversary. While we were there, I found this neat framed poem for our anniversary! How appropriate ... so I wanted to share it with you!

Happy Anniversary, John! I love you!

I’d Marry You Again

With tiny tears that glistened,
my eyes were fixed on you,
and thinking of the life we’d
share we softly said, “I do”.

Our hearts were knit together
from the time that we first met,
and memories were gathered
that we never will forget.

While daily living life with you,
you saw the real in me,
and still you chose acceptance,
a loving mystery.

With many happy times gone by
and others when we cried,
some days we’d share so endlessly,
while other days we’d hide.

With all the ups and downs
we’ve had in learning to be friends,
I know that in this heart of mine,
I’d marry you again.

by: Anne Petersonterson

Can you tell the tuxedo needs some adjusting?

Our garden is growing ...

Our garden is growing ... we usually overcrowd our seeds ... just hoping something will come up! Not very smart ... hugh? So, with my clippers I thinned out our row of pea plants and let the kids pull the pods off! They thought that was sooooooo cool! Shelby and Jack went to work, but Grant didn't like the smell!

Two peas in a pod!!!!!!!!!!!!

Meal Swap

Helpmate First: You know you're a MOM when...

Helpmate First: You know you're a MOM when...

Happy Mother's Day!

The weekend begins ...

Friday: Daddy calls on his way home from work on Friday to ask what I had going on tonight! The usual! "Well," he said, "I intend on giving you some 'mommy time' this evening." I told him I would take him up on it!

At dinner we gave Michael his first baby cereal!

He wasn't sure about it, but he is getting the hang of it now! I did help get everyone settled before I left for a couple of hours, but it was good to get out ... and the moon was beautiful!
Saturday: Michael and I ended up sleeping in ... until around 8:45! I couldn't believe! Daddy cooked breakfast, pancakes or course, and we had a family morning! Shelby, Michael, and I went to a baby shower in the afternoon. Soon after we got home we headed out to dinner for my "Mother's Day" celebration! My choice ... we went to Macaroni Grill!

Waiting patiently on the steps at Macaroni Grill!

We have learned our lesson over a couple of "out-to-dinner" nights ... if you are a family of 6 ... CALL AHEAD! We waited for over an hour for a table - and we arrived there at 5:45! We made the most of more family time ... as you can see in the picture below! We ate calamari, pizza, chicken strips, lobster ravioli, and some WONDERFUL bread! Plus some good mac-n-cheese for Jack (some of which landed on the floor) and some tiramisu for Daddy and Mommy and ice cream for the children (which Grant's bowl hit the floor when he was finish and broke into MANY pieces - he was heart broken and embarrassed). With all of that - we actually had an enjoyable time! Can you believe! Michael slept through almost the whole meal! We came home and hit the bed!

Sunday: My family took good care of me today! We had biscuits for breakfast and had everyone dressed to head to church on time! I was given some special gifts that I had been wanting! Some to make being a "mommy" less stressful (a lock for the back yard gate) and some to make being "mommy" more fun (garden clippers and a blender)! We had a special morning with some special cards!

The Lord has blessed me with some precious children!

Thank you, Lord!

Our family of SIX! WOW! Thank you, Lord!

Please continue to give me the strength to be the mommy you would have me to be! Lord, thank you for sweet "mommy" friends You have blessed me with - I look forward to fellowshipping with them in the near future! :)

MandyBee: A wonderful story . . . .

Our sweet, LONG-time friend, Mandy, is engaged! Yeah! Read the wonderfully romantic story here!
MandyBee: A wonderful story . . . .

Our cousins!

My children LOVE their cousins ... we miss you guys! See you soon!

Ben & Danielle

This is a blog for my niece and her fiance! I will be posting about them and the fun things from now until wedding time! Check it out if you like! Ben & Danielle

Spunky's Contest

I had to enter the contest! See below!

Spunky is giving away a Benz Microscope and Apologia Biology Set this week. Click Here to get the details.

Founders Ministries Blog: The Purpose Driven Puritan

If you need a smile or chuckle today ... read this ...

Founders Ministries Blog: The Purpose Driven Puritan

New Orleans

Being a Louisiana girl ... I had to post this ... it made me smile!

Math-U-See

Some of you have asked me about the math curriculum I use.

Finally, here's the information:
Math-U-See website.
Yahoo Group for Math-U-See This site answer many questions, and you can post your own!

Math-U-See will be at Homeschool Book Fair on May 12th & 13th in Arlington.
Math-U-See will be at NTHEN Homeschool Conference and Bookfair on August 18th & 19th in Plano.

"Mommy & Me" Tea

Shelby and I had a wonderful time at our "Mommy & Me" Tea on Saturday. My sweet friend, Tamra, planned a wonderful time for a group of us to share at the Into My Garden Tea Room in Plano, TX! I was able to talk about one of our favorite books, Keepers at Home, and encourage us all to spend time training our daughters in the skills that we find important in our Christian lives, and some skills just to make a "well-rounded" person! :) Here are a few pictures from our tea, if you would like to see more - click on the flickr button in the right margin or click here.

The girls sitting down for tea!

Cait and Tamra

Shelby

Ladies having their lunch.

The girls' plates!

Co-Op & Once A Month Cooking

Well, some of us have expressed that it is getting to be about that time again! Yes, our freezers are getting a little bare! I have come across some ideas that we might could use to change up our system, if we choose! I am going to list some ideas and some extra info on them! Please look at it when you can so we can see if any of these new ideas would work, or if we need to stick with the old day-long Saturday cooking day! :)
Options:

1. Cook one Saturday like we have done before!
2. Everyone pick a meal and make a double-batch for each family and have an exchange day to distribute. We can total the expenses and even out the cost.
3. Co-Op Cooking: Southern Living explains one way how to co-op cook. Introducing Supper Swapping, or Co-op Cooking is another take on co-op cooking by Trish Berg. Co-op Cooking: A New Saving Strategy is another explanation.

Lastly, I have found a neat recipe program that makes serving changes etc. I had one of these years ago that was a gift, but this one is FREE! So far I like it!

Let me know what you think! I am open to using the same system or trying an abbreviated new system (a meal or two a week etc.). The local Super Suppers place is over $100 for 6 meals. The meals are designed to feed 4 to 6 people! We may could get two meals from one depending on what it is, but that is more expensive than what we are used to. If anyone else has any other ideas, please let us know!

Hope to hear from you ALL!

Cultivating Peace

Well, I haven't been able to read it all, but I think I have found a good article on cultivating peace in the home. Tamra keeps referring to a time when Mrs. Judy spoke to the moms on cultivating calm in the home. I hope this article proves to be along the same tone as what Mrs. Judy taught. Let me know what you think when you have time to read!
On the bottom of the article they recommend a book that has helped me over the years, The Excellent Wife. If any of you ever want to borrow it, please let me know! It is along the lines of Don't Make Me Count to Three, except it is for wives relating to their husbands instead of children. I learn something new and beneficial every time I reread the book!

Pots & Pans

Pretend play is so fun! I love for my children to make up fantasy stories and also act out real life possibilities! These stories are usually a good gauge as to what they are absorbing from life! (and me and my actions - scary!) Jack doesn't get as many opportunities to initiate things like this because the other kids are usually one step ahead of him, but the other day he decided he wanted our "pots and pans" basket down. He proceeded to pick up trains and train tracks by himself so he could move onto something else! When he dumped out the "pots and pans" basket, he immediately flipped the basket so he could set the table for a snack for his older brother and sister! They would come check on him and he would say, "it's almost ready." How neat to watch Jack serve his siblings, even if it is pretend play!

Spring Nests

Our sweet neighbor made my children "nests" last weekend! Mrs. Irma is German, and I think this is part of her Easter tradition. I thought the idea would go great with the spring celebration our friend, Tamra, mentioned on her post a couple of weeks ago. That celebration was originally spoken about on girl talk. I hope I can remember these ideas for the beginning of spring next year!

Friendly Fellowship

We had a sweet time of fellowship with the Hamm family last night!

How special is it to have such sweet friends!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Hamm!Big Buds!!!!
Yummy hotdog!
The girls are outnumbered!!!!!!!!!

Sweet friends!

Taxes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINISHED!!!! Yes, I finally finished our taxes this afternoon! After a phone call, looking up some info on the internet, and a live chat with the TurboTax online support guy ... it is DONE! Thank the Lord that task is done again until next year! I may train Shelby to do it for me next year! HA!
Have a great day!

SpunkyHomeSchool: Ten Commandments for Homeschooling Moms

This post is a good reminder to me of some things that I have been working on! It is quite easy to forget some of the simple ideas of family life in the middle of homeschooling and parenting young children! SpunkyHomeSchool: Ten Commandments for Homeschooling Moms

He's Alive!

Thank God that our Savior is alive!

Happy Easter!

Psalm 56:3

A few weeks ago I included a couple of verses from Psalms at the end of my post! My husband had asked me to write those verses on note cards for him, so he could work on memorizing them. It didn't click to me when Jack came home with Psalm 56:3 for his memory verse that they were working on the same verse! Last night we were reviewing for Daddy what we had done in school etc. during the day. Jack said his verse and Daddy's ears perked up! That is the verse I am working on! How wonderful that the Lord puts us all on the same page and keeps our family working together to help one another ... even children encouraging their Daddy!

Personality

My sweet friend introduced me to this personality test. I find it quite interesting! I would like my husband, sisters, and mom to take the test! Hint! Hint! Let me know what you are!
Here are the results my friend sent me!
All about me!

The Calvinist Virus

This is quite an interesting post ... The Calvinist Virus ... you have to read some of the previous posts that they refer to, but it is worth the read!

Actually, this post is how to combat the virus, and this is the must read. The above gives the background to it all if you are interested!

Before & After - The Hall Bath

OK ... here's the color the hall bath was!!!!!!!! Actually, both bath rooms were this color! A man raising three boys lived here before we moved in! Can you tell? The neighbors and his fiancee tried to get him to paint a different color! WOW, what we have lived with!





Much better! What a difference a coat of paint makes! My sweet in-laws, John's dad and step-mom, gave me this for a Christmas present! At Christmas they presented me with a gift card to Home Depot, and a note saying that they were coming to paint for me! What a GREAT gift!

This is my life ...

I have a funny feeling that this "Friday Funny" is going to be my life raising one daughter and three boys! I am looking forward to many laughs, and I am sure many tears as well!

Happy Birthday to a Little Friend!

Friends! Happy Birthday, Roy! I am so thankful Grant has several good friends! What a blessing! We pray that all of our children and their friends will honor the Lord with their lives, even at the young age of five!

At the ZOO! Better late than never!

A month late on the post, but my children are still talking about it! The ZOO was great! Jack is still singing ... "Mamma's taking us to the zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow, Mamma's taking us to the zoo tomorrow, we can stay all day." That is a Raffi song that they like! They all loved the baby elephant playing with the ball! See more pictures at Monkey Fever. We hope to do homeschool day at the zoo again!

Joy in the morning ...

Well, I think I wrote my post too late last night! Life is better than it seems sometimes! Starting when we were dating, John would say, "joy comes in the morning," as he quoted from Psalms. When we have had difficult moments, he has always encouraged me to pray, sleep, and have a new perspective in the morning. I thank the Lord for the sweet day He has given me.

Psalm 30:5 (King James Version)
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Stuck

Well, life is moving right along! Everyone is well (I think)! Shelby, Grant, & Jack had check-ups on Friday! Jack's ear still wasn't well, but it was much better! Grant had a reaction to one of his shots (he did this last time), but the swelling is down and the redness is decreasing as well! The reaction didn't scare me as bad this time, since I knew what we went through before. The boys were VERY BIG to take their immunizations, get a sucker, and head out the door! Mommy hates them more than anyone!

Moving right along to the reason this post has the title it does ... STUCK! Do you ever feel stuck in life! HA! Right now life is moving so fast, just because I am mothering small children, but I start feeling stuck! Not stuck in my situation (wife and mom), I wouldn't trade it for the world. Stuck in how I do things and handle relationships etc. I know I just have to "do it" - just change, but like always ... easier said than done! So, those of you reading ... please pray for me! Pray that I love and discipline my children in a manner than honors the Lord. Also pray that I serve my husband in a way that encourages him, but also "spurs him on" in the Lord. Thanks!

I think I am just a little out of sorts because my Bible is sitting in the pew at church along with Jack's new Bible verse magnet! Bummer! Using the internet or my "old" Bible just isn't the same!

From Streams in the Desert March 31

"Jesus Christ is no security against storms, but He is perfect security in storms. He has never promised you an easy passage, only a safe landing."

Oh, set your sail to the heavenly gale, And then, no matter what winds prevail, No reef can wreck you, no calm delay; No mist shall hinder, no storm shall stay; Though far you wander and long you roam Through salt sea sprays and o'er white sea foam, No wind that can blow but shall speed you Home.

Annie Johnson Flint

WOW

Life has been quite full over the last week! My parents were here from Thursday to Sunday! Jack was sick some of that time! We went and purchased tuxedos and flower girl dresses for my niece's wedding in June - that was a CRAZY day! My sister came in Sunday night so she could shop the first of the week before going into Dallas to work at Market Center yesterday! We went to Grapevine Mills Mall with her on Monday, but sent her out on her own on Tuesday! She did get to babysit for us Tuesday evening - that was a treat! Especially since my parents had just babysat on Saturday night! WOW! I am done with shopping for a while, and I didn't even get a lot done! HA!
Yesterday was a "normal" day at the library! Then I had the treat of going to the grocery store with only one child! WOW! That was a relief! Today, I have been able to help a friend and a neighbor! I thank the Lord for those opportunities!
Tonight we get to have some family time! We are going to work on cheering Daddy up a little! He is having a tough work week, so we will try to lighten his load! We are also looking forward to a time of fellowship with a small group from church tomorrow evening! What a great way to end our FULL week!
Have a super weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To the rescue ...

Well, the week has proven to be a challenge, but we are making it. John working late, buried in laundry and a little behind in school for the week, but we should make up for it today! Paw Paw and Jen Jen have been in Bossier City for some R & R, and they have decided to come on over here for a few days! What a blessing! I may actually get caught up on laundry after all! (Since Grant can only find clean shorts to wear in 30 degree weather, thankfully we are planning on staying home today - and his pants are drying now!) God is good!

For my husband:

Psalm 56:3,4

When I am afraid,

I will trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,

in God I trust; I will not be afraid.

What can mortal man do to me?

More sickness!

Well ... we thought we were getting over the cold/allergy stuff, but it is still lingering a little! Then on Monday night, things took a dramatic turn ... I was just drifting off when Jack got sick (yucky sick)! He was running a high fever and couldn't rest! I was trying to pinpoint what was wrong, but couldn't. Finally he complained of his neck hurting. I thought it was his throat, but we finally traced it to his right ear. I went and dug out some numbing drops and that helped after a while. When we finally got to sleep for a length of time, we were doing better. When he awakened Tuesday morning, his fever was still close to 102! My kids never run fever like that (unless something major is going on), especially in the morning! So, I start trying to plan to get him to the doctor! With John's help to feed the older kids. I got Jack bathed and we were dressed to go! We were at the doc around 9AM! My suspicions were correct ... his right ear is VERY infected. We got medicine and lunch and headed home! Jack slept for three hours in the playroom on the futon! He still wasn't great, but as the day went on, he was much improved! Now I am catching up on laundry ... lots of towels and sheets! :) I am so thankful I am not dealing with a virus!
Thankfully - we are recovering well!

Mystery turns into adventure ... but, everything is going to work out fine!

Well ... most of you know the adventure already ... but I am using my blog as a journal of sorts for me ... so I have to finish my story!

On Friday, half of our company had arrived and we were still waiting on the man to come install our new hot water heater! So, we were preparing supper with no hot water! Not too bad, but we couldn't wash dishes very well! Right after this young man (from a different country - we couldn't understand him very well) arrived , the rest of our family arrived and we were ready to eat! The plumber proceeded to tell John that this wasn't going to be a simple install. There were a few things that needed to be done to bring this hot water heater install "up to Allen code." John knew the closet needed to be vented more, so he took care of that, but the other items were a bit more involved! There had to be some type of drain installed in case the hot water heater broke again, so it wouldn't flood the house. The problem was that our hot water heater closet is not on an exterior wall. So, he was going to install a more expensive alarm that would let you know if there was a leak, but the closest part was in Irving! No way on a Friday night, and it was already around 7:30 PM! The plumber finally came back with a cheaper solution ... install a pipe from the drip pan at the hot water heater, around the laundry room wall, through a hole (that he had to drill) behind my dryer. The work began as we were putting our kids down (later than usual). John and his brother went to the store to get some supplies while the plumber started working on removing the old heater! The water wouldn't turn off at the heater, so he had to turn the water off to the house! Now, it is really getting fun! At 10:30 I head to bed with Michael. The drilling was still going on and LOUD, so I laid in bed with him and I dozed off. Around 11:30 I awakened and put Michael in his bed, and went and told John and David good night! John didn't get to bed until after the plumber left at 2 AM! Talk about a job!
Well, through this evening we kept saying ... it is ok ... it is only money ... God is in control! Do we believe that "everything is going to work out fine," is what our pastor continued to ask in his sermon on Sunday. I can say that through our frustrating circumstances on Friday, we had no doubt that "everything was going to work out fine!" How wonderful to have peace in the midst of a situation that could cause such chaos ... because God is in control of EVERY aspect of our lives!

All Things Work Together for Good
Hal Brunson, Ph.D.
Isaiah 46; Ephesians 1; Romans 8
To listen to this sermon please click on the link below: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=3190613827

The Mystery of the Growing Puddle

I always try to hear my children out before I accuse them of something. If I didn't see it, there is no telling what really happened. This morning I was walking into our playroom from the living room and in the doorway I stepped into something damp. I immediately asked Grant is he sneezed! "No, mam," he answered. I asked again to get the same response. So, I asked the other children if they knew anything about it, but no one knew anything! I got a paper towel and blotted it and went on my way to feed the baby. Well, not to long after that, I went back to round them up to do something and I stepped in "it" again. Except now, it was MORE wet! I got a towel and blotted it again, and reluctantly smelled it! I know, that was brave ... it could have been MANY things - from spit up to everything imaginable, but it wasn't - no smell. I was ready to accuse some children of slipping drinks out of the kitchen (something they don't normally do)! They all denied it! So, I put more cloths on top of the original wet one, and when I checked it before leaving to run errands, it was ALL soaked! OK, I feel silly now! What is the deal? I am looking up at the woodwork, nothing there. This spot is in the middle of the doorway! Finally, I was about to call my dear hubby, who doesn't have time to deal with this, and it hit me ... the hot water heater is on the other side of the wall! How it is only wet in the middle of the area - I have no idea, but that is the case! While I went to Target and Sam's, my sweet husband went to Lowe's to purchase a new water heater (after he came home to assess the problem), it will be installed between 3 and 7 PM! Just in time for company and dinner! Life is FUN! I mean that! I am also thankful that my children were all innocent in this case! I wish we didn't have to purchase a new hot water heater, but I am more thankful that is wasn't something my children did!
Have a blessed weekend!

Spunky's Comments ...

http://spunkyhomeschool.blogspot.com/2005/04/winning-over-relative.html

For some reason I can't click on the above link and get there, but I can cut and paste it fine ... sorry for the inconvenience.

Homeschooling

I had a friend recently ask me about homeschooling. I want to give her the most information possible! So, I have been doing a little research and compiling some web-sites etc. If anyone reads this and has ANYTHING to add, please leave a comment! We will all benefit!

One thing I can't put my hands on is something I previously read about "how to answer when people ask you why you homeschool." Or how to "defend" your position to family and friends without saying too much. I know we have always had a lot of support, but when we have been questioned we would just say ... we are taking it one step at a time, and this is what is best for our family right now. If you have any insight on this, PLEASE comment!

Things get a little crazy at times, but we LOVE homeschooling! We enjoy the flexibility! We love making it all we need it to be and leaving the rest! We don't do any extra activities at this point. Since our children are 7, 5, 2.5, and 4 months - I have no desire to be out on the go a lot! We barely make it to the grocery and to get diapers when we need them! LOL! I haven't brought myself to go back to using cloth diapers! Yes, I did it at one time, and I may return to it to save a little cash, but for now ... I am helping fill the garbage dump! Needless to say, we like to stay home ... with a once a week trip to the library, to the store every other week or so, and to church every week - we are DONE! We have enough variation when family comes to visit or it is time for a check-up at the doctor! When Shelby was small, we would sometimes do an extra activity in the summer, but we don't do that every summer.
A little of our homeschool history. We set out, before we ever had children, planning to homeschool. I taught and we decided we didn't want our children in that setting. We homeschool for many reasons. The main one at this point is the peer influence. The other big reason is the academics. That last one scares me to death, but I know that I am starting young and I am learning with them. I don't have to jump into teaching algebra and chemistry! When Shelby was young a friend told us about a book The Well-Trained Mind. This book has been a big guide for our homeschool planning. Even with that influence, we decided to use Sonlight for out material for Shelby's kindergarten. Shelby was ready to start when I was expecting Jack! I was not in a mode that I could plan and collect materials for teaching. The Sonlight curriculum was just what I needed! We planned to take two years to complete kindergarten with Shelby. We were able to do an abbreviated schedule and take time off to visit family, sickness, and the birth of Jack. Sonlight had it all laid out, and we loved it! I still use some of it to supplement what I am doing, but it really got us off to a good start! Sonlight helped me to push some skills I would have never thought of at such a young age! It was amazing what we were able to read aloud as a family when Shelby was 4 and Grant was 2! What a special family time! Now we follow the classical approach that The Well-Trained Mind teaches, and we are progressing nicely! We had a big "vacation" in the fall for circumstances that we couldn't help, but that is part of the reason we homeschool. We are catching up and we are back in the swing of things! We are so blessed with the gift of teaching our children.
Below is something I got from a blog that I mention later! Some of it is funny, some of it is true, and some of it I would have left out, but ... here it is: What is a teacher?

Friday, February 18, 2005

A teacher is someone who can...

Give a hug without getting arrested.--

Bandage a knee without calling the school nurse.--

Change a lightbulb without calling the custodian.--

Make the children wash the bathrooms.--

Have a relationship with the principal without getting fired.--

Teach a child's mind while capturing their heart.--

Teach what they believe in and believe in what they teach.--

Meet the child's need and not worry about meeting the state guidelines.--

Commit to a lifetime of work without pay.--

Pray! in class, out loud, with the children and the ACLU can't say a word.

There is is only one that can fill that job description .. A teacher is a mom

"Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching." Proverbs 1:8

Spunky

Ok ... below are web-sites and blogs I have found. Some I have used a great deal. Others I have only found on my quest to find more information in the last few days. I am not sure what all you will find on these site, so please don't think that I agree with it all! I pray that this helps some of you as you get ready to homeschool!

Sonlight
http://www.sonlight.com/

National Home Education Network
http://www.nhen.org/newhser/default.asp?id=228

http://www.brandonstaggs.com/biblical-reasons-to-home-school.html

Home Educator.com
http://www.homeeducator.com/FamilyTimes/articles/8-4article2.htm

Love to Learn Place
http://www.lovetolearnplace.com/HomeSchoolFacts/reasonstohomeschool.html

Google search – Reason to Homeschool
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=reasons+to+homeschool&spell=1

http://homeschooling.about.com/

http://homeschooling.about.com/od/gettingstarted/p/homeschool101.htm

The Well-Trained Mind
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/




Blogs:
http://www.spunkyhomeschool.blogspot.com/

http://www.homeschoolbuzz.com/

http://susan.peacehillpress.net/blog/

http://whyhomeschool.blogspot.com/2006/02/introduction-to-homeschooling.html

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KeepingtheHome/90805/


Encouragement and Friends

http://girltalk.blogs.com/girltalk/

http://helpmatefirst.blogspot.com/

http://blessedmomoffour.blogspot.com/

Sickness

Well, I think we finally are getting our round of illness! It is always hard for me to tell what is allergy and what is cold, but when everyone ends up with it ... I think it is cold and contagious! :) I kept Grant home from church on Sunday thinking it was just his allergies getting pretty bad. When he sneezes, you don't want to be anywhere near him! But by Monday evening, Shelby was complaining of her throat hurting! Also, Michael started getting VERY stuffy, and didn't rest well last night because of it! I guess we have been out too much lately - ha! So, we will be trying to recoup over the next few days before company comes on Friday! We are praying that John and I stay well!

4 months

Today, our youngest son is 4 months old! How time flies! What a blessing this precious gift has been to our family! He is growing like a weed ... 14 pounds and 8 ounces, and around 24 inches long! He has been rolling over from his tummy to his back! He loves to laugh at us all! Mostly he likes to try to suck or chew on every finger and thumb ... even attempting to put them all in at the same time! What a bright eyed blessing ... our growing little Michael.

The Library

One thing that our family is in the habit of doing is going to the library! Shelby started going to storytime in LA when she was about 3 1/2. We had precious librarians that worked hard to teach the children how to care for books while they tried to instill a love for books in each child. Just a few months before we moved to TX, Grant was old enough to go to storytime! What a treat for us on Wednesday mornings! Once we moved to TX, it was over 6 months before we were settled in a home and ready to start exploring new places, like the library! But, we are now hooked! We are so blessed with a great children's section at our library here in Allen! While Grant is in storytime, there is plenty of time for us to look up books, do puzzles, explore on the computer, and watch the fish in the aquarium! If it weren't for the library and the books they provide, our educational experience would not be as exciting! Don't get me wrong, we own many books - but our love for books exceeds our monetary means! HA! Even with all the books they came with our first "school" curriculum, I can't keep enough for Shelby to read! It is amazing where reading can take us!
As you can see, the picture is of Grant holding his 1st library card! He is thrilled! He is only sounding short vowel words right now, but he is well on his way to be an excellent reader ... like his big sister!

5 Years Old!

I can not believe that my oldest son is 5 years old! It was just five years ago that the Lord awakened me with light contractions and three hours later we were holding our first son and the first grandson for our families! We had prayed for a son, in hopes of raising him in the way of the Lord! It is our prayer that he will become a godly young man that will raise a family for the Lord!
This picture was taken this morning as Grant and Daddy were heading out for breakfast! We try to make 5th birthdays special, so today Grant started with some"Daddy/Son time"! What a privilege it is to raise these precious children! I thank the Lord for loaning me this sweet and tender-hearted son!

The Horse Girl

Shelby was finally able to go on her "Horsemanship Day" with Daddy yesterday! We gave this to Shelby for her birthday! I asked her if it was as good as she expected, and she said, "BETTER!" God made some marvelous animals for us to enjoy! What a blessing! I pray she can do more with horses in the future. The Lord has given her a sweet desire for one of His creations!

Meet Him in the Morning

On Wednesday I cheated and read two days of Streams in the Desert, because I was sending our copy on a trip with my husband! The reading convicted me so and was such a great reminder that I wanted to share it ... and post it here as a reminder to me! This is the encouragement I needed to press on in training my children - by first focusing on my heart's priority each morning!


Title: Meet Him in the Morning
Author: Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
Source: Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles Cowman.
Web Page: http:www.backtothebible.org/devotions/printer.htm
"Be ready in the morning, and come u ...present thyself there to me in the top of the mount. And no man shall come up with thee" (Exod. 34:2-3).
The morning watch is essential. You must not face the day until you have faced God, nor look into the face of others until you have looked into His.
You cannot expect to be victorious, if the day begins only in your own strength. Face the work of every day with the influence of a few thoughtful, quiet moments with your heart and God. Do not meet other people, even those of your own home, until you have first met the great Guest and honored Companion of your life--Jesus Christ.
Meet Him alone. Meet Him regularly. Meet Him with His open Book of counsel before you; and face the regular and the irregular duties of each day with the influence of His personality definitely controlling your every act.
Begin the day with God!He is thy Sun and Day!His is the radiance of thy dawn;To Him address thy lay.
Sing a new song at morn!Join the glad woods and hills;Join the fresh winds and seas and plains,Join the bright flowers and rills.
Sing thy first song to God!Not to thy fellow men;Not to the creatures of His hand,But to the glorious One.
Take thy first walk with God!Let Him go forth with thee;By stream, or sea, or mountain path,Seek still His company.
Thy first transaction beWith God Himself above;So shall thy business prosper well,And all the day be love.--Horatius Bonar
The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early upon their knees.
Matthew Henry used to be in his study at four, and remain there till eight; then, after breakfast and family prayer, he used to be there again till noon; after dinner, he resumed his book or pen till four, and spent the rest of the day in visiting his friends.
Doddridge himself alludes to his "Family Expositor" as an example of the difference of rising between five and seven, which, in forty years, is nearly equivalent to ten years more of life.
Dr. Adam Clark's "Commentary" was chiefly prepared very early in the morning.
Barnes' popular and useful "Commentary" has been also the fruit of "early morning hours."
Simeon's "Sketches" were chiefly worked out between four and eight.

In February

Last month marked a year since we went on our 10th Anniversary Cruise! What a blessing it was for our family to keep our children so that we could take that time for us. We look forward to the day that we can do that again ... maybe in 10 more years! The Lord has blessed us with such a sweet relationship! I would not want to walk this road of life with any other man! Thank the Lord for my dear husband! I love you, John!

I am still here ...

I am still in the blog world ... a little ... ha! I have been reading a little, just not writing! Since my sweet husband was under the weather this weekend ... I am trying to come up for air! I have been working hard yesterday and today to get my WHOLE house cleaned (the dust was AWFUL) and get ready to pick my Mom up at the airport tonight! My Dad will drive in on Thursday! We also had a lunch date today with one of Shelby's old FaithKeeper friends, so I have a little more dusting to do before I head to the airport! On top of all of that I finished reading "Don't make me count to three!" by Ginger Plowman, and have been trying to step up the training in our home! Needless to say, my efforts have not been what I had hoped, but I am praying that the Lord give me the strength I need and the grace I need to press on! I have improved in one area - but have about 10 more that I am failing in! I have each new day to try to train my precious gifts better than the day before! Thank you, Lord for each new day you give me!

Trust in the LORD!

I have been wanting to write this post all month, but I haven't made the time. I can't take the chance of the month ending without expressing how thankful we are for our precious church family at First Baptist Parker! This month marks one year that we have been worshipping with this body of believers, and our family has been so blessed! Only the Lord knew what we would face in this first year at FBC - Parker, and we know that his sovereign plan has been shown through our lives! Prayerfully, the events of the last year have been for His glory and our good! Thank you to our God, for the grace He has given me each day. Thank you to a precious pastor and his wife that have sacrificed their own time and blessed us with prayer, education (on lessons I would rather not have had to learn), and shared wisdom beyond measure! Thanks to my sweet friends that have loved my children like their own, brought us meals (and cooked meals for our freezer), prayed for us, and encouraged me over the last few months! I have prayed so long for friends that are liked minded in the Lord ... He has provided in His time! Thank the Lord for providing this church for our family! We have received such encouragement from this body. I want to close with an encouraging quote and scripture that friends sent me a few months ago:
"I've learned to bless the wave that crushes me against the Rock of ages" ... I have no idea to whom to credit that quote, but it blessed me and pointed my thoughts toward heaven ... and continues to help me keep my focus!
Isaiah 26:3&4 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal."