Another one!

Dalyn at Muckboots N Aprons is hosting another giveaway! This time it is for her snickerdoodle goats milk soap and small lotion bar!

Go to muckboots ~N~ Aprons The drawing is open till Feb 3rd. Hurry go see... hope you win! The rules are simple for this one... Have fun!

Menu Plan Monday

This week is going to be a bit crazy for me. I work Monday and Tuesday, all day. Thankfully I have a mom who is the best and will home school the girls and has offered to cook us dinner on both nights! She plans on having a home economics type afternoon with the girls and have them make dinner. *Ü* Gramma Rocks!

Breakfast for the girls will be at grammas, so we know that will be good *Ü* For the rest of us, yogurt, oatmeal, fresh fruit, toast and PB. All week. Maybe a smoothie too, but I wont guarantee it! *Ü*

Dinner for Monday and Tuesday are to be announced, since I'm not cooking.

Wednesday: Fish Tacos, and regular meat tacos with all the fixings. Corn and black beans.

Thursday: Lemon Chicken with Risotto and mixed veggies and salad. Some type of bread.

Friday: Dad and I are on a date! Its been 2 weeks. The kids will have lasagna and salad and french bread.

What a boring week! Sorry... last week was no better, I worked 3 days... and that is why I didn't play. If you would like a better shot at more recipes, go to Organizing Junkie.com She will hook you up! *Ü*

Muckboots ~N~ Aprons Contest!

My friend Dalyn is having a contest.... *Ü* The 44th person to leave a comment on her contest post will get a Buttercream Snickerdoodle Lotion Bar, large size, for free! See link below.

Leave comments daily if you like- it only brings the numbers up, and the sooner we get to 44, the sooner somebody gets their lotion bar!Fun!

Buttercream Snickerdoodle

The contest post is here Muckboots ~N~ Aprons

I have been tagged! ~Book Meme~

I have been tagged for a book Meme!

Rules:

Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
Open the book to page 123.
Find the fifth sentence.
Post the next three sentences.
Tag 5 people

The nearest book next to me is called " Completely Blessed" by Shannon Ethridge. Loving Jesus w/o limits a 30 day devotional. On page 123, fifth sentence and the 3 following it says.

" It is the Lord!! Peter put his shirt back on, dives into the water,and swims toward shore,eager to see his dear friend who has recently been crucified and is now resurrected from His tomb. The others drag in the net, amazed that it isn't breaking with so many fish weighing it down.

I was tagged by Jenn at Home is where you start from and Patty at Classical Education our way.

Thank you for thinkingof me!

I will tag Jessica @ Trivium Academy, Jennefer @ SmoothStones Academy, Lee@ my5wofcubs, Darcy @ my3boybarians and Amy @ Milk and cookies.

Now go, and tag many, many more!!

The Heart of the Matter

Heart of the Matter Online Meme

Today, our meme will be based on what our thoughts are on the following quote:

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
- William Butler Yeats

The first time I heard this quote, was about 10 years ago.... I love it! Let me tell ya about it! Grab a cup of tea or coffee and lets talk!

When I first began homeschooling I really had no idea what I was doing. I had not read about it, wasn't inspired by anything or anyone. I just jumped in and did it. Scary huh? Its what I did.

The first few years were ok, but by the end of 2nd or 3rd grade, I was seriously considering putting my son in school. We were both crying by the end of our days, and we both hated school! What was I doing wrong?

I began to question my ability as a mom/homeschooler, and seriously was considering public school.... but the idea killed me! We were not in a good school district, in fact one of the teachers at the school actually told me if I could put my son in another school, it would be wise. That wasn't very comforting.... I was a bit distressed over the matter and I had no idea what to do! I just didn't know if I could take one more year of tears!!! Not only that but his sister was beginning kindergarten! Now I was facing 2 children crying!

That summer my husband and I took a road trip. We went camping in Oregon. Just the 3 of us! *Ü* RyLee my youngest was still nursing so she had to come, but the other 2 stayed with grama. Sea Side Oregon here we come! I needed the mental break!

The ride down is always a nice one. We were listening to focus on the family on the radio and I wasn't really paying to much attention, till I finally heard it... they were talking about homeschooling! Ha! are you kidding me? This was the last thing I wanted to think about! I was on my way to a relaxing weekend, and not think about anything, but as it turned out we turned the radio up and decided to listen. I was after all, desperate for direction, I thought I should try to be open. I needed something, anything to help us decide what we should do..... maybe this will help...

Well, Dr. Dobson's guest that day was a man named Dr. Raymond Moore. They were discussing one of his books. Get this... it was called " The Successful Home school Family Handbook." Uh... really? Well, I was homeschooling like the few home schoolers I knew and we all felt anything but successful! I found myself hanging on this mans every word. He was talking of things like burn out... ya... I know all about that! He shared about education and how it should be low stress, relaxing (did he just say that?) and enjoyable!

I scrambled for a piece of paper to write down the name of his book..... Guess what I did when we got back from our trip? I went and checked out his book! lol This my friends, was the true beginning of our home school journey. I joined the Moore Formula yahoo group where I found more encouragement! It was this yahoo group and a wonderful lady on their who shared this quote with us.

When I first began homeschooling, it was all about textbooks, work books and facts and tests. What I discovered is that education is much more, and homeschooling gave me the freedom to pursue those things. This quote above gave me a desire to be the best mommy teacher I could be.

I did not continue in the path of the Moore Formula, but it was what lit my fire and helped me to pursue education and how to educate my children best not just what Dr Moore thought, but others too.

My kids do not always like what we do, especially since they are older.... but that's life. They have been able to pursue those things that light their fire and I have been blessed with an opportunity to watch them and encourage them. We can fill our kids heads all day with facts and answers, but what do we teach them about passion and excitement?

The rest of my sons elementary school ages and even Jr High were good years for him. Not with out struggles in some things, but I can happily say he had a loving child hood and had enough time each day for study, work, service and his interests. He is now 18, almost ready to graduate High School just 25 credits short of his general AA and enjoying his new sense of Independence with a knowledge he still has a lot to learn. *Ü*

Educating our children should not just be academically, but spiritually too. Life is not just dates and facts and numbers, because life is more than that. Also, the quote above is not just for children, or for us to pursue this desire for our children, but for all of us. If we are open to learning and we set an example for our kids, I don't think this above quote will be hard to accomplish.... ever.

Would youlike to read what others wrote and shared about this quote? You will find them here at HOTM

Wordless Wednesday Napkin please?

My first post at HOTM online magazine!

Well, I did it! I didnt know if I could do it... but I did! My first post is up on The Heart of the Matter! My post is called...... January Brings Reflection Please come by and visit! Make sure to let me know you stopped by!

Homeschooling Tips & Tricks

This Fridays Meme from The Heart of the Matter is Homeschooling tips and tricks! This will be a fun one! I hope you can join us!







My biggest struggle in homeschooling was/is staying organized and a head of clutter, or being bogged down with paper! So to help in my struggle... I try to make all the copies I need for school prior to the school year. So my tips are pre planning and storing.

Notebooks:

The girls have general notebooks. They are in 3 inch binders. I place tabbed dividers in them that are numbered 1-36. I bought classic dividers from Tapestry Grace. Anything they might need they place in this binder. For tapestry of grace its maps, student activity pages, history pages, card stock for lap book folds and any writing assignment. These are printed before school starts in August. Each week they know right where the work is at. The only thing missing is the lap book folds and you will read about that down below.

We also have the same for science. Here is a picture of RyLees Science notebook. Inside you will find her Happy Scribe pages, lap book pages/card stock, and any written assignment or observation from an experiment. This is from this weeks lesson and we are not done just yet.























Lap book folds:

Another time saver tip is we will cut out 6-8 weeks of lessons one evening and place them in a file folder.




I keep a small folder holder close to us each day. It holds History lap books, science, note booking pages or what ever I know we will need for the year.



Scrambling to print each week burnt me out and was frustrating. This system has been working pretty well for us the past 4 or 5years. Tweaking it a little each year.

The other tip I have to share is we have our book shelf close by. Its in our mud room just off the dining area.

We do not have a school room, so I have to improvise. I also have baskets close that holds the notebooks. It keeps it all in one spot and the kids know where to put it back. I got tired of hearing " Mom wheres my notebook!" *Ü*


They also have a spot for workbooks, math books etc.


For more tips and tricks, visit some more wonderful ladies here at This weeks meme from The Heart of the Matter.

Wordless Wednesday

If you would like to join in on more Wordless Wednesday see them here at WTM board or 5minutesformom

Tuesday in "other" Words

"A family without a commitment to the God of the Bible has no hope of stemming the tide of cultural onslaught. If we mix a little biblical truth, a little secular physchology, a little romance novel idology, and a little eastern mysticism, we will get a deadly mixture of lies. Unfortunately, this is what many Christian families do . . . If we are to experience multigeneraltional faithfulness we must come to a place where we throw off the shackles of our culture and live in the fullness that is found only in Christ. We must be people who live the Word in our homes."


~By Voddie T. Baucham, Jr~

Looking back on the last 13 years of homeschooling I can and sadly admit I have not always been the best example for my children. Being home with them 24/7 these kids have gotten to know their momma. The good, the bad, and not so pretty. Honestly, they have seen me at my worst and best! How could they not!

Although, I just shared I have not always been the best example for them, in a contradicting way... I have been. When my kids have witnessed me at my worst, they also witnessed me humble myself and apologize if need be. They see me and witness my struggles yes,but also the victories!!

Romans 3:23-24 says this...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

When we fail and when we succed its important theat we point to the Cross. Jesus... He is the one we learn to lean on, Jesus is the one that sets captaives free! He is the one that can offer peace to my children in this crazy mixed up workd, but I have to live it, not just preach it.

One of those perks of homeschooling I have learned is that daily, I have an opportunity to live my faith in front of my kids. Perfect or not....I have opportunity's to show Gods love and mercies. We can be mindful of the important things, and make sure the value of becomeing children of God is not becoming perfect people, but willing. Every day is a new day! *Ü*

What an opportunity we have!


Deuteronomy 4:9

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

If you would like to read more Tuesdays in other words, please visit Loni here at Writing canvas

Menu Plan Monday

I have missed a few weeks of Menu plan Monday. Last week being our first week back, I should have been on the ball. Life had other plans for me though. This week, I am happy to join back in! The kids will eat mostly what is on this menu. They will also have things I cant right now, but they will have to do that on their own! *Ü*

Monday:

1. Breakfast- 2 (four-inch) whole grain pancakes, berry smoothie (black berry and mango) with flax. The kids eat more than I, but I will have 2 pk.


2. Lunch- Taco Salad


3. Grilled Salmon, asparagus and basmati rice. I will limit myself to 4.oz of salmon and 1 cup of rice, and 5 spears.

Tuesday:

1. Breakfast- Oatmeal w/ flax, 1 banana and a hard boiled egg.


2. Lunch- Chicken broth for mom and a small vegi filled salad. Grilled cheese and soup for girls.


3. Dinner- BBQ Chicken, light bbq sauce. Mixed veggies and cubed little red potatoes baked.

Wednesday:

1. Breakfast- Oatmeal w/ flax and muffins made from bob red mills hot cereal.


2. Lunch- Tuna salad loaded w/ veggies.


3. Dinner- Fish tacos made with halibut. Avocado and bean salsa. Little red potatoes

Thursday:

1. Breakfast- Scrambled eggs and berry smoothies w/flax.


2. Lunch- Baked chicken, grapes, and cheese.


3. Left overs

Friday:

1. Breakfast- whole grain pancakes, fruit and cheese.


2. Lunch-Broth and veggies for mom, PBJ and fruit for girls


3. Dinner- Baked Chicken, mixed veggies, rice and salad. some type of bread

If you would like to see more posts visit here at Lauras blog

Koinonia Academy Reporting....

This is a first in a LONG time. A weekly report from Koinonia Academy has not happened since... well last year! *Ü* In fact, Nov 17th was our last! Yikes! It said week 13. Honest, I looked it up!

I hope you all have had a blessed Christmas break! I'm excited to get into the groove of things and fellowship with my weekly reporter peeps!

So with that out in the open, here we are I guess at week 14! 14 down, 22 to go.

This has been a strange and challenging week. Normally just regular routines can be a challenge, but this week was not routine.

Monday, was actually a good day. No one got up on time, school took longer than normal... but it was not stressful in anyway.

Tuesday~ Now this was a great day! Look what we woke up too! More snow!








We also went and spent most of the day in Seattle.
We first hit West lake Center Mall and rode the monorail to the city center.


We took a short walk to the Seattle Children's theater to see The Never Ending Story. This was my husbands first play with us, and he really enjoyed it. In fact he wants to go see Hamlet next month with us.

Next.... the Seattle science center for some relaxing educational fun and kill time!

After all that we were all starving! So we took another short walk to a favorite burger and fry restaurant close by Key arena called Dicks drive in.

It was time to start our journey back to the ferry, so we took a bus to Pike place market for some fresh mini doughnuts and coffee as we walked to the ferry.

See, it was a good day!

Then Wednesday... this day... well it was eventful. School went well, we completed History, literature, math, science, grammar reviewed, Spanish.... accomplished chores... oldest 2 went to youth group. It began to snow just after 9:00 pm so I called my son to hurry him home, and said drive slow. 9:50 I got a call form my son, a bit panicked saying they got in a car accident and totaled his truck. long story short, that is what happened. He slid right into the back of someone. Everyone is fine, but they all had sore backs and necks. Shawn and Christina both have hurting hips too. We are so grateful it wasn't any worse, but it was absolutely horrible having to drive so incredibly slow in the snow to go get them.

Thursday No school for anyone.

Friday was a half day. No one has been able to focus. Especially myself, and if I cant focus, chances are no one else does either.

Recap of week we really completed about 2 maybe 2 1/2 days worth of school our first week back. So in light of it all, we will pick up where we left off here. Next week is another week, just like today is another day!

I read these 2 scriptures this morning... they belssedme so Im sharing them with you too.

Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Meme - A Day in the Life *Ü*

Welcome to the first ever Heart of the Matter Online meme. Every Friday they will feature a different topic for our meme. So make sure to go to The Heart of the Matter each Friday and join us!

This will be fun! As I have had a crazy week, and this will lighten me up!
We are just coming off break this week, so this is not a typical day! *Ü* Ok.. disclaimer out of the way!

First let me share with you my baskets: it has all of my books in it that I need, but not my TOG guide. *Ü* Its to big! This has the girls time line books in it as well.





This is my file storage for lap book folds, History Scribe and History Scholar print outs. It also holds art and an assortment of other print outs I might need for the kids.


This basket holds the girls notebooks for for everything. They each have 3

notebooks. 1 holds all of their Tapestry of Grace work, writing, literature, geography, world view and church history. The 2nd is for science and the 3rd is for Spanish.




Here I hold the math books, bible study guides etc. One for each child.








Here in the mud room off our dining room is where I have all our history, literature, and any other resource we might need for the year. I have 2 book shelves this size and a large cabinet w/ doors. Not shown. I only place the History and literature out for each unit in TOG. It gets overwhelming to look at all those books! In this room I also store science kits, games and school supplies.








I was going to write about today, but today would be a VERY bad representation of what a 'normal' day/week looks like. A typical day/week looks like this.





Alarm goes off at 6:00, 6:10, and 6:20. *Ü*





My husband, the morning person makes the coffee for us


It takes all of me just to get out of bed! We get ready for the day and visit before he leaves for work at 7:00. The kids are normally awake by now, well except RyLee. She is the other please, just 5 more minutes mom... kid and will sleep forever. We are working on that!



School normally starts between 7:30 and 9. Big gap, I know... The kids have a few small chores to do...

RyLee uses her accountable kids to keep herself on track and me the cheerleader and not the nag. Christian knows better. *Ü*

Morning subjects include Bible study for all using Explorers bible study.
We are using Explorers bible study again this year. Christian is using Faith at work: Romans, Galatians, and James and RyLee is studying Luke this year. This is the first thing we do every morning.

Math: Saxon math and Teaching textbooks. This is normally the second subject and gives me a chance to do something. Finish getting ready, or a chore.

Grammar: JAG for RyLee and Analytical Grammar for Christian. This has been the best grammar curriculum ever! We have tried many over 13 years!

Science: Biology for Christian and Astronomy for RyLee. They are also using Live and Learns lap books.

Spelling: Spelling power

We actually break around 11:30 12:00 if they have school they have not finished prior to lunch, its homework or they may finish after lunch. We tend to take a long break for lunch. Clean up and then I let them have free time. It has to be constructive though. No video games!

About 1/1:30 We continue on. Tapestry of Grace is what I use for our History, literature, geography and world view. We also learn about church history.

Spanish: The easy Spanish and La Clase Divertida for RyLee.

For fun...we buy a yearly pass to the Seattle science center, and try to go to as many plays as we can at the children’s theater in Seattle. In fact, our next play will be Hamlet!


My husband and I have new goals and expectations for our family, so this will change some.

This week has been a trying one, so it has been difficult to stay on track and implement a new plan of action. As we can though, our day will start a bit earlier. Especially mine. I am really wanting to be up by 5:30 and begin my quiet time soon after. Giving myself 45 minutes to an hour before my husband is ready for the day. Then we can still visit as usual and plan/ or share what is going on that day. We do this already, but not my quiet time in the morning. This will be a stretch for me.

Next change to the schedule is exercise. While the kids are getting ready for the day and after my husband leaves 7:00 I want to walk on my treadmill for 45 minutes 3-4 days a week. I would like us all to walk outside 1-2 days a week, taking in our nature study. This has come to a stand still, and I would like it to come back. Even if the girls decide to take a picture or something and write about it.

Have study time with the girls and while they are doing math I will take my shower and get ready for the day. Then subjects will follow.

We all need to re-implement the night time routine again. The pick up before we all go to bed, so we wake up to a tidy house. The bedrooms are something to be desired!

I plan to blog more about my plan.... so come back now... ya here...

Please check out some of the other folks who are playing today! You can find them here at The heart of the matter

The Old Schoolhouse magazine

Its open! The Old Schoolhouse magazine is having its yearly vote for homeschool products, speakers etc. Go to Homeschool Magazine and scroll down a little... the vote button is on the right!

Happy Voting!

Wordless Wednesday

Check out The Heart of the Matter!

Today is the day! The unveiling of The Heart of the Matter! I hope you can find some time and check it out!

First day back after a long break

Today was our first day of school after a 3 + week break! Break was so nice! It was a bit hard to get in gear this morning....



The "plan" was to wake up about 6:30, I woke up at 7:00. The girls 7:30. The "plan" was to start at 8:00. Reality... we started at 9:00. The plan was to have Bible, Math, grammar, Spelling and science done by lunch. Reality, bible, math and science were done by lunch. The "plan" was to be finished with Spanish, History, world view, and literature by 2:00. Reality, we still need to finish spanish and Rylees history reading. It is now 7:30 pm. *Ü*

The day went nothing like I invisioned... but then, most days do not.... Nothing was accomplished as planed.... it will and is getting done. *Ü* Was not stressful in anyway, but... it would have been nice to stick to the plan.

But....

A little excitment for the week.... we will get to spend the day in Seattle enjoying our first play of the New year at The Seattle Childrens theater. We will see the Never Ending Story

After that we will go and re-visit The Seattle Science Center.

Hope your first day back was a good one... our was... just not how I planned it! *Ü*

Heart of Wisdom blog contest

Heart of Wisdom Blog Contest: A Free Book Random Drawing will be held every Monday through the months of December and January at the Heart of Wisdom Blog. Each week one Heart of Wisdom subscriber will be randomly selected o receive one FREE Homeschool Book or Heart of Wisdom Ebook from Homeschool-Books.com. A new title will be given away each week. Click here to enter.

Project 2008

Ok, I can do this one! *Ü* 1 project a month... yeah... that's my speed! All I need to do is take a picture of a project I want to get done each month, get it done and then at the end of the month post what I have accomplished including a new picture..... I can do that!

Its not to late to join, but hurry... today is the last day to sign in I think.... It said 1-5-08. I have not done one of these before.... but you can read all about it here... New Mercies Every Day

Ok... here is my project! lol Im laughing because, when I went out to the garage to take the picture... My husband asked what I took a picture of and why when I came back in... I told him... then he said..." Its just like you... always having to jump from the tallest diving board first!" *Ü* Hmmm what did he mean by that? lol

Here is the project... clean out this corner of the garage.... some organizing, some getting rid of.... Its been their for over a year and its time I did something... so this is it! My project....

Some fun Calendar dates for January

SPECIAL DAY CELEBRATIONS

1 NEW YEAR’S DAY
3 DRINKING STRAW’S BIRTHDAY

6 THREE KINGS DAY
8 ELVIS PRESLEY’S BIRTHDAY
12 PENGUIN AWARENESS DAY

17 KID INVENTORS’ DAY
18 POOH DAY: A.A. MILNE’S BIRTHDAY
21 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY
21 NATIONAL HUGGING DAY

23 NATIONAL HANDWRITING DAY
24 BELLY LAUGH DAY
24 NATIONAL COMPLIMENT DAY
27 WOLFGANG MOZART’S BIRTHDAY

The Heart of the Matter

Greatings one and all on this wonderful Thursday! Koinonia Academy has been busy cleaning and organizing for the upcomming offical first day back at school next week...but...I wanted to take a moment and share with you all about a new online Christian homeschool magaize that is about to be ralesed via online!



Its called "The Heart of the Matter".











Why am I so excited? Because it will be a wonderful resource and source of encouragment for all of us homeschoolers! You can take a sneak peak at it here: Heart of the matter I was blessed to be able to read some of the upcoming articles and I cant wait for you to read them too! So on January 8th, come with tea and or coffee in hand and spend some time over at The Heart of the matter!

See you their!

One of my faves from 07

I saw this over on Amys blog at Milk and Cookies and I just had to share it here... this was one of my favorite comercials in 07.... I love the shocked looks on the familys faces... and then how dad gets into the funky mode too. Its helarious!

Have you heard the news! Jane Austen fans!!

Jan 13th PBS (Masterpiece Theater) will run the entire collection of Jane Austen movies! Im so excited! Here is a link for you to look into it more.

Jane Austen video preview

Masterpeice Theater: The complete Jane Austin

Wordless Wednesday

To play more WW, visit here at 5minutesformom.

Blog reading level?

Uh... Not sure how they measure this.... all I did was paste in my blogs url and this is what it gave me! lol I really wonder how they measure.... *Ü* I found this little fun bloggy thing over at Donnas blog called ummmm