Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival

The Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival is up! Visit Leila over at Freedom Academy and see all the encouraging posts. I saw a few posts from the Green Hour Challenge group too.

I know its Still Tuesday but here is WW *Ü*

Click the picture to read it better! Its fun being a parent. *Ü*

Homeschool Community and Fellowship

When I first began home schooling, I didn’t really know anyone who home schooled their children. I knew 2 families, and one of them was and is my dearest friend ever, but it was just us. Now this was ok mind you, but then she moved out of State, and I was very alone. She left in 1997/98, I cant remember the exact year.

Not to long after that we were given our first computer! "Insert screaming of excitement here". The world began to open up a little bit. I found many things online to help us, and encourage me as a home schooler, but still no "real" people. My kids were very young, and I had a desire to have friends who were home schoolers. It seemed we had all we needed to have a great home school, but what about resources and relationships locally?

If you would like to read more of my thoughts please visit Heart of the Matter. They just posted this over their today! Homeschool Fellowship and Communit.

Pop up card of Aslan from Narnia

Here is a great link to a pop up card to Aslan from the Narnia series! You will find it at Simple Pop Ups. Once you have printed out steps 1 and 2, if you click on next, they offer a visual aid to help you put it together. More step by step instruction.

Make sure to use card stock, and I suggest coloring it first, before you assemble.

The front seat drama...ever experiance that?

If you have more than one child chances are you may have experienced the " I call front seat" battle. Do you choose who gets the front by who sat in it last? Can you remember who sat in it last? Do you choose by age? Well, that’s a bad one because it becomes a bit more one sided.

Today over at heart of the matter, they are having the weekly meme. This weeks meme is Happy Habits of a Homeschooler Meme.

I have not looked at all the links of those who have joined in today, but I did read Amys over at In Pursuit of Proverbs 31. I think she may have found the perfect solution to this " I call front seat" issue.

Her post was great! The habit and her idea of how to solve the madness! lol If you have a second... you should go check it out...

Great posts over @ HOTM

Randi had a great post over at The Heart of The Matter. It was about taking back time! Very good post! I hope it encourages you.
Take back the hours

Also...

Kysha had one on commitment

Marsha shared on being guilty! Titled "The verdict is in"
Very thoughtful and heart felt posts! Great nuggets of wisdom to encourage you!

Wordless Wednesday!!

Sketch Tuesday

This weeks Sketch Tuesday- What Lurks in Your Closet? Come visit Barbs site and see what we all did this week!

Tapestry of Grace Yr 3 Presidents

I was looking for a poem or a song for RyLee (ok all of us) to learn so we could memorize the Presidents. In my search I found a poem online at the Tapestry of Grace yahoo group, but it wasn't complete. So I googled *Ü* I love google!! I found the same poem from the yahoo group but this one is up to date, as of April 19, 2008. *Ü*

I do not know who wrote it, so I cant give credit where credit is due. If you know, please leave me a comment.

President Poem

George Washington leads them, the great and the true.
John Adams succeeds him and Jefferson, too.
Madison follows, and fifth comes Monroe,
with John Quincy Adams and Jackson below.

The term of Van Buren to Harrison's leads;
Tyler, Polk, Taylor, then Fillmore succeeds.
Pierce and Buchanan, and Lincoln in turn,
is followed by Johnson and Grant we discern.

Hayes, Garfield, and Arthur, and Cleveland we score.
Then, Harrison is followed by Cleveland once more.
Then, comes McKinley and the full dinner pail,
and one called "Teddy" who to Cuba, did sail.

William Taft his government began
and Woodrow Wilson, a marvelous man;
Harding, Coolidge are next in the rhyme.
Then, Hoover and the people had a very hard time.

F.D.R. was great in both peace and war;
Truman was striving for what we were fighting for.
The former General Eisenhower
brought the Republicans back to power.

John Kennedy's victory in the race
was for the New Frontier in the "Age of Space."
Lyndon Johnson led the people -- the free and the brave,
with a goal to achieve and a country to save.

Nixon swore to uphold our creed
of liberty, life and every man's need,
but by Nixon these rules were ignored.
So, to take his place was President Ford.

Then, came Carter with a cheery smile
to run our country "Southern Style."
Then, Carter's smile left his face,
and Reagan came to take his place.

"Dutch" stayed two terms, and Bush filled his station,
bringing with him a "kinder, gentler nation."
However, only one term did George H. W. Bush fill
when along came Clinton, known as Bill.

Eight years of great economic changes took place,
but Clinton's impeachment brought him disgrace.
The new millenium arrived with a close election.
The Electoral College chose George W. Bush as its Presidential selection.

G.W.'s term had barely begun when a national tragedy occured.
The terrorists' 9-11 attack on the U.S. of A. 'round the world was definitely heard.
Such barbarism brought onto our great nation
a sense that there needed to be retaliation.

It was in war with Iraq, the U.S. mightily did go
with determination that terrorism we might overthrow.
Then, through many challenging moments, the President held firm,
and he was elected for a second term

Tapestry of Grace Weekly Procedures

I found an old print out from when I first began using tapestry of grace curriculum. I’m not sure where or who I got it from then, but I’m sure it was from the LooseThreads yahoo group... Those women on that yahoo list are the best!

I made one similar to what I found... added and took away and this is what I came up with for my girls. 1 UG/Dialect student and 1 Rhetoric student. You can view the file here Tapestry of Grace Weekly Procedure.

Almost WW...

hugs are ok....but kisses....

not so much!

Weblink Wednesday

This week I want to share link to a great article. It was written by Karen Andreola titled "Art appreciaition the Charlotte Mason way"

Sketch Tuesday

Glad to be back doing the sketches! We are all home this week to participate too! Enjoy!





Skunk Cabbage






If you would like to join us in Sketch Tuesday, please visit over at Barbs blog! You only have to sketch and send it in! Nothing more to do! Its fun! If you already participate, please leave a note here so we can visit your sketches too....

What kind of Shoe?

One of my blog buddies... Lori, had this cute quiz on her blog. I have not done one in a bit... I thought it would be fun....but when I got the results... the show doesn’t seem to fit! lol Oh well... shoes are seasonal too right?

You Are Clogs

You are a solid and down to earth person. You seek and almost always achieve a really sound balance in your life. You are stylish yet comfortable. Mellow but driven. Excited yet calm. You are the perfect mesh of contradictions. No matter what happens, you have the ability to stay well grounded in your life. People know that they can truly depend on you. You should live: In Europe You should work: At a company dedicated to helping the world

What Kind of Shoe Are You?

You Are Bare Feet

You are a true free spirit, and you can't be tied down. Even wearing shoes can be a little too constraining for you at times! You are very comfortable in your own skin. You are one of the most real people around. You don't have anything to hide. Open and accepting, you are willing to discuss or entertain almost any topic. You are a very tolerant person. You are accepting and not judgmental. You should live: Somewhere warm You should work: At your own business, where you can set the rules

What Kind of Shoe Are You?

Its Monday!

What a busy few weeks... Im looking forward to routine this week. I have not kept a good routine for a couple weeks. One, because of spring break, and 2 bebcause I just had to step back and catch my breath.

This week, one of my main focuses for reading will be an article I just printed out. I found it over at Tianys blog. It is called " God and your Schedule" God and Tiany seem to have such timing! *Ü* I hope you can take a moment and read it...


Bible/devotion this week:

Daily walk bible for daily reading. Continue in Luke with RyLee and also working on the fruit of the spirits all month. Memorize Galatians 5:22,23

Focus: Love

Love is seeking the highest good of others. It is not based on emotions or feelings. It is a decision to be committed to the well being of others without any conditions or circumstances.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not parish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Jesus said: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." John 15:9

Jesus said," My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15: 12-14


My/our to do list:


Finish organizing books for curriculum sale; get them out of the living room. Finish printing labels for mailings. Pick up flyers for the used sale at UPS store. Mail mailings. *Ü* Answer unanswered emails for train trip, and contact those who sent in payments. Send out another reminder. Get ready for Christians "friend" birthday party on Friday!!


Koinonia Academy:


Complete week 14 in Tapestry of Grace!! This is a must! Be patient with myself and Christian as we read through Las Miserables..... this particular book is going to take us some time. I still need to get my list to her from "teaching the classics" book.


Make our list for the flowers and vegetables we planted and update challenge 5 for green hour. Continue with challenge 7. I just don’t like to post until I accomplish the suggested reading. *Ü*


The rest of the week I pray goes as planned.


Quality time:


RyLee: and I will begin having some quality time (one on one) right after we drop Christian off from work. We will take 2 walks down at the water front this week.


Christian: Take one evening this week and have her go shopping with me, maybe we will go have tea or something before and just visit. This is becoming so important to try and find time with each of them so they can talk and relax with me.


Shawn: He is getting older, but since still at home... I hope to do the same with him. Just visit and "catch" up. For Christmas he gave me a coupon for dinner... I think I might just take him up on it... or maybe go hang out at Barnes and Noble. That’s one of our family’s favorite spots to kill time.



Menu for the week!

Monday:

Grilled Salmon, veggies and Christians favorite... Risotto

Tuesday:

Spaghetti and salad... garlic bread

Wednesday:

Tomato soup and grilled cheese

Thursday:

Breaded chicken, corn and salad... some type of bread

Friday:

Not sure what we are doing... maybe out. Christian is having a friend party, but the party for them starts at Red Robin for dinner and then back here for a party.

This is a busy week. My prayer is that I do what I must do and not sweat the small stuff and keep reading that article I got over at Tianys!

Its Sunday! Did ya miss me? *Ü*

I took a little break.... I just had too. It was hard, but the computer was just sucking my day away, and I needed to step back to re prioritize! I’m week... What can I say. *Ü*



We have been so busy! Had a few Birthdays at our casa, the ever pending yard sale ( that was cold and rainy), a few Nature walks ( and one we were caught in hail!) finished cleaning out attics, got 4 parables made into a lap book for Sunday school, missed my posting deadline for HOTM.... Ouch :( That crushed me to fumble on that one...but the Amy’s restored me and didn’t bat an eye….they are the most grace filled woman! It just took me a while to forgive myself.....finished my flyer for the used curriculum sale but still need to mail out over 200 mailings, and got the go to give a workshop at our State convention this June for Tapestry of Grace!

How was that for run sentences!? *Ü* and also why I had to step back from the computer! I missed all my blog peeps! Since Friday, I have been able to get around and visit some of you... but not all. I hope you are all well! I look forward to catching up with all of you!

Heart of the Matter Mothers Day Giveaway

Head on over to HOTM for details on this great giveaway!

Please spread the word!


Mother's Day is fast approaching and we wanted to take this opportunity to bless one really special mom this year. In order to do that, we've teamed up with some fabulous companies who had that same desire. The package that has been put together will give mom everything she needs for the up and coming school year PLUS MORE!

Over $600 in gifts will be awarded!

Mothers Day giveaway!!!

Bone Sigh Not Bon Zigh!

I have updated our Nature blog Sticks and Stones! Finally! Come visit us and see where we have been walking!

Sweet 16

Christian: Believer in Christ

Worship in Spirit and in Truth

Psalm 86:12

I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God,

with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever.

Well, it happened folks! She turned 16 on Tuesday. She had another wake up call to growing up! She worked on her birthday!!

She was a tad disappointed, but then she really enjoys the company of the woman she works for, so this made up for the work part! lol

When I dropped her off at work, her employer gave her balloons and a gift card for I tunes. *Ü* this set her day off good! Then My surprise came *Ü* I sent her flowers, a card and balloon at 12:45. She was born at 12:48 and shared that as part of my message to her in her card when the flowers came.... and then a friend from youth group/church came and brought her a gift and card too! *Ü*

In our family, it is tradition that the birthday girl/boy gets to choose any meal they want. It has to be homemade. Christian chose Paula Deans fried Chicken aka grandpas chicken. Mashed taters and gravy with mixed veggies and Risotto. Yum!

For her gift, we got Christian a new cell phone. She has not had one for over a year so this was a big surprise for her. She got the orange enV.

I just can’t believe how fast these children grow! It amazes me still. Its a joyous time! We proud of the young lady she is becoming.

3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Wordless Wednesday Funny