Our oldest child is nine years old and can do much of her work without constant supervision.  After talking with her, we agreed to give a schedule a try and see how it goes.  I have her assignments listed for each day.  She reads each line item, completes it, and then we go over her work together.  Now that she knows she can get up and get started as soon as she’s finished her breakfast and morning regimen, school is getting done in a timely fashion.  It’s such a blessing to both of us!

While I work with our daughter who is in Kindergarten, our oldest is completing her work for the day.  Following school assignments, we do our chores and then we are free to enjoy the rest of our day together.

If you’ve experienced difficulties getting started on assignments in your homeschool family, try scheduling and outlining each (older) child’s assignments and see if it doesn’t  make for a smoother schedule.

Blessings from our family to yours!

I visited my local Goodwill store yesterday and the associate with whom I talked had no idea what I was talking about.  She said she would ask her manager about it the next time she saw her.  If indeed this law will impact the resale community the way it seems it will, why haven’t they been notified?  Children’s clothing, toys, books, and other items are a large part of most resale shops’ income!

Several articles I read mentioned that after February 10, 2009 (which is just a few weeks away!), all used children’s clothing, books, etc. will have to be thrown into the trash (per the LAW) and hauled away to the landfill.  Hmmm…how does that help our earth or our communities?

Garage sales are mentioned in several of the articles I’ve read concerning this law.  How is it that the government can tell an individual what they can or cannot sell at their personal, private garage sale????

For those of us who depend almost exclusively on resale shops to clothe our children (and our family for that matter), is the government now going to send me a check each month so I can shop the mall for my children’s clothing, books, etc.??  If they want to take away my source for resale items, shouldn’t they reimburse ME somehow??

I urge you - if you shop your local thrift stores, Goodwill stores, and consignment shops on a regular basis - contact them as soon as possible.  Ask them if they are aware of this law and the manner in which it will impact their business.  Ask if they’ll be able to comply with the lead testing requirements.  Take along printed information too so they can see what you’re talking about.

Make noise!  I will be conducting more research on this issue and trying to get out more information as the days go by.  In the meantime, here are a few links to which you can refer.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=85542

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/shopping_blog/2009/01/consumer-produc.html

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsia.pdf

Where does this attitude of entitlement come from?  There is something to be said for being able to do things for yourself.  I’m more of a DIY gal, so perhaps this is why I can’t stand to see some gals sit around and wait for another person to do for them and then get ticked when things aren’t done the way they want them done or in the time frame in which they expect.  Get up and do it yourself!

We are “entitled” to nothing in this life.  We are blessed to have what we have.  I am blessed to be a SAHM.  I’m blessed that my husband and children are healthy.  I’m blessed that I have family and friends who love us.  Most of all, I am blessed that my Saviour, Jesus Christ, LIVES and loves me.  I deserve nothing, and yet He died on the cross for my sins and because I accepted His gift of salvation, I have eternal life.  Amen?   AMEN!

Should home educators be concerned?  Perhaps not…President-Elect Obama’s campaign folks have assured the American people that he is open to home education, so wouldn’t he choose someone who is is of the same mindset?  It will prove to be interesting as time goes on…

Home educators need to be aware of what is going on around them.  If you are a home educator, you should belong to HSLDA.  I have a feeling that they are going to have their work cut out for them in the next several years.  Our small monthly amount of $$ helps them to keep fighting for the rights of home educators everywhere.

Keep your eyes and ears open!  Home education is a privilege and a blessing, so let us not be complacent!

It’s interesting however, how my girls’ eyes light up when I suggest that we do a craft together! It’s as if the mere thought of creating something new turned on the creative juices. Mostly though, children love to spend quality time with their parents and enjoying a craft is a great way to do just that.

It doesn’t matter what you do really. Just grab the glue, crayons, construction paper, hot glue gun, ribbon, markers, card stock, buttons, pipe cleaners, stamps and ink pad, stencils, or anything else you have lying around. Get on the computer and search for a craft idea. There are tons of craft ideas online, so just pick one and get started. Your children will thoroughly enjoy the time they spent with you crafting something new. Enjoy!

Susan
http://www.ehow.com/how_2193048_recycle-crayons-craft.html

As a result of my parents encouraging the same from me, I did just that. As an adult, I enjoy several different types of music because they played several different styles in our home. I love country, classical, contemporary Christian, gospel, old-time rock and roll, and much more. Music touches my soul through and through and can affect my emotions quicker than words.

In high school, I played the clarinet in both the marching band and the wind ensemble. I sang in the choir, was on the speech team, and a basketball statistician (did I get that spelling correct?). My friends were as varied as my activities, so that made life even more interesting.

My point of all this is that as I find out more and more about Governor Sarah Palin simply as a person, I am more impressed. When I look at her aside from the politics and aside from the fact that she is running for Vice President of the United States, I see a woman who is well rounded, educated, fun, adventureous, courageous, confident, loving, and compassionate. She is comfortable in her own skin, if you will allow me the cliche.

Governor Sarah Palin has been successful as the governor of her home state, this is true. But she’s also been moose hunting, participated in a beauty pageant, played sports, and many other neat things. She is now a mom to not only two girls (lots of estrogen in that house!), but to a sweet special needs child who will demand of her and her husband much more than they probably realized. I believe she is up to the task.

Sarah Palin is an amazing lady. I wish people would stop trying to break her down and bring her down to their level just so they can feel comfortable being mediocre again. She is a woman I would be happy to have my children emulate. She does not waver on the issue of abortion when it is convenient for her. She loves LIFE. Sarah Palin chose life for her son, and she continues to stand for life for all unborn children. Sarah Palin stands for marriage between a man and a woman, just as the Lord God says in His Word. She could cater to the millions of American people who say that the marriage of two men and two women is acceptable, but she doesn’t. She STANDS for what she believes is right even when the wind is blowing against her from all sides.

Do I want my girls to “worship” her? Absolutely not. I pray they will only worship the Lord Jesus, their Lord and Saviour. However, when we look to others and see great character traits, those are the people we should desire to emulate. Governor Sarah Palin is a hard-working, compassionate, passionate, and courageous woman. I for one would love to be more like her in those ways!

My eyebrows seem to be falling out and I’ve never plucked in my life! Nothing fits right in my closet and I can’t seem to find anything (even at the mall) to buy that fits, my skin looks like I’m a teenager again, I’m getting hot flashes now and then (already!), and I feel like I’m a lot older than my years. YIKES!

Time to get busy! Exercise, eat right, etc. Yes, yes, I know the right things to do. It’s a matter of discipline and doing what I know to do! That’s the key. It’s easier said than done.

I will be 40 years young in roughly two months, so the transformation I want to make will not happen in that time. However, I can definitely make a dent in my goals by modeling the disciplines I am trying to teach my own children.

What happened? Life happened. My habits overtook my reason and my discipline. Don’t let this happen to you! Get busy. Get healthy. Get fit. Oh, yes, I’m talking to myself again…hmmm…add that to the list….

Signing off for now.

As we watched the movie, some of the scenes were photos of girls growing up together. Their high school pictures flashed across the screen. Remember those strange years of frizzy hair, braces, boys, and wondering how you’d look in 10 years? I didn’t live that with my sister. She and I grew up in separate homes with very different childhoods. However, as we have talked and learned about each other through the last four and 1/2 years, there were many things about our growing up years that were very similar.

Growing up together and experiencing things together bonds two sisters…at least I would think so. As I watched the scenes of the movie flash across the screen, I realized there is so much I’ll never know about my Sis. She and I can talk and talk and talk, but never truly know all about each other’s lives and how things really were growing up as children.

My heart aches in one way when I think of that. However, I also know that the Lord’s timing is perfect. I am so thankful in so many ways we didn’t grow up together because that would have meant I’d never have known the love of my incredible parents. They and my brother are three of the most precious people in the world to me. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I had never known them and they hadn’t loved me all my life (still do).

But my thinking has brought me to a question - how do I connect in heart with my Sis? How do I, without having grown up in the same house with her all those years, connect with her, truly? I believe the Lord has given us an unique and wonderful opportunity to get to know one another. Our children (cousins to each other) get along beautifully and are nuts about one another. I don’t want to squander the chance the Lord has given me to get to know her and who she is as a person.

She and I live nearly 8 to 10 hours away from each other and really only spend time together a few times a year, if that. We chat over the phone all the time, but that isn’t really the same, you know?

So, sisters out there - please lend me your hearts - tell me how I can really connect with my Sis, heart to heart. I appreciate in advance your thoughts.

Good night….

Let it be known that I myself am a stay-at-home mom, raising my children and caring for my household and husband. I believe, that for me, it is a conviction from the Lord. Does that mean that it’s right for every woman?

There are several Christian authors and public speakers that I respect and see as champions for women. They address issues that are important to women and a lot of them raised their families at the same time they were writing and committing to speaking engagements. Are these women wrong for making those choices?

Sarah Palin, in my opinion, has brought hope to America for the first time in a long time. She is a breath of fresh air and I for one am glad she is in this race.