Things I'm thinking about today

I KNOW this is true.  How good it is to hear another Christian wife and mother articulate these things.  What encouragement to continue on in ways that are, for the most part, extremely counter-cultural today. Join me in reading here today.  I'd love if you'd click back over here and comment on your thoughts, experiences, or questions in these two areas!  Let's talk!

Homeschooling too much produces too little.

Preparing our children for what?

Reason # 2304

There are lots of reasons that we choose "homeschooling" (although in our family we prefer to just call it "living and learning").

Hopefully soon I can share more about what our days look like, but for now, here is just one of the reasons we choose to educate our children without sending them to state schools.

Whatever Schools Teach, Parents Have No Rights

How Could You Be So Good To Me?

That God would allow me to share in the joys and sufferings of these children is truly a part of His Incredible Grace!

If you would like to help me tell more people how good He is and how He really can take children from hard places and heal their hearts, please consider taking a minute to "vote" for me at Circle of Moms. . . it really isn't about this blog, I just want others to know that God's Word and Truth can make a difference in healing the hearts of their adopted children!

you can vote once each day. Help me spread the Good News!

Thinking About A True Education?

It's that time again. That time of year when so many homeschooling moms are evaluating this past year and making plans for their child's education next year.

Although we tend to learn year round and not follow the school year calendar too closely, I do find myself reading, thinking, praying and planning.

I am loving the freedom and joy that our family is experiencing as we move toward a whole-hearted, love of learning, tidal, free-range, T.J., C.M. education.

No idea what I'm talking about? Try these resources just to get started:

These aren't just your typical "here's a great way to homeschool" resources. . .

these are PARADIGM SHIFTING,

"change the way you think about education" resources.

No matter if your children are 3, 9, or 15, homeschooled or public-schooled, these are worth your time.

I challenge you to read this book (available on Kindle) and watch this video to educate yourself on what education actually is!

What is TJEd? from Thomas Jefferson Education on Vimeo.

Thinking about (not) Homeschooling?

This is worth reading

"What's So Great About Public School?"

and what about "early learning opportunities?"

I wish I had time to write more, but for now ponder with me:

What do children REALLY need?

Spring Solutions for Homeschool Burn-out

We now approach our days with a "lifestyle of learning" approach, which seems to have eliminated "homeschool" burnout (since we don't really "do" school).

However, I am still a "homeschooling" mom and there are days when the dailiness of housekeeping and mothering can make one quite weary.

I know many moms find themselves in a weary place mid-spring and I hope these thoughts will be helpful.

The bottom line in avoiding "homeschool burnout":

approach life more wholistically and avoid "doing school."

I realize that is making some of you have a heart attack

and that you just aren't ready to do it, so I will also offer:

The bottom line in conquering "homeschool burnout":

Pray, take a few days to do something different,

get outside, live, laugh, love on your kids.

Whether you are weary from homeschooling or just from daily life, here are some ways to infuse life into your days of living and learning with your children:

1. Toss what isn't working - there are seasons. . . and sometimes a curriculum has "seen" its season! It REALLY is O.K. to give it the boot.

2. Take a few days "off" to get your house in order - sometimes the blahs aren't really from school, but are from other overwhelming things like a messy house or clothes mountains. It is spring cleaning season, after all. Get your kids involved too by cleaning up the yard, painting a fence, moving furniture, planting flowers, scrubbing floors, sorting socks. They will get out some energy and you will all feel refreshed with a better space to work in, cluttered with less stuff.

3. Grab a great read aloud and get outside to read it! Some good ideas: James and the Giant Peach, The Chocolate Touch, Farmer Boy, The Children of Noisy Village, Grandma's Attic. Don't forget great picture books like Mrs. Rumphius or Roxaboxen (be prepared for some GREAT imaginative outdoor play after that one!)

4. MY FAVORITE - pack a picnic lunch and head to your nearest lake or river. Find somewhere that lends itself to wading, hiking, waterplay, sand/shore play. Take a chair or blanket to sit on and bring your camera. Spend a day relaxing and capturing memories on film.

5. Call another homeschooling friend and have a "play the day away outside" play date for the kids while you and a friend have coffee and chat about life and encourage each other on this journey!

6. Change up your daily plan (with the change of season). . . work outside in the morning or go for a walk, move reading time to after lunch or dinner, maybe do some "book work" after dinner instead of in the early morning; after their bodies are tired from work and play during the day.

7. Go on a field trip to a local museum, fish hatchery, or zoo.

8. Do a family service project. Bake some goodies and visit a nursing home or grab some rakes and garbage bags and go rake some neighbors lawns, wash some windows for a local business, plant some flowers for someone who is having a hard time.

9. THIS IS GOOD! READY? Here we go: Figure out a simple list for each child of what you really, actually want them to finish before Memorial Day. Give them the list and tell them that if they finish by Memorial Day, there will be a sweet treat (either leave it a mystery or figure it out together - maybe a trip to a water park, a trip for icecream, a movie/pizza night)

Here's my example list for Mr. Z (age 11):

• finish Keys to Math workbooks (he has about 6 left to finish)
• read 4 more books off of our history reading list
• complete weekly Science reading and copywork from Real Science 4 Kids Biology book.
• complete weekly writing assignment for I.E.W. class (about 3 paragraphs a week)
• memorize the multiplication/division facts using the Flashmaster (we never really made this a big deal and he knows most of them, but higher math is irritating when you don't know them all, so I decided to give him the challenge to memorize them completely)
• glue ancient history timeline figures from Homeschool in the Woods into Timeline Binder and write one-page about a topic of his choice from anything we read about in ancient history this year.

It gives me a little bit of "ah, no stress - he can either get it done or not" but if he doesn't he'll miss the sweet treat (natural consequence for laziness) and then. . . we'll just pick it back up sometime this summer - no big deal.

I made a similar list for Smartie (age 13) and have a list for my younger kids too. I am more involved in helping their lists to get done.

How about you? How do you avoid or conquer "homeschool burn-out?" What have you been up to this Spring?

A Productive Day

Today we purposed to be productive!

Of course, this is my goal most days,

but I actually verbalized the goal this morning to the children and here's what happened after breakfast:

First we had our "Circle Time" - read our Jesus Storybook Bible (LOVE this), The Children of Noisy Village, Favorite Poems of Childhood, and went over our memory work (verses, presidents, landmarks, and such).

Next, all of the children worked on cleaning up their bedrooms, laundry (for those whose "laundry day" it is), and personal items around the house.

Then everyone teamed up and tackled some projects around the house - we

• raked the backyard and picked up the random stuff outside
• raked the front yard and cleaned up the toys that were under the porch
• made lunch and cleaned up the kitchen
• put away some bulk spices into jars in the pantry
• put away blankets and pillows and sleeping bags from last weekend's "sleep-over."
• vacuumed upstairs bedrooms
• picked up the little boys room and washed the bedding from last night's bed-wetting accident

We quickly ate lunch, cleaned up and jumped in the van with a rake and a bucket and. . .

went to a friend's house to rake and pick up leaves and acorns from their front yard. Everyone worked really hard and we finished their yard and the neighbor's in just under an hour. The kids were blessed with cookies and some playing in the sunny yard before heading home with $30 that we decided to send to some missionary friends

spent some time celebrating with more cookies and oranges in the backyard before

tackling a little "academic" work of reading, writing, and arithmetic (about 20 minutes of each)

and then everyone was off to check their "zones" and do their "zone work" before

dinner with Dad, clean-up, and reading TWO chapters of Amon's Adventure (love it).

So, what do you think? Productive? I suppose it is a matter of perspective, but for us, right now, this was quite a day!

Love Links

Two for Tuesday!

Read these "love" links to find out

why being selfish is NOT O.K. @ Time-Warp Wife:

this woman is full of God's Word and wisdom. . .

why education is NOT my top priority @ Storing Up Treasures:

Courtney does a great job of explaining the heart of a mother who desires her children's hearts to have love. . .

Scared of homeschooling? Questions?

Get some of those questions and fears answered HERE by the wonderful and very experienced Elizabeth Foss as she responds to the questions posted at another blog I love to read: Conversion Diary.

Maybe someday I will post my own responses and thoughts to these questions but. . .

Right now I am trying to get ready for 6 new children to join our family AND it is harvest season so. . .

I'm just a little bit busy! LOL!

Thinking about Homeschooling?

I have talked with many friends over this past month who are thinking about homeschooling this year. Inevitably, the conversation usually comes to a point where they want to homeschool, but are fearful of the unknown, of being able to teach their children, of not having "properly socialized" children, or some other related fear.

The year before my oldest was to begin "Kindergarten," we were seriously praying about homeschooling and I remember worrying about the fact that Mr. Z would never have the experience of carrying a lunchbox to school or sitting at a desk with his age-mates. . . and (gasp), "what about prom?"

I would like to report that Mr. Z has suffered no lasting effects from having spent the greater part of his first 5 "school" years running through the backyard, reading good books, baking cookies, and eating last night's leftovers for lunch (with his mom and siblings). He hasn't suffered from his lack of carrying a lunchbox or sitting at a desk filling in worksheets designed to make sure he can pass the STAR test at the end of the year in order to get more money for his school. In fact, both he and his brothers and sister are thriving, happy, loving children who have a zest for life and a love of learning. They have little care for the petty antics of most of their public schooled age-mates (of which I am thankful) and can all carry on a lovely conversation with anyone willing to engage (so much for the socialization argument - LOL!).

But I digress. . .

Now for the real reason for this post - to those of you thinking about homeschooling. . . especially if you are considering pulling your child out of public school : If you think there are things that worry you about homeschooling, PLEASE take the time to read this article and CONSIDER all of the very real things you should be worried about if you are sending your child off to public school.

Whatever choice you make, the reality is that WE (the parents) are responsible for the raising of our children and WE will stand before the Lord one day to give an account. I, for one, do not want to look back on this precious time the Lord has given me with my children and say, "but Lord. . . I just thought it would be o.k. . . . I didn't know how bad it was. . . I just didn't know. . ." Ignorance is NOT bliss when it comes to our children's education. We simply must be aware of what is going on. And so, I post this possibly controversial link, because I think it is important enough that others must hear.

By the way, my kids probably won't be going to prom (and it doesn't worry me one bit!).

Fantastic List of Homeschooling Resources

I've been thinking for a while about making a list of my favorite homeschooling resources and posting them here on my blog.  Someday, this might actually happen. . . but, for today, here are my "TOP TWO" recommendations (I read or refer to both of these multiple times every year):  

"The Three R's" 

by Ruth Beechick 

(the older version is actually 3 small booklets; newer version is all in one)

I can't say enough about this VERY short, VERY comprehensive book.  Ruth Beechick is incredibly knowledgeable and gifted in teaching children the basics!  If I was stranded on a desert island or (more likely) a missionary living in a mud hut in Africa, this book and the Bible would be all I would NEED to educate my children very well!  If you are new to homeschooling, or if you are homeschooling a birth-10 year old and struggling and/or overwhelmed with too many resources, PLEASE get this book right away.  It will be an invaluable tool!

"Educating the Whole-hearted Child" 

by Clay and Sally Clarkson

A very good friend first gave me this book when Mr. Z was almost 5 after listening to me lament about how we wanted to homeschool BUT were so worried that he would never ride the bus, carry a lunchbox, go to prom, etc. . . LOL!   Praise the Lord that He knew just what I needed at that moment because this book confirmed everything I knew that I knew but just couldn't put into words.  What an encouragement!  What a challenge to raise my children to be whole-heartedly devoted to the Lord.  Even if you're not a homeschooler, many of the thoughts and ideas in this book about intentionally discipling your children make this a book worth having on your shelf!

And, since we're talking about great resources. . . 

Check out this post from Kendra over at Preschoolers and Peace.  It is all about basically free homeschooling resources available via the internet.  BTW, Preschoolers and Peace is a great resource itself!  You can even help to support P&P by purchasing one of the above resources through their site (I am not being paid to say this!).

Reason number 15,301

Yes, I think we're up there in the double-digit thousands now!  

THIS is just one of the MANY reasons we choose to educate our own children rather than throw them out there to the increasingly secularly humanistic, socialist indoctrination factories that were once called public schools.  

My apologies if you are one of the rare public school teachers that still believes and practices that public schools are for educating children in reading, writing, and arithmetic and are attempting to work within the system.  I am so thankful for you and pray that you may be encouraged to stand strong in your endeavor (which, I realize, is extremely difficult and discouraging).  May God grant you the strength to continue.  

However, if you are a parent who has a choice, may I gently suggest that you take a SERIOUS look at what is really going on?   Start with the link above, but then check out some of the statements coming out of the NEA.  Look up some of the recent education bills that have almost been passed in states like CA.  Public school IS NOT what it used to be and it is certainly not an encouraging, nurturing, spiritually uplifting environment for the tender souls of our children.  Even if you are still going to choose public schooling as your primary means of educating your children, please don't stick your head in the sand about what is really going on.  Be (and stay) informed!

If we are going to raise godly children for His Glory, we must be intentional in our choices.

My new "home learning" blog

This is really going to just be a simple record of what we do in our home learning year and I am hoping it will make it a little easier to turn in our learning records to our charter school (maybe my educational facilitator can just check the blog if I can keep it updated!).  But, some of you might be interested, so here is the link.   You can also access it from the "About Me" link - under the list of "my blogs."  

Home learning plans

I just love the term "home learning" as opposed to "home schooling" since I don't really view our home as a school - but as a home where learning is always taking place.  Sally Clarkson's book "Educating the Whole-hearted Child" and Elizabeth Foss's "Real Learning" helped me in thinking about life in this way!  

But, I digress, this post is supposed to be about my plans for this upcoming "learning year!"  I put plans in italics because I am most certainly NOT a type-A, check-listing, curriculum following type of home schooling mom!  I enjoy taking each day as it comes and have not (at least, to date) ever stuck to any formally laid out lesson plans.  

However, this year I would like to be slightly more intentional in presenting and requiring certain information and response to that information and so I was DELIGHTED to find some wonderful lesson plans that have been laid out by the ladies over at Real Learning.  They just happen to be covering the very time-period we were planning to work on this year and they just happen to be in a list form (as opposed to daily assignments) AND based around good literature.  Just my style!!!  Yeah!!  

So here is the link to what I'm thinking we will be doing this year.

Along the American History Trail (at Serendipity)

2008 Book Reviews

This is just a simple list of books I've read this year along with my brief thoughts. I will update at least monthly to include my latest reads!

JANUARY/FEBRUARY
Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours by Kevin Leman
One I've read before, yet always a good reminder. Dr. Leman incorporates a lot about birth order which is especially helpful to us right now with our two first born sons trying to work things out. It is FULL of practical and useful ideas for how to "pull the rug out from under the little buzzards" (as in natural and logical consequences). Focus is on authoritative parenting and encourages against authoritarian and/or permissive parenting. One that will stay on my shelf through these next few years!

The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
I can't believe I had never read this book before. From the same author of The Witch of Blackbird Pond (scheduled to read soon), this is a GREAT book that "Mr. Z" and I both really enjoyed. It is a coming of age story of a young boy who braves the wilderness alone while his father goes to pick up the rest of his family. Lucky for him, he is not really alone. . . I won't give it away, but it is VERY similar to The Courage of Sarah Noble (another wonderful book), only this one is for more advanced readers. It makes a very good read aloud and
would be a great "Daddy read-aloud."

MARCH/APRIL/MAY
Created to Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl

Well, you pretty much will either love it or hate it (just check out the reviews on Amazon and you will see what I mean!).  I happen to be in the "love it" category on this one.  This book is not for the faint of heart and Debi Pearl does not tread lightly so as to be politically correct or to not hurt feelings.  On the contrary, she is downright blunt at many points and I found myself WANTING to argue with her about certain subjects but, after searching scripture and praying, knew that I could not.  

One of the most compelling reasons I am giving this book a "love it" review is that I have seen the impact it has had on the 6 of us who have been reading it together.  The challenges and encouragement to have a cheerful, merry heart, to "know what we bought" (check out the chapter on the different kinds of men - invaluable insight!), to focus on the 8 callings in Titus 2, and to serve joyfully have literally CHANGED marriages of people I PERSONALLY know from good to GREAT!

 I know lots of people disagree with some of the Pearl's theological positions and/or parenting philosophies, but it is a shame that so many people simply dismiss this book based on these things - I mean, really, is there anyone out there who has it all figured out and isn't probably a *tiny* bit wrong on some theological point about something. . . and I have yet to find a parenting book that isn't a part of some heated internet "mommy wars" debate at some point on some site somewhere.  So, if you can just read this book as it was written - from an older, godly woman to a teachable, younger woman, I think that you will probably glean some (if not a LOT) of insight, wisdom, and a bit of a "kick in the pants" encouragement to stop whining and complaining and to start to joyfully serve those around you with a happy and contented heart!

I am just not a good "blogger!"

Well, my friends, I have decided that I am just not a very good "blogger." I LOVE reading all of your blogs: they are so witty and insightful, full of truth, real life questions and concerns, . . . and then I come back to my own and I cannot fathom how I can possibly write anything remotely interesting to anyone else. . . it isn't that I don't have anything to say (those of you who know me know better, LOL!) - it is just that I would rather SAY it than write it and I haven't quite figured out how to translate my amazing and witty humor (o.k. - and slight sense of sarcasm) into bits and pieces for the bloggy world.

But, for those dear friends of mine who are interested in a quick update, here are some of the high points which I may or may not end up blogging more about sometime in the future:

• We celebrated our first "Gotcha Day" last month with a trip to a hands on science museum and eating out. It was a blast and the children had a great time. This has been an interesting, challenging, fulfilling, stretching, crazy year in our lives and we will forever look back on it as one of those very specific "turning" points in our life where we were really challenged to consider what really matters in life.

• "Big Jo" turned 8 and we celebrated with a trip to the Family Fun Center (ALONE with JUST mom and dad!) - it was great! This one on one time with him was really special and sweet. We have seen such growth and change in his life this year. We can only imagine what it has been like for him and we continue to pray that the Lord would draw Big Jo to himself and continue to help him to grieve his past and feel safe and secure in God's love for him and our love for him.
  

• We are loving our new home and all that has been going on here. Jeff's parents are moved in to the "granny house" that is attached through the laundry room (I'm sure there is a blog just waiting to be written about this!) and we have had Bible studies, parties, family movie nights, and many more activities which almost always include somewhere between 2 and 8 additional neighborhood children and/or extended family members being present. We LOVE it and pray that this home will be a place of ministry to all who enter it!

• Our small group has been going through Emmerson Eggerich's "Love and Respect" DVD series and it has been incredible. I HIGHLY recommend it for any and all married couples. Emmerson and his wife, Sarah, hit the nail on the head when it comes to presenting God's truth in an interesting and motivating manner. There is a book out too, but the DVD's and/or seminars themselves are really too good to pass up!

• We are wrapping up our "official" homeschooling year and hope to have our last samples turned into our Educational Facilitator at our charter school late next week. In reality, the only thing that changes in our life is just the fact that I won't be needing to turn in any samples over the summer - we have more of a year round lifestyle of learning approach (which, I assume, will include a lot more nature study this summer). I do have to make a bit more of a structured plan for next year - maybe. . .

• Hubby and I are getting away for a much needed two night retreat while his parents and our dear friends who live 2 doors down care for our children. We are hoping to go to IKEA and possibly purchase some bedroom furniture for our room so we can get our mattress off of the floor (although, after 10 years, it is really probably NOT that big of a deal!).

• We are hoping to be approved to be foster parents sometime by the end of June or July. Not quite sure where this will go, but we know we will most likely be a "receiving home" for now - taking in babies and toddlers who need a place to stay while the social workers and judges are making decisions. We are also open to more long term fostering and to foster adoptions if the Lord leads.

• Life is full, life is good, I am trying to live in light of eternity, but I am so easily distracted - Oh, help me Lord!

Love, Live, Learn

Our homeschooling motto.

Love God and Others
Live for His Glory
(Be a) Life-long Learner

Simple. Succinct. Sweet!

Spring Reading List

As many of you know, I like to read. Oh, O.K. - I LOVE to read! My husband says, "if it has words in print, she has to read it!" So, I thought I might incorporate this into my blog. I would eventually like to list some of my favorites and maybe even do some book reviews. Alas, since I can hardly keep up with posting twice a week, I suppose I shall have to start with something a little more simple. So. . . here is a list of books I am currently reading or hoping to read this spring:

Currently Reading:
New Testament: Acts and Romans
Created to be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl
Farmer Boy (with the kids) by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Secret of the Andes (with "Mr. Z)

Hoping to read soon:
New Testament: continue on through the Epistles (! Corinthians - Philemon)

A Mother's Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul
by Holly Pierlot

Family Driven Faith by Voddie T. Baucham

The Babylon Blog by Glen Morris (I actually know this author! He's really funny!)

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle:A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver, Camille Kingsolver, and Steven L. Hopp

All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew

Around the Year (with the kids) by Tasha Tudor

there are a lot more, but that's good for now. . .

Homeschooling with Newly Adopted Children

My friend Shawna just posted some really great thoughts about Homeschooling with a New Baby/Babies in the house. I think everything she says can also apply very much to homeschooling during the year that your newly adopted children come home. I hope you will check out what she has to say if you are needing encouragement or inspiration or if you are planning to bring home any children anytime soon and homeschool too!

We have had a great time of learning to be a family this year. Our children have all learned so much and grown in many ways (our life has NOT looked much like what I would have imagined it to look like as far as homeschooling goes. . . and that is O.K.!).

We have been busy learning what it means to be a family; what it means to be a friend. We have been learning Bible stories, how to honor our siblings, how to eat politely at the table, not to pout when we don't get our way, letter sounds, shapes, colors, kinds of animals (who knew there were so many?), how do do household chores, that Mom and Dad love us and we love them; we have learned about libraries, bakeries, grocery stores, pumpkin patches, and the post office.

And, NO, my adopted children have not learned how to read yet. I'm not sure why this the first question many people ask. I assume it is from a lack of understanding that my children had A LOT of other things that they have been taking in, assimilating, learning, sensing, and feeling in the 9 months since we have "carried" them home. Could I have taught them to read by now? I think so. They are smart and we could have spent most of the last 9 months getting them reading, but I am so glad we spent the time getting to know each other, giving them a solid foundation in the Lord, going places they have not ever seen, and working out systems for our home life that have helped us to have a peaceful, God-honoring home. Reading will come soon enough, but these other things will not wait!

Be encouraged if you are homeschooling your newly adopted children this year and things aren't as "academic" as you had planned. Give yourself and your kiddos a break and just work on the basics this year. Grow in the Lord, grow in love for and trust in each other, take them to see many of the things they have never seen, teach them your basic family and household routines, create systems that will allow you to work on the "academics" more next year and just enjoy the new family the Lord has given you!

I'm hoping to make this a multi-part post, so watch for more to come about Homeschooling with Newly Adopted Children.

Coffee, Snow Sledding, Pizza, and "Ratatouille"

It was a great day!

I met some homeschooling mommy friends for our weekly coffee and chat and then spent the rest of the afternoon visiting with one of the best homeschooling mommies I know while we watched our children snow sled and play snow football for about 3 hours (mommies stayed inside with the "littles").

We topped off the day with pizza for dinner (daddies included!) and the children all watched Ratatouille which meant that we actually had time to sit and talk to our dear friends for more than an hour! This, I assure you, is a rarity for us right now. Our great evening ended with chocolate chip cookies for all before we headed home for bed.

This is what we refer to as a "good idea" which is quite different from a "not so good idea" (like trying to roast hot dogs and marshmallows outside with 8 children under the age of 8 and an incessantly-barking Labrador puppy - yeah, that might be a "good idea" in about 4 years. . . LOL!)

Well, even the "not so good ideas" are actually pretty great when shared with great friends and they do give us a good laugh. . . eventually!

This day was made even better knowing that the dear Addy's Hope families arrived safely back in the States today with their precious children after a long and hard spiritual battle which many people fought on their knees and in which the Lord was, is, and will continue to be glorified!