Weekly Wrap Up...10/3/14

What a week! I have still been high on the pain scale this week but thankful for the good days and sunshine. We are going into week 5 on Monday. I am beginning to see Blake go through that fun  stage of puberty....difficult time. 
To ease into this new change we started with this book . I was very impressed and would highly recommend this for your tween boys.

For sports this year Blake is continuing to play Football. I was  pleased to get him on a great team with wonderful coaching. (This is always a concern when we transfer leagues). In the winter, we will try wrestling and see how that goes. He has been exited to meet two Christian boys on his team and another who homeschools.  For Bible we are doing the S.O.A.P. Study together. It is fun to read a chapter and then see what verses speak to us each day. Blake is filling up his Bible notebook with God's Word. Last night we had a camp-out in our front room together. I am going to cherish the moments he wants to spend with me because soon enough that will be gone... {sigh}.
And now....Off to a great weekend!

Homeschool Week 1 2012-2013

Week One

Wow! We made it through our first week.  Austen is a junior this year and Blake is in 4th grade. As their mom and teacher, I am so blessed. We decided to put Blake in his first team sport this year. He is playing for the Pasco Youth Football League. I was a little apprehensive about allowing him to play, but it has been a good experience so far! Austen playing 3 years of youth football and we had no problems with kids or coaches. I am so thankful! 

Some Things We Learned About This Week

* The Human Body

*Review Parts Of Speech 

* The Book Of Proverbs 

* Memory Verse Hebrews 11:1 & Psalms 23:3-4

* Spanish- Numbers & Greetings

Math-Review Place Value

Geography-Using A Map

Some Pictures

Geography

Bible

English-Parts Of Speech

Youth Football

1st Game 9-8-12

Comets- 40 Vs Vipers- 6

Homeschool Happenings ~ Texas History

We are finishing up the year with some History lessons on Texas

Home Happenings 5-22-11

Good Afternoon!

Everything is unpacked and we are settled in our new home. It still doesn't feel like home, but I know with time it will. Finding a church home has been a bit challenging. We have been plugging along with school and will hopefully finish by the end of June. Austen had the privilege of going to work with dad on Saturday...he really enjoyed it! I think it is so important to teach our kids a good work ethic when they are young. We personally make it a part of homeschool so that our kids learn skills of being out in the community.

We have faced some trying times in this season of our life...but have felt the peace of God. Moving away from a place we lived all of our lives was one of the hardest things I have done!

Wayne is the best provider and is working hard in his new job here in Texas. The biggest blessing is for him to work alongside of a godly man who loves the Lord!! The Bragg family has been such a encouragement to us! Austen is exited about getting his permit and learning to drive, (not so sure I am... lol). Blake has made some new friends in the neighborhood and is adjusting very well here.

Ok..I know ya' ll have been wondering about this Texas weather... and how we are adjusting to it. Well, it has been fairly mild thus far but this is storm season and we are under a Tornado watch this evening. The night we got here, we had a hail storm...that was interesting!! I think it was fine until I had to drive to the into Dallas in it! I was so scared! I will say though the heat beats the rain back home. Ya, the heat is hot and at times uncomfortable but sunshine is so much better then a dreary day back home.

Well, I suppose...I need to go finish the cake I am making to take to the Braggs for dinner.

Have a GREAT weekend!

Winding Down..........2009/10 School Year

Winding Down...Reflecting

We are almost finished with our 2009-10 homeschool year. Yae!

As many of you know there have been some rough times this past school year,

but we persevered!! The Lord has taught us so much. This world we live is is totally against what we stand for and believe,

(Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? Job 4:17)

but we know that we don't serve the world we serve a mighty God. He has given us a PERFECT instruction manual to go by!

The statutes of the LORD [are] right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD [is] pure, enlightening the eyes.

Many times I have doughted my homeschool capabilities, but then when I look at Gods Word...I am assured that I have made the right descision. When I see my children be kind to others, help the elderly, teach the younger, work hard, and be respectful to their elders...I look up and thank God! It is not by us as parents, but the mercy and grace of God!

We strive to teach our children the truth (The truth will set us free!)

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. James 3:17

Blessings,

Brandie

Homeschool Poem

Whatever you write on the heart of a child,

no water can wash it away.

The marks in the sands are erased by the tide;

inscriptions will crumble with clay.

The words in a book will decay with the years

and even engraving in stone disappears

But God’s Word inscribed on a little child’s heart

for time and eternity shall not depart.

(Author Unknown)

Totally Discouraged~ Daily Focus

"And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed"

(Deuteronomy 31:8).

Homeschooling can bring out the worst and best in you. As I sat on the kitchen floor crying, I knew that today was one of the worst. I had put the children to bed early and my husband was working late. I was hoping a good cry would relieve my stress from the week of teaching, responsibilities, and housework. My inabilities to be supermom seemed immensely larger than the homeschooling blessings, and I felt like I was constantly disappointing someone — my husband, my children, my extended family, or myself.

Failure waved its ugly banner over me, and I was tempted to cut my losses and give up entirely. God seemed far away, and I felt alone.

Just when my pity party peaked, I felt a pair of little hands touching my face. Looking up, I saw my youngest daughter looking at me with deep blue eyes and concern on her face. "Mommy," she said. "Don't cry. I love you." In that moment, I sensed the Lord encouraging me through my little daughter's love. Homeschooling was for her and my other children. God would strengthen me to teach them.

Is today one of your bad homeschooling days? Have the failures seemed greater than the successes? Don't lose sight of the reason for homeschooling. God has called you to teach your children, and He has promised, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5b).

Lord, help me to remember You are everything I need. Show me again how to claim Your strength to homeschool and sense Your encouragement every day. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

~ AOP

Wow! I needed this today, I am so ready for summer, burned out, tired, and weary! Thank you Lord for there is always Hope and Strength in YOU!

Making My Home Sing....Meme

Well....finally I think I will join in to this meme, I really enjoy being able to share and also learning from others as well :)

This will be our first week of school after summer break, the kids are both anxious about the new year, wondering what it will bring. I have to be quite honest, I am really nervous about it, because I will be teaching Blake along with Austen all week. Austen tends to like things very quiet and orderly, where as Blake is at the age where he needs to move around and have activity while he is learning. This can make it tough, and Austen gets a bit irritated, so I try and separate them as much as I can.

I think though in order to make my home sing, we must begin each day in prayer, with positive attitudes! You know what ladies, we SET THE TONE in our homes.
Proverbs 31:26
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness

If we are dragging out of bed, unorganized and frazzled, not giving our cares to the Lord and asking his help to get us through, we can make a big mess.
Proverbs 27:15
A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

May we remember to wake up in the morning and start our day in prayer and ask God to lead and guide us to teach our children.
Psalms 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct [my prayer] unto thee, and will look up.
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak. Mat 26:41

Homeschool~ What Is Unschooling?

I found this interesting as I explore the different types of homeschooling, and I thought I would share.

What is Unschooling?

Karen M. Gibson
Unschooling has many, many definitions - probably a different one for each family that calls themselves unschoolers. To me, unschooling means interest-led or child-led learning. There are also many different levels of unschooling. Some families require a set amount of Math and English done each day, and then their child is free to explore whatever subjects he would like.

Others unschool totally until their child reaches a certain grade level, and then start requiring some structure. And then there are the dyed-in-the-wool, radical unschoolers, who require nothing from their child. They totally trust their child to learn what he needs to know on his own timetable.

How unschooling works for us
The more we explore the avenues that work the best for our family, the more we find ourselves gravitating towards total, radical unschooling, with the child leading his learning all the way. We do use some textbooks and workbooks, but only if the child has said that he would like to. Unschooling does not mean no textbooks or no curriculum. If a child prefers to learn that way, or expresses a desire for a certain level of structure, that’s fine, as long as it is the child’s wish. Our main resources, though, are the public library, the Internet, computer games, books, and real-life experiences.

Unschooling also does not mean no parental involvement. If anything, it requires that you, the parent, be totally aware of the needs of your child. It means having on hand many resources, making suggestions of new avenues of exploration, and being able to hunt down that elusive answer or needed resource. It means finding a place for your child to volunteer or apprentice. It means seeking out the person who can give lessons or advice on a particular career. It means joining a group that you have no interest in so that your child can explore more fully his area of interest.

I find that one of the hardest things with unschooling is learning to trust that your child will learn what he needs to know for his own life, in his own time frame. He may not cover all the same subjects and curriculums that everyone else at his age covers; he might cover them earlier or later. It's also possible that he may never cover those subjects if they are not pertinent to his life. I truly believe that each child is unique, and that it’s my job to help that child become the person he was born to be. I can’t force my child to learn anything that he isn’t ready to learn for himself - and if he’s ready to learn it for himself, then why do I need to teach it to him? All I need to do is provide what he needs and help, if he asks for it.

Shepherding a Child's Heart-1

Getting To The Heart Of The Behavior

The Scripture teaches that the heart is the control center for life. A persons life is a reflection of his heart. (Prov. 4:23)The heart is a well from which all the issues of life gush forth.

The heart determines behavior. What you say and do expresses the orientation of your heart.

(Mark 7:21)The evils (evil thoughts,sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly) in action and speech come from within- from the heart.

What your children say and do is a reflection of what is in their hearts. (Luke6:45) Behavior is not the basic issue. The basic issue is always what is going on in their heart.

The heart is the control center of life! We as parents often get sidetracked with the behavior.

Behavior irritates and thus calls attention to itself. Behavior becomes your focus.

We must as parents require proper behavior. "Why" ....... God's law demands it. Parents must help their children ask the question that will expose that attitude of the heart that has resulted in wrong behavior. How did his heart stray to produce this behavior? In what characteristics ways has his inability or refusal to know, trust, and obey God resulted in actions and speech that are wrong?

This is a tough thing, I think for parents, because it takes TIME.........you will need to sit down with your child and share the scriptures that speak on those specific sins. You showing them what God's law commands of them and why. God IS the final authority.