Minivan Moments

"A" is for the ANIMALS we got to see and feed. "B" is for the BEAUTY we enjoyed at Fresh Earth Farm. "C" is for the CREEK the Small Man-like Being couldn't resist jumping. "D" is for the DUCK that waddled all around us. "E" is for the EGGS we collected while we were there! "F" is for the FEATHERS we admired in the chicken coop. "G" is for the GOAT that tried to gore me with his horn! "H" is for the HENS that were eager to eat. "I" is for the kids' ICKY reaction to getting chicken poop on their hands! "J" is for JESUS, who took Marble, the sick goat, home for Thanksgiving. "K" is for the KID (who was bigger than his mama). "L" is for the LOCKS that were expertly rigged all over the place! "M" is for MAMA, who was the sweetest little goat. "N" is for NOT wanting to leave. "O" is for OVERCOMING a fear of chickens! "P" is fo...

As a member of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew , I received a DVD from Exploramania entitled, Gymathtics . This is actually an exercise program for the family that talks about and demonstrates math concepts. That's quite an attention-grabber, yes??? So, the kids and I popped the DVD into the computer (that's how we watch videos downstairs), moved the couches and coffee table, and proceeded to get fit! The really neat thing about the DVD is that it combines the warm up, the program, and the cool down all in one session. I am terrible at remembering to have my kids warm up before exercise, and with Gymathtics , I don't have to! Plus, even the three-year-old can do the workout with us - which adds entertainment, for sure. My kids didn't even realize the video had been talking about math... { yes, dear children, shapes and lines and angles and counting are math concepts } Anytime I can sneak learning into their day without them knowing it is a plus -...

As a current member of this year's The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew , I have gotten some really interesting things to review. There are gobs of homeschooling and supplemental materials and resources out there to be had that I didn't even know about! AVKO is one of them. AVKO (which stands for audio , visual , kinesthetic , oral ) Educational Research Foundation was created with the intention of helping dyslexics learn to read, write, and spell using a multi-sensory teaching style. You can read more about their philosophy here . For the purposes of this review, I was provided with the online membership, and it is the benefits of that membership (which generally costs $25) that I am reviewing. The membership to AVKO comes with free downloads, articles, supplemental materials for their Sequential Spelling program, discounts on printed materials, and much more. While it may be an amazing deal for many homeschooling families, I was too overwhelmed by the website to get muc...

We Christians hear a lot these days about our purpose here on earth. We talk quite a bit about God's plan for our lives. We ask questions, read books, seek wise counsel, participate in Bible studies, and pray... all to determine some grand scheme that will give us a sense of belonging. November has been an amazing month for me already... i have seen God move, i have heard God's voice, i have been a part of God's communication network, and i have helped God with His kingdom.... and now, i have to share a very memorable event with my readers in the blog-o-sphere. Last weekend, God instructed me to have a garage sale, and He meant next week . [ uh, really ?] I planned the sale, packed up some stuff, involved a few others, and picked up some change... all in five days. God also told me i was to sell concessions to raise money for our adopted missionary family in New Zealand. I baked, bagged, and tagged muffins and brownies, made up some signs, and picked up some drinks fr...

Thought for the day from a song i have stuck in my head: " It’s your life What you gonna do? The world is watching you Every day the choices you make Say what you are and who Your heart beats for It’s an open door It’s your life. " ~ Francesca Battistelli ( co-written with Ian Eskelin ) And more important than the world watching me, my children are watching me...

Have i ever told you that i hate crowds? I really get uncomfortable in crowded rooms, long lines, and busy places. I am more of a stay-at-home, peace-and-quiet kinda gal. Well, what they say about three being a crowd is too true! We have three children now, and the house is almost never peaceful OR quiet. In addition to the number of little bodies running around trying to get their own way, the Littlest Angel is now three years old - and for anyone with more than one child, you know that the Terrible Two's have got NOTHING on the second- or third-born child going through the Throw 'Em Back Threes! These days, nothing goes unchallenged: "Honey, if you want to go outside, you have to put pants on. It is too cold to wear shorts," Mommy explains. "I won't be cold," counters the Negotiator calmly. "You can't have candy right now; it is too close to bedtime," Mommy says. "It okay; i not tired, Mommy," counters the Negotiator calml...

As a member of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew , I received a CD from the American Heritage Education Foundation . The CD is offered to all educators for FREE, so I am not really all that special this time - YOU, TOO , can get this one free! Now, let me give you some background information about this product. The American Heritage Education Foundation ( AHEF ) is " a non-profit, non-partisan educational foundation dedicated to the understanding and teaching of America's factual and philosophical heritage to promote constructive citizenship and Freedom, Unity, Progress, and Responsibility among our students and citizens." AHEF provides a set of FREE lesson plans, but they also offer printed binders for a fee. I received the CD with the FREE information, so we printed what we wanted to use when we wanted to use it. The information contained in the CD was vast, and I can see how a family with younger children like mine could study these topics over and...

Today, i am focusing on being "other-centered" rather than self-centered. Though i have not spent most of my life in a self-centered state, i have to admit these last few weeks have been quite full of unpacking myself - the bits and pieces of the child i was, the memories of events that shaped who i have become, and the issues and struggles of today and how they come from all those past events and memories. I am happy to report that this week, i have so much more peace. I feel as if the pain is finally coming to the surface so it can leave, which is the whole point, according to my therapist! I have not only attempted to get on a schedule, i am kicking schedule butt! I have not only endeavored to get caught up in our school work, we are tearing school work up! I have not only tried to make a molehill out of the mountain of laundry, i have eliminated the problem altogether! {although, with laundry, that is always a temporary state!} Anyway, this week, the kids and i hav...

When I was given a complimentary temporary subscription to the ABC Teach website as a member of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew , I was thrilled! It seems like nearly very time I do a web search for worksheets or handouts to compliment a lesson in our homeschool or my co-op, abcteach.com is one of the top (if not THE top) links that comes back. And that is when I put the word "FREE" in my search! I could only imagine the gobs of stuff they have for paying members. Well, I had the privilege of finding out just how much they provide for members for a short time ( and it seemed far too short! ). The site is just so FULL of great stuff - it is like someone handed me $5,000 and set me loose in a homeschool supply store!! There are lesson plans for all ages, handouts, coloring pages, and games for any subject you can imagine! For example, I searched for worksheets for my oldest to practice her cursive handwriting, and not only are there prepared handouts for ...