Minivan Moments

When I was growing up, I remember my parents telling me, "debt is a way of life... you'll always have a car payment."  When I married, we discovered the Dave Ramsey way of doing things, and life was so much better!  However, it is hard to completely shut out the training of one's youth, and my husband and I have both struggled at points with a case of the Wants. When we received the information for Family Mint , I thought, "okay, this is going to help us teach our kids what we want them to learn about managing money - so they will not have to overcome a self-destructive foundation." I signed our family up for an account right away. Then, honestly, I forgot about it for the most part. The kids each have savings accounts at the local bank, and the oldest (10yo) helps fill out deposit slips and do balancing.  They know how much they have in there and they know how much they are putting in (we haven't taken any out yet) each time, so we keep a runni...

... are worse than your symptoms:  you went from having difficulty with daily activities to laying on the floor in the fetal position.  your kids went from laid-back homeschooling to full-time Spring Break.  you went from speaking in a hoarse voice to having no voice at all.  you experienced a 4 on the scale of "interfering with my life" before the meds and a 10 with meds.  your husband went to work everyday when you had strep throat and a sinus infection, but after you took your medication one time, he was unable to work a full day.  and last, but not least, you are begging God for it to be the common cold because it means no meds .... Case and point: my treatment from the doctor was to do Albuterol breathing treatments and use steroids.  One inhalation of Albuterol took almost 24 hours to get over: dizziness that made me nauseous and crashing blood sugar that also made me nauseous.  If i held my body just so and tilted my head exactly ...

Well, homeschooling IS my life, so suffice it to say, there's no stone unturned!  Massive takeover, at times, a bit hostile!! For example, my second child was getting ready to embark on Mother's Day Out and my first child was conveniently ensconced in a Government-run "educational" facility, and I had a glimmer of real freedom... for about a day.  Then I found out I was preggo with Baby #3.  Commence Meltdown. I have since gotten over that traumatic , er, beautiful time, and we have embraced homeschooling.  The freedom never came, the oldest got pulled from Uncle Sam's Brainwashing Academy, and the second offspring never entered a public school.  The third will not go away to preschool. They go with me to the doctor.  This, they do not love.  Neither do I. ( Mommy, why is she putting that there?? ) Alas, it is our lot in life... at least until the eldest is of babysitting age. They go with me to the grocery store.  This, they love occasion...

So, this Momma has been sick since Wednesday.  Not a big deal.  We've all been there.  You put on your Big Girl Panties and you deal with your life. Cooking.     Cleaning.           Laundry.                Bills.                    Pet care.                         Child care. And for me, homeschooling. The past 5 days (including today) have been a trial.  Until Friday, i did not realize how sick i was.  Well, okay, i wondered... it isn't quite commonplace to feel like you have razor blades in your throat, but still.  Despite the fire in my throat, the pounding in my head, the almost complete loss of my voice, and the general tiredness, i kept on keepin' on.  Laundry, dis...

I am posting a story by Kitty Werthmann that i received via email from the Tennessee Eagle Forum.  It is well worth the time to read it. ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * AMERICA.......Truly is the Greatest Country in the World. Don't Let Freedom Slip Away By: Kitty Werthmann What I am about to tell you is something you've probably never heard or will ever read in history books. I believe that I am an eyewitness to history. I cannot tell you that Hitler took Austria by tanks and guns; it would distort history. We elected him by a landslide - 98% of the vote. I've never read that in any American publications. Everyone thinks that Hitler just rolled in with his tanks and took Austria by force. In 1938, Austria was in deep Depression. Nearly one-third of our workforce was unemployed. We had 25% inflation and 25% bank loan interest rates. Farmers and business people were declaring bankruptcy daily. Young people were going from house to house begging for food. Not that they...

As a member of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew , I was sent some Math Galaxy electronic downloads from Galaxy of Education . We used Whole Numbers Fun (geared towards 1st through 4th graders). The mathematics concepts are presented in very concrete ways, much like our Math-U-See , with visual elements and explanations of what the concept represents (like taking something away for subtraction and having multiple rows of the same number of items for multiplication). The program was a bit tricky to figure out for me, but once I got the idea, it was better. The menus are simplistic, which seemed to add to the problem. For example, when wanting my child to work on Time , we had to click on "Review" and "Step by Step" in order for him to start from the beginning. Clicking on "Review" seemed counter-intuitive for someone wanting to start from scratch, but once I figured that part out, we could do the program. There is a lot of word...

i am sick and i am empty of words for my blog, but God always has a plan, doesn't He? Here is the link to a blog i follow: Ordinary Hero Blog They are in DESPERATE need of an African-American or Interracial Couple to adopt a newborn baby who is to be born by c-section TODAY.  This mother chose LIFE and has NOT ONE FILE to look at for her baby because she wants her baby to have Full AA parents or Interracial parents. Spread the word, save a life.... UPDATE!!!  The Mother had a baby girl today, and thanks to prayer and outreach, she has options for adoption!  THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PASSED THIS INFORMATION ON!!!

We fortunate members of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew received a set of books from Children's Bible Hour Ministries .  I was sent four books with accompanying audio CDs: Race With Midnight , You Can't Come In , Seventy Times Seven , and Brave the Storm .  Each book is based on a different season, and each represents a time in the life of Christians all around the world: Spring ( Race With Midnight ) is new life in Christ; Summer ( You Can't Come In ) is growing in God's love; Autumn ( Seventy Times Seven ) is struggles and temptations; and Winter ( Brave the Storm ) is especially difficult times.  These books are part of the Seasons of Faith Series and retail for $10 each. There were so many things to love about this book set: wonderful stories, tales based in God's word, child-friendly topics and characters we can relate to, as well as beautiful illustrations, large pages, and a compact disc that reads the book for us while we look at the p...

Tonight, my eyes hurt. My head hurts. My throat hurts. My body hurts The sun set and i am one big UGH. I have absolutely nothing to say... i want to write something because i have a review to write tomorrow and i do not want to only post reviews on my blog and make you all sick of me.  However, i am sitting here, looking at the blasted blinking cursor that begs me to start it skipping across the page merrily, slapping letters happily along in neat rows... and... i... have... nothing . Okay. Pray . That's something. Let's pray. Let's pray for our families.  Pray for our friends.  Pray for our country. When we have nothing... there ... is ... God . Sleep well, Friends.

Dunno how i missed this one, but i saw today that the Salvation Army recently came under fire by the ACLU for preaching Christianity. Um, yeah, the "SALVATION" Army.  D'you suppose they are a Christian organization?  Yup. However, because they opted to take government funding to reach more people in need, they essentially slipped the noose around their own necks. Sad state of affairs when the government says, "Yes, please help the poor - we'll help you!" then later decides you can't do it if you have a religious or spiritual message to deliver with your assistance.  No bullying, just love.  No reprimand, just grace.  But, no!  Give your time, sweat, tears, funds, and energy to those in need... just don't share the saving message of the gospel. Reckon this is something we can look forward to?  How many more people will go without assistance because the government attaches strings to its aid?

Last week, I told you about the Homeschool EXPO that will be going on May 12-14, 2010, and this week I am reminding you NOT to miss this!  The Freebies alone are worth your time and money and there is a $5 discount to preregister by March 31st!! We began our weather study this week with one of the free downloads we received when we registered.  We'll be delving into Colonial Times and making our own costumes next week with 2 of the freebies. You really must participate!!  Need more??  Okay.... Topics include: A Plan for Teaching K-12 Writing Understanding Unit Studies Get Real Four Language Arts Not Just Your Average Genius Mercy Every Minute Devotions Battle of the Worldviews Making a Transcript iHelp for the eHome ... still need more...? Not Your Typical Homeschooler Catching the Journaling Bug Implementing the Workbox System Managing the Multi-Level Homeschool Teaching the Difficult Child Really?  You're still not convinced?? You'...

As a member of this year's TOS Homeschool Crew , I received some goodies from Homeschool In The Woods .  They sent us an electronic copy of some hand-illustrated, black and white maps of the world and of the United States to use in our homeschool.  I was pretty excited, but wary because we have 3 giant maps on the walls already (solar system, world, and USA), and I just wondered if I would appreciate more maps. Well, I downloaded them, and I began to print some of the United States maps to go with our Postcard Swap of the USA.  When we started using them, I was hooked.  Seriously, I am completely in love with these maps!!  ( Yes, if they were a man, I would probably marry them - sorry, Honey! - they are that awesome!! ) We got the first state postcard in the mail, Alaska, and we took out our Alaska state map, the map of the USA, and the notebooking page for Alaska ( the one with the answers, thank you very much! ).  We learned some great stuff!! ( June...

... you met a 13-year-old who made such wise decisions that she never regretted anything, even years or decades later? ... you met a 10-year-old who never got upset with his parents' rules and/or discipline practices? ... you met a 15-year-old who didn't think she was ready to be treated like an adult? Yeah, that's what i thought. So, i have to ask, why does the government somehow believe that our children know better than their parents what would be best for them?  Why, then, does the proposed Healthcare Reform Bill and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child each want to put parents on the back burner and lift children to this quite terrifying responsibility of knowing their own minds, understanding their limitless choices, and being solely responsible for their lives/decisions/choices? Scary. But true.  The UNCRC , i have known about (see information regarding the Parental Rights Amendment ), but now i learn that the Healthcare Reform Bill has...

Umm.... i don't.  You do?? This week's Blog Cruise topic is intended to answer the question: How do you find time for everything, like housework, homeschooling, time alone, etc.? I learned very early on in my adulthood that YOU CAN NOT HAVE IT ALL.  Oh, there are LOTS of people and organizations that want us to believe that if we do this right or get that planner or take this course or have that job or marry that type of person or whatever that we CAN have everything - but folks, it just ain't so.  There is Give with your Take and Take with your Give.  It is all a balancing act. Okay, so how do i do it? First of all, homeschooling isn't a portion of my day, it is my entire day.  When we take care of the dog's basic needs, we are educating.  When we take a trip to the grocery store, we are educating.  When we play with our preschooler, we are educating.  When we do laundry, or dishes, or vacuuming, or whatever, we are educating.  Whe...

Yes, me.  I am going to do some whining. Seriously. Still here? You've been warned.... I set up a community outreach event.  Obtained permissions, booked locations, took reservations, added official speaker, etc.  No big deal.  My civic duty.  The least i could do.  No praise, please.  Really . Here's the rub: my city is apparently taking credit for it.  The "city leaders" are inviting local residents to take part in the seminar (which is fine since i put it in the paper anyway - open to everyone), the police detective i asked to speak is apparently "leading" the event, and yet no one can get the details right!  They are sending people to the wrong place at the right time and to the right place at the wrong time!!  Aaargh! I am so frustrated - and hear me: not because i wanted the credit .  REALLY .  I just hate them playing Political P.R. with MY idea, work, effort, and initiative to make themselves look like responsible ...

i have a 10yo daughter.  My 10yo daughter is sensitive.  My sensitive 10yo daughter has begun sending me email messages to inform me of my parenting mistakes. {sigh} What do i do with a daughter who is lazy but cannot handle being told she is being lazy? How do i train a child who cannot accept her mistakes? What do i do with a child who doesn't respect what i say if i am not being complimentary? How do i raise a daughter without correction? What do i do with a preteen who is embarking on a marathon of emotional turmoil? Oh, Precious Jesus, give me strength and wisdom!  i feel so ill-prepared for this season!! P.S. i am already making sure to hug and snuggle more, and we are spending more quality time together than we have the past few months.  Any other tips would be appreciated!

(quoted text) If you're looking for homeschool encouragement, resources, and fun, check out all that is going on at The Old Schoolhouse! Right now March Madness and Win Big are going on in the Schoolhouse Store. During March Madness, over 240 items are 10 to 40 percent off!  Click here to read the details. (Link: http://www.bit.ly/9vn2G9 ) Then, if you're customer 139,000, 139,500, or 140,000, you will win over $348 in prizes. Prizes include a 5 year subscription to TOS (U.S. only), Scripture Sleuth literature series, guitar lessons on CD, and more! Hurry, they are just past customer #137,818. The BIGGEST news of all--The Schoolhouse Expo is coming in May!  Pre-register now and save $5! As homeschool teachers, what do you need to learn? More about teaching multiple grades? All about different homeschool methods? Transcripts?  Could you use some help with reading, language arts, math, and more?  Are you intimidated by the idea of teaching middle school and ...

This week's Blog Cruise question is How do you organize your homeschool space?   You can see more answers by other homeschooling Crew members by going here . Okay, so organization of my homeschool has evolved, and will probably look different in another few months, to be perfectly honest!  We started out at the dining room table because we had an infant and a preschooler to care for during our lessons.  At some point during Year 2, we recognized that our dining room table was the first thing visitors clapped eyes on when they came into the house, and it was always a mess - books, papers, pencils, markers, crayons, science and art projects... aak!  In order to tidy the disaster that had taken over our home, we moved the junk learning supplies upstairs to an open space the size of a small bedroom. We have a couple of large simple cabinets with doors, and inside them, we hold the tools of our trade: printer, papers, crayons, markers, puzzles, books, workbooks, CD...

I received a copy of Great Software Tools, Inc . 's program Graphics-Toolbox for free to use and review as a member of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew .  I had no idea what to expect, honestly.  Not long after receiving the program, and before I had a chance to load or play with it, there were messages about signing up for online webinars (web-based seminars) to learn how to use the program.  Not a bad thing, except the webinars were more than an hour in length each and there were several!  Oh, my!  Is this thing going to be this much work just to figure it out?? Well, I do not mind telling you that I am against detailed instructions.  Should've been a man, I suppose, because I would rather try to figure something out myself before spending time reading dry directions.  Generally, it goes well for me, but I couldn't figure Graphics-Toolbox out without the tutorials and training sessions, so eventually I caved and watched two sess...

Well, it is time for another political rant, so depending on your standing, you may want to mosey along.... Health care in the United States is apparently in need of an overhaul.  There are few who disagree.  However, the method of that overhaul is in question.  Many would like to use their power in government to take over health care.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, they are calling it a reform , but it is really just a takeover . So, okay, let's evaluate. Your company, which you have worked for your entire life, is losing money.  It is still afloat, but it isn't doing as well as it could.  You have a couple of choices as a member of the voting board of directors : you could vote in favor of a reevaluation of what is working and what isn't, what rules are already in place that aren't being followed that would benefit your bottom line, and what people in your company are beneficial and what people are detrimental, then you could weed out things and people who aren...

I have been made aware of a fellow blogger who has created a " Life is Therapy " series of posts, and since she has invited other bloggers to take park, i thought i would.  I am a follower, after all. { sheepish grin } Many of us realize that teenagers are becoming increasingly less self-sufficient at increasingly-advanced ages, in fact not limiting itself to the teen years anymore.  Most would not deny there is a certain angst to being a teen that rarely besets us again in life.  A year or so ago, however, i learned an eye-opening (and " well, duh! ") piece of information about teenagers: they are caught between two worlds who won't accept them, so they create their own.  Right.  I told you: duh! Well, in raising my children, i have understood that it is crucial that we impart more than knowledge before they abandon the safety of our home.  We must instill values, create self-awareness, and provide opportunities for our children to become the adults G...

The Littlest Princess reminds me to get over myself frequently.  This week, i had a sick day.  While i was abed, the Drama Princess fixed dinner. (yeah, i know how lucky i am, but let's not forget that i had the forethought to teach her these things. *grin*) From downstairs, the Littlest Princess calls: Mom! Can we have 'essert? I respond: Yes. Then: 'Kay! 'Cuz we're already havin' some! Giggling, i reply: You're cute! Her answer: I know! Yep, God loves me.  He sends me joy even when i am too ill to move.

Oh, what charming books you penned! Children choose 'em again and again. Your silly characters and pleasing rhymes Truly stand the test of time! I fear without the books by you, My family would be bored, it's true! The kids would not meet Sam-I-Am , Or ever eat Green Eggs and Ham . What would we do without you, sir? If The Cat in the Hat didn't cause a stir? If Horton didn't hatch the egg? If we didn't try to stay in bed? Oh dear! Oh my! Oh, gracious me! What would we do without ABC's ? I cannot contemplate it, so... I'm glad we have them. This i know. ~*~*~*~ Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!! ~*~*~*~

Well, yes and no. I generally use the A-F grades since it gets me ready for later in homeschooling, but since we teach to mastery, the kids usually get A 's.  Is that really grading?  Depends on your outlook.... In a classroom environment, kids are graded based on a scale: A and B are above average achievers, C is an average achiever, and D and F are below-average achievers.  In a class full or 20-30 students, how can a teacher determine mastery and still have time for crowd control and the introduction of new topics?  I shudder at the thought!  Thus, a grading scale is quite necessary (although not always an accurate measure of a child's learning). However, in our homeschool, the kidlets are not generally asked to do move on until they have the current stage mastered, so should they really be graded the same way?  No, not in my opinion.  So, my kids get "graded" on effort.  If my kids are doing great, and they are mastering everything I th...