A movie you've got to see!!

Gifted Hands- the story of Ben Carson.

We rented it from the Redbox. It is based on the book by the same name. Ben Carson is a pediatric brain surgeon who started out with learning problems. His single mom required that Ben and his brother go the extra mile in their schooling, and the world now sees the end result of all their hard work. I think we need to watch it every year, to remind us of the connection between hard work and making a difference in the world.

Christmas Black Light Show

Preparation for our kid's Christmas program was easy this year. We are repeating the same show we did last year. We had a one hour practice and we were ready. We had most of the props from the last performance. We didn't get to the point where everyone was sick of practicing. It was nice to give the kids and parents something to look forward to. One Mom is supposed to be coming and she has never been to church, even though her kids have been coming for two years. I am excited and praying that she makes it.

Counting the Cost of Following Christ

One of the head rests in our van has a chunk of foam carved out of it. I have never seen a pocket knife in any of my kids' hands and none of my kids sat in that seat the time that it had to have happened. The person that was sitting there during that time was found with a pocket knife, but denies that he did it.

So why would we be spending time with a destructive, lying juvenile? Because that is what God has called us to do. I am not sure how we will handle the situation, but when I see the chunk of missing foam, I will pray for the boy. His salvation is more important than our van headrest.

what's new?

What's new at my house?

Fallball- Levi and Mandi are playing baseball and Dick is coaching both teams.  We are at the ball field 5 or 6 days a week.

The Maker's Diet-  I went on the Maker's Diet.  The first three days were miserable.  Once I passed that hurdle, I loved the results.  Joint pain went away.   I had much more energy and positive outlook on life.  My skin cleared and no headaches.  Now I am on a modified version of the diet and it seems to be a good balance for me.

I love seeing Mandi's toothless grin.  She lost her top front tooth two days after she discovered it was loose.  She is a determined girl.

Grace has braces.  She is doing great for a girl with sensory integration issues.

For the first time since we started homeschooling, I have been writing lesson plans and chore plans for the kids.  We have been accomplishing more school and more chores are getting done.

I discovered it is frugal to clean your house.  We found the missing library book, several new socks, Mandi's missing favorite skort, shoes, and Olivia's favorite toys under Olivia's bed. Now I don't have to spend money to replace those items.

For the first time in my married life, I handed out candy on Halloween.  I have never wanted to celebrate Halloween, but decided to embrace the opportunity to connect with the kids in my neighborhood.  We gave out a Christian music cd, The Lads Band, to each family that came and had Christian music playing.  It was really fun and I am looking forward to next year.

I walked 4 1/2 miles in one day.  I heard my dad say that if you walked 3 miles, any stress you were feeling would go away.  I was having some unexplained anxiety, so I thought I would try it.  I decided to walk around the baseball field near my house.  I walked what I thought was 3 miles, but it was really 4 1/2.  I had a wonderful time with the Lord and most of the anxiety was lifted.  God gave me these two verses to stand on;

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2:20

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love and of power and a sound mind. 2 Tim. 1:17

Good Bye

 We took Rosie to the vet for the last time.  It was time to say goodbye.  The kids were ok with it because they had been around her long enough to know that we had done all that we could do.  I am thanking God that the kids enjoyed her so much the last year of her life.  

Olivia swimming 2008

Olivia was 3 years old when this was taken.  Now  at 4 years old, she can swim the length of an Olympic size swimming pool and back,  thanks to Infant Swimming Research.  She started lessons at 13 months old. 

School this year

Here's what we are doing this year.

Everyone 

Bible- Children's Church memory verses

            Reading aloud portions that go with History 

            Grapevine studies (maybe later in the year)

            Studying morals and manners with the Book of Virtues

History-  The Mystery of History vl. 1 (finishing finally)

Geography- the Usborne Internet linked Children's atlas

Science- Great Science Adventures -The World of Light and Sound

                The Periodic Table of Elements- How to Teach Science Newsletter

Piano- I am teaching  them using Alfred's Teach Yourself to play Electronic Keyboard,  Musicademy Modern Worship for Keyboards, and Simply Music (I just ordered this and am anxious to try it out.)

Poetry-   Poetry memorization from Favorite Poems Old and New

Typing- Dance Mat Typing

Art- Art lessons at a local library, Creativity Express Computer game

Cooking-  Cooking class at the same local library

Grace 

        Right now, my mom is working with Grace on her math and language.  She is using various books and curriculum.  Both my mom and I feel like this is going to be the year that Grace makes great advances in her learning!

Levi-

Language Arts-  The Grammar Key  This is online and I love it!  

                             Spelling Workout 6th grade

                             Handwriting Without Tears 

                             Reading-  I am still deciding on this.  Right now I am assigning him science                                       reading and quizzing him for comprehension.

Math-  Rod and Staff 6th

Science-  Crime Scene Investigations  This is a curriculum meant for a classroom, so we will be                    adapting it.

                 Electronic Snap Circuits Student Guide ( Hands-on Program for Basic Electricity and                    Electronics)  So far, he loves this!

Mandi-  

Language Arts-  Rod and Staff English  2 and 3

                             Handwriting without Tears

                             I am still looking for reading comprehension and vocabulary and/or spelling.

Math-  MEP mathematics 2nd and 3rd

I will be adding Wordly Wise or Getaclue.com for vocabulary for Levi and Mandi.

Two fun learning games we have been playing are  Monopoly Jr (adding small numbers) and Totally Gross- The Science Game.