The Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week....Mimi is finally on the mend, after a bout with strep, croup, then falling and cutting her hand and getting 5 stitches. The stitches were taken out on Thursday, so we're finally seeing the light at the end of the going-to-the-doctor-every-week tunnel.


In our homeschool this week....we are reading through the book of Acts (and I use flannel graphs for this as well), did a wonderful science experiment about water polarity, learned some Spanish, finished our study of N.C. Wyeth, went to the library (a favorite for my children) and loaded up on good books, and worked on our book of centuries for History.....among many other things.  :)


Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share....learn to relax and not get so stressed about homeschooling your children. (After homeschooling for 18 years, I'm still working on this one.)


I am inspired by....the Charlotte Mason method of education. It has changed our approach to homeschooling 100%!


Places we're going and people we're seeing....grandparents' house, a friend's house to pick up a small flock of turkeys, and dear friends stopped by on Thursday evening - it's always great to see them.


My favorite thing this week was....just being home with my children.


What's working/not working for us....the textbook method was definitely not working for us. The Charlotte Mason method definitely is.


Questions/thoughts I have....my children want to do dissections this winter. I think it's wonderful, but they seem a little young to be interested in cutting animals open. Must be from all the butchering we do.  Anyone else have young children interested in dissections?


I'm reading.... about Leonardo da Vinci, the next artist we're studying in Art appreciation.


I'm cooking....a Cocoa Fudge Cake, from scratch, with the help of my girls.


I'm grateful for....my salvation.


I'm praying for....my family.


A photo to share........

 
I saw this beautiful spider web on our deck last week and thought of the verse...
Proverbs 30:28  "The spider skillfully grasps with its hands, and is in kings' palaces."





Have a blessed day,









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Years ago...

I have often said how I long for the "good ol' days" when life was simpler.

Days when...

....instead of teachers, parents and grandparents.

....instead of friends, siblings and cousins.

....instead of neighbors, aunts and uncles.

....instead of a random neighborhood, a community of brethren.

....instead of kindergarten and school, homeschooling.

....instead of the nursing home, family.

....instead of the office, the garden and barn.

....instead of being all over town all day, staying at home.

....instead of going out for dinner, homegrown, homecooked meals.

....instead of the public pool, the backyard creek.

....instead of organized sports,  farm life and family fun.

....instead of a movie theater, a good book.

....instead of a facebook wall post, a private letter or card.

....instead of shopping at the mall, sewing and knitting.

....instead of blogging, a diary.

....instead of sharing thoughts on the internet, sharing thoughts with the family.

....instead of family movie night, family devotions.


"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Cor. 10:31

Have a blessed day,








linked up at  www.raisingmightyarrows.com
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                                                  www.raisinghomemakers.com

Our Week in Photos

 "So what do you do??"  I am often asked this question by people who, I am assuming, think that because I am a homemaker, I lie on the couch all day, eat Bon Bons, and watch soap operas. My typical reply to this question is , "Lots!" I usually don't have the time or desire to stand in line at Walmart and give this person a list of what I do everyday.  But if I could...I'd give them a peek into what we did this week...

       Mimi "writing" her sounds in flour.  Excellent for developing fine motor skills. 

                        A Science experiment about air pressure....

                                            ...and the results.

                              Mimi is ready for her reading lesson.

                       Asher making a Civil War timeline for History.

                            Ian working on his Math lesson.

                           Aaron adding to his coin collection.

                                      Natty crocheting.

Have nature journals, will travel...at Grandma and Granddaddy's house, doing leaf rubbings.

                  In the "children's tree" at Grandma and Granddaddy's house.

                     Asher taking his pet snapping turtle for a walk.

                           Ian and his Golden Polish chicken, Goldie.

                           Up close and personal...with skin cells.

                          Snap circuits are favorite at our house.

                                   Aaron made a wind horn.

                                      Mimi sounding it out.

                                              Silent reading.

                              Heading out for a nature walk.

                                  "Draw what you see.."

                               Playing on the hay bales.

                 Making an autumn centerpiece with treasures from the woods.

                                                  Beautiful!


There's our week in a nutshell...and as you can see, most of the photos have to do with our home education.  I guess that's because it's not just how we educate our children; it has become our lifestyle.

I hope you had a wonderful week!                                                                                          
 

 

 

linked up www.raisinghomemakers.com

Blueberry Bars

I tried this recipe for the first time last month on a very special occasion: my mom's 77th birthday.  Everyone loved it - even my children. The bars are great served warm, with vanilla ice cream.

Bottom layer:  2 c. quick oats
                     3/4 c. all-purpose flour
                     3/4 c. light brown sugar, packed
                     1/4 t.baking soda
                     1/4 t. salt
Mix well. Add 10 T. melted butter and 1 t. vanilla. Press into greased  9x13" pan. Set aside.

Middle layer:  3 1/2 c. fresh or frozen blueberries
                    1/2  t. almond extract
                    3/4 c. sugar
                    3 T. all-purpose flour
                    1/2 t. nutmeg
Mix ingredients gently. Pour over bottom layer and spread evenly.

Top layer:  1 c. all-purpose flour
                1/2 c.  light brown sugar, packed
                1/2 c. butter
Mix ingredients til crumbly. Sprinkle over blueberries.
Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350 and bake for another 20 minutes.
Enjoy!

"..every good tree bears good fruit..."  Matthew 7:17

Have a blessed day,







             



linked up at www.deeprootsathome.com
                 www.raisinghomemakers.com
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When The Frost Is On The Punkin.....

As I mentioned in an earlier post, we're using the Charlotte Mason method of education this year and it has been a wonderful year so far.

We're especially enjoying all the reading aloud; more specifically - poetry.  The poem that we've been reciting over the past few weeks is When The Frost Is On The Punkin by James Whitcomb Riley. It's been so much fun! The phrase "When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock" is repeated throughout the poem. It has "stuck" in my children's minds and they walk around saying it over and over again.  :)  This poem inspired us to make our own fodder shock and here are the photos from our fun...

  

                                           

                                                             

                          As you can see, it turned out great!  :)



You can read the entire poem here....
www.poemhunter.com/poem/when-the-frost-is-on-the-punkin/

"While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer,
And day and night,
Shall not cease."  -  Genesis 8:22

Have a blessed day,
 

  









www.raisingmightyarrows.com
www.theimperfecthousewife.com
    http://www.aboverubies.net

No Scar

Hast thou no scar?

No hidden scar on foot, side, or hand?

I hear thee sung as mighty in the land;

I hear them hail thy bright, ascendant star.

Hast thou no scar?

Hast thou no wound? 

Yet I was wounded by the archers; spent,

Leaned me against a tree to die; and rent

By ravening beast that compassed Me, I swooned.

Hast thou no wound?

No wound? No scar?

Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,

And pierced are the feet that follow Me.

But thine are whole; can he have followed far

Who has no wound or scar?

 -  Amy Carmichael

If These Walls Could Talk.......

If the walls in my house could talk, would they tell you that I didn't take time for my morning devotions....
.....or that I set aside special time alone with the Lord?

Psalm 1:2 "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night."


Would they tell you that I was grumpy and disrespectful to my husband when he came home from work....
....or that I welcomed him home with a glowing smile and a grateful heart?

Ephesians 5:33 "...and let the wife see that she respects her husband."


Would they tell you that I grouched at the children all day....
.....or that I spoke to them in a kind and gentle tone of voice?

Proverbs 31:26b "...and on her tongue is the law of kindness."


Would they tell you that I complained about the drudgery of housework....
.....or that I delighted in my homemaking?

Proverbs 31:13b "And she willingly works with her hands.."



Would they tell you that my children were left to themselves while I did my own thing....
.....or that I spent the day striving to instill in them godly characteristics?

Ephesians 6:4 "...but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."



"O give us homes with godly fathers, mothers,
Who always place their hope and trust in Him,
Whose tender patience turmoil never bothers,
Whose calm and courage trouble cannot dim;
A home where each finds joy in serving others,
And love still shines, tho days be dark and grim."
                                                    -  verse 2 of A Christian Home by Barbara Hart

May it be so in all of our homes!


Have a blessed day,

linked up at http://raisinghomemakers.com/
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                 www.raisingmightyarrows.com
                 www.oursimplecountrylife.com
                 www.themodestmomblog.com
                 www.homemaker-by-choice.com
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                 www.growinghomeblog.com/
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