The Things My Child Taught Me During Homeschool Lessons

This is today's meme topic at Heart of the Matter Online.

Whew! Where do you start when you've had 7 highly unique individual to educate? Goad has used homeschooling as a mighty pruning tool in my life.

I've decided to narrow this down and share the things my dyslexic daughter taught me during homeschool lessons.

TENACITY & PERSEVERANCE - both for her and I. I watched my sweet daughter do all that was asked of her for years and years....until finally she could read. Years later than we "planned".

I learned that MY time schedule is not always given from on high. ::snort:: Routines and schedules are good - but not at the cost of causing a child to feel like a failure.

GUARD YOUR CHILDREN - I learned not to tell her story. I learned to allow her to tell her story and to guard her heart and confidences. Our children need a safe place to share their heart - if we are trustworthy with their confidences, we will become that place. Our support groups, Mom's cirlces, best friend, et al don't NEED to know our children's stories without their permission. I only share now as my sweet daughter, shares her story.

Each weakness is an OPPORTUNITY for strength to be developed. With a bit of mentoring, stubborness becomes tenacity, high energy becomes drive, cautious slow moving folks often become hugely successful admin types.....look for the flip side of your child's "weaknesses".

Mavis Beacon and Spell Check are essentials. It's OK to "just know the answer" in Saxon Advanced Math if you are dyslexic.....this later leads to seeing the BIG PICTURE quickly in real life. ::snort::

During those years of teaching my almost 21 yo.......these verses became alive.

Jeremiah 1:5 - Before I formed you in the womb – I knew you….

Eph 1:4 – He chose us before the foundation of the world – to be holy and blameless
We determined not to let her feel like a failure, not to let the world define who she was. She was uniquely formed and chosen.

Eph 2:10 – We are HIS workmanship (finished product) and are created to walk in works that He created beforehand...
God didn’t make a mistake. He knew what factors she needed to encounter and overcome in order for her character to develop so that she could walk in the works HE has for her.

Krista will turn 21 this summer. She reads fluently and voraciously. She is in her second year of staff at Master's Commission. God is stirring her heart to move forward and follow His heart on new paths....and I know she will follow. To read more posts on the same topic go here.

Zander's Hearts....(newly 6 yo son)

Another conversation as we zipped around the loop.

"God gave me two new hearts!"

"He did?"

"Yep."

"Why".

"He looked around and noticed there are not enough humans and so he gave me two hearts - they are in my big toes."

"Oh."

"One heart is for Krista (20), my lover. And Mom?"

"Yes...."

"One heart is for you (40 something)."

"Oh, Zander I love you."

"I guess he gave me three new hearts....my first heart keeps me living, my second heart is for Krista, my third heart is for you and Bre (22) and my other heart is for God (ageless)."

Meeting FRIENDS

Nearly 10 years ago Cindy and myself began a yahoo homeschool list. Our vision was to be a spot of mininstry and support to moms in their ministry in both their homeschools and their homes. Thus, Support4Home(&)School (SHS - link in the side bar).

I had the joy today of meeting a dear friend of nearly 10 years - Linda and her kids. They drove out of their way to come see us! Everyone hit it off - and truly - it was like we'd always known each other. The boys talked CAP, the girls were the same ages and hit it off...I know Mike and Greg would have hit it off, but he's home earning money. LOL Go here to see more photos.

Here are a few photos:

Linda (r), De'Etta (middle) and Linda's kids and 5 of mine


Linda's Carys giving Jared a high 5


Stacia and Mike


Firepole - do they do field trips any longer where kids can slide down the firepole?

Chase, Carys & Arielle


Mike, Landon, Jared

Catching Up!

It's been a busy week. Mike got home from the chapel sometime after 2 a.m. last night (or maybe that would be this a.m.) He had today off as he gave another Chaplain Friday off. He and Jared spent most the day putting our little pond in. I'm taking photos but haven't time to get that post all together yet.

I bought a composter. Now I need to find some barnyard manure.

We did our Friday/Sat cleaning and laundry today since Mike was off. We'll do school on Friday this week as produce co-op is cancelled this week too.

I can't remember all that I've been doing this week - but it's been a BLUR. ::snort::

Some photos from the past couple of days:
Hauling Groceries (United Co-op) Monday


Color in the Yard


Arielle has taken over watering flowers and filling feeders; she's very excited about planting a garden.


Look what they're doing! Who cares if they are plain!!! Note Nolan's hair...


Because I gave him a cut and wasn't wearing my glasses. I thought I had 4 and had 2....then couldn't find the 1 and shaved him - but in the end I like it....

And it made this boy ...

Ask for THIS - though he asked not to go very short in the back


While folks built the pond Nolan and Arielle raked


Pond photos tomorrow - maybe.

Passover Dinner Menu

Ideas? I'm not talking about the Seder - that I get. I'll HAVE to buy horseradish, a lamb shank, make charoset and I have celery. ::snort:: I'll begin looking tomorrow for a lamb shank and I'm not sure where I'll find that locally....but I will. Oh yeah - sparking grape juice.

I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around something for dinner. I mean it seems it should be more than spaghetti or pizza......but most places are saying lambchops or chicken noodle soup. I don't see any going for soup.....Would you just choose a meal your family enjoys as the focus isn't food anyway?????

Also - has anyone used the haggadah from "A Family Guide to Biblical Holidays"? I'm wondering how long it takes and if we'd be best doing a "simple seder" - just explaining the symbols and telling the story from the children's Bible. BUT for the older ones I think it would be more meaningful to do the traditional Seder.

Update: I did find a local pecan place that also sells lamb. I can buy lamb chops or lamb shanks...so another question.....you'd have to COOK the lamb shanks to have a shank for the seder plate - right? Do you just keep dinner warming (and drying out) while you do the Seder? And HOW DO YOU COOK LAMB SHANK????? or CHOPS for that matter? AND...will the kids eat it???????

Praying

There is currently a national news story, that I'm sure many have followed. The story of the raid at the FLDS ranch. The story is heartbreaking from so many angles. It is full of thorny issues on all sides, and there are no easy answers. Since this all began, I've been led to pray for all involved.

Tomorrow will be an important court case. Please keep this matter in prayer. Pray for the children, the mothers, the commune members (who need to come to know Jesus). I'm not sure that the national media is reporting this but 6 mothers chose to go to a "safe location" rather than return to the ranch. Pray that Christians will come into their lives who can lovingly share the Truth with them. Pray for their courage and support.

Pray for the medics, first responders, CPS workers, judges and lawyers. The amount of hours that this has added to the work load of these people is amazing. The judge needs the wisdom of Solomon.

Pray about the legal precedents that this case could set and that due process would be followed. Yes, something needed to be done.....but there are issues here that concern me.

Pray for the city of San Angelo - which is a small TX town. Their resources to feed, house, provide lawyers, volunteers, lodging et al has been stretched.

Pray for the children who may end up in Foster Care without the hope of adoption as the legal appeals are processed.

Pray for Sarah, the 16 yo who called in for help. Pray that if she is with the other children, she will find the courage to speak up once more, and that if she is elsewhere she would be found. Pray for her emotions as she has watched what flowed from her call for help. I have read that there are medical records of her past treatment leading one to believe that she does exist.

Above all pray for God's soverein hand to reign in the proceedings about to begin.

A day of Firsts

I've recently become a team member at Homeschool Blog Awards. My assignment is to interview a past winner and post that once a month. I've posted my first interview - it's with Mama Archer and you can read it here. If you've not visited HSBA recently, you should visit. We have a whole new look, focus has changed to "Encouraging, Informing and Connecting the Homeschool Community". To that end there are now daily posts full of all sorts of helpful and/or interesting homeschool "things". Hey, I even have an About Me page. I know this is silly but involved stepping out of my comfort zone and learning how to use Word Press. ::snort::

I already blogged my first WFMW post.

Today I will meet a cyber friend and her family for the first time.

Jamin has published his first online article. If that link doesn't take you directly to an article titled "Are you Shy; The Corner", scroll down.

I realize I've not blogged "life" in a couple of days, but I'll try to have photos and such before the day is out.