Homeschool with my Baby :)

So, my 14-yr-old just completed her first quarter of ninth grade, and I have decided that the quality of the curriculum we are using is not up to par.  So, after hours of research, I have put together a potpourri of books that will not only fill her head with knowledge, but increase her analytical skills and critical thinking skills.  I relied on many veteran homeschoolers' reviews, such as Cathy Duffy and Karen Andreola.  One book I am excited to be receiving is The Thinking Toolbox and Words on the Vine.  The former book has lessons to build reasoning skills, and the latter is a fun book to discover the Latin roots in common, and not so common, vocabulary words.  These books will complement her Daily Grammar textbook.

I came to this decision after reviewing a number of articles on childrens' learning styles.  I think as a new homeschool mom 17 years ago, I was more attuned to my older children's learning styles, and knew that my oldest was/is a visual learner and that my middle two were/are kinesthetic learners.  In the chaos of the last few years, my youngest daughter has been expected to learn by whatever method is presented to her.  She excels because she is a perfectionist, whether at public school with an unlimited stream of rote memory work and papers, or at home with whatever she is forced to do.

She is an analytical learner.  She thrives on identifying patterns, sequences, and she learns better by talking and engaging in a variety of methodology.  Keeping this in mind, I was able to find materials that will hopefully challenge her, and also give her the foundation needed for her first year of high school.  I have a lot to be accountable for.

We are using Short Lessons in World History, as an adjunct to a textbook already owned.  This workbook uses timelines, puzzles, maps, biographies, etc. to engage the learner and looks exciting.  Singapore Biology Matters, Easy Grammar Series Grade 9 (Easy Grammar is the best Language Arts curriculum out there), Writing Strands, and Keys to Algebra.  I used Keys to Algebra with the twins when they were freshman, after a frustrating semester of algebra on Switched on Schoolhouse CD.  It is amazing.

I love homeschooling.

"Words" by Ginny Yttrup...

The following review from  Nora A. Stlaurent "The Book Club Network" on Amazon.com.

"I can't talk. I can't breathe. Tears choke me."

That's exactly how I felt when I read the last page of this book. I'm thrilled to have received a review copy of such an astounding, debut novel. I haven't read anything this profound, inspiring and life changing since Redeeming Love and June Bug. The author is a master wordsmith and trusts the readers' imagination to fill in the blanks about the abuse Kaylee endures and talks about it without being graphic. Ginny L. Yttrup has overcome sexual abuse in her own life, is compassionate towards its victims and has penned a story filled with healing and hope. Ginny shows the reader a way to shine the light of Jesus in the darkest places of life in a real way.

Kaylee is a ten year old girl fascinated by words. Words are a colorful protective shield she uses to give her hope and clarify things she doesn't quite understand. Kaylee is a bright and loving child surviving day after day anticipating her mother's return.

I enjoyed Ginny Yttrup creative writing style. It was fun to read and had a powerful impact to the story, for example Kaylee says, "my favorite C word - co-loss-al. It means awesomely huge."

She uses it to describe the colossal redwood trees she loves. The tree is her special place to hide her earthly treasures and new words. The author's style adds richness to the novel and gives Kaylee a distinctive way of expressing herself.

"I'm so hungry I could eat the scrambled egg in one bite. Instead, I try to make it last, make it seem like more. I take tiny bites. I think of a word that I added to my box this week.

Sa-vor - verb 1) to perceive by taste or smell, esp, with realism 2) to give oneself to the enjoyment of: savor the best in life.

Yes, I savor each bit of my eggs."

This author's unique voice allows the reader to experience and see the healing power of love in action. This book is not preachy but potent. The message is clear "Jesus is the word - the most important word"

Ginny had me going in parts of the story I thought I had figured out, and threw in twists I didn't see coming. Parts were surprising, suspenseful and I found myself nervous for the characters. This book is quite an experience, one you'll never forget and don't want to miss. This novel is one of the reasons why I read and promote Christian Fiction. I highly, highly recommend it. Treat yourself to reading Words. I don't know where Ginny will go from here but I'll be following.

The Book Club Network [...]

Online Memorial Website for Michael Blakely

Michael Stuart Blakely (September 4, 1968 - July 26, 2010) - Online Memorial Website

For Those Who Suffer

Cracked Pot

A water bearer in India had two large pots; each hung on each end of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer on day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace his Father's table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste. So as we seek ways to minister together, and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of beauty in His pathway. Go out boldly, know that in our weakness we find His strength, and that "In Him every one of God's promises is a Yes."

Author Unknown

C. S. Lewis "A Grief Observed"

“An odd byproduct of my loss is that I’m aware of being an embarrassment to everyone I meet. At work, at the club, in the street, I see people, as they approach me, trying to make up their minds whether they’ll ‘say something about it’ or not. I hate if it they do, and if they don’t. Some funk it altogether… I like best the well brought-up young men, almost boys, who walk up to me as if I were a dentist, turn very red, get it over, and then edge away to the bar as quickly as they decently can. Perhaps the bereaved ought to be isolated in special settlements like lepers.”  C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed (pg. 10)

What's God's Vision for Your Family (copied and shortened from a friend's blog)

What’s God’s Vision for Your Family?

I want you to have a vision for godliness in your home—to yearn for it and expect it with complete sincerity, because without a husband, only you can bring Christ into your home so that godliness can happen. If you find yourself as a single parent means God selected you to step up your role. What an honor! Treat it as such, and make your vision equal to that honor by believing in its possibility! It’s only when you absolutely know in your heart that the achievement of everything in your vision possible that you open the heart of your home for the Lord to take His rightful place as the head of your household.

I unfold the Sunday school study guide and read aloud one of the questions for my four young boys to answer. “Did you ever feel like questioning your commitment to God?”

This isn’t a Sunday school setting. We were having hamburgers at Fuddruckers on a Saturday night, so I’m not surprised when my two youth-group-aged kids answer without much thought. They rattle off a list of teen distractions—peer pressure, school, busyness, and then get back to their hamburgers.

The real surprise comes when I get the deeper answers from my elementary-age children. Sure, they answer. They’ve questioned God before. “When?” I ask.

“When Dad died,” they say without batting an eye. They answer so quickly I have to wonder if it’s something they think about a lot.

They were only six and seven when it happened. Counselors say kids that young haven’t the ability to fully comprehend death. Certainly in those first few months without a father, my little ones shuffled along with ease making us all think maybe they just didn’t get it. While I figured it was all a blur to them, it turns out some very deep questions were brewing inside of them.

I want to take this post to talk about something that scares a new single mom having to rear small children. I’m not going to avoid your deepest fears about what effect being raised without their father could have on them, because I had those fears too, and I know it did no good to have someone pat me on the back of my hand and say, “Dear, Dear, it will be alright. Kids are resilient.”

I won’t try to still your heart about it because that’s not my job. That’s the Lord’s job, and only you can allow Him in your heart to create that peace.

No, my job is to show you, no matter where you are with your children and your widowhood, there are two truths: you can have peace about it, and that there is no time to waste. You need to cease any ideas in your head that you can manage rearing your children by going through the motions or using your own strength and abilities, and instead, build a new vision for them with God’s guidance.

Let the Lord wash over you and pour out His vision of how your home can be different. Imagine your teens and preteens relaxed, trusting, communicating with you. Imagine your little ones peacefully accepting God as Daddy and He’s already home with them. How will it look in your household when your kids see you as one of their greatest connections to the Lord and His solutions?

Your role in trusting the Lord and modeling that trust by your walk in front of the kids is more critical after losing your spouse than anytime before. It makes a difference in how God uses this tragedy, taking what Satan meant for offense in your life and turning it into something that glorifies God.

My prayer for each and every one of us widows is that we never let the guidance of our Father in Heaven leave our beings.

Lord, please help each and every one of us use our circumstance as a reason to step closer to You rather than stepping away from You. Open our hearts and attitudes so that You can fill us with Your vision for raising our kids and setting the hearts and attitudes in our homes with purpose. Amen

Growing through adversity

Lessons learned the hard, but necessary way.  

I have learned, to only trust God.  While mothering screaming twin infants and fighting with God, I learned salvation.  Looking for answers and wrestling with the demons of my past, I sought advice from friends, both Christian and non-Christian.  And...I fought with God.  Moving on, trying to control not only my life, but the life of an adopted child and then losing her, I not only fought with God, but I felt betrayed and momentarily abandoned my faith in Him.  Fellow believers helped me to trust Him again, but it was God who did the work.  Years later, when I lost my husband to addiction, I did not fight with God.  Although I needed friends to help me through, I did not need to seek absolution or advice from them to make sense of the tragedy.  I have learned that only God, by His grace, can provide peace.  He has the answers, He has the plan, He knows the way.

 My 16-year journey with the Lord has taught me that while other people may be more mature in their faith, possess more knowledge in the Bible, or otherwise be gifted with wisdom far above my own, I must trust in God’s Word alone.  I must seek His truth in the Scriptures, spend time with Him, and trust in His plan for my life.  However bizarre my choices may seem to others, as long as I am abiding in Christ (John 15:5), I can be at perfect peace.

All this to say, those young in the faith out there, trust in Him, and trust in your heart.  God knows what is right for your life and you and God work that out.  Do not let your faith waver when others doubt your course.  Refuse to be tossed about like the waves in the ocean simply because those in the church may not agree with the decisions you make.  

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

The Story (Truth For Life)

The Story (Truth For Life)