Blog-iversary!

This summer has probably been the best one yet -- our kids are older and able to learn new water skills on our boat, our teenager is able to help babysit the little ones, and my husband has more time this summer to spend with us. We have been boating, biking, took a road trip across the western United States for two weeks, and I learned how to scuba dive. It's the summer we've been waiting many years for.

This week I decided to print out the entire last year of this blog and get it bound, sort of a "homeschool annual." In doing this, I noticed I began writing this blog in June of last year, thus, this month is my "Blogiversary!" 

Out of the three blogs I have, this one is the most dear to me, as I feel that homeschooling my kids is my greatest responsibility at this time in our lives, and I am able to obey God's calling on my life and influence my little disciples in the way that He has instructed. In order to affectively train them in the way I am supposed to, it has meant that I have to live the way He has called, not just hear it or talk about it, but truly LIVE it. It has been a wonderful and challenging time for this less-than-patient, often self-absorbed, sometimes hypocritical mommy.

This spring, I visited a Homeschool Book Fair for the first time -- it was completely overwhelming! I loved it though, I did. After dropping nearly a thousand bucks, I remembered that I have a homeschool room in my house that is spilling over with books, and I could probably teach the next four years to all my children without buying even one book! We have a few too many...oh well, the smell and feel of new books makes me giddy.

I can hardly wait for August, when we just can't hold ourselves back from the pile of new shiny books to dive into! 

Happy Summer!

We love AHG!

Our American Heritage Girl troop is some of the most fun we have ever had! 

We've made so many great new friends who are fellow Christian homeschoolers, and we've learned so much with them. We've also participated in community outreach projects, campouts, and tons of fun parties! Who said homeschoolers are hermits?! I beg to differ. (Click HERE to read another friend's post about homeschool and socialization). Our friends have become very precious to us.

The American Heritage "Tenderfoot " Girls of Troop 1171 and their leaders/moms. 

"Building women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country."

To my homeschool friends...

by Tim Hawkins.

Valedictorians in Recess and P.E.

Ok, so we will spend a little more time hitting the books....next year.

But my talented kids can jump a curb on a scooter...

Jump in the lake in 68 degree water . (These pictures were taken yesterday by the way, pretty doggone cold still)

Roller blade down a 90 degree incline and up the other side and land on his feet.

We might not know as much academically as we should, as compared to other students, but we have more courage, determination, and drive than we ever have before. AND we have stayed in great shape!

Next week will be our last week of official bookwork for the 08/09 school year, thank you God. We will not be finishing the math books but we will complete pretty much everything else, including Anna's Proverbs 31 unit study. She can recite Proverbs 31:10-31 from memory (as I can now too). If you want to know more about our lesson plans for this past year, go here.

Our academic values may be different from yours, but we are confident that God has called us to do this "homeschooling thang," and will equip us each year to impart whatever He wishes. I have made a commitment to teach with vigor and determination, and realistic expectations. However, I certainly know that I will stumble, and I will have frustrating days. Don't get me wrong, it's been a challenging year, as expected. But I will run the race that is set before me so that my children and I can wear that eternal crown! (Hebrews 12:1-3)  If you are considering homeschooling, make sure it is a calling from God, or it will be next to impossible. 

 This is my calling!

To finish or not to finish, that is the question

As the end of school is soon approaching, I am getting excited at the new activities we will get to embark on this summer: ISR (swim lessons) for the babies again, attempting to sew our own clothes, tending to and harvesting the garden, camping, and a couple of family vacations. As I have done in the past, I decided to "end" our formal lessons at the end of April.

However, today I reviewed our remaining lessons and realized that we are only about halfway through a couple of our priority books: math for my second grader, and writing for my kindergartner. I suppose we took too much time off, or spent too much time on other lessons. I often get sidetracked when we spot a good read at Half-Price books, or when we decide to set aside the studies to dive into a game or project. But I guess that's one benefit of the freedom of homeschooling!

On the down side, I am trying to figure out if it is necessary to actually finish the books. Should we continue to drudge away in order to complete the book? Or can we stop and pick it back up come August. To be honest, after 9 months of teaching (and wearing numerous other hats), I tend to look forward to the summer break! My main concern is 2nd grade Math. We are in the middle of multiplication and have not yet made it to division. Other 2nd grade students I know are whizzes in division at this time. (However, in "my day," I specifically remember learning my times tables in 3rd grade; seems educators are introducing kids to these concepts at earlier and earlier ages)

Leave me a comment on what you would do. I am praying about it, but would love input from my homeschool friends as to your views on finishing workbooks and lessons. Thanks!