BEING HELD

We like to think that we are in control of our lives, don't we? 

First this happens and then this.  If we make this choice then this will follow.  

We have such neat little packages and labels.  Even as a Christian and trusting in God's Sovereignty and Providence--we still get surprised when things don't go "as planned."  So, when things come crashing down it is a blow..a shock.  

We have just had another crushing blow.

We lost another unborn child.

And it is hard.

It is so hard.

I am thankful though.

I am thankful that when I first saw that smear of blood, I had caregivers that I trusted to call.

I am thankful that even when the office was closed, they had me come in to check for a heartbeat.

I am thankful for modern medicine that allowed us to have an ultrasound to confirm that there was no life.

I am thankful for children who dropped what they were doing at a word to leave to go to the doctor.

I am thankful for a husband who left his work at a moments notice to come be with me.

I am thankful for the ladies that prayed with me, seeing that something was wrong as I had to leave the place I was.

I am thankful for a hospital that is not too distant when the bleeding got excessive.

I am thankful for my Dad who took the kids no questions asked.

I am thankful that I did not need surgery.

I am thankful for a body that works properly to know when something is wrong.

I am thankful that my husband ran in after I passed out at home a few days later.

I am thankful for my Mom who got from the phone call in the middle of the night, to her car in three minutes and came just behind the police officers--so we didn't have to wake the kids.

I am thankful for law enforcement and other caregivers that give up time with their families to serve others.

As much as I hated being in that hospital every second--I am thankful that my husband cared enough to force me to go.

I am thankful that even though my blood pressure and count was dangerous I didn't need a transfusion.

I am thankful that even though my heart rate was dangerous--it was and is still beating.

I am thankful for a home and a family to come home to.

I am thankful for family and friends and churches that pray.

I am thankful I live in a country where we have the freedom to do so.

I am thankful for those who put others first when they see the need.

I am thankful that I have six healthy, vibrant children.

I am thankful for a quiet house right now so I can think on these things, painful as they are.

I am also thankful that I was entrusted, even for a brief time, with the lives of two more little ones.

Because there is a reason and purpose for them, whether I see it now or not.

I don't know why this is my story.

I do know that this story was written long before I could have imagined it.

I do know that I can trust the Author.

I do know that all of this pain and heartache is nothing in comparison with some.

I do know that all of this pain and heartache is absolutely nothing in comparison with what Jesus suffered.

We were never promised that this life would be easy.

We are promised that in Him there is strength to bear it.

I pray that these crosses point us ever to THE CROSS.

I am not really current in the Contemporary Christian Music world or artists etc., but this song really speaks to me and our current situation.

HYDROPONICS

Garden club recently took a field trip to check out a local hydroponics set up.

Hydroponics, in case you don't know, is a system of growing without soil and instead using mineral nutrients added to the water.  It was interesting..certainly saves a lot of space but the studies apparently are still pending on the health benefits of hydroponics versus the standard growing in the ground process.

They had some hands on experience with a short lecture on the whole process.

VALENTINE CAROLING

This past weekend the Pioneer Girls got together to sing some "love songs" to seniors at two different nursing homes.  We were only able to make it to one, due to other plans, but it was a nice time.

The kids all made pictures or cards to hand out and we had a whole program.

There was even a puppet show after the singing where the Gospel was shared with the residents.

I didn't get any pictures of that though.

We had a pretty full house, and even though I'm sure some of them couldn't hear all that well--others sang along with some of the songs.

The songs included "Amazing Grace," "This is the Day," "Awesome God" and many more.

PIONEER GIRLS

This is our second year in Pioneer Girls at a local church.

We meet twice a month and do Bible Study and projects etc.

It is basically like a Christian Girl Scouts.

The girls love going.

They have a time for games, a time for Scripture memorization, singing and a lesson.

A time is also set apart for the moms to meet briefly for prayer and a short conversation or devotion.

This year the ongoing project is an apron and they write each verse or a paraphrase of it on their apron.

They will then get to take it home at the end of the season and hopefully have it forever.

This year is extra nice because they started up a Boy's group at the same time and in the same church!

They memorize the same scripture and do projects related to it as well as have game time and such.

It is a whole family outing!

It has also been nice getting to know some more people in the community--a lot of them also homeschoolers!

They have a big (first time) event coming up this month..so you'll have to be kept in suspense for pictures of that.

 :)

LANGUAGE ARTS

I've said in the past that I would share some of our curriculum choices and somehow, I never really get around to it.  Well, I have a few minutes tonight.

Writer's in Residence is a new curriculum by Debra Bell, put out by Apologia.

It is a bit pricey, but when I looked at the sample pages prior to purchasing, I really liked it.

We are moving slowly through this--we could do it daily, but I just can't fit it in.

So, we will be continuing this next school year as well.

I am using it with my 2nd, 4th and 5th graders and I wouldn't go any younger personally.

From what I see, it could work with students up into high school.  It focuses on not only the writing process but also grammar and critical thinking.

My picture is off of amazon.  Sorry for the blurriness.  I would recommend checking it out.

In addition, we also use this:

Language Lessons for Today put out by My Father's World is great.

Short, concise lessons with a variety of poetry, narration, copywork, memorization, grammar and so forth.  We used the previous book in the series last school year.

A new thing we introduced this year is Linguistic Development Through Poetry Memorization by Andrew Pudewa

I was given this book and we may not be using it in the "intended" way, but we are definitely memorizing poetry!  Boogie and Bubba (ages 6 and 4) both can recite several poems and their authors!  This was not my intention, but they picked it up along with the other kids and completely surprised me when they started saying the poems too!  Win!

The other things I include under the broad term "language arts" are typing, spelling, cursive, journaling and manners.  Oh, and our read-alouds and what the kids choose to silent read.

I don't normally assign silent reading books--I let them choose.  

That may change in the future though.

None of the subjects mentioned above have a formal curriculum.

MJ finished his spelling workbook and is currently using gradespelling.com.

The girls are still working on a spelling workbook that includes puzzles and word games etc.

That is about it.

Any questions?

What do you use for your Language Arts?

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? CAN I BELIEVE IT?!!

Currently, we have no one in diapers!  Wait, let me repeat that.  We have NO ONE IN DIAPERS!

We have been dabbling at potty training for a couple of months, but nothing serious as in timers and such.  Well, last week while SICK I might add, Sonny decided that it was time.  He was running a fever and had diarrhea and there were next to no accidents.  I still had him in diapers because I mean, diarrhea!  Well, after two days of not a single accident--yesterday we put on underpants.

I decided to brave it and we even wore them in the car and out.  To top it all off, 

he fell asleep on the way home in the car, did not wake up and so I put him to bed--in underpants.

Woohoo!  

No issues. 

 This boy is confident and definitely knows when he needs to go and when he doesn't.  

I will say though, I am a bit nervous about co-op next week!

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Anyone else eat their cereal this way?

I didn't think so.

Hmm..always something to keep us busy and things interesting.