Avoiding Homeschool Burnout

Have you ever just hit a wall with homeschooling?  Do your kids whine or complain when it's time to do some school work?  I think that we've probably all ran into this at some time or another.

I have some simple ideas that you may want to use for avoiding homeschool burnout.

One thing that I have done before was change up our routine.  We always start with our Bible reading, and I think that is too important to do first so we can't switch that around.  But after that, we can change it up!  Instead of doing history next, why not do art?  Or instead of just changing the routine you can try something different in your routine.  Have your kids jump on one foot while memorizing math problems.  Or maybe they can parade around the room while memorizing dates or Bible verses.

Giving the kids a different direction besides just sit at your desk and do your work makes it more fun!

Why not try a picnic outside in the sun and do some school work there?

One of my favorite things to do is to recharge myself.  The best way that I have found for that is to attend a homeschool conference of some type.  They are so informative!  You can not only learn about how to teach your children, but they have lots of fun ways to do it!  The guest speaker may have some awesome ideas that will encourage you and your children to do school work.  Or even the panel of attendees that chat have great ideas and they share them joyfully with each other.  I am of course, talking about an online conference.  But there are also great local conferences in many areas!

I am aware of a online homeschool conference that is coming up this year and tickets are even on sale now!  The Homeschool Expo is a wonderful conference with many great speakers.  I attended a day last year and also bought the Expo2Go that contained the mp3 files so I didn't have to miss when I couldn't attend.  If you'd like to join up check this out here http://bit.ly/ExpoGo. 

Along with the informative guest speakers that will be attending, there are great freebies that are given out with the purchase of a ticket.  For $19.95 you can order the Expo2Go if you can't make it and have access to the freebies and the mp3 recordings.  If you are interested in buying a ticket to join for the whole week of conference in May 2011, you can purchase a ticket for $29.  But you better hurry because pretty soon it goes up to the regular price of $39!

Friday Fave Five #127

I love blogging on Friday's and catching up with Susanne over at Living to tell the Story.  I also love to reflect back on my week also. 

1.  Receiving another gift from my Secret Prayer Sister at church.  I blogged about this earlier in the week right here.

2.  Being able to relax a bit after a stressful week with a friend and make a new bookmark.  It's always relaxing to have a cup of tea, a craft and a friend to keep you busy for the night.  I was doing that at my friend's house tonight.  It's nice.  We vent, complain, laugh, joke, tease and just plain enjoy each other.

3.  The love and support of people at church.  I really would be lonely and lost without my church family.  They help me so much.  And that extends out to fellow Christians that I don't necessarily attend church with every week.  Christian friends are really a blessing to each other.  I love having that support system.

4.  Lindt Lindor chocolates.  Enough said.

5.  Being able to spend every day with my children, watch them grow, laugh, play and learn.  Bubba learned how to read this past week.  We are so proud of him.  I love this part.  When all of our hard work finally just kinda, falls together.  When they really get it. 

I hope that you enjoyed this post.  If you'd like to read more like it, check out Susanne's blog above.

My Thanks to My Lord

Today included a few wake up calls for myself.  At one point of my day, I was feeling sorry for myself and also worrying.  The phone rings, I answer it trying to disguise my voice because I had been crying.  

It was a phone call letting me know that I was getting some help.  It came just at the right time.  Perfect timing?  No.  Just God's timing.  He knew exactly when I needed to hear that phone call.  How can He know so much?  

Because He is our Creator.  God knows all.

He is also trustworthy, true, forgiving and loving.  He guides me with a gentle hand, yet loves me with a strong hand that covers me like a shield.  He is my fortress, my refuge and my strength.  Without Him, I would not be.  

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for everything that you have given me.  Thank you for showing me when I need correction.  Lord, please fill my heart with love and patience.  I know that I can trust in you God and if You are worried about the little birds, I know that you are worried about me.  Thank you for taking care of me.  Thank you for showing me how to have a strong faith.  You are Lord!  In Jesus Name, Amen.

What I Loved About Today

1. We got all of our school work done today.

2.  I got to take a nap today!

3.  My pastor at church let me borrow books and a movie to teach my kids about dinosaurs from Christian books.

4.  I had Lindt Lindor chocolates to eat today from Valentine's day.

5.  The kids at AWANA make me smile and laugh.

6.  Seeing my pastor's wife and getting a hug and kiss from her.

7.  Talking to my sister on the phone even if it was just for a few minutes.

8.  Making plans with a girlfriend for tomorrow.

9.  Getting M&M's and a little dish from my Secret Prayer Sister.  The lid of the dish says "The Joy" in the middle of it and around the outside it says "of the Lord is your strength".  I think I'll keep some M&M's in that by my computer. Oh and the M&M's are the Valentine colors!

10.  Laughing with Stinky.

11.  Laughing with Bubba.

12.  Laughing with my hubby.

13.  Having a quiet moment to read my Bible.

14.  Going to the library with my kids.

What a great day I had!  I am so blessed to have this life!  I am taking tonight to publicly say:

THANK YOU LORD JESUS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME!

The Walk by Shaun Alexander Book Review

“It’s Satan that says you have to be perfect.  But God says something different.  He says you have to be obedient.”

That quote struck me and stuck with me.  It seems a powerful quote.  Isn’t that the amazing truth though?  God isn’t looking for you to be perfect.  He knows that it is impossible.  We are human and we can’t do it.  



So what can you do to walk closer to God that is not trying to be perfect?  Shaun Alexander has those answers in his book, The Walk.  Shaun clearly points out the different stages of walking with God.  There are five stages and they are: 1. The Unbeliever, 2. The Believer, 3. The Example, 4. The Teacher and 5. The Imparter.  Each person falls into one of those stages.  



Shaun has outlined in his book what each stage is and how to know if you are there.  He reminds us that we must go through the stages starting at the first stage and working our way through to the fifth.  We can not be an Unbeliever, and jump to being an Example or Teacher.  Each stage must be worked through, according to each person’s own time line.



The Walk is written in a way that you can easily work through your walk with God and understand where you are at each step.  It’s not just the walking and God parts, we can’t forget the most important word in that sentence, with.  



I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.  I have not been told to post this review in any way, this is my own opinion.

Bloggerview #2 - Brandy's Brood

Welcome to another edition of Bloggerview!  This week our lovely guest is Brandy over at Brandy's Brood!  I met Brandy on Twitter and we became fast friends.  So without further ado, here's Brandy!  And sorry this took me so long to post Brandy!


1. Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi! I'm Brandy. I'll be turning 30 this year ... and unlike a lot of my high school classmates, I'm NOT freaking about it. I met my husband online in a chat room when I was 18. He was in South Carolina, I was in Michigan. I hopped on a Greyhound when I was 20 to go meet him in person for the first time ... and 2wks later we were married {been married 8 1/2yrs now WooHoo!!}. 15 months later, our 1st daughter was born. She's 7 now and almost done with her 2nd grade homeschool year. Our youngest is 28mo, still nursing once a day, and sleeping in her own bed right next to ours. Being home with my girls is my ideal job, literally. Of course, there are days that Pepsi, a good movie or book, and some prayer is the only thing that gets me through, but still ... lol


2. What is the main purpose of your blog?

It's evolved ... even in the last couple of weeks. I used to mostly write about our family happenings or whatever came off the top of my head. But here lately, I'm wanting each post to have a point. To encourage or challenge or inspire in some way.


3. When you started your blog, what was your ideal goal for it?

Goal? You're supposed to have blogging GOALS??? Why didn't someone tell me?!?!

Ahem, sorry. Yeah, goals. Well ... to take a bit from my answer to question 2: to encourage, challenge, or inspire in some way. Intentional blogging.


4. What would your ideal day consist of?

Well, I would leisurely roll out of bed at the crack of 10, with a hot breakfast waiting for me ... thanks to my fantabulous cook ... and the house would be sparkling clean ... thanks to that maid of mine ... so I might go for a swim, or read a book, or go play with the girls, or ...

Wake up from my dream. Honestly, days like today are ideal. I'm being productive ... the girls are in great moods and getting along great ... things are moving along smoothly and without much bumps in the road {we'll just overlook that moment when our youngest shattered another bowl}. Right now, it would only be better if it was sunshiney and warmer so we could rock some capris and go play in the grass ;-)


5. What blogs do you read that inspire you?

Ann of A Holy Experience
Christin at Joyful Mothering
Laura at 10 Million Miles

Honestly, ANY of the 13 linked in my sidebar ... it's why they're there ;-)


6. Is there anything else that you would like to share? Maybe a testimony, funny story, photo or even a recipe?

I'm drawing a blank here right now, so I guess I'm done lol. Thanks, Danielle! This was fun! :-D

Well my intentions were to have my pictures edited and stamped before I wrote my post so that I could include some of my pictures.  But I am so tired.  I have a migraine and neck pain. 

I am reading a new book right now called The Walk by Shaun Alexander.  It looks like it is a great book so far!  I really like the feel of the cover.  It has a gritty feel to it that makes it easy and fun to grip.
So I leave you with this.  Is anyone ready to have their blog interviewed yet?  Come on, don't be shy!

Friends

It's been an awful past two days.  Well, late afternoon today things started to brighten up.  But through it all I have friends. 

They are praying for me.  They are caring for me.  I love my friends.  They make me smile and cry with the nice things they say and do. 

Without friends, life can be bleak.  It is a great joy to have friends.  And I have them all over the United States!

Thanks Ladies for all of your love and support!

My Baby Girl

Have I ever told you the story about how my daughter came to be about?  Grab a cup of coffee or tea and pull up a chair. 

I have been blessed to be given her as a daughter.  She has taught me some things about myself.  But most importantly, she is my first born and my precious little girl.

My husband and I got married in 1998 because I was pregnant.  I was about 5 weeks pregnant.  The weekend after we got married we were able to take a little honeymoon to Ocean Shores.  It was there that I started spotting.  I had a feeling in the pit of my gut what was wrong. 

I don't want to tell that story though. 

After my miscarriage, we waited the three months to try again.  But God had different plans for us.  I sometimes wonder if that first pregnancy was just to get us in gear to get married.  We were living in sin. 

I didn't get pregnant until about five years later.  That was a tough five years!  I wanted to have a baby.  When I finally gave up, I told myself, "God has decided that you aren't to raise children, so just get used to the idea and get over it."  (Yea, I know, I have no idea about what God decides, but it sounded good at the time.) 

You can probably guess what happened after that.  BAM!  I was preggers. 

Five months into my pregnancy, I can feel that baby moving all of the time.  She hardly stopped.  It was crazy!  I used to call her my little ballerina and my tiny dancer because it felt like she was dancing on my uterus.  And it just kept going and going!

When I was in my third trimester, we were able to sit up at night and watch her just roll and roll and roll and roll and roll and roll (I think you get the point) in my stomach.  Literally, roll.  Not just kick or punch.  Roll.  She was an acrobatic in-utero baby! 

Then she was born.  That day my heart knew what it felt like to melt.  It took me years to just believe that this was really happening to me.  I thought all of the time, this has to be a dream.  Something this miraculous and sweet couldn't be happening to me.  She was my life.

Because of difficulties when she was born, she had to be in the ICU for babies inside one of those things.  I can't for the life of me think of what they are called now.  They wouldn't let me hold her as much as I wanted so she could stay at the right temperature.  I treasured my nursing times with her so I could marvel at the wrinkly face and puggy nose looking at me. 

She ended up having to stay one more night at the hospital than I did.  Because I was nursing, and not going to leave her there anyways not matter what they did to me, they let me stay in a little room for new parents whose babies had to stay longer.  It was no bigger than a closet, but she didn't know.  I remember trying to wrap her in a blanket, swaddling her lovingly.  Only for her to push and shove her way out of it in seconds. 

In a way it was comical.  I showed Greg.  "Watch, I'll wrap her up and she'll get out of it."  I wondered how I would keep her warm.  I still do!  She still won't stay covered up and the less clothes she has on, the better.

There has not been another moment in my life like that.  She stole my heart from the very beginning.  I love my son, and he is my cuddle-bug and my baby.  But nothing can take the place of your first born.

Baptized!

My little girl, my Stinky, is now baptized.  She took her public declaration in front of our church family this evening. 

I am so proud of her. 

After she had dried and changed clothes, we returned to the sanctuary where my little girl was voted into the church as a member.  My Stinky is now a member of _____ Community Baptist Church.

I am so proud of her.

I walked her up to the tub to get baptized and video taped the whole thing.  I bought her her very own King James Version Bible as a gift.  She loved it!

After she had become a member, a friend at church invited her and her family over for dinner.  What a joy that is to us!  This is just so exciting for me, but I'm trying to keep myself contained.  Inside my soul is rejoicing!  It is wonderful!

Now we just need to get my baby boy baptized when he's old enough to understand and decide on his own.  

I pray that my children never stray from His side.  I would love it if you prayed with me for my children.  Thanks!

Bloggerview #1 - Phreckle Face Photography

Welcome to our first Bloggerview!!  Today my guest is Casey at Phreckle Face Photography!  You can check out her blog here and her Facebook page here!  


1. Tell us a little about yourself.

{10 Phreckly Facts about the owner and creator of Phreckle Face Photography}

1) I LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL MY HEART!!
2) I have been married to the LOVE OF MY LIFE for almost 10 years!! This JUNE will mark our BIG 10 anniversary!!
3) We have two Phreckle Face cuties of our own that keep us hopping! They are the inspiration behind Phreckle Face Photography!!!
4) I am a PNW girl at heart!! Always have; Always will be!!!! No matter where the BIG BAD ARMY may take us; the PNW will always be our home!
5) I LOVE COLOR!!!! My fav colors are apple green and obergene
6) I am currently living in San Antonio, Texas. Learning to love the heat!
7) I lived all across the globe. One of my favorite places was our time spent living in Okinawa, Japan.
8) The vast majority of art work in my home is photo art work!!
9) I LOVE..Let's say that again..I LOVE CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!
10) One day when we settle down and are no longer moving around; I would love to make a wallpaper photo wall; inspired by Jinky Art!

2. What is the main purpose of your blog?

Today, the main purpose of my blog would be to share my recent work as well as network with other photographers and vendors that love photography as much as I do. I also like to use it to keep a running record of our adventures across the globe!

3. When you started your blog, what was your ideal goal for it?

I started my Phreckle Face blog to share everything I love about photography! The fabulous thing about the web is the ability to network and share your creativity!!

4. What would your ideal day consist of?

Now and days my ideal day would consist of sleeping in!!!! With two munchkins in school we rarely get to sleep past 6AM!!

5. What blogs do you read that inspire you?

Some of my FAVORITE BLOGS are:

1) http://jinkyart.com.au/blog/
2) http://styleberryblog.com/
3) http://pinkletoesblogstalker.com/


6. Can you give us a little example of some of your work?

Thank you so much Casey!  I loved doing this and learning more about you!  Isn't her work just beautiful?  She has such an artistic touch to her photography, it amazes me!  God definitely gave her a talent!

Would you like to participate in Bloggerview?  I would love to interview more blogs out there!  If so, send me your email address, or leave it in the comments below! 

Please be sure everyone to leave a nice comment for Casey too!!

Getting Ready for Baptisms & Birthdays

My daughter, my Stinky, is getting baptized this Sunday night.  I am so proud of her decision!  This is the biggest decision of her life and she made the right choice.  She had already accepted Jesus as her Savior when she was 5 years old.  So we are preparing for that special evening.

I bought her a new Bible.  A grown-up Bible.  She has her own, but it's NIV and we don't read that at church or in Sunday school.  So I bought her a pink and green King James Version bible.  I can hardly wait to give it to her!  It is all so exciting to me!

She has her bag packed already for the clothes that she will change into after she is baptized.  She is definitely a plan-ahead-person.....like me.


Glitter Graphics, Happy Birthday Glitter Graphics

On Tuesday of next week, it's my baby's 6th birthday.  My little Bubba.  Bubby.  He's going to be 6!  Did you get that?  6!!  I can't believe it!  No wonder I'm ready for another baby.  He was going to have a friend spend the night tomorrow night, but with me not feeling the greatest, don't know if that will happen now.  Maybe we'll have to reschedule for next weekend.  Tuesday we will have a little family celebration for him and cook or have what he wants for dinner, within reason.  I can't take him out to eat.  Unless he uses his Pizza Hut coupon for his Book-It time.  Maybe that would be a fun thing to do for lunch sometime this week too!

My children are growing up too fast.  Has anyone found a way to slow this down yet?  Let me know if they do.

Friday Fave #125

Welcome to another edition of Friday's Fave 5 hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.  I love doing these every week and actually look forward to it!

My Fave Five this week:

1.  Snuggling and cuddling my babies.  I love to hold them, smell them, touch them, kiss them, hug them, pat them, snuggle them, cuddle them, pet them, eskimo-kiss them, butterfly-kiss them, tickle them and nibble them.  This past week, while Kyle was sick, I got to do one of my favorite things that I miss so much.  I got to rock him to sleep.  Be still my heart.  I have missed that so much.  It's one of my favorite things to do with my babies.

2.  Getting books in the mail.  I love getting all of my books in the mail!  Whether they are to review or they are from paperbackswap.com I just get so excited!!  This week I received The Walk by Shaun Alexander.  I will start reading this one when I am done reading the one that I started last night.  It is one that I got from paperbackswap.com.  Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.

(There are 3 things that should be in every house IMO: 1. Bible 2. Cats 3. Books)

3.  Watching my silly dramatic girl being silly and dramatic.  Stinky likes to dance, make up funny songs and jokes.  She is a silly funny girl that makes me giggle.  I don't know how she comes up with the stuff that she does, but she's hilarious! 

4.  Winning the ticket to HOTM Homeschool Conference!  I was so excited this morning to wake up and find an email from Marsha @ Other Such Happenings blog and find out that I won a ticket to attend the Heart of the Matter Conference on Feb. 21-23!  I wanted to attend this so badly, but I could not afford the $15 to buy a ticket!  Now I get to for free!!  I am so grateful to Marsha!

5.   The sunshine was out this week for a couple of days.  Around here, in the Evergreen State, we don't get a lot of sun during the winter.  It's mostly rain and gray skies.  The other day, if you stood directly in the sunshine, you could feel some warmth.  Just some.  My skin inhaled.  It was awesome.

Short but Sweet

I am running a very low grade fever.  I don't feel sick though.  I wonder if I am coming down with something.  I am awfully tired though.  And just feel run down.  I think for the rest of the evening I am going to lay down.  Maybe watch a movie that I've had from the library for a while but haven't watched yet.  Or maybe just sleep.  that is what I feel like.  If I can get the energy, I might play some Sims 2 tonight.  I think my eyes are too tired to read.  Hopefully I will feel better tomorrow and can post a real post. 

I would appreciate prayers from you who are the praying type!  Thanks!

Time's Out

My time is running out this evening.  But I wanted to be sure and post today.  There I posted, see ya tomorrow.




Lol!

Ok, so that might not have been that funny.  But it's late, and I felt like doing it. 

I should have the interview for my guest blogger by tomorrow.  I am so excited to be posting that!  It should be interesting to read everyone's interviews.  I wish some of my readers, who aren't also a friend from church or facebook, would jump on the bloggerview wagon!  I have 5 ladies so far who want to participate, but they are all my friends!  I want someone that I don't know too well on here too!  Come on peeps!  Tell others!  Sign up!  Leave me your info in the comments if you're interested!

My Morning Devotion

My step-daughter got me a devotional for Christmas called Grace for the Moment Volume 1 by Max Lucado.  This morning my devotion was very good and I wanted to share it.  I know a lot of people that tend to a greenhouse full of weeds and thorns.

THE GREENHOUSE OF THE HEART

People harvest only what they plant. Galations 6:7

Think for a moment of your heart as a greenhouse....And your heart, like a greenhouse, has to be managed.

Consider for a moment your thoughts as seed.  Some thoughts become flowers.  Others become weeds.  Sow seeds of hope and enjoy optimism.  Sow seeds of doubt and expect insecurity....

The proof is everywhere you look.  Ever wonder why some people have the Teflon capacity to resist negativism and remain patient, optimistic, and forgiving?  Could it be that they have diligently sown seeds of goodness and are enjoying the harvest?

Ever wonder why others have such a sour outlook?  Such a gloomy attitude?  You would, too, if your heart were a greenhouse of weeds and thorns.

Just Like Jesus

Each day of devotions is a excerpt taken from one of Max Lucado's books.