Why I Enjoy Home Schooling... warning: Picture Heavy!

There are several philosophical reasons, but some of the simpler ones are:

Playing Uno and/or Scrabble and counting it as Math and English

















PJ day!  ( I need to plan one soon I think)



A leisurely first cup of coffee during Bible reading

FLEXIBILITY  (this one is HUGE for me)... I can arrange our schedule as I see fit.  For example, Co-op and Art lessons have been part of our schooling this time around.  



Family Field Trips... like this one to the Corning Glass Museum and the Rockwell Museum

Being home to do things that I was missing while working such as making bread and laundry detergent (I know, I like that stuff... I can't help it, I'm weird!

Another thing I love about home schooling is picking out curriculum.  I'm like a kid in a candy store!

We are using "Romans: A Courtroom Drama" by Thomas Westwood for our morning devotions.  I picked this because it goes hand in hand with what the teenagers are studying for Quiz Team in the Spring.  Quiz Team is a competition in the Talents For Christ activity that we do each year.  This year the Scripture is Romans 1-8.  This book will give us a good background on the verses they are studying.   

Also for devotions we are doing "A Heart of Humility"  which is a study on Philippians chapter 2.  I bought the materials from  Intoxicated on Life.

In the picture to the right is a mere smattering of some of what we are doing this year in home school.  There is a lot with 6 students.  This little pile was one I had with me to check over while the kids were in art class.

Another fun thing we are doing for the month of November is "30 Days of Thankfulness".  I have one of the children each day pick a card I made up out of a container, and it has something to be thankful for.  We hang it on the kitchen wall, and we make sure we thank God for that during the day. There are also some blank cards so if anyone wants to write their own, they can. I got it for free from Currclick.

Besides Co-op, which we added into the schedule this year, is art class.  Now I haven't been clever enough to get any pics of the kids at Co-op yet.  I'll do that soon.  We meet every other week, and all the kids seem to be enjoying it.  I'm not teaching anything this semester, but will be after Christmas.  Don't ask me what... I haven't figured that one out yet!

Esther chose not to do art class, so she, Isaac, myself, and a good friend and her youngest who is seven, goes to the McDonald's nearby to hang out.  I got Esther here working whatever it was she had.  I think she was saying something like, "Mom, what ARE you doing????"

Maybe the management doesn't mind, but I always feel as if I need to buy a little something to warrant taking up some space for customers.  I usually get coffee or hot cocoa.  Isaac is enjoying something overly sweet and delicious here.  :)

Of course, I have to include some pics of the budding artists!

On Labor Day we went to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.  It was a gorgeous day, and we went with some good friends of ours.  What a fun day that was!  After the hike down to the bottom we played in  the water for a bit, then hiked back up for lunch.  Everyone was starving!

Usually after our art lessons we stop at the Library.  Our library uses the receipt system.  You see here it also serves as a list for me to check when we are packing up the Library bag.  I can make sure we have everything.  I check off the books as I put them in the bag, and whatever isn't there I circle with my super-powered red pen, and tell the kids to go find the books.  

One of the aspects of home schooling is that we can get outside (I have a whole different set of pictures for that!  That will have to be another post.  Honestly, I keep thinking I need to Vlog, and just do some DITL type videos!)  I think Isaac found this dandelion, the very last one in our yard, as far as I could tell.  I know it sounds simple and silly, but I'm so thankful we can literally stop and smell the roses, er, or blow on the last dandelion fluff as it were, instead of being trapped inside and then to much in a hurry and scurry after coming home from school each day to be able to enjoy the simple pleasures of God's creation.

(Okay, that was a MAJOR run-on sentence. )

I love all the fun times, but the kids know that you don't mess with Mama when there is work to be done!

Blessings,

Lisa

Knitting and Reading

Well, I'm a couple of days behind on this post as it was supposed to be up Wednesday. *blush*. Sorry about that!

For knitting I took a very small break from Josiah's socks to work on a charity block. I'm in a group on Ravelry called "Proverbs 31" and the moderator started a "block party". We are to make as many, or few 6" blocks to send in by March 3rd. So far I've gotten one done. I have another casted on and ready to do, and then it is back to Josiah's socks. Actually, since I have over a week for the second block, I'll probably work some on Josiah's socks, so he won't get nervous about me never finishing them, and when I am tired and need mindless knitting, work on the charity block. The first block is an easy triangle motif. The second one I am working is a basketweave stitch. I wish I had one of those old Knitting Stitch Encyclopedia type books from the last generation. I'm definitely going to scour the thrift stores and yard sales this year for one! These blocks are fantastic for trying out new stitch patterns.



I'm still slowly making my way through "Organized Simplicity". It isn't hard reading, but I like to take time to absorb the ideas.

I'm also reading, mostly during my work out times at the gym, "The Covered Wagon" by Emerson Hough. So far I like it well enough. If you like frontier fiction, you'll like this.



I should mention that "The Covered Wagon" is a freebie on the Kindle, in case anyone wanted to know. :)

Knitting and Reading

I've decided to join a "Yarn Along" (see the new gadget on the side bar to the right) since I've been both reading and knitting a lot over the last couple of weeks. Both are tapering off some, as I get back into the ebb and flow of a busy life, but continuing at their more moderate paces.

I am reading "Organized Simplicity" on my Kindle. It was a freebie a few weeks ago, and though I am only a chapter or so into it, I am gleaning lots from it! I am also reading an older book called "Homestead on the Hillside" (also a freebie on my Kindle ) which is like Louisa May Alcott's darker books, but by a different author. I had a hard time getting into it at first, but then enjoyed it and looked forward to reading more if it when I could.

I finished up the first of Josiah's socks, and started the second yesterday. I haven't had time to knit yet today, but plan on working on that later this evening. Jerusha's sweater is coming along nicely, and I hope to finish that by this weekend.

Book in Review.....

"Master Your Metabolism" by Julian Michaels.

I'm only about 1/4 of the way through, but already I'm having some light bulb moments. For example.... I've been counting calories, exercising like crazy, and yes, weight is coming off, but it is S L O W! I keep thinking... why isn't it coming off faster? I'm working hard, being so careful about everything I put in my mouth, so why isn't the weight melting off? I have PLENTY to lose. It isn't like I am a mere 10 pounds away from my goal weight. According to the official weight ranges, I'm still "obese". I can see that things are going in the right direction, but why won't my weight go down a little faster?

I have always blamed it on my metabolism. Rightfully so, indeed, but there is much more to metabolism, at least the way I used to think of it.

Metabolism is more than just burning calories. Every action and reaction in our bodies are controlled by hormones. If one little hormone is out of whack, then it messes up the whole thing. Jillian Michaels likens it to an orchestra. It sounds amazing and wonderful when everything is in tune, but all you need is for one instrument to be a little off, and the whole thing just sounds wrong.

As I am reading this book, I am amazed at her history too. That fitness guru used to have some major weight issues! You'd never know it now! I'm not particularly interested in having a "hot" body as she says, but I am interested in the general health benefits to getting hormones and metabolism under control. It can prevent things like diabetes... which runs all through my family. I used to think I was just plain doomed, but after what little I have read, I may be able to prevent it altogether. Maybe. It's worth a try, I'd say.

Our bodies are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made. There is nothing wrong with understanding better how they work so we can better take care of them. There is nothing wrong with understanding how toxins in our food and environment also effect our hormones. It is scary and amazing.

I'm sure you have heard it said... that people "way back when" were thinner and more fit because their lifestyle was more active. That is partly true. I have come to believe that it also because the food they consumed wasn't riddled with man made, added-in chemicals and hormones, no processed foods, no junk, basically. That, coupled with the fact that life "way back then" was more active by necessity, gives a better chemical and hormonal balance in general.

This is just the tip of the iceburg, so to speak. If you are tired of killing yourself with a grueling exercise regime, and counting every single calorie obsessively, then I highly recommend this book. The plain fact is, you can do EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING right, but if your hormones are out of whack, it will be for nothing, or very little at best.

As previously stated, I haven't finished the book yet, so I may have to retract this recommendation, but I'm so excited about this that I couldn't wait! Where it will lead... we'll see.