First Day of School 2013-2014

 

We began our 7th year of school at home on Monday, August 19,2013.  I can hardly believe I have been doing it this long.  When we started Jake began the 4th grade, Jordan 3rd grade and Emily was just a little thing.  Thatcher wasn't even thought about.  Since then, Jordan has done well enough to skip a grade (she skipped 8th grade).  Emily had never been to public school, and is a whole grade above where Jake was when we started homeschooling in 2006.  I taught Emily how to read when I was pregnant with Thatcher.  It was such a special experience.  Now this year Thatcher is 4 and we are doing pre-k together.  Soon I will be teaching him phonics and reading!

In the last 7 years, many more of our friends and family have made the choice to bring their children home for school.  We have close to 20 homeschooling children among friends and family that live within 15 minutes of us.   I am hoping to get all these children together more often this year.  We have hopes of beginning a Keepers at Home club, more mom's night out, monthly gatherings for both structured and unstructured fun, as well as possible monthly roller skating at the local rink. 

I asked each of my kids what their expectations are for this year and here is what they said:

JAKE-  (10th grade age 15) Well, I hope school stays as interesting as it has been this past week.  It has so far been the best first week of school. I'm hoping it won't be to hard to juggle school and working half days at the nursery. I enjoy geometry although I keep mixing my words up and calling it geography. Probably my least favorite subject would be P.E. 

JORDAN- (10th grade age 13) So far school seems fairly simple.  It hope it doesn't take up too much of my day though.  Last year I got a little behind in my work so I am hoping to stay caught up this year.  I really like P.E.  I ride the stationary bike and read a book at the same time.  I don't have a subject I dislike, but I guess geometry and Spanish are my least favorite subjects so far.

EMILY- (5t grade age 10) I love my school so far this year.  I hope to get better at math.  I like math, but I am not good at it.  My favorite subject is art, I even do extra when I can.  I love to read books, but I don't really like my reading curriculum.  The comprehension questions are confusing.  I really love Keepers at Home.  I want to work on getting more badges, like flowers, typing, roller skating and cookie making. 

THATCHER- I want to do a popsicle stick craft and play with play dough. 

For me, the mom, my goal is still the same as ever.  I feel like if I can only instill a love for learning in each of my children, especially learning God's word and HIS will, then I will have accomplished a great goal! 

Deuteronomy 6:6-9
⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Course of Study-Sophomores 2013-2014

Jake and Jordan are both sophomores this year.  I can hardly believe it! Here is what they'll be using this year:

Bible- (History and Geography of the Bible and The 3 Cycle Approach by Bob and Sandra Waldron)
Computer Basis- (Christian Light)
Financial Literacy- (Switched on School House)
Geometry- (Harold Jacob's- Seeing, Doing Understanding)
Spanish- (Destinos)
Biology- (Switched on School House, plus a lab kit)
World History- (Switched on School House)
Language Arts- (Literature for Life and Work, Roost and Fruits Vocabulary, Easy Grammar)
Music- piano (Piano for Life)

Contenment Part 2

Luke 12:15

15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of

greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

 

Have you ever thought………

If we just had a little more money, not a lot, just enough to___(fill in the blank)_____ (vanity of pleasure Ecclesiastes 2;10,11)

 

If we could just have a simple life, with fewer gadgets, more free time, less hustle and bustle……. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; Ecclesiastes 7:10)

If I had a college education……….. (grief of worldly wisdom Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 vs value of practical wisdom Ecclesiastes 2:14; Ecclesiastes 7:12 )

If I were just a little prettier, or had a better body, if my eyes were only blue, if I didn‘t have gray hair….……..

If the house was just a little newer, or the living room was just a little bigger, or we just had________ like the Jone’s have.

If I could just be popular among my friends and family……. (Popularity passes away-)

Have you ever said (or thought) any of these ??? Could these signs of being discontent?

What are some causes of discontentment?

*improper expectations- Acts 8:14-24 Simon the Sorcerer

Simon was likely accustomed to being the center of attention. He in some way expected to be like the apostles and be able to impart the Holy Spirit, although he was obviously a babe in Christ. Verse 20 gives us the idea that Simon may have wanted it for monetary gain. Peter told Simon that he had no part in this matter and that he needed to repent. Simon’s expectations were improper weren’t they?

*lack of humility- Esther 6: 6-12 Haman 

 

Philippians 2:3,4

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
*Comparing yourself to others- 2Corinthians 10: 12-17 

12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you) for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15 not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men's labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another mans sphere of accomplishment. 17 but he who glories let him glory in the Lord.

*dissatisfaction with being a simple human being? Eve- Genesis 3:1-7
 

3 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

Contentment: To be sufficient, to be enough to a thing, to be satisfied, willing to accept circumstances

What really makes us comfortable in this life?

Food, clothing, shelter- 1 Tim. 6:8; Hebrews 13:5,6

What are some practical ways to avoid discontentment?

 

Count your blessings; Ask yourself- WHY do you need it?; embrace humility; recognize what is enough; surround yourself with happy people; express appreciation;

Philippians 4:11-13: 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me.

Luke 12;15: 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”


Psalms 37:3-5: 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Proverbs 3:5: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding

Proverbs 30: 7-9 : Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): 8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches—

Feed me with the food allotted to me; 9 Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contentment Part 1

Our Attitude towards different situations we face everyday of our lives is really what makes us stand out.  Let take a look at contentment and how our attitude towards it can change how we see ourselves, and how we deal with the problems of life.
 

***Fine as frog hair split four ways: A man once laid in ICU after a serious heart surgery. He couldn’t move his arms, he couldn’t turn his head because of the wires and tubes, yet he explains to a visitor that he is feeling “as fine as frog hair, split four ways”.  Lesson-A difficult situation can be improved with a good attitude.
 

Proverbs 26: 13-16

13 A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” 14 As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. 15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. 16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly

 

I understand the sluggard here has made an excuse by saying there is a lion in the road. The sluggard only sees the problems of life and it gives him an excuse for being lazy. Maybe he imagined there was a lion in the road. Sometimes our minds can play tricks on us. We see things that are not there.

It doesn’t matter if life’s problems or actual or imagined does it? We all have problems. However, those who get up in the morning and decide to face any problem with the best attitude possible are the ones who will have a better day than those who only see the glass as half full.

***A few days after the heart patient got out of ICU someone asked him how his recovery was going. He answered “Better than I deserve, but not as well as I hope to be” What can we learn from the attitude behind this response? “Better than I deserve,” is a clear admittance that if he got only what he deserved it wouldn’t be much. It is through the grace of God that he has been blessed with what he has. Yet he also honestly acknowledges his hope for something a little better than his current state “not as well as I hope to be.”

 

Matthew 7:7

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will

be opened to you.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

 Difficulties teach us to be happy and they can make us a better person.

James 1:2-4

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature complete not lacking anything. 

James 4:1-3
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 

Contentment- Its all in your mind! ??? Its all in your mind is only true when we are talking about the heart, our attitude. So what about our attitude towards our life, what we have, how we look, where we live….. Am I content? Are you content? How can I

know if I am discontent? What can I do to improve my attitude towards what I have, or who I am?

Its Been A Long Time!

 

  Here is a recent picture of me with my children.  Starting on the left; Me (Brandy), Jake (15), Jordan (13), Emily (10) and Thatcher (3). 

  Jake and Jordan have just finished the 9th grade!  Can you believe that?  As you can see Jake is taller than I am now and Jordan is almost as tall.  Where does the time go?

  Its been a long time since I have put much effort into this blog.  At one point I had three different blogs going.  I  not only had this one I had one for our homeschool stuff and another for a diet I was trying that ended quickly and was horrible! 

  So now I am going to try to dedicate myself to this one blog and putting everything on it.  I don't know if I still have any active followers.  If you are still actively following this blog would you please leave a comment?   Also if there is anything you'd like me to post about leave that in the comments too :-)  Thanks!