I am so excited for school to begin this year!! I was excited last year but this year I feel like I have more of a handle on teaching three elementary aged children (even though I am adding a preschooler to the mix!). Less trepidation and more anticipation! I thought I would share what curriculum choices we have made this year. Last year we used Sonlight, but we weren't very happy with it and ended up replacing a few of the subjects by mid-year.
History
Mystery of History Volume 1 for all
History Through the Ages: Creation to Christ (timeline) for all
Spelling
Building Spelling Skills Books 3,5, & 6 (Christian Liberty Press)
Reading
3rd Grade: History Stories for Children, Story of the Wright Brothers and Their Sister, and Nature Reader 3
5th Grade: Of America 1 and Nature Reader 5
6th Grade: Story of Inventions
Language Arts
3rd Grade: Language 3 (A Beka)
5th Grade: God's Gift of Language B (A Beka)
6th Grade: God's Gift of Language C (A Beka)
Math
Saxon for all grades
Science
3rd Grade: Exploring God's Creation (A Beka)
5th Grade: Investigating God's World (A Beka)
6th Grade: Observing God's World (A Beka)
Geography
Maps, Globes and Graphs E & F (5th and 6th Grade)
Penmanship
3rd Grade: Writing With Grace (Christian Liberty Press)
Art and Supplemental History
Draw and Write Through History: Creation to Jonah (all)
Bible
Junior Bible Quiz (all)
Will possibly be adding Foundations Bible Study
Extras
Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Jr.
Homeschool Co-Op Classes
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
No Sweets Days 25, 26, 27, & 28
For some reason, I have been thinking all week that today would be my last day, but actually Wednesday is. The last few days have not really been a big deal. The one thing I have really been wanting is ice cream, probably because of the heat we've been having. :)
Thursday, July 14, 2011
No Sweets Days 23 & 24
Not much to say!!! Six more days to go!!! I feel pretty good. I don't feel the need for a nap in the afternoons at all anymore. I am ready for bed by 10:30 or 11 and I wake up early between 6 and 7. Definitely an improvement! I actually bought cookies for the kids at the grocery store today (I haven't done that all month) and I know I will be able to stay away from them. I feel a lot more confident in my ability to say no to sweets. I'm worried about how much that will change once I allow myself to have them again. Hmmm. We shall see.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
No Sweets Days 20, 21, & 22
Wow, only eight more days to go!!! I can't believe I've actually stuck to it. In the last three days, I've passed up brownies twice and cupcakes once. If nothing else, I'm learning that I don't have to eat sweets every time they're offered. It's ok to say no! Once in a while isn't going to kill me, but having them constantly will do me nothing but harm. The test will be reintroducing them and sticking with the "once in a while" mindset! I'm still trying to decide for sure what I want to do after the 30 days are up. I talked to my friend Sarah last night and she suggested that I start eating my meals on child sized plates and only getting one helping. This is something my friends and I have talked about occassionally. We know it has worked with other people that have tried it. The more I thought about it last night, the better it sounded. Next to sweets, portion control is probably one of my biggest problems. I have a hard time not going back for seconds. I seem to often eat beyond fullness. So I think this may be the next challenge that I take on. This challenge may be even more difficult than the no sweets because I may have to deal with some actual hunger for a while. But I know I can do it with God's help. :)
Saturday, July 9, 2011
No Sweets Day 19
Day 19...
Still doing good but the cravings have been really strong. Really wanting some cookie dough icecream or chocolate chip cookies. Mmmm. My sister pointed out that I haven't been as busy the last few days so that's probably why I am having a harder time. It also makes it difficult because I haven't seen any more weight loss, so it's hard to stay motivated. But I am going to finish this out, I'm determined. It's about breaking the addiction more than losing weight. I'm kind of lost on what is going to happen after the 30 days is up, because I haven't yet had any huge eye-opening revelations other than that sugar makes me tired and more hungry. And that is important. But kind of looking for something more...
11 more days.
Still doing good but the cravings have been really strong. Really wanting some cookie dough icecream or chocolate chip cookies. Mmmm. My sister pointed out that I haven't been as busy the last few days so that's probably why I am having a harder time. It also makes it difficult because I haven't seen any more weight loss, so it's hard to stay motivated. But I am going to finish this out, I'm determined. It's about breaking the addiction more than losing weight. I'm kind of lost on what is going to happen after the 30 days is up, because I haven't yet had any huge eye-opening revelations other than that sugar makes me tired and more hungry. And that is important. But kind of looking for something more...
11 more days.
Always Faithful
My husband has been having trouble with his right arm for about three years now. He wakes up in pain while he's sleeping and is hindered in everything he does. His job requires him to lift heavy rolls of plastic and many of his coworkers suffer from the same problems. He finally decided he had had enough a few months ago and made an appointment with our family doctor. After trying unsuccessfully to diminish the pain with anti-inflammatory pills, the doctor sent him for xrays and an MRI. When she saw he had tendonitis, she sent him to a specialist. The specialist took him off work for 4-6 weeks and ordered physical therapy.
My first reaction to this news was fear. Someday I will elaborate a little bit more on our past, but to put it mildly, I will say that our financial situations have at times been at crisis level. In the last two years, God has gotten us back on track and we have been able, with his divine help, to pull ourselves out of the pit we were in. We have been in a better place financially this past year than we have been in a very long, long time.
Danny is very blessed. On short-term disability, he will still receive pay for 40 hours per week. I am so thankful for that. However, this still puts us short because his actual normal pay is for 48 hours every other week, with 8 hours of it being paid at time and a half. While this is no reason to have a panic attack, that is exactly what I almost allowed myself to do.
The devil began to whisper in my ear and remind me about the past. Fear gripped at my throat and threatened to choke me. But a stronger voice broke in. And immediately I knew how to fight back. My husband's employer is not our provider. God is. This became my mantra. And every time my thoughts went to worry and fear, I repeated it over and over until I felt peace.
The next day, I got my electric bill. It was over $400. Deep breaths were of the utmost importance.
Yesterday, we found out that our insurance will only cover up to $2000 of physical therapy in a calendar year. His first appointment has already eaten up $600 of that. We also have to pay a $25 co-pay for each appointment, which equals out to $75 each week...from an already short paycheck. He decided to cut his physical therapy down to twice a week, but it still seemed daunting. I started to panic again. How were we going to manage this? God whispered, "Have I ever failed you yet? I will provide." I calmed down.
This morning, we got in the van to go to a church softball game. The key turned but nothing happened. We hoped that maybe someone had left a door open a little and it just drained the battery. After jumping it with the truck, we went ahead with our plans and drove to the softball game. It became apparent as we were driving that something was not right. The lights were flickering and the needles on the gauges were going crazy. When we got to the game, we turned it off and tried to start it again. Nothing. Danny figured it was the alternator. This time I almost laughed. What was this?! After the softball game, we had a friend jump us and we drove to the auto part store. We were thankful that when they tested it, they found out it was just the battery and not the alternator. But it would still be almost $100 to fix it. Just another drop in the bucket of my anxieties.
Danny dropped us off and drove to Walmart to buy a battery and a couple of things he would need to replace it. A very sweet friend found him there and handed him a blessing of exactly $100, almost the EXACT amount it would cost to replace the battery.
I could almost see God smiling. Saying, "I told you. I've got this. You will be just fine."
A few months ago, I got a tattoo on my leg (hold the judgment please). It is based on the scripture from the Psalms that says our transgressions are removed from us as far as the east is from the west. This is something that God spoke to me during my darkest and most desperate hour. It was at a time when I felt undeserving of anyting good and unworthy of any blessing. I can still remember the realness of his presence in the room where I knelt down and broke. I can remember how he lovingly took me to that verse and reminded me that he would not hold my past against me. He had no desire to punish me for the rest of my life, even though I felt I deserved it. I felt peace at that time and knew that he was going to work a miracle in our lives. I believe he is still working that miracle. Where we are now, compared to where we were two years ago is just amazing. But I believe with all my heart that he is not finished yet.
There is no reason for me to fear. There is no reason for me to worry.
He is God. He is always faithful.
And he's got this.
My first reaction to this news was fear. Someday I will elaborate a little bit more on our past, but to put it mildly, I will say that our financial situations have at times been at crisis level. In the last two years, God has gotten us back on track and we have been able, with his divine help, to pull ourselves out of the pit we were in. We have been in a better place financially this past year than we have been in a very long, long time.
Danny is very blessed. On short-term disability, he will still receive pay for 40 hours per week. I am so thankful for that. However, this still puts us short because his actual normal pay is for 48 hours every other week, with 8 hours of it being paid at time and a half. While this is no reason to have a panic attack, that is exactly what I almost allowed myself to do.
The devil began to whisper in my ear and remind me about the past. Fear gripped at my throat and threatened to choke me. But a stronger voice broke in. And immediately I knew how to fight back. My husband's employer is not our provider. God is. This became my mantra. And every time my thoughts went to worry and fear, I repeated it over and over until I felt peace.
The next day, I got my electric bill. It was over $400. Deep breaths were of the utmost importance.
Yesterday, we found out that our insurance will only cover up to $2000 of physical therapy in a calendar year. His first appointment has already eaten up $600 of that. We also have to pay a $25 co-pay for each appointment, which equals out to $75 each week...from an already short paycheck. He decided to cut his physical therapy down to twice a week, but it still seemed daunting. I started to panic again. How were we going to manage this? God whispered, "Have I ever failed you yet? I will provide." I calmed down.
This morning, we got in the van to go to a church softball game. The key turned but nothing happened. We hoped that maybe someone had left a door open a little and it just drained the battery. After jumping it with the truck, we went ahead with our plans and drove to the softball game. It became apparent as we were driving that something was not right. The lights were flickering and the needles on the gauges were going crazy. When we got to the game, we turned it off and tried to start it again. Nothing. Danny figured it was the alternator. This time I almost laughed. What was this?! After the softball game, we had a friend jump us and we drove to the auto part store. We were thankful that when they tested it, they found out it was just the battery and not the alternator. But it would still be almost $100 to fix it. Just another drop in the bucket of my anxieties.
Danny dropped us off and drove to Walmart to buy a battery and a couple of things he would need to replace it. A very sweet friend found him there and handed him a blessing of exactly $100, almost the EXACT amount it would cost to replace the battery.
I could almost see God smiling. Saying, "I told you. I've got this. You will be just fine."
A few months ago, I got a tattoo on my leg (hold the judgment please). It is based on the scripture from the Psalms that says our transgressions are removed from us as far as the east is from the west. This is something that God spoke to me during my darkest and most desperate hour. It was at a time when I felt undeserving of anyting good and unworthy of any blessing. I can still remember the realness of his presence in the room where I knelt down and broke. I can remember how he lovingly took me to that verse and reminded me that he would not hold my past against me. He had no desire to punish me for the rest of my life, even though I felt I deserved it. I felt peace at that time and knew that he was going to work a miracle in our lives. I believe he is still working that miracle. Where we are now, compared to where we were two years ago is just amazing. But I believe with all my heart that he is not finished yet.
There is no reason for me to fear. There is no reason for me to worry.
He is God. He is always faithful.
And he's got this.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
No Sweets Days 15, 16, 17, & 18
Wow!!! It's been a busy few days! I am still doing good. I did have some jello at my 4th of July party Monday night but I wasn't really thinking about it being dessert-like. There were a lot of yummy treats at the party, like my mom's oreo cupcakes and the s'mores I talked about eating just one of, but I refrained.
Tuesday morning, I was so thirsty and the only thing I could find handy was a grape soda, so I drank half of it. That was a big mistake. By lunch time, I was weak and shaky and feeling unbelievable cravings for sugar. The whole rest of the day and the day after, I felt bogged down and drained and just in a bad mood. Could a half of a grape soda really have that much of an affect on me?? Very interesting.
Well, I have 12 days to go. I feel like I may keep going past the 30 days, but we shall see.
Tuesday morning, I was so thirsty and the only thing I could find handy was a grape soda, so I drank half of it. That was a big mistake. By lunch time, I was weak and shaky and feeling unbelievable cravings for sugar. The whole rest of the day and the day after, I felt bogged down and drained and just in a bad mood. Could a half of a grape soda really have that much of an affect on me?? Very interesting.
Well, I have 12 days to go. I feel like I may keep going past the 30 days, but we shall see.
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