I'm in 6th grade (again)!

I have this reoccurring nightmare. I'm in high school, only I'm 30-something years old (roughly the age I am today) and all the other students are 16 and 17. Apparently, in my dream I've been held back...a lot! Maybe I keep having this dream because I feel like I didn't finish school as strongly as I should have. After going onto college and achieving the status of "Dean's List" quarter after quarter, I learn the most important thing ever taught to me in my education...I do have the potential and if I put my mind to it, I can finish strong. But that's not why I'm doing 6th grade again, of course. Knowing this gives me a heads up on how to approach the education of my children. I'm in the business of learning how they learn. It is fun to relive my school years and relearn all that stuff again, but the real reason is because I have to know exactly what my children are learning. In order to be an effective teacher, I have to know how questions are posed and how the content of the lessons is delivered. I can quickly see where my children will soar though the lessons and where they will struggle. Plus, I think my daughter thinks it's pretty cool to ask, "Mommy, did you do your school work today?" Thankfully, my grades are much better this time around!

Whatever happened to "shop till I drop"?

The other night I was shopping for my son. He desperately needed pants that fit since all of his looked like high waters. In fact, he was beginning to look like (dare I say it) a little nerd. I was afraid that if I did not get this task done quickly I would be late to pick up the girls from church. So there I was, (at Walmart, I'm afraid - 3 year old boys could care less where there clothes come from) practically throwing clothes in the cart as fast as I could. I also knew his attention span for such tasks was quite short. He was more interested in climbing the display shelves.

After this speed-shopping job was over, I starting thinking what ever happened to the days when I liked to shop? I remember as a kid getting up on Saturdays and dressing in a really cute outfit and heading to the mall with my mom. We would make a day of it; meeting friends, going out to lunch, spending HOURS inside a dressing room. These days, I can't even fathom it. Even my girls don't seem to have the patience for it. They would rather be playing hide and seek in the racks than browsing through them. Truth be told, I can't remember the last time I truly went shopping at the mall. I think it was back in 2005. At any rate, I guess we just have a different set of priorities these days. At least I know that when my children turn 18, their primary goal will probably NOT be applying for a Nordstrom charge card.

Bird Suet Cakes

This is a fun activity that any age will enjoy. It combines several subjects:
- Math (Measurements)
- Science (Nature and Wildlife)
- Bible (God's Creation)

It's definitely one for wintertime, as the cakes will melt in the sun. Birds will love them, so have fun with it!

Recipe by Alberta Morgan
15 min | 15 min prep
SERVES 8 , 8 cakes

1 lb lard (no substitutes)
2 cups chunky peanut butter (cheapest is fine)
2 cups cornmeal
2 cups flour (any kind)
2 cups oatmeal (any kind)
1/3 cup sugar
2 cups bird seed
1 cup dried fruits (optional)

Melt lard and peanut butter, in microwave oven about 3 minutes, stirring each minute; then add in all other ingredients and mix together.

Scrape into flat pan (913), cool in refrigerator until hard.

Cut to desired size and wrap in plastic wrap or foil.

Refrigerate or freeze until ready to use.

Place in small mesh bag (old produce bags work) and hang where birds can reach. You can also purchase inexpensive suet cake cages from retail stores.

Watch that other critters cannot get to it.

Why we homeschool.

My husband is a self-made business man. He would never consider starting a business without first making up a business plan, and so it makes sense that we should have one for home schooling as well. After all, our children are the best "investment" we have. I decided to condense our "plan" into ten simple reasons why we made this very big decision.

Top 10 reasons to home-school (for our family):

1. We are able to teach ALL subjects from a Biblical perspective, as God expects us to. This enforces our goal of raising children to be compassionate, respectful, kind, loving, giving and confident. It also allows us to fully teach our children the love of Christ, so that they can someday share that love with others.

2. It brings us closer together as a family. We are so blessed to truly know our children. Whether it is their likes, dislikes, struggles, or gifts, we are there at every part of their day, to help them with their journey through life. Study after study has proven that families who spend quality time together are less likely to have children turn to drugs or promiscuity.

3. We can truly know each of our children's learning styles and customize their education. One-on-one instruction has more lasting results than a group setting.

4. We can get more done in 3-4 hours of personal instruction than the time it takes to teach 20 children in a classroom with 6-7 hours. This frees up the rest of our day for different ways of learning, such as physical fitness, performing chores, learning in the kitchen with Mom or in the garage with Dad. This also gives us time during the day for classes or sports outside the home that are offered specifically to home schoolers, like choir, ballet, art, or swim lessons. This prevents the crazy "running around" hours of the afternoon and evening that so many parents complain about. It gives us the chance to sit down to dinner (healthy home cooked meals) together and have free time for watching movies or playing games or reading for pleasure. It allows our children have time to just play and be children!

5. It gives us flexibility. It allows us the opportunity to travel whenever we want. We can go see family or explore the wonderful places like national or state parks and historical monuments. We can do a little school work during the summer and then take off the whole Christmas season for enjoying winter time activities or volunteer our time helping others.

6. It allows us to teach our children the proper way to socialize with regard for respecting others and having self-respect. What is a better environment for learning socialization, a parent-guided setting or the playground at recess where the recess monitor can't even see half of what goes on? I know the difference...I did plenty of recess duty! Children will push their boundaries of behavior as far as they can if their parents are not around to see it.

7. We get to decide what our children learn, how they will learn it, and when they are ready to learn it. I learned about sex on the playground from my peers and it was frightening (and inaccurate). We will sit down with each of our children and explain it as God has designed it. They will understand the beauty of reproduction, because God created life. We also want to make sure our children learn true U.S. history, not the "politically correct" version taught in public school that skips over the religious motivation behind forming our country. We want them to know that God has blessed our country because we trusted Him, and that men and women choose to serve in our military and fight in wars because they love America and know the price of our freedom.

8. We want them to decide who they want to be, not their peers. They don't need to strive for "perfection". They just need to let God's wisdom lead them to be who He has designed them to be.

9. We know that they are safe. We don't have to worry about metal detectors or see-through book bags or bullies on the school bus. When we turn on the news and hear about another school shooting, we can look over and see our precious gifts sitting safely at the kitchen table coloring away.

10. Lastly, parent-guided teaching has been around since the beginning humanity. Public education has only been around since the 1800's. Which one has a better chance of survival in the long run?

How a parent handles their child's education is a personal choice that we all have to make. Just because this is our choice and it works for us, does not mean we don't respect or appreciate the educational choices of others. We have unusual circumstances that make home-schooling work for us. I know moms that work outside the home and they are doing an EXCELLENT job with their children. I commend them! I had a great public school experience, too. But like I said...this just works for us!

Learning the hard way...

I just learned what an idiot I can be. Let me back up a little...several years ago someone gave me a figurine. It was a cute little scene with a boy and a girl, and a really sweet gesture. But a collector of knick-knacks, I am not...so, I stuffed it in a closet and forgot about it. Later that year, I was cleaning out that same closet and boxing up things to give to Goodwill. The little figurine went into the box without much thought. It wasn't until yesterday that I truly realized what a horrible mistake I had made. As I was shopping along Main Street with my girls, we strolled in and out of several gift shops. They all had something in common...those little figurines were in every store, encased in their own special glass case. I happened to glance at the price tag of one similar to mine. $265! Did I read that right? Suddenly, I could feel my stomach knot up a little. I glanced at more price tags. They ranged from $200-300 easily. A 5-piece nativity scene was over $1600!

So here is the lesson I learned (and it's not about money, necessarily)...what may not seem so precious to me doesn't mean it isn't valuable to someone else. This person obviously cared about me enough to give me something very valuable and something that had meaning to them. I carelessly threw it out, and for that, I deserve the torment of knowing I threw out over $250, just like that. Whether it is someone's dreams, fears, style, political preference, spirituality...it's special to them. I have to respect that about others. If I don't, how could expect them to care about me?

I'll be shopping at Sears this Christmas.

For me, September is a bit too early to start thinking about Christmas. I know some people that know exactly how many shopping days there are left before the big day...and they are the ones who are done with it. That's crazy! But I suppose the important thing is that they are acknowledging Christmas at all. So many people have decide that it is offensive to even mention the word "Christmas". Well, I find it irritating that these people want to take advantage of the holiday (my holiday), but do not want to show the respect it deserves. When the Christmas season officially starts, I intend to acknowledge CHRIST. I will be shopping only at stores that do the same, like Sears and Kmart. I will say "Merry Christmas" and I will let the story of the King's birth be the main theme. This is pledge for the holiday season...

Busy is a four-letter word.

If you hear me utter these words, "I'm soooo busy!" You have my permission to whack me up side the head...and then you can say, "what, like you're any busier than I am?" To say those words is like saying everything I'm doing is more important than you are or what you do is not important. I don't want to be know as a busy person. It's not a compliment; it doesn't make me any more important than anyone else. If anything, it makes it appear that I don't know how to prioritize or organize my time. People are the most precious gift of God. Aside from saving time for Him, He also expects us to make time for others. We get caught up in our own lives and before we know it, kids are grown, friends have moved away, or worse, lives come to an end without the chance to say, "you are special to me." Yes, I want to be known as the person who has time for others.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some phone calls to return!