Red and Blue Week!

First Official Week Of Homeschool

We do the above Geography and Science along with Singapore Math, Intermediate Language Lessons, Writing Strands and Spelling Power. I'm really thrilled with the curriculum we've chosen to do. We can truly move at our own pace. The children are breezing through some (because we did some work this summer) and going at a steady pace on other subjects. I've gotta just say it though, I am really loving it! I think for me as long as I stay on top of what we're going to do for the next couple of days, then I'm just fine. However, I can already tell that If I get lazy and don't prepare for the next day, which inevitably will happen sometimes, I'm in trouble. But the first full week went really well. The children and I laid down some strict ground rules as to when we'll start and when we hope to be finished, but if we're not finished by 12:30 then we'll keep going until we are. I have noticed they like to "try" me a little because I may be their teacher but I'm also Mo-om. So, we had to have a little chat about that. The little girls spend the morning at a sitter so that we can get down to business, which really allows us to get everything, if not most everything completed by 12:30. Honestly, I can see how God has his hand in everything because things are working out for so many people. It truly is a beautiful thing. I feel so blessed to be able to teach my children. Nothings feels as good as seeing that light bulb go off in their head and knowing that YOU'RE the one who taught them that! It's amazing! Ethan asked me if I would teach him next year too? I said, 'let's take this day by day, my love. But I would love to.' The past 3 months have been so trying, so it feels so good to be reminded that I'm where I'm supposed to be and feel so thankful for it.

A Day To Remember

Hopscotch, painting, basketball dribbling drills, reading aloud, chalk drawings...yep that was my afternoon. Of course we did our work-work in the morning but our afternoon was "chalked" full of fun. It's not often that the weather cooperates with us and we can actually enjoy it without feeling like we're going to have a heat stroke, but this was one of those most perfect days. Now I have to admit our dinner was nothing fancy and the house wasn't spotless, but I sure had a great time playing with my kids! At the end of the day the big kids said they had 'such a fun day.' That just warmed my heart to the core! It was nice to be able to let loose of the small things and enjoy the most important things...my family.

Homeschooling...the little girls?

No, not really. Well, not yet anyway! These pictures were just too cute to resist sharing! Being as they are at the ripe ole age of 18 months, they now strongly believe they need to be in the middle of everything. So, I set them up with some "colors" and they go to town. Hey, they're learning, right?

It does get tough for Ethan to focus when they're being super cute and quite possibly when I have my camera out : )

Kaitlyn is so deliberate about her pictures and what colors she prefers to use...usually some shade of pink. It's strange because she doesn't KNOW her colors, but yet she constantly veers toward the pinks. Hmmmm.

Miss Addeline just likes to go to town! Any color will do for this princess. Just in case you're wondering, her hair was fashioned just so by using some of her leftover mac-n-cheese. I didn't dare touch it...why mess with perfection!

Lessons Learned Through Home Schooling

I cannot believe I've actually had Ethan home and have been teaching him for 2 months now! It's definitely been a learning experience for us both...and very interesting at times. Before I get into some of the things he's been learning, let me explain some of the things I've been learning. First, a public school teacher has no easy job. I don't understand how one person can be relied on to teach 20(+/-) kids a certain concept and expect them to actually get it. That being said, I've also discovered where shortcuts are coming into play. For Ethan and Victoria, the emphasis has been more focused on memorization rather than ACTUAL learning. I get it, I really do, with so many kids in a class it's probably next to impossible to teach something complicated and expect/hope they'll "get it". BUT it's not doing my children any favors. It's definitely not setting them up for success. Who cares if they can select the right answers from a lengthy multiple question test, if they can't do X, Y, Z? I'm so thankful that God has allowed everything to unfold the way it has and given me the chance to step in when my children are still at such tender ages. I feel so honored to be their teacher! Second, I've learned that just like when they were first learning to walk, sing their ABC's, and read their first word even at the age of 8 the look of "AH-HA" is still there! I am so elated that I get to be a part of that. Third, I've learned that the more time I spend with my kids, the more I want them around! I used to be so grateful for (some) school days because I needed a break, but not so much anymore. Don't get me wrong, I still need my alone time, but my kids are pretty darn cool! I find myself really missing them when they're not around! I probably sound like some ridiculous actress, singer or sports athlete after winning some award when I say...I only have God to thank! But hey, when it's true, it's true!

Now as far as what Mr. Ethan has been learning. Well...I sure hope a lot! Although we haven't neglected our studies, I have really tried to focus my energies on rebuilding what had been torn down. We've really spent a lot of quality time together. Every morning we do a devotion and use scripture to practice our penmanship. We're currently reading Tom Sawyer and he is totally digging it! We've spent lots of time learning about the intricacies of our solar system and we even decided to plant a very small garden just so we could journal about it's growth. We try and get our busy work done in the mornings so we can have our afternoons free. Believe me, it's not fun and games every day, but it has been great getting to see what makes my son tick and what his passions are. There are still kinks that need to be worked out, but we're brainstorming these together : )

Ethan had some "busy work" to do and wanted to do it in the kitchen with me while I cooked! So sweet!

We decided to start small...not knowing if either of us had a "green thumb" or not.

Ethan was so proud of his work. He keeps waiting to see if a squirrel is going to try and chomp on one of his jalapeno pepper plants.

Underneath It All

So much to blog about yet so little time! I find myself having more and more of those days where I'm just wishing for just a few more precious hours to get things done...wishing the babies would rest for just a tad longer. The word wishing is in italics for a reason : ) While my life continues on at warp speed I've forced myself to pause a few moments along to the way to appreciate the small things. Which really, as I sit here and begin to blog are really not so small after all! My daughter Victoria is finishing up her 4th grade year at public school. The emphasis here is on public school because, just as I feared, the Lord has led me to pull her and home school her as well. I AM SO EXCITED!!! I am so enjoying teaching Ethan and can't wait to have Victoria here with me next year...but I'll save the rest of that story for another blog, otherwise I will ramble all morning. Because the school year is coming to a close, the teachers are sending all work home. My girl came bouncing in the door yesterday with a bound notebook of her published writings throughout the year. I decided some of these works are just so beautiful I wanted to share!

I Am Cumberland Island

A Personification Writing

By Victoria Roy

I am Cumberland Island. I am one of the fairest maidens in the sea. When the Timucuan Indians

were wiped out, my tears came down from heavenward. My leaves were bent over,

their hair dripping with teardrops.

I am Cumberland Island. My clear blue fingers splash on the shores, beckoning

visitors. My sandy body is good to run on. My long tunic of grass

keeps my wild horses alive.

I am Cumberland Island. I once held the famous Harry Lee Lighthorse within my borders.

I have marshes, where the fiddler crabs lay and where people used to

gather food. I am a graveyard. I am the home of 3 Dungeness's where the Carnegies,

the Greens, and James Oglethorpe lived.

I am Cumberland Island!

Which Takes Up More Space...A Frown or A Smile?

By Victoria Roy

Which one DOES take up more space? Well, as a child, I think a frown takes up more

space. Imagine if you see a little girl on the street in rags. She's frowning and tears are pouring

down. Later, you most likely won't remember her eye color, her height or even her hair color! All you remember is her frown. But, if she's laughing and smiling then you will remember

her whole, cheery face. So, as you can see, frowns take up more space.

On the outside Victoria seems like an average 10 year old. She loves to read, play outside, ride horses, do crafty things and cook! However, underneath it all is something very special and very unique. Call it Mother's- intuition, but I know God has very big plans for this young lady. She can see things the typical 10 year old girl cannot and she can express herself in ways most people (young and old) only dream about.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord," plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Have You Ever Just Known?

It's been a while since I've written about our situation with Ethan and his schooling. At the end of the day, I followed God's instructions and pulled him from public school. Turns out that was the easy part. The difficult part was deciding where to go from there...whew. It's a good thing I didn't know how tricky that next step was otherwise I probably would have had even more doubts. Thankfully, God knows what he's doing! I spent many late nights on my computer doing research, spoke with friends and had extensive conversations with my Aunt who is homeschooling all 4 of her children (AND her youngest are twins). Talk about credibility!!! Anyhow, I finally decided on a curriculum and while we are waiting for our resources we are doing a unit study on Predators of the Deep. It's a pretty extensive study on the creatures of the ocean. He loves that stuff, so it's a good place to start. Another exciting aspect of this journey came when Mike had a brilliant idea! We have an area set up for the children to do their homework, but it's really not conducive to homeschooling. We have a small room that Mike thought would be just right to turn into a homeschooling room. It's not big, but it is in fact perfect for what we need. Mike spent a couple of hours painting and building a desk for Ethan. We put a few supplies in it and ta-daaaa a mini school room! Ethan was thrilled with his new space!

Although I know that every day is not going to be smooth and every day is not going to be pleasant...I know that I am exactly where God wants me to be at this moment. Man does that feels good!

Callings Beyond Me

I have had a lot on my mind lately. My son, Ethan, has been having some issues in school with some very harsh teachers. These particular teachers are not cruel to him, but he is an extremely tenderhearted little boy. He does not live in a "yelling" home so when he goes to school and hears nothing but loud voices and angry words, he doesn't know what to think. Ethan is a very sensitive child. Some of that is just who he is, but some of that comes from his young age. Mike and I have thought from the beginning that since Ethan has a late birthday that we would hold him back a year in school (in one of the early grades). We thought that our precious son basically needed the gift of time. Time to mature at his own pace...not at the pace the public school system sets. Looking back we should have started him later, but being young parents and unable to see the entire picture, we didn't. Now, after many lost battles with the school system we are seeing first hand our worst fears come to life. Our son is struggling. It has yet to affect him academically, but emotionally it is tearing him down more and more each day. I have spent many hours in prayer asking for guidance. One day, in the very pit of my stomach the thought of homeschooling just popped up. I quickly pushed that aside as being crazy...I have so much on my plate already. My prayers for wisdom continued and so did the thoughts of homeschooling. Then one day it hit me like a ton of bricks...God was calling me to home school Ethan. Oh Lord, the fear started to take over. I couldn't possibly do what he was asking of me. I have 2 little ones at home, a husband that works all kinds of crazy hours and 2 other children that would no doubt be all types of jealous. Plus...I have no earthly idea what to do! Some of the things he brings home from school now, we're learning together! What if I mess him up!!! Besides...I wouldn't even know when to do it or where to begin. It is now when I must confess to you, dear reader, that these were all my prayers to God. I basically gave Him a list of all the reasons this was a crazy idea. His response came like a bucket of hot water being poured over my head as He gently remind me to just "Be still and know that I am God."

I still have moments where I doubt myself and my ability to do what seems like an impossible feat. But if Noah can build an ark because he had faith and Moses can part the Red Sea because he had faith then I can home school my 8 year old...because I too have faith.