Homeschooling for His Glory

So, let's see ,what have I done since I have been in Martnique? Watched soccer on TV Gone to the beach Played soccer on the porch with the boys and a whole lot of nothing . . . We went up to the first station of the volcano here in Martinique (Mt. Pelee). Unfornutely it was mostly foggy. And that' s my brother and I:

4 Natural Ways to Learn on Vacation What to say to the Homeschool naysayers   Training Thankful Heart s 7 Tips for a Super Summer At the Homeschool Classroom: Finding Your own Homeschool Style in a Pool of Great Ideas ,   Science in the City  and Summer Fun for Homeschoolers .

Jesus Draw Me Ever Near Jesus draw me ever nearer As I labour through the storm. You have called me to this passage, and I'll follow, though I'm worn. May this journey bring a blessing, May I rise on wings of faith; And at the end of my heart's testing, With Your likeness let me wake. Jesus guide me through the tempest; Keep my spirit staid and sure. When the midnight meets the morning, Let me love You even more. Let the treasures of the trial Form within me as I go - And at the end of this long passage, Let me leave them at Your throne. Keith Getty To Listen to it, Click here.

I only have 2 things to say for this weekly wrap-up: School is out and It is packing time. On the school front : I declared school was out yesterday, as we were finishing up our First Language Lessons book. That was really the only thing I was waiting for. I kind of skipped some of it towards the end, but that is ok. Who said you have to do everything in a curriculum? Watching soccer is way more fun (especially for Joho). On the home front: We are leaving on Monday and everyone is excited and ready to pack. My hubby is the designated packer here, and that is what he will be doing tonight, while Zach and I will be out at our weekly Kidz club activity. The boys are happy, no more mommy calling out it’s sch ool time. It is craft and play time galore.  Zach has rediscovered his love of drawing for the past few weeks, and that is what he has been doing a lot of. I can’t provide enough drawing pads. . .   He also has rediscovered his train track, so the both of them have been doing that  a...

Ok, it is Thursday and time to meet up with the friends over at Layton family Jo This week's theme is to share your favorite book that has supported and encouraged you in your homeschooling adventure and why you'd recommend it to another homeschooler. Now, I have only been homeschooling for about 2 years, so I can't say i am a seasoned homeschooler with lots of wisdom and advice. So, I am going to share the book that has most definitely shaped our homeschooling bent and motivation. The Book is  The Well-trained Mind by Susan Wise-Bauer . I do not own it yet, but I have read a copy from the library and am just antsy to get my hand on the new edition before the end of the year. Now, I have been over and read the other entries already and notices that it has already been mentioned but I this is the book that I would recommend any homeschooler to read, especially if you want to have well educated kids.. It has shaped our understanding of the whys, the musts and the goals of ...

Yet again I am participating in a new meme where the goal is to list some of our top tens. Foe my first time I decided to share my top ten places where I find support, encouragement and thought provoking articles to help me in my homeschooling journey. So, here we go: 1. The Homeschool Lounge 2. Our Lifestyle of Learning 3. The Homeschool Classroom 4. Heart of the Matter Online 5. Homeschool Blogger and The old Schoolhouse 6. Homeschool skedtrack bestsites 7. Simple Mom 8. Simple Homechool 9. Homeschool Enrichment 10. Homeschool-Articles.com Make sure you visit Amanda @ Ohamanda for more top tens.

I am always looking to meet more homeschoolers and mingle. I have just found a good place for that. At Our Homeschool Home , you can link up your blog and meet new homseschoolers. It's a "no-stress, come as you are" blog party. You do not even need to have a theme post, all you have to do is just link and enjoy. So come on and join the party.

Protector of My Soul O protector of my soul You will stand against the foe In the dark You'll be a light for me O Protector of my soul. (Repeat) Chorus: You who created the ends of the earth Guided me unto Your throne Offered Your healing hand to me Mercifully made me Your own Oh gracious God above I could never earn Your love I'm amazed to see all You've given me Oh gracious God above Repeat Chorus O Holy Spirit, come Show the world where life comes from May they always see You alive in me O Holy Spirit, come Repeat Chorus

This week's selection of Link Treasures Free and Low cost field trip ideas 7 Habits of Highly Successful Homemakers 100 Free Things to Do With Your Kids This Summer 2 posts on books to help travel around the world: Around the World One Picture Book at a Time and Around the World a Chapter at a Time. Literature Analysis for Younger Students Check out the Creative Organizing blog for a series on Paper Organizing . Why Homeschool Through High School @ Heart of the Matter Online.

First of all I was rather surprised and happy to hear yesterday that I had been featured by homeschoolblogger as one of their faithful bloggers. As they were celebrating their anniversary they decided to reward those who have remained with them over their 5 years of existence. A few were chosen for each year. I am actually glad I did not switch even if I had thought about it a few times. I am starting to get used to this new platform. Still lots to learn but overall I like it. To go back to the wrap-up per se, we had a relatively good week. At school: We continued on with our remaining subjects. We have one more week to go before we close the books and go on vacation. I think we are all on vacation mood already. the boys are still very much obsessed with firefighting, police and construction. And Joho is still doing craft all the time, when he is not disassembling something. On the homefront: I am thinking about how I am going to rearrange and reorganize the house and my head is spin...

I just wanted to share a new website that I came upon which my kids are loving and so does mom. It is called Book Adventure and it is a reading program, which offers incentives for the kids to read and take comprehension quizzes. My boys have actually enjoyed taking these quizzes. I do not do testing here so this is great. Go check it out.

It’s Thursday and it is time to meet up with the Homeschool Village. This week’s theme is: What do you - homeschool mom - do to get refreshed for the next school year? Well, Refresh? What is that? Oh you mean recharge? Do we ever? Once a mom, always a mom! With that being so, we do need a break. and here are some of the things I do to give myself a break, and not only during the summer. Take a vacation. I have been blessed these past 2 years to be able to do so. last year we went to visit some friends in Michigan for a week, and I can tell you there was no school talk. This year we are going to fly to Martinique (which is where I come) from for 3 weeks, and I can tell you there won’t be any formal schooling going on. Plan for the next year Read Re--organize things around the house Enjoy time with the whole family (picnics, outings, games etc…) Want to know how others refresh, make sure to visit Layton Family Joy blog .

I recently found this new meme@ My 3 Boybarians, and thought it was a would be fun to join. The idea is to share a weekly sweet photo shot, and link it to the Sweet Shot Tuesday blog Hop link.

The saving One ( by Starfield) What mercy was revealed What selflessness and peace My fate was surely sealed Until He rescued me His pardon for my sin His bounty for my need From slavery and shame I am redeemed And Heaven can't contain The glory of the Son Jesus is the Christ, the saving One His love has made a way The grave is overcome Jesus is the Christ, the saving One No fear can hold me down Nor darkness steal my joy For blood has been poured out The enemy destroyed Death could not hold Him down The cross was not enough To steal away His throne For He is God And Heaven can't contain The glory of the Son Jesus is the Christ, the saving One His love has made a way The grave is overcome Jesus is the Christ, the saving One Anyone who calls upon His name They will be saved They will be saved Anyone who calls upon His name They will be saved They will be saved And Heaven can't contain The glory of the Son Jesus is the Christ, the saving One His love has made a way The grave ...

A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to review a new e-book written by Angie, a fellow homeschooling mom you can find @ Many Little Blessings . She has done a great job in putting together in one place a large variety of activities to do with young children . If you are looking for things to do at home this summer with your young ones, or things to do on a rainy day, or even yet, things to just plainly entertained and at the same time educate these young minds, Finding Educational Activities in the Most Unexpected Place s is the book for you. Finding Educational Activities in the Most Unexpected Places is a 58 pages e-book where you will find a load full of activities to do with your young children using ready-available material and resources right from your home , or otherwise easily obtained. The book is divided by material used, which makes it easy to find something to do according to what you have on hand. She has included traditional activities using  balloons and balls,...

This week edition of Link Treasures: Tips for the stress-out Mom How to teach kids to work At Simple mom you will find a 2 parts article on Should I homeschool? How to capture your child's heart Charlotte Mason on the habit of attention Mom I'm bored Ideas Evaluating the year @ Heart of the Matter Online And for a few resources: math game @ Mathwire , and some useful homeschool information @ Best sites Homeschoolskedtrack . Have a great day!

1) Someone asked me how I made some of the buttons in my sidebar work. Here is my method. If I have a button that is not working, I compare the code with one that is working, and try to make the necessary adjustment or change. For example for the Heart of the Matter Online button I noticed a couple of things (not the red parts): <center><a href="http://heartofthematteronline.com / "><img src="http://heartofthematteronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/hotm-button-new.png" / ></a></center> I removed the red highlighted part and somehow it worked. Now, for the record I have a lot of codes that I still can't get to work on here. Still trying . . . 2) Here is a great tutorial on how to put an amazon link in your post . It worked for me. Hope these help someone.

Here is a book that I have been reading for my 4 year old every nights for the past 2-3 weeks now, can't even count anymore: Cars and Trucks and Things That Go (Giant Little Golden Book)

  I found this blog fair over @  Closing Time . It is hosted by Layton Family Joy blog and I thought it would be nice to participate. So, Today we are supposed to share our homeschooling plans for June, as well as 3 homeschooling mom blogs we enjoy. What we are doing in  June, well here we go: 1. Finish up First Language Lessons. 2. keep Math going as long as we can until our trip on the 21st 3. Go to Martinique for a 3 week vacation and family visit. 4. Participate in our school group Soccer/kick ball weekly  outdoor fun. 5. Keep the audiobook routine going. 6. Spend more time outdoor. 6. Order Curriculum and plan next school year. And now for 3 blogs among so many that I enjoy reading: Confessions of a Homeschooler Ginger-snap-Shots Moms in Need of Mercy

If you 've read my post about Zach's permanent teeth growing behind his baby teeth , here is the sequel. After 3 weeks of trying to wiggle those front baby teeth, they barely came loose. So, to the dentist we went yesterday to have them taken out. Zach was actually excited, he had been wanting to go back to the dentist since the last visit. He was really hopping that the teeth would not come out so that he would go back. He did very well, although he had to have the needle in the gum, and the actual extraction was a bit harder than it should normally be. I think he was  a bit taken aback, as it was not as painless as the last visit, but it seems that he still enjoyed the overall experience again. He is ok to go back if need be (emphasis on if need be). And for the pics: As you can see, he had brought a friend along The dentist made sure the friend helped There he is with his loot And for the result (you can see the permanent teeth at the back