Homeschooling for His Glory

Summer is finally here. Warm weather, shorts, tank tops and sandals. I am not one who likes the heat but I like not having to wear sweaters and coats. So, what are the plans for the summer. I figure I should sort of come up with something, so I'll post it here so that I can remember what I would like for us to do: Definitely happening: VBS Church Camp Vacation road trip to Florida Soccer league (with a ministry opportunity attached to it - so excited!) Hiking Drive in: X-Men ( Done ), Spiderman 2 ( Done ),  Hobbit Watch the World Cup ( Happening right now ) Yearly Track and Field ( Done ) Crew review items Planned list: Science experiments and science readings with: Building Block of Science Series Nibbling on Einstein's Brain Supercharged Science Park playdates Make Triple Strawberry No-Drip Pops Summer Reading list: Go Through Mysteries of History The Phantom Booth The Indian in the Cupboard Water Buffalo Days Falling Asleep  Shiloh More H...

Tomorrow starts a new year. Tomorrow will mark the first day of 2014, another year in the history of humanity. Now, I am not one to make new year resolutions, primarily because I am not good at keeping them, however, I think there is value in looking at the new year with anticipation and this is what I want to share in this post. Yesterday I mentioned that this mama needs a lot of discipline, and this is understating it. I have for the longest time struggled with being a disciplined person and sticking to routines. This is not always helpful when it comes to homeschooling and even spiritual growth and that's on top of the fact that it also drives my wonderful hubby crazy, as the very disciplined man that he is. One thing he has tried to teach me is that routine frees you and allows you to accomplish more. I understands what he says but somehow struggle with the application. As the boys grow and get higher in grades I realize that I really need to be on the ball. I can...

Today I was reminded of the truth of Romans 1 about the fact that God has given every human beings a sense of His existence. " The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19  since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20   For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 21   For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." So here is how a conversion with my soon to be 8 year old went this afternoon, which started out of nowhere (which is typical of him): Joho:  " How do we know that God exists ?" Me:  " The Bible tells us so ." Joho...

Today is the 4th day into 2013 and have I done anything different from last year at the same time? Well sort of. I have decided to follow the McCheyne's Reading Bible plan and to join in the 100 verses in 2013 challenge which goal is to memorize 100 verses (2 per week) this year. These are good and well but if not followed through, what have I done? Some people have a custom of choosing a motto word for their year. Last year my word was faithful or  faithfulness . During 2012, I have seen God's faithfulness in my life and my family's life, close and extended, but can I say I have been faithful? not really. So for this year I am switching gear, I need to be more faithful and in order to be more faithful I realized I need endurance. We start well, but the problem is continuing, pressing on, enduring the time. So, here is what I am going to keep reminding myself this year: I NEED TO ENDURE and REMAIN STEADFAST ! What is endurance? There are 5 several definitions ...

I sort of took a break from my blog during the Christmas / New Year weeks, as this time tends to get rather busy with church activities and gatherings, and because of that I was not able to link up with the TOS crew blog cruise focusing on reviewing our year 2012. That said, as I was thinking about it I figured it is still rather early in 2013, and so a post like this is still quite relevant, and most of all, allows for me to record and go over this past year's main events. There it goes: Joho started piano in January and has progressed so well that as of next week he will be starting grade 2. Thanks to my accident around Christmas last year, we inherited a new car last January and we love it! Same model as the previous one, just newer. My hubby who got really sick (near death) back in 2008 and has been on medication since then (steroids and immune system suppressants), was told in December that he can start reducing his last med standing. The goal: to be off completely...

This is what Zachary picked up on his vacation: Jellyfish stings 

Yesterday, Joho turned 4. We did not do much except for his favorite meal Saussage and pasta and Mommy's baked cake and of course some gifts. Have a great day,

Another week's gone and it's time for the another weekly wrap-up update hosted by Kris @ Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers . Boy, the months are flying by. . . I was sick this week, so somewhat slow. We did manage to accomplish the basics but with no fancies attach to it. Our Co-op elective started today and went well. Zachary started grade 1 classes: Science, Vocal and Drama. For what I can say he liked them all. I finally manage to get "rid of " (pardon the expression) Joho who usually likes to just stay with me. I believe he had a good time as well. I was teaching Science and helping in crafts for the JK/SK. The highlight of this week was our annual apple picking, done on a rather chilly day, but still lots of fun. And look what we found: Thanks for reading and hoping you all had a great week. Have a great day,

Zach has always  liked to draw, but he does not like to be pushed, so I never did. I let him go free reign with that, drawing when he wants to and what he wants to. Last week, though, at the library I saw a watercolor art DVD and though he might enjoy that. Sure enough he did and here are his watercolor pictures done all on his own: Here is Joho's: Mom enjoyed it too. Here is mine: I am no artist but I think they all look pretty nice. Have a great day,

This post is very late but hopefully it makes it in. This week was busy trying to keep school going before the year rolls in too much and the changes in schedule and all. We got English, Math, Spelling, History, Geography and Science done. Hourray! Zach did spelling jumping on the sofa and Math standing on the ball (which dad said was not be repeated, for the ball's sake). Johann finally drew a picture that I can recognize: a map to a garden (he called it). We added games to our Math time and that was nice. The highlight of the week was our day at the cottage today with some friends: Have a great day,

I am back in  the Weekly Wrap-Up theme hosted by Kris @ Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers , as we just ended our week back home. It has been an easy going week with unpacking, re-arranging, laundry and re-adjusting to school . This is our 6th week in school. We were able to complete our English and Math as scheduled for the week, which is a relief, no lagging behind! We were even able to fit in our history and science chapter. I enjoyed Zach's questions while reading about the time of the flood and after in our History for Little Pilgrims : "Why is there still sin?" and "How did we come alive again?" Violin is back on track as well with Zach's first group lesson for the year today. I was quite happy when I saw that in in his class of 4, he was the most advanced, when he was the one who started last (except for one who has just started a couple of months ago and probably should be in the previous class). The biggest thing this week was getting to know our ne...

We are back from a road trip to Williamsburg/VA Beach, VA. We were gone 10 days and had a great time. We visited the Virginia Living Museum, The Children's museum in Portsmouth, Nauticus in Norfolk and the Zoo in Norfolk as well, spent a few hours at the beach, and of course did some shopping at the Prime Outlet and Williamsburg Outlet Mall. The highlight of the trip for the boys was the underwater tunnel in the Norfolk/Portsmouth and VA Beach area. They really liked that being the construction workers and builders that they are. I have lots of pics so bear with me in the next few days or weeks. Here are a few to start with: The inevitable and much needed car naps: Tunnel ride: Some family pics: We are back at school as of yesterday, of course in slow motion but going. Have a great day,