Back to School? Already?

It seems like summer just began, but we start school in just a little over 2 weeks. It is SO HOT here that we might as well do a morning of school work and then SWIM in the afternoons. I have been coloring boundary maps for a geography game and I need to have our new wall map laminated. And if you notice Wal-Mart's big school supply sale, let me know! I like to have all that ready when we start if possible.

I am a little nervous about starting a new curriculum. It feels like moving to a new town. I am excited but it will be very different than what we have done before. One of the books I am excited about using with My Father's World is called Window on the World. It is just the sort of thing that Jason loves so I might save it for him for family devotion time if he wants to use it. A couple of times a week, we'll read about a certain people group around the world, look at the photos in the book, find where they live on the map, and pray for them. (Specific prayer requests are listed in the book for that group.) Jason and I were saying last night that we don't want this to just be an assignment. We want to approach this resource with the excitement and faith that God will hear our prayers for those people and that maybe one day we will see the fruit of that in Heaven.

Yesterday My House Was So Clean

You may remember that Jason gave me the gift of house cleaning service for Christmas. Well, the cleaning people came yesterday and the house looked really nice. I always pick up really well before they come so they can vacuum and dust and mop and do the big stuff. Well, this afternoon I have been in my bedroom planning upcoming birthday celebrations and when I came out, this is what I found.

Big.
Heavy.
Sigh.

The girls made a road out of MANY children's books. But that is only the beginning of this HUGE MESS! (Yes, I am yelling.) The road is also partially lined with all kind of buildings (farms, dollhouses, and other toys I now regret purchasing) and even GRASS from outside. Did I mention the cleaning people vacuumed yesterday? The town started in their bedroom, pictured above, and then went down the hall...

...and into the schoolroom...

...in front of the couch... (That black line is the dog's leash tied in a knot between two chairs. I have no idea why.)

...all the way around and then behind the couch. See that towel with the bowl and toy dolphin sticking out? There's water in there. That must be the zoo or Seaworld or something. At least they put down a towel.

Now, the lovely part is that I had these books somewhat organized on the shelves. Not perfectly, but I could find most any book I needed. Some go in our book basket for school time. Some are LIBRARY BOOKS (that will hopefully NOT be mixed in with the others or I know two girls who will be working hard to pay off some fines), some are books from their bedroom, etc. Fortunately Betsie is asleep so the books in her room are still there.

I know this is cute and creative. If this were your blog, I would be laughing. If this were 5 years ago, I would be laughing. But it's now and it's my house, and I have to be the bad guy at clean up time. And this is one job that I will definitely have to supervise closely to make sure the books end up in the proper place. Someone please tell me that this is a short season and I should enjoy it. And then tell me whether or not it's worth it to pay people to clean my house when it doesn't stay clean for even 24 hours.

Okay...there, I took out my frustration on you and my kids are still happy. At least they like books, right?

Read Aloud Time

I love the Little House books. We are almost done with These Happy Golden Years when Laura and Almonzo are engaged. But tonight Jason is reading to the girls. I can hear them giggling like crazy in their room. Jason keeps reading Almonzo's name as "Alfredo" instead of Almonzo. He's totally butchering a good love story. I fight back the tears at the shy, romantic ways of young Laura and Almonzo. Jason presents it in his silly way and has them in stitches.




And that is one difference between moms and dads.

Good Week/Bad Week

The bad part is that I have had a cold. The good part is that I am getting better. The other bad part is that Betsie has it too. She still feels terrible and is super clingy and snotty...love that combo. She is kind of pitiful with her cough and runny nose and watery eyes. I hope (and pray) that she feels better soon. She is napping now or there is no way I could get this typed.

The other good and fun part of this week is that it's my birthday tomorrow! Yay! (I still like my birthday.) I have already received many blessings. My friend Hollie brought me some goodies last week. She spoils me. Then I won a little door prize at my homeschool support group meeting, a mug of candy and a Starbucks gift card. Jason was happy about the Starbucks card.

Sunday I checked my email and had an e-gift certificate to Amazon from my mother and father-in-law. It was spent before I finished checking email. Can't wait for that package to arrive. One thing I got was a John MacArthur book I have been wanting but I'm too cheap to buy for myself (library doesn't have it). It's called Twleve Extraordinary Women. It is about 12 women in the Bible. I got a few other goodies too.

Last night my parents took us to a Japanese steak house for my birhday. Betsie didn't feel great and she was pretty scared of the fire and all that showy stuff. My parents gave me some great gifts though. I got a Vera Bradley purse. (I've browsed before but never bought one!) I also got the softest, warmest lay-on-the-couch and watch a movie blanket. My girls have been warned that it is not a fort-building blanket. There were a few other treats too, but those were my favorites. The girls got little Valentine gifts from my parents too. (new webkinz for the olders and a beanie baby for Betsie)

This is Rose wishing she had my cool blanket. Sorry Rose.

And tomorrow I will be getting some kitchen shears and knives from Jason, but I am not supposed to know that, so shhhhhh. I know it doesn't sound like the typical Valentine/birthday gift, but it's what I asked for so I will be happy! (Assuming they shipped on time to get here. But I know nothing about it of course.) Also, Jason is very busy at work, but he has been trying to be home a little earlier in the evenings to spend a bit more time at home this week. That is a real gift for sure.


And God has blessed me with a huge peace about the direction of our homeschool. What a gift! The conference I went to last weekend was spectacular and I am very excited about the co-op we will be involved with and the new curriculum we will use.

So the good definitely outweighs the bad. Happy Valentines Day to all of you!

Forgot one huge thing: Betsie has used the potty THREE times this week! And I'm not even potty training her yet!! (Waiting for warmer weather so she can wear little dresses to make it easier) Did you hear us cheering for her and doing the happy potty dance? Go Betsie go! (And one of those times was when MARY EVELYN took her after "doing school" with Betsie, which consisted of Mary Evelyn writing the alphabet on the whiteboard and making Betsie repeat all the letters after her. Hilarious.) Good stuff!

Stepping Heavenward

I just finished reading Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. I love reading books that make me want to be a better Christian, wife, mother, etc. when I am done. This one did that and also made me want to keep a journal.

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There is so, so much in this book. As you read it, it is as if you are reading the journal of a young woman in the 1800s, from her 15th birthday until she is in her forties. We get to see the ups and downs of her daily life as well as her overall growth as a believer.

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Woven into the book are themes such as sin, self-denial, commitment, love, death, marriage, parenting, prayer, worldliness, suffering, submission, joy, perseverance, salvation, sanctification, eternity, and more. We see the main character deal with all of these themes as she grows older and more mature.

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I read a biography of Elizabeth Prentiss about a year or so ago and so much of this book seems to be based on her own life. Her greatest desire was to love Christ more, and much of that love came as a result of her suffering. There is such a difference in the character's perspective from the beginning of the book to the end, but it is interesting that the change is gradual. She often feels as though she is making no progress in her walk with Christ, and yet overtime, it is clear that she loves Him more and more. What an encouragement!

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Though the book deals with heavy themes, it is a quick read. I plan to hang onto it and read it again at some point. Just wanted to recommend it in case you were looking for something else to add to your own book pile. ;) It's a new favorite for me.

Making Our Own Doughnuts

We tried another "first" for us yesterday...making our own doughnuts. We are reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever this week. In chapter one the Herdman children gobble up all the doughnuts intended for the firefighters who came to fight a fire started by them! So, I thought it might be a fun activity to try making our own doughnuts.

I used this recipe. They turned out really well even though it was a messy and time consuming project. Rachel got into it though and everyone enjoyed the doughnuts. Mary Evelyn helped some too. Here are a few pictures of our little kitchen adventure.

A No No From George Muller

We are not doing school this week (officially) but I have been reading aloud a lot to the girls. We are currently reading two chapter books...not to mention numerous picture books. Our chapter books are a biography about George Muller, a missionary who is known for helping countless orphans in England, and Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski, a fiction selection.

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Jason was working late the other night (popcorn ball night) so I decided to just read as much as I could to the girls on up til bedtime. I read a chapter of George Muller to the girls and then got up to put Betsie to bed. Rachel and Mary Evelyn continued coloring in the den for about 15 minutes until I came back and resumed reading. I decided to start back with Strawberry Girl when I came back. It never occured to me that these books could EVER be confused. They are drastically different in setting, style, the language of the characters, etc.

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In Strawberry Girl, Pa Slater is an alchoholic. It never says it quite like that, but that's what's going on. We read that he sold a steer and then went to taverns and gambled away the money, etc. leaving his family unable to purchase their basic necessities. After reading, I said to the girls, "Aren't you thankful that Daddy takes such good care of our family? When he earns money, he uses it for the things we need instead of being selfish." (Or something like that) Mary Evelyn got a mad look on her face and said, "George Muller shouldn't have done that! He's supposed to be a Christian!"

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It was hilarious! And hopefully I got it all cleared up that George Muller actually squandered NOTHING, but rather gave everything away. I did learn that if I am going to have more than one chapter book going at a time that I definitely need to keep the readings separated!

My New Favorite Series

I have to say I am surprised how much I am enjoying the Yada Yada Prayer Group series by Neta Jackson. There are 6 books out now with the seventh to be released soon. I have read the first five and the sixth has already been shipped from Amazon. (The library did not have that one.)



The basic story line is that a hodge podge group of women are "randomly" put into the same prayer group at a weekend Christian women's conference. They could not be more different and get off to a kind of bumpy beginning. However, circumstances lead them to continue praying together even after the conference. Over time they become close sisters in the Lord, but only after enduring and praying through many trials.


I love how this group hangs in there together even when they struggle with community. They hurt each other but eventually deal with it. They speak the truth in love. They minister to each other with meals, carpools, baby sitting, visits, and lots and lots of prayer. They make a lot of mistakes but there is always someone in the group who is able to draw the rest back to the foot of the cross.


I love the scenes where they are praying together. There are a few in the group who love to pray scripture and I love to do that too. And they make a point to always begin not with a long list of prayer requests, but with a time of praise to God.


This series, which would probably not be too appealing to most men by the way, is fun to read. I can read each book in a day or two depending on whether or not Jason is home to help with the kiddos. However, I am always challenged as I read the books. The friendships in these stories were built on prayer rather than what the participants had in common. They had little in common other than the fact that they belonged to Jesus, but they learned that this was the only bond that they really needed.


Big thumbs up for the Yada Yada Prayer group and sequels.