The boys and I watched the movie "Facing the Giants" today. It was really good! One I'd like to have in our collection actually, and I'm very picky about what movies I want to own.
The movie was about turning your life completely over to God and giving Him your all, no matter what. "If we win we praise Him, if we lose we praise Him". It was also about expecting God to do great things in your life and never giving up on what He has called you to. There were Bible verses scattered throughout and many great lines.
In one scene the coach of the football team asked one of the players to do the "death crawl" ("crawling" on hands and feet with another guy on his back) 50 yards. The player said he could maybe do 20 but certainly not 50. The coach told him to try anyway, then he put a blindfold on the boy so that he wouldn't be distracted by where he was on the field, so that he would go as far as he really could and not just as far as he thought he could. The coach stayed with the boy the whole way, encouraging and pushing him to go on, when the player finally gave up and had no more strength, the coach removed the blindfold and the boy saw that he was in the Endzone, clear across the field! He had gone 5 times what he thought he could!
After that scene M said to me, "I can do that! I want to try it with G on my back!" Haha! I said "OK, lets try it". He made it only half way across the living room though, he kept wanting to try again but G wasn't too keen on it. Then I said "hmm, I wonder if I can do it?" And I did, I made it almost all the way across the living room before G fell off my back, only a couple of feet before we reached the other side. It was fun to get down there with the boys.
There were a lot of good lessons in this movie and we talked about quite a few of them. This is definitely one we'll want to watch again as the boys get older and can understand more.
Praise the Lord!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Praise God for Clothesline
Well, the first dryer we were loaned, when we moved into this house, came in pieces and we never got around to figuring out what was wrong with it. The second one we were given, to keep, doesn't work either! I am really bummed. It would make my life a lot easier to have a working dryer. At least I still have the clothesline Dh built for me. I can hang clothes to dry, which I actually love doing. Its just that hanging clothes takes a lot of time and with 6 people in the family we generate a lot of laundry.
We will have to come up with something when the weather gets colder because the clothes just won't dry on the line when its cold and wet outside. I know the Lord will provide something. I really believe He cares even about the "little" things, like drying clothes.
We will have to come up with something when the weather gets colder because the clothes just won't dry on the line when its cold and wet outside. I know the Lord will provide something. I really believe He cares even about the "little" things, like drying clothes.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
a deal and walking
I made a visit to the local thrift store on Monday to look for some extra dishes (I like a certain brand and they have pieces there from time to time). I didn't find any but I found some shirts and skirts I liked. I ended up putting back one of the skirts back because they were both $5 or more. I decided just to get the one I really liked. Anyway, I got up to the counter and the lady says "Skirts are $1 today". I asked her if I could go back and pick up the one I had put back and then quickly went and retrieved it. So I got 2 skirts, 2 tank tops and one t-shirt for $10! I was thrilled. I needed some post-pregnancy clothes.
The one skirt I really like had to be taken in though. It works for now but I think I may have to take it in again, I may have to do something more drastic next time. It says size 16/18 and I'm probably a 14 right now. Hopefully that number will go down before long.
I think I'm ready to start walking again. I haven't in almost a year! I love walking though. I can put S and J in the double stroller and G and M can ride their bikes. We can go for walks in the evenings when the weather cools off a little, get to know the neighborhood and some of the neighbors. And hopefully get some good exercise! First I need to get the double stroller out of the garage and clean it up, I'm sure its covered in spider webs and dust.
The one skirt I really like had to be taken in though. It works for now but I think I may have to take it in again, I may have to do something more drastic next time. It says size 16/18 and I'm probably a 14 right now. Hopefully that number will go down before long.
I think I'm ready to start walking again. I haven't in almost a year! I love walking though. I can put S and J in the double stroller and G and M can ride their bikes. We can go for walks in the evenings when the weather cools off a little, get to know the neighborhood and some of the neighbors. And hopefully get some good exercise! First I need to get the double stroller out of the garage and clean it up, I'm sure its covered in spider webs and dust.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Why I homeschool
Just a few reasons, I'm sure I can come up with more! I started this probably 2 years ago...
#1. God gave my children to me and entrusted them to my care and gave me the responsibility to educate them.
#2. Even when my child has a runny nose he can still do his school work.
#3. We almost never have to miss a day of school for anything because we can do school work at any time of day.
#4. I can set our own hours for school and they can change from day to day.
#5. We can even do school on the weekends!
#6. If my child shows an interest in something we can pursue it.
#7. If my child struggles in a particular area we can either spend more time working on it or we can set it aside till he is ready for it.
#8. The whole family learns! We all participate in school.
#9. I get to learn everything I learned in school all over again! and again, and again (depending on how many kids I end up having).
#10. If my child is gifted in an area we can skip ahead.
#11. We can go on as many field trips as we like.
#12. Everything becomes a learning experience.
#13. Homeschooling gives my child many opportunities he would not have in Public or Private school.
#14. The older children can help teach the younger children.
#15. Less peer pressure.
#16. No Bullies. Less teasing. (brothers still tease each other sometimes).
#17. My child learns to relate to people of different ages, not just those his own age.
#18. He learns there is more to life than the opinion of his peers.
#19. My kids can pray in school! (they can also wear Christian t-shirts, sing praises to the Lord and freely tell others about Him!).
#20. I get to choose the curriculum that best suits each of my children.
#1. God gave my children to me and entrusted them to my care and gave me the responsibility to educate them.
#2. Even when my child has a runny nose he can still do his school work.
#3. We almost never have to miss a day of school for anything because we can do school work at any time of day.
#4. I can set our own hours for school and they can change from day to day.
#5. We can even do school on the weekends!
#6. If my child shows an interest in something we can pursue it.
#7. If my child struggles in a particular area we can either spend more time working on it or we can set it aside till he is ready for it.
#8. The whole family learns! We all participate in school.
#9. I get to learn everything I learned in school all over again! and again, and again (depending on how many kids I end up having).
#10. If my child is gifted in an area we can skip ahead.
#11. We can go on as many field trips as we like.
#12. Everything becomes a learning experience.
#13. Homeschooling gives my child many opportunities he would not have in Public or Private school.
#14. The older children can help teach the younger children.
#15. Less peer pressure.
#16. No Bullies. Less teasing. (brothers still tease each other sometimes).
#17. My child learns to relate to people of different ages, not just those his own age.
#18. He learns there is more to life than the opinion of his peers.
#19. My kids can pray in school! (they can also wear Christian t-shirts, sing praises to the Lord and freely tell others about Him!).
#20. I get to choose the curriculum that best suits each of my children.
First day of School!
We decided to start school early this year so that we have more flexibility to take breaks during the year. For example, we'll take off Monday August 25th because we will be at my parents house for the weekend and will be coming home that day. We may take a longer Christmas vacation as well, who knows.
We are easing back into school. M is in 2nd grade and G is in Kindergarten. This week we will only be doing Bible. Next week we will add in Reading, and the following week another subject, we'll keep adding one or two subjects a week until we have a full load.
Our Bible curriculum is something I just made up. I hope it was inspired! We will be memorizing the books of the Bible, 5 per week at a time. This week will be the first five books of the Bible. We will practice saying them each day, plus we will choose one verse to memorize each week. Each day we will learn about one of the books, today for example, we learned about Genesis. We learned about the author, some of the main stories in the book, and some facts about the book. I also gave the boys some coloring pages about Adam and Eve. Tomorrow we will learn about Exodus, and so on. I know that won't take the whole school year but I figure we'll do review after that and by then come up with something more. Perhaps memorizing the key verses from each book? I'm not sure yet. We may just go over the whole thing again!
Overall I think today went pretty well. We started kinda late since I slept in. We began with the pledge of allegiance to the American flag, then the pledge to the Christian flag, the pledge to the Bible and then prayer. After that we had our Bible lesson and that was it!
One thing that is nice about having school is that it seems to bring more structure to our days. There is more that has to be accomplished each day. We aren't rigid at all but it is good for us to have a routine. For Dh and I as much as for our kids!
My goal is to start getting up at 6 AM before the boys. That is going to take some work though!
We are easing back into school. M is in 2nd grade and G is in Kindergarten. This week we will only be doing Bible. Next week we will add in Reading, and the following week another subject, we'll keep adding one or two subjects a week until we have a full load.
Our Bible curriculum is something I just made up. I hope it was inspired! We will be memorizing the books of the Bible, 5 per week at a time. This week will be the first five books of the Bible. We will practice saying them each day, plus we will choose one verse to memorize each week. Each day we will learn about one of the books, today for example, we learned about Genesis. We learned about the author, some of the main stories in the book, and some facts about the book. I also gave the boys some coloring pages about Adam and Eve. Tomorrow we will learn about Exodus, and so on. I know that won't take the whole school year but I figure we'll do review after that and by then come up with something more. Perhaps memorizing the key verses from each book? I'm not sure yet. We may just go over the whole thing again!
Overall I think today went pretty well. We started kinda late since I slept in. We began with the pledge of allegiance to the American flag, then the pledge to the Christian flag, the pledge to the Bible and then prayer. After that we had our Bible lesson and that was it!
One thing that is nice about having school is that it seems to bring more structure to our days. There is more that has to be accomplished each day. We aren't rigid at all but it is good for us to have a routine. For Dh and I as much as for our kids!
My goal is to start getting up at 6 AM before the boys. That is going to take some work though!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Project update
OK, so these were the projects we were trying to get done this week...
1. Steam clean the carpet and couch.
Carpet got done, not the couch.
2. Organize the Den/school room/tv room/library.
Started, far from finished!
3. Clean out the garage.
Mostly done.
4. Sort the clothes that don't currently fit anyone.
Not done at all.
5. Fix the van window.
Not done.
6. Get ready for Home School next week.
Almost ready!
7. Catch up on general house work.
Mostly.
Not too bad. I would have liked to have gotten more done, but you probably know how it is.
1. Steam clean the carpet and couch.
Carpet got done, not the couch.
2. Organize the Den/school room/tv room/library.
Started, far from finished!
3. Clean out the garage.
Mostly done.
4. Sort the clothes that don't currently fit anyone.
Not done at all.
5. Fix the van window.
Not done.
6. Get ready for Home School next week.
Almost ready!
7. Catch up on general house work.
Mostly.
Not too bad. I would have liked to have gotten more done, but you probably know how it is.
ADD at VBS
No one can tell me my oldest son doesn't have attention issues!
Last night at VBS families all came together for burgers before the final presentation by all of the kids. The different age groups took turns up on the stage singing songs and dancing (motions to the songs). G's group went up first and he did really well! He kept up with the group and the beat and just did a really great job! I was so proud of him!
Next was M's group. He is 7 1/2 years old and about to go into 2nd grade. He wasn't quite with the group or on the beat but he was doing the motions and singing. Then comes the part of the song where all of the kids squat down on the floor, all that is, except for M! He stands there staring up and waving his hand around almost like he's trying to grasp something. Dh and I are cracking up at this point, he is so like us! We both have many memories of being completely spaced out as kids (um, and sometimes as adults). Finally he realized that he was supposed to be squatting with the rest of the group, just a moment before it was time to stand up again! I'm sure this whole incident lasted less than a minute. It was a perfect illustration of how M is all the time. Later we asked him what he was doing, he said he was trying to catch the dust he could see in the spot lights. LOL, I figured.
We've added Flax oil to his diet recently, maybe that will help some. We've also just recently cut the sugar out of his diet (as much as we can anyway). I'm sure that will be good for all of us.
Last night at VBS families all came together for burgers before the final presentation by all of the kids. The different age groups took turns up on the stage singing songs and dancing (motions to the songs). G's group went up first and he did really well! He kept up with the group and the beat and just did a really great job! I was so proud of him!
Next was M's group. He is 7 1/2 years old and about to go into 2nd grade. He wasn't quite with the group or on the beat but he was doing the motions and singing. Then comes the part of the song where all of the kids squat down on the floor, all that is, except for M! He stands there staring up and waving his hand around almost like he's trying to grasp something. Dh and I are cracking up at this point, he is so like us! We both have many memories of being completely spaced out as kids (um, and sometimes as adults). Finally he realized that he was supposed to be squatting with the rest of the group, just a moment before it was time to stand up again! I'm sure this whole incident lasted less than a minute. It was a perfect illustration of how M is all the time. Later we asked him what he was doing, he said he was trying to catch the dust he could see in the spot lights. LOL, I figured.
We've added Flax oil to his diet recently, maybe that will help some. We've also just recently cut the sugar out of his diet (as much as we can anyway). I'm sure that will be good for all of us.
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