Washington State History Song

 

 

 

This is a cute and informative video made by a homeschool family.  The song was written, sung and filmed by the kids and they did a great job.  Kinda makes me want to take a little tour of WA state.  :) 

2014 - thoughts on the New Year...

HAPPY NEW YEAR FOLKS! Please tell me I’m not the only one who feels a mild panic when January hits, as I realize that we are in the final 5 months or so of the traditional school year. This is when I start counting the pages and chapters remaining in our books and “doing the math”. I also look over my dreamy reading list I made in August, and make those hard choices of what stays and what goes. Sometimes there are life interruptions… like funerals and surgeries… that we just have to roll with, and be thankful for the flexibility of home schooling. But sometimes I take a close look and realize that we just need to buckle down if we want to meet our goals… like getting a few weeks off for summer! Personally, I enjoy somewhat of a year round school schedule, which allows for some interruptions or deviations from school during the traditional year. But we do like to have several weeks of guilt free summer relaxation from our studies. We have done major year round school the last couple of years, so my kids are rather motivated to finish those math books if it is at all possible. It’s nice when they get old enough to appreciate the break they get if they put in the time during the school year, and I no longer have to nag as much. You know they have arrived when they are doing a math lesson on Christmas Eve or a Saturday, without being prompted, just to keep things moving along. 

So this week I am making “adjustments” to the remainder of our school year, trying to set realistic deadlines and goals, and praying for the Lord’s sovereign guidance as I plan our days. There is a real good chance I’ll have to tweak the plan at least one more time before we are done, but that’s okay. That, my friend, really is one of the benefits of home schooling… a custom fit for your family.

New Year’s always puts me in a place of deep thinking. I find myself closely looking over the previous year, and seeing God’s mighty Hand working in the lives of my family. I am often awestruck as I recall the trials and hardships as well as the joys and blessings, and see Him right in the midst of it all, working His perfect will in our lives. Sometimes it is painful to recall some of the lessons learned or trials endured. And often I am able to count several specific answers to specific prayers and needs. And always, I see God as Faithful to every generation and my own faith is encouraged. 

And I also find myself looking ahead at the year to come. My flesh tends to panic a bit at the unknown, worrying about losses or our future health, or the many possible hardships that could come our way. But I know this is not the mindset the Lord instructs me to have, so I humbly admit my fearful insecurities to Him, and ask Him to replace them with His Peace. I continually remind myself of His sovereignty and that is a great comfort. And finally, I petition my heavenly Father for his mercy, grace and protection and to have His way, His will be done, in each corner of my life and those of my family, and commit our year to Him. Gulp. (That is a big step for a control freak who subconsciously thinks she can keep the world running as it should be.) Anyone relate? Anyway, I do pray that each of us will find renewal from the Lord, and strength to finish well as we plod through this second half of the school year, and usher in a joyful, peace filled, grateful New Year.  

READ ALOUD BIBLE STORIES - TREASURED BOOKS!

Looking for something that will write on the heart of your preschool - early elem. children or grandchildren?   These books do an amazing job of that!  Each over-sized volume has several stories in it, so you are really purchasing a small library of Bible stories (there are approx. 160 pages per volume!)  I know we all have Bible stories on our shelf, but these are really special.  At first glance, they are not the type of illustrations that I am normally drawn to.  I love beautiful, realistic illustrations.  These are large, and somewhat abstract... but kids are drawn them to them!   And the simple story style of the author, Ella K. Lindvall, is rich, informative and engaging.  My children asked for them literally, over and over and over...   I have read these books to my children for 20 years, and I was so glad to see them still available.  Since my children have finally outgrown them, mine have gone safely into my "Grandma Box", to bless the heart of the next generation.  I highly recommend you get a set while you still can.  You can read more about them or purchase them at at CBD (Christian Book Distributors) .

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Another sweet series we read and then watched the movies of, is Sarah, Plain and Tall.  This is a rare case where I enjoyed the movies as much as the books... maybe more.  The books are thin but the story is a good one, telling about how a woman from Maine, answers an ad from a widower in KS who is looking for a wife/mother for his kids.  Sounds kinda creepy, but it's not.  Set at the turn of the century, it is a touching, heartwarming family book/movie series.   If I had to choose between the books or the movies, I'd choose the movies.  The three titles for the series are "Sarah, Plain and Tall", "Skylark" and "Winter's End",  and I believe they can all be found at the library.   It is so difficult to find appropriate, family films that I was thrilled to offer these up for Family Movie Night 3 weeks in a row!

  

 

FOR THIS CHILD WE PRAYED

 

Sweet poem about how fast our children grow up and the importance of allowing yourself to relish the moments you have with them. Those of us who have grown children, know this is just way too true. So those of you in the thick of the early years… trust us. J
 



For This Child We Prayed…  

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dust pan, poison the moth
Hang out the washing and butter the bread
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo)
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo)
The shopping is not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo)

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

By Ruth Hulburt Hamilton 

Misty of Chincoteague series

Looking for a good book series to read with your children?  We just finished the Misty series, by Marguerite Henry and they were very heartwarming stories.  Even though my children are not devoted horse book fans, these stories were very enjoyable.  I think it's because the stories are about more than the horse, but about family relationships as well.  Non horse lovers will enjoy these books too. 
    I liked them because they are more fact than fiction, and all the characters are real people and the events were real, etc. The author takes some liberty with the timeline of events, but most of the circumstances and events actually  happened.  Sometimes when reading, my kids will comment about a particular event or ending in a book... "It happened that way because it is a story".  But in this case, it is a story, because it happened that way!  Rich east coast history, sweet family relationships, sensitive and respectful of God's creatures... all found in these books.  We laughed and cried ( okay, I cried) and enjoyed every chapter.  So many books marketed to kids nowadays are either twaddle or trashy.  It was refreshing to read good children's literature and based on a true story as well. 

  The sequels to Misty are Sea Star: Orphan of Chincoteague and Stormy: Misty's Foal, and they continue with the same themes., and are available at the library.  




One more thing... the movie Misty is available on DVD at the library as well.  It is a cute movie from the 1960's and I sure appreciate being able to watch a wholesome film with my children.  But like many movies based on books, it doesn't compare to the actual book, in character develop, life lessons learned, or heart and soul.  Nice choice for a Family Movie Night for the whole family, but not til after you read the books.

That Ragged Old Flag, by Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash - paying tribute to our American Flag...