Fall Into Reading

I saw this posted on another homeschooling website and wanted to do it too!  We love reading in our home.  My 15 year old daughter reads at least 3 or 4 books a week.  I have a few books that I would love to read this fall.  My list is:

1. Courageous
2. Power of a Praying Wife
3. A Woman After God's Own Heart
4.  The Sun Coast Chronicles.   It is a series of 4 books by Terri Blackstock

I would also like to read more and more to my kids.  We usually spend an hour or 2 a week, but I would would like to make it at least 30 minutes a day.

Slow Cooker

I do believe my slow cooker is my best friend in the kitchen.  With so many things going on, if I didn't have my slow cooker, dinner would be late every night and I would be running around like crazy trying to get it on the table.  I have many recipes for my slow cooker.  My favorite recipes are found in this wonderful e-book.  http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=166&products_id=14184

I would highly suggest getting this!  It has some great ideas for new dinners and desserts.  They are low in cost and easy to make :-)   I just love trying new recipes on my family each week.  I like seeing their responses to them and getting their opinions :-)

A Blessing from the Lord

My daughter Amanda has a tremendous gift that God gave her.  She can sing and play the guitar beautifully.  She writes her own music and lyrics.  Her songs have such wonderful meanings.  The lift the soul.  I wanted to share the links to her You Tube videos with all of you.  Enjoy!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVE3PEhSnx8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn45cSBWujA&feature=related

Games

We love playing board games in our family.  It is a great time to talk and just spend time together.  Our kids learn a lot from playing these games too.  They learn math and reading, as well as character qualities such as honesty, patience, and kindness.  It is very important to us to have children who know how to get along and solve issues that come up.  We want them to do everything they do to the glory of God.

Our Thinking Chairs....

I have chosen to call our time out chairs by a new name..... they are now our thinking chairs.   I place my children on time out so they can think about what they did wrong.  After their time is up (1 minute for each year they are old)  I talk with them about what they did and use it as a time to train them on what they should have done.  Most thinking times occur at our house as a result of selfishness.  They want their own way, and will try anything to get it.  Most infractions happen with my 2 youngest, who are still very much in the early stages of their character training.  They tend to get upset with each other when one wants something the other has, or if one wants to be the boss over the other.  It gets frustrating at times, but  we have to keep up our training.  We have to be consistent.  We have to train them to have good character :) 

Our Thinking Chairs!!!

Seeking God's Face

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You


To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy


Today this is my prayer.  I want to seek the Lord's face, not His hands.  I don't want to just ask God for things.  I want to know Him!   I want to worship Him with all that I am. 

Training our Children

I feel it is very important to teach our children good Christian values.  We do character training in our home.  We try to be good examples to our children.  It is important that your children see you modeling behavior that is pleasing to the Lord.  We can teach our children day and night, but if we are not good examples of Godly character, how can we expect them to have these traits.  In order to help other families with teaching these character qualities,  I made a Facebook page.  I made this page to encourage families in their parenting journey.  We need to lift one another in prayer.  We need to share our parenting ups and downs with one another so we can improve and be the parents God called us to be.  If you want to be encouraged or you want to encourage other parents and families, please come visit our Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Training-Our-Children-To-Have-Godly-Character/201159269907546?ref=ts

ART!!!!

My kids love arts and crafts.  They love to use their imaginations.  I love seeing what they create.  It is always the highlight of our school day :)   Here are just a few of their creations

Been busy

I have been so very busy with school and  getting ready for the 4th annual Baby Loss and Healing Memory Walk.  Each year  I am amazed how God provides our needs for the Walk.  I have talked with many radio stations and tv news stations and they are helping me get the word out about the Walk.  I will be doing a few radio interviews soon.  I get a little nervous, but I know it will help families to know they are not alone.  Losing a child is devastating.  They need support.  They come to the Walk for healing and understanding.  They get a chance to memorialize their little one. 

I would appreciate your prayers as this comes together.  Please pray for each family attending.  Pray they will feel that they are special and that their child will never be forgotten.  Pray for healing to come to their broken hearts.  

Our daily routine

I typically wake up at 5 or 5:30 every morning.  That is when my husband goes to work, so his alarm always wakes me as well.  I then spend time doing devotions and catching up on any work that I didn't get done the day before.  7:00 am is when the fun starts :)

7:00 am :  Rise and Shine and Give God the Glory (even when we are tired),  Clean up rooms and get dressed
8:00 am:  Eat Breakfast
8:30 am:  Morning chores
9:00 am:  School Starts  (The older children have a school schedule they follow daily, while the younger ones follow mom's schedule that is different almost everyday)
11:30 am:  Lunch time
12:00 pm:  Back to school
2:00 pm:  Free time (unless they didn't finish schoolwork)
4:00 pm:  Cooking/Eating
5:00 pm:  Free time
7:30 pm:  Family Devotions
8:00 pm:  Younger ones bedtime routine
8:30 pm:  Younger ones Bedtime
10:00 pm:  Older Kids Bedtime.... and hopefully Mama's too :)

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Older children's school schedule:

9:00:  Bible Class
9:30:  Spelling/Vocabulary
10:00: Language Arts/ Literature/Writing
10:45: Math
11:30:  Lunch
12:00:  Science
1:00:  History/Geography/Government
2:00:  School is done, unless you didn't get something done :)