What Horsemanship Teaches My Kids

Norah's first time cleaning hooves 

 

Shiloh cleaning Jet's hooves

 

 

One awesome thing about homeschooling is being able to make time for cool classes. I've wanted the girls to get into horse riding classes for so long and finally an opportunity opened up. I'm so glad we chose this activity over say piano or gymnastics. Those will come in due time, but for now this is what we'll be sticking the time being. We're a musical family so we have plenty of moments to practice music. Horse riding is something that takes them outdoors and is completely novel from their everyday home school life.  Here are a few things I think it will teach them. 

Character Development

The life lessons that come out of spending time with horses is enormous. By observing the horses temperament and training the horse, my children can learn obedience because the horse has to obey orders. They'll have to learn assertiveness because you have to be strong, direct, and in charge when guiding the horse. They develop patience because it takes time to train a horse. Horses simply do not become tame overnight. Lastly, something special happened listened to the instructor teach. She was using the very words I use at home to teach my kids character lessons. I was so pleased that I text my husband right on the spot. What I teach at home is emphasized their class. They get character development on both ends.

Camaraderie

Shiloh and Norah with some new friends

The horsemanship group is small and intimate creating the perfect condition for camaraderie.  On the girls'  first day, I observed how the kids encouraged each other while practicing new skills.   The camaraderie seems like it will take place quite naturally. When everyone gets to experience the same lesson and learn together, a tie and bond forms. Team work becomes important as they work together in caring and training the horses. I'm looking forward to more instances of the group building camaraderie.

The Great Outdoors

 

Balance practice on Cocoa

Lastly, horsemanship classes further cements in the children a love for the great outdoors. Where we live already gives credence to that, but being active outdoors in the fresh air is far more desirable than what an indoor gym can offer. The grit, the thick skinned, the courage that's required to work outdoors in difficult weather shapes their countenance in such a beautiful way. Any reason for me to be outside enjoying nature is a plus! 

 

Looking for the Fruit

Overall, I'm so excited about what's to come with these classes. The instructor is patient and highly skilled in how she teaches. She clearly presented the risks and benefits of working with horses and her passion for horses is evident. We'll see how it goes throughout the year. Ultimately, I am blessed and I am grateful I get to do this with other mom friends. I am grateful. I am blessed.
 

3 Simple Ways to Spend Time with your Kids

 

In the Bible days, there was ample opportunity for parents and kids to spend time together because of how their lifestyle was structured. Initially, the Israelites were a nomadic people and caring for duties together was common. In fact, God specifically told the Israelites to use every opportunity they had to teach their children the law of God.  It was in these moments where they were able to spend quality time together with their children.

Nowadays, it takes more intentional effort to spend time with our children. Whatever we choose to do doesn’t have to take a lot of time to prepare. It doesn’t even have to take any money. Over the years, I’ve done different things to try to spend time with my kids, and a few of them I’ve learned from other parents.  So here are 3 ways that you can spend time with your kid that’s hands on, practical, and doesn’t the break bank.

Hide and Seek

About once a week, my daughters look forward to playing a good ole game of high energy hide and seek with Dad. I get the privilege of witnessing the shenanigans, which usually ends up in tons of laughter and rapid heartbeats. The rules are pretty simple. They choose who will be “it” which is usually Dad at first. The girls hide, Dad counts, and the rush to find them begins. Our home is relatively small so finding good hiding places is always a welcome challenge for them. If you have a bigger home, you may want to establish boundaries. Once whoever is it finds the other person, the game goes for another round our so. Watching my husband play like this with my daughters is so satisfying to watch. It’s such a fun way to have Daddy and daughter time.

Singing while you Work

Here’s an idea I use with my kids. It’s a great way to have fun while doing something productive. When it’s time to do house work together, I like to involve my daughters. Sometimes I’m met with groans and complaining. But that can quickly change when I make a point that cleaning can be fun. One Friday, we planned to fold a large load of their clothes. At first there was a little complaining, but I decided that we needed to do some singing while we worked. I start singing and it was slow going at first. But by the eed of all of our sorting, folding, and putting away, we were in full singing mode. My 8 year old sang with all of her heart with as much exuberance an 8 year old can muster. Meanwhile, my 6 year old added variations, riffs, and embellishments to the songs adding a flare that only she could give. What started out as a mundane chore, ended up being a full-on concert! We had a great time enjoying being with each other while getting work done. Little by little we’re beginning to associate chores, with fun times with Mom.

Family Drawing Time

My friend shared this awesome idea that she does with her family. Every once in a while for fun, they watch a guided drawing instructor on Youtube. She recounts that these times are so much fun because each family member participates in drawing the same picture. During this time, they can joke around, encourage each other, and simply enjoy the process of doing a creative project together. At the end they can all compare their drawings and relish in the joy of having spent quality time together that required no prep and no money.

When I think of how much time God spent talking about how importance it is to raise children. I can only think of how much He wants to spend time with each of His children as well. I’m so glad we have a God that wants to be close and wants to be near us. The time that we spend with our children can remind us of the time that God wants to spend with us.

 “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my Voice and opens the door I will come in to him and dine with and hand he with me.” Revelation 3:20

Routines, Routines, Routines

One of the latest books I've read is titled, "How to Raise an Organized child." Damon Korb, a pediatrician who's worked with various families on organizational issues with kids, offers a systematic approach on how to make this happen.

One of the most helpful tactics he suggests, is to come up with mini routines for different parts of the day. This has been so helpful in how I raise my girls. There are certain times of the day where I want things to flow well so we can get to the meat of our day.  

School aged children, especially, are in a prime position to learn how to be the masters of routines. Here are some of the routines we are working on and will continue to master. 

The Morning Routine

This consists of doing the typical morning tasks. We try to get everything done within 30 minutes including things such as their personal devotional, dressing, bathroom, brushing teeth among other things. We worked on this for a 2 weeks, with a reward at the end of their "training."

The After meal Routine

This includes quickly clearing off the table, washing dishes, sweeping, tidying up living room, all done within 10 minutes or less. I'm trying to teach them there's more to life than cleaning, so let's just get this over with so we can focus on some the fun stuff. 

The School Routine

We haven't delved too deep into this one yet. When we do, it would include making sure they have all they need before their zoom classes. It would also include clearing off their area when they're finished with their class. Now they already do some of this with some prompting. In the future, I want this to complete these tasks without reminders.

Looking Forward 

I think these routines will make our day run more smoothly. I've already seen how quickly the girls can get things done in the morning when they are focused. The idea here, is that they are to master one routine at at time, and we move on to the next routine to work on. Each routine builds on the previous one. 

What's so encouraging about this book is that Dr. Korbs emphasizes that organized kids are not born. They are raised. This gives me hope for myself and for my kids. Disorganization can cost so much wasted time and energy. On the other hand, being organized can catapult your efficiency in so many areas of life. I want to be able to equip my kids with the tools for what they need to be successful now and in the years to come.  

Here are some other wonderful blessings from our day:

• Getting to the dentist on time
• Kids frolicking in the church park
• Eating yummy sandwiches in the church park
• Robbie helping us when the truck broke down
• Resting in bed with Benjo after a long day in town
• Having time to read a book
• Benjo going to sleep rather smoothly with minimal fretting
• Excitement of writing more
• Computer working with the new charger
• Norah's silliness at the park
• Shiloh's funny songs at the dinner table
  

 

I'm very thankful for all of the blessings of the day. My life is a joy despite the challenges.  I am so blessed. I just feel God's presence in my life. I'm hopeful of what He has in store. I will pay attention to His promptings. In the waiting, I will be thankful, appreciative. I am so thankful for what is already in my life.

Paying Attention to What's Working and What's Not

 It's important to not let a day go by without paying attention to the things that worked well and the things that didn't work so well. Today was full of beautiful moments and also full of areas of growth. Here are the things that worked. 

What Worked

• Placing computer on the kitchen to write notes, when inspired
• Reading to Benjamin in rocking chair while the girls did school 
• Norah sitting on the end of the couch for school providing an excellent backdrop
• Eating lunch outside, in the sun, with the girls while reading
• Benjo sleeping on the bed during naps with heater and me resting a bit
• Eating simple delicious plant-based foods during our meals
• Writing down afternoon activities and prioritizing them 
• Short cleaning breaks accompanied by uplifting songs
• Doing our Bible lesson outside
• Great insights during Bible lessons along with learning new vocabulary
  

What Didn't work 

• Not implementing discipline plan throughout the day
• Not having a working schedule at the beginning of day
• Benjo screaming alot for my attention, he was probably tired
• Squandering small moments of time that could be used for planning or resting
• Benjo not sitting down to eat his chair
• Indecisiveness
• Still going to bed a later than I want
  

I'm grateful for being able to pay attention to these things. I'm hoping tomorrow will be even better than today. I am grateful for it all. I am very grateful. I am very blessed...

5 Ingredients to Our Homeschool Educational Philosophy

When I first began homeschooling, I didn't know much of how I wanted to proceed. But as I researched, meditated, and prayed, I realized there were a few ideas that I knew for sure would be integral to what we did on a daily basis. These would be guiding principles I would refer to when I wanted to remind myself of what it was I was doing. I wrote them out, journaled about it, and learned what the research has said about it. So here they are; the 5 guiding components that make up my educational philosophy. These are the key ingredients that I feel is needed to nurture the mind, body, and soul of my children.

Spiritual Education

Spiritual education includes having a knowledge of God and His immense love and interest in my children's daily lives.  I desire above all things that they are wise and they gain their wisdom from their relationship with their Creator.  I encourage my children to have a meaningful devotional time with Jesus every morning.  Along with that, our Bible lessons from Sonlight education ministry and our family devotionals form the foundation of how they make their choices throughout the day.

Practical Life

This includes being diligent with chores, personal hygiene, financial literacy, and social prowess. It also includes wisdom on how to conduct themselves among family, friends and strangers. An understanding of the wider culture is important in how they make decisions and treat others. 

Service Learning/Missionary Training

This includes doing something kind for others such as writing letters, baking cookies, making meals, singing for someone, or just being creative in how to be a blessing to someone. It also includes doing something meaningful for missionary workers overseas and learning what it means to be a missionary here in the states.

Character Development/Emotional Intelligence

Many of the above components all develop character qualities such as responsibility, diligence, and hard work. In addition to that, I want them to master the 5 aspects of emotional intelligence:  

1. Being aware of their emotions 
2. Managing their emotions, 
3. Being a aware of others' emotions, 
4. Understanding how to manage other's
   
5. Motivating themselves to accomplish their goals
   

Outdoor/Nature Learning/Art/Awe/Beauty

The great outdoors is an amazing source of beauty and enjoyment. Nature is considered to be God's second book beyond the Bible because, like the Bible, it testifies to God's amazing power. Our little family lives among nature for this very reason. My children can look out and see the beauty of God among his creation. Along with nature, beauty found in being creative with music and art are vital ingredients in our home school education.  When it comes to nature, such activities can include:

1. Taking nature walk
2. Observing nature outdoors
   
3. Reading about something different
   
4. Looking at picture books
5. Going on outings to natural places
6. Watching a documentary about it 

 And when it comes to awe and beauty, it can include things like: 

1. Playing an instrument
2. Singing a song
3. Writing a story
4. Creating something useful
5. Drawing a picture
6. Writing a new song
   

 

Overall, these core ideas have served us well and I see how it is bearing fruit. Our conversations are rich, our interactions are meaningful, their understanding of big questions of life are present, and they have a spiritual compass that guides them daily. As we spend more time in their academic subjects, I can see how these core components have helped them along the way. I am thankful for God imparting this wisdom in my soul about this. I am so thankful. I am so blessed. I am grateful...

 

A Birthday, An Awareness, and A Conversation

 A Birthday

I've always loved my birthday on the Sabbath and I'm so glad my daughter got to see just what that was like today. The whole day was spent at church and letting people know that is was my oldest daughter's birthday. She beamed with joy when I shared with people that it was her birthday. She then got to share the special ways we celebrated: trip to the coast, special birthday dinner, and special gifts from Gma. Watching my little one enjoy her birthday was the highlight of my day. But there were many other blessings. 

An Awareness

Unfortunately, I left my phone at home, so I was without online access all day. But it was actually a blessing in disguise. It afforded me the opportunity to be present and aware of what was happening around me. Case in point: I watched my girls and my friends kids play together at the park. Two of the kids sat and talked with me while I was watching them. If I had my phone, maybe I'd be too busy on it. Maybe I would've missed the chance to get to know them better. Maybe I would've missed the joy I felt watching the kids have fun together at the park. I had an awareness that I would not have had, had I had my phone. 

A Conversation

After returning home after a long day at church, I had a very passionate conversation with the hubby. He is a logical, facts based person, so if I don't provide facts to support what I say, it can feel extremely frustrating. However, it is such a blessing, because it pushes me to clearly share what I know and admit what I don't know. It is refreshing to talk to someone who challenges my thinking. And unlike in times past, we now can have intense conversations without hard feelings. I also feel like if I can convince him of something, then I can convince the world. But, I'll take into consideration that relying too heavily on facts without intuitiveness can be a bad thing. You can miss the common sense nature of looking at something. I like my intuitive nature. But a mix of both tendencies is probably the best.   

Overall, today was wonderful. The baby dedication was beautiful, the weather was perfect for playing outdoors, Littlest One napped sufficiently, great conversation with a couple moms about homeschooling, the purity of the Early Service, and so many other blessings. I am so blessed. I am so grateful.

The Power of Read-alouds

Ever since reading, "The Read Aloud Handbook" I've been a strong advocate of read-alouds. The author, Jim Trealese, suggests that it is one of the most powerful ways to teach reading among other amazing benefits he describes.  And while he emphasizes the importance of learning how to read, I see so many other benefits as well.

Vocabulary

One major benefit is being able to learn new vocabulary and learn it in context. As we read a book, my girls are able to see what different words mean using context clues or examples I give. For example, the word economy.  I’ll describe it simply and use the story to further explain the meaning. I can also use other relevant examples such as, "produce in the central valley drives our economy." I can take it even further by personalizing it by talking about our farmer friends who produce all manner of crops and how it benefits our local economy.

Great Conversations

Another major benefit is that it allows for us to have great conversations. We are reading a book  called "In Their Own Words" which chronicles the stories of history through the eyes of people who have lived it themselves. The stories are phenomenal and we are able to have such rich conversations about history and the meaning it has for our lives now. 

Creativity

Lastly, what we read aloud together fuels the stories they create for themselves later on. This makes for an interesting story, because they use words and ideas from book with advanced vocabulary.  I love to hear what they make up after we've read something together. The themes they choose, tend to mimic what we read. It's a very creative way to apply what they're learning. No worksheets but oral creative expression. This is awesome to see.

I love read-alouds. I love learning. I love that we can homeschool together.  Here were other notable moments of today.

Blessings…

• Engaging VA class with Norah
• Shiloh's swift recitation of the numbers over 100 and place value
• Shiloh's confidence in her command of math
• Quick completion of LA
• Use of LA worksheets as handwriting practice
• Communication with Shiloh's teacher
• Realization of a creation science oriented curriculum
• Completing our Bible lesson early in the day
• Talking with Gma and living out our Social Learning Lab

 

Again, me getting to homeschool my children just feels so good. I am truly grateful to personally teach my them the way I want. Yes it requires work, intentional effort, organization, planning, and sacrifice. But overall, I am so glad this is how we're choosing to educate our children.  I am so blessed. I am so grateful...

 

 

Best Practices

A time in my life where I felt really organized…before 3 kids

 

Organization. This is what makes my world feel right. This is what allows me to function in peace. This is also something that is so extremely difficult to master. And while organization is key for me to function well, there are other things that are equally important that make our homeschooling days feel right. I call these things my best practices. In order to have a day that runs smoothly, I have to put these actions into practice. What I desire is order, not chaos. Security, not instability.  Groundedness not dangling participles. So what are my personal best practices for a peaceful day? Here are some things that I practice: 

• Written down prayers/goals of what things I want to see in my day.(Girls dress quickly, make it to school on time, no arguing, uplifting music playing, pleasant and happy mood)
  
• Written schedule in view that we refer to on the board
• Review of my "good day list"

Overall, these are the basic things that set me off on a good day. Lists, preparation the night before, and keeping a cool head the day of is key. Today I was extremely off base and caught off guard by the unexpected situations. Each day I learn though, and tomorrow will be better than the next. Today, I walked away with feeling in great need of learning how to be organized. It was further emphasized by Melissa's amazing ability to organize our co-op lessons this afternoon. The order and structure of how she orchestrated our activities and learning was admirable.  

I learned. I will keep learning. I will tell myself, I am organized. I will walk in it and live it. I appreciate the lesson today. I hope that tomorrow will account for what I learned today.

For the Love of Learning

My little one researching foxes after a spark of inspiration from Language Arts Class

It is every parent's desire that their child approach school with a genuine love for learning. Some educators view real learning taking place, when a child takes an idea and makes it their own. This is exactly what I witnessed last week, when after Light's language arts class, she took it upon herself to write and research about foxes. It was awesome to see.

The truly awesome thing is that this wasn't a fluke. She did it again today when she decided to learn more about pumpkins after her teacher read a story about pumpkins. I just love this. She is taking initiative in what and how she learns. In the process, she's enjoying every bit of it. She's gaining confidence in her ability to find information. She also is making the learning process her own. Honestly, this process is quite natural perhaps. I'm thankful that I'm giving her the space to learn in a way that makes sense for her. 

There were many other blessings throughout the day.

Blessings…

• Visits with friends who will be moving soon
• Little one's Late night shenanigans because of excitement of hubby coming how
  
• Shiloh reading "In their own Words" slave narrative throughout the day
• Energy to clean, cook, and clean after a long trip

That and many other blessings occurred. We learn daily. We enjoy daily. We try to live well daily. For all of this, I am grateful. 

 

The Calming Effect of Coastal Beauty

The girls in awe of ocean waves crashing

The multi-sensory experience you get when visiting the beach is without comparison.  The experience is like a lavish balm to the soul.  The sounds of the bellowing waves crashing, the smell of misty ocean sea foam, the taste of the salty ocean water, the sights of the vast expanse beyond the sea, the feeling of sand between the toes. All of our senses are engaged in such a profound way. It makes going to the beach so enjoyable. The joy of this multi-sensory experience was the perfect ending to our short coastal vacation. 

However, the vacay was not without a little drama beforehand or even after we left. It was a very challenging day in some respects. I experienced at least 3 moments where I was emotionally upset about one thing or another. These were hard moments to to overcome.  But all in all, the day was sweet and I kept pushing. Once we arrived at the beach, the beauty I beheld reduced the irritating feelings that had risen within me. Here were some other things I did to try to stay at peace. 

Tactics to Keep Your Cool

• Breath slowly
• Pray for wisdom silently
• Say encouraging words to yourself
• Sing melodic songs
• Harmonize with songs
• Try doing something enjoyable or productive
• Write out and name your feelings
  
• Trust that the feelings will pass and all will be well
• Focusing on nature or something of beauty and awe
  
• Find a lesson in it
  

Hard to stay upset long with this handsome little guy around

I'm so blessed that after all these years of being such a sensitive and feeling oriented person, I've been able to somewhat master the ability to shift moods and find meaning in the mess. Every challenge that comes can be seen as a gift. I have oneness with Jesus in my suffering, because he has suffered too. My little one has the gift of feelings as well. Together we learn from each other.

 

Besides the emotional upheavals, which I was thankfully able to recover from, there were countless small blessings. Here are just a few of them from the day and from our trip.

Blessings…

• Talking with the David's friends from the wedding he officiated
• David recounting the adventures of the wedding weekend
• Delicious mushroom, spinach, onion, cheese buckwheat crepe from Brittany's crepes 
• Bubble guns for the kids
• Pleasant pool time with such a varied crowd (families, singles, newlyweds...)
  
• Long-haired, brown-skinned hostess at Jacks restaurant
• Charlie and the Chocolate factory candy store at the wharf
• The vendor"George's birds" and his gruff way with kids 
• The happy street performer that stopped in the middle of his song to say we are a "beautiful family"
• Girls getting out of pool when it was time to go with no fussing
• Old school Amy Grant songs got us going each morning
  

These and many more blessings were ours during the trip. I look forward to more times like this.  I have the memories etched in my mind. I am beyond blessed. I am grateful.

 

 

 

Of Oceans, Lands, and Seas

Our first evening out by the wharf

There's nothing like the refreshing feeling of going on a simple getaway. Our little family likes to get away to the coast. The girls just love telling people "We're going to the coast", like its some magical faraway land were all things are well. 

Visiting the coast with my family is such a wonderful treat...when things go well. The problem is that sometimes vacations can be such a hassle and they end up not being very refreshing at all. However, this simple getaway we've been on has been more than wonderful. I can think of a few reasons why: 

• We've built up the excitement for a whole month by counting down the days
• We did some pre-planning in regard to the specific activities we were going to do 
• We had a basic mental and digital itinerary both in my head and on my phone
• I have not sweated the small stuff, we are not worrying about money, mishaps, miscalculations or mistakes of any kind. We are just rolling with the punches as they come.  
• The girls packed by themselves weeks before the trip
• I prayed very specific things that I wanted to see and I've been watching my prayers being answered right before me
• We are intentional about making every aspect an adventure and enjoyable. Every meal, walk on the wharf, new show watched, miscalculation of where the car garage is, every little thing that happens is viewed in the eyes of adventure, enjoyment, and humor

A large part of why things seem to be going so well is that the hubby and I are simply not stressing about minor things. We are here to enjoy each other and desire for things to be light and pleasant. I hope that we can learn some lessons from this trip and be intentional with making sure our other ones have the same relaxing vibe. Family time ought to be fun and free. I'm very thankful that "fun and free" is a reality for us right now. We are blessed. 

• 

  A little exploration on top of a lookout point
  

  
  

 

Homeschool Social Learning Lab

Doting Auntie Rachel taking the girls out for spa day

One of the most saddening things of modern life, is that many of us are physically separated from our families. This makes it difficult to have the rich experience of an extended family that I was so blessed with when I was a child. The physical distance doesn't have to mean there has to be an emotional one. In fact, the physical distance should be an reminder to be more intentional at connecting. With homeschooling, we are afforded the freedom to do life the way we want, to teach important life lessons in our own natural way. Today it became clear to me after the girls had a conversation with their Auntie Rachel, that it is of utmost importance that they connect with their extended family. The benefits are immense. 

Benefits of Connecting with long-distance family

1. They are able to learn etiquette in talking on the phone
2. They are able to build an emotional bond with a trusted family member
3. They are able to share their experiences
4. They are able to learn from the experiences of others
5. It provides opportunities for them to serve, love, and give of their time and talents
6. It helps them to learn how to be unselfish in listening to others
7. They can gain confidence in listening and speaking

I am so set on this being a weekly or even daily part of our homeschool program. Living far away from family can be tough. But it also opens up new opportunities for growth in my girls character development.  Them talking with Rachel today was pivotal. Her reminder of the importance of family. I believe that to my core, but unfortunately it isn't always lived out. But now, I have a renewed desire to make this a high priority in our home. "Connecting with family" ought to be added to my list of what constitutes a good day. Here are some other things I am grateful for. 

Blessings from our day

• Virtual lessons went without technological hiccups
• Shiloh is learning about subject, predicate, an author's purpose in LA. For math she's building quickness with her math facts and learning about place value and digit value.
• Norah' learning about adjectives, adverbs, and writing about a topic in LA. For math she is mastering math facts and writing equations.
  
• Norah INDEPENDENTLY decided to write a research paper on foxes! She typed it out and read it aloud. I was very impressed. And thankfully those visual encyclopedias are becoming handy. 
• Shiloh did her math and language arts work efficiently  (for the most part)
• Benjamin was a hoot, running wild, being funny, imitating the girls, getting into things... all pretty typical
• We did our Bible lesson before our 11:00am class. It was succinct, yet impactful
• There was a great amount of time outdoors. We ate lunch, exercised, played, etc
• The girls found an exercise video that Benjo could participate in
• The end of the night, the Norah and Benjo were found on the couch reading books. Benjo mouthed the sounds that dogs make.
• The realization of how the importance of my kids feeling that things are fair between them. I notice the dissatisfaction in the way the think things are handled. I'm here and I'm listening. I'm working on it. 
  

It was a pleasant day. I am grateful, despite the anxiety of not feeling like I got enough done. We worked out the kinks and we are growing each day. I am thankful and can only pray that tomorrow will be full of opportunities to learn and grow more. 

The Great Outdoors in our Homeschool Day

Girls and Benjo enjoy a little snack outdoors before their next class

It's funny how when people think of homeschool, they think of kids simply doing school at home. They may imagine that it’s like a home version of what a classroom setting is like. While that may be true for some families, it is not true for all, and it certainly isn't true for mine. There’s a great deal of flexibility in our day. We like to be outdoors playing, frolicking and exploring. We enjoy visiting, being out on the town, going to co-ops, having lunch with friends and chats with neighbors. 

We enjoy all of these rich experiences that elicit new vocabulary, manners, social prowess, confidence in the outdoors and enjoyment of nature.  So, today we got to enjoy a much needed break from Virtual Academy. I had planned to stuff our Bible lesson in before the next class, but the girls just wanted to be outside. I figured it would be good for them. So I allowed them to enjoy the fresh mountain air while they ate their vegan strawberry yogurt. Benjo got in on the fun too which made it extra special. Here are some other highlights from our day.

• Norah's new VA teacher is enthusiastic and personable
• Shiloh was engaged and learning some cool things in her class
• David made a delicious lunch of Peruvian bean tostadas
• Benjo Slept for 2 1/2 hours while girls were outdoors for their 2nd excursion.
  
• The girls enjoyed some awesome play time and social time with their church school teachers
• They got to hear us talk about long-term financial planning while driving in town
• They helped us process the pros and cons of buying a RV
• We enjoyed the novel experience of eating at a raw vegan restaurant as a family. It was so yummy!
  
• Oh, lastly they sang us "Happy Anniversary" while driving back home

 

All in all, today was a great day. We did miss our Bible Lesson, but we never exclude Bible training since our morning devotions elicit great conversation. We returned home a little later than usual, tired, yet excited to have spent such sweet time together as a family. Flexibility never felt so good….

The Centerpiece of Our Day

 

Feathers were the theme of our nature lesson. Photo from www.treehugger.com

 

Today we did what I believe is the most important piece of our homeschool day: Our Sonlight Education Bible Lessons. Granted, the way things are worded in those lessons are bit outdated. But you cannot beat the content which include a Bible story, Nature lesson, and a character quality. The truths found in the Bible are timeless. They are all woven together to make a beautiful presentation of God's love. 

Before getting into our lesson, we had breakfast at Panera as a reward for their hard work at maintaining their morning routines for 14 days straight. We returned home, rested a bit, chatted some, and then off to our lessons. I was thankful to catch myself from beginning with the Virtual academy assignments. Once I noticed I was about to make that mistake, we went right to our lessons. 

It was a beautiful experience as we laid on our cushy couch. The girls drew contentedly as I read to them their Bible story. We had a great discussion during our nature lesson which was about bird feathers. Shiloh made some cool connections with an Eric B. Hare story called “The Chicken and Pip Pip”. We learned about plume feathers, contour feathers, primary and secondary feathers. We learned about barbs and the iridescent glow of certain types of feathers. We learned how the birds use oil to preen their feathers. We learned about the many uses of olive oil in Bible times. It was just awesome to have such a rich discussion and have it all tie together with nature, character, and the story of the widow and her two sons. Here were some more notable things:

• They got to do their school work outside
• Shiloh wrote an amazing story called "I want to fly like a Butterfly" It was just amazing!
• Norah also wrote a story with the same title, with beautiful illustrations
• The brilliant thought that we ought to work on publishing and binding their books
• Nice chat with the neighbors and their dog
• A much earned relaxation time on the couch as they listened to Your story hour and Discovery mountain. 

 

Today looked alot like what I want our days to be. I'm so glad we prioritized our Bible lesson, placing Christ in the center of all we do. 

Weekly Homeschool Prep for an Awesome Week

Getting geared up to take on a new week

We're going into our 8th week of school and so far I'm just happy that we're moving along nicely. I want to start a new habit of preparing well for the week to come. I realize that the girls VA teachers spend time prepping, how much more important should it be that I prepare? As I've learned, I need to prioritize my program for the girls over the Charter school plans. So if I were to be completely prepared for this week, what would it look like? What activities should I have done before the week begins? What are the most essential things that have to be done before Monday hits?

Well my mind is already tinkering about the numerous ways to be organized, but I'm going to just include the essentials for now. 

Sabbath Day Preparation

1. Choose clothes for Sabbath

2. Review Sabbath schedule

3. Choose Sabbath activity after church

4. Write Sabbath Checklist (if time)

Prepare Bible Lessons

1. Print out activity sheets in activity book

2. Gather spelling word sheets

3. Print out Memory verse in big letters

4. Place activity items neatly in their clipboard holder

5. Tape memory verse in their room

6. Find appropriate bird photos to look through

Choose clothes

1. Wash or Fold clothes if necessary 

2. Choose favorite clothes for the week

3. Fold them neatly

4. Place them in their drawers or elsewhere for easy retrieval

Choose Personal Development Goals

1. Choose their individual personal development goals for the week or month

2. Print out trackers and place them neatly in their clipboard holder

3. Talk about possible reward

Read over History and Science Lessons

1. Read over lessons for the week

2. Gather necessary materials

3. Place in designated area

Review Daily Schedule

1. Review the daily schedule and make adjustments along the way

2. Identify if it flows well

3. Check for downtime, reading, outdoors, baking, service, and play time

Prepare for Co-op

1. Choose clothes

2. Choose breakfast, lunch, and dinner

3. Review lesson

4. Review schedule for that day

Schedule something inspiring, enjoyable, or breathtaking

1.  Watch nature documentary

2. Go on a hike with friends

3. Go to the park

4. Have dinner or lunch with friends

5. Play with the chickens

6. Beautify the outdoors

7. Record a song and send it to someone

8. Read through a picture book together

Prepare for Virtual Academy

1. Print out teacher materials

2. Turn in assignments if necessary

3. Place their weekly plans in see-through binder

 

These are just some of the things that I think are important in preparing for the week. It may seem like a lot, but I can just winnow it down to the most essential ones. The idea is to prepare now so that I don't feel overwhelmed in the week. I also want to make sure that I'm prioritizing their spiritual development, self-improvement, and a sense of enjoyment and service in their daily lives. It will take some time to get it all right. But I'm hopeful that each week will feel better and more organized.  Every day I'm building the life that I want to live for the sake of myself and my family. A life of beauty, awe, inspiration, enjoyment, love, service, growth, and spirituality all grounded in God's ideal for His children.

 

Re-imagining "School" at Home

 

This school year has been a whole lot different than our earlier years of homeschooling. It seems more official, more intense, more "schooly". It's no doubt due to our charter school's Virtual academy that we've agreed to be a part of. I joined because I wanted some guidance and for it to be a little easier to teach the core subjects especially with a toddler running around. However, I'm finding that it is alot more challenging than I anticipated. We're going into the 7th week of school and Shiloh has already had 3 teachers. We're awaiting the 4th one who we hope will be permanent. We knew going into it that they would be working on the inevitable kinks. Despite the challenges, I'm thankful for the epiphanies that God has given me. Here are 4 of them:

1. Focus on What's Most important

I recognized that if I just go over our Sonlight Education Bible Lesson than I am satisfied with the work we've done that day. Some other must do's are playing outside, writing letters, working, baking, read-aloud, and working on building skills in math and LA. But really, it's the Bible lesson that makes me feel like we've done something worthwhile.  That is what I value the most. It has nature, character development, scripture memory, stories, discussion, and vocabulary. It has it all. My priority is teaching them the time-tested principles in the Bible. Solidifying these truths in them early is of utmost importance.

 

2. Review my Why

When I'm able to re-focus on my goals and the reason why I've chosen to homeschool in the first place, I feel motivated and inspired to enjoy. It gives me energy. It gives me a sense of enjoyment when I remember the big why. And why, I want to recreate in my children the image of the divine. I want to provide them true education. I want to nurture their spirit and prepare them for useful life on this earth and in the earth to come. 

3. Do what's enjoyable and inspiring 

I forgot how amazing it feels to read a good book with my girls. Or to be outside in the garden working on projects. Being outdoors and working outside just feels good. Listening to good music. Creating good music. This is what feels good and right to do. I do not want to leave these important elements of art and beauty out of our school day. I have artsy kids and I need to cultivate that. Horseback riding, music lessons, band practice, story writing, gardening, outdoor projects, all the good stuff. I have to include this in our day. 

4. Take it bit by bit

Habits take time. Cultivating the beautiful takes time. Creating a new rhythm and routine takes time. It's all worth the wait. I will take it little by little. Bit by bit. It may take some time, but I can work on what's most important and keep growing from there. Right now, we're working on a smooth transition in our mornings. We'll move to other habits. The idea is to always be working on something and getting them involved in the process. 

I imagine a homeschool day filled with love, enjoyment, challenge, gratitude, service, creativity, music, inspiration, hard work, community, people, forgiveness, learning, order, positivity and a real experience with Jesus Christ walking and talking with us. This is how I imagine our homeschool environment to be. Like a little heaven on earth inspiring others in living a life of service and love.