Forget-Me-Not Homestead

Season of Change

After a summer of thoughtful family discussions and prayerful consideration, my two youngest sons have gone back to our town's small public school instead of homeschooling.  We will try public school for a year and see how it goes.

I plan to leave my Home Education Category on my blog because there are some skills my husband and I will continue to teach our sons at home that I may want to write about in the future, such as blacksmithing and carpentry with my husband, and guitar and music with me.  Also, next year my youngest son might be home again, we will just have to see and evaluate as the year goes by.  My middle son is a high school senior and will be graduating this year.  My oldest son is in college and is studying abroad for a semester.

This year will be very different from previous years, but I am hopeful and optimistic it will be a great year!

There is a time for everything,

And a season for every purpose under heaven.

~ Ecclesiastes 3:1  

Amazing Duck Story

A Favorite Poem

This is a nice poem for copywork into a writing notebook or nature notebook.  My boys liked to try and illustrate their copywork too.

I come in the little things,

Saith the Lord:

Yea, on the glancing wing

Of eager birds, the softly pattering feet

Of furred and gentle beasts,

I come in the little things,

Saith the Lord:

Not borne on the morning's wings

Of majesty, but I have set My feet

Amidst the delicate and bladed wheat.

I come in the little things,

Saith the Lord, Amen.

by Evelyn Underhill

My Son's Bookshelf

The following books are on my dear 12 year-old son's bookshelf above his bed.  These books are his very favorite books that he would read over and over again.  The general theme of all of his favorite books is adventure and survival in the wilderness.

• My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
• Far Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
• Frightful's Mountain by Jean Craighead George
• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
• Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen
• The River by Gary Paulsen
• The Hunt by Gary Paulsen
• Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (Calvert School Edition)
• Eragon by Christopher Paolini
• Eldest by Christopher Paolini

Right now, my son is reading Swiss Family Robinson.  I know he will be making room on his favorites bookshelf for this book too.

7 Habits

My 3 sons are 20, 16, and 12 years old.  Last year, my two oldest sons and I read a good book that I would like to recommend.  The book is called 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers by Sean Covey.  Since reading this book, my family has adopted these habits into our lives.  In fact, the 7 Habits are pinned up by our desk as a little reminder.   Here they are:

1. Be proactive (Take initiative, be responsible).

2. Begin with the end in mind (Develop a mental image of how projects, including your life, will turn out).

3. Put first things first (Use discipline to put off today's pleasures for greater future pleasures).

4. Think win/win (There's plenty for all).

5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood (Listen more, speak less).

6. Synergize (The whole is greater than the parts).

7. Sharpen the saw (Improve physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually).

These are great habits for older kids and adults.  When my children were younger we had different habits or rules pinned up around our house that I plan to share another day.