Through other blog reading I have found an interested meme for homeschoolers- Homeschool Memoirs.
Wednesday was the official start and the first meme is to share about you- the mom behind the homeschooling.
And so it begins:
Every journey to homeschooling is interesting and mine is no exception. I am a quite simply, a convert. I didn’t start out planning to homeschool. My oldest went thru two year preschool program and right into public school. My dear sister-in-law had her oldest 6 weeks after mine and she went right to homeschooling. I was shocked. At the time I didn’t know anyone who homeschooled and couldn’t fathom why she would do it. Neither could Mr. Steady. When we mentioned it within my family someone quickly retorted that if we were to do that Maiden would be spending all day in detention due to her strong will as well as mine. It just wasn’t seen as an option. And we worried about my sister-in-law choosing it- you know, we were “those people” who remarked on “socialization”. Yeah, I admit it, we were warped.
So what changed?
My view point.
We decided to homeschool first and foremost because we prayed about it, opened ourselves up to the idea and followed God’s nudging. It is a bit of a long story how this came to be but quite simply three things came into play.
1. I made some wonderful friends who ended up being homeschoolers and ended up greatly influencing the building desire in me to homeschool. Right in front of me was a ready made support group.
2. My relationship with my oldest, Maiden was suffering. I was seeing a dear homeschooling friend live out with her daughter the relationship I wanted with mine. And I knew that her time away from school was taking time away from our relationship and was also influencing her in negative ways.
3. I didn’t send Sassafras off to preschool like Maiden. The first year she wasn’t emotionally ready and so I kept her home and taught her simple things myself. The 2^nd year I didn’t send her because I had found such joy in the simple teaching the first year plus I had found her to be a very big daydreamer with the attention span of a gnat. I knew how to handle it at home and I knew that a teacher with 20 other kids wouldn’t have the same time or desire to do the same. During this time my friend talked me into joining her homeschool group. I didn’t feel like a homeschooler and stated that I was still planning to send her to school the next year but she encouraged me to join for the year.
I felt like a fraud but did so.
That year changed my perspective in grand ways and as it winded down I couldn’t imagine it ending. I couldn’t imagine not teaching Sassafras and not being a part of such a wonderful, incredible support group where I had made true friends. At the same time I couldn’t imagine homeschooling one and not the other but I couldn’t see that I would have the same joy if I brought Maiden home.
Mr. Steady and I talked and he wasn’t keen on the idea of homeschooling one and not the other and wondered if I would actually have the time to commit to it. We decided to pray. When it came time for the next school year he announced that he wanted Sassafras to go to public school and Maiden to continue. He really wanted to see how she would fare within the system and for me to take the time to really evaluate that this was the right choice for us.
It was an incredibly difficult year. I desperately wanted to have the girls home and found that every little thing that could possibly be wrong in public school became another strike against it. Sassafras suffered due to her daydreaming and short attention span and I hated the notes that came home every week. I begged Mr. Steady to let me bring her home and he continued saying that we must wait it out. It was difficult those first few months- more difficult than it had to be because of my bad attitude and desire to homeschool. And then I realized that I could continue to homeschool even while they were in school. The evenings I spent time going over homework with Maiden, I was homeschooling. And I continued with reading and math lessons at home with Sassafras, that was homeschooling too. I spent my day time with Mr. C and also worked to rearrange my office and other areas to make room for homeschooling. I spent time researching curriculums and teaching styles and read any book I could get my hands on about homeschooling. I stayed involved in the homeschool group and listened to what others liked/didn’t like, what worked/didn’t work and how to combat the doldrums that come mid-February. The group was like a lab on homeschooling and I took notice and notes. By the time the school year ended I had not only chosen my teaching style but had also chosen and ordered and received and put together my curriculum for the next year. And I didn’t stop there- I put together a 4 week unit study for us to do over the summer.
The first year was wonderful, not completely wonderful but it was what it was. Maiden and I spent those first few months really working on our relationship and we all worked together as a family to make homeschooling a lifestyle. By the end of the first year people were remarking about the positive attitude changes in Maiden and how Sassafras had blossomed. Mr. Steady was thrilled with the more relaxed person I was becoming.
And so I knew we had done the right thing.
It seems like so long ago and yet we’ve really only homeschooled in the sense of the girls being home to school for two years.  Maiden is going into 6^th grade, Sassafras into 3^rd and Mr. Conductor in preschool. Mr. C will be my only child to have not experienced the public school system. At 4 years old, our homeschooling lifestyle is the only thing he’s ever known and he thrives in this environment. Not only do we see the teaching opportunities in everything but now my parents and sister see them too and collaborate- giving of themselves to our homeschool.
While I haven’t made converts out of everyone I have more support than I could have imagined and with others we at least have their grudging respect.

Want to read more about our homeschooling journey? Click on Homeschooling under my categories on right side bar.

Photo above: Name & Logo for our homeschool

Tomorrow my hubby will turn 40 years old.   He took the day off so we girls can spend the day with him doing what he wants .   We are starting off the day with him sleeping in, then we girls are taking him to Northwoods Inn for lunch, then to the movies to see the new Batman movie.  For dinner we are making his one of his favorites, chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob , gravy , rolls.  For dessert chocolate fudge cake with chocolate ice cream.   After the girls are in bed skinny dipping with me .   On Friday we are sending him fishing for the day with his cousin.  We girls already sent him to Mexico for a few days of fishing.  I am blessed that the Lord has sent such a wonderful man to be my hubby.  We have been together for 20 years now , I can't wait to see what the next 20 years bring.

God Bless, mj

We have 14 more days until school starts.
The unofficial end of summer.
We are eager and excited about this upcoming school year.
And at the same time we are also eager to squeeze out every last little shining bit of summer vacation.
Last evening the children held an impromptu softball game in the back yard. My three plus their dear friend and his dad from across the street. One base was a sand pail, another my foam gardening kneeling pad, and yet another the squashed-flat bottom basin to a plastic flower pot. The two dads played the field as the kiddos took turns batting and running the bases. I weeded the garden as I watched and listened and soaked in the moment.
The children were all barefoot and filthy.
And laughing like hyenas.
It is in these moments that family is built- the ease of being together. The joy of living in the moment. The simple familiar-ness of it all.
Oh, such sweet contentment.

Hubby and I have been together for 20 years now this month.    It is hard to believe some days and some days it is easy to see.  

20 years ago Michelle was 2 years old, I was coming out of a long relationship, we broke up in July 1988. I was confused at the time of our break up and did not know what I was going to do, but God did.

  I kept seeing this sexy guy who drove a nice car.   We kept looking at each other, checking each other out for weeks.  I finally one day waved at him as he drove by.  My 12 year old sister Tracy was living with Michelle and I for the summer of 1988.  Tracy was seeing a guy named Jason who was a friend of my now hubby.   So we meet in August of 1988 and started talking.  I went away to Mexico with my parents and sister while Michelle was off visiting her father.   When I got back we started dating . 

We hit it off well.  We had some fights, but worked it out.  It is hard when 2 very dominant people are together. It took me years to give him the head of household role.  I had to learn to let him be the boss, boy was HARD

The day we got married( March 1991) is verrry special for me not just because we got married, but because my Bubba (grandfather) picked out the day.  Bubba said you will get married and here is the day and we did!  Thank you Bubba.  Bubba went to heaven in April of 1995. 

Hubby worked and works very hard to take care of his family and he did / does a great good.  He spoils us very much.    We have a good life.  I am so glad that 20 years ago God sent this sexy man my way and into the lives of Michelle and I.

  Over the past 20 years we have added more children to our home, been blessed with 2 grand-babies with one more in the oven.   Hubby has blessed us with our dream's of owning horses.  Ok , it started with horses and then we slowly added more critters .  

When I look at him it is like 20 years has been 5 to 10 years.  When I look at the children and the grand-babies it feels like 20 years.  We are still kinda youngish, hubby will be 40 on the 21st, I will be 39 in Nov.   We look forward to another 20 + ++++++ years together.

Thank you Lord for sending me such a wonderful man to be my husband.  Thank you for making us a family.  Thank you for the love of my life.  Thank you for all the blessings.

God Bless, mj

Menu with Daily Costs

Notes: Prices continue to rise. I’ve noticed price jumps on some of our favorite foodie items of 20+ cents in the space of a week. Makes you re-evaluate if the box of cheese crackers you use to purchase for $1.00 is worth $1.29. I’m thinking this is not going to be a weekly item any longer as well as some other things. Thank goodness for the free bread and English muffins.

From the Garden: lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes as well as onions. Friends have shared peppers, different varieties of tomatoes and squash.

Monday 
B: French toast and side dish of nectarines
L: chicken nuggets, cottage cheese, chips
D: Salmagundi
Dessert: Root Beer floats
Daily Cost: $11.20
Tuesday
B: Fruit smoothies & English Muffins
L: Nachos
D: BLTs
Dessert: (campfire) camp pies
Daily Cost: $8.52
Wednesday
B: Choice: yogurt or cereal
L: English Muffin Pizzas
D: Chicken Crescent squares, salad
Dessert: none
Daily Cost: $6.79
Thursday
B: Mama’s cheesy scrambled eggs & toast
L: spaghetti O’s w/hotdogs, cheese crackers
D: Wedding Rehearsal dinner
Daily Cost: $4.94
Friday – Nephew’s Wedding
B: Breakfast Pizzas (yesterday’s leftover scrambled eggs on English Muffins)
L: Diner Dinner (choice of leftovers)
D: @ Wedding reception
Daily Cost: $0
Saturday
B: Daddy cook (eggs, bacon, toast)
L: Leftover Smorgasbord
D: Dinner Party @ friends home
Daily Cost: $3.00
Sunday
B: Cocoa Wheats, toast
L: Slowcooker Chicken Cacciatore and salad
D: Youth Group Cook-out
Daily Cost: $6.09
Weekly Total: $40.54
~~ Don’t forget to check out the yummy menu ideas every Monday over at The Organizing Junkie’s blog. You just might find your next favorite family recipe!

Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust Him, and He will help you. Psalm 37:5

We home school our babies.  We only have Kristi left , she will be in the 11 th grade next week.   My debate is over how many credits should she take?  In California you need 220 credits to graduate high school.  Michelle had 300 and Shayna had 400.  Kristi already has 195.   How many should she take?

Kristi will be going to college full time as well as high school full time.  Her college classes earn her double the credits.  She will get them for college and high school.   We are thinking maybe 100 credits this year for high school. Idea below.

Classes:

Bible *....10 credits   =10

Math* ....10 credits        =20

English* .....10 credits     =30

History*...10 credits      =40

Science*...20 credits plus college class of science     =60

Us Government*.....5 credits              =65

Economics's*......5 credits                     =70

P.E*.......10 credits                           =80  last year have to do.

Dog training classes year 2 ....20 credits plus college classes.     =100

Home ec year 3 ...... 10 credits.              =110

Yearbook year 3........5 credits.        =115   

so we are at :   115, plus 12 college credits each semester.  Eight of her classes are a must in high school they have *.

That would bring her up to 310 credits to start her senior year.

Kristi wants to be a certified service dog trainer when she is done with high school, If she keeps going like she is she will make it.  Both Shayna and Kristi love that they have so many credits in high school and love the idea of shaving off college classes while in high school. What would normally take most students 4 years in college will take them  2 years .         

Does anyone else do this?    This is done by our babies choice , not just ours.   Does anyone else have a driven child or children ?  Our babies are not just doing school.  They do school for about 5-7 hours a day.   They have free time, serve in the church 2 days a week, plus all vbs, are in the 4-h, show their horses, pigs, they ride , go to concerts,movies and more.  Life is not just school  I am trying to say.

Kristi college class of science earn her 20 credits a year because they are college level, as well as her dog training classes.   So if we take away 20 credits (because they are doubled) that is 95 credits, most children take 60, so that is not bad.

Me, just trying to get it all together for next week.

God Bless, mj

Here is a One Word Meme

1. Where is your cell phone? Couch
2. Your significant other? Couch
3. Your hair? Brown
4. Your mother? live
5. Your father? live
6. Your favorite thing? Family
7. Your dream last night?  Great
8. Your favorite drink?  Soda
9. Your dream/goal? Healthy
10. The room you’re in? Livingroom
11. Your church? Good
12. Your fear? Dying
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Moved
14. Where were you last night? Home
15. What you’re not?  Alone
16. Muffins? Allergic
17. One of your wish list items? Rottweiler
18. Where you grew up? California
19. The last thing you did? Movie
20. What are you wearing?  Dress
21. Your TV? On
22. Your pets? 100+
23. Your computer? Grey
24. Your life?  Fulfilled
25. Your mood? Ok
26. Missing someone? Janet
27. Your car? Truck
28. Something you’re not wearing? Make-up
29. Favorite store? E-bay
30. Your summer? Fast
31. Like(love) someone? Hubby
32. Your favorite color? Blue
33. Last time you laughed? Today
34. Last time you cried? Stress
35. Who will repost this? ????