Rising Early

She riseth also while it is yet night, 

and giveth meat to her household  

Proverbs 31:15a

I used to get up around 5:00 every morning.  I would fix hubby a warm breakfast and pack his lunch, clean the kitchen, make sure school was ready for the day, and start a load of laundry.  And spend some time with my Lord.

Well, lately it has been closer to 7:00 every morning when I rise, and that is when the kids get up too.  This started because my husband got a new job and doesn't leave as early.  But it has continued because... well, to be honest, like most mothers with little ones, I like to sleep.  Even though my youngest is 2 1/2, I still regularly get interruptions in the night, whether for a glass of water, take someone to the potty, or bad dreams.  But lately sleeping in has become, in stead of a luxury, more of a bad habit.

Yesterday, for some reason, (maybe it's the lengthening days) I woke up at 5:00 and got out of bed at 6:00.  My, what a difference!  I felt energetic from the start.  I did several things around the house before the kids got up, then while they had breakfast I sat down and wrote a review for tomorrow.  I was all done with that early and it is a LONG one.

Put simply, I was amazed at how easily I had gotten used to sleeping later, and what a difference it made to get up even a little earlier.  Many people say that there are only 24 hours in a day, but rising earlier can give you and extra hour or two all to yourself!  What a treat for a busy homeschooling mama with several "ankle-biters", as Kevin Leman would say.

And the best part?  Nothing can replace time spent alone with God, to pray, meditate and prepare for the day.  This is the best way I have found to live each day on purpose.  If you start each day with eternity on your mind, how can you help but raise your children with the big picture in front of you?

No Regrets

I am a perfectionist by nature.  Not one of those everything-is-perfect, no-hair-out-of-place, don't-sneeze-in-my-house kind of perfectionist.  (My goodness, with all the dust you probably will have to sneeze in my house!)  No, I am the kind of perfectionist that is the poster child for the saying, "If you can't do it right, 
don't do it at all".
And because we can't, we don't.  

Anyway, I think we all have a bit of this perfectionist side in us.  But when you get right down to the heart of perfectionism, it's pride.  Pride tells us that we have to be the best, the cleanest, the fastest, the busiest.  But like all pride, perfectionism comes with a fall- and it is one of the biggest and scariest falls of all.  Compared to the pride of having the best body or the best house, the pride of perfectionism is subtle.

When I am focusing on perfectionism, I am by definition focusing on the little things.  

Sheets without wrinkles.  

Alphabetized bookshelves.  

Stacking the blocks in the box instead of throwing them in.  

Writing blog posts more then once a month.  Okay, maybe not that one.  ;)  

But do I look back on my home three years ago, and think with happy thoughts of my neatly folded sheets?  Do I have memories of great meals eaten with polished silverware?  No, I can't even recall those things.  Unfortunately, too many of my memories are of little voices asking me to play.... and me saying 

"Not now. "Mommy's busy".  

One of the greatest gifts my husband has given me is the desire to live with no regrets.  In fact, he saw the title to this blog post (before I had wrote anything else) and he commented that it was a good one.  :)  He has told me many times that he is living his life with no regrets.  True, there are some.  There are always some.  But in recent years he has constantly had the "big picture" in front of his mind.  And that has changed my life.  I am certainly not as good as it as he is, my perfectionist nature still raises it's head too much, but I am growing, little by little, into that person.

My beautiful friend has this wonderful quote written under her Facebook picture:

Striving to become an old woman 

with few regrets.

With the beginning of this new year, many people are writing resolutions.  I do not have any 'resolutions' for this year.  I have a goal for my life, and I try everyday to keep the big picture in front of my eyes.  I am striving to become an old woman with few regrets.

God Bless!

Gratefulness in a greedy world

I have bad days.

Really.  You know, a wonderful friend told me something that really stuck with me.  We were discussing how another mom was so gentle with her children and I wished I was always like that.  She said to me:

"We are all the same.  We all want to yell at our kids.  We all do yell at our kids sometimes."

So I know that you have bad days too.  We all do.  The other day I was so upset that I was ready to cry.  I wanted to take off for a vacation where the houses are clean, the laundry is done, and there is always food on time.  But, of course, barring a cruise or resort, that is not going to happen!

Why was I so upset?  My house is always messy.  Always.  Even when I think it is clean, it is dirty compared to someone else's.  Those "someone else's" don't have little ones under their feet all day long, but still.... with a little more work, my house should look like theirs, right?

My laundry was behind, and my husband was running out of clothes.  My dishes were in the sink instead of the dishwasher, I was out of bread, and the last thing I wanted to do in my messy kitchen was BAKE.  My kids were being lazy, disobedient, and grumpy.

I can come up with amazingly long lists of why I have bad days.  But here is one wonderful reason why I am having a GREAT day.

While I am at home in my (warm) messy house with my (healthy) lazy, disobedient, grumpy children-

-There is a mother in Haiti watching her child die on the side of a dirty road with no one to help, no one to hug, no one to even know.

My Blog and Me

I am not a failing blogger.  :)  If you are a reader of mine (and thank you if you are!) You will have noticed that I have not done anything except reviews for several weeks.  There is a good reason, and it goes beyond neglect.

I have forgotten why I started blogging.

It's not fun anymore.

So, in light of the fact that blogging was starting to feel like another chore instead of a creative outlet, I took a long break.  When I stopped blogging, I did it suddenly and without any warning.  I did not know if I would come back to my blog, or if it would be left to reviews only.  After these weeks of head-clearing, I started wanting to write again!  

I have figured out a lot about my blogging self in these few weeks off, and I am happy to say that I will still be a blogger, at least for the time being!  I really like to blog.  I like reading other blogs, now and then.  I like taking my best pictures, knowing that (maybe) someone else in the world will be able to appreciate them.  I like sharing our days with my family and friends, and I like reviewing.  But I forgot all of that. 

Sometime during the last few months I stopped blogging for me.

I know that sounds selfish, but I really did start this blog for me.  I wanted a place to record our days.  I wanted a place to 'talk'.  I wanted a place to share pictures, not just of our kids, but all the things that are a part of my world.  I wanted a place to be creative.  But most of all, I wanted a place to build memories.  I don't want to forget these years.  

In the last few months I have been blogging as if I was writing to someone else.... you.  My readers -if there still are any- and I want to let you know that this is my blog.  It is my spot, my own little corner of the cyber world.  It is little and not very flashy, but I like it.  And from now on, I will be writing for ME.

You are all very welcome to come along for the ride, I would love it if you would stop by now and then.  But this is my creative outlet, my journal, my life.  And now that I know WHY I am doing this, I will enjoy it much more.  And so, I hope, will you.  :)

Have a blessed day!

You Don't Have to Spend Money to Homeschool

I know. You are getting ready to ask me about paper, pencils and glue... What I mean is you don't have to spend any MORE money to homeschool, then you would be anyway if your children attended a public school.

You would be buying paper, pencils and glue even if your children were going to school! When I

see the amount of money people have to spend on school supplies for their children, I realize that

'public' school's aren't free. Tablets, crayons, pencils...

I have heard stories of children who have to bring paper towels, hand sanitizer, even toilet paper to school!

Since they already get around $10,000 dollars for each child, and in some places more then that, you would think they could afford toilet paper. Considering the fact that the government run schools in our country are still failing, (by all standards) I will guarantee that you can do better on ANY budget.

Yes, I said ANY.

I need to admit something. We qualify for WIC, food stamps and Medicaid for the whole family. At one time in our lives (Before we had children) we lived off of $500 a month in a 12 foot camper trailer. I tell you this because I read the other day that you should not be ashamed of how much money you make. You are there because God has you there. I also want you to know that I know what I am talking about. If we can do this, you can.

First off, you have to know the difference between NEEDS and WANTS. I was talking to my kids about this the other day. I said we NEED more socks. Then I realized that we really don't NEED them, we want them.

We would live with holey socks.

So how do I homeschool? Ink and paper, and the Library.

Progressive Phonics is free. Homeschool Share is free. The Library is free. I spent $60 on Math- U- See this year, and that is our only big expense. The idea that you cannot homeschool if you do not have enough money, is kind of like the idea that you can only homeschool if you are gifted as

a teacher. It is simply not true! If God led you here, he can lead you through!

If you forget about textbooks, workbooks and schoolbooks, and school with what you have or can find, you will be amazed at what can happen. Test scores actually DECREASE as the amount being spent INCREASES! (according to studies by HSLDA)

Have you heard the saying about filling a bucket

or lighting a fire?

If your goal is to light a fire, you can do it best using your children's interests and your

ingenuity! We have chosen to make

our children's education a priority, so if we decide that we should use something for them (Such as our Math- U - See) then we trust that God will give us the money to fill in the gaps in our budget, and we go for it.

If God has led you to nurture your children in your home, then you do not need to worry about HOW you will do it! God sends you what you need, to do what he asks! Now, you may not be doing it the way YOU want to, but you will certainly be doing it the way HE wan't you too, if you use what He sends and step out in faith.

A Short History of the Public Education System- on video

I have done quite a bit of research on public education, specifically it's history and who was behind it. I feel like you should learn from history, and that the best way to find out the WHY's about something, is to follow the money.

WHO was behind the start of public compulsory education in the US? The alswer to this question will show the root problems of the system and why it can NEVER be 'fixed'.

When did it start? Most people will be very surprised to find out how MODERN the idea of compulsory, nationally funded education is.

To start, I offer you this short but very accurate history of modern compulsory schooling.

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God...

As I look over my list for the day, I realize, once again, that I must have thought I was having a 48 hour day. When the first light is peeking over the horizon and the children are still all sleeping quietly, the day always seems to hold such promise. "Surely I can get the rest of the corn (10 rows) planted this morning before it gets hot. And I need to get the kitchen cleaned up and the dishes washed before I head out. If I spend just five minutes in each room picking up before the kids wake up, I will have a head start.... I think I need a list."

While I am sorting laundry, I suddenly realize I need to move the water in the garden. So out we all go. As I pass by my hoe, I decide to make another corn row. I have 8 more to go, so if I do a few at a time...

I feel a hand tugging at my side and look up. There she is, my baby, holding up her tiny hand saying one of her rare words, "-and! -and!" She is asking me to hold her hand. So I take it for a few minutes, and then see my hoe laying there... I need to finish that row.

Suddenly Bop runs up, "Mom! Mom! Baby Girl is going to get lost in that corn field!" I dash to the edge of the growing corn and see her little head peeking over the plants 50 rows away. "NOOOOO!!!" I yell, "You stay out of the field!! Bad girl!!"

After fetching the child and herding everyone back inside, I remember that I had better go pay that rent before they all leave the office for lunch.... oh, lunch. What are WE having for lunch today? I don't know, but I need to put away those dishes on the counter before I can make anything. At least my sink is shiny. :)

Whew, got those dishes put away, now I think I will check my e-mail to see if there is any news from the Review Crew. Oh, no I haven't wrote a blog for 5 days! I had better think of something to say...

...Why are there still clothes on the couch??? I thought I did that- oh, that's right I stopped to move the water... (which by now, needs moved again.) After sorting through about half a load of laundry, I remember the rent.... OK kids we HAVE to leave! Head for the truck!

Where are CJ's shoes? I see one tennis shoe... Oh there is a boot... "Why don't you ever have two shoes that match? If you take them off at the same time, and put them in the same place, you won't...." never mind, I have been saying that for three years now.

While herding all the kids to the truck I remember that I STILL don't know what we are having for lunch... quasadillas, that will work.

After I pay the rent and we are all safely back inside the house (Don't forget to lock the door, the little boy we babysit knows how to escape.) I start getting out dinner. "Cheese, tortillas, butter- look the computer screen is on! I was writing a blog post! Well, I had better finish that before it gets messed up by one of the kids."

...And here I am.... :)

This is not a real account of what happened here today. (No, nothing like this would ever happen to me...at least not all on the same day. )

This was actually inspired by a couple of articles I read while we were traveling home from my parent's house this weekend.

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?...

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:31 and 33

This verse has been running over and over in my mind as I seek to prioritize my days. No matter how unplanned we are, we all prioritize. If we do the laundry and neglect to rock our babies, we have unthinkingly chosen our priorities.

Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God... not just a small devotional in the morning, not a quick prayer before meals. SEEKING is something that happens all day long. And where does it go on our 'list'? FIRST.

This does not mean we spend all of our time reading scriptures, or that we neglect our children to pray. It means that God's kingdom is FIRST in our hearts and always on our minds.

What will happen if we do this? ALL THESE THINGS will be added unto you. What things? What are you striving for in your life? A clean house? Perfectly manicured children? Delicious dinners? This is a promise, if you will SEEK FIRST the kingdom of God, ALL these things will be added unto you.

God wants us to leave our cares and worries with him, and STRIVE no more, trusting that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Trusting that he can and will give you the desires of your heart, if only you will SEEK him first.

Redeeming The Time

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Proverbs 1:7



Sometimes, when I look ahead through the pages of my children's growing-up years, I feel such an urgency to teach them NOW. I feel desperate to instill some things in them, and when I look at all there is to know and become, 12 years seems like a very short time.



I believe that children can and will teach themselves given time, but how much time do we have? There is so much knowledge that great men and women of the past gave us, but it is slipping away before our eyes in politically correct textbooks and watered down social studies lessons.



I want to study the lives and teachings of each of our countries Presidents.... in depth. At a week each, that study alone will take over one whole school year, and how can you study the life of George Washington in-depth in a week? They could easily be complete unit studies, including science, literature, history and geography... a month each would not be too much. But that is not all...



It is also important to learn about the history of America's wars- each one has so much to teach us, about the character of man, the nature of politics and the resiliancy of humanity. We have to study the history of govenment, and how the different kinds of governments develop and function.



I would like to study each state, its government, founders, agriculture, and history. That, again will take over a year at one state a week.



I want to study ancient history, especially the societies that influenced our western culture most, the Greeks and Romans. I would love to incorporate study of other countries and cultures, and their history. We can only learn how blessed we are by seeing how other people live everyday.



I want my children to know all of the local flora and fauna, how to identify them, and what is edible. I Want them to know how to start a fire without matches and how to tell direction without a compass. I want them to know nature, animals and plants, and what they say to us. This will be a lifelong study, as you can never stop learning about God's world.



I want to study great art, particularly classical literature- which takes a lot of time. I want them to have at least a working knowledge of music, art and poetry. I think every child should learn how to play at least one instrument, music theory used to be part of every child's education. And then there is language- Greek and Latin should be taught, at least rudimently. So much of our own language comes from theirs.



And these are just the things that require specific studying- many things go without saying. logic, reasoning, the ability to tell the Truth from a lie. Character, courage, the willingness to be different and strong. The desire to think outside of the box and figure things out, and the knowledge of their own gifts, interests and abilities. Science- knowledge of how the earth works, laws of nature, how to experiment and learn from the world around us.



And then there is math- I think physics, calculus and statistics are important thinking skills to develop, and also important to developing character. :) You need a high quality math education to get along in this world.



And, of course, most important of all, learning about our Christian faith and heritage. Developing and nurturing young hearts into a relationship with their Creator. I want them to memorize many passages of Scripture, and to KNOW it in their hearts, what it says and means. I want them to be able to us the Bible apologetically, and find the TRUTH it contains.



I get to the end of this list, and there are many other things I would like to teach but do not find vitally important. This list contains only those things I see as most important, the things that, if left out, would cause me to feel like I failed them. And I realize it is extremely important to let them chase their own interests and dreams, and learn about the things they are delighted in.



See why I said 12 years is short? Redeem the time, for the days are evil.