A Simple Twist of Faith

The Big Decision

How can I express myself in a coherent way about my thought process in making one of the  most difficult decisions I have ever made? I will say I have praying a lot over this decision and asking the Lord to show me the way.

 

I have a big announcement, one that may shock you, one that may have you shaking your head in bewilderment.  I have decided to enroll my six year old in public school for first grade this fall. 

Yes, I have bought all the home schooling books, yes I have send the letter of intent to our local school district, yes I have painstakingly constructed her curriculum, and even designed daily lesson plans.

Several things have happened over the past few weeks which have caused me to change our educational plans for Ladybug.

I have been offered two options to earn money.  Since January, we have been without dental and vision insurance.  At the time, our health insurance coverage changed, and we no longer had access to employer sponsored insurance. Please note we follow a strict budget and do not use credit anymore.  This gap in our coverage has been keeping me up at night, and I have been praying that God would show me a way on how to afford this insurance on our monthly budget. With Bumblebee needing eye glasses, and Ladybug on the verge of getting her adult teeth, I feel God offered me solution that would pay for these two additional bills.  However, there is a catch, and of course, it is time, but not only time but energy.  Both of these options wonderful opportunities, and I am very excited about them.  But I was left wondering how I would be able to juggle these new responsibilities while home schooling my two daughters.

Tackle It Tuesday #7: Pre-K Curriculum & Reading List

I cannot believe it is week #8 of our summer vacation. School for us will start in three short weeks. I have been concerned about having a pre-kindergartener and a first grader.  For you Moms who home school multiple children, please understand I am new at this.

This summer we have been attending weekly sessions at our local library on Animals, including a puppet show, even got to pet a live skunk, rabbit, and turtle. We also had learned about beetles, butterflies, and other insects.  

Our local library has also been a great resource for plan my pre-kindergarten curriculum.  They published a great reading guide on preparing your child for kindergarten.  I used much of their recommendations to design Bumblebee's Pre-K academic experience. 

This is part of my summer challenge of crossing off one BIG project a week from my "TO DO" list.

So far this summer, I have tackled:

1. Cleaning out the Garage 

2. Cleaning out the Home Schooling Stuff Part I

3. Cleaning out the Home Schooling Stuff Part II

4. Cleaning out the Junk Drawer

5. First Grade Curriculum

6. Meal Planning

Tackle It Tuesday is hosted by 5 Minutes for Moms.  

 

Tackle It Tuesday #5

This summer  made it a goal to tackle one big project a week and blog about it to keep me on task. 

I am teaming up with 5 Minutes for Mom and this is my fifth week of Tackle It Tuesday.

Here are the results so far:

• Cleaning out the Garage
• Cleaning out the Home Schooling area Part I
• Cleaning out the Home Schooling area Part II
• Cleaning out the Junk drawer
• and this week's project...

Tackle It Tuesday #3: Cleaning out the Home Schooling "Stuff" Part 2

Welcome to our third week of summer vacation and Tackle It Tuesday #3.  This summer I decided to pick one big project a week to do, and blog about it.  I am teaming up with 5 Minutes for Mom and joining in on their weekly Tackle It Tuesday post.

So, this week I continued with the Herculean skill of cleaning out our home schooling "stuff".  It involved sorting through school papers, supplies, and projects.  I am sure this would be a difficult task for any teacher, but especially when your students are your own children.

Here, Ladybug, age 6, decided to take a picture of me as I dived into my work. 

What to save?  How to save it?  Where do I put it? 

Fortunately, I had help from my friends.  Kristy gave me some wonder advice about saving her girls' art work:

"I take pictures of the big or bulkly artwork and print them in wallet sizes. Allows me to scrapbook everything I wanted to keep without actually keeping it  all. I also LOVE kid art so I've framed a bunch of stuff and I have a art collage over the couch in my room. I wake up to it every day and I love that. Also, I save too much stuff and when I go through it a few years later, I'm not so emotional about it and I find myself purging some more."

My husband helped me with our first Tackle It Tuesday project "Cleaning out the Garage", and the results   inspired me to continue with this project even when I grew frustrated, tired and just plain sick of it.

I also had two little helpers this week who sorted out toys, pencils, and crayons. 

Are they are hard at work, or play?

Here are the results of the week...

 

 

First Grade Curriculum for Home Schooling

Today, I am joining in on the Curriculum Fair hosted by Simple Home School. 

 

My Children's Ages: 6 and 3.

Educational Influences: Classical, Montessori, and the British Infant System.

This was our first home schooling year with our family. Being Catholic, we went with Seton Home Study for Kindergartner, however much of the material was review for my daughter.    By the time Christmas rolled around, I was shopped for a new reading program.  I found it in the Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading and have never looked back.  I then read the Well Trained Mind by Jessie Wise and her daughter, Susan Wise Bauer and decided on much of our curriculum on their recommendations.

Educational Background:

When I was working full-time, my oldest daughter attended a locally owned school that has a reputuation for advanced childhood education.  The school had developed a relaxed approach which allow educational play for the majority of students while teachers met individually with each child.  The atmosphere was non-competitive with every child learning at her own pace.   

I have tried to use this approach at home too. We three particpate in circle time, math games, science experiments, and storytime together. However,  I do take turns with my children, allowing one  to play independently as I work with my other daughter: reading, phonics, and addition for my oldest child, recognition of letters and numbers for my youngest child.

7 Quick Takes Friday Volume 34

1. 

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms!  This year we will be attending the annual Mother's Breakfast hosted by the Knights of Columbus at our church.  My husband is organizing the event.   Two years ago  on Mother's Day, we were in the process of adopting our Bumblebee, then 21 months. At the time the adoption was stalled, and it looked like we would be able to have custody, but not fully adopt her. During the breakfast that year, an older Knight gave me two Saint Anthony's medals and two beautifully illustrated prayers. Saint Anthony is the patron saint of lost things  and causes.  The Knight , who can be  rather stern, told me about the adoption of his youngest daughter, over 30 years ago, and presented me these  small gifts as a comfort while I waited for the completion of our daughter's adoption. 

2.

In honor of Mother's Day , I would like to share this Pampers pro-life  commerical!  Check  it out!  Beautifully done.  

                                           3.

This past Thursday, my bible study group discussed chapter 15 of the Gospel of John, "I am the True Vine."  We discussed how God prunes us through trials to make us better Christians.   I will be writing more on this next week.  Today, I just want to say how blessed I feel to be part of this amazing group of women.  Like Saint Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12: 4-5, " There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit", the women in my group have varied gifts that they share to inspire, encourage and challenge one another to a live more fully with Jesus in our vocations as Mothers.

4.

As like a Mother's Day gift to me, my peonies started to bloom this week and now the irises are now in full glory too.  They are gorgeous.  I love cutting the flowers and having their fragrant smell fill the house.  

5.

Today, we complete the last of Ladybug's standardized tests for kindergarten.  We then send them away for grading to see how she ranked among her peers. 

6.

So what's happening in your world?  Are you struggling with spring fever like I am?  I am forcing myself to finish the Math testing, when I really want to go strawberry picking or head off to the beach!

                                                                                                   7. 

For more 7 Quick Takes, please check out Jennifer at Conversion Diary.  

Dull Women Have Immaculate Houses...

A favorite saying of my Mother's...

now I understand!

Happy Manic Monday, my friends!

7 Quick Takes Friday Volume 32

After a five week hiatus, I am back with 7 Quick Takes Friday hosted by the amazing Jennifer Fulwiler at the Conversion Diary.  For more Quick Takes, check her out!

It's been a long cool February and March, but spring is finally here in Tidewater Virginia.  This week I am thankful for:

1.

The Return of Good Health

No more colds, sinus infections, strep throats around here!  With the pine pollen everywhere, allergies abound, but I finally found a medication my Ladybug can take that works!  We are all sleeping better,and feeling better!

2.

The Weather

This past week the weather has been lovely and we are enjoying istening to the robins, counting the cardinal and blue jays, and playing in the backyard.  Hurrah for spring!

 

3.

Home Schooling

Ladybug started her first grade Math book on Monday she is enjoying the challenge.  I an enjoying the more independent work, and am able to work more with Bumblebee on her letters and numbers.  Bumblebee is loving the extra attention, and is now able to identify many more of her upper and lower case letters.

4.

The Gospel of John & My Bible Study Group

For the past 13 weeks, my Bible Study Group has been reading the Gospel of John. During the past four weeks, the chapters we have read correspond directly with the upcoming Sunday gospel readings. First, it was the Women at the Well, en the Blind Man, then Jesus Raising Lazarus from the dead.  Yesterday's lesson, Chapter 12, and Jesus' procession into Jerusalem.  Next week, when we meet on Holy Thursday, we will be discussing Chapter 13, Jesus washing the feet of his disciplines.

5.

40 Days for Life

 Unfortunately, due to illness, I was unable to be as active as I was in the fall, however I was able to hold a prayful vigil for four of the Fridays.  Standing in front of the Planned Parenthood on a busy street during rush hour traffic is  a humbling, and vulnerable  experience.  As I write this 404 babies have been saved nationwide in this campaign which spans March 9-April 17.  Thank you all for your participation with prayers, fasting and alms giving. 

6.

The Generosity of Others

I thank everyone who helped make Ladybug's birthday special.  We had a wonderful time, and thoroughly appreciate generosity of all.  I thank Stephanie for the box of beautiful spring clothes you send just in time of the warm weather.   

 7.

Project Simplify & 40 Bags in 40 Days

For the past five weeks I participated in Project Simplify hosted by Tsh at Simple Mom.  Part of my Lenten journey, was to do some old fashion spring cleaning and it really helped clear out my mind.

I am donating my abundance to the Salvation Army and to my new niece  as part of 40 Bags in 40 Days.  I only got up to 13 bags, but I am still working on it.  Slow but steady wins the race,  and that has been the story of my life. 

Project Simplify: Paper Clutter

Welcome to Week 2 of Project Simplify hosted by Tsh at Simple Mom. This week's hot spot is PAPER CLUTTER.

Let me say, this is my pet peeve, PAPER CLUTTER!  I cannot stand it! When my husband and I first started dating, I looked in horror at his dining room table.  It was piled high with junk mail, bills, magazines.  Yikes!  Now, here is my husband's IN box. Note how small it is.

I consider this a victory!  It is contained, I am satisfied.

This is my "IN" Box.  I dump everything I need to review in the wicker basket.  I TRY to clean it out at least once a week. If it doesn't fit, it gets placed next to it.   Most of the incoming paper is junk mail for us.  Last spring, when I first started staying home, I went through all of our bills and charitable giving, and requested the on-line paperless billing option.  Not only did this reduce the mail coming into our house, it also helped with the monthly budgeting.  Still, there is plenty of paper that comes into our house.  However, now most of it does not even make it to this basket, it is dumped into the recycling bin stationed near by.  

However, our biggest challenge in the war against paper clutter, are the papers from our children.  We  home school, so there is paper, paper, everywhere.  Worksheets, reports, coloring pages, assessments, craft projects, art work, the list goes on... and on.  I initially established a cubby system, with binders for each school subject.  The system works well, however, it still takes time to sort out the papers, hole punch them, and place them in the respective binders.  Some weeks, are organized and some weeks the task just gets away from me.  So, our home schooling storage area starts looking like this:

Wordless Wednesday: Prelude to Spring