What Has Been Going On?

Okay. So, when I started this blog I was intending to write more then once a week. But these last few weeks have seemed to fly by and so all of a sudden a week has past and no new news has been posted. I am trying to remedy that. For now I will just tell you what's been on my mind and how we've been doing.

Well, Stephen is in his last few days teaching. He has a few tests to give, grading and to clean out his room and he's looking forward to a summer break. We are not sure of what God has in store for us next, but it does not look like he will be returning to the school he has been at this last year. One of the main reasons is because we homeschool and one of their requirements is for our children to attend and we do not feel that God is wanting us to stop homeschooling. So for now we will wait. He will be working during the summer as a tutor again at CSU in the Bridge program with Math. Couple that with a few other tutoring jobs and we'll be able to build some savings up and such.

The girls are in the last few weeks of school. We have pretty much met the number of days required for the year, but we haven't completed the books. So the plan is to finish out in the next 2-3 weeks and then whatever else we have we'll finish over the summer. So when we "finish" our school year I'll give a wrap-up so you can see all that my girls have accomplished. I am so proud of them.

Over the summer I plan to institute some "new" things into our "school" schedule. We are a school year-round type of family. That does not mean we never take time off. In fact, that means we can take time off as we need it, not just a huge break over the summer when that might not fit our life. We will have some time where we just play and then days where the learning will be hidden to them, but it will still be school. That's is one of the beauties of homeschooling. We plan on attending some of the free movies, possibly going for some free bowling, beginning our nature study/journaling, doing some lapbook/unit studies, and working on some other things that will help build character. I also plan on creating our own unit study that will include learning the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem and America the Beautiful. I'm also thinking of another one for learning the Books of the Bible (including how many, the two Testaments, major stories throughout, versions of the Bible, and a brief blurb about each book). I know that might sound like a daunting task, but to me that sounds like fun. We'll see if I accomplish it. I've also ordered some of next year's books. Well I ordered our science curriculum for the next 3 years (had a savings of over 50% - couldn't resist.)

I still haven't heard any more from being a reviewer for the Homeschool Crew, but I am definitely ready to get started. So I found another opportunity to review. I received an email from one of my many homeschool related emails that was asking for reviewers for their copywork books. If you are not familiar with copybooking it is simple. It is sentences that are written and the child "copy's" the sentence beneath the original trying to "copy" the way it is written. We use the Getty Dubuay Italics Handwriting Series and they had one available to be reviewed so I jumped on the opportunity. So today Arianna began by copying Song of Songs 2:11. Audrie will be doing it a little later, but she is still working on writing her letters properly so I have to sit there and work with her.

Well, we are getting ready to go outside and begin our journey into Nature Study. I think the girls are going to love this especially with their new interest in watching birds and all other types of animals that keep appearing on the back porch or by the bird feeder. So I figure we will capitalize on the interest to help them broaden their horizons.

PS - please keep our dear friends in your prayers (I am not naming them since I do not want to say anything without them knowing it would be posted.) They have been going through an emotional roller-coaster ride lately. They are expecting their first child and she went into preterm labor last Friday. As of last night at midnight things seem to have slowed, but she is only 32 weeks along as of yesterday. Please pray that their little baby continues to "cook" a little bit longer and that they will have the strength to get through this. Thank you.