The Homeschool mother's Journal

In My Life this Week...  This was our first week back to school after our 2 week break.  First day was rough as the young ones thought that break should continue:) I quickly fixed this misunderstanding.  Hannah had her first track meet and did GREAT!  She shaved 5 seconds off her 2oo meters and her hurdles...Well, one got in her way (how dare it!).  She was such a trooper.  She got right back up and finished the race strong.  As a mama bear, I wanted so badly to run to her and tell her everything was okay but as a mama who is trying to let her kids fly in this world I sat patiently as her coach spoke to her and her team consoled her...then she went and clean herself up (blood running down leg) and came to see mama and papa bear:)

Trying to raise strong kids is hard sometimes but beautiful to see.  

Kainah has her track meet this Sat.  You know, that girl is in a TON of events!  I've been telling her to practice strong and hard...she has started to and when the list came out on her events she was giddy! 

Something sad...Well, my daddy's heart needs some work.  It's not doing good and needs fixin'.  His knees cause him pain and just has to suffer with it for now.  All he wants to do is go to Africa and spread the love of Jesus to the nations.  This is his motivation...His words, "I need be able to go to Africa by November."  Whatever it takes!  

In Our Homeschool This Week... As I said this is our first week back from a 2 week break.  At first Rebekah wasn't doing great with her reading book and I thought, "OH NO! not again!" but yesterday she read her whole little chapter in 6min & 43 sec.  If you're wondering...Yes I time her.  I stumbled on this about her...when I put a timer on her, her focus is directed to the book only and reads much better and much faster:)  Who knew?  I didn't?  I brought the timer out b/c she was waisting a lot of time and I was going to take that out of her free time later...Funny what we learn about our kids when homeschooling them.  Levi and Kainah got back to their school as well....Math is the subject that was in question. This is not because they aren't good in the subject it is because they were not responsible with it.  Since my crack down on math these last few months they have really excelled - Straight A's!

Places we're going and people we're seeing... We're ALWAYS going!  This week we were not able to go to church on Wednesday due to a track meet and therefore missed the people we are used to seeing mid-week:(  We did have a visitor...He was our builder for our last house.  He was our first experience in a "real rancher cowboy" type here in Texas. Todd and I became friends with him and his wife...actually  his whole family.  Oh the old stories he told!   The kids always enjoys seeing and talking with him too.  He usually brings them a gum or gives up his own pack.  

My favorite thing this week was... One of my favorite things this week is the very thing that has caused me the most physical pain.  My workouts!  I started a new program with my great friend and neighbor and it has me sore everyday.  Someday's so sore that its hard to get out of bed!  My other favorite thing...Seeing Hannah at track:)

What's working/not working for us... Repeat, repeat, repeat...for reading!  It works...plain and simple.  Sequential Spelling is what I'm using for the little ones spelling.  I bought it for my oldest long ago but didn't like it for her but for these guys...it's working...for now:)

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have... Right now I'm working through a school schedule everyday.  I'm wondering if I were to spend a specific amount of time for each child on a specific day.  Still do the "all together" school stuff but the alone time would be different .  Right now everyone get alone time everyday...but if time allows.  If not, then it is rushed!  I don't like that...I don't like running out of time.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share... A stitch in time saves nine:)

I comes from my youngest daughter's story book reader. Simple I know but good. Basically, stop and do the little things before they become big things.  A lesson many of us need to learn or at least be reminded of.

That's my snap shot of this week!