Our Homeschool Journey

 If you had asked me when my oldest son was in kg. what I thought about homeschooling, I would have told you it's not something I would do. I was teaching in a private school for 4 years and just thought kids need to be in school. It was during the school break that summer when God suddenly called me to do just that. I talked to Art about it and he agreed we should try it. I didn't even tell anyone else for some time what I was thinking about but started to prepare. Everytime I had doubts I went back to that moment when it became clear to me what God was calling me to do. 
 Well, it's been eight years since we started. My oldest son graduated grade eight this year and after some debating on how, when and where, we decided to celebrate that with our our kids, some family , his friends and other teachers that had been an influence in his life over the years. Had a great day of  games, food, singing, prayer, sharing memories, and a special message from unlce Aaron. (my brother)
 I'm thankful for all those that helped us out with making it possible. Kathy & Aaron for giving your home and helping organize it all and the influence you have been on James. George Fehr and Tina Fehr for putting together a very special slideshow, (I really enjoyed that) Everyone who helped out with food and also to family, the youth,  and youth leaders for celebrating with us and being a part of James' life during these important years!

A Graduation Prayer

May I live my life to praise You,

Not for fortune, nor for fame,
May everything I say and do
Bring glory to Your name.


May my eyes stay fixed upon You
As I seek the way that's pure,
Tasting Your love and goodness
Sleeping and rising secure.


Planted by Your living streams
I'll delight in all Your ways,
Hidden by Your sheltering wings
With new mercies for each day.


Even in a dangerous land
When storms threaten to destroy,
At the cross I'll stand upon the Rock
My Strength, my Hope, my Joy.


Dear Lord, show me Your favor,
At all times keep me blessed,
May Your face ever shine upon me,
With peace and perfect rest.

Amen.

-Mary Fairchild

Meek and Quiet Spirit - study

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6


Seeking God and praying he will continue to do a work in me to make me more like Jesus! When I am weak , He is strong! I need His help to continue on homeschooling and to love the way He loved.

Still On The Planet!

My poor old blog has been so abandoned the last few months. I would have had plenty to write about, but just didn't seem to make it here.

We finished our Seeking Him Study. That has been great!

I am now reading through Matthew and it is amazing what is all in there! I actually am going through it with a friend from Saskatchewan. we read the same chapters, take notes and then talk on the phone about it once a week. I really enjoy it~ Thank God for friends like her!

We are no longer going to American Sign Language classes. There were some things going on there that I didn't feel comfortable with. But we are still learning it. I got The baby Einstein , First Signs Video and so now our girls have picked quite a bit of it up, too. It's a lot of fun for everyone!

We are planning to be finished our school work by the end of May and then enjoy the summer doing other stuff. (the great outdoors)I may actually do some painting yet as well.

Well, it's time I begin preparing for another nights sleep. Hubby still on afternoons and will be here in about half an hour.

Goodnight all!

What I'm up to

I am focussing on Seeking Him right now so I won't be blogging much here over the next while.http://seekingoursavior.blogspot.com/

Also busy doing other daily things like homeschooling, cooking cleaning and spending time with our kids and my hubby, making memories . So ya, now you all know I'm still hanging around and wanted to write to say hi.(smiling again) so drop by anytime!

Sign Language

One of the things we have been studying for awhile but were at a stand still is American Sign Language. We did learn some basic things on our own at home, like the alphabets and words like mom, dad, sister , brother and so on. Recently I found out there is a sign language class not very far from us starting again in January. I signed myself and my oldest son up for it. I became interested in this because we have friends who's son is deaf. I have 5 cousins (all from one family) who are deaf as well. ASL is such a neat thing to learn! I guess a lot of other languages interest me too, but just can't fit it all in, lol. (my memory is getting too full as my son puts it)

Learning from families

I was at church this evening to learn from another christian family, as they share their gift in music and also share from their experiences in walking with God, marriage and raising children. This is their website if you are interested in seeing who they are and their resources. http://www.titus2.com/blog/ . I plan to go back tomorrow for a few of the studies yet.

A few weeks back we also had the Wissmann family come as well. I think we can learn a lot from big families, and they are a real blessing. Here is also the Wissmann's site. http://wissmanns.blogspot.com/ .

Here are a few verses that I think are very important to remember:

Matthew 18

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,

3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Jesus Warns of Offenses

6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Some, I know are not able to have their own children, but I believe even if that is so, they too have children in their lives who need them.

Something to Think About

Have you ever studied the shapes of the continents? If you look at this world map you can see how some of the parts could be put together like puzzle pieces. Some believe South America and Africa were at one time a single landmass. The continents could have been divided during the days of Peleg. ( Noah's great-great-great grandson) This would explain a lot of things and I find it very interesting!

Biblical data:
Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided… (Genesis 10:25)
Scientific Data:
Land bridges covered by rising oceans ~11,000 ya

Some however believe that the scripture here is only talking about the division among the people not the earth. God at that time confused the languages and yes people split up.

Knowing exactly what happened is not that important. Only God has all the answers.

Thinking about it all really makes me think about what an awesome God we have!

* The Bible has all the answers we need.

This and That

As you can see, I haven't had much to say lately, or I keep it all to myself :)

The truth is, I don't get much computer time lately and when I do it's only for a few minutes.

So let's see what have I been up to the last while.

On Saturday, we had a homeschool outing with our HS Group. We went to Backus Mill, a herritage centre. There was fun activities for the children and we all learned some new things.

Afterwards we all had a picnic lunch. The weather was perfect for it!

I was very happy with how the day turned out. I have also been having song practice with some of the ladies at our church, to sing as a special number once in a while. I find it so encouraging to just go there and sing with them. Everyone is very relaxed and just completely themselves. I usually feel like singing all the way home too yet!

I think I need to get my memory examined. Someone called me a few days ago and mentioned her driver's licence expired. Well I thought, I should see how long mine are good for yet. I almost fell over when I noticed the expiry date! Ok... Prepare yourself for this.... They expired in June of 2006! (well either you are laughing at me or your mouth is just hanging open) I have been driving this whole time without a valid licence in my wallet! I just didn't get how that happened and really started to think about it... Now I am almost 100% sure that I did renew them a few years ago.... But I guess I never got them in the mail and forgot to wait for them or look into it.... Unless, my memory is now just remembering something that didn't happen!

Going to go find out tomorrow what is going on. (yes, hubby will drive)

The worste part about it all is that if there is nothing showing on record that I did renew them, I may now have to start from scratch! Yep, I would be a beginner once more! (sigh)

Anyway here are a few pictures from our field trip:

In the old school house, doing a craft and learning about maps.

One of the old cottages, and the old store.

Back to school for all of us!

Enjoying a snack made the old fashioned way.

School Days Begin!

We started school again yesterday. Had a very good start. It seems to be good to have a break and then a fresh start.

Emily picks up a lot from the boys and I noticed again today that she knows things I didn't know she knew. Quite amazing sometimes. Kati-Lyn wants to be completely involved too which is fun but can be a challenge too. Really have to watch what she ends up writing on.

The boys are trying a lot harder again now then what they did at the end of last school year. Hope I can keep them motivated through this year.

We are all going to do a tree project together. each one working at their own level, but all learn about trees, so I need to look for ideas on that. The other subject I have lesson plans and books for right now. Any ideas that anyone might have to learn about trees would be great! Going to start on that tomorrow.

Thursday we plan to go visit friends we have not seen in a long time. They live about two and a half hours away from us. Kids are excited about that. Friday I think we will just have a preperation day for next week. Saturday we meet with our homeschool group for supper.

That's life here right now. I'm thankful God always prepares the way for all things according to His good will!