This Week at Home

In which, we start really slow and catch up, despite it all! 


On the Heart and Mind:

Our weekend away last week, while wonderful, took its toll.  Trevor came home with a fever of 102F and has been struggling all week with tiredness and congestion.  I came home with some kind of stomach flu or food poisoning.  Therefore, I did not even get out of bed all day Monday to face the world!  It was Wednesday before I felt normal. Otherwise, the weekend was wonderful.

 Shelf ice on Lake Michigan. 

 Grace's dress matches the cake!  (Unplanned) 

 My little men! 

Learning and Life: 

We took off Monday to recover and Thursday was a day for the kids to play with my Mom.  Because of our flexible schedules as homeschoolers, we will still be able to get our planned 5 days of lessons this week.  We will just do Saturday school while Daddy is working overtime.  It all works out in the end! 

Despite our unusual schedule this week, we finished Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling.  There were a few stories that really captured the kids' imaginations.  For me, I found the language  hard to read aloud sometimes.  He would use nonsense words, kind of like Dr. Seuss. Otherwise a fun book.

We finished a short book on the culture of India, and started another book on the people of India. We also read an entire short book on Gandhi.  We started a biography about Mother Teresa and a couple fictional books, one called Shadow Spinner and the other, Ali and the Golden Eagle.   So far Shadow Spinner is very interesting.  I'll write more about that next week.

Math Tacular is working out just the way I hoped.  It is a good way to put into practice the skills we have learned this far.  The story problems in Math Tacular 4 are just what we needed.  The review games in 3 are fun too.  Long division is on hold for another time, which really is OK.

 Isn't it beautiful? I could sit here for hours and just stare.  

 Scary!

In the Kitchen:  

Friday:  Breakfast Night
Saturday:  Cheeseburgers
Sunday:  Roasted Chicken
Monday:  Stir Fry & Spring Rolls
Tuesday:  Homemade Pizza
Wednesday:  Pasta & Homemade Maranara Sauce
Thursday:   Chicken Soft Tacos

Waiting at Grandma's House.

On the Nook:

I had a great deal of time to read while I recovered this week.  I devoured Lousia May Alcott's Little Men, which is so dear!  I've uploaded her An Old Fashioned Girl, however, I really need to get back to Senior High: A Home-Designed Form+U+LA, by Barbara Edtl Shelton.  Maybe I'll do a little of both.  *wink* 

 My little woman! 

Scripture Memory Work:

Week two of working on Proverbs 3: 21-23 NLT

21 My child, don't lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them,

22 for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace.

23They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. 

 

 

 I bought myself some spring! 

 

Quote of the Week:  

 

Another quote from Little Men.  

"Simple, generous goodness is the best capital to found the business of this life upon.  It lasts when fame and money fail, and is the only riches we can take out of this world." 

Our front walk this morning.  (It won't last!)  

So, that is our week, my friends, another beautiful week of learning and life together at home. 

~Jenn

Homeschool Fashion Show

A picture is worth a thousand words, or so they tell us.  One of the things I love about home education is how my children are free to dress as they desire without peer pressure.

Even at our church, Grace has told me that she feels odd being one of only one or two of the girls in 5th grade who consistently wears dresses.  And it is no wonder.  We tried to find a new dress for Grace at the nearby stores and it was nearly impossible.  But that is another reason we do not support those companies, if we can avoid it.

Hats are big! 

When I was in the 5th grade, chasing boys was the popular sport.  Wearing tight jeans with a comb in the back pocket to keep your winged bangs perfect was high fashion.  I'm glad my kids are free of all that.

I'm glad that we are a home educating family!  Sometimes you are so glad that you just have to give it a shout!

A Mother's Brave and Tender Love

"...for no matter how lost and soiled and worn-out wandering some may be, mothers can forgive and forget every thing as they fold them in their fostering arms.  Happy the son whose faith in his mother remains unchanged, and who, through all his wanderings, has kept some filial token to repay her brave and tender love." 

from Little Men, Lousia May Alcott 

(Oh, I am really enjoying this book!  My dear, not-so-little, son downloaded it for me onto the Nook when I was having a recovery day this week.  It is so handy to have a son who likes computer gadgets.  I would be lost without him to guide me through them all.) 

This Week at Home

In which we had a great week!

On my heart and mind:

My mind is whirling today as there is so much to do before we leave for a family wedding this weekend.  Jeff's "little" brother is getting married Saturday!  I am very thankful that we are all healthy and that the weather is cooperating for our travels.

I am also thinking about what a good week we've had and how much I appreciate being well again.

Visiting Grandma Last Sunday

Learning and Life:  

We finished  the book about William Carey.  Oh, he had so many troubles in this world, yet he was always moving forward to build God's Kingdom.  What an example!   

We started a little book on the culture of India.  The pictures are great.  We are certainly getting good at recognizing  world views.  The book stresses how people of India value tolerance so that the many different people who live there can coexist.  It was a good and lively discussion we had after reading that!  This is why I love Sonlight so much.  We are so enjoying this year.  

Math Tacular 3 & 4 arrived!  We watched a little yesterday.  Grace and Trevor will be playing some of the suggested multiplication games in 3 today for review.  They can also start from the beginning of 4, which is story problems.  I am going to have Ryan start deeper into the program so that he is not too bored.  It starts with rather simple problems and ends up very complex.  Even my husband, who is Mr. Mensa, said that he's impressed with the complexity.  This book will last us the rest of our homeschool career.

I also got my copy of Senior High:  Form+U=La .  I am no longer in a panic about high school, by the way. 

Grace painted this for me! 

Grace crocheted this for her dragon!  

In the Kitchen:  

Cookies!  We made Snickerdoodle cookies for a bake sale at church this week. 

The rotation menu I started last week is going well.  It just takes out all the guess work.  And I am able to still shop wisely because the categories are flexible and filled with several ideas.  For example, if my store has a sale on a certain meat, that fits right in with several categories.  I still think planning a menu around sales is the cheapest way to go, as long at they don't pull you into buying more! 

 Grace bought herself some new boots to play in the mud! 

We went to a favorite park. 

On the Nook:

I started reading, My Lady Ludlow by Elizabeth Gaskell.  I wanted to read it after watching Cranford.  So far it is interesting, but kind of a simple book.  No real plot twists.  I will finish it soon. It is going to take me a long time to read Senior High:  Form+U=La, so my husband will have his Nook all to himself for awhile.  

Scripture Memory Work:  

Working on this passage for the next couple weeks.  

Proverbs 3: 21-23 NLT

21 My child, don't lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them,

22 for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace.

23They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. 

Picture of the Week:

I told them to do that, by the way. 

Have a great weekend!  Check back next week for pictures of "my" lake!

 ~Jenn

Am I Choosing a Dirty Home?

What are my goals for my home?  What should they look like?  Certainly, they are not to have an impeccably clean home.  No chance of that with 3 kids here all day, every day.  It's taken a long time to relax my high ideals.  But, I still struggle with them.

I suppose my goal for my home is to be at a level of cleanliness that does not embarrass me if someone drops by.  If my house goes past this level of clean, I start to feel a sense of foreboding and even dread.  This happens quite often.  During the school year, I do not have energy to devote to my ideal house cleaning routine.  It is listed on one of the tabs above.  It mocks me.  It laughs at me. Maybe I should delete it.  (hee, hee).

I know that this is a topic near and dear to most home educating mothers.  Like I said, it took me a very long time to stop fighting the desire for perfection.  I remember asking my husband once about his desires for our home.  I have to love his simple, happy-go-lucky attitude.  He said the only things that matter to him was for me to have dinner ready when he got home, to have the trash cans, dishes, and laundry under control.  I'd have to say that is a pretty easy man to please.  You better know that I try to keep these three things under control.  I also know that he doesn't like the family room sectional to be in a mess.  It happens a lot.  The kids pile blankets on it while watching a movie.  They drag their things in and they pile up, too.  It is the first thing he sees when he comes home.  I try to keep the kids accountable for this area, but sometimes we slip.  Like right now.

Besides those things, daily I try to keep the bathrooms sanitary.  I sweep up the entry way and wipe it down when I can see the sweeping did not do the job.  Twice a week or so, I make sure the carpet in the living areas is swept.  My oldest son does that job.  The other two help me as requested.  And they pick up their things.  They are the two that seem to get out and leave around the most stuff.  I just feel better when things are tidy.  Sometimes I even dust!  (ha, ha)

My standards of clean would not impress my dear, expert cleaner grandmother, but my husband seems happy, so everything else I do is just gravy!  I suppose that is the whole point to this little essay.  I like to make my husband happy.  I really do.  And I am blessed to have a husband who doesn't put heavy burdens of high expectations on me in this area.  Thank you, Lord!

~Jenn

"No Poo" & a New Doo

6 inches gone! 

Hello Dear Friends,

Six inches of my locks are gone!  What a relief!  It was getting so tangled and taking a lot of time to comb it after I washed it and used 2 different products to get the comb through.

I made another change regarding my hair.  I decided to go "no poo."  I have been reading about this craze for a long time.  I did not think much of it until I started to think about the cheap shampoo I use and how many chemicals are in there.  I won't be saving much money, by switching to this method, but I will be avoiding those unwanted chemicals, no longer using a detergent on my hair, and stop stripping the natural oils in my hair.  

So what is "no poo?"  It certainly doesn't mean not washing your hair, as I had thought.  It is very simple, actually.  You wash your hair with a baking soda and water mixture, then you rinse it in an apple cider and water mixture.  I am amazed at how great my hair feels after using this method for the last few washes.

To learn more and read a better blog about this method, go here.

Have any of you gone this route?  Are there other personal care products you've switched from to a more natural product?

This Week at Home

In which health is restored and the camera is back! 

Silly Mr. Squirrel

On the Heart and Mind:

It took two weeks, but we are back to normal.  I am praying we can enjoy this good health for a little while .  I so want to go visit my Grandma.  I've kept away from her to protect her health.  I hope to see her this weekend.  Also, I am  thankful for the warm up that is coming this weekend.  Our driveway is covered with thick ice.  Maybe the warmer temperatures will take care of it.  

The 7th Grade Class Photo

Learning and Life:

We finished Daughter of the Mountains.  We give it a thumbs up.  Momo is a very determined little girl and very much strong in her faith, unfortunately she puts that faith into the wrong god.  I really love reading books about different cultures.  My sympathy is stirred.  I want to pray harder for the lost.  So many people are lost and are going to spend eternity in anguish.  

We continued reading about William Carey. If ever there should be a discouraged man, it would be him.  He has a horrible time getting the mission to India started.  That's a lesson to me.  Things do not necessarily go well, even when you are in God's will.  I think Satan was working double time against Mr. Carey.  But that did not stop him from going forward with a happy heart.  

We (Grace and I) have come to a stopping place in math.  It is time to pause and think about things for awhile.  Selah.  Grace and I are going to go back through her Math U See books and review all the concepts up to this point.  We are also going to order MathTacular from Sonlight.  

I think we need a big dose of Professor Justin's humor.  Math has just gotten too traumatic here lately.  It is to the point of hard feelings and lots of tears.  You have to know when to take a step back and reconsider.  That time is now.

In the Kitchen:

To simplify my life, I've come up with a rotation menu for the winter.  I don't have to think about what is for dinner.  I just look at my plan.  I'll write it here to show you what I mean.  I also am flexible enough, that if my dinner plans for that night are too fussy for what we have going on that day, I can rearrange my menu.

Day One:  Soup & Bread Night
Day Two:  Asian Night
Day Three:  Mexican Night
Day Four:  Italian Night
Day Five:  Breakfast Night
Day Six:  Americana Night (stuff like casseroles, meatloaf, oven fried chicken)
Day Seven:  Sandwich & Salad Night

Fantastic Casserole Recipes

Potato Flake Sourdough Recipe

Mandarin Cake Recipe

Is his face stuck in this pose? 

On the Bookshelf:

I finished A Rose in Bloom by L.M. Alcott.  I can't wait until Grace has time to read it.  It is a true girlie girl book, so full of noble ideas about romance and the world.  Grace is reading The Brethren by H. Rider Haggard.  She just finished A Bride Goes West , a voices from the past audiobook.  I hope to get her more of those.  Excellent stuff!

This week, I have only had a little time to read for my own pleasure, but what I read was a fantastic, mind changing read, When Queens Ride By.  Please take the time to download and read the short story.  The way I think about my work as a wife has been forever changed.  Thanks again to Annie Kate for the heads up. 

Also, if you are the mother of a son near the age of 13, please go read this from Like Mother, Like Daughter.  I think you will be blessed, if you do.  I really needed to read this one! 

Scripture Memory Work:  

I'd love to say that it was a banner week in this category.  After being sick, I wanted to give up, but my sweet friend Katia kept cheering me on and I think I am back on track.  (The verses are on my sidebar.)

Picture of the Week:  

  Too, too much snow! 

Manitoba, Canada

I will not complain about the weather here in Indiana, now. 

Have a wonderful weekend.  

Gracefully Yours, 

Jenn

Wordless Wednesday: Zany Boy

Book Review: An Amish Love

I am still kicking myself for choosing this book.  I do not usually read contemporary Christian fiction, most of all love stories.  I fell prey to my love of learning about different cultures.  Big sigh. 

I do not like being negative.  I do not think this is a horrible book.  It is just not my genre.  I love good historical fiction.  I guess I was hoping for a similar experience.  I love learning through literature, good literature.  This book is not literature.  I was hoping to gain insight through good descriptive writing into a culture that I find very interesting, the Amish. 

I am certain there are redeeming qualities of  An Amish Love, Three Amish Novellas by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long, if you are into such books.  I was not able to get past the stereotypes, poor descriptions and lack of insight into the Amish culture.

The three novellas are set in the same town.  Three different love stories are presented with similar themes.  Each set of characters has made poor choices and there are consequences to pay.  The one neat thing is that they all seem to meet up at one restaurant in town in the different stories. 

The stories are quick to read.  If someone really likes Amish fiction, I think they would like this book.  There are also recipes at the end and a study guide.  The point of the study guide is if you want to have a group discuss the book. 

NOTE:  I received this book free of charge from the publisher for my honest review. 

Name Change

Dear Friends,

To make my transition from HSB to Blogger complete, I decided to take my old blog's name with me.  I chose that name, Busy At Home, based on these verses.

"Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God" Titus2: 4-5

These verses fit very well the reason that I blog.  I want my words to encourage other women to love their families, to be self-controlled, pure, kind, and subject to their husbands.  All this adds up to being busy at home. And who is more busy at home than a home educating family? 

I can't say that I will keep this blog design for long, however.  Those who know me from the beginning know that I just love to change my blog design often.  It is easier than redecorating a room!

Have a great Saturday,
Jenn

This Week at Home

 In which sickness returns, winter stops the world, and love wins.  


On the Heart and Mind:

Love is triumphant here!  My heart is full.  How could it not be? My husband worked so hard this past week to keep us going.  He went to the store several times.  He went to work.  He did all the laundry and dishes and cooking while I was sick.  He cleaned the family sick room when it really needed it.

Thank you, Jeff.  I really needed you and you were there, so willing to do what it took to get us through this rough week. 

Learning and Life:

This is a good time to discuss what happens in a home educating family when the teacher is sick.  NOTHING!!! For two days we were couch potatoes watching old movies.  Thankfully the ice storm hit or my guilt level would have been very high.  It was a blessing to this teacher's heart that the public schools were also unable to have school.

Despite all the yuckies in the house, a short school week was accomplished.  I was able to do our Sonlight read alouds for two days.  I am so glad my voice is back.  We missed reading.

Here are some spontaneous learning moments:

• Grace wrote a short story about a cat who gets kicked out of its home for meowing at five in the morning.  She also wrote two friendly letters.  Grace cared for Trevor and I on Monday.  She made us lunch trays.  
• Ryan decided to flip around the furniture in his room moving his desk and bed, cleaning everything in the process.  He made his own flow chart using Google Documents.  He read Wikipedia for hours on his laptop.  He also did his science and math programs on his own.  
• Trevor watched so many episodes of Cyberchase that some science must have sunk in.  (lol)  

In the Kitchen:  Come back next week. We will be making cookies for Valentine's Day.   

On the Bookshelf:

I started A Rose in Bloom, by Louisa May Alcott. Sweet, sweet!  Miss Alcott may not have considered herself a great writer, but I do.  I love how she weaves in themes of purity and good Christian values.  Oh, and any book that correctly uses the word, twaddle, is superb!  

Scripture Memory Work:

Taking a review week.  

Quote of the Week:

I did not read any great quotes this week, but I did see this really funny picture.  

*~*~*~*~*~*

Have a wonderful weekend.
Gracefully Yours,
Jenn

Wordless Wednesday: Going to the Mailbox

Sickness, Ice Storm & Other Things

Hello friends.  Are you well?  I sure hope so.  I've been feeling pretty rotten myself for the last several days.  I had good company.  Two of my kids were sick with fevers, coughing, congestion and aches, too.  I knew we were doomed when my husband got sick the week before. Anyway, there is not much to do about that now.  He was a dear nurse this past weekend when no one could take care of themselves.  We are all on the mend though.  It just leaves you so weak and the coughing lingers on.

I watched a ton of old movies, which was fun, for awhile.  Then they started to get either too musical or too depressing.  For some reason I can't read when I am sick.  I need to be watching TV to keep my mind off of things.  It does dull your mind afterall! 


No school has happened yet this week and may not.  I don't know.  The kids are enjoying this impromptu break.  Just not the break I had planned.  Another thing I cannot change. 


Presently, my husband is working from home.  We had wave one of a two wave storm hit.  The first wave brought ice.  All schools are closed, even the colleges.  That's big.  They never close.  The next wave is going to bring more ice, sleet, snow and wind.  It is on its way.  Up at "my lake" they have a blizzard warning with up to 20 inches of snow and 60 mph winds.  Think I am wishing I was there today?  Nope.  It is all about perspective. 

As long as we have power we will be just fine.  I hate that dependency on power.  It's not the little inconveniences I worry about, but keeping warm.  That is a deal breaker.  We'd have to find a way to keep warm besides burning our furniture.  I am feeling a little unprepared.  I wish I had prepared a bit better.  We have food, but not enough wood on hand.  Oh well.  They could be wrong.

Well, I need to give the laptop back to my son.  I will leave you with these  pictures I took of myself and my cat with my cellphone camera.  I started to get all sentimental about her since she is always by my side when I am sick.  She is here now, right next to me.  The pictures remind me of those ones you might have taken at the mall with your best friend.  You know the crazy pictures you took in that photo booth?  Do they still have those?    Anyway, Abbey has been my best friend this week. 

Jenn & her BBF