Unable to visit my mother in Nebraska over Christmas, Logan and I decided to send her a box of baked goods for her to enjoy in her new surroundings.  Alone in a small apartment in a retirement villa is where she now resides, but it doesn’t seem long ago that our family was all together, and I was a little girl in our big farm-house watching her bake all of our favorite treats. Logan and my daughter baked fast and furiously to make sure we got the package to the post office by 1:30 so it could be in the mail and delivered quickly, while things were still fresh.  Along with all of the familiar goodies from my childhood (some still a bit warm,) I sent my precious mother a poem I had written:

Backward, O backward,

Please turn back the time,

To the days of my childhood

And that dear home of mine,

Where Mother was baking,

And my heart was taking

Each memory and storing them

Safely away;

 

For the day when I would have

Babes of my own–

To raise and to guide

Them all the way home!

For each little labor and sacrifice made

A heart full of treasures that

One day we’ll lay

At the feet of our Father

In Glory, some day.

 

So forward, look forward

Dear Mother of mine,

To that day when in Heaven,

Our faces will shine,

And together, with loved ones,

No longer alone,

We’ll sing the sweet song–

“Oh There’s No Place Like Home!”

 

Aren’t we privileged to be at home with our children?  Time flies, and  I am so thankful for the opportunity to home-school, not just because of the academic benefits, but even more so, because of the chance I have just to be with my kids; making all those sweet memories that will hopefully draw us closer to each other, and in the long run closer to our Heavenly Father. My mother was a widow, but because she walked with the Lord, she still managed to create a warm, loving home for my family, and now I get to follow in her footsteps.

Today’s Fine Arts lesson was awesome. We used crushed colored chalk to mix with egg yolks to make a paint similar to what the famous painter Giotto used 700 years ago! Hopefully some of us will take time this week to create some paints with various things, (berries, spices, leaves, bugs…:) ) and surprise our class with their creations next week!

In Science we marveled at the perfect tilt God planned for our earth as it orbits the sun, creating the seasons. We also discussed the difference between things like coal and gold–(how they are formed?) when we conducted our “Sinkers” experiment.  Our conversation included topics such as the periodic chart of basic elements and Noah’s flood!  Always amazing how many interesting subjects come up when we just start asking questions!

Next week for Presentation time, I suggested that we each pick a favorite season and tell why we like it, using all 5 of our senses to put a picture in our listener’s minds… just a thought, in case your child would enjoy that topic.

Have a great week making memories!

Becky

 

 

Once a cheerleader, always a cheerleader!

We had so much fun this week with our new history sentence. Well, at least I did!  It reminded me of my days, (not so long ago) when my sister and I were cheerleaders for the Nebraska Christian Eagles in Central City, Nebraska! Oh, the hours that we spent working on our “routines” for the half-time show, and prepping for weekly pep rallies… Now my team looks a little different. Instead of the NC football or basketball players, I am privileged to look into the faces of 8 precious CC students every week, and I love it!

Time flies and it won’t be long till our children will be grown.  Will they look back and think their parents were their best cheerleaders or their worst critics?   There was a study done that proved kids in school live up to the labels put over their heads by their teachers. It’s called the Rosenthal effect, named after the researcher who conducted the studies.   I call it the Charlotte’s Web effect. Do you remember how Charlotte would weave words such as “Terrific” or “Radiant” into her web and then Wilbur would try to live up to whatever it said?  Just like Wilbur, our children will live up to whatever label we put over their heads and speak into their ears!  By the way,  our Heavenly Father writes “Beloved” over our heads.

This past week we dissected flowers for Science, and it was a treat.  We only scratched the surface of all their is to see in one small blossom.   I thought it was cool that on a lily, what appeared to be outer petals were actually the sepals.

In Fine Arts, we had the girls accompany the boys, while they sang Twinkle, Twinkle, and then, they all seemed to enjoy singing Row, Row, Row Your Boat in a round.  We may try it next week with our tin whistles, if they get a chance to practice some at home.  It will be our last week of tin whistle.

I will be cheering for you and your team this week:

^” For this reason I kneel before the Father,  from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high, (reminds me of the cubes we learned in math this week:) )and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”  (Ephesians 3:14-21)

WOW!!  Go Team Go!

Becky

 

 

If you aim at nothing, you’ll always hit it!

I think my homeschooling attempts can look like that sometimes. Plodding ahead, just doing the next thing, and wondering why sometimes subjects get rather dull, and learning seems to come to a halt!  Having no clear cut goals, I’m aiming at nothing,  and that, combined with no little carrots dangled in front of my child, is a sure-fire way for my child and me to become discouraged!

I don’t know about you and your family, but I’m starting to feel behind in our study of Latin declensions!  One of our students said she gets a sundae at Culvers when she gets them down pat.  What a great idea!  Simple, fun and a nice little reason to try a little harder!

This week:

Fine Arts: We talked about practicing slowly and maybe even just play a measure 3x in a row before moving on!  Best to not practice mistakes over and over!  Goal: Play Row, Row, Row Your Boat together next week and if we are feeling brave, play as a round?!  (Please bring the copy next week that I sent home today. )

Science:  Another fascinating week of observing God’s incredible creation!  Owl pellets held amazing bits and pieces of their previous lunches and the students who were hesitant at first to touch something so “gross” were soon immersed in wonder. Goal:  See God’s handiwork everywhere you look and give Him the praise He deserves!

Review:  After sitting around over-indulging for the past week (well, speaking for myself,) we had a good time doing some appropriate exercises for this Christmas season: Taffy Pull, Build a Snowman, Candy-canes, and Jack-n-the Box!  I think I’ll set a goal of doing those everyday this month!

So that’s what Logan and I will be chatting about this week.  What are some goals, both long term and short term, upon which we could set our sights?  And what are some little rewards along the way?  Any good ideas?

Have a great week!

Becky

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (KJV Philippians 3:14)

 

The joy of the Lord is my strength.

I tend to get that thought backwards.  Often I think, if only I was stronger, I’d be happier!  However, the older I get, and the weaker I may feel, I am finding that His joy really does give me strength.

There is joy in knowing that every sacrificial act of motherhood can be offered as an act of worship, and that act does not go unnoticed by my Heavenly Father.  There is joy to be found in the fun, the mundane, the burdensome,  and even the irritating chores of running a household, knowing that as a servant:  “better is one day in His house than a thousand elsewhere;”  ( Psalm 84:10)  When I know that “He gently leads those with young,” (Isaiah 40:11b )   I am reassured that I am not alone, and that puts a smile on my face and a song in my heart.

We enjoyed our Science time so much this week!  The crayfish, which I thought could be a bit boring, caused such squeals of delight and groans of horror that there was no end to the excitement in the room!  Who knew that such a common, largely unnoticed crustacean could have so many amazingly designed body parts, and that was only the exterior! We were able to see first-hand an exoskeleton, and the joints of an arthropod, putting in to use some of our vocabulary and knowledge learned in previous weeks.

English: Prepositions- Outside (pretend to look outside with hand shielding the sun from your eyes.)  Over (bunny hop “over”)  Past (shoot one hand past the other)  Regarding (make a pistol shape with right hand and pop it off your shoulder)  Since (same action with both hands)

Geography: I just told a silly story about purchasing a China dish in Beijing and filled it with golden broth.  A Mongolian came along and stomped on it, causing 2 cracks: the Yellow River and the Yangtze River.  All the yellow broth ran out into the Yellow Sea. 

Math:  We marched to” When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again,” for the 15s, and saluted when we came to certain underlined numbers.  Very fitting since we just celebrated Veteran’s Day.

History: Just when I think one more ditty will not stick in my head, another one does and comes in so handy when I want some quick info about all sorts of topics! How about you?  Are you amazed?  I am grateful for the patient students who have already done this cycle and are frequently the ones to ‘jump start” the class on the tune!

I am so thankful we are all in this together.  I hope you are encouraged this week to find your strength in the joy that only He can give.  I also hope that along with all of our silly little ditties, there are some great songs of praise in your head,  and in your heart! He gives us songs in the night you know! 🙂

Becky

Better is one day in His house than a thousand elsewhere;  I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of the wicked.  (Psalm 84:10)

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; He gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:11)

The LORD will send his faithful love by day; His song will be with me in the night–a prayer to the God of my life. (Psalm 42:8)

 

 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Praise Him, all ye creatures here below!

Someone recently reminded me that the best defense to fight discouragement is to praise God.  Praise takes our eyes off ourselves, and the looming problem(s)  we all deal with, and puts our attention back where it should stay… on our wonderful, creative, loving Heavenly Father!  Today, in science, we talked about our senses of taste, smell, and sight, and I came away with a sense of awe; that God so brilliantly designed our tongues, our noses, our eyes, and even our ears  to make just the act of eating food  so enjoyable!  He is so good, and worthy of our praise!

English: Prepositions (continued)-of (make ASL ‘O’ with pointer touching thumb then flip up last 3 fingers to add the ASL ‘F’)

off (lay right hand on left forearm and quickly remove)

on (right hand back on left forearm)

onto (walk hands onto a surface)

out (point thumb over shoulder like an umpire)

Geography: Indus River Valley : We just toured the areas, starting with Great Indian Desert, jumped in to ride our Arabian Sea horses all the way around the point of India to wind up in the Bay of Bengal.  Climbing onto the shore, we dried off and paddled across the Ganges River and then climbed the Himalayas.  Whew!

Science:  Monocot– hold up one finger,  Dicot- hold up 2 fingers!  Con-i-fer-clap hands in rhythm with the word over your head like a tall pine tree! (Oooh!  I love these easier weeks!)

History:  We just sang the song and swayed in tempo with the waltzing 3/4 beat!

I am so looking forward to next week’s Thanksgiving Feast!  How is it possible that a whole year has passed since our first one?  What a great chance to focus on our blessings, and be reminded that everyday should be Thanks-giving Day!

I am thankful for the opportunity to be your child’s tutor!  Have a great week.

Becky

 

 

hankful to be your child’s tutor!