So here we are in a local play area as a special reward for completing several responsibilities, munching on our lunch and anticipating the playtime to come, when in squeals a little one followed by his family. Of course, the little boy’s straight path to the slide was followed by older sister’s yells and mother’s quite colorful language insisting upon his eating first before play. The whole exhibition to follow was mesmerizing to Mommy and AbiNoelle. Continue reading “Never say “No, don’t, stop, or not that way!””
With a bounce of curls, bright eyes, and a confident smile, she presented the worksheet to her teacher. “Did I do good?” questioned the eager face. To the capable eye, the error was clear, yet not wanting to cloud the happiness, hesitation wondered, “Must I mark that wrong?”
Continue reading “Should you mark that answer wrong?”
I love talking about education, reading about education, and EDUCATING! Because of the variety of opportunities given to us by the Lord, I have been able to personally chat with hundreds if not thousands of homeschoolers and teachers. In conversation, curriculum choice, processes, practices, worldviews, and opinions (and this group of people tend to tip the scales with “opinion”) seem as vast as the sands on the seashore and many times as changeable as an old hat. In this day of political correctness, blurred gender distinctions, and equality, many would t0ut that education should, at its very core, stem from a place of neutrality. Whether Common Core, Outcome -based, STEM, No Child Left Behind, bureaucrats insists they have the answer to quality, NEUTRAL education; however, the ages of time illustrate that basic assumptions of life and of the purpose thereof, guide and direct thoughts and actions creating a worldview which shape the very essence of curricula. I never cease to be amazed at the many educators (homeschoolers or schoolteachers) who, over time, adapt or follow suit completely with such experimental platforms, allowing corrupt politics to influence the minds and hearts of students. Many years ago, we had the awesome privilege of traveling throughout the western Canadian provinces. Continue reading “Ready, set, View the World & Go Neutral?”
The office was humming, and AbiNoelle was busy about her work. Of course, she is ALWAYS BUSY! – So that wasn’t unique; yet, her concentration and determination with this particular task was longstanding. As she worked, her continual commentary revealed the deeper lesson being learned. “I’m being
Continue reading “Feeling Accomplished?”
Well…she took Washington D.C. by storm!…or should we say, it took her? Participating in Awake America’s Capitol Connection was filled with many SWEET memories and will be long remembered by AbiNoelle. People, preachers, Congressmen, Senators, and more to meet everyday – how exciting! On our last night in town, as we drove through the streets towards our hotel, she just couldn’t express enough that we must… Continue reading “We should MOVE! The sweet and sour…”
“Daddy, what’s the Constitution?”
In preparation for an upcoming trip to D.C., Daddy has been giving some before-bed history lessons. As we entered the “Birth of America” period, the brain wheels were cranking for AbiNoelle. It was during this lesson, that AbiNoelle decided how she would vote and gave her opinion about the Constitution. Wait until you hear the answer. Look out Washington D.C. – here comes AbiNoelle!
From the hubbub of the holidays to a vigorous start in the new year – life is busy! With the church Christmas play, family events, and other memory-making moments passed, we turned to a new year of scheduling for family and ministry. Traveling for our ministry causes great excitement as AbiNoelle loves to GO anywhere and she loves people and preachers! Daily ministry office tasks are never-ending and constantly growing and vying for attention. Homeschool activities, family time, Ladies Sunday School Tea Party (what a “Tea”-rrific time), personal projects, the list goes on AND the bathroom really needs cleaning!! Life is busy, but life is also brief. Just this month, we have witnessed a lady in a year-long recovery from a horrific car accident, a grandfather’s fall while on vacation causing a tramatic brain injury, and a dear pastor friend passing into Heaven after a sudden heart attack. Busy Life. Brief Life – Two adjectives that give pause when you wake in the morning saying, “There is just too much to do today to do school!” Believe me, I find that thought peeping out from under the covers at least once a week. So, what to do?
- Get up and do it! From day one, we established a routine for AbiNoelle’s school days, and we are so thankful! At four, AbiNoelle doesn’t quite grasp the busyness of schedules. She simply gets up, eats breakfast, gets dressed, and expects school to start. Thankfully, we chose a program that allows Mom to prepare boardwork and paperwork the afternoon before so that each morning the school day is ready to start without wasting time trying to figure out what to do first. The A Beka DVD program is great for busy Moms because it allows you to be as involved in your child’s education as you desire, while enthusiastically engaging the student in learning so that Mom can get some needed things accomplished. Building good habits from the beginning makes life a little easier when times get hectic.
- Finish the Job! AbiNoelle loves Patch the Pirate and one of his songs has been sung on many occasions during school when we think of quitting for whatever reason: “Finish the job, finish the job, get it done! Finish the job, finish the job, then have fun! When you have a job to do, never quit until it’s through. Finish the job, finish the job…go and get it done – finish the job!” From day one, we have had the policy of finishing the school day before playing, lunch, shopping or other activities. Some days that has meant being flexible, getting up earlier, or even eating breakfast during school so that we complete school and move on to other special activities for the day.
- Do it right! I admit, the thought has crossed my mind to just allow “art time” or “craft projects” or cooking, cleaning, etc. to “count” as school time. While those activities are great learning tools to utilize, they can never replace a planned curriculum that insures that AbiNoelle will not miss out on one important topic of learning. I also realize my own weakness in busy times is to skip those needful reviews and extra practices. Life is brief. God has called us to do whatever our hand findeth to do with our MIGHT. That doesn’t mean skimping or half-heartedly. It doesn’t mean talking ourselves into accepting excuses and degrading school from top priority to the bottom-of-the-barrel, extra-curricular option. NOW is the time. Today is important!
And so…with those 3 thoughts, we made up that bed, drank our one-cup-a-day mug of coffee and started school. As each day ended and we returned to the bed, we realized that the bathroom still needed cleaning but much had been accomplished and we had no regrets for completing a successful school day! Enjoy the quick highlights below of some of our fun times!
(From left to right) 1. Our ministry hosted a special Pastor’s dinner with Chef Dave in which AbiNoelle had the opportunity to quote Matthew 28. 2. Time-out for a ministry family pic. 3. Tons of fun in a big snowfall. 4. MeMe, AbiNoelle, and Mommy at our church tea party. 4. AbiNoelle with Chef Dave after the dinner.
What a wonderful CHRISTmas time we enjoyed this year, BUT…then it was over and it was time for all the decorations to come down. We were working together to put away “Christmas,” but AbiNoelle was determined to salvage what she could before it was packed away. “Can I just keep this one thing in my room, Mommy?” Before long, that one thing became five and Mommy was forced to insist that it all be packed up until another year. With a cry of true anxiety, she bounded off to her room with a sigh that she “just can’t take this anymore!” Oh, the adjustments of life!
So the “Christmas” was down and the snowmen up for January! AbiNoelle has been praying that God will send some fun snow to enjoy soon – afterall, she does want a chance to use those snow toys, but so far it’s just been rainy and too warm.
We were glad to get back to the regular school routine, albeit, AbiNoelle was slightly more enthusiastic than Mommy. We had just started Numbers with Mrs. Pintar. Mommy stepped out of the school room for just a second to put away something, when a scream surged through the house. Mommy rushed to the school room to see AbiNoelle with her hands covering her mouth.
“AbiNoelle! What in the world happened!”
“It’s the new number, Mommy. I just can’t stand it! Mrs. Pintar is about to 
show us what our new number is for today!”
That Numbers Time – I just don’t know how much more fun we can have! She had such a great time making patterns and counting and matching the amount of felt shapes to the number. However, we did have to talk about how to express ourselves in a slightly less dramatic fashion!
WOW! Cursive writing is quite impressive! It’s amazing what AbiNoelle can accomplish when she listens and follows Mrs. Pintar’s exact words! She was so excited to learn how to connect letters and write her very first word all by herself.
And, of course, we had to stop and take time to recognize her 100th DAY OF K4 School! AbiNoelle loves to paint, so it was super special to be able to take an old shirt and spiff it up to mark this day. We wrote 10 – 100 down the side and used paint to make 10 rows of 10 thumb prints. Counting to 100 by 10s was a breeze and a blast!
Now back to Christmas…
What a great heritage and special blessing! Every year, AbiNoelle and PopPop read Luke 2 together. For a couple of years, AbiNoelle has had Luke 2:1-20 memorized, so she enjoys “helping” PopPop with the reading.
Christmas with Grandpa and Grandma also includes the tradition of spending time together as a family and quoting Luke 2.
Without question, a precious memory made this year, was AbiNoelle being “an angel” in the Church Christmas Play with all of her little friends. Of course, Mommy had to throw in a little “funny” when she was listening to the girls practicing “Silent Night, Holy Night, All is Calm…” knowing that everything was all BUT calm with that group! On the serious side…AbiNoelle was given the opportunity to quote Luke 2 in narrator fashion during the play – it was precious, special, and never to be forgotten!
AbiNoelle memorized Luke 2 last year, so this Christmas,
she gave to Jesus a birthday gift of learning Matthew 2:1-23. With each verse learned, she added a candle to the birthday cupcakes on our schoolroom board. Below is a video. We trust you will be blessed!
Here we are, riding along enjoying our beautiful mountains on the way to church, when out of the blue she says, “Hey guys…is our President, President Obama?”
We looked at each other, and with much hesitancy about what might come next, we said, “Yes, he is our President.”
“Is he a good President?”
Thankfully, Daddy was both literally and figuratively in the driver’s seat, so Mommy just turned and waited for the appropriate response.
Daddy carefully explained that President Obama does many things that we believe would not be the best for our country and that God’s Word opposes. But, you know AbiNoelle…the questions just kept coming!
Continue reading “How to explain President Obama to a four-year-old”
Homeschooling with a MISSION 
Recent Comments