Chronic Pain - just what?

Barely holding it together. I swear it is the fact that I NEED to help my daughter transverse teendom into adult hood, that I'm not already in a padded cell screaming silently.

Put pain and fat in the same sentence and doctors see fat and lazy, can't help herself won't get anything from me. I give my tenderest most vulnerable self to these thin fit doctors and I get cold shoulders and presumptions.

I lay awake here at night... Silently screaming, like some episode on The Middle where Franky goes ballistic and then says, well that's what happened in my head. Siently screaming for justice, calling them out on their wrongly preconceived ideas.... Tears falling to my pillow.

I ask Jeff tonight... Ok I told Jeff tonight that I feel crazy. I feel they don't believe me that the pain that flows through me is real. Heck, I'm beginning to question if my pain is real. Surely I can't be making this up. I mean dude, get up and walk you are not hurting. Oh.... How many times I've heard " that can't cause pain" or " normally people don't experience pain with such and such". Im tired, I'm done, I'll fight to make it through to see my daughter off to college and then I'll just lie down and die. Surely death is the only thing that can free me from this physical pain.

I'm not good at crying out to God. I mean yes, when I'm sweating from pain so intense I can't even breathe,

I throw out a "God please please help me". But I don't know how to pray for this merciless ache that follows me day in and day out. How do I say anything but if it be your will? I've prayed for wisdom for doctors. I've prayed for healing. I've prayed for just an answer, not even relief.

Yup, I'm short, I'm fat, I've become very inactive because of this pain, can you now look past that Doctor? Please? See me as a fellow human who deserves your full attention.

Sleep eludes me, my heart is breaking, the tears flow, and yet still the anger builds. Quiet down little temper, you've got years to go still.

Pain

I had dreams this summer. Dreams of walks by the river, gentle hikes, refinishing furniture, creating and painting. But this summer has come and gone and here I am.... A weeks worth of doctors appointments and curled up in bed with my only friend..... My only connection to the outside world. While I'm an introvert by nature I do truly love friendship and adventure. But honestly I'm not that fun to be around anymore. Don't ask me how I'm doing, I'm surviving. Here are my ramblings from my 2 am stupor where I let it go and felt sorry for myself. It happens

After fighting back pain for over a year I finally felt I might have the upper hand. Then the first kidney stone hit. Two surgeries and a hospital stay to get that one out. I knew at that time my other kidney had an equally large stone. While all my co-pays and out of pocket maximums have been met I elected to get that one removed 2 months later. Was it a big mistake? My life hasn't been the same since. Chronic pain and inflammation once again riddle my entire body. But despite that I started school with my last kid home. Monday, two subjects, it went well minus my intense pain. Tuesday morning I was in the ER with again another, smaller, but just as painful kidney stone. There went school for the week.
The intense pain I had been dealing with since the June surgery has almost doubled this week. Unable to do anything for myself but lay perfectly still and hope I don't get too sore in one position.

I'm suppose to try again tomorrow to start up school. I've got a worthless urology appointment in the afternoon. Worthless because I'm sure absolutely nothing will be done minus a lets wait and see if it happens again. Ugh!
Tuesday I'm meeting with a rheumatologist to see why my Sed rate and C-reactive protein is so high. My regular doctor has ruled out rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Then she basically threw her hands up and said I don't know.

Breathing.......because it helps to get it out on paper (electronic as it is) crying because my pain can not be seen by others, and therefore I imagine everything they must be thinking. Screaming inside because I can't stand the pain. And honestly, I'm fearful. So much has been cut out of my diet, I still gain weight on, who knows, air? What is wrong with me? And how.... How am I going to finish out homeschooling my youngest (14) if I can't even focus myself let alone help her focus.

It's all running through my mind..... One breath at a time? One minute..... One second?

Life feels impossible

Mega Bubble Bath

I love to take a hot bath and soak my pain away. However since we moved into this house the only tub is upstairs with the kids rooms. Need I say more? Ok, one more thing, it's a tomb of a tub. So tiny and you can't lay back if you care about your neck bones. It's straight up and down! I'll admit I've scrubbed as much yuck as I could and succumbed to trying to relax in that tub, but I have to be desperate.
Fast forward a bit to a few weeks ago when my husband and I took an anniversary trip. Just the two of us. As I was booking the hotels I kept looking for a jacuzzi tub in the rooms. The first two nights the only room available was just a regular room. However even the standard tub was pure luxury to our tomb of a tub at home. I enjoyed several baths, especially since I walked the beach for way to long and honestly didn't think I'd ever make it back. I took full advantage of no guilt on my water is usage. Shame.....

The third night we stayed at a really out of the way motel, yes you read that, a motel with an actual real metal key to enter the room. The reason I chose such a place.....it had a jacuzzi tub. Now driving up to this place, I questioned my own sanity, walking to the room my husband questioned my sanity, but when we opened the door, it actually was a beautiful room. And there in the corner, surrounded by windows overlooking the pounding waves was my jacuzzi. Ahhhh! The door was barely closed and I had the water running!
So, what does this terribly long story have to do with bubble baths? My sweet teen girls but together a gift basket for us. It included muscle soaks, chocolates, candles, lotions and bubble bath. It was our last night out so I thought I should pour a little in.
Here's the deal, the bath water was hot. I opened the window next to the jacuzzi, and my husband had the sliding glass door open for the cross breeze. I just love ocean air breezes. I love them even more when I'm sitting in a big hot bath. Now, the bubbles in the bath were getting a wee bit more aggressive then I had anticipated, but for some crazy reason the thought never occurred to me that turning on the jets would make it worse. It was like that 80's horror flick, The blob. Except this time it was in bubble form, quickly the bubbles were growing higher then the tub by about 8 inches or more. That's when it happened...... The ocean breeze kicked up a nice gust and off went a huge amount of bubbles out that open sliding glass door. I'm fast.... I shut the jets off but the bubbles just stayed. Seriously this was the best bubble bath ever made. Those bubbles would not die. Again, another whoosh from the ocean breeze and again bubbles are flying out the glass door. Im in hysterics as I try to consider what all the people on the beach must be wondering. Do they see the massive amount of bubbles floating out of room 62? Are the bubbles dissipating quickly or are they sticking to someone's window 2 floors down? Hysterical laughing ensures.

Quickly I close the window and my husband closes the glass door. I start to let the water, and hopefully the bubbles out. Water went, bubbles stayed.

As crazy insane as it was, I eventually got the bubbles down and re-started the bath again. Totally worth it!

Pinterest Perfect

Recently I've picked up pining on Pinterest again. Having had a second surgery in just a few months I've done a lot of sitting and thinking and well.... Pinning.
Which brings me to the title of this post. My home, my homeschool, my kitchen, my diet and simply my life is perfect..... On Pinterest. However if you show up at my house announced or unannounced you'll see a typical American homeschool families little home. A dinning room table that longs to be refinished, a piano that's more then slightly out of tune, laundry spilling out of the too small laundry room and possibly more then a few Amazon boxes holding various impulse good for my family purchases. In fact there is not one Pinterest worthy spot in my house.

It's ok! My failure to implement my pin worthy boards into my life does not define me. It does not define my commitment to my family or being a keeper at home. It's a dreamers tool, a place to design and pretend and maybe just maybe find a helpful or fun thing to try. Don't let it become something you compare yourself to. Don't let it define your self-worth.

You can pin that!

Andrew Lang's Fairy Books - NOTEBOOKING and FREE BOOKS

 

Grab the free note booking pages for Andrew Lang's Fairy Books Here!

You can also download all of Andrew's Fairy books from Amazon for free. 

The Violet Fairy Book 

The Blue Fairy Book 

The Red Fairy Book 

The Pink Fairy Book

The Yellow Fairy Book

And More

Common Core With Will Estrada Part 3

Thank you to the Daily Caller for providing these interviews.

Will Estrada on Common Core Issues

For You They Signed - Looking ahead

I'm always looking ahead. My oldest two are finishing their freshman year and we have loved almost everything we have done. This time of year however, I start looking at my bookshelves, checking out the curriculum magazines that magically appear on my doorstep and looking forward to what I want to do next year with the kids.

Today is Monday. Mondays are usually not a great day to just sit around and pour over books. Usually there is washing to be done, chores to be caught up on, music lessons to run to and normally I'm delivering my Avon orders. But today, it's snowy, my husband is home not feeling well. I'm not feeling well. We have a sick chicken, yes chicken, and well I simply thought I'd take a look at whats on my shelf and sit and read awhile.

It's been several hours and I am now surrounded by Abeka 10th grade geography, Bob Jones geography, British literature, American Literature, 5th grade spelling, Vocab and Spelling, Writing and Grammar and well a host of other things. Yes, all from just thinking I might take a peek on my shelf and grab a book to read.

I  have this love hate relationship with living books vs boxed curriculum. I love a good book. I love the conciseness and non parental involvement of boxed curriculum. I hate trying to fit my living books into a perfectly organized curriculum by subject, date and relevance and I hate not having the full story in a textbook. Every year I go through the same problems. Geography is a great example of using a text book. It's organized and I know they are going to learn just enough. Literature is a poor example of a text book. While it's good for organized learning, reading half-stories is boring and I think does not feed a desire to read good literature. It takes the best parts of a book and leaves it at just that. You kind of miss the connection you get with the author and the characters when you don't read a book cover to cover . Don't get me wrong, textbooks are a good tool. I just don't feel like it's going to be what we want. Yet I believe I own every literature text book every made.

So, I've gotten way off my topic of what I wanted to talk about, but since this is a blog you get to read along with my spastic thought pattern.

Amongst my looking at books today I came across a little gem that I bought at the used curriculum fair last year. Marilyn Boyer's For You They Signed, The Spiritual Heritage of Those Who Shaped Our Nation. I picked it up last year because I had remembered hearing great things about the book and well, if a book has made any impression on me that I remember it while in the throws of  the pure joy of a book sale I must purchase it. I hugged my book, loved it a little held it close and when we got home gazed at it longingly as I put it on my shelf to be rediscovered today. Yes, a year later I pulled it out to peak inside the cover. I was even so excited I handed it off to my husband only to be greeted with "Oh yea, I read that last year when you bought it" (LET DOWN)

Before you faint, let me just remind you that I had already picked out what my kids were going to be doing for this year before I bought the book.

I curled up on the couch, surrounded by these loads of textbooks and started reading. It was the first time ever.....(I can not believe I'm admitting this) that I have read the Declaration of Independence. My immediate thought after the first few paragraphs was I have got to post this on Facebook. People need to read this. I popped over to facebook on my phone, yes I was still in the middle of reading, and started to post only to stop myself and shy away from telling everyone in the world that I had never read this founding document that our entire country rests upon. Um, yeah, no. Instead I'm sitting here telling you and I'm going to go post this on Facebooks so......yeah, throws a big knot into my thought process. Seriously if you have not read this document you really need to get your eyes on a copy now. Especially today!

I spent the next two hours devouring this book. I have to say it has been a sincere pleasure to read the stories of our founding fathers. Marilyn has outdone herself with the history and research that reside in-between the covers of this book. This is not a TEXTBOOK, it is a beautiful story interwoven with the lives of those who took a stand for our freedom when it was not the popular thing to do

I know I will not do it justice to explain how this book is laid out. I will however give you the link to their site. They have a sample chapter you can download and of course they have spent way more time concisely telling you about this book. No rabbit trails like my blog. :)

For You They Signed - Marilyn Boyer

Needless to say, my children will be reading this next year. It really is quite an amazing book. I consider it a must absolutely own book.

What About Socialization?

Ah yes, the all time most asked question from New Homeschool Moms and home education doubters. Why is this? Are we really worried about socialization? Do we even know what socialization means? Is it possible you mean socializing? Is there a difference?

Let's look at some definitions and then I'm going to open it up to Veteran Mom's to post what they mentor new homeschool mom's with. I believe having many opinions on this topic is just tools a new mom can use.

Let's look first at the word Socialization.

Socialization - from wikipedia

Socialization (or socialisation) is a term used by sociologists, social psychologists, anthropologists, political scientists and educationalists to refer to the lifelong process of inheriting and disseminating norms, customs and ideologies, providing an individual with the skills and habits necessary for participating within his or her own society. Socialization is thus ‘the means by which social and cultural continuity are attained’.^[1][2]

Socialization describes a process which may lead to desirable, or 'moral', outcomes in the opinion of said society. Individual views on certain issues, such as race or economics, are influenced by the view of the society at large and become a "normal," and acceptable outlook or value to have within a society. Many socio-political theories postulate that socialization provides only a partial explanation for human beliefs and behaviors, maintaining that agents are not 'blank slates' predetermined by their environment.

Interestingly it seems to have nothing to do with how many friends you have or if you have friends or if you can interact with another human. Mom, this is what YOU want to instill in your children. You do not want friends or teachers or the government telling you or your children how to view the social issues of our society. We as Christians want to filter everything through the Bible. 

Read on....

Socializing - socializing  present participle of so·cial·ize (Verb)

Verb

1. Mix socially with others.

2. Make (someone) behave in a way that is acceptable to their society: "newcomers are socialized into our ways"

3. To take part in social activities.

    

Oh? A verb?. Last time I looked verbs are actions. Does it require work? Yes, you will need to make effort and opportunities for your children to make friends. But that is not the end all to the question. Thankfully it's not that hard. Church will offer plenty of opportunities to meet families. Homeschool groups and co-ops are another good way to meet families that have children. Taking advantage of park days, classes or just hanging at the library are all going to offer socializing opportunities. Honestly, if you have more then one child, a grandparent, a family member or even your neighbor you're going to be hard pressed not to interact with someone at some point. (socializing)

I want you to come away with two things. The knowledge between the two different word forms of socialization. Most of the time when you are asked "Well, what about socialization?" they mean are your kids going to have any friends. Rarely do you run into someone who wants to know how you are going to teach your child to view their world.
I also want you to feel confident that just because you homeschool you will not ruin your child socially. Truth be told when you look back in a few years you will laugh as you try to figure out how you are going to find time to "do school" in between all your socializing commitments.

Breathe, Mom who is new to homeschooling! You've already conquered one of the biggest battles in homeschooling. Answering the world when they ask "What about Socialization?"

Let's open this up to veteran homeschool mom's now. Tell me, how do you answer the above question?

Notgrass History

We are so close to finishing our first year with Notgrass History. This year my freshman have been completing the World History program.
What I love:
It is NOT teacher intensive (this could be why my dislikes are dislikes)
It integrates Bible
Includes intensive questioning that make the kids think and apply
Great Literature
Grammar points
Includes writing ideas to incorporate it with the History
Friday's or the 5th day is Bible Study and intensive
Includes living documents for study
Is written in a way that is interesting!

Since this is an honest opinion and I've not been asked to give my opinion for any compensation I'd like to cover what I am not liking about this program for my children.

What I do not like:
While the literature is great, it's very heavy reading for a freshman
There is not a lot of  "literature discussion"
While writing is included, I didn't feel there was a great writing support for the parent or child. (It's kind of an on your own thing)

Not much to not like, right?

I suppose if you had the time and you put forth the effort you would find my dislikes are not really anything more then personal to our homeschool.

All in all I love the curriculum. My kids are loving the curriculum. The content and quality far outweigh my not so excitedness (is that a word?) of the literature portion.

I do highly recommend this company and their products. It's a small homeschool business compared to the big wigs and I love supporting them. They are real and available. I love it!

Have you Checked out my Avon Site?

Right above here you will see my "Buy Avon From Me" page. Yes, this is a shameless plug.

I love Avon products, BUT I'm not that fond of pushy sales people at my door. HONESTLY I've not had any pushy sales ladies and the one Avon lady I had years ago I LOVED! Such a sweet grandmotherly lady who took in my kids and I as if we were her own and treated me like a super star.(I was a very young homeschooling mom at that time with 6 year old twins and a highly active crazy loud 2 year old)

Because of this experience I wanted to become an Avon Rep. My goal is to service my homeschool community. Hopefully I'm known enough around here that they will feel comfortable being honest with me and letting me know if they would like to have an Avon service or not.

Another thing I liked about Avon this time is that I can do my work online. I'm an online shopper. I love Amazon. I buy silly things like laundry soap and dishwashing soap from them even. I mean two day free shipping AND it's coming to my door. I love it!

Avon does the same thing. Okay, not free two day shipping, but free shipping with a small $30.00 order and many times I know of a free shipping code for holidays or other occasions I can share.

Avon at your door, no pushy sales person, no reason to get out of your jammies (yes as a homeschooling mom there are times I'm in my jammies all day) to get your beauty products.

Speaking of which....I just have to share. A few weeks ago I had declared pajama day in our house. It's not often that we even have a day that we are not going somewhere, but this particular day was free of appointments, co-ops, music lessons, you name it. I lounged in my jammies all day. Imagine my horror when a knock came at my door. I send one of the kids to investigate praying it's UPS. No, it's our regular mail man. This of course means I need to sign for something.

He is not the nicest mail man we have had, and maybe it's our very long driveway and impossible gate he has to come through but his humor is usually not there with me. Of course, I'm trying to figure out what he is going to think about my jammies, and if I can find a good excuse for wearing them. Well, I didn't I just tried to laugh it off, with no smile from him.

My teenage daughter answers the door and he asks for her mother. Knowing I'm in my pajamas she stammers a bit and is speechless. He repeats, "It's not hard to get your mom is it?" She calls for me, remember I'm trying to figure out how to instantly be changed out of these jammies, but nothing worked. I hear him say "Now that wasn't hard was it?" UGH!

So, it's been a few weeks and I wasn't feeling great so I went ahead and declared pajama day again. You know what's coming don't you? Yup, he had to come to the door again. I didn't even bother. He probably thinks I live in my plaid jammies. Oh well.......I'm homeschooling for a reason right. :)

Back to my Avon.....you and I might be a lot alike. I prefer to talk to people via email, I prefer to visit online. I think I'm very much a people person and I love to chat and smile and drink coffee. I co-lead a very large co-op in our community and have the homeschool resource library just outside my house. I'm pretty versatile. Plus I'm not here to make tons of money. Some would be nice, I'd really like to find my niche in helping my husband out while staying home, but I also just like having something worth while to do. My girls are getting older and I'm trying to set a better example for them then was set for me. I'm a keeper of my home, a instructor of my children  and a help meet to my husband.

So, now that you know a bit more about me and why I chose to sale Avon, I hope if you are considering trying their products you will want to shop at my store, knowing that if you dislike anything for any reason I will do everything to make you happy with your purchase or as Avon says, I'll make sure you get your refund.

Thanks for letting me put in my shameless plug.

Now.....off to rally the troops for a little more school on one of our NON-pajama days! Mr. Mailman, your welcome to come by today if you like.

What we are doing for our Freshman Year

It's hard to believe as I type this that I have two freshman. It means we are only a few years away from completing this journey with them. Does learning ever end? It hasn't for me. I'm constantly repeating school. Thanks to homeschooling I think I've finally figured out that 1+1=2, in theory, unless you change what the number 1 stands for in that case it throws my whole theory out. Oh well! Maybe by the time Rebecca is a Senior I'll get it. :)

So, I promised yesterday I would write what we are doing for Highschool this year. It's evolved quite a bit since finding Easy Peasy Homeschool. Did I mention how much I LOVED all her links and direction. I've never met this woman, but if I do I will hug her! This has revolutionized our year.

So stay with me, I'm going to go by subject, tell you what we have done so far and what we are doing now. In a few cases its simple, in a few it's a little over the top to follow.

We will start easy!

Math - Math U See (I love the old versions)
Kahn Academy for explanations, videos and practice when needed.

History - We LOVE Notgrass World History! In all honestly I've not looked anywhere else for history for these kiddos. Not to say I wasn't looking before I found this but it's just perfect for my kids!

So, now it's going to get a little tricky

Literature - World Literature
We are using Notgrass World History which also comes with a literature program. It is great literature BUT, we haven't found a huge discussion on the literature. I felt they needed a bit more. After all we have been following Adam Andrews Teaching the Classics up until now. WHICH I LOVE!! Nothing will replace him, however with my 5th grader still needing a lot of my attention literature just wasn't going how I wanted.

So.....
Easy Peasy to the rescue! We followed her link to GA Virtual School for 9th grade Grammar and Literature.
It's been a win win for us.
And to find SAS Currciulum Pathways (which is FREE to sign up for) and see all the resources we have to fill in.....it just doesn't get any better.

Just to be clear we are still reading the literature from Notgrass World History AND completing this online course with GA Virtual.

Now, on to one of the trickiest of subjects for us.

Science - We are doing Biology this year.

We started the year with Biology 101 and LOVED LOVED it! My freshman devoured it, literally. We were done with it quite fast. We were following the accredited version of this course and instead of using library books as they suggest we were using Apologia Biology and The world of Biology by John Tiner. We still finished early. Like I said, they devoured it. I have no doubt it's due to the Biology 101 course. They are still telling everyone how much they loved it.

 So, I'm trying to figure out how to make this course keep stretching. After all they are suppose to have a full 180 hours in order to count as a credit. Sigh.... WAIT.....here comes Easy Peasy again! I have told you lately how much I love them?
I've checked out a few of her Biology recommendations and I'm so excited.
First we have Biology 101 from the Education Portal
Next we have Biology from GA Virtual
Finally we have SAS Curriculum Pathways

Can you believe all there is on Biology for FREE! Interactive educational whoop de doooo!

Thank you Easy Peasy for showing us the way!

Bible
Now my kids do some intense Bible Study with Notgrass History AND Awana AND Bible Study. Not to mention our fantastic co-op class on God's Heart for the Nations.

Art
They are also completing an Art History Course at co-op with  Meet the Masters!

Music
Just so you don't think I'm not doing enough with them.....hahahha.....they were also just accepted into our local Youth Orchestra.

Did I mention we are trying to fit in Institute  for Excellence in Writing? Looks like it might be a co-op class soon so I'm slacking in that area!

Loving Easy Peasy Homeschool!!

If you haven't checked out Easy Peasy Homeschool you should!

I have two freshman in high school this year and a 5th grader. I can't tell you how this has revolutionized our schooling. It's a fantastic FREE website that points you to all sorts of amazing websites on the internet. Each of these so far in our journey have been quality free learning sites. I can pick and choose as I go along. It's all in my control and yet the quality is hard to be beat.

Disclaimer: if you use some of the science sources that are free, please realize you should view them first. There is a bit of evolution in them. In my opinion my kids are well grounded in creationism and it's okay for them to see what others believe and question it. I encourage my older ones to question!

Here is what my 5th grader is doing and I should say LOVING!

Math Facts - Easy Peasy
Math - Math U See for workbook

Science Videos and fun stuff - Easy Peasy
Science Workbook - Abeka

Health - Abeka Workbook

Reading - Easy Peasy
Writing - Easy Peasy

Grammar - Schoolhouse Teachers Daily Grammar

Thinking Skills - Easy Peasy

Year 1 Easy Peasy
Bible
Art

We are also use her History as supplemental since we are doing History in Co-op.

As you can see, this is a very full curriculum for my 5th grader and she loves following the days lessons along with fun links. I love it too! Can you tell yet?

Tomorrow I'll tell you what my Freshman are doing this year. Stay tuned

Working from Home AND Home Educating

Well, I'm starting a new adventure. I wanted to find a little something I could do from home, with my daughters, in my ever shortening free time that MIGHT bring in a little extra money.

I searched high and low. I watched way too many promo videos. I researched, filled out surveys, and filled out more surveys. Guess they don't need white women aged 35. Oh well.

I wanted to find something that I could stand behind and that other homeschool moms might like. I'm not in it to get rich. I would like to see a small amount of profit someday, but I'm pretty laid back. I'm not the pushy type.

I decided to go with Avon. Yup, we all need more makeup in our life. Ok....I do. I rarely wear it anymore. I need good quality hair products that don't cost a fortune and it's nice to shop from home. Plus, even if I don't sell a dime except to myself I get a nice discount from already great prices. Sounds easy huh?

You can do it too! Or you can drop by my website and place an order. Doesn't matter where you are, as long as you live in the U.S. the order will ship to you. You will be helping out another homeschool family and getting products I promise will have a 100% guarantee.

So, there is my plug! Now go visit my new site and tell me what you think.

Susan Kroeker
Avon Independent Sales Representative

2011 Directory of Freebies From The Old Schoolhouse

Who doesn't love to try before you buy! The 4th annual 2011 Directory of Freebies is out and you can find it all here!
Great products to try from :

• ALEKS Math
• All About Reading
• All About Spelling
• American Heritage Education
• Apologia Press
• Barker Creek Publishing
• College Prep Genius
• Critical Thinking Company
• Deeper Roots - Devotional Studies
• Ecclesia College
• Fire Station Buddies
• Great Commission Languages
• Greek n' Stuff
• Heart of Dakota Publishing
• Hello-World Publications
• Home School in the Woods
• Janome Sewing Machine Company
• KBTeacher.com
• Landry Academy
• Math Mammoth
• Motherboard Books
• Movie Makers
• Nordskog Publishing
• North American Montessori
• Olivita Oink LLC
• Owlkids
• Perfect Praise Publishing
• Peterson Directed Handwriting
• Rain Before the Regin
• Sarah Books
• Schola Publications
• State History.net
• Super Star Speech
• Tiny Planets
• Lesson Plans from U.S Mint Education Initiative
• Video Text Interactive Homeschool Math
• Writeshop
• Zeezok Publishing

WHOO! That is a long list of free things to try this summer. Take a look around and enjoy.

The Old SchoolHouse

The Old School House Magazine

This may be one of my most favorite all in one homeschool magazines. In fact, it is the only one that I renew year after year. They are more then just a magazine company, they have ebooks, planners, curriculum and tons of free encouraging help for the home educator.

Here is their latest FREE items to encourage you on your home school journey!

The Old School House Free Resources

12 Amazing Freebies just for you! Enjoy

Well if we don't have enough on our plate already

I have a dream.... no we are not studying Martin Luther King Jr. right now. I have a dream to open a homeschool resource center here in my town. A place where one could go to offer or take classes from mom's, a place where you can find those out of print REAL history books. A quiet place for mom's to plan, kids to research and for all to share in this journey of homeschooling.

I would love to offer services at very little charge to no charge. Book binding, copy machines, fax machines, printers, computers, coffee and lots of it. Not just another book store, but a lending library, a curriculum treasure trove. A look and see before buying from the company. Believe it or not, I do not want to do this to make money. That is the true beauty of it.

So, things to research as of now, non-profit christian status, grant money - non government funded!! A place, the vision and the people!

If anyone has an extra 50,000 laying around, I know a great non-profit just waiting to blossom!

I think I can I think I can I think I can......

Wow, I really need to get my own words in writing to hand myself at this time each year. I always end the homeschool year swearing I will never fill up our schedule like that again, and yet, here we are beginning Oct. 1st with a full schedule that would blow even the deepest foundations over.

My husband recently accepted a canadency for a doctorate at Walden University. Yes, that sounds daunting, and I'm a tad bit worried about his mental health right now. Add in homeschooling three children, with three very active lives, running the homeschool support group meetings, a Friday school co-op with 80 children and numerous classes that add to our homeschooling experience and you have a recipe for insanity. Oh, yeah, and I'm in school full time too for my bachelors. Are we crazy or what? So, here is our weekly schedule, just to make you feel like your normal.

Monday - Homeschool 9-12 we are doing some pretty hefty classes this year
Piano for 8 year old
Science co-op for twins - Apologia
Botany for 8 year old
Guitar lessons for twins

Tuesday - Homeschooling again :0
The one day, where we stay home and hmmm, clean?

Wednesday - Homeschooling 9-12
Violin Lessons for 8 year old
Bible Study for Kids with Grandpa

Thursday - Homeschooling 9-12
Violin lessons for the older kids
Horseback riding for all three
AWANA for all

Friday - Friday School 8:30-12:00
Co-op (yes a second one) 1-4pm

Saturday - Everything else that needs to be done before we start it all over on Monday

Sunday - Church
Bible study
Planning Day

Now, if you were too add in my own schooling schedule, we would see I have exactly 3 hours and 42 minutes each day, if I read while making dinner :) Add in my husbands schooling and our day extends well into the evening.

Check back in 3 weeks when I show you just how a family of 5 can make 32 hours in a day appear :)

Finding True Strength to Homeschool

Have you spent your summer looking for the perfect curriculum? The perfect Chore Chart, meal planner or even trying to find the perfect schedule for your family. You know the schedule that is planned down to the millisecond so that you can fit everything into your life? Are you exhausted and school has not even begun? Is it your goal to start off each day with a few minutes of quiet time with the Lord? Do you know that for many families that is the secret to their success? It’s true. Time and time again I hear, “when I miss my morning time with the Lord, the day just doesn’t fly right.” For me, missing my time in the morning usually ends in a bad attitude, an impatient mom, and then transfers over to inpatient irritable children, who then irritate me more and by the time lunch comes, we are all ready to be away from each other.

It was on one of these occasions that I sat down and prayed. (Okay, I was sobbing in my room and decided it was time to ask the Lord what to do) I remembered that it had been a long time since I sat down in the morning hours and read my bible and prayed. Surely Lord, that can’t be the answer to my kids bad attitudes, the dog puking, the computer breaking down and the fact that my laundry could start a riot any day. But yes, was the answer I kept hearing, over and over. Wow, talk about being kicked when you’re down. Here my plate was full and overflowing and I knew the Lord wanted to me to add yet another thing to my morning. I’m such a failure Lord, how can you even stand me. I should have known all along that my time with you is far more precious then checking emails, or facebook. I should have known that seeking you first would give me the strength to deal with all that was ahead of me. I’m such an unworthy child lord.
I grab my bible and decide I should start then and now. I opened up the bible and let it fall where ever it did. After all I hadn’t been reading it anywhere in particular so anywhere was a good place to start. I began reading…The caption above the chapter read (Comfort for God’s People) I’ll start there. As I was reading Isaiah chapter 40 I began to sob again when I hit verse 11. “He will tend his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Imagine the relief I began to feel. The Lord is so good to us. Here I am ready to call it quits, reaming myself for not putting God first in my life, angry that I have failed at everything I but my hand to do, and yet, this verse, He will gently lead those that are with young. ( have you ever saw a mother sheep, mother bear, mother lion with their young. Usually they are trying to lie down and rest while the little cub is running over the top of them, biting their tails, swiping their eyes and flipping over mom to get to each other. Have any of you felt that way? The Lord knows raising children is tough. He knows we are only human, weary, exhausted and yet trying so hard to follow the Shepherd. He knows we fail daily, and yet here He is telling us that he will gently lead those who are with young. Gently, that was the word that got me. I envision the Lord gently reminding me about my devotions. Gently reminding me that my children’s character is more important then that day’s math assignment. Gently holding me when I begin to crumble under the day’s weight. And, then he gathers the lambs in his arms and carry’s them. He truly cares about our children, dare I say, more then we do. He will teach them what we can’t. As I continue reading Isaiah 40, I come to verses 28 and 29. He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable, he gives power to the faint and to him who has no might he increases their strength. I laid there on my bed crying, Lord, I have no more might. I need you to increase my strength.


I believe that I sat on my bed that day for about a half hour. I have no idea what my kids were doing, because I had left in such a fury. (They were cleaning the house) But, these verses became my theme for the year. He gently leads those that are with young, and he gives strength to those who have no might.


The most important thing this year for you and for your family is remembering where your strength comes from. Envision the Lord leading you gently, knowing you will make mistakes, knowing you’re not perfect, your curriculum will never be perfect, your house will never be perfect and no matter how hard you try your children will never be perfect.

Ikea laptop desk OR Kids private workstation!

If you feel the need to purchase one of these, or 4, for my kids and I go right ahead! At 59.99 a pop these space saving wall stations fit the bill for most of our needs. I know what everyone is getting for Christmas!

I'm thinking four walls, four kids, four desks, private, quiet work. Or I could be sorely dreaming.