It's the day to make a new friend!!
Click on the sign up tab below and get ready to start using the internet to get free stuff. Just use Swagbucks as you would any other search engine or toolbar and you'll earn Swagbucks which can be turned into my favorite--AMAZON GIFT CARDS. Also, until 4:00 PDT today, check out the "swag codes" button on my widget (below) to find a code worth 20 swagbucks to get you started! It's fun, it's free, it get you FREE stuff, so why not???
Monday, October 18, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Resources For Busy, Busy Moms!
I came across a great resource today over at MSM and had to share!!
Motivated Moms is a website that offers daily chore list that inexpensive and look easy to use. They come in different page sizes, so you can easily add them to a planner or post them on your refrigerator, like I plan to do. There are even options with daily Bible reading to help you read through the Bible in one year.
For a limited time, Motivated Moms is offering a 2010 3-month planner for only $2!! AND if you use the code LLNOE, you will get $1 off your order.
Anyway, I thought some of you very busy moms out there may find this helpful. Personally, I can't wait to print mine out and get started!!
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
The start of our homeschooling adventures
My baby boy turned six this summer! I cannot believe he's already ready for first grade, but alas, the time has come!
We struggled over whether to enroll him in the local public school or to homeschool him. In the end, though, we came down on the side of homeschooling. We had many reasons, but primarily, the level of education he would receive at home versus in the public school setting, and above that, the desire to protect him as long we possibly can from the negative influences found even in our small-town, rural school were the final decision makers.
So began my search to find the "perfect" curriculum. To my dismay, there are WAY too many choices available to the modern homeschooler!!! So many choices only served to confuse me and the next "neat" thing that I came across in my search of the internet ended up a distraction rather than a help. I finally saw that to be able to really make a final decision, I was going to have to decide what was most important to our family, what I thought would work for both Ryan as the student and me as the teacher, and of course, what it would COST.
Along the way, I found a few options that jumped out at me and a few websites that were particularly helpful. You can check out my sidebar over the next few weeks as I start to add them to my favorite homeschooling sites.
My Father's World is still at the top of my list as a possibility for the future, thought I opted against it this year mostly for budgeting reasons. The whole idea of a unit study is to include all your children, regardless of grade level, in one subject saving your time and promoting family togetherness. MFW is a a great option for history and geography from a biblical standpoint. It also is a great Bible curriculum.
MathUSee was recommended to me by two friends who have homeschooled their multiple children from the beginning and have seen great results using this curriculum. Since I have been involved in both teaching and tutoring math in the past, I was leery of choosing mathematics that I am not familiar with, i.e. Saxon Math. However, after taking an hour and a half to listen to the video introductions, I was highly impressed with the teaching techniques and the concepts presented by MUS. I'm hoping to be able to use this in the coming years with our boys.
Confessions of a Homeschooler is a blog particularly for parents of preschoolers, but full of great ideas for any homeschooler. She offers many FREE resources that are easily downloaded right to your computer, as well as link to other free or inexpensive ideas for curriculum and fun activities. Definitely check it out if you are just beginning to get a feel for what is out there!
Robinson Curriculum is another, very different, approach to schooling your children at home. My husband and I were both impressed with the concept. When you break homeschooling down to the basics, you get reading, writing, and arithmetic. That is what RC is all about. You purchase their set of cd's for a very reasonable cost, and you have all that you need to teach reading and writing to any child from 1-12 grade. A math curriculum has to be supplemented, as well as the beginning learning to read and write. They have every book you need for your child to receive an intense, balanced, Christian education. It's simply time spent writing, time spent reading, time spent learning math. Ideally, your child should be able to work alone most of the time with limited input by you as a teacher. They learn to learn on their own!
After a couple months of perusing the internet, looking at catalogs, asking lots of questions of my very patient parents and Aunt Michelle (a successful homeschooling mom of 5!) I finally settled with some very basic curriculum that I was already familiar with. Since I was taught using Abeka, I opted to go with that for our first year, as well as purchasing the Robinson Curriculum to use, or at least supplement, down the road.
At first, I shied away from Abeka simply because it is very intensive, but now that we have been using it a while, I'm finding that the detailed lesson plans actually help me stay focused and know what to DO as a first time homeschooler. After a couple days of trying to wing it without teacher manuals, I told my mom I had no idea what to actually DO to teach Ryan. HOW was I supposed to do this thing called homeschooling??? Abeka's teacher manual for homeschoolers has really helped me!! By the way, Ebay is a great place to find Abeka non-consumables at inexpensive prices.
Ryan and I both have been on a roller coaster ride since this school year started, but I think we're finally finding our groove and getting settled in. He had his first math test last week and aced it! He was so nervous...it was actually kinda cute! Now, he looks forward to Wednesdays because he gets to take another test. :-)
I am finding that above all, homeschooling takes lots of PATIENCE and GRACE and a CONVICTION to see it through. There are days that I think it would be so much easier to just drive down the road, enroll him in public school, and let someone else take care of teaching him, but that would be the lazy way out. The good days are beginning to outnumber the bad, and I'm starting to enjoy teaching him more and more. Seeing him learn to read and have a hunger for learning is awesome! I hope that my impatient days don't rob him of that joy of learning, but I know that ultimately, my son's future is the Lord's hands--hands much more capable than mine ever could be!
We struggled over whether to enroll him in the local public school or to homeschool him. In the end, though, we came down on the side of homeschooling. We had many reasons, but primarily, the level of education he would receive at home versus in the public school setting, and above that, the desire to protect him as long we possibly can from the negative influences found even in our small-town, rural school were the final decision makers.
So began my search to find the "perfect" curriculum. To my dismay, there are WAY too many choices available to the modern homeschooler!!! So many choices only served to confuse me and the next "neat" thing that I came across in my search of the internet ended up a distraction rather than a help. I finally saw that to be able to really make a final decision, I was going to have to decide what was most important to our family, what I thought would work for both Ryan as the student and me as the teacher, and of course, what it would COST.
Along the way, I found a few options that jumped out at me and a few websites that were particularly helpful. You can check out my sidebar over the next few weeks as I start to add them to my favorite homeschooling sites.
My Father's World is still at the top of my list as a possibility for the future, thought I opted against it this year mostly for budgeting reasons. The whole idea of a unit study is to include all your children, regardless of grade level, in one subject saving your time and promoting family togetherness. MFW is a a great option for history and geography from a biblical standpoint. It also is a great Bible curriculum.
MathUSee was recommended to me by two friends who have homeschooled their multiple children from the beginning and have seen great results using this curriculum. Since I have been involved in both teaching and tutoring math in the past, I was leery of choosing mathematics that I am not familiar with, i.e. Saxon Math. However, after taking an hour and a half to listen to the video introductions, I was highly impressed with the teaching techniques and the concepts presented by MUS. I'm hoping to be able to use this in the coming years with our boys.
Confessions of a Homeschooler is a blog particularly for parents of preschoolers, but full of great ideas for any homeschooler. She offers many FREE resources that are easily downloaded right to your computer, as well as link to other free or inexpensive ideas for curriculum and fun activities. Definitely check it out if you are just beginning to get a feel for what is out there!
Robinson Curriculum is another, very different, approach to schooling your children at home. My husband and I were both impressed with the concept. When you break homeschooling down to the basics, you get reading, writing, and arithmetic. That is what RC is all about. You purchase their set of cd's for a very reasonable cost, and you have all that you need to teach reading and writing to any child from 1-12 grade. A math curriculum has to be supplemented, as well as the beginning learning to read and write. They have every book you need for your child to receive an intense, balanced, Christian education. It's simply time spent writing, time spent reading, time spent learning math. Ideally, your child should be able to work alone most of the time with limited input by you as a teacher. They learn to learn on their own!
After a couple months of perusing the internet, looking at catalogs, asking lots of questions of my very patient parents and Aunt Michelle (a successful homeschooling mom of 5!) I finally settled with some very basic curriculum that I was already familiar with. Since I was taught using Abeka, I opted to go with that for our first year, as well as purchasing the Robinson Curriculum to use, or at least supplement, down the road.
At first, I shied away from Abeka simply because it is very intensive, but now that we have been using it a while, I'm finding that the detailed lesson plans actually help me stay focused and know what to DO as a first time homeschooler. After a couple days of trying to wing it without teacher manuals, I told my mom I had no idea what to actually DO to teach Ryan. HOW was I supposed to do this thing called homeschooling??? Abeka's teacher manual for homeschoolers has really helped me!! By the way, Ebay is a great place to find Abeka non-consumables at inexpensive prices.
Ryan and I both have been on a roller coaster ride since this school year started, but I think we're finally finding our groove and getting settled in. He had his first math test last week and aced it! He was so nervous...it was actually kinda cute! Now, he looks forward to Wednesdays because he gets to take another test. :-)
I am finding that above all, homeschooling takes lots of PATIENCE and GRACE and a CONVICTION to see it through. There are days that I think it would be so much easier to just drive down the road, enroll him in public school, and let someone else take care of teaching him, but that would be the lazy way out. The good days are beginning to outnumber the bad, and I'm starting to enjoy teaching him more and more. Seeing him learn to read and have a hunger for learning is awesome! I hope that my impatient days don't rob him of that joy of learning, but I know that ultimately, my son's future is the Lord's hands--hands much more capable than mine ever could be!
Monday, October 04, 2010
Keeping the faith
. We have so been enjoying it! Ryan is constantly asking to sing hymns now and recognizing songs during church services, while Brandon is watching his brother and beginning to try to sing these songs of faith. For me, it's so calming to have hymns playing throughout the day, especially on those days (seemingly more often, than not!) when things get hectic and chaotic all around me. Leaning On the Everlasting Arms
Amazing Grace
Holy, Holy, Holy
Come Thou Fount
--The words to these, and others, are timely reminders to keep my heart and mind focused on Christ when in the middle of such "mundane" things as home schooling, washing dishes, changing diapers or cleaning up regularly occurring messes. I've learned, often the hard way, that when my eyes are not of the Lord as my All in All, as the only Giver of Grace, that I can only fall and stumble and fail my husband and my children. My prayer today is that God would give me patience in this task of motherhood and grant me the grace to keep my faith pure before my family.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Roses
I spent an evening last week playing with my camera. It's a talent that I'd love to learn, photography, but I'm not sure when I'll ever have the time to take a class! :-) Anyway, until then, I continue to snap pictures, hoping a few come out nice enough to keep around awhile.
My dear friend, Vivian, who passed away two months ago, would always encourage me to keep trying and keep looking through that lens. I thought about her a lot while I was out there with my roses, trying to capture the beauty in God's creation.
Here are a few of my favorites.
I love how each one is totally unique. Even on the same bush, you won't find two blooms exactly alike. God's handiwork it wonderful!!!
My dear friend, Vivian, who passed away two months ago, would always encourage me to keep trying and keep looking through that lens. I thought about her a lot while I was out there with my roses, trying to capture the beauty in God's creation.
Here are a few of my favorites.
I love how each one is totally unique. Even on the same bush, you won't find two blooms exactly alike. God's handiwork it wonderful!!!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Hmmm....
As you can see, my blog is "under construction" and I'm planning a few changes. I really want to get back to posting more often, but I need to get my "thots" in better order and decide on a more themed approach. I'll be around now and then, so don't give up on me, my few and faithful bloggy friends!!
:-)
:-)
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Super Deal on Diapers!!!!
For those of you who wanted more details from my post on Facebook, here you go!!
Amazon.com is having a promotion right now for their Subscribe and Save program which automatically gives you 15% off certain products and free shipping. They are offering an extra 15% off select diaper and wipe products for a limited time. That is a total of 30% off!!! This program allows you to lock in the current price(15% off) and have your order shipped to you on a set schedule. You can cancel your subscription at any point.
I combined this with a coupon for 20% off any Amazon diaper purchase from the current Parents Magazine. (It was also in last months' issue, so you may be able to find more than one of these coupons to score two boxes of diapers!!!)
My total came to $12.54. I used two $5 Amazon gift cards I won through using Swagbucks and brought my total to $2.54 out of pocket.
Item(s) Subtotal: $25.08
Shipping & Handling: $0.00
Promotion Applied: -$7.52
Promotion Applied: -$5.02
-----
Total Before Tax: $12.54
Sales Tax: $0.00
Gift Certificate/Card Amount: $10.00
-----
Total for This Shipment: $2.54
BUT, I also use Ebates on a semi-regular basis! They just sent my my quarterly earnings, and I am transferring that to my bank account to cover the $2.54. That way, I essentially just bought a 76-ct box of Huggies diapers for FREE!!!!!
Here's a bit of info on Swagbucks and Ebates for those of you who may not know about these websites.
Swagbucks is a search engine that gives you points, or Swagbucks, for simply using their search bar. There are other ways you can earn these points, like taking surveys or getting referrals. Once you reach 450 Swagbucks, you can purchase a $5 Amazon e-gift card from the Swag Store. This is what I always buy with my SB's, but they a large variety of other items to choose from.
Ebates is a site that pays you a percentage of your purchase when you shop through their site. For example, I regularly buy from JcPenney online. Instead of going directly to JcPenney's website I go first to Ebates and click through to JcPenney. I then get a small percentage cash back from my purchase. Obviously, it's not a huge amount, but for me, every penny saved is a penny earned, and therefore, worth the few extra seconds it takes to me to go to Ebates first!!
Between this Amazon deal, the great deal CVS had last week, and scoring super cheap wipes at Walgreens yesterday, I am stocked to the ceiling (literally!!!) with diapers and wipes for my little guy. It's been neat to see how the Lord has provided for us by allowing to me to learn to bargain shop and use LOTS of coupons. He must get all the praise for being our Great Sustainer!!
For those of you who are just beginning, or wanting to begin to learn more about how to save on your grocery bill and never have to pay full price ever again for things like diapers, shampoo, toothpaste, even laundry soap, take a few minutes and check out my favorite frugal website, Money Saving Mom or find her on Facebook. She offers itemized lists each week for your local stores that includes what coupons you will need and where to find them, as well as a myriad of other posts on everything from homeschooling to starting your own business and everything in between!! I highly recommend that you sign up to receive her emails or RSS feed. It'll save you money and be worth every minute you invest to read her posts!!!
Friday, July 09, 2010
Jesus, I am Resting
Our dear sweet sister in the Lord, Vivian Risse, passed into His presence during the night. How our hearts break for her family, but are at the same time filled with joy in the knowledge that she is resting in the arms of our Saviour Jesus Christ. I miss you already, my friend!!
She always loved the lyrics to this hymn and said many times she wanted it used at her funeral.
She always loved the lyrics to this hymn and said many times she wanted it used at her funeral.
Jesus, I am Resting, Resting
Jesus I am resting, resting
In the Joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power
Thou hast made me whole.
Chorus:
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
O how great Thy loving kindness.
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O how marvellous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.
Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings;
Thine is love indeed!
Ever lift Thy face upon me,
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory,
Sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting;
Fill me with Thy grace.
Jesus I am resting, resting
In the Joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power
Thou hast made me whole.
Chorus:
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
O how great Thy loving kindness.
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O how marvellous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.
Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings;
Thine is love indeed!
Ever lift Thy face upon me,
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory,
Sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting;
Fill me with Thy grace.
Monday, June 07, 2010
Search and WIN BIG!!!!
Do you search the internet??? Why not get rewarded for what you're doing anyways???
Search as you normally would, and win points from Swag Bucks to buy special prices, including my favorite, a $5 Amazon gift card. I know it doesn't seem like a lot, but it adds up quickly, especially when you get others to join and start earning from referrals! Head over to Swag Bucks and sign up.
Right now is the best time to get started because this week Swag Bucks they will be highlighting a different high value Swag Buck bill, starting today with the 25. Every 7th searching win on Swag Bucks will be awarded that big bill, meaning that more people will have big wins next week! Don't wait!!! Go now!!!
Plus, if you sign up with Swag Bucks today, be sure to add SUMMEROFSWAG (case sensitive!!!) in the “Enter Your Swagcode” box on your homepage, and you’ll get 20 additional points added to your account!
Come join me in the fun of WINNING!!!
Search as you normally would, and win points from Swag Bucks to buy special prices, including my favorite, a $5 Amazon gift card. I know it doesn't seem like a lot, but it adds up quickly, especially when you get others to join and start earning from referrals! Head over to Swag Bucks and sign up.
Right now is the best time to get started because this week Swag Bucks they will be highlighting a different high value Swag Buck bill, starting today with the 25. Every 7th searching win on Swag Bucks will be awarded that big bill, meaning that more people will have big wins next week! Don't wait!!! Go now!!!
Plus, if you sign up with Swag Bucks today, be sure to add SUMMEROFSWAG (case sensitive!!!) in the “Enter Your Swagcode” box on your homepage, and you’ll get 20 additional points added to your account!
Come join me in the fun of WINNING!!!
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Fun giveaway from my friend Nichole!!!
TidbitsParenting is hosting a giveaway for one of these super cute, handmade balls for little ones made by Nichole Jordan at Handmade by Cole
Just follow the links and check out this cool toy for your little one!!!
Friday, April 23, 2010
I sell AVON!!!
Check out my website if you'd like. I like the laid back atmosphere of being able to sale at my own pace. Of course, I hope that this will turn into a true business to help my family, but for now, I'm learning about the company and the products and enjoying getting started. Help me out with some orders!!
:)
Note: I don't know what happened, but the links are fixed now!
:)
Note: I don't know what happened, but the links are fixed now!
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Still here...
Wow! I can't believe it's been so long since I've been able to post something on my blog. I miss it, but I have been so incredibly busy that to have been blogging all this time would have taken away from much more important and necessary tasks.
We are moved into our new home and still trying to settle in, even though it's been nearly five months now. It's so great to have our own place though! With so much space! I'm still working to decorate and learning to use all this space for something other than clutter!
My boys are doing well. Motherhood has definitely thrown me for some loops the last six months, but the Lord is helping to make it through each day by His grace and with lots and lots of help from my dear husband.
Ryan, who is five now, is starting to do some homeschooling. He loves learning new things, especially about math and reading. He's doing really well with spelling words and sounding out enough to read a bit. It's fun to watch him catch on to all these new things and move into this new world of SCHOOL!
Brandon is two and busy being all boy! He loves tools and anything to do with helping his Grandpa. Curious George is his favorite cartoon and shooting "bad guys" or wrestling with Daddy and Ryan are his favorite pastimes. We're working on potty training--NOT my strong suit--hopefully, we'll be past this milestone very SOON! He is still small enough that he enjoys cuddling with me. I'll be sad to see him outgrow that!
Matthew is six months old, nearly seven actually. He's very mobile! Keeping up with my floors is becoming a priority I need to be better at accomplishing since he is cleaning my floors with his tummy every day! He hasn't quite mastered actual crawling, but he does a mean army crawl! Oh, and he cut his first tooth this past week. It past with seemingly no ordeal. I didn't even realize it was coming in until I felt it when I was feeding him. He has started on lots of solids and seems to be handling it really well as long as there isn't any milk products in his diet or mine. He's still not the best sleeper, but I usually get at least six hours of rest, so I'm pretty thankful for that after months of only two or three hours for one part of the night!!
Our family is settling in after over a year of major upsets and changes. I've been through some serious emotional, mental and spiritual struggles, but I feel like there's light at the end of this tunnel. The Lord has remained faithful though I have failed in so many ways, so many times. It's been hard to be without a church family, but just this past week, I joined Calvary Baptist Church, a new work just beginning in the small town where we live now. I'm thankful that the Lord is moving us forward, and in time, I am confident that God will work in and through us to become a light in this community and a witness of His great love to those around us.
I suppose that is all for now. I don't know if anyone even stops by here anymore, but it's good for me to share some of what is going on in my life. It keeps me from becoming too focused solely on my four walls. :)
We are moved into our new home and still trying to settle in, even though it's been nearly five months now. It's so great to have our own place though! With so much space! I'm still working to decorate and learning to use all this space for something other than clutter!
My boys are doing well. Motherhood has definitely thrown me for some loops the last six months, but the Lord is helping to make it through each day by His grace and with lots and lots of help from my dear husband.
Ryan, who is five now, is starting to do some homeschooling. He loves learning new things, especially about math and reading. He's doing really well with spelling words and sounding out enough to read a bit. It's fun to watch him catch on to all these new things and move into this new world of SCHOOL!
Brandon is two and busy being all boy! He loves tools and anything to do with helping his Grandpa. Curious George is his favorite cartoon and shooting "bad guys" or wrestling with Daddy and Ryan are his favorite pastimes. We're working on potty training--NOT my strong suit--hopefully, we'll be past this milestone very SOON! He is still small enough that he enjoys cuddling with me. I'll be sad to see him outgrow that!
Matthew is six months old, nearly seven actually. He's very mobile! Keeping up with my floors is becoming a priority I need to be better at accomplishing since he is cleaning my floors with his tummy every day! He hasn't quite mastered actual crawling, but he does a mean army crawl! Oh, and he cut his first tooth this past week. It past with seemingly no ordeal. I didn't even realize it was coming in until I felt it when I was feeding him. He has started on lots of solids and seems to be handling it really well as long as there isn't any milk products in his diet or mine. He's still not the best sleeper, but I usually get at least six hours of rest, so I'm pretty thankful for that after months of only two or three hours for one part of the night!!
Our family is settling in after over a year of major upsets and changes. I've been through some serious emotional, mental and spiritual struggles, but I feel like there's light at the end of this tunnel. The Lord has remained faithful though I have failed in so many ways, so many times. It's been hard to be without a church family, but just this past week, I joined Calvary Baptist Church, a new work just beginning in the small town where we live now. I'm thankful that the Lord is moving us forward, and in time, I am confident that God will work in and through us to become a light in this community and a witness of His great love to those around us.
I suppose that is all for now. I don't know if anyone even stops by here anymore, but it's good for me to share some of what is going on in my life. It keeps me from becoming too focused solely on my four walls. :)
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Almost time--
We have only a few more days before we meet our littlest boy. I have my 38 week check-ups tomorrow, then I'm scheduled to be induced Thursday morning. Lord willing, I'll be holding my baby before 2 that afternoon, or sooner!!
Please pray for me. I'm very excited that the time has come, but I'm also nervous. You'd think that after giving birth three times, that the fourth time around wouldn't cause me to be nervous, but that's just me I guess!! I'm just looking forward to getting it over with! :)
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