Review: Healing Hearts with Helping Hands by Lorrie Flem

How many times have you wanted to reach out to someone who is mourning the loss of a loved one and just can't decide how, or exactly what to say or even when to approach them? Well, this latest book by Eternal Encouragement's Lorrie Flem, Healing Hearts with Helping Hands, it the perfect answer to all of these questions and more! 

Lorrie will take you through all of the possibilities available to you, while discussing the proper etiquette all along the way. This book will provide you with terrific ideas for serving others, relevant to many different situations, as well as helping you to know just the right words say or not to say.

 Lorrie sheds a new light on many of the "go to" sentiments that everyone seems to say when consoling someone in pain and explains why these may come across as insincere. She also offers suggestions of more appropriate things to say and reminds the reader that the importance isn't always in what they said but that they are there to listen.

This book is full of ideas, recipes, card sentiments and meal planning, that make reaching out less of a chore and more of a blessing for both yourself and the recipient.

Those of you who follow this blog have probably already read the post I wrote about this several weeks ago, but I feel it fits well here and there may be someone new reading today who needs to hear it.

I recently broke my arm and have had a pretty difficult time accepting the limitations it has caused me. My church family has stepped in and cared for myself and my family in ways I could have never imagined. One evening, when speaking with a very special friend about how uncomfortable it was to be on the receiving end of such amazing gifts she sweetly reminded me not to rob other of the blessing of being able to help my family and I. I had never thought of it that way, but it's so true. No matter how awkward we may feel bringing a meal to a family or offering a shoulder to a recently widowed friend, once we leave, though our hearts may be grieving for those we love, they are also full of joy for the service we were able to give in God's name.     

This book has given me a new perspective on doing just that, reaching out to others and serving them in the name of the Lord. It has taught me how to simplify and really nurture the soul of those I love in a time when that's really all they need. 

You can grab this book for your Kindle at Amazon for just $.99 May 1st through the 3rd here. If you don't wanna wait it's still a terrific buy at just $3.99 regular price!

Don't have a Kindle? That's ok, check out how you can still get this and other eBooks right here. 

Check out Eternal Encouragement Magazine for great advice on being a better wife, mother, homemaker, friend and more, all from a Christian perspective!

 

Where are your manners?

This is my Braydon! I talk about him often on here because... well, let's face it... my world revolves around him. LOL 

 

He's handsome,

 goofy,

 ornery,

 and down right silly!

And I am steady finding these random streams of photos in my phone that he took when I wasn't looking! These are just a few, I promise there are TONS!

Well, this post is not a run down of ALL his attributes, today I just wanna talk about one... his manners. Particularly his manners in public. I have always had very high expectations for how he interacts with adults, whether they be people he knows, or perfect strangers. One thing he is ALWAYS doing is holding the door for people. Many times I will get all the way to the car before I realize he is still holding the door open for droves of patrons as they file in an out of an establishment. 

NOTE: This is where I will be climbing onto my soapbox and it will very likely not be pretty, so I will understand if you need to turn away...

First of all let me say my sweet little boy has been raised not to expect anything in return for his kind gestures. He knows that manners are not an option in this house AND that he was created in the image of his Lord. That kindness to strangers is a terrific way to show them God's love. So, this rant is really for my sake more than his!

I watch him there, smiling sweetly as he selflessly stands there holding the door for as long as he's needed, never complaining or groaning at the endless masses of people who move past him as if he's not even there. I watch as these people shuffle by without so much as a thank you. Our world today had become such a selfish place, where people are in too much of a hurry to politely comment to an 11 year old boy who is so excited to be of service.

I watch all of this and I pray for my son. I pray that he doesn't become as jaded to the kindnesses of the world as the people who pass him by with no regard. I pray that he doesn't grow weary of serving others. I pray that his sweet spirit will not be broken by the carelessness of the world around him!

So, as I shake my virtual finger at those of you who forget to encourage our youth, I ask for you to be more aware! Pay more attention to the children around you and tell them when they've done a good job! Pat them on the back and thank them... OFTEN!

Gabby Moms 2013

I am so excited to have been chosen to be a 
2013 Gabby Mom for 

Eternal Encouragement Magazine! 

In depth reviews on some terrific 
products coming very soon! 

Check back often! 

Empty Schedule, Full Heart

As I pull into the driveway last night around 8pm, I was reminded of how long it's been since I was out after dark for something other than dinner or a movie.
There was once a time when our nights were filled with sports practices, PTA meetings, grocery runs and things of this nature. Our days were so full of doing life that our evenings had become just overflow of that. We were always running around trying to catch up and never slowing down to enjoy the life we were racing to catch.

The last three years have taught me so much about myself, my son, our family and what really works for us. More on this in my nest post, but for now I'll just say that I have learned alot! The most important thing that I think I have learned is that this is the only family I will ever have and I will only have them for as long as the Lord lets me. Why would I want to spend my time rushing through each day just to get ahead on the next when I could slow down and learn everything there was to know about these gifts that God has given me?

How did we get so caught up in things that bear such little fruit? Well, we just went with the flow, like many of you, we just did what everyone else was doing. Breaking away from that was one of the hardest things I've ever done. Removing myself from circles that didn't agree with the changes I was making, stepping down from positions I held in groups and clubs, putting God back into the center of our family and changing our view of education for our son. Collectively, all of the changes brought so much joy into our life.

Nowadays we spend our evenings chewing our dinner together as a family as apposed to inhaling it on the way out the door. We enjoy weekends working together around the house or running errands instead of rushing to and from sports games. Most importantly, Braydon and I spend our days together, we have lunch with my husband every single day, and he is learning how to live life at a speed where it can be enjoyed.

I'm so grateful that I made these changes when I did, before it was too late. Before Braydon had already learned the patterns of a crazy, worldly lifestyle that he would carry into adulthood.

When Randy and I got married I didn't understand "family". I thought our job was to grow up, leave our homes, have a career and get married. Children would come or they wouldn't, parent would be visited or they wouldn't. Even after Braydon was born it was several years before I realized what a precious gift family truly is.

I regret the time I missed with my mother-in -law, I regret not having more kids for Braydon to have a large loving family, I regret alot of things... but what I DO NOT regret is changing my life so drastically for the sake of family!

Love your family and don't rush through life. The only thing better than today is eternity with our Father, so slow down and be blessed by today.

Count Your Many Blessing!

When I was a little girl every couple of months we would have a Sunday evening service that was JUST singing hymns. I LOVED these nights so much! The first few songs were chosen by the minister and his wife to get us started and then the congregation would call out titles and page numbers as each song came to an end. My very favorite song was Count Your Many Blessing, and I can even remember that it was page number 539. As I got older if was kinda of a joke with the adult members who came to KNOW that I would request number 539 every single time.

Well here I am all these years later and once again I'm calling on number 539! 

I had an amazing visit earlier this week with two beautiful women from my church who prayed over me and just blessed me so much! As we talked they suggested getting a few members of the church to bring me meals a couple of times a week, just to take the load off of Randy some. No more than an hour after they left I had already received an email with the line up of meals for the next few days. My heart just melted! The response was such a quick one! I was blown away by these beautiful women who stepped up to care for my family and I.

Later that afternoon I got a call from another sweet friend and member of my church. She too had gotten the call to help out, but was going to be out of town for a while so she asked if she could bring by some freezer meals and a few staples for easy lunches and snacks. All of this was a huge blessing but also hard for me to accept because I hate to feel weak or dependent on others. After all, I'm the helper! I'm the one that makes meals an runs errands! I'm the caretaker! However, I did agree and she was off to the store.
I was at the vet with a sick puppy when she came by to drop things off, and I never expected to see what was waiting for me at home. My refrigerator, freezer and pantry are now full to the brim! I even have snacks and stuff stored on the craft table for now because I had no more room in the kitchen! Can you believe that? I couldn't! I was in complete shock! Braydon was elated! He kept coming into the kitchen saying "Mom, this is just too much!", "Mom, oh my gosh!", "Mom, you've GOT to call and thank her! This is just too much!"

When I FINALLY got everything put away and sat down to call her, she said something that touched my heart and changed the whole meaning of counting your blessings! She told me not to deny others the blessing of helping me. I had honestly not thought of it like that - ever. Those few words gave me such a peace about letting others take care of me for a while! I am so grateful for this precious church family of mine and for the things they are teaching me!

Are you allowing others to bless you when you're in need? If not, I recommend you start. Blessings are not just things you have received but also things you are able to do for others... or let them do for YOU!

He always shows up!

The last few weeks have not been pretty in my little world. I have faced one limitation after another and my morale has been in serious need of a boost! Well let me fill you in on things a little before I go into the blessing that was TODAY!
My doctor has referred me to a neurologist for some nerve problems I'm having in my arm. He will not move forward with treatment until I see the other doctor. Thank God for my cousin Cyndi, because she talked him into allowing me to continue moderate therapy for pain management at least until we know something. So everything has been put on hold until I can go see this new doctor and the soonest they could get me in was DECEMBER! For me that was like a big door slamming shut right in my face. That sliver of light that I once saw had faded and I was slipping into a major FUNK! Not to mention, I am beginning to have problems with my face (nerve related) and have this nagging cold that I just cannot kick.

So last night as my pity party was in full swing, my kiddo climbed up in my bed to comfort me. As he always does, he instructed to me pray about it, and my internal reaction was one I had never felt before.
I thought to myself "I don't WANT to pray!" And I didn't! I didn't want to cry out to the God I was sure had started to tune me out. In recent months I have neglected my quiet time, my prayer time and my time of fellowship. What had not been neglected however, was Satan's hold on me. He had been lying in wait, quietly whispering in my ear and feeding on my lack of interest in ANYTHING! And I was letting him. Just following along down this path of misery clinging to it desperately!

Then this morning, before I had even gotten out of bed, I get text from a sweet new friend at church asking if she and the minister's wife could come an pray over me... WOW! Talk about the nick of time!! I am 100% sure that God had His fingerprints all over that! He knew I was slipping and rather than just waiting around to see if I would pull myself out of it, He took action! I felt like a child, wondering around lost and then out of nowhere came a hand to hold!

Then, this afternoon I made one last attempt to call the neurologist to get an earlier appt. I have called every day for two weeks to no avail, when once again, out of nowhere, He showed up! The office manager told me they had just had a cancellation for THIS MONDAY! If that's not divine intervention then I don't know what is!!

Tonight, my physical condition remains unchanged but I am so grateful for a God that stepped in when I needed Him most! I am blessed to be the daughter of The King and know without a doubt that He is walking beside me, carrying me when I need it and going before me to light the way when I feel lost and unsure!

I pray that you know this God of mine and will allow Him to "show up" when you need Him to as well!!

You know you've sunk to an ALL TIME low when you threaten to get rid of the dogs!!

This last week has really been a hard one. Maybe it's because Randy was out of town, or because I did WAY to much, or maybe it was because my appointment with the surgeon opened up more questions than it answered. Regardless of the WHY, it's the WHAT that made an impact.

You see, keeping my house in order has become pretty much the bane or my existence! The boys started out helping in every way, but as time has gone by, and I have gotten a little more mobile, they seemed to be slacking off a bit. The frustration of not being able to do just exactly what I want to do, coupled with the added stresses of the last few days, took me to a place I'm not proud to talk about.

In an attempt to get their attention, I threw that typical "I need more from you boys" mom fit that we have all had from time to time. The difference this time was that it got out of hand and I fought dirty. With Randy out of town the dogs had not been waking me up to go out at night. Instead, they decided to sneak off to the back bedroom to handle their business. Well, I had had my fill of cleaning up doggy accidents so I did it! I said we were getting rid of them. Once it was out of my mouth, the reaction it brought gave me a strange sense control. I have felt out of control for so many months that I grabbed a hold of it with both hands!

Do you ever do that? Not just take things too far, but take them so past far that far is no longer even in sight? Why do we do that? Why is our need for control so overwhelming? Why do we give it so much power?

I'll tell you why... because we are human! Clinging to our own abilities is in our nature, while clinging to God is not something we do with ease. I'm not saying it's foreign to us, because we all have that need and desire to draw to Him, it's just not easy.

**Insert that all too common saying here..."If it were easy then everyone would do it".

Well I disagree, I think it IS easy, it's US who make it hard! Whether we like to admit it or not, worldly desires are very appealing. It takes a conscience effort to turn from the world and all of it's evil. That's right I said evil! The material needs are, in my opinion, the least of our worries when it comes to this world. I believe it hinges much more on pride, and pride is most definitely an EVIL!

Pride will make you do some crazy things and assure you that anything that benefits YOU is good. Well folks, I'm here to bust our bubble! Pride will never lead you to the Father! The only thing that will do that is laying EVERYTHING down at the foot of the cross.

So next time you feel pride sneaking in, whether it's thinking how great you are at a task or how good you are at your career, or yes, even thinking empty threats will give you the power to turn all eyes on you, I encourage you to take a step back and drop it all right then and there.
Then I encourage you to RUN! Run to the Father! Take refuge in Him and let Him remove that pride from you life!

I swear I AM NOT praying for patience!!

So, how many times have we all been warned not to pray for patience? I know I've heard it a lot over the years. Well, the funny thing about God is that he tends to dole out lessons in areas where HE thinks we need to grow, not necessarily where we WANT to grow! So whether I'm asking for more patience or not, when He decides I need it, I get it!

The latest thing I'm learning about myself is that I am not a patient person! I'm pretty sure I've always known this, Lord knows my family definitely has, but recently it's been brought to my attention almost on a daily basis!

Being almost completely dependent on those around you doesn't just mean you have to let them help you. It means you have to let them do it their way, on their time, all the while remaining grateful for it. One of our family's favorite movies is The Pacifier. The line I quote most from this movie is this:

"It's my way, no highway option."

This statement rolls all that is Candie up in a neat little package. My way is always the best, most thought out, and easiest to accomplish... so I think. Lately though, I'm learning that just because my way is right for me, doesn't mean it's right for everyone! Funny that I haven't already learned this lesson. After all, isn't that part of the homeschool mother's creed? Our children need teaching to their strengths and interests, they need to be treated as individuals, they need to learn how THEY learn!

Well, doesn't the same apply to everything in life? Could I be harboring a double standard? Well if so, surely I'm right about it, surely I couldn't be mistaken!

NEWS FLASH: God made us all different! Not just red and yellow, black and white, but in everything, in our hearts and our habits!

The people in your life may not put the dishes away where YOU think they should, they may not move as quickly as you would like and they may not do the things you ask in JUST the way you had expected, but the bottom line is that they are doing it!

My family has had to help me get comfortable in the recliner again with all 15 pillows every time I get up to go to the restroom. They have had to bring me that exact item from the exact spot I sent them to, even if my memory was wrong. They have had to fix me glasses of water with a full cup of ice because that's how I like it. And they have done all these things with a smile, something I cannot say for myself. I have been short with them, I have gotten frustrated and I have spat out my orders more times than I care to admit.

Yet they're still here, still helping, still taking it. That's not to say they will ALWAYS be here. It's important for me to learn NOW that I should appreciate their help regardless what form it comes in. This is the lesson I think my God is teaching me right now. He wants me to understand that humans are not as forgiving as He is, that there IS a limit to their willingness to help, "under fire" if you will. Not only does He want me to see that He will always be here and will come back blow after blow, but that others may not and it's my job to emulate Him.

That's part of being created in His image. Luckily for me, my immediate caregivers know God's love but will they always remember it? That is something I cannot control but showing my Lord's love and mercy is the beginning to ensuring they won't turn away from Him.

Have you shown His love this week? Let me challenge you to do JUST THAT! And not just to those you think NEED it, but to everyone in your life, especially those who don't always get your best!

Learning with Lapbooks

Blessings have been all around me lately! I am thanking God for the doors He has been steadily opening. Let me catch you up to speed on the most recent thing I am doing. As I'm sure you know by now, I like to talk. Well now people will be paying to hear what I have to say! As of today I am the newest author for Media Angels, Inc. I have written a Thanksgiving Lapbook and have two more in the works as we speak!! I have wanted to be a writer since I was a little girl and thanks to my dear friend and mentor Felice Gerwitz that dream is finally coming true. God started me on this amazing journey a year ago when He led me down the path of homeschooling my son Braydon. Now that lifestyle and all that goes with it has erupted in my life! Our wonderful family has supported our decision whole-heartedly making the change in our lives that much easier. Now I am able to take two of the gifts God has given me and mold them into one terrific product!

Thank you to everyone who has supported me during this entire process and a BIG thank you to my sweet hubby! Randy has cooked dinner, tended to Braydon, done laundry and virtually been Mr. Mom in these last days before releasing the book. I could not have asked for a better helpmate! God has truly shown His faithfulness to fulfill His plans for me! I'm just trying to learn to stay out of His way.

What are the symptoms?

Sitting at dinner tonight with my hubby and son, the conversation turns to my mother who has been away on a cruise for the last week. As I explain to my husband that while she had a good time, I think she's a little homesick. To which Braydon questions "What happens when you get homesick? I mean like where do you feel bad?" And it occurred to me that my child has never had to be homesick in all of his 9 1/2 years! The thought of that brings a smile to my face. I love that we are so close and spend so much time together that he has never been away long enough to "miss" us.
Don't get me wrong, he's been on the occasional overnight-er and wanted to come home before the morning, but never has he gone away alone or had to be left behind for a number of days. Right now, where I am in my life, I can't imagine leaving him behind while we went away. I wouldn't want him to miss out on anything that we might see or do! Having him with us, even though at times I think I could drink a vat of Calgon, just makes every experience that much better!!
I am so blessed to have such an amazing little boy in my life! I thank God for entrusting him to me for such a time as this, until we return to our Father. What an awesome feeling to know you are caring for one of God's children. If you are a parent, be it biological or adoptive, stop and think for a minute just what that means...
God has put you in charge of one of his most prized possessions! He felt you capable and committed enough to care for His special gems! Be grateful! Not just for your child but for a God that knows you so completely that he sent you a precious gift that fit you so perfectly and that only YOU could give the love God intends!!
A dear friend reminded me tonight how special this time is... right now! Whether you are the mother of older children, a sweet newborn or somewhere in between; this time is priceless! Cherish it, thank God for it and always show your children what it means to you!

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."                                                           ~Psalm 127:3-5

Alot Can Happen In A Month!

Wow, I knew I was busy, but a whole month since my last post? Sheesh! I gotta get on the ball here!! Well here's a recap of all the great things God has done in my life in the last 31 days... and boy has He been busy! 

We have completed the Ultimate Back To School Blast and are gearing up for the Ultimate Special Needs Blast. I got all of this years curriculum lined out and even got a couple of weeks planned (which is good since we start in 10 minus SIX DAYS!!!). We kicked off the new school year for the youth group and Randy and I serving as Lifeguards (youth coaches)! We are both so excited to be working with the amazing group of kids!!! Plus Kay is in the youth so that's going to be a pretty neat experience for us!! Randy has started work on the Permian Basin Fair and we'll probably only see him in passing for the next couple of weeks. And we're about to embark on an awesome experience through our church called The Tabernacle Experience. 

This is a life-size interactive Tabernacle of The Wilderness. I am so excited to be a part of this! If you are within driving distance, I urge you to make a trip to visit this exhibit. It will be open Friday, September 30th through Sunday, October 9th from 9 am to 8 pm everyday. And if you're a homeschooling mom I think this would be a great opportunity for your kids! We don't have many "field trip" destinations around here and this is a an excellent chance for them to witness something they can't see anywhere else!! 

“When the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel followed it. And where the cloud settled, the people of Israel camped. In this way, they traveled at the Lord’s command and stopped wherever he told them to. So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them.” Numbers 10

How many of us follow God's lead the way the people of Israel did? Do you seek the Lord's guidance in everything? I'm afraid for some of us this is all too rare a concept! I encourage you to grab your Bible and LISTEN to what the Father is asking of you! LISTEN to what he wants to reveal! And LISTEN to where he wants you to go!! 

And remember to teach your child how to hear Him too!

I am so excited to get to travel through this intimate experience with my own child!

  "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates" Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Well, that about wraps up the month of August! 

I hope you are all having a great start to your school year!!

Is that a snake????

Ever stop to think about the things we encountered as children that were just a part of life? I don't very often, but his morning something happened that made me do just that!
Braydon comes running in from the backyard, concerned about a sound he heard near our trees. He described it as sounding like a rattlesnake that just kept getting louder and louder then stopped. His poor little heart had skipped a beat because her thought we actually might has a rattler in the yard. I knew immediately what he heard and I'm sure most of you do too.
Yep! It was a locust! LOL
It had never occurred to me that he had never seen or heard a locust.
When I was a kid they were as common as ladybugs or ants. I even remember nap time on Sunday afternoons when they were so loud I could hear then INSIDE the house!
Once again, God has afforded me an opportunity to teach my child about his AMAZING creations AND tell him a little bit about my past.

A garden for fairies... a gift for me.

Last night Braydon and I planted a Fairy Garden. I'm sure you're thinking that's kinda silly or childish but I have to say it was tons of fun! It was actually MY project but he jumped right in with both feet and before I knew it he had taken over the entire planning and I found that the only thing left for me was the LABOR!! SHEESH!

It did give us an opportunity to research container plants together. So once again I learned that homeschool happens anytime and anywhere! I am still that mom that's trying to do schedule each and every lesson and make sure all things tie into each other nicely covering all subjects and all areas.

How lucky are we to have such a patient Father? You'd figure by now he'd have given up on me as a homeschool mom and lost all hope for Braydon (with me as his teacher) to become a functioning member of society. Instead, He takes my hand, one more time, and gently guides me back to the path He has laid out for me. The path that is PERFECT for ME! The path that is created for no other BUT ME! The path that I turn from from daily thinking I can do it on my own.

Be grateful for His patience! Be accepting of His guidance! And be aware of the times when He loves you enough to take your hand, one more time!

God Bless!

Are you FEARLESS???

The caption reads: "Just before it happened, I overheard the three most dreaded words a mother could hear: 'Hey, watch this!'"

This is how I feel on MOST days! Knock on wood, we haven't had to make a trip to the ER yet but I am sure it is inevitable. My child, like most, is without fear! He gets up every morning with new ideas of how to give me a nervous breakdown and test his own physical limits. Do you remember those days? When you just KNEW you could jump off of your house with an umbrella and slowly float to the ground unharmed like Mary Poppins? Or that you could actually DIG your own in-ground swimming pool in your back yard? Ok, maybe these were just MY crazy childhood examples of limitless imagination, but we all had them! We never stood back and thought through the possible ramifications of our actions or the damage we could do to ourselves, our friends or our parent's property. We were FEARLESS!

Well, as we grow we not only gain height, weight, maturity, knowledge, responsibilities and all the other things that separate us from our youth but we gain something else... something that separates us from so much more! What is it your ask?? FEAR! Fear is one of Satan's strongest weapons! He uses it to plant seeds of self doubt which prevents us from realizing our full potential in Christ's kingdom! Fear holds us back from building relationships, fear causes us to think we don't have the abilities to do what others do and most importantly, fear makes us believe that God could never forgive the things we've done.

As a mother I want to encourage you today to remind your child to hold on to that fearlessness! To believe that they really can do ANYTHING through Christ! It is our responsibility as Christian parents to do everything in our power to build our children up as often as we can so that they won't become timid fearful adults! I promise you, for ever moment you spend building them up, the world around you is working double time tearing them down!

As a homeschool mother I encourage you to remember that YOU were the very person God chose to love, guide, educate, and train your child. Don't take this mission lightly! It is the most important thing you will ever do in your life!!

Fear creeps in and fills the cracks of our insecurities, building them up and giving them strength. Teach your children to rely on their Father for strength and to pray without ceasing!! A solid and consistent pray life will become the manna that gives them life and they will thank you for it!

~"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."~ Philippians 4:13

The Battle Is The Lord's

Today I listened to my first preview speaker for the Ultimate Homeschool Expo and WOW! She was amazing!! Her name was Lorrie Flem of Eternal Encouragement Magazine http://www.eternalencouragement.com/ and it was such a blessing!! She opened in prayer and used scripture like a mad woman!! And she really convicted me about feeling like my "little" job as mommy and homemaker wasn't enough!! I was blown away!!! I encourage you to take a look at her site but I also encourage you to grab your ticket for the Expo! even if you aren't a homeschooling parent, these speakers will encourage you as a parent in general. There's another FREE session today so log on and listen!! I'll be there too!! Here's the link to the site to listen for free:
http://www.ultimatehomeschoolexpo.com/?p=203

and here's the link to the site to buy your ticket if you decide to:
https://www.secureinfossl.com/affProgram/Ultimate-Homeschool-Expo-2011/52019

Hope you enjoy it!!!
Candie

The Randomness That Is My Life!

Well, here we are... the end of November. It feels like these last few months have just flown by!! Something I'm learning with homeschooling is that you can't take a break with planning for even a minute or the holidays and specific dates that you want to be teachable dates sneak right up on you! I found myself still putting together Thanksgiving material ON Thanksgiving!!! While I have to say that it was interesting to have it all fresh on the brain when we celebrated Thanksgiving with our families, it would have nice to have had time to dig a little deeper BEFORE the turkey came out of the oven!! :)
All-in-all I have a great list going for next year's first semester lessons, but sadly this year has been a bit of a tester year for us. Well, I say sadly... Braydon is loving it. When mom doesn't get it together in time, we chalk it up to early prep for next year.
I don't have a specific topic for today's entry but I do have a couple of neat stories for you. I'll start with the funnier of the two.
A couple of weeks ago we were in the car and Braydon (getting together his mental Christmas wish list) says to me "Mom, can I have a Pocket Rocket? Cuz I wanna ask Santa for one but I know he doesn't get you things that your parents won't let you have."
It was too cute! Partly because he thought ahead enough to get permission before asking Santa but mostly because of his innocence!! Now is about the time (if he were still in public school) that he would begin to doubt the story of Santa, but hopefully being homeschooled we will be able to hold onto the magic a little longer!
The second is more a quick thing I wanna share rather than a story:
As I have said before. Now that we are homeschooling I see so much of Braydon's creativity coming back that I'm ashamed to say I didn't realizing he was loosing. Well tonight as I sit preparing lessons for tomorrow he comes into the office that doubles as our classroom and sits down at his desk. He opens up his History folder and takes out some research that I had printed out for the unit we are planning to do on Greek Mythology. Then he begins to do his own research on the laptop (using MY printouts only to help him with spelling). After a few minutes he is writing his own rendition of the struggle between the three brother Zeus, Hades and Poseidon. WOW!!! Just out of nowhere he decides to do a little writing!! Of course I am elated because I myself LOVE to write and have always hoped he would too, but I am even more impressed that he is WANTING to research and write just for entertainment! I remember a time after high school when I would get interested in something I saw on TV, begin researching it at the library and the write a research paper on the subject JUST FOR FUN!!! I thought I was the only person in the world crazy enough to do that... but here I sit, almost 20 years later watching my son do the very same thing!!!
God has blessed me so much this year with this adventure Braydon and I are taking together!
I am so thankful to be able to experience these things with my child AND to get to encourage and aid him as he begins to figure out what he enjoys, what he is good at and what he excels in!
We serve an awesome, loving and powerful God and I hope to raise my son to be just as in awe of his Father as I am!

Day Two thru...???

Ok, so I missed a few days between day 1 and now but I have to tell you it has been amazing!!! We are doing lapbooks, some copywork, scripture memorization and alot more! I can honestly say that I am watching a transformation in my child that sadly I didn't see taking place when it was going the other direction. My child is getting his imagination back!!!! He is expressing a creative side that I haven't seen for quite a while now! For a brief moment I felt guilty that I wasn't as observant when that imagination was fading away but then I stepped back and decided to give myself a break on this one, he was growing up and it seemed like a natural step. I mean after all, as a mother we are given MORE THAN ENOUGH CHANCES to feel guilty about something we think we did wrong right?? Well I am learning that God doesn't want me to feel guilty, he wants me to learn from these mistakes. So that's what I'm doing! I am teaching myself to be less dismissive and more aware of the changes in my child. And let me tell you it is SOOO rewarding. I know things like picking out shapes in the clouds don't really seem that big at all, but when your kiddo starts doing that again after several years you realize he didn't stop because he was getting to big to do it, he stopped because his creativity wasn't being nurtured!
Please don't get me wrong, I have MANY friends that are public school teachers and love each of them and their efforts to teach children very much, but as a mom who has been given the opportunity to stay at home and teach her child I am learning just how much my kiddo was missing out on! It's difficult to grow your creativity when the state mandates your education. you see putting MY CHILD in school 8 hours a day was exhausting to him. After all day of being taught state required activities that are not specific to each child's needs he was too tired and numb to really be the child God created him to be. I know that God has amazing things planned for Braydon and I feel very strongly that those things will rely heavily on his ability to think outside of the box! I am so grateful each and everyday that I have this opportunity. For those of you following me who also homeschool your kiddos and are starting to get frustrated now that summer is over and school is in full swing, remember how lucky you are! Don't spend time being angry at your children for their lack of interest, HIT YOUR KNEES and thank God for what He is allowing you to do! And then ask for help! This is only our first month of homeschooling and I have been like a needy kid with God this month. But I will tell you he is providing in great detail! I am receiving encouragement, instruction and resources like crazy!! It's amazing how God blesses you when you are doing something he has called you to do!!!
Another change I have seen in my child is his attitude... THANK GOD!! LOL Seriously though, not only is he less argumentative but he is much more attentive to those around him especially his momma! I am watching him begin to grow a servants heart and it pleases me so!!! Yes, he's still the typical "I want" & "can I have" child but now he is beginning to see the needs of others as well! And his is showing is love and appretiation for me more too. We all know how easy it is for our children to make us feel obsolete, so its very nice to have them make an effort to show you they enjoy time with you and they appreciate what you do for them; and that's what I am seeing in Braydon. He is showing me each and everyday how lucky he thinks he is to have ME as his mom! I am SOOO blessed!!!
But back to the "school" of homeschool, we are doing a Genesis lapbook right now and I have put together some really neat resources. I will be uploading some of them this week. Please know that they are things I created based off of other ideas and tweaked for my kiddo and what we like to do. I would love for you to enjoy them as we have or use them as your starting point for something completely original for your child.
Until then, have a blessed day and always thank God for what he has given you. And if you can't find anything to be grateful for then start by thanking Him for your life and His love for you... I promise your eyes will be opening to the blessing you have received!!!