Exciting things going on with our homeschool...

I'ts been a whole year since I  stepped out from the TOS Review crew. It was a a great experience for me, and such a learning time! If you click my homeschool link above you'll see, we did a LOT of great reviews. Being a part of the crew helped me get to be more excited about blogging, and about the newest and greatest homeschool curriculum. I would have never looked into Nodgrass history or downloadable unit studies from Homeschool in the Woods, had the crew not been there to introduce me.

But truly the greatest part of my year of reviews was being part of the Crew itself, an amazing bunch of 200 bloggers who worked hard together to accomplish something that was logistically huge! The leadership team lived across the entire country, but accomplished massive efforts via online collaboration. This is what inspired the adventure I'm currently wrapped up in.

Last summer a few of my homeschool mom friends began to meet and discuss what it would look like to start a Faith-based homeschool co-operative for our kids. Between us we had about 30 kids who could benefit from joint classes such as choir, art, and PE. So we planned the summer away, and then began an online collaboration, since we felt as far flung as the TOS leadership team (across the county may as well be across the nation). This proved to be incredibly efficient, and we were each able to use the special skills and talents God had given us. One to assign the classes, one to correspond with and recruit teachers, one to build forms and manage data, one to write newsletters, one to manage set up logistics, and so on. And we began to PRAY. Hard. Together. Online and in person we prayed and planned, planned and prayed.

Mammoth Hot Springs

When we opened the online registration I was on vacation. I was out of cell range in Yellowstone Park. We drove into Mammoth Hot Springs to do a bit of sightseeing, and my cell signal picked up. My phone started buzzing like crazy. My messages said that my little co-op science class was already at 36 students... and did I want to set a maximum? WOW! We had hoped for 30 students total, spread among the classes... we ended up with over 80. This semester we have almost 100, in 34 classes over a whole day every other week. We also have 4 private music instructors booked with lessons all day. This semester we added a mentor mom on campus for our co-op day, to pray with and encourage the new homeschool moms.

What an adventure this is! And what a gift! To be working closely with other Christian families to see God glorified in our efforts. I am so blessed! We will see how it goes. Expect a review  or two soon of some of the curriculum we are using in our co-op.

Holy Land Geography

Virtual Field Trip

my Tyler is getting guitar lessons!

Choir

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WW: Camping at the Lake

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Garden Highlight: Four O'Clocks

Each week I want to post a picture of what is blooming and describe it as "my favorite flower", because, truthfully, whatever is blooming is my favorite flower!

This reminds me so much of the seasons of life. The friend I am blessed to be with in this moment is my favorite friend. The sibling who is visiting me in this moment is my favorite sibling (and the one who visited last month, and last winter, etc. I have 6 of them!). The stage of life my kids are in is MY  FAVORITE AGE! (I'm still working on feeling that way about 12 years old, but I'm coming around). I remember feeling that way about the terrible twos, about the trying threes, and the sleepless infant nights.

Twos: They weren't terrible; they were busy and exciting!
Threes: They weren't trying; they were inquisitive. "Why?!" x 1000
Sleepless nights = prayerful pauses
My new 12er's adventures into young adult feelings and emotions are interesting, as my kids become my companions instead of my co-dependents. (if you invite the definition from the wiki "often involves placing a lower priority on one's own needs, while being excessively preoccupied with the needs of others." Sound like motherhood?)

I was reminded of this truth this week as I studied through a chapter of "A Woman after God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George, which I am reading with my mentor (a true Titus 2 woman who is discipling me). Elizabeth George, in chapter 12, describes a woman who really encouraged her: Betty. She would say "What age are your kids? Oh, that's such a wonderful age!" I loved that. How important to focus on the wonderful blessings our kids are and not the trials that we could so easily bemoan (potty training, tempers, and beginnings of hormones...)

Prov 10:12b "love covers all transgressions."

Of course, I can say that. I'm in the sweet spot. ;)

-Laura

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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

Long Days and Short Nights

I know I've been posting a lot of school related posts and curriculum reviews lately. Much of the science and curriculum posts were written a while back, and lately, other than a few review products we're enjoying... school has been the farthest thing from our minds. We do take a pretty good break from May Day to Labor Day. This week all of the local schools are starting up, and I am SO thankful we aren't. This summer has gone fast enough!

The theme of the summer seems to be long days and short nights, and not just because the sun stays up later than in the winter. I don't know how year-round schoolers do it, frankly! From garden bounty to can, to summer sports and fairs, we haven't had a break!

In June we had baseball and softball. With all four kids playing, we were at the ball-fields 6 days a week. Most of the games ran from 6-8, but some from 8-10... or back to back and we did 6-10! We had practices called off for snow, and games in 100 degree heat. It was a crazy time. The final games finished up the day before the 4th of July. We celebrated the 4th by climbing the local landmark, Scott's Bluff. It was a 3 mile round trip in the dark, but watching the city fireworks from the top was totally worth it. I just shouldn't have worn my sandals.

The next weekend was our 13th anniversary, and the local parade. The following weekend we had my in-laws as houseguests and Tyler's 12th birthday. The weekend after that we enjoyed a visit from my cousin Andi and her boys, and we hiked the Bluff again. Only two days after they left, my brother and his sweet wife and son came to stay for a week. It was a wonderful time, and of course... we took them hiking up the Bluff. ;) That put us well into August.

The day after they flew home we began the county fair, and spent an entire week driving across the county to care for our animals at the fairground.  The week went quickly and we tried not to miss a thing. Tyler and Emma both participated in Poultry Showmanship, Breed Showing, and Market Showing. Mayda participated in Cat Showmanship and Poultry Showmanship. Wyatt behaved himself very well considering he was bored and tired most of the week. :)

Finishing out the weekend was another great visit from Hubby's folks, and they got to watch the kids in the 4H auction! Wrapping up the fair by attending a concert with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band really topped it all off. And all the while all I could think of was: "Would it be crazy to cat nap during a super-loud concert?" I was SO tired!

In June we had to completely replace the motor in Ben's truck, and are only just now getting caught back up on those bills. Due to the crazy ball schedule, my garden nearly died of neglect, but it's finally coming around. I put up my first batch of jelly, and can see salsa season coming right around the corner.

The kids really pulled out all the stops and helped put up 200 ears of corn on Monday. Emma did all the blanching herself, and Tyler did all the cob cutting. That left me with shucking and bagging. They are getting to be such a great help! And did I mention my hubby butchered all the fryers the day the fair ended? That Grand Champion Cornish Rock is now in the freezer in an unmarked gallon freezer bag.

All this isn't to complain, but really just so I can write it all out, and remember later why we didn't go camping this summer (although our camper turns out to be a really handy guest cottage!).

And to be thankful... for all this!
The health to enjoy it.
The energy to accomplish (9 miles of up and down the Bluff in less than 30 days!).
The garden to enjoy.
The chickens to entertain us.
The cool nights.
The hot days.
The generous friends.
The cousins and family visitors.
The neighbor dogs we pet-sat. (all 6 of them, from 4 households!)
The beans replanted.
The weeds pulled.
The clothes we get to wear and enjoy. and wash. and dry. and fold. (maybe)
The sunsets we photograph.
The sunsets we savor.
The hugs and snuggles.
The late night conversations.
The early rising sun.
My early rising son.
My Father whose grace is enough.
A woman mentor who helps me see how to fill up, so I can pour out...
    and pour and pour and pour...
The farmer's markets.
The special granola orders.
The wonderful rains.
Beautiful flowers.
The flood in the basement from a freshly burst pipe.
The basement floor now nice and clean.
The guests coming tomorrow, and Saturday, and Monday...
The great review products we've enjoyed.
Our love for each-other.
The sweet spot of parenting (kids old enough to help and care, young enough to like to be with us!)
The anguish on my knees.
The friendships mourned. missing.
The friendships beginning anew.
The loneliness that draws me to my Father.
Enough stuff to get us through.
Of late nights.
And early mornings.... where His mercy is new.

All is grace.
<3



©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

Friendship

Proverbs 27:9

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, 

So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend

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If you threaten a chicken,

So, I have one white chicken left from the "old" flock... the first chicks I got back in the spring of 2010. As she is nearly 3 years old, she is nearly to the end of her laying career. When my hens slow down in laying, I often give them away. The dual purpose breeds can make a good stew chicken, but we've just found they are too tough to eat. These white leghorns are not dual purpose at all, there isn't an ounce of meat on this bird, but she lays HUGE eggs!

Lately she hasn't laid a single egg. At first we thought it was a molt, but long past her feathers regrowing, not a one. We began discussing her retirement. The other morning at breakfast we were talking about how about two weeks ago I had mentioned it was "time" and that same day we found a white egg, but no more for two weeks.

I asked Tyler, "You suppose if we tell her she's about to retire she would lay another one?"

He laughed and headed out for his chores.

Soon he was back in the house yelling for my attention... Guess what!?!?

In related news, we've been adding a game bird feed (30% protein) with a calcium supplement, to our regular layer pellets (16% protein). It's helped the last of the girls feather out of our longest molt yet, and green eggers are laying yet again. I'd about given up! After 3 months of no eggs, I'd actually tried selling my green egg hens, but the lady never showed up. They were going pretty cheap since I doubted they would lay much more... but that's her loss now. I knew they'd come out of it eventually. I had just gotten tired of waiting!

Also, the chicken who was caught in the fence roll has made a complete recovery, and is one of my best brown egg layers. I can tell which one is hers as she always has a small blood spot on her egg, outside of the shell. Probably from the trauma her poor back end had endured!






The farm is a forever place of learning patience and faith!

James 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

30 Days of Thankfulness in November Pt. 2

Counting my blessings each day in November; posting every Wednesday this month. Blessings #338-380

November 7:

• Awana Verses: I am LOVING joining my kids in a Scripture memory challenge. Completed Discovery 1 in my T&T book 1!
• Finished my Secretary training at Awana, inlcuding reciting 6 verses!
• Friends who notice/appreciate the extra mile
• More tote bags to sew!
• My folks arrived from PA! 

November 8:

• Surprising Grandma this morning
• Her appointment went well and she can hear so much better.
• Lunch with my cousin
• Hubby being so helpful today with the kids
• Tyler being willing to catch up on schoolwork after supper
• Dug up a 1/2 a bushel of potatoes!!! (With my dad's help!)
• Enjoying watching my parents enjoy their grandkids

November 9th:

• Home made Cabbage Burgers
• Having grandma and cousins out to visit for the day
• Dad and Ben being able to work on cars together
• A nice warm home as the temperatures drop

November 10th:

• The Husker's won!!! 
• The beautiful snow. 
• Jalapeno/Bacon/Cream-cheese Dip!
• The beginning of deer season, getting up early to kiss my hunters as they head out.

November 11th:

• Veteran's Day, spent with my favorite veteran
• Early service
• Frigid temps (6 degrees!), but thinking ahead to warm up the car before church
• A nice warm barn for all our animals
• Visiting a Sunday school class we hadn't been to, to meet a missionary visitor
• 4-H awards night, fun with the kids

November 12th:

• baking an angel food cake with my mom
• a dozen very fresh eggs to make the cake with, I LOVE having my own chickens
• a great school morning
• an evening at home with my Emma, who had a cold, while mom and dad took the other kids to celebrate Grandma's 86th birthday a few days early. (while they were here)
• A fun rook game with the folks and the kids

feed bags

November 13th: 

• Bittersweet moments as mom and dad had to return to Pennsylvania
• One very motivated boy catching up all his schoolwork
• Getting to drop off a baby shower gift to a friend, even though sick little ones kept me from attending.
• Free tacos at Taco Johns
• Hearing my folks arrived safely
• Finished a special order for a "feed" bag.

November 14th:

• Emma's cold recovered enough to sing at the Veteran's Home concert
• Enjoyed the children all sharing the amazing things they have learned this semester in their Patriotism class.
• Meeting with a doula client, always fun!
• My sweet hubby helping with the kids, so I could have coffee alone.
• Accomplished my memorization goals for Awana tonight. 
• Learning Scripture with my kids.

_________________

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Grief and Great Love

This weekend was a funeral for a young man, taken too soon. I did not know him personally, but I did know his mother. It was amazing to be there to witness in the first person, the Body of Christ, pouring out love on the family that had lost. There was a need for food for the luncheon, and there was worry about the large number of mourners. Would there be enough? The call went out, and the messages came in... a fruit tray from a young mother, a plate of cookies from an elderly woman, strangers and friends, more and more... Soon the church kitchen was loaded down, refrigerators overflowing, counter-tops covered.

In the sanctuary a enormous number of young people shared and cried, and were comforted by the Word.

1 Thes. 4:13-14;18
"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus... so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."

And in the kitchen, the food was being set out, and the women were praying. Praying for comfort and peace, praying for understanding, praying for the presence of the Lord to descend upon hearts crying out to Him. Looking on, all I could think was, this is the Body. We minister to one another with food, with a silent hug, with the Word, with prayers of supplication, and of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving for the young souls that heard the Word there, and responded to the call of Salvation.

1 Thes. 5:9-11 "For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing."

When we lost our baby, still in the womb, 7 years ago... I remember the grief, so overwhelming, and the desire to have my child in my arms. Crying out to God to give back what was lost. It was then I realized how great his love for me. He had lost a Son too. But it was willingly, with an open hand, not the tightly clenched fingers that I had. Willingly He gave His life for mine, a ransom. How great a love is this?

Rom 5:6-8 "And we can see that it was while we were powerless to help ourselves that Christ died for sinful men. In human experience it is a rare thing for one man to give his life for another, even if the latter be a good man, though there have been a few who have had the courage to do it. Yet the proof of God’s amazing love is this: that it was while we were sinners that Christ died for us."

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How Deep The Father's Love For Us

Stuart Townend

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that left Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Thank you Ann, for this verse, that fit so well with my thoughts today: 

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” ~ Romans 8:17

Giving thanks, and counting:
#73 new babies born today
#74 God's sovereign plans
#75 beautiful weather
#76 smell of lovely blossoms
#77 snuggles from a little boy
#78 gifts from a neighbor
#79 singing off key with the kids
#80 hubby able to work so hard for us
#81 hand-me-downs (or as Mayda says "handy-downs")

Salvation, the best gift a parent can share with their child.

I was reflecting on the special event of last month, January 9th, 2012, Wyatt accepted Christ as his Savior. It has been my privilege to be there when each of my children has accepted Christ. It is a wonder to see the spark that ignites as the realization of Scriptural truths catches their hearts, and they are driven to seek reconciliation with their Creator.

I always wonder that such a simple conversation, often at their bedside, can have a life-altering affect. But though I may wonder, it never lasts long. In each case the child has come to me in the following days with perplexing spiritual questions and observations, which can only be answered with Scripture. I see that a hunger has been awakened! My job as their mother has shifted from bringing them to understand the Law of God, and letting it be their "schoolmaster" to show their need for Christ's redemption... but to their gardener, helping to sow and water the seed of Truth in their hearts, and nurture their spiritual growth. To help them weed out the old nature of sin, and run the race before them.

Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.
Deut. 6:6-9

Now I can say that I know that ALL of my children can be certain of their eternal home - Who said you can't take your treasure with you? Pour in the scripture! It is God's Word that makes the soil of their hearts ready, and it is His promise that it will not come back void. It is a blessing to have been with each of them in that moment when the "spark" dawns. Each time, the conversation goes a little like this one with Mayda:

(excerpt from my old Blog )


Feb 22, 2010
These are the moments...
... when being a mom is the best job in the world.

Mayda asked Jesus to be her Lord and Saviour tonight. :)

Today on our way home from a vet appointment, Emma announced from the back seat of the car that she had helped Mayda pray to ask Jesus into her heart. I thanked Emma for her evangelism and explained to her that there is more involved than saying a special prayer, and that truly it must come from the heart. This perplexed her but I think she's getting it. She had read her CEF (Child Evengelism Fellowship) storybook to Mayda and in the back was a simple prayer and she had gotten Mayda to repeat it back to her.  Not exactly a heart response...

So tonight I asked Mayda to join me in the rocking chair and talk about Jesus. She brought the book and showed me the prayer she had prayed. I asked her if she knew she was a sinner.

"What's sin?"

I explained sin is breaking God's laws, such as lying, etc. And we recited James 2:10 that tells us breaking one of God's laws is like breaking them all. I asked her if she had ever sinned.

"No, I've never sinned" :)

So reminded her of a lie she had told only about an hour before, and the light came on and her eyes narrowed.

"Oh"

Did you know God wants us to be perfect, or we can't be in heaven with Him? Are you perfect?

"Yes"

Really?

"um no"

me neither. Well if we can't get to heaven, where DO we go? Then we delved into a super simple explanation of what hell is, and that it is real. Her eyes were big as saucers.

"I don't want to go there!" Tears welling up.

Me neither, and God doesn't want you to either. He loved you so much that He made a plan. His Son, Jesus, was perfect, so perfect that He had no sin, no sin to pay for. If I died and went to hell I'd be paying for my own sin, but Jesus had none. So he offers to take your sin and pay for it. I had her hold out her hands and we transferred the imaginary burden of her sin from on hand to the other, onto Jesus, and then I explained that he took the punishment for her sin. What does the Bible say that is? "For the wages of sin is death" Romans 3:23 So then we talked about Jesus' death and how He did it for us, and that after He died, He went down into hell to conquer sin and death. By now she's sobbing for her Dear Jesus.

Do you know what happens next?

*sniff* "No! What?"

He rose up from the dead, and came back to life. He walked and talked and then went up to heaven to be with God. He was able to take the sin of the world, because He was God, and then come back to life. When he went to heaven He gave us His Holy Spirit to live in those who invite Him in, so He can be in our hearts.

She was so exhuberant it was as if Easter had happened all over again right there in our living room.

Do you want Him to take your sin, so you can be perfect, and send His Holy Spirit into your heart?

"Yes! I do want to!"

So we prayed a simple prayer, and cried together. When she was done she said, "Oh, I feel better!" with a big letting-it-all-go kind of sigh.

Then she told Emma: "I sinned and... theres this bad part, a place called hell, it's dark! But then I asked Jesus in my heart, and He washed it all clean! and I can be with God!"

----

Bear with me as I write it all out, but I want her to remember... especially the tears, and the joy. You see, I was only four when I met Jesus, on such simple terms as these. Sitting on my bed with my mom... I can remember the light coming in my bedroom window. I don't remember a lot else about it. When I was 12 I rededicated my life to Him, and I remember a big change that day. It's the first I knew really what the peace of the Holy Spirit was all about. Even at 12 I knew the burden of my own sin, especially the hidden ones that plagued my heart... But then the Light broke through and... "Oh, I feel better!"

“Come now, and let us reason together,”

Says the Lord,

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

They shall be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They shall be as wool.

Isaiah 1:18