ziggurat!!

After today's study on Sumer, Princess A constructed her version of a ziggurat. Tomorrow it's on to pyramids, they we'll get to mummify something...wonder who, I mean what, we'll pick for that project.

Camp Half-blood photos

Dying quite bravely...

The Princess is an archer...

Lazy Days of Summer?

I have never really been sure of the origin of that phrase, but it does not fit our lives at all. So far this summer we've worked. First there was the fireworks stand. (A great lesson in patience and getting along.) 5 people in a camper for 11 days in the middle of an empty field with nothing to do is definitely character building. Learning to step outside of your anxiety to talk to strangers, having to borrow and carry on the fly to get totals for customers, and not having everyone available to "do it for you" or just some of the lessons learned by the royal offspring.

After that it was time for Princess K to head to Camp Half-blood. If you've read any of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians books, then you know what I'm talking about. Two weeks in the scorching heat learning to fence, throw javelins, march, dance, and a myriad of other Greek skills, keeps you hot and tired...but having fun :0)

Now its time for the Queen to set up the school year again (DIDN'T WE JUST FINISH?!?!?) I learned of a new system called Workboxes (see info on the book here) and we're really excited to get started. I'll have to post pictures when I get things set up.

The problem with hammering a square peg into a round hole is not that the hammering is such hard work...it's that you're destroying the peg."
Author unknown

Of all the reasons I could list to explain why I home school, the quote above probably does the best job of saying it for me.There are other paths I could have chosen. There are probably easier ways to get my children "educated." Anyone who has ever home schooled knows its not the easiest job in the world. Sadly, I must admit, I've done much "hammering of square pegs." Some hammering was done in ignorance, some in frustration. Thankfully, I'm always reminded (although not always gently) that my purpose is not to drive my "square" children into round holes, but to guide them down the path God designed for them. Everything I see as a defect, He sees as potential. Everything I see as an insurmountable challenge, He sees as an opportunity to excel. What looks to lack to me is abundance to Him....and He grants me the privilege of helping to guide these wonderful gifts out of my children.

I know that as a wife, mom, teacher, cook, laundry lady, and all the other hats you wear, its easy to feel discouraged and overwhelmed. Its easy to look at those square pegs of yours and wish they would just fit right into whatever hole is the closest. On those days, I'd like to encourage you to call another mom who will lift you up with encouraging words. I'd also like to ask you to grab my hammer from my hands when you see me standing next to the wrong hole wielding it with wild eyes :)

Wordless Wednesday

Faith Steps...

Hosted here this week.


"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."
~Martin Luther King Jr.

Being a visual learner, stepping out in faith has always been a struggle for me. Even though I know in my heart that God has always provided everything I need, my head gets scared very easy when I can't "see" where everything is going.

Homeschooling is like this for me. I have three "wild cards" so to speak. I trust that they are learning and that God is helping me in all the areas I lack. I can see progress as we go, but not being able to "see" the finished product is a bit frightening.

Questions like "what if I forget something?"or "what if they forget everything I teach them?" plague me at times. Odds are, I probably will forget something, but it will be OK. I've forgotten things I learned in school..is all hope lost? No, I go look up what I need to know.

Its all going to work out because I do trust God. I step out of my fear into my faith in him. He holds my hand as I climb that staircase and I'm looking forward to seeing just what is at the top.

Manic Monday 01/26/09

~What gives you hope?
*My faith. If there were no knowledge of the one true God who loves me enough to pay the price for all my sins, I don't know how I would ever make it.

~How often do you get your haircut? Describe your worst haircut.
*Not very often. My worst haircuts are when a person won't listen to me about my wacky curls and cuts all my bangs off..I usually don't even get them cut for that very reason...

~What's your most treasured piece of jewelry? Why?
* My wedding rings. Because Jeff gave them to me and they remind me how much he loves me.

homeschooling in TX...

Just when you think your life can't get any closer to a stereotype, you look out your kitchen window and see how wrong you are. I'm giving them points for the safety equipment but I may deduct a few for toting the school desk outside. On second thought, it does show problem solving skills...I guess they can keep the points. :0)