Field Trip

Yesterday we went to the Parks Bonsai Farm. I hope that link works. Anyway, we had a blast. Mrs. Parks is great. Even though we had 9 kids 11 yr old and younger and one 14 yr. old (and 2 adults), she was wonderful. She was not even particularly bothered by my 7 yr. dev. delayed kid screaming his head off for the first 20 min. or so. She just said, "Wow! You're a big boy to be crying like that!! Mommy can't tote you!" LOL! Carter just looked at her and said, "NO!" He finally settled down and we all had fun. We picked out a couple little trees and she showed us how to trim them into bonsai. So neat. She said to come back in a few weeks and bring our plants and her husband will teach us how to repot them into proper bonsai pots since that's the most important part. I can't wait. She has the coolest range of plant material I've ever seen and I worked in a nursery for years!! Man. If you have any interest in bonsai, or have kids that are...go. She's wonderful! Call ahead so she knows you're coming! I feel that the kids learned lots. I know I did as well. I love homeschooling just because of that! I no longer feel that my brain is atrophying. I also really love Sonlight...because this bonsai thing was all their idea! In the Eastern Hemisphere Explorer you "choose your own adventure" for each country. Well, we've just started Japan and "train a bonsai tree" was what my kid picked! How cool! He's loving it...entirely. Also, it's cool, because my little ones are being exposed to all this early, and by the time they get to this core, they'll have what... 5 yr. old bonsai's of their own??! HA! Well, one day, I'm gonna get a new camera or actually visit my friend Val to get the one back I left at her house what, 2 yrs. ago?? I sure wish I could post photos of our trip cuz it was awesome.
Love you guys. |
Julie

Journey

I just wanted to say this:


Homeschooling is a journey, not a race. Why do some people get so wrapped up in our kids being done exactly at the same time as their age peers in public school? Why do we get so concerned about "normal." Personally, I was NOT ready at 18 to become responsible for myself, my education, or picking out my future career path. I botched all of that. Why would we want to force decisions on our children that they are not immediately required to make or even really well equipped (in a lot of cases) to make. I say, hey, enjoy the time your kids are with you. Stop pushing them out the door, because you're gonna be crying when they move out!! : )
Childhood is so short. Let all enjoy teaching and learning with those God has entrusted to us.
J

Hmmmmmmm.....

I think my husband reads my blog....he said "Yo ho ho and a bottle of tums" last night...or the night before...I don't know. It is possible he came up with it on his own...we do love pirates! Ha. Anyway, dearest, if you're reading this, I'm probably asleep over there behind you.... Love ya!


Tomorrow, me and the boys and friends are going on a field trip to a "bonzai farm". Can't wait. Branche is starting Japan in his "Eastern Hemisphere Explorer" and the project he picked was: "Get a bonzai tree". So, I couldn't just let it go at that....I called and set it up with the lady who runs this thing. I'll let you know how it goes after the fact!!! can't wait!


We've had a busy week, but I can't remember doing what?!! I do remember Friday night! I so highly recommend "Fireproof." Take your spouse, get a sitter and go!!! Rob even cried!!! ususally it's just me! That was the most incredible movie I think I've ever seen!!! Man, those people at that church in Georgia are awesome. It's made by the people who did "Flywheel" and "Facing the Giants". Just the most moving, life changing, gospel-rich movie ever...and Kirk Cameron to boot! LOL! GO SEE IT!!!

The boys loved their babysitter. Carter hugged her told her "I love you!" : )
He even turned the TV off the first time she told him to!! Miraculous!

I started reading a new book. It's by Beth Moore. It's called something like, "90 Days with John" ??? SOmething like that. It's a day by day 90 day study of John the disciple. You even get to write in it! WOohoo! I love "workbook" type Bible studies, but this is the most beautiful book you've ever seen, I almost didn't want to write in it, but then I thought how cool it would be 10 yrs. from now to read it again and be able to read my responses! My sweet husband gave it to me just because! how cool is that?! He also got me a book shelf!!! WOWIE!!!


oh, do any of you get the Voice of the Martyrs newsletter? I highly recommend it if you want to be shocked by the level of persecution of Christians in the world. It's really added to my prayer life. It's free. Something to think about.

Anyway, love you guys. Keep on prayin'!!
J

AAARRRGGHHHH! AVAST!

Aaargh! Avast, me mateys!! Walk the plank! Scurvy dogs! Ok. There you go. It's out of the bag. I'm a closet pirate...and today is TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY. Let's all give it a try! It's fun, it's safe, let's go!


Yar! Yo ho ho and a bottle of tums! (Ok, I'm nearly a middle aged pirate, har har)


J

Scripture

Okay, I changed my scripture quote this morning. It struck me, as I was reading that portion of scripture just how cool it was. Doesn't Paul do a wonderful job exegeteing Old Testament scripture and applying it to the New Testament world he lived in?? I love it.
Okay, next. Yesterday, I slammed on brakes and picked up a cool eastern box turtle that was hoofing it across the road. I brought it to my friend's house (she was babysitting 2 of my kids w/her 6) and we had a little science lesson! Pretty cool. Her kids had never actually experienced a turtle up close. It was really neat. They were surprised how fast he was when we put him down on the rug and let him run. They thought turtles were slow...well, anyone who's seen a box turtle in a hurry knows that while we can easily catch up with them, they're pretty quick! Well, she was supposed to email me some of the photos she took so I could post them here...but so far, no pictures!!! One day, I'm gonna have a camera again and this time NO ONE will step on the LCD screen! ARGH!
Next, Anybody want a puppy? These two we have need homes. We cannot handle them anymore! They are really cool dogs...fixed, up-to-date on shots...mostly potty trained. Lemme know if you want one...really! : )
My Mom and Dad returned from their trip to KY and Oklahoma yesterday. No, Tuesday. Glad they're back. The kids 've been missing them! They had fun seeing my sister's 4 kids in OK. They found a tarantula in the back yard while there. Man. I didn't even know that tarantulas live in OK. Tornadoes and tarantulas...don't think you could even give me house in OK!! LOL! Of course my Dad being who he is (nature man) caught it and they kept it in a shoebox so the kids could check it out a while. He picks up snakes, whatever. No worries. He's 71. Thinks he's like 40. Ha. Love that I have those genes. Of course, his Dad had his 100th birthday this past January....it's cool. Grampa still lives in his own house...has cool women that come and cook for him and do laundry etc. But, he's still able to do for himself mostly! He sharp as a tack mentally too. Knows all my kids by name...despite the fact that they're 3 of like 19 great-grandchildren and he has 2 great-great grands also! Nothing like family!!!
Well, time for school. Ya'll have a great day and keep on prayin'!!!
J

Field Trip

Alright. Yesterday, my friend and I and her kids and my kids and her teenage helper-person all went on a field trip! Woo hoo hoo!! Talk about a group---she's got 6 kids, I have 3, plus the teenager, plus my friend is pregnant!!! That's nine kids 11 and under. HA! We get such looks when we go out, because no one can ever decide who belongs to whom! lOL! Anyway, we went to the Casemate Museum at Ft. Monroe in Hampton, VA. It's really cool and I recommend it for anyone near enough to go visit. It is still an active military base, so you need to make sure everyone over 18 has ID and your car has it's registration etc. But, that said, for those of you who may not know, this was a Civil War fort. Robert E. Lee helped design it when he was a Lt. And Jefferson Davis (confederacy pres.) was held there as prisoner. You can see the VERY room where JD was held (our kids noted that his cell was much bigger then any of their bedrooms AND he got a desk!). And you can see where R.E.Lee lived. We also learned that Edgar A. Poe served there while in the military. They have COOL exhibits. We were shocked to find that our heada barely fit through the arched doorways. There was thing that said the average height of soldiers when it was built was 5'8". Wow. Anyway, if you're taller than that...you're gonna duck a lot! We also walked along the top of the walls which are now a "memorial garden". Pet cemetary...not sure if there are people up there too, we only walked a short distance of the over 1.5 mi. around walk. Lots to see. We only did some. Oh---cool gift shop too!
Later (after lunch) we went to Petsmart where a friend is a vet and we got a "behind the scenes" tour of the vet clinic that's there. We even got to see an X-ray of a pregnant bulldog who's carrying NINE, count the heads kids!9 puppies! Woof! Really neat. Let's see....the adults' favorite part was a quick trip to a really great thrift store nearby Petsmart. I spent about $75 and managed to outfit 3 boys with TONS of jeans (NICE ONES!!) and shirts for winter. Not to mention, for middle child who doesn't do well with buttons/zippers, I found a TON of elastic waist pants!!! WooHOO HOOOOOOO! Anyway, if it were not for thrift stores, my kids would be nekkid!!! LOL! So. We had a blast. Even lunch at BK was a big hit!
Hope your weekend is great! I'm doing laundry, and hope to clean out the truck!!
J

Okay--the coffee's kickin' in!

I am totally excited, because I ordered MathUSee for Carter yesterday. I wasn't happy with his response with what we were using and I think the kinesthetic-ness of MUS will be a great help for him. Also, I think there's some videos? He'll watch anything on video and remember it all....like Mathtacular. ha. That's a really cool DVD available at and made by Sonlight that has a funny guy up there explaining math concepts in a way kids will enjoy and understand. There was even a section where this young man was being Mr. Rogers and I bet I'm the only one who got it! (Cuz I'm so old). He came in the house, put on a sweater, changed into slippers, it was so funny. Anyway, I'm excited. I also ordered the rest of the curriculum stuff C's gonna need around maybe Christmas whenever we finish up the core we're doing now. So, I am eagerly awaiting my boxes! ALSO, yesterday, my hubbie was off, so we went to Books-a-million so he could pick up a couple resources for his latest seminary paper, and man...my whole family is addicted to books. Branche got one by Ted Dekker...who is a Christian writer who we just discovered is the son of missionaries we just read about in a book called "Torches of Joy" really great book. Anyway, he apparently grew up in Papua New Guinea while his parents were there being missionaries. Man, Sonlight sure directs us to some great books. Anyway, let's see....Carter got a new Scooby-doo book...Roger got two dot-to-dot workbooks that he's ecstatic about. One even came with a computer CD so you can make your own dot to dots...can't wait to try that out. Rob of course got like four or five books for school and one "just for fun" about learning Biblical Greek. What's wrong with that man? Who studies Greek for the "fun" of it???? LOL! Oh, that's right, the same one who took Statistics as an elective for an "easy A". Ugh. What else....Oh, while we were in P'burg which is like an hour from home we went to the Parable Christian Book Store there. We LOVE IT! We go every chance we get, because they have a HUGE music (CD) section. I got an Ernie Haas and Signature Sound CD I've been wanting..it's kinda big-band, gospel cool. I got the new (?) Gaither Vocal Band Cd...can't remember the name AND a Robin Mark best of CD called...."Days of Elijah". Really cool. Irish instrumentation worship music. Anyway. Oh and Roger got a shepherd and sheep to go with his Jesus and the angel and the tomb set. Ha. He's so cute. He's gonna be a preacher... i just know it...or maybe a missionary...a guerrilla missionary...HA convert or else! HA LOL!!Sorry. It is early and I get goofy.

Do it! It's FUNNY!!!!

Alright. THis actually made my kid and I laugh out loud. Do it and post your sentence. Here's mine: I kicked a squirrel because I think I need some serious help. Branche: I love an ipod because I can't control myself. Carter: I yelled at a surfer because I can't control myself. Dad: I kicked a birdbath because I'm cool like that. Rog: I jumped on a noodle because I'm sexy and do what I want.

I copied this from: www.macandcheesechronicles.com (I hope that is the right address...that's the name of the blog anyway!)


So tell me, what’s your sentence?

Pick the month you were born:

January——-I kicked
February——I loved
March——–I karate chopped
April———-I licked
May———-I jumped on
June———-I smelled
July———–I did the Macarena with
August——–I had lunch with
September—-I danced with
October——-I sang to
November—–I yelled at
December—–I ran over

Pick the date (number) you were born on:

1——-a birdbath
2——-a monster
3——-a phone
4——-a fork
5——-a snowman
6——-a gangster
7——-my mobile phone
8——-my dog
9——-my best friends’ boyfriend
10——-my neighbor
11——-my science teacher
12——-a banana
13——-a fireman
14——-a stuffed animal
15——-a goat
16——-a pickle
17——-your mom
18——-a spoon
19—— - a smurf
20——-a baseball bat
21——-a ninja
22——-Chuck Norris
23——-a noodle
24——-a squirrel
25——-a football player
26——-my sister
27——-my brother
28——-an ipod
29——-a surfer
30——-a llama
31——-A homeless guy

Pick the color of shirt you are wearing:
White———because I’m cool like that.
Black———because that’s how I roll.
Pink———–because I’m crazy.
Red———–because the voices told me to.
Blue———–because I’m sexy and I do what I want.
Green———because I think I need some serious help.
Purple———because I’m AWESOME!
Gray———-because Big Bird said to and he’s my leader.
Yellow——–because someone offered me 1,000,000 dollars.
Orange——–because my family thinks I’m stupid anyway.
Brown———because I can.
Other———-because I’m a Ninja!
None———-because I can’t control myself!

I love my husband!

You know, sometimes, crying half the night away with your husband just totally is a good thing. Rob and I laid in bed on Sat. night and cried and cried. It was the one year anniversary of his brother's home-going. Man, but we miss him. I thought (and he did too) that he was doing great Saturday. WEll, I went to bed just a little ahead of Rob and almost immediately started snoring. He came in and woke me up...which he NEVER does and we just started talking. Man. He cried and cried. I hated it. He NEVER cries. But wow. I've never felt so close to my sweet husband. Sometimes loss makes you pull closer to those you still have. This past year, Rob and I have spent so much time just being us. We just continue to grow closer and closer and closer. I can hardly believe that our 10th anniversary is coming up in January. It seems like yesterday sometimes and others it seems like 30 or 40 yrs...in a great way, I mean! :D
Anyway, I'm just reveling in the love of my husband and my Father (that one in heaven). I just feel so blessed. ROb and I have always just KNOWN that God put us together. It's actually kind of a funny story that I'm not gonna tell right now, but we knew we were gonna get married within a month or two of meeting. Anyway, just feelin' the love and thought I'd share!
J

Halloween

Okay. I will apologize in advance to anyone I shock or upset. It is not intended. I just read a post by someone else, somewhere else about Halloween. While I didn't read when exactl she posted it, or who exactly she is....nor did I read every single word of her post, I was struck with a thought. Why is Halloween such a big deal? Why do some churches try so hard to fight it? My kids trick-or-treat! I don't let them dress up a little demonic things, or particularly scary things....just like ninja turtles, knights, dragons, dinos, Hoboes...anyway, I really don't see the harm. No matter where Halloween got it's start, pagans, satanists, whatever, what's the big deal? We don't sacrifice anything but chocolate and skinny pants! We don't worship any body or anything on that particular day or at least in conjunction with it. So many churches now how "Fall Festivals" instead of "Halloween Parties" to try to counteract Halloween, but really, they don't even do them on the night kids trick-or-reat! (If you did, you wouldn't have half the participation!LOL!) BUt hey, what's the big deal? I mean really, we hear now how Easter was a pagan holiday the Christians usurped. Who cares? I celebrate my risen Savior that day....not the chocolate bunny I eat before church! Is this hurting something because my kids think some big bunny leaves them candy and few small presents? Hey, we even started finding chocolate crosses! Ha. Why all the fuss? As long as we do the right things, worship the ONe True God, and live in a way that our hearts, minds, words and actions serve God...what's a little candy hurt? Why is it bad to dress up and visit neighbors? Our neighborhood has a blast! I found at Answers in Genesis I think this past year, little cards with Dinosaurs and stuff on them and a gospel track FOR KIDS on the back and handed them out with the candy. COol? YES! The kids loved them! My one kid still carries them around. I definitely made sure the teenagers bringing littles around got one. Let's use these things to our benefit and stop griping and complaining and fussing about stuff that surely doesn't affect our salvation. Love you guys. J

Hanna and stuff

Okay, as I sit here early on a Sat. morning, I'm listening to the rain on my window. It's Hurricane Hanna. No big deal, we've had worse summer thunderstorms. A lot worse. We'll see what happens as the day progresses but this should be all done by late afternoon. We'll probably be stomping in deep puddles, but that's about it. The wind's not so bad, we're expecting minor flooding, but out here we get that with any rain. The water runs out of peanut, and cotton fields and covers the road....creeks run over their banks into the road...not a new thing. Of course, the bored weather men are making a HUGE deal. That's all the news has been this a.m. Not even a mention of anything else. We love to over-react to every hurricane. It's like a statewide pass-time in Sept.
I'm avoiding writing a paper for my seminary class. It's on "theology of Missions". Man, I'm not even sure I understand the topic!!! LOL! I've read like 200 pages a week for 3 wks for this class and I STILL don't know exactly where to start!!! HA! Let me just say, seminary is definitely a step up from undergrad. I feel like the dummy in class,like I must be the only one sitting here shrugging, going...."huh?" HA! I know I'm not...I get good grades, I can intelligently discuss stuff on discussion boards....I just feel dumb. It'll be ok. I'm great at procrastination, I'm practically a professional...I write wonderfully under great pressure and duress........are you buying it? I am! I work very hard to maintain my thought processes in this manner! :)
Ya'll have a great day and pray for me!!
j

A Good Day

SO. We had a good day. Carter decided to impress me today. We've been listening to "addition songs" CD for a few days and he refused to admit he was listening and would NOT sing along! Well, today, Daddy came up to the school room and little brother sang the "test" where there are blanks for the answers. Got them all right!! GO ROGER! (It was the 1+ _ =_ song. Like 1+1 is 2. 1+2 is 3 and so on to 1+9 is 10). ROger is 5. Good job. Well, Carter could NOT let his little brother upstage him and sang the WHOLE SONG!!! WOOHOO! I knew he knew it, just sometimes I need a little proof!!! TO top that off, Carter does NOT like science. He won't actively listen. (SOrry I'm heavy on quote marks...I just like them!) He will NOT do the activity sheets that come with the Sonlight science program though they are not particularly difficult, and very appropriate...just a few questions a day. Well, today, he listened to like 3 days worth and then ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS!!! I mean he knew it all!!! He knows all about "invertebrates", which pictures were and were not, life cycles, everything!!! I was SO excited!!!! YEA CARTER!!!! ANyway, small steps,great progress!!! I'm cheering loudly!
J

who knew!

This made me wish I liked apples more...it made me want to go buy a bag of them!!! I copied this from an email I got...








Prevents heart disease
Apples contain quercetin, a natural, anti-inflammatory phytonutrient that reduces the risk of coronary heart disease.

Relieves asthma
Recent studies showed that children who suffer with asthma and consume apple juice daily wheeze less than those who only consumed apple juice once a month. Another study revealed that children have lower rates of asthma when their mothers ate a regular diet of apples during pregnancy.


Lowers cholesterol
Apples contain pectin, which lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol as much as 16 percent in people who eat two apples per day.

Protects bones
According to French researchers, phloridzin, a flavanoid found only in apples, may increase bone density and protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis. Boron, which is also found in apples, is known to strengthen bones.

Prevents lung cancer
In a study of 10,000 people, researchers believe that those who ate the most apples had a 50 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer due to the high levels of flavonoids, naringin, and quercetin found in apples.

Prevents colon cancer and other intestinal disorders
One five-ounce apple provides the human body with more than three grams of fiber, which is ten percent of the recommended daily intake. This high fiber content prevents life-threatening colon and rectal cancer, as well as other disorders that involve the intestinal tract, such as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and diverticulitis.

Manages diabetes
The pectin found in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body, reducing the body's need for insulin. Since apples naturally regulate blood sugar levels in the body, many diabetes patients have found that regularly eating apples reduces, and even in some cases, eliminates their need for medication.

Increases weight loss
Weight loss is increased by the beneficial fiber content in apples. Plus, the polyphenols found in apples have demonstrated the ability to regulate fat metabolism. In fact, according to data collected and analyzed in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the government's largest food consumption and health database, Dr. Victor Fulgoni said, "We found that adults who eat apples and apple products have smaller waistlines that indicate less abdominal fat, lower blood pressure, and a reduced risk for developing what is known as the metabolic syndrome."

Prevents Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases
According to recent studies on mice at Cornell University, the quercetin phytonutrient found in apples may protect brain cells from the damage that causes Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Although the same vitamins and minerals found in apples could also be found in any daily multi-vitamin, the combination of minerals, vitamins, and other plant components working together seems to be what "keeps the doctor away" when eating an apple. More than just an all-natural snack, apples just might be the perfect fruit. Not only do they look appealing and taste great, they also provide a variety of health benefits that God designed to help keep the human body strong in order to serve Him.

Babies....

Everyone I know is pregnant. Now today,I read a blog by a guy who (with his wife) is adopting kids...internationally. I really feel that we should be adopting. We started this before and had to drop it. I'm REALLY wanting to start again. I am not sure my husband would not blow a gasket right now....but. I don't know. I'm tired, I want a baby...or a kid....I don't know. I just feel this pull. I don't know what to do with it. Why doesn't somebody just drop their baby on my porch? I'd keep it....I keep all the dogs and kittens and lizards....whatever that people seem to leave!!! Lol! I'm sorry. Inappropriate humor. It's that time of day. Pray for me, for us. We're a bit discouraged in this church search thing and it's causing discouragement to float around in other areas of my life too. I'm ok, just need a boost.
J

Today, Branche and I watched "Amazing Grace". It's a movie about the life of William Wilberforce. More than being just about his life...it was about what he did, what he sacrificed, how he managed what he did. It was truly amazing. I wanted to cry several times. While we are all at some level familiar with the deplorable conditions of slave ships, and the way that slaves were treated in general, that movie made it all the more blatant. It was really unbelievable. Watch it. I truly beg of you. Watch the movie. It is life changing. Branche is 11, he understood it. This is movie than stands to change your life, your views, it challenges what you think you know. Let your kids watch as they get old enough. This is one of those history things that we cannot let be forgotten. If for no other reason than there is still to this day slavery going on in many parts of the world.

Also, on the subject of movies....."Fireproof" is coming out in theaters soon. Supposed to be wonderful. I think it's made by the same church that made "Facing the Giants." Supposed to be wonderful, clear, presentation of the gospel in there. Would be a good place/movie to share with unsaved friends.
J

school bus

I gotta say, I just participated in what for me has become a yearly (if not more often) ritual. I always watch the kids get on the school bus the first day of school. I get such joy from sitting on my porch, drinking my coffee, and reveling in the fact that my kids are still sleeping, I didn't just have to drag everyone out of bed and rush them around getting ready and finding things to "not miss the bus". Ha! I love just watching that big yellow thing roll by, waving at the driver, looking at all the sad little faces in the windows...ok, not the sad faces...I'd like to call all the mom's and make them watch so they'd pull their kids out too! HA! BUT, I AM glad, it's not MY kids' sad little faces in the windows!! ANyway, I sit on my porch drinking coffee a lot during the year, therefor often see the buses go by, but it's always a bigger deal on the first Tuesday of September. Also, I find it cool that we're beginning our fourth week of school this week! ha HA! We're ahead of those poor kiddies just going back to start a month or more worth of review!!! ha HA! We might've already learned something NEW!! : )
Oh well, onward and upward....I will have kids swarming me for breakfast any time now!!! Love ya'll! Keep praying!
J