This school year began with a treasure hunt. The kids LOVED following the map to their bags of candy. They deserved it after listening attentively and doing their work with no complaining.
Heart of Dakota's Bigger Hearts for His Glory is just the tool I have been looking for. We are studying American History beginning with Columbus. This curriculum gives a lot of creative ideas to expound on the characters and events of our history readings. e.g., we made a paper boat of the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria! They really float! We made a watercolor painting of the sea with a hidden sea animal. We simulated a solar and lunar eclipse. We're learning more about the seashore and can hardly wait to examine One Small Square when we go to the beach in a few weeks.
Sweetness and Cutie Pie have notebooks with a picture of a puppy on the outside. This is their character notebook. Just like puppies need training in good behavior, so do children. (I'm not a humanist, however). So each week we copy a character trait, Bible verse, and list Bible characters who exemplify this character and talk of how we can portray this character in our daily walk. I asked Cutie Pie, "Do you believe the Lord will help you be good?" He shrugged hsi shoulders. "It's really easy to be bad, because we're born with a sinful nature, so we need God to help us be good."
"Yeah. It sure is easy to make a mess, but its hard to clean it up," he explained. Later he showed me a science experiment he learned in science camp this summer. He filled a small glass bottle with water and different food colorings until the water turned black. Then he asked me to place a drop of chlorine bleach in the bottle. We watched as the water turned clear again. Cutie pie said, "That's what Jesus does. He turns our dirty sins clean."
And the three r's. Cutie Pie really loves using dictation for spelling in lieu of those dreadful workbooks : / I hope he will remain enthusiastic as the text gets harder. Sweetness insists she reads better silently than aloud. I believe this to be true as she narrated a story with more detail after reading her assignmetn silently.
We are using Math U See as a spine to make sure I am covering most math concepts, but I do drift from the teaching methods at times. Sweetness catches on to math concepts much more quickly now as her brain has matured. Cutie Pie loves math, especially his time workbook.
Tomorrow we will take the day off from the "books" and spend time learning to serve others. I feel led to nurture Sweetness' God given gift of compassion. We attend our church's services at the local nursing home one Saturday per month. Sweetness is very fond of the residents there and begged to visit more often. We filled out an application, had a background check, and will begin visiting with a resident on a regular basis tomorrow. We are both nervous and excited about meeting this new person God has placed in our lives.
Then we will clean our church fellowship hall and decorate the Sunday School room I will be ass't teacher for.
Thanks for a wonderful good start to our school year Lord. Help me to teach my children what they need to know to further Your Kingdom.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Countdown to Spring!
We really enjoyed a taste of spring weather today. We were blessed by the company of the neighbor girls, Quick as a Wink and Princess Pea. They begged, "Mrs. B can we pleeeeeeease go to the special spot?" It was a delight to grant their request as the snow finally melted a path for Princess Pea to walk. But she didn't walk, she RAN! We have a lot of trees and woods right here in my yard, but there is somthing enchanting about a cluster of cedar trees situated by a trickling creek.
Appetites were roaring when we returned and I felt oh so blessed to be able to fill four hungry tummies. Hot dogs, mac and cheese, carrot sticks, cheese and crackers and strawberries for desert!
"Mrs. Bemis, I weft my back pack at da special spot." said Princess Pea.
"Well, we'll just have to go get it."
So we walked to the creek once more and then it was time to take them home.
"Mrs. Bemis I forgot my tiger at your house!" declared Princess Pea.
"That's ok! I'll see you tomorrow and I promise to take good care of him tonight."
That closes another chapter in our storybooks. I can't describe the wonderful good feelng of being a stay at home mome, the flexibility of homeschooling, a christian homeschooling neighbor, a husband the works so hard, and a loving Savior to make it all complete!
Appetites were roaring when we returned and I felt oh so blessed to be able to fill four hungry tummies. Hot dogs, mac and cheese, carrot sticks, cheese and crackers and strawberries for desert!
"Mrs. Bemis, I weft my back pack at da special spot." said Princess Pea.
"Well, we'll just have to go get it."
So we walked to the creek once more and then it was time to take them home.
"Mrs. Bemis I forgot my tiger at your house!" declared Princess Pea.
"That's ok! I'll see you tomorrow and I promise to take good care of him tonight."
That closes another chapter in our storybooks. I can't describe the wonderful good feelng of being a stay at home mome, the flexibility of homeschooling, a christian homeschooling neighbor, a husband the works so hard, and a loving Savior to make it all complete!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Happy Birthday Cutie Pie
God truly blessed us with a Sweetheart! Born on Valentine's Eve, Cutie Pie has blessed our lives with so much love. He didn't want a great big party, but he was pleasantly surprised when I told him that the two neighbor girls would be spending the night and eating cake with us.
I insisted the girls bring NO gift with them! So the eldest girl, that I shall call Quick as a Wink, made these awesome penguin sculptures from Sculpey Clay that we baked in the oven and said to Cutie Pie, "Here, this one is for your birthday." That penguin has earned a very special spot in our house : )
Here is an alarm Quick as a Wink made also!
Sweetness made a dog
And aside from stepping on these little beads the next day which drove me to a vacuuming frenzy this craft really keeps hands and heads busy!
I might add that we had a delightful Valentines day as well. The three pink roses are Sweetness' and the red ones are mine.
I leave you with a picture of February 2010! That's my Treasure Hunter! Using what he has and doing the best he can ; )
I insisted the girls bring NO gift with them! So the eldest girl, that I shall call Quick as a Wink, made these awesome penguin sculptures from Sculpey Clay that we baked in the oven and said to Cutie Pie, "Here, this one is for your birthday." That penguin has earned a very special spot in our house : )
Here is an alarm Quick as a Wink made also!
Sweetness made a dog
And aside from stepping on these little beads the next day which drove me to a vacuuming frenzy this craft really keeps hands and heads busy!
I might add that we had a delightful Valentines day as well. The three pink roses are Sweetness' and the red ones are mine.
I leave you with a picture of February 2010! That's my Treasure Hunter! Using what he has and doing the best he can ; )
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Life in 2' of Snow and No Electricity
Winter 2009-2010 will definitely be one for the record books! We haven’t had this much snow since Cutie Pie was born February 2003 when I thought we would be unable to make it home from the hospital! We made it praise the Lord and then was stuck for 3 days. I remember the electricity going off the very next morning, but thankfully was restored before bedtime. We weren‘t so fortunate this last go round. We lost electricity 1 a.m. Friday until 3 p.m. Monday. Being experienced w/ power outages since I married Treasure Hunter and we moved to the country, I had stored flushing, washing and drinking water. However, come Monday morning I was beginning to melt snow!
We were spoiled with a generator that kept our freezer full of venison running. We also ran the fridge, tv, coffee pot, electric griddle, and microwave. The only thing I missed was running water. And I also miss our walks to the creek. Two feet of snow is just too much to trudge through especially considering that Cutie Pie is only 3’. But we have been taking Eve for walks up our plowed road then let her off the leash on the way back. She wanted to run up into the woods so bad!. She would climb upon the snow bank, dive over into the ditch and fall into snow up to her nose! We laughed and laughed!
So here we are now waiting for another storm that should only drop up to 12” this time. I am so thankful that Cutie Pie has planned his birthday celebration to be dinner at Country Cookin’ and a trip to Radio Shack to get an MP3 player. He's not one for crowds or drawing attention to himself and although I think he is too young for an MP3 I am thankful he wants something besides an American Girl Doll.
Treasure Hunter moved my truck out from 2’ of snow and pushed the snow into our yard to make room for more! I asked him, “Where would I be without you?”
“Living in town.” he replied.
I am so thankful that the Lord has put me right where I am and that he is replenishing the ground with much needed moisture! LET IT SNOW!
We were spoiled with a generator that kept our freezer full of venison running. We also ran the fridge, tv, coffee pot, electric griddle, and microwave. The only thing I missed was running water. And I also miss our walks to the creek. Two feet of snow is just too much to trudge through especially considering that Cutie Pie is only 3’. But we have been taking Eve for walks up our plowed road then let her off the leash on the way back. She wanted to run up into the woods so bad!. She would climb upon the snow bank, dive over into the ditch and fall into snow up to her nose! We laughed and laughed!
So here we are now waiting for another storm that should only drop up to 12” this time. I am so thankful that Cutie Pie has planned his birthday celebration to be dinner at Country Cookin’ and a trip to Radio Shack to get an MP3 player. He's not one for crowds or drawing attention to himself and although I think he is too young for an MP3 I am thankful he wants something besides an American Girl Doll.
Treasure Hunter moved my truck out from 2’ of snow and pushed the snow into our yard to make room for more! I asked him, “Where would I be without you?”
“Living in town.” he replied.
I am so thankful that the Lord has put me right where I am and that he is replenishing the ground with much needed moisture! LET IT SNOW!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Peace Like a River
Goodness it’s been a long time since I’ve written to you my beloved blog : ) My mind has been in a lot of different places lately.
We had a very White Christmas.
Sweetness made a beautiful cake for Jesus this year.
Our plans to go to the beach was cancelled, however we brought some of the beach to our house!
And my sweet hubby bought me a Pfaff sewing machine! Look what I made! It's a tree skirt!
2010 has gotten off to a good start. We’re taking daily walks to the creek! We enjoy walking atop crunchy snow, watching Eve dig and bite at the ice as if she was dying of thirst although water was all around her!
You can still play in the creek when it’s freezing if you dress properly and position yourself just right so you don't fall in! Today I made sure she had on boots instead of her crocs without socks!
Cutie Pie LOVES his sister's coat! For that matter he LOVES everything about her, except when she whistles : /
School is going really well. Sweetness’ lapbook is near completion. She has been reading lots of books about sea shells and writing down what she’s learned. She is illustrating and making booklets from photographs she has taken of her shells. She is also learning about measurements, diameters, etc. She got her HUGE spider conch shell in the mail today.
We are studying about rivers and visiting Germany. Our new read aloud is a bust, so it's back to the online library catalog! However,t Cutie Pie loves the Seven Silly Eaters! It’s an awesome rhyming book about a mama w/ seven kids who are picky eaters. We have a math CD in the mail along with Piano for Quitters DVD!
Well, that's all I have time for now! I am JOYFUL today, and looking forward to tomorrow, because God is faithful!
We had a very White Christmas.
Sweetness made a beautiful cake for Jesus this year.
Our plans to go to the beach was cancelled, however we brought some of the beach to our house!
And my sweet hubby bought me a Pfaff sewing machine! Look what I made! It's a tree skirt!
2010 has gotten off to a good start. We’re taking daily walks to the creek! We enjoy walking atop crunchy snow, watching Eve dig and bite at the ice as if she was dying of thirst although water was all around her!
You can still play in the creek when it’s freezing if you dress properly and position yourself just right so you don't fall in! Today I made sure she had on boots instead of her crocs without socks!
Cutie Pie LOVES his sister's coat! For that matter he LOVES everything about her, except when she whistles : /
School is going really well. Sweetness’ lapbook is near completion. She has been reading lots of books about sea shells and writing down what she’s learned. She is illustrating and making booklets from photographs she has taken of her shells. She is also learning about measurements, diameters, etc. She got her HUGE spider conch shell in the mail today.
We are studying about rivers and visiting Germany. Our new read aloud is a bust, so it's back to the online library catalog! However,t Cutie Pie loves the Seven Silly Eaters! It’s an awesome rhyming book about a mama w/ seven kids who are picky eaters. We have a math CD in the mail along with Piano for Quitters DVD!
Well, that's all I have time for now! I am JOYFUL today, and looking forward to tomorrow, because God is faithful!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Keeper's at Home
My prayer for Heartfelt Homeschool is that God would teach us what we need to know to further His Kingdom. There are many activities for children to participate and before becoming actively involved I try to remember to pray about it before diving in. I want whatever we do to be glorifying to God and there have been times when we’ve passed the boundary that leads to the path of destruction. Worldly pleasures are disguised in sheep’s clothing. Thank you God for gently pulling us back onto the right road.
God’s Word tells the older women to teach the younger women to be keeper’s at home! So I prayed the Lord would send these older women into our lives to teach us! Why am I so amazed when God answers prayers? He is amazing! For God has sent us Mrs. Jenny & Mrs. Lisa. Mrs. Jenny, from Mennonite heritage, mother of 7, grandmother of 12, has graciously offered to share her gift of sewing with young moms and daughters. She invited us to her home where she showed us her grandfather’s 100 year old quilt hand sewn from men’s leftover shirts. I'd have that thing framed!
We picked our first quilting patterns and began quilting class last Saturday and plan to meet every Saturday this winter. What a blessing for her to share her time and talents with us.
And Mrs. Lisa is a lady of many talents who serves the Lord with a heart of gladness! She is the one who organized our quilting bee and recruited Mrs. Jenny to help. Lisa’s vision is for us all to create gifts that will bless those in need.
So here are some pictures of our first projects.
Sweetness and her quilt
This is my tree skirt. It was altered by the faux 1/4" on my sewing machine and didn't turn out "perfect" although it still wraps nicely around the tree.
I am feeling very guilty for desiring a new sewing machine, but if I'm serious about quilting it's a must have. So I'll leave it in the Lord's hands. As Mrs. Jenny says, "Everything I own belongs to the Lord and I must share my blessings. You're welcome to take my machine home and use it all you like." I just couldn't do that, but we sure do like going to her house and sewing.
Stay tuned. Cutie Pie got stung by the quilting bee too!
God’s Word tells the older women to teach the younger women to be keeper’s at home! So I prayed the Lord would send these older women into our lives to teach us! Why am I so amazed when God answers prayers? He is amazing! For God has sent us Mrs. Jenny & Mrs. Lisa. Mrs. Jenny, from Mennonite heritage, mother of 7, grandmother of 12, has graciously offered to share her gift of sewing with young moms and daughters. She invited us to her home where she showed us her grandfather’s 100 year old quilt hand sewn from men’s leftover shirts. I'd have that thing framed!
We picked our first quilting patterns and began quilting class last Saturday and plan to meet every Saturday this winter. What a blessing for her to share her time and talents with us.
And Mrs. Lisa is a lady of many talents who serves the Lord with a heart of gladness! She is the one who organized our quilting bee and recruited Mrs. Jenny to help. Lisa’s vision is for us all to create gifts that will bless those in need.
So here are some pictures of our first projects.
Sweetness and her quilt
This is my tree skirt. It was altered by the faux 1/4" on my sewing machine and didn't turn out "perfect" although it still wraps nicely around the tree.
I am feeling very guilty for desiring a new sewing machine, but if I'm serious about quilting it's a must have. So I'll leave it in the Lord's hands. As Mrs. Jenny says, "Everything I own belongs to the Lord and I must share my blessings. You're welcome to take my machine home and use it all you like." I just couldn't do that, but we sure do like going to her house and sewing.
Stay tuned. Cutie Pie got stung by the quilting bee too!
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