Life Lessons

There are so many posts just waiting to be written...I had a great time at our Mini Conference last Saturday and I will be posting my handout on here in the very near future...I wanted to write one on love for Valentine's Day (kind of late, but better late than never)...I have a fun story about friend's children who are ready to move in with us to be homeschooled...our schedule...but what I'm going to write about is some wisdom of my past teachers. Please, excuse my rambling, run on sentence, I like to write the way I think; which is not necessarily the proper way to write. I have a BA in English, so I do know how to write. I choose to write the way I think.

I read an article from The Heart of the Matter today that got me thinking about two of the best lessons I've learned outside of my parents and the Bible. The first that I usually think of is from my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. McVey, who taught me that "You are responsible for your own actions." We have a written list of house rules, and that one is on the top of the list. I think that is an especially bad problem of the generations after my own (not to mention many in my generation)...blaming others for our own actions. I even have to remind myself at times that I am responsible for my own actions!

The other lesson is one that I can't quite remember who taught me, but I'm fairly certain I learned this gem of wisdom sometime in my teenage years. I was told that mistakes, failures, and the like should be looked upon as "Learning experiences". If we don't have any troubles or difficulties, how can we learn from them? That has served me well through the years. The article I read today especially reminded me of this one.

My daughter began "offical" homeschooling (you know, when we start calling it school and keeping records and such) with a great fear of failure. She didn't want to try for fear of giving the wrong answer or sounding out a word wrong. Part of her fear may have been my tone of voice or feeling my frustration in those early days (I felt we were on trial in my husband's eyes.). I have have worked on myself a lot in those areas. Thankfully, I realized the other day that I felt strange raising my voice. So much time had gone by that I have not raised my voice. Thank you, God, for helping me. The Lord does answer prayers.

I do feel that at least part of her fear was just that of failing. After explaining to her multiple times that I am glad for her to make mistakes so that she can learn from them, she approaches most things without fear, sometimes even reminding me about learning experiences. I believe I have even heard her give the advice to others. I think that learning from failure is such an important lesson to learn. I am glad to pass that one on, too.

I'm sure that some version of these lessons could be found in the Bible, that is just not where I first learned them. I do believe God provided for us in all ways when writing the Bible. As I child, I remember the story of King Solomon and how he asked God for wisdom. That story etched itself on my brain and heart. I knew that God answered prayers, with the right answer, all I had to do was ask. My mother's testimony led my to my own relationship with Christ. I will write some other days (for future generations) about the wonderful examples of my immediate and extended family.

I was not homeschooled, but my parents were wonderful part-time homeschoolers (meaning I went to public school, but they taught me plenty at home). Mom was, and is, full of imagination. She passed on her love of reading to me. She is a very patient teacher. I did not learn how to find answers in public school, but my Mother taught me how. She taught me how to write my name in cursive and how to teach myself typing, both before I learned in school. My Father is skillful in woodworking. I took Shop class not only to learn, but to be closer to my Dad. I can look at my projects and remember the help and advice he gave me. There are so many wonderful things both my parents taught me, but the most important lesson was to let my children know that I not only love them because they are my children, but I value them as people. I enjoy talking with them, hearing their opinions, and I choose to be with them more often than not. I knew my parents valued me as a person, not just because I was their child. I chose my parents more often than not, because I not only love my parents, but I really like them. Thank you, God, for my parents.

Learning Should Be Fun!

I am the Field Trip Chair for our Co-op. I have been wanting to take the kids to a CYT (Christian Youth Theater) production for at least a couple of years now. When I saw that our local CYT was putting on School House Rock!, I knew we had to arrange a field trip.

As a kid, School House Rock was one of my favorite cartoons on Saturday mornings. I love music. I love music and learning put together. How can you go wrong with a combination like that? Music makes learning fun and makes facts easier to remember. I don't think I ever wouldn't passed the states test if we hadn't learned Fifty Nifty United States for the Spring Pageant at school.

I really enjoyed the "Live! Junior" version of School House Rock!. The play starts as a new teacher is waking up early to prepare for his first day of teaching. He turns on the TV and there is School House Rock...which comes to life in his Rec' Room. About half way through the play he says how great the songs are and how they are reminding him: of what you don't learn in school about teaching: "That learning should be fun!"

That's another reason why I was first interested in homeschooling. I believe that learning should be fun. Schooling should instill a love of learning and a thirst for knowledge in a child. I had many wonderful teachers in my school time, but I also had some who were not so wonderful. A teacher can excite a student about learning, or make learning a chore, or even a bore. I know that my brother, sister, and husband were bored many times in school. They were not challenged to their full capabilities. I did not want that for my children.

I love that homeschooling allows them to learn at their own pace. My kindergarten son is doing first grade math. I know he would be bored in regular school. He would probably finish his work early, and then get into trouble because he was bored. I know that is just speculation, my imagination, but that's the other thing about homeschooling: I know my son better than anyone, but God. So, I'm pretty sure I'm imagining fairly accurately.

My daughter is slower with math, more like her mother. I just didn't feel comfortable with math. I made good grades, but I honestly didn't "get" the ease of math until I started teaching her. Ironically, she doesn't "get" math, unless her Daddy is teaching her. We can say almost the exact same thing to her, but when he says it, it makes sense to her. That's not to say I didn't "get" formulas, etc...just use the formula and it works. Other classmates wanted to know "Why?". That never bothered me. I don't think I was ever taught math quite the right way for my learning style.

Another great thing about homeschooling is that I can use my children's learning styles to make learning easier and more fun! I can tailor their lessons to each of them. Find me another school that has such a small student to teacher ratio!

I am not a Science buff, but my kids LOVE Science. I try to follow their lead where that is concerned. For Kindergarten, Ellie was really into Outer Space and the Planets. So, although Science is usually not much of a subject, if any, in Kindergarten, we studied Astronomy! I can finally name all the planets in order! Both Ellie and Wyatt can point out the planets and name them faster than I can. Two years later, Ellie still gets SUPER excited when there is a NASA homeschooling video conference at the library! Wyatt will say Science is one of his favorite subjects, too, but Ellie does get more excited about Science.

I love when the kids say "You are the most fun Mom!"

One of the Many Reasons I Homeschool

Last Friday's Heart of the Matter Meme was The Goofiest Response Ever To Questions About Homeschoolers. I had a good story that a friend told me, but it wasn't necessarily goofy. I did have a cashier today at Wal-Mart that I had to write about. I've had a half dozen, probably, ask questions or make comments about homeschooling, but this one took the cake.

So, the kids and I made an 8pm run to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things. As our turn comes to set our things up to pay for, the cashier is hollering to the couple who checked out before us, "Sorry, I said the a-word." Then, she turns to me and says, "I said it real quite because I saw you coming up with the kids." So, I responded, "Thank you, I appreciate that."

Then, she remarks about my daughter, "Well, she looks like she's school age; she's probably heard more than that before." To which I reply, "No, we homeschool." Then she gets one of those funny looks some people get when you tell them you homeschool. She proceeds to tell me, "My husband wanted me to do that, but I think it's good for the kids to be with other kids."

Instead of responding like I should have, with, "So, you like your kids to learn foul language, etc...like you obviously believe and know they are learning at school 'with other kids'?"...I responded with, "They have plenty of time with other kids. We belong to a co-op and other homeschool groups and activities." My darling daughter pipes with, "We play soccer and do all sorts of stuff with other kids." And between you all and me, I thank the Lord I have the privilege of homeschooling my kids. They are not learning the menial, offensive junk that I learned as a kid...not to mention what they would learn in public school in 2009! I also thank God that I have wonderful parents who made sure I knew right from wrong.

My cousin and I were talking the other day. We had such a lovely time when I went to visit her and her son (our hubby's were at work). We took a day off from school to go hang out with her. One of the wonderful perks of homeschooling year round like we do, is we can take an unscheduled day off and it is no big deal. Anyway, my cousin was nine months pregnant and miserable, needing someone to take her mind off things. I am 3 months older than my cousin and we have always been close...even fighting like sisters as children. Well, we were reminiscing about our childhood and she was remembering when my brother and I "sprayed" everything she touched with "cootie spray". Oh, I know I was such a mean child at times, but I never would have even thought of such a things...or many other mean things I did...if it were not for the children at my school. Our children are all different ages: eight(my daughter), six(my son), and four(her son), but they played so nice together and had such a good time that they were asking to play together even the next week. I can't imagine that happening if that had been socialized to believe that they were only supposed to play with other children their own age. We didn't play together the next week because her son had a new baby brother! But we will get together again soon and I know we will all enjoy each other, with our nice, clean language.

I also have to mention that woman is incredibly lucky to have a husband who would encourage her to homeschool. Many women who want to homeschool are not so blessed. My husband "allowed" me to homeschool at first, but said he wouldn't have any sympathy if/when I got overwhelmed. I am happy to say that didn't last long. He is now my solid rock, support, and homeschool advocate...he even teaches our daughter math.

I'll write another day on the many reasons we homeschool. I love that my daughter refused to play soccer until her brother was old enough to play, too, because she wouldn't play if he couldn't yet. I love that they have wonderful friends, most of which are homeschooled, but some are not. I love that they are friends with each other. I'll end with the fact that my kids tell me I am "the best mom in the world," and I wouldn't trade my time with them for anything of this world.

Russian Chicken Soup

We belong to a wonderful Homeschool Co-op where I teach Jr. High PE and co-teach Food Class. Our Co-op meets once a month to study a different foreign country, sort of unit study style. So, each class focuses on a different aspect of the country: Food, PE, Science, Art, and Social Studies. Food Class can be challenging...finding recipes that will entice the kids to try new and different foods, trying new cooking techniques, and finding exotic ingredients. I have throughly enjoyed learning though.

Some of the recipes I've made for Co-op have became family favorites. The most requested of all has to be Chicken Soup with Dumplings from Russia. The recipe has even been requested by those outside Co-op when they've witnessed us eating it at lunch (including the husbands work). Since food is definitely one of the basics of life, I decided I would put some of our favorite family recipes on the blog. I can't think of a better way to save and share the yummy recipes. So, I'm starting with the Russian Chicken Soup. I'll print the original & my modified version.

Chicken Soup with Dumplings

DUMPLINGS
1 jumbo egg
3 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill (optional)

SOUP
5 cups Chicken Stock, or canned broth
2 medium-size boiling potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch dice
8 baby carrots, peeled
1 large rib celery, sliced
1 large fresh, ripe tomato, peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped
Finely minced scallion (green onion) for garnish
Finely chopped fresh dill for garnish

1 To make the dumplings, break the egg into a small bowl, then add the flour salt, pepper, and dill, if desired, and beat with a fork until smooth. Set the dumpling mixture aside.
2 In a soup pot, bring the chicken stock to a boil, then add the potatoes, carrots, and celery. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the vegetables are tender, for 15 minutes.
3 Dip a teaspoon into cold water, scoop up about ½ teaspoon of the dumpling mixture and lower it carefully in to the simmering soup. Repeat with the rest of the mixture, dipping your spoon into cold water before you make each dumpling. You should have about 8 to 10 dumplings.
4 Add the tomato, increase the heat to medium low, and cook until the dumplings rise to the surface, 5 to 7 minutes.
5 Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with scallion and dill, and serve.

Serves 4 generously

Russian Chicken Soup with Dumplings Misty Style

DUMPLINGS
1 jumbo egg
3 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill (optional-I’ve also used a country herb mix)

SOUP
5 cups Chicken Stock, or canned broth ( I use one carton, plus a ½-3/4 cup of water or broth from the chicken)
2 medium-size boiling potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch dice
8 baby carrots, peeled (or a couple large carrots-peeled and shredded)
1 large rib celery, sliced (optional)
1 large fresh, ripe tomato, peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped (or, one can organic diced tomatoes)
Finely minced scallion (green onion) for garnish (optional)
Finely chopped fresh dill for garnish

1 To make the dumplings, break the egg into a small bowl, then add the flour salt, pepper, and dill, if desired, and beat with a fork until smooth. Set the dumpling mixture aside.
2 In a soup pot, bring the chicken stock to a boil, then add the potatoes, carrots, and celery. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the vegetables are tender, for 15 minutes.
3 Dip a teaspoon into cold water, scoop up about ½ teaspoon of the dumpling mixture and lower it carefully in to the simmering soup. Repeat with the rest of the mixture, dipping your spoon into cold water before you make each dumpling. You should have about 8 to 10 dumplings.
4 Add the tomato, increase the heat to medium low, and cook until the dumplings rise to the surface, 5 to 7 minutes.
5 Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with scallion and dill, and serve.

Serves 4 generously

To make heartier, I slow cook a whole chicken, then skin & pull the meat off the bone, tear up a bit & add at the very end (when everything else is done). In Russia, chicken is too expensive to use like this. They would make the food last by making this with the chicken’s broth.

You do not have to add the green onion or dill, it is yummy either way.

Also, I usually triple or quadruple the dumplings, cuz my daughter really loves dumplings.

I don’t always use salt, either, you don’t need it. There is a lot of flavor in the rest of the ingredients. Oh, and Rachel Rays Chicken Stock has the best flavor (so says my husband & I do really like the flavor).

Mom's Night Out and Middle of the Night Talks

I don't get a Mom's Night Out very often. I don't lament that fact either. But when I do get a Mom's Night Out...oh, I really do enjoy the time to talk to a friend with no interruptions. Okay, we do get a couple of calls on the cell phone-each, but we could ignore them if we wanted to.

Even though it's freezing cold here, my friend & I met at DQ for ice cream. Mostly, we just needed a warm, quiet place to talk and laugh our butts off. I am blessed with wonderful friends. This one is a fellow homeschooler, who shares being born in September, having two kids, belongs to the same homeschool groups. She is someone I can talk to and be myself. We are both totally in love with our husbands, so even if we have a little annoyance we need to tell the other one about, we know that we are totally thankful for the men God gave us. We laugh about the kids, and sometimes the husbands, antics. We can discuss politics and not argue. I know that I left last nights Mom's Night Out refreshed and ready to tackle bedtime at home.

Back home, everyone was happy to see me & I was happy to see them. This kids & I read three chapters of The Adventure Girls at the K Bar O Ranch, which put us a little past regular bedtime, but we were all dying to find out the end of the book. The Husband wanted to hear all about Girl's Night Out. Did I complain about him? No! What did we talk about? All sorts of things.

The Husband & I have had the most wonderful talks and discussions while doing the Fireproof Couples Study. I must say though, we always have the most wonderful talks in the middle of the night/early morning. For some reason, when we both wake up in the middle of the night and start talking, we cannot stop. We talk about everything. We have such great talks, not just about the everyday workings of married life, but really deep talks.

My mother-in-law has said how wonderful it is that all of her married kids are friends with their spouses. She can see that we really enjoy each other and have fun together. I must say, we do. There have been some rough stubborn times and also adjustments, like when we had each child, but I adore my husband even more than when we were dating.

I am excited for our 10th anniversary this year. I was telling my friend at Girls Night Out, that 10 years does not seem so long to me. My friend said that 10 years was pretty long these days. I explained to my friend that I always compare marriage to my great-grandparents. They were married 73 years and 11 months before grandma went to heaven. Grandpa joined her a month later to celebrate their 74th anniversary. I wrote an article on them for my Feature Writing class in college. Oh, I treasure that. They were still here to interview in person. Grandma died the week Thomas & I were married.

Preparing for the Mini-Conference

I've been working a lot this week on preparing to speak at a Home School Conference for the first time. It's only a mini-conference for our local home school support group, but I am excited that I was asked to speak. I do feel like I have a wealth of knowledge to share for one who is not considered a veteran home schooler (you know, those who've been home schooling for 15 or 20 years). I wrote up an Ad/Teaser to share with the group, because my class title is kind of vague, and we don't seem to be getting the interest the mini-conference was expected to have. Though, I wonder if part of that is the date. Why did we pick Valentine's Day for the mini-conference? What were we thinking? I know I was there for the original planning meeting....???

Anyway, here's my Ad:

Do you like to save money?
Has the economy got you down?
Are you home schooling on a budget?
Would you like to get curriculum for FREE?
Have you been wanting to try unit studies or lapbooking,
but don't know where to start?
Would you like to home school with practically no money
and still choose your own curriculum?

If you answered "yes" to more than one of these questions, then
Homeschooling on a Shoestring and Lapbooking
is the class for you!

I'll even show you how to home school with a shoestring!

Yes, I'm actually going to show my class how to home school with a shoestring. Most of it will be how to use the library, unit studies, lapbooking, free downloads, free websites, and other free curriculum opportunities to home school well, fun, and effectively for cheap.

I'm thinking of adding a lot of my info to the blog, both for others and myself. I would love to have the information in a more easily accessible format than I currently have. I have a lot of work to do, but when I'm done with my conference notes, I should have things pretty much organized. Though, I'm not sure how to add all that to the blog. I have a couple of friend who might help. ;)

Thoughts on the Presidency and Vows

I've been alive for six presidents now, counting the one sworn in today. I have voted in four elections (ever since I was old enough to vote). I've voted, and my candidate has won. I've also voted, and my candidate has lost.

Since this year was an election year, we've studied the Presidents in our home school. I've learned more about the Presidents of the United States this year by teaching my children, than I ever forgot from my own education in the public school. We started with The President's Rap, from The Essential Raps by Ron Clark, which is a rap song that teaches the presidents from 1 to 43 with added Presidential Facts! Did you know that President William Harrison (#9) only served 30 days? So, after we all had the Presidents memorized in order, we began to study about each one. We're currently on #6, John Quincy Adams. Did you know that Quincy is actually supposed to be pronounced Quin-zee, not Quin-see? Oh, the things I've learned!

Not to mention all the things of learned about the hearts and minds of our fore fathers. I completely agree with President Washington that political parties only cause discord. He was so right to stand his ground and not join a party. I have never joined one myself, and will continue to vote for who I believe is the best person for the job.

I now have a great understanding of patriotism and the heart of this great country of ours. I did not vote for our current President Obama, but I found myself in tears watching the ceremony today on television. I can only compare this to how people cry at weddings. Once you understand what those vows mean, I can't help but be brought to tears (at least the brink of them) at a wedding ceremony. The same happened with the oath of office, other speeches and prayers today. I hope and pray the President Obama means and understands every word he pledged.

My husband and I are doing the Fireproof study for couples (based on the movie Fireproof). If you haven't seen Fireproof, it comes out on DVD January 27th. I will be buying it, but I encourage everyone to see it...rent it a Redbox (probably you should reserve it), or just buy it. The movie is wonderful! The part of the study we just completed was on marriage vows. The information talked about covenants, and what marriage vows really mean. They are not temporary, or reliant on what your spouse does for you. When a person makes a vow, that vow is 100% on them, no matter what the other person does. My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. McVey, taught us that "You are responsible for your own actions." She was one smart lady. I didn't understand for the first five or six years of marriage that my contentment and responsibilities to my vows were not contingent upon how I thought my husband was holding up his vows. Thank God, He showed me the light!

I also thank God that we live in the United States of America. President Obama is not a dictator, he is a leader. We have checks and balances. We have three branches of government. We have the right to vote.

"When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it.
He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.
It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it."
Ecclesiastes 4-5 NIV