Friday, November 04, 2011

Happy Anniversary!! :)


In my life this week
... Eleven years ago today, at 3:12p.m. (I know the exact minute because my cousin Herb kept a close eye on the clock & was sure to tell us as we dismissed each pew...miss him), I married my sweet husband :) It hasn't been an easy road, as I'm sure everyone in the history of marriage can attest to, but it's been worth it. Eleven years, 4 pregnancies, 2 born babies, Emmaus walks, family, little tiny annoyances, personality conflicts, literally rolling-on-the-floor-laughing, joy, love, all of it's been worth it.

Love my hubs :)

In our homeschool this week... After Trick or Treating this past Monday, we have now begun Thanksgiving studies!! I love this time of year! So much fun! So much to learn, and so much love and thankfulness to share! I have discovered 2TeachingMommies and their free units, 1+1+1=1 and her free units, and a hodgepodge of other free printable unit sites (thanks, pinterest!!), and am SO EXCITED!! This is helping me think outside of my box, and a lot of the things can definitely be used for more than one age/grade, so we are all having more fun!

Also, a few weeks ago, we FINALLY got Math-U-See & Abbey is LOVING it!! So, it's a winner for our homeschool!! She loves doing math, now! And, she loves Mr. Demme!!

I am inspired by... This week I have been reading a couple of books... I normally don't like to read more than one book at a time, but I have one from the library, and one that I bought at our homeschool meeting a few weeks ago, and I couldn't help myself! They have both inspired me & encouraged me to keep going, to look closely at my kiddos hearts.

Things I'm working on... I'm trying to get some sensory bins together. I think both of the kiddos will enjoy them, and I think they're fun! It's something I used to do as a preschool teacher, and kinda forgot about when I had my own kiddos (oops!). But, again, thanks to 2TeachingMommies & 1+1+1=1 I have 're-discovered' them! I'm not telling the kids until I have our Thanksgiving one put together, probably by next week... I can't wait! I think they will both love it!

I'm reading... I mentioned 2 books that were inspiring me earlier... They are "Good and Angry" by Scott Turansky & Joanne Miller, and "Talkers, Watchers, & Doers" by Cheri Fuller. "Good and Angry" is a parenting book about teaching children character. So far, EXCELLENT!! "Talkers, Watcher, & Doers" is about learning styles, and really, every parent, homeschooler or not, should know how their child learns so they can reinforce & help make things easier for their children to learn to their best ability, whether that means during homeschool or homework from school. Seriously, it makes sense!

I am thankful for... I am so thankful for the opportunity to homeschool. I know I grumble, and it's definitely NOT easy, but it is a blessing. I like to compare it to the mommy who desires a child so much, and then is finally blessed with their beautiful baby, and discovers the responsibility with becoming a Mommy (it's not all feather light kisses and rocking chairs and beautiful nurseries...it's messy!). So it is with homeschooling. It is a blessing, but can be messy! Complaining and despairing and "why doesn't it just flow naturally?!?!" are all a part of the blessing. Because nobody can prepare you for the responsibility of the blessing. It's something that has to be lived out.

So, when I write a post about Abbey not doing her writing assignments (she's getting better, btw, and that is a MAJOR blessing!), please don't misunderstand. I am so thankful for this child. I am so thankful for the opportunity I've been given to teach her at home. I'm just living out the reality of the responsibility of the blessing! I hope that makes sense!

A link to share... (I wanted to leave a picture, but I don't have any new ones... Bad Mommy!)

Here are where you can get the books I mentioned above... I got "Talkers, Watchers, Doers" from my library, but it is definitely one I wouldn't mind owning because I'd love to write notes in it!

Good and Angry, by Scott Turansky & Joanne Miller from The Courtship Connection. They have a LOT of great resources. I bought the book after I heard Kathie Morrissey speak at my homeschool meeting a few weeks ago. She.Is.Excellent.

Talkers, Watcher, & Doers, by Cheri Fuller Paperback, Kindle Version

You all have a blessed week!!

2 comments:

Missy said...

Happy Anniversary Cousin! Love you guys and have thought about you all day! You were a beautiful bride 11 years ago and you get more beautiful every day!
Love you!!!!

Jodi said...

Happy Anniversary! and I also have to say how grown up Abbey looks in the picture in your last post... where has the time gone! Anyway... so proud of you and all you are doing with your children... I can't imagine the patience you must have to be a homeschool mommy but how incredibly valuable the time you are spending with your children learning laughing and living... I think you are amazing as well!