Five Minute Friday :: I feel the most loved when...

... I'm forgiven.

When all is at peace (shalom).  When I know that I don't have to work for that forgiveness.  When I know that the work has been done for me in Christ.  I don't have to be somebody I'm not.

I am just learning what God's love for me really is.  I used to get so worked up about things and then my husband would say, "You're just not believing that God loves you."  THEN I would burst out in tears.

"Your right?  How could God love someone like me?  I'm always late, always saying the wrong thing, I'm always..."

But Jesus is always.
He is everything I am not.
He is my rock and my shield.  He is my righteousness.

Just this last year I have been changing.  Believing.  Trusting.  Resting.

Stop
That was five.  Now off to find a picture.

Note:  Here is my post from last year on this date.  Here is from two years ago on the 7th.

Oh, and I have 2 followers!  Thanks!

And I would LOVE to have your comments.

Homeschooling

Note:  My husband merged our family blog (that we haven't updated in a year or two) with this blog so there are some updates.  I've wanted to do a post about homeschooling so I thought this would be a good time to get it done.  This post is also a page that you can get to from the menu under the header.  I think this will be the first of many posts on homeschooling so if you have a question about something we use or do or any question about homeschooling leave it in the comments and I'll either answer you directly or do a post about it as soon as I can.  So here it goes...


While I could go on and on about why and how and advantages and disadvantages, I'm just going to tell you WHAT we are doing this year and what I plan on doing next year.

My oldest is going to a classical charter school.  My second oldest is going next year.  Abbey is in 7th grade this year and Emma will be in 6th grade next year when she starts.

The younger three are in our second year of Classical Conversations. (Bethany is in the nursery)  Here is the BEST explanation of it I have ever read.  No use trying to write my own thing. (make sure you go to her side bar which has two more posts about CC in detail)  We love the Foundations program.  It keeps me accountable.

At Classical Conversations on Tuesdays the kids do presentations and art and science experiments and memorize LOTS of wonderful facts about history and science and grammar and geography and Latin and math.

At home during the rest of the week we do:

Math:  We use Saxon.  We are currently using 5/4, 3rd grade, and K

Science:  using My Father's World curriculum (MFW) "Rome to the Reformation".  Right now we are mainly using this amazing book and The Body Book (we are a little behind in the MFW curriculum).

History:  My Father's World .  We are just about to get into the Medieval times.

Latin:  We are using English from the Roots Up.  Amazing connections being made to words we use in every day life.

Bible:  MFW.  Memorizing verses from the book of Romans and learning about the early church in Acts.

Spelling: Spelling Power

Grammar: Rod and Staff

Writing/Composition:  Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) Medieval History

Next year I will have only a 3rd grader and a Kindergartner and a preschooler.

For Bible, History, and Science we will be doing "Adventures in My Father's World."  This is US history.  This will coincide with Classical conversations cycle 3 very nicely (I think).

Math:  Caitlyn will be doing Saxon 5/4.  Ben will be finishing Saxon K and moving onto Saxon 1.

Latin: Song School Latin for the little ones (and Caitlyn too) and Caitlyn will be starting Latin for Children.

Grammar and Spelling:  Same as last year.

Phonics: Abeka K5 for Ben.  I have all the material.  If I didn't I would probably do something different.

Writing/Composition:  All things Fun and Fascinating (IEW)

Look Elizabeth! I made a sock!

I am sharing a conquest for the Yarn Along this week.  The conquest of the sock.  A friend of mine gave me a bag full of tangled yarn and some nifty knitters.  This was mainly for the kids to use but after some time spent separating and pulling out knots, this emerged:

This yarn ball is the size of her head!  I have no idea what kind of yarn this is.  I'm sure it was bought at a chain craft store so its probably "plastic."

So out I blurt, "I could make all of you slippery socks with that."  What was I thinking?  I can't make socks!

So what you thought happened did.  They all looked at me wide eyed and amazed and now I am promised to make at least 4 pairs of socks that I don't even know how to begin!

Now I'm a mommy on a mission.  To overthrow any inhibitions I have about making something that seems so complicated.  I got out the yuckiest yarn (a small ball that was pulled out of the bag gifted to me) and my only pair of DPNs (size 9) and searched Ravelry for a beginner sock pattern.  I found this, printed it out, and got to work.  I made the cuff (knit and purl).  No problems.   Then the leg (knit, knit, knit)  I love how knitting in the round produces all those little "v"s.  I really don't like to purl.  My purling is loose and my stitches come out all uneven.  Now listen, I knew no one was going to be wearing this sock so I didn't follow the length requirements.  I don't think I was anywhere even close to the gauge.  I just wanted to do it so when I was tired with some part I moved on.  Then I made the heel and turned the heal.  Connected everything with the gusset and then made the foot and decreased for the toe.  I stopped there.  I'll learn the kitchener's stitch another day.

This is not a sock for wearing.  It is a victory sock.  You know, like a trophy that you hang on the wall.  Not my best work but a GOOD first try! (if I may say so myself -hee hee)

Oh and I am IN LOVE with Elizabeth Zimmerman.  Every chapter in this book is like a knitting lesson with a close friend.  I haven't tried anything from the book yet but I've learned so much already.  And - if Elizabeth can cheer herself through a snowy April with some knitting -  I think I can make it through March.

Five Minute Friday :: On Monday

Wow!  I just discovered this blog.  I tell ya, I feel like I'm getting more and more deeper into the blog world.  I'm finding more and more women who are deep and real and love Jesus.    This is right where I need to be.  So here it goes:

When I look in the mirror I see...

A woman. My mom.  Better yet the picture my minds eye has of my Aunt Kim (my mom's sister).  I am not a kid anymore.

I am old.  Not elderly, but old.  Not a young person (to some I still am).  I have grown.  Most of my rough and tough attitude is gone.  I can no longer buck up and take it.  

I am weak.  Thin.  My mind and spirit.  Not by body.  I cling to Jesus.  I need Him.

I am easily overwhelmed.  I need the Holy Spirit.  I am seeing that this is what a real relationship with Jesus is all about.  He is not just the savior of my sins initially but my savior every day, every minute.  

He is everything.  Life is hard.  Circumstances and people fail you (fail me).  Comfort doesn't really come from knitting or TV or kids.  It is only found in him.

Stop.

Laid bare in 5 minutes flat.

I think that I need to do this every week.

Thanks Gypsy Mama.

This Moment :: Remembering...

So this is a little bit of a cheat.  This picture was taken probably 4-5 years ago.  I was being all nostalgic last night as I fell asleep.  How things have changed in just a few short years!  My girls now are becoming teens and tweens.  Emotions run high, fights are common.  All too common.  They used to be so content with just each other.  No TV, no phones, no homework (those are remotes you know!).  They watched Mr. Rogers and dressed up and made lots of things from paper.

As I looked to find this picture I saw SO MANY pictures of the three of them together.  Many more that showed how happy they were together.  I never had a sister.  Don't know how these relationships are supposed to work.  The pictures don't tell the whole story.  I know that about right now.  The big one doesn't want her picture taken most of the time.  I totally understand that.  I don't want my picture taken most of the time.

I'm looking forward to summer when they are all together again.

Joining SouleMama.

Sewing Bee :: Exibit A

So here it is:

(The mess behind it was in it.  Oh, and the carpet is always crummy.)

This is my knitting basket.  My husband bought it off of eBay for me for Christmas.  I *love* it.

  BUT, look:

 

And look:

And look at that crusty old browning piece of plastic!:

So you see my dilemma.

I found one post on the internet about redoing a basket like this but no tutorials or anything.  I did see on her flickr account that she took the frame apart.  My frame is really sturdy and I don't want to break it so my plan is to make a bag that fits on by velcro-ing around the top dowels.  Oh, and maybe snapping on underneath (there is that flap of fabric that goes around the bottom dowels too).

So I need your help.  ANY advice will be well taken.  I'm really not that much of an experienced sewer so don't think that I already know what your are going to say!  What fabric should I use?  Any pretty ones out there that would look good?  Any advice on the construction of the thing?  I took some measurements and I don't think I have any fabrics in my stash that are appropriate and large enough. Hmmm....

I'm excited to get started but also a little scared!  Yikes!

Joining Julia's Sewing Bee.  Would love to have a button but I don't know how to get it.  hee hee.

This Moment :: Camera Play

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 

Joining SouleMama.