Completing Him Challenge --Catch up

Following Our Husbands Vision.

Ephesians 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church."

The challenge: Support his vision. Discuss his vision for your family. Where does he see your family in 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years. Share with us how you let your husband lead.

Well now. This was a challenge! The most that Good Ole Boy would say was "Not broke" and "Able to pay our bills."

SO - I will share what I know he would like and what I verbally 'observed' to him about our lives in five years. 

Five years. 

2015.

So long away? NO! When I think about it I could almost cry. In five years.....

Einstein will be 19 and a Senior in High School.  

Sis will be 18, graduated and most likely attending the local Beauty College.

Bug will be 15 and a Sophomore.

Hunny will be 10 and in Sixth grade. 

I anticipate the older two will still live at home. 

Time goes fast doesn't it?!

In five years, I hope that we are IN the country! 

We will have a bunny barn and raise rabbits for meat and show. 

We will have dairy and probably meat goats for meat and show.

We will have chickens/ducks for eggs and meat.

  We will have a garden and be able to produce much of our own food. 

I will be homeschooling the younger girls and we will be involved in the community in a variety of ways. 

I will have a daycare and be watching 6-12 kids in my home. 

My daycare will help us with his dream of not being broke and being able to pay our bills. :) 

 Good Ole Boy will have a garage where he can work on BIG trucks and customize vehicles. 

He will be able to buy wrecks and 'flip' them for fun. 

He will be able to go to mud runs and fun guy/truck events periodically.

He will be able to go to Colorado for a hunting trip.

See, Good Ole Boy doesn't share alot of his dreams. Whenever I ask about his dreams and goals I get answers like today. But he does repeatedly speak of these few things. Trucks, cars, motorcycles, and hunting. I KNOW he wants to own his own shop. I KNOW he wants to go places and do things. 

He also talks of supporting my dreams.

How do I let him lead? By looking to him for advice and guidance. By bouncing ideas off him. By agreeing even if it doesn't seem feasible. By praying continuously. By being supportive and encouraging even if it seems hopeless to me. 

 Even though Good Ole Boys vision for our family may be a partial mystery to me, I will follow him. I will support him. 

I just wish that time would slow down and that five years won't come so quickly.....

http://womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/2010/07/following-your-husbands-vision.html

Home Sweet School 2010

We started our new school year this week. 

Here are the "back to school" photos of my crew....

 Sis 

13 years old

Freshman

Bug 

10 years old

Fifth Grade

Hunny 

5 years old

First Grade

Home Sweet School 2010

Curriculum line up 2010

I thought I'd share what we are using, so you can see how we are learning. :) 

We learn using a unit study method that is Bible based - meaning we cover our Bible studies and everything else lines up with the Bible lessons we are learning. It's published through Alpha Omega - called Weaver. We started this curriculum back in 2002 when I suddenly had two kids to homeschool but had only saved enough money to buy materials for Sis. After pouring over catalogs and searching online, God led me to Weaver. I've been VERY happy with it. This year we are in Volume 5.

The Volume contains the material we are to learn, the Day by Day is the planner that tells what we are to learn each day, and the Supplement gives more in depth material and research topics for older kids, which Sis needs. 

Hunny is wrapping up Weaver's Preschool & Kindergarten curriculum called Interlock. It's a fun study of Creation. She was slow starting out - not ready to sit still for long so we aren't quite finished, but we'll finish it before Christmas. Interlock is currently done three days a week. She also sits in on our volume activities and does many of them with us. 

Interlock works very much like the Weaver volumes do in that it is a Bible based unit study.

Math needs to be added. We have used Alpha Omegas lifepacs since 2002. Hunny will be starting them as soon as she has finished Interlock or I feel she is ready. For some reason I didn't get a picture of them. New this year for the older ones is Switched On Schoolhouse. This is a computer program, we are only using it for math. 

Sis is voluntarily using the "Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons" book with Hunny. She pulled it off the shelf and asked if she could, so why not? Hunny is doing great. :) Bug will just be reading LOTS of books this year. Sis will be starting high school literature using Weavers Learning to love literature and Reading Between the Lines.  I hope to start this with her today!

In asking what foreign language she wanted to tackle, Sis decided she wanted to learn Hebrew. My brother has studied it in college and he is her 'professor' in this area. He has put together the syllabus and assigns and grades her work. Since he is out of state, they email and facebook alot and will be having weekly phone conferences. He was home for a bit this summer and she had some intensive Hebrew "camp" time. lol It's a pretty hefty course but she will earn her foreign language credits when she finishes. 

All of us are learning Latin. :) I've heard so many wonderful things about adding Latin so we are! It's called Latin for Children and this year we are in Primer A. Bug is VERY excited about this (and so am I!). 

Of course, it seems like the second most asked question (after the famous socialization one!) is How do I know if they are learning what they need for each grade level?!

Sigh. I have these nifty guide books I use from Weaver. One is for elementary grades called Skills evaluation and then On Eagles Wings for upper grades. 

We hope to participate regularly in Karate and Gym Class this year. I also purchased a wii and the wii fit program so that we can be active daily regardless of the weather. :) 

There are lots of other things we use through the year. Weavers Wisdom Words, various websites and books. This year will be challenging in that we are losing our library services, but I'm sure we will survive. I need to look into the University library and see if we can use it. It's amazing how God provides just what we need for each unit we are on. Sometimes it's a neat video, or a field trip opportunity, sometimes even a church service. :) Then there are things like auto-shop, that Good Ole Boy and Sis are working on here & there. Every year is busy and we stay involved in the community through church, Girl scouts, 4H, sports  and the ranch. 

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... There are a few cars driving by, otherwise quiet.

I am thinking... That I am extremely agitated! My week is not going as I had planned and it's really getting to me. 

I am thankful for... Summertime.

From the learning rooms...This is the beginning of our new school year. We are finishing up Hunny's chapter from before break about the solar system in Interlock, and starting Weaver vol. 5, ch. 4 which is also about the solar system. :) It's theme is actually "Creation worships the Creator". Neat how they overlap topics. Most other subjects are continued from before break, although we are starting Latin which is brand new to us.

From the kitchen... I smell chicken! I made chicken patties for lunch for Good Ole Boy and myself. There is burger in the sink thawing for dinner.

I am wearing... White tank top, silver hoop earrings & black shorts and socks. Comfy's for right now, but earlier we had to take Einstein to register for school and I looked MUCH better with a nice greenish print shirt (looks great with my hoops) and blue jean capris & tennis shoes. I will put that back on when Good Ole Boy and I go meet a few friends later on. 

I am creating... Lesson plans and school schedule. 

I am going... To learn Latin with the kids! 

I am reading... Haven't had time to pick it up yet - Breaking Dawn

I am hoping... That we can find a house in the country. Every one we've liked has had a bid on it or was closing. Very frustrating!

I am hearing... The fan, Hunny's sucking her thumb and Bug is doing something in the schoolroom.

Around the house... Quiet - for now. Good Ole Boy and Einstein have taken the burning barrels out to dump and Sis is in her room.

One of my favorite things... Going to the beach. Had a lovely day Sunday afternoon and the lake with friends. Just love it there, so beautiful and love the smell of the water.

A few plans for the rest of the week: school, work and Ranch.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

 

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Fair Wrap up part 2

Here's more about Fair Week....
Wednesday started out slower - a good thing as our fridge quit and our morning was insane trying to save as much food as we could and getting it out of the house! 
Once we made it to the fair we had a bit of down time before the goat hand milking contest that Bug wanted so badly to participate in. :) We found out Tuesday that she could borrow a doe (Chip is a wether) to milk so she was VERY excited! lol. :) 

 Bug even drank the goat milk! She collected 3 ounces in 60 seconds. I thought that was pretty good. The winner collected 8 ounces (as a Sr she only had 30 sec.) but she is a last year 4H member and has milk goats of her own.
After we cleaned up the barn we had to help set up for the small animal auction. Sis sold a Silver Fox doe and Bug sold Chip. Our auction is one of the best in the state! Businesses and politicians come out and really support 4H and our kids. Typically the first auction is high dollar; $100 - 1,000 this year! Then most businesses don't want the animal so it goes to resale. This is where the kids (or others) can buy back their animal or purchase another. This sale is very reasonable with animals going for $5 - 40 typically. 

 Bug had a bidding number as there was a rabbit she wanted, and when Chip came back up for resale she grabbed it and bid on him! Sigh. What do you do at that point? So we are now in a scramble to find housing for him (and hopefully us!) Oh, she DID get her Himilayan doe he wanted. :) 

Thursday was our day in the FoodStand. I HATE working in there! Sigh. Hunny only made it two hours though so I did survive. Lol. The other girls worked their full shift. 

As a Cloverbud, Hunny could only wipe tables and trays. Sis was taking orders and helping fill the trays. Doesn't she look thrilled? lol. Bug was kind of in-between. She was in charge of keeping the condiment counter stocked so she got to go back and fill ketchup bottles and such. Made her happy since she really didn't want to be out on the floor with the Cloverbuds. :)


Friday was the day the littles had been looking forward to. It was Ride Day! :) Sis had done rides on Tuesday with friends and Einstein wasn't interested in them this year. We got together with some friends so the littles had fun. 

It was a really great day for the kids, they had a blast. 


Saturday was Small Animal Fun Day. Not sure why since it was only for goats it should have been called Goat Fun Day. :) They set up an obstacle course to run through with their animals and a costume contest. 

After the fun day we cleaned up the barn and had to set up for the awards program. Sis had gotten First Place Intermediate Rabbit Records so was getting an award.

Sunday was tear down the animal barn. Well, not literally! But we had to take down goat pens and empty out rabbit cages so they could be power washed and take down poultry pens. 

 The end of a great week full of memories. :)

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... Is a calm morning. I hear a bird cawing and that is all. The sun is out but hidden behind a few clouds. The trees are swaying gently.

I am thinking... That I need to get Einstein up and head to the ranch to feed Chip and leave Einstein there for work. 

I am thankful for... 4H and all the opportunities it provides my family. 

From the learning rooms... No school this week - fair recovery! :) Sis is working on her Hebrew while her professor is in the state though! I will be spending time getting ready for our new school year starting next week. (which really doesn't seem possible!) 

From the kitchen... Coffee is ready! Need to go get a cup right now....

Aahhh.... Ok. My kitchen is a DISASTER! Ugh! The whole house is messy from the late nights, early mornings of last week, but my kitchen is the worst. 

See, our refrigerator died last week. We lost alot of food. The fridge is out of the house but we don't have another one yet. We are using a mini fridge in the living room to keep a few items and I have a shelf of things at a friends house that we were able to save. I have things setting around that belong on top of the fridge - I have no where to put them! Bread machine, crockpot (which will actually be used today), cook books and rolls of foil and plastic wrap. (I don't have cupboards to house these items)

I need to get a ham into the crockpot for tonights dinner. 

I am wearing... Black shorts and a orange-ish colored tank top.

I am creating... Lots of mental lists. 

Bug bought Chip back from the auction (unplanned!) and we need to figure out where/how to house him within a few weeks. We would like to move to the country (YAY!) but trying to figure that all out is a headache. What do we do with this place, how do we get financing, etc. Its difficult with low income and not great credit. Trying to list WHAT we are looking for, our most important needs, etc. Trying to purge unneeded items from here and make it more presentable. My mind is going 100 miles a second. 

Lots of mental lists...

I am going... To work outside today. Get into the garden, try to pick up what we can throughout the yard, etc. Also hope to at least start cleaning the dining room - where the tote of still exhibits and notebooks got placed and still sits.

I am reading... I will be starting Breaking Dawn of the Twilight Saga.

I am hoping... That the housing issue works out well and we get something that will fit our family, our budget and dreams. 

I am hearing... The dogs are starting to whimper their let me out sounds. The girls are now up and VERY loud! Sigh. It was quiet when I sat down here....

Around the house... There is LOTS to do. 

One of my favorite things... Sitting in the Small Animal Barn at the fairgrounds. It is very relaxing to sit there and...well, just sit. Watch people or read, listening to the animal sounds. It's not quiet really, with the people, critters and fan noises, but relaxing nonetheless.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Working around here, preparing for next week, work, and *hopefully* a beach trip! 

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Isn't he just the cutest thing?! LOL. Tried attacking the camera but still very cute. :)

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Fair Wrap up part 1

It always amazes me that fair goes SO QUICKLY but seems to last SO LONG at the same time! We had a busy week and alot of fun! 

Saturday we entered still exhibits....

Hunny telling the Cloverbud judge about her Greek Mythological creatures

Bug sharing about Jamestown

                                       

Sis entering her duck tape creation - a vase and flowers

Einstein telling the judge about his peanut brittle

Sunday was animal entry day. They had to have health checks and be weighed before entering the barn.

Waiting with the buns

Weighing Chip

Monday was rabbit day starting with showmanship and then into breed classes. A LONG day! 

Sis got second place in showmanship for her class

And Bug got first place showmanship in her class. 

Tuesday was Cloverbud rabbit and goat day. Kind of crazy as Hunny and Bug were showing at the same times in different parts of the barn! Sis had to take over Hunny so I missed her :(

Hunny and her Cloverbud ribbon

 Bug got 3rd place in goat showmanship! She did a GREAT job. :)

Completing Him Challenge --Catch up

This weeks challenge

 Make your husband a priority. Ask him what his favorite dinner, dessert and drink are. Be sure to serve him all three one night this week. Bonus: cook his favorite dishes all week long!

Wow. As I've said before cooking is NOT my favorite thing. As His Helpmeet however it is my responsibility to provide meals for my family. I do get very tired of slaving in the kitchen for an "it was okay" response. Sigh. He would be perfectly happy with steaks every night but our food budget just doesn't allow for that! :) But I CAN and SHOULD strive for at least a 'make him happy' meal more often than I do. 

Last night was a his request meal. I made steak strips, corn on the cob (from a LOCAL farmer!) and cheesy mashed potatoes. He also requested Pepsi Throwback as his drink. 

I did ask him WHAT he would list as his favorites and was surprised by his answers. 

Hunny, what is your favorite meal?

Pizza.

What?! Really? Homemade, store bought or ordered? (I KNOW he likes pizza - EVERYBODY loves pizza - but I didn't think it was a favorite!)

Any pizza, I like pizza.

Wow. Ok, I will be buying pizza makings tomorrow and planning on pizza Friday night.

So hunny, what is your favorite dessert?

     A candybar.

Huh? Really? What kind of candybar?

Just a candybar, doesn't matter.

Wow. Ok, I know he likes candybars - he is ALWAYS bringing them home and often gets me one because he is thoughtful that way. (Yes, I know. I don't NEED candybars! LOL. I often put them up for the chocolate cravings I get monthly.) I never would have thought they were his favorite dessert! Guess I'll be picking up a few of them too.

So what is your favorite drink?

Mt. Dew

I might have guessed this one as he drinks alot of Mt.Dew and Pepsi.

So now I have a portion of my shopping list down and a meal planned for Friday night. 

Why is it important to plan pleasing meals for him? 

Well he IS the head of the house. He works HARD for our family. It's so easy to OVERLOOK his tummy in order to make the kids happy. But those are ALL wrong reasons! (Now granted for our family, the end of our budget month is tight and I make what we have available.)

But since I LOVE him, and he is SPECIAL, I need to SHOW him how much he means to us. Didn't mama always say 'the way to a man's heart is through his stomach'? :)

    Next week is fair and meals will be fixed according to what I can throw in the crockpot or otherwise fast and easy. Not to timely for fixing special things for him. So while I can't focus on a week of meals, my goal for the rest of the MONTH is to think of his tummy more and try to plan HUSBAND PLEASING meals on a more frequent basis. 

After all, HE DESERVES IT! 

  Keep him satisfied. What foods does your man enjoy?

 http://womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/2010/06/completing-him-challenge-begins-today.html

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... It is cool, but can feel that it will be another hot day. There is a gentle breeze rustling the leaves.

I am thinking... About the Primary elections today. I hope many will go out and vote and that the library millage passes to keep our local branches available to us! 

I am thankful for... My husband who works so hard for our family. I appreciate him so much.

From the learning rooms... We are off school for a few weeks, wrapping up fair projects so there is LOTS of writing going on in our house doing all their record sheets. 

From the kitchen... All is quiet. 

I am wearing... A light blue t-shirt that says "The world needs more hugs", jean shorts & tennis shoes

I am creating... Our fall calendar and working on lesson plans.

I am going... To try and be more organized this year. I will be devoting even more time to school since Sis will be a freshman and I need to keep on track of her credits and all. It does mean that I will be stepping down from my position as Girl Scout leader after eight years.

I am reading... A Fragile Design by Tracie Peterson & Judith Miller.

I am hoping... That Hunny & Bug are able to complete their fair lists today and then relax for a few days.

I am hearing... Bug is playing the wii, so there are star wars noises and shaking of the controllers.

Around the house... It is quiet. The older ones are still asleep, Hunny is just stirring on the couch (not sure when she ended up there!) 

One of my favorite things... The smell of the water and the sound of it lapping against the shore with a gentle breeze against my face. I do miss the lakes.

A few plans for the rest of the week: FAIR, FAIR, FAIR! Karate, last minute trips to the store, work, setting up the small animal barn, entering the still exhibits. 

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Chip & Bug after his hair cut.

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Fair Prep

This is our first week off since we finished our school year. It is a crazy week trying to wrap up four kids fair projects. You know - make sure everything is framed, mounted, or otherwise ready to be displayed in an attractive manner. Plus record sheets for EVERYTHING completed, their folders neat, and feed records done. Whew! It CAN be stressful - and today has been. (in fact as I write this I'm helping Sis with auction letters that NEED to go in the mail TOMORROW since it's already so late) :S 

So today's post is going to be an easy one, here's a peek at what they have done this year. 

Bug & her basket

 Bug & Jamestown

Hunny & her leathercraft

Sis & her stained glass

Hunny & a t-shirt tote bag

Einstein with soap carving of the Parthenon

This is just a small sampling of their projects. They ARE pretty busy with them throughout the year!