Classical Education

planning and more planning! that's what I have been up to. I love the idea of having everything all ready for several weeks in advance ( I gave up the idea of being 9 or more weeks planned out ) I am aiming for 4-6 weeks ahead. I am making student notebooks this year, they will have all their assignments, workbook pages coloring pages anything they will need to complete their week. I got the idea from The Counter- Culture blog. In Tapestry of Grace the idea is to help the children to become independent by keeping their own school planners so they know exactly what they need to do each week. I am really looking forward to helping my children learn to be responsible for their learning, not to speak about how much this will help me as I delve into the learning to read with three 5 year old boys!
I have also been really blessed and encouraged in reading The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise. I love the classical education method, how I wish I had known about this back when we started to home school 20+ years ago. This book has helped me to have a direction in all our schooling, not for just now but our years ahead as well. I have been inspired, given hope and excitement again for teaching my children. I was beginning to feel that I had forgotten how to bring the joy of learning into our days. I was also feeling a lack of direction and the "how" to keep doing this and do it well and right. YES even after home schooling for 20 years I found myself floundering, questioning how I could keep going as we were. I felt that I was not "doing enough". I have been in this place before and the only answer: SEEK MY FATHER GOD'S FACE. That is what I have been doing crying out to Father and asking him to show me the way for our family. He lead me to Tapestry of Grace and then to The well Trained Mind. He has supplied us with our way and the tools to follow that way. I am once again excited

Character Formation

I am heavily into planning our school for this next semester, we are using a new to us program: Tapestry of Grace. I was re -reading some notes from Marcia Somerville the author of TOG ,and she made a statement that really stood out to me
" Character formation is both
the foundation for learning
and the ultimate purpose for learning"
In all my planning of my childrens academics, the most important thing to remember is who they are inside. I wish for all my children to have the character of Christ. To think like Him, to act out of a heart like His in all they do. That means KNOWING Him. We can not imitate someone we do not know, or fallow someone when we are not watching.

Happy 5th Birthday Micah and Isaiah!

Wow my babies are 5 years old. Five years ago they were born at 28 weeks and 2 and 3 pounds. Micah and Isaiah you have come along way! What a miracle and blessing you two are.
Happy Birthday Micah and Isaiah
We love you so much!

God Bless America!

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, and
the people he chose for his inheritance.

Psalm 33:12

Happy 4th of July!

Family Reunion picture

All together! Mom, Dad, 13 kids plus 2 beautiful grand babies, Aaron's beautiful, sweet girlfriend, and our wonderful beautiful new daughter-in love Maki ( Jacob's wife who is expecting their first this fall). I just love this picture personality abounds.