N is for …………..

Selecting a word or topic for the letter N has proved to be the most difficult of the letters we’ve done so far as I join Marcy over at Ben and Me  to “ABC Blog through the Alphabet”.

My result?

I’m sort of cheating.  For me N is iNspiration!!!

What iNspires me?

Last week, I wrote about mentoring. Those ladies iNspire me.

I’m also iNspired by Pinterest. No surprise there, right? It’s a wonderful place to get new recipes, craft ideas, homeschool ideas, gift ideas, to find out about products others can’t live without and to get a sense of fashion. Of course, that’s just a tip of the Pinterest iceberg. There are many topics to explore.

Nature iNspires me. Just to see the detail that is in every leaf, flower, snowflake, animal, etc. is inspiring.

But I would have to say that my biggest iNspiration is the Word of God. His word is filled with everything we need for life. To me that is iNspiring.

I’d love to hear what iNspires you!!!

Thanks again for joining me as I “ABC Blog through the Alphabet” over at Ben and Me.

Blessings & Joy!

Time Flies!!!!!!!! (HMJ 5/19/12)

 

In my life the past 2 weeks month…

I am living proof  that time does indeed fly!!!  It’s been a month since I last added to my “homeschool mother’s journal” and wow, I have I missed it.  I’ve missed writing AND reading what’s been going on with other homeschool families in their own journey. 

 

Not only is our school year rushing by but my son passed me in height in the past month!  Looking up (physically) to your 13-year-old is a different world.  Fortunately, I can also say that my son has many qualities that I also look up to him in that respect as well.

 

We had the unexpected pleasure and joy of taking a mini-vacation with precious and dear friends from IL.  They called and said they wanted to go to come for a visit and maybe go to the beach since we are so close to the coast.  10 days later, we were sitting on the SC coast taking in the beauty of the Lord’s creation.  I’d say that’s the joy of homeschooling….it’s portable so if you want to go away for a day or two, it’s totally possible.

 

In our homeschool past 2 weeks month…

We are in our LAST “official” week of our FIRST year of homeschooling.  Woo Hoo!!  We have had a very busy month since I last wrote.   Our co-op wrapped up classes for this year and registered for next year.  I am so excited about the classes that my kids have the opportunity to participate in next year but I’ll write more about those later.  We have one final event for co-op coming up this Monday night.  I’ll post more about that next week.

 

Last I wrote, Leah and two classmates were working on a mode

l of the Beaver’s house from The Lion, The  Witch, & The Wardrobe for their end of year literature project.  They did such a great job that I wanted to share the final project.   

 

 

Other than co-op finishing up, we are working hard to finish strong.  Wyatt is almost finished with My Brother Sam Is Dead.  Leah has read The Courage of Sarah Noble and wants to get one more book in before she’s officially done with literature this year so we are going to read The Cricket in Times Square. 

 

We ended the year landing on Math curriculum that we absolutely love.  As much as you can love Math anyway! {smile}  Wyatt is now working through pre-algebra from Chalkdust.  And Leah is using curriculum from Math Mammoth.  We will be continuing with Math through the summer.

 

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

I mentioned last time I wrote that I had discovered www.edHelper.com but had not joined.  Well, I joined and I love it.  I have gotten the literature guides for the three books mentioned above from there.  I highly recommend it.

 

I am inspired by…

Blogs from other mom’s like me.  Really they’re not so much like me but I’d like to be more like many of you.  {smile}.  My latest blog inspiration is a new blog I literally stumbled upon.  It’s called Mothering from Scratch.  These ladies will bless you with what they have to share.  

 

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Myrtle Beach, SC ~ this was the coastal destination of our mini-vacation.  We had a wonderful time. This coming week, we get to see Nana along with my sister and her family AND friends from KY are going to be at the beach so we are celebrating our last day of school by joining them for a day in the sand.  I think I like living a little more than 1-1/2 from the coast.

 

Questions/thoughts I have…

Does anyone continue their homeschool efforts during the summer?  If so, what and how do you do it.  I know that we are working on Math through the summer but I’m not sure about other subjects.  I’d love to hear from more seasoned homeschool moms on this. 

 

Things I’m working on…

I’m making curtains for the kid’s rooms.  I am hoping to have them finished in the next week.

 

I’m reading …

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.  When I made a list for myself of books I’d like to read this year, I determined that it needed to be less fiction and more books that will help me as a wife, mother, homeschooler, child of God.  But this is my all-time favorite book and I’ve not read it in a long time so I decided to take a break between the others and read this story of redemption.  If you’ve never read it, I highly recommend it.  It parallels the book of Hosea in the Bible and will make you stop and think of your own relationship with our Lord and Savior.

 

I’m grateful for…

The year we have had.  Not only grateful, but also overjoyed and humbled.  I prayed for many years to be able to homeschool and when I realized last May that the Lord was opening that door, I suddenly became fearful that I just couldn’t do it.  There are a handful of ladies who have come beside me and walked this road with me.  Some intentionally; some, like many here at The Homeschool Mother’s Journal that have encouraged through their own experiences.  The Lord has abundantly blessed me with homeschool mentors that I am sure I will continue to call on for the remainder of our homeschool years.

 

I’m praying for…

Two families who are in the throes of dealing with cancer diagnosis.  I am honored to be able to go to the Throne of Grace on their behalf.

 

I also have a praise.  Back in March, I mentioned Baby Gabriel who was born at 26 weeks weighing only 2 pounds 9 ounces.  I am happy to say that he went home this week weighing 7 pounds.  This is an answer to many, many prayers.  of course, they still need them but what a testimony to the Lord in his little life. 

 

A photo, video, and a link, to share…

My kids at the beach

 

The Homeschool Mother’s Journal has a new address.  Please join me and others as we journal our journey at www.ihomeschoolnetwork.com

 

Thanks for joining me on my Homeschool Journey!

 

Joy and Blessings to You!!

 

M is for ………….Mentor

What is a mentor? 

 

According to Webster’s 1913 Dictionary a mentor is “A wise and faithful counselor or monitor”.   I like to think of it as “someone pouring into another’s life”.

 

I am blessed to have had many women in my life that I can say have been “wise and faithful counselors” to me.  These are women who have invested in me, loved me, and taught me all kinds of wonderful things.   

 

So you may, or may not, ask what kind of things can one be “mentored” on? 

 

Here’s a list of the things in my life that I consider to have grown because of precious women willing to pour into my life:

• How to pray ~ Not just a rote prayer that sounds “canned”, if you will, but a prayer that is true communication  with my God who hears me when I call.
• How to really read my Bible ~ Not just to get through the verses but to take in the Word of God and truly hide it in my heart and soul so that it dwells in me (see Colossians 3:16-17)
• How to relate life back to God’s word ~ Because everything should line up with the Word of God
• Homeschooling ~ We’re nearing the end of our first year as a homeschool family.  I would have NEVER made it without several friends who have a heart to see others succeed at this journey including curriculum advice, scheduling our day, expectations for me and for my kids…the list is really endless
• Motherhood ~ If I began to thank the ladies that have been, and continue to be, examples of being a godly mother, the list would go on and on for a very long time.  I have learned so much from so many.
• Being a wife ~ Everything from caring for my hubby to praying for him and just listening to him.  I have had wisdom and direction on how to be a godly wife.
• Cooking ~ I can really credit both my grandmothers with this one.  They both liked to cook and did it well.  I think, or at least like to think, that my love for cooking is from them.
• Miscellaneous things like sewing a button on, yard work (I credit my Daddy for this one), my love for reading, blogging………….. there is much.

So who are these women? 

 

For me, they are my sister.  Friends that the Lord has placed in my path in a Bible Study group or at church or in our homeschool group.  Aunts and cousins and sometimes even people I don’t know very well but I come in contact with them briefly and learn a treasure of truth from them; God is good in that way.

 

I will say that my MOM would be my #1 mentor.  She has spent her life pouring into my life.  Teaching me and counseling me on everything from my wardrobe to cooking to marriage to motherhood.  Most importantly, she has spent time teaching me how to intertwine the love and compassion of Jesus into life.

 

Mentoring is an experience of pouring  into others but more than that it is truly a gift of God.   I spent approximately 7 months with a precious lady being mentored in my walk with the Lord  just before we moved to SC.  Know how our relationship started?  I asked her to help me.  I saw in her a beautiful quality of closeness to the Lord and I wanted to experience it for myself so I asked and she graciously obliged.  What a blessing!!!

 

If you have never mentored or been mentored, I would encourage you to do so.   Find someone who can impart wisdom to you or find someone, perhaps a young wife or mother, and pour into her.  That’s also biblical.  You can find it in Titus 2.

 

Thanks for letting me ramble on about a subject so dear to me because the ladies who have poured into me are precious to me!

 

Join me and others as we continue to “ABC Blog Through the Alphabet” with Marcy at Ben and Me.

 

Joy to You!

L is for……..

LivingMyPortion

 

Since this is the name of my blog it seems only fitting that this would be my “L” for blogging thru the alphabet. 

 

What does it mean? 

 

For me it is to live contently where the Lord has placed me.  My very first blog post was about this so I will not repeat myself.  Someday, I may expand on the details but for now, I will simply share the verses that have become lifelines for me in learning to “live my portion”  contently.

 

“Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” ~ Psalm 16:5-6

 

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” ~ Lamentations 3:24

 

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” ~ Philippians 4:11-12

Join me and others as we “ABC Blog through the Alphabet” with Ben and Me

 

Joy To You!

 

K is for …………

Kids!!!

Mine!

I Love Them!!!  I am blessed beyond measure to be their mom!

And Kevin!!!

He’s the love of my life.  My best friend.  A gift that the Lord saw fit to give me.

Join me and others as we “ABC Blog through the Alphabet” over at Ben and Me

Joy to You!

J is for………….

 

 

Jumbled Mess

 

That’s how I feel lately. 

 

Like a mess. 

 

We’ve been in our home almost a year and there are still boxes to unpack.  The bookshelf is a mess.  The pantry is no longer organized.  The linen closet looks like we sleep in there; i.e.: the folded sheets aren’t really folded and neatly stacked on the shelf.  {Sigh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}  I am working on unpacking those last boxes, straightening the shelves, organizing the pantry, refolding the sheets that should be neatly stacked.  I’m making progress but I have so far to go.

 

 Then in the midst of going through boxes, I have found treasures.  Actually, treasures is not really the right word.  I found JOY!  Hand-made cards from my kids; sweet, encouraging notes from people that we’ve been blessed to cross paths with, especially during our years in Seminary; a letter from a precious friend telling me how I bless her.   This one brought tears to my eyes – I remember the day I got that letter and thinking that I should be writing that letter to her.   What a JOY to have friends and loved ones!

 

How cool is it that in the middle of all the stuff that seems such a “jumbled mess” to me, I experienced the JOY of memories that simply make my life sweeter.  I call that a blessing from the Lord!

 

So, if you are like me and have boxes of cards and letters you’ve received and every little project your kids have ever done, I challenge you to find JOY in your “jumbled mess”.  

 

Join me and others as we continue to “ABC Blog through the Alphabet”

 

Blessings and JOY to you!!

 

 

 

 

I is for … I AM!!

Jesus said….

 

I AM…..the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. (John 6:35)

 

I AM…..the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life   (John 8:12)

 

I AM…..the door of the sheep   (John 10:7)

 

I AM…..the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep   (John 10:11)

 

I AM…..the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies    (John 11:25)

 

I AM…..the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me   (John 14:6)

 

I AM…..the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser    (John 15:1)

 

 

Joy to You!