The Graduate

 

It only seemed like yesterday I was preparing her for Kindergarten.  She was excited, I was nervous!  I knew and trusted her teachers… we all went to the same church… she was at the church!  That first year of her education was great for her,but, I always knew we would eventually homeschool

I will treasure all the moments, good and bad, I had with my daughter.  All those times, when I wanted to pull my hair out due to frustration.  All those times we rejoiced together when she got that tuff math problem finally right.    Homeschooling is one thing our family has never regretted.  Yes, there have been lean financial times, when we had to make sacrifices for school work… but it was all worth it.

 

I find myself wondering… Did I do everything right?  Did I prepare her enough for the world?  Then I pray!  I pray that she would remember what I taught her.  I think that is one of the fears some of us as homeschoolers face.  Did we do everything we could to prepare our children for the world?

For me, myself, and I…. I see the young woman she has become.  I see her gentle spirit.  I see her desire to help the elderly when they need it.  I see her desire to serve the Lord in where ever He has for her.  All that tells me, if I didn’t do one thing right… I did that right!  She knows her LORD… and she has a desire to serve HIM in any area that HE needs her in!   To me that is all that matters first and for most!   Yes, she needs her education… she needs the skills to go out and get a job, etc.… and she does! 

But for me that Scripture rings true…. and it has been my theme verse all these years as I have been on been on this adventure called homeschooling…..

Deut. 6: 5-9

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: ⁷And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.⁸ And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

⁹ And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

I have taught her to Love the Lord, listen to His voice, and to know HIM!  I have written it upon the door posts of her life!  And now she can go out and do what God has called her to do.

Destressing the Holidays

 

 

Holidays can always become very stressful for us moms.

 

We find ourselves with a list of party invites, family gatherings, our shopping lists and  don't forget the Christmas play practices, and the Church Christmas party.

 

All this is added to what we already have on our busy plates.

 

Sometimes we find ourselves just overwhelmed with it all..

 

While I may not be able to help you with your lists, I do have a

few tips that can help you in the school department.

 

How to have a stress free Holiday School Season:

 

Lighten the load...

 

I have found that a lighter load of official school work.. is the key to a stress free month.  Who said that you have to do every subject

every day of every week of every month!

 

Lighten your load this month, you can always catch up later!

 

 

Enjoyable projects...

 

Find things that your child and you enjoy and do them...

My girls love to help me bake, so doing December, we spend a whole lot of time baking... getting ready for all those parties!

 

 

Or you can...

 

Take this  month off

 

I know may homeschooling families that just take the month of December off!  A winter vacation if you will..

 

 

 

Happy December!

 

Shelby

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you Determined?

You might be wondering why  I have a posted this title.  Well, an old song has been playing in my head for the last couple of days and it has made me do some thinking.   So today’s post is just some of my thoughts that I hope will encourage and challenge you in the areas of your life that you might need to be come determined in.

 

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I am determined to hold out till the end…

Jesus is with me on Him I can depend…..

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In life if we don’t have a determination to do something's, then we will never accomplish anything!  

 

 

The following are a few things I am DETERMINED to do:

 

FOLLOW CHRIST ~  When I came to know Jesus as my personal Savoir at the age of 10, I determined that I was going to serve Him no matter what.  My life was going to be a reflection of Jesus.  It has not always been easy, but I don’t know what I would have done in those times that I needed His guidance,  His direction, or His grace and mercy.   

 

HOMESCHOOL MY GIRLS~  My husband and I made the decision to homeschool our girls six years ago!  At that time I did not know what I was doing but we were determined to do it.  Yes, it takes sacrifice, money and a whole lot of determination on my part.   To be completely honest,  there were some days in the beginning that I wondered if I could do it.  I did it, I survived my first year and all the years after!  When you make up your mind and become determined… YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU SET YOUR MIND TO!

 

The last thing I have been DETERMINED TO DO:

 

TAKE BACK MY HEALTH!

That is where Trim Healthy Mama came into the picture.  19 months ago, I began the journey to take back my health.  A friend introduced me to Trim Healthy Mama by a post on Facebook.  She did not know it at the time but I was sinking in depression, leg cramps, aches and pains… and I knew if I did not do something to change my lifestyle I would end up a diabetic like my parents and many in our family. I am at goal weight!  I have lost to date 88 pounds.. yes even while trying to maintain and eating what we call Crossovers… .I have still lost a few pounds.

 

 

You see when I started my journey on THM, I determined that I was going to do it.  I determined that no matter what came my way this was going to be a lifestyle change for myself and my family.  In the beginning, it was not easy to resist the temptation of those chips at the Mexican café… or the Mt. Dew at the store.    Do you know what helped me?   I kept reminding myself of how I felt before I began THM, and how I feel now.  That was all it took for me to move those chips out of reach, or head for the water at the store.   It takes determination to stay on plan.  It takes determination to not cheat.   IT IS SO WORTH IT! 

 

I have been able to stay on plan and not cheat… yes in the beginning it was hard.. but after a few months.. this way of eating became my norm.  I have no desire for candy bars (while my husband still likes to grab a Snickers bar once in awhile at the store.) no desire for pizza, no desire for off plan processed foods… why  because my body feels so much better these days that those early temptations don’t  tempt me anymore.

 

 

If you are on Trim Healthy Mama  and need some ideas on how to Succeed check out my blog post Easy Ways to Succeed as a Trim Healthy Mama.

 

It won’t be easy.  You will get discouraged when the scale doesn’t move.   You will get tempted.  You may even fall off plan once in a while… but If you Determine in your heart, mind and self.. to do it.. you can and will!

Don’t lose your determination!  The reward is so worth it!

 

Until next time,

Shelby  

 

Back to the Regular Schedule

 

 

Now back the regular scheduled programming….

that’s how I feel today!

Finally, the holidays are over, the decorations are all down,

the house is semi back to looking normal, NOW

we can finally get back to normal.

 

I like the normalcy  of our School schedule!

We know all what to expect during the day….

the girls get up, get dressed, have breakfast, then start school.

We break for lunch, then finish school.

I  love the silence that feels the house when the girls are busy studying.

Yes! The Normalcy of School is wonderful!

 

Happy Homeschooling!

Until next time,

Shelby

 

 

 

Sewing class has begun

Both of my girls want to learn to sew.  My oldest, J, has been doing a little of it here and there. 

Here is some pictures of a project the girls worked on recently.

We used this pattern (with a few modifications for J's size).

These J, made for herself.

These are for K, J made these also!

                                                                

 K, wanted to sew , this is her first time to use a sewing machine. 

I gave K, this paper and told her to practice sewing straight lines. I think she did a good job. What do you say?  I am so proud of both my girls...

Well, the sewing classes will continue....

Taking care of MOM

Taking care of MOM

Being a homeschool mom can take a toll on you. Let’s be honest here… we are not just teacher but mom, house keeper, chafer, cook,…. And the list can go on and on and on.

I find that some days I am just burned out! I am tired, stressed at the thought of just thinking about school. I have come to realize that I have to take care of me…MOM. If I don’t than the whole house suffers.

How do I take care of ME? Let’s face it, I am a busy wife, mother, and a home daycare provider.

The most important thing is my Devotional time with the Lord. If I don’t start my day in prayer than, My day will not be very productive.

I take time out for myself during the day. Usually I “kick” all the children outside for about an hour. I can keep an eye on them while I am sitting in my chair relaxing. I may read a book, cut out a pattern, or just sit and listen to a quiet house. Mom’s just need some quiet time if you know what I mean.

Some times I just fill the need to get out of the house. I leave the girls with my husband and I may just run to the post office or the store. You don’t know how just a few minutes out can help you fill refreshed.

I have come up with a list to help take care of ME:

Prayer and devotional time
Spend time during the day for me…. Sitting and relaxing
A day out once a month without the children… hubby is invited to tag along.
Pamper myself a little… buy me something nice, maybe a bubble bath…

I have come to the conclusion that if I do simple and little things to make sure that I am taken care of than the rest of the family will be more happy and productive….

Like that old saying goes: If mamma isn’t happy than nobodies happy!
Mom’s are important so let’s not overlook ourselves!