Sally Clarkson has a new book out! She is an awesome speaker and writer. I was blessed when I heard her speak at the Hearts at Home conference. She is a true inspiration!

21. healthy children
22. God teaching me patience
23. reaching my goal of running 15 miles in one day
24. finding happiness in the middle of chaos
25. my daughters prayers at dinner time
26. the joy of homeschooling
27. times of rest
28. caring friends
29. courage to stand up for what is right
30. Asher's eyes and heart
31. that He knows better than I
32. 5 people came to look at our house last week
33. recipes from family
34. wiping tears and strengthening hearts
35. my daughters joy in all things "girly"
36. friendship between my children
37. Sunday School teachers
38. dreams
39. reading poetry to my kids
40. smelling candles with my girl

Saying Goodnight

Elliana and I have a special routine each night. She snuggles up to me on the couch. Most nights she is wearing her pink princess pajamas. Two pillows are beneath her head. A sippy in her hands, along with any animals that are joining us.

Just the two of us enjoying a few moments alone. After we talk a bit I pull out a book of poems and she prepares to drift into slumber. I love this part of the day. I read poem after poem as her eyelids get noticeably heavy. I then tell her "one more poem?" She agrees and I read. I set my book aside and carry my half asleep princess to her room and we pray together.

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I feel that it is important to be intentional about our parenting. Every minute counts. We can't be lazy and expect to get amazing results. Those few moments of reading poetry to my daughter are my last ditch effort to feed her some good literature before the day is done. I love the quiet time with her. But I also love that I am making her more intelligent. It isn't hard, anyone can read to their kids.

This is the book of poems we are using this week. It is a must have for any home library!

The Classics!

"But how shall you determine whether a given book be worth reading or not? By the testimony of your own soul. If the book throws your whole being into the wild tumult of mingled thought and aspiration, if it lifts you till you feel, in the sweet deception of the hour, that the wings of your own spirit leave their shadows upon the star-lit heights, and you almost wonder that you yourself have allowed those grand words to remain so long unsaid, look no farther. You have found the book you were looking for, and it bears the divine imprint of genius." -Charlotte Mason

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I have been associating myself more and more with the Charlotte Mason philosophy of homeschooling. During my research of this particular style of teaching I have been learning a great deal about the power of reading the classics. I want my children to be very well acquainted with amazing authors.

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In this vein I have been diligently researching books for my boys to read. Joshua has been thoroughly enjoying some amazing books. He recently finished the unabridged version of Treasure Island. He is currently devouring the unabridged version of The Jungle Book (I always get the unabridged version). This year he has also read The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, Old Yeller, Call it Courage and many more.

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We were having a hard time recalling all the books that he had enjoyed this year. So I found a handout online that I put together to help us (Ann Voskamp recommended this handout on her blog). I love the title! The inside has a place for the title of each book that is finished. Under the title you rate the books (1-5 stars). The boys were very excited to fill in the books that they have read. When Asher reads a book he reminds me to write it down :)

Gratitude

I am joining the Gratitude Community.

1. words of praise from my husband

2. time alone at the gym

3. a mother I look up too

4. sisters that I adore

5. a brother that is quiet and strong

6. my five year old reading me a story

7. watching my 8 year old read Treasure Island

8. a pantry of food

9. a warm home

10. the lessons that He is always teaching me

11. quiet moments

12. my daughters eyes

13. 12 years of marriage

14. 8 1/2 years as a mom

15. strength to accomplish difficult tasks

16. the Word

17. music that touches

18. listening to my little girl pray

19. hugs from my 8 year old "just because"

20. getting on my knees to look into my daughters eyes

Recipes!!

I LOVE to cook for my family. Gathering my husband and kids around the table for a home cooked meal, is my idea of wonderful family time. Tonight we had homemade spaghetti & meatballs, and breadsticks. So YUMMY! I also made cinnamon bread this weekend and it was a hit with everyone in the house! Enjoy!

Spaghetti & Meatballs

Ingredients
MEATBALLS
1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 egg, beaten

SAUCE
3/4 cup chopped onion
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (28 ounce) can tomato sauce
Several fresh tomatoes, diced
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 bay leaf
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
3/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, garlic powder and beaten egg. Mix well and form into 12 balls. Store, covered, in refrigerator until needed.
2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until onion is translucent. Add fresh tomatoes, allow them to cook down. Stir in canned tomatoes, salt, sugar and bay leaf. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 90 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, basil, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and meatballs and simmer 30 minutes more. Serve.

Breadsticks

Ingredients
1 cup warm water
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup oil
2 cups white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast

Directions
1. Make dough using your favorite method- bread machine, mixer or by hand.
2. Roll out into a 10x12 inch rectangle.
3. Cut into strips about 3/4 inch wide.
4. Give each strip a twist and place on a greased cookie sheet.
5. Let rise for at least 20 minutes or more if you have time.
6. Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes.
7. Brush with butter and sprinkle with garlic salt and parmesan cheese.

Cinnamon Bread

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup white sugar
½ cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk (or 1 tablespoon vinegar and remainder cup of regular milk)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Topping
6 tablespoons brown sugar
3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 teaspoons butter

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
2. Measure flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, salt. Mix thoroughly.
3. Measure buttermilk, oil, eggs and vanilla into large mixing bowl.
4. Add dry ingredients (just until moistened).
5. Pour into prepared loaf pans. Smooth top.
6. Combine 6 tablespoons brown sugar, 3 teaspoon cinnamon and butter, mixing until crumbly. Sprinkle topping over smoothed batter. Using knife, cut in a light swirling motion to give a marbled effect.
7. Bake for about 50 minutes. Test with toothpick. When inserted it should come out clean. Remove bread from pan to rack to cool.

A Must Read!

Love today's post on Ann Voskamp's blog Holy Experience...

The Real Secret to Happy Homemaking

The Adventure Continues

I was just settling down for some peaceful time to myself. Sitting at the kitchen table, thoughts running through my mind. Enjoying the first minutes of my day that were not spoken for, forget that it was early evening. I was relishing the prospect of some time alone with my thoughts. Then the phone rings. Yet another realtor wants to show our house.

Thoughts of peace are out the window. I have one hour to get my house in perfect condition for these potential buyers. Dinner is thrown into the fridge, boys are recruited to pick up and vacuum. I am now running around like a mad women. In just a matter of seconds my wonderful quiet moments disappeared. I was a little disappointed. After all it was evening and this was the first time I had nothing to do. I earned this break. But then I remembered prayer time with Aaron this morning. I remembered being touched by my husbands sincere prayer about our home. My attitude changed in an instant.

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As we all climbed into the van and headed out to dinner I prayed for these buyers, "Lord please let them love our home as much as we do". But more than that, I sat in the van and thought about how lucky we are to be able to spend time together tonight. We crowded into a booth at Pizza Hut and talked, laughed, and prayed.

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It was the first time today when my time was not spoken for. Thank you Lord for the interruption in my day. I was so blessed!

School this morning..I am so blessed to spend my day with such wonderful people :)

This week we will be entering our 18th week of school. It amazes me that we have come this far. It seems that we just started this years adventure and yet we are half way to the end. I won't allow myself to dwell on this fact because it is truly sad for me to think of another year being behind us.


It may seem odd to hear a teacher speak in this way about her "job" but this has never been a job. It has always been my passion. Years ago when I had my own classroom I was very sad to see my school year end. I knew those kids. I cared for them, prayed for them, and cried with them. They had a special place in my heart and I had to let them go. Sure they came back to see me. And that was great. But I knew that they would no longer walk through my door everyday. That year was over, they were growing up and they were going on to bigger and better things. I was happy to be a small part of the journey. But I was sad to see my part of that journey coming to an end.


That is how I feel every moment, every hour, every day, every week, every month, and every year of my child's life. I can never get that time back. Every second with them is a gift that I have been given from the One who gave me three amazing blessings. How am I using this time? Am I doing my best to raise them, teach them, and guide them? These questions plague my mind as I contemplate a school year half over.


I want these coming months to be amazing. I want this time with them to matter in their lives. So I will take this passion that God has given me and use it to the best of my ability to enrich the lives of my students. With His leading, how can I fail.

2nd and 3rd Grade

I am going to address both 2nd and 3rd grade together because they are very similar. We use Sonlight for both years. All the "extras" are the same as last year. As the kids get older I do go in more depth in some areas.

Map work-the first 4 days are simply finding locations on the globe. On Friday my 3rd grader looks up one country he has been studying in the encyclopedia. We might also look up pictures of this country online.

Orchestra-I expect my older child to be able to pick out musical pieces on a more consistent basis than I do my younger ones.

Reading-As soon as my kids can read on their own I encourage them to read great books. I gently nudge them by intentionally doing several things 1. I do my best to keep great books in the house. I spend a great deal of my time researching classic books that I want my kids to read. 2. I make reading time an important part of our day. This coveted time is just as important as math, science, and history. 3. I praise my kids for their ability and accomplishments.

As the kids get older they have more responsibilities as members of our family. It amazes me how easily they pick up on and execute these tasks. When we come in from the snow older brother helps my youngest get out of her coat and boots. These tasks might seem trivial. But in reality they are very important to the growth of my child's character. He sees someone in need of help and he offers it willingly. He is learning to put others before himself.

Spanish-At this point the flashcards are put away and a more in depth approach is taken. Rosetta Stone is a great program for this age.

That is about all I can think of that is different in these years compared to 1st grade.