Two Good Tips For A Hard Week

You want to know my two most favorite tips for a hard week?
Well, I’ll tell you,
in
just 
a 
second....
On Tuesday I took Kiana and Garett to the eye doctor because they seem to be having problems reading; as in, unable to do school work at all now.  The good news was that their eyes are just fine!  Which left me wondering as I headed home, “What’s wrong then?"
I have been really working and researching the last few months to determine if and who of the children might have learning problems.  I have mentioned Dianne Craft if past posts and am looking into her information because we just found out that Corbin is dyslexic. 
As I was driving home I had several questions?

Why has Kiana been reading for years, although with great difficulty, and then all of a sudden “can’t read”?  Why can’t Garett see the letters in a book?  Why does he rub his eyes and yawn when he reads?  It’s like watching gears that are rusting and grinding to a halt when I watch either of them trying to do their school work. 
As I was trying to come up with a new teaching plan for the children yesterday, I decided to do the Eye/Hand Dominance Check from Dianne Craft’s book, Brain Integration Therapy.  I knew that Corbin was “mix dominant” and now I was suspecting that Kiana and Garett might be.  Sure enough, both of them, and Corbin, are left eye dominant, and right handed.  A “mixed dominant” like this can create a great deal of stress and frustration for a child.  
I am grateful to know “what is wrong” and will now be focusing on Kiana, Garett, and Corbin with some specific “brain training” over the next year.  This should help them overcome these learning blocks.

I have found so much helpful information through Dianne Craft, and so much help for my children.  As is common in adopted children, there are learning difficulties with several of our children, and I always feel that I can get good support through her.
Today, I took Aiden to Denver for his occupational therapy appointment.  Long day, and no answers yet...we meet with a doctor next week and hopefully will get an auditory test done.  It will still be several weeks before we know anything about his sensory needs and what they can offer us.
SOOOOO,
what are my two good tips for a hard week?
1).  Go to lunch at your favorite restaurant with your husband!
2).  Come home and take a nap with your babies!!!
Yep, that’s it.  It is what I did today, and I feel much better already.

I’ve Never Seen This Before

 Eleven children, and I can say that I have never seen this.

 Keshawn cut his finger today so we put a band aid on it.

 He HATED the band aid and kept crying for it to come off.  

 I didn’t want it off because his finger was still bleeding.

 After taking off 4 band aids I decided it wasn’t worth it anymore. 

Goodness, I hope he never gets a really bad cut!


I am really “mind busy” thinking of next years school year and what it will look like.  Besides Kalyn (high school), Caresse (Jr. High), Kiana (3/4 grade), Landon (3/4 grade), Garett (3rd grade), I need to add Joeliana, Alia, and Corbin (1st grade).  And of course, I have no idea where Asher and Noelani will be in the education process when they get home, but I’m assuming I will be starting over mostly.  NOW, without knowing the LORD’s help is sure, I would be thinking “This is impossible for me to do”.  However, I really do like teaching my children and year after year I have found the LORD faithful in showing me what to do.  We really need to keep cost down this year, so I am also praying through that.  
Happy weekend everyone.

As Requested

Here is a picture of the back of Alia’s hair, per a new friends request at Where The Acorns Fall

And, yes, crzy4myfam, I do the girls hair myself.  I have looked at a lot of blogs and youtube videos and books to learn and I really do enjoy doing their hair!
Thank you so much for the sweet comments about Alia’s hair, our anniversary and the broke Bronco.  
The children set up a beautiful candle lit dinner for us downstairs for our anniversary Sunday night and served us...it was so nice.  

 I looked horrible...I wasn’t feeling too good.  What a precious and thoughtful thing for the children to do for our anniversary.  There were dozens of candles and they brought in our iron table from outside (after they tried to knock the snow off) and decorated it so beautifully.  Then, after they had served us, they went upstairs and took care of all the little one’s so that we could enjoy our special dinner.  

Steve did get home safely last night and the Bronco IS going to cost quite a pretty penny to fix.  We are going to attempt to tow it ourselves from Denver to our home here in Black Forest tomorrow, so that our most beloved and generous mechanic down the road can fix it, for less than what it would cost in Denver. 
Here are a few other fun pictures from our days...

 Precious Joeliana-we also call her Joeli-love.

 I picked this up at Hobby Lobby and we have been having so MUCH fun with it.

 Buzz Lightyear is saving the world from TheraPutty (I’ll tell you more about this amazing stuff later, but if you can’t wait, look on Amazon).

And Bible time with a baby...it take a lot of patience, discipline and creativity!  Thankfully, Kiana has all of those and is a great help!
Loves to you all!

Pillar V - Home Education

This pillar of my Home Education is easy!  Make it FUN.  

I can’t always make every subject fun, but there are so many ways to enjoy our school time.  So here goes with some of our favorites!

My children absolutely are addicted to these trivia games.  You can find the Professor Noggin’s card games here and BrainBox games here.  By the way the above links take you to 2 of my favorite places to find fun things for the children.  I make wish list and then pass them out to our families for birthdays and Christmas.  I would rather the children have one good toy that they will really enjoy than a dozen that are cheap and thrown away within a few weeks. 

GAMES, GAMES AND MORE GAMES.  The children love fun games, so I keep my eyes open for anything fun that also has teaching or strategy value.

Here are five favorites:

1. Yamslam

2.  Set - One of Kalyn’s favorites

3.  Blokus

4.  Sequence (original), or Sequence Numbers

5.  Mexican Train Dominoes or just dominoes or cards

Enjoy nature walks as often as you can!  We will take a favorite book, or nature journals and pencils along.  The children always enjoy these times!!

Take advantage of the unexpected.  When we were camping this last month, we found an unexpected mine that the owner (above) loved to talk about.  He made his presentation so interested and then afterwards we bought rocks.  I wasn’t expecting this learning opportunity, however, it came, I seized it and the children loved it.  

Now, I want to hear how you make teaching fun?  What are some of your favorite family games? Share, share!!! And have fun!!

Pillar III For Home Education - Structure

I tried, really, really tried to get to that laundry yesterday, however, for several reasons known only to my dog, I only got one small load done!! 
BUT, the good news is that I am in Greeley with Steve and Keshawn for the next few days.  While Steve works during the day, I will work here at the hotel getting my new school year planned out.  

This is what Kalyn threatened to do if the children are not good for her while we are gone (poor darlin’s...I gave them a good ol’ Texas size talkin’ to!!). 
O.K., no more procrastination...
"How do we, as home makers and mothers get the house work done and the school work; how do we still give time to our little children and how can we organize their time so that we can home school the older ones; how do we meet the needs of our families and can we balance everything?”
I am now more convinced than ever that we must ask the right question.  So often I have struggled to balance every thing and I’m not even sure what that means except to may be be super woman in every area, EVERY DAY.  There is no “perfect” here.  There is real life though.
I think that the right question is “How can I minister to the needs of my family and others today?”  Now I know that this is broad, so lets look a little closer.  I have some guiding scriptures to help me with my mission as a woman, wife and mother. 
The Bible tells us that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10)  I like this...it makes me feel valued to know that the LORD has good work for me to do each day. 
I am encouraged to “see that I fulfill the ministry that I have received in the LORD.” (Col. 4:17)  I have a purpose - A MINISTRY from the LORD!
I have a call to bold endurance in my ministry - “For God gave me a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.” (IITim. 1:7)
And my favorite promise to my mother’s heart - “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” (bold from me - II Cor. 9:10-12)
I have found and truly believe that we will “succeed” better if we look at our days and times as seasons, just as a farmer does.  And that is where the 3rd Home Education Pillar comes into play.  We must structure our work.  My structure will look different than yours, but we all need structure to reach the goal of sowing bountifully and reaping bountifully (II Cor. 9:6).
Now to some “hows”.  
For the little ones....O.K., well, when the LORD blessed us with 4 children all practically the same age, I lost my mind, ummm, structure.  Lately though, I have looked at some ideas from Montessori and used some of those idea (or asked family to buy certain things for birthdays and holidays).  I bought trays and will set up “stations” at the table, where I can watch them.  One tray may have magnets, another beads to string, or buttons to sort.  I have bought those veggies trays at dollar stores so that the children can sort things into different compartments.  Of course, play dough is always a favorite, as is painting (which depends on MY mood, not theirs!).  I want to start reading to them more than I have been.  I have never start “school” till the children where 7.  I just give them tons of enriching things around the house to play with...puzzles, Legos, Play Mobile, pretend play, etc.  However, this year, I am thinking of doing a pre-school curr. with the little 4 just so that I can structure some time with them. I’ll let you know what I find. 
Honestly, it has been hard with so many little ones.  And I must remember to “meet their needs” also.  This is not easy for me, as I get really “flustered” by all the interruptions.  However, it is those interruptions that I need to see as signs to stop and look and my child, hold them if needed, or listen.  An older friend said something I have never forgotten.  She said us younger mothers get way to worked up about “what to do” with our children.  She said she just did life with them under her feet and included them in what she was doing.  I have always been encouraged by that.  
A sanity saving structure that I adopted a long time ago, and it has not changed in years is this; we focus on home education from around 8 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  We then have lunch, and the little ones must lay down for “nap" at 1:30 or 2ish.  They don’t always nap, but they do know to stay in bed and be quiet till about 3 or 3:30.  That time is my “quiet” time and the other 5 know to respect that, or they have to lay down too.  The older ones (usually the high school age children) do some more of their school in the afternoon since their education requires more time now.  I keep lots of educational and fun games around and the children are alway pulling those out.  I call that “informal” education...not really planned, but I purposefully keep enriching and “educational” things around the house for the children to do.  
Well, this is long again, so I will post more on structure in the next day or two.  I hope this is helpful to some of you.  Please let me know if you have any thoughts or questions!

The Question I Dreaded (Hi Amy, Anita and Jodi)

See, I would rather show you this...

...my happy campers...

...not this...

...unorganized garage and laundry..

THIS...

...delightful, helpful daughters...

...not this...

...LOTS of dirty smoky coats.

THIS...

...a serene, peaceful mountain photo...

...not this...

...overflowing LAUNDRY...

This is nice, don’t you think?

But, not this...

...yes, MORE laundry.

I will leave you with a “happy” picture!

I know that you are wondering, what does all this have to do with my title....”The Question I Dreaded."  I’ve been avoiding it, but I did promise that I would answer any “Ask Away...Children’s Education” questions. 


Here’s a hint from these three precious blog friends questions....


Amy said...

Well, honestly- I could use ANY help and don't even know what to ask because - I am THAT lost. LOL But I am going to try it anyway- gotta start somewhere right? Right now, just trying to figure out what I do with the little ones while working with the big ones? How do you manage to get all of the housework done AND the school work? Any tips on that? :) THANKS!

A. Gillispie said...

Yay! Second year homeschooler here, and we haven't found our perfect groove yet. My biggest issue at the moment is how to manage teaching time with my big ones (3rd and 4th grade) with my little ones (3 and going on 5)? It's complicated because I work from home (at least 6-8 hours a day). Not sure how to meet everybody's needs, so if you have any advise, I'm all ears!

Anita

Jodi said...

Shonni -Amazing!! 17 years - you must have begun homeschooling when you were 5! :)
How do you balance everything! :) With the possibility of jumping into HS my middle schooler, I am very nervous - any tips to keep him focused and interested in learning, would be great!! :)

Did you see the common thread?  The question that I have dreaded is “How do I do it all?"
So, as I was thinking about my Home Education Pillars (see here and here for pillars I and II), I knew that Pillar III is Structure!  Amy, Anita and Jodi brought up some very important things to consider in Home Educating our children!  How do we, as home makers and mothers get the house work done and the school work; how do we still give time to our little children and how can we organize their time so that we can home school the older ones; how do we meet the needs of our families and can we balance everything? 
Now, the reason I have dreaded the “How do I do it all question” is that I don’t want anyone to think that I have all the answers  - I don’t.  And each of us is different, with differing strengths and differing weaknesses.  What works for one doesn’t work for another. Believe me, I have tried to “do it” like others because it was working for them, and it didn’t for me, because my personality just couldn’t “do it” that way.  
However, I hope that my many years of mistakes and successes can help each of us find the structure that works for US in our families as we minister to them each day.
So, I promise, I will answer this question, but no kidding, I HAVE GOT to go start some laundry.  So be lookin’ back here tomorrow!

Going Bye-Bye

  

Keshawn’s little finger was crushed in a door today...it may be fractured, but he will be OK. 
We had a really big lightning storm tonight.  Steve was trying to fix the lights on the trailer but had to quit, so we are praying it can be fixed in the morning so that we can leave early to get down to the south Colorado mountains before to late. We are wanting to enjoy one more camping trip before it starts to get to cool here.  So the children are saying that we are going “bye-bye” in the morning.  I sure hope that we can leave before it is to late.
I had to share this “fairy lights” shot of Kiana with ya’ll.  I was trying to get the sun behind her and the light did this....isn’t it weird/fun?  I did not photo shop anything in this.  We told Kiana that it looks light fairies are kissing her...LOL.
Write more on Monday when we get back.  Praying for a good and restful family time together!

My Motivation-2nd of 7 Home Education Pillars and Jean’s Question

"What ought to motivate us to direct our children to open the pages of history, to observe the wonders of nature, to admire a painting, to appreciate a piece of music, to learn by heart the words of a hymn or a poem?”

Jesus’ words “Feed my lambs.” (K. Andreola)


In this post, I briefly talked about the seven pillars that Wisdom build for her house.  I became thoughtful of what my seven pillars are for my home education. I talked about Pillar I in that post, and I will talk about Pillar II in this one - MOTIVATION. 
I have always been motivated by the ideas of feeding my children nutritionally healthy foods for both their bodies, minds and spirit.  
So, in thinking of home education, I don’t want to feed my children “junk food”. 
As Karen Andreola says so well, “Curious children will learn for the sake of knowing, for the sake of growing. Feed your children well and they will grow in wisdom and favor with God and man.”

I was asking the LORD for a little motivation for me also this week as I have felt tired, overwhelmed, and then a little one broke my camera lens last night (I cried), and well...a little “poor me” party was happening.  
The LORD lovingly showed me this verse; “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the LORD.” Colossians 4:17. 
This ministry of mine is from HIM!!! What is that ministry? Specific to this day, the ministry I needed encouragement to “fulfill” is the ministry of educating my children.  I needed to be remembered of my “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope" in my Lord Jesus Christ.  (I Thess. 1:3).

Also, as I consider the education of my children I always want to be thoughtful of what motivates them!! What are the passions and natural learning strengths of the children, what’s just fun, how can I get us outdoors more, and keep our environment exciting?  Is there something I can do to make math a little less painful for this child, or bring in a few more learning games that they enjoy? 

Jean had a really great question I think falls perfectly in with this subject; so here is her note....

Jean said...
It is very helpful and I love all the sites you gave us- bookmarked everyone of them!!

My other question is this- Have you adopted any of your children at an older age? I know you have you new little 6 yr old coming from China.


I am finding it to be so different to educate our older adopted children because they need to start at the beginning- pre-k and move forward plus learn a new language. Each child is different and goes at a different pace. My natural desire is to hop into academics- that is where I am most comfortable BUT that is not their need- I need to be patient and walk this road with Jesus- it is challenging.


What are you thoughts on this topic?


As we consider how to motivate our children, one of the most important questions that we must ask is “what is their NEED”.   I have not adopted an older school age child, so Asher will be our first, however, I have educated a few children with “special needs”.  And I say that loosely, not because they didn’t/don’t have a special NEED, but, that doesn’t define the goal...teaching my children to love the LORD Wholeheartedly (Pillar I) and teaching them to enjoy learning within their God-given strengths at their present age and/or abilities are my beginning priorities.

It seems easier for me to write as if this is a note....
“Dear Jean,
It may be difficult to educate an older adopted child because of the need to learn and re-learn some things.  On the other hand, what a God given opportunity to have the freedom to educate your child at home where you can start her/him where they need to start; being aware that in all honesty, their number one need is not academics, but to become comfortable in a new culture, with a new language, and learning for the joy of learning, not because it is required!!!  Also, as they begin to enjoy learning, what JOY you will receive in the relationship that you and your child are building together.  So don’t worry about academics (for now), but make learning fun, connect with your child, be WITH him/her where they are at, and gently lead them.  Is there something that this child really likes?  Asher really likes puzzles, so I will be thinking of all kinds of ways to use puzzles to interact with and teach him.  Does your child really like animals?  You could build or find a unit study using animals as the foundation for learning.  Your child will “catch up” to where the LORD wants them to be.  It is a very exciting journey you are on Jean.  I am praying for you!”

ASK AWAY...Children’s Education

It’s the time of year when all home educating mothers are preparing for the next year.  I haven’t written much about our home education because there are so many wonderful blogs who address home education and there is so much helpful information out there.  
However, I began to think that I have been home educating for 17 years now, have graduated one, and it might be helpful to share some of what I have learned in all those years. 
But the way I want to share is to ask YOU TO ASK ME.  What would be helpful to you? What are you wondering about?  
I’ll spend several post in August answering any questions that you have and spotlighting some of my favorite resources.  
I can tell you now, we all are created differently by the LORD as a family and our home education should reflect what we feel like THE LORD wants it to look like.  It wont and should not look like mine.  Mine doesn’t even look like mine...it has changed often with the seasons of our family.
That said, that are so foundations that have kept us strong, kept us going, and kept it fun!!!
So, ASK AWAY....

Weird Metal Spike Balls and Court

Aren't these metal sculptures fun?!  The children loved playing with them. These works of art where next door to the court house where we spend time this morning finalizing Keshawn's adoption. He is now a HASSOLDT!!!

The judge was a very sweet lady.  She really involved the children in the process and they thought that was cool. They each even got to hammer her very special gavel. 

After our "day in court", the children and I toured the Pioneer Museum that was next door.  We don't get downtown very often and the children convinced me with "we can count it as school Mom".  What smart children!

This last picture is Keshawn holding Caresse's hand as we were leaving the court.  When I look at it, I think, "This is why it is worth it all."  Someone to walk the roads of life with...a family.  Always there for each other, leading, following, helping, loving.  I know that our family seems big to many, but to us, it seems just right.  We are growing and learning together how to live for the LORD's glory.  Isn't it a lot of work?  Yes and No would be my answer.  On one hand, we do work hard, however, the "work" is good work as we learn to love and serve each other.  On the other hand, no it isn't harder because work is so much easier and so much more enjoyable when you have others with you.  

And the older children learn the joys of guiding little feet that are following them.  Those little feet need not walk alone now.  Those little hands are never empty now.  Those little heart's never have to face the future alone again.  Fears, dreams, hopes, and thoughts are shared and respected in their daily lives. 

Yes, there is the reality of screaming and arguing.  Even now, two of them are sitting in a quiet time beside me.  And what are they learning...that we respect each other and Mommy.  So, I look at the above picture in all of it's romantic-ness...

and I know that it is worth it. 

They have each other.  They have a family.  And that is one precious gift!!! 

Started Back

Today we started back up our school schedule and it went pretty well. It is definitely harder with Keshawn curiously exploring everything and four others asking every 10 minutes if they can play with the bubbles! I have a love/hate relationship with bubbles. However, it is a quick way to clean up 8 children AND my back porch all in one swoop.

I took advantage of the beautiful sunset to get a few pictures of Caresee Nicole.  

I tried to do a braid in the front of her hair, and I can tell you, African hair is not as slippery as white, silky blond hair!!!

We are praying for Alia tonight and I will get her into the dr. as soon as I can tomorrow.  She is having some pain and swelling on the back of her neck.
Night-night.

Jesus Is In Your Boat

Almost everyone knows the story of Jesus calming the storm in Luke 8:22-25, however, our Pastor really put a focus on Jesus being in the boat.
"One day He got into a boat with His disciples...." - Jesus got into the boat with them...these disciples are commercial fishermen; this is their environment and where they are comfortable. We are also disciples of Jesus, if we have accepted Him as our LORD. So Jesus is also in your boat. The next part is exciting...
"...and He said to then, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake."  Wherever you are at in your journey, you are going to make it to the other side.  Do you ever feel like Jesus is sleeping when you are in a "storm"? The seasoned sailers in Jesus' boat that day could relate. It must have been quite a storm to scare these fishermen. The Bible tells us that the boat was filling with water and that they were in danger.  They were drowning!!! Ever felt like you where drowning? 


I have been thinking on these scriptures this morning and I felt like there was "more".
In the terror of the moment, they "went and woke Him".  I have said what they said to Him "Jesus, I am persishing!!!!"
Jesus calmed the storm, and they all lived. End of story? No.
Jesus is all about relationships...(love the LORD your God and love your neighbor as yourself. Matt. 22:27-40), and ("A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another just as I have loved you..." John 13:24).  Jesus was right there with the disciples as they where going through this storm. Their focus was the storm though, and what was Jesus's focus? Not the storm! It was his relationship with them..."Where is your faith?" he said to them (after He "rebuked the wind and the raging waves").  Jesus wants our hearts! Even in our storms, may we look, not at the storm so much, and more at our relationship with Jesus. And a word of warning - don't jump out of the boat!!! Stay there with Him and trust Him and you will get to the other side!


WOW are we having some wind. "How bad is it you say?" I HAD to plant Caresse's seeds today and when we took Keshawn outside, the wind blew him over - no kidding! Kalyn finally had to take him back inside. And the wind kept blowing the seeds out of our hands! When I came inside I saw that we are under a high wind warning. And then Steve called and said that he couldn't fly out of Colorado Springs for his class because all the flights here have been cancelled due to wind.  I guess several trees have been blown down around the city causing electrical problems. I can say that this is one of the coolest and windiest springs I have ever experienced in Colorado.  Not sure how good our garden will grow, but we are trying. This is our first year to try the square foot gardening ideas from the book All New Square Foot Gardening. We have a hard time out here in our higher elevation and cooler weather. However, Caresse really likes herbs and gardens, so we will see how it goes. 

Reflective Still Life

Thank you my dearest friends, for your love and friendship. I am grateful beyond words for the many precious comments on my last post. 
This morning we woke up to cold and a touch of snow. For school, my three "middle" schoolers enjoyed  a Still Life art lesson from Hearts and Trees.  If you are not familiar with this blog, you must visit; Amanda has so many wonderful ideas to do with children. 

I was surprised how much they "got into it" and really enjoyed it. I'm sure that we will be doing more of these in the future. 

Time now to help Kalyn with her high school science and then time to fix supper. I'm looking forward to some yummy fish that we caught at the Texas coast this last December...totally fried, and fattening and yummy. 

What Was Planned Today

This little sweetheart is having her leg surgery tomorrow. She will be on crutches and restricted activity for quite some time. Sooo, I threw our scheduled school day out the window, because when it IS warm enough here in Colorado during the winter to get out, well, you just must take advantage of it! And Caresse had a good argument to skip school, she wont be able to ride bikes for a while! 

 Kiana gave the boys a ride in the wagon...Keshawn's first time in it. 
I think we was a little nervous.



A perfectly beautiful, Colorado day. 
"Elohim, renew my sense of wonder and gratitude for the things that You have made."