Almost Two Weeks Under Our Belts

School has been going well. I continue to tweak the schedule a bit, or rather, I continue to discipline myself and the kidlets to adhere to the schedule better each day. The only one who is not entirely cooperative is Miss Baby Cakes, and we totally give her a pass. If she doesn't sleep as long as usual then she just joins us for school. So far all is going well, and I'm good and tired at the end of the day.

Right now the big kids are preparing to kayak on the stock tank again (that's the pond, for you northerners.). They did so yesterday and had a muddy blast, so they worked fast and furious on chores and books this morning so they would have extra time on the water today. There is even a stiff breeze blowing, causing a great rippling effect on our "little sea."

I love to see how God puts things in our lives exactly when we need them. This week we were discussing the ecology of creeks and streams. We read a fascinating book on the subject, then the kids promptly found a crayfish that we can keep and study for a while. They are not hard to find, but it seems like this little guy was just waiting to be caught, since our lessons included him. It's always very cool to notice those little gifts from above that encourage the children in their learning.

ChorePacks continue to be so helpful. Yes, it takes persistence on my part to inspect daily chores. No, I don't always get inspection done properly. No, chores done by children are not necessarily done to an adult's exacting standards. But the good news is, I am spending far less time nagging, and I love that. Also, things are getting done on a regular basis that just always seemed to slip through the cracks before. The water dispenser on the fridge gets wiped out every day. The bathrooms get a quick wipe-down each day. The stray stuff in the hall is put away. The kitchen gets a swipe with the broom. The car gets cleaned out. The laundry is hauled to the mudroom and sorted into the bins, so that when I'm ready to stuff a load in the machine it is a breeze. I am sold on ChorePacks. And no, I don't work for the company.

I have some great and hilarious photos to share, but the cord for our camera mysteriously disappeared. Hopefully it will show up soon and we can let you peek at what's been going on around Pecan Bluff. And you won't believe how much Sweet Baby has grown!

New School Year!

We jumped in with both feet yesterday and had a very good first day of school. With a sixth grader, two second graders and a baby I've put lots of planning into this year's schedule to make sure it all works. It did ~ yay!

We tweaked and played with Managers of Their Homes and ChorePacks all summer long so we could break them in and get used to them. Though I am very flexible in making those programs work for our family, having a good schedule and chore program really made the transition from summer break to autumn semester a smoother one. I'm hooked.

We still have a few kinks worked out. The kitchen was a mess by the end of the day. And a few important chores were skipped over because the kids ran out of time before school. Also, it's always a challenge to find time to update my online organizer at the end of the school day. Ideally I would like to get my grading and planning done before hubby gets home, but somehow I usually find myself catching up around midnight, instead. It seems like no matter what acrobatics I try with my schedule, I just can't get it all done and get myself to bed on time. Oh, well. We will see how today unfolds.

We have a challenging year mapped out with the kids, and I'm looking forward to learning with them.

Journey of Hope

Holt International's Journey of Hope campaign

needs to find adoptive families

for some very special children waiting in China.

Could God be calling you to make a difference in the life of an orphan?

Too Cute!

Encouragement to the Task

As our family prepares to dig into another home school year, God plopped these little gems into my lap this week so I would be sure and notice them. Now I can breathe a sigh of relief~ He's got me covered!

What do you expect of me, Lord?

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother; For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. Proverbs 1:8-9

But how will I have the strength and wisdom to do this, Lord?

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

On what should we focus, Lord?

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:8,9

Will You bless us in our efforts, Lord?

Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:7-9

Good Thought

If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again

by Diane Loomans

If I had my child to raise all over again,

I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.

I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch more with my eyes.

I would care to know less and know to care more.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often.

I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.

I'd model less about the love of power,

And more about the power of love.

I Love It When a Plan Comes Together

Every afternoon at Pecan Bluff we have what we call Personal Devotional Time. We just started it this summer, and it's gone really well. Each child finishes up his or her Chore Pack after lunch, then they grab a Bible and read and pray for 20 minutes. We've always had mandatory quiet times, family Bible times, reading times, etc, so it wasn't too big of a stretch to make this little chunk of our day into individual Bible reading and prayer time.

I just stuck a load of laundry in and made my rounds to check on everyone. At this very moment my three older children have their heads bent over their Bibles, deep in thought. And lo and behold, I peeked around the corner at the baby, and she is studying her Baby Bible! I didn't even realize her Bible was down off the shelf, but she has it in her chubby little hands. Hee hee

So, I'm off to get some good Personal Devotional Time, too. God is so good to bless us every day with the little things to show us how much He cares about our lives!