Crowder Park

We had a wonderful field trip this week to Crowder Park.  It was a beautiful day!  After starting the week with snow, I wasn't sure what the day would be like, but it was gorgeous.

The Rangers lead programs for the older kids (12 and up) on a pond study.  They found various things in the pond and examined them under a microscope.  My oldest two shared that they found a crawfish and a red worm.

The middle ages of children (6-11) had a study on the water cycle.  They were split into teams and played a game to illustrate how the cycle works.  I didn't get any pictures of the game, but here are some of the boys afterwards.

Most of the younger siblings were hanging out with parents at these classes.  A couple of us though took the little ones on their own study.  The Rangers supplied activity boxes that we could use. 

Eliana was delighted to have her own card to carry.  She did a great job walking on the path too!  (That can't be my baby walking like a big girl!)

We played "Pondgo" which is a Bingo game.  This card would be an easy thing to do for your own children.  It's a laminated sheet with various pictures on it.

The children used a crayon to mark off the things that we found.

After the programs, we had a picnic lunch.  It is always such fun to just hang out with these precious friends!  I wish we could do it more often, but I treasure the times that we have.  There was a large playground there that the children enjoyed.  We ended up hanging out at the park for quite a long time and some of the kids went searching for geocaches (and found 5!)

The pond was a little murky - though still pretty.

It was a beautiful day. 

Blessings,

Leslie

 

School Fun in Feb

We are studying a variety of things around here.  I thought I'd post a little bit of our fun from February.

Daniel - We have been reading Jesse Bear.  One of his favorite activities was painting with stamps made from potatoes.  They were cut into various shapes similar to the pattern on the floor of the kitchen in this book. 

Isaiah and Joshua have been learning about cowboys in Cowboy Charlie.  One of our dear friends is from Montana and has some of his artwork which the boys were thrilled to see.  One keeps asking if we can go to Montana and see more of his work.  LOL  The other has decided that when he grows up that he wants to be a cowboy or a rancher or a farmer. 

Part of our studies with Five in a Row is making a meal to go with our studies.  We had a yummy meal of meat/potato casserole and peach pandowdy for dessert.  The hit though with the boys was rootbeer!  lol

We also studied Bee Tree.  We were invited to a friend's birthday party at which a beekeeper spoke.  It was a fun to have a hands-on lesson. 

We also made biscuits with honey just like in the book.  We didn't have tea though - I made green smoothies instead.  (which they liked even though they looked funny).

Rebecca is studying Neil Armstrong.  One day she was working on making a map.  She made a treasure map for her brothers by counting steps to go along with the directions on a compass.  The boys had to go around our yard, through the woods and back again before finding the buried treasure - candy!  It was a lot of fun and Rebecca did a super job making the map and teaching the boys how to use it!

 Another day she and a friend made "helicopters" as they were learning about flight.

 Rebecca made Yorkshire Pudding one day which we ate with honey.  It was delicious and we cleaned out a 9x13 pan in no time!  I love too that she decorated the table and made it all look so inviting and lovely.

That's all for now. 

Hope you have a great week-end!

Blessings,

Leslie

Workbox System

I'm excited about something that I wanted to share here.  I've shared this with my local homeschool group and also with friends I on a recent retreat.  There are many of us excited about this and I wanted to share it here in case others would be encouraged by this.  We are loving this system!

A friend of mine, Sue Patrick, another homeschool mom, has devised a plan for organizing your school day that is brilliant.  I've been interested in doing this for quite some time, but just not gotten around to doing it.  Well, I invited Sue Patrick to share her Workbox System in a workshop for our homeschool group.  I started it the next day.

Here are some of the basics, though I encourage you to buy Sue's book to really understand the details of how it works!  Each child has their own set of 12 workboxes.  They are set up so that the child can work independently through some of them and others are "work with mom" boxes.  The boxes are numbered and the child moves through them sequentially.

As the child works through a box, the box is then removed from the shelf so that they can see their work diminishing.  They can see exactly what is expected of them each day and how much they have left to do before their school day is over.  They can also see fun things in boxes which helps to motivate them to finish the more difficult boxes.

One of the biggest benefits that I have seen is that we are accomplishing more and in less time.  I'm doing so much of the "fun" stuff that seems to get put off and my children are loving it!  We've added back more art, music and games.  I am working to get our day organized and we are all reaping the results!  I can't say enough to praise this system. 

You can visit Sue's website HERE to read more about it.

I'd be happy to answer any questions too as a happy user of this system.  :-)

Blessings,

Leslie 

Sometimes Miracles Hide

If you haven't yet heard this song, please listen.

Here

This song brings tears to my eyes.  So many children are seen as disposable when they don't measure up to the world's standards of what is alright.  I understand that some just have never heard or known what a blessing that children are - ALL children.  We all make mistakes and this is one that leaves a hurt forever.

I hope that I never give the impression that Eliana is a burden.  Sometimes things are difficult - but that is true for all of my children.  She is such a JOY!  Could that middle name have been any more perfect for her?  I don't think so!  God knew. 

I know that I've shared this before, the meaning of her name.  It was something I stumbled on shortly before she was born.  I had a name that I loved and had been saving for years, but it just didn't seem right somehow.  She was Eliana.   Her name means "my God answers with Joy". 

Oh what joy this little girl brings to everyone in her life.  Truly, I can't imagine being more blessed than to have all of the precious children that we do!  Thank you God!

My heart is burdened for children with Down syndrome - especially the many that don't have a family.  If you are interested in doing more to help some, any or even just one of these children, please visit Reece's Rainbow.  You can donate money, pray for a child or even bring one home.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress." (James 1:27)

Blessings,

Leslie

A funny moment

Just wanted to share a funny moment with you.

The other day, Isaiah and I were talking.  It may help you to know that we have been studying bees this week.  This is a bit of our conversation.

Isaiah:  Do you know what my favorite word is?

Me:  (not knowing people had favorite words) No, I don't.

Isaiah:  Well, it isn't Isaiah because thats a name.  It's thorax.

Me:  (stifling a giggle at this point)  Really?  It's thorax?

Isaiah:  Yes, my favorite word is thorax.

A few days later, Isaiah is working on a math page dealing with money.  Rebecca overhears him talking to himself.  For a little background you should know that this is my child that LOVES money.  He talks about money every day.  He frequently offers to pay to get things that he wants.  Recently he offered to pay Christopher in order to get something he wanted.  This request was followed up quickly by another offer - a second payment - if he wouldn't tell Mom!  lol

Isaiah, as he is studying about money:  I think my favorite word is money.  Thorax is my second favorite word.

This boy just cracks me up!  The funny thing is that he often has no idea how very funny he can be because he delivers his lines with total seriousness.

I'm thankful for the gift of laughter and little people that give me plenty of reason to laugh.

Blessings,

Leslie

A time of rest

I had a sweet week-end.  One that started on Thur after a field trip.  It had been a fun morning with my children and our Five in a Row group - a trip to the fire station and then a picnic and playing in the park. 

When we got home, I finished packing and headed off to a yearly "retreat".  Once a year, meeting up with friends from the FIAR website staff. 

Some of these friends I've known for over 10 years - when our oldest children were just starting on the homeschooling journey.  Some of these friends are newer friends with whom God has knitted our hearts.  I'm thankful to be part of a sweet group of gals (and one great guy!). 

The week-end was a time of laughter and tears, sharing and learning, praying and challenging - and fun.  Rest was maybe not the right word as there was not much sleep going on.  But, it was refreshing and encouraging.  I'm thankful that my sweet husband sees the value in this for me.

Here's a photo of our group.

 

Thank you all for a great week-end!  In the midst of the travel and business, I heard some sweet (albeit brief) words from God.  My heart has been torn and grieved at much of what I've heard and read lately.  I feel the need to *DO* something.  I'm praying, but it just doesn't seem like enough at times.  Does this make sense?  While talking with God, He reminded me of this truth.

Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.  Isaiah 40:31

So, in the midst of my worry, God is telling me to wait on Him.  He will give me strength to carry out His plans when I wait on His perfect timing.  Isn't that an amazing truth?!

Why do I doubt?  God is in the details - even the small ones.  On my flight out, I sat beside an interesting man that had recently become a beekeeper.  We talked about what he did and the benefits of keeping bees.  (He even encouraged me to do this.)  What was the God moment in this?  We have been studying bees this week in school.  I was able to ask him a question that one of the children asked me (and I couldn't answer).  It was an interesting, enjoyable and helpful conversation.  God is sweet like that?

I have more to share,- but need to get some sleep.  More tomorrow, I hope.

Blessings,

Leslie

Visiting with cousins

Just a quick entry with a few pictures of some of teh fun we had while visiting my sister's family.  It was beautiful and we enjoyed the outdoors.

 

 

Towards the end of the trip - Eliana learned something new.  She wanted to be outside and had been brought in.  Well, she figured out how to get out all on her own.   We thought this was just too funny!

 

 Have a great week-end!

Leslie

Valentines Day

Just wanted to share some of our Valentines Day fun.  Is there a better way to start the day than to be greeted by children giving you handmade cards?

We started the day with a beautifully set table.  Rebecca did the decorating and Roger gave me the beautiful roses.  :-)  We had waffles with strawberries and strawberry/banana smoothies - YUM!

The younger boys have been working on the Valentines Day Fold 'n Learn from Five in Row.  They liked having conversation hearts to go along with the lesson on this candy.  They were all quite interested in knowing what was written on each heart. 

One of my favorite conversations went like this.

Daniel - What does this heart say?

Rebecca - You Rock!

Daniel - Oh, I rock!  Said with great pleasure! 

Later in the afternoon, Rebecca and I want to a Keepers of the Faith meeting.  Our newest badge is Doll Making.  (I'll update my KOF blog soon on the details.)  The girls had fun learning about making dolls and starting the process by cutting out their pattern and then cutting out the fabric.  They started with a little bit of the sewing too.

We came home to prepare our traditional meal - pizza!  A heart shaped pizza with I love you spelled out in pepperonis. 

I had some great helpers in the kitchen.

Had to get a photo of Daniel actually eating pizza that he made!!!  Yippee!!!  I'm so glad that he is learning to like pizza!

Our next activity was sweet for me.  I watched my children wanting to do something that I typically do - plan scavenger hunts - two of them. 

First Joshua called us together and said, "I suppose you are all wondering why I have called you here". 

This was the start to his hunt.  One of the clues involved one of his favorite foods - mustard.

Rebecca also planned a hunt.  Hers ended with hand-made cards and bags with candy.  Isn't she a sweetheart!!!

Rebecca also made a beautiful  pink lemonade cake for dessert.  It was yummy - and also very tart.  Eliana enjoyed an entire piece of it!  Didn't Rebecca do a great job decorating it?!

We ended the day with a game of Mother May I.  I couldn't well do a scavenger hunt, now could I?  I had some books I wanted to give everyone (including Roger) and thought this would be a fun way to get to them.  We had lots of laughing and joking.

The evening ended quietly with everyone enjoying a book.  I'm thankful my children enjoy books!

Thank you God for all the sweet blessings you have placed in my life.

Blessings,

Leslie

While we were ...

This has been something so heavy on my heart recently.  I've started and saved several blog posts (not posted yet).  This week though we learned about 2 little girls that were on Reece’s Rainbow (the adoption organization that we sponsor which helps kids with Down syndrome find their forever families). 

These girls recently turned 4 and were sent to mental institutions where they died from the flu.  How can we NOT do something to help the least of these?  Please read the following written by Meredith and pray about how you can help.

 While we were eating...
... they were hungry

While we were playing...
... they were restrained

While we were tucking our kids into bed...
... they were alone

While we turned up the heat...
... they laid in the icy cold

While we wrapped our children in blanket sleepers...
... they laid in their own excrements

While we sang songs and listened to music...
... they listened to the screams and cries of those around them

While we rocked our babies...
... they silently rocked themselves

While we hugged our kids...
... they scratched at their own faces and pulled their own hair for stimulation

While we cried over scraped knees...
... they moaned in their loneliness

While we brushed our daughters' beautiful hair...
... they had their heads shaven to stave off the lice

While we fought off the flu with love and nourishment...
... they got the flu and went Home.

No longer suffering... but so many more still are.

In memory of those that have never felt the love of a family, but have passed away alone.

Today we learned of the passing of these two girls in Eastern Europe. 

Update on Radiothon

Hi All,

Just wanted to update on our time at the Duke Children's Hospital Radiothon.  On our way over, Rebecca and I were listening to the radio and hearing of the special promotion.  Forester insurance had pledged to match up to $75,000 raised in a two hour period.  At the time (about 30 minutes into it) they had raised $26,000.  We followed this for the next hour and half.  More on this to come.

When we arrived, we greeted the people that we knew there - and Eliana proceeded to make friends with everyone that would look at her.  She walks up and waves or says "hi", gives high fives or just a sweet smile.  So many people told me how cute she is - and I could see how much people enjoyed seeing her. 

While we were waiting, I spoke with a woman as she was leaving.  Eliana had caught her eye and she started asking about her.  As we talked, she shared that she had lost a daughter when she was exactly Eliana's age.  She also had Down syndrome.  She died just 6 days before Eliana was born of an immune deficiency disease. 

Oh, this broke my heart and I just had to hug her neck.  She showed me a picture of her beautiful daughter.  She also told me that she has been fundraising for Duke Children's at her school since her daughter passed.  What a strong statement to the hope and care that they received at Duke.

We also talked about Down syndrome and what a beautiful gift it is to know someone like this.  And what a horror it is that so many of these children never make it to know life at all.

I wish we had longer to talk, but I know that I can pray for her.  She told me that she has since had a little boy who is perfectly healthy.  She seems to have a sweet spirit.

While we were waiting, we followed and chased Eliana.  She heard the phones ringing and would hold her hand to her ear and say "hello".  She also saw a large bag of change.  I told her that it was money and she hit her chest and said "mine".  lol  This little one is funny!

Rebecca made her donation at about 5:30.  Bless you friends who waited to hear her!  It was a brief time for her to share what she had done and why.  She told about how her little sister had been born with 2 holes in her heart and how Duke had taken great care of her.  She wanted to help other children that didn't have insurance to be able to be helped too. 

She was very nervous, but spoke calmly and clearly and did a great job!  I'm so proud of you Rebecca!  She donated ...

$3200.00

Since her pledge was made during the challenge, they told her that her donation was doubled to $6400.00!  Way to go! 

After this, we left to go home.  We heard the rest of the challenge - and they were successful in raising the $75,000 and more.  Total raised ...  190, 544 in two hours.

I'm thankful for this experience.  Who knew when Eliana was born that "hearts" would be touched in so many ways - both physical, emotional and spiritual.  I told Rebecca that God has given her some special gifts - a compassionate heart, a desire and drive to help others and creativity.  I'm incredibly blessed to see her using her gifts at such a young age!  I'm incredibly humbled that God would allow us to be used to bless others and that He would allow me to see Him at work in my children.  Thank you God for blessing us.  We pray that you would continue to use us to your glory!

Blessings,

Leslie