Since I am desperately trying to get back to blogging more regularly, I decided that I wanted to join in this week with The Homeschool Mothers Journal Link Up this week to see if I could get those creative juices flowing again.

In my life this week…
This week has really thrown me for a loop. I received devastating news from back home that a friend from many years ago was killed by her husband who then killed himself. I keep thinking that this is so surreal, it just can't be true. But unfortunately it is. She was a wonderful person who touched many people and left a lasting impression on all those she came into contact with. My heart is broken for her family and no matter how many times I have heard a similar story of a tragedy like this it has not prepared me for emotions I am feeling.

In our homeschool this week…

I am almost afraid to jinx myself. We have had another very productive week. I find myself smiling a lot and feeling more confident that I have before. Baboo is reading so much better. The look of pride on his face is all the affirmation I need to know that this is the best place for him. Gidget is still pursing her interest in Greek Mythology and I am desperately looking for more resources to share with her.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

If you are just starting out the best thing you will ever do is surround yourself and your family with a good group of fellow homeschoolers. I was so fortunate to find the amazing and inspirational group that I did who have encouraged and guided me every step of the way.


Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

This week we went on the Neches River Adventure Cruise. It was a fun trip. The kids thoroughly enjoyed everything there was to see and the moms had a blast too.

My favorite thing this week was…

Finding out today that after two months off work my Husband was offered a really great job with a company he used to work for!!! yay

Things I’m working on…

I'm getting ready to start back on my winter crocheting so I can get ahead before I start taking orders again.

I’m reading…

I'm so ready for winter. I am done with this heat.


I’m grateful for…

I am so grateful for my family and knowing that I have a husband that would do anything for us and never bring us harm.



A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

"Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow." Ralph Waldo Emerson

This week has marked our first "official" week back to school. If you ask many homeschooling parents they will tell you that the learning never really ends though. So far this week, we have been on schedule, completed our work and even had time for a field trip of sorts.

Yesterday was great, a day for all of the homeschoolers to get together, a chance for the kids to see each other and for the moms to reconnect. Share the latest and greatest finds and plan for the year. We had a few new to home school moms. All with that same look that I had last year. The one that says " can I do this" , "am I covering everything", "will I screw this up". I was able to pass along the same advice I received. It will all be fine, just breath and remember that nothing is permanent if something that you are trying doesn't work don't be afraid to change it. Now at the time this didn't help a lot but now some time later I realize that it was true.

One of our main topics of discussion was what everyone was using, where do we find our resources etc. So I thought I would link up some of my favorites here:

Resources -

http://www.freelyeducate.com/

Reading - Tommy Tales Reading -http://www.learningpage.com/pages/ewe_books/ewebooks_printable.html

Spelling - Spell by Color - http://mysite.verizon.net/jetted4/spelling.htm
Handwriting – CurrClick – downloaded handwriting packets

Classic Science - Life Science - http://www.eequalsmcq.com/ClassicScienceLife.htm

Americas Heritage an adventure in Liberty - http://americanheritage.org/AHEF_Elementary_Binder_08_National_2008.pdf

I have purchased the Full Curriculum books From Brain Quest as well as Comprehensive Curriculum of Basic Skills

Worksheets and Lesson Plans:

http://www.learningpage.com/

http://www.learningpage.com/free_pages/ewe_preview.html

http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/series/the_chronicles_of_narnia



Planning and Tracking:

http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=2174&it=1

http://www.themasterplanner.com/

http://www.vertex42.com/calendars/academic-calendar.html

http://www.homeschoolskedtrack.com

Many people say change is good. Others would rather die than make a change. Change can mean adventure or it can mean disappointment. I believe that change is inevitable. Everything changes, nothing stays the same. I feel like I have been in a perpetual state of change for a while. Changes in myself, changes in my family and changes in our situation. One of the first major changes was deciding to remove the twins from public school and becoming a homeschooling family. We started last February and continued through June. I can say with a large amount of surprise and much delight that thing went way better than I expected. We became casualties of a bad economy and dwindling job force and after barely hanging on for 6 months my husband was let go from his job. So now we are anticipating more changes, we are job hunting and possibly relocating, which will bring its own set of changes. Being somewhere new far away from where we've been for the last 15 years. Leaving friends and most importantly our "Patchwork" family behind. Figuring out how to survive with out my best friend and the kidlets who are like my own. Trying to meet the new changes as an adventure and not a fate worse than death. There are advantages to moving. Finding a stable good paying job in this economy is a miracle in itself. Being in a climate that is not nearly as hot and dreadful as here. The kids are excited about possibly having their first winter with snow. Meeting new people. Being closer to family and spending more time with their Grandmother who has stage 4 cancer and enjoying the time they have left with her. There are always going to be changes and it doesn't matter if we welcome them or not the are inevitable after all.

So this week we will be returning to school with a fresh routine and new outlook. Hubby will be traveling for his interview and we will be hoping that this will be the change we need most. My biggest change will be how I greet the changes not with fear or dread but with peace and calm knowing that how I handle the change sets the tone for everyone else. I will keep telling every one that "it will all be fine", "everything will work out" and "the only thing that matters is that we are all in this together". And once I have built their confidence, calmed their fears and soothed their souls, I will retreat to my quiet place and go about convincing myself of the same thing.

You never know what lies beyond the doorway if you do not open it and walk through it.