Somedays are simply...

about having fun!


Sharing Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream is fun!


Finger-
painting
any.
way.
you.
want
is fun!!

'Making leggo weapons' in the name of entertaining littlest brother... is fun!

Today was my day to have some fun...

I had the blessing of meeting a bloggy-friend in real life today...

We are nearly the same age...
yet she has homeschooled nearly twice as long as I have
and has twice as many kids as I have.

Thank~you Mama D
for finding time out of your busy days to visit with me....

~She is as lovely in person as she is portrayed on her blog *smile*

and yes, this is the same sweet lady who encourages me with my 'Takin' Care of Mama' series.

For sometimes it is just plain nice to have someone to share the journey with.

Homeschool Reflections~


question #3

traditional?
relaxed?
mixed?


Charlotte Mason?
classical?
unschooling?

What is your style?

I started out traditional. I copied the classroom setting. Abeka was given to us, and for boxed curriculum, I thought it was great.

I am a classic extrovert. Outgoing, talkative, friendly, love people!

I especially enjoy sports for the kids. Getting to know my children's friends, and chatting with other parents has always been a highlight of many soccer seasons.

Our 4th year of home-
school, many things were going on. We had 4 children, one on the way, 2 being homeschooled, ran a full time daycare of 6 additional kids. Routines, activities, and outings were constant.... I had quite the busy days! At soccer that years (Nick's midschool years) a new homeschool kid joined the team. Yay! Another homeschooler (these things are rare ya know). He was a quiet kid, but friendly, enjoyed soccer... and Nick had fun playing soccer with him. For a while, a long while, I never noticed this kid's parents.....

I think the following year I finally "met" the dad. He had introduced himself to me with a thought of getting the boys together more often (than just soccer season) to hang out. Hmmm....great idea. It didn't happen for awhile.

One day at a the end of another soccer season, I was chatting and visiting and cheering and laughing and enjoying the game...

and a sweet mama was sitting up on the bleachers, quietly tucked away in a corner with her young son. She was engaged in conversation about animals, pausing to let her son share his own thoughts. Her countenance was lovely, her words intelligent, her demeanor pleasant. ...and I paused long enough to be in awe...

In the midst of my friendly, outgoing self...

I had never met this mom.
How long had I overlooked her?
Who was she?

She was clearly a quiet person;
quite opposite me! ;^)

My life was full of go, go, go....
and she oozed calmness, peace, a gentle spirit.

Her son was Nick, the other Nick, the other homeschooler on the team. By now (a couple of years into this) Nick and my Nick were becoming good friends.

Finally, another summer into this story, us parents finally got together to get to know each other. They are a lovely family...

Nick and Nick are still good friends...

even though we moved away 2 yrs ago.

and I still adore his mom...

So... what is the point of this story?

This ordinary mom taught me a life lesson...
simply by her actions. Just by "being her"...

It does not matter what we teach our kids, how we teach them... there is no wrong way to homeschool (other than just not doing it)... but what does really make a difference is who we are....

Who we are when nobody is looking.

How we behave towards our children... now that matters.

To slow down...
to exhale...
to listen...
to share...
to pray...
to display gentleness....
to let them know they matter...
to embrace their personhood
to notice the small simple moments that seem to whisper by...

Thank you Tonia! I think you are beautifully authentic!

*pictures above*
Today we had multiple meltdowns in our home, so I gathered my little clan together, and we explored the outdoors.

We paused long enough
to hear the many birds in our area;
observe ducks, geese, and squirrels;
explore a nature path;
and appreciate fresh air.

What is our homeschool style?

to educate by whatever means are neccessary,
all the while nurturing, guiding, and mentoring our children into adulthood.

Kathi @ A Mother's Prayers was kind enough to give me this Beautiful Blogger Award. Too kind really, but that is the way she is. As a homeschooling mom of 7, she is quite encouraging to me. Thanks for sharing a part of your world!!

*The rules for accepting this award:

1. Post a thank you, and link to the person that has given you the award.
2. Pass this award on to other Beautiful Bloggers whom you think are fantastic.
3. Contact said blogs to let them know they've won.
4. State 7 things about yourself.

** 7 Things About Me:

1. What you may know is that I am outgoing, but what you may not know is that I do not care for crowds. Really. So yes, I have been known to "color coordinate" our clothes for busy outings.

2. What you may know is that we currently live 1 mile from Wild Waves (Six Flags), but what you may not know is that I have a fear of heights and do not know how to swim. Won't this be fun? *The thought makes me shiver*

3. What you may know is that we homeschool our children, but what you may not know is that I skipped Kindergarten, although by graduation, I had attended 17 different schools.

4. What you may know is that I love staying at home with my kids, but what you may not know is that I was raised as the typical latchkey kid.

5. What you may know is that I have 6 children, but what you may not know is that as a teenager I had wished for 22 children (ofcourse, assuming some would be adopted, lol).

6. What you may know is that we love doing crafts, but what you may not know is that I am not artistic nor creative. I just copy ideas really well (I like to call it self-learning, lol).

7. What you may know is that I am a born-organizing, schedule planning, compulsive cleaning mom (or maybe not ;^), but what you may not know is that I am a terrible procrastinator who fears disappointing people. *ouch* wasn't that an honest one?

Now, my picks for the Beautiful Blogger Award...

Tammy ~beautifully witty

Della ~beautifully candid

Brenda ~beautifully creative

Elaine ~beautifully country

Laurel ~beautifully kind

Carol ~beautifully caring

Tonia ~beautifully authentic