ABC's of Loving Our Children

The A B C's of Loving Our Children

Appreciate who they are

Bathe them in Scripture daily

Commit them to the LORD daily

Discipline them diligently

Encourage them often

Forgive them and then forget

Get to know them

Hug hug hug them

Ignore their imperfections

Joy in being their mother

Kiss kiss kiss them

Listen with your heart as well as your ears

Make many meaningful memories with them

Never tease, put down or use sarcasm

Openly praise them

Produce plenty of photos

Quality time as well as quantity of time

Read to them God's Word and good books

Sing with them and to them

Talk to God about them and to them about God

Unconditionally love them

Value them for they are God's rewards

Wear a smile

*Ü* eXamine yourself and be an example

Yes!! Don't be so quick to say no

Zeal and passion ~ have it for our children ~ by Christina Kubik ©February 2005 wife to her beloved, Bill, and homeschooling mother to four precious gifts.
www.homeschoolblogger.com/hskubes

Character Building

We spent the better part of the morning working on Character Building. We discussed 12 ways to be more positive and 8 Major Dilemas.
Then we did some role playing with both negative and positive behaviors based on real life situations. The kids took turns either being the bad guy or the good guy. They had allot of fun (me too) and didn't want to move on to math. Also part of the character building I had them write in thier bible journals how sometimes doing the right thing as a christian isn't always easy and had them tell a story about a time that they had to make a difficult choice, such as stand up to peers even if it made them feel like an outcast. We talked about the journey of christianity sometimes being hard but worth the glory. We had a great time and I didn't stick to my schedule as far as what time each lesson started and ended. I let the kids set the pace today. We spent more time in Bible, reading and Social Studies. I realized that we probably covered more than a weeks worth of material in the few hours that we Immersed ourselves in what interested them. I know many homeschool families that do this on a daily basis, called child-lead learning. Although I think they enjoyed today, I will continue to stick to our routine and schedule and allow a few days like today. I think this way they feel that they have some control over thier education yet I know that they are learning what they should be in a timely manner. I think everyone benefits from a routine with some flexability.

Todaqy is a Baking /Cooking Day

Hope you all had a wonderfuly blessed and plentiful Thanksgiving. We had a great time. Unfortunatley Mom couldn't join us. She had a stroke last Sunday and got home from the Hospital Wednesday. She was very tired from all that she went through, so I made her a platter and brought it to her and her husband. We did have a long time family friend over, then we went to Matt's parents for some more dessert. I made a homemade apple and pumpkin and Matt's Grandma made double peanutbutter chocalate cake. I think I gained at least 5 pounds. Oh well, it was very good. The only mishap was that I had left the carcass and dark meat in the roaster on the stove to clean and put away when we got home. Well, we came home to turkey stock and the carcass ALL OVER our kitchen. Mackenzie must have jumped up and knocked it down. Murry is too short. She was sick all day yesterday. At least Matt had carved most of the turkey and I had put it away before we left. I make turkey and vwegtable soup with rice today. I am also baking bannana and pumpkin bread. We put our tree up last night. We actually ventured out on Black Friday and bought a new pre-lit 7 1/2 foot tree. As much as I love the sales I'd rather not go thru that again. People are mad crazy on black Friday. Next year I am staying home. We had a real tree last year but Breanna and I are quite allergic, besides it made a big mess. I will post some pics of our tree later. Cassie's friend is over and she is hogging the camera. That's all for now.

SOME Things That I Am Thankful For

• My wonderful Husband and kids
• GOD
• My Mom and Church Family
• To Homeschool our children
• Sticking to my grocery budget (If you know me, this is a huge accomplishment)
• allrecipes.com
• that hair WILL grow back
• My Computer
• My Bible
• Books
• Church
• Loveing to Cook
• Friends who Care
• My dogs
• My home
• My Health
• Love notes from the kids
• My Husbands Computer Business
• No Computers on Sundays(anyone that knows my husband, knows that this is a HUGE accomplishment)
• The Dinner Table
• Lotion
• Make-up

My Sassie Cassie

Today

Today we aren't going by our normal schedule(GASP!) You can view our schedule on my website: www.ourcreativekids.com. Anyway, Matt is rearranging his office, he did some computer work for a reality office and got some nice solid oak desks in return. Sometimes trade of services are a good thing. :)
Ty and Bre get my old office desks, Matt is giving me his old office desk and Cassie get's my old Homeschool desk. Confused? You should see the confusion in my house right now. Like I said he is rearranging his office and let me tell you the mountain of Clutter he had in there. So where is the clutter now? Scattered all over the first floor. UGH. He says he will put every thing away tonight. I said that he better have it done by Thanksgiving because my mom is comming over, in the nicest wife voice I could muster. Anyway today we are organizing the homeschool and putting things where they belong. That is a life skill, right? To those of you that do not homeschool, do not worry, we are not depriving our children of thier education. We get more lessons done in one day than a public school does in a week. That is why the average homeschooler test 2 grades higher than thier public school peers. I am not condeming parents that send thier kids to public school, I know Homeschool is not for everyone. I just feel like sometimes I should brag about the hard work I put into my children. By the GRACE of God, of course. Without his guidence I could not do this. There are days that I ask myself and God, WHY? am I doing this? Then I will turn around and watch my older son(who was labeled learning disabled) Joyfully help his younger sister with a math problem. That is why I do this. They have matured into such wonderful loving children of God. They love learning and they love each other. They also show grace on others that other's pick on. I could list a thousand reasons why I should versus the few reasons that I shouldn't. The should'nts do not come very often, and when they do God is quick to show me the Shoulds. Ok this is a confusing blog. I guess my mind is as cluttered as my house right now. I am going to unclutter my house as much as I can now. See you soon. I just realized that I do not have a pic of Cassie on this blog site- there is a ton on my website: see above. But I think I will post one here, so she doesn't feel left out. Like she would! Ha! If you know her you know what I mean.

HOMESCHOOLING

Homeschooling is a great adventure
A challenge and a blessing, too.
Learning comes not just from books.
There are many areas to pursue.
Seeing first hand what happens
By going on field trips galore.
Learning by on-hand experience
When freely allowed to explore.
If children can learn without hurry
And can go at their own pace,Nothing can quite compareWith the victorious look on each face.
Being taught self-discipline is the answer
In learning to write, to cipher, or to read.
Training them to have concern for others
And helping when there is a need.
Homeschooling is not for everyone
But, for the ones who were willing to try,
God has surely blessed our effortsAnd talents we were willing to apply.
© By: Belinda Jo Adams

Cassie and Ty's paper head dudes. Because of the lighting you can't really see ty's that well. I'll try to get a better one.

Cassie's Shading Picture

Tylor's Art

There that's better, you can untilt your head now :)

Breanna's array of work...You might need to tilt your head...

Here's Thier Artwork...

Cassie's Fall Dish

Just Stopping In...

I do not have anythng to post of value, but wanted to stop in and say hello. I will be posting pictures as promised sometime this weekend...hopefully. Unti then, Much Love, Kristy

a b c's of Thanksgiving

A lthough things are not perfect
B ecause of trial or pain
C ontinue in thanksgiving
D o not begin to blame
E ven when the times are hard
F ierce winds are bound to blow
G od is forever able
H old on to what you know
I magine life without His love
J oy would cease to be
K eep thanking Him for all the things
L ove imparts to thee
M ove out of "Camp Complaining"
N o weapon that is known
O n earth can yield the power
P raise can do alone
Q uit looking at the future
R edeem the time at hand
S tart every day with worship
T o "thank" is a command
U ntil we see Him coming
V ictorious in the sky
W e'll run the race with gratitude
eX alting God most high
Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad,
but Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!!

Another Great Organizing website

www.flylady.net has loads of printables and great techniques for people who need help in organizing theier lives and homes.

Homemaking with a Happy Heart

I feel very blessed to be a stay at home mom. I was asked recently what excatcly do I do? This was asked by a working mother. First, I told her that I take my home management seriously. My husband works hard so that I can homeschool and give 100% to my family. He should not come home to chaos. I keep my day structured with room for flexibility. I have a binder that I call my Household Management Book. In this binder you will find :

• Emergency Numbers, Frequently called Numbers, Homeschool Group Numbers,Kid's friends numbers and parent's names.
• Daily Planner, Monthly Planner and Calendar
• Menu Planner
• Shopping List
• Recipes
• Chores-daily, weekly and monthly as well as seasonally
• Excersice and Food log
• Medical Information on all family members, including the dogs

I also have a binder for homeschool that I call Homeschool Management. In this you will find:

• Daily Schedule
• Lesson Plans/Assignments for each child
• Goals
• Reading Log for each Child
• Borrowed Library Books log w/ a returned check-off
• Attendance Record
• Calendar of events/Classes attended ect...
• Quarterly Reports
• Grade Log for each child
• Field Trips
• Phone log for coaches, Co-ops and groups ect...

I like knowing that in a hurry I can find what I need in one place. This also makes my quartely reports easier. I made all these sheets using word. I also know that you can print sheets from www.organizedhome.com

I am very content with my lifestyle, my husband is happy as well as our children. Yes we have bad days also. That is where the flexability comes in...If the children are miserable and aren't getting thier school work done I will pull out some educational games, or an educational movie or we have even gone to the park to do some of thier lessons. A change of pace or scenery can make a vast amount of difference. After a day or two we will go back to our original schedule. They do not frequently get bored though, they are involved in numerous outside activities such as Gym and Art, Music Lessons,Painting, Basketball and Dance just to name a few.

I do not feel the need to spend my days on the phone or visiting others gossiping and complaining about my life. When you ge in the habbit of that it becomes very destrucive and effects all family members. Does this mean that I am unsociable? Maybe in the opinion of others that are not content managing thier homes and spending time with thier family. I do like to socialize with my friends, just not every single day. I had a friend, before I moved that called me several times a day and liked to stop in allot. I used to think that I should open my doors to friends and be hospitle. However, after allot of praying and time in the word, I realized that I was doing my family an injustice. Did I not get married and have children, not to please others, but them and God? The below verse brings it all to light for me.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31:27 This verse has really been my inspiration . The phrase “She looketh well to the ways of her household,” tells me that the Proverbs 31 Woman was continually looking to meet her family’s needs. She was focused on her household.

I care and love my friends and non-immediate family very much and I will never shun them from my home or heart, but I do take my place in my home seriously and with JOY. So if you try calling and get the voice mail-I will call you back, once everything else is taken care of. You know I love you. Please do not take offence.

I noticed long ago that if I perform task with cheerfulness it is more pleasant-for everyone around. At first this was not easy and I kind of had to fake it. Now, I couldn't imagine doing things any other way. If you are struggling with your household chores, or your children try to tackle those things with a happy heart and watch how quickly things change for you.

Ty playing the Guitar for Nana

My Bag of GumBalls!

My caamera is still broken, so my Mom took this at her house on Halloween Night. Keep in mind that this was after 2 hours of Trick-or-Treating, and an Hour in the van.

Grandpa's dog giving Ty a BIG kiss! Yuck!