A Fresh Start

   
     We folded up our school house last year on 23 November.  It was the final day of school forever for my older son! and No 2 and I were well and truly ready for the break.  We had blisteringly hot days here over December and January, which meant I spent a lot of time in the air conditioning.  This limited what chores were done but the reading opportunities were great .  I spent a very relaxing, fun filled week at the coast with my older daughter and her four cherubs coming back home with the intention of starting school immediately after Australia Day (26 January).

My older son (second left) his cousin and mate (centre) and friend
on Homeschool Graduation Night.

     Ah...the best laid plans! On the night of 25 January, a Sunday, I had a heart attack!  Needless too say this put a spanner in our well laid plans.  I spent five days in the CCU here in Rockhampton and then flew to Royal Brisbane hospital for an angiogram.  Alas, as previous angios have shown, there is nothing that can be done for my very blocked veins and arteries other than medications to relieve the symptoms. The good news being that the three by passes that were done ten years ago are clear and working well.  God is good.  Though somewhat disappointed I was not shattered as this was the same outcome as previous tests had shown.

Grandad and Mumma enjoy Saturday night tea,
usually my boys,  my older daughter and the fab four.

     That week my two eldest grandsons started Grade One!  Third little man began Prep and the twins started a couple of days a week at Kindy.  Somehow those years have just flown by. And so it is that I am back in the class room with just my youngest beginning Year 11. He's had a late start, today being the first back to normal routine, but we've begun as we intend to continue.  So it is with renewed energy and "vision"  that I launch into my twenty third year of Home Schooling.  ( Anyone who actually knows me or has read my blog before will remember that I have very little energy and not so great vision so I jest)

   Today, I am pondering the character traits which I need to work on.  Primarily my own,  love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. 

     As my son begins a unit on Peace and Conflict, problem solving and mediation are  topics which are coming up naturally. I am loving this season of life with grown up children, where discussions are fruitful for our spiritual growth. 

Back yard cricket.  I has to be extremely hot to stop my guys from
getting a game going.

     Ooops, it's such a long while since I have blogged that I am rather rusty with the finer points of placement etc but I will do my best to improve on that.

Of ingrown toe nails and other breaking news............

Friends, Romans and countrymen......

Honestly, it is so long since I last posted I hardly know how to begin.  I certainly don't think I can catch you up on all these months in detail.  It is amazing that when I am blogging regularly the words seem to flow.  Just now I feel rather bereft of things to say and yet anxious to reconnect with friends in blogging land.

I really do suffer from ingrown toenails.  Ouch!  I used to have nice even toes and toe nails but apparently the nerve damage which affects long term diabetes sufferers elsewhere, also affects the nails, so I had to have a couple of nasty toenails trimmed off.  I can't believe it but I am also getting finger nails curling inward in the same way.

Yes, I know that is all trivial :-)

The Family

The situation with my OCD son has improved out of sight. He is not totally back to his old self but much more stable and easier to get along with.  School work is still a huge struggle for him as his concentration span is very short.  He does get down but not depressed the way he used to.  He has packed on a lot of weight over his illness and now that he is feeling better in himself he is anxious to get it off.  He is finding it difficult to accept that it takes time and commitment. I want to thank all of you who have prayed for this precious boy over the past year and thank God for the improvement we have seen.  He will turn 15 in a few weeks!

My older son is beginning his final year of school!  He is doing a TAFE course one day a week and so far liking that and fitting in.  He has never been in a classroom situation before so we are very proud of him. One of his cousins is also enrolled in the same course and that has been good.. My girls also did TAFE courses after school so I feel it has been a good option for us.

My older daughters and their families are thriving!
My two eldest grandsons began Prep this year.  While I still have all the same concerns I had twenty five years ago for my own children, I try to see the positives as well.  My relationship with the one "wayward" daughter is still fragile but I would say, improving.  Sigh! Bringing forth children sure can be sorrowful.

I see my home educating years coming to an end soon.  Perhaps the youngest will see out Year Twelve but I doubt it. I have a lot of mixed feelings about it all just now.  Many of my early dreams and goals have never come to fruition, I have children (bar one) who do not profess faith, I have to deal with a whole lot of bad character traits which we prayed, read and learned about for years.  I guess I am weary.  I know my children are good people, but are they the Lord's? are they useful members of society? are they good examples to the grandchildren and other people?  And thus, have I been?  All theses questions swirl around in my head.

My husband is having a lot of back pain and finding his mechanical work quite difficult.  He needs an operation on the spurs growing on his spine but the list is long...........  I will be having a small procedure done on my hands soon as I have very painful joints.  Some pain is just arthritis but I also have, wait for it, trigger finger!  When that is repaired I guess I will have to stop totting a gun!
But on the whole we are coasting along and in general life is good.  In all things give thanks!

Love my children and grandchildren ♥

Mum

In mid-December mum had a nasty fall and broke both her shoulder and her hip.  She has a pre-existing heart condition which made surgery risky.  However, she pulled through well and after several stays in and out of hospital and then Rehab she is now back in her low care unit.  She still needs assistance to walk.  The dear lady has become very frail and fragile but mostly has a wonderful, accepting attitude.  She is just thankful for her family and for her carers. I forgive her the bad days because I know we all have them and I also know that she misses Dad.......a lot.

I attended two beautiful, joyful weddings over the holidays.  Both were daughters of home schooling friends who married wonderful young men who are also following the Lord.  They were quite different but still very beautiful and was really excited to be a part of them.

My cousin and I at one of the recent weddings

A few books to share

I also read lots of books over the holidays.  Mum needed help with meals for over a month so there wasn't a lot of time. I very much enjoyed "Csardas" by Diane Pearson .  This is a favourite of one of my sisters which I wanted to read. It is set over the two wars in Hungary and details the class system and it's downfall in Europe. It follows the adventures and mis-adventure of one upper class family and those whom they came in contact with.  I loved it as my sister had.

I also read the Lancaster series by Anna Jacobs.  Fluffy romance really but a good story and great historical facts woven in.  This book also highlights the strict social class system in 1800s in Britain and the changes which came about for immigrants to the new colony in Western Australia.

I read Philippa Gregory's "Earthly Joys" but I actually found it a little hard to finish in the end.  Just too many immoral encounters for me.  I realise, being set in the immediate years after the reign of QE1 that it was a debaucherous society.  I never want to become so affected by worldly standards that it would not upset me to read such books.  Of course her other historical novels are full of similar behaviour - that's human history :-(

A novel I picked up at the supermarket turned out to be quite interesting as well, even though written by an unknown (to  me) Irish author Elaine Crowley. Now that I have googled her I see she has quite a lot of titles and they all seem to be on that Irish theme.  I read "The Ways of Women" and it was quite good in opening up facts about the Irish "situation" post WW1.

Now my hubby and boys who have driven to Gladstone for the Drag Races have just rung to say that the meet was cancelled and they are on their way back :-(  So many things I was going to do while I was here on my own, which is rare!

It feels good to be back.

The Week that Was

Many's the time I have grappled to think of something to write to update my blog.  Occasionally when life is hectic, I have lots of material but little time to "put pen to paper" ( in the old speak) : This last week has been so hectic, and with very quick changing scenarios, that my head is swimming!

Last week flash flooding and terrific wind from Cyclone Oswald caused quite a lot of damage and flooding here and even more so right down the coast of Queensland and into New South Wales.  We have grieved with the city of Bundaberg which experienced its worst ever recorded flood.  Houses swept off their stumps, roads with huge craters carved through them from the violence of the water.  The power of the wind and the waters are extrordinary!  The power of our great God!

Now we wait as the Fitzroy River steadily climbs to its expected peak of 8.7m.  This is 50cm below the 2011 flood but still hundreds of homes and businesses are flooded.  For many of us it is "business as usual", yet for those valiant souls along the river flats it an anxious wait, hoping that it will not go higher than predicted.  The last thing they need is more rain ~ which has been forecast :- (

Rocky airport 1/2/2013
Taken this morning
Closed this evening except for emergencies.

GS 2

First day at Kindy

The big day arrived and my two oldest grandsons started at their kindergartens.  I've mentioned before my mixed feelings about this and I think I was more churned up by it than the little boys, or their mothers.  All went well.  The girls have begun the long years of school drop offs and tuck shop and all the related to-ing and fro-ing.

I knew long ago that my children did not feel the same way as me about schooling, though being home schooled themselves or perhaps because they were home schooled :- (.  I suppose it is just another matter in which I have to say, "Thy will be done." and leave it in God's capable hands. We made our choices with which the children have not always been happy.  Now we see them having to make choices for the next generation.  God give wisdom and knowledge to each of us as we need it.

This ol' house, in which we have lived for 14 1/2 years is back on the market.  It has been bought and sold a couple of times since we've lived here and each time we have been able to continue renting.  This time it is much more weathered than previously and we have not really had a chance to "tidy up" since the family moved out.  Again, I am seeking to trust in the Lord for our needs.  I am so pleased that my daughter was able to move into a good place before the ordeal of having people look through the house started.

With our home, our city and the state in such upheaval this week we made only a brief attempt at school each day.  Oh, it is hard to get back into the harness!!  I think the only thing the boys and I have enjoyed about it is starting the book "Twice Freed".  Reading is not their favourite pastime but listening still is :-)

I trust that all who read here are safe from the ravages of fires and floods which have swept our diverse country in the past few weeks.  For all getting back into the academic year I wish you the best. 

The Lord is on my side, I will not fear.........

We're Done!

We are officially on holidays!

It has been a typical Rockhampton week weather wise - hot and humid.  This has made it hard to buckle down.  But here it is, lunch time Wednesday and the last of the school books are packed away.  Such a great feeling!

2012 has been a year of many highs and lows. I guess that makes it a very typical year.  We've had a few good break throughs with the boys reading.  S2 particularly has improved immensely in this department.  S1, though he finds anything academic tough, has really shown maturity and applies himself to what ever  task is put before him.

Sadly, my boys do not enjoy the formal side of schooling and I am trusting that they will find what it is they love and want to do in life and then go for it with gusto!

Come on ~ it's not that bad!

We have some unfinished books which I will attempt to get read in the next few weeks.  Have you found as the children get older that it is much harder to make times to sit and read together, especially on holidays? One of the books we have almost completed is my Uncle's family history, so that is a great read together and conversation starter.

We ended the year with a bit of a bang last week (another reason why we have been sluggish this week). We had the Groves Presentation Night on Wednesday last, both boys receiving certificates for effort and character.  Then on Thursday, my older son's fifteenth birthday, he and I attended the Graduation Dinner.  This is held each year in our little home school group to celebrate the completing of Year 12 or in some cases 10, of some of the students.  This was a lovely night out for the older students.

The graduates and guest speakers

My handsome birthday boy, second right, with mates

 at the Graduation Dinner

Then on Friday we had a Break Up with all the homeschooling families.

This was a fabulous event with slip and sliding, water fights, family challenge and a shared evening meal.

The Capricornia Homeschoolers are a terrific bunch!

It is wonderful to see so many young and enthusiastic people getting involved.

This week, apart from finalising our formal work, I have a number of appointments and taking my mum to one as well.  Then it is time to really enjoy the holiday break!

I thank God for the many blessings and mercies he has showed to us this year.  We have faced many challenges but we have come through. We have enjoyed many family occasions and we are blessed to have all of the grandparents living and contributing so much to our lives.

We have learned to trust God more as he had enabled us through difficult times as well.

"The joy of the Lord is my strength"

The Getting of Wisdom

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My heart breaks for kids tonight, when I see on the news that schools are  banning  them from cartwheeling, doing the splits, high fiving and "human contact".

 HUMAN CONTACT!!!!!!   Pllllleeeeeeeeeeze.  What is this world coming to.  When I worked in a Kindy (in the olden days :-)  most of the children came from happy two parent homes and those 3 & 4 year olds still loved a cuddle from the teachers.  One of my cousins who started teaching in a 1/2 class room spent a lot of the day listening and comforting small children.  Many had not had breakfast, many were dealing with domestic stress and just needed adult reassurence. She still teaches and finds it incredible that there is a no-contact rule even if it is good contact. 
I am finding it hard to come to terms with the fact that my two eldest grandsons are heading to Kindy in the New Year.  They will be four years old and are really excited.  Mumma cannot get her head around these small boys beginning their out-of-home education so young.  The more I am hearing of the new National Curriculum the more I fear for these little guys.  Apparently Queensland has been behind the other states and now they are making high demands from children right from Prep.

If you have had experience in the public schools, perhaps you can comment on this trend which is designed to increase the literacy rate in Australia.  Most home schoolers would agree that ramming stuff into small heads which are not ready for it can be disastrous.  Though we might follow curricula  and do formal work quite early, most of us are encouraging lots of outside play.  Yes, cartwheels!  Walking the fence and climbing trees. We also dish out hugs when necessary and often when it is not!

In a generation where some children seem to fail to mature or ever grow up, it seems very sad to take real childhood and all its golden memories  and learning experiences away from our youngsters, while they really are just children.

I love that my daughters are actively encouraging their children to play with risks allowed.  They are allowing them to make judgements and weigh up the consequences.  That means they also witness them falling, scraping knees and having their pride wounded.  The built- in life lessons gained from being allowed to play.  They get a good dose of dirt too, which is helping I am sure to build up their immune systems.

 I pray they will both be fine out in the big bad   scary exciting world of learning but as a mother who did not send any of them off anywhere until they were in their teens, it holds many dangers and snares to me.  Oh, don't even let me get started about bullying!

Lord protect them.





GS 2 gave me this beautiful letter today!
xoxox



I had a plan...

I've mentioned before that we are with  Groves Christian College distance education.  After doing our own thing for about fourteen years I thought it would be very restrictive to have the supervising teachers from the school overseeing our progress.  In God's good Providence the staff at Groves have been a Godsend for me and my boys.

Today our teacher visited as they do a couple of times a year and it has been a great encouragement to have her input and suggestions.  Mostly, just good to be appreciated and supported so liberally!  Words of affirmation.(My love language)

I had many hopes, dreams and goals when I began homeschooling and some of them have come to pass.  But I think we all need to face the reality that "Man makes his plans but God directs his path."   Many unforeseen circumstances have come to pass over the last twenty years and brought us to where we are today.

I still embrace delight directed learning but find it harder and harder to find the delight in each day.  I still believe that knowing the Lord and Christian character are more important that academics, but some days it is just a case of getting through the work we need to do.

I still have the goal to raise useful, Godly adults and I am seeing some results but the gains are hard won and the disappointments are great.

But God......

When push comes to shove, God has always sent an answer. 

Like today, with the friendly, encouraging visit from our teacher.

Like last Friday evening when I met with just two of the mums at our Mother's night out.  It was great that just three of us turned up because we got to actually share about what was going well, what was not and what has worked over the years. (And we ate nice food that we didn't have to cook!)  Petunia and I got a zap of enthusiasm from one of the young, energetic mothers and she, hopefully gleaned something from our experience.

I had plans too for some major house work this last weekend, but the sickness has been ongoing with several members of the family having more than one bout of it, and no one felt up to it.  Of course, then we had a mad dash around this morning before the good teacher arrived!  I know, I know, no one else has to do that!

I've been thinking a lot about the way God directs our paths.  So often we ask for an answer, a sign, a directive and when it comes it is not what we wanted or expected.  God works the trials and the everyday occurrences of our lives for our good.  I have been focusing on this.  Knowing that our God shall supply all our needs!  I feel tired, but I am not to weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap.  God's promises are a constant source of encouragement and renewal of strength.

Snippets

Here is the last week or so in pics.  I hope everyone is doing well, whatever you are doing.  Especially the hard working home schoolers.  I am not on so often these days but I don't see too many of you old friends on either and not so many posts.  Do you think our blogging days are dwindling?  We are enjoying the fabulous crisp turn of the season weather here ~ especially the littlies.




Tuesday's big excitement!




Not much makes it into the oven ;-)



The Groves Workshop

Students learn a song in German

Tuesday nights

The boys cook!

My cousin lays a poppy on our Uncle's plaque at

the Victory in the Pacific Memorial

Last weekend



The other daughter and family
holidayed in Cairns.

Photogenic aren't they?




A precious bundle of cuteness!

   The weeks are flying by and our busy household have all been sick :-(
As with most large families it has taken a while to get around us all but hopefully we are back on the mend.

The boys attended the Groves workshop today which centred around Geography and Language.  We all had a good time.  The teachers put in a huge effort to make these workshops educational and fun and a good day for parents to discuss the students programs and our concerns.  I find them especially encouraging with both our academic battles as well as health and family concerns.

Good night all.

If it be so......

Term 1 is over!!

 Once again it seems that time has flown.  If you follow along here you will remember that I was struggling early in the term.  I felt as though fatigue had set in almost as soon as we resumed school.  My ambitious schedule gradually went by the way side.  We started our days later and worked longer into the afternoons.  But here we are at the end of term, our work returns have been sent and we have covered most of the goals for the term.  I am thankful to the Lord that what at first seemed like a very sloppy day moved into a good rhythm in the last few weeks.  We found that we can start formal work a little later, enabling a level of organisation in the house first, and work later into the day quite successfully.  Both of my students are progressing in their reading skills and we are working, as always, on character.  Diligence, patience, kindness.

The Christian Living unit we are studying this term has been on Daniel, "Loyalty Under Pressure" and has challenged us all in our steadfastness and preparedness to stand out from the crowd for the Lord's sake.  When looking at Daniel Chapter 3 I particularly loved these verses :

 ¹⁶Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
 ¹⁷If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
 ¹⁸But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden  which thou hast set up.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego trusted God and effectively said, Thy will be done.  They knew that God could deliver them from the fiery furnace but they acknowledged that for their good, and his own glory, he may not.  Of course, we read then of their marvelous deliverance!  Often we forget that God is working all things together for the good of his people.  Sometimes this means we must suffer illness or persecution or disappointment and we have to accept his will in a given circumstance, believing that He does all things well.

These studies have been a good opportunity to discuss loyalty, the steadfastness and reliability of God and ways to avoid and cope with temptation.  It has also been a good starting point for prayer for specific areas which we have encountered and for courage to follow through with our convictions.

When I look at the society around me, I see that we have so many idols and temptations to draw us away.  Can I be a Daniel in this corrupt world?  Could I like Daniel kneel before my window and pray openly knowing that the authorities are watching my every move.  Courage!
Not forgetting that many brothers and sisters in the Lord are daily staying "Loyal under Pressure"  by the grace of God.

Psalm 137

 ¹By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
 ²We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
 ³For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
 ⁴How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?
 ⁵If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
 ⁶If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
 ⁷Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
 ⁸O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
 ⁹Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

(A beautiful psalm.  I always find the last verse a difficult one :0)  And of course you remember Bony M?

Wanted:

Wanted: Women who love the Lord, their husbands and their children. (Titus 2:4)
Must be prepared to work long hours without pay and  sometimes without appreciation.  Must be able to survive on very little sleep, work with a limited budget, forgo adult conversation for long periods of time and leap tall buildings if required!. Experience in nursing, teaching, hospitality, accounting, first aide, taxi driving, refereeing, cooking, industrial cleaning, laundering, counselling, coaching, food and nutrition, cheer leading, animal husbandry or any other skills useful to manage and control a busy household would be an advantage.  However, women without previous training/ experience may apply if they are willing to develop skills in the above mentioned areas.  Guaranteed to produce long term job satisfaction and the undying love and gratitude of her husband and children.


All jokes aside, who can find that virtuous woman?

After asking my readers about their choices in subjects during high school, whether you went to Uni and the usefulness of these courses in your subsequent lives, I asked also about the academic qualifications, if any.  necessary to teach your children at home. I was not surprised that most of my commenters did not think that even a Year 12 pass was required.

We leave school with a little knowledge and not a lot of wisdom.....

Our academic subjects whether learned at home or at school will in the long run often contribute very little to our lives.  Some will study specific subjects to reach a particular goal eg.  many of my school friends took Biology and Chemistry primarily to enter nursing.  Many will try various courses and have various jobs through out life.  The toughest job for us women is motherhood.

As home schooling mothers we are sometimes told, "Oh, you must be sooooo patient!"  No, but we are having on the job training for that !  It is neither academic prowess nor a sweet nature (though that may be very beneficial) but commitment to doing this job which is unrelenting.  As Christians we do not rely on our own strength so it is our God who strengthens us.  It is he who convicts us that this is the right direction for our families.  Whether your husband is saved or not I have noted that it is very important that this is something he wants for your family.  There can be only conflict and division if a mother forces it upon them.

God  requires that we train up our children in the way that they should go.  (Proverbs 22:6)  and he will certainly enable us and strengthen us when the going gets tough.  We are to  teach them as we stand up and as we lie down.  Whether our children attend a public school, private or home school we are to read and teach God's Word but most importantly  show by example what it means to live as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Do we ask forgiveness and humble ourselves before God and our family?  Do we meet and fellowship with the people of God?  Do we extend hospitality to brethren and the needy?  These are just some of the character lessons that children observe from a young age.

The Word of God is our sure foundation.  Learning to read, write and cipher are the basic skills we are to teach to our children.  They are the corner stones. I do not believe it is necessary, nor in fact possible, for us to impart every skerrick of knowledge to our children, but we give them the tools and resources and set them on a voyage of discovery. 

For me the goal is to raise God fearing children who are useful and decent members of society.

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

 but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

P.S.  I am the girl in the second row from front, second on the left!
in the class photo posted on Tuesday.

Readin', Writin' an' 'Rithmatic

Wind back the clock, if you will, to your high school years.  Okay, some of us have to wind a long way and wrack our middle aged minds to get there, but for a moment transport yourself to those long ago, golden days.  I am able to say that because my high school memories are happy ones despite it being five years in an all girls boarding school.

In my last post I mentioned that I had studied Logic!  Premises and conclusions etc. etc. and while this is a source of some hilarity to my better other half I actually believe some of these early "Clear Thinking" methods have served me quite well in later life.  For many years I loved  Logic Puzzles as well but alas, the brain does grow rusty and I find them much more difficult these days.  Sudoku, which I also love,  are solved in much the same way.

Can you remember the subjects you chose in Year Eleven and Twelve?
I'm thinking  English, Maths (Social Maths aka Vegie Maths :-)., Economics, Biology, Home Economics, Logic, RE.  As you can see from the random choices I had no idea what I was going to do when I grew up and just took a stab at general things.  I feel now, over thirty years later that each of these subjects has been useful to me in adult life.

I always imagined I would do teaching and got into the Uni here, but by the end of those five secondary years I was very "over" studying.  I thought I would take a year or two off and maybe  go back to the books at some later time.  Of course, once one has a job, an income and a social life, it is hard to take up that challenge.  So although I mooted it almost every year, encouraged by my various bosses, I never did return to study.

I began my working career in a job I absolutely loved!  I was the Kindergarten Assistant in Biloela for two years.  Not only have I always loved children and been interested in their development and education, but I was blessed to work with a marvelous teacher who informed and encouraged this in me.  I left that job only because of my loneliness for young people of my own age and interests in what was a little bit of a rough country town in those days.

Moving to Rockhampton I almost immediately scored a job in the area of one of my other great loves....books!  I was Library Assistant at the Girls Grammar School for five years.  These were great years.  These were firstly the years of very hectic social life of which I eventually grew weary but also the time in which I learned of my desperate need of a Saviour and by His providence, came to know the Lord.

I have of course been "teaching" for over twenty years!  Again, I think all of the learning I did in high school has in some way benefitted me and my children in our home schooling venture.
Just this week I surprised myself by rattling off  "Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species." when it came up in the boys work.   Such clunking of the old grey matter! But it did get me thinking of the ways in which my school subject choices have  been useful in real life.

You will notice that I did not do History, Ancient or Modern.  While I love History now I am not sorry I didn't study it at school as it is an area that I have loved to learn about in my years of home schooling.  A good general knowledge is so beneficial.  I have always marvelled at my father's fabulous general knowledge being a lad who left school at year seven, didn't have TV till he was in his 50s and has never used a computer.  His one downfall in Trivial Pursuit or TV quiz shows - Arts and Entertainment.  Wouldn't know one movie from another!


So...  What subjects did you choose and were they beneficial for later study, work or home making? Did you go on to University and what did you study?  Were your high school subjects prerequisite for the course you undertook or did you have a complete change of interest?

And on another note, something I have also been pondering with all the home school neglect articles and posts in the past week, What level of education is needed to teach ones children at home?   Do you think this is a factor? Would you disqualify someone who say, left school at Year 10? 12?

Just to finish off another post with a lot of meandering thoughts and get your eyes and brains working.  See if you can pick me out of this Year 9 schoolphotograph.

Remember your creator in the days of your youth.

Brain Drain #2

Continuing the weekly waffle.

As I sit at the computer, I hear my little grand daughter several rooms away. "Mum! Mum! Mum!"  her strident little voice is calling.  The twins will be nine months old soon.  They have been scooting around the floor for some time and are standing momentarily.  Before we know it they will be walking.  I cannot vouch for the state of the floors here but I trust these little ones are building up lots of immunity!  Their little cousin just over the hill is up and rocking on all fours.  Sigh...they are not babies for long ♥.

Having babies in the house once again is reminding me just how precious and fleeting life is.  My own "baby" will be thirteen next week!  I love that I have been given so much time with my grandchildren.  Yes, they are boisterous.  They're loud and they bellow and roar when things don't go their way.  They do make a lot of mess :-) But they fill our lives with cuddles and cute one liners and we wonder what we will do when they actually do go?

Each night, the two year old pulls my clothes and says, "Come. 'Tars"  We three, the two and three year olds and Mumma, sit on the top steps and point out the moon and stars and sing appropriate nursery rhymes.  Then the little fellows run squealing into the house, "Dinosaurs!" as car lights come down the road.  Like a lot of little boys they love dinosaurs and loud roaring creatures.  Then we all snuggle in for "'Tory Time".  Sweet dreams, little men. ♥

I really think that draining my brain has worked to some degree.  Much of my fogginess has lifted which is a puzzle to me as I was attributing it to medication.  None of which has changed.  But yes, definitely feeling sharper.  I still need a lot of sleep but managing.  I am actually fairly happy with how our school days are panning out though I admit to many doubts and fears.  The boys and I have settled fairly well into the new "routine" which is basically....we have done away with the routine and do whatever can be managed!  I hope this is just another season but it is turning into quite a looong winter.

I even ventured to the Mothers' Night out.  It was so good to socialise with my friends.  Sometimes these nights are for sharing things we are struggling with, which we touched on, but mostly it is good just to relax, enjoy company, compare notes and indulge in some nice food and beverages.

My short daily devotional on prayer has been helpful.  Prayer is a given in the Christian walk and yet we do not always use this wonderful communication with our God. We sometimes take it for granted and presume upon his goodness.  I am humbled as I read through the Biblical examples at just how similar our Godly forbears were to us in their failures and faults.  However, the gracious dealing of the Lord with them and his preserving hand upon them is also a great encouragement.  How amazing to think that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the same God forever.

For this God is our God for ever and ever,
He will be our Guide, even unto death.

Psalm 48: 14

Unless the Lord builds the house

Thank you very much for all the kind words of encouragement after my last post.

My heart felt desire is to trust the Lord and continue doing the best we can here.

It is true, and it is good for me to remember, that the Lord can and does protect us even in less than ideal situations.  Is it weakness to feel at times that we cannot go on?  It is when we acknowledge our own frailty that we better cling to Christ, for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Although we are far from perfect, we are children of God, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.  Our children are covenanted to be His!

Above all else, we are seeking to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

When children are all small in home schooled house holds, it is much easier to flex our time and use life experiences as practical lessons, as it should be.  But there is a certain pressure in the later years, especially nearing the end of formal school days, to toe the line.  Not only academically preparing for the work force, Uni or TAFE but also practically.  We have very flexible lives as home based people, but "the boss" may not be so pleased about employees who sleep in, can't stick to a schedule, wander off to the toilet at will, need a lot of supervision and encouragement and want to cook all manner of cheesy noodles and eggs for their lunch!  You get my drift.  I am very conscious of building good habits and good character.  In fact these and becoming a useful member of society far exceed the academic outcomes in my priorities.

Psalm 127 is beautiful isn't it?  It is best known as the "quiver full" verse but it says so much more to us.  Unless we seek to build upon that Rock, that firm foundation, we are like the foolish man building on the sand.   It encourages us not to be anxious and fretful but rest in the Lord and He gives us peace.  A mighty warrior will faithfully train up his household to serve the Lord.

Once again, thank you for your prayers and thoughts. 

God bless you my friends.

 

Psalm 127

 ¹Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

 ²It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

 ³Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

 ⁴As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

 ⁵Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Seeing things work together for good.

We often comfort other saints with the words of Romans 8: 28 "All things work together for good to them that love God."  It is a beautiful promise for the people of God to cling to. Sometimes, if we are the ones on the receiving end of some trial or temptation, the words can seem hollow or not applicable to us in our doubting state of mind.  Sometimes we just can not see the light at the end of tunnel but often, if we only care to look back and analyse our situation we can clearly see God's hand on our life through the greatest of afflictions.  It is the wonderful truth that God will not give us more than we can bear.  We will be tried and tested.......often, but His grace is sufficient!

I chose this pic as the house belongs to some people I know.

This time last year with the flood waters receding I could never have imagined how those traumatic events would pan out.  It has been good for me to look over my prayer journal from that time, and some of my posts.  To recall how desperate we felt and to know now the good hand of God, steering us through all  situations. So often we cry out to God but sometimes we do forget to give praise and thanks for prayers answered.  And sometimes we don't realise that God has resolved a situation because the answer has differed from what we envisioned.


I praise God for my children, all of them.  Last year saw the break down of my older daughter's relationship, her moving home with us and the arrival of her twins to join their two older brothers.  It also saw the birth of my younger daughter's second son!  We endured the month plus of my hospitalisation and the long recovery period.  Now we can gladly say "It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth good to him."

Busy, busy!

These past answers to prayer and the many years before of knowing God's goodness have helped to soothe away some of my anxieties and fears.  If you read here regularly you are almost certainly a woman, you are more than likely to be a Christian sister, and there is a good "chance" you home school your children.  So sisters, will you pray for me now in a situation which is causing me quite a lot of disquiet.

During the holidays I felt markedly better than I had by the end of last term.  Alas, two weeks into school and I feel that peculiar weariness coming upon me again.  You would hardly believe how much I slept over the break.  Often 12+ hours a day!  Since we started back each day has begun later and later.  This morning I was just so listless that the boys carried on with the help of their older sister until lunch time.  The few hours after lunch I was fine and we managed to complete everything for the day but is this really fair......to everyone?  I know many mums continue to teach at home through all sorts of illness and dramas.  Mostly, they are short term situations though, like a birth, a house move or a sickness.  Would it be better for me and for everyone else in the family if the boys were at school?  Long term readers know that both of my lads have significant learning problems and at years 8 and 10 they would not just slide into a school situation.  This has never really been an option for me.

I love my boys and I want to do the best for them.  My commitment has not lessened but sometimes the spirit is willing but the body is not.  Please pray for us and perhaps pass on any ideas and opinions.  We have wonderful help from the Learning Support Unit at Groves but of course they do not see us day to day.  We are already utilising some DVD material and books but especially with the Science and History type things they really need me to watch it as well to be able to answer questions.

I'll leave you there folks.  If I am not reading and commenting you can see why.  When we are not eating, schooling, playing, shopping.....then I am sleeping!

The Bumble Bee and my GS1- The Boy Sweetheart ♥

Take your mark!

Our supervising teacher called today, so I was very pleased I have got my head together   was able to appear half way ready for the school year.  Having worked out the year's book needs with him and the wonderful Learning Support teachers at Groves, I felt able to discuss our plans for the year ahead and explain my schedule and goals..

The disappointing news is that this very helpful and supportive teacher who has been the supervisor in our district for the past three years, is no longer with us :- (  Since he is taking on extra duties in the Groves Day School, he has to drop this area.  I am sure our new teacher will be great but we will miss Mr B. very much.

I read a little about Skwirk on the Aussie Homeschool forum and have found out we can access it through the school.  I would be interested if any of my readers have used this resource and how you used it to compliment school.  One of the difficulties that I have is neither of my boys is working at their "age level".  The Skwirk site looks good and interesting but it may take a little bit of shuffling around for folks like us as the lessons are in Grade Levels according to the National Curriculum.

Sometimes I feel so old!  And perhaps I've been home schooling too long.  Everything is changing. I still firmly believe in the principle of line upon line, and focusing on the basics, moving at the students own pace etc.  It just seems that so many great things might be passing me by.

 The Speech Pathologist was very pleased with the boys progress at the end of last year and basically told me to continue on as we have been, that she couldn't do much more with them. Oddly, or maybe not, they both progressed in reading in 2011 more noticably than ever before and we did very little formal school in comparison.  I think with all learning difficulties, time is the major factor and sadly one we don't always feel we have.  While we will still be using a learning support designed curriculum this year, I can see that, particularly with my younger son, he is getting closer to a mainstream level.

My older son is keen to finish at the end of this year.  It is a hard slog for him, but he has enjoyed a few hours work over the holiday break and is becoming more keen to go to TAFE perhaps do some pre - apprenticeship type course.  We are encouraging him to look at work which will one day provide for a wife and family, if necessary.  It is hard at fourteen to look beyond pocketmoney and a few Maccas meals .  :-)

I am feeling prepared but still apprehensive about the year ahead.  Praying for wisdom, strength in both mind and body and patience.

Isaiah 28:10
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:


Jeremiah 6:16
Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.

The Ideal Location to Homeschool

Sometimes I feel very sympathetic towards home school families who are isolated or pretty much the only family in their area/ church taking on the challenge.  Internet contact is great but nothing replaces face to face friendships and advice.

From a small group of maybe half a dozen families twenty years ago, we have ballooned into a very active, motivated and dedicated group in Central Queensland,  involving over one hundred students and their families.  We have many organised activities including sports, swimming and educational excursions.  We have informal nights out for mothers which are great when new to homeschooling mums need encouragement and advice.  We have the opportunity to mentor younger mothers and sometimes  share lessons, as a few friends and I did with the Art a couple of years ago.  The high schoolers have an end of year dinner to celebrate the graduation of Year Twelves.

So here are some pics of some of the crowd who showed up at our Break Up Day this year.
Mums, Dads, students, some past graduates and friends etc.  You may notice the brave, super -  cool,  foolish few at the pool bare chested.  Believe me that is not the savvy thing to do in our climate. Central Queensland has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.  Don't let that put you off if you are thinking of moving here.   Most people in our group cover up for modesty and major sun protection!

Shakespeare at my feet.

It's almost the end of term and I would love to be able to enumerate for you all the wonderful achievements for the year.  I wish I could say we are finishing off on a high note and studying the Bard, or performing him.

The reality is we are chugging along, hoping to finish before mid-December.  We are all feeling the effects of a stressful year which has presented many challenges.  We are also beginning to feel the notorious Rockhampton humidity which arrives just after the heat to stifle the breathe out of you and sap away the energy.

The honorable William Shakespeare, at least my lovely fat copy of his complete works, is at this very moment lodged under one side of my office chair!  Argh, wash my mouth out with soap!  That thick volume was the nearest book I could find, sufficient to hold me up when the wheel broke off and I was about to use the computer just now.  Ah, how the mighty have fallen.

I would prefer to say I am leaning on God's Word but could not stoop so low as to use that sacred book in such a fashion.

I am finding little time for reading or writing blog posts but it seems that many are in the same boat as I am missing some of my regular favourite reading places and not seeing a lot of comments when I do post.  These are the cycles and seasons of the internet no doubt, just as in our own real lives.  One thing I really want to do is catch up with friends on this holidays.  Busy lives make that very difficult.

The strange upside to the deaths and funerals in our family recently has been an unusually long amount of time to spend with relatives.  With the two funerals just two days apart many travelled and stayed, making it possible to see one another more than the usual few moments at a service.

I often thank God for the marvellous blessing of a great family.  This has been brought home to me very forcefully these last few weeks.  I am so thankful, proud and happy to come from such good stock!  Of course we have our skeletons....and then there is me :-(  but a finer bunch of people one couldn't hope for in their family. 

Trisha commented on my last post about the good family stories I have recorded for my children and later generations.  If the Lord tarries, this is my hope.  To continue to record as much first hand family history as I can.

Have a great week!




^{Ephesian 2:3-5
3}Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
 ⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
 ⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)