Homeschooling on a TIGHT Budget, Part 1

Notice, I didn't say "homeschooling on a budget." Most of us have a budget; but there are some that have a very tight budget.

So, it depends on what a tight budget means to you. For some, that means you have one child and must spend only $400 this year on their curriculum. For others, it means finding ways to school your 6 children on $100 total. OUCH!

 Well, I’ve been so broke that I didn’t have more than $20-$30 to spend in a whole year for 2 kids. And guess what? They are now about to be 16 and 12 and can read, write, and do sums. Well, actually, they can do more than that, but you get the point.

 The first thing you need to realize is that it’s not a curriculum that makes your kids smart. It’s the ability God gave them to learn. And if they have that built-in, they can learn from any materials put in front of them. Second, remember that as parents, you love and care for your children more than the best teacher on earth. YOU have what it takes!

So, armed with that useful bit of information, let’s think about what you have at your fingertips:

If you have preschoolers, well . . . you need little more than some good picture books, blocks, fingers and toes, crayons, pencils, paper, a Bible, and a parent.

 The picture books can come from any local library, or even your church’s library. Read a book with your child, talk about the subject matter, draw some pictures WITH your child about the subject matter, and look up anything that interests him. If it’s about sharks, talk about their teeth, or the ocean, or ships, or anything related that catches their interest. If it’s about Squanto, talk about Indians, pilgrims, America, corn, hunting, etc.

 Read the Bible and pick out easy verses to memorize. Make a chart with some paper and markers to show the child’s memorization progress. Little kids are like sponges; they can memorize and are proud to do it. Talk about the heroes of the Bible. Talk about God’s power and love and teach your child to pray.

 Build block towers and talk about colors, shapes, measuring, and numbers.

 

 I could go on, but I think you get the idea. I have lots of ideas on my blog for preschoolers! You can also search online for “preschool activities” and find more information than you could use in a lifetime.

If you have elementary school students, you need a little more to work with, but it still doesn’t have to be a fancy curriculum. Again, the public library is one of your best sources. Create a unit study on any topic from history, cooking, science, math, art, crafts, etc. and check out all the books you can on the topic. Get some to read to your kids and some for them to read aloud or to themselves. Pull out topics they can write short paragraphs about. Check their spelling and grammar after they write, correct it, and have them do a final copy. If you’re not too great with the spelling and grammar, get a library book with all the rules. Take a field trip or visit a museum. Dress up in costume. Make a new recipe. Watch a historical movie. Have the children give an oral report. Follow the rabbit trails. It will be fun, and as your kids are learning, you’ll be making memories as well.

 During one of our particularly challenging financial times, I checked out a library book with simple science experiments. It was easy to understand (and I am NOT strong in science) and it explained the results of each experiment. We did a new experiment each day and discussed what the books said. It was so much fun, and my kids thought they were getting a great science education.

If you’re concerned about math at this age, go to the internet, my friend. There is a wealth of free help online, including free printable worksheets, online games, and parental helps. Even if you don’t have a computer, you can do this at the local library. You can use the computers, print, and sometimes, let the kids play educational games. Just do a search for whatever you want, and you will find it.

I also taught my oldest child her U.S. geography and state capitals for free using online resources. We found online games and quizzes that she played each day, and I made my own flashcards for the state capitals. She practiced those daily and in no time she had learned it all!

You can read about how I taught my 2^nd child to read with practically nothing here.

 As your kids get older, it may seem harder, but if you are committed to homeschooling, trust God and let Him provide. You can do a co-op with another family. Borrow books from other homeschooling families. Trade books. Check used book sales. Teach them what you know. Ask a close friend or family member to tutor your child in what you don’t know. Check out educational videos at the library or Netflix. Join a local co-op and try to schedule your kids in subjects that are hard for them to get at home.

Although you may have your dream curriculum in mind, it might not be available to you during this season. Be open to what’s available and use it. Have fun with it. I bought a used copy of Learning Language Arts Through Literature because it was only $3 one time. It wasn’t my first choice, but we used it and my daughter really enjoyed it.

Make a list of the subjects you need, and then be on the lookout for how to fill that need in a very thrifty way.

We live in a very stuff-oriented society. So we think we need lotsa-stuff to teach our kids. But in reality, you can provide a few really good books and teach them how to learn, and they will take off.

Finally, don’t fall into the fear of grade levels. Grade levels are set up for public schools to teach many kids in an efficient manner. They are meant to make sure that everyone is learning the same thing, and so that parents feel secure that the kids are being taught. In your homeschool (depending on where you live, of course) it’s not about grade levels. It’s about learning. Period. So if your child doesn’t learn cursive until he’s 10, or doesn’t learn to read until he’s 12, it’s really okay. They WILL learn.

Here are a few last suggestions for pinching pennies and for getting school material creatively:

• Sign up for Swagbucks and get Amazon products for FREE. I use my Swagbucks for all kinds of things on Amazon, including books. Well, mostly ALL books! It’s a free search engine that pays you to search and the rewards are real. I know of another blogger with EIGHT children who purchases lots of her curriculum with Swagbucks.
• Save your pennies. Literally. I have a jar that I throw all my change in after purchases. When it’s full, I cash it in. This is my curriculum jar. Whatever the amount is, I put it toward new books.
• If you get a tax refund each year, budget some of that for your books. Plan ahead, find good deals, set a budget, and stick to it.
• Check the discount stores, like WalMart and Target for inexpensive learning materials. I actually found some really fun Barbie and Pooh workbooks for my younger kids at Dollar Tree for $1 each, and they loved them. Flash cards, writing practice, mazes, etc. are all easy to find at these stores.
• Visit Book Samaritan online. They are a non-profit organization that helps homeschool families in need. I can vouch for these folks, because I was on the receiving end of their help a few years back. You simply tell them what books you would like to use, and they try to meet the need. No charge. It’s a great organization!

In my humble opinion, YOU, the parent are the best teacher your kids could ever have. All you need is a willing heart and a courageous attitude and you will find a way to teach your children through the rough times. Usually, the tight budget season doesn’t last forever, and when it’s over, you can begin to add to your school budget again.

Click here to read HOW and WHY we homeschool.

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So Much More Than a Healthcare Bill

There is much talk right now about the Supreme Court's decision to uphold Obamacare this week. Liberals are elated. Conservatives are disgusted. And a few are trying to find the silver lining.

The problem is, there is no silver lining. All three branches of government failed the American people. The Consitution was ignored in the interests of a few in power. True freedom was trampled further into the mud while socialism, an experiement that has had literally no success elsewhere, is introduced to Americans as the greatest, most compassionate program ever invented.

I've seen and heard many suggest that when Chief Justice Roberts changed the language of the law from a "mandate" to a tax, he gave us the open door for easily voting it down in Congress. If he was trying to do us a favor, why didn't he cast the deciding vote against the law and let it end there?

Probably the best description of what happened with this decision, and one I agree with 100%, was shared by Rick Boyer, and actually written by his son. This is about so much more than healthcare; it's about America as we know it. Here is Rick Boyer, Jr.'s response in full:

Today is a historic day in what used to be America. It caps a historic several months in which we have learned many things we used to think were not true. How will I tell my children, Luke, Melody and Michael, what America used to be like? And how can I look them in the face for allowing it to go this far? Here are a few things we have learned:

1. Congress does not matter. Forget what you learned in civics class about “how a bill becomes a law.” Now Congress, the elected representatives of the people, votes DOWN amnesty for illegal aliens, and the President simply imposes the defeated bill by executive order.

2. When a President is determined enough, he – one man- can exercise absolute power. The Constitution is immaterial. Never mind that the First Amendment guarantees that “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the free exercise of religion.” Now one man can decree that those who believe abortion is taking a human life must, with their tax dollars and insurance plans, provide free abortifacient pills to others. So much for freedom of religion. So much for the Constitution. So much for a Republic; King George III could only dream of this kind of power.

3. Trusting the Supreme Court to defend the Constitution against a runaway President and Congress is a vain hope. It will never happen.

4. Believing that simply “electing Republicans” will save liberty is a fantasy that makes Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny look like scientific certainties. Justice Ginsburg, the ex-ACLU lawyer who wrote the health care dissent arguing that the Court did not go far enough in stretching federal power into every aspect of our lives, was confirmed to the Court by 96 Senators. Chief Justice Roberts, the deciding vote, was a Bush appointee.

5. Federal government power over your life is now unlimited, or as we used to say in America, Totalitarian. For this lesson, I simply quote Justice Scalia’s dissent: To allow the federal government the power to require Americans to buy a product they do not wish to buy “is to make mere breathing in and out the basis for federal prescription and to extend federal power to virtually all human activity.” Or put another way, If Obamacare is constitutional, “The Government was invited . . . to suggest what federal controls over private conduct . . . could not be justified . . . It was unable to name any.”

You heard that correctly. The federal government now believes it has the authority to tell you to do ANYTHING AT ALL, for any reason. The Constitution no longer protects you. You no longer live in a free country. Our government has evolved from one of limited power to one of absolutely unlimited power. Any freedom you possess today is only because the government hasn’t yet decided to take it away. And that is the government’s own view.

What is the ultimate lesson from today, and from the last several months of this administration’s tyranny and the Republicans’ impotent response?

THIS: We as individual freedom-loving Americans have exactly TWO CHOICES.

1. We can consign our children to living in a dark night of tyranny, where the words “the land of the free and the home of the brave” are a mere mockery, a shadowed memory.

2. We can, YOU CAN, I CAN, each make the individual choice that taking back our country is OUR GOD-GIVEN RESPONSIBILITY TODAY. We can elevate our participation in our system of government to a priority below only that of our allegiance to God, our family, and our responsibility to provide for that family. NOTHING ELSE IS THIS IMPORTANT!

And I don’t mean “go to the polls for 10 minutes every November to vote for the lesser evil." I mean get involved in your political party; get involved in the process by which candidates are nominated; recruit lovers of liberty to run for office, from the local level all the way to Washington. Donate to those candidates. Forget “I don’t put up signs or bumper stickers.”

RUN FOR OFFICE! COMMIT YOURSELF to an unswerving dedication to removing from office EVERY POLITICIAN who votes to increase any further the size and scope of government in your life, from tax-raising city councils and county Boards of Supervisors, to tyrannical Presidents and corrupted Republican Senators who vote to put the likes of Justice Ginsburg on the High Court.

Those are the choices. If you are too busy to be involved, if the distracting pursuits of daily life are “too much” for me to be involved, if sports, TV, free time, weekends are STILL more important to us, after all we’ve learned these last couple of months, we are unworthy of the blood of those who tramped shoeless through the snow of Valley Forge; the Bedford Boys whose lifeblood stained the beaches of Normandy; and the men who staked their “lives, fortunes and sacred honor” to give us the freedom we “don’t have the time” to preserve.

Your children will bless you or curse you based on your response to today. There is no third option but fantasyland. We WILL take back our country, or our children will live in slavery. We can fight, or liberty will die. As for me, I WILL FIGHT!

Rick Boyer Jr.

I will say it again: there is nothing good that can come from this.

However, I am not all negative. : ) I think we have one of the best solutions because of our foundation. The very Constitution that is being violated also provides the answers we will need to free ourselves from this mess.

This is tyranny, plain and simple. It's taxation without representation. It's the very yoke from which our wise founding fathers freed themselves and future generations. They, and their ancestors before them, recognized tyranny when they saw it, and ran from it. The founders threw off that yoke with much toil, blood, and pain and set up a system of government of the people to keep the power out of the hands of the powerful.

If we hold on to what we have been given, we can preserve that form of government. Not only is it important for America, it's important to the world. America has long been a light to darker nations, and a force for freedom and democracy for opressed people.

For 200+ years people all around the world have fled tyranny and opression to come here. They fled even before we were a country, and certainly after our freedom was secure. They came for opportunity, religious freedom, economic freedom, and yes, even medical freedom. They came here to escape the Nazis, communism, and persecution in many forms. America sends missionaries around the world to carry the gospel of Christ to those who have never heard it.

There is so much at stake, and it is so easy to fix. Please don't just shake your head in disgust and then go on about your day. Spread the word. Share this message. Contact your friends and family and make sure they are registered to vote and educated on the issues. Don't be a part of the problem. Be a part of the revolution.

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The Burgess Bird Book for Children

Do you run across a book, once in awhile, that you can't stop exclaiming over and you almost squeal in delight each day when you pick it up again?

I have discovered a new one: The Burgess Bird Book for Children. I know I'm not the first to discover the books of Thornton W. Burgess, but I certainly understand the hype!



Thornton Burgess takes the study of birds and weaves it into a sweet little story. The story carries over from chapter to chapter, in a diaolgue between Peter Rabbit and Jenny Wren. They go about the business of animals in the forest while discussing the different traits of each bird.

He explains in a way that even my 4 year old is able to grasp, why certain birds build their nests in trees, and others move into a birdhouse; why some males build the nest and why other females build; why this bird's song is loud and long; and so much more. It's extremely more interesting than a field guide (and I do LOVE field guides!).

Here's a sample:

     "I suppose Little Frend the Song Sparrow got here some time ago," said she.
     Peter nodded. "Yes," said he. "I saw him only a day or two ago over by the Laughing Brook, and although he wouldn't say so, I'm sure that he has a nest and eggs already."
     Jenny Wren jerked her tail and nodded her head vigorously. "I suppose so," said she. "He doesn't have to make as long a journey as we do, so he gets here sooner. Did you ever in your life see such a difference as there is between Little Friend and his cousin, Bully? Everybody loves Little Friend."
     Once more Peter nodded. "That's right," said he. "Everybody does love little friend. It makes me feel sort of all glad inside just to hear him sing. I guess it makes everybody feel that way. I wonder why we so seldom see him up here in the Old Orchard."
     "Because he likes damp places with plenty of bushes better," replied Jenny Wren. "It wouldn't do for everybody to like the same kind of place. He isn't a tree bird, anyway. He likes to be on or near the ground. You will never find his nest much above the ground, nt more than a foot or two. Quite often it is on the ground. Of course, I prefer Mr. Wren's song, but I must admit that Little Friend the Song Sparrow has one of the happiest songs of anyone I know. Then, too, he is so modest, just like us Wrens."
     Peter turned his head aside to hide a smile, for if there is anybody who delights in being both seen and heard it is Jenny Wren, while Little Friend the Song Sparrow is shy and retiring, content to make all the world glad with his song, but preferring to keep out of sight as much as possible.
     Jenny chattered on as she hunted for some more material for her nest. "I suppose you've noticed," said she, "that he and his wife dress very much alike. They don't go in for bright colors any more than we Wrens do. They show good taste. I like the little brown caps they wear, and the way their breasts and sides are streaked with brown. Then, too, they are such useful folks. It is a pity that that nuisance of a BUlly doesn't learn something from them. I suppose they stay rather later than we do in the fall."
     "Yes," replied Peter. "They don't go until Jack Frost makes them. I don't know of anyone we miss more than we do them."

How fun! See how much factual information about birds is woven into such a sweet little conversation? It really keeps the attention of the kids, and I get excited because of all the great bird facts they are learning.

As I'm reading this (at lunchtime, usually) I keep my iPhone handy and use this great app:

As each new bird is mentioned, I look it up on this app, show the kids the color picture, show the migration map, and play the song of that bird. I may hit the song button several times as I read so that we hear the music as we read.
We discussed today how amazing it is that God created all of the different birds in one day, with all of their different sizes, colors, songs, nesting habits, migration habits, and more. What an awesome God!

I'm using this book as part of a broad study of birds, which is part of a broader study of Biology. My oldest daughter is using Biology 101. She is currently in the chapter on flying creatures, so I've created a unit study for the younger kids to go along with it. You can check out my Pinterest Board on this subject to see what other projects we are enjoying.
 
I hope you will try the Burgess Bird Book for Children! I look forward to his other books in the future.
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Natural cleaning with Rosemary

In our home, we haven't purchased brand-name cleaning products for years (well, with the exception of my husband, who isn't quite as granola as me; and I don't use what he buys). For a few years we used Melaleuca products. They're great, too, since Tea Tree Oil is the active ingredient.

But I like simple and thrifty, so I use the most basic, easy to find products I can find: baking soda, peroxide, vinegar, and a few essential oils.

And water.

Which leads me to how I clean my floors. I got a Shark steam mop a few years ago and wouldn't trade it for anything! We have 100% hard flooring in our house, so you can bet we have to mop quite a bit. (Actually, quite a bit more than we do, but that's another story.)

Recently one day, while I was sick with a headache, my oldest daughter was mopping, and she decided to add Rosemary oil to the steam mop. Wow! The house had the "just cleaned" smell that we haven't had in awhile since we don't use the strong-smelling chemical stuff.



Since then, I have begun adding it to my peroxide spray bottle, as an all-purpose cleaner. I use it on most surfaces, including glass. It's cheap and safe.

I don't have to worry about chemical toxicity in the air, on surfaces, or even in the event that my kids spill the cleaners or ingest them.

So, why Rosemary?

From my book "The Complete Woman's Herbal:"

Rosemary contains volatile oils which are antisceptic, with antibacterial and antifungal properties and which enhance the function of the immune system.

It has tons of other health benefits, but these are the benefits that apply to cleaning. As aromatherapy, it is used for anxiety, tension, exhaustion, lethargy, depression, insomnia, and as a tonic during convalescence and for the elderly. It also makes an excellent remedy for preventing and treating migraine headaches.

Most importantly, "it is a powerful antioxidant, preventing damage by free radicals."

So, clean up your house, your air, and your lungs and add Rosemary essential oil to your cleaning regimen!

I purchase mine through our local organic food co-op, but it is easily purchased at health food stores and online.

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Dinosaur Valley State Park

We recently took a family vacation to Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas. We camped in a tent, cooked over a fire, hiked, played in the Paluxy River, and most importantly, walked where dinosaurs walked.

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The scenery in the park is just amazing. The river is lined, in many places, by high cliffs. And best of all, there are well-preserved dinosaur footprints to explore, touch, and even step in!

The State Park has an official YouTube video.

It is amazing to walk right in the shallow river and see the footprints of two different dinosaurs. The river has several different track sites, most of which are easily accessible by all ages. We had our five children, including 1 year-old Catie. The best time to view the tracks is when the river is down, but we were there after abundant spring rains, and were still able to view all of the track sites. We were told by another visiting family (homeschoolers, of all things!) that they visited after last summer's record heat and drought, and were able to see a long trail of tracks in one area. Keep that in mind if  you plan to visit.

One of the track sites: isn't this amazing???

All of the park's dinosaur information is told from an evolutionary point of view, as is to be expected. However, the Creation Evidence museum is located just outside the park entrance. There, you can get the scoop from a creationist's perspective, including the fact that there are human footprints right next to some of the dinosaur tracks. This, of course, is treated as a joke in official park literature, but if you believe that dinosaurs were created on the same day as all other animals, and in the same week as man, you will LOVE the information available in this museum. Plan ahead: the museum is only open weekends (Thursday - Sunday); we missed it this time. 

Inside Dinosaur Valley State Park headquarters

If you have an iPhone, the DVSP even has an app that I highly recommend. And explore it before or while you're at the park; don't wait until you get home like we did. Ahem. It has some great information about the history of the discovery and the park itself.

Playing in the river

Glen Rose is a sleepy little town, but there are some nice scenic drives nearby. The town of Grandbury is only about 15 minutes away, and has shopping (for emergency air mattresses), restaurants (for pizza), antique shops (for history lessons), and a beautiful lake (if you're looking for more recreation).

We spent three days and two nights on this trip and created some wonderful family memories!

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It's Not About Me

With the recent passing of my Dad, sadness and tears are a constant companion. He was very dear to all of us, and everytime we talk about him, it's bittersweet. He had such an influence on us and everyone around him, and he is terribly missed.

I'll be honest. Some days I ask, "Why me?" Or "Why do my kids have to miss out on their Grandad?" Actually, my children have lost all of their grandfathers, which leads me to further despair and wonder. So, you can imaging the pity I sometimes feel for myself and my family.

But God gently reminded me this week that this is not about me, or my children, or even my mom. Daddy served his purpose here on earth and has received his just reward. He was welcomed into paradise, no doubt, with the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord."

Daddy is in the presence of the Most High God, walking on streets of gold, worshipping at the throne of Jesus. He has received the reward promised to all servants of the King. He lives in a mansion prepared for him by Jesus Himself. He has been reunited with family members who passed on before.

When I envision such grandness, how can I continue to make it about me?

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Think outside . . . the miracle of modern medicine

For many years I haved asked questions that seem to have no answers.

Why do we need expensive supportive shoes for running? Didn't God design our bodies for running, jumping, walking, and sprinting? Did he provide shoes to Adam and Eve?
Why do all children seem to have crooked teeth and need braces? Have people always had crooked teeth? If not, why?
It seems that modern science (and/or modern medicine), under the guise of making our lives better, is  actually making us sicker. (Is that a word?)
You might argue that modern medicine has found ways to cure heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and a host of other problems. But why do we need these cures? Why, if we have the most modern medicine in history, are we also the sickest people in history?
Why is cancer so prevalent? Why are teeth crooked? Why do we need chiropractors? When did we decide that people can't run without $100 shoes? Didn't the American Indian run barefoot???

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Since when is wheat bad for you? Why are we living in the gluten free age?
Why is skin cancer at an all time high, despite the invention of sunscreen?
Well, I'm glad to find I'm not the only one who asks these questions.
I've been researching (off and on) this kind of thing for years. I still don't know why people can't eat wheat or peanut butter, but my guess is that it's in the processing, not in the food itself. I'm not sure why we need expensive shoes, but I'm pretty sure diet is related to spinal degeneration. In fact, I think diet is related to everything.
That's the hard part. Changing our diet back to something that Moses would recognize, instead of what we can purchase at our local grocery store.
I have found some interesting information, and I'm happy to share it with you.



This book is being shipped to me as I type, but I believe it answers my questions about dental health and crooked teeth. It came highly recommended.

My new favorite blog, Frugally Sustainable, has a great article on natural sun protection and a recipe for homemade sunscreen. She talks about how our diet (!) can make our skin healthier with natural protection from sunburn. You should really read the whole blog. It's very informative.

This blog also has a recipe for homemade toothpaste (I've made some, but not this recipe). Again, the article and the comments are well worth reading.

One day, while I was at my local library, the book Sexy Forever by Suzanne Somers caught my eye. The subtitle is How to Fight Fat after Forty. The first half of the book talks about the dangers of chemicals in every part of our lives. It's a great first look at this topic if it's new to you. It's also a great reminder, even if you've known for awhile. And I have known this all my life, thanks to my "granola" parents. : ) The second half of the book is all about selling her products. But it's worth checking out at the library for free.

I've also read, and can't find the link right now, that food allergies can be traced to dehydration. Imagine if that is true. Water. Could it be the answer?

I'm sure you've watched the documentaries Food, Inc. and the like. I believe, wholeheartedly that everything we eat is linked to how we feel. I also believe that ancient, natural remedies are the only way to go.

Please, read the links I've shared, do your own research, and share your favorite methods for getting and staying healthy!


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Chicken Pox

Did I forget to mention we had the chicken pox?

Oh, yes, we certainly had them.

Nathan was first. Just after he turned 4 in March, he broke out. He took it very well, hardly even mentioning the itch.

Nathan and the pox

After 14 days had come and gone, I figured the other two little ones wouldn't get it. But late in the evening of the 14th day, Nicholas complained of fever. And then broke out.

Catie and Nicholas ast their worst.

 

Catie joined him with the worse case any of my kids ever had.

I worried that it would get inside her eyes, because it was so close, but she was spared that misery. However, she and Nicholas both were very itchy and unhappy.

(The older two kids had the pox at a young age.)

Did I mention we spread the pox at our homeschool co-op? Twice? Yep. Luckily, our homeschool group is full of old-fashioned moms who would rather get the pox than vaccinate for them, so we actually had friends come to our house hoping to get infected. I'm happy to report that we infected quite a few families, and now they are immune. : )



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Update

To begin, hats off to all the mom bloggers with oodles of children who somehow keep up with their entertaining blogs while raising large families. My only excuse for not blogging lately is that I can't do it all!!

Maybe it's the age spread of my kids, or maybe I'm terrible at time management; whatever it is, I apologize to those of who who have followed me loyally.

But, life goes on, and plenty has happened here!

Claudia (15) and Nicholas (6)

 Claudia, my teenager, started driver's education, earned her learner's permit, and had mono (whew!). She will turn sixteen in August (is that even possible?), and is currently working part time at a local cafe owned by a family in our church. Have I mentioned that she's an excellent cook?

Nicholas, the oldest boy, has learned to read on his own! We have been using 100 Easy Lessons, and for awhile, I thought he would never finish, but then one day it just happened! Now he loves to read books on his own. Frog and Toad are favorites.

Nathan (4)

 Nathan is a very interesting boy! He has the strongest will of all of our children, and keeps me on my toes! I was really dreading beginning "school" with him, but when I started him on 100 Easy Lessons, he amazed me. He LOVES his reading lessons, and is moving through them faster than I could have imagined. He's also very athletic and affectionate.

Nicholas

From letft: Chloe, Nathan, Nicholas, Catie, and Claudia

Chloe and Catie acting silly

 Chloe is 11, and will be 12 in September. She is such a sweetie. She is the ultimate big sister. All the little kids look to her for entertainment. She also enjoys reading, volleyball, archery, crafts, and recently told me "she doesn't want to grow up." Thank goodness!

Nicholas reading!

Nicholas loses his first tooth!

Catie enjoys the Fort Worth Zoo



Catie is our baby doll. She has a very sweet nature. At 18 months, she is a walking, running, hugging, babbling, mess-making cutie-pie. It is SO fun having a little girl again. And she is very girly, too! She loves her brothers and sisters, and wakes up many mornings with a smile on her face and a hug for each sibling.

For our vacation this year, we visited Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, TX. The Paluxy River bed has many preserved dinosaur footprints. It was very exciting for the kids to step where the dinosaurs did!

Dinosaur footprints in Glen Rose, TX

Chloe studies the dinosaur footprints.

Now, I really hope to spend more time here. I've blogged in my head over the last few months, on everything from crafts to politics to homeschooling. You know, just a few of my 400 Things!


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Loss

On December 4, my Daddy passed away. He was 57 years old.

Dealing with this kind of loss is new to me, but I know many friends who've already been through it. Some days I think I must be doing better, and then other days I think I'll never live through this.

The pain is so real, it's almost physical.

As many of my readers know, he battled colon cancer last year. At the initial diagnosis, he was given 2 years to live. He went through chemo, and by summertime, he was cancer free and living his normal life. Such excitement!

Then, this fall, he began having some stomach pains, which he didn't even share with my mom at first, not wanting to worry her. Finally, he decided to go in for a checkup, where they discovered the cancer was trying to return. They decided to attack it agressively.

From that point, everything was a confusing blur. He had complications from the treatment, which resulted in two surgeries in one week. The chemo caused his body not to heal properly from the operations. His kidneys and liver began to fail, and he developed pneumonia.

Six weeks from the time he went to start treatments, he was gone.

I still can't believe how quickly it all happened. It's hard to believe he's really gone. He was one of those people who really lived. He was so FULL of life. Our world is much different without him.

He left behind two daughters and 11 grandkids. I think what makes me the saddest is to think about my younger children who won't grow up knowing their Grandad.

But I know without a doubt that my Daddy is in heaven, worshipping at the throne of Jesus. He loved God with all his heart. He led many, many people to Christ.

He left a legacy that has been an inspiration to our family and the many people that knew him.

His loss is bittersweet. The pain of losing a parent is very bitter. But the knowledge of where he is now is amazingly sweet. I know he is so happy, and celebrating an eternity free of pain.

If you've been through this kind of loss, you already know what we're going through. Time seems to drag by, and the sadness is at the front of my thoughts all day. I appreciate your prayers for my Mom, my sister, and our family members during this time.

I've blogged about my Dad before. If you'd like to know how great he was, and why we miss him so much, read :

http://400things.blogspot.com/2009/10/open-letter-to-my-dad.html

http://400things.blogspot.com/2009/03/children-are-blessing.html



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