Homeschooling

We have decided to homeschool our boys (7 and 12) next year. This has come about after some issues they have had in school. I actually have a meeting with Nathan's people (teacher, principal, social worker, psychologist, etc.) tomorrow. He has been testing and evaluated and we'll see what they have to say. Nathan really hates school and can't wait for it to be over (he's the 7 year old - going into 3rd grade). Joel has had other issues and is also being tested and evaluated. I should have his meeting in the next few weeks. Basically they want to say he has a learning disability when, in reality, he is just a visual learner. He has been struggling in middle school this year. Homeschooling will allow him to work at his own pace. I found an online curriculum for language arts and math that is geared more toward a visual learner. Nathan will use the same site because it doesn't make you do "busy work". Once you know the subject matter you get to move on. That will be good because he hates to have to keep doing work for something he already knows. I didn't want all their subjects to be online though so I have ordered text books for Science and Social Studies. Nathan will use McGraw Hill Science for Grade 3 and Social Studies Communities for grade 3 and U.S. States grades 3-5. Joel will do Life Science and a book on U.S. Government (grades 6-12) and civics. From what I could tell from VA Standards of Learning he should be learning civics and economics. These text books should have all that. I'll have to see which chapters need to be done during 7th grade.

I printed off all the VA SOLs for 3rd and 7th grade last night. I have spelling lists for each grade. I found vocabulary lists, but may look for a workbook (haven't decided yet). We plan to join a homeschool soccer league. We'll do some kind of music and art.

I hope to be ready to send in my Notice of Intent (NOI) to Homeschool soon (once I get their text books). I already printed out the scope and sequence for their math and language arts.

I heard of one mom who had her kids work on a joint project. I think it was a booklet on all the states. Each child contributed to it. I was trying to figure out how I could do that or something like that. Nathan will be learning about the states and Joel will be learning about government - there must be someway to combine the two. Either that or have them do something in another subject.

Hello, my name is Hope

Well, we've had all these dilemas with the doors. The front door is real pretty, but doesn't fit right or function well. I know there is an analogy in there somewhere. But I remembered (or was reminded by God) that a door is not really so important in the scheme of things. How I treat people and react to the situation is more important. Jimmy told me he was impressed with my attitude. God may just be using all this so that we can be a good testimony for him so how we are reacting is very important.



Today we went to order or stove and washing machine. It should be no surprise that we did not go to Lowes. We just didn't want to deal with them after the whold door thing. So, we went to Home Depot and a lady came right away to help us out. It wasn't long before I noticed her nametag . . . her name was Hope. I thought, what a cool reminder from God. On the way home Mike started to say that something could happen with this order, too, but I told him we can't think like that because we have our hope in God.

Door Debacle

I will probably never want to buy doors again after all this. We went to get the doors today. The ones that Jimmy couldn't get last week because they said one was not there and the sliding glass doors (SGD) didn't have the handle. The ones that Mike went to check on last Thursday and they said both were there along with the handles for the SGD. The ones that were both there today, however, there was no handles for the SGD. At least this time, instead of remaining in ignorance believing they were right, the employees at Lowes (and a manager, too, I think) found out the truth that a handle was supposed to come with the door. We left said SGD at Lowe's. My guy said he wouldn't sign for it without handles because then they may never correct the situation. The manager said he would call the company and deliver the SGD, for free, on Friday. Apparantly the company is going to UPS (next day) the handles to our house. I really want Jimmy (my guy) to be here when we get the door so he can measure the door and make sure it's the right handle. Why is it so imnportant for him to measure the door? Because the beautiful front door that we picked up today was made 1.5 inches too big!!! Jimmy worked it and got it to fit, but now there is no place for a door bell. It's also a REALLY tight fit and I can't get the deadbolt to lock right. I know Jimmy will be fooling around with more tomorrow. We weren't here when he left, but the trim isn't on the door yet.

I think it's perty, the door (pictured left) - and especially the glass, not the unfinishedness of it.

I got out of the house today (after the Lowe's debacle). I went to the thrift store (next to Lowe's after I brought Mike back home to get some sleep which he didn't get). I got this to the right) to refinish. I like the shape and that it has nice size drawers. It was $10.

What's Next

I just finished tax season. I am usually a stay at home mom, but during tax season I work for a couple friends at their small tax business (it's just the 3 of us). I really like working there, but I'm usually happy for it to end, too. The hardest thing about tax season ending is that I go from being around people each day to being alone each day. I much prefer being around people I think. At least some of the time. I am a homebody and like alone time, but I am usually happier around other people. So, today, instead of taking a nap I went out. I stopped by a friend's house for a minute to drop something off and went to Michael's Craft Store. I wanted something creative to do now that I have a couple months before school is out. I got myself a paper making kit. I've wanted to try that for a while now. I am also trying to decopauge some small things. They will probably be magnets with Bible verses on them. I made something similar for a friend's table at a women's retreat several years ago and people liked them.



I won't get to spend all my time on creative pursuits, but now I have something to do. I hope to bet some spring cleaning and organizing under way, too. And hopefully before school is out I'll get some much needed painting done.