Been working on my paper mess. Career and training certifications, memorabilia, important 'official' type papers, homeschool papers and resources, warrantees and manuals...it never ends! Packed up three boxes this afternoon, filled one large trash can, and asked my hubby how things looked. He says, "It looks like you made a mess."
I can see where I made the dents, and I know that those dents will turn into empty spaces and cleared shelves. The floor is slightly clearer and my piles are fewer and smaller. Another 2-3 hour stint and I think it will be finished. I have a pile of warrantees and manuals to sort through to see what to toss and what to keep for us and what to give the next home owner. I have a pile ready to be packed up, but not enough to fill a box just yet. Slow and steady, steady and slow. Making progress, one step at a time!
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Friday, July 13, 2018
VBS - Vacation Bible School
We made it through 3 out of 4 VBS days. My little guy ended up with a tummy bug the last morning so we had to miss it. It was a fun experience overall, and an eye-opener too.
Two of the eight kids in our group accepted Jesus as their Savior and that was pretty exciting to see. I got to lead them in prayer. When I asked one of them why they wanted to have Jesus in their life, he answered that he didn't want to do wrong things any more. Very cool to see how a few short days of bible time can touch the hearts of children!
I also was reminded of my days working full time in childcare. In leading my group from activity to activity, I got to practice my guidance strategies and discipline. I never had to get very firm, but I did have to get serious with a couple kiddos who were letting their sillies get the best of them.
One young man had struggles with paying attention to any activity that was verbal or sitting still. He was a very sweet boy, but stretched my mental skills in keeping him challenged and (mostly) obedient. Asking him to sit still was beyond his ability.
I'm not very experienced in working with kiddos who have different needs, but I know enough to understand that he wasn't intentionally misbehaving, he simply didn't have the ability or maturity to spend lengths of time being still. He excelled during our outside activities and also during arts and crafts. After the second day I used one of my life-lines for help and got some tips, and then I asked our children's pastor if they had any fidget toys I could use to help this little guy get through the more challenging activities. They did and I was all prepared, and then he didn't show up...he had gone on vacation! I know I'll see him occasionally at church, I'm glad we made a small connection.
Little Man did fairly well in the nursery. The first day he didn't stop screaming for me, so they called me and I sent my oldest to check on him. She stayed with him for about a half an hour to help him feel more comfortable. After that, each day she would stay with him for several minutes after I left before joining me with our group. He liked "playing toys" at "chuh-ch"but was consistently waiting for us at pick up time, eagerly searching the faces that came in the door for his family.
I thanked my hubby again for letting me be a stay-at-home mommy and raise our kiddos instead of working full time to raise someone else's kids. That was always a source of angst when I worked full time...I spent so much time and energy focused on other people's children, that I didn't always have much left when I got home with my own beautiful children. I'm grateful that I can use my teaching skills at home and pour myself into giving them the best I have.
Two of the eight kids in our group accepted Jesus as their Savior and that was pretty exciting to see. I got to lead them in prayer. When I asked one of them why they wanted to have Jesus in their life, he answered that he didn't want to do wrong things any more. Very cool to see how a few short days of bible time can touch the hearts of children!
I also was reminded of my days working full time in childcare. In leading my group from activity to activity, I got to practice my guidance strategies and discipline. I never had to get very firm, but I did have to get serious with a couple kiddos who were letting their sillies get the best of them.
One young man had struggles with paying attention to any activity that was verbal or sitting still. He was a very sweet boy, but stretched my mental skills in keeping him challenged and (mostly) obedient. Asking him to sit still was beyond his ability.
I'm not very experienced in working with kiddos who have different needs, but I know enough to understand that he wasn't intentionally misbehaving, he simply didn't have the ability or maturity to spend lengths of time being still. He excelled during our outside activities and also during arts and crafts. After the second day I used one of my life-lines for help and got some tips, and then I asked our children's pastor if they had any fidget toys I could use to help this little guy get through the more challenging activities. They did and I was all prepared, and then he didn't show up...he had gone on vacation! I know I'll see him occasionally at church, I'm glad we made a small connection.
Little Man did fairly well in the nursery. The first day he didn't stop screaming for me, so they called me and I sent my oldest to check on him. She stayed with him for about a half an hour to help him feel more comfortable. After that, each day she would stay with him for several minutes after I left before joining me with our group. He liked "playing toys" at "chuh-ch"but was consistently waiting for us at pick up time, eagerly searching the faces that came in the door for his family.
I thanked my hubby again for letting me be a stay-at-home mommy and raise our kiddos instead of working full time to raise someone else's kids. That was always a source of angst when I worked full time...I spent so much time and energy focused on other people's children, that I didn't always have much left when I got home with my own beautiful children. I'm grateful that I can use my teaching skills at home and pour myself into giving them the best I have.
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Short Summer
Summer is going to fly by so fast. Due to our upcoming move and home sale, I've decided to start our school year August 1st...meaning we've already started our last month of summer vacation! Yikes, it feels a bit like getting the short end of the stick, but I know it will help in the long run after taking breaks mid-year for selling and moving... I've been going through our curriculum and preparing things so it will be as easy for me as possible to stay on track and get school done in the midst of home showings and packing up.
This year I've tweaked our routine a little. Instead of "bible time" we will have time set aside for Faith & Character Building. We'll be reading about the life of a missionary once a week and having a morning set aside for Worship once a week.
In Science we'll do a semester on Zoology before moving on to Earth Science. I'm also excited about History this year. We'll be continuing from the Revolutionary War that we learned about in depth last year to early American History of the pioneers, abolishing slavery, and how our government works!
We're going to try a new Language Arts program this year, I'm excited for it, but uncertain of how it will play out as we do it. Only time and experience will tell. For math, we found a good program last year and are sticking to it. We've already finished the first 30 lessons during our summer school session and will continue it through the school year, hopefully starting the next math book in the spring. Since both of our girls are in the same math book, it will push our younger daughter ahead in math (she catches on quickly anyway), and help to catch our older daughter up to her public school grade level. She had some gaps in her learning due in part to her brain injury and in part due struggles with how math was taught to her previously. Math has never been easy for her, and I've enjoyed watching her grasp concepts this past year!
Next week we have VBS and I volunteered again. This year my oldest will be my co-teacher. She and I will lead a group of up to 10 elementary kiddos around to the different activities and my little guy will be in the nursery everyday for 3-ish hours. He goes to nursery during service now, so he'll be familiar with it. Going so many days in a row will be interesting to see how he handles it. My middle one will get to participate in all the VBS fun!
This year I've tweaked our routine a little. Instead of "bible time" we will have time set aside for Faith & Character Building. We'll be reading about the life of a missionary once a week and having a morning set aside for Worship once a week.
In Science we'll do a semester on Zoology before moving on to Earth Science. I'm also excited about History this year. We'll be continuing from the Revolutionary War that we learned about in depth last year to early American History of the pioneers, abolishing slavery, and how our government works!
We're going to try a new Language Arts program this year, I'm excited for it, but uncertain of how it will play out as we do it. Only time and experience will tell. For math, we found a good program last year and are sticking to it. We've already finished the first 30 lessons during our summer school session and will continue it through the school year, hopefully starting the next math book in the spring. Since both of our girls are in the same math book, it will push our younger daughter ahead in math (she catches on quickly anyway), and help to catch our older daughter up to her public school grade level. She had some gaps in her learning due in part to her brain injury and in part due struggles with how math was taught to her previously. Math has never been easy for her, and I've enjoyed watching her grasp concepts this past year!
Next week we have VBS and I volunteered again. This year my oldest will be my co-teacher. She and I will lead a group of up to 10 elementary kiddos around to the different activities and my little guy will be in the nursery everyday for 3-ish hours. He goes to nursery during service now, so he'll be familiar with it. Going so many days in a row will be interesting to see how he handles it. My middle one will get to participate in all the VBS fun!
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