Homeschool Memoirs #11: Field-trips

THEME:
This week I’d like to invite you to share your favourite field-trip that you’ve been able to go on since you’ve started homeschool. I’d encourage you to include photos, but you don’t have to.

We really haven't been able to go on any "real" field trips yet, however, we did get to go visit a pumpkin patch earlier this month. We went with a group of local moms from BeckleyMommies. I know that if Gracie was in public school, this would not have been an experience I would have gotten to share with her - so I feel very blessed in that aspect.

Here is my post about the trip from the BeckleyMommies blog;

Today was our visit to the Okes Family Farm or as I heard many of the children call it - the pumpkin patch.

The Okes farm consists of a very nice sized pumpkin patch in which you take a wagon ride and pick your own pumpkin. They also have a corn maze, at the time we were there it was 1 acre - but they were getting ready to cut it to an 8 acre maze! Can you imagine? I don't think any of us were brave enough to face the maze though.

All of the kids had a wonderful time playing in the corn box. A corn box is very similar to a sandbox, but instead of sand it's filled with corn. A much easier clean up! They also got to chase sheep and pet a pig. What more could they have asked for on a beautiful Autumn day!

BFS Assignment #107 - When There's No Tomorrow

Memory Verse: Ecclesiastes 1:13-14 I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Intro: When There’s No Tomorrow.(Marketing credit: Mercury)
Imagine you’re standing before God. There’s no Tomorrow, you can’t go back and finish up what you had planned on getting to sometime in the future. What was that thing that you planned on getting to, that thing that now, you’re standing before God and thinking “I wish I had gotten to that…”

Assignment: We only have today. Should God take you today, have you accomplished everything that you wanted to, needed to. Have you said all the things that needed to be said? Let’s have no regrets, let’s make sure we get to those things, so that when we’re standing before the Lord, the only thing we need to do is to worship him.. and not regret not getting to that thing on our to do list. Stop - go take care of that thing…. then, come tell us what you choose to share. Don’t embarrass yourself or any of your loved ones.

Wow, this is a really hard assignment. It makes you face your immortality. We all know it's coming one day, but none of us want to actually think about it. I'm not perfect, far from it in fact. I've done things in my life that I've regretted. From that I've tried to become a better person. I've finally realized that I can't control how others around me behave. The only thing I can control is how I react to the situation. Unfortunately, it's not always in a way that I feel God would want me to. I'm working on that. But no matter what happened yesterday or what happens today, if I should die tonight, I want to know that my family knew I loved them with everything in me. And that by knowing that they could continue on to have a wonderful, happy, full life. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I want them dependant on me for happiness, but that being loved by me gave them the ability to be happy. I hope that makes sense. I know what I'm trying to say, I just hope it comes across the way it should. :)

My beautiful family - Robby holding Matthew & Gracie

I couldn't pick just one verse for how I was feeling about this assignment. So here are the few I chose...

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. Proverbs 10:12

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. - Mark 11:25

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. - Ephesians 4:32

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. - Colossians 3:12-13

Halloween Scrap Freebies!

I have a MySpace friend - Tishia - that is giving away a spook-tacular scrapbook freebie just in time for Halloween! 'Got Sugar' is adorable! It includes 10 papers, 29 elements and is for Private use only. You'll also find a surprise when you get there, maybe more treats? And be sure while your at her blog tocheck out her stores, the links are on the sidebar. :)

Homespun Holidays FREE

Did you ever dream of getting a horse for Christmas? You can get a sneak peek of our Fall issue and see Nancy Carter's first horse! Oh, and she's not the only one sharing her childhood pictures. You'll see photos from the 50's through the 80's.

But, you'll need the Fall issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine to go on this walk down memory lane.

Plus, do you like to create holiday memories? The brand new TOS holiday E-Book can be yours, too. It's all about the fall and winter holidays - mainly Thanksgiving and Christmas. But it's not even for sale yet. This is your chance to get it first - for FREE ($12.45 value)!

Normally when a person subscribes, their subscription starts with the upcoming issue which can take a while. But, TOS thought about that when they planned their Fall Special.

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This is over $250 worth of product for only $39!!

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Homeschool Memoirs #10: 10 Timely Facts

Things about Lesley

*Robby's Wife*
*Gracie & Matthew's Mama*
*Christian*
*Daughter*
*Sister*
*Aunt*
*Granddaughter*
*misses her grandparents*
*has many, many cousins*
*believes in love at first sight*
*avid reader*
*loves being barefoot*
*adored being pregnant*
*likes puppies*
*does not like cats*
*watches soap operas*
*watches football & NASCAR*
*favorite season is Autumn*
*watches clouds*
*hates scary movies*
*enjoys falling snow*
*addicted to cloth diapers*
*has watched someone die*
*likes the color pink*
*doesn't like to clean*
*enjoys a clean house ;)*
*does laundry daily*
*hates driving*
*can be moody*
*enjoys fishing*
*wants to learn to knit*
*can sew*
*loves to watch Little House on the Prairie*
*favorite movie is Dirty Dancing*
*listens to all kinds of music*
*wishes she knew how to dance*
*doesn't like being sick*
*misses being a kid*
*used to suck her thumb*
*amazed by nature's wonders*
*wants to travel the world*
*is constantly running out of printer ink*
*needs to organize her house better*
*likes history*
*enjoys fast food, especially steak hoagies*
*favorite snack, right now, is cheese crackers*
*enjoys working on genealogy*
*likes digital scrapbooking*
*loves babies*
*enjoys crafts*
*thinks flowers are pretty, but has a black thumb*
*wants a garden*
*wishes for peace*
*failed Algebra II*
*needs a haircut*
*doesn't wear lots of makeup*
*had braces*
*bites her nails*
*likes blogging*
*reads lots of different blogs*
*enjoys taking pictures of her kids*
*doesn't like going to the doctor*
*has some of the BEST friends in the world*
*has watched a cow birth a calf*
*wants to be a farm girl*
*wishes for a big ol' country house*
*doesn't have lots of $$, BUT does have lots of LOVE!!*


hehe That's more than 10, but it is me. :)

BFS #106 - Have It Your Way

Memory Verse: Isaiah 40: 1- Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Assignment: Tell us all about how your have “your” relaxing time, more especially how during the cooler months you take time to curl up with your favorite movie, book, Bible study, and what your favorite warm drink would be.

I love reading. So I would have to say that that would be my favorite thing to do; read while drinking a nice mug of hot chocolate. I can read just about anything. It's funny because I was reading an article on iVillage that gave a list of books recommended by women for women to read. So I made my own list that I'll share with you. Now keep in mind I could go on and on and this is just a very small list.

1. Letters for Emily by Camryn Wright

2. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

3. Why the Sky is Blue by Susan Meissner

4. Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury

5. The Island of Heavenly Daze by Lori Copeland and Angela Elwell Hunt (this is #1 in a series and 4 more follow - read 'em all!)

I hope that you decide to read one of these, and please let me know what you think about them...and of course if there is something you think I should read - share it with me!

BFS Assignment #105 - M’m M’m Good

Memory Verse: Psalms 13:6 NIV
I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me.

Intro: M’m M’m Good (Campbell’s Soup)
The fall is such a wonderful time of year. The beautiful foliage and cool, crisp morning air is such a wonderful change from the hot summer. I also love the M’m M’m good smell of fall cooking and baking. The wonderful fall veggies, fruits and Thanksgiving foods.

Assignment: Post your favorite fall recipe/recipes to share. I love trying new recipes, do you? It can be baking, main dishes, veggies, dessert or anything else you can think of. There are no limits. Mmmmmm..I can’t wait to take a look at some of those recipes.


Created using Scrapbook Flair software. Layouts are Harvest Spice by Shabby Princess and Sun Porch by Amy Teets.

Homeschool Memoirs #8: Study Spot

We don't have a designated study or school spot. However, it's normally our living space, which includes the living room and kitchen/dining room. It just depends on what we are doing. If we're reading we sit together in the recliner. Worksheets are usually done in the living room floor or at the coffee table. And all crafts, cutting projects are done at the kitchen table. Gracie has a little desk that she will sit at occassionally, but she is SOOOO messy that most of the time it's covered with her things. And me being stubborn, I think she needs to clean it off, and she thinks I should clean it. So it stays dirty. LOL

I'm posting some pics that I just took so please don't judge me on my messy house. :)I do try to keep it straight...




Oh, I forgot the fridge as a writing/drawing surface..*shrugs* whatever works!

BFS #104 - Never Leave Home Without It!

Memory Verse: Matthew 28: 20 - Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.

Assignment: In the memory verse Jesus tells us that He will never leave us, not even at the end of the world. He assures us in this verse that He will be with us and that means through everything we go through in life. I thought it would be interesting to write about the things we would never leave home without. For some it might be baby needs, others it might be a gym bag and bottle of water, and for some it might be your Bible and a notepad or small journal, maybe even your son or daughters favorite blankie! I’d like for you to write about something that you would never leave home without.

I think I'm a bit OCD, when I leave the house I have to check, check, and double check just about everything. I make sure the thermostat is set, all appliances, lights, and fans are off, doors locked, etc., etc. *sigh* and while I'm doing that I have to lug around all my stuff. haha I have lots of stuff that I require. My big ol' purse filled with everything I really don't need. Umm, Gracie always has an activity bag and at least one stuffed animal - if I'm lucky. She tries to bring more but I talk her down most times. Then we've got the diaper bag. A drink for me, a drink for Gracie. AND if you count Matthew in his car seat (man, do I want a sling!) & Gracie, I have a lot to carry around. You would think that I would have muscles like Wonder Woman, but yet I don't.

Homeschool Memoirs: #7 Snack Foods

I love this assignment! I get to talk about food. *sighs* I'll be so hungry by the time I'm done...LOL My husband and I always laugh because when we dated I didn't eat alot (like a lot of women do)...but after we were married I couldn't continue to starve myself. :-D So he found out just what kind of an eater I can be. Picture a big man at a truck stop. Ummm, yea, when I want I can put it away. However, since I'm still trying lose a couple pounds of baby weight, plus what I had just put on before, I'm not eating as much. But, boy, do I enjoy it when I do!

These are a few of my favorite snackies...

muffins (apple cinnamon, triple berry)

fruit (strawberries, blackberries, Granny Smith apples)

cheese crackers (usually Cheezits BUT Disney Magic has baked shape crackers that are GOOD!)

yogurt

pretzels with ranch dressing

Colby cheese slices with crackers and green olives

plain popcorn

nachos & cheese

grape tomatoes, croutons, and sprinkled with cheddar cheese (ranch or french dressing)

and when all else fails....go back to the great original PB & J.

BFS- KEEW YKCAW …oops..WACKY WEEK!

Assignment: This is WACKY WEEK here at Blogger Friend School! Everything is wacky fun! This week YOU, the student, get to share something of your choice that is little “Wacky”!!!

Have you done something crazy in your homeschool? (Yep, I'm sure of it, just because most days I feel kinda cRaZy!) Do you fingerpaint with your toes? (No, but that sounds neat...and squishy.)Do you let your children do your hair? (Yea, she has done it many times...but after the first few times I learned to comb it before she started as it made a less painful experience.) Do you wear your pajamas during homeschool? (Oh my goodness YES! I love my PJs and think it would be absolutely wonderful if it was a law that we must wear them 24/7. ;oP) Oh, the list is endless, but it’s up to you and how much fun you want to have.

To make it even “wackier” (not sure if it’s really a word, but hey, we don’t check spelling this week at BFS either!!!…..try and type some or all of your post sdrawkcab. (backwards!)

!keew gnixaler dna nuf a siht ekaM

(…and forwards…Make this a fun and relaxing week!)

Ykcaw? em? On yaw! LOL M'i yllaer ton. I onnud yhw. Ev'i syawla neeb na dlo luos. *sgurhs* BUT I guess I try for Gracie...cause she is one wacky little girl. She loves to dance and jump around and make LOTS of noise! Which is normal for kids, but I think she takes it to a whole new level. She pretends to be an animal at least once a day. Sound effects and all. :) I try to be really relaxed and chilled out because I think she learns better that way...and I think her way of learning is by being loud and active. So whatever works, we'll do it. I can't wait to read what other "wackier" moms post, cause I might just try it out!