Fall Festival

We got the chance last weekend to attend a local Fall Festival. I got the chance to take my nieces along for the ride. Everyone had hours of fun.

The Halverson crew!

Rainy Days

Rainy days are my favorite homeschooling days. I normally opt not to go anywhere on these days, unless we absolutely have to. This has been one of those days where we have remained put, at home where we need to be.

I have found life barrelling down on our family lately. We could be busy and somewhere, literally everyday. But I am remembering why I don't need to be somewhere everyday. When we have to be somewhere, I tend to rush my kids through there schoolwork, hanging over them, nagging at them to hurry up. They get frustrated and so do I. But on days where home is our only destination, things flow smoother. Everyone tends to have better attitudes and ENJOYS our homeschooling day.

I know I can't be at home everyday, because because places like the library, grocery store, bank, park, etc. call out my name. But I can choose wisely the things I do commit to and have to do. Thank you God for cold, wet, rainy days! Here, I can stop and enjoy my children and accomplish the important things, within my home.

Anniversary Day Pictures

Anniversary

Today marks 11 years of marriage to my God given husband, Ron. Every year we continue on our journey, we grow closer. We laugh and cry and fight and makeup and love God together. I give God all the credit for all the good things that have happened in our marriage. I also credit God for getting us through the not so good times. I thank Him for His grace to be married and for His mercy that is new everyday to equip me to be a wife. I thank Him for His Word that guides me, corrects me and shows me what a Godly wife should be. Thank you Jesus, my Lord, for being the ultimate example to me of what love really is, sacrificial, giving, unselfish, humble and without pride. Not that I always operate in these things, but thank you Holy Spirit for being my guide, for gently speaking to me about ways I can change to be those things. Thank you for my husband who is a spiritual leader, who "washes me with the Word", who prays with me and over me. Thank you for giving me THE ONE for me!

An Evening at the Park

My dear husband asked us all last evening, if we would enjoy checking out a new park in our area. It is a truly beautiful park, with a few miles of walking trails that wind around a lake and through magnificent trees. The highlight for the kids was this manmade "creek". They didn't hesitate to shed their shoes and step right in.




The picture above is the where the "creek" ends, pouring right into the lake. The picture below is of the beautiful fountain in the middle of the lake. We will be visiting again!

Outdoors

I love being outdoors. My favorite thing to do there is hike through the woods, any woods. It doesn't matter how seemingly ordinary the trail may appear, there are still wonders of God's creation to be found. I am attempting (by doing) to pass along this love to my children. They may balk at first, but then, they find themselves drawn in to the wonder of whatever trail we have found ourselves on. We are able, together, to marvel at the imagination of our Creator, as they find insects, flowers, spot birds, mushrooms, leaves....The list is endless.

While here, we can look heavenward and know that God is with us and He made all of these things for us to find joy in. I always feel God close when I am out in the middle of nowhere. That's where this love of the outdoors comes from, because I can feel the presence of the One who loves me, here.

Reading Excitement

For the last couple of years, I have been working with my daughter on her reading. Every time we have sat down together and tried to work our way through words, or through whole simple books, she shuts down. She has simply hated even trying to read. So, I decided to back off.

In the mean time, I was still reading to her and pointing out words and getting her to write and do other language arts things. I kept reminding myself that she will be reading one day. I read other people blogs and homeschool message boards that told me, "Your child will learn to read when they are ready." I read my book again "Better Late than Early" which is what backs up my whole philosophy of schooling. But still, I wanted her to read and enjoy it, NOW!

So, where does the excitement come in? Well, this morning, we made our weekly trip to the library. While we were there, I made my obligatory stop in the easy reader section, to once again attempt to find a book my daughter could connect with. I picked out a few and off we went.

Later in the day, I sat down with my daughter to do spelling with her. After finishing, I just thought we could "try" again with one of the books acquired from the library. So, I pulled out "Jonah", a Easy Reader Bible book. Handing it off to my daughter, I was expecting the normal pursed lips, "Can we please not do this?" look from my daughter. Instead, she began reading! And with each page, I praised her! And, with each page, I grew more and more excited inside. But, I remained calm.

After she finished, she was BEAMING! She did it! She knew she did it!

She asked if I had anything else she could read. I remembered that my mother-in-law had purchased an Easy Reader Bible for my daughter a few months ago. We ran to find the book. Excitedly, my daughter began to read story after story. She told me she couldn't stop because it was so much fun! Tonight, after I tucked her in, I could hear her reading that Bible book.

I believe God answered 2 of my prayers today. 1) That my daughter WOULD learn to read.
2) That she would have a love for God's Word.

I have seen both answers manifest themselves today. I believe that starting with a Bible story has planted a love for God's Word in my daughter's heart. I believe that learning to read has planted a love for reading in her mind. Thank you God for hearing and answering!

New Homeschool Group

I have found over the years that I don't like change. It's not that I don't new things and new places, but when it comes to certain things, change and me don't necessarily get along. For instance, our homeschool coop. We had been part of the same great group for all of first 4 years of homeschooling. And then....I thought about changing.

It's not that I wouldn't change, it's just, I knew the routine, knew and enjoyed the other moms, and could go in and still be the same me. But I wanted something different this year for me. I wanted to be an assistant to some great wonderlady who is gifted at teaching a group of 2o to 30 kids. I wanted to smile and hand out papers and escort kids to the bathroom. Anything, but teach!

But that would mean that I would have learn a whole new routine, get to know a group of new moms and be changed myself in this whole process. So, I signed up kicking and screaming. Not literally, but in my mind I wanted back the security of 4 years of sameness.

We're gone through about 5 weeks now. Did my kids have to push me down the hall the first day? Well, no, but the first week is always the hardest! I can say truthfully now that this has been a good change for not only myself, but for the kids too. I am meeting new moms and learning and growing and changing.

A quote from a not so wise man I know: (Redundant I know, but you would have to know him)

"Change is the only constant in life."

Amen, brother, amen.

Another Horse Encounter

Later in the day, we had another horse encounter. By chance, one could say, but I believe this was a God orchestrated encounter for my daughter who would love to have her own horse. The beatiful view from one of the high hills in West Georgia.

Yes, even I got on a horse to enjoy! Thank you God for this blessing!

Horseback Riding

One of the other "best things" about our camping trip was horseback riding. It was fun and relaxing for all of us. Our guide was great. The horses were friendly. It was a beautiful, breezy fall day. We couldn't have asked for better.

More camping

On our our hike, the kids got to be adventurous and climb over this huge log. Caleb was actually the braver one, this time. Bethany stayed as close to the ground as possible.
We got a beautiful campsite.
This was the view from our campsite. We had the most wonderful camping trip ever!

Camping

We had the wonderful opportunity to camp a few weekends ago at FDR State Park in Warm Springs, GA. Here are some pictures of the various wildlife we encountered.
Bethany found this snail on a hiking trail.

Caleb spotted this turtle on the hiking trail. We almost missed it.

We got to visit a fish hatchery in Warm Springs. Caleb was too excited to see this alligator.

In front of the koi pond:

Homeschooling 2008

Well, we are about a month into our homeschooling year. I have finally relaxed, after doing my normal freakout at the beginning of the year. You know, freaking out about my children learning anything, and will be able to do this year?

This morning I got a nice break from the everyday. The kids had an art class at a local park that I droppped them off for. While they were there, I decided to take a walk on this beautiful fall day. It is amazing the amount of refreshing that can come from 30 minutes of solitude. I was able to talk to God and to hear what God had to say to His beloved daughter. That's close to a miracle these days, because we have been in a busy few weeks of life.

Our year continues.......