I have decided to write a book (or two!). A Living History of Us is underway! I have been very busy writing and illustrating the first in a series of books written in the style of Charlotte Mason. My goal is to make an easy to use, child friendly and interesting resource for the teaching of American History. I am starting a blog (which will be replaced by an actual web site) to keep everyone updated on this project. Here is the link! www.alivinghistoryofus.blogspot.com . Please pray for me as I endeavor to keep Christ at the center of this book writing.

It's finally mine!

I have been wanting to get this book into my possession for quite some time now. I finally got it! I have and love all of Karen Andreola's books. She is the one that has helped me understand and implement Charlotte Mason's teaching techniques in our homeschool.

This book is perfect for my children, especially Andrew. It is based on the method of narration. I am looking forward to using this with my kids this year!

A new school year...

As usual, I've been considering and pondering the starting of a new school year. This is our tenth year of homeschooling and I finally feel a little like I know what I am doing. This year (2009) has been a tough one for our family so far. My beloved dad went home to be with Jesus in February. It has been an adjustment in the extreme. Some days are better and some days I miss him so very much that I have a hard time functioning.

But, life goes on. My children still need their mom and their education, my husband still needs his wife, and I still need to continue living. I have honestly struggled with wondering if I can do this...if I have what it takes to face the challenge.

My friend and I have been doing the Beth Moore bible study, Esther, It's Tough Being a Woman. I am so thankful for this study! It is speaking so directly to my life...AMAZING! His mercy is truly new every morning!

I have been in the throws of making curriculum decisions...as usual. I am starting my youngest child in "full time" school this year and I want to make good decisions concerning her education. Last year I started with Learning Language Arts Through Literature (LLATL) Blue book, which is their phonics program. I ran into difficulties with this program with this child. It never ceases to amaze me how different siblings can be. This program worked wonderfully for Kylah when she was learning how to read several years ago. But it doesn't work for this one. So, I've been going back and forth and looking at what I have available to me. I have come to the conclusion that I finally have the perfect opportunity to use a completely Charlotte Mason approach with one of my children, right from the start! I wasn't introduced to CM until my other children were already past the beginning of school and even though I have faithfully used CM techniques with all of them with wonderful results, I have never used a complete CM program for any of them. (Wow! that was a long, rambling sentence!)

So this is my chance! I have an amazing amount of wonderful children's literature provided through Sonlight core K and a large number of Five in a Row books. I just reread the above book, A Charlotte Mason Education, and am again impressed with the simplicity of the Charlotte Mason technique! I love it! I know that this exactly what will work with this child. Narration, copywork, hands-on approach to math, good literature, living books, nature study! Wonderful stuff! I love the fact that I have it all laid out for me and I can just pull it out and teach.

So, He has renewed my strength, joy and resolve.

Even Jazzy wants to see the Sonlight books!

Sonlight boxes are met with great enthusiasm at our house! Here Jasmine, our little girl kitty, wants to see!

Food for Thought!

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish.. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.

I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too.. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to. In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events. terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr.. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.' Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully, Ben Stein

family times!

The beautiful flag box that John made Mom with the flag from the

funeral in it. This was set up at the memorial service.

The fruit kabobs for the memorial service. Savannah took
this picture.

My helpers! Rachelle, John and Kira making the fruit kabobs.

another Savannah picture.

Clowning around!

More clowning!

More Family get together pictures

My sister-in-law, Cindy, and my sister, Rachelle.
Mom and Kira

Mom with Rick, Cindy, Brian, and John

Very proud Grandma with her oldest grandson, John

My oldest brother, Rick and Dad's youngest brother, Lee.