Preparing Your Homeschooler For College

I have a post today at The Homeschool Classroom entitled, Preparing Your Homeschooler For College.  You can click here to read this post.

Since writing this post, I have thought of one more item that I would like to mention.

Using an alarm clock.
In our home I either wake up my children when I want them to be up, or more commonly, I just let them sleep until they wake up naturally.  This is not a problem for my early risers, Clay and Julie.  Nor does it seem to be much of a problem for Sam who is usually up at a reasonable time as well.  But my other girls, Leah and Olivia, have always been night owls and later than normal sleepers.  I just work with it.  Our home school schedule has Clay doing algebra with me at 8:00, but does not have Leah or Sam beginning school until 9:00 (our morning Bible time).

However, I do see the need for my high school aged children to begin using an alarm clock and being held accountable for being up and ready to begin school at a certain time.  Like I said, this is not an issue for my current high schoolers, but I predict that my younger two will be learning to set their alarm clocks in a few years.

Just one more way to prepare them to get to class on time when they are in college.

Of course, I could just call or text them every morning to make sure they are up!  (Like I am doing with my current college student!)  :)

Click here to read the other ways I am preparing my remaining students for college.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Since I have basically taken a hiatus from blogging this month, I realized that I have not blogged about October:  Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  I looked at my posts from last year, and I have copied and pasted two of them.  These are the most important ones, in my opinion.

Also, Julie, Megan, Leanna, and I have been working this month on making drain bags and comfort pillows for mastectomy patients.  When we finally finish this project (we are making 72 of each item!), I will share some pictures and also instructions in case you want to make some too.

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

 Some of the risk factors are things you can do absolutely nothing about, like your age and the whether you are a woman or not.  But many of the others are things that can be changed if need be. 

I am going to list them without comment, but if you would like to read in detail about these risk factors, visit this link at Breastcancer.org.

• being a woman
• age
• family history
• genetics
• personal history of breast cancer
• radiation to chest or face before age 30
• certain breast changes
• race/ethnicity
• being overweight
• pregnancy history
• breastfeeding history
• menstrual history
• using hormone replacement therapy
• drinking alcohol
• having dense breasts
• lack of exercise
• smoking

There is also a list of emerging risk factors, and you can click on the same link and scroll down to read the complete listing.  The emerging risk factor that interests me the most is eating unhealthy food.  I encourage each of you to read the article about eating unhealthy food.  

Since my diagnosis of breast cancer, I have made changes in the eating habits of both myself and and my family.  Especially since my daughters now have the unavoidable risk factor of family history, I want to do all I can to lower their risks in every other area.  What I feed my family in my home is one thing that I can control.  We have shifted to a mostly plant-based diet.  That means that with a few exceptions (like at other people's homes, sometimes in restaurants, and about once a week or so in our own home), we are eating very little animal products.  Very little meat and eggs and no dairy.   Also, I am still working hard to reduce processed foods from our diets.  

Please spend a few minutes to review the risk factors of breast cancer, and then see if there are any changes you need to make to protect yourself.

Screening For Breast Cancer

There are variations in the recommendations for the age to begin getting a mammogram as well as the frequency that the mammogram should be repeated.  You can ask your personal physician for his recommendation for you.  However, don't do like I did.  Don't put it off for two years when your doctor tells you that it is time to get a baseline mammogram. 
Here is a link about Mammogram Recommendation.  Also here is a link that includes lots of information about all kinds of breast cancer screening.

If you are 40 or older.  Do it.  Schedule your mammogram.  :)  If you are younger than 40, and if you have a higher than average risk of breast cancer, talk to your physician about his recommendation for your screening.

Ok....if you are still reading.....please be proactive with your health!  Know your body and be aware of any changes.  Early detection of breast cancer is important.

While I am thankful and celebrating my good health, I have also had a sense of sadness this month.  Two friends of mine have friends that passed away recently from breast cancer, and I also have a friend (a sweet member of my church) who has breast cancer.  She was diagnosed about the same time as me, but her path has been much, much different, and much more difficult.  She is technically in remission right now, but she has been through so much.  I think of her and pray for her and her health daily.  

So, in closing, be aware this month and always!

Running in the Johnson Family

Hello Internet!

I am still alive.  The only things I do at my computer these days are:

• pay bills
• sort through and delete emails
• proofread Olivia's English Comp 2 papers (I am so glad I am not taking that class!)
• look up my own recipes
• log my miles on Daily Mile

Our whole family has been running a lot lately.  Julie and Clay are running with our homeschool cross country team, the Spartans.  Julie set a personal record (PR) in the 5K this fall.  19:45.  She was ecstatic, and we are all so happy for her and her hard work!  Clay has consistently run his 5Ks in under 20:00 or 21:00 all season, and Leah set a PR as well!  Sam has run a 1 mile fun run on occasion, and he sometimes run at Spartan practice.

Jimmy is slowly overcoming his battle with severe plantar fasciitis, and has built up his mileage over the last month.  Jimmy and I are both training for the St. Jude Marathon on December 7.  I am doing most of my long runs with Leanna (this will be her first marathon!), but sometimes Jimmy, Heather, Lynn, and Esther join us for some or all of the miles.  This week we did 43 miles!  In four days!  And I am exhausted!

Early, early this morning Jimmy, Julie, Clay, and I traveled to Florence, AL, for the UCP Half Marathon and 5K.  Jimmy ran the Half (with a 6 mile warm up in order to get his long run in for the week), and Julie and Clay ran the 5K.  Leah and Sam stayed behind with their cousins.  I watched and cheered everyone on. (I was done with my miles for the week).  IT WAS SO COLD!  32 degrees when we arrived!  But all three of them ran well, and we had fun--our little family of four.  We enjoyed lunch with Jimmy's first cousin and some his family before coming back home.

Olivia has been doing well with her college XC team too!  A couple of weeks ago at the FSU meet, she set a 5K PR of 21:28.  Happiness abounded!  Olivia has really had a good running season!  She ran a 5K with her team this morning, and ran her second best time ever.  I am so proud of her, and I wish we could see her race.  Hopefully, next year we can make it one of her meets.  Since Julie and Clay run here, and Jimmy has to work some weekends, we just have been unable to travel so far to see Olivia in her meets.  

Recent running fun for the children has included crazy hair and sock day and shaving cream fun day at their Spartan practices.  We have only a couple more weeks of Spartan practice, and their season is over.  Both Julie and Clay are running the St. Jude Half Marathon, and then they will rest a bit after that.

My miles next week are 45.  With a long run of 20.  I hope to get the miles in in 4 days---it's better mentally that way.  

A few running pictures....

 Spartan Team Photo

 Julie--shaving cream fun

 Clay--shaving cream fun

 Martha, Olivia, and Catherine

Olivia was home for Fall Break.

 Olivia and Julie with some Spartan girl--Catherine, Hannah, and Leslie, at a 5K last weekend.

 Crazy hair and sock day.

Clay and Leah had green spray in their hair.

 Clay and Julie this morning before the race.

 Jimmy, with his friends, Michael and H.F. before the race this morning.

Clay and Julie after the race.

More On Copying Scripture

I have had a few people ask me questions about my Scripture copying.  It's nothing fancy!  I took a few pictures of my journal, and hopefully these pictures will explain what I am doing.

This is the left hand side of the journal.  After copying an entire chapter (and this usually takes more than one day), I create an outline of the chapter.  I am using a Bible that I call a "clean copy".  It has no  previous markings or underlinings by me, but I am marking and underlining as I read.  Also, it has no "headings"--those paragraph or chapter summary statements that are sometimes inserted in certain Bibles.  The Bible that I am using for copying Scripture is a New King James version that I bought from Lifeway a while back.

This is the right hand side page of the journal.  On this side, I do the actual copying.  I copy about one page per day.  That is one page in my journal, not one page in my Bible.

This is another left hand side page (a different page than the outline page).  Normally each chapter of takes me 2-3 pages of my journal to copy.  I use the first facing left hand page to do the outline.  I use the remaining facing left hand pages to take notes or right down my thoughts.

Here is a picture of the journal--both pages in view.

Left hand side:  outline

Right hand side:  the chapter, copied.

Ok.  Did that clear it all up?

If you have more questions, please leave me a comment.  I will be happy to answer them!

The Latest

• Bible Study:  Some of you have asked for more details regarding my copying Scripture.  I took pictures of my journal, and I will share soon.  Also, I have begun listening to the Bible on CD in my car.  We have had these CDs for years, and I have never listened to them.  I really like them!  However, we are missing disc 8, so I am reading Leviticus 25-Numbers 10 before I can listen to the next CD.
• Running:  Last week's long run of 18 was so much better than the previous week's long run.  I drank a full cup of coffee, and I ate a little packet of that fruit in a pouch stuff--you know, they make baby food in these pouches--but this is not baby food, but just pureed fruit in a pouch.  I found it in the refrigerated organic section of Kroger.  Anyway, eating two of those plus drinking plenty of Gatorade and water resulted in a much better run.  Plus I ran with Heather for 13.5 miles of it, and we had a good visit.
• Homeschool:  We are just moving right along.  Doing school still takes me all day, and if we have any unplanned interruptions, I don't get everything done.  We are off tomorrow and Friday, and that will give us time to catch our breath.
• Olivia:  She came home for the weekend about 10 days ago, and she is coming home again today for Fall Break!  Yay!  We are all so excited!  She warned me that she has to bring home all of her books and do lots of studying/paper writing, but that's ok!  We are just so, so happy to have her here with us!  She set a PR in a 5K cross country race that she ran last week.  Her best time since she was 13!  She was so excited, and we all were too!
• In the Kitchen:  I stuck to my "serve the same meals over and over" routine for two weeks.  And then I wanted a change, so this week I have been serving all new recipes.  Most have been "not so good".  I am sure that my family is tiring of my culinary experiments, but really they are such good sports and eat whatever I prepare......and then get a bowl of oatmeal or cereal for dessert!  Ha!
• Preparing for Christmas:  Yes.  It's time.  I have done very little.  But, I plan to begin sharing a couple of tips/ideas a week.  This week's tip:  If you have been gathering gifts throughout the year, and they are not in one location, put them there.  I have a huge plastic bin with a lid that is my gift box.  Whenever I buy a present, I put it inside that box.  Now is the time to take inventory of your gift box.  You may surprise yourself with the items you have picked up this year.  
• Sewing:  I have bought all of the fabric and most of the other supplies for sewing small pillows and drainage bags for mastectomy patients.  I have two different places that I will donate these sets.  My goal is to have them ready to deliver by the end of October, since it's the pink month and all.  

I think that about sums everything up.  Life is crazy hectic around here.  Most days I feel like I am barely keeping my nose above the water.  (Like most of you feel too, I am sure!).

Here is the verse I repeat in my head on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7

A Hymn For Today

"For you who fear My name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings."
Malachi 4:2

Healing In Its Wings

O, Father, I do sin, and my heart breaks deep within.

For you have sought me, yet I turn away from all Your loving care.

So often do I fail, yet You reach out again,

Lifting my burden that is more than I can ever bear.

Through Your beloved Son, there is grace so undeserved,

How can I ever sin against the One who makes my heart to sing.

Create a heart so clean that like You I may be,

As Light of Morning rises up with healing in its wings.

My broken contrite heart is so worthless in thy sight.

But You restore it, give it peace and joy to love and follow You.

Oh, may I ever strive to live pure in Your sight,

Filled with Your goodness, free to glorify and honor Your.

Glenda Barnhart Schales

17 Miles

This morning I ran 17 miles with Jimmy and Leanna (who ran almost 8 with us).  It was a really bad run.  I felt terrible from about mile 8 on.  I did not have negative splits.  The only bright spots were the running company! I think I know five reasons why  it was such a yucky run.

1. I normally drink a full 16 oz. cup of coffee mixed with about 2 inches of chocolate soy milk.  This morning, I drank only about 1/3 of the cup.
2. I did not drink much Gatorade at mile 3, and I did not eat my GU until mile 10.  That was way too late.  Not enough coffee + very little Gatorade, and taking GU too late = crashing.
3. I have not completed all of my training miles the last two weeks.  One week I visited Olivia and did not finish my last 9 miles, and last week, I was sick.  
4. I missed my long run last week.  It has been two weeks and one day since my last long run (16).  That's too long between long runs!
5. Today marked 4 days of running in a row.  I normally don't run more than 3 days in a row.  I also normally rest the day before and after a long run.  

So, live and learn.

And respect the training plan.

And don't be hard on yourself when you fail.

There is always next week!

School Books

Yesterday both Leah and Sam started new Cores in Sonlight.  We did not finish their Cores last year (Sam-Core A, and Leah-Core C), so we began this school year by finishing up those Cores.

Now, Leah is in Core D, and Sam is in Core B.  Fun!  It is always exciting to begin a new Core.  New books to put in our basket in the den, and new pages to insert in my master Sonlight Binder.  Beginning new Cores yesterday and continuing on Day 2 today, has brought a little bit of excitement to our school days.

Core B is year one of two of world history.  Core D is year one of two of American history.  With Sam being my 5th child, some of the books we will read in Core B, I will be reading aloud for the 5th time!  But not all of the Core B books, because when my first three children were elementary aged, I used KONOS unit studies instead of Sonlight.  However, many of the books we read for KONOS are also Sonlight books, so I frequently encounter books that I have read aloud 2-4 times already!

For most of the books, that's ok--I have read aloud so many books that I forget the details of each of them.  But every now and then a book is scheduled that I don't think I can read aloud one more time.  So, thankfully, I have discovered Audible.com.  I can download the book on my iPhone, and then play it over the speakers in my car.  How great is that?  We listen to many audio books while we are going around town.  You would be surprised at how many minutes you spend in your car and how quickly you can listen to a long book.

Currently our read alouds (not counting the history/geography readings) are:
Homer Price
Walk the World's Rim
Pedro's Journal

Some fantastic ones that are scheduled for these Cores include:
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
The Year of Miss Agnes
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Understood Betsy
Mountain Born
Johnny Tremain
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Moccasin Trail (I think that 's in Core D--if not, we will read it anyway!)

And I still plan to squeeze in another reading of The Phantom Tollbooth.

We are still reading The Secret Garden at bedtime, but we have only 5 more chapters to finish.  The first read aloud book in Core B is Charlotte's Web, but we listened to that on audio last month.  Yesterday we just finished Adam of the Road on audio.  I love that book, but it is one that I could not bear to read aloud again!  I think I have already read it out loud twice, and I will still need to read it to both Leah and Sam. Well, not read it out loud myself--I can use Audible. com again!

Yes.  I spend many hours each day reading aloud to my children.  Yes.  Even my high-school students will join in and listen when they can.  And yes.  Reading aloud to my children is my favorite part of homeschooling.

When Olivia was packing for college, she asked if she could take some our "school books" to college with her.  Of course I said yes, and then I added except for the ones that I will reading aloud this year.  She said thank you!  She chose several books that were her favorites, and then she chose a few more because she said she had such fond memories of my reading them aloud to her.  That made me smile.  (and tear up).  And then I told her that she could take any book she wanted, and that if she wanted one that I needed for school this year--take it anyway!  I would order an additional copy!

History and great stories both have come alive by the many hours that I have spent reading aloud to my children.  The most important reading I do each day with my them is our Bible reading, and the history, poetry, and stories included in God's Word are more real to all of us because of the time we have spent reading and discussing the Bible together.

Reading aloud = happy homeschooling to me!

Menu and Miles

First of all, the menu.

Over the years, my cooking has changed.  There was a time when I subscribed to Southern Living, and at least once a week I would try a new recipe from the current issue.  A few years ago I gradually moved away from using a lot of processed foods.  About two or three years ago I began buying organic foods when possible, and I eliminated even more processed foods from our diet.

Then, about 18 months ago, I made the most significant change to our family's eating habits.  We adopted a plant-strong diet.  No dairy, no meat, no eggs.  I began making almost everything we ate from scratch, and let me say that it was a challenge at first!  We have now evolved into our current way of eating, which is mostly plants.  I never buy any dairy products.  I occasionally buy eggs from my neighbor's chickens (about once a month or so), and I still have a few chickens left that I bought from my friend, Heather (raised and processed by her).  In our home, I cook from scratch as much as possible, but we still eat some processed foods--things like pita chips, flour tortillas, tortilla chips, pretzels, graham crackers, and a variety of granola/fruit type bars.  Mostly we eat a ton of fresh fruits and vegetables, and lots of homemade hummus.

I serve a mostly plant-based menu.  I cook a meal that includes meat about once every one or two weeks, but I also include non-meat items on the menu as well for the members of my family who choose to eat no meat at all.

I have spent many, many hours the last year and a half trying out all kinds of new recipes.  However, the season I am in right now calls for simplicity, and I have decided not to try any new kitchen adventures for a while.  I thought of seven categories of foods that we eat on a regular basis, and I just plan to rotate those meals.  So, I will not be posting a new menu each Monday for the time being.  We are just going to eat the meals on my chart below over and over again!  Until I have time for creativity in the kitchen again.

Our breakfasts are mostly self serve (oatmeal, fruit smoothies, cereal, toast, etc.) or sometimes Julie will prepare pancakes, waffles, or muffins.

Lunches are either leftovers, PB&J sandwiches, carrots, broccoli and hummus, salads, etc.

Here is the supper menu chart.  I printed this out and hung it inside my pantry door.  Having a master plan for simple meals will cut down on my grocery list making time  each week.  When we tire of these meals, I will redo the list, but I am hoping this menu will last us a while.

pasta	pasta salad, fresh fruit penne with zucchini, salad
wraps, chips and salsa	BBQ bean wraps sauteed veggie wraps
soups	chili taco soup red beans and rice white bean soup vegetable soup
Mexican	refried beans, corn, rice, shells, wraps, chips
salad	quinoa salad, oven fries Mexican salad, oven fries regular salad, baked potatoes
vegetables	mashed potatoes, green vegetables, baked beans
meat	fish, roasted potatoes, roasted asparagus roast, carrots, potatoes, green beans chicken noodle soup

Miles
Last week I was sick, so I did not complete my miles!  I ran my 8 and a 4, and that is all! I had a cold, cough, sore throat, and I ran a fever.  I have not been sick enough to not get my training runs ever, as far as I can remember, but I really felt badly last week.  Leah got sick too, and she had strep throat!

This week's plan is 17, 9, 6, and 5.  I hope I can get them all in!

You can visit OrgJunkie.com for more menu inspiration.

My Birthday

Several days ago my family helped me celebrate my birthday.  It was a delightful day!  Julie did a super job of planning, preparing, and serving a Mexican fiesta.  The other children helped her, and everything was outstanding!

 The Happy Birthday banner--in Spanish.

 The festive table

 My favorite drink with cute decorations.

 The fabulous feast

 Thoughtful, pretty handmade gifts from Julie

 The birthday cupcakes

My new running shoes!

I began my day with an 8 mile run with Jimmy.  Then we rested while the kids prepared the birthday lunch.  Later that day we saw the movie Planes, and then we went out to Ichiban (Japanese restaurant) for supper.

It was a wonderful day, and I am so grateful for my wonderful family.  

Recent Bible Study

I shared with some friends over the summer that I had begun copying Scripture as part of my daily Bible study.  I am still doing that.  So far I have copied Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy.  I began Titus yesterday.  I did take a short break from copying when I began working in a topical Bible study book that I bought.  But after one lesson in that book, I got back to my copying.  For now, this is what I want to do.

Copying Scripture may not be for everyone.  But if it sounds beneficial to you, I encourage you to try it.  I have a pretty pink leather journal that I am using for this.  I also use a Frixion erasable pen, because inevitably, I make a mistake here and there.  I love those pens!  Staples sells them in black, red, and blue, but Amazon sells a multi-color pack (my favorite).

I try to copy the amount of Scripture that equals one page in my journal each day.  I write only on one side of each page, the right hand side of the book.  At the end of each chapter, I outline the chapter on the first blank left hand side page.  I use the other blank left hand side pages for copying (again) specific verses that I want to comment on.  I also make notes about certain verses on these blank left hand side pages.  Does that make sense?

I read the chapter in its entirety before I begin copying each day and also one more time when I finish copying the chapter.

As many of you know, I am also a fan of reading the Bible cover to cover.  Seeing and understanding the big picture of the entire Bible has innumerable benefits.  I am not reading it in 90 days this time, but I am reading whenever I have a spare minute, using my iPad.  I hope to finish this Bible reading by January or February.  During these Bible reading sessions, I do not take any notes or copy any Scriptures, I just read.

Whatever your Bible reading/studying plan is, I encourage you to just do it.

I Was Spontaneous!

Hello, blog readers!  I hope to blog about my latest happenings and my thoughts about various subjects, in no particular order--beginning right now.  If I could blog while I ran, I would be in business!  Running with my husband or with friends is excellent therapy, but running alone (outside, not on the treadmill watching DVDs) is when I clear my head.  And it is also when I think of all the things I want to blog about!

So, on to my spontaneity!

Last Friday morning after Jimmy left for work, he called me and told me to go see Olivia!  We all have been missing her terribly.  This has been the longest that I have not been with one of my children!  Olivia is adjusting well, and she really loves her college.  But, the school part of it has been stressful.  Of course!  In fact she said that if she didn't have to take tests or write papers for a grade, she would love everything about college.  Ha!  That sums it up for all of us!

Anyway, I hesitated for about 2 seconds and then I said sure!  I will buy my plane ticket right now!

So I did.  And three hours later I was headed to the airport.  I rented a car upon my arrival, and I got to campus just as Olivia was returning from her Friday night XC meet.  I was super sad to miss the meet, but there was just no other flight for me to take at such short notice.

Olivia and I spent three delightful nights together.  We stayed up till midnight the first night and 1 AM the next two!  And I got up at either 6:30 or 7:30 the mornings after the 1 AM nights.  I was exhausted. I am too old for college hours!

Our weekend was pretty uneventful, and I loved every minute of it.  Olivia studied and wrote her 1000 word essay that was due Monday.  I proofread the essay (referring to her college textbook for punctuation questions), and called out her study guide to her.  It was nice.  While she wrote or studied, I tidied her dorm room, washed her clothes, bought her some groceries, fixed her lunch, and just sat beside her and read a book.  I so enjoyed just looking over and seeing her sweet face in person.

The church where she placed membership was holding a weekend gospel meeting, so we attended church services Saturday night as well as twice on Sunday.  We also attended a potluck.  I was so happy to meet all of these fellow Christians, and to make sure they were looking after Olivia!  :)  All of the young people wanted to meet "Olivia's mother".  It was so much fun!

We talked and texted with the family back home all weekend.  They all ran a race on Saturday, and we enjoyed hearing all about that.  Jimmy and Julie did an excellent job of running the household while I was gone.  They bought groceries and cleaned the entire house Sunday night so it would be clean when I got home Monday afternoon.  What a fabulous family!  They also attended the MSU football game (they were spontaneous too!), and Julie packed a full picnic for the family to enjoy.  She also kept up with the laundry.

I am so grateful for my family.  I am thankful that they allowed me to visit Olivia (which she I both needed so badly), and that they were so willing to take care of things back home.

We have a chalkboard in our kitchen, counting down the days until Olivia comes home for the weekend.  It's just around the corner!  In fact, she's coming home twice in October, Thanksgiving, and then for Christmas break.

I still can't believe that I have a child in college!

Menu and Miles

Well, even though I have not posted my weekly menu or miles for quite some time, we have still been eating, and I have still been running!

Here is the plan for this week:

Monday:

8 miles

Mexican meal (prepared by sweet Julie for my birthday!)

Tuesday:

no miles (rest day!)

baked beans, yellow rice, salad

Wednesday:

16 miles

Maryland's Kale (this is a new recipe), baked potatoes, fresh fruit salad

Thursday:

no miles (another rest day)

Caribbean sweet potatoes, garlic new potatoes, salad

Friday:

4 miles

penne pasta with sauteed zucchini and marinara sauce, salad

Saturday:

5 miles

grocery shopping

Please visit Org.Junkie for more menu ideas.

Where I Am

I have neglected my blog so much since May.  At times I even think about retiring from blogging!  Every week I plan to share our happenings and so forth and maybe even a homemaking or homeschooling tip or two, and then living my daily life happens and it seems like I am so busy actually living life that I can't seem to make the time to blog about it!

For the past few years I have said that the current school year was the hardest ever.  I am saying that again about this year!  I think I see a recurring theme--homeschooling is difficult.  And I think that the more older children you have the harder it is.  I know I used to think that homeschooling with a newborn and a two year old was hard, but I actually think my last few years have been even more challenging.  The physical workload has lessened, but the mental/organization/coordination of events workload has definitely increased.  I can only offer these few words of wisdom for fellow mothers deep in the trenches of homeschooling multiple children, some of which include high-schoolers:

• Seek the Lord and His wisdom for you and your family--daily.  Reading and studying God's Word and praying must be your top daily priority.
• Get your homeschooling materials as organized as you possibly can before you begin your school year.
• Create a workable schedule or at least a routine of your days--and stick to it.
• Be realistic with your personal goals in all areas--housework, meal preparation, projects, laundry, errands, marathon training, etc.  
• In addition to beginning each day with Bible reading and prayer (and get up however early you need to in order for this to happen), make a list of what you need to do/places to go/food to prepare/copies to make/phone calls to make/etc. each and every morning.  
• Meet with your children together each morning for a time for general announcements and telling them the plan for the day.  I'm pretty sure I have shared this before, but I think it is important for children to know what is expected of them each day--especially things that deviate from their normal routine.  We have this discussion each day as we begin our daily Bible time sitting aroudn our kitchen table.
• Smile at your children and your husband, tell them you love them, and enjoy your life--warts and all!
• Be thankful.  Remember, there is always, always, always something to be thankful for!

About this week--I am almost through with Week 2 of my current marathon training.  Leanna and I ran 15 miles this morning, and I was home by 8:20 to begin school.  I have felt pretty much wiped out all day, but except for one 5 mile run (that I plan to do Saturday), I am done with this week's running.  Sadly, Lynn is running the St. Jude Half Marathon instead of the full, so I am missing training with her.  We hope that she will join us for her long runs which will be the same distance as our medium runs some weeks.  Running, either with friends or alone, is excellent therapy.  

I am due a new pair of running shoes (I have about 400 miles on these), and I am so happy that the shoe I wear, Brooks Glycerin, comes in pink this year!  I am wishing for a new pair of pink running shoes for my upcoming birthday.

I miss Olivia.   I am so happy for her and she is adjusting so well, but I miss her.  She is spending a great deal of time studying each day, but we are talking and/or texting her each and every day.  I am also sending her mail of some sort 3-5 times a week.  We mailed her some homemade granola bars (lovingly made by Julie) today.

Leah and Sam are really enjoying our Apologia science book about the ocean animals (I can't think of the official title right now).  They spent over an hour yesterday painting a box (one each) inside and out with two shades of blue paint.  It is an "ocean".  Each week they will make sea creatures out of paper, clay, pipe cleaners, etc., to place in their ocean box.  I can't wait to see the finished product at the end of our school year.  We have been studying whales for the last two weeks, and as usual, I am learning so much myself!  We visited Winter (from the movie Dolphin Tale) this summer, and that has made learning about whales--and dolphins--so much more fun!

Clay is participating in a biology co op this year.  None of my children have done anything like this before, but I really like it.  They are doing experiments, writing lab reports, and hearing a teacher (homeschool mother) lecture about and explain the contents of each module.  The science class meets weekly for 1.5 hours on Thursdays.  And then we run a few errands and head to cross country practice.  Julie, Leah, Sam, and I go to the library while Clay is at his science class.  I do school with them while we are there, but they also have some free time to browse the library.  And of course they are bringing books home to read and for me to read to them--as if we don't have enough books (especially for me to read aloud) in our Sonlight cores!  But who can deny a child books?

That's pretty much what's been going on around here.  Oh, and Monday night Leah and I attended our monthly Keepers at Home meeting.  Lynn, Leanna, and I are teaching the class for the months of September, October, and November.  Our skill--macrame'!  By the end of the 3rd meeting, we hope that all of the girls will complete their plant hanger and earn the macrame' pin.

First Day of Homeschool Fun!

It's been a month since our first day of school, but I still wanted to share our fun day.  

***Disclaimer***  I am NOT creative!  When I texted Lynn pictures of our Back to School Table, she commented that it looked like something she had recently seen on Pinterest.  Really?  Ha!  Of course you saw it on Pinterest!  I can't think of these things by myself.  I copied it all from Pinterest!

I stayed up until 2 AM the night before we began school.  I wanted everything to be all ready for the big day.  I set my alarm for 5:30, and I woke up the kids at 7:00.  We started our schoolwork sharply at 5:00 AM.  If you remember, a while back I wrote about making 7 different school day schedules, each schedule depending on what outside the house activities we had for that day.  Since our extra activities had not begun yet, we followed our Friday schedule each school day until we left to take Olivia to college.

The day began with our annual Back to School Treasure Hunt. I created 10 clues, 2 for each child to read, and the last clue directed them to this year's treasure---a bag of school supplies and school related items.

 the finished bags, waiting to be found

New to this year was the Back to School Table. I decided that having a cute, school-themed table might make our breakfast fun!  Here's where Pinterest helped out.

 The place setting.

Our breakfast was homemade granola, yogurt, and fruit.

The placemat is a small piece of poster board for the children to draw on.

 The entire table

 The drinking glass is a canning jar with a black napkin inside and tied with a cute piece of ribbon.

 Just a table decoration

 Little jars of crayons for the children to use to color their placemats.

I kept these jars of crayons on the table even after the first day of school.

 Table decoration

 Another table decoration

 Each child had a box of jolly ranchers at his place.

Time for the treasure hunt!  It gets harder and harder each year to think of new clues and new places to hide the clues!

 We went oldest to youngest, so I gave Olivia the first clue.

 Pausing for a picture while pondering a clue and drinking coffee.

 Here is Sam, reading his clue.

 The girls found a clue on the front porch.

 Hooray!  

We found the treasure!

 Some of the clues

 Leah, looking at her treasure.

 Eating and coloring

I left the placemats on the table for a couple of days.  The pictures below were taken some time during the first day of school.  After they had colored on them much more than these pictures show, I hung the final products in our schoolroom bathroom.  So cute!

This first day of school was one of my favorites!  The day flowed smoothly, and everyone seemed to like their treasure and the kitchen table too!
Making memories is so much fun and worth every second of the work.

The Tupelo 14.2 Miler

I ran my 4th Tupelo 14.2 Miler this weekend.  Originally (back in April-May) I had a time goal for this race....to run it at an 8:30 pace.  Well, life happened, and I had the craziest, busiest, summer ever, and I just did not have time (or make time at the expense of something else) to train at the level I needed to in order to achieve that goal.  In fact, the last month prior to the race I ran very little.  I got my long runs in each week (10-16 miles each), but some weeks that was my only run!  That is not the best training!  So, about a month ago I changed my goal to running for fun with Leanna and Stacee.

This week also marks the first week of our 14 week marathon training for the St. Jude Marathon in December, so we just treated this race as a long run.  Stacee was not feeling well, so we ran slower than normal and walked a lot.  It really was a pleasant run--not having to think about the time.  The first half of this race is run in the dark (it starts at 5:00 AM), so I did not even look at my watch until about mile 8 or so.

I did make one mistake, and I will not do it again.  I did not take a GU during the race.  I have gotten tired of that stuff, so I take as few as possible on my long runs.  However, I do normally eat one or two or three--depending on the length of the run--usually at around mile 7 or 8 and one every 5-6 miles or so after that.  I had one package of GU in my pocket (a new flavor--salted caramel!), and I planned to eat it at mile 8 or 9.  But I was feeling so good since we were running slowly, that I failed to eat the GU.  Big mistake.  At mile 12 I was done.  Tired.  Icky.  I finished the race, and then for at least an hour after the run I was nauseous.  It was the lack of nutrition during a 14 mile run.  Live and learn!

The medals were really cool this year (but I have not taken a picture of mine!).  Usually the 14.2 mile run participants get a broken in half medal....they say you only ran half of the marathon, so you only get half of a medal! Ha!  But this year they made medals fashioned after the Boston Marathon medals.  The full marathoners were awarded blue and gold medals (the Boston Marathon colors), and the 14.2 milers got pink and gold medals.  Pink!  I loved it!  The race shirts were cool (and scary) as usual.  They are always tie-dyed and feature a skull and crossbones on the front.  I do not wear this shirt to Kroger, but I will wear it to xc practice some day.

Speaking of the Boston Marathon---I signed up!  I was one of 5600 runners who had crossed the halfway point but did not get to finish the marathon (remember, I was at mile 25.8).  We were all invited back to run the marathon again--this time to cross the finish line.  After much deliberation, I decided to accept the invitation.  So I will training for yet another marathon this spring---and then I am retiring from the marathon.  I am.

Taking My Oldest To College

On August 15, the children and I left for a two day, 700+ mile trip to take Olivia to college.  I pulled a Uhaul to carry all of her belongings and supplies and such, and that was a challenge!  

Clay and Sam, waiting outside Olivia's dorm room--ready to unload.

We began moving her in on that Saturday morning, at 8:00 AM.  As soon as that Uhaul was unloaded, I returned it to the nearest Uhaul place!  Then all of the children and I joined Olivia's roommate and her family (her parents and her 4 siblings) in unpacking all of the stuff and making their room look like a home.

Jimmy flew in later that afternoon, and he joined in on the fun!

 Julie and Olivia soon after we arrived--lots of work to be done in the room.

We worked in Olivia's dorm room for most of the day, and then we attended the parent/family cookout on campus.  Later that evening we attended the New Parent Orientation.  It was a nice time of visiting and learning more about the school.  It was also a time for tissues as all of us mamas realized that we would be leaving our children behind.  

Sunday morning, our family attended worship service together with Olivia's roommate and her family. And with lots of other college students, faculty, and staff.  I introduced myself to anyone who looked like they were affiliated with the school and told them that Olivia was a freshman, please look after her, etc.  Yes.  I was that mom.

 the children outside Olivia's dorm on Sunday morning

Sunday afternoon we attended the opening ceremonies for the school followed by the president's reception.  This allowed us more time for visiting with other (mostly freshman) parents and faculty.  Again, I made my rounds, meeting various teachers and introducing myself.

Monday, I think all of the parents headed home.  All except Olivia's parents.  And that became the theme for the next two weeks!  Olivia's family stayed.  Jimmy was able to stay with us until Wednesday, but then he had to fly home to go back to work.

The children and I stayed!

It kind of became a joke around campus among the people who personally knew Olivia.  "Is your mom still here?", became the regular question.  (In a nice way---the students seemed amused by it). The following Sunday when I attended church, one lady asked me if I was already back to visit my daughter.  I had to tell her, "No, I haven't gone home yet!"  :)  

I stayed a total of two weeks.  In a hotel with four (sometimes five, when Olivia spent the night with us) children.  We made friends with all of the hotel employees, and they all knew Sam by name.  During the day while Olivia was at orientation and then when she began her classes, we went to an amusement park, a science museum, countless trips to Target and a variety of other stores, and we also managed to complete 5 days of schoolwork.  In the evenings we visited Olivia.  I continued to work on her dorm room, we took her out to eat, we drove her to her study sessions, we attended a student singing night with her--whatever she needed us to do at night--we were there to do it.  She would give me a list of things that she thought of that she needed, and I was her personal shopper each day.  And I was so, so happy to be able to do this for her!

After she met all of her classes, she was a little bit overwhelmed.  I looked through all of her class materials and helped her get it all organized.  Going from homeschooling for 12 years to 16 hours of college classes has been a big leap for Olivia--in the areas of time management mostly.  I am confident that she will do well in her classes, and I expect her confidence level to grow over the next several weeks.  The work load is great, but I have assured her that she can do it!

Many people, both friends and family, have repeatedly asked me, "How can you leave Olivia at a college so far away from home?  Why is she going there?"

My answer is this:  After much, much prayer, thought, deliberation, and discussion, we feel that this is the best decision for Olivia at this time.  We are only committed to one semester.  Olivia felt that if she didn't give this particular college a try, she would never know---but she can always come home if she is terribly unhappy.  

All of her classes will be taught from a Biblical worldview.  The classes are small, and the teachers know all of the students (and some of their mothers-Ha!) by name--both inside and outside the classroom.  School sponsored events include prayer, Bible study, and hymn singing.  The campus has such an uplifting, encouraging atmosphere.

It can all be summed up in the school's mission statement:

.... a private, independent liberal arts college, provides a comprehensive undergraduate experience designed to develop students spiritually, mentally, physically, and socially; to integrate into the students’ lives the Bible as the revealed will of God; and to prepare students for lives of service to their Creator and to humanity.

A life of service to God.  That is what it is all about.  That is the big picture.  God loves my child infinitely more than I can imagine.  And while my heart is sad at her being gone from our home at this time, I am choosing to unselfishly rejoice in this opportunity that she has been given.  That's not to say that there have not been many, many tears.  And that I can't believe how much we all miss her.  But, I am confident that for now, we have made the right choice.  

On a happy note, she joined the college's cross country team!  It was a great decision for her to make.  She has told me more than once that going to XC practice every day is such a stress reliever for her, and a nice break from studying. She is making friends with her teammates, and she has a super coach.  They have several meets beginning this Friday.  I am not sure if we will be able to attend any of them (we have Julie and Clay running XC here at home....) but I hope that we can make one of her meets.

Here are some pictures from our two week trip:

 The dorm room

These dorm rooms are so much bigger than what I lived in in college.  She has a roommate and and two suite mates.  They share a bathroom and two huge closets between their two rooms.  Everything in the room is built in, even the beds.  She has a sink in her room, and lots of drawers and shelves.  There are even four drawers underneath her bed!

 Another view

 And one more

A couple of days before I was due to drive home, Lynn flew down to visit for a couple of days and to help me drive back home. We spent one afternoon cleaning up and finishing the decor of Olivia's room, and then we took Olivia out to eat.

The next day we attended the college's daily chapel service, and then we spent a few hours on campus taking pictures, meeting people (remember, I am that mom who needed to meet as many people as possible and tell them about Olivia!), and shopping in the college bookstore.  It was so encouraging to be in chapel with the students---hearing their beautiful voices singing praises to God, and hearing an inspiring message about redeeming the time from the college president.

 at the restaurant

 also at the restaurant

One Saturday that I was there Olivia spent the day with us.  We did all sorts of fun things and then we found the coolest outdoor/indoor mall where we ate supper.

 Leah and Olivia

sweet sisters--the night before we left

It was hard to leave.  We pulled away from Olivia's dorm at 7:50 AM last Thursday morning.  Tears abounded.  But it's ok!  I have had the privilege of raising the most wonderful daughter for 18 years.  She is grounded in her faith, and she loves the Lord.  She is kind, loving, hard-working, and compassionate.  She is already making lots of new friends, and I believe that she is thriving.

We talk on the phone and/or text multiple times a day.  We figured out Face Time before I left.  We are sending her letters and/or packages so that she gets mail almost daily.  And we are counting the days until her first visit home.

Unless we go to visit her first!